FLORA

OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

VOLUME 16, PART 2

EDITED BY

J. H. ROSS

Price R16 Other Countries R20

Post Free

Printed in the Republic of South Africa by the Government Printer, Pretoria.

Obtainable from the Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Private Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL SERVICES

DEPARTEMENT VAN LANDBOU-TEGNIESE DIENSTE

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

VOL. 16, PART 2

ISBN 0 621 03832 6

51066-1

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

which deals with the territories of

THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO,

SWAZILAND AND SOUTH WEST AFRICA

VOLUME 16, PART 2

Edited by

J. H. ROSS

Editorial Committee: B. de Winter, D. J. B. Killick,

O. A. Leistner and J. H. Ross

Botanical Research Institute,

Department of Agricultural Technical Services

1977

iii

THE TERRITORIES DEALT WITH IN THIS FLORA

iv

INTRODUCTION

For a key to the families, the Flora should be used in conjunction with Phillips’s Genera

of South African Flowering Plants, ed. 2 (1951) and Dyer’s Genera of Southern African

Flowering Plants, Vol. 1 (1975) and Vol. 2 (1976), which are arranged on the lines of the

Engler system. The genera are numbered according to the list published by De Dalla Torre

and Harms in their Genera Siphonogamarum (1900-1907) in order to facilitate reference,

though genera in the Flora are not necessarily arranged in this sequence.

As in previous volumes, generally accepted abbreviations are used for literature references,

except in the following cases which appear frequently and are, therefore, considerably

condensed :

C.F.A Conspectus Florae Angolensis

F.C Flora Capensis

F.C.B Flore du Congo et du Rwanda-Burundi

F.S.W.A Prodromus einer Flora von SUdwestafrika

F.T.A Flora of Tropical Africa

F.T.E.A Flora of Tropical East Africa

F.W.T.A Flora of West Tropical Africa

F.Z Flora Zambesiaca

Phill., Gen. ed. 2 The Genera of South African Flowering Plants by

E. P. Phillips, ed. 2 (1951)

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv Manual of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of the

Transvaal and Swaziland, Vol. 1 (1926) and Vol. 2

(1932).

As before, the abbreviation “l.c.” is used for previously cited references even though

“op. cit.” or “tom. cit.” would in certain cases be more correct.

In citing specimens the grid reference system has been used. The spelling of the names of

some localities has been brought into line with the findings of the Committee on Standardisa-

tion of Place Names.

In the text, species which show evidence of becoming naturalized are treated in the same

way as indigenous species. In the Index, synonyms are in italics while exotic species are sig-

nified by an asterisk*.

A change in the existing Flora format is being introduced shortly and in future families or

sections of large families will be published separately as they are completed.

v

PLAN OF CONTENTS OF VOLUMES

Stangeriaceae

Zamiaceae

Podocarpaceae

Pinaceae

Cupressaceae

Welwitschiaceae

Typhaceae

Zosteraceae

Potamogetonaceae

Ruppiaceae

Zanichelliaceae

Najadaceae

Aponogetonaceae

Juncaginaceae

Alismataceae

Hydrocharitaceae

Poaceae

Cyperaceae

Arecaceae

Araceae

Lemnaceae

Flagellariaceae

Restionaceae

Mayacaceae

Xyridaceae

Eriocaulaceae

Commelinaceae

Pontederiaceae

Juncaceae

Liliaceae

Haemodoraceae

Amaryllidaceae

Velloziaceae

Dioscoreaceae

Iridaceae

Musaceae

Zingiberaceae

Burmanniaceae

Orchidaceac

Piperaceae

Salicaceae

Myricaceae

Ulmaceac

Moraceae

Urticaceae

Proteaceae

VOL. 1

VOL. 2

VOL. 3

VOL. 4

VOL. 5

VOL. 6

VOL. 7

VOL. 8

VOL. 9

VOL. 10

Loranthaceae

Santalaceae

Grubbiaceae

Olacaceae

Balanophoraceae

Aristolochiaceac

Rafflesiaceae

Hydnoraceae

Polygonaceae

Chenopodiaceae

Amaranthaceae

Nyctaginaceae

VOL. 11

Phytolaccaceae

Aizoaceae

VOL. 12

Portulacaceae

Basellaceac

Caryophyllaceae

Nymphaeaceae

Ceratophyllaceae

Ranunculaceae

Menispermaceae

Annonaceae

Monimiaceae

Lauraceae

Hemandiaceae

Papaveraceae

Fumariaceae

VOL. 13

Brassicaceae

Capparaceae

Resedaceae

Moringaceae

Droseraceae

Podostemaceae

Hydrostachyaceae

VOL. 14

Crassulaceae

VOL. 15

Saxifragaceae

Pittosporaceae

Cunoniaceae

Myrothamnaceae

Bruniaceae

Hamamelidaceae

Rosaceae

Connaraceae

VOL. 16

Fabaceae: (1) Mimosoideae

(2) Caesalpinioideae

VOL. 17

Geraniaceae

Oxalidaceae

vi

PLAN OF CONTENTS OF VOLUMES

VOL. 24

VOL. 25

VOL. 26

VOL. 27

VOL. 28

VOL. 29

VOL. 30

VOL. 31

VOL. 32

VOL. 33

vii

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/floraofsoutherna162unse

Subfamily 2. CAESALPINIOIDEAE

DC., Prodr. 2: 473 (1825), as suborder Caesalpinieae.

by J. H. ROSS*

Trees, shrubs, sometimes climbers or lianes, or rarely herbs, unarmed or often armed

in the tribe Caesalpinieae. Leaves mostly alternate, usually pinnate, sometimes bipinnate

(tribes Dimorphandreae and Caesalpinieae ; a condition considered by Dormer, in Ann. Bot.

n.s. 9: 141-153 (1945), to be more primitive than pinnate), rarely unifoliolate or simple.

Stipules paired, often caducous. Inflorescences usually of spikes or panicles of racemes,

rarely of spikes or capitate; racemes sometimes (by reduction of the main axis) represented by

umbelliform fascicles. Flowers usually small to medium or large, rarely very small*

usually ± irregular, mostly bisexual and 5-merous. Sepals usually imbricate, rarely valvate,

rarely open from an early stage of bud, free or sometimes ± connate; rarely calyx entire

in bud and splitting afterwards (tribe Swartzieae). Petals imbricate in bud, usually with

the dorsal one within and overlapped by the adjacent lateral ones, free or sometimes connate

below, usually 5, sometimes ± reduced, even to only 1 or altogether absent. Stamens usually

10 or fewer, rarely numerous, free or ± united below; anthers various, but lacking the apical

gland often seen in Mimosoideae; pollen-grains usually simple. Ovary free or when stipitate

the stipe sometimes more or less adnate to the calyx-tube; ovules anatropous. Pods various.

Seeds generally without areoles (see below), with an apical or subapical hilum; embryo with

a generally straight radicle.

The subfamily Caesalpinioideae seems best placed taxonomically between the Mimosoideae, whose

floral characters are in general relatively less advanced, and the relatively more advanced Papilionoideae.

Within the Caesalpinioideae the tribe Dimorphandreae shows a very close approach to the Mimosoideae, and it

is difficult to decide whether the tribe Swartzieae should be included in the Caesalpinioideae or in the Papi-

lionoideae. Thus Erythrophleum and Burkea in the tribe Dimorphandreae link Mimosoideae and Caesalpi-

nioideae, and Swartzia and Cordyla in the tribe Swartzieae link Caesalpinioideae and Papilionoideae.

Although some authors treat the three subfamilies of Leguminosae as separate families, this really only

reflects a slight difference of opinion. If emphasis is laid on the borderline tribes mentioned above, then sub-

family is a suitable rank; if, on the other hand, they are discounted in view of the vast majority of genera

about whose position there is no doubt, then the subfamilies are reasonably considered as families. The three

groups, however, remain unaltered in general content irrespective of the taxonomic rank assigned to them.

The limits to the Caesalpinioideae accepted here result in all the genera of Leguminosae with more than 10

stamens being either in the Mimosoideae or Caesalpinioideae, as well as all of those genera with regular flowers

(except for Cadia Forsk. and its relatives).

In the account of Mimosoideae attention was drawn to the areole on each face of the seed, also known as

the pleurogram, which occurs so commonly in that subfamily. In the subfamily Caesalpinioideae areoles are

also found in Burkea, Cassia and Tamarindus. The areoles of Tamarindus are closed, i.e. with continuous

margins, and reflect a small change in the level or surface-marking of the testa, thus differing from those of

Mimosoideae. The areoles of Cassia are similar to those of Mimosoideae but are usually closed. Only in Burkea

is the areole comparable with those found in Mimosoideae.

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 2 (1967) discussed certain special investigations which have illu-

strated the naturalness of the Caesalpinioideae as a group and its relationship with the other subfamilies of

Leguminosae.

* The account of Cassia by Dr Kathleen D. Gordon-Gray (Bews Botanical Laboratories, University of

Natal, Pietermaritzburg), and the accounts of Adenolobus, Bauhinia, Piliostigma and Tylosema written in

collaboration with Mr L. A. Coetzer (Department of General Botany, University of Pretoria).

2

Caesalpinioideae

Genera 1 52, with about 2 800 species, mainly tropical and subtropical, especially numerous in tropical

America and tropical Africa. 25 genera and 90 species occur in our area of which 21 genera and 54 species are

considered to be indigenous in Southern Africa.

The arrangement of genera is intended to be natural and the genera are grouped under a number of tribes.

In the tribes Cynometreae and Amherstieae, the genera are arranged according to the revision by J. Leonard in

Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg., Classe Sci. 30,2 (1957). The exact position of the genus Umtiza Sim in the Caesalpi-

nioideae is not known, but for convenience it has been placed in the tribe Cynometreae. The sequence of genera

within the remaining tribes follows the numerical system of De Dalla Torre & Harms in their Genera Sipho-

nogamarum (1900-1907). A conspectus of the tribes is given below:

A. Leaves bipinnate (except in Haematoxylum and in Caesalpinia pearsonii in Caesalpinieae) :

1. Tribe Dimorphandreae Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 2 : 74 (1840). Unarmed. Flowers small, in elongate

spikes or dense spike-like racemes, often paniculately aggregated. Calyx-lobes ± united below into a short

tube (sometimes very short) extending beyond the hypanthium. Genera Nos. 1-2.

2. Tribe Caesalpinieae ( Eucaesalpinieae Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 2 : 72 (Mar. 1840); Caesalpinieae Endl.,

Gen. PI. 1310, Oct. 1840). Unarmed or armed. Flowers usually medium to large, sometimes small, in racemes

or panicles of racemes. Sepals 5, free to the hypanthium. Genera Nos. 3-8.

B. Leaves simply pinnate, or sometimes simple or unifoliolate:

3. Tribe Cassieae Bronn, De Formis PI. Legum. 130 (1822); DC., Prodr. 2 : 478 (1825). Leaves normally

simply pinnate. Bracteoles usually small and caducous or absent. Sepals distinct in bud, usually 5, free to the

base. Anthers characteristically firm in texture, often large and with comparatively short filaments, usually

dehiscing by pores, which may be prolonged into short slits; sometimes slits extending the entire length of the

anther, anthers then basifixed. Genera Nos. 9-10.

4. Tribe Cynometreae Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 2 : 74 (1840), emend. J. Leon, in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg.,

Classe Sci. 30,2 : 54 (1957). Leaves simply pinnate, rarely unifoliolate or simple. Bracteoles small or large,

usually caducous, not enclosing the flower-buds, or enclosing them but then never valvate. Sepals distinct in

bud, free to the base. Anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by slits. Genera Nos. 11-16.

5. Tribe Amherstieae Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 2 : 73 (1840), emend. J. Leon, in M6m. Acad. Roy. Belg.,

Classe Sci. 30,2 : 163 (1957). Leaves simply pinnate, rarely unifoliolate. Bracteoles well-developed, enclosing

the flower-buds, valvate, usually persistent. Sepals distinct in bud, free to the base, or very small or absent.

Anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by slits. Genera Nos. 17-18.

6. Tribe Cerceae Bronn, De Formis PI. Legum. 131 (1822) ( Bauhinieae Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 2 : 74,

1840). Leaves usually simple, bilobed or entire, or sometimes with 2 separate leaflets. Calyx gamosepalous

above the hypanthium, campanulate or tubular, shortly toothed or lobed, sometimes more deeply divided into

valvate lobes. Stamens 10 or fewer. Anthers dorsifixed, opening by longitudinal slits, rarely by pores. Genera

Nos. 19-22.

7. Tribe Swartzieae DC., Prodr. 2 : 422 (1825). Leaves simply pinnate, rarely unifoliolate. Calyx entire in

bud, closed, not divided into sepals, becoming variously lobed or split as the flower opens. Stamens 9-many

(numerous in our area). Genera Nos. 23-24.

It is often difficult to identify some of the genera of this subfamily without complete material, including

flowers and fruits. As either flowers or fruits are frequently absent, two alternative keys have been constructed,

one for flowering and the other for fruiting specimens.

Although the genus Brachystegia Benth. has not been recorded from our area, provision for it has never-

theless been made in the following keys as there is a possibility that the genus may yet be found in the Caprivi

Strip or perhaps even in the northern Transvaal. Previous reports of the occurrence of Brachystegia in the

Caprivi Strip appear to have been based on a sterile specimen ( Curson 910) of Afzelia quanzensis Welw.

Key to genera based mainly on vegetative and floral characters

Leaves simple, emarginate apically to deeply bilobed, sometimes with a single pair of

leaflets:

Petals 0; leaves with a single pair of leaflets:

Stamens (8)10(12); inflorescence an axillary or terminal panicle; leaflets with a

midrib and lateral nerves or without a midrib but with 3-6 conspicuous nerves

arising from the base 4. Guibourtia

Stamens 20-25; inflorescence a slender raceme or panicle; leaflets with 7-12

prominent nerves arising from the base, without a midrib. . . .3. Colophospermum

Caesalpinioideae

3

Petals 5; leaves emarginate apically to deeply bilobed, occasionally with a single

pair of leaflets:

Plants with trailing or climbing mostly herbaceous stems arising from a large

underground tuber; tendrils usually present; fertile stamens 2, accompanied

by staminodes; calyx with the 2 upper sepals partly or completely fused, the

rest free 14. Tylosema

Plants growing as shrubs or small trees, seldom scandent or climbing but then woody

and without tendrils:

Flowers normally unisexual and dioecious; female flowers with the stigma sessile

on the ovary, capitate, flattened-globose ; male flowers with 10 fertile

stamens; calyx turbinate with 4-5 short broad lobes 13. Piliostigma

Flowers hermaphrodite; style elongate; fertile stamens 1-10; calyx spathaceous

or campanulate with 5 short lobes or teeth:

Calyx spathaceous, splitting to the base down one side only, with the sepals

fused or sometimes partly separated; fertile stamens 1-10, sometimes

accompanied by staminodes 11. Bauhinia

Calyx campanulate, with 5 short teeth or lobes; fertile stamens 10; plants often

conspicuously glandular 12. Adenolobus

Leaves pinnately or bipinnately compound, with > 2 leaflets, very seldom leaves reduced

to green, ± terete, “needle-like”, pinna-rhachillae with or without minute incon-

spicuous leaflets, or the rachillae laterally winged and appearing flattened,

“± phyllodial”, with numerous pairs of small leaflets:

Leaves reduced, the pinna-rhachillae green, i terete and "needle-like”, with or

without minute inconspicuous leaflets, or the rhachillae laterally winged and

appearing flattened, “± phyllodial”, with numerous pairs of leaflets up to

9x3 mm; plant armed with stout spines 17. Parkinsonia

Leaves not reduced, pinna-rhachillae not “needle-like” or “± phyllodial”; plant

unarmed or armed with recurved prickles, rarely armed with spines:

Leaves bipinnate:

Plant unarmed:

Leaflets alternate; flowers small (petals 2-5 mm long, white to cream or

pale green); sepals open from a very early stage, leaving the petals covering

the flower until anthesis:

Flowers pedicellate; with narrow petals which are ± densely pubescent, at

least on the margins; anthers 0,5-0,75 mm long; stigma minute, cup-

shaped-punctiform on a narrow conical style; stamen-filaments pubescent

or tomentose to near the apex; hairs (when present) on vegetative buds

and young branchlets grey-grown to yellowish 1 . Erythrophleum

Flowers sessile; petals glabrous or almost so; anthers 1 ,5-2 mm long; style

very short, ending in a funnel-shaped stigma slit down one side; stamen-

filaments glabrous; hairs on vegetative buds, young branchlets and

inflorescence axes rusty-red 2. Burkea

Leaflets opposite; flowers usually medium to large (petals 7-32 mm long,

seldom smaller, yellow, orange, red or magenta); sepals valvate or

imbricate:

Leaves imparipinnate; herb or low shrub up to 0,5 m high; stems, leaves

and calyces with numerous dark sessile glands; petals up to 9 mm

long 20. Hoffmannseggia

4

Caesalpinioideae

Leaves paripinnate (rarely in the cultivated Caesalpinia gilliesii imparipinnate

but then plant a large shrub and glands on stems, leaves and calyces

stalked); tree or large shrub; petals 7-32 mm long:

Stigma broadly peltate; inflorescence-axes, calyces and ovaries rusty-

tomentose; petals yellow; stipules up to 1,4 cm long, linear-subulate

with up to 7 linear alternate lateral appendages up to 6 mm long

22. Peltophorum

Stigma not broadly peltate; inflorescence-axes, calyces and ovaries not

rusty-tomentose; petals yellow, pink, red or magenta; stipules not

as above 21. Caesalpinia

Plant armed with prickles or spines:

Petals 2-3 mm long; pods samaroid, with a basal seed-containing portion

whose upper suture is greatly extended beyond the seed-containing part and

is broadly winged on its lower side 19. Pterolobinm

Petals 6-25 mm long; pods unwinged 21. Caesalpinia

Leaves simply pinnate:

Plant armed with spines:

Leaves with (3)5-9(12) pairs of subopposite or irregularly alternate leaflets;

inflorescence a short lax panicle; petals white, up to 3, 5 x 1,5 mm; ovary

eglandular; large shrub or tree 6. Umtiza

Leaves with 3 pairs of opposite leaflets; inflorescence a relatively few-flowered

lateral or terminal raceme; petals yellow, 8-10x5-7 mm; ovary glandular;

low shrub 18. Haematoxylum

Plant unarmed:

Calyx closed, entire and undivided in bud, becoming divided into 2-5 lobes

or irregularly torn as the flower opens; bracteoles very small and caducous,

or absent; stamens always numerous (12-126):

Petals 0; leaflets (7)11-28 per leaf, with numerous pellucid glands; stamen-

filaments confluent basally with the hypanthium 23. Cordyla

Petal 1, large; leaflets (3)5-11 per leaf, without pellucid glands; stamen-

filaments free or nearly so; disc and hypanthium absent (filaments

inserted round base of gynophore or ovary) 24. Swartzia

Calyx clearly divided into lobes or separate sepals in bud; stamens 10 or fewer

(very rarely up to 20 in Brachystegia but then bracteoles large, enclosing

the flower-bud and usually persistent):

Bracteoles paired, valvate throughout, well-developed, completely enclosing

the flower-bud, usually persistent:

Bracteoles enclosing the young flower-bud but soon caducous, exposing

the bud enclosed by the calyx; stamen- and staminode-filaments all

united basally for ± half their length; fertile stamens 3, alternating

with 5 sterile teeth or short filaments; larger petals 3, subequal, gold

with red veins 8. Tamarindus

Bracteoles enclosing the flower-bud and persistent below the open flower;

stamens not as above and > 3 fertile; petals or tepals not coloured

as above:

Perianth clearly differentiated into 5 obvious petals and 5 sepals

10. Julbernardia

Perianth 0 or of 1-7(11) parts, usually 4-7 all sepaloid and of similar

form, grading inwards from broader to narrower Brachystegia

Caesalpinioideae

5

Bracteoles non-valvate, often caducous or absent, seldom enclosing the

flower-bud, but, if so, then one or both margins of one bracteole over-

lapping the other at least at the base and the flowers with only 1 petal :

Petals 0 or sometimes petals present but reduced to minute linear incon-

spicuous filaments and apparently absent:

Stamens 5-10, filaments free; sepals 5, fulvous or rusty-brown puberulous

outside; ovary densely ferruginous-hirsute; inflorescence a many-

flowered panicle 15. Dialiuni

Stamens 10, filaments united basally for 1,5-3, 5 mm, tube entire or

split down one side; calyx leathery, 4-(rarely 5-)lobed, red or scarlet,

glabrous or sparingly puberulous; ovary glabrous; inflorescence a

dense congested subglobose panicle, usually cauliflorous on older

branches but occasionally terminal 5. Schotia

Petals 1-5, well-developed:

Petals 1-4:

Petals 1, pubescent and green outside, dark red inside, 2, 5-4, 5 cm

long, with a long claw suddenly widened into a deeply bilobed

lamina 2,2-3, 1 cm wide; fertile stamens usually 7 (rarely

9) 9. Afzelia

Petals 1-4, pale pink or red throughout, smaller than above and

not widened above into a deeply bilobed lamina; fertile

stamens 10 5. Schotia

Petals 5:

Anthers opening by terminal or basal pores or short slits, usually

basifixed; petals mostly yellow; glands often (but by no means

always) present on petiole or leaf-rhachis 16. Cassia

Anthers opening by longitudinal slits which are as long as the anther,

usually dorsifixed; petals pink, red, mauve, magenta or sometimes

yellow; conspicuous glands not present on petiole or rhachis:

Petals yellow ; small shrub to 2 m high ; leaves up to 1 , 2 cm long, with

3 pairs of obcordate or broadly obovate to obovate-suborbicular

leaflets 18. Haematoxylum

Petals pink, red, mauve or magenta; large shrub or tree; leaves

much larger than above:

Inflorescence a short raceme or panicle; calyx glabrous or almost

so; petals pink, red or scarlet; ovary glabrous or almost

so 5. Schotia

Inflorescence a stout raceme up to 35 cm long; sepals densely

fulvous-tomentose outside; petals pink, mauve or magenta;

ovary fulvous-tomentose 7. Baikiaea

Key to genera based mainly on vegetative and fruit characters

Leaves simple, emarginate apically to deeply bilobed, sometimes with a single pair

of leaflets:

Leaves with a single pair of leaflets; pods 1 -seeded, reniform, obliquely semi-circular,

ovate or ovate-oblong, valves not woody, dehiscent or indehiscent:

Pods pale yellowish-brown, reniform or obliquely ± semi-circular, indehiscent;

seed reniform, ± flattened, corrugated and with numerous small sticky reddish

resin-glands, exarillate; leaflets with 7-12 prominent nerves arising from the

base, without a midrib 3. Colophospermum

6

Caesalpinioideae

Pods brown or reddish-brown, obliquely semi-orbicular, ovate or ovate-oblong,

dehiscent or indehiscent; seed not as above, with or without an aril; leaflets with

a midrib and lateral nerves or without a midrib but with 3-6 conspicuous

nerves arising from the base 4. Guibourtia

Leaves emarginate apically to deeply bilobed; rarely divided to the base to form

2 leaflets but then pods with more than 1 seed, pods oblong or oblanceolate-

oblong, valves ± woody, dehiscent, mostly > 6 cm long:

Plants with trailing or climbing mostly herbaceous stems arising from a large

underground tuber ; tendrils usually present ; pod 1 -2-seeded 14. Tylosema

Plants growing as shrubs or small trees, seldom scandent or climbing but then

woody and without tendrils and pods usually with > 2 seeds:

Pods up to 3,5 cm long (excluding the stipe), semi-orbicular or falcate, valves

thin, Jt papery, with or without stalked glands, dehiscent; calyx persistent

and enclosing the stipe basally 12. Adenolobus

Pods > 3,5 cm long, oblong or oblanceolate-oblong, valves woody or ± woody,

without stalked glands, dehiscent or indehiscent; calyx seldom persisting:

Pods < 3 cm wide, dehiscent, thinly woody 11. Bauhinia

Pods 3-6 cm wide, indehiscent, woody 13. Piliostigma

Leaves pinnately or bipinnately compound, with > 2 leaflets, very seldom reduced to

green, ± terete, “needle-like” pinna-rhachillae with or without minute inconspicuous

leaflets, or the rhachillae laterally winged and appearing flattened, “± phyllodial”,

with numerous pairs of small leaflets:

Leaves reduced, the pinna-rhachillae green, ± terete and “needle-like”, with or

without minute inconspicuous leaflets, or the rhachillae laterally winged and

appearing flattened, phyllodial”, with numerous pairs of leaflets up to

9x3 mm; plant armed with stout spines 17. Parkinsonia

Leaves not reduced, pinna-rhachillae not “needle-like” or “± phyllodial”; plant

unarmed or armed with recurved prickles, rarely armed with spines:

Leaves bipinnate:

Plant unarmed:

Leaflets alternate:

Pod indehiscent, coriaceous, elliptic, 4-7 cm long, 1 -seeded; seed with an

areole on each face; hairs on vegetative buds and young branchlets

conspicuously rusty-red 2. Burkea

Pod dehiscent, woody or thinly woody, oblong or elliptic-oblong, (5)7-17 cm

long, 2-11-seeded (rarely 1-seeded by abortion); seed without an areole;

hairs (when present) on vegetative buds and young branchlets grey-

brown to yellowish 1 . Erythrophleum

Leaflets opposite:

Leaves imparipinnate; herb or low shrub up to 0,5 m high; stems, leaves

and usually pods with numerous dark sessile glands; pods sparsely to

densely clothed with plumose setae 20. Hoffmannseggia

Leaves paripinnate (rarely in the cultivated Caesalpinia gilliesii imparipinnate

but then plant a large shrub and glands on stems, leaves and pods

stalked), tree or large shrub; pods without plumose setae:

Pods narrowly elliptic to elliptic, compressed, acuminate at both ends,

with a wing 2-6 mm wide down each margin, 1-2-seeded, indehiscent;

stipules up to 1 ,4 cm long, linear-subulate with up to 7 linear alternate

lateral appendages up to 6 mm long 22. Peltophorum

Pods not as above, dehiscent; stipules not as above 21. Caesalpinia

Caesalpinioideae

7

Plant armed with prickles or spines:

Pod samaroid, with a basal seed-containing portion whose upper

suture is greatly extended beyond the seed-containing part and is broadly

winged on its lower side, unarmed 19. Pterolobium

Pod not as above, unwinged, armed or unarmed 21. Caesalpinia

Leaves simply pinnate:

Plant armed with spines:

Leaves with (3)5-9(12) pairs of subopposite or alternate leaflets; pods

dehiscing longitudinally along the marginal sutures; large shrub or

tree 6. Umtiza

Leaves with 3 pairs of opposite leaflets; pods splitting longitudinally almost

along the middle of each valve; low shrub 18. Haematoxylum

Plant unarmed:

Pod splitting longitudinally almost along the middle of each valve; leaves up to

1,2 cm long, with 3 pairs of leaflets; small shrub 18. Haematoxylum

Pod dehiscing longitudinally along the marginal sutures or indehiscent; leaves

larger than above:

Pod flattened or markedly compressed, longitudinally dehiscent (except in

Dialum and Schotia ):

Pod indehiscent, ovoid-ellipsoid, up to 3,5 cm long, densely brown

velutinous-puberulous, brittle; seed surrounded by a pulpy orange-

brown or red mesocarp 15. Dialium

Pod dehiscent (except in Schotia), usually > 3,5 cm long; indumentum,

if present, not as above, valves woody to thinly woody or sub-

coriaceous; seed not surrounded by a pulpy orange-brown or red

mesocarp :

Pod densely rusty-pubescent to -tomentose (indumentum sometimes

wearing off partially with age), valves woody, becoming spirally

twisted after dehiscence:

Pod 1,8-3, 2 cm wide; margins of leaflets usually with a conspicuous

fringe of whitish hairs 10. Julbernardia

Pod 3, 5-4, 5(5) cm wide; margins of leaflets without a fringe of whitish

hairs 7. Baikiaea

Pod glabrous to sparsely pubescent, seldom ± densely pubescent but

then indumentum not rusty and valves not woody:

Valves of pod subcoriaceous or thin and papery, usually < 1,8 cm

wide but occasionally up to 2,5 cm wide; seed small, up to

9x5 mm, often areolate, without a basal aril; petiole and/or

rhachis of leaves often with one or more conspicuous sessile or

projecting or stalked glands on the centre line of the upper side;

often herbaceous or small shrubs 16. Cassia

Valves of pod woody, (1 ,8)2, 5-6, 5 cm wide; seed large, > 10 X 5 mm,

often with a large cupular basal aril, exareolate; petiole and

rhachis without conspicuous glands; large shrub or tree:

Pod with a hard margin or wing along the upper suture which

persists, often with the seeds attached, after the eventual

dehiscence of the valves; seeds pale brown, mostly with a

conspicuous basal yellow aril 5. Schotia

Caesalpinioideae

Pod without a wing along the upper suture; seeds without an aril

or aril present but then orange, red or vermilion and seeds

black :

Pod 4 , 5-6 , 5 cm wide, valves not twisting spirally after separation ;

seeds embedded in a white pith, with a large orange, red

or vermilion cupular basal aril 9. Afzelia

Pod < 3,5 cm wide, valves twisting spirally after separation;

seeds not embedded in white pith and without an

aril Brachystegia

Pod not markedly compressed, round or nearly so in section, sometimes

sausage-like, indehiscent :

Pod ellipsoid to subglobose or spherical, less than twice as long as wide:

Pod 1,4-2, 5 cm long, with a densely brown velutinous-puberulous

exocarp; seeds surrounded by a red or reddish-brown pulpy

mesocarp; leaflets 7-13 per leaf, opposite to alternate 15. Dialium

Pod 2,5-8 cm long, green or yellow when ripe, ± glabrous;

seeds embedded in pulp; leaflets (7)11-28 per leaf, mostly

alternate 23. Cordyla

Pod elongate, sausage-shaped or cylindrical, sometimes irregularly

constricted, more than twice as long as wide:

Leaflets asymmetric basally, with their proximal side sessile on the

rhachis, < 1 cm wide; pod closely covered with brown scales

or scurf 8. Tamarindus

Leaflets distinctly petiolulate, usually > 1 cm wide; pod usually black

to blackish-brown and glabrous or nearly so, sometimes pod densely

tomentellous but without brownish scales :

Leaves paripinnate; leaflets up to 12 pairs per leaf, opposite or some

alternate 16. Cassia

Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets all alternate, (3)5-11 per leaf. . .24. Swartzia

Conspectus of the pod differences

1. Pod dehiscing longitudinally along the marginal sutures into two separate valves:

Valves woody:

Afzelia

Baikiaea

Bauhinia

Brachystegia

Erythrophleum

Julbernardia

Tylosema

Valves papery to rigidly coriaceous:

Adenolobus

Bauhinia

Cassia

Caesalpinia

Erythrophleum

Guibourtia

Hoffmannseggia

Parkinsonia

Umtiza

Caesalpinioideae

9

2. Pod splitting longitudinally almost along the middle of each valve:

Haematoxylum

3. Pod subdehiscent, the valves ultimately breaking up and falling away from the hard

margin or wing along the upper suture:

Schotia

4. Pod indehiscent:

Valves flattened or compressed:

Burkea

Caesalpinia

Colophospermum

Dialium

Guibourtia

Parkinsonia

Peltophorum

Piliostigma

Pterolobium

Valves round or nearly so in section, sometimes sausage-like:

Cassia

Cordyla

Dialium

Swartzia

Tamarindus

Exotic species

Several exotic species of Caesalpinioideae are planted in our area and most of them

are mentioned under their appropriate genera. In addition to these, however, the genera

Ceratonia, Delonix and Gleditsia occur only as exotics and are dealt with briefly below. To

assist in naming they are artificially grouped on the basis of obvious vegetative characters.

1. Leaflets conspicuously crenate or crenulate-denticulate on margins; leaves usually simply

pinnate and bipinnate on the same shoot.

Gleditsia triacanthos L., Sp. PI. 1 : 1056 (1753).

Tree or shrub, usually armed with stout straight or branched thorns. Leaves usually

simply pinnate and bipinnate on the same shoot; leaflets 1-3,5 cm long, 0,4-0, 9 cm wide,

usually appressed-pubescent at least along the midrib, margins conspicuously crenate or

crenulate-denticulate. Flowers greenish, small, in axillary, slender, drooping racemes. Calyx

campanulate, the lobes slightly shorter than the petals. Stamens 3-10, filaments free. Ovary

densely pubescent. Pods 15-30 cm long, 2, 5-3, 5 cm wide, usually slightly falcate but often

twisting with age, indehiscent, compressed, with many seeds embedded in a puply tissue.

G. triacanthos, the well-known Honey Locust, a native of North America, is fairly

widely grown in our area. Transvaal: Johannesburg district, Johannesburg, Mogg 33909.

Pretoria district, garden of Division of Botany, Phillips sub PRE 1585; Prinshof, Story 1451 ;

Van der Byl’s farm, Irene, Grobbelaar 1340. Waterberg district, Rhenosterfontein, Nylstroom,

Neyehuis s.n. O.F.S.: Bloemfontein, Potts 3214. ? Cape, between Flagstaff and Port Edward,

Grobbelaar 74.

2. Leaflets with entire margins; leaves all simply pinnate.

Ceratonia siliqua L., Sp. PI. 1 : 1026 (1753); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 16

(1967); Chamberlain in FI. Turkey 3 : 7 (1970).

Evergreen unarmed shrub or tree. Leaves simply pinnate ; leaflets 2-8 pairs, coriaceous,

elliptic to orbicular, 3-6 cm long, 2,5-4 cm wide, dark glossy green above, pale green below.

Flowers unisexual or hermaphrodite, greenish, small, in dense many-flowered racemes

51066-2

10

Caesalpinioideae

which are axillary or arise from the older wood. Calyx caducous. Petals 0. Stamens 5, free,

exserted. Pods dark brown, 10-30 cm long, 1,5-2, 2 cm wide, laterally compressed,

coriaceous, pulpy, many-seeded, indehiscent.

C. siliqua, the Carob Tree, Locust Bean or St. John’s Bread, a native of the

Mediterranean region, is fairly widely grown in our area. S.W.A.: Grootfontein district,

Grootfontein show grounds, Van Wyk 614. Transvaal: Pretoria district, Prinshof

Experimental Station, Codd 6633; Pretoria, corner of Valley Rd. and Burke St., De Winter

802; Skeerpoort, Pretorius s.n . ; S. side of Meintjies Kop, grounds of Union Buildings, Mogg

s.n. Natal: Alfred district, Harding, Van der Merwe s.n. Cape : Albany district, 1820 Settlers

Nature Reserve, Troughton 230.

The pods of C. siliqua are nutritious and are used as fodder.

3. Leaflets with entire margins; leaves all bipinnate.

Delonix regia {Boj. ex Hook.) Raf., FI. Tellur. 2 : 92 (1836) { = Poinciana regia Boj.

ex Hook, in Bot. Mag. 56 : t. 2884, 1829).

Unarmed deciduous tree with ± smooth greyish-brown bark. Leaves bipinnate:

leaflets 10-32 pairs per pinna, 4-12 mm long, 2-5 mm wide, oblong. Stipules pinnately

compound, often ± persistent. Inflorescences racemose. Petals 5, 3, 5-6, 5 cm long, subequal

but the upper one slightly longer than the others, all scarlet or sometimes (especially the

upper one and the claws of the others) ± yellow to whitish. Stamen-filaments shorter than

the petals. Pods woody, 20-50 cm long, 3, 5-5, 5 cm wide, the seeds sunk in transverse

depressions in the woody endocarp.

D. regia, the well-known Flamboyant, a rare native of Madagascar, is grown for

ornament in the eastern Transvaal and in Natal. Transvaal: Nelspruit district, Kruger

National Park, Pretoriuskop, Van der Schijff 1150. Letaba district, Tzaneen, Marais 95.

Pretoria district, Union Building Gardens, Schlieben 10557. Natal: Durban, Hutchinson 1862,

H. L. Forbes s.n. (K, NH).

In Durban many streets are lined with D. regia and in summer the scarlet flowers present

a magnificent sight. The plants are unfortunately susceptible to the ravages of the white ant

and, as trees have been known to collapse without warning, they are no longer so popular

as street trees.

Delonix elata (L.) Gamble, FI. Madras 1,3 : 396 (1919); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 23, fig. 3, (1967).

D. elata differs from D. regia in having small subulate deciduous stipules; white, yellow

or orange petals which are only 1,6-3, 8 cm long; stamen-filaments which exceed the petals;

and smaller pods, 13-26 cm long, 2, 1-3,7 cm wide.

D. elata is recorded from cultivation at Windhoek in South West Africa ( Rogers 29779).

3471 1. ERYTHROPHLEUM

Erythrophleum Afzel. [ex R.Br. in Tuckey, Exped. River Zaire 430 (1818) nomen nudum; ex

G. Don in Edinb. Phil. J. 1 1 : 343 (1824) nomen nudum] ex R.Br. in Denham, Clapperton &

Oudney, Trav. N. & Centr. Afr., J. Excurs. 235 (1826), nomen subnudum; G. Don, Gen.

Syst. 2 : 424 (Oct. 1832) cum descr. ampl. ; Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 588 (1865); Oliv.

in F.T.A. 2 : 320 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 126 (1892); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw.

Afr. 3,1 : 428 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 777 (1930); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 393 (1951);

Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 242 (1952); Brenan in Taxon 9 : 193 (1960); Rickett in Taxon 13 : 181

(1964); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 259 (1964); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 318

(1965); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 18 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 ; 13

(1967). Type species: E. suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan.

Fillaea Guill. & Perr. in Guill., Perr. & A. Rich., FI. Seneg. Tent, t.55 (July 1832), p.242 (Oct. 1832);

Benth. in Hook., J. Bot. 4 : 328 (1841).

Mavia Bertol.f., 111. Piante Mozamb. 1, in Mem. Accad. Bologna 2 : 570, t.39 (1850).

Laboucheria F. v. Muell. in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 3 : 158 (1859).

Caesalpinioideae

11

Unarmed trees. Leaves bipinnate, with 2-5 pairs of pinnae; leaflets alternate, petiolulate,

eglandular. Stipules very small, soon deciduous. Inflorescences of pedunculate spike-like

racemes usually ± aggregated into panicles; bracts very small, falling as or before the flowers

open. Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx-lobes 5, ± united below or almost free to the base,

slightly imbricate but open from an early stage. Petals 5, equal, free, ± imbricate, pubescent

or tomentose, oblong to oblanceolate-spathulate. Stamens 10, often alternately longer and

shorter; filaments free, glabrous or hairy; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits;

connective not projecting beyond the anther. Ovary stipitate, tomentose or densely pubescent,

containing several ovules, tapering into a narrowly-conical style; stigma minute, punctiform,

cup-shaped and minutely ciliolate. Pods stipitate, ± oblong, flattened, straight or slightly

curved, coriaceous to woody, dehiscing along one or both margins, usually 2-11-seeded.

Seeds without areoles, compressed, with endosperm, arranged transversely in the pod.

A genus of ± 10 species in the tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Malesia and Australia.

The generic name Erythrophleum is derived from the Greek words for red and sap; in allusion to the red

sap of E. suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan (= E. guineense G. Don), the type species of the genus. On account

of its red sap, E. suaveolens is commonly referred to as the Red water Tree.

Leaflets obtuse or rounded apically but not acuminate, usually appressed-pubescent on both surfaces or

on lower only, rarely glabrous on both surfaces except for pubescence on the midrib, coriaceous;

petioles and rhachides densely pubescent or tomentose; pods coriaceous 1. E. africanum

Leaflets with a pronounced acumen apically, glabrous on both surfaces, rarely the midrib slightly pubescent

on the lower surface, chartaceous; petioles and rhachides glabrous or almost so; pods thinly woody

2. E. lasianthum

1. Erythrophleum africanum ( Welw . ex

Benth.) Harms in Feddes Repert. 12 : 298

(1913); De Wild., Contr. FI. Katanga, Suppl.

1 : 23 (1927); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 777

(1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 103

(1949); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 244 (1952);

O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 32(1952);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 52 : 513 (1955);

Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 252 (1956); Keay

in F.W.T.A. ed.2, 1 : 484 (1958); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 124, fig. 20B (1962);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 20

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 14 (1967);

Ross in Bothalia 10 : 44 (1969); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 831 (1973); Schreiber

in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 11 ; 129

(1973). Syntypes: Angola, Huila, Mumpula,

Welwitsch 591 (BM!); and Pungo Andongo,

Calundo, Welwitsch 573 (BM!, K!).

Gleditsia africana Welw. ex Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 25 : 304 (1865), as Gleditschia ; Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 265 (1871); Hiem, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw.

1 : 289 (1896). Syntypes as above.

Erythrophleum pubistamineum Hennings in Garten-

flora 38 : 39, t.8 (1889). Type: Angola, Malange,

Mechow 185 (B, holo.). E. pubistamineum var.

parvifolium Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 1 19 (1900).

Type: Angola, Omupanda in Uukuanjama, Wulfhorst

31 (Z, holo.!). E. africanum var. stenocarpum Harms in

NotizbI. Bot. Gart. Berl. 13 : 414 (1936); Brenan,

Checklist Tang. Terr. 103 (1949). Type: Tanzania,

Lindi District, Lake Lutamba, Schlieben 6536 (BM,

iso.!).

Caesalpinioides africanum (Welw. ex Benth.)

Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 1 : 167 (1891). Type as for Ery-

throphleum africanum.

Tree up to 15 m high. Bark grey or grey-

brown, ± rough or smooth; young branch-

lets usually densely pubescent or tomentose

with grey-brown hairs, sometimes glabres-

cent. Leaves: petioles, rhachides and rhachil-

lae usually densely pubescent or tomentose,

seldom glabrescent (in our area); petiole

1 ,5-5 cm long (in our area); rhachis 3-10 cm

long (in our area), with a small gland at the

junction of each pinna pair; pinnae (2)3— 4(5)

pairs (in our area most leaves have 3 pairs);

rhachillae 4-12 cm long (in our area); leaflets

(6)8-15 per pinna, 1,1 -5(6) cm long, 0,9-

2,5(3) cm wide (in our area), narrowly

elliptic to elliptic, or with an ovate to rhombic

tendency, usually somewhat asymmetric,

obtuse or sometimes rounded and ± emar-

ginate apically, not acuminate, coriaceous,

with conspicuous venation, usually appressed-

pubescent above and below, sometimes

12

Caesalpinioideae

glabrous above or glabrous above and below

except for pubescence on the midrib; petio-

lules 1-2 mm long. Racemes 3,5-8 cm long

including the peduncle (in our area); axis and

peduncle densely pubescent or tomentose

with spreading hairs. Flowers cream to

greenish-yellow, on pedicels 0,5-1 mm long.

Calyx 1-2,5 mm long, the lobes free almost

to the base, densely grey-brown pubescent.

Petals (2)2, 5-3, 5 mm long, pubescent. Sta-

mens up to 9 mm long, filaments pubescent

or tomentose to near the apex, rarely sub-

glabrous. Pods brown, (5)7-17 cm long,

(2)2, 4-3, 5 cm wide (in our area), zb straight,

rounded, obtuse or acute apically, (1)2-5-

seeded, coriaceous, dehiscing simultaneously

along both margins; stipe 1-1,5 cm long.

Seeds brown, 10-14 mm long, 8-12 mm

wide, 3-4 mm thick, suborbicular to ±

lenticular, with endosperm.

Widespread in tropical Africa from Senegal to

the Sudan and Tanzania (absent from Uganda and

Kenya), southwards to South West Africa, Botswana,

Rhodesia and Mozambique. Occurs in deciduous

woodland.

S.W.A. — 1716 (Enana) : 10 km S.W. of Oshandi

Mission Station, De Winter & Giess 7017. 1718

(Kuring-Kuru) : 1 , 6 km W. of Katwitwi, De Winter

3848. 1724 (Katima Mulilo) : Katima Mulilo,

Zambesi flood plain. Von Breitenbach 1203. 1821

(Andara) : Shitangadimba camp, near Andara

Mission Station, De Winter & Wiss 4269; Andara,

Merxmiiller & Giess 2039; Bagani Camp, Le Roux 126.

E. africanum is an extremely variable species,

particularly in the degree of pubescence. One of the

syntypes, Welwitsch 591, is densely pubescent, while

the other, Welwitsch 573, is subglabrous.

The bark, roots and leaves of E. africanum are

said to be poisonous.

2. Erythrophleum lasianthum Corbishley

in Kew Bull. 1922 : 27 (1922); Torre in

Contr. Conhec. FI. Mogamb. 2 : 86 (1954);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 319

(1965); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb.

1 : 244 (1966); Ross in Bothalia 10 : 44 (1969);

FI. Natal 194 (1973); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 833 (1973). Type: Natal,

Ingwavuma, District Magistrate sub PRE

1228 (K, holo.!, FHO!, PRE!).

E. guineense G. Don var. swaziense Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : xxii, 330 (1932); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 3 : 319 (1965). Type: Swaziland,

unlocalised, B. Nicholson s.n. (K, holo.!; PRE!).

E. guineense sensu Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 236

(1934). E. suaveolens sensu Compton in J. S.Afr. Bot.,

Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966); De Winter et ah, 66 Transv.

Trees 163 (1966), non (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan.

Tree up to 14 m high with a zb rounded

crown. Bark greyish-brown, rough, fissured;

young branchlets glabrous or sometimes

thinly pubescent. Leaves glabrous: petiole

3, 5-5,6 cm long; rhachis 3-15 cm long;

pinnae 2-4 pairs; rhachillae 6-15 cm long;

leaflets (4)9-13 per pinna, (1 ,8)2, 5-5(6, 5)

cm long, 1-3,5 cm wide, obliquely ovate to

ovate-elliptic, slightly asymmetric basally,

usually zb acuminate apically and slightly

emarginate, chartaceous, venation relatively

inconspicuous apart from the midrib,

glabrous on both surfaces or rarely the

midrib slightly pubescent on the lower sur-

face; petiolules up to 5(7) mm long, glabrous.

Racemes 5-10 cm long including the peduncle,

zb aggregated; axis and peduncle densely

puberulous to pubescent with appressed or

shortly spreading rusty-brown hairs, seldom

glabrescent. Flowers cream to greenish-yellow,

on pedicels 1 , 5-3 mm long, rusty-pubescent.

Calyx 2-3 mm long, fused basally for \ of

its length, rusty-pubescent. Petals 3-4 mm

long, rusty-pubescent on margins only or

throughout. Stamens up to 8 mm long,

filaments woolly tomentose to near the apex.

Pods dark brown, (7)10-16 cm long, 2, 9-4, 2

cm wide, ± straight to slightly curved,

rounded, obtuse or acute apically, thinly

woody, dehiscing simultaneously along both

margins, several-seeded; stipe 1-2 cm long.

Seeds brown, 12-15 mm long, 10-13 mm

wide, 4-6 mm thick, suborbicular to lenti-

cular. Fig. 1.

Found in the eastern Transvaal, southern

Mozambique, Swaziland and Natal (Zululand).

Occurs in forest and woodland. In some parts of

Tongaland it is locally dominant on sandy soils in

dry sandforest.

TRANSVAAL. — 2330 (Tzaneen): Mashishimale,

Stanford sub TR V 19423. This is the only record of the

species from the Transvaal and confirmation of its

occurrence in this province is required. Presumably

the locality is correct.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Stegi, Assistant

Commissioner sub PRE 30333; Stegi, Murray’s farm,

Ubombo Mts., Miller S/59; Stegi, Steward sub PRE

30334.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Natal/Mozambique

border, 8 km E. of Ndumu Game Reserve, Ross &

Moll 5095; Maputa, Bayer 744. 2732 (Ubombo):

3,2 km E. of Ingwavuma P.O., Codd & Dyer 2840;

Mangenene forest, N.E. of Tete Pan, Tinley 216;

False Bay Park, Ross 2336; Ward 3003. 2832 (Mtuba-

tuba): near Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 2629;

Isizalo stream near Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward

2692.

Caesalpinioideae

13

FIG. 1. — Erythrophleum lasianthum. 1, branchlet with inflorescences and mature leaf, x 2, flower, x 10;

3, corolla opened out (bottom cut off), x 10; 4, gynoecium, x 10, all from Ward 2692; 5, pod, x

from Edwards 2574; 6, seed, x f, from Ward 3003.

14

Caesalpinioideaf

JLWR

Caesalpinioideae

15

FIG. 2. — Burkea africana. 1 , part of branchlet with inflorescences and immature leaves, x $■; 2, pinna of mature

leaf, x $; 3, basal part of mature leaflet, lower surface, x 3; 4, flower-bud showing imbricate petals,

x 4; 5, flower, x 4; 6, two calyx-segments, X 4; 7, petal, x 4; 8, single stamen enlarged, x 4; 9, 10,

ovary, x 6; 11, pod, showing single seed, x $; 12, seed, showing areole, x §. 1, 4-9 from Semsei 1862;

2 and 3, from Eggeling 5776; 10, from Aylmer 27/17; 11 and 12, from Gillman 1543. Reproduced by

permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 330 (1932), records cause a violent fit of sneezing. The bark contains a

that in Swaziland the dried bark is ground up and toxic agent, erythrophleine, and the seeds are said to

made into a snuff which is used in small quantities to be poisonous to man.

cure headaches; it is said to be very potent and to

3474 2. BURKEA

Burkea Benth. in Hook., Icon. PI. 6 : t. 593-4 (1843); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 271 (1862); Benth. &

Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 587 (1865); Harv., Gen. PI. ed. 2 : 90 (1868); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 319

(1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 128 (1892); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 776 (1930); Phill.,

Gen. ed. 2 : 393 (1951); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 237 (1952); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 265 (1964);

Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 241 (1966); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 21

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 6 (1967). Type species: B. africana Hook.

Unarmed trees with rusty-tomentose young shoots. Leaves bipinnate, with (1)2— 5(7)

pinnae pairs, alternate; leaflets alternate, eglandular. Stipules very small, soon deciduous.

