111 
“ The Karroo ” in August. 
the roots appeared to possess a number of tiny lateral buds. A 
closer examination showed that the “buds” consisted of little tufts 
of short lateral rootlets, evidently of limited growth (Text-fig. 21A). 
Since our return from South Africa, we have found a somewhat similar 
arrangement of lateral rootlets in a number of the British members 
of the order. A fuller investigation into the origin, structure, etc., 
of these lateral root-tufts of the Crassulaceac is in progress, and we 
hope before long to be able to publish a more detailed account. 
The Euphorbiacese are conspicuous, though not a dominant 
order as regards the number of species, as only seventeen have 
hitherto been recorded from the Karroo region. 1 Euphorbia Hystrix 
is a species with long axillary shoot spines, to be met with on 
kopjes, amongst the rocks. The commonest species, however, 
appeared to be a bushy, much-branched, spineless form, which 
frequently stands five feet high. This plant is yellowish-green in 
colour, and, in places where it is abundant, imparts that hue to the 
vegetation. A small specimen is seen on the left of Fig. 1, PI. VI I f 
We saw, at Matjesfontein, no tree-Euphorbias of the type of E. 
grandidens, which so often form such a characteristic feature of the 
vegetation in South Africa (we frequently saw these big tree- 
Euphorbias in Natal, the Transvaal and also in Rhodesia). 
Very few Geraniacese were in flower in August, and so they 
largely escaped our notice. Sarcocaulon Burmanni (Text-fig. 22), 
an interesting succulent with spinose leaves, may, however, be 
mentioned ; also Pelargonium alternans, a woody plant of somewhat 
the same habit as the shrubs shown in Fig. 3, PI. VII. 
Amongst monocotyledons the Iridaceac and Liliacea? were the 
dominant orders. 
Of the former may be mentioned several species of Moraea, 
with white or yellow flowers (Fig. 4, PI. VII.). The white-flowered 
Moraea appeared to open its flowers only after mid-day. A Babiana 
with fine blue flowers, and two white-flowered species of Lapeyrousia 
(L. caespitosa and L. fistulosa) were also found. 
The Liliaceze were represented by the genera Bulbine (Text- 
fig. 23); Asparagus ; Massonia, with its single pair of large leaves, 
closely appressed to the soil; Aloe (Fig. 1, PI. VII.); Haworthia; 
Gasteria, etc., the three latter with large succulent leaves. 
Very few grasses were seen, and very few leguminous plants, 
though the Gramineae and Leguminosas are, according to Bolus, 1 
two of the largest Karroo orders. 
1 Bolus, loc. cit., p. 225. 
