MARY GUNN LIBRARY
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ERSITY INSTITUTE 1
PR i/A ' E ■ 101
PRETORIA 0001
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
sou* InsUUU
BiodWer*'”
THE' FLOWERING PLANTS OF
SOUTH AFRICA.
A MAGAZINE CONTAINING HAND-COLOUEED FIGUEES WITH DESCEIPTIONS OF THE
FLOWEEING PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO SOUTH AFEICA.
EDITED BY
I. B. POLE EVANS, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S.,
dijtrf, ©ibision of Botann anb ^lant ^atljologg, Qcpartmcnt of agriculture, Pretoria ;
anb ©trretor of tfjc Botanical Surbeg of tfje canton of Sontf) africa.
VOL. II.
The veld which lies so desolate and hare
Will blossom into cities white and fair,
And pinnacles will pierce the desert air,
And sparkle in the sun.
E. C. Macite’s “Ex Uniiate Vires.”
LONDON:
L. EEEVE & CO., Ltd.,
6, HENKIETTA STKEET, COVENT GAEDEN.
SOUTH AFRICA:
THE SPECIALITY PEESS OF SOUTH AFEICA, Ltd.
P.O. BOX 3958, JOHANNESBURG; P.O. BOX 388, CAPETOWN.
1922
[All rights reserved.]
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016
https://archive.org/details/floweringplantso02unse
SENATOR THE HONOURABLE
CHARLES G. SMITH
OF
DURBAN, NATAL,
TO WHOSE GENEROSITY BOTANICAL SCIENCE IN
SOUTH AFRICA IS MUCH INDEBTED, THIS VOLUME
OF “THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA”
IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED.
Division of Botany, Pretoria,
September, 1922.
4/
K.A.Lansdell del.
Plate 41.
ALOE Wickensii.
Transvaal.
Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.
Aloe, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776.
Aloe Wickensii, Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. vol. v. p. 29, Pis. 8, 9.
This is one of the most beautiful and showy of the
South Africa species of Aloe. Specimens were collected
by Messrs. Wickens and Pienaar in M’Phathlele’s Location
in the Northern Transvaal, in January, 1914. The species
is also found widely distributed in the Oliphants River
Bushveld. It is now established in the Garden of the Division
of Botany, Pretoria, and in the latter part of July and August
when in flower is a source of great admiration to visitors.
In general appearance and habit of growth this Aloe
closely resembles A. Pienaarii from the same locality, figured
in vol. i. of this work (Plate 27), but it is more commonly
found on gentle slopes in bush country, although it may
frequently occur in open ground along with A. Pienaarii.
When the plants are not in flower, those of A. Wickensii can
be distinguished from A. Pienaarii by their paler green leaves,
which are distinctly incurved.
We propose the name “ Wickens’ Aloe ” for this
species.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1449).
Description : — A stemless succulent herb. Leaves pale
glaucous-green, 40-50 in a dense rosette, 50-70 cm. long,
10-13 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate-ensiform, erect,
distinctly incurved, rather flat above, convex beneath, beset
on the margins with small deltoid black prickles about 2 mm.
long and about 6-8 mm. apart. Inflorescences often 2-4 from
the same rosette, spreading. Peduncle laterally compressed,
naked, with usually two lateral branches, branches arcuate-
n. B
erect, clothed with pale brown scariose broadly ovate-
acuminate bracts. Raceme dense-flowered, 17-20 cm. long,
conical-cylindric. Bracts reflexed, 5-6 mm. long, ovate-
cuspidate, scariose, pellucid. Pedicels recurved, 3-4 mm. long.
Perianth 3’5 cm. long, cylindric-ventricose ; outer segments
free for 15-17 mm., obtuse and recurved at the apex, 3-5-
nerved ; inner segments obtuse and recurved, 3-nerved.
Stamens projecting 11 mm. beyond the perianth and slightly
recurved. Style stout, strongly recurved. Fruit 2*5 cm. long,
1*3 cm. in diameter, oblong-ovoid.
Plate 41. — Fig. 1, entire plant, much reduced ; Fig. 2, raceme ; Fig. 3,
portion of leaf : Fig. 4, transverse section of leaf ; Fig. 5, bract ; Fig. 6, open
flower ; Fig. 7, fruit showing remains of perianth attached.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
12.
M. Page del.
Plate 42.
COMMELINA benghalensis.
Cape Province , Natal , Transvaal.
CoHMELINACEAE. Tribe COMMELINEAE.
Commelina, Linn. ; Benth. et Hoolc. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 847.