Inflorescences of elongated spikes, simple or often paniculately aggregated; bracts very

small, persistent until the flowers open. Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx connate below into a

short tube, 5-lobed, lobes slightly imbricate but almost open from an early stage. Petals 5,

imbricate, equal, glabrous, without claws. Stamens 10, subequal; filaments glabrous; anthers

dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; connective shortly projecting beyond the anther.

Ovary subsessile, densely rusty-tomentose, 1-2-ovulate; style very short, thick; stigma funnel-

shaped, slit down one side. Pods stipitate, coriaceous, elliptic, flattened, indehiscent. Seeds

compressed, with an areole on each face (as in most Mimosoideae), with endosperm.

A monotypic genus, widespread in tropical Africa, except for the forest regions, and extending southwards

to South West Africa, Botswana and the Transvaal.

The characteristic areole on each face of the seed is very similar to those found in most of our Mimosoideae.

Except for the genera mentioned in the discussion on areoles on p.l they do not otherwise occur in the Caesal-

pinioideae of South Africa.

The genus is named in honour of Joseph Burke who collected plants in the Magaliesberg area of the Trans-

vaal in the 1840’s.

Burkea africana Hook., Icon. PI. 6 :

t. 593-4 (1843); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 271 (1862);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 320 (1871); Harms in

Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 431, fig. 237

(1915); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 776

(1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 331

(1932); Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 470, 481

(1946); Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 94

(1949); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat.

Park 61 (1951); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 238

(1952); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 29

(1952); Pardy in Rhod. Agr. J. 49 : 170

(1952); Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 250

(1956); Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 89-92

(1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2,1 : 483

(1958); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 171,

tt.7,52, XIV (1961); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 118, fig. 20A (1962); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 320 (1965); De Winter

et al., 66 Transv. Trees 62 (1966); Gomes e

Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 241 (1966);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 21,

fig. 2 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 7

(1967); Flow. PI. Afr. 38 : t.1505 (1967); Van

Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 182 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 837

(1973); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml.

Munchen 11 : 128 (1973). Type: Transvaal,

Magaliesberg, Burke 274 (K, holo.!).

B. africana var. andongensis Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 320

(1871); Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 304 (1896);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 776 (1930). Type: Angola,

Cuanza Norte, Pungo Andonga, Welwitsch 574

(LlSU holo.; BM!, Kl). B. africana var. cordata

Welw. ex Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 320 (1871); Hiern, Cat.

Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 304 (1896); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 777 (1930). Type: Angola, Huila Distr., between

Lopolo and Monhino, Welwitsch 589b (LISU holo.,

BM!).

16

Caesalpinioideae

Widespread in tropical Africa, except for the

forest regions, and extending southwards to South

West Africa, Botswana and the Transvaal. Occurs

in sandy soils in deciduous woodland and bushveld.

S.W.A. — 1718 (Kuring-Kuru) : 15 km W. of

Kuring-Kuru on road to Katwitwi, De Winter 3832.

1719 (Runtu) : near Runtu, by the Okavango River,

Rodin 9135. 1720 (Sambio) : Diyona Camp just

beyond Nyangana Mission Station, De Winter 4168.

1722 (Chirundi) : Bwabwata Rest Camp, Watt 14.

1724 (Katima Mulilo) : Katima Mulilo, Zambesi

flood plain, Von Breitenbach 1203. 1819 (Karaku-

wisa): 27 km S. of Runtu on road to Karakuwisa, De

Winter 3763. 1917 (Tsumeb) : 16 km E.N.E. of Otavi

on road to Tsumeb, De Winter 3000. 1921 (Aha

Mountains): western foot of Aha Mountains, Story

6317. Grid ref. unknown : Otjiwarongo district,

Waterberg plateau, De Winter 2792.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): farm Zout-

pan 193, Obermeyer, Schweickerdt & Verdoorn 319.

2230 (Messina): Georgenholz, P.O. Makonde,

Westphal sub TRV 29116. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger

National Park, 9,6 km N.E. of Punda Milia, Codd &

Dyer 4573. 2330 (Tzaneen): Doringboom, Scheepers

2403. 2428 (Nylstroom): immediately N. of Warm-

baths, Story 5968. 2429 (Zebediela): Percy Fyfe

Nature Reserve, Huntley 1296. 2526 (Zeerust): Zee-

rust, Thode A 1400. 2527 (Rustenburg): Hartebees-

poort Dam, Prosser 1632. 2528 (Pretoria): Wonder-

boom, Phillips 3016. 2529 (Witbank): Loskopdam,

Theron 1560. 2627 (Potchefstroom) : Jack Scott Private

Nature Reserve, Wells 2341.

B. africana is a common and characteristic tree

of sandy soils in dry deciduous woodland and bush-

veld, sometimes gregarious and locally dominant, but

often in association with Sclerocarya caffra, Termina-

lia sericea and Faurea saligna. B. africana bears a

resemblance to the introduced Seringa, Melia

azedarach L., whence the common names Wild Seringa

and Wildesering.

B. africana is a useful timber tree producing a

hard coarse-grained wood which varies in colour

from pale yellow through brown to reddish-maho-

gany. The heartwood is durable, takes a fine polish,

and works easily.

The larvae of the moth Cirina forda often feed

on the leaves of B. africana. They usually appear in

late spring or early summer and frequently defoliate

entire plants, only the leaf-petioles, -rhachides and

-rhachillae remaining intact. The larvae, which are

extremely nourishing, are considered a delicacy by

some Africans.

Tree up to 15 m high with a rounded or

flattened spreading crown. Bark grey-brown

to blackish, rough, fissured, flaking; young

branchlets often rather stout, rusty-tomen-

tose. Leaves clustered towards the ends of the

branchlets, petioles and rhachides rusty-

tomentose or -pubescent when young, often

becoming dz glabrous with age: petiole

(1.5) 4-10 cm long (in our area), eglandular;

rhachis (0)1-15 cm long (in our area), eglan-

dular; pinnae ( 1)2— 3(5) pairs (in our area);

rhachillae 4-14 cm long (in our area); leaflets

alternate, 5-15 per pinna, mostly 1,2-5, 5

(7.5) cm long, 0,7-3, 6(4, 2) cm wide, elliptic

or sometimes ovate-elliptic or ± obovate,

asymmetric basally, obtuse or rounded and

somewhat emarginate apically, usually sil-

very-sericeous when very young, thinly ap-

pressed-puberulous on both surfaces or some-

times ± glabrous at maturity; petiolule 2-5

mm long, pubescent. Inflorescences spicate;

spikes (5)8-25 cm long (including the pe-

duncle), pendulous, simple or sometimes

branched, usually ± clustered at the tips of

the young branchlets; peduncle and axis

pubescent to tomentose with appressed or

spreading hairs. Flowers white, cream or

pale green, sessile. Calyx 1 , 5-2 mm long,

pubescent at least basally, lobes rounded

apically and ciliate on the margins. Petals

3.5- 5 mm long, 2-2,5 mm wide, obovate-

oblong, rounded apically, ultimately reflexed.

Stamens 3-4 mm long, glabrous; anthers

± 2 mm long. Ovary subsessile, densely rusty-

tomentose. Pods brown, stipitate, 4-7 cm

long, 2-3 cm wide, elliptic or narrowly

elliptic, usually 1-seeded, indehiscent, flat-

tened, venose, finely puberulous. Seeds

brown, ± 9-12 x 7-8 mm, elliptic to

suborbicular, compressed; areoles ± 2-8 X

3.5- 4 mm. Fig. 2.

3490a 3. COLOPHOSPERMUM

Colophospermum Kirk ex J. Leon, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 19 : 390 (1949); Phill., Gen. ed.

2 : 393 (1951) pro parte; J. Leon, in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30,2 : 159 (1957);

Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 255 (1964); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 324 (1965);

Schreiber in F. S.W.A. 59 : 12 (1967). Type species: C. mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex J.

L6on.

Caesalpinioideae

17

Unarmed tree or shrub. Leaves alternate, with a single pair of large leaflets; leaflets

opposite, asymmetric, with 7-12 prominent nerves arising from the point of attachment,

without a midrib, with numerous pellucid gland-dots. Stipules small, soon deciduous. Flowers

hermaphrodite, small, pedicellate, in slender racemes or panicles; bracts minute; bracteoles

absent. Sepals 4 (2 outer and 2 inner). Petals 0. Stamens 20-25; filaments free; anthers dorsi-

fixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary ± sessile, free, compressed, glabrous; ovule 1,

lateral; style lateral. Pods compressed, usually reniform, 1-seeded, indehiscent, with numerous

scattered glands. Seed compressed, reniform, corrugated, with numerous small reddish

resin-glands. Cotyledons much corrugated.

A monotypic genus occurring in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Rhodesia, Malawi,

Mozambique and the northern Transvaal.

The generic name Colophospermum is a Greek compound meaning “resinous seed”; in allusion to the

numerous scattered resin-glands which cover the seed.

Colophospermum mopane ( Kirk ex Benth.)

Kirk ex J. Leon, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux.

19 : 390 (1949); O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot.

18 : 30 (1952); Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J.

50 : 152 (1953); Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 :

239 (1956); Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 101 —

106 (1957); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

173, tt. 53, 143, 144, XV (1961); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 121, fig. 21 A, B (1962);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees. S. Afr. 3 :

324 (1965); De Winter et al., 66Transv. Trees

64 (1966); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb.

1 : 250, t.53 (1966); Tinley, Moremi Wildlife

Res. Botswana 67, tt.25, 29-37 (1966); Schrei-

ber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 13 (1967); Jarman &

Thomas in Kirkia 7 : 103 (1969); Giess in

Dinteria 4 : 10, tt.28-30 (1971); Van Wyk,

Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 184 (1972);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 842

(1973). Syntypes: Mozambique, Shiramba,

Kirk (K!); Lupata, Kirk (Kl).

Copaifera mopane Kirk ex Benth. in Trans. Linn.

Soc. Lond. 25 : 317, t.43A (1865); Benth. & Hook.f.,

Gen. PI. 1 ; 585 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2:315 (1871);

Schinz in Verh. Bot. Ver. Prov. Brandenb. 30 : 170

(1889); Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb. Exped.

248 (1903); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 51 (1909); Harms

in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 ; 443, fig. 244 (1915);

Dinter in Feddes Repert. 16 ; 241 (1919); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 750 (1930); Hutch, in Kew Bull.

1931 : 226-229 (1931); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 326

(1932); Greenway in E. Afr. Agric. J. 6 : 246 (1941);

Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr. 314, 327, 353, 456, 458,

483, 538, 547, 664 (1946); Pole Evans in Mem. Bot.

Surv. S. Afr. 21 : 14, 24, 30, tt.25- 27, 30-32, 44-46,

48, 68-72 (1948); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat.

Park 63, fig. 59, 62c, d (1951). Syntypes as above.

Copaiba mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen.

1 : 172 (1891); Gilg in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. B :

305, 419 (1895); Taub. in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr.

C : 197 (1895); Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 303

(1896); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 119 (1900);

Dinter, Deutsch-Siidwest-Afrika Flora Forst- und

landwirtschaft. Frag. 79 (1909). Syntypes as above.

Small to medium-sized tree usually 5-12

m high with an erect narrow crown, occa-

sionally up to 22 m high under favourable

conditions, or very often a shrub, irregularly

deciduous. Bark dark grey or brown, rough,

longitudinally fissured. Leaves alternate, with

a single pair of large leaflets: petiole (0,6)

1, 5-4(4, 8) cm long, glabrous; leaflets arti-

culated basally, asymmetric, semi-cordate-

ovate, (3) 4,5-9(12) cm long, (1 ,4)2, 5-5(6, 5)

cm wide, inner margin slightly convex, outer

margin cordate or truncate basally and

strongly convex, acute or obtuse apically,

coriaceous, with 7-12 prominent nerves

arising from the point of attachment, with-

out a midrib, with numerous scattered pellu-

cid gland-dots, smelling of turpentine when

crushed; terminal appendage sessile, arti-

culated, up to 5 mm long and 3 mm wide.

Stipules up to 5 X 3,5 mm, ovate, soon

deciduous. Inflorescence a slender raceme or

panicle up to 7 cm long. Flowers small,

greenish-white or greenish-yellow, on pedicels

4-8 mm long; bracts minute; bracteoles

absent. Flower-buds globose, 3-4 mm in

diameter. Sepals 4, the 2 outer ±6x5 mm,

the 2 inner ± 5,5 X 4,5 mm, reflexed in

flower. Petals 0. Stamens 20-25; filaments

free, filiform, up to 6 mm long, exserted;

anthers 2,5-3 mm long. Ovary ± 2 mm long,

compressed, glabrous; style lateral; stigma

expanded. Pods yellowish-brown, compres-

sed, very shortly stipitate, 3,5-6 cm long,

2-3,2 cm wide, reniform or obliquely ±

semi-circular, lightly reticulate, with nume-

rous scattered resin-glands, indehiscent. Seed

large, compressed, ±2,5 x 1,4 cm, usually

51066-3

18

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 3 . — Colophospermum mopane. 1, flowering twig, X 2, flower, x 3; 3, gynoecium, X 6, all from Codd

4827; 4, fruiting twig, x 5, seed, X 1, both from Schlieben & Hartmann 2229.

Caesalpinioideae

19

reniform, corrugated, with numerous small

sticky reddish resin -glands. Fig. 3.

Found in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana,

Zambia, Rhodesia, Malawi, Mozambique and the

northern Transvaal. Gregarious and often dominant,

forming almost pure stands in hot dry low rainfall

areas on various soil-types.

S.W.A. — 1712 (Posto Velho): near Kunene, Story

5855. 1715 (Ondangua): bordering Angola near

Oshikango, Rodin 2623. 1716 (Enana): Olukonda,

Schinz s.n. (K). 1725 (Livingstone): Mpilila Island,

confluence of Zambesi and Chobe Rivers, Killick &

Leistner 3338. 1813 (Ohopoho): Otju, Merxmiiller &

Giess 1422; near Ohopoho, De Winter & Leistner 5293.

1816 (Namutoni): Ondonga, Rautanen 524 (K). 1914

(Kamanjab): farm Kakatswa-Onguati, Walter 1049

(M). 1915 (Okaukuejo): farm Westfalen, 51 km E.S.E.

of Kamanjab, De Winter 3066. 2014 (Welwitschia):

24 km W. of Welwitschia, Giess 3858. 2015 (Otji-

horongo): Gainatseb, Volk 2881 (M). 2016 (Otji-

warongo): Outjo, Volk 2421 (M).

TRANSVAAL. — 2228 (Maasstroom): farm Illovo,

near Tugela, Van Graan & Hardy 469. 2229 (Water-

poort): farm Rosenthal, near Dongola, Codd 4827;

29 km S. of Messina on road to Louis Trichardt, De

Winter 8673. 2230 (Messina): Messina, Rogers 22549.

2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National Park, between Punda

Milia and Pafuri, Schlieben & Hartmann 12007. 2328

(Baltimore): 4 km from crossroads near Villa Nora

on road to Overysel, Coetzee & Stephen 1089. 2330

(Tzaneen): Hans Merensky Nature Reserve, Oates

221; Beacon Ranch, Rubbervale, Brothers 80. 2331

(Phalaborwa): Kruger National Park, Shingwedzi

Camp, Codd & De Winter 5570. 2431 (Acornhoek):

Timbavati Private Game Reserve, farm Nederland,

Porter 340.

C. mopane, commonly known as Mopane, is a

gregarious species which often forms almost pure

stands and is dominant over extensive areas. C.

mopane forms an open parkland of small to medium

sized trees or dense thickets of low shrubs. Plants

have the ability to coppice vigorously and sometimes

the thickets are almost impenetrable. Although

growing on various soil types, C. mopane is usually

regarded as an indication of high temperatures, low

rainfall and shallow, poorly-drained, often alkaline

soil.

The leaves resemble the wings of a butterfly and

give off a distinct smell of turpentine when crushed.

whence the common names “Butterfly Tree” and

“Turpentine Tree”. The leaflets are articulated basally

and fold together during the heat of the day thus

conserving some water loss by transpiration. Trees

consequently cast very little shade during the heat

of the day.

The green leaves and young branches are relished

by elephants, but the various antelope seem to prefer

eating the dry fallen leaves. When cattle become

accustomed to the aromatic odour they browse the

leaves readily, the aromatic resin apparently not

tainting the milk or flesh.

The sapwood is yellow and the heartwood is

dark red, very hard, heavy, durable and termite-

resistant. The timber is valued for fencing posts and

mine-props, but is too difficult to work for furniture.

The wood is resinous and bums well, although with

a lot of smoke. Because of the resinous leaves and

wood, C. mopane is very susceptible to fire and bums

even when green.

The sticky seeds are dispersed by adhering to the

hooves of passing animals.

The larvae (“mopane worms”) of the moth

Gonimbrasia belina feed on the leaves of C. mopane.

These worms, 5-8 cm long and about as fat as the

little finger, are roasted and eaten by Africans and

Bushmen, or dried and stored. They have a high

protein content and form an extremely nourishing

food. Africans consider them to be a delicacy and

some are said to eat them in preference to beef. A

jam tin full of “mopane worms” currently sells for

40-50 cents.

The palatability of the plant is believed to be

considerably increased by the secretions of an insect

{Arytaina mopane), the larvae of which feed on the

leaves. The adult insect resembles a miniature cicada

but the larva is very small, flat and reddish and

secretes a fluid which forms a protective covering

over it. The secretions form fairly large, trans-

lucent, quite hard ‘drops’ which adhere firmly to

the leaves and are ingested with them.

The flowers of C. mopane are apparently anemo-

philous (C. J. Ward, pers. comm.), an unusual feature

in a family whose flowers are predominantly entomo-

philous. The relatively inconspicuous flowers, small

greenish recurved sepals, lack of petals, long slender

exserted stamen-filaments which move even in light

breezes, and the enlarged stigmas, support this view-

3490b 4. GUIBOURTIA

Guibourtia J.J. Bettn. in J. Linn. Soc. 1 : 149 (1857); J. Leon, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 19 :

400 (1949); in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 269 (1950); in F.C.B. 3 : 359 (1952); in Mem. Acad.

Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30,2 : 137 (1957); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 256 (1964); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S.Afr. 3 : 322 (1965); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 136 (1967); Schrei-

ber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 14 (1967). Type species; G. copallifera J.J. Benn.

Gorskia Bolle in Peters, Reise Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 15 (1862).

Pseudocopaiva Britton & Wilson, Trop. Woods 20 : 28 (1929).

Unarmed evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, with a single pair of

leaflets, or rarely (but not in our area) with a single leaflet; leaflets opposite, asymmetric,

usually with numerous pellucid gland-dots. Stipules usually small and soon deciduous, free.

20

Caesalpinioideae

Inflorescences paniculate. Flowers hermaphrodite, sessile or pedicellate, spirally arranged

along the spicate or racemose ultimate branches; bracteoles small, persistent or falling before

the flowers open. Sepals 4 (2 outer and 2 inner), imbricate. Petals 0. Disc present, ± fleshy.

Stamens (8)10(12, fide Leonard); filaments free, glabrous; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by

longitudinal slits. Ovary stipitate or sessile; ovules (1)2(4); style elongate, ending in a capitate

stigma. Pods ± stipitate, obliquely elliptic or semi-orbicular, indehiscent or dehiscing along

one suture, compressed or ± dilated, coriaceous or ± membranous. Seeds solitary, large.

A genus of 16 species, 13 in tropical Africa, and 3 (one of them doubtfully a Guibourtia) in the West Indies

and South America.

The genus is named in honour of N. J. B. Guibourt, a learned French pharmacologist who wrote a history

of drug plants.

Petiole 0,8-1, 8 cm long; leaflets obliquely ovate, scarcely falcate, with 3-6 conspicuous basal nerves;

flower-buds globose, 2-3 mm in diameter; flowers subsessile or very shortly (up to 2 mm) stipitate;

pods 3, 3-5(5, 5) cm long, 2,2-3 cm wide, ± flattened, indehiscent; seed flattened, + circular, 20-24 X

17—19 mm, without an aril 1. G. conjugata

Petiole 1 ,5-3, 5(4) cm long; leaflets ovate-falcate, with a distinct midrib and 7-11 pairs of primary lateral

nerves; flower-buds ellipsoid, up to 5 mm long, 2,5-3 mm wide; flowers on pedicels 2-5 mm long;

pods 2-3,3 cm long, 1,6-2 cm wide and up to 1 cm thick when mature, dehiscing along one suture;

seed oblong, 12-19 x 7-12 x 4-8 mm, with a conspicuous scarlet aril 2. G. coleosperma

1. Guibourtia conjugata (Bo lie) J. Leon.

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 19 : 402 (1949); in

Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 274 (1950); Pardy

in Rhod. Agric. J. 51 : 111 (1954); J. Leon,

in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30,2 :

140, 149, t. 14 C, pi. 14 (1957); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 124 (1962); Von Breiten-

bach, Indig. Trees S.Afr. 3 : 323 (1965);

Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 253,

t.55 (1966); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger Nat.

Park 1 : 187 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees

S.Afr. 2 : 839 (1973). Type: Mozambique,

vicinity of Sena and Tete, Peters (B, holo.

t , K!).

Gorskia conjugata Bolle in Peters, Reise Mossamb.

Bot. 1 : 16, t.3 (1862). Type as above.

Copaifera gorskiana Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 25 : 317 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 315 (1871);

Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 51 (1909); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 751 (1930). Type as above. C. gorskia Schinz

in Verh. Bot. Prov. Brandenb. 30 : 172 (1889) sphalm.

C. conjugata (Bolle) Milne-Redh. in Kew Bull.

1934 : 400 (1934). Type as above.

Copaiba conjugata (Bolle) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 1:172

(1891). Type as above.

Small to medium-sized deciduous tree

usually 4-12 m high, occasionally up to 18 m

under favourable conditions, sometimes

many-stemmed or a shrub. Bark grey or

yellowish-brown, fairly smooth; young

branchlets slender, sparingly to densely pube-

rulous or pubescent, sometimes becoming

glabrescent. Leaves alternate, with a single

pair of leaflets: petiole 0,8-1, 8 cm long (in

our area), glabrous or sparingly to densely

puberulous, sometimes indumentum coarse

and spreading; leaflets subsessile, asymme-

tric, 2 , 5-5(7) cm long, 1 , 7-3 , 6 cm wide (in

our area), obliquely ovate, scarcely falcate,

the outer margin strongly convex, the inner

margin nearly straight or slightly convex,

rounded or obtuse apically, with 3-6 con-

spicuous nerves arising from the base, pro-

minent and raised on the lower surface,

reticulate venation fairly conspicuous on both

surfaces, coriaceous, with scattered pellucid

gland-dots, glabrous throughout or some-

times sparsely to fairly densely pubescent

along the nerves near the base beneath,

margins sometimes very shortly ciliate. Inflo-

rescence an axillary or terminal panicle

up to 14 cm long, lateral branches up to 6 cm

long, glabrous or sparingly to densely puberu-

lous or pubescent. Flowers white or cream,

subsessile or very shortly pedicellate; flower-

buds nearly globose, 2-3 mm in diameter;

bracteoles rapidly deciduous and shed before

the flowers open. Sepals 4, unequal, 2 ovate,

3 , 5-4 x 2 , 5-2 , 75 mm, 2 ± elliptic, ±3,5 X

2 mm, glabrous outside except for the mar-

gins, finely pubescent inside. Petals 0. Sta-

mens 10; filaments free, 5-7 mm long, gla-

brous, alternating long and short; anthers

1,25-1,5 mm long. Disc glabrous. Ovary

compressed, semi-orbicular, up to 1,5 X 1

mm, glabrous, very shortly stipitate, stipe

clothed with spreading hairs basally at least;

ovules 2; style 3-4,5 mm long, glabrous.

Pods brown, stipitate, semi-orbicular or obli-

quely ovate- or obovate-oblong, shortly api-

culate apically, 3, 3-5(5, 5) cm long, 2,2-3

Caesalpinioideae

21

FIG. 4.— Guibourtia coleosperma. 1, flowering twig, x 3 ; 2, flower, x 4; 3, gynoecium, x 4, all from De Winter

3809; 4, fruiting branch, X 5, dehisced pod showing attached seed, both from Coda 7069. Guibourtia

conjugate. 6, leaf, x from Van der Schijff 3338.

22

Caesalpinioideae

cm wide, ± flattened, indehiscent; valves

glabrous, coriaceous, brittle, venose. Seeds

solitary, reddish, flattened, ± circular, 20-24

X 17-19 mm, without an aril. Fig. 4 : 6.

Found in southern Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozam-

bique and the north eastern Transvaal. Occurs in

mixed woodland or bushveld on sandy soils or

rocky areas.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, Punda Milia, Lamont 51; Van der Schijff 1028;

3338; 4 km N.E. of Punda Milia, Codd & Dyer 4562;

S.E. of Klopperfontein on Mozambique border, Van

der Schijff 2901.

The degree of pubescence of the young branchlets,

petioles and inflorescence axes varies. The isotype in

the Kew herbarium exhibits a coarse spreading

indumentum, but more frequently the indumentum

is finely puberulous.

The timber of G. conjugata is hard and heavy

but, owing to the limited distribution of the species,

little use appears to be made of it. The sapwood is

pale yellowish-white and the heartwood dark brown.

2. Guibourtia coleosperma (Benth.) J.

Leon, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 19 : 403 (1949);

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 274 (1950);

in F.C.B. 3 : 364, pi. 13, fig. 28B (1952);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J. 49 : 171 (1952);

O. B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 32 (1952);

Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 242 (1956); J.

Leon, in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci.

30,2 : 142, 150, t,14E, pi. 15, 16 (1957); F.

White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 124, fig. 21,

C,D,E (1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees

S.Afr. 3 : 323 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

59 : 14 (1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2 : 841 (1973); Schreiber in Mitt. Bot.

Staatssamml. Miinchen 11 : 129 (1973).

Type: Zambia, Batoka highlands, Kirk (K,

holo.!).

Copaifera coleosperma Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 25 : 316 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 314 (1871);

Harms in Warb., Kunene-Samb. Exped. 246, pi. 99

(1903); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 52 (1909); Harms in

Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 441, fig. 243 (1915);

Dinter in Feddes Repert. 16 : 241 (1919); Bak.f. in

J. Bot. 66, Suppl. Poiypet. : 150 (1928); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 752 (1930); Hutch., Botanist in S.Afr.

476, 479 (1946). Type as above.

Copaiba coleosperma (Benth.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen.

1 : 172 (1891). Type as above.

Copaiva coleosperma (Benth.) Britton in Sc. Surv.

Porto Rico & Virgin Islands 6 : 542 (1930). Type as

above.

Tree up to 20 m high with a somewhat

rounded drooping crown, seldom completely

leafless; bole sometimes slightly buttressed.

Bark greyish, yellowish- or pale reddish-

brown to black, fairly smooth or sometimes

roughish on old plants; slash blood-red;

young branchlets glabrous, lenticellate.

Leaves alternate, with a single pair of leaflets,

glabrous: petiole 1,5-3, 5(4) cm long; leaflets

subsessile, asymmetric, (3,4)4-10 cm long,

1 ,5-4,2 cm wide (in our area), ovate-falcate,

the outer margin strongly convex, the inner

margin nearly straight or slightly convex,

obtuse or acuminate apically, midrib pro-

minent and raised on the lower surface, with

7-1 1 pairs of primary lateral veins, reticulate

venation conspicuous on both surfaces, coria-

ceous, glabrous or sometimes very sparingly

pubescent basally when young, with scattered

pellucid gland-dots. Stipules linear-lanceolate,

1- 2 cm long, 0,2 cm wide, rapidly deciduous

(fide Leonard in F.C.B. 3 : 364). Inflorescence

an axillary or terminal panicle up to 16 cm

long, lateral branches up to 9 cm long,

glabrous or sometimes very sparingly pubes-

cent when young. Flowers white or cream,

on glabrous pedicels 2-5 mm long; flower-

buds ellipsoid, up to 5 mm long, 2,5-3 mm

wide; bracteoles up to 4 mm long, rapidly

deciduous and shed before the flowers open.

Sepals 4, unequal, 2 ovate, 5-6 x 3-3,75 mm,

1 elliptic, ± 5 x 2,5 mm, 1 lanceolate, ±

5x1,5 mm, glabrous outside except for the

margins, densely fulvous-pubescent inside.

Petals 0. Stamens 10; filaments free, up to 7

mm long, glabrous, alternating long and

short; anthers up to 1,75 mm long. Disc

glabrous. Ovary compressed, semi-orbicular,

up to 2 x 1,5 mm, glabrous, on a stipe up to

2 mm long, stipe clothed with long spreading

hairs basally at least; ovules 2; style lateral,

4-5 mm long. Pods reddish-brown, stipitate,

semi-orbicular, shortly apiculate apically,

2- 3,3 cm long, 1,6-2 cm wide, up to 1 cm

thick when mature, dehiscing along one

suture; valves glabrous, coriaceous, rugulose

or finely tuberculate. Seeds usually solitary,

reddish-brown, oblong, 12-19 mm long, 7-12

mm wide, 4-8 mm thick, with a conspicuous

scarlet aril; seeds hanging from the dehisced

pods. Fig. 4 : 1-5.

Found in Zaire, Angola, South West Africa.

Botswana, Zambia and Rhodesia. Almost confined

to Kalahari sands; occurs in woodland.

S.W.A. — 1719 (Runtu): 35,2 km W. of Runtu on

road to Sambusu, De Winter 3814. 1721 (Mbambi):

near Shamvura Camp, 19,2 km E. of Nyangana

Mission Station, De Winter & Wiss4201. 1722(Chirun-

di): Bwabwata Rest Camp, Watt 13. 1723 (Singa-

lamwe): 96 km from Katima Mulilo on road to

Singalamwe, Killick & Leistner 3197. 1819 (Karaku-

wisa): Seven Miles Dune, 32 km S. of Runtu, De

Caesalpinioideae

23

Winter 3809 ; Omuramba bed, 27,2 km S. of Runtu on

road to Karakuwisa, De Winter 3768; Bumbi,

Merxmiiller & Giess 1850. 1 820 (Tarikora) : Omuramba

Omatako near Kapupahedi, Giess 10012. 1821

(Andara): Botswana border near Okavango River,

19 km N. of Shakawe, Wild & Drummond 7095 (K).

1920 (Tsumkwe): near Samangeigei, Story 6099.

The timber is hard and heavy and is used for

furniture and for various other purposes. The heart-

wood is attractive, reddish-pink and fine-grained.

The seeds and arils are edible and are eaten in

times of famine or scarcity of food. The arils are also

made into a drink which is said to be very nourishing.

3506 5. SCHOTIA

Schotia Jacq., Coll. 1 : 93 (1787), nom. conserv.; Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 2 : t. 331 (1797); Bodin

in Thunb., Nov. Gen. PI. 9 : 129 (1798), as Scotia; Willd., Sp. PI. ed. 4, 2 : 537 (1799); Thunb.,

FI. Cap. ed. Schult. 388 (1823); DC., Prodr. 2 : 507 (1825); G. Don, Gen. Syst. 2 : 454 (1832);

E. Mey., Comm. 161 (1836); Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 2 : 261 (1836); Harv., Gen. PI. ed. 1 : 92

(1838); Walp. in Linnaea 13 : 539 (1839); Endl., Gen. PI. 2 : 1316 (1840); Harv. in F.C.

2 : 273 (1862); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 581 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 309 (1871);

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 451 (1915); Marloth, FI. S. Afr. 2 : 56 (1925); Bak. f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 708 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 325 (1932); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 394

(1951); Leon, in F.C.B. 3 : 330 (1952); Codd in Bothalia 6,3 : 516 (1956); Leon, in M6m.

Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30,2 : 97 (1957); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 240 (1964); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 326 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 ; 18 (1967). Type

species: S. afra (L.) Thunb. (5. speciosa Jacq.).

Guajacum L., Sp. PI. 1 : 382 (1753) pro parte quoad G. afrum.

Theodora Medik., Theod. 16, t.l (1786); Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 2 : 261 (1836); Harv., Gen. PI. ed.l : 91

(1838); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 138 (1892); in Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C : 198 (1895).

Omphalobium Jacq.f. ex DC., Prodr. 2 : 508 (1825).

Unarmed trees or shrubs. Leaves simply paripinnate, alternate; leaflets usually 3-18

pairs, coriaceous, the lower usually smaller than the upper. Stipules small, deciduous.

Inflorescence a short lateral or terminal panicle or raceme, sometimes produced from the

old wood, many-flowered. Flowers red or pink, showy, hermaphrodite; bracts and bracteoles

small, membranous, deciduous. Calyx leathery; tube turbinate, subcampanulate or cylindrical,

persisting in fruit; lobes 4 (rarely 5), imbricate, often unequal, longer than the receptacle,

broad and not reflexed at flowering, deciduous. Petals 5 or, in S. brachypetala, some or all

of the petals reduced to linear filaments, imbricate, inserted inside the mouth of the receptacle,

deciduous. Stamens 10, inserted with the petals; filaments linear, free or united basally,

usually alternately long and short; anthers versatile, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary

stipitate, the stipe attached to one side of the receptacle, ovules several to many ; style elongate ;

stigma small, terminal. Pods oblong or broadly linear, sometimes ± falcate, compressed,

woody, subindehiscent, beaked, with a hard margin or wing along the upper suture which

persists, often with the seeds attached, after the eventual dehiscence of the valves. Seeds

ovoid to globose, slightly compressed, with or without a yellow cupular aril.

A small genus restricted to Africa south of the Zambesi River. Some of the specimens examined exhibit floral

characters of both S. afra (L.) Thunb. and of S. latifolia Jacq. One group shows a similarity to S’, latifolia in

general appearance but, unlike that species, has the stamen filaments free to the base; the other group resembles

S. afra in general appearance, but the stamen filaments are united basally to a variable extent. The two groups

are themselves not very uniform and, following Codd in Bothalia 6, 3 : 515-533 (1956), are treated as hybrids

of S. afra and S. latifolia. No advantage is seen in giving these specimens any formal taxonomic rank until

they have been studied in detail in the field in an attempt to evaluate their status. Both groups occur in areas

where both S. afra and S. latifolia are found. Despite a plea by Codd that these intermediate specimens should

be subjected to detailed study in the field, no attempt appears to have been made. As the hybrids are poorly

represented in herbaria it would appear that they are relatively infrequent. 4 species, two groups of intermediate

specimens, and one further entity are recognized. Many of the problems within this genus will only be resolved

by detailed field studies.

24

Caesalpinioideae

The 3 tropical species from the Guinea-Congo Region with tubular calyx tubes and reflexed sepals have

now been transferred to the genus Leonardoxa Aubrev. in Adansonia 8, 2 : 178 (1968).

The genus is named in honour of Richard van der Schot, Chief Gardener of the Imperial Garden of Schon-

brunn, and friend and travelling companion of Jacquin’s, during the latter’s travels in America.

The name Boerboon (Farmer’s bean) was given by the early European settlers to certain trees with edible

seeds. All of the Schotia species have acquired this common name, even although some species have inedible

seeds.

Stamens free to the base:

Leaflets usually exceeding 5 pairs per leaf and less than 1 cm wide :

Leaflets usually 6-11 pairs per leaf, 4-10 mm wide, oblong to elliptic or ± ovate

la. S', afra var. afra

Leaflets 12-18 pairs per leaf, 1-3 mm wide, linear or linear-oblong, sometimes slightly falcate

lb. S. afra var. angustifolia

Leaflets 3-5 pairs per leaf, usually exceeding 1 cm in width 5. S. latifolia X S. afra, Form A

Stamens united basally:

Petals 5, normally developed, very rarely 1 slightly reduced but then inflorescence a relatively lax terminal

or lateral panicle:

Inflorescence a congested subglobose panicle usually borne on short lateral branchlets or sometimes

terminal, seldom inflorescence lax and terminal but then leaves with > 4 pairs of leaflets; calyx

tube 3-6 mm long; leaflets 4-10 pairs per leaf:

Flowers scarlet, sessile or on pedicels up to 1,5 mm long; staminal tube forming a distinct sheath

which projects as a narrow irregular rim above the junction of the filaments; leaflets 3-5(6)

pairs per leaf 2. 5. capitata

Flowers pink to red, on pedicels 3-3,5 mm long; staminal tube not forming a distinct sheath;

leaflets 4—10 pairs per leaf 6. S. latifolia x S. afra, Form B

Inflorescence a relatively lax terminal or lateral panicle; calyx tube up to 2,5 mm long; leaflets 3-5

pairs per leaf:

Petals 9-11 mm long; petioles 5-20 mm long; leaflets (1,5)2, 5-6, 5 cm long, (1)1, 4-3, 5 cm wide,

margins usually glabrous or almost so 3. S. latifolia

Petals 6-7 mm long; petioles 1-4 mm long; leaflets 0,7-3, 2 cm long, 0,4-2,25 cm wide, margins

typically ± densely ciliate 7. S. sp.

Petals all, or some, reduced to linear filaments; inflorescence usually a dense ± congested subglobose

panicle, usually cauliflorous on older branches but occasionally terminal 4. S. brachypetala

1. Schotia afra (L.) Thunb., [Prodr. PI.

Cap. 79 (1794) nomen nudum] Nov. Gen. PI.

9 : 130 (1798), as Scotia ; Codd in Bothalia

6,3 : 517 (1956); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 177, t.55 (1961); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 3 : 327 (1965); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2: 851 (1973). Type: Herb.

Linnaeus 532.4 (LINN, lecto.!).

Much-branched shrub or small tree up

to 7 m high with a somewhat spreading

crown; trunk often gnarled. Bark usually

rough, brown or greyish-brown; young

branchlets glabrous to finely pubescent, some-

times festooned with lichens; lateral branch-

lets sometimes rigid and ± pointed apically.

Leaves glabrous to finely pubescent: petiole

2-4 mm long; rhachis 2-8,5 cm long, channel-

led above, rarely narrowly winged; leaflets

6 (very rarely fewer) - 18 pairs, usually

opposite, sessile, linear or oblong to elliptic

or ± ovate, sometimes slightly falcate,

5-17(20) mm long, 1-10 mm wide, often

oblique basally, apex obtuse, usually mucro

nate, glabrous throughout or finely pubes-

cent. Stipules ovate, acuminate, up to 2 mm

long, deciduous. Inflorescence a many-flo-

wered congested subglobose panicle, borne

on short lateral branchlets or, rarely, ter-

minal ; branches of inflorescence abbreviated,

usually hidden by the flowers, glabrous to

finely pubescent. Flowers on pedicels 3-9 mm

long; bracts small, scale-like, deciduous.

Calyx red, leathery; tube obconical to cylin-

drical, 3-8 mm long, 3-5 mm wide; lobes

usually 4, sometimes one lobe emarginate

apically or rarely divided to the base to give

5 lobes, obovate to oblong, 6-11 mm long,

5-10 mm wide. Petals 5, red to pink, oblan-

ceolate, slightly clawed, 10-18 mm long, 3-7

mm wide, veined, often pubescent on the

inner surface. Stamens 10; filaments free to

the base, 15-20 mm long, exceeding the

corolla by 3-8 mm; anthers elliptic, 2 mm

long. Ovary obliquely-oblong, compressed

Caesalpinioideae

25

5-7 mm long, ± 2 mm wide, on a stipe 5-6

mm long; style 8-14 mm long. Pods as in

generic description, (3,1)5-15 cm long,

(1, 8)3-4, 5(6) cm wide. Seeds pale brown,

ovoid to roundish, 12-18 mm long, 8-16 mm

wide, 5-7 mm thick, aril very small or absent.

Found in the southern portion of South West

Africa and in the Cape Province. Linnaeus, Sp. PI.

1 : 382 (1753), recorded the habitat of Guajacum

afrum, the basionym of S. afra, as Ethiopia, while in

Sp. PI. ed.2 : 547 (1762) the habitat was recorded as

Ethiopia and China. This is certainly in error.

5. afra occurs chiefly in dry karroid valley bush-

veld and scrub and in dry broken country, but it

occupies a diverse range of habitats. A very variable

species in which two varieties are recognized. A

few specimens from the Cape show floral characters

intermediate between those of S. afra and S. latifolia

and are treated as hybrids. The one group resembles

specimens of S. latifolia in general appearance but,

unlike this species, has the stamen filaments free to

the base (see p. 31), while the other group resembles

specimens of S. afra var. afra in general appearance,

but has the stamen filaments united basally to a

variable extent (see p. 32).

The binomial Schotia afra was validly published

in Thunberg’s Gen. PI. 9 : 130 (1798). Although the

name of Thunberg’s student, N. G. Bodin, appears on

the title page together with Thunberg’s, modern

convention treats Thunberg as the author. Conse-

quently, the author citation is taken as S. afra (L.)

Thunb.

(a) var. afra.

Codd in Bothalia 6,3 : 517, figs. 1 & 2

(1956).

Guajacum afrum L., Sp. PI. 1 : 382 (1753); Mill.,

Gard. Diet, ed.8 (1768). Type as above.

Theodora speciosa Medik., Theod. 16, t.l (1786);

Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 261 (1836); Harv., Gen. PI.

cd. 1 : 92 (1838); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 138

(1892). Type: It is not known whether the specimen

on which t.l was based exists; in the absence of a

specimen t.l will suffice as the type.

Schotia speciosa Jacq., Coll. 1 : 93 (1787); Icon.

PI. Rar. 1 : 8, t.75 (? 1787); Schreb., Gen. PI. 279

(1789); Willd., Sp. PI. ed.4, 2 : 537 (1799); Andr.,

Bot. Rep. 5 : t.348 (1804); Ait., Hort. Kew. ed.2,3 : 33

(1811); Thunb., FI. Cap. ed. Schult. 388 (1823); DC.,

Prodr. 2 : 508 (1825); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 274 (1862);

Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 207, t.57 (1907); Harms in

Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 451 (1915); Marloth,

FI. S. Afr. 2 : 56, 57, t.20B (1925). Type: It is not

known whether the specimen on which Icon. PI.

Rar. 1 : t.75 was based exists; if no specimen exists,

t.75 will suffice as the type. S. tamarindifoUa Afzel.

ex Sims in Bot. Mag. 29 : t.l 153 (1809); Ait.f., Hort.

Kew. ed.2, 3 : 33 (1811); DC., Prodr. 2 : 508 (1825);

E. Mey., Comm. 161 (1836); Pappe, Silva Cap. 15

(1854). Type: Bot. Mag. 29 : t.l 153 (1809). S', parvi-

folia Jacq., Fragm. 85, 1. 1 36 fig. 4 (1809). Type: Jacq.,

Fragm. t.l 36 fig. 4 (1809). S. speciosa var. tamarindi-

folia (Afzel. ex Sims) Harv. in F.C. 2 : 274 (1862).

Type as for S. tamarindifoUa.

Leaflets usually 6-11 pairs per leaf,

10-17(20) mm long, 4-10 mm wide, oblong

to elliptic or ± ovate.

Var. afra is confined to the Cape Province.

CAPE. — 3320 (Montagu): Ratelfontein, between

Dobbelaarskloof and Karreevlakte, Hall 881 (NBG) ;

Anysberg, Stokoe 8390 (BOL, SAM). 3321

(Ladismith): Seven Weeks Poort, De Jager sub BOL

25610. 3323 (Willowmore): Keurbooms River,

H. C. Taylor 29 (BOL). 3324 (Steytlerviile): Klein

Winterhoek, Drege s.n. (P). 3325 (Port Elizabeth):

Addo Bush, Gill 10 (BOL); Kenkelbos, Shantz 115

(K); Perseverance, Rodin 1282 (BOL, K); at Uitenhage

by Swartkops River, Burchell 4425 (K). 3326

(Grahamstown) : near Grahamstown, Compton 23358

(NBG); 28,9 km E. of Grahamstown, Codd 9237;

Port Alfred, Rogers 16637 (K); 72 km S.W. of

Grahamstown, Compton 24051 (NBG). 3421 (Rivers-

dale) : Gouritz River, Drege s.n. (P) ; Skilpadgat, 8 km

N.W. of Albertinia, H. C. Taylor 209 (NBG); Still

Bay Strand, H. C. Taylor 92 (BOL). 3422 (Mossel

Bay): Mossel Bay, Guthrie 4303 (NBG). 3424

(Humansdorp): Jeffreys Bay, L. E. Taylor 3134

(NBG). Grid ref. unknown: Alexandria Distr.,

Debega valley, Galpin 10661 (BOL); Oudtshoorn

Distr., between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp, Barker

628 (NBG); Robertson Distr., along Komas River,

33,6 km from Montagu, Acocks 8618\ Swellendam

Distr., Eierpoort, Compton 11920 (NBG).

The plants included in var. afra may be sub-

divided again into two groups on the basis of the

shape of the calyx, one group with the calyx tube

obconical in shape while, in the other group, the

calyx tube is cylindrical, although the distinction

between the two groups is not absolute. The form

with an obconical calyx tube tends to have a predomi-

nantly western distribution centred mainly in the

Little Karoo, but with outliers as far east as the

Knysna district.

The second group with a cylindrical calyx tube

was described as 5. tamarindifoUa Afzel. ex Sims,

but was subsequently placed as S. speciosa var.

tamarindifoUa by Harvey. As this second group is

vegetatively indistinguishable from the preceding

group, there seems to be no advantage in separating

it even as a distinct variety. This second group tends

to occupy an area mainly to the east of the group with

obconical calyces, but there are western outliers so that

there is no clear geographical discontinuity between

the two groups.

Codd l.c. : 518 cited the type specimen of

S. tamarindifoUa as a specimen in the British Museum

(Natural History) collected by Masson in the Cape.

Unfortunately I have not succeeded in locating this

specimen. There are three Schotia specimens in the

British Museum collected by Masson, but none of

them could be the specimen on which Bot. Mag.

29 : t.l 153 was based. In two specimens the leaflets

are far too small, have the wrong shape, and are

distinctly mucronate apically, while the third specimen

(referable to S. latifolia Jacq.) is clearly the third

species mentioned by Sims in Bot. Mag. 29 : t.l 153

“with four pair of obcordate leaflets, and a legumen

much less curved.” Consequently, in the absence of

a specimen, I have cited t.l 153 as the type of S.

tamarindifoUa.

26

Caesalpinioideae

5. tamarindifolia was described as having five

calyx lobes. Although this is unusual, it is not un-

known. There are usually four lobes but, occasionally,

the largest lobe is split apically. Rarely and only in

extreme cases, this apical split continues to the base

of the lobe with the result that five lobes instead of

four are present.

Codd l.c. : 521 hesitantly referred S. parvifolia

Jacq. to synonymy under var. angustifolia. The plate

of S. parvifolia is difficult to place with certainty,

but as the leaves have a maximum of 8 pairs of leaflets,

and as the leaflets are 2, 5-4, 5 mm wide, it is felt that

S. parvifolia is perhaps better placed in synonymy

under var. afra.

(b) var. angustifolia (£. Mey.) Harv. in

F.C. 2 : 274 (1862); Codd in Bothalia 6,3 :

520, figs. 4 & 7 (1956); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

59 : 18 (1967); Codd in Flow. PI. Afr. 42 :

1. 1 665 (1973). Type: Cape, 3226 (Fort

Beaufort), between Kunap and Kat Rivers,

Drege (BM, lecto.!, P!).

S. angustifolia E. Mey., Comm. 161 (1836). Type as

above. S. venusta Mason in J. R. Hort. Soc. 39 :

fig. 14 (1913) nomen nudum. S. speciosa var. tama-

rindifolia sensu L. Bol. in Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 9 : 258

(1915), non (Afzel. ex Sims) Harv.

Leaflets 12-18 pairs per leaf, 5-17 mm

long, 1-3 mm wide, linear or linear-oblong,

sometimes slightly falcate.

Var. angustifolia is found in the southern portion

of South West Africa and in the Cape Province.

S.W.A. — 2816 (Oranjemund): Lorelei, Merxmiiller

& Giess 2430 (M); Kupfermine Lorelei, Giess, Volk &

Bleissner 5427 (M). 2818 (Warmbad): farm Eendoorn,

Galpin s.n. (BOL); 20 km W. of Raman’s Drift,

Pearson 4540 (BM, K); Skunsbergs-Quelle, S. of

Warmbad, Dinter 5133.

CAPE. — 2816 (Oranjemund): S.E. of Sendelings

Drift, Pillans 5085 (BOL). 2820 (Kakamas): Augra-

bies, L. E. Taylor 3466 (NBG); Aughrabies Falls,

Esterhuysen 23557 (BOL). 2919 (Pofadder): 11,2 km

W. of Pofadder, Thorne sub SAM 57360. 2920

(Boomrivier): Groot Rozynbosch, Pearson 3824

(BM, BOL, K). 2922 (Prieska): farm Witfontein, ±

32 km N.W. of Prieska, Bryant sub BOL 25612. 3127

(Lady Frere): near Bolotwa, Thorns s.n. (NBG);

Cofimvaba, Quamatapoort valley, Mundell s.n.

(NBG). 3224 (Graaff-Reinet): near Graaff-Reinet,

H. Bolus 621 (BOL). 3225 (Somerset East): Blyde

River, Burchell 2964 (K). 3226 (Fort Beaufort): N.

side of Mitchell's Pass, Esterhuysen 13235 (BOL).

3227 (Stutterheim): Kei Bridge, Codd 9242\ near

Komgha, Flanagan 1322 (BOL, SAM); 6,4 km from

Mt. Coke on road to Reed’s Camp, Comins 1575.

3326 (Grahamstown): Robber station, between Blue

Krantz and Kowie River, Burchell 3883 (K); 8 km

S.W. of Breakfast VIei on road to Grahamstown,

Lewis sub SA M 66637.

Var. angustifolia occurs in two disjunct areas. The

first extends from Victoria East to Butterworth and

inland to Queenstown and Graaff-Reinet. The second

area extends from Prieska westwards to northern

Namaqualand and the Warmbad district of southern

South West Africa.

2. Schotia capitata Bolle in Peters,

Reise Mossamb. Bot.l : 18 (1861); Oliv.

in F.T.A. 2 : 310 (1871); Sim, For. FI. P.E.

