KEY TO THE FLORA OF THE CAPE 
PENINSULA 
By F. and L. BOLUS 
The following artificial key for determining the Orders of the group 
Spermaphyta (to be followed in subsequent numbers of this publication by 
keys to the genera and species) of Cape Peninsula plants has been written in 
order to amplify and increase the usefulness of Bolus and Dod’s List of 
Flowering Plants and Ferns. In order to make it quite practicable for use 
in the field as far as possible no characters have been chosen which are not 
obvious with the aid of an ordinary hand lens. The main divisions of the 
Vegetable Kingdom may be seen. at a glance from the following table. 
1. Spermaphyta — Plant-body (Sporophyte) normally consisting of root, stem 
and leaf. Reproduction by seeds. 
(a) Angiospermae, with carpels so enfolded or arranged as to form an 
ovary in which the ovules are borne — endosperm usually 
formed after fertilisation. 
Dicotyledones, embryo with 2 lateral cotyledons ; stem with open 
vascular bundles usually in a single ring; leaf netted- veined. 
Monocotyledones, embryo with 1 terminal cotyledon; stem with 
closed vascular bundles, “ scattered ” as seen in cross-section, 
leaves parallel- veined. 
(b) Gym nospermae, seeds not enclosed in an ovary; endosperm formed 
before fertilisation. 
2. Pteridophyta — The sporophyte, the more prominent of the two indepen- 
dent generations, normally consisting of root, stem and leaf. Repro- 
duction by free spores. 
(a) Lycopodiales — The Club mosses. 
(b) Ophioglossales — The Adder’s tongue Ferns. 
(c) Filicales — The Ferns. 
