ON THE FLORA OF KENTANI 
7 
Formerly Satyrium longicauda was quite a feature of this month, now it 
is rare, coming later in a depauperated condition. 
At the coast Zantedeschia africMnct blossoms all the year round, and 
is there strongly scented. 
Natives cook the stems with meal and say it makes an excellent dish, and 
this practice is fast diminishing this common but beautiful plant. 
October 
Various species of Hypoxis occur on the veld and in valleys, H. Rooperi 
being the largest, and all of them yellow, with the exception of H. mem- 
branacect, which is white. 
Geranium ornithopodum (our only species) spreads its lilac flowers over 
valley grasses. Scarlet Burchellia capensis, white Gardenia globosa and 
Tricalysia lanceolata are in the woods. On the hills is the exquisite pale 
pink Gladiolus oppositi floras, and at the coast the regal Strelitzia augusta 
rears its proud white head. 
Among the scrub which borders the beach is the beautiful yellow and 
purple Lissochilus speciosus. 
November 
Queer shaped irregular grey patches on hill slopes and valleys mark newly 
ploughed native lands. White Pavettas are in the woods, orange Satyrium 
Woodii in the valleys, and Zantedeschia albo-maculata with its queer white- 
spotted leaves, which unlike Z. africana die off about March. Drimia 
macrantha pushes up its long bare peduncle and opens out its rich brown 
waxy flowers towards evening, the leaves following leisurely in February. 
In waste places and along roads the gay Senecio pterophyllus occurs in 
shrubby profusion. 
Helichrysum odoratissimum has taken almost entire possession of the veld 
about Tutura and is fast spreading in every direction. 
December 
Thunderstorms are frequent and violent, and vegetation luxuriant. 
Calodendron capense, our finest and most beautiful flowering tree, gives 
a distinct colour to the forests, while the soft-tinted Dais cotinifolia with 
flowers much the same shade of lilac-pink adds to the effect. 
Encephalartos ovulate cones are ripe and foil to pieces scattering the red 
seeds. 
The lovely Dierama pidcherrima formerly found in the valleys is now 
never seen here. 