Afr. 51 (1909); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 :

710 (1930); Codd in Bothalia 6,3 : 521, fig. 3

(1956); Letty, Wild Flow. Transv. 164, t.82 : 3

(1962); Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S.

Afr. 3 : 330 ( 1 965) ; Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot.

Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 853 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal

194 (1973); in Bothalia 11 : 285 (1974). Type:

Mozambique, Inhambane, Peters s.n. (B,

holo.f; BM, sketch!); Mozambique, Lou-

rengo Marques Prov., Goba, rio Maivavo,

Balsinhas 204 (K, neo.!).

S. tamarindifolia Afzel. ex Sims var. forbesiana

Baill. in Adansonia 6 : 197 (1866). Type: Mozam-

bique, Delagoa Bay, Forbes 32 (K, iso.!). S. trans-

vaalensis Rolfe in Kew Bull. 1906 : 248 (1906); Burtt

Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 326 (1932); Henkel, Woody

PI. Natal 219 (1934); Phillips in Flow. PI. Afr. 15 :

t.574 (1935) excl. descr. “up to 30 ft high”; Codd,

Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 68, fig. 63 b, c

(1951). Type: Transvaal, Barberton Distr., Barberton,

P. Orange s.n. (K, holo.!).

Theodora capitata (Bolle) Taub. in Pflanzenw. Ost.

Afr. C : 198 (1895). Type as for Schotia capitata.

Many-stemmed shrub or slender tree up

to 7 m high, often sub-scandent or scandent,

sometimes forming a large spreading bush.

Bark pale grey and smooth when young, but

rough and dark brown when old; young

branchlets glabrous to ± densely pubescent.

Leaves glabrous to ± densely pubescent:

petiole 1-6 mm long; rhachis 3-8 cm long,

narrowly winged especially apically; leaflets

3-5(6) pairs, opposite or subopposite, sessile,

elliptic, sub-rotund or obovate, (1)1, 5-3, 5

cm long, (0, 6)1-1 ,8(2) cm wide, obtuse

or acute basally, often oblique, obtuse

or acute and usually mucronate apically.

Stipules obliquely ovate, up to 6 mm long and

3 mm wide, deciduous. Inflorescence a con-

gested subglobose panicle, borne on short

lateral branchlets or sometimes terminal;

inflorescence branches much abbreviated,

semi-woody, glabrous or pubescent. Flowers

scarlet, sessile or on pedicels up to 1,5 mm

long; bracts scale-like, less than 1 mm long,

deciduous. Calyx leathery, tube obconical,

3-6 mm long, persistent; lobes 4, subequal,

obovate to elliptic, 6-9 mm long, 3-4 mm

wide. Petals 5, oblanceolate, clawed, 10-14

Caesalpinioideae

27

mm long, 3-4 mm wide, veined. Stamens 10,

united basally for 2-4,5 mm and forming a

sheath around the stipe of the ovary, sheath

split open on the side to which the stipe of the

ovary is attached to the calyx receptacle,

projecting as a narrow irregular rim ± 1 mm

above the junction of the stamen-filaments;

one or two filaments often free to the base on

the split side; filaments linear, 12-16 mm

long, exceeding the corolla by 3-5 mm;

anthers elliptic, 1,5-2 mm long. Ovary

oblong, 4-5 mm long, ± 2 mm wide, com-

pressed, on a stipe 4-5 mm long and ± 1 mm

thick, adnate to one side of the calyx recep-

tacle; style 13-15 mm long. Pod as in generic

description, 4-16 cm long, 2, 5-3,9 cm wide.

Seeds pale brown, ovoid, 8-12 mm long, 8-12

mm wide, 5-6 mm thick, with a large com-

pressed yellow basal aril.

Found in Mozambique, the eastern Transvaal,

Swaziland and Natal (Zululand). Occurs in dry

thomveld and bushveld.

TRANSVAAL. — 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger Natio-

nal Park, 12 km N.E. of Skukuza on Lower Sabie

road, Codd & De Winter 5063 ; Kruger National Park,

Tshokwane, Kloppers sub PRE 32226. 253 1 (Komati-

poort): Kruger National Park, 33,6 km from Preto-

riuskop on Skukuza road, Story 3934; Komatipoort,

Rogers 22150; 25,6 km S. of Komatipoort, Strey 4023.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): near Bulunga

Poort, Compton 32171. 2632 (Bela Vista): Ingwavuma

Poort, Dlamini s.n. 2731 (Louwsburg): near Gollel,

Karsten s.n.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Hill, Pooley

99 (NH, NU). 2731 (Louwsburg): between Pongola

Poort and Transvaal road bridge, Dyer & Verdoorn

5844. 2732 (Ubombo): Mkuzi Game Reserve, Ward

4466 (NH); 27,2 km N. of Hluhluwe on Mkuze road,

Ross 1981. 2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve,

road from Tobothi to Ngoloti, Ross 2015; Umfolozi

Game Reserve, Ward 1468 (NH); Corridor, Hitchins

197 (NH); Black Umfolozi valley, near Mahlabatini,

A cocks 11666.

S. capitata is a fairly variable species and, in the

absence of flowers, it is sometimes difficult to separate

some forms of it from S. brachypetala as the size of the

leaflets in the two species overlaps. However, in the

field the two species can be distinguished by the diffe-

rence in habit.

S. capitata shows a superficial resemblance to some

of the specimens referred to "S. latifolia x S. afra,

Form B ”, but is distinguished from this group by the

characteristic stamina! sheath which encloses the

stipe of the ovary. The sheath is usually composed

of 8 stamens united basally for 2-4,5 mm with a slit

on the side to which the stipe is attached to the calyx

receptacle. The sheath is smooth on the inside and is

projected as an uneven rim ± 1 mm above the junc-

tion of the stamen filaments. One or two stamens are

usually free to the base on the open side of the sheath.

In the Umfolozi Game Reserve in Zululand there is

a ± densely pubescent variant of S. capitata , for

example, Ward 1468 (NH), Ross 2015, Moll 5728.

This variant often grows into a large several-stemmed

bush which may attain a height of 7 m and a spread of

up to 20 m with stems up to 25 cm in diameter. The

more usual semi-scandent form of S. capitata is also

found in apparently ecologically similar situations.

The significance of these different growth forms is

not understood and further field observations are

required.

3. Schotia latifolia Jacq., Fragm. 23,

1. 1 5 fig.4 (1801): DC., Prodr. 2 : 508 (1825);

E. Mey., Comm. 162 (1836); Eckl. & Zeyh.,

Enum. 262 (1836); Harv., Gen. PI. ed. 1 : 92

(1838); Jacq.f., Eclog. PI. Rar. 2 : 6, t.126

(1844); Pappe, Silva Cap. 15 (1854); Harv. in

F. C. 2 : 274 (1862); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col.

206, t.57 (1907); Marloth, FI. S. Afr. 2,1 :

56-58, t.20A (1925); Codd in Bothalia 6,3 :

523, figs. 5 & 8 (1956); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 179 (1961); Von Breitenbach,

Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 332 (1965); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 855 (1973). Type:

It is not known whether the specimen on

which Jacq., Fragm. 1. 1 5 fig. 4 was based

exists; in the absence of a specimen 1. 1 5 fig. 4

will suffice as the type.

Omphalobium schotia Jacq.f '. ex DC., Prodr. 2 : 508

(1825) in synonymy.

Schotia diversifolia Walp. in Linnaea 1 3 : 541 (1839).

Syntypes all from the Cape Province: Uitenhage and

Albany districts, Ecklon & Zeyher 1701 (GRA!, K!,

P!, PRE!, SAM!); 3227 (Stutterheim): Zandplaat,

Drege (not traced); 3326 (Grahamstown): Glenfilling,

Drege (BM!, K!, P!); 3327 (Peddie): Keiskamma,

Drege (P!). S. cuneifolia Gand. in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.

60 : 462 (1913). Type: Cape Province, Penther 2516

(not traced, but see note below).

Theodora latifolia (Jacq.) Taub. in Pfianzenfam.

3,3 : 138 (1892). Type as for Schotia latifolia.

Tree up to 10(15) m high with a some-

what rounded crown. Bark smooth, dull grey

to reddish-brown; young branchlets glabrous

to shortly pubescent. Leaves glabrous to

shortly pubescent: petiole 0,5-2 cm long;

rhachis (2)4-8(10) cm long, slightly channelled

above, winged in the juvenile state; leaflets 3-5

pairs, usually opposite, sessile, elliptic-oblong

to obovate, (1 ,5)2, 5-6, 5 cm long, (1)1 ,4-3,5

cm wide, cuneate to rounded basally, oblique,

rounded to acute apically, rarely mucronate,

the upper leaflets the largest. Stipules ovate,

up to 4 mm long, deciduous. Inflorescence a

terminal or lateral panicle, usually relatively

open ; branches of inflorescence patent, glab-

rous to shortly pubescent. Flowers on pedicels

28

Caesalpinioideae

less than 2 mm long; bracts scale-like,

deciduous. Calyx reddish-brown, leathery;

tube very short, turbinate, 1 , 5-2 mm long,

persistent; lobes 4, subequal, obovate, 5-8

mm long, 4-5 mm wide. Petals 5, equal or,

occasionally, 1 slightly reduced, pink to flesh-

coloured, veined, oblanceolate, 9-11 mm

long, 2,5-3 mm wide. Stamens 10; filaments

united basally for 0,5-5 mm, the staminal

sheath split open on the side to which the

stipe of the ovary is attached to the calyx

receptacle, filaments linear, 10-14 mm long,

exceeding the corolla by 2-3 mm; anthers

elliptic, 1,5-2 mm long. Ovary oblong, 4-5

mm long, ± 2 mm wide, compressed, on a

stipe ± 2 mm long, stipe adnate to one side

of calyx receptacle; style 10-12 mm long.

Pods as in generic description, 5-14 cm long,

3-4,5 cm wide. Seeds pale brown, 11-14 mm

long, 7,5-10 mm wide, 5-7 mm thick, with a

large yellow basal aril. Fig. 5:6.

Found in the Cape Province, although three

gatherings from the eastern Transvaal (see note below)

are also apparently referable to S. latifolia. Occurs on

forest margins and in dry scrub and bushveld.

TRANSVAAL.— 2429 (Zebediela): S.E. of Chu-

niespoort, Plowes 2190. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) : 1 , 6 km

S.E. of Steelpoort station, Codd 9778; 1 , 6 km N.W. of

Burgersfort, Codd 9828.

CAPE. — 3225 (Somerset East) : on Bosch River near

Somerset East, Burchell 3130 (K). 3226 (Fort Beau-

fort): Brambledene, between Alice and Seymour,

Barker 2898 (BOL, NBG). 3227 (Stutterheim) : Dohne,

Acocks 9501 ; 1 1 ,2 km from Mt. Coke Hotel on road to

King William’s Town, Comins 1574 ; near Komgha,

Flanagan 712 (BOL, SAM). 3325 (Port Elizabeth):

Uitenhage, Thode A2644 , Gill 16 (BOL); near Block-

house, Burchell 4332 (K); around Krakakamma, Bur-

chell 4550 (K). 3326 (Grahamstown) : 24 km N.W. of

Grahamstown, Maguire 661 (NBG); Howison’s Poort

near Grahamstown, MacOwan 77 (BM, BOL, K);

Port Alfred, Rogers 28603 (K). 3327 (Peddie): Ebb-

and-Flow, Maguire 619 (NBG); Hamburg, 3,2 km

from Keiskamma Hotel, Comins 1611. 3423 (Knysna):

Plettenberg Bay, Pappe s.n. (K); Keurbooms River,

Compton 4457 (BOL, NBG); Keurbooms River Pass,

Fourcade 1992 (BOL, K).

As mentioned by Codd l.c. : 525, Jacquin’s plate

(Fragm. t.15 fig.4) consists of a vegetative shoot and

was made from an immature plant said to be five

years old, grown from seed collected by Georg Scholl,

who collected in the Cape Province from 1785 to

1797 for the Imperial Gardens at Schonbrunn. Scholl

apparently did not travel further east than East

London and therefore would not have entered the

distributional range of S. brachypetala Sond., a species

which is vegetatively indistinguishable from S. lati-

folia. This is not the only evidence relating to the

identity of Jacquin’s plate. De Candolle, Prodr.

2 : 508 (1825), provided a description of the flowers

of S. latifolia based on an unpublished plate (later

published in Eclog. PI. Rar. 2 : t.126, 1844) by Jacq.f.,

who had given it the manuscript name Omphalobium

schotia. Presumably this was the same plant as that

figured by the elder Jacquin.

As discussed by Codd l.c. : 525, the type specimen

of 5. cuneifolia was cited by Gandoger as Penther

2516. All attempts to trace Penther 2516 have failed,

but in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, there

is a sheet of S. latifolia labelled Penther 2561 from

the East London district. The possibility exists that

Penther 2516 is a typographical error for Penther

2561, and that the latter is actually the type specimen.

In any event, the type description of S. cuneifolia does

not suggest that this species is distinct from S. latifolia.

In the Cape Province S. latifolia is known from

as far east as the Kentani and Engcobo districts,

while S. brachypetala is known to occur as far south as

Umtata. Present evidence suggests that the distribu-

tional ranges of these two species do not overlap, but

further collecting is required in the Transkei and in

Pondoland to establish whether or not this impression

is correct.

Three flowering specimens from Sekukuniland

in the eastern Transvaal, namely Codd 9778, 9828 and

Plowes 2190, merit special mention. These specimens

have relatively open terminal or lateral inflorescences,

pink flowers, and the same overall facies as S. latifo-

lia. The number of petals developed per flower varies

among the specimens, but no more than one appears

to be reduced to a linear filament. Vegetatively the

specimens are not uniform. S. brachypetala is the

only species known to occur in Sekukuniland but

these three gatherings do not have the same facies

as this species. Although separated from the nearest

population of S. latifolia by a large geographical

discontinuity, and although not quite typical of it, the

specimens cannot be distinguished satisfactorily from

S. latifolia and are therefore provisionally included in

this species. The occurrence of these specimens so far

away from the nearest population of S. latifolia is

difficult to explain. Field studies and more material

are required.

There are 2 specimens, Thorncroft s.n. (NBG),

from a plant of S. latifolia, cultivated at Kirstenbosch

which is said to have come from Barberton in the

eastern Transvaal. As S. latifolia was not recorded

from the Transvaal, it has been assumed in the past

that the Kirstenbosch plant was of garden origin in

Barberton. However, because of these anomalous

specimens from Sekukuniland, the possibility can no

longer be excluded that S. latifolia may occur indige-

nously near Barberton. This requires investigation.

A few specimens from the Cape show floral

characters intermediate between those of S. latifolia

and S. afra and are treated as hybrids. The one group

resembles specimens of S. latifolia in general appear-

ance but, unlike this species, has the stamen filaments

free to the base (see p. 31), while the other group

resembles specimens of S. afra var. afra, but has the

stamen filaments united basally to a variable extent

(see p. 32).

4. Schotia brachypetala Sond. in Lin-

naea 23 : 39 (1850); Harv., Thes. Cap. 1 : 21,

t.32 (1859); in F.C. 2 : 274 (1862); Wood,

Natal Plants 4 : t.390 (1906); Sira, For. FI.

Caesalpinioideae

29

FIG 5 — Schotia brachypetala. 1, flowering twig, x f; 2, flower, x 1 ; 3, flower with sepals removed, x 1

4, gynoecium, x 2, all from Codd 6695; 5, pod and arillate seed, x j, from Howes 20. Schotia latifolia

6, part of flowering twig, X from Harvey 1839.

30

Caesalpinioideae

P. E. Afr. 51, t.55B (1909); Harms in Engl.,

Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1; 452 (1915); Marloth, FI.

S. Afr. 2 : 56, 58, t.20c (1925); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 709(1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 326 (1932); Dyer in Flow. PI. Afr.

20 : t.777 (1940); Codd, Trees & Shrubs

Kruger Nat. Park 66, t.3, fig. 63a (1951);

Pardy in Rhod. Agric. j. 49 : 173 (1952); Codd

in Bothalia 6,3 ; 526, fig.6 (1956); Palgrave,

Trees Centr. Afr. 119-120 (1957); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 178, t.56, XII (1961);

Von Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 328

(1965); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mo?amb.

1 : 262, t.61 (1966); De Winter et al., 66

Transv. Trees 66, 68 (1966); Compton in

J. S. Afr. Bot. Suppl. 6 ; 46 (1966); Van Wyk,

Trees Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 189 (1972); Ross,

FI. Natal 194 (1973); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 855 (1973). Type: Natal,

Durban [Port Natal], Gueinzius 33 (S, holo.,

K, photo., SAM, ? iso.!).

S. brachypetala var. pubescens Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : XXX, 326 (1932). Type: Transvaal, Letaba

Distr., Shiluvane, Junod 635 (K, holo.! , PRE!). 5.

rogersii Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : XXX, 326 (1932).

Type: Transvaal, Soutpansberg Distr., Waterpoort,

Rogers 21246 (K, holo.!, GRA!, PRE!, SAM!). S.

latifolia sensu Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 219 (1934),

non Jacq. S. semireducta Merxm. in Mitt. Bot. Staats-

samml. Munchen 6 : 199 (1953). Type from Rhodesia.

Tree up to 16 m high with a somewhat

rounded crown. Bark greyish- to reddish-

brown, rough or smooth; young branchlets

glabrous to shortly pubescent. Leaves gla-

brous to shortly pubescent: petiole 0,5-2, 5

cm long; rhachis 2,5-14(18) cm long, slightly

channelled above, often narrowly winged

especially apically; leaflets 4-7(8) pairs,

opposite or subopposite, sessile or with

petiolules up to 2 mm long, elliptic, oblong,

ovate-oblong, ovate or obovate, 2, 5-8, 5 cm

long, (0,8) 1,2-4, 5 cm wide, obtuse or

rounded basally, oblique, rounded apically,

rarely mucronate, the upper leaflets largest.

Stipules ovate, 4-5 mm long, deciduous.

Inflorescence a dense ± congested subglobose

panicle, usually cauliflorous on older bran-

ches but occasionally terminal; inflorescence

branches woody, abbreviated, glabrous or

pubescent. Flowers deep red or scarlet,

pedicellate; pedicels 5-12 mm long, glabrous

or pubescent; bracts ovate, up to 6 x 4 mm,

soon deciduous. Calyx leathery; tube obco-

nical to subcampanulate, 3-9 mm long,

glabrous or sparingly pubescent; lobes 4,

subequal, ovate to elliptic, 8-12 mm long,

4-6 mm wide, the largest often emarginate

apically. Petals 5, all reduced to linear fila-

ments 2-6 mm long, or 1-4 petals developing

per flower and then red, spathulate to oblan-

ceolate, clawed, 1,3-1, 8 cm long, 3-6 mm

wide. Stamens 10, filaments united basally for

1,5-3, 5 mm, tube entire or split down one

side; filaments linear, 1,8-2 cm long, exceed-

ing the calyx by 8-10 mm; anthers elliptic,

2-2 , 5 mm long. Ovary oblong, 4-6 mm long,

± 2 mm wide, compressed, tuberculate along

the margins, on a stipe up to 4 mm long which

is adnate to one side of the calyx receptacle;

style 9-11 mm long. Pods as in generic des-

cription, 5-17 cm long, 3, 5-4, 7 cm wide.

Seeds light brown, ovoid, oblong or oblique,

10-15 mm long, 8-15 mm wide, 5-6 mm thick,

with a large yellow basal aril. Fig. 5 : 1-5.

Found in Rhodesia, Mozambique, Transvaal,

Swaziland, Natal and the eastern Cape Province.

Occurs in dry thornveld, bushveld, woodland or

scrub forest; often found on river banks or on termite

mounds.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): farm Hamil-

ton 621, Codd 4453; 17,6 km N. of Louis Trichardt

near Wyllie’s Poort, Codd 4443, Codd 4444. 2231

(Pafuri): Kruger National Park, Punda Milia, Row-

land Jones 23. 2328 (Baltimore): Leipzig, Leipoldt 2.

2329 (Pietersburg) : 44,8 km W. of Louis Trichardt,

Codd 4442. 2330 (Tzaneen) : Tzaneen, Pole Evans sub

PRE 15819. 2427 (Thabazimbi) : 13,6 km S.E. of

Hermanusdooms on road to Vaalwater, Codd 4426.

2429 (Zebediela) : Chuniespoort, Acocks & Hafstrom

722. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): 16 km S. of Penge Mines,

Codd 6695; near Morone, Codd 9781. 2431 (Acorn-

hoek): Kruger National Park, 2,4 km N.E. of

Skukuza, Codd 4386. 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger

National Park, Numbi, Van der Schijff 63; Kruger

National Park, 28,8 km N. of Malelane Camp,

Codd 4375.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Malinda,

Compton 30131 ; Ranches, Compton 27025; 29 km E. of

Manzini, Reynolds 9689; Timbutini, Dlamini s.n.

NATAL.— 2730 (Vryheid): Utrecht, Thode A1287

(K, NH). 2732 (Ubombo): Mkuze, Galpin s.n. (BOL).

2829 (Harrismith): Klip River, Sutherland s.n. (K).

2830 (Dundee): 19,2 km from Muden on Weenen

road, Moll 3248. 2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi Game

Reserve, Ward 4386 (NH). 2832 (Mtubatuba) : 4 , 8 km

N. of Mtubatuba on Hluhluwe road, Ross 1367

(K, NH, NU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Umkomaas

River valley near Richmond, Howes 20 (K). 2931

(Stanger): Verulam, Wood 1367 (K). 3030 (Port

Shepstone): Dumisa, Rudatis 686 (BM, K).

CAPE. — 3128 (Umtata): Umtata Commonage,

Miller B/955; Buntingville, Conservator of Forests

2058. 3129 (Port St. Johns): E. of Welsh Bridge,

Acocks 13844; 8 km from Welsh Bridge on Cwehaland

road, Story 4211; between Mateku waterfall and

Msikaba drift, Strey 8508 (NH).

S', brachypetala is the most widespread of all of

the Scholia species. It is rather a variable species,

Caesalpinioideae

31

particularly in the degree of pubescence, number,

shape and size of leaflets, and the degree of suppres-

sion of the petals. Of these characters, the degree of

pubescence has the least taxonomic significance as

there is a gradation from persistently pubescent

specimens to ± glabrous specimens.

In typical S. brachypetala all of the petals are

reduced to linear filaments. However, as discussed by

Codd l.c. : 528, this suppression is frequently incom-

plete and from 1-4 normal petals per flower may be

present. Although the number of normal petals per

flower appears to be uniform on a single tree, there is

often variation in the number of petals developed

from tree to tree within a population. Apart from this

difference in the number of petals developed, neigh-

bouring trees are otherwise indistinguishable. Codd

l.c. found that the tendency to produce normal petals

becomes more marked towards the northern limits of

distribution of the species.

S. brachypetala is almost evergreen, usually

shedding its leaves for a short period immediately

before the flowers appear. The flowers are well

supplied with nectar and the trees often “weep” when

in flower, whence the common names Weeping Boer-

boon or Huilboerboon. Several species of birds are

attracted by the nectar.

The timber of S. brachypetala is of good quality

and is suitable for use in furniture. The sapwood is

pinkish grey and the heartwood dark walnut to black,

hard, heavy and fine textured.

5. Schotia latifolia Jacq. x S. afra ( L .)

Thunb., Form A.

Codd in Bothalia 6,3 : 529, figs. 9 & 11

(1956).

S. stipulata Ait.f., Hort. Kew ed. 2, 3: 33 (1811);

DC., Prodr. 2 : 508 (1825). Type from a plant culti-

vated at Kew from seed collected in the Cape by

Masson (BM, ? holo.!). S. speciosa var. ovalifolia

Harv. in F.C. 2 : 274 (1862). Syntypes: The type of

S. stipulata Ait.f. (BM!); Cape, “Winterhoeksberge

and Zwartberge”, Eckloti & Zeyher 1700 (GRA!, K.!,

SAM!).

Theodora stipulata (Ait.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 261

(1836). Type as for Schotia stipulata.

Shrub or small tree; young branchlets

glabrous to shortly pubescent. Leaflets 3-5

pairs per leaf, 1,2-4, 2 cm long, 0,7-2, 3 cm

wide, sessile, elliptic-oblong to obovate,

oblique, obtuse or acute apically and often

mucronate. Inflorescences terminal, ± lax.

Flowers red or pink, on pedicels 1-5 mm long.

Calyx leathery; tube 1-4 mm long; lobes 4-9

mm long, 3,5-6 mm wide. Petals 5, obovate,

7-13 mm long, 3-4 mm wide. Stamens 10,

filaments free to the base. Ovary oblong,

compressed, 4-5 mm long, stipitate. Pods as

in generic description. Seeds pale brown,

ovoid, flattened, with a yellow basal aril.

Differs from S. afra in having lax inflores-

cences and fewer pairs of larger leaflets;

differs from S. latifolia in having stamen

filaments free to the base.

Found in the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage

districts of the Cape Province.

CAPE.— 3325 (Port Elizabeth): “Zwartkops River

near Addo”, Zeyher 672 (BM, BOL, K, OXF, SAM

p.p.); Zeyher 2446 (SAM): Rehouse (on Swartkops

River), Paterson 662 (PRE). Grid ref. unknown:

“Winterhoeksberge and Zwartberge”, Ecklon &

Zeyher 1700 (GRA, K, SAM).

The specimens included here are themselves not

very uniform. They resemble S. latifolia in general

appearance, but differ from this species in having the

stamen filaments free to the base.

Paterson 662 consists of a flowering twig and a

fruiting twig. As the pod is mature, and as the leaflets

on the fruiting twig are of a different size and shape to

those on the flowering twig, it is by no means certain

that both twigs were collected at the same time or off

the same plant. This is stressed because the maximum

leaflet dimensions recorded in the above description

are taken from this fruiting twig. The fruiting twig

bears a strong resemblance to S. latifolia , and the

flowering twig has a superficial resemblance to

specimens of S. latifolia x S. afra Form B, but differs

in having the stamen filaments free to the base. The

flowers in Paterson 662 are on pedicels 4-5 mm long,

the calyx tube is 4 mm long, the lobes are up to 9 mm

long, and the petals are up to 15 mm long. In Zeyher

672 and 2446, however, the pedicels and calyx tubes

are much shorter and the calyx lobes and petals are

smaller. In the Bolus Herbarium there are two collec-

tions of Zeyher 672: one consists of a mixed gathering

of 5. latifolia X S. afra Form A and of S. latifolia ,

and the second gathering consists entirely of the

hybrid Form A. The sheet of Zeyher 672 in the South

African Museum collection likewise consists of a

mixed gathering of 5. latifolia x S. afra Form A and

of S. latifolia.

As the specimens share characters of both 5. afra

and S. latifolia, it appears that they may be hybrids,

but there is no direct evidence to substantiate this

suggestion. All of the specimens are from areas where

both 5. afra and S', latifolia occur. As indicated by

Codd l.c. : 530, there seems to be no advantage in

giving these plants any formal taxonomic rank until

they have been subjected to detailed field studies.

Aiton based his description of S. stipulata on a

plant cultivated at Kew and said to have been grown

from seed collected in the Cape by Masson. A speci-

men, thought to be the holotype, is housed in the

British Museum (Natural History). I have not seen

any other specimen that matches it. The specimen

has distinctly winged rhachides, 4-5 pairs of leaflets

per leaf which are up to 3,2 cm long and 1,75 cm

wide, and conspicuously mucronate apically. The

stipules are obliquely ovate and up to 7 x 4 mm.

The two flowers are on pedicels ± 1 mm long.

In one flower the stamen filaments are free to the base,

but in the other a few of the filaments are very

shortly united basally. S. stipulata is difficult to place

with certainty, but, as indicated by Codd l.c. : 529,

it probably belongs to this group of specimens.

32

Caesalpinioideae

6. Schotia latifolia Jacq. x S. afra (L.)

Thunb., Form B.

Codd in Bothalia 6,3 : 530, fig. 10(1956).

Shrub or tree up to 8 m high; young

branchlets glabrous to shortly pubescent.

Leaflets 4-10 opposite or subopposite pairs

per leaf, 0,9-3, 2 cm long, 0,4-2, 1 cm wide,

oblong to elliptic-oblong, usually obtuse

apically and often mucronate. Inflorescences

usually on abbreviated lateral branches or

sometimes terminal, ± glomerate. Flowers

pink to reddish, on pedicels 3-3,5 mm long.

Calyx leathery; tube obconical, 3-6 mm long;

lobes 5-12 mm long, 4-7 mm wide. Petals 5,

oblanceolate, 13-20 mm long, 3-4,5 mm

wide. Stamens 10, filaments united basally for

1-3 mm with the sheath split open on one

side. Ovary oblong, compressed, 4-5 mm

long, stipitate. Pods as in generic description.

Seeds pale brown, ovoid, flattened, with a

small or large aril. Differs from S. afra in

having the stamen filaments united basally

and in having fewer and larger leaflets;

differs from S. latifolia in having longer

pedicels, longer calyx receptacles, and more

numerous and smaller leaflets.

Found in the Alexandria, Bathurst and East

London districts of the Cape Province. Recorded

from dune forest and valley bush veld.

CAPE. — 3227 (Stutterheim): Bonza Bay, East

London Museum s.n. (NBG). 3326 (Grahamstown) :

Lower Kariega valley, Acocks 13280 (PRE); Kariega

River bank near sea, Bayliss BS4398 (PRE); Kenton-

on-Sea, Acocks 18337 (K, PRE); Port Alfred, Stocks 3

(PRE), R. Verdoorn 10 (PRE); between Alexandria

and Grahamstown, Burtt Davy 12130 (BOL, GRA,

PRE). 3327 (Peddie): 4,8 km N.W. of Hamburg,

edge of Keiskamma River, Acocks 21832 (PRE). Grid

ref. unknown; Albany distr., 5,6 km N. of Nanaga,

Acocks 21689 (K, PRE).

The specimens are relatively uniform in floral

characters and resemble S. afra in their usually

glomerate inflorescences, pedicel length and the length

of the calyx receptacle, but, as in S. latifolia , the

stamen filaments are united basally. The leaflets are

more variable, but typically they are fewer and larger

than in S. afra and more numerous and smaller than

in S. latifolia , being ± intermediate between the two

species.

As these specimens share characters of both

S. afra and S. latifolia, it appears that they may well

be hybrids but there is still no direct evidence to

substantiate this suggestion. The specimens are,

however, from areas where both S. afra and S. lati-

folia are found. As indicated by Codd l.c. : 532, there

seems to be no advantage in giving these specimens

any formal taxonomic rank until they have been

studied in detail in the field.

7. Schotia sp.

Tree 4-6 m high; young branchlets

usually clothed with a ± dense spreading

indumentum, sometimes sparingly pubescent.

Leaves sparingly to densely spreading pubes-

cent: petiole l-4mmlong;rhachis(0,8)2-4,5

cm long, narrowly winged in juvenile state;

leaflets 3-4 pairs, usually opposite, sessile,

elliptic-oblong to ovate or obovate, very

variable in size, 0,7-3, 2 cm long, 0,4-2,25

cm wide, oblique basally, obtuse or rounded

and usually mucronate apically, at times

emarginate, pubescent on both surfaces or

the upper glabrous and pubescence on lower

surface confined to midrib and lateral nerves,

margins usually ciliate. Stipules lanceolate or

obliquely ovate, up to 6 mm long, deciduous.

Inflorescence a terminal or lateral panicle,

usually relatively open; branches of inflores-

cence patent, shortly and densely pubescent.

Flowers dark pink-red, i sessile or on very

short pedicels; bracts small, deciduous. Calyx

leathery, tube very short, up to 1 ,5 mm long;

lobes 4, up to 6,5 mm long and 5 mm wide.

Petals 5, spathulate, 6-7 mm long, up to 3 mm

wide. Stamens 10; filaments very shortly

united basally for up to 1 mm, at times almost

free to the base; filaments linear, up to 1 ,5 cm

long, exceeding the corolla. Ovary oblong,

4-5 mm long, compressed, stipitate, tubercu-

late along the margins; style 10-12 mm long.

Pods as in generic description, 4-10,5 cm

long, 2-3 , 5 cm wide. Seeds pale brown, 1 1-15

mm long, 10-12 mm wide, 5-7 mm thick.

Recorded from the banks of the Tsitsa River in

the Transkei.

CAPE. — 3128 (Umtata): along Tsitsa River,

Strey 10698', Shawbury, bank of Tsitsa River, Strey

11160.

These are the only two gatherings. Strey 10698

bears flowers and young pods, and Strey 11160 bears

mature pods. The latter specimen was collected from

the same population or perhaps the same plant as

Strey 10698.

Strey 10698 and 1 1 160 do not match any of the

other specimens examined and are extremely difficult

to place with certainty. The two gatherings are very

variable in leaflet size, even on a single specimen, and

this gives the impression, correctly or incorrectly, of

some genetic instability.

Strey 10698 seems most closely allied to S. lati-

folia, but has smaller leaflets and smaller petals than

usually found in this species. In addition, it apparently

does not grow within the distributional range of

typical S. latifolia. As far as is known typical S.

latifolia does not occur further east than the Kentani

and Engcobo districts in the eastern Cape, while

Caesalpinioideae

33

S. brachypetala does not occur further south than

Umtata. The two Strey gatherings therefore fall

within the distributional range of S. brachypetala.

There is a specimen ( Strey 11156) from the same

locality as Strey 11160, but unfortunately the former

is sterile and its identity cannot be established with

certainty as S. latifolia and S. brachypetala are

indistinguishable when sterile. Because of its geogra-

phic location, it is assumed that Strey 11156 is

S. brachypetala, but flowering material is required to

positively identify the specimen.

The small petals in Strey 10698 are reminiscent

of those sometimes found in S. brachypetala, but the

specimen differs from typical S. brachypetala in that

the flowers are in lax terminal or lateral panicles, and

in having a very much shorter calyx tube and smaller

calyx lobes.

Strey 10698 bears a superficial resemblance to

some of the pubescent specimens of S. capitata from

the Umfolozi Game Reserve, for example, Ross 2015.

However, Strey 10698 differs from S. capitata in that

the flowers are in lax panicles and the stamen filaments

are united very shortly basally and do not form the

characteristic staminal tube.

Strey 10698 has a different overall facies to

specimens of S. latifolia x S. afra. Form B. The

flowers of the latter have a much longer calyx recep-

tacle and the stamen filaments are united basally into

a conspicuous tube. As far as is known Strey 10698

does not occur within the distributional range of

either S. latifolia or S. afra.

It is not known whether or not the seeds of Strey

11160 have an aril as all of the seeds have been partial-

ly eaten.

Although is is not possible to match Strey 10698

and 11160 with any other specimens, I am not con-

vinced that they necessarily represent an undescribed

species. With the record of hybridization in this genus,

the possibility that the specimens are of hybrid origin

cannot be excluded. Field studies and more material

are required in an attempt to evaluate the status of

these specimens.

Strey 10965, a fruiting specimen from Gibraltar

in southern Natal (grid ref. 3030CB, Port Shepstone),

may possibly also belong to this taxon. The pods are

terminal and the seeds, which are the same size as

those in Strey 11160, have a conspicuous yellow basal

aril. However, Strey 10965 differs in leaflet shape and

in having glabrous or very sparingly pubescent leaves.

Flowering material and field observations may assist

in establishing the identity of the plant.

3506a

6. UMTIZA

Umtiza Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 205 (1907); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 394 (1951); J. Leon, in Mem.

Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30,2 : 279 (1957); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 236 (1964); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 333 (1965). Type species: U. listerana Sim.

Evergreen tree or shrub armed with stout spines which are often branched and bear

leaves and inflorescences. Leaves simply paripinnate, alternate, with (3)5-9(12) pairs of

subopposite or irregularly alternate leaflets, sometimes a lateral leaflet appearing terminal.

Stipules absent. Inflorescence a short panicle, usually terminal on short lateral shoots. Flowers

hermaphrodite, small, white. Calyx campanulate, with 5 short lobes. Petals 5, inserted in

the mouth of the calyx-tube, free, equal, slightly imbricate. Stamens 10, free, inserted with

the petals; filaments alternately longer and shorter, pubescent basally; anthers dorsifixed,

opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary free, su

Pods compressed, 1 -seeded, dehiscent. Seeds

An endemic monotypic genus restricted to the East

of the eastern Cape Province.

Umtiza is the native name for U. listerana.

Umtiza listerana Sim, For. FI. Cape Col.

205, t.52/1 (1907); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 3 : 334(1965); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 857 (1973). Type: Sim, l.c. :

t.52/1.

Evergreen tree up to 12 m high or some-

times a shrub, strongly armed with stout

spines which are modified lateral shoots and

which are frequently branched and bear leaves

and inflorescences; trunk typically fluted

basally. Bark dark brown, rough; young

51066-4

bsessile, 2-ovuled, pubescent; stigma capitate,

compressed.

London, Kentani and King William’s Town districts

branchlets dark grey-brown to purplish-

brown, lenticellate, minutely puberulous when

young. Leaves simply paripinnate, alternate:

petiole 0 , 2-0 , 8( 1 ) cm long ; rhachis (0 , 6) 1 , 2-

4, 5(7, 2) cm long, channelled above, often

very narrowly winged, glabrous to ± densely

and shortly pubescent; leaflets in (3)5-9(12)

subopposite or irregularly alternate pairs,

sometimes a lateral leaflet appearing terminal,

(3)9-17(20) mm long, (1 , 5)3— 6(8) mm wide,

oblong to narrowly obovate, obtuse or

rounded apically, sometimes slightly emar-

ginate, with a minute mucro, ± glossy,

34

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 6. — Umtiza listerana. 1, flowering twig, X i;2, portion of leaf showing leaflets, X 2; 3, flower, X 6;

4, calyx, x 8; 5, part of corolla showing stamens, x 6; 6, stamen, x 24; 7, gynoecium, X 10, all from

Acocks 23932; 8, fruiting twig, X $, from Comins 1636.

Caesalpinioideae

midrib prominent below, lateral nerves

conspicuous, ascending and anastomosing,

glabrous throughout or margins minutely

ciliolate. Stipules absent. Inflorescence a short

lax panicle up to 12 cm long, usually terminal

on short lateral shoots; axes ± densely and

shortly pubescent. Flowers white, pedicellate ;

bracts minute, up to 1 ,25 mm long, persisting

for some time. Calyx pubescent, the lobes up

to 1 x 0,75 mm, ovate, equal or often one

lobe ± lanceolate and much longer than the

others. Petals equal, pubescent on both

surfaces and ciliate on margins, up to 3 , 5 x

1,5 mm, reflexed in flower. Stamens 10, the 5

shorter opposite the petals and the 5 longer

alternating with them; filaments up to 3,5

mm long, pubescent basally. Ovary up to 2

mm long, clothed with spreading hairs

basally at least; style ± 2 mm long, glabrous

or sparingly pubescent. Pods brown when

mature, 3-5 cm long, 0,9- 1,2 cm wide,

straight or almost so, ± oblong, oblique

basally, acuminate apically, compressed,

pubescent when young but soon becoming

glabrous, dehiscent, valves curling. Seeds ±

8x6 mm, compressed. Fig. 6.

Restricted to relatively few forests and to valley ]

35

bushveld in the East London, Kentani and King

William’s Town districts of the Cape Province.

CAPE. — 3227 (Stutterheim): East London, Sim

2585 (NH); Sim 2879 (K, NU); Rattray 291 (K);

Amalinda Commonage, Saxilby Rd., Acocks 23881;

Amalinda, Acocks 23932 ; Fort Grey Forest Reserve,

Sim 2291 (NU, PRE); Wells 2877 ; Verdoorn 2472 ;

Comins 1636; White 10811 (FHO); Buffalo River

Pass, Garrett sub NU 40118; Fort Pato, Sim 19964.

3228 (Butterworth) : 3,2 km S.E. of Kentani, Story

4032; 4036.

Sim omitted to cite any specimens when

describing U. listerana. In the absence of a type

specimen Sim’s t.52/1 will suffice as the type.

Sim described the flowers as regular. While this

is true of many flowers, it is not always the case

because frequently one sepal is much longer and larger

than the others.

The exact position of the genus Umtiza in the

Caesalpinioideae has never been definitely established

and it remains in some doubt. A curious feature of

the genus is that the calyx-lobes are open even when

the flowers are in young bud.

Sim reported that the heartwood is purplish-

black, excessively hard, heavy and close-grained but,

as it seldom exceeds 15 cm in diameter, yields little

serviceable timber.

U. listerana is said to be locally common in some

areas. More material, particularly flowering and fruit-

ing material, is required.

3507 7. BAIKIAEA

Baikiaea Benth. in Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 581 (1865); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 25 : 313 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 308 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 138 (1892);

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 454 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 703 (1930);

Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 394 (1951); J. Leon, in F.C.B. 3 : 296 (1952); in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg.

Classe Sci. 30, 2 : 72 (1957); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 248 (1964); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 3 : 334 (1965); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 108 (1967); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 59 : 5 (1967). Type species: B. insignis Benth.

Unarmed evergreen or, in B. plurijuga, deciduous trees. Leaves simply pari- or impari-

pinnate; leaflets usually alternate, sometimes opposite, without pellucid gland-dots, usually

with a small ± marked swelling near the posticous margin of each leaflet close to the base.

Inflorescences of terminal or axillary racemes. Flowers hermaphrodite, usually large, pedicellate,

distichously arranged along the inflorescence-axes; bracteoles usually small, not enclosing

the flower-buds, imbricate, almost valvate, fulvous-villous-tomentose inside, soon deciduous.

Sepals 4, the posticous one larger than the rest, very narrowly imbricate, densely fuscous- or

paler brown-tomentellous outside. Petals 5, free, 4 of them equal, the fifth narrower and

usually differently coloured, all obovate, imbricate, edges crinkled, villous along and near

the midrib. Stamens 10; filaments glabrous or villous below, one of them free, the rest united

basally into a short tube; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary stipitate,

tomentose; ovules 1 to many; style elongate, glabrous, usually with an enlarged peltate

depressed-subglobose stigma. Pods woody, flattened, dehiscing longitudinally into two valves.

Seeds large, compressed, with a thin and fragile or a hard testa, exareolate.

36

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 7. — Baikiaea plurijuga. 1, branchlet with erect inflorescence and mature leaves, X $, from De Winter &

Giess 7026; 2, flower, x 1 ; 3, standard, x 2; 4, flower, with sepals and petals removed, X 1 ; 5, gynoecium,

X 1, all from De Winter 3816; 6, pod, X from De Winter 3762.

Caesalpinioideae

37

A genus of 5 species, all tropical African and occurring in the rain-forest region, except for B. plurijuga

which occurs in Angola, South West Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Rhodesia on Kalahari sands.

The genus is named in honour of W.T. Baikie, a distinguished and enterprising traveller in west tropical

Africa.

Baikiaea plurijuga Harms in Warb.,

Kunene-Samb. Exped. 248 (1903); Dinter in

Feddes Repert. 15 : 346 (1918); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 705 (1930); Pardy in Rhod.

Agric. J. 48: 402 (1951); O.B. Miller in

J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 28 (1952); Torre & Hillc.

in C.F.A. 2 : 220, t.45 (1956); J. Leon, in

M6m. Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30, 2 : 74

(1957); Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 66-69

(1957); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 98 (1962);

Yon Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 :

336 (1965); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 5

(1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 :

861 (1973). Type: Angola, rio Cubango,

Calolo, Baum 428 (B, holo. | , BM!, COI,

K!).

Tree up to 20 m high with a spreading

crown; bark grey or brown, rough and reticu-

late or sometimes ± smooth; young branch-

lets fulvous-tomentose or -pubescent. Leaves

paripinnate, fulvous-tomentose or -pubescent

at least when young: petiole 1-2,5 cm long;

rhachis 4,5-10(11) cm long; leaflets 4-5

(very rarely 6) opposite pairs, (2 , 2)3-6 , 5 (7 , 5)

cm long, 1,2-3, 2(3, 5) cm wide, narrowly

elliptic or oblong-elliptic, slightly oblique

basally, obtuse or rounded and usually

slightly emarginate apically, mostly sparingly

to densely fulvous-pubescent on both surfaces,

especially beneath and on the midrib, some-

times ± glabrous above, closely but not very

prominently reticulate on both surfaces;

petiolules 1-4 mm long, fulvous-villous or

-tomentose. Stipules 5-9 mm long, fulvous-

villous. Racemes up to 35 cm long; axes

fulvous-pubescent or -tomentose. Flowers

pedicellate; bracts 3-5,5 mm long, 3-4 mm

wide, ovate; bracteoles 3-4 mm long, 2-2,5

mm wide. Sepals 15-20 mm long, 5-12 mm

wide, the posticous one larger than the rest,

leathery, margins thinner and almost mem-

branous, densely fulvous-tomentose outside,

fuscous-tomentose inside. Petals 5, pale pink

to mauve or magenta, up to 3,2 cm long and

2,5 cm wide, obovate-spathulate, edges

crisped, villous along and near the midrib.

Stamens 10; filaments up to 3 cm long, one

filament free, the rest united basally for ±

1 cm; anthers 5-8 mm long. Ovary very short-

ly stipitate, up to 1 , 5 cm long, 4-5 mm wide,

compressed, fulvous-tomentose; style up to

2,5 cm long. Pods woody, 9-14 cm long,

3, 5-4, 5(5) cm wide, compressed, oblanceo-

late, densely rusty-pubescent or -tomentose,

dehiscing longitudinally, the 2 valves becom-

ing spirally twisted. Seeds compressed, ±

2 x 1,5 cm, dark reddish-brown. Fig. 7.

Confined to Kalahari sands in Angola, South

West Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Rhodesia.

Occurs in woodland, often locally dominant.

S.W.A. — 1714 (Ruacana Falls): S.E. of Ruacana,

Giess & Leippert 7605 (M). 1716 (Enana): 7,2 km S.E.

of Oshandi, De Winter & Giess 7026. 1719 (Runtu):

35 km W. of Runtu on road to Sambusu, De Winter

3816. 1720 (Sambio): Masari, Merxmiiiler & Giess

2124. 1721 (Mbambi): Shamvura firebreak near

Shamvura Camp, De Winter & Marais 4871. 1724

(Katima Mulilo): Katima Mulilo area, Killick &

Leistner 3050. 1819 (Karakuwisa): Omuramba bed,

27,2 km S. of Runtu on road to Karakuwisa, De

Winter 3762. 1820 (Tarikora): 8,8 km E. of Nyangana

Mission Station, De Winter & Wiss 4191. 1821

(Andara): Bagani, Volk 2118 (M). 1920 (Tsumkwe):

near Samangeigei, Story 6098.

B. plurijuga , often known as “Rhodesian Teak”,

is an important timber tree. The wood is attractive,

works well, and is used in furniture, building and in

industry. Dug-out canoes are made from large logs.

B. plurijuga has much smaller leaves and flowers

than the other species in the genus. Unlike the other

species which are found in tropical rain-forest areas,

B. plurijuga occurs in woodland on Kalahari sands.

3508 8. TAMARINDUS

Tantarindus L., Sp. PI. 1 : 34 (1753); Gen. PI., ed.5 : 20 (1754); DC., Prodr. 2 : 488 (1825);

G. Don, Gen. Syst. 2 : 437 (1832); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 581 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 307 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 139 (1892); Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 50 (1909);

Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 460 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 702 (1930);

J. Leon, in F.C.B. 3 : 436 (1952); Roti-Michelozzi in Webbia 13 : 134 (1957); Keay in

F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 477 (1958); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 246 (1964); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 151 (1967). Type species: T. indica L.

38

Caesalpinioideae

Caesalpinioideae

39

FIG. 8. — Tamarindus indica. 1, branchlet with racemes and leaves, x 2, leaflet base, lower surface, x 6;

3, leaflet, upper surface, showing venation, X 4; 4, young flower-bud protected by bract, x 4; 5, young

flower-bud protected by bracteoles after fall of bract, x 4; 6, older flower-bud showing four imbricate

sepals, after fall of bract and bracteoles, X 2; 7, flower, x 2; 8, sepal, x 2; 9, one of three upper large petals,

x 2; 10, one of two lower minute petals, x 2; 11, stamens showing filaments fused below into a band,

x 2; 12, ovary, cut longitudinally, x 4, all from Semsei in F.H. 2867; 13, mature pod, breaking up,

x i; 14, part of surface of pod, x 4; 15, seed showing areole, x 2, all from Hughes 5. Reproduced by

permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

Unarmed evergreen tree. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets opposite, in 10-18(21) pairs, almost

sessile, asymmetric basally. Stipules free, ± asymmetrically lanceolate, rapidly deciduous.

Flowers in lax terminal and lateral racemes ; bracteoles 2, well-developed, valvate, completely

enclosing the young flower-buds but falling off before the buds are full-sized. Hypanthium

shortly elongate-turbinate. Sepals 4, imbricate. Petals: upper 3 well-developed; lower 2 minute,

setiform, below the staminal tube. Stamen-filaments united to about half-way into a pubescent

tube terminating in 3 upcurved anther-bearing filaments alternating with 5 sterile teeth (1-2

of the teeth rarely elongated into short filaments). Ovary ± pubescent, stipitate, the stipe

adnate to one side of the hypanthium; ovules 8-14; style elongate, gradually enlarged into

the capitate stigma. Pods indehiscent, with a dry outer shell and a pulpy inner layer. Seeds ±

compressed, with a continuous-margined areole on each face.

A genus of one species in the Old World tropics, but so widely planted that its native range is difficult to

determine. Although indigenous in Africa, it was almost certainly introduced into our area.

The generic name Tamarindus is from the Arabic words tamr (a date), and hindi (Indian), i.e. date of India.

Tamarindus indica L., Sp. PI. 1 : 34

(1753); DC., Prodr. 2 : 488 (1825); Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 307 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam.

3, 3 : fig 79 (1892); Sim. For. FI. P.E. Afr. 50,

t.47 (1909); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr.

3, 1 : 460, fig. 252 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 702 (1930); Brenan, Checklist Tang.