Commelina benghalensis, Linn. Sp. PI. 41; FI. Cap. vol. vii. p. 9.
A common species in certain habitats in South Africa,
and extending to Tropical Africa, throughout India to Japan,
and the Moluccas. On account of its easy cultivation and
the exquisite deep shade of blue of the petals, it deserves
more recognition from gardeners, and should be at least as
great a favourite as species of Tradescantia (The Wandering
Jew). The floral structure shows interesting modifications in
the stamens, and a study of the method of pollination would
certainly bring to light some interesting facts. This plant
often produces at the base modified (cleistogamic) flowers
which burrow into the ground and produce small capsules.
The original drawing from which our figure has been
reproduced was prepared by Miss Page and loaned by the
Curator of the Bolus Herbarium. The plants flowered in
March and April at the National Botanic Gardens, Kirsten-
bosch (No. 1232/18), and were sent by Mr. G. Hay from Louis
Trichardt, Transvaal.
Description : — A diffuse herbaceous plant. Stem 15-80 cm.
long. Leaves 3-8 cm. long, l'5-3 5 cm. broad, ovate or
elliptic- ovate, acute, contracted at the base into a sheath
often ciliate with reddish hairs, and usually wavy margins.
Mowers partly enclosed in a green hairy spathe, the topmost
flower long-exserted. Sepals 3 ; the two side sepals more or
less orbicular ; the odd sepal elliptic. Petals 3 ; the two side
petals dark blue, semi-orbicular, produced at the base into a
distinct claw; the odd petal small, ovate-elliptic. Stamens 6,
divided into three sets ; three stamens barren, forming
staminodes ; the three side stamens blue ; one stamen yellow,
with two appendages at the back of the anther. Ovary sub-
globose, 3-celled ; style cylindric ; stigma simple. Fruit
obovoid, 3-celled. Seeds more or less oblong, wrinkled.
Plate 42. — Fig. 1, inflorescence in bud ; Fig. 2, the same with half of
spathe removed ; Fig. 3, side sepal x 2 ; Fig. 4, odd sepal x 2 ; Fig. 5, side
petal x 2 ; Fig. 6, odd petal x 2 ; Fig. 7, stamens and pistil x 3 ; Fig. 8,
small anther (blue) x 5; Figs. 9, 10, larger anthers (yellow), front and back
view x 5 ; Fig. 11, fruit x 4 ; Fig. 12, transverse section of fruit ; Fig. 13.
seed, enlarged.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
4-3.
M.Page del.
Plate 43.
HESSE A Zeyhebi.
Cape Province , Little Namaqualand.
Amaeyllidaceae. Tribe Amaryelideae.
Hessea, Herb.; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 720.
Hessea Zeyheri, Baker, Handb. Amaryllid. p. 23 ; FI. Gap. vol. vi. p. 191.
This is a very rare species here figured for the first time.
It was discovered by Carl Zeyher at Hardeveld in little
Namaqualand about the year 1847, and appears to have been
unrecorded since then until recently collected by Mr. E. B.
Watermeyer. The genus Hessea is endemic to South Africa,
and contains nine species found in the Cape Province, Little
Namaqualand, and one species from the Transvaal. Hitherto
none has been recorded from Natal or the Orange Free
State. Our specimen differs slightly from the original
described in the “ Flora Capensis ” in having three rather
shorter leaves contemporary with the flowers. At first the
style is short, but elongates as the flowers mature.
Our illustration was prepared from a drawing by Miss M.
Page of specimens which flowered in April at the National
Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch (No. 1157/16), and collected
by Mr. E. B. Watermeyer, Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia Division.
The drawing has been kindly loaned by the Curator of the
Bolus Herbarium.
Description : — Bulb 5 cm. long, 3‘5 cm. in diameter, sub-
globose, produced above into a short neck. Leaves 3, contem-
porary with the flowers, S'S-ll'S cm. long, 0’8-16 cm. broad,
strap- shaped, obtuse, narrowing and channelled at the base.
Peduncle arising at the side of the leaves, about 10 cm. long,
flattened. Spathe-valves 2 cm. long, linear, acuminate. Lnfio-
■rescence an umbel of about 25 flowers. Pedicels 2-3 cm. long.
Perianth tube 3 mm. long ; segments about 1 cm. long, oblong-
lanceolate, obtuse, united to the staminal tube by the midrib.
