Distribution AFRICA data for biological specimens are cited in various ways, such as the kilometre grid system used in Europe and the old vice-county sy stem formerly used in Britain (Jones 1968; Gradwell 1968). Gould has recently put forward a comprehensive system, termed the Geocode, which is applicable on a world-wide basis (Gould 1968; Perring 1967). The Degree Reference System (DRS) discussed here was put forward in 1967, being a slight modification of a latitude-longitude system used for a number of years by zoologists and cartographers in South Africa. Formerly, plant distributions were usually given in terms of magisterial districts, as these administrative areas are locally well-known and easily identify the area where a plant is found. Epwards and Jessop (1967), however, pointed out various confusing features resulting from numerous district boundary changes, the creation of new districts and the large disparities in size between districts. District changes could be expected to continue with the development of the countries of Southern Africa, leading to an increasing lack of uniformity between the older and the newer botanical works, and between botanists themselves through their lack of familiarity with recent changes. A further disadvantage of the magisterial district system is that special district maps are needed by both the field collector and the herbarium worker