Terr. 106 (1949); J. Leon, in F.C.B. 3 : 436

(1952); Eggeling & Dale, Indig. Trees

Uganda, ed. 2 : 69, fig. 17 (1952); Torre &

Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 217 (1956); Roti-Miche-

lozzi in Webbia 13 : 134, fig. 1 (1957); Keay

in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 477 (1958); Dale &

Greenway, Kenya Trees & Shrubs 109, fig.

21 (1961); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 128

(1962); Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mo^amb.

1 : 263, t.62 (1966); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Caesalp. : 153, fig. 32 (1967). Type

uncertain.

Tree up to 20 m high with a somewhat

rounded crown. Bark rough, grey, brown

or greyish-black ; young branchlets pubescent

or puberulous. Leaves ; petiole 0,4-0, 8 cm

long, subglabrous to ± pubescent; rhachis

4,5-12 cm long (in our area), subglabrous

to ± pubescent; leaflets in 10—1 8 opposite

pairs (in our area), oblong, (0,8) 1,2-2, 5 cm

long, 0,3-1 cm wide (in our area), asymmetric

basally, rounded to rounded-subtruncate

apically, seldom slightly emarginate, glabrous

throughout or with a basal tuft of hairs

on the lower surface to one side of the midrib,

sometimes (but not in our area) pubescent

on midrib and margins or all over both

surfaces, venation reticulate, ± raised and

conspicuous on both surfaces. Racemes

1-15 cm long; axes subglabrous to densely

pubescent. Flowers red in bud, on glabrous

to pubescent pedicels 3-14 mm long.

Hypanthium 3-5 mm long. Sepals 8-12 mm

long, pale yellow inside, reddish outside,

pubescent basally within. Petals: upper larger

three 10-13 mm long, elliptic or obovate-

elliptic, yellow with red veins. Ovary ±

6 mm long, pubescent. Pods brown,

(3)6,5-14 cm long, 1,5-3 cm in diameter,

curved or sometimes ± straight, sausage-like,

usually obtuse basally and apically, margins

sometimes irregularly constricted, closely

covered outside with small brown scales,

indehiscent. Seeds chestnut-brown, ± rhom-

bic to trapeziform, 1 1-17 mm long, 10-12 mm

wide. Fig. 8.

40

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 9. — Afzelia quanzensis. 1, part of branchlet showing leaf and inflorescence, x f ; 2, base of leaflet, lower

surface, showing gland, x 4; 3, gland, x 8; 4, flower-bud with overlapping bracteoles, x 2, all from

Hornby 340; 5, flower, x § ; 6, large petal, x ];7, one of four small petals, x 8; 8, one of two staminodes,

X 8; 9, longitudinal section of hypanthium showing adnate stipe of ovary, x 1, all from Milne- Redhead

& Taylor 7061 ; 10, dehisced pod, x i; 11, part of pod showing suture, x f ; 12, seed, showing aril, x f,

all from Richards 6348. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

Almost certainly introduced into our area and

now found in the Transvaal and Natal. Most, if not

all, of the plants in Natal occur in areas of former

human habitation.

TRANSVAAL.— 2527 (Rustenburg): Rustenburg,

Pole Evans sub PRE 9227.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): 8 km S. of

Ndwedwe, Moll 2393\ 4,8 km W. of Ndwedwe, Moll

3286 ; Isipingo Beach, Ward 5559. 2931 (Stanger):

4,8 km inland of Stanger, M. Poynton 43 (NU).

This is the well-known Tamarind, the acid pulpy

part of whose pod is edible and used for preserves,

jams, sweets etc., and also yields a refreshing drink.

The seeds are also edible.

Specimens to the north of our area are often

much more pubescent.

3509 9. AFZELIA

Afzelia Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 4 : 221 (1798), nom. conserv.; DC., Prodr. 2 : 507

(1825); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 580 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 301 (1871); Harms in

Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 457 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 699 (1930); J. Leon, in

Reinwardtia 1 ; 61-66 (1950); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 395 (1951); J. Leon, in F.C.B. 3 : 350 (1952);

in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30, 2 : 106 (1957); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 243 (1964);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 124 (1967). Type species: A. africana Sm.

Pahudia Miq., FI. Ind. Bat. 1,1 : 85 (1855); Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI. 1 : 580 (1865).

Afrafzelia Pierre, FI. For. Cochinch, sub t.388 (1899).

Unarmed evergreen or deciduous trees. Leaves simply and usually paripinnate, rarely

subimparipinnate; petiolules twisted; leaflets opposite or subopposite, without translucent

gland-dots, but usually with a small dot-like gland at proximal side of leaflet base either

on the lower surface in angle between margin and midrib or on margin itself. Stipules minute,

their basal parts connate into a persistent intra-petiolar scale and their upper parts free and

deciduous. Inflorescence simply racemose or of racemes grouped into panicles. Flowers herma-

phrodite, spirally arranged along the inflorescence-axes; pedicels jointed at base; bracteoles

large, well-developed, concavo-convex, almost completely concealing the young flower-buds,

one bracteole overlapping the other by its margins, both bracteoles deciduous before the

flower opens. Hypanthium ± elongate. Sepals 4, imbricate, unequal (2 outer, 2 inner). Petal

1, large, clawed, the others rudimentary or absent. Stamens usually 7 fertile and 2 staminodes.

Ovary stipitate, the stipe adnate to the hypanthium, ovules many; style elongated; stigma

small, ± capitate. Pods obliquely oblong, compressed, dehiscing into 2 thick woody valves.

Seeds embedded in white pith, transverse, large, thick, hard, with a basal brightly coloured

aril.

A genus of 14 species, six in Malesia, the others in tropical Africa.

The genus is named in honour of Adam Afzelius, a disciple of Linnaeus’s who collected plants in Sierra

Leone, later Professor of Botany and materia medica at Uppsala.

42

Caesalpinioideae

Afzelia quanzensis* Welw. in Ann. Con-

selho Ultram. 1858 : 586 (1859); Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 302 (1871), as cuanzensis\ Sim,

For. FI. P.E. Afr. 48, t.45 (1909); Marloth,

FI. S.Afr. 2 : 58, fig.37, t.20D (1925); Bak. f„

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 701 (1930); Burtt Davy,

FI. Transv. 2 : 327, fig. 53 (1932); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 220 (1934), as cuanzensis ;

Brenan, Checklist Tang. Terr. 87 (1949);

J. Leon, in Reinwardtia 1 : 64 (1950) and in

F.C.B. 3 : 354, fig. 27B (1952), as cuanzensis-,

Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 59,

fig. 56, 57 (1951); O. B. Miller in. J. S.Afr.

Bot. 18 : 27 (1952); Pardy in Rhod. Agric.

J. 49 : 82 (1952); Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A.

2 : 215 (1956), as cuanzensis; Palgrave, Trees

Cent. Afr. 61-65 (1956), as cuanzensis;

Roti-Michelozzi in Webbia 13 : 142 (1957);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 171, t. IF

(1961), as cuanzensis; F. White, For. FI.

N. Rhod. 98, fig. 21J (1962); Von Breiten-

bach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 337 (1965);

Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot., Suppl. 6 : 46

(1966), as cuanzensis; Gomes e Sousa,

Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 256 (1966), as cuan-

zensis; Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. :

125, fig. 22 (1967); Van Wyk, Trees Kruger

Nat. Park 1 : 192 (1972); Ross, FI. Natal

194 (1973); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr.

2 : 863 (1973). Type: Angola, Cuanza Norte,

R. Cuanza, near Candumba between Sansa-

manda and Quisonde, Welwitsch 594 (LISU

holo., BM!, K!).

Afzelia petersiana Klotzsch in Peters, Reise Mos-

samb. Bot. 1:19 (1861). Syntypes from Mozambique,

Peters (B f). A. attenuata Klotzsch in Peters, Reise

Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 20 (1861). Type: Mozambique,

Inhambane, Peters (B, holo. |).

Intsia quanzensis (Welw.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen.

1 : 192 (1891); Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 299

(1896). Type as for Afzelia quanzensis.

Afrafzelia quanzensis (Welw.) Pierre, FI. For.

Cochinch, t.388 (1899). Type as for Afzelia quanzensis.

Palladia quanzensis (Welw.) Prain, Sc. Mem. Med.

Off. Ind. Army 12 : 16 (1901). Type as for Afzelia

quanzensis.

* In spite of the “correction” by various authors,

including J. Leonard in Reinwardtia 1 : 64 (1950)

and in F.C.B. 3 : 354 (1952), of the spelling of the

epithet to cuanzensis, there is no evidence that

“ quanzensis ” was an unintentional orthographic

error. The original spelling “ quanzensis ” should

therefore be retained. Welwitsch used the initial

“qu” repeatedly and Quanza is the version used

in Stieler’s Hand-Atlas (1882) and also, with Cuanza

as a synonym, in Justus Perthes’ Specialkarte von

Afrika (1893).

Deciduous tree up to 20 m high with a

large spreading crown. Bark grey, purplish-

grey to pale brown, smooth or reticulate and

flaking off; young branchlets pubescent,

puberulous or glabrous. Leaves paripinnate:

petiole 2,5-6 cm long (in our area),

eglandular, glabrous; rhachis 4,5-18 cm

long (in our area), eglandular, glabrous;

leaflets (3)4-6(7) pairs, opposite or almost so,

2-9,5 cm long, 1,7-4, 5 cm wide (in our

area), ovate-elliptic, oblong-elliptic or elliptic,

slightly oblique basally, rounded or some-

times obtuse and often emarginate apically,

margins undulate, glabrous, shining above,

venation prominent on both surfaces; petio-

lules 2-7 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences

erect, of simple or once-forked racemes ; axes

pubescent. Flowers sweetly scented, with

hypanthium 1-2,5 cm long. Sepals shortly

pubescent or puberulous outside, outer 2

elliptic, 0,9-1, 7 cm long, 0,7-1, 3 cm wide,

inner 2 obovate-spathulate, 1 ,7-2,5 cm long,

0,9-1, 8 cm wide. Petal upwardly-turned,

2, 5-4, 5 cm long, ± pubescent and green

outside, dark red inside, with a long claw

suddenly widened into a deeply bilobed

lamina 2,2-3, 1 cm wide. Stamens usually

7 fertile, with glabrous to pubescent usually

green filaments. Ovary 6-8 mm long, stipitate;

style pubescent or glabrous. Pods obliquely-

oblong, 7-18(29,5) cm long, 4, 5-6, 5(9) cm

wide, compressed, dehiscing into 2 thick

woody valves. Seeds black, oblong-ellipsoid

or ellipsoid, 2-3 , 4 cm long, 0 , 9-1 , 7 cm wide,

with an orange, red, or vermillion, cup-

shaped basal aril. Fig. 9.

Found in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire,

Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, South West

Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia, the Transvaal, Swazi-

land and Natal (Tongaland). Occurs in woodland,

forest and bushveld. Sometimes gregarious and locally

dominant on sandy soils.

S.W.A. — Grid ref. unknown: Caprivi Strip, N.

Ngamiland, east of Kwando [Cuando] River, at

Kabuta, Curson 910.

TRANSVAAL.— -2230 (Messina): 14,4 km E. of

Sibasa, Codd & Dyer 4493. 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger

National Park, Punda Milia, Lang sub TRV 32092;

Kruger National Park, 8 km N.E. of Punda Milia,

Codd 4231. 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger National

Park, 22,4 km from Skukuza on Satara rd.. Story

3949; Kruger National Park, 23 km N.E. of Skukuza

on Tshokwane rd., Codd & De Winter 5070.

SWAZILAND.— 2632 (Bela Vista): Mnyami,

Compton 29289; Dlamini s.n.

Caesalpinioideae

43

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Nkonjane-Abercorn

Drift, Moll & Pooley 4222. 2732 (Ubombo): Sihang-

wane forest, Tinley 524; 0,4 km N.E. of Sihangwane

store, Ross 2374.

SchoenfelderSXll (PRE), an incomplete specimen

consisting of one pod valve, has been recorded from

Muande, Grootfontein, S.W.A. The existence of

A. quanzensis in this locality requires confirmation.

There are nearly always 7 fertile stamens and 2

staminodes, but sometimes there is some variation.

Brenan, in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 126

(1967), recorded the existence of two fairly well-

marked variants in east Africa; the one with glabrous

petiolules and leaf-bases, and the other with some

short spreading hairs on the petiolules and leaf-bases.

In our area the petiolules and leaf-bases are glabrous.

A. quanzensis, variously known as Pod Mahoga-

ny, Rhodesian Mahogany or Mahogany Bean, yields

a useful and ornamental light brown to reddish-brown

timber. The attractive and unusual seeds are often

sold as curios and are used in making ornaments

such as necklaces.

3516b 10. JULBERNARDIA

Julbernardia Pellegr. in Boissiera 7 : 297 (Mar. 1943); Troupin in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux.

20 : 309 (1950) pro parte; Hauman in Bull. Inst. R. Col. Belg. 23 : 477 (1952); J. Leon, in

M6m. Acad. Roy. Belg. Classe Sci. 30, 2 : 188 (1957); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 273 (1964);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 145 (1967). Type species: J. hochreutineri Pellegr.

Isoberlinia sensu auct. afr. mult., pro parte, non Craib & Stapf.

Paraberlinia Pellegr. in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 90 : 79 (July 1943).

Pseudoberlinia Duvign. in Bull. Inst. R. Col. Belg. 21 : 431 (1950); Hauman in F.C.B. 3 : 402 (1952).

Seretoberlinia Duvign. I.c. : 435 (1950).

Unarmed evergreen or deciduous trees. Leaves simply paripinnate: leaflets one to many

opposite pairs, ± markedly asymmetric basally, venation prominent on both surfaces,

translucent dots often present but sometimes absent (sometimes inconstant in a single species);

petiolules usually twisted. Stipules intrapetiolar, always connate below, bicuspidate above

or with 2 relatively large foliaceous lobes simulating free stipules, ± persistent or rapidly

deciduous. Inflorescence a terminal usually much-branched panicle. Flowers hermaphrodite;

bracteoles 2, well-developed, valvate, completely enclosing the flower-buds, persistent, keeled

down back. Hypanthium absent. Sepals 5, well-developed, equal or nearly so in length, ciliate.

Petals 5, equal or nearly so in length, all subequal and well-developed, 1 large and 4 small,

or all small. Stamens 10, fertile; 9 filaments shortly united below, the tenth free. Ovary very

shortly stipitate, densely pubescent; stipe free; ovules up to 5; style elongate; stigma capitate,

abruptly enlarged. Pods compressed, 1-5-seeded, elastically dehiscing into 2 woody valves;

valves obliquely transversely nerved (nerves often obscure in ripe pods); upper suture usually

with a laterally projecting wing or ridge. Seeds compressed, exareolate, with a hard testa,

borne on short funicles.

A genus of ± 8 species, all in tropical Africa.

The genus is named in honour of M. Jules Bernard, a former governor of Gabon.

Julbernardia globifera ( Benth .) Troupin

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 314 (1950);

J. Leon, in Mem. Acad. Roy. Belg. Class

Sci. 30, 2 : 192, 195 (1957); F. White, For.

FI. N. Rhod. 125 (1962); Gomes e Sousa,

Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 266, t.64 (1966);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 147,

fig. 30 (1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.

Afr. 2 : 864 (1973). Type: Malawi, Shire

Highlands, Buchanan 138 (K, holo. !).

Brachystegia globifera Benth. in Hook. Icon. PI.

14 : 43 (1881). Type as above.

Berlinia eminii Taub. in Pflanzenw. Ost Afr. C : 199

(1895). Syntypes from Tanzania. B. globifera (Benth.)

Harms in Pflanzenw. Afr. 3,1 : 472 (1915); Hutch. &

Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1923 : 162 (1923); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 689 (1930). Type as for Julber-

nardia globifera.

Westia eminii (Taub.) Macbride in Contr. Gray

Herb. 59 : 21 (1919). Syntypes as for Berlinia eminii.

Isoberlinia globifera (Benth.) Hutch, ex Greenway

in Kew Bull. 1928 : 203 (1928); Brenan, Checklist

Tang. Terr. 104 (1949); Pardy in Rhod. Agric. J.

48 : 314 (1951); Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 107-110

(1957). Type as for Julbernardia globifera.

44

Caesalpinioideae

IMR

Caesalpinioideae

45

FIG. 10. — Julbernardia globifera. 1, branchlet with leaves and inflorescence, x 5; 2, apical part of leaflet

showing pubescent margin, x 4; 3, leaflet-base, x 2; 4, flower-bud with bract, x 4; 5, flower, x 3;

6, flower showing bracteoles, calyx and ovary (petals and stamens removed), x 3; 7, sepal, x 3; 8, larger

petal, X 3; 9, lateral petal, x 3; 10, stamens, nine of them connate below, one free, x 3, all from Welch

290; 11, dehisced pod, x $, from Soil Cons. Dept. O.F.C. 2. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of

Flora of Tropical East Africa.

Pseudoberlinia globifera (Benth.) Duvign. in Bull.

Inst. R. Col. Belg. 21 : 434 (1950); Hauman in F.C.B.

3 : 405 (1952). Type as for Julbernardia globifera.

Usually a tree up to 1 5 m high with a flat-

tened or rounded spreading crown, sometimes

shrubby or flowering from coppice shoots

0,3-2 m high. Bark dark grey and rough on

old boles, pale grey and smooth on young

boles; young branchlets puberulous to pubes-

cent or tomentose, soon glabrescent. Leaves :

petiole (1)1, 5-3 cm long, puberulous to

pubescent or tomentose; rhachis 4-17 cm

long, pubescent like the petiole; leaflets (2)4—

6(8) pairs per leaf, (1)2—8 ,5 (11,5) cm long,

(0,6) 1-3, 2(6, 5) cm wide, narrowly oblong-

elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, or sometimes

narrowly obovate-oblong, markedly asym-

metric basally, obtuse or rounded and

sometimes slightly emarginate apically,

sparingly to densely pubescent on both

surfaces, especially beneath and on the mid-

rib, sometimes ± glabrous above, margins

usually with a conspicuous fringe of whitish

hairs. Stipules intrapetiolar, ± 3-5 mm long,

united below, bicuspidate above, non-folia-

ceous, rapidly deciduous. Panicles up to ±

30 cm long and wide; axes brown-tomentel-

lous or shortly tomentose. Open flowers on

pedicels 2-6 mm long; bracts 2-10 mm long,

usually half as long as to longer than the

bracteoles (occasionally only one-third as

long); bracteoles 7-10 mm long, 6-9 mm

wide. Sepals oblong, not or only slightly

wider above than below, non-contiguous,

2. 5- 4, 5 mm long, ±1,5 mm wide. Petals

white, larger one ovate, shortly clawed,

6.5- 9 mm long, 4-5 mm wide; the others

oblanceolate to oblanceolate-spathulate or

linear, 3-8 mm long, 0,5-3 mm wide.

Stamens up to 13 mm long. Ovary densely

fulvous-tomentose. Pods woody, obovate-

oblong or oblong, 4-9 cm long, 1,8-3, 2 cm

wide, flattened, brown-tomentose, the 2

valves becoming spirally twisted. Seeds

compressed, 1,2-1, 6 x 0,8-1, 5 cm, dark

brown. Fig. 10.

Found in Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Malawi,

Mozambique, South West Africa (Caprivi Strip),

Rhodesia and Botswana. Occurs in deciduous

woodland.

A specimen collected by P. Croser in the Capriv

Strip a few years ago was identified as J. globifera by

the National Herbarium, Pretoria. Unfortunately the

specimen was not kept and so the record of J. globi-

fera from the Caprivi is supported only by verbal

evidence. Confirmation of the existence of J. globifera

in the Caprivi is desired.

46

Caesalpinioideae

.

Caesalpinioideae

11. BAUHINIA

by L. A. COETZER and J. H. ROSS

47

3528

Bauhinia L., Sp. PI. 1 : 374 (1753); Gen. PI. ed. 5 : 177 (1754); DC., Prodr. 2 : 512 (1825);

Mem. Leg. 476 (1825); Vogel in Linnaea 13 : 297 (1839); Endl., Gen. PI. Suppl. 1317 (1840);

Harv. in F.C. 2 : 275 (1862); Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 575 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 285

(1871); Baill., Hist. PI. 2 : 1 10 (1872); Taub. in Engl., Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 147 (1892); Ridley,

FI. Malay Peninsula 1 : 624 (1922); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 651 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 322 (1932); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 395 (1951); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 269 (1952); De

Wit in Reinwardtia 3 : 386, 390 (1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed 2, 1 : 444 (1958); Dale &

Greenway, Kenya Trees and Shrubs 96 (1961); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 242 (1964); Brenan

in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 207 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 5 (1967); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 865 (1973). Type species: B. divaricata L.

Trees or shrubs, seldom scandent or climbing. Tendrils absent but branches sometimes

curling apically and tendril-like. Leaves alternate, simple*, conspicuously bilobed or

sometimes divided to the base. Stipules deciduous. Inflorescence a short usually few-flowered

raceme or flowers solitary. Flowers usually large and showy, bisexual, irregular. Calyx

spathaceous (the sepals ± cohering after the calyx has opened). Petals 5 (rarely 6), free.

Fertile stamens 1-10, sometimes accompanied by staminodes, free; filaments ± hairy basally

in indigenous species; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary usually stipitate; style

elongate; stigma capitate or small, sometimes ± unilateral; funicle of ovule short, at top

often with 2 short outgrowths appressed to the seed, one of which may be ± suppressed.

Pods oblong to linear, ± woody, dehiscent or rarely (but not in our area) indehiscent, few-

to many seeded. Seeds compressed, with endosperm.

Bentham, in Gen. PI. 1 : 575 (1865), followed earlier authors in giving Bauhinia L. a very wide concept,

the genus being delimited primarily on the bilobed nature of the leaf. Here a narrower generic concept is taken

which is explained by De Wit in his revision of the Malaysian Bauhinieae in Reinwardtia 3 : 390 (1956). In its

emended form the genus is distributed through tropical Africa, Asia and America but the number of species

is uncertain at present. Six indigenous species of Bauhinia are recorded from our area and three exotic species

are planted for ornament. Other Southern African species formerly in Bauhinia may be sought in the genera

Adenolobus, Piliostigma and Tylosema.

Recently Schmitz, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 369-423 (1973), has taken a very narrow view of

Bauhinia and has restricted the genus to America, our species being referred to the genera Perlebia Mart, and

Pauletia Cav.

The genus Bauhinia is named in honour of the two illustrious Swiss botanists of the sixteenth century, the

brothers Jean and Caspar Bauhin. According to Linnaeus, Hort. Cliff. 157 (1737), Plumier, wishing to comme-

morate the two brothers, chose a genus characterized by bilobed leaves, the two lobes of the leaf exemplifying

the two brothers.

* As mentioned by Brenan, in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 207 (1967), although the leaves of Bauhinia

(and of the related genera Nos. 12-14) appear to be and are described as simple, they are in origin more compli-

cated. R.E. Fries, in Arkiv for Bot. 8, No. 10 : 1-16 (1909), considered them to have been derived through

lateral fusion of the leaflets from a pinnate leaf with a single pair of leaflets. Goebel, Organographie Pfl. ed.

2,3 : 1354 (1923), emended Fries’s theory by maintaining that there is no evidence of any ontogenetic fusion,

but rather that each one of the pair of leaflets has failed to separate along one side from its partner, like a

Siamese twin.

48

Caesalpinioideae

Key to indigenous species

Fertile stamens 10:

Petals sulphur-yellow, 1-3 of them often (not always) with a dark brown or purplish basal blotch

3. B. tomentosa

Petals white, often with pink or reddish main veins :

Leaf-blade divided to the base into two distinct leaflets; flowers mostly solitary 2. B. natalensis

Leaf-blade bilobed apically to about two-thirds of the way down ; inflorescences 2-6-flowered. 1 . B. bowkeri

Fertile stamens 3-6 :

Petals pinkish-red to brick-red or sometimes ± scarlet, with a conspicuous basal claw which is almost

as long as the lamina 4. B. galpinii

Petals white (sometimes the midrib pinkish basally) or pink to mauve, without a conspicuous basal claw:

Hypanthium 0,4-0, 6 cm long; flower-buds densely clothed with a rusty, woolly indumentum

5. B. urbaniana

Hypanthium >2 cm long; flower-buds ± densely brown-puberulous :

Hairs on lower surface of leaf appressed-puberulous; inflorescence 2-10-flowered

6a. B. petersiana subsp. petersiana

Hairs on lower surface of leaf curved or spreading but not appressed; inflorescence l-3(4)-flowered

6b. B. petersiana subsp. serpae

Three exotic species of Bauhinia are planted in our area for ornament but there is no

evidence of any of them becoming naturalized.

Key to exotic species

Unarmed tree or shrub ; fertile stamens 3 or 5 ; petals up to 5 cm long ; lower surface of leaf finely puberulous

or glabrescent :

Fertile stamens 5; flower-buds not winged or ridged above; calyx-tube splitting down one side and

remaining spathaceous and entire:

Petals blotched or striped with purple 7. B. variegata var. variegata

Petals without purple, either white or partly yellow 7. B. variegata var. Candida

Fertile stamens 3; flower-buds winged or ridged above; calyx-tube usually splitting into two sections;

petals pinkish, reddish or purplish 8. B. purpurea

Shrub or tree armed with paired spines up to 5 mm long; fertile stamens 10; petals white, 8-12 cm long;

lower surface of leaf densely pubescent 9. B. candicans

1. Bauhinia bowkeri Harv. in F.C. 2 :

596 (1862); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 289 (1871);

Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 149 (1892);

Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 121 (1900);

Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 208 (1907); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 655 (1930); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 118 (1934); Palmer & Pit-

man, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 867 (1973). Type:

Cape, along Bashee River near Fort Bowker,

Henry Bowker 378 (TCD, holo. !).

Pauletia bowkeri (Harv.) Schmitz in Bull. Jard. Bot.

Nat. Belg. 43 : 394 (1973). Type as above.

Shrub or tree to 5 m high; young branch-

lets minutely puberulous or glabrescent.

Leaves : petiole 0,7- 1,5 cm long; blade (1)

1,5-4 cm long, 1,4-4 cm wide, bilobed

apically to about two-thirds of the way down,

minutely appressed-puberulous on lower

surface; lobes ± semicircular. Stipules 2-4

mm long, ± 1 mm wide. Inflorescence

2-6-flowered, mostly terminal. Flower-buds :

upper part (i.e. sepals) linear to linear-

lanceolate in outline, 1 ,3-2,8 cm long before

anthesis; hypanthium 0,9- 1,8 cm long,

finely longitudinally sulcate. Petals white,

2, 8-4, 8 cm long, 0,8- 1,4 cm wide, tapering

basally, margins slightly crisped, glabrous

above, the midrib slightly pubescent outside

and with small glands or scales. Stamens : 10

fertile; filaments 1,5-3 cm long. Style 0,6-

1,5cm long, pubescent ; stigma ± 1 mm in

diameter. Pod linear-oblong to oblanceolate,

5-14 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, woody, dehiscent.

Seeds light brown, oval to ± circular,

8-10 mm long, 4-6 mm wide.

B. bowkeri is restricted to the Butterworth and

Umtata districts of the Eastern Cape. It occurs in

valley bushveld and flowers from October to March.

CAPE.— 3128 (Umtata): Egossa, Sim 19969. 3228

(Butterworth): Kentani, Sim 19960 ; Bashee River

Bridge, 8 km from the Haven, Wells 3571; along

banks of Kei River, Flanagan 1058; Pegler 670.

B. bowkeri is reported as an ornamental tree in

Pretoria and Grahamstown.

Caesalpinioideae

49

The species is named after Colonel James Henry

Bovvker (1822-1900), soldier and noted naturalist.

2. Bauhinia natalensis Oliv. ex Hook.

in Bot. Mag. t. 6086 (1874); Henkel, Woody

PI. Natal 117 (1934); Ross, FI. Natal 195

(1973). Type: Natal, South Coast, McKen 2

(K, holo.!).

Perlebia natalensis (Oliv. ex Hook.) Schmitz in

Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 385 (1973). Type as

above.

Shrub to 2 m high ; young branchlets -b

glabrous or very sparingly pubescent. Leaves :

petiole 0,4-1, 5 cm long; blade divided to

the base into two distinct leaflets; leaflets

obliquely ovate-oblong to obovate, the outer

margin convex and the inner nearly straight,

(0,5) 0,9-3, 1 cm long, (0,3) 0,5-1, 7 cm

wide, glabrous. Stipules 1-3 mm long.

Flowers mostly solitary, terminal. Flower-

buds : upper part (i.e. sepals) linear to linear-

lanceolate in outline, 1-1,8 cm long before

anthesis; hypanthium 0,5-1, 5 cm long,

finely longitudinally sulcate. Petals white,

often with pink to red main veins, obovate,

1,5-3 cm long, 0,7-1, 5 cm wide, margins

scarcely crisped, glabrous. Stamens : 10 fertile;

filaments 0,8- 1,8 cm long. Style 0,3-1 cm

long, glabrous; stigma abruptly enlarged

from the style. Pod linear-oblong to oblanceo-

late, 3-8 cm long, 0,8- 1,2 cm wide, thinly

woody, dehiscent, pale yellowish-brown with

darker margins. Seeds light to dark brown,

ovate or oval to ± circular, 4-7 mm long,

3-5 mm wide.

Confined to the eastern Cape and the south

coast of Natal. Occurs in valley bushveld and scrub.

NATAL. — 3030 (Port Shepstone): Gibraltar, Strey

9580, Strey 10011 ; Umzimkulu, Gibraltar, Nicholson

515.

CAPE.— 3028 (Matatiele): Kenegha Valley below

Nyeweni, Acocks 12212. 3029 (Kokstad): Umzim-

hlovu Valley between Tabankulu and Lusikisiki,

District Forest Officer 646 ; Umzimvubu, Schlechter

1835; Mount Frere — Cedarville, Strey 10815. 3128

(Umtata): Tsitsa Waterfalls, Pegler 127. 3129 (Port

St. Johns): 13 km S. of Holy Cross Mission, Lusi-

kisiki, Codd 9325. 3228 (Butterworth) : along coast at

Kei River, Woodroffe s.n.

Grown as an ornamental shrub in botanical

gardens. The only species of the genus Bauhinia in

our area with compound leaves consisting of two

distinct leaflets, and therefore easily distinguishable.

Flowering period is from October to April.

3. Bauhinia tomentosa L., Sp. PI. 1 : 375

(1753); DC., Prodr. 2 : 514 (1825); Harv. in

F.C. 2 : 275 (1862); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2: 290

51066-5

(1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 149

(1892); Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 296

(1896); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 654 (1930);

Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 114 (1934);

Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 271 (1952); De Wit in

Reinwardtia 3 : 409 (1956); Torre & Hillc. in

C.F.A. 2 : 192 (1956); Roti-Michelozzi in

Webbia 13 : 153, figs. 3 & 4 (1957); Dale &

Greenway, Kenya Trees and Shrubs 97

(1961); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 99 (1962);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 209

(1967); Drummond in Kirkia 8,2 : 212

(1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 867

(1973); Ross, FI. Natal 195 (1973). Type:

Burmann, Thesaurus Zeylanicus, t. 18 (1737)

(lecto.!; G, typotype).

B. tomentosa L. var. glabrata Hook.f. in Bot. Mag.

t. 5560 (1866), as glabra; Chiov., Race. Bot. Miss.

Consol. Kenya 39 (1935). Type cultivated at Kew from

seed collected in Angola.

Pauletia tomentosa (L.) Schmitz in Bull. Jard. Bot.

Nat. Belg. 43 : 393 (1973). Type as for B. tomentosa.

Shrub or tree up to 8 m high; young

branchlets glabrous, puberulous or ± pubes-

cent. Leaves : petiole 0,6-2 cm long; blade

very variable in size, 1-7 cm long, 1-6,5 cm

wide (in our area), mostly bilobed apically to

about one-third of the way down, rarely to

half way or more, lower surface glabrous,

appressed-puberulous or ± pubescent. Sti-

pules 3-5 mm long, ± 1 mm wide. Inflores-

cence l-2(7)-flowered, terminal or lateral;

bracteoles small and inconspicuous. Flower-

buds: upper part (i.e. sepals) ovate in outline,

1-2 cm long before anthesis, glabrous or

pubescent outside; hypanthium 2-8 mm long,

smooth or finely longitudinally sulcate;

pedicels 0,7-2, 5 cm long. Petals sulphur-

yellow, 1-3 of them often (not always) with

a dark brown or purplish basal blotch,

subcircular to obovate or elliptic (2,5)

3-5,5 cm long, (1,5) 2-4,5 cm wide, not or

scarcely clawed. Stamens : 10 fertile; filaments

up to 2 cm long. Style gradually enlarged

towards the stigma; stigma 2,5-3 mm in dia-

meter, variable, terminal, peltate or with one

side produced downwards. Pod linear-oblong

to oblanceolate-oblong, 6-13 cm long, (1)

1,3-2 cm wide, thinly woody, dehiscent,

glabrescent to densely tomentose. Seeds

blackish or chestnut-brown, i elliptic,

5-9 mm long, 4-6 mm wide.

Widespread from Ethiopia and Somalia in the

north southwards to Zaire, Angola, Rhodesia,

50

Caesalpinioideae

Mozambique, the Transvaal and Natal; also in

Malaysia. Occurs in coastal forest, in woodland and

bushveld.

TRANSVAAL.— 2429 (Zebediela): 25 km N.N.W.

of Schoonoord, Acocks 20936. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) :

3 km from Lulu Trading Store on Stellenbosch Road,

Story 4107\ 11 km N.E. of Steelpoort P.O., Codd

6696.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): N. of Kosi mouth,

Stephen & Van Graan 1301. 2732 (Ubombo): Lake

Sibayi, Moll 3181. 2832 (Mtubatuba): Charter’s

Creek, Ward 3028, Dukuduku Forest, 8 km from St.

Lucia, Gerstner 6269. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

Isipingo, 1 , 6 km from the beach, Watmough 439.

2931 (Stanger): The Bluff, Phillips s.n. 3030 (Port

Shepstone): near coast at Amanzimtoti, Plowes 2424',

Izingolweni, Galpin 14815.

B. tomentosa shows a considerable range of

variation, particularly in the degree of development

of the indumentum from glabrous to strongly

pubescent, in leaf-size and shape, in the shape, size

and blotching of the petals, in the degree to which the

tip of the flower-bud is acuminate and in the shape

of the stigma. Within our area there is an inconsistent

tendency for the petioles and lower surfaces of the

leaves to be glabrescent to sparingly puberulous in

Natal and sparingly puberulous to pubescent in the

Transvaal. Although the extremes look a little

different there is ± continuous variation and con-

sequently no named varieties are recognized.

B. tomentosa is used for diverse medicinal pur-

poses in many tropical countries (see Watt & Breyer-

Brandwijk, The Medicinal and Poisonous plants of

South and Eastern Africa 561, 1962).

The specific name alludes to the tomentum of the

pods.

4. Bauhinia galpinii N.E. Br. in Gard.

Chron. 9 : 728 (1891); Oliv. in Hook., Icon.

PI. t. 1994 (1891); Phillips, Flow. PI. Afr. 2 : t.

79 (1922); Steedman, Trees, Shrubs & Lianes

S. Rhod. 18 (1933); Pole Evans, Mem. Bot.

Surv. S. Afr. 22 : 264 (1948); Codd, Trees &

Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 61 (1951); De Wit

in Reinwardtia 3 : 398 (1956); Letty, Wild

Flow. Transv. 160 (1962); Wright, Wild

Flow. S. Afr.-Natal 89, pi. 5 (1963);

Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot. Suppl. 6 : 46

(1966); Eliovson, Flowering Shrubs, Trees &

Climbers S. Afr. 63 (1971); Van der Spuy, S.

Afr. Shrubs & Trees for the Garden 71

(1971); Drummond in Kirkia 8,2 : 212

(1972); Palmer and Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 :

867 (1973); Ross, FI. Natal 195 (1973).

Syntypes: Transvaal, Doom Spruit near

Spelonken, Nelson 409 (Kl); near Barberton,

Saunders sub Wood 3885 (Kl); Barberton,

Galpin 421 (Kl; PRE!).

B. punctata Bolle in Peters, Reise Mossamb. Bot.

1 : 23 (1861) non B. punctata Jacq. (1780), nom.

illegit. ; Oliv. in F.T.A. 2: 292 (1871); Bak.f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 658 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 323 (1932); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal 117 (1934);

Coates Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 74 (1956). Type:

Mozambique, Zambesi, Peters s.n. (B, holo. t. K>

iso. !).

Perlebia galpinii (N.E. Br.) Schmitz in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 382 (1973). Type as for B. galpinii.

Spreading shrub up to 4 m high, occa-

sionally scandent, sometimes forming fairly

large thickets; young branchlets ± densely

brown-pubescent or -puberulous. Leaves :

petiole 0,8 - 1,5 cm long; blade often wider

than long, (1,5) 2,5 - 5 cm long, 3-7 cm

wide, bilobed apically for about one-quarter

of the length of the leaf, appressed-puberulous

on lower surface; lobes obliquely obovate to

ovate. Stipules 1,5-3 mm long. Inflorescence

up to 10-flowered, terminal, axillary or leaf-

opposed. Flower-buds: upper part (i.e. sepals)

linear to linear-lanceolate in outline, 1-3,4

cm long before anthesis; hypanthium 1,2-3

cm long, ± densely brown-puberulous,

finely longitudinally sulcate. Petals pinkish-

red to brick-red or sometimes ± scarlet, 3-4

cm long, lamina abruptly widened above

from a conspicuous basal claw which is

almost as long as the lamina, glabrous above,

the midrib pubescent outside and with small

glands or scales. Stamens : 3 fertile, the

filaments 2, 5-3, 5 cm long; staminodes 7,

free, red, 3-6 mm long. Style 4-7 mm long.

Pod linear-oblong to oblanceolate-oblong,

5-14 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, on a woody

stipe 2-3 cm long, dehiscent, woody, puberu-

lous when young but sometimes becoming

glabrescent with age. Seeds chestnut-brown,

irregularly oblong to obovate, 1-1,6 cm

long, 0,6-1 cm wide.

Found in Mozambique, Rhodesia, and the higher

rainfall regions of the north-eastern and eastern

Transvaal, Swaziland and Zululand. Occurs in

bushveld and scrub, often on wooded or boulder

strewn slopes or near streams.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina) : Sibasa, Von

Wolff sub TRV 34851. 2231 (Pafuri) : 40 km from

Louis Trichardt to Punda Milia, Ihlenfeldt 2214.

2329 (Pietersburg) : 12 km E. of Soekmekaar on road

to Tzaneen, De Winter & Killick 8914. 2330 (Tzaneen) :

Duiwelskloof, Westfalia Estate, Scheepers 126. 2428

(Nylstroom) : Between Vaalwater and Beauty, Werder-

mann & Oberdieck 1773. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Blyde

River Gorge, Galpin 14636. 2431 (Acomhoek):

Bushbuckridge, Taat 1387. 2529 (Witbank): Loskop

Dam, near The Hell, Codd 10352. 2530 (Lydenburg):

Somerset farm, Schoeman’s Kloof, Smuts & Gillett

2192. 2531 (Komatipoort): Barberton, Rogers

18215.

Caesalpinioideae

51

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Havelock

Mine, Miller S/31. 2631 (Mbabane): Mantenga,

Compton 25447. 2731 (Louwsburg): Nsoko, Lindahl

30.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): 5 km S. of Abercorn

Pont on road to Ndumu, Ross 1931. 2732 (Ubombo):

3 km from Ingwavuma on road to Ndumu, Ross 1895;

Jozini Dam, Edwards 2874.

An extremely decorative ornamental shrub,

commonly known as Pride of De Kaap or Vlam-van-

die-vlakte, that has been widely planted in parks and

gardens. De Wit, in Reinwardtia 3 : 391 (1956),

reports that it has been introduced as a garden shrub

into Malaysia. Flowering period is from October to

May (June).

The species is named in honour of Dr. E. E.

Galpin, a botanical collector of the late nineteenth and

early twentieth century.

5. Bauhinia urbaniana Schinz in Verh.

Bot. Ver. Prov. Brandenb. 30: 169 (1888);

in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 120 (1900); Bak. fl,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 656 (1930); O. B. Miller

in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 29 (1952); Torre &

Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 193 (1956); F. White,

For. FI. N. Rhod. 100 (1962); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 59 : 6 (1967); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 871 (1973). Type: North-

western Kalahari, between Karakobis and

Levisfontein, Schinz 275 (Z, holo.l).

Perlebia urbaniana (Schinz) Schmitz in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 386 (1973). Type as above.

Slender shrub up to 3 m high, often

many-stemmed, branches slender; young

branchlets densely pubescent and glandular.

Leaves: petiole 0,4-1 cm long; blade often

wider than long, (1,5) 2-4,5 cm long, (1,5)

2-7 cm wide, bilobed apically to about half

or two-thirds of the way down, densely

clothed with curved but non-appressed hairs

on the lower surface, particularly on the

main nerves. Stipules 3-4 mm long. Inflores-

cence mostly many-flowered, less frequently

flowers solitary or 2 or 3 per inflorescence,

terminal, axillary or leaf-opposed, with a

dense rusty indumentum. Flower-buds densely

clothed with a rusty indumentum and

glandular: upper part (i.e. sepals) obovate-

oblong in outline, 0,8-1, 5 cm long before

anthesis; hypanthium 4-6 mm long; pedicels

1-2 mm long. Petals white to pink or mauve,

1,8-2, 5 cm long, 0,6-1 cm wide, margins

crisped, glabrous above, the midrib pubescent

outside and with many small orange glands or

scales. Stamens: 5 fertile, free, filaments

1-1,5 cm long; staminodes 5, united basally

for most of their length, 0,4-1 cm long;

anthers of fertile stamens with conspicuous

hairs. Ovary densely clothed with hairs;

style 0,5-0, 8 cm long, pubescent and glandu-

lar; stigma abruptly enlarged from the style.

Pod oblanceolate-oblong to oblong, 7,5-12

cm long, 1 ,2-1 ,8 cm wide, woody, dehiscent,

densely pubescent when young but indumen-

tum wearing off with age. Seeds chestnut-

brown, oblong to obovate or subcircular,

7-9 mm long, 5-6 mm wide.

Found in Angola, north-eastern South West

Africa, Zambia and Botswana. Occurs in woodland,

usually on sandy soil.

S.W.A. — 1719 (Runtu): Mukusi Forest, Okavango,

Marsh s.n. 1819 (Karakuwisa): Quata-quata, Okavan-

go, Keet 1648 ; Okavango Forests, Kruger 10. 1820

(Tarikora): Tamso, S.E. of Runtu, Maquire 1647 ;

13 km S. of Tamso, Giess 9972. 1918 (Grootfontein):

7 mile Dune, Okavango, Le Roux 315; 13 km N. of

Xeidang, Giess 10037.

Flowering period is from April to August.

B. urbaniana is named after Dr. Ignatz Urban

(1848-1930), Assistant Director of the Botanical

Gardens and Museum at Berlin-Dahlem.

6. Bauhinia petersiana Bolle in Peters,

Reise Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 24 (1861). Type:

Mozambique, rios de Sena, Peters s.n. (B,

holo. t, K!).

Shrub or tree 1-10 m high, shrubs

usually erect but sometimes scrambling or

scandent, rarely a suffrutex up to 0,4 m high;

young branchlets ± densely greyish or

brown-pubescent or -puberulous and with

many small orange glands or scales, some

branchlets often coiled apically and tendril-

like. Leaves: petiole 0,4-2 cm long; blade

often wider than long, (1) 2-7 (8) cm long,

(1,8) 2-10 cm wide, bilobed apically to

about one-third to two-thirds of the way

down, appressed-puberulous on lower surface

or with spreading or ascending but non-

appressed hairs; lobes elliptic to ovate or

rounded. Stipules 3-5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide.

Inflorescence 1-10-flowered, axillary, leaf-

opposed or terminal and often crowded.

Flower-buds: upper part (i.e. sepals) linear to

linear-lanceolate in outline, 1,5-5 cm long

before anthesis; hypanthium (1,5) 2-5,5

(6,5) cm long, finely longitudinally sulcate.

Petals white throughout or sometimes the

midrib pinkish basally, narrowly elliptic

to ovate, 2, 2-8, 4 cm long, 0,6-2, 2 (4,2) cm

wide, with very crisped margins, glabrous

above, the midrib pubescent outside and with

52

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 11.— Bauhinia petersiana subsp. serpae. 1, flowering twig, X 1 ; 2, portion of lower surface of leaflet showing

curved but non-appressed hairs, X 4; 3, part of petal showing glands, X 4; 4, stamen, x 2, all from

Killick & Leislner 3199; 5, pod, x 1 ; 6, portion of dehisced pod showing seeds, X 1, both from Hodgson s.n.

Caesalpinioideae

53

many small orange glands or scales. Stamens :

usually 5 fertile, occasionally 4 or 6 fertile,

three longer, (3) 4,5-6 cm long, the other

shorter two 3-5 cm long; filaments white,

pink or red throughout, or sometimes pinkish

basally and white above; staminodes 4 or 5.

Style 2-4 cm long, pubescent and with glands

or scales; stigma 2-3 mm in diameter,

abruptly enlarged from the style. Pod linear-

oblong to oblanceolate-oblong, 6-24 cm long,

(1,3) 1,7-4, 7 cm wide, woody, dehiscent,

puberulous but often becoming glabrescent

with age. Seeds deep chestnut-brown to black-

ish, irregularly oblong to obovate or sub-

circular, 1-1,6 cm long, 0,7-1, 8 cm wide.

Fig. 11.

Found in Zaire and Tanzania and southwards to

Angola, South West Africa, Botswana, Transvaal and

the northern Cape Province.

The species is named in honour of Prof. W. C. H.

Peters of Berlin who collected extensively in Mozam-

bique during the early years of the nineteenth century.

(a) subsp. petersiana.

Brummitt & Ross in Kew Bull. 30: 594

(1976).

B. petersiana Bolle in Peters, Reise Mossamb. Bot.

1 : 24 (1861); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 288 (1871); Bak.f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 656 (1930); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 :

274 (1952); Coates Palgrave, Trees Cent. Afr. 70

(1956); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 99 (1962);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 211, fig. 47

(1967); Tolken in Flow. PI. Afr. 39: t.1532 (1969);

Drummond in Kirkia 8,2: 212 (1972); Drummond &

Coates Palgrave, Common Trees of the Highveld 34

(1973).

Perlebia petersiana (Bolle) Schmitz in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 385 (1973). Type as for B. peter-

siana.

Hairs on lower surface of leaf appressed-

puberulous; inflorescence 2-10-flowered;

petals 0,6-1, 5 (2,7) cm wide; pods 2, 3-4, 7

cm wide.

Found in Zaire, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi,

Mozambique, the eastern Caprivi Strip and Rhodesia.

The distributional ranges of subsp. petersiana and

subsp. serpae overlap in the region of the Victoria

Falls. Subsp. petersiana occurs in woodland and

wooded grassland. Only one collection has been made

from our area.

S.W.A.— 2417 (Katima Mulilo): 2 km E. of

Katima Mulilo on road to Ngoma, V ahrmeijer 2507.

The indumentum on the lower surface of the

leaf provides the most satisfactory character for

distinguishing between the two subspecies. In subsp.

petersiana the hairs are minute and closely appressed,

while in subsp. serpae the hairs are longer and

irregularly spreading or ascending but non-appressed.

Occasionally, but not in our area, specimens with an

indumentum ± intermediate between the two

subspecies are found. In addition to the indumentum,

the inflorescences in subsp. petersiana tend to have

more flowers, the leaves tend to be larger, the petals

tend to be narrower, 0,6 - 1,5 (2,7) cm wide as

opposed to 0,8 - 2,2 (4,2) cm wide in subsp. serpae,

and the pods tend to be wider, 2,3 - 4,7 cm wide in

contrast to (1 ,3) 1 ,7 - 3 cm wide in subsp. serpae.

(b) subsp. serpae ( Ficalho & Hiern)

Brummitt & J. Ross in Kew Bull. 30: 594

(1976)*. Type: Angola, Ninda, Serpa Pinto 9

(LISU, holo.).

B. macrantha Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 289 (1871);

Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 120 (1900); Thonner,

Flow. PI. Afr. t.67 (1915); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 :

656 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 323 (1932);

O.B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 28 (1952); Torre &

Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 194 (1956); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 99 (1962); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 6 (1967);

Meyer, Pflanzenwelt Siidwestafrikas 86 (1969);

Tolken in Flow. PI. Afr. 39 : 1. 1 53 1 (1969); Giess in

Dinteria 5 : 27 (1970); Nordenstam in Dinteria 5 :

11 (1970); Eliovson, Flow. Shrubs, Trees & Climbers

for S. Afr. 63 (1971); Drummond in Kirkia 8,2 :

212 (1972); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 869

(1973). Type: Botswana, Desert by Lake Ngami,

McCabe sub Atherstone s.n. (K, holo.!). B. serpae

Ficalho & Hiern in Trans. Linn. Soc., Bot., Ser. 2,2 :

20 (1881); Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A. 2 : 194 (1956).

Type: Angola, Ninda, Serpa Pinto 9 (LISU, holo.).

Perlebia macrantha (Oliv.) Schmitz in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 384 (1973). Type as for B. mac-

rantha. P. macrantha subsp. serpae (Ficalho & Hiern)

Schmitz, loc. cit. : 384 (1973). Type as for B. serpae.

Hairs on lower surface of leaf curved,

spreading or ascending but not appressed;

inflorescence 1-3 (4)-flowered; petals 0,8-

2,2 (4,2) cm wide; pods (1,3) 1 ,7-3 cm wide.

* Schmitz, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 43 : 384

(1973), on the basis of pollen morphology, recognized

two subspecies within Perlebia macrantha, namely,

subsp. macrantha and subsp. serpae (Ficalho & Hiern)

Schmitz. His publication of the name Perlebia

macrantha subsp. serpae has an important, and most

unfortunate, consequence under the present Inter-

national Code of Botanical Nomenclature. At

Seattle in 1969 a decision was accepted which excluded

autonyms from consideration in matters of priority,

so that Perlebia macrantha subsp. macrantha, auto-

matically established in 1973 by publication of subsp.

serpae, cannot compete with the latter for priority.