Stamens of two different lengths, the filaments united below
into a tube 4 mm. long ; free portions of filaments 8 mm. and
5 mm. long ; anthers of long stamens globose, of short
stamens oblong. Ovary 1*6 mm. in diameter, globose; style
short in bud, lengthening to 15 mm. in older flowers.
Plate 43. — Fig. 1, section through perianth x 3 ; Fig. 2, lobe of perianth x 3.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
44
K. A. Lansdell del.
Plate 44.
CEROPEGIA teistis.
Cape Province , Natal.
Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Cebopegieae.
Cebopegia, Linn. ; Bentli. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 779.
Ceropegia tristis, Hutchinson, sp. nov. ; affinis C. Haygarthii, Schlechter,
sed foliis sub anthesi bene evolutis, calyce majori, corollae lobis brevissime
stipitatis differt.
Scandens ; eaulis carnosus, glaber. Folia breviter petiolata matura 3 '5-6 cm.
longa, l'5-3-5 cm. lata, late oblonga vel oblongo-ovata, apice breviter
apiculata, basi cordata, glabra; nervi laterales utrinsecus circiter 4,
patuli ; petioli circiter 1 cm. longi. Cymae axillares, triflorae ; pedieelli
usque ad 1-5 cm. longi, teretes, glabri. Sepala lineari-filiformia, 3-4 mm.
longa, glabra, marginibus leviter hyalinis. Corolla basi subglobosa, supra
basin curvato-erecta, circiter 6 cm. longa, superne turbinata, apice 2 cm.
diametro, extra glabra, maculata. intra leviter pilosa, lobis e basi lata
attenuatis in columnam brevem cohaerentibus, deinde apice corpusculam
globosam 5-fenestratum ciliatam formantibus. Corona exterior cupularis,
lobis 5 latis emarginatis columna staminalis aequilonga intra pilis longis
gracilibus ciliatis ; corona interior erecta, lobis eonniventibus apice
recurvatis. Follicula circiter 14 cm. longa, falcato-recurvata, apice sub-
uncinata. — J. H.
In our last number (Plate 39) we figured a species of
Ceropegia Pendallii, which belongs to a group of the genus
characterised by having the corolla-lobes united into an
umbrella-like canopy supported by five short stalks. The
present species has the corolla-lobes free at the base, then
connate into a slender column, again becoming free and
then connate at the tips, forming a small terminal cage-
like body.
It shares this character with Ceropegia Haygarthii ,
Schlechter, and in this respect the two species are unique
amongst the South African species. In C. Haygarthii, however,
the corolla is very widely globose at the base, the calyx lobes
are longer, and the peculiar stalk to the corolla lobes is at
least three or four times as long. These differences seem to
warrant the description of a new species. The curiously
shaped flowers should make this species an object of interest
in the greenhouse.
Description A climber. Stem fleshy, glabrous. Leaves
shortly petioled, 3*5-6 cm. long, 1 *5-3*5 cm. broad, broadly
oblong or oblong-ovate, apex rounded and shortly pointed,
cordate at the base, glabrous ; lateral nerves about four on
each side ; petiole about 1 cm. long. Inflorescence a 1-3-
flowered axillary cyme ; pedicels 1 *2-1*5 cm. long, terete,
glabrous. Sepals 4-5 mm. long, subulate, glabrous. Corolla
abruptly bent at a right angle near the base ; tube (following
the bend) 2*6 cm. long, globosely inflated at the base, widening
upwards and about 2 cm. in diameter at the mouth, glabrous
without, finely pilose within ; lobes free at the base, abruptly
inflexed over the mouth of the tube and produced beneath into
broad triangular partition-like green plates or keels, meeting
at the centre and connate into a slender erect column about
2-3 mm. long, then again becoming free and expanding into
elliptic-lanceolate replicate segments, connate at the tips,
forming a small apical ellipsoid cage-like body, 5-8 mm. long,
ciliate on the margins. Outer corona cupular, with five broad
emarginate lobes arising to the level of the staminal column,
ciliate and hairy within with long fine hairs ; inner corona
lobes about 2*5 mm. long, linear, connivent-erect over the
staminal column, with revolute tips. Follicles about 14 cm.
long, strongly falcate, recurved at the tips.
Plate 44. — Fig. 1, portion of stem with leaves and dowel’s, nat. size ;
Fig. 2, calyx ; Fig. 3, lobe of corolla ; Fig. 4, outer and inner corona ; Fig. 5,
staminal column ; Fig. 6, pollinia ; Fig. 7, follicles, nat. size. All enlarged
with the exceptions of Figs. 1 and 7.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
AS.
