138 
NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS 
notice have without doubt been cut or burnt to the ground many times since 
they were planted. But after each catastrophe the rootstocks have produced 
new growths of aerial branches. 
Consequently it is impossible to obtain direct botanical evidence as to the 
age of these bushes. That they constitute an artificial hedge is clear from 
the nature of the line followed along a ridge bearing no other plants of this 
species and where the conditions are those in which demonstrably wild plants 
are never found. Probably none of the hedge-plants bears an aerial branch 
with more than 20 xylem-rings. But the massive misshapen rootstocks, 
usually many feet in horizontal diameter and of unknown depth, show no 
characters which can be used to discredit the current tradition that this is 
the remains of the original hedge of van Riebeeck. 
The common name “Wild almond” (cf. Amygdalus aethiopica, Breyne) 
owes its origin to the resemblance of the drupe to that of the true almond. 
Pappe states that the fruit “ having been soaked for some days in water, is 
eaten by the natives, being obnoxious when quite fresh. The kernel when 
roasted is used as coffee.” 
H. H. W. P. 