Although efforts were made at Leningrad in 1975 to

reverse this unfortunate decision, these succeeded

only to the extent of having the matter put “on ice”

pending consideration by a special committee

reporting to the next Congress in 1981. Recognizing

the desirability that the International Code be

respected, the epithet serpae was reluctantly adopted

for this subspecies in place of the well-known and

familiar epithet macrantha.

54

Caesalpinioideae

Found in Angola, Zambia, South West Africa,

Rhodesia, Botswana, the central and western Trans-

vaal and the northern Cape. Favours the Kalahari

sands and occurs in sandveld, bushveld and in

thornveld.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): 32 km N. ofOndangua,

Le Roux 1027. 1719 (Runtu): 16 km W. of Runtu,

De Winter 3747. 1723 (Singalamwe): 96 km from

Katima Mulilo on road to Singalamwe, Killick &

Leistner 3199. 1724 (Katima Mulilo): Ngamiland, E.

of Cuando River, Curson 916. 1816 (Namutoni):

64 km S.E. of Ondangua, De Winter & Giess 6956.

1819 (Karakuwisa): Tsammagaigai, E. of Kara-

kuwisa, Maquire 2104. 1820 (Tarikora): 5 km down

Omuramba Omatako, S. of junction of River and

Omuramba, De Winter & Wiss 4129. 1821 (Andara):

Andara Mission Station, De Winter & Marais 4833.

1917 (Tsumeb): Otavi, Dinter 5293. 1918 (Groot-

fontein): sand dunes N.E. of Grootfontein, Schoen-

felder 226. 1919 (Kanovlei): Kanovlei, Le Roux 34.

1920 (Tsumkwe): W. foot of Aha Mountains, Groot-

fontein, Story 6334. 2017 (Waterberg): Omanbonda-

tal, P. O. Guchab, Bar s.n. 2019 (Eiseb): northern

Flereroland, Venn 17. 2116 (Okahandja): farm

Quickborn, Bradfield 130. 2118 (Steinhausen) :

Springvale, Hodgson s.n. 2219 (Sandfontein): Gobabis,

farm Gemsbokfontein, MerxmiiHer & Giess 1188.

TRANSVAAL.— 2327 (Ellisras): 5 km N. of Ons

Hoop P.O., Codd 8456. 2428 (Nylstroom): 13,5 km

S. of Crecy, Story 1585. 2429 (Zebediela): Potgieters-

rus, Crawley sub TRV Will. 2526 (Zeerust): Groot

Marico, Sutton 1132. 2528 (Pretoria): Rooikop, Pole

Evans 1226.

CAPE. — 2524 (Vergelee): 114 km W. of Mafeking,

Acocks 18765. 2624 (Vryburg): Vryburg, Coetzee 6.

B. petersiana subsp. serpae is commonly known

as “wild coffee bean” and the pods are edible.

Palmer & Pitman (1973) report that Thomas Baines

used the ground seed as a coffee substitute, as farmers

still do today, while the “Bushmen and African

peoples eat the roasted beans, pounded into a meal,

which is nourishing, palatable and one of their staple

foods”.

Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) report that

“The Luvale make a lotion from the leaf for applica-

tion to wounds and use the root as a diarrhoea

remedy”.

7. Bauhinia variegata L., Sp. PI. 1 :

375 (1753); Wight & Arn., Prodr. FI. Pen.

Ind. Or. 296 (1834); Bak. in FI. Brit. Ind. 2 :

284 (1878); De Wit in Reinwardtia 3 : 41 1

(1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. :

208 (1967). Type from south-east Asia.

Unarmed tree to 10 m high. Leaves

broadly ovate, often broader than long, (3,5)

5-14 cm long, 6-14 cm wide, bilobed apically

to about ^-way down, coriaceous, 11-13-

nerved, lower surface finely puberulous.

Inflorescence a few-flowered, abbreviated,

axillary or terminal raceme. Flowers on thick

striate puberulous 1,5-2 cm long pedicels

which merge gradually into the receptacle;

receptacle 1-2,5 cm long; bracts and brac-

teoles ovate, pubescent, short, rapidly deci-

duous. Flower-buds: upper part (i.e. sepals)

fusiform, turgid, not winged or ridged.

Calyx-tube splitting down one side and

remaining spathaceous and entire. Petals

up to 5 cm long and 3 cm wide, glabrous,

sometimes margins more or less crisped.

Fertile stamens 5 ; reduced stamens and

staminodes 5, ^ as long as fertile ones. Pod

oblanceolate-oblong, up to 30 cm long, 1,8-

2,5 cm wide.

Introduced from south-east Asia and widely

planted in our area for ornament. Relatively few

specimens have been collected in our area and the

actual distribution of this species greatly exceeds

that indicated by the cited specimens below.

TRANSVAAL.— 2528 (Pretoria): Prince’s Park,

Repton 19B; Garden of Union Buildings, Phillips

s.n.; Gunn 3; Schlieben 10098; Schlieben’s garden,

Riviera, Pretoria, Schlieben & Mendelsohn 12870.

2530 (Lydenburg): grounds of Fig Tree Hotel,

Nelspruit, Ackermann sub PRF 8958. 2531 (Komati-

poort): Kruger National Park, Numbi-Hek, Van der

Schijff 27; Kruger National Park, Pretoriuskop rest

camp, Van der Schijff 8.

NATAL. — 3030 (Port Shepstone): near Botha

House, Smuts 2348.

Two varieties of B. variegata are recognized,

namely, var. variegata in which the petals are blotched

or striped with purple, and var. Candida Voigt in

which the petals are white or partly yellow but

without any purple. Unfortunately there is no

accurate indication of the flower colour on most of

the specimens collected in our area but both varieties

are represented among the cited specimens.

B. variegata is commonly known as “Camels-

foot”.

8. Bauhinia purpurea L., Sp. PI. 1 : 375

(1753); Wight & Arn., Prodr. FI. Pen. Ind.

Or. 296 (1834); Bak. in FI. Brit. Ind. 2 : 284

(1878); Trimen in FI. Ceylon 2 : 117 (1894);

De Wit in Reinwardtia 3 : 406 (1956);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp.: 208

(1967). Type from south-east Asia.

Closely related to B. variegata from

which it differs in having the flowers produced

near the ends of long lateral or terminal

branches, the flower-buds ridged or winged

above with the ridges or wings twisted

apically, the calyx-tube usually splitting into

two sections unlike B. variegata where the

calyx-tube splits down one side and remains

spathaceous and entire to the end, the

receptacle only 7-12 mm long, and only 3

(very rarely 4) fertile stamens.

Caesalpinioideae

55

Introduced from south-east Asia and planted in

our area for ornament. More widely distributed in

our area than indicated by the two cited specimens

but less common than B. variegata.

TRANSVAAL. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Barberton,

Thorncroft s.n.

NATAL. — 2931 (Stanger): Durban Botanic Gar-

den, Strey 5247.

The petals of B. purpurea are pinkish, reddish or

purplish.

9. Bauhinia candicans Benth. in Mart.,

FI. Bras. 15,2 : 201 (1870); Sim, Flow. Trees

& Shrubs 53 (1919); Burkart in FI. Prov.

Buenos Aires 3 : 447, fig. 139 (1967). Type

from South America.

Large shrub or tree to 8 m high; young

branchlets fairly densely pubescent, usually

armed with paired spines up to 5 mm long.

Leaves (2,6) 4-9 cm long, (1,8) 3-8 cm wide,

bilobed apically for £ to | of their length,

9-1 1-nerved, lower surface densely pubescent.

Inflorescence a few-flowered axillary or

terminal raceme or sometimes flowers soli-

tary; flowers on thick pubescent pedicels.

Flower-buds: upper part (i.e. sepals) fusiform,

up to 7 cm long, turgid, not winged or

ridged. Petals white, 8-12 cm long, 1,1-3, 5

cm wide, distinctly narrowed basally. Fertile

stamens 10. Stigma bilobed, abruptly expan-

ded from the style. Pod 10-20 cm long, 1 ,5-2

cm wide.

Introduced from South America and cultivated

for ornament because of its large white showy flowers.

TRANSVAAL.— 2528 (Pretoria): “Wild Gardens”,

Pretoria, Schlieben & Mendelsohn 12626 ; Roodeplaat,

Horticultural Research Institute, Schlieben & Mendel-

sohn 127 29 ; Union Buildings Garden, Schlieben

10006 ; Repton 972; Paul Kruger St., Repton 2912.

NATAL. — locality unknown, H. M. Forbes s.n.

CAPE. — 3126 (Queenstown): Queenstown, Dodd

s.n.

Very closely related to B. forficata Link and

perhaps not specifically distinct.

3528b 12. ADENOLOBUS

by L. A. COETZER and J. H. ROSS

Adenolobus ( Harv . ex Benth. & Hook.f.) Torre & Hillc. in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2, 29 : 37 (1955);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 4 (1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 873 (1973); Brummitt

& Ross in Kew Bull. 31 : 399 (1976). Type species: A. garipensis (E. Mey.) Torre & Hillc.

Bauhinia Sect. Adenolobus Harv. ex Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 576 (1865); Baill., Hist. PI. 2: 113 (1872);

Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 150 (1892); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 653 (1930).

Erect or prostrate shrub or small tree; branchlets often covered with multicellular sessile

glands. Tendrils absent. Leaves alternate, simple, sometimes borne on abbreviated lateral

shoots, emarginate apically or very shallowly bilobed, truncate to cordate basally; lobes

obliquely obovate to semicircular. Stipules sagittate, deciduous. Inflorescence a short or

elongate raceme or flowers borne on abbreviated lateral shoots. Flowers bisexual, irregular,

medium to rather small. Hypanthium short. Sepals 5, united for most of their length into a

campanulate tube, persistent, covered in some instances with multicellular glands. Petals 5,

free, obovate or elliptical to lanceolate, narrowed basally into a claw. Stamens 10, all fertile,

in two whorls of five, of two lengths; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary long-

stipitate; style elongate; stigma slightly narrowed towards the apex. Pods thin-textured,

dehiscent, 5-10-seeded, glandular or eglandular. Seeds small.

A genus of two species occurring in southern Angola, South West Africa, northern Botswana and the

northern Cape. Both species occur in our area.

The generic name Adenolobus means “glandular fruits”; in allusion to the glandular pods.

Flowers borne on elongate racemes (5) 10-20 cm long, more than 5 flowers per inflorescence; petals

yellow, without conspicuous reddish venation 1. A. pechuelii

Flowers borne on abbreviated lateral shoots, 1-3 flowers per inflorescence; petals yellow to reddish,

with conspicuous reddish venation 2. A. garipensis

56

Caesalpinioideae

1. Adenolobus pechuelii ( Kuntze ) Torre &

Hillc. in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2, 29 : 38 (1955);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 4 (1967); Meyer,

Pflanzenwelt Siidwestafrikas 86 (1969); Brum-

mitt & Ross in Kew Bull. 31 : 401 (1976).

Type: South West Africa, Tsoachaub River,

Pechuel-Loesche s.n. (B, holo. f); Swakop-

mund Distr., S. of Kuiseb, Strey 2592

(PRE, neo.!, K).

Bauhinia pechuelii Kuntze in Jahrb. Bot. Gart.

Berl. 4 : 263 (1886). Type as above.

Small shrub up to 1,5m high with erect

branches or branches prostrate and spreading;

young branchlets with scattered stalked

glands or eglandular. Leaves: petiole 4-9 mm

long; blade 1-3 cm long, 1,2-4 cm wide,

glaucous, glabrous, slightly emarginate or

very shallowly lobed apically, cordate basally;

lobes semicircular. Stipules 2-4 mm long,

1-1,5 mm broad. Racemes more than 5-

flowered: peduncles glandular or eglandular;

axis (5) 10—20 cm long, glandular or egland-

ular; pedicels 4-6 mm long, glandular or

eglandular; bracts 2-4 mm long, 1-2 mm

wide. Hypanthium 3-4 mm long, with

scattered stalked glands or eglandular. Sepals

4-8 mm long, united for most of their

length into a tube, glandular or eglandular,

lobes 2-3 mm long, rounded apically.

Petals yellow, some often with red spots,

1,2-2, 5 cm long, 4-8 mm wide, narrowed

basally into a claw, sometimes glandular.

Stamen-filaments 3-7 mm long. Ovary 4-8

mm long, glandular or eglandular; style 4-8

mm long. Pod 1,8-2, 5 cm long, 0,8-1, 2 cm

wide, on a stipe 0,8-2 cm long, pale yellow-

brown to pinkish-red, glandular or eglandu-

lar. Seed 5-7 x 3-5 mm, light brown. Fig.

12:4-6.

Occurs in southern Angola, the central and

north-western parts of South West Africa and nor-

thern Botswana. Grows in coarse gravel, stony ground

and in sandy river beds. Two subspecies are recog-

nized.

Calyces, pedicels and pods covered with con-

spicuous stalked glands (a) subsp. pechuelii

Calyces, pedicels and pods eglandular or with very

few glands on the inflorescence axes

(b) subsp. mossamedensis

(a) subsp. pechuelii.

Brummitt & Ross in Kew Bull. 31 : 402

(1976). Type as above.

Bauhinia pechuelii Kuntze in Jahrb. Bot. Gart.

Berl. 4 : 263 (1886); Schinz in M6m. Herb. Boiss. 1 :

120 (1900). B. marlothii Engl, in Bot. Jahrb. 10 : 26

(1888); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 120 (1900).

Type : South West Africa, Karibib Distr., Usakos,

Marloth 1184 (PRE, iso.!).

Occurs in central South West Africa.

S.W.A. — 2115 (Karibib): 3 km N. of Klein Spitz-

kopf, Hardy & De Winter 1411. 2214 (Swakopmund):

Namib, near Goanikontes, Cannon sub Marloth 10159;

canyon near Goanikontes, Rodin 2150. 2215 (Trek-

kopje): Tsamathal bei Kuwosis in Khanthal, Schenk

429. 2218 (Gobabis): Okombuhe Road, Boss sub

TRV 36181. 2314 (Sandwich Harbour): N. of Kuiseb,

Jensen 54. 2315 (Rostock): Kuiseb, Strey 2476; S. of

Kuiseb, Strey 2592. 2416 (Maltahohe): Grosse

Spitzkopf, Hardy 2060.

(b) subsp. mossamedensis ( Torre & Hillc.)

Brummitt & J. Ross in Kew Bull. 31 : 403

(1976). Type: Angola, Mogamedes, rio

Coroca, prox. de Porto Alexandre, Goss-

weiler 12796 (LISC, holo.).

A. mossamedensis Torre & Hillc. in Bol. Soc.

Brot. Ser. 2, 29 : 37, t.3 (1955); Torre in Mem. Junta

Invest. Ultram. 38 : 60, tt.4-6 (1963). Type as above.

Bauhinia mossamedensis (Torre & Hillc.) Cusset in

Adansonia 6 : 279 (1966). Type as above.

Occurs in southern Angola, northern South

West Africa and northern Botswana.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrif): Kaokoveld —

Schluchteingang bei Omutati, Giess & Leippert 7407.

1812 (Sanitatas): Okonjombo, Merxmiiller & Giess

1435; il km E. of Puros, Giess 3208. 1813 (Ohopoho):

29 km W. of Otjihu, De Winter & Leistner 5676. 2014

(Welwitschia) : 53 km W. of Welwitschia, De Winter

& Hardy 8138. 2015 (Otjihorongo): Otjihorongo

Reserve, Merxmiiller & Giess 1611. 2114(Uis): 32 Ion

from Brandberg, Liebenberg 4981.

A. pechuelii is well grazed by game and stock in

the arid regions where it grows.

2. Adenolobus garipensis ( E . Mey.) Torre

& Hillc. in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2, 29 : 37

(1955); in C.F.A. 2 : 196(1956); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 59 : 4 (1967); Meyer, Pflanzenwelt

Siidwestafrikas 87 (1969); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 875 (1973); Brummitt &

Ross in Kew Bull. 31 : 403 (1976). Type:

Between Verleptpram and Natvoet, Gariep,

Drege (PRE, iso. !).

Bauhinia garipensis E. Mey., Comm. 162 (1836);

Walp., Repert. 1 : 852 (1842); Harv. in F.C. 2 :

275 (1862); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 291 (1871); Taub. in

Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 150 (1892); Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI.

Welw. 1: 297 (1896); Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss.

1 : 120 (1900); Sim, For. FI. Cape Col. 209 (1907);

Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3: 658 (1930). Type as above.

Shrub or small tree up to 4 m high with

erect branches. Leaves often aggregated on

abbreviated lateral shoots: petiole (0,5) 0,8-

1 ,8 cm long; blade 0,8-2 cm long, 1 ,2-3 cm

Caesalpinioideae

57

l\''ll<f=5cEc5T T

FIG. 12.— Adenolobus garipensis. 1, flowering twig, X 1; 2, longitudinal section of flower, x 2; 3, petal, X

2 all from Balsinhas & Kersberg 1996. Adenolobus pechuelii. 4, flowering twig, X 1 ; 5, longitudinal section

of flower, X 2; 6, petal, x 2|, all from Cannon 10159.

58

Caesalpinioideae

wide, glaucous, glabrous, slightly emarginate

or very shallowly lobed apically, cordate

basally; lobes ± semicircular. Stipules 1-3

mm long, 1-2 mm broad. Flowers solitary

or in fascicles of 1-3, borne on abbreviated

lateral shoots; pedicels 6-15 mm long;

bracts ± 1 mm long, 1-1,5 mm wide.

Hypanthium 4-6 mm long. Sepals 6-9 mm

long, united for most of their length into a

tube, lobes 3-4 mm long, acute apically.

Petals yellow to pinkish or red, with con-

spicuous dark reddish venation, 1 , 5-2 cm

long, 6-8 mm wide, narrowed basally into a

claw. Stamens 1 0 ; filaments 1 , 5-2 , 8 cm long,

red basally, green or yellowish-green apically.

Ovary 4-6 mm long, glandular; style 5-6 mm

long. Pod 2-3 cm long, 1-1,5 cm wide, on a

stipe 1-2 cm long, glandular or eglandular,

pale yellowish-brown to pinkish-red. Seed

5-7 x 4-5 mm. Fig. 12 : 1-3.

Found in southern Angola, the western areas of

South West Africa and the north-western Cape.

Palmer & Pitman l.c. report that A. garipensis grows

on stony or gravelly soil, rocky hills or in coarse

sand, and is equally at home on the plateau of the

Namib Desert and on the islands and the banks of the

Orange River.

Flowering period is from August to April.

S.W.A.— 1712 (Posto Velho): 11 km S. of Kunene

at Otjinungua, De Winter & Leistner 5752. 1812

(Sanitatas): Anabib Flucht, Maguire 493. 1913

(Sesfontein): Kaokoveld, in den Bergen nach Warm-

quelle, Giess 3179. 2015 (Otjihorongo): 64 km W. of

Outjo, Esterhuyse 450. 2016 (Otjiwarongo): Farm

Henrysvelde, De Winter 3130. 2114 (Uis): Namib

valley, western Brandberg, Wiss 1493. 2115 (Karibib):

Usakos, Marloth 1421; Karibib, Kinges 3354. 2216

(Otjimbingwe) : 80 km W. of Windhoek, Hardy &

De Winter 1384. 2314 (Sandwich Harbour): between

Amichab and Heinrichsberg, Jensen 305. 2316

(Nauchas): 145 km from Windhoek on road to

Walvis Bay, Balsinhas & Kersberg 1996. 2317 (Reho-

both): Farm Vrede, Maltahohe, Joubert s.n. 2415

(Sossusvlei) : 240 km W. of Maltahohe, Louw 274.

2416 (Maltahohe): Buellspoort in Naukluft, Hardy

1965; Strey 2181. 2615 (Luderitz): Tsarris, Marloth

5071. 2717 (Chamaites): road from Ai-ais to Fish

River Canyon, Carr 17. 2718 (Grunau): Garis,

Dinter 5213. 2818 (Warmbad): 17 km from Good-

house, Pole Evans 2334. 2819 (Ariamsvlei): 5 km

from Pella, Pole Evans 2351.

CAPE. — 2817 (Vioolsdrif): Modderdrift, Hardy

1699; Vioolsdrif, Werger 171. 2818 (Warmbad):

Orange River, Schlechter 11451. 2819 (Ariamsvlei):

Onseepkans, Acocks 15070. 2820 (Kakamas): 6 km

N. N.W. of Augrabies, Leistner & Joynt 2850; Island

at Augrabies Falls, Marloth 4778.

A. garipensis is also variable in the presence or

absence of glands, but in this species the glands are

sessile and confined to the pods if present at all.

Unlike the situation prevailing in A. pechuelii, the

presence or absence of glands in A. garipensis is

not correlated with geographical distribution.

A. garipensis is grown as an ornamental shrub

in the Augrabies Botanical Garden. Where the plant

grows in the veld it is heavily grazed by stock and by

game. Although the flowers are not showy they are

distinctive. The shiny pods tend to be more con-

spicuous than the flowers.

3528a 13. PILIOSTIGMA

by L. A. COETZER and J. H. ROSS

Piliostigma Hochst. in Flora 29 : 598 (1846); Milne-Redhead in Hook., Icon. PI. 35: t. 3460

(1947); De Wit in Reinwardtia 3 : 530 (1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 444 (1958);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 206 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 17 (1967);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 871 (1973). Type species: P. reticulatum (DC.) Hochst.

Bauhinia L. Sect. Piliostigma (Hochst.) Benth. in Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 576 (1865); Baill., Hist.

PI. 2 : 113 (1872); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 149 (1892); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 653 (1930).

Locellaria Welw., Apont. Phytogeogr. 588 (1858). Type species: L. bauhinioides Welw.

Deciduous trees or shrubs, not climbing. Tendrils absent. Leaves alternate, simple,

conspicuously bilobed, cordate basally. Stipules deciduous. Inflorescence a terminal, axillary

or leaf-opposed raceme or panicle. Flowers medium to small, usually dioecious and unisexual,

very rarely hermaphrodite (see F.C.B. 3 : 278, 1952). Sepals united for most of their length

into a turbinate tube, with 4-5 short acute lobes. Petals 5. Stamens 10, all fertile in male

flowers, reduced to staminodes in female flowers; filaments villous below; anthers dehiscing

by longitudinal slits. Stigma thick, capitate, flattened-globose, sessile on the ovary; funicle

Caesalpinioideae

59

several times as long as the ovule. Pod linear to oblong, leathery or woody, many-seeded,

indehiscent. Seeds embedded in pulp, irregularly arranged, with a U-shaped line on one

side; endosperm present.

A genus of three species occurring in tropical Africa, Asia and Australia.

Piliostigma thonningii ( Schumach .) Milne-

Redh. in Hook., Icon. PI. 35 : t. 3460 (1947);

Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 66

(1951); Eggeling, Indig. Trees Uganda, ed.

2 : 67, fig. 16 (1952); Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A.

2 : 199 (1956); Roti-Michelozzi in Webbia

13 : 174 (1957); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2,1 :

444 (1958); Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees

and Shrubs 107 (1961); Irvine, Woody Plants

of Ghana 314 (1961); Palmer & Pitman,

Trees S. Afr. 114 (1961); White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 126 (1962); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Caesalp. : 206, fig. 46 (1967); Schrei-

ber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 18 (1967); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 871 (1973); Drum-

mond & Coates Palgrave, Common Trees of

the Highveld 45 (1973); Van Wyk, Trees

Kruger Nat. Park 1 : 194 (1972). Type:

Ghana, Aquapim, Thonning (C, holo., PRE,

photo.).

Bauhinia thonningii Schumach., Beskr. I : 223

(1827); Bak. f„ Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 657 (1930) ;

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 322 (1932); Steedman,

Trees S. Rhod. 18 (1933); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal

1 12 (1934); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 275 (1952); Compton

in J. S. Afr. Bot. Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966). Type as above.

B. reticulata auct. non DC.: Harms in Engl., Pflan-

zenw. Afr. 3,1 : 486 (1915); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 290

(1871) pro parte quoad syn. B. thonningii (sphalm.

articulata ); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 149 (1892);

Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 296 (1896); Bak. f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 657 (1930); Suesseng. & Merxm.

in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Munchen 1 : 155 (1952).

Locellaria hauhinioides Welw., Apont. Phyto-

geogr. 588 (1858). Type: Angola, Calumguembo,

Welwitsch 486 (BM, holo.).

Tree up to 10 m high or sometimes a

shrub; bark rough, dark brown to grey or

black; young branchlets rusty-tomentellous

or shortly rusty-tomentose. Leaves : petiole

2-4 cm long; blade mostly 5-1 5 cm long and

6-16 cm wide in our area, bilobed apically

about one-eighth to one-third of the length

of the leaf, densely reticulate and rusty-

puberulous or -pubescent beneath; lobes

each with 5 or 6 main veins. Stipules 3-6

mm long. Panicles usually alternately leaf-

opposed and axillary along the branches, the

male ones 5-19 cm long and the female

2-7 cm long. Calyx 0,8-1, 5 (2) cm long,

rusty-tomentose or-tomentellous. Petals white

to pinkish, obovate, 1,2-2 (2,6) cm long,

rugose or bullate, hairy on basal claw and

outside of limb. Ovary 5-12 mm long, stigma

sessile on the ovary. Pods woody, indehiscent,

oblong or linear-oblong, mostly 13-20 cm

long and 3-6 cm wide in our area, shortly

ferruginous pubescent, on a stipe 2-3

cm long. Seeds obovoid to ellipsoid, some-

what compressed, dark brown to blackish,

7-9 mm long, 5-7 mm wide and 3-4 mm

thick. Fig. 13.

Widespread in tropical Africa from Senegal to

the Sudan and southwards to South West Africa,

Botswana and the northern and eastern Transvaal.

P. thonningii was recorded from Swaziland by

Compton, in J. S. Afr. Bot. Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966),

but there is no herbarium specimen to substantiate

this. Usually occurs on sandy soil in open woodland

and wooded grassland.

Flowering period is from November to April.

S.W.A. — 1715 (Ondangua): Oshikango, Loeh 135.

1718 (Kuring-Kuru): 5 km E. of Kuring-Kuru,

De Winter 3945; Tondoro, Le Roux 26. 1724 (Katima

Mulilo): Katima Mulilo, Von Breitenbach 1191;

Mpilila Island, Killick & Leistner 3377. 1820 (Tari-

kora): 19 km W. of Nyangana Mission, De Winter &

Marais 4769. 1823 (Siambisso): E. of Cuando River,

Curson 1018.

TRANSVAAL.— 2230 (Messina): 32 km E. of

Sibasa, Rodin 4123. 2231 (Pafuri): Punda Milia, Codd

4222. 2330 (Tzaneen): 13 km E. of Soekmekaar, De

Winter & Killick 8916 ; 22 km S.E. of Tzaneen, De

Winter & Killick 8942. 2331 (Phalaborwa): Shingwidzi

Game Reserve, Smuts s.n. 2430 (Pilgrim's Rest):

Shiluwane, Junod 4147. 2431 (Acornhoek): 5 km W.

of Acornhoek, Stephen 318. 2531 (Komatipoort):

Malelane, Thorncroft 3108.

A red dye is obtained from the macerated and

boiled roots, while a blue dye is obtainable from the

pods and seeds (see Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees

and Shrubs 107. 1961). Bark and roots yield up to

18 per cent of tannin. Both leaf and fruit are eaten

by stock. Interesting facts about the value and uses

of this plant are given by Palmer and Pitman in

Trees S. Afr. 2 : 871 (1973). Much information

concerning the medicinal and poisonous value and

uses of P. thonningii is given by Watt & Breyer-

Brandwijk in The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants

of Southern and Eastern Africa 640 (1962).

P. reticulatum (DC.) Hochst., which occurs from

Senegal to the Sudan, differs from P. thonningii in

having the leaves glabrous below, the inflorescence

with racemose branches or racemose, and the mature

pods glabrous and pruinose.

60

Caesalpinioideae

I IG. 13. — Piliostigma thonningii. 1, male flowering branch, x i; 2, lower surface of leaf, X 6, both from

Scheepers 1195; 3, male flower with part of calyx and corolla removed, x 1^; 4, petal of male flower,

upper surface, x 1 5, stamen, x 2, all from Story 5384; 6, female flower with part of calyx and corolla

removed, x 1$; 7, petal of female flower, upper surface, x 1^, both from Rodin 4123; 8, pod, X f; 9

part of pod cut open to show seeds, X $; 10, seed, front view, x 2, all from Codd 7077.

Caesalpinioideae

61

3528c

14. TYLOSEMA

by L. A. COETZER and J. H. ROSS

Tylosema ( Schweinf, .) Torre & Hillc. in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2, 29 : 38 (1955); in C.F.A. 2 : 198

(1956); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 213 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 19

(1967). Type species: T. fassoglense (Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc.

Bauhinia L. Sect. Tylosema Schweinf., Reliq. Kotsch. 17 (1868); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3, 3 : 151 (1892);

Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 653 (1930).

Shrubs with trailing or climbing stems, herbaceous or woody below, arising from a large

or very large woody underground tuber. Tendrils usually present, forked, axillary. Leaves

alternate, simple, bilobed at apex or sometimes divided almost to the base, which is very

cordate; lobes oval to obovate or reniform. Stipules oblong to squarish, appressed to the

stem, persistent. Inflorescence a lateral short to elongate raceme. Flowers bisexual, irregular,

medium to rather small, yellow. Hypanthium short, slightly sulcate outside. Sepals 5, the

two upper usually completely or partly fused, the others free. Petals 5, the upper one smaller

than the rest and bicailose basally. Stamens: 2 fertile, the remaining 7 or 8 staminodial,

unequal, some ± flattened; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary long-stipitate; style

elongate; stigma very small, not wider than top of style. Pods woody, dehiscent or indehiscent,

l-2-seeded. Seeds large, with a U-shaped line extending for a short distance from the hilum;

funicle short; a thin layer of endosperm present.

A genus of four species occurring in eastern and central tropical Africa, from the Sudan southwards to

the Transvaal, Swaziland, northern Natal and northern Cape Province. Two species occur in our area.

The generic name Tylosema alludes to the torulose seed.

A peculiar feature found in this genus is heterostyly. Roti-Michelozzi, in Webbia 13 : 171 (1957), reported

heterostyly to occur only in T. humifusa. Brenan, in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 213 (1967), reported it to

occur also in T. fassoglense and T. argentea and suggested that it seems to be characteristic of the genus.

This suggestion was confirmed by H. R. Tolken who found heterostyly in T. esculentwn.

Leaf-lobes 6-20 cm long; leaves divided apically for one-tenth to one-third (very rarely for -)) of their

length; petiole 3-7 cm long 1. T. fassoglense

Leaf-lobes 3-7,5 cm long; leaves divided apically for > | of their length; petiole 1,5-3, 5 cm

long 2. T. esculentum

1. Tylosema fassoglense {Schweinf.)

Torre & Hillc. in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2,

29 : 38 (1955), in C.F.A. 2 : 198 (1956);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 213

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 20 (1967);

Drummond in Kirkia 8,2 : 213 (1972); Ross,

FI. Natal 195 (1973). Syntypes: Sudan Repu-

blic, Fazoghli, Boriani 131 (W); Cienkowski

92 (?LE or W); Metemma, Gallabat, Schwein-

furtlx 2250 (BM), 2252 (BM, K!) & 2253

(Bf).

Bauhinia fassoglensis Schweinf., Reliq. Kotsch.

14, tt. 12 & 13 (1868); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 286 (1871);

Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 151 (1892); Bak. f..

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 659 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 322 (1932); Miller in J.S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 28

(1952); Wilczek in F.C.B. 3 : 272 (1952); White, For.

FI. N. Rhod. 99 (1962); Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot.

Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966). Syntypes as above. B. cissoides

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 287 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam.

3,3 : 151 (1892); Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 295

(1896). Type: Angola, Ambaca, Welwitsch 552

(L1SU, holo., BM, K). B. welwitschii Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 287 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 151 (1892);

Hiern, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. 1 : 296 (1896); Bak. f., Leg.

Trop. Afr. 3 : 659 (1930). Type: Angola, Pungo

Andongo, Tunda Quilombo, Welwitsch 554 (LISU,

holo, BM, K). B. kirkiiOWv. in F.T.A. 2 : 288 (1871);

Bak. f„ Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 660 (1930); Burtt Davy,

FI. Transv. 2 : 322 (1932); Compton in J. S. Afr. Bot.

Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966). Type: Zambia, Highlands of

Batoka, Kirk (K, holo.!).

Stems prostrate and trailing or climbing,

up to 6 m or more, herbaceous or woody

below; young parts rusty-tomentose or rusty-

pubescent, indumentum becoming greyish

or ± disappearing. Tendrils forked, 4-8 cm

long, the lateral branches 1-2 cm long.

Leaves: petiole 3-7 cm long (in our area);

blade 6—1 1 (20) cm long, 5-12 (18) cm wide,

usually irusty-pubescent beneath especially

on nerves, sometimes subglabrous or densely

tomentose, shallowly bilobed apically to

about one-tenth to one-third (very rarely to

62

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 14. — Tylosema fassoglense. 1, part of flowering stem, X J; 2, longitudinal section of flower, showing

upper petal cut longitudinally, four unequal staminodes, one fertile stamen and the ovary, x 2; 3, upper

petal, seen from one side, x 2; 4, one fertile stamen and five staminodes, showing inequality of latter, x 2,

all from Harley 9410; 5, dehisced pod, inner side of one valve, X j, from Rodin 4341; 6, funicular end

of seed, showing hilum, x 1, from Chandler 1126; 7, tuberous root, with scale in feet, from a photograph

by J. H. Hopkins at Kew. Reproduced by permission of the Editor of Flora of Tropical East Africa.

half) the length of the leaf from the lobe-

ends to junction with petiole, deeply cordate

basally ; lobes ovate-oval to obovate. Stipules

2-4 mm long, ± 2 mm broad. Racemes:

peduncle (2) 5-17,5 cm long; axis (2) 5-23

(40) cm long; pedicels (1,5) 2-6 cm long.

Hypanthium 3-8 mm long. Sepals 1-1,5 cm

long, 3-4 mm wide, ± conspicuously keeled

along back, the upper two fused, the other

three free. Petals yellow, fading to pink; the

four larger ones obovate to obovate-subor-

bicular, crinkled-bullate, 2-4 cm long, 1-3 cm

wide, tapering into a basal claw. Stamens:

filaments of fertile stamens 8-10 mm long, of

staminodes 3-6 mm long. Ovary 5-6 mm

long, pubescent. Pod obovate to oblong-

ovate, 5-10 cm long, 3-6 cm wide. Seeds

suborbicular or ellipsoid, 1,5-2, 8 cm long,

1-2 cm wide, chestnut-brown to blackish.

Fig. 14.

Occurs from the Sudan southwards to Angola,

South West Africa, the Transvaal, Swaziland and

Zululand.

Flowering period is from (October) November

to February.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrif): Okavare, S. of

Ohopoho, Abner 44. 1714 (Ruacana Falls): 35 km N.

of turn off to Ohopoho from Ruacana, Giess 12718;

13 km E. of junction of Ruacana-Kamanjab road,

Giess 12737. 1813 (Ohopoho): 16 km S. of Kaoko

Otavi, De Winter & Leistner 5596.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort) : 12 km N. of

Louis Trichardt, Oakes 1508. 2230 (Messina): 22 km

N.E. of Sibasa, Codd6874. 2231 (Pafuri) : Punda Milia,

Van der Schijff 470. 2327 (Ellisras): Between Vaalwater

and Beauty, Werdermann & Oberdieck 1792. 2329

(Pietersburg): Helpmekaar, near Houtbosberg, Burtt

Davy 2378. 2330 (Tzaneen): Modjadjes, Rogers 18015;

Tzaneen Estate, Burtt Davy 2575. 2428 (Nylstroom):

Welgevonden, near Naboomspruit, Galpin 9128;

13 km N. of Rietbokspruit P.O., Story 1644. 2429

(Zebediela): Potgietersrus, Thode A 1691 • Rogers 2268.

2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Erasmus Pass, Killick & Strey

2521. 2431 (Acomhoek): Lothian, forest margin,

Strey 3572. 2529 (Witbank): 18 km N.E. by E. of

Groblersdal, Acocks 20968. 2530 (Lydenburg):

Kliprandjie near Nelspruit, Liebenberg 2631. 2531

(Komatipoort): 18 km from Hectorspruit towards

Hora, Hutchinson 2519.

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Pigg’s Peak,

Compton 30545. 2631 (Mbabane): near Manzini,

Burtt Davy 3054', Stegi Hill, Compton 26652;

30 km W. of Stegi, Acocks 15359.

NATAL. — 2732 (Ubombo): Mkuze Bridge on

Candover-Nongoma road, Venter 5194.

According to Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk, The

Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and

Eastern Africa 560 (1962), the beans of T. fassoglense

are edible and are collected for food by some tribes

in Tanzania, while the pods are much sought after by

the elephants. They also state that in East Africa a

decoction of the tuberous root is administered by

Africans as a galactagogue to the cows before calving.

In South Africa the leaves and young branches are

grazed by game and stock, while water is obtained

from the fibrous tuber in arid regions.

2. Tylosema esculentum {Burch.)

Schreiber in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. Mun-

chen 3 : 611 (1960); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

59 : 20 (1967); Meyer, Pflanzenwelt Sud-

westafrikas 86 (1969); Giess in Dinteria

5 : 27 (1970). Type: Northern Cape, Kalahari,

Litakun near a branch of Moshewa River,

Burchell 2414 (K, holo.!, PRE, photo.).

Bauhinia esculenta Burch., Trav. 2 : 589 (1824);

Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss. 1 : 121 (1900); Bak. f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 659 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 322 (1932); Verdoom in Flow. PI. S. Afr.

33 : t. 1311 (1959); Letty, Wild Flow. Tvl. 157(1962).

Type as above. B. burkeana (Benth.) Harv. in F.C.

2 : 275 (1862); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,3 : 151 (1892).

Type: Transvaal, Mooi River, Burke & Zeyher s.n.

(K, holo.!). B. bainesii Schinz in Mem. Herb. Boiss.

1 : 121 (1900); Brummitt & Ross in Kew Bull. 31 : 219

(1976). Type: South West Africa, E. of Gobabis at

Oas, Schinz 2061 (Z, lecto. !).

Stems prostrate and trailing, up to 3 m

long, herbaceous or woody below; young

parts sparingly to fairly densely pubescent.

Tendrils forked, 1,2 -4 cm long, the lateral

branches 8-12 mm long. Leaves: petiole

1,5-3, 5 cm long; blade 3-7,5 cm long,

4-10 cm wide, glabrous or pubescent be-

neath, especially on nerves, deeply bilobed

apically for > \ the length of the leaf from

the lobe-ends to junction with petiole; lobes

reniform. Stipules 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm

broad. Racemes: peduncle 2-4 cm long;

Caesalpinioideae

63

64

Caesalpinioideae

axis 4-12 cm long; pedicels 2-4,5 cm long.

Hypanthium 2-4 mm long. Sepals 8-12 mm

long, 2-3 mm wide. Petals yellow, the four

larger ones 1 ,5-2,5 cm long, 1-1,4 cm wide,

tapering into a basal claw. Stamens: fila-

ments of fertile stamens 10-12 mm long, of

staminodes 3-6 mm long. Ovary 5-6 mm

long. Pod oval to oval-oblong, sometimes

almost circular, 3,5-6 cm long, 2,8-4 cm

wide. Seeds oval to circular, 1,3-1, 8 cm

long, 1,2-1, 5 cm wide, rufous to brownish-

black.

T. esculentum is restricted to Southern Africa.

It occurs in the northern part of South West Africa,

Botswana, the western and north-western Transvaal

and the northern Cape. In the Transvaal T. esculentum

is associated with dolomite where it grows in grass veld

or open bushveld; in the remainder of its distributional

range it occupies dry sandy regions.

Flowering period is from (October) November to

March.

S.W.A. — 1813 (Ohopoho): 50 km S. of Ohopoho,

Merxmitller & Giess 1526. 1816 (Namutoni): Klein

Namutoni, Breyer s.n. 1817 (Tsintsabis): sandveld N.

of Namutoni, near farm Onguma, Tinley 1385. 1916

(Gobaub): Farm Nassau, Walter 961. 1917 (Tsumeb):

W. of Grootfontein, Schoenfelder S336. 1918 (Groot-

fontein): Farm Liishoff, Giess 2111. 1920 (Tsumkwe):

W. foot of Aha Mountains, Story 6330. 2016

(Otjiwarongo): between Otjiwarongo and Otavi,

Werdermann & Oberdieck 2338. 2017 (Waterberg):

Osire Police Post, Bradfield 129. 2020 (Kaukauveld) :

16 km S. of Nama Pan, Story 6253. 2114 (Uis):

Brandberg, Rodin 2711. 2116 (Okahandja): Farm

Omatako-Sicht, Okahandja, Giess 11524. 2118

(Steinhausen) : Farm Sturmfeld G0252, Tolken s.n.

2218 (Gobabis): Gobabis, Liebenberg 4647.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): Soutpan,

Schlieben 9224. 2428 (Nylstroom): near Nylstroom,

Quin s.n. 2527 (Rustenburg) : Wolhuterskop, Pegler

992. 2528 (Pretoria): 14 km S. of Pretoria, Story 6007.

2626 (Klerksdorp) : Goedgedacht, Sutton 504. 2627

(Potchefstroom): Farm Somerville, Codd 2126.

CAPE. — 2624 (Vryburg): Morokwen, Taylor s.n.

T. esculentum is known locally under its popular

name “Gemsbuck bean”. It is highly ranked as a

survival plant by soldiers and inhabitants because of

its water storing ability. According to Watt and

Breyer- Brand wijk, The Medicinal and Poisonous

Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 559 (1962),

the seed forms the staple diet of the Kalahari Bushmen

and may even be bought at stores in the areas where

the plant grows. They also state that although edible,

the tuber is astringent and the foliage is apparently

not browsed by stock. Much additional information

concerning the uses and contents of T. esculentum

seed is given by Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk.

Caesalpinioideae

65

3530 15. DIALIUM

Dialium L., Mant. 3 (1767); DC., Prodr. 2 : 520 (1825); Guill. & Perr., FI. Sen. 267 (1832);

Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 574 (1865); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 282(1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam.

3, 3 : 155 (1892); Harms in Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1 : 489 (1915); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 643 (1930); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 396 (1951); Steyaert in Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belg. 84 : 29

(1951); in F.C.B. 3 : 531 (1952); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 231 (1964); Von Breitenbach, Indig.

Trees S. Afr. 3 : 343 (1965); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 103 (1967); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 59 : 13 (1967). Type species : D. indum L.

Arouna Aubl., Hist. PI. Guiane Fr. 1 : 16, t.5 (1775).

Codarium Soland. ex Vahl, Enum. 1 : 302 (1804).

Andmdia Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 46 (1909).

Unarmed trees or (rarely) large shrubs, not climbing. Leaves simply imparipinnate, without

conspicuous glands on petiole and rhachis; leaflets 3-21, opposite to alternate. Stipules

small, soon deciduous. Inflorescence of terminal and lateral many-flowered panicles; bracts

and bracteoles small, soon deciduous. Flowers hermaphrodite, irregular or sometimes regular.

Sepals 5 (very rarely 6 or 7), imbricate. Petals absent or present but then greatly reduced in

size. Stamens 2-10, free; anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Disc (in our species)

well-developed, wider than the ovary. Ovary small, sessile or shortly stipitate, with 2 ovules.

Pod ellipsoid to subglobose or sometimes compressed and ± flattened, indehiscent; exocarp

hard, brittle, smooth except for the indumentum; mesocarp pulpy, mealy, orange-brown or

reddish. Seeds 1-2, embedded in the mesocarp; testa smooth except for small ± irregular

cracks; areoles absent; endosperm present.

A genus of ± 35 species predominantly in the Old World tropics and mostly African. Two species occur

in our area.

Petals absent; stamens 7-10; pods ovoid-ellipsoid to subglobose, not ± flattened; leaflets 7-13 per leaf,

0,7-1 ,9 cm wide, oblong, elliptic or ovate, usually oblique basally, obtuse to rounded apically, papery

to subcoriaceous 1. D. schlechteri

Petals present but minute and inconspicuous, up to 1 , 5 mm long and alternating with the 5 sepals ; stamens

5; pods ovoid-ellipsoid, somewhat laterally compressed and slightly flattened: leaflets (5)7-9(11) per

leaf, 1,5-3, 5 cm wide, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate or narrowly-elliptic, ± symmetric basally, acute

or acuminate apically, coriaceous 2. D. engleranum

1. Dialium schlechteri Harms in Bot.

Jahrb. 26 ; 276 (1899); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 ; 650 (1930); Steyaert in Bull. Soc.

Roy. Bot. Belg. 84 : 37 (1951); Von Breiten-

bach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 343 (1965);

Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Mogamb. 1 : 258,

t.58 (1966); Ross, FI. Natal 195 (1973);

Palmer & Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 877

(1973). Type: Mozambique, Lourengo Mar-

ques, Schlechter 11603 (B, holo.; BM!, K!,

P!).

Andradia arborea Sim, For. FI. P.E. Afr. 47, t.26

(1909). Type: Mozambique, unlocalised, Sim 6141

(not traced).

Tree up to 12 m high, sometimes several-

stemmed, usually with a somewhat rounded

crown. Bark grey, often mottled, ± smooth;

young branchlets grey or greyish-brown,

51066-6

puberulous at first but becoming subglabrous

or glabrous. Leaves puberulous but some-

times becoming subglabrous with age: petiole

0,6-1, 4 cm long; rhachis 2,5-10 cm long;

leaflets 7-13, opposite, subopposite or alter-

nate, (1,1)1, 5—4(4 , 5) cm long, (0,7)0, 9-1, 9

cm wide, oblong, elliptic or ovate, oblique

basally, obtuse to rounded and often some-

what emarginate apically or at times sub-

acute, papery to subcoriaceous, venation

± raised and reticulate on both surfaces,

often appressed-pubescent when young but

becoming glabrous or subglabrous through-

out or sparsely and inconspicuously pubes-

cent on the lower surface, especially on the

midrib and margins; petiolules 1-2,5 mm

long, usually puberulous or pubescent. In-

florescence a many-flowered panicle up to

66

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 15. — Dlalium schlectateri. 1, flowering branch with young leaves, x j; 2, flower, x 6; 3, petal, external

surface, x 6; 4, petal, internal surface, x 6; 5, stamen, x 12; 6, gynoecium, x 12, all from De Ir inter &

Vahrmeijer 8623; 7, fruiting branch with mature leaves, x j; 8, fruit, x 1 ; 9, seed, surface view, X2; 10,

seed, profile, x 2, all from Net 78.

Caesalpinioideae

67

15 cm long, axis fulvous or rusty-brown-

puberulous. Flowers brown outside, greenish-

white, white or cream inside ; pedicels 1 , 5-

3,5 mm long, fulvous or rusty-brown-

puberulous. Sepals 5, fulvous or rusty-brown-

puberulous outside, 3-4 mm long, 1,5-2, 5

mm wide, ovate. Petals O. Stamens 7-10;

filaments 1,5-2 mm long; anthers ± 1,75

mm long. Ovary up to 1,75 mm long, shortly

stipitate, densely ferruginous-hirsute; style

glabrous or subglabrous. Pods shortly stipi-

tate, ovoid-ellipsoid to subglobose, not ±

flattened, 1,4-2, 5 cm long, 1,1-1, 5 cm

wide, densely brown velutinous-puberulous

when young but indumentum wearing off

with age, indehiscent, brittle; mesocarp

edible, with a pleasant tartaric acid-like taste.

Seeds brown, 8-10 mm long, 6-7 mm wide,

compressed, very hard. Fig. 15.

Found in the coastal areas of Mozambique and

Tongaland. Occurs on sandy soil and is a fairly

common constituent of the dry sand forest.

NATAL.— 2632 (Bela Vista): Maputa, Net 78;

near Maputa and Big Kosi Lake, Rodin 4693. 2732

(Ubombo): 1 ,6 km E. of Makanes Pont, Moll & Strey

3781; 32 km from Jozini on road to M’Bazwana,

Strey 5291 ; 24 km W. of Maputa on road to Makanes

Pont, De Winter & Vahrmeijer 8623; Mkuze Game

Reserve, Gerstner 3747; False Bay Park area. Ward

2534; 2733 ; 9,6 km from Hluhluwe on False Bay

road, Moll 2814.

There is variation in the number of stamens

present: 7, 8, 9 and 10 stamens per flower having

been noted.

The Tonga name for D. schlechteri is “umThiba”.

2. Dialium engleranum Henriques in Bol.

Soc. Brot. 16 : 48 (1899); Bak.f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 ; 650 (1930); Steyaert in Bull. Soc.

Roy. Bot. Belg. 84 : 40 (1951); in F.C.B.

3 : 542 (1952); Torre & Hillc. in C.F.A.

2 : 187, t.39 (1956); F. White, For. FI. N.

Rhod. 122, fig. 21 L (1962); Von Breiten-

bach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 344 (1965);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 13 (1967); Palmer

& Pitman, Trees S. Afr. 2 : 875 (1973).

Type: Angola, Luanda district, entre Ma-

Chinge e Ma-Lunda, Marques 176 (COI,

holo., LISU).

D. simii Phill. in Kew Bull. 1922 : 194 (1922); Bak.f.

in J. Bot. 66, Suppl. Polypet. : 138 (1928), as simsii;

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 650 (1930), as simsii;

O.B. Miller in J. S. Afr. Bot. 18 : 30(1952). Syntypes:

Rhodesia, near railway station, Victoria Falls, Sim

19004 (K!, PRE!); Rogers 5307 (K!).

Tree up to 21 m high with a somewhat

rounded crown. Bark grey, usually rough;

young branchlets shortly pubescent, grey or

grey-brown, bark flaking off in small pieces

to reveal a brown or reddish-brown inner

layer. Leaves shortly pubescent or puberu-

lous but sometimes becoming subglabrous

with age: petiole 1,2-3, 5 cm long; rhachis

4-8,5 cm long; leaflets (5)7-9(11), opposite

or subopposite, 2,2-6 cm long, 1,5-3, 5 cm

wide (in our area), ovate-lanceolate, lanceo-

late or narrowly elliptic, often very slightly

cordate basally, acute or acuminate and

slightly emarginate apically, coriaceous, vena-

tion closely reticulate on both surfaces, gla-

brous or sparsely pubescent above, sparingly

to densely appressed-pubescent on the lower

surface ; petiolules 1 , 5-3 mm long, puberulous

or pubescent. Inflorescence a many-flowered

panicle up to 15 cm long (in our area);

axis fulvous or rusty-brown-puberulous.

Flowers brown outside, greenish-white or

cream inside; pedicles 1,5-4 mm long, ful-

vous or rusty-brown-puberulous. Sepals 5,

fulvous or rusty-brown-puberulous outside,

3 , 5-5 mm long, 2-3 mm wide (in our area),

ovate. Petals 5, minute and inconspicuous,

up to 1,5 mm long, ± oblanceolate, alter-

nating with the sepals. Stamens 5; filaments

up to 1,5 mm long; anthers 2-3 mm long.

Ovary up to 2 mm long, ± sessile, densely

ferruginous-hirsute; style glabrous or sub-

glabrous. Pods sessile or very shortly stipitate,

ovoid-ellipsoid, somewhat laterally com-

pressed and slightly flattened, 2-3 , 5 cm long,

1,2-2 cm wide, densely brown velutinous-

puberulous when young but indumentum

wearing off with age, indehiscent, brittle;

mesocarp edible. Seeds salmon-brown to

reddish-brown, 10-13 mm long, 8-9 mm wide,

compressed, very hard.

Found in Zaire, Angola, South West Africa,

Botswana, Zambia and Rhodesia. Occurs in woodland

and forest on sandy soil.

S.WA. — 1716 (Enana): Enana, Loeb 380. 1718

(Kuring-Kuru): 4,8 km S. of Omuramba Mpungu on

road to Tsintsabis, De Winter 3878. 1724 (Katima

Mulilo): 32 km W. of Zambesi River, Brenan &

Keay 7648 (K). 1819 (Karakuwisa): between Runtu

and Karakuwisa, Maguire 1737; Bumbi, Merxmiiller

& Giess 1856. 1820 (Tarikora): 12,8 km S. of Kapu-

pahedi, Giess 10009. 1821 (Andara): Andara, Volk

2171 (M). Grid ref. unknown: between Samangeigei

and Karakuwisa, Story 6497.

68

Caesalpinioideae

■

'

.

■

.

Caesalpinioideae

69

3536 16. CASSIA

by KATHLEEN D. GORDON-GRAY

Cassia L., Sp. PI. 1 : 376 (1753); Gen. PI. ed. 5 : 178 (1754); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 271 (1862);

Benth. & Hook, f., Gen. PI. 1 : 571 (1865); Harv., Gen. PI. ed. 2 : 90 (1868); Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 27 : 503 (1871); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 268 (1871); Taub. in Pflanzenfam. 3,

3 : 157 (1892); Bews, FI. Natal 114 (1921); Forbes in S. Afr. J. Sci. 18 : 342 (1922); Bak. f.,

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 262 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 323 (1932); Steyaert in Bull.

Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 233 (1950); Phill., Gen. ed. 2 : 396 (1951); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 496

tt. 35-38 (1952); De Wit in Webbia 11 : 197, figs. 1-3 (1955); Mendonga & Torre in C.F.A.

2 : 174 (1956); Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 : 450 (1958); Irwin & Turner in Am. J. Bot. 47 : 309

(1960); Hutch., Gen. FI. PI. 1 : 246 (1964); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 47 (1967);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 8 (1967); Ross, FI. Natal 195 (1973). Lectotype: C. fistula L.

(vide Britton & Brown, 111. FI. N. States & Canada, ed. 2, 2 ; 335, 1913).

Senna Mill., Gard. Diet. ed. 8 (1786).

Chamaecrista Moench, Meth. 272 (1794).

Cathartocarpus Pers., Syn. 1 : 459 (1805).

Grimaldia Schrank in Allg. Bot. Biblioth. 4 : 185 (1805); in Denkschr. Akad. Muench. 103, t.3 (1808).

Bactyrilobium Willd., Enum. Hort. Berol. 439 (1809).

Cassiana Raf. in Am. Monthly Mag. 266 (1818).

Chamaefistula G. Don, Gen. Syst. 2 : 451 (1832).

Chamaesenna Raf., Sylva Tellur. 127 (1838).

Mac-Leayia Montrouz. in Mem. Acad. Lyon 10 : 198 (1860).

Trees, shrubs, perennial or annual herbs, rarely scrambling, unarmed, glandular or

eglandular, sometimes foetid. Leaves simply paripinnate, rarely with laminae modified to

phyllodes (cultivated spp. only); stipules various, often caducous; petioles and often petiolules

pulvinate; conspicuous petiolar or rhachidal glands often present; leaflets in 2 - many

(sometimes 1 only, outside Flora area) pairs, entire. Inflorescences usually axillary or supra-

axillary, occasionally terminal, compound (when panicled) or simple, many- to few-flowered,

elongate to short, sub-umbellate racemes or flowers sub-solitary, peduncles elongate to very

short when the flowers appear axillary or lateral and fascicled, sub-solitary or solitary;

axillary racemes often crowded to the branch endings (pseudo-paniculate); bracts and

bracteoles various, often caducous. Flowers normally bisexual, occasionally bisexual and

female, or bisexual and male (not seen in Flora area), often asymmetric; sepals 5, imbricate;

petals 5, imbricate, usually adaxial smallest, inside in bud; yellow, occasionally cream,

orange-red or pink. Stamens usually 10, occasionally 8, 7 or 5 (sometimes 4 outside Flora

area), subequal or variable in size with the 2-3 abaxial largest and longest, all functional or

with 1-3 adaxial reduced and staminodal; filaments free or minutely fused basally, uniform

in width or with median or apical swellings, curved or with an S-bend; anthers bilocular,

basifixed or dorsifixed, dehiscing by terminal pores only, or pores and longitudinal slits.

Ovaries shortly stipitate, occasionally sessile, variously hairy or glabrous, several- to many-

ovulate; stigmas usually hollow, hooded or not, fringed with short hairs or with a delicate

membrane. Pods very variable, from 1 cm to 1 m long, cylindric or flattened, rarely winged,

woody, coriaceous, membranous or ± succulent and pulpy, with or without septa between

the seeds, rarely longitudinally septate; indehiscent, or tardily dehiscent either by putrefaction

or by breaking away of the valves from the sutures either as a whole, or as one- or few-seeded

portions, or abruptly dehiscent by rapid splitting along the mid-line of the sutures into two

70

Caesalpinioideae

valves that twist spirally. Seeds usually transverse, occasionally oblique or longitudinal,

laterally compressed and thus flattened, or dorso-ventrally compressed and thus tetragonous-

subterete; testa usually olive-green to brown, smooth or punctate, areoles 1 per lateral face

or absent; endosperm present.

A large genus of 500-600 species, pantropical but most numerous in America. In the Flora area

13 species are probably truly indigenous ; a further 8 are naturalized aliens that are common at least in local

areas; 4 more have seldom or once only been recorded as escapes from cultivation. Some of these naturalized

aliens are popular garden subjects and are frequent under cultivation. A further 8 species are known only

under cultivation.

Despite the great diversity in habit exhibited among the species, the genus is readily recognized by its

paripinnate leaves and distinctive floral structure. There are many generic synonyms, of which only those

most relevant to our Flora, or significant in infra-generic classification, have been listed.

Groups of species are morphologically alike and have been recognized by Bentham (Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 27: 503, 1871) and others following him, among them Baker f. (Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 627, 1930), as

sub-genera, sections and series. There is still controversy as to whether some sub-genera are better maintained

or raised to generic level. Within some series species are freely interfertile and natural hybrids occur between

them. A list of putative hybrids for the Flora area is given at the end of this account.

Many species are weeds or possess the potential to behave as such, but they are not unmanageably

aggressive. Most species are significant in folklore, and roots, leaves, fruits and/or seeds are used medicinally,

especially as purgatives.

Key to the indigenous and naturalized species

a Petiole and rhachis eglandular, that is without conspicuous, solitary glands on the petiole or on the

rhachis between at least one of the leaflet pairs (minute glands, usually several to many grouped

together, may be present):

Pods cylindrical, up to 90 cm long, persisting on the plant long after the leaves have been shed: flowers

usually produced before the leaves; filaments of the three abaxial stamens each with an S-bend

near the base and a swelling about halfway along their length. . . .1. C. abbreviata subsp. beareana

Pods flattened, usually present on the plant together with leaves and often flowers; filaments of the

three abaxial stamens without S-bend or swelling:

Pods much exceeding 12 cm in length: trees or woody shrubs with stiff leaves; leaflets coriaceous,

finely appressed pubescent especially below, with broadly obtuse or rounded, often emarginate

apices: flowers in stiff, axillary, corymbose racemes, often aggregated into panicles terminating

lateral branches 2. C. siamea

Pods not exceeding 12 cm in length: shrubs or herbs with soft leaves: flowers in more or less elongate

axillary racemes:

Sepals acute at apex: leaflets not exceeding 3 mm in width 19. C. capensis

Sepals obtuse or rounded at apex: leaflets much exceeding 3 mm in width:

Stipules broadly ovate-cordate, 8-14 mm wide: shrubs bearing pods usually 8-11 cm long

without a ridge of crests along the middle of each valve 3. C. didymobotvya

Stipules linear to ovate-triangular, not exceeding 3 mm wide: prostrate or decumbent perennial

herbs or low-growing sub-shrubs bearing pods 2-6 cm long with a ridge of crests along

the middle of each valve (crests undeveloped on pods of some plants in the eastern Transvaal

and Natal) 4. C. italica

aa Petiole and rhachis glandular, that is with one (rarely two) conspicuous gland(s) on the petiole, or

with a conspicuous gland between at least one of the leaflet pairs (minute glands, usually several to

many grouped together, may be present):

b Petiole with one (occasionally two, one above the other) conspicuous gland(s) somewhere along its

length : rhachis without such a gland between any of the leaflet pairs (very occasionally the petiolar

gland may be abortive or absent):

The majority of leaflets exceeding 2 cm in length: petiole with a raised gland situated adaxially

approximately at the distal end of the pulvinus:

Stems and leaves long hairy (hairs readily visible to the naked eye) 7. C. hirsuta

Stems and leaves hairy or glabrous, but hairs not long, ± shaggy and clearly visible to the

naked eye:

Peduncles, at flowering (0, 8— )1 , 5—2, 5 cm long: bracts subacute to obtuse: leaflets 0,8-2(-2,5)

cm wide: young stem apices faintly ridged, eglandular 6. C. sophera

Peduncles, at flowering 0,3-0, 5 cm long: bracts acuminate to narrowly acute: leaflets (l,5-)2-4

cm wide: young stem apices ridged, glandular especially in hollows between the ridges

5. C. occidenlalis

Caesalpinioideae

71

The majority of leaflets not exceeding 2 cm in length: petiolar gland adaxial and raised or sunken,

but not always approximately at the distal end of the pulvinus (very occasionally abortive or

absent) :

c Leaf rhachis channelled adaxially (the channel lies between two short upgrowths of tissue from

the adaxial margins of the rhachis which sometimes loosely cohere thus more or less obscuring

the channel):

Petiolar gland 1-3 mm long, elliptic or elliptic-oblong, sessile:

Petiolar gland completely or partially sunken in the adaxial petiolar channel : petals usually

exceeding 7,5 mm in length: stamens 10: plants perennial 18. C. comosa

Petiolar gland sessile on the petiole, not completely nor partially sunken in the petiolar channel :

petals not exceeding 7,5 mm in length: stamens 8 or 7, sometimes with 3, 2 or 1 filiform

staminodes detectable adaxially: plants annual 22. C. quarrei

Petiolar gland less than 1 mm long, variously shaped, sessile, subsessile or stalked, occasionally

abortive or absent:

Petiolar gland sessile, projecting from the petiole or slightly sunken in its adaxial channel:

Petiolar gland projecting from the petiole: leaflets with main vein more or less centrally

placed: stamens 8 or 7, sometimes with 3, 2 or 1 filiform staminodes detectable

adaxially 22. C. quarrei

Petiolar gland slightly sunken in the adaxial petiolar channel: leaflets with the main vein

asymmetrically placed (near the anticous margin): stamens 10

21. C. falcinella var. parviflora

Petiolar gland(s) (sometimes 2, one above the other), stalked or subsessile, occasionally abortive

or absent:

Plants annual with an erect main stem: petiolar gland subsessile, slightly sunken in the

petiolar channel: petals 4-6 mm long: (only from northern S.W. Africa)

21. C. falcinella var. parviflora

Plants perennial with decumbent or prostrate stems (if main stem erect, then petals

exceeding 7,5 mm in length): petiolar gland long- or short-stalked, subsessile, abortive

or absent:

Petals 4-8 mm long 20. C. biensis

Petals 9-17 mm long 19. C. capensis

cc Leaf rhachis crested adaxially (the crest is a short upgrowth of tissue from the mid-axial line

of the rhachis : it is crenate or serrate when viewed in profile, the sinuses corresponding with

the points of attachment of the leaflets):

Plants perennial, developing shoots annually from a more or less thickened, woody, rhizomatous

rootstock: petals 7,5-17 mm long 23. C. plumosa

Plants annual, sometimes persisting into a second year of growth under favourable conditions,

but fibrous rooted and without a woody rhizomatous rootstock; petals usually 5-7,5 mm

long (if exceeding 7,5 mm then plants from northern S.W. Africa or the northern

Transvaal) 24. C. mimosoides

bb Petiole without conspicuous glands: rhachis with such a gland between one, at least, of the leaflet

pairs :

Leaves with 2 pairs of leaflets only: plants annual, glandular, viscid: stamens 5, subequal, filaments

straight 17. C. absus

Leaves with more than 2 pairs of leaflets: plants annual or perennial, but not obviously glandular

viscid: stamens more than 5, filaments various:

Annual herb bearing leaves with 3 pairs of leaflets only, with a stalked, finger-like, orange-brown

gland ± 2 mm long between the lowest, or the two lower, pairs of leaflets : 3 largest anthers

narrowed into a bottle-shaped neck below the apical pores: pods 13-15 cm long, subterete

and faintly angled longitudinally: areoles of seed narrowly linear 16. C. obtusifolia

Trees, shrubs or sub-shrubs, never annual herbs: if leaves with 3 pairs of leaflets only, then anthers,

pods or seeds differing from those of C. obtusifolia:

d Leaflets with acute or subacuminate apices:

Stipules ± persistent, conspicuous, leafy, semi-cordate to reniform, with one end attenuate-

caudate: pods 10-25 cm long, flattened, the blackish, ± succulent valves eventually

breaking into ± 1 -seeded portions that fall from the lighter coloured sutures: seeds

inconspicuously areolate 14. C. petersiana

72

Caesalpinioideae

Stipules usually caducous, linear: pods subterete or slightly flattened, valves light brown,

indehiscent or tardily dehiscent by putrefaction:

Young stem apices and abaxial leaflet surfaces cano-tomentose 10. C. tomentosa *

Young stem apices and abaxial leaflet surfaces glabrous, occasionally glabrescent:

Leaves with lanceolate leaflets usually in 3, occasionally 2 pairs: ovaries with the valves

appressed pubescent, the sutures ± glabrous 9. C. corymbosa

Leaves with elliptic or ovate leaflets in 3-4, occasionally 2 or 5 pairs: ovaries

glabrous 8. C. floribunda *

dd Leaflets with obtuse or rounded apices:

Leaves with 3, occasionally 2, pairs of leaflets: pedicels of open flowers 4-7 mm long:

staminodes Y-shaped (obhastate): seeds without areoles 11. C. bicapsularis*

Leaves generally with more than 3 pairs of leaflets: pedicels of open flowers exceeding 7 mm

long: staminodes, if present, not Y-shaped: seeds with or without areoles:

Leaves with a rhachidal gland between the lowest pair of leaflets only. . . . 12. C. coluteoides

Leaves with a rhachidal gland between each pair of leaflets, sometimes excepting the

uppermost :

Bracts each with two stipitate, fusiform or linear glands in the positions of stipules:

leaves with 5-10, very occasionally 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets, the uppermost pair not

the largest (small tree or shrub from northern S.W. Africa only) 15. C. s'mqueana

Bracts without glands in the positions of stipules: leaves with leaflets in 3-7 pairs, the

uppermost pair the largest (escape from cultivation, known in the wild only from

Natal) 13. C. surattensis

Key to the cultivated species

a Petiole and rhachis eglandular, that is without conspicuous solitary glands on the petiole or on the

rhachis between at least one of the leaflet pairs (minute glands, usually several to many grouped

together, may be present):

Shrubs: stipules persistent, broadly ovate-cordate, 8-14 mm wide: bracts dark purplish-green, foetid:

pods flattened, 8-11 cm long 3. C. didymobotrya

Trees: if shrubby rather than tree-like then stipules and/or bracts and/or pods differing from those of

C. didymobotrya:

Petals pink, bracts persisting while flowers are open: trunks spiny: stipules leafy, + 12-25 mm long,

leaflets rounded apically 27. C. javanica

Petals yellow or golden: trunks without spines: stipules and leaflets various:

Inflorescences pendulous, racemes borne singly or fascicled: abaxial filaments gradually and

slightly thickened at about the middle: leaflets in 3-8 pairs, with acute apices and minute

appressed puberulence abaxially 25. C. fistula

Inflorescences not pendulous: abaxial filaments without obvious thickenings: leaves generally

with more than 8 pairs of leaflets, apices and pubescence various:

Inflorescences terminating ± slender lateral branches, not stiffly erect nor crowded to the ends

of branches: leaves willowy, tending to droop, leaflets ± glabrous beneath.. .26. C. angolensis

Inflorescences stiffly erect, crowded to the ends of branches: leaves ± stiff and erect, leaflets

densely villous or appressed puberulous abaxially:

Leaflets acute, densely villous to pubescent abaxially: pods almost terete .... 29. C. spectabilis

Leaflets rounded or obtuse, often emarginate, minutely appressed pubescent abaxially. .2. C. siamea

aa Petiole and rhachis glandular, that is with one conspicuous gland on the petiole, or with a conspicuous

gland between at least one of the leaflet pairs (minute glands, usually several to many grouped together,

may be present):

Leaves with a conspicuous gland on the petiole, this situated adaxially, approximately at the apex

of the pulvinus 6. C. sophera

Leaves with petioles eglandular, but with a conspicuous gland between one, or more, of the pairs of

leaflets :

Leaflets not exceeding 3 mm in width, linear or filiform-terete: foliage grey or bluish-grey:

Leaves usually with 4 or 5, but up to 6, pairs of filiform-terete leaflets: herbs or sub-shrubs up to

1 m in height 32. C. artemisioides

* In areas where C. floribunda is sympatric with either C. tomentosa or C. bicapsularis putative hybrids

occur.

Caesalpinioideae

73

Leaves with 1-3 pairs of linear leaflets, generally 2-3 mm in width : sub-shrubs or shrubs up to 3 m

in height 33. C. eremophi/a

Leaflets exceeding 3 mm in width, never linear nor filiform-terete: foliage green:

Leaflets in two pairs only:

Leaflets glabrous, with a stalked, slender, finger-like gland between the lower pair of leaflets

only 30. C. splendida

Leaflets villous, with a shortly stalked pyramidal to rounded gland between each pair of

leaflets 31. C. speciosa

Leaflets in more than two pairs (Note: in species with 3 pairs, an occasional leaf with 2 pairs only

may be found):

Leaflets in 10-26 pairs, oblong in shape and rounded to emarginale at the apex. . . .28. C. multijuga

Leaflets in less than 10 pairs (if an occasional leaf with 10 pairs occurs then leaflets

glaucous below), variable in shape and apex:

Leaflet apices acute to acuminate:

Leaflets densely cano-tomentose abaxially 10. C. tomentosci

Leaflets glabrous or glabrescent abaxially:

Leaflets lanceolate, usually in 3, occasionally in 2 pairs: ovaries with valves appressed

pubescent, sutures ± glabrous 9. C. corymbosa

Leaflets elliptic or ovate, in 3-4, occasionally 2-5 pairs: ovaries glabrous. . . .8. C. floribunda

Leaflet apices obtuse to rounded:

Leaflets in 3 pairs (occasionally 2): flowering pedicels up to 7 mm long: staminodes Y-

shaped (obhastate) 11. C. bicapsularis

Leaflets in more than 3 pairs: flowering pedicels exceeding 7 mm long: staminodes, if present,

not Y-shaped:

Leaves with a conspicuous gland between the lowest pair of leaflets only. .12. C. coluteoides

Leaves with a conspicuous gland between each pair of leaflets except usually the two

uppermost pairs 13. C. surattensis

1. Cassia abbreviata Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 :

271 (1871); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 632

(1930); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 503 (1952);

Coates Palgrave, Trees Centr. Afr. 93-96

(1956); Brenan in Kew Bull. 13 : 231-234

(1958); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 120

(1962); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. :

59 (1967). Syntypes: Mozambique, near

Lupata, Kirk, and near Tete, Kirk ; Malawi,

Manganja Hills, Meller and Lake Nyassa,

Cape Maclear, Kirk (K).

subsp. beareana ( Holmes ) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 13 : 232 (1958); Dale & Greenway,

Kenya Trees & Shrubs 100 (1961); Von

Breitenbach, Indig. Trees S. Afr. 3 : 346-7

(1965); De Winter et al., 66 Transv. Trees

70, t. 212 (1966); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 60 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

59 : 10 (1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees

S.Afr. 2 : 880, 883 (1973). Type: East

Africa (locality uncertain), O'Sullivan Beare

(London Pharmaceutical Soc., holo., K,

fragments).

C. beareana Holmes in Pharm. Journ. 68 (Ser. 4,

14) : 42 (1902); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 631

(1930). Type as above. C. granitica Bak. f. in J. Bot.,

Lond. 43 : 45 (1905); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 324

(1932). Type: Rhodesia, near Bulawayo, Eyles 1080

(BM, holo.). C. mennei Burtt Davy ined. C. abbreviata

var. granitica (Bak. f.) Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 632

(1930); Codd, Trees & Shrubs Kruger Nat. Park 62,

pi. 2., figs. 58, 60 (1951). Type as for C. granitica.

C. abbreviata var. glabrifructifera Steyaert in Bull.

Jard. Bot. Brux. 21 : 357 (1951), in F.C.B. 3 : 502

(1952). Type: Zaire, Kiniama, A. Schmitz 2834 (BR,

holo.). C. abbreviata sensu Letty, Wild Flow. Transv.

156, pi. 78 (1962).

Tree (3-)5-7(-13)m high, occasionally

shrubby. Trunk usually slender, erect, bearing

dark grey, longitudinally-fissured bark and

a rounded crown of drooping branches ;

wood light brown, darker streaked. Stems

of branchlets faintly longitudinally ridged

and furrowed, ± terete, young apices densely

pubescent with short, curved, appressed,

white hairs, often with yellow glands inter-

spersed, older parts with brown to greyish

faintly longitudinally striated bark. Leaves

lax, willowy; petiole and rhachis (5— )10— 25

(-35) cm long; stipules subulate, ±1,5 mm

long, 0,3 mm wide, pubescent, caducous;

petiole 2,5-5 cm long including basal

pulvinus, petiolar gland lacking, rhachis

channelled adaxially, lacking conspicuous

74

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 16. — Petiolar glands of Cassia species, x 6$. Species numbered as in text. 5, C. occidentals; 9, C. corym-

bosa; 12, C. coluteoides; 10, C. tomentosa (lower gland complete; upper with apex abscised showing scar);

17, C. absus (gland between upper pair of leaflets reduced to a thin flap of tissue: the lower gland is some-

times similarly reduced); 16, C. obtusifolia (gland between the lowest leaflet pair only); 8, C. floribunda;

1 1, C. bicapsularis; 15, C. sinqueana; 14, C. petersiana; 7, C. hirsuta.

Caesalpinioideae

75

glands; leaflets in 7— 9(— 1 2) pairs, (sometimes

sub-alternate), ovate-oblong, or elliptic when

mature, often lanceolate-elliptic when young,

(1 , 5— )2— 5(— 6) cm long, (0 , 7—) 1 — 3(— 4) cm

wide, uppermost pair not largest, bases

often slightly asymmetric, usually broadly

rounded, apices rounded or obtuse, margins

slightly thickened, surfaces pubescent or

puberulous with short, straight, appressed,

white hairs; petiolules up to 6 mm long.

Inflorescences many-flowered, terminal,

racemes 0,5-9 cm long; main axes ±

appressed pubescent; bracts lanceolate,

acuminate, 5-7 mm long, ± 2 mm wide,

pubescent, bracteoles 2 in the position

of stipules, persisting with bracts for dura-

tion of flowering; pedicels at flowering,

slender, 4-7 cm long, glabrescent to pubescent

distally. Sepals obtuse, pubescent to glabres-

cent abaxially, margins often ± glandular.

Petals oblanceolate to obovate, occasionally

elliptic, 1,7-2, 5 (-3) cm long, 0,9- 1,5 cm

wide, creamy yellow, becoming brown veined

on drying. Stamens 10: 3 adaxial shortest, 4

lateral medium, 3 abaxial longest with

filaments ± 3 cm long with a basal S-bend

and a pronounced swelling below the middle,

adaxial anthers smallest, remainder larger

and ± uniform, basifixed, dehiscence by

basal and sometimes also apical pores.

Ovaries densely cano-pubescent, curved, 2-

2,5 cm long, basal stalks 0,7-1 cm long; style

hardly developed; stigma hollow, with a

narrow membranous margin. Pods cylin-

drical, ± straight, 30-60 (-75) cm long, 2-3

cm wide, transversely septate, valves woody,

brownish-black at maturity, densely pubes-

cent with short white appressed hairs

becoming ± glabrescent in age, eventually

dehiscing by the valves breaking away from

the sutures. Seeds laterally compressed, ±

elliptic, blackish, 9-12 mm long, 8-9 mm

wide ; areoles absent. Fig. 18 : 1 ; 20 : 1 .

Subsp. beareana is widespread, extending from

the Somali Republic, Kenya, Tanzania and Zaire,

southwards through Zambia, Rhodesia and Mozam-

bique to the Transvaal, Botswana and South West

Africa. In the Flora area plants are limited to the

northern and eastern Transvaal and to northern

South West Africa, where they grow at altitudes from

650 to 1000 m, in lowveld bush, in open savanna, on

koppies or along the banks of rivers.

S.W.A. — 1918 (Grootfontein) : Grootfontein, Schoen-

felder SI 26.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 (Waterpoort): Wyllie’s

Poort, Dyer 3876. 2230 (Messina): Messina, Rogers

17761', Tshipise, Gerstner 6233. 2231 (Pafuri): Punda

Milia, Lang sub TRV 32110. 2329 (Pietersburg) :

Silwane, Breyer 17562. 2330 (Tzaneen): Hans Meren-

sky Nature Reserve, Oates 31. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

8 km N.E. of Skukuza Camp, Codd 4389. 2531

(Komatipoort): Skukuza Rest Camp, Codd 6127.

C. abhreviata is a variable species widespread in

eastern Africa. Brenan, in preparation for his account

of Cassia for the Flora of Tropical East Africa,

examined specimens from throughout this range.

He recognized three subspecies and differentiated

among them on the basis of indumentum and petal

length (see Kew Bull. 13 : 231-234 and F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Caesalp. : 59 (1967). In the latter a general

description of the species is given.

Subsp. abbreviata is known from Tanzania,

Zaire, Zambia, Rhodesia and Mozambique. Subsp.

kassneri (Bak.f.) Brenan is limited to Kenya and

Tanzania. Subsp. beareana is the most widespread

and the only subspecies to reach the Flora area. It is

distinguished from subsp. abbreviata by the nature

of the hairs to the undersurfaces of the leaflets

(non-appressed, often curled in subsp. abbreviata',

appressed, short and straight in subsp. beareana).

Subsp. kassneri has the same leaflet pubescence as

has subsp. beareana, but its flowers are smaller

(1 ,5-2 cm long in C. kassneri', 1 ,8-3 cm in C. beare-

ana).

Sweet-scented flowers are produced in abundance

with or before the young leaves, but the blooming

period is brief, and followed by the development of

the long pods that hang on the trees often until the

next flowering season. These are characteristic of the

species and have resulted in the common names of

“Long-tail Cassia” or “Kersboom”. Some Transvaal

plants possess leaflets that are markedly glaucescent

abaxially ( Gerstner 6233), but these also carry the

appressed minute hairs on which subspecies beareana

is differentiated from subspecies abbreviata. The

South West African plants ( Schoenfelder S126)

have leaflets that are glabrous to glabrescent abaxially,

except for some hairs near the midrib, especially

when the leaflets are young. Brenan, 1958, has com-

mented on the more appressed pubescence on the

inflorescence axis in some of the Transvaal trees than

76

Caesalpinioideae

Caesalpinioideae

77

FIG. 17. — Petiolar glands of Cassia species within the Section Chamaecrista in Southern Africa, X 6f. Species

numbered as in text. 18/1, C. comosa var. comosa; 18/2, C. comosa var. capricomia; 19/1, C. capensis var.

capensis (also many specimens of var. flavescens); 19/2, C. capensis Group 1; 20, C. biensis; 21, C. falcinella

var. parviflora; 22, C. quarrei; 23, C. plumosa; 24/1, C. mimosoides Group 1; 24/2, C. mimosoides Group 2;

24/3 and 24/4, C. mimosoides Group 3, showing variation from slightly stalked to sessile. 22a, adaxial

channelled surface of leaf rhachis of C. quarrei, x 6$. 23a, adaxial crested surface of leaf rhachis of C.

plumosa, X 6$.

is usual for the subspecies. This is a variable feature,

for plants with both spreading and appressed pubes-

cence are to be found. The leaflets, when young, are

narrow and lanceolate-elliptic, but increase in size

with maturity to become ovate-elliptic or elliptic.

2. Cassia siamea Lam. Encycl. 1 : 648

(1783); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

27 : 549 (1871); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 :

639 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 324

(1932); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 506 (1952);

Corner, Wayside Trees of Malaya ed. 2,2 :

tt. 89,90 (1952); White, For. FI. N. Rhod.

120 (1962); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 50 (1967). Type: from Tropical

Asia (probably P-LA).

C. legal ii Burtt Davy ined.

Tree, evergreen, up to 10 m high.

Young stems ± longitudinally ridged and

angled, densely pubescent with short, straight

appressed white hairs, becoming ± glabrous

with age. Bark on twigs brown, faintly

longitudinally striated. Leaves , when very

young, silvery with dense, fine short white

appressed hairs, at maturity with petiole and

rhachis 9-22 cm long; stipules 2-3 mm long,

linear-subulate, finely pubescent, caducous;

petiole 1 , 5— 3(— 5) cm long including basal

pulvinus, petiolar and rhachidal glands

lacking; rhachis channelled adaxially; leaflets

in 5— 8(— 12) pairs, elliptic, ovate-elliptic or

oblong, 2-6,5 cm long, 1-2,5 cm wide,

uppermost pair usually not the largest, bases

broadly cuneate to rounded, usually sym-

metric, apices broadly obtuse or rounded,

usually emarginate and minutely mucronate,

margins yellow, glabrous, surfaces closely

veined, pubescent with fine, short, straight

white appressed hairs becoming glabrescent

then glabrous with age, texture firm coria-

ceous; petiolule ± 3 mm long. Inflorescences

corymbose racemes up to 6,5 cm long

elongating to 12 cm with age, in the axils of

the upper leaves, or aggregated into panicles

1 5-20 cm long that terminate lateral branches ;

peduncles, at flowering, 1-2 cm long, at

fruiting stouter, blending into the elongated

axis of the raceme; bracts ± 7 mm long,

linear, slightly incurved, sometimes broadened

about the middle to ± 1 mm wide, densely

pubescent, present at time of flowering,

eventually deciduous; pedicels, at flowering,

2-3 cm long, at fruiting stouter, hardly

longer, pubescent. Sepals obtuse, thick,

leathery, densely pubescent abaxially, persis-

ting on the receptacle even until pods are

mature. Petals obovate, slightly stalked,

1-1,5 cm long, ± 1 cm wide, deep yellow.

Stamens 10, all functional: 3 adaxial small,

slightly flattened, reduced, 4 lateral and

central-abaxial medium, 2 lateral-abaxial

large, filaments i 8 mm long, dehiscence

porose. Ovaries ± straight, slightly 4-angled,

densely and shortly velutinous; style 4-5 mm

long, apically recurved; stigma narrowed,

both glabrous. Pods compressed, very shortly

stalked, linear, 20-27 cm long, 1-1,3 cm

wide, dark brown, many seeded, tardily

dehiscent, sutures slightly thickened, valves

coriaceous, transversely veined. Seeds lateral-

ly compressed, elliptic or orbicular, 6-8 mm

long, 6-7 mm wide, testa bright shining

brown; areole central on each lateral face,

oblong, 3-4 mm long, 1,2- 1,5 mm wide,

with faint transverse cracks. Fig. 18 : 2;

19 : 2.

A native of tropical Asia, this species has become

naturalized in the eastern Lowveld of the Transvaal.

There is one record from Natal near the border with

Mozambique (an abandoned kraal site on the Usutu

floodplain, so the tree may have been planted).

Burtt Davy (FI. Transv. 2 : 324, 1932) records the

species from “mountains above Mbabane”, but this

has not been confirmed by Compton (J .S. Afr. Bot.,

Suppl. 6 : 46, 1966) so Burtt Davy’s record may

have referred to planted trees.

TRANSVAAL. — 2530 (Lydenburg): Nelspruit,

Legal 2832. 2531 (Komatipoort): near Barberton,

Legat 1312; Komatipoort, Rogers 12618, 22174.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Usutu floodplain, Ward 4515.

A handsome shade tree cultivated in parks and

along streets in Mozambique and Zambia. White

(For. FI. N. Rhod. 120, 1962) mentions its use for

shelter belts and fuel plantations because of its ease

of cultivation and resistance to termites.

78

Caesalpinioideae

Caesalpinioideae

79

FIG. 18. — Fruits of Cassia species, x j. Species numbered as in text. 2, C. siaraea; 3, C. didymobotrya ; 12,

C. coluteoides; 8, C. floribunda; 10, C. tomentosa; 9, C. corymbosa; 16, C. obtusifolia; 1, C. abbreviata

subsp. beareana (young pod); 14, C. petersiana ; 18,C.comosa var.comosa; 5, C. occidentals ; 4/1, C. italica

subsp. arachoides group 1; 24/3, C. mimosoides group 3; 17, C. absus; 24/1, C. mimosoides group 1; 15,

C. sinqueana; 7, C. hirsuta; 4/2, C. italica subsp. micrantha.

3. Cassia didymobotrya Fresen. in Flora

22 : 53 (1839); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 276 (1871);

Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 ; 638 (1930);

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 324 (1932);

Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 504, t. 36 (1952);

Mendonga & Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 177 (1956);

F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 120 (1962);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 66,

fig. 12 (1967). Type: Ethiopia, Rueppell

(FR, holo.).

C. nairobensis Aggeler & Musser, Los Angeles,

California, seed catalogue 63 (1930), nomen sub-

nudum; L. H. Bailey, Hortus Second 146 (1941) &

Man. Cult. PI., ed. 2 : 586 (1949) sine descr. lat. No

type cited — cultivated in California, L. H. & E. Z.

Bailey 7780, 7952 (BH).

Perennial, multi-stemmed and much

branched from ground level forming

an erect, rounded shrub (0,6-)2-7 m

high. Stems ± woody, subterete, incon-

spicuously ridged, finely and softly pubescent

with dense, short, white, patent hairs.

Leaves: petiole and rhachis 19-30(-45) cm

long; stipules broadly ovate-cordate, long

acuminate, 1-1 ,2 cm long, 1 , 1-1 ,4 cm wide,

pubescent, persistent, conspicuous; petiole

2, 5-3, 2 cm long including basal pulvinus;

petiolar gland lacking; rhachis terete, lacking

conspicuous glands, but with 1 - several

small, hair-like dark structures between each

of the leaflet pairs; leaflets in (8— )13— 21

pairs, ovate-oblong, becoming ovate-elliptic

and obovate towards distal end of leaf,

3-4,2(-5,5) cm long, 0,7-l,6(-2) cm wide,

uppermost pair not largest, bases asymmetric,

broadly cuneate to round, apices broadly

obtuse, with a fine apiculus up to 3 mm long,

margins slightly thickened, pubescent, sur-

faces pubescent, adaxial sparsely, abaxial

densely. Inflorescences in axils of upper

leaves, racemes elongating with age up to 45

cm long including peduncle, many-flowered;

peduncles at flowering and fruiting 4-6 cm

long, stout; bracts 2-2,3 cm long, 1-1,2 cm

wide, elliptic, boat-shaped, viscid, foetid.

dark brownish-green, conspicuous; pedicels,

at flowering 5-8 mm long, at fruiting up to

10 mm long, pubescent to villous with soft

patent hairs. Sepals obtuse, pubescent, viscid,

foetid. Petals elliptic to obovate, shortly

stalked, 2-2,5 cm long, 1,2-1, 3 cm wide,

bright yellow. Stamens 10 : 3 adaxial smal-

lest, zt functional, 4 lateral medium, 2

lateral-abaxial largest, central-abaxial longer

than laterals but shorter and considerably

more slender than 2 lateral-abaxial, dehis-

cence porose. Ovaries white velutinous with

soft, patent hairs; styles curved, glabrous;

stigma narrowed to a fine hollow point,

becoming ± membranous with age. Pods

flattened, shortly stalked, straight, oblong-

linear, 10-11 cm long, ± 2 cm wide, apex

usually beaked, septate, sutures slightly

thickened, slightly lighter than the dark

brown, pubescent valves, many-seeded, dehis-

cent. Seeds laterally compressed, oblong with

one pointed end, 6-7 mm long, 2,5-3 mm

wide, testa light brown, minutely pitted or

smooth; areole central on each lateral face,

oblong, finely transversely striated, ± 4 mm

long, ± 1 mm wide. Fig. 18 : 3; 19 : 3.

This striking and easily recognized species is

known from Ethiopia, the Sudan, Zaire, Congo

(Brazzaville), Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi,

Angola, Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozambique and South

Africa. In the Flora area it is not indigenous, but is

grown under cultivation, particularly in the Transvaal,

Natal and the eastern Cape. Here it has also become

naturalized and grows as a ruderal especially in

sheltered, moist spots.

S.W.A. — 2115 (Karibib): Okambahe, Liebenberg

5042 (said to be naturalized, but confirmation re-

quired).

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg): Louis Trich-

ardt Native Location, Gerstner 5965. 2431 (Acom-

hoek): Kruger National Park, Sabie River, 8 km E.

of Skukuza, Pienaar & Van IVyk 4507. Without precise

locality, Legat sub PRE 4961 .

NATAL.— 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve, Scott-Smith 17. 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

Fox Hill Spruit, Pietermaritzburg, Bourquin 313 (NU).

2931 (Stanger): Mvoti-Hlabitswa confluence, Mol!

3294.

80

Caesalpinioideae

Caesalpinioideae

81

FIG. 19. — Seeds of Cassia species, x 6J. Species numbered as in text. 3, C.didymobotrya;4, C. italica subsp.

arachoides; 17, C. absus; 8, C. floribunda; 23, C. plumosa; 18, C. comosa (possibly not fully mature); 5,

C. occidentalis; 16, C. obtusifolia-1 , lateral view showing areole-2, end view showing hilum; 15, C. sin-

queana; 12, C. coluteoides; 14, C. petersiana-1, lateral view showing areole-2, end view showing hilum; 7,

C. hirsuta-1, lateral view showing areole-2, end view showing hilum (seed often much compressed in this

plane, so that an areole lies across each “shoulder”); 10, C. tomentosa-1, lateral view-2, end view showing

hilum; 9, C. corymbosa; 2, C. siamea.

CAPE. — 3029 (Kokstad): 5 km from Umzimkulu

on rd. to Creighton; banks of Umzimkulu River,

Killick 2235. 3129 (Port St. Johns); Port St. Johns,

Hafstrom & Acocks 657. 3326 (Grahamstown):

Grahamstown, Baird 20 (RU).

Its shrubby growth form, its large, multijugate

leaves lacking petiolar and rhachidal glands, its

dark brownish-green (almost black at a distance)

viscid and foetid bracts and sepals, and its con-

spicuous erect racemes of deep yellow flowers, make

C. didymobotrya distinctive among the species of the

Flora area. Its closest relative, C. italica, is herbaceous

and prostrate or decumbent: it is also a plant of

drier areas.

C. didymobotrya is said to be used as a treatment

for fever and as a purgative for children.

4. Cassia italica {Mill.) Lam ex F.W.

Andr., FI. PI. Anglo-Egypt. Sudan 2 : 117

(1952); Mendon<;a & Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 178

(1956); Brenan in Kew Bull. 13 ; 239 (1958);

Compton, J. S. Afr. Bot., Suppl.6 : 46 (1966);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 65

(1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 11 (1967).

Type: whereabouts unknown.

Senna italica Mill., Gard. Diet., ed. 8, no. 2 (1768).

Cassia aschrek Forsk., FI. Aegypt.-Arab. cxi, 86

(1775). Type: Yemen, Mor, Forskal (C, holo.).

C. obovata Collad., Hist. Cass. 92, t. 15A (1816),

now. illegit. ; Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 277 (1871); Bak. f„

Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 636 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI.

Transv. 2 : 325 (1932). Type as for C. italica.

Perennial herb with several prostrate to

decumbent, branched stems up to 40 cm high,

or a sub-shrub, more erect and up to 60 cm

high (unusual in Flora area), from a woody

rootstock with long, thick roots. Stems when

young slightly flattened, ± glandular and

viscid to eglandular, minutely pubescent with

short thick patent hairs becoming glabrescent

with age, or appearing glabrous but with

densely packed, microscopic, straight or

curved hairs, or appressed pubescent with

fine straight hairs lying parallel with surface,

or densely pilose with long, slender patent

hairs, becoming ± terete (sometimes with 1

or more marked furrows), non viscid,

glabrescent, glabrous or remaining densely

pilose with age. Leaves variable in size:

petiole and rhachis (2-)4-10(-12) cm long;

stipules persistent, asymmetric, hastate or

ovate-triangular, 3 , 5— 8(— 1 1) mm long, 2-2,5

mm wide, with a well-marked mid-vein,

glabrescent with short patent hairs especially

on margins; petiole 0,3-3, 5 cm long

including basal pulvinus, petiole and

rhachis eglandular (except for numerous small

finger-like glands in the leaf axils and

adaxially on the rhachis between each pair

of leaflets) ; leaflets in (3-)4-6(-9) pairs,

oblong, obovate-oblong or obovate-elliptic,

1-3,8 (-4,3) cm long, (0,4-)l-2,5(-2,7) cm

wide, uppermost pair not always largest,

bases asymmetric, apices emarginate, rounded

or obtuse, sometimes mucronate, margins

orange with short, scattered hairs, surfaces

minutely glandular or eglandular, glabrous,

glabrescent, pubescent or densely villous with

hairs varying from minute and straight or

curved or appressed to long and patent.

Inflorescences axillary racemes, including

naked peduncles, 2—1 5(— 25) cm long, many-

flowered; bracts 3-5,5 mm long, 3-5 mm

wide, ovate, acuminate, deciduous ± at

flower opening; pedicels, at flowering, i 3

mm long, not much elongated at fruiting.

Sepals obtuse. Petals sub-equal, obovate,

(5— )7— 1 2(— 20) mm long, (2 , 7-)5-7(-l 0) mm

wide, bright yellow to yellowish-white

becoming brown-veined with age. Stamens

10 : 3 adaxial reduced, ± staminodal with ±

flattened filaments, 4 lateral and 1 central-

abaxial medium-sized, 2-3,3 mm long,

51066-7

82

Caesalpinioideae

FIG. 20. — Fruits of Cassia species showing methods of dehiscence, x Species numbered as in text. 24,

C. mimosoides, explosive dehiscence by splitting down both sutures; 14, C. petersiana, gradual break-up

by putrefaction- one or more-seeded portions falling away leaving the tough sutures intact; 8, C. floribunda,

tardy splitting down one suture; 1, C. abbreviata subsp. beareana, base of fruit showing splitting of both

valves away from woody suture: often the split edges move apart so that the two valves become more or

less flat.

2 lateral-abaxial large, 5-8 mm long, curved,

dehiscence porose. Ovaries glabrous or

white pubescent with minute straight, curved,

or appressed hairs, or densely pilose with

long patent hairs; style 3-7 mm long, bent

at 70°-90° to ovary, or ± coiled; stigma

either hardly wider than width of style

narrowing apically into a small ± circular to

elliptic aperture, or flared into an asymmetric

trumpet markedly wider than style. Pods

flattened, rather variable in size and shape,

generally ± oblong to sub-orbicular, often

slightly upwardly falcate 2-4(-6) cm long,

1 , 3-2 , 5 cm wide, apex beaked, valves

membranous, evidently veined, brown, with

a median line of crests (lacking in some

plants from eastern Transvaal and Natal),

glabrous or minutely pubescent or villous.

Seeds laterally compressed, ± ovate, 6-7 mm

long, ± 4 mm wide, testa brown, reticulate-

rugose; areole central on each lateral face,

oblong, faintly transversely-striate, ± 2 mm

long, ±0,5 mm wide.

Recorded from North Africa to South Africa,

especially in drier areas, and through the Middle

East to India. It is remarkably variable, yet readily

distinguishable from other species except C. truncata

Brenan which does not occur in the Flora area.

Brenan, in Kew Bull. 13 : 239 (1958), recognized

three subspecies, of which subsp. italica was said to

occupy the northern part of the total species range;

subsp. micrantha was found to be Indian and East

African and subsp. arachoides was mainly South

African. In addition to the characters used by Brenan

to separate these taxa, work in preparation for this

account of Cassia (Gordon-Gray in preparation for

J. S. Afr. Bot.) has yielded other features useful in

distinguishing the entities at infra-specific level.

No plants with all the size dimensions of subsp.

italica have been seen from the Flora area. Never-

theless, some South African plants are robust and

come close to the limits accepted for this northern

subspecies. There is no doubt that subsp. italica and

subsp. arachoides are closely allied and differ quan-

titatively rather than qualitatively. In the present

account subsp. italica is accepted as northern in

distribution and will not be dealt with in detail.

Brenan, in Kew Bull. 13 : 240 (1958), has described

this taxon and outlined its variability and its distri-

bution.

The subspecies may be recognized as follows:

Stigma (usually visible even on developing fruits)

expanded to much exceed the width of the

style, asymmetrically trumpet-shaped (better

developed adaxially than abaxially); style

3-4 mm long, usually bent at 70°-90° to

ovary: flowers yellowish-white, brown

veined; racemes with open flowers mostly

2-8 cm long, usually shorter than sub-

tending leaf (a) subsp. micrantha

Stigma hardly expanded sub-terminally and

thus not much exceeding the width of the

style, narrowed again terminally to form an

aperture no wider than the style which is

usually 6-7 mm long and ± circinnate:

flowers bright yellow, brown veined only

with age; racemes with open flowers mostly

6—1 5(— 25) cm long, usually longer than

subtending leaf :

Most petioles on a plant 1-2,5 cm long: petals

mostly 9-20 mm long, 5-10 mm wide. . . .

subsp. italica

Most petioles on a plant 0,3-1, 2 cm long:

petals mostly (7— )9— 1 2 mm long, 5-7 mm

wide (b) subsp. arachoides

CaesalpiniOideae

83

(a) subsp. micrantha Brenan in Kew Bull.

13 : 241 (1958); in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp.:

65 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 11

(1967). Type: Kenya, Turkana distr., Padwa

144 (K, holo.).

C. obovata var. pallidiflom Dinter in Feddes Repert.

15:355 (1918). Type: South West Africa, Okahandja

distr., Okahandja, Dinter 366 (SAM, isosyn.!).

Stems appressed pubescent with fine,

straight hairs lying parallel with the stem

surface. Leaves: stipules 3,5-5 mm long;

petioles mostly 0,9-2,3(-2,5) cm long in-

cluding basal pulvinus; leaflets in (5— )6— 7(— 8)

pairs, appressed pubescent (hairs as for stem),

apices usually mucronate. Racemes (2-)3-

5 , 5(— 8) cm long, usually shorter than sub-

tending leaf when lowest ovaries commence

enlargement. Petals 5— 7(— 9) mm long,

(2 , 7— )3 , 5—4 , 5 mm wide, pale yellow to

yellowish-white, often brown-veined in age;

largest anthers 5-6 mm long. Ovaries densely

appressed pubescent (hairs straight, lying

flat against pericarp); style 3-4 mm long,

bent at 70°-90° to ovary; stigma exceeding

style width, asymmetrically trumpet-shaped.

Pods with sparse, appressed straight hairs.

Fig. 18:4/2.

Recorded from India, Socotra and Africa. In

Africa the subspecies occurs in Senegal, Mali, the

Tibesti Mts. of the Sahara, Ethiopia, Somalia,

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South West

Africa and doubtfully Angola. In Ethiopia and

Somalia it is rare and sympatric with the commoner

subsp. italica\ in Tropical East Africa, as in India, it

is usually the only subsp. present, except for some

plants from isolated localities in Kenya that must

be placed with subsp. italica. In Botswana and South

West Africa it is northern, but within these limits,

southernmost records overlap with subsp. arachoides.

It is not known from eastern South Africa.

S.W.A. — 1713 (Swartbooisdrif): 32 km S. of

Orupembe, Rivier am Weg nach Sarusas, Giess &

Leippert 7445 (WIND). 1813 (Ohopoho): near

Ohopoho, De Winter & Leistner 5291. 1918 (Groot-

fontein): Grootfontein, Schoenfelder 981. 2016

(Otjiwarongo): 8 km S. of Elandsfontein, Tolken &

Hardy 848. 2115 (Karibib): Omaruru near Messum-

berge, Giess 9140 (WIND). 2214 (Swakopmund) :

Weisser Berg des Gungochoab, Jensen 110 (WIND).

2314 (Sandwich Harbour): N. of Kuiseb at Gobabeb,

Jensen 164 (WIND). 2317 (Rehoboth): farm Buells-

port, Strey 2461.

Brenan (1958, 1967) tentatively referred Burtt

Davy 7040 from the Transvaal to subsp. micrantha,

but re-study has provided evidence that this specimen

is subsp. arachoides.

Plants develop prostrate to decumbent stems that

spread to form more or less circular clumps 0,5-1 m

in diameter by 30-40 cm in height. They occur gene-

rally in exposed, extreme habitats in granite/gravel,

red sandy, or limestone soils. Morphologically this

subspecies is remarkably homogeneous.

(b) subsp. arachoides {Burch.) Brenan in

Kew Bull. 13 : 242 (1958); Schreiber in

F.S.W.A. 59 : 11 (1967). Type: Griqualand

West, Asbestos Mts., Kloof village, Burchell

1680 (K, holo.).

Cassia arachoides Burch., Trav. 1 : 341 (1822);

Harv. in F.C. 2 : 272 (1862). C. obovata sensu Burtt

Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 324 (1932). C. obovata Collad.

var. mucronata Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 325

(1932). Type: Transvaal, Barberton, near Queen’s

River, Galpin 750 (K, holo.; PRE, NH). — var. pilosa

Burtt Davy, l.c. : 325 (1932). Type: Transvaal,

Pilgrim’s Rest, Rogers 22504 (K, holo.; PRE).

Stems ± glandular and viscid to eglan-

dular with short, thick, patent hairs

becoming ± glabrescent with age, OR

appearing glabrous but with densely packed,

microscopic, straight or curved hairs, OR

densely pilose with long slender, patent hairs.

Leaves: stipules (5— )6— 7(— 8) mm long; petioles

mostly (0,3— )0,6— 1(— 1 ,3) cm long including

basal pulvinus; leaflets in (3-)4-6(-9) pairs,

pubescent to glabrescent with scattered,

short patent hairs, OR appearing glabrous

but with sparse or dense, microscopic, patent

or curved hairs, OR densely pilose with long

patent hairs; apices emarginate, rounded or

evidently mucronate. Racemes (4-)7-14(-22)

cm long, usually exceeding length of sub-

tending leaf when lowest ovaries commence

enlargement. Petals 7-12 mm long, 5-7 mm

wide, bright yellow, becoming brown-veined

only with age; largest anthers ± 8 mm long.

Ovaries glabrous, OR densely pubescent

with short patent or curved microscopic

hairs, OR densely villous with evident

straight, slender, patent hairs; style 6-7 mm

long, ± circinnate; stigma hardly wider than

style, narrowing apically into a small ±

circular to elliptic aperture. Pods glabrous,

OR pubescent with microscopic patent or

curved hairs, OR densely to sparsely villous

with slender, straight, patent hairs. Fig.

18 : 4/1; 19 : 4.

Recorded from Mozambique, Rhodesia, South

West Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and the four

provinces of the Republic of South Africa. It is

not known from Lesotho. In South West Africa and

84

Caesalpinioideae

Botswana there is some overlap with plants of

subsp. micrantha. One specimen (De Winter & Leistner

5657) from near the Kunene River (1712-AB) shows

characters of both subspecies suggesting hybridization

is possible between them, but such intermediates

appear infrequent.

Subsp. arachoides is far more variable than

subsp. micrantha. Brenan recognized four forms

within it. Work for the present account has shown

that three rather clearly defined groups, based mainly

on differences in indumentum, and with more or

less distinct areas of distribution, may be differentiated

within it. The subspecies, wherever it grows, is

representative of dry habitats, but plants from South

West Africa, Botswana and the northern Cape

reflect in their morphology, features associated with

drier environments than do plants from Swaziland

and eastern South Africa. In the northern Transvaal

densely pilose plants are readily distinguished from

representatives of either of the other groups.

Group 1 from South West Africa, Botswana, the

western Transvaal, the Orange Free State and the

northern Cape, is typical of subsp. arachoides. Plants

appear glaucous, are more or less glandular in the

young parts and have a rather sparse indumentum of

short, thick, patent hairs. Leaflets are usually emar-

ginate or rounded. Ovaries and pods are glabrous. The

bulk of subsp. arachoides falls within this group, as

does the type of the subspecies.

Group 1.

S.W.A. — 2017 (Waterberg): Waterberg Plateau,

Boss sub TRV 35008. 2116 (Okahandja): Quickborn

farm, Bradfield 58. 2118 (Steinhausen): near Okama-

tangara, Schwerdtfeger 4182 (WIND). 2217 (Wind-

hoek): Windhoek, municipal area, Giess & Mueller

244 (WIND). 2218 (Gobabis) : 72 km N. W. of Gobabis

on rd. to Okahandja, De Winter 2460. 23 1 7 (Reho-

both): farm Bergland-Arovley REH. 52, Walter 190

(WIND); near Rehoboth, Rodin 2767.

TRANSVAAL. — 2330 (Tzaneen): Woodbush near

Letaba, Wager sub TRV 22982. 2428 (Nylstroom):

Naboomspruit, Mosdene, Galpin M 101. 2526

(Zeerust): Zeerust, Thode A 1401. 2528 (Pretoria):

Rust de Winter, Pole Evans 3875. 2725 (Bloemhof):

S.A. Lombard Nature Reserve, Leistner 53. 2726

(Odendaalsrus): ± 2 km S. of Makwassie on rd. to

Kommandodrift, Scheepers 1510.

O.F.S. — 2825 (Boshof): between Sandfontein &

Boshof, Schweickerdt 1100. 2924 (Hopetown): near

Luckhoff, Werger 235.

CAPE. — 2520 (Mata-Mata): Kalahari Gemsbok

National Park, Brynard 375. 2624 (Vryburg):

Armoedsvlakte, Burtt Davy 11724. 2723 (Kuruman):

Kuruman, La Grange 7. 2821 (Upington): 64 km

N.W. of Upington, Lang sub TRV 31711. 2824

(Kimberley): Schmidt’s drift, Acocks & Hafstrom

H 1019. 2922 (Prieska): Prieska, Bryant J 178.

Group 2 from Mozambique, Rhodesia, Swazi-

land, the eastern Transvaal and Natal, from 19°S

(or perhaps further north) to 29°S and from approxi-

mately 29°-33°E, comprises green plants that appear

glabrous, but which on microscopic examination

are revealed as possessing a close indumentum of

very small, straight patent, or curved, hairs. Leaflets

are generally evidently mucronate. Ovaries and pods

are densely and sparsely pubescent respectively

with microscopic straight or curved hairs. Occasional

plants from Barberton and Natal produce pods in

which the median line of crests is poorly marked

or lacking (Burtt Davy’s var. mucronata in FI.

Transv. 2 : 325, 1932). Brenan’s variants 2, 3 and

some of 4, (Kew Bull. 13 : 243, 1958) fall within

this group.

Group 2.

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg) : between

Louis Trichardt & Vivo, Werdermann & Oberdieck

1967. 2330 (Tzaneen): Elim, farm Spelonkwater,

Obermeyer 781. 2431 (Acornhoek): ± 4 km E. of

Skukuza on Lower Sabie rd., Codd & De Winter 5009.

2530 (Lydenburg): Lordskraal, Barnard & Mogg 966.

2531 (Komatipoort): Barberton, Queen’s River,

Galpin 750.

SWAZILAND.— 2631 (Mbabane): Sipofaneni,

Compton 26296.

NATAL. — 2732 (Ubombo): Mkuzi Game Reserve,

Ward 3613. 2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve,

Leibnitz, Fakude & Hancox 8.

Group 3 from the northern Transvaal, from

approximately 22°-24°S and from approximately

28°-30°30' E, comprises plants that are evidently

pilose all over. Leaflets appear slightly smaller and

more numerous than in the other groups; petioles

are very short; racemes are long and flowers are

large for subsp. arachoides, but dimensions do not

reach those of subsp. italica. Leaflets are usually

mucronate and rounded or emarginate. Ovaries and

pods are densely or sparsely pilose respectively. The

crests are poorly marked and appear late in the

development of the fruits.

Group 3.

TRANSVAAL. — 2228 (Maasstroom): between

Tolwe & Swartwater, Schlieben & Hartmann 12058.

2329 (Pietersburg): near Pietersburg, Hutchinson

2287. 2229 (Waterpoort): road from Soutpan to

Waterpoort, Obermeyer, Schweickerdt & Verdoorn

265.

Plants of subsp. arachoides, no matter to which

group they belong, generally favour more or less

open, often very exposed, disturbed situations on a

variety of usually porous, readily draining soils.

Thus they occur in sandveld, in open areas in bush-

veld, in disturbed areas along roadsides and less

frequently in fallow land. They are said to carry

eelworm infection. Roots and legumes are used as a

strong purgative or to alleviate urinal troubles.

The aerial parts are poisonous to cattle and sheep.

Common names are Eland’s pea, Wild Senna,

Swartstorm and Wilde Ertjie.

Caesalpinioideae

85

5. Cassia occidentalis L., Sp. PI. 1 : 377

(1753); Harv. in F.C. 2 : 272 (1862); Oliv. in

F.T.A. 2 : 274 (1871); Forbes in S. Afr. J.

Sci. 18 : 343 (1922); Bak. f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 635 (1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 324 (1932); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal

220 (1934); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 513 (1952);

Mendon?a & Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 181 (1956);

Henderson, Malayan Wild Flowers (Dicotyle-

dons) fig. 98 : 99 (1959); Compton in J.S.Afr.

Bot., Suppl. 6 : 46(1966); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Caesalp. : 78, fig. 14 (1967);

Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 12 (1967). Type:

a cultivated plant in Herb. Clifford (BM, syn.).

Annual, or short-lived perennial, herb

or sub-shrub with erect, simple, or sparsely

branching stems (0 , 5— )1— 1 , 8(— 2) m high.

Stems ridged, glandular, especially in the

hollows between the ridges, and subglabrous

when young, becoming ± terete and glabrous

with age. Leaves densely glandular and

sparsely pubescent when young becoming

sparsely glandular and ± glabrous with age ;

petiole and rhachis 1 2—1 5(— 20) cm long;

stipules asymmetric, ovate-lanceolate, acute,

± 7 mm long, ± 3 mm wide, caducous;

petiole (4-)5(-7) cm long including basal

pulvinus; petiolar gland at distal end of

pulvinus, sessile, hemispherical, globose or

ovoid, blackish, ± 1 mm in diameter;

rhachis without special glands ; leaflets in 4-5

(-6) pairs, ovate to ovate-elliptic, occasionally

lanceolate, (2,5-)4-10 cm long, (l,5-)2-4

cm wide, uppermost pair largest, bases

rounded to asymmetric, apices acute to

acuminate (sometimes obtuse or rounded

on very young shoots), margins white-

ciliate, almost pectinate, surfaces densely

glandular when young, becoming ± eglandu-

lar adaxially and sparsely glandular abaxially

with age. Inflorescences in axils of upper

leaves, racemes short, almost umbellate,

2-4-flowered; peduncles, at flowering, 3-5

mm long, at fruiting to 8 mm; bracts 9-16

mm long, linear, acuminate; pedicels, at

flowering, ± 5mm long, at fruiting ± 15

mm long, sparsely to densely pubescent.

Sepals obtuse, usually glabrous. Petals

obovate, 0,9-1, 5 mm long, 0,5-0, 6 mm

wide, pale yellow with brown venation that

becomes conspicuous with age. Stamens 10:

usually 4 staminodal (3 adaxial, 1 abaxial)

linear, flattened, 6 functional of which 2

lateral-abaxial are largest, dehiscence porose.

Ovaries densely velutinous, hairs white;

stigma hooded, ±1 mm long, fringed with

short, soft white hairs. Pods linear, straight

or slightly curved upwards, 8-13 cm long,

0,5-0, 8 cm wide, compressed, septate,

sutures thickened, green or yellowish, valves

sparsely pubescent with curved, white-

appressed hairs, not or tardily dehiscent,

many-seeded. Seeds laterally compressed,

suborbicular or elliptic in face view, 4,5-5

mm long, 3,75-4,5 mm wide; testa greyish-

brown with minute raised dots; areole on

each face oblong to elliptic, finely horizon-

tally striated, ± 2,5 mm long, ± 1,5 mm

wide. Fig. 16 : 5; 18 : 5; 19 : 5.

A pantropical weed of disturbed areas, especially

damp sandy alluvium along river banks, coastal sand

flats, grassland, roadsides, old lands or areas of

of human habitation.

S.W.A. — 1718 (Kuring-Kuru) : Okavango Native

Territ., 10,8 km E. of Makambu Camp on rd. to

Katwitwi, De Winter 3869. 1721 (Mbambi): Banks

of Okavango River below Diyona Camp beyond

Nyangana Mission Station, De Winter 4150.

TRANSVAAL. — 2231 (Pafuri): Kruger National

Park, junction of Pafuri & Limpopo Rivers, Codd

5409. 2330 (Tzaneen): Tzaneen, Rogers 12406. 2526

(Zeerust): Zeerust, Jenkins 13947. 2530 (Lydenburg):

Nelspruit, Rogers 2388.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Manzini

distr., Tulwane, Karsten s.n.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, old fields between Usutu Forest patches,

Pooley 405 (NH, NU). 2732 (Ubombo): N. bank of

Mkuze River at road bridge on Mkuze-Candover rd.,

Gordon-Gray 4684 (NU). 2830 (Dundee): 11 km

from Muden on Keats Drift rd., Edwards 2793.

2831 (Nkandla): Umfolozi Game Reserve, Black

Umfolozi River, Mthonti 14. 2832 (Mtubatuba):

Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ward 2221. 2930 (Pieter-

maritzburg): Nagle Dam, Wells 1271; 1334 (NU).

2931 (Stanger): Umhlanga Rocks, Ross 1599 (NU,

NH). 3030 (Port Shepstone): Margate, Rump s.n.

(NH).

Known from the Cape Province only under culti-

vation : East London Park, coll. John Wood in Herb.

E. E. Galpin 5693.

Plants have been variously described as herbs,

suffrutices, or shrubs, and as annuals, or short-

lived perennials. Duration and extent of growth

seems to depend upon geographical situation and

micro-environment. Despite these variations and its

extensive range, C. occidentalis is remarkably uniform

and readily recognized. Its only close relative,

C. sophera L., is known from the flora area only

rarely and generally under cultivation. Bentham, in

Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 27 : 509, 533 (1871), Irwin

in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 15 : 119 (1966) and Brenan

in F.T.E.A., Legum.-Caesalp. : 80 (1967), have

dealt with the relationships of these two species.

Irwin (l.c.) commented upon their growth patterns

86

Caesalpinioideae

under cultivation in Tropical America and the

probable area of origin of these species. C. occidentalis

is widely used medicinally (see Watt & Breyer-

Brandwijk, Medicinal & Poisonous Plants of S. &

E. Africa, ed. 2, 1962), while its seeds yield coffee

or form a fowl food. The plant’s unpleasant smell is

reminiscent of the odour of Cassia didymobotyra

and accounts for its common name of “Stinking

Weed”.

6. Cassia sophera L., Sp. PI. 1 : 379

(1753); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

27 : 532 (1871); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 274

(1871); Bak.f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 636

(1930); De Wit in Webbia 11 : 265 (1955);

Irwin in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 15 : 119-121

(1966). Type: Sri Lanka, Hermann (BM,

lecto.).

Perennial with slender slightly woody

± unbranched stems forming an erect shrub

(0, 5)2-3 m high. Stems slightly flattened

and ± longitudinally striated when young,

terete in age, glabrous. Leaves : petiole and

rhachis 8-10 cm long; stipules triangular, ±

3 mm long, i 1 mm wide at base, early

caducous; petiole 1-2,5 cm long including

basal pulvinus; petiolar gland at distal end

of pulvinus, sessile, rounded to somewhat

pointed, blackish, 1,5-2 mm long, ± 1 mm

wide; rhachis without special glands; leaflets

in (4-)8(-10) pairs, lanceolate, 2-6 cm long,

0,4-1 cm wide, uppermost pair usually not

largest, bases ± symmetric, rounded, apices

acute, margins finely ciliolate when young,

becoming glabrous with age, surfaces glabrous,

lateral veins looping sub-marginally. Inflores-

cences in axils of upper leaves, racemes short,

almost umbellate, (l-)3-5-flowered, peduncles

at flowering 1,5-2, 5 cm long, at fruiting

3 cm long; bracts 5-6 mm long, linear,

subacute to obtuse, caducous; pedicels, at

flowering ± 2 cm long, at fruiting stouter,

hardly longer, glabrous. Sepals obtuse,

sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Petals obo-

vate, shortly stalked, 1-1,5 cm long, 0,4-0, 5

cm wide, yellow, prominently brown veined.

Stamens 10: usually 4 staminodal (3 adaxial

flattened, ireniform, yellow, central-abaxial

linear, brown), 6 functional, ± equal in

size, brown, filaments ± 2 mm long, adjacent

shortly fused to one another basally, dehis-

cence porose. Ovaries glabrous; style 1-1,5

mm long; stigma hollow, shortly white-

ciliate. Pods linear, straight or slightly curved

upwards, 4-5 cm long, ± 0,5-0, 7 cm wide,

subcylindrical or slightly turgid, internally

septate, sutures not thickened, valves brown,

glabrous, not or tardily dehiscent, many-

seeded. Seeds ± compressed, lying at right

angles to long axis of pod, asymmetrically

ovate, elliptic or ± circular in face view,

3^4 mm long, 2-3 mm wide; testa dull

olive brown, outer layer cracking and peeling

off; areole on each face oblong, elliptic or

ovate, ± 2 mm long, ± 1 mm wide.

This species is common in Asia, rarer in America

and Africa, except West Africa where it is fairly

frequent. Now regarded as a pantropical weed, its

country of origin is uncertain.

One record of plants growing as escapes from

cultivation warrants the inclusion of this species here.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Cleland, Mur-

ray Road, Borthwick 15 (NU).

C. sophera may be distinguished from C. occiden-

talis, its nearest relative, by its more graceful, delicate

form, its more slender, narrower leaflets with usually

more leaflet pairs to the rhachis, its longer peduncles

and pedicels and its pods which are much shorter

than those of C. occidentalis and without clearly

thickened sutures.

7. Cassia hirsuta L., Sp. PI. 1 : 378

(1753); L.f., Suppl. 231 (1781); Lam. Encycl.

1,2 : 647 (1785); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 513

(1952); Henderson, Malayan Wild Flowers

(Dicotyledons) fig. 94, 96 (1959); Brenan,

F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 80 (1967). Type:

a cultivated plant in Herb. Clifford (BM,

holo.).

C. tomentosa sensu H. M. L. Forbes in S. Afr. J.

Sci. 18 : 342 (1922) non L.f. (exsiccata and parts of

description).

Short-lived perennial shrub with erect,

sparsely branched stems up to (1-) 1,5-2, 7

m high. Stems ridged, villous when young

with dense straight slightly upward pointing,

greyish-white hairs, becoming ± densely

pubescent and sometimes ± terete with age.

Leaves densely villous: petiole and rhachis

(8—) 1 1—20 cm long; stipules linear, narrowly

acute to acuminate, up to 15 mm long, ±

1 mm wide, sparsely villous, tardily deci-

duous; petiole 2,5^4 cm long including

basal pulvinus; petiolar gland at distal

end of pulvinus, sessile, cylindric, finger-like,

slightly narrowed at base, blackish, ± 2 mm

long; rhachis without special glands; leaflets

in 3-5 pairs, elliptic, occasionally ovate-

Caesalpinioideae

87

elliptic or ovate, (2-)5-7,5 cm long, 1 ,4-4,5

cm wide, uppermost pair largest, bases

asymmetric, occasionally rounded, apices

acute to subacuminate, often narrowing

rather sharply, margins fringed, the hairs

often extending from the leaf surfaces which

are ± densely villous with straight greyish-

white hairs. Inflorescences in axils of middle

and upper leaves, ± 3 cm long, 3-6-flowered ;

peduncles, at flowering, (4-) 15-20 mm long,

at fruiting, occasionally up to 25 mm long;

bracts dr 10-12 mm long, resembling stipules;

pedicels, at flowering, ± 10 mm long, densely

white-villous, at fruiting ± 20 mm long,

sparsely villous. Sepals obtuse, densely

villous abaxially. Petals obovate (10— )13— 1 5

mm long, deep orange yellow, becoming

conspicuously brown-veined with age.

Stamens 10: usually 3±(1?) staminodal

(ad- and abaxial) ± 2-3 mm long, obovate,

flattened, 7 or 6 functional of which the 2

lateral-abaxial are largest, central-abaxial

reduced, ± filiform, most often staminodal.

Ovaries 4-angled, sericeous with coarse,

white, ± flattened, rather matted hairs;

style 1-2 mm long, broadening distally into a

markedly hooded, dark coloured, almost

glabrous stigma. Pods linear, mostly curving

downwards, 10-15 cm long, 0,3-0, 6 cm wide,

septate but not obviously so, sutures

thickened, green, valves sericeous with long

straight whitish hairs, dehiscent, many-seeded.

Seeds compressed against one another along

length of pod, not laterally flattened as is

usual in the genus, ± 4-angled, ± 3 mm long,

1-2 mm wide, testa dull greenish-brown with

a black line from the hilum, areole 1 per

lateral face, elliptic-oblong, ±1,3 mm long,

± 1 mm wide. Fig. 16 : 7; 18 : 7; 19 : 7/1,

7/2.

Originally from South America, this species

has become naturalized in parts of the Old World

tropics. In Africa it is known from Guinea,

Uganda, Burundi, Zaire, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola,

Rhodesia and South Africa. In the Flora area it is

best represented along the Natal coast having spread

from Durban where it appears to have been introduced

about 1893. A second point of introduction was

Nelspruit, where seed from Uganda was planted in

1931; from here, also, plants have escaped from

cultivation.

Plants occur as weeds, especially near sites of

human habitation where there has been destruction

of the natural vegetation. They favour riparian

situations where sandy alluvium has been deposited,

but are also to be found in disturbed grassland or

forest margin.

TRANSVAAL. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Nelspruit

Research Station, Liebenberg 2595.

NATAL. — 2831 (Nkandla): Empangeni Village,

Venter 2448 (NH, BLFU). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg):

Albert Falls, Comins 414 (NU); Cato Ridge, Edwards

13 (NU); Isipingo Flats (S.W.) Ubogintwini Valley,

Ward 6275. 2931 (Stanger): Stanger, Pentz & Acocks

10337. 3030 (Port Shepstone): Umkomaas, Pole

Evans 3551.

Because of its dense indumentum C. hirsuta

has been confused, in Natal at least, with another

S. American species, C. tomentosa L.f. which has

become naturalized in South West Africa, the Trans-

vaal and the Cape Province. These species are best

distinguished by: the petiolar gland of C. hirsuta

that is absent in C. tomentosa ; the rhachidal glands

between all or most of the leaflets in C. tomentosa

that are lacking in C. hirsuta; the nature of the indu-

mentum which is villous and coarse in C. hirsuta

(hairs long, straight, shaggy), tomentose and fine

in C. tomentosa (hairs soft, intertwined, downy).

8. Cassia floribunda Cav., Descr. 132

(1802); Sim. For. FI. Cape Col. 207 (1907);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 70

(1967). Type: cultivated in Madrid Bot.

Garden, originally from Mexico, Puebla de

los Angeles. Whereabouts unknown.

C. laevigata Willd., Enum. Hort. Berol. 441 (1809);

Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 27 : 527 (1871);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 274 (1871); Forbes in S. Afr. J.

Sci. 18 : 343 (1922); Bak. f.. Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 634

(1930); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 324(1932); Henkel,

Woody PI. Natal 221 (1934); Steyaert in F.C.B.

3 : 511 (1952). Type: cultivated in Berlin Bot. Garden

(? B-W, holo.).

Short-lived perennial sub-shrub, shrub,

or treelet with erect stem branching in the

upper half to form an irregular to ± rounded

crown, l-2(-4) m high. Stems terete,

glabrous. Leaves: petiole and rhachis 6,5-

10 (-19) cm long: stipules linear, acute, up

to 10 mm long, 1-1,5 mm wide, glabrous

caducous; petiole (2,5-)3-4,5 cm long

including basal pulvinus, petiolar gland

lacking; rhachis channelled adaxially, with a

sub-sessile cylindric, elliptic or obovate, dark

gland between each pair of leaflets, or

sometimes excluding the uppermost; leaflets

in (2-)3-4 pairs, elliptic or ovate, (2,5-)5-

7 , 5(— 10, 5) cm long ( 1 , 5— )2— 3 , 5 cm wide,

uppermost pair largest, bases broadly cuneate,

often slightly asymmetric, apices narrowing

suddenly into a short or long narrowly acute

to acuminate apex, margins yellow, glabrous,

surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences in axils of

upper leaves, racemes ± corymbose, 6-10

cm long, forming a pseudo-panicle distally

88

Caesalpinioideae

on branches; peduncles, at flowering, 2,5-

5 , 5 cm long, at fruiting, generally 3^1(-6 , 5)

cm long; bracts ± 5 mm long, ±1,5 mm

wide, resembling stipules; pedicels, at

flowering, 0,7-1, 3 mm long, at fruiting

1,7-3, 5 cm long, glabrous. Sepals obtuse,

glabrous. Petals obovate to obovate-suborbi-

cular, 1-1 ,4 cm long, 0,7-1 ,2 cm wide, deep

yellow sometimes conspicuously brown-

veined. Stamens 10: 3 staminodal (adaxial),

flattened, ± oval to sub-orbicular in face

view, ± 3 mm long including short filament;

7 functional (4 lateral medium, 2 lateral-

abaxial large, central-abaxial medium) dehis-

cence porose. Ovaries glabrous; style 3-4 mm

long, glabrous, ± straight; stigma slightly

narrowed, hollowed, fringed with a narrow

laciniate membrane. Pods very shortly

stalked, terete and slightly inflated at matu-

rity, usually shortly beaked, 7-10 cm long,

1-1,3 cm in diameter, light to dark brown,

transversely septate within, many-seeded,

tardily dehiscent. Seeds laterally compressed,

oblong-elliptic, ± 5 mm long, ± 3 mm wide,

testa shining olive-brown, smooth, areoles

lacking. Fig. 16 : 8; 18 : 8; 19 : 8; 20 : 8.

This native American species is now pantropic in

distribution. In the Flora area it is probably the most

widespread, frequent and best known of the natura-

lized Cassias. Plants are weeds that establish them-

selves in disturbed areas along roadsides, in forest

margins, along streambanks, in alluvial sand or silt,

in neglected gardens or in fallow lands; occasionally

they occur as undergrowth plants in plantations of

eucalypts or wattles in particular.

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort): 13 km N.

of Louis Trichardt on rd. to Messina, Vahrmeijer 1509.

2230 (Messina): Tshakhuma, Van Warmelo 5159/9.

2329 (Petersburg): 1 km S. of Houtbosdorp, Van

Vuuren 1635. 2330 (Tzaneen): Westfalia Estate,

Duiwelskloof, Scheepers 13. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest):

Blyderiver Camp, Van der Schijff 5523. 2527 (Rusten-

burg): Buffelspoort 668, Turner 49. 2528 (Pretoria):

Pretoria, behind Riviera Public School grounds,

Smith 6023. 2531 (Komatipoort): White River,

Nel 131.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Mbabane,

Miller S/202; Ubombo Mts., 7 km S. of Stegi,

Keith s.n.

NATAL. — 2731 (Louwsburg): margins of Ngome

Forest, Gerstner 5145. 2732 (Ubombo): Pongola,

Gerstner 2468 (NH). 2831 (Nkandla): Eshowe,

Lawn 589 (NH). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Nagle Dam,

Wells 1037 (NU). 2931 (Stanger): 13 km from Doom-

kop on Mapumulo rd., Edwards 1712. 3030 (Port

Shepstone): Umbogintwini Valley, Ward 6161.

CAPE. — 3129 (Port St. Johns): Intafufu River,

Mills 398. 3221 (Merweville): Prince Albert Road,

Burtt Davy 12736. 3227 (Stutterheim): Pirie Dam,

Rhodes Univ. Bot. Exped. 285 (RU). 3228 (Butter-

worth): Bashee River Mouth, The Haven, J.L.

Gordon-Gray 265 1108 (NU). 3318 (Cape Town):

Morning Star Farm near Lourens River, Stellenbosch,

Parker 4940 (NBG). 3326 (Grahamstown): Settler’s

Dam near Grahamstown, Bayliss BRI B 147.

The species is easily recognized by the glabrous,

herbaceous texture of the plant; the leaves with

usually 3 or 4 pairs of rather large elliptic or ovate,

acute to acuminate leaflets with a rhachidal gland

between each pair, sometimes excepting the upper-

most; the brilliant yellow flowers and the cylindric,

more or less inflated, internally septate pods that are

tardily dehiscent.

C. floribunda belongs to the same series as do

C. tomentosa L.f., and C. bicapsularis L. It is, therefore,

perhaps not surprising that in the Flora area where

plants of C. floribunda grow sympatrically with plants

of either of these species, intermediates have been

found (for list of putative hybrids see the end of this

account of Cassia, p. 108). Irwin in Irwin and Turner,

Am. J. Bot. 47 : 315 (1960), states that C. laevigata,

i.e. C. floribunda, and C. tomentosa are freely inter-

fertile, which supports the contention that the

intermediates are inter-specific hybrids. Like most

species of the genus, C. floribunda is regarded as

unpleasantly smelling and has its own significance in

folklore and native medicine.

9. Cassia corymbosa Lam., Encycl. 1 :

644 (1785); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc.

Lond. 27 : 526 (1871). Type from South

America (probably P-LA).

Perennial with woody branching stems

forming an erect shrub 2-3 m high. Stems

terete, faintly longitudinally striated,

glabrous. Leaves : petiole and rhachis 2,5-6

cm long; stipules linear, acute to acuminate,

3-4 mm long, ± 0,5 mm wide, early

caducous, each scar on a small cushion;

petiole 1,5-3 cm long, including basal

pulvinus, petiolar gland lacking; rhachis

channelled adaxially with a stalked, clavate,

greenish gland between lowest pair of

leaflets only; leaflets in 2-3 pairs, lanceolate,

(2-)3-6 cm long, 0,6- 1,5 cm wide, upper-

most pair largest, bases slightly asymmetric,

broadly cuneate to rounded, apices acute,

margins yellow, glabrous, surfaces glabrous.

Inflorescences axillary, towards the ends of

primary, or short axillary branches, forming

pseudo-panicles, racemes 4,5-6 cm long at

flowering, slightly longer and stronger at

fruiting, usually ± equalling subtending

leaves; bracts ± 2 mm long, ±0,5 mm wide

Caesalpinioideae

89

at base, acerose, ± pubescent with curved

hairs, caducous; pedicels at flowering, up to

2,5 cm long, ± sparsely pubescent with

curved hairs, stronger but hardly longer at

fruiting. Sepals obtuse, margins shortly

ciliate. Petals obovate, 1-1,5 cm long, ±

1 cm wide, bright yellow, brown-veined with

age. Stamens 10: 3 staminodal (adaxial) ±

oblanceolate, flattened, ± 4 mm long

including filament; 7 functional (4 lateral

medium, 3 abaxial large, of which the

central is slightly shorter, longest filament

8-10 mm), dehiscence porose. Ovaries pubes-

cent with white curved, appressed hairs

especially along valves, sutures ± glabrous;

styles 3-4 mm long, ± straight, usually

lying at right angle to pod, glabrous; stigmas

narrowed, slightly hooded, minutely ciliate.

Pods slightly upwardly curved, ± 10 cm

long, shortly stalked, apically rounded,

terete, inflated, valves membranous, not or

tardily dehiscent. Seeds laterally compressed,

elliptic or elliptic-ovate, ± 5 mm long,

3-4 mm wide, testa brown, smooth, areoles

lacking. Fig. 16 : 9; 18 : 9; 19 ; 9.

One record of this alien species growing as an

escape in the Flora area warrants its inclusion in this

account. There is no other record known to me of its

having escaped from cultivation in Africa.

CAPE. — 3326 (Grahamstown): Grahamstown,

Bayliss 4445 (NBG).

The species is often grown as a garden subject in

South Africa, but is not as popular as is C. coluteoides.

The name C. corymbosa Hort. non Lam. has fre-

quently been mis-applied to C. coluteoides. The leaf

form and the shape of the staminodes distinguish

C. corymbosa from both C. coluteoides and C.

bicapsularis.

10. Cassia tomentosa L.f., Suppl. 231

(1781); Lam., Encycl. 1,2 : 647 (1785);

Harv. in F.C. 2 : 272 (1862); Oliv. in F.T.A.

2 : 274 (1871); Burtt Davy, FI. Transv.

2 : 324 (1932); Ffenkel, Woody PI. Natal

221 (1934) excl. locality; Brenan, F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Caesalp. : 50 (1967). Type from

South America, not located.

Perennial shrub with erect, branching,

woody stems 3-4 m high. Stems terete,

softly pubescent with short, straight, or ±

curved and eventually rather matted, whitish

hairs. Leaves discolorous, green adaxially,

lighter greyish-green abaxially, softly

pubescent to densely tomentose: petiole and

rhachis (3— )9— 1 2 cm long; stipules linear,

acuminate, 2-3 mm long, ±0,5 mm wide,

densely pubescent, caducous; petiole 0,5-1 ,7

mm long including the inconspicuous basal

pulvinus; petiolar gland lacking; rhachis with

a sessile, cylindric, finger-like, acuminate,

dark gland, 0,7-1 mm long between each

pair of leaflets, these glands occasionally

falling or breaking to leave a scar, or the

acuminate apex abscising to leave an apical

scar on the gland; leaflets in (3— )6— 8 pairs,

oblong, elliptic or obovate-oblong, 1,4-5 cm

long, (0,6-)0,8-l ,5 cm wide, uppermost

pair largest, bases asymmetric, occasionally

rounded, apices obtuse, occasionally broadly

acute, mucronate, or almost apiculate,

margins hairy, adaxial surfaces sparsely

pubescent, abaxial cano-tomentose or cano-

pubescent with curved or curled, ± matted

hairs (grey coloration is often accentuated

by the texture of the underlying leaf surface).

Inflorescences in axils of upper leaves, 3,7-7

cm long, forming a pseudo-panicle distally

on the branches; peduncles, at flowering,

2-4 cm long, at fruiting to 4,5-5 cm long;

bracts 5-7(-9) mm long, 1-1,5 mm wide,

lanceolate, acuminate; pedicels, at flowering,

1,3-1 ,7(-2,5) cm long, at fruiting, 2—2 , 5(— 3)

cm long; peduncles, bracts and pedicels

densely pubescent. Sepals obtuse, pubescent

to ± villous abaxially. Petals elliptic or

obovate, 1,2-1, 5 cm long, 0,7-1 cm wide,

deep yellow becoming brown-veined with

age, margins shortly white-ciliate when young.

Stamens 10:3 staminodal (adaxial) ± 2 mm

long, ± flattened; 7 functional (4 lateral

medium, 3 abaxial large) dehiscence porose,

eventually longitudinal. Ovaries cano-tomen-

tose to sericeous with ± matted, fine, white, ±

curled to straight white hairs; style ± 2 mm

long, slightly curved, glabrous, dark; stigma

slightly narrowed, hollowed, inconspicuously

ciliate. Pods linear, straight or slightly

curved, 7-11 cm long, 6-10 mm wide,

compressed, faintly septate, sutures slightly

thickened, valves green and cano-tomentose

when young, becoming yellow, membranous

and ± glabrous in age, eventually breaking

down when seeds are shed, indehiscent.

Seeds numerous, compressed against one

another along length of pod, ± 3-angled, ±

5 mm long, ± 2 mm wide, testa shining

brown, often with a darker line from the

hilum ± round the seed, areoles lacking.

Fig. 16 : 10; 18 : 10; 19 : 10/1, 10/2.

90

Caesalpinioideae

Originally from South America, this species has

become naturalized in South West Africa, the Trans-

vaal, the Orange Free State and especially the Cape,

where it is particularly frequent near Grahamstown.

It has been recorded for Natal by Bews (Flora of

Natal & Zululand, 1921); Forbes (S. Afr. J. Sci.

18 : 342, 1922); Burtt Davy (FI. Transv. 2 : 324, 1932)

and Henkel (Woody PI. Natal 220, 1934) but mis-

identification of hairy plants growing as weeds near

Durban (really C. hirsuta L.) by an unknown worker

about 1920, led to this confusion. No specimens are

known from Natal, nor have living plants been

located there.

S.W.A. — 2217 (Windhoek); farm Niedersachsen

near Windhoek, Liebenberg 5069.

TRANSVAAL. — 2528 (Pretoria): Pretoria, Repton

5919 (possibly under cultivation, no details given by

collector). Also recorded from Pretoria by Burtt Davy,

specimen not seen.

O.F.S. — 2828 (Bethlehem): Bethlehem distr., farm

General Will, Liebenberg 7047.

CAPE. — 3227 (Stutterheim): Fort Cunynghame,

Galpin 2442. 3318 (Cape Town): Cape Town, Marloth

s.n. 3324 (Steytlerville): Gamtoos River, Schlechter

1385. 3325 (Port Elizabeth): Uitenhage distr.,

Zeyher sub SAM 1562 1. 3326 (Grahamstown):

Grahamstown, “Sable Farm”, Burtt Davy 7823. 3421

(Riversdale): Rhenoster Hills, N. of Riversdale,

Marloth 13076. 3424 (Humansdorp): Flats, Wilde Els

Bosch, Fourcade 1367 (SAM).

C. tomentosa appears to have been an earlier

introduction into S. Africa than C. hirsuta, for Zeyher,

who died in 1 858, collected the species from Uitenhage,

while Burtt Davy records it from near Lydenburg in

1885 (no specimen seen by me). Burtt Davy stated

that the plant was “Greedily eaten by ostriches near

Grahamstown ....”. Significant differences by which

C. tomentosa may be distinguished from C. hirsuta

are given under the latter species. In Africa, C.

tomentosa is known under cultivation in Kenya and

Tanzania, but there are no known records of its

having become naturalized in these countries.

Specimens that exhibit characters of both

C. tomentosa and C. floribunda have been collected

from Grahamstown. These suggest that in this area,

where both species have become naturalized and

plants are frequent, hybridization has taken place

between them, the products of this genetic exchange

sometimes surviving to reproductive maturity. (See

also under C. floribunda', for list of putative hybrids

see the end of this account of Cassia, p. 108).

1 1. Cassia bicapsularis L., Sp. PI. 1 : 376

(1753); Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.

27 : 525 (1871); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 635 (1930); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 ; 511

(1952); F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 120

(1962); Irwin in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard.

15 : 118 (1966); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 71 (1967). Type: Herb. Linnaeus

528 10 (LINN, syn.!).

C. transversali-seminata De Wild., PI. Bequaert.

3 : 242 (1925).

Perennial with ± woody, branching

stems forming an erect ± rounded shrub

usually about 2 m high, or spreading, or

scrambling to form a semi-scandent to

scandent shrub with the stems much longer.

Stems terete, faintly ridged, glabrous. Leaves :

petiole and rhachis (2,5-)3-4 cm long,

delicate ; stipules linear, acute, 2-3 mm long,

0,3-0, 6 mm wide, glabrous, caducous:

petiole 1-2 cm long including basal pulvinus,

petiolar gland lacking; rhachis channelled

adaxially with a stalked clavate to subglobose,

greenish or dark gland between lowest pair

of leaflets only; leaflets in (2-)3 pairs,

obovate, elliptic, oblong-elliptic or sub-

orbicular, 0,9-3, 2 cm long, 0,7-2 cm wide,

uppermost pair largest, bases asymmetric,

broadly cuneate to rounded, apices rounded

or slightly emarginate, usually mucronate,

margins yellow, glabrous, surfaces glabrous.

Inflorescences axillary, numerous towards the

ends of branches, but not aggregated into

pseudo-panicles, racemes 6-12 cm long

when in flower, 3-many-flowered, peduncles

well developed, 2-5 cm long at flowering,

slightly longer and stronger at fruiting, often

clearly exceeding leaves; bracts ± 2 mm

long, ± 0,5 mm wide at base, acerose,

caducous; pedicels, at flowering, 4-7 mm

long, at fruiting to 10 mm long, peduncles,

bracts and pedicels glabrous. Sepals obtuse,

glabrous or margins very minutely fringed

when young. Petals obovate, 0,9- 1,2 cm

long, ± 0,5 cm wide, yellow with brown

veins. Stamens 10 : 3 occasionally 2, stam-

inodal, Y-shaped (obhastate), ± 4 mm long

including filament; 7 functional (4 lateral

medium, 2 lateral-abaxial large with fila-

ments ± 7 mm long, central-abaxial medium),

dehiscence porose. Ovaries glabrous, styles

2-4 mm long, glabrous, ± curved; stigmas

slightly narrowed and hooded, glabrous.

Pods ± straight, often only 5-6 cm long,

apex rounded, in other respects pods and

seeds as for C. floribunda Cav. Fig. 16 : 11.

Originally from the West Indies and western

South America; cultivated and now naturalized in

many parts of the tropics including Africa where it

is known from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire,

Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozambique and South Africa.

In the Flora area it is known only along the Natal

coast where it grows in disturbed areas as an escape,

and occasionally under cultivation. It is sometimes

used as a cattle kraal fence and has been known to

become a pest in native areas.

Caesalpinioideae

91

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): Ndumu Game

Reserve, Mankobolo’s Kraal, banks of Usutu River,

Pooley 641 (NH, NU). 2831 (Nkandla): Ngoye area,

Umhlatuzana Hills, Venter 3777 (BLFU). 2930

(Pietermaritzburg): Isipingo Beach, Ward 883. 3030

(Port Shepstone): Port Shepstone, Sidey 3219.

Irwin (Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 15 : 118) refers to

the “three phases” within C. bicapsularis in Central

and South America and the West Indies. He states

that Linnaeus gave “India” as the province for his

species (presumably in error for “India occ.”)and that

his type agrees with “the glabrous, small-flowered

type” prevailingly occurring in the West Indies.

In my opinion it is with Linnaeus’ type that

the South African plants also agree, despite some

difference in the shape of the leaflet apices.

In the Flora area C. bicapsularis has been much

confused with two other American aliens, C. coluteoi-

des Collad. and C. corymbosa Lam., both originally

introduced under cultivation and still popular garden

subjects, now naturalized to a limited extent in

certain restricted areas. The confusion no doubt

arose since some authorities treated C. coluteoides

as synonymous with C. bicapsularis (Benth., 1871),

or as a variety of this taxon (var. tenuifolia Benth.

I.c.). Nomenclatural confusion has been worse

confounded by the constant application to C. colu-

teoides of the horticultural names C. floribunda

and C. corymbosa, both of which, when applied in

the sense of Cavanilles and Lamarck respectively,

represent valid species within the genus.

C. bicapsularis may be distinguished from C.

coluteoides by its leaves bearing not more than 3

pairs of leaflets; its pedicels, at flowering, not excee-

ding 1 cm in length; its Y-shaped staminodes; its

glabrous ovaries; its usually smaller flowers more

dearly marked with brown, and the more markedly

stipitate (clavate) rhachidal glands. C. bicapsularis

has the rounded or obtuse leaflet apices that charac-

terize C. coluteoides, but on this character both these

species are readily distinguished from C. floribunda

Cav. non Hort. and C. corymbosa Lam. non Hort.

in which the leaflet apices are acute.

12. Cassia coluteoides Collad., Hist.

Cass. 102, t. 12 (1816). Type from South

America.

C. bicapsularis L. var. tenuifolia Benth. in Trans.

Linn. Soc. Lond. 27 : 525 (1871), as tenufolia. Type

from Brazil (K, holo.). C. bicapsularis sensu H.M.L.

Forbes in S. Afr. J. Sci. 18 : 344 (1922), non L.

C. floribunda Hort., non Cav. C. corymbosa Hort.,

non Lam.

Perennial with several, occasionally one,

erect, woody, branching stem forming a

shrub 2-4 m high with ± rounded, dense

leafy crown. Stems terete, finely and softly

pubescent with short, white, appressed,

curved, or ± straight, patent hairs when

young, becoming glabrous, and i lenti-

cellate with age. Leaves : petiole and rhachis

4,5-7 cm long; stipules linear, acute, 7-8 mm

long, ± 1 mm wide, sparsely pubescent,

deciduous, usually not early caducous; petiole

1,5-3 cm long including basal pulvinus,

petiolar gland lacking; rhachis channelled

adaxially with a sessile, or sub-sessile,

globose or clavate, green or yellowish gland

between the lowest pair of leaflets only;

leaflets in 4 or 5 pairs, obovate, elliptic or

suborbicular, (1 , 3—) 1 ,7-4 cm long, 0,9-2 cm

wide, uppermost pair largest, bases asym-

metric, narrowly to broadly cuneate, apices

very broadly obtuse or rounded, usually

minutely mucronate, margins yellow, sparsely

white-pubescent in proximal half of leaflet,

becoming glabrous in distal half, adaxial

surfaces glabrous, abaxial white-pubescent

near leaflet bases especially anticously and

along midvein. Inflorescences axillary,

numerous at ends of branches, sometimes

extending back 40 cm or more, more often

forming pseudo-panicles, racemes ± corym-

bose, 4-10 cm long, 2-10-flowered; peduncles

(1 , 5— )3— 5 cm long at flowering, stronger and

slightly longer at fruiting; bracts, up to 2 mm

wide, resembling stipules; pedicels, at

flowering, 2-3 cm long, at fruiting stouter

but hardly longer, glabrous. Sepals obtuse,

glabrous. Petals obovate or elliptic, 1 ,8-2 cm

long, 1-1,3 cm wide, bright yellow. Stamens

10; 3 staminodal or 2 + 1 reduced, (adaxial)

flattened, ± orbicular in face view, margin

slightly wavy, 4-4,5 mm long including

filament, 7 functional (4 lateral medium, 2

lateral-abaxial large, filaments ± 1,9 cm

long, central-abaxial medium, filament ±

0,8 cm long), dehiscence porose, longi-

tudinal cracks developing down potential

line of longitudinal dehiscence in medium-

sized and large anthers. Ovaries villous with

long curled white hairs with ± stalked

glands intermingled; styles ± coiled, ± 8 mm

long, glabrous; stigmas narrowed, hollowed,

glabrous. Pods ± straight to slightly curved

distally, shortly stalked, rounded apically,

terete, ± inflated, 18-20 cm long, ± 1 cm

wide, transversely septate within, pendulous,

many-seeded, indehiscent or very tardily

dehiscent. Seeds laterally compressed,

elliptic, ± 7 mm long, ± 5 mm wide, testa

brown, smooth; areoles lacking. Fig. 16 ; 12;

18 : 12; 19 : 12.

This tropical American species is very popular as

a garden subject in parts of Africa including the

Flora area. Under cultivation it is often incorrectly

known as C. bicapsularis, C. floribunda or C. corym-

92

Caesalpinioideae

bosa. These names, when correctly applied, represent

valid, disparate species within the genus. For dis-

tinctions among them see under C. bicapsularis .

With a species as commonly cultivated as is

this one, it is surprising it has not “escaped” more

frequently than appears to be the case. The following

records are suggestive of plants growing without

cultivation, but it is difficult to be certain if this was

the case.

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg): Magoeba's

Kloof, Murray 781.

NATAL. — 2831 (Nkandla): near junction of rd.

to Qua Mondi with Melmoth rd., Lawn 2306 (NH).

13. Cassia surattensis Burnt, f., FI. Ind.

97 (1768); Corner, Wayside Trees of Malaysia

ed. 2, 1 : 390; 2 : PI. 85 (1952). Type from

India.

C. glauca Lam., Encycl. 1 : 647 (1785).

Perennial, multistemmed and branched

from ground level to form an erect rounded

shrub to 4 m, or a more slender treelet up

to 7 m. Stems when young faintly longitudi-

nally ridged, appressed-pubescent with short

white hairs, becoming woody, terete and

covered in greyish-brown, longitudinally

striated bark with age. Leaves : petiole and

rhachis 5,5-20 cm long: stipules asymmetric,

linear to falcate, ± 1 cm long, ± 0,1 cm

wide, appressed-pubescent, caducous; petiole

4-8 cm long including basal pulvinus, petiolar

gland lacking; rhachis faintly channelled

to ± flattened adaxially with 1 shortly-

stalked conical gland between each pair of

leaflets except usually the two uppermost;

leaflets in (2-)4-6(-9) pairs, ovate or elliptic

(2-)4-7 cm long, ( 1 , 3— )2— 3 , 2 cm wide,

uppermost 1 or 2 pairs largest, petiolules ±

3 mm long, appressed white-pubescent, bases

slightly asymmetric, broadly cuneate to ±

rounded, apices obtuse, margins slightly

thickened, glabrous, surfaces glabrous,

adaxial green, abaxial markedly glaucous.

Inflorescences axillary racemes crowded to

the ends of branches, peduncles 3-8 cm

long, pedicels, appressed-pubescent, at

flowering 2-2,5 cm long with a single conical,

eventually deciduous, gland at the base of

each adaxially; bracts ovate or elliptic,

4-5 mm long, appressed pubescent abaxially.

Sepals obtuse. Petals 2-2,5 cm long,

0,7-1 cm wide, shortly stalked, greenish

yellow. Stamens 10, fertile, ± uniform, fila-

ments 1-2 mm long, dehiscence porose.

Ovaries densely sericeous along abaxial

suture, otherwise sparsely sericeous to

glabrous, curved; style glabrous; stigma

hollow with ± membranous margin. Pods

flattened, straight, 12-15 cm long, 1-1,5

cm wide, transversely septate, apex often

beaked, valves ± membranous, glabrous,

brown, sutures hardly thickened. Seeds

laterally compressed, ± oblong, ± 7 mm

long, ± 3 mm wide; testa shining, brown,

smooth, lacking an areole.

One record of this species that is indigenous to

India and Sri Lanka, growing as an escape in the

Flora area, warrants its inclusion in this account.

NATAL. — 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Pietermaritz-

burg, Ross s.n. (NU).

Less frequently cultivated than C. coluteoides,

it is worthy of more attention. The greater size of

the plant, its more numerous leaflet pairs, more

numerous rhachidal glands, markedly glaucous

leaflet undersurfaces and greenish yellow flower colour

distinguish it from that species. It bears resemblance

also to C. floribunda, but its more rounded growth

habit, lack of staminodes and flattened pods readily

distinguish it.

14. Cassia petersiana Bolle in Peters,

Reise Mossamb. Bot. 1 : 13 (1861); Oliv.

in F.T.A. 2 : 272 (1871); Bak. f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 633 (1930); Henkel, Woody PI. Natal

220 (1934); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 508 (1952);

F. White, For. FI. N. Rhod. 119 (1962);

Compton, J.S.Afr. Bot., Suppl. 6 : 46 (1966);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum-Caesalp. : 72

(1967); Palmer & Pitman, Trees S.Afr. 2 ; 881

(1973). Type: “Mozambique, Querimba I.

and Mozambique”, Peters (B, holo.).

C. delagoensis Harv. in F.C. 2 : 272 (1862); Bews,

FI. Natal & Zululand 114 (1921); Forbes in S. Afr.

J. Sci. 18 : 343 (1922); Burtt Davy, Fl.Transv. 2 : 324

(1927). Syntypes: Delagoa Bay, Forbes (K); “Port

Natal”, Hewittson (K).

Small tree or sparingly to multibranched,

slender to rounded shrub l-4(-7) m high.

Stems when young longitudinally ridged and

furrowed, villous with long curved ±

appressed white hairs interspersed with short

straight patent hairs and numerous reddish-

brown, finger-like, slender glands, becoming

woody, ± terete and sparingly villous to

pubescent with age. Leaves when young,

cano-sericeous especially abaxially, with many

yellowish-red glands interspersed among the

hairs: when mature petiole and rhachis

7-22 cm long; stipules conspicuous, leafy,

semi-cordate to reniform, with one end

attenuate-caudate, up to 1,5 cm long

excluding apex of 1-1 ,2 cm long, 0,7-0, 8 cm

wide, eventually deciduous; petiole 2-4 cm

long including basal pulvinus, petiolar gland

Caesalpinioideae

93

lacking; rhachis channelled adaxially with

1 large ± stalked, clavate to finger-like,

reddish to dark brown, projecting gland

between all, or most, of the (4— )7— 12 leaflet

pairs (glands readily break away); leaflets

ovate, lanceolate or elliptic or a combination

of these, variable in size, especially in width,

(1 , 5— )3— 4(— 6 , 5) cm long, 0,8-1 ,6(-2,3) cm

wide, uppermost pair usually not largest,

bases slightly asymmetric, broadly cuneate

to round, apices acute to acuminate, margins

thickened, yellowish, ± villous, surfaces

sparsely villous, dark green adaxially, ±

densely villous, flz glandular and paler-green

abaxially. Inflorescences 10-15-flowered

corymbose racemes in axils of upper leaves

and aggregated into rt rounded panicles

10-20 cm long terminating branches;

peduncles at flowering and fruiting 2-5 cm

long; bracts variable often in the same

inflorescence, from cordate through rhom-

boid to ovate, green, pubescent and glandular,

each with two stipitate, conical glands in the

position of stipules; pedicels, at flowering

and fruiting 2-3 cm long, pubescent,

glandular except with extreme age. Sepals

obtuse, villous abaxially. Petals unequal,

elliptic to obovate, stalked, largest 2-2,5 cm

long, 1,3-1, 5 cm wide, deep yellow, brown-

veined. Stamens 10: 3 staminodal (adaxial),

flattened ± cordate, ± 3 mm long including

short filament, 7 functional (4 lateral medium,

3 abaxial large, filaments 7-9 mm long,

dorsifixed), dehiscence porose. Ovaries

densely cano-sericeous; style straight,

glabrous; stigma hollow, fringed with short

white hairs. Pods flattened, straight or slightly

curved, 10-25 cm long, 1-1,5 cm wide,

transversely septate, apex often beaked,

valves dark brown to black, ± soft and

succulent, glabrous, sutures thickened, lighter

coloured, indehiscent, but 1- or more-seeded

portions shed from between the sutures

which hang suspended from the plant before

breaking up. Seeds slightly dorsally com-

pressed, ± 4-angled, ovate to suborbicular

in outline, 4-5 mm in length and breadth;

testa dark dull brown, smooth or faintly

dotted with a dark line from hilum; areole

on each lateral face (i.e. on shoulder or

margin), narrowly elliptic, ± 3 mm long, ±

1 mm wide, paler, faintly transversely

cracked. Fig. 16 : 14; 18 : 14; 19 : 14/1,

14/2; 20 : 14.

This tropical species is widespread in eastern

Africa, extending from Ethiopia and the Sudan

Republic, southwards to Rhodesia, Mozambique and

South Africa. It is also found in Madagascar. West-

wards it reaches the Cameroun and the Central

African Republics. In the Flora area it occurs in the

Transvaal, Swaziland and northernmost Natal.

TRANSVAAL. — 2229 ( Waterpoort) : Soutpans-

berg Mts., farm Franz Hoek, Galpin 14933. 2230

(Messina): between Louis Trichardt & Punda Milia,

Schlieben 10595. 2329 (Pietersburg) : Pietersburg, Dyer

3158. 2330 (Tzaneen): Duiwelskloof, Gatpin 10862.

2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest): Erasmus Pass, hill up to

Devil’s Preekstool, Schlieben & Strey 8403. 2431

(Acornhoek): 3 km E. of Skukuza, Codd 5490.

2531 (Komatipoort) : Komatipoort, Rogers 2382.

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Piggs Peak,

Wyldesdale, Compton 28726, 26040. 2631 (Mbabane):

Sicusha, near Stegi, Compton 30074.

NATAL. — 2632 (Bela Vista): 13 km from Makanes

Bridge on road to Sihangwa, Ross 2428. 2732

(Ubombo): Otobotini, Gerstner 3425 (NH).

Brenan, in FI. Trop. E. Afr. Legum.-Caesalp : 72

(1967), commented on its variability and recognized

three principal variants, all tropical African, that he

did not name. He stated that further south (the

Flora area and Mozambique) intermediates among

these, as well as other perplexing, narrow-leaved

forms occurred. Other workers have noted this

variation before (C. delagoensis Harvey, 1862, for

plants with smaller, narrower, more numerous

leaflets with less prominent venation). In the Flora

area leaflet size varies from 3 x 0,8 cm ( Rogers

12988) to 6,5 X 2 cm ( Gerstner 5407) and number

of leaflet pairs from 4-12, but this does not

seem to represent anything more than a range usual

for a tree or shrub, with perhaps a slight tendency

for the leaves of plants towards the southern limit

of the distribution range to be many-jugate with the

leaflets narrow.

Plants favour sandy soils and are to be found

along streambanks, sometimes in alluvium, as a

constituent of low shrubby vegetation on steep

slopes, in low-veld woodland, in Mopane veld and

in Sand Forest. There is a tendency for their numbers

to increase, forming almost pure thickets, where

some disturbance of existing vegetation has occurred.

Flowers, produced in late summer to autumn,

are strongly and pleasantly scented. C. petersiana is

easily recognized by its pendant, dark-brown pods

that break up leaving the lighter coloured sutures

temporarily attached, and its leaves, dark green

above, densely villous, glandular and paler green

below. Roots, bark and leaves are used medicinally

by Africans, while the pod valves, said to be edible,

are relished by some birds and are used in preparing

a fermenting beverage.

Common names: “Eared Cassia”, “Dwarf

Cassia”.

15. Cassia sinqueana Del., Cent. PI. Afr.

28 (1826); Del. in Caillaud, Voy. a Meroe

4 : 27 (1827); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 509

(1952); Mendonga & Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 179

94

Caesalpinioideae

(1956); Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees and

Shrubs 102, t. 8 (1961); F. White, For. FI.

N. Rhod. 120 (1962); Brenan in F.T.E.A.

Legum.-Caesalp. : 73, fig. 13 (1967); Schreiber

in F.S.W.A. 59 : 12 (1967); Palmer &

Pitman, Trees S.Afr. 2 : 885 (1973). Type:

Ethiopia, Singue [Jebel Singe], Caillaud

(MPU, holo.).

C. goratensis Fresen. in Flora 22 : 53 (1839);

Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 273 (1871); Bak. f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 634 (1930). Type: Ethiopia, Rueppell (FR,

holo.). C. zanzibarensis Vatke in Oesterr. Bot.

Zeitschr. 30 : 77 (1880); Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr.

3 : 635 (1930). Type: Tanzania, Bagamoyo distr.,

River Wami & River Kingoni, Hitdebrandt 904 (B

holo.; BM).

Small tree or shrub 1-6 m high with

spreading, rounded, ± open crown ± 2 m

in diameter. Trunk to 15 cm across, with

dark grey, rough bark irregularly longi-

tudinally fissured; slash light brown, yellow

within. Stems of branchlets faintly longi-

tudinally ridged to terete, young apices

densely pubescent with curled white hairs

interspersed among minute ones forming

an underlayer, becoming sparsely pubescent

and glabrous as bark develops. Leaves:

petiole and rhachis 4-30 cm long; stipules

subulate, ± 5 mm long, ±0,3 mm wide,

caducous; petiole 1,5-5 cm long including

basal pulvinus, petiolar gland lacking, rhachis

channelled, with a stalked, fusiform to

elliptic, deciduous gland between each pair

of leaflets, sometimes excepting the terminal;

leaflets in (3— )5— 10 pairs, elliptic, elliptic-

oblong or elliptic-obovate, (1 , 3— )2— 5 , 2 cm

long, 0,7-2, 5 cm wide, uppermost pair not

largest, bases slightly asymmetric, rounded,

apices rounded and acuminate to emar-

ginate, margins slightly thickened, surfaces

with scattered straight to curved appressed

hairs. Inflorescences many-flowered, corym-

bose panicles (occasionally simple racemes),

axillary and crowded to the ends of branches;

peduncles at flowering and fruiting up to

3 cm long; bracts rounded to elliptic, ± 6 mm

in width, densely pubescent, caducous, each

with two stipitate fusiform to linear glands in

the position of stipules; pedicels at flowering

up to 5 cm long, glandular. Sepals obtuse,

densely pubescent abaxially. Petals unequal,

obovate to suborbicular, stalked, 1 ,5-3,5 cm

long, 1,2-1, 7 cm wide, deep yellow, brown-

veined. Stamens 10: 3 staminodal (adaxial)

flattened to ± round, ± 5 mm long including

filament, 7 functional (4 lateral medium, 3

abaxial large, filaments ± 1,3 cm long,

dorsifixed, dehiscence porose. Ovaries ±

pubescent or glabrous; style straight; stigma

hollow, fringed with short white hairs. Pods

subcylindric, torulose, straight or slightly

twisted, 5,5-25 cm long, 0,7-1 cm wide,

septate, apex often beaked, valves stiff and

hard, ± pubescent or glabrous, yellow-brown

at maturity, indehiscent. Seeds laterally com-

pressed, ± round in outline, 5-6 mm in

diameter, testa dull brown, areole on each

lateral face, narrowly elliptic, 2-2,5 mm

long, 1-1,5 mm wide. Fig. 16 : 15; 18 : 15;

19 : 15.

This tropical species represented in the Co.noro

[slands and widespread in Africa, except in rain

forest regions, from Ethiopia southwards to Mozam-

bique, Rhodesia and Angola, only just reaches the

Flora area by extending into the Kaokoveld in

northern South West Africa.

S.W.A. — 1814 (Otiitundua): Otjitundua, Giess &

Leippert 7345 ; 7351 '(WIND).

Brenan, F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 75 (1967),

summarised the variation known within this species

in tropical Africa. Among characters mentioned were

presence or lack of an indumentum, and a range in

leaflet shape. The South West African specimens are

densely pubescent in the young parts becoming

more or less glabrescent with age. The leaflets are

generally fairly broadly elliptic and leathery and

pubescent to glabrescent with appressed hairs. In

Rhodesia plants are glabrous or almost so. The

species often produces flowers when leafless and is

reputed to bloom more than once a year, but the

latter may be no more than unco-ordinated flowering

in plants of a local area. Flowers are fragrant and

spectacular.

16. Cassia obtusifolia L., Sp. PI. 1 : 377

(1753); Brenan in Kew Bull. 13 : 248 (1958);

Irwin in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 15 : 121,

122 (1966); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 12

(1967); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 77 (1967). Type: Dillenius, Hortus

Eltham. 71, Tab. 62 (1732) (lecto.). A

specimen grown from seed collected in Cuba,

near Havana, Herb. Dillenius (OXF, typo.)

(see explanatory note by Brenan in Kew Bull.

13 : 250-251, 1958).

C. torn sensu auctt. mult., e.g. Bak. f., Leg. Trop.

Afr. 3 : 636 (1930); Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 512 (1952);

Mendonga & Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 180 (1956), non L.

Annual, or short-lived perennial, herb

or sub-shrub with erect, sparsely branched

stems 0,5-1 m high. Stems terete to faintly

ridged, with sparse, sub-sessile small dark

glands irregularly scattered among coarse,

Caesalpinioideae

95

upward-pointing curved white hairs that form

a strigose indumentum especially on the

young parts, older stems ± eglandular and

glabrescent to glabrous. Leaves : petiole and

rhachis (2-)4-6 cm long; stipules linear, ±

10 mm long, 0, 5-0,7 mm wide, strigose,

tardily deciduous; petiole 2-4 cm long

including basal pulvinus, petiolar gland

lacking; rhachis channelled adaxially, with a

stalked, cylindric, finger-like, orange-brown

gland ± 2 mm long between the lowest,

sometimes the 2 lower, pairs of leaflets, gland

often papillate especially distally; leaflets in

3 pairs, elliptic to obovate, (1— )2— 5 , 5 cm

long, (0,5-) 1-3 cm wide, uppermost pair

largest, bases asymmetric, apices rounded or

obtuse, mucronate, margins strigose, almost

pectinate when young, becoming ± glabrous

with age, sparsely glandular; adaxial

surfaces ± glabrous, abaxial white-strigose

becoming glabrescent in age. Inflorescences

in axils of uppermost leaves, not exceeding

3 cm long, racemes reduced, 1-2-flowered,

peduncles ± 0; bracts + 3 mm long,

resembling stipules; pedicels at flowering

1-2,2 cm long, at fruiting 2-2,5 cm long.

Sepals obtuse, strigose abaxially, persisting

for some time at base of developing fruit.

Petals obovate, 1-1,3 cm long, 0,3-0, 5 cm

wide, yellow, marked with brown veins.

Stamens 10: 3 i staminodal (adaxial) with

anther lobes much reduced, filaments

flattened distally, 7 functional (4 lateral

medium-sized, rounded apically, 3 abaxial

large, narrowed into a bottle-shaped neck

before the apical pores), filaments of

functional stamens with a swollen joint at

point of attachment to anthers, dehiscence

porose. Ovaries faintly angled, sericeous

with ± matted, curved, slightly coarse, white

hairs especially dense between the angles;

style almost straight, 1-1,5 mm long,

sparsely sericeous; stigma expanded into a ±

fan-shaped lobe. Pods linear, straight or

curved, tapering at base and apex, 13-15 cm

long, 4-5 mm wide, subterete, usually ±

angled longitudinally, many-seeded, dehis-

cent. Seeds ± rhombic or cylindric, not

flattened laterally, 4,5-6 mm long, 2-4 mm

wide, testa shining, brown with dark line

from hilum, surface with minute raised dots;

areole 1 on each lateral face, narrowly

linear, 3,5-4 mm long, 0,2-0, 3 mm wide.

Fig. 16 : 16; 18 : 16; 19 : 16/1, 16/2.

Plants of C. obtusifolia are frequent in Rhodesia and

were recorded from the Victoria Falls in 1904 ( Eyles

1263) and from Bechuanaland (Botswana) in 1930

( Van Son sub TRV 28917). Burtt Davy (FI. Transv.

2 : 323, 1932) stated that, “C. tora L. occurs at

Lourengo Marques and should be sought in the

Transvaal Lowveld.” The first known record from

the Transvaal was in 1953 ( Van der Schijff 2722).

Plants are nowhere common in the Flora area and

all records (none further south than 25°S) are

comparatively recent. They favour damp situations

where the natural vegetation has been disturbed.

S.W.A.— 1718 (Kuring-Kuru): 17° 37' S, 18°36'E,

UTM grid, Soini s.n. 1719 (Runtu): on rd. 16 km E.

of Runtu, Merxmiiller & Giess 1914 (WIND). 1820

(Tarikora): Ndonga Camp at junction of Omuramba

Omatako & Okavango Rivers, De Winter & Marais

4614.

TRANSVAAL. — 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger

National Park, banks of Sabie River, “Onder Sabie”

rd.. Van der Schijff 2722.

This pantropical, herbaceous weed, readily

recognized by its trijugate leaves and its more or less

cylindric, longitudinally angled pods, has been much

confused with C. tora L., a species which, according

to Brenan (Kew Bull. 13 : 248, 1958) is confined to

Asia, (from India to China and Fiji) and which may

be distinguished from C. obtusifolia by its shorter

pedicels (about 0,5-1 cm in flower; not exceeding

1,5 cm in fruit), its 2 largest anthers not narrowed

into a neck below the apical pores, and the areoles

to its seeds not linear but 1,5-2 mm wide. Irwin

and Turner (Am. Journ. Bot. 47 : 315, 1960) and

Irwin (Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 15 : 121, 1966) suggest

that the variability within C. obtusifolia is more

extensive than Brenan’s remarks indicate; thus the

differences between the two species may not be clear

cut. C. tora has a gland between each of the two

lower pairs of leaflets; C. obtusifolia, except in

Africa and with rare exceptions outside this con-

tinent, has a gland between the lowest leaflet pair only.

African plants, including those from the Flora area,

vary in this character (sometimes within an individual

plant), and often develop two glands per leaf.

Rhino are said to browse plants, eating the fruits,

thus disseminating seed.

17. Cassia absus L., Sp. PI. 1 : 376

(1753); Oliv. in F.T.A. 2 : 279 (1871);

Bak. f., Leg. Trop. Afr. 3 : 639 (1930);

Burtt Davy, FI. Transv. 2 : 324 (1932);

Steyaert in F.C.B. 3 : 507 (1952); Men-

donga & Torre in C.F.A. 2 : 179 (1956);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 81,

fig. 15 (1967); Schreiber in F.S.W.A. 59 : 10

(1967). Type: Hortus Upsaliensis, Herb.

Linnaeus 528.4 (LINN, syn.!).

Annual herb, sometimes slightly woody,

with erect, sparsely to densely branching

(when sometimes ± procumbent due, pro-

bably, to browsing or cutting) stems

(0 , 1— )0 , 3—0 , 6(— 1) m high, the whole plant

glandular, viscid. Stems terete, faintly ridged.

96

Caesalpinioideae

villous to pilose (densely so in young parts,

becoming sparser with age), hairs scattered,

straight, ± patent, white, glandular-based

(apices eventually falling or breaking to

leave the sticky bases), usually with more

numerous, fine, shorter, ± curved, white

hairs intermixed. Leaves variable in size:

petiole and rhachis 1-5 cm long; stipules

linear-subulate, ± 3 mm long, ±0,3 mm

wide, with a clearly defined main vein, ±

pilose, tardily deciduous; petiole 0,7-4, 3 cm

long including basal pulvinus; petiolar

gland lacking; rhachis with a sessile, ±

flattened and bract-like, or slender and

finger-like, acute to acuminate, pale gland

between each pair of leaflets; leaflets in 2

pairs, obovate, elliptic or sub-orbicular,

(0,5-) 1-4, 7 cm long, 0,5-3, 3 cm wide,

uppermost pair usually largest, bases asym-

metric, apices obtuse, less frequently rounded,

usually mucronate, margins slightly thick-

ened, pilose with stiffer glandular-based

and shorter soft white hairs intermingled;

surfaces glandular (glands sessile, numerous),

velutinous to sparsely villous with fine, white,

straight, usually patent, sometimes ±

appressed hairs. Inflorescences terminating

main stems and branches (never axillary),

racemes 1— 6(— 8) cm long, ± 10-flowered.

Bracts 3-4 mm long, 1-1,5 mm wide, ovate,

acuminate, persistent; pedicels at flowering ±

3 mm long, at fruiting 5-9 mm long. Sepals

obtuse. Petals sub-equal, obovate to ±

spathulate, 5-6 mm long, ±2,5 mm wide,

yellow, orange, salmon or pinkish-red, veins

usually reddish-brown. Stamens 5, all fertile,

sub-equal, dehiscence apical at first, without

clearly defined pores, becoming longitudinal.

Ovaries strigose with dense, bristle-like white

hairs; styles slightly curved, dark-coloured,

glabrous; stigmas slightly expanded into

a ± hooded fan-shaped lobe with finely

ciliate margin. Pods oblong-linear, straight

to slightly curved, (2 , 5— )3— 5 , 5 cm long,

0,5-0, 8 cm wide, compressed, sutures

thickened, pubescent, valves setose to pilose

with scattered, rather stiff, glandular-based

hairs, with or without fine soft hairs inter-

mixed, dehiscent. Seeds few per pod, laterally

flattened, elliptic, subrhombic or suborbi-

cular, 4-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, testa

dark brown to black, shining, marked with

longitudinal rows of lighter dots; areoles

acking. Fig. 16 : 17; 18 : 17; 19 : 17.

Widespread in tropical regions of the Old World.

In the Flora area the species is known only from the

hotter, drier parts where plants occur as weeds in

disturbed grassland, or in open patches in forest or

parkland. They are also common on stony exposed

ground, on roadsides or sites of old cultivations, or

they may be riverine, growing on sandy alluvium.

S.W.A.— 1714 (Ruacana Falls): 32 km S. of

Ruacana, Giess & Leippert 7585 (WIND). 1715

(Ondangua): Ondangua, Rautanen & Schinz s.n. 1720

(Sambio): 1 km S. of junction of Okavango River

with Omuramba Omatako, De Winter 4140. 1724

(Katima Mulilo): ca. 11 km S. of Katima Mulilo on

rd. to Ngoma, Killick & Leistner 3022. 1816 (Namu-

toni) : ca. 64 km S.E. of Ondangua on rd. to Namutoni,

near Omuramba Ovambo, De Winter & Giess 6950.

1920 (Tsumkwe): W. foot of Aha Mts., Story 6515.

2016 (Otjiwarongo) : Outjo distr., farm Hillendale

OU 238, Giess. Volk & Bleissner 6087 (WIND). 2115

(Karibib): Ohere-oos, Merxmiiller & Giess 1592. 2116

(Okahandja): Quickborn, P.O. Okahandja, Bradfield

407. 2218 (Gobabis): farm Dawis, Merxmiiller &

Giess 1197.

TRANSVAAL. — 2230 (Messina): Messina, Rogers

20789. 2329 (Petersburg) : Louis Trichardt, Breyer

19555. 2330 (Tzaneen): Westfalia Estate, Duiwels-

kloof, Scheepers 891. 2427 (Thabazimbi) : 9 km E. of

P.O. Hermanusdoorns, Codd 1000. 2428 (Nylstroom):

Naboomspruit, Mosdene, Galpin 473. 2529 (Witbank) :

Loskopdam Nature Reserve, Donkerhoek, Theron

2083. 2531 (Komatipoort): 25 km S. of Skukuza on

Malelane rd., Codd 5110. 2628 (Johannesburg):

Rooikop, Smuts & Gillett 2050.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane): Hlatikulu distr.,

Kubuta Estate, Pierce 32.

NATAL. — 2731 (Louwsburg): Nongoma, Bulul-

wana, Van Rensburg N.P. 28 (NU).

Plants are variable in degree of branching and

in leaflet size, but otherwise are remarkably uniform

and readily distinguished by the two pairs of leaflets,

the viscid texture of the whole plant and the small

yellow, orange or pinkish-red flowers with only five

stamens. The tap-root is said to be used in the treat-

ment of foot troubles.

18. Cassia comosa (£. Mey.) Vogel, Syn.

Gen. Cassiae 65 (1837); Ghesq. in Bull.

Jard. Bot. Brux. 9 : 153 (1932); Steyaert in

Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 251 (1950);

Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-Caesalp. : 89

(1967). Type: E. Cape Province, between

Umzimvubu River [Omsamwubo] and Um-

sikaba River [Omsamcaba], Drege (? B,

holo.).

Chamaecrista comosa E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 160

(1836). Type as above.

Cassia mimosoides L. var. comosa (E. Mey.) Harv.

in F. C. 2 : 273 (1862). Type as above.

Perennial herb with erect, simple or

subsimple stems up to 55 cm tall, ascending

from a horizontally spreading, sympodial,

± woody but slender, perennial rhizomatous

Caesalpinioideae

97

root-stock. Stems ± ridged, glabrous,

glabrate or sparsely to densely velutinous or

villous, hairs usually straight, patent,

occasionally curved or curled. Leaves linear

to oblong-linear, tapering slightly distally,

30-150 mm long, 10—35 mm wide; stipules

straight, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, promi-

nently nerved, base oblique, apex acute to

acuminate; petiolar gland sessile, elliptic,

occasionally ovate-elliptic, cushionlike with

a darker central depression, 1,2-3 mm

long, 0,4-1, 4 mm wide, sunken in, lying

flush with, or slightly projecting from

the channel on the adaxial petiolar surface,

often separating widely the margins of

this channel so that the abaxial petiolar

surface is ± flat below the gland; rhachis

channelled adaxially, not crested, margins of

the channel ciliate; leaflets in 1 1—35 pairs,

asymmetrically oblong to oblong-elliptic,

narrowing slightly towards apex, 5-18 mm

long, 1-7 mm wide, base oblique, apex

almost rounded and shortly mucronate to

apiculate, surfaces glabrous, occasionally

glabrescent, margin ± ciliate, midrib excen-

tric (towards anticous margin), lateral nerves

several towards both margins, ± prominent

beneath. Inflorescences supra-axillary,

(l-)2-3(-5)-flowered, bracts resembling

stipules; pedicels at flowering 10-12 mm

long, at fruiting 12-25 mm long, glabrous,

glabrescent, villous or velutinous. Petals

obovate, 7,5-15 mm long, not much ex-

ceeding sepals, bright yellow. Stamens 10.

Ovaries sparsely to densely velutinous, hairs

curved, white. Pods 40-65 mm long, 4-8 mm

wide, valves glabrescent. Seeds ± rhombic,

3-4 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, testa brown

with darker brown dots arranged in lines.

Fig. 19 : 18.

Recorded from Zaire, Tanzania, Malawi,

Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. Data are

needed from Zambia and Rhodesia. C. comosa is the

most easily recognized of the species comprising the

section Chamaecrista in South Africa. The large

petiolar gland, the channelled leaf rhachis, the long

leaves bearing leaflets that are wide for the complex,

and the large flowers held relatively close to the stem

are correlated characters that distinguish it. Three

varieties were recognized, of which var. lanata is now

included within the typical variety (Gordon-Gray

and Schorn in J. S. Afr. Bot. 41 : 136, 1975). Vars.

comosa and capricornia are geographically separate

in the Republic: further field work in areas of contact

(?) is required.

Leaflets 3-7 mm wide; gland sunken in the

channel of the adaxial petiolar surface,

separating widely its margins and not, or

51066-8

hardly, visible when the petiole is viewed

from the side; petals 10-15 mm long

(a) var. comosa

Leaflets 1,4-3 mm wide; gland not completely sunken

in the channel of the adaxial petiolar

surface, not separating so widely its margins,

usually clearly visible when petiole is viewed

from the side; petals 7,5-10 (-13) mm long

(b) var. capricornia

(a) var. comosa.

Steyaert in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 251

(1950).

Cassia comosa var. lanata Steyaert in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Brux. 20 : 252 (1950). Type : Natal, Mtunzini,

Myezaan Zulu Reserve, near Nyoni, Wood 3855

(K, holo.; NH!).

Robust plants with mostly simple stems

8-50 cm tall. Leaves 50-150 mm long, 10-35

mm wide, leaflets in 11-35 pairs, 6-18 mm

long, 3-7 mm wide; gland well sunken in

adaxial channel of petiole; pedicels 12-25 mm

long. Petals 10-15 mm long. Pods 40-65 mm

long, 4-8 mm wide. Fig. 17 : 18/1; 18 : 18.

Distributed along the Natal and Transkeian

coast as far south as Lusikisiki. Appearing restricted

to grassland areas with a high water table on sand or

granite soils. Also from Malawi and Mozambique.

NATAL. — 2831 (Nkandla) : Ngoye Forest,

Gordon-Gray 6192 (NH, NU); Hilliard 3179 (NU, E).

2832 (Mtubatuba) : W. of St. Lucia Estuary, Feely &

Ward 5. 3030 (Port Shepstone) : Dumisa, Ellesmere,

Rudatis 1158 (STE); Shelly Beach hinterland, Strey

7723.

CAPE. — 3129 (Port St. Johns) : Magwa Falls,

Davies s.n. (NU). 3130 (Port Edward) : turn-off to

Mzamba River mouth, 5 km S. of Port Edward,

Arnold 792.

(b) var. capricornia Steyaert in Bull.

Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 252 (1950); in F.C.B.

3 : 525 (1952); Brenan in F.T.E.A. Legum.-

Caesalp. : 89 (1967). Type: Zaire, Katanga,

Elizabethville, Rogers 10184 (BR, holo.!).

C. mimosoides sensu Letty in Wild Flow. Transv.

79: 1 (1962).

Less robust plants with simple, sub-simple

or branched stems 10-37 (-55) cm tall.

Leaves 40-90 mm long, 10-20 mm wide,

leaflets in 16-31 pairs, 5-10 mm long,

1 ,4-3 mm wide; gland flush with or extending

above (sometimes slightly spreading over)

margins of adaxial channel of petiole;

pedicels 10-17 (-22) mm long. Petals 7,5-10

(-13) mm long. Pods 40-50 mm long, 4,5-

6,5 mm wide. Fig. 17 : 18/2.

Distributed through the Transvaal and Swazi-

land. Growing in grassveld and among boulders,

often on sand or gravelly soils and frequently where

98

Caesalpinioideae

some disturbance of the natural vegetation has

occurred: occasionally colonizing old lands. More

tolerant of drier habitat conditions than is var.

comosa. Also from Rhodesia, Zaire and Tanzania.

TRANSVAAL. — 2329 (Pietersburg) : Daviesville,

Markotter 16288 (STE). 2330 (Tzaneen): New Agatha

Forest Reserve, McCallum 548. 2428 (Nylstroom) :

Palala, Ihlenfeldt 2056. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) : Blyde

River Nature Reserve, Hilliard & Burtt 6029. 2527

(Rustenburg) : Rustenburg, Waterkloof, Collins 6985.

2528 (Pretoria) : Sher, Letty 446. 2529 (Witbank) :

Olifants River, Van Niekerk 7527. 2530 (Lydenburg) :

rd. from Machadadorp to Sabie via Houtbosloop,

Hilliard & Burtt 5954. 2531 (Komatipoort) : Mt.

Schagen, Liebenberg 2843. 2626 (Klerksdorp) : Gras-

fontein, Sutton 344. 2627 (Potchefstroom) : Wel-

verdiend, Louw 538. 2628 (Johannesburg) : Mulder’s

Drift rd., Young 26450.

SWAZILAND. — 2531 (Komatipoort) : Piggs Peak,

Burtt & Hilliard 3561 (NU). 2631 (Mbabane) :

Mbabane, Burtt Davy 2761. 2731 (Louwsburg) : 3 km

E. of Goedgegun, Ross 1748 (NH).

Steyaert (1950) described C. parva, a species

presently recorded from Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire,

Zambia and Rhodesia, which Brenan l.c. : 89 regarded

as non-homogeneous and among the least satisfac-

torily defined of the Section. In part at least, this

species bears close relationship to C. comosa var.

capricornia. Critical study in the Flora Zambesiaca

area should make possible the decision whether

C. parva should be maintained.

19. Cassia capensis Thumb., Prodr. 1 : 79

(1794); Lodd., Bot. Cab. 6 : 511 (1821);

Thunb., FI. Cap. ed. Schult. 388 (1823);

Vogel, Syn. Gen. Cassiae 64 (1837); Steyaert

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 250 (1950).

Syntypes: Cape Province, between Loerie (?)

[Luri] and Sundays River [Sontags], Thunberg

(UPS!).

Chamaecrista capensis (Thunb.) E. Mey., Comm.

1 : 158 (1836). Type as above.

Cassia mimosoides L. var. capensis (Thunb.) Harv.

in F. C. 2 : 273 (1862). Type as above.

Perennial herb with several prostrate,

semi-erect, or erect, simple or sub-simple

stems from a woody rootstock, or with one

or few erect stems up to 90 cm high, usually

branched in the upper half. Stems ± ridged,

glabrate, sericeous, villous or velutinous

with only straight appressed or curved

appressed hairs, or with few or many short

or long, or short and long, patent hairs

intermixed with the appressed type; short

hairs mostly greyish-white, long hairs greyish-

white, silvery, fulvous or yellow. Leaves

linear or oblong-linear, tapering slightly

distally, 1 7— 52(— 65) mm long, 7—1 8(— 25) mm

wide; stipules straight or slightly curved,

lanceolate, prominently nerved, the nerves

sometimes rendered invisible by dense hairs,

base oblique, apex acute or acuminate,

surface sub-glabrous to villous: petiolar

gland sub-sessile or raised on an indistinct,

or occasionally a distinct (up to 1,5 mm

long) stalk, circular to ± elliptic, concave,

0 , 2-0 , 5(-0 , 7) mm long, 0, 1-0,3 mm wide

(usually 0,2 mm in diameter); rhachis

channelled to faintly channelled adaxially,

margins of the channel villous, sometimes

adhering and obscuring canal between until

revealed artificially, sparsely to densely villous

abaxially; leaflets in (3-)10-24(-34) pairs,

obliquely linear to oblong-linear, sometimes

subfalcate to falcate, 4-14 mm long, 1,2-

2, 8(^4) mm wide, base oblique, apex asym-

metric, usually apiculate, occasionally mucro-

nate, surfaces glabrous or glabrescent, margin

with scattered long, spreading hairs, midrib

strongly excentric (towards anticous margin)

lateral nerves several towards both margins,

prominent beneath. Inflorescences axillary

to slightly supra-axillary, 2-3-5-flowered,

bracts resembling stipules; pedicels, at

flowering (1 2-) 18^40 mm long, at fruiting

to 60 mm long, villous with short curved

appressed and long straight patent hairs

intermixed. Petals obovate, 9-17 mm long,

usually exceeding sepals, bright yellow.

Stamens 10. Ovaries densely strigose, hairs

nearly straight, or curved, greyish-white.

Pods 30-50 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, valves

glabrescent with short curved appressed

hairs, or sparsely to densely villous. Seeds

rhombic, ± 3 mm long, ±2,5 mm wide,

testa brown, with darker brown dots arranged

in lines.

Recorded from the Transvaal, Natal and the

Cape Province with outliers in Swaziland and Mozam-

bique. The species has a more southerly distribution

than have other South African representatives of

Chamaecrista. The long pedicels of flowers and fruits

arising from inflorescences that are more nearly

axillary than in any other species of the Section, the

shortly stalked to sub-sessile, circular to circular-

elliptic petiolar glands, and the strongly excentric

midribs to the leaflets, are correlated characters that

distinguish C. capensis from other species in which

the adaxial surface to the leaflet rhachis is channelled.

Most closely related is C. biensis, another perennial

with similar leaf features except that the petiolar

glands are longer stalked, while the smaller flowers

are borne on clearly supra-axillary inflorescences.

Plants of C. biensis are probably more drought-

resistant than are those of C. capensis.

Meyer (1836) established var. flavescens within

Chamaecrista capensis. This was maintained by Vogel

Caesalpinioideae

99

(1837) under Cassia. Later Steyaert (1950) described

a second variety keiensis, which is considered as falling

within the range of var. flavescens and thus is included

within it.

Another variant, known by only few specimens

from disjunct localities, needs further study. Tempo-

rarily this entity is designated Group 1. It is most

readily distinguished by the long stalked petiolar

gland (stalk 1-1,5 mm long). In flower size this entity

is intermediate between C. capensis and C. biensis,

but in general facies it has more in common with the

former taxon.

Leaflets less than 2,3 mm wide; petiolar gland

circular or elliptic-circular, sub-sessile or

with a stalk less than 1 mm long, occasionally

gland obsolete or wanting:

Stems with, or without, appressed or short

patent hairs; if long patent hairs are

interspersed these are few and scattered,

so that any indumentum present does

not appear velutinous to the naked eye

(sometimes sericeous), hairs greyish-

white, never fulvous nor yellow; petiolar

gland slightly raised, circular; channel to

adaxial surface of rhachis well defined;

several prostrate or decumbent stems pro-

duced from a perennial rootstock

(a) var. capensis

Stems with appressed and/or short patent hairs

with many long patent hairs interspersed,

so that the indumentum appears veluti-

nous to the naked eye, indumentum

especially on young parts of stems,

greyish-white, fulvous or bright yellow;

petiolar gland often obsolete or wanting,

when present subsessile, elliptic-circular;

channel to adaxial surface of rhachis

often poorly defined; several robust,

prostrate or decumbent stems produced

from a perennial rootstock, or a single,

or few, erect stems up to 90 cm high arising

from a less definitely perennial rooting

system (Note: some erect, robust plants

with poorly developed petiolar glands may

be only glabrate)

(b) var. flavescens

Leaflets more than 2,3 mm wide; petiolar gland

circular, raised on a clearly defined stalk 1-

1,5 mm long (c) Group 1

(a ) var. capensis.

Steyaert in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 250

(1950).

Chamaecrista capensis (Thunb.) E. Mey., Comm.

1 : 158 (1836) excl. var .flavescens.

Perennial herb up to 40 cm tall, usually

much shorter. Stems prostrate or decumbent,

rarely ± erect from a woody rootstock,

glabrate to sericeous, but not velutinous to

the naked eye, indumentum composed of

straight or curved appressed sordid hairs,

without, occasionally with, sparsely scattered

long patent hairs intermixed. Leaves with

petiolar gland slightly raised on an indistinct

stalk, ± circular, flat or concave, 0 , 2-0 , 4 mm

long, (usually 0,2 mm in diameter), rhachis

channelled adaxially, leaflets 1,2-2 mm wide,

in 14-20 pairs. Pedicels 23-40 mm long.

Petals 9-15 mm long. Pods with valves

sparsely puberulous with short straight or

curved appressed hairs. Fig. 17 : 19/1.

Distributed through the central and eastern

Transvaal and the eastern Cape Province from the

Cathcart and King William’s Town districts to the

Humansdorp district, especially fairly close to the

coast. Steyaert (1950 : 250) recorded a single gathering

from Hlatikulu, Swaziland (M. M. Stewart 110), but

this is better placed with var. flavescens.

TRANSVAAL. — 2330 (Tzaneen) : New Agatha

Forest Reserve, 1 km E. of Steilkop, Muller &

Scheepers 57. 2428 (Nylstroom) : Naboomspruit,

Mosdene, Galpin 17102. 2430 (Pilgrim’s Rest) : near

Graskop, rd. to God’s Window, Hilliard & Burtt 6035.

2527 (Rustenburg) : Rustenburg, Lanham 24. 2528

(Pretoria) : 32-48 km E. of Pretoria, Werdermann &

Oberdieck 1247. 2529 (Witbank) : Loskop dam,

Donkerhoek, Theron 1673. 2530 (Lydenburg) : farm

Zwagershoek, Obermeyer 186. 2531 (Komatipoort) :

towards Kaapmuiden, Net 112. 2628 (Johannesburg) :

Kempton Park distr., between Johannesburg and

Irene, Hutchinson 2609. 2629 (Betha!) : Athole Pasture

Research Station, Preller 145.

CAPE. — 3226 (Fort Beaufort) : Alice, Seymour

near Brambledene, Barker 2895 (NBG). 3227 (Stutter-

heim) : Windvoelberg, near Cathcart, Roberts 1728.

3324 (Steytlerville) : van Staadenshoogte, MacOwan

2051 (GRA). 3325 (Port Elizabeth) : Kragga Kamma,

Long 889. 3326 (Grahamstown) : near Bathurst,

Hutchinson 1559. 3327 (Peddie) : Hamburg, Gemmell

7516 (BLFU). 3424 (Humansdorp) : Slang River,

Phillips 3417.

(b) var. flavescens ( E . Mey.) Vogel, Syn.

Gen. Cassiae 64 (1837).

Chamaecrista capensis (Thunb.) E. Mey.

var. flavescens E. Mey., Comm. 1 : 1 58

(1836). Type: Transkei, between Gekau and

Bashee Rivers [Basche], alt. 1 500-2 000 ft.

Drege (B, holo.).

Cassia capensis var. keiensis Steyaert in Bull. Jard.

Bot. Brux. 20 : 251 (1950). Type : Cape Province,

King William’s Town distr., Kei Road, Dyer 1703

(K, holo.; PRE!; GRA!).

Herb up to 90 cm tall, often shorter.

Stems prostrate, decumbent or ± erect from

a woody rootstock, or one or few stems ±

woody and branched only in the upper part,

developed from a less obviously perennial

rootstock; usually velutinous to the naked

eye, the indumentum greyish-white or silvery,

sometimes fulvous or yellow on the young

100

Caesalpinioideae

parts, composed of long patent hairs with

short patent straight and/or short curved

appressed hairs forming an underlayer;

occasionally the long patent hairs, or the

complete indumentum, sparse or lacking, so

that the stems appear sericeous, villous,

glabrate or glabrous. Leaves with petiolar

gland often obsolete or wanting, when

present subsessile, circular-elliptic, 0,2-0, 7

mm long, rhachis with adaxial channel often

indistinct, leaflets 1,2-2, 3 mm wide, in

10-24 pairs. Pedicels 1 8—46 mm long.

Petals 10,5-17 mm long. Pods with valves

villous with curled hairs or velutinous with

dense patent hairs.

Recorded from the central and eastern Transvaal,

Swaziland, Natal and the eastern Cape Province as

far south as Bathurst and Alexandria. Further

information on distribution is needed, especially from

Zululand, the northern Transvaal, Mozambique and

Rhodesia.

TRANSVAAL. — 2428 (Nylstroom) : Warmbaths,

Leendertz 5546. 2528 (Pretoria) : Middelkop farm

near Pienaar’s River, Smith 2169. 2629 (Bethal) :

Davel, Hoffe 5. 2630 (Carolina) : 14,4 km from

Warburton P.O. on Mbabane rd., Hilliard 4780

(NU, E). 2725 (Bloemhof) : Christiana, Kaffraria,

Burtt Davy s.n.

SWAZILAND. — 2631 (Mbabane) : Hawane Falls,

Compton 27405 (NBG); Hlatikulu, Stewart 110

(NBG, K).

NATAL. — 2830 (Dundee) : Krantzkop, Thode 4032

(STE). 2930 (Pietermaritzburg) : Key Ridge on

Pietermaritzburg-Durban rd., Gordon-Gray 6145

(NU); Indaleni near Richmond, Barker 5182 (NBG).

3030 (Port Shepstone) : Umgaye Flat, Friedenau,

Rudatis 597 (STE); cliffs above Otterburn Halt,

Hilliard 2751 (NU).

CAPE. — 3128 (Umtata): mountain between

Qumbu & Shawbury, Schonland 4115 (GRA); slope

towards Umtata waterfall, Schonland 3804. 3226 (Fort

Beaufort): Kei Road, Dyer 1703. 3227 (Stutterheim):

Fort Cunynghame, Schonland 29; Berlin, Comins

1836 (GRA). 3228 (Butterworth): Kentani, Pegler

1904. 3326 (Grahamstown): few km S. of Bathurst

village, Dyer 1730 (GRA).

(c) Group 1.

Perennial herb up to 30 cm high.

Stems procumbent to decumbent, sericeous,

hairs short, curved or curled, some long

patent hairs added at some nodes. Leaves

30-40(-47) mm long, 10-20(-25) mm wide;

leaflets in 3— 14(— 1 6) pairs, 5-14 mm long,

2,4-4 mm wide; petiolar gland circular,

0,2-0, 3 mm in diameter, concave, dark

brown, distinctly stalked (stalk slender,

1-1,5 mm long). Inflorescence axillary;

pedicels 35-52 mm long (±60 mm in fruit),

villous; petals 9,5-12 mm long. Pods ± 40

mm long, ± 4 mm wide, valves glabrescent

with sparse appressed curved hairs. Fig.

17 : 19/2.

TRANSVAAL.— 2428 (Nylstroom): 11 km E. of

Magalakwin Causeway, Mogg 24430.

NATAL. — 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hluhluwe Game

Reserve, Ward 2439 (NU, NH); Hlabisa, Gunjanene

area, Ward 2709 (NU).

20. Cassia biensis ( Steyaert ) Mendonga &

Torre in Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 2, 24 : 33, Tab. 1,

C. (1955); Exell & Mendonga in C.F.A.

2 : 184, t. 38C (1956); Schreiber in F.S.W.A.

59 : 11 (1967). Type: Angola, Bie, Goss-

weiler 9 (BR, holo!).

C. katangensis (Ghesq.) Steyaert var. biensis Steyaert

in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 20 : 260, t. 10 E, F (1950).

Type as above.

Perennial herb with several prostrate or

decumbent, occasionally semi-erect to erect,

simple or sub-simple stems up to 45 cm tall,

from a woody rootstock. Stems pubescent

to velutinous, hairs curved appressed,

occasionally with short straight hairs inter-

mingled, greyish-white. Leaves linear or

oblong-linear tapering slightly distally, 25-

44(-65) mm long, 7-15 mm wide; stipules

straight or slightly curved, lanceolate, pro-

minently-nerved, base oblique, apex

acuminate bristle-like, abaxial surface

glabrate to pubescent; petiolar gland raised

on an indistinct stalk 0, 1-0,3 mm long or

sub-sessile, circular, occasionally elliptic-

circular, concave, 0, 1-0,4 mm long; rhachis

channelled adaxially, margins of channel

ciliate, sometimes adhering and thus obscu-

ring the channel until parted artificially,

sparsely villous abaxially; leaflets in (5—) 1 3—

24(-34) pairs, obliquely linear, 4-10 mm

long, 0,7- 1,8 mm wide, base oblique, apex

asymmetric, apiculate, surfaces glabrous or

glabrescent, occasionally villous below,

margin fringed with curved appressed hairs,

midrib strongly excentric (towards anticous

margin) lateral nerves (towards posticous

margin only) prominent beneath. Inflores-

cences supra-axillary, usually 1 -flowered;

pedicels, at flowering 13-20 mm long, at

fruiting to 26 mm long, villous with short,

curved or straight, and long patent hairs

intermixed. Petals obovate, 4-7 mm long,

hardly exceeding sepals, bright yellow.

Stamens 10. Ovaries densely strigose, hairs

appressed, straight or slightly curved, greyish-

Caesalpinioideae

101

white. Pods 30-45 mm long, 4-5 mm wide,

valves glabrescent to sparsely velutinous with

appressed straight to curved hairs. Seeds

rhombic-elliptic, ± 3 mm long, ±2,5 mm

wide, testa light brown with darker brown

scattered dots. Fig. 17 : 20.

Recorded from Rhodesia, Angola, South West

Africa, Botswana, the Transvaal, Orange Free State

and northern Cape Province. This generally low-

growing, small-flowered perennial has a distribution

from the sub-tropics southwards through the drier

more extreme areas of southern Africa.

S.W.A. — 1724 (Katima Mulilo): E. Caprivi,

Mpola, 24 km from Katima Mulilo on Ngoma rd.,

Killick & Leistner 3299. 1918 (Grootfontein) : Groot-

fontein, Story 6192. 2116 (Okahandja): Quickborn

farm, Bradfield 161. 2118 (Steinhausen): farm Stein-

hausen, De Winter 2443. 2217 (Windhoek): Boden-

hausen, Seydel 1789 (WIND). Precise locality un-

known: Ovamboland, Omatope, Schinz 282 (GRA).

TRANSVAAL.— 2229 (Waterpoort) : Soutpans-

berg, Van den Berg 26. 2428 (Nylstroom) : Percy Fyfe

Nature Reserve, Huntley 1114, 1237. 2429 (Zebediela):

Schoonoord, Barnard & Mogg 890. 2430 (Pilgrim’s

Rest): beyond Blyde River Nature Reserve, Ohrig-

stad rd., Hilliard & Burtt 6031. 2526 (Zeerust): Rooi-

koppiesfontein. Carter 895. 2527 (Rustenburg) :

Rustenburg, McClelland 5010. 2528 (Pretoria):

Pretoria, Brummeria Bot. Garden, Todd 3. 2531

(Komatipoort): Pretorius Kop, Codd & De Winter

4919 p.p. 2626 (Klerksdorp) : Lichtenburg, Jenkins

11208. 2627 (Potchefstroom) : Westonaria, Libanon,

L. E. Taylor 5039, 5043 (NBG). 2628 (Johannesburg):

Kempton Park distr., Kaalfontein, PoleEvans sub

PRE 13538, sub PRE 16822. 2629 (Bethal): Ermelo,

Walker 119. 2725 (Bloemhof): Makwassie, Tussen-

vier, Morris & Engelbrecht 1149.

O.F.S. — 2727 (Kroonstad): Kroonstad, Laubscher

5005 (BLFU). 2926 (Bloemfontein): Bloemfontein

racecourse, Potts 2922.

CAPE. — 2624 (Vryburg): Armoedsvlakte, Victoria