M. Page del.
Plate 45.
WATSONIA Galpinii.
Cape Province.
Ikidaceae. Tribe Ixieae.
Watsonia, Mill. ; Benth. et Hook./. Gen. Plant, vol. viii. p. 705.
Watsonia Galpinii, L. Bolus. Ann. Bolus Kerb. vol. iii. p. 11.
We have pleasure in figuring in this number, through the
kindness of the Curator of the Bolus Herbarium, our first
species of one of the most popular of South African genera,
namely, Watsonia. Species of this genus have long been
known in European Gardens, where they were introduced by
the early botanical collectors from the Cape. The genus is
represented in South Africa by about twenty species, and
with the exception of a species which occurs in Madagascar,
are confined to the sub-continent. The Watsonias lend
themselves to hybridising, and some very fine garden hybrids
have been produced.
The species here figured was first discovered by Mr. E. E.
Galpin at Lottering Bush, Zitzikama ( Galpin No. 4698), and
re-collected at Knysna by Miss A. V. Duthie, who sent corms
to the National Botanic Gardens, where they flowered in
March, 1919 (No. 289/18).
The general name of “ pijpie ” is applied to almost all
species of Watsonia and also to some species of Gladiolus.
Description: — Corm 2 cm. in diameter, depressed-globose,
oblique at the base. Stem 75 cm. long, racemose. Leaves 4—8,
radical, up to 35 cm. long, 1-T5 cm. broad, linear, acute,
acuminate, with the median and marginal nerves somewhat
subprominent. Inflorescence simple or branched. Spathe-
valves herbaceous or submembranous at the apex ; the outer
0*6-3'2 cm. long, lanceolate, setaceous acuminate ; the inner
08-T4 cm. long, ovate or broadly ovate, acuminate. Perianth-
tube 2 cm. long, constricted about the middle ; the lower half
filiform, scarcely 1*5 mm. in diameter; the upper half infundi-
buliform, 7 mm. in diameter near the throat ; lobes spreading,
1*5 cm. long; the outer up to 8 mm. broad, suboblong, sub-
acute, minutely apiculate ; the inner 1 cm. broad, oblong-
obovate. Stamens almost as long as the perianth lobes ;
anthers 9 mm. long. Ovary about 5 mm. long, subobconic ;
style 2*9 cm. long ; primary branches 9 mm. long ; stigmas
about 2 mm. long. Fruit 1 cm. long, obconic.
Mrs. Bolus remarks, “Distinguished from the rest of the
section ‘ Eu-Watsonia ’ by the more slender habit, the smaller
spathe-valves, the shorter perianth-tube and relatively long
segments.”
Plate 45. — Fig. 1, flower, perianth laid open ; Fig. 2, portion of fruiting
spike ; Fig. 3, capsule, dehisced, about natural size ; Fig. 4, seed x 2.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
S . G ower del.
Plate 46.
MASSONIA LATIFOLIA,
Cape Province , Little Namaqualand.
Liliaceae. Tribe Allieae.
Massonia, Thunb. ; Benth. et Hoolc. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 806.
Massonia latifolia, Linn. fit. Suppl. 193; PL Cap. vol. vi. p. 416.
All the species of Massonia , an endemic Cape genus of the
Liliaceae, have fragrant hyacinthoid flowers, arising in a sessile
cluster from between two broad prostrate leaves. The name
was given to the genus by Carl Thunberg to commemorate
the name of Francis Masson, who was sent to the Cape in
1772 as collector for the Royal Gardens at Kew, and who
was responsible for introducing a large number of Cape plants
into cultivation. The first 20 volumes of Curtis’s Botanical
Magazine, which contain 786 plates, have nearly one-third
devoted to figures of Cape species, mostly sent to Kew
Gardens by Masson.
The genus Massonia is very imperfectly known, as about 24
out of the 83 species described in the “ Flora Capensis ” have
never been collected within the last 50 years, or are only
known from figures in botanical publications. It is, there-
fore, with some pleasure that we publish our first plate repre-
senting a species of the genus, collected by Mrs. E. Rood, of
Van Rhynsdorp, in the hope that it may stimulate others to
forward specimens to the Division of Botany, Pretoria, for
illustration in future numbers of this work.
This particular species was figured by Jacquin in 1803.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pre-
toria (Herb. No. 1450).
Description : — Bulb 3'5 cm. long, 3 cm. broad, ovoid-
ellipsoid, with brown membranous tunics. Leaves 2, lying
flat on the ground, somewhat fleshy, 12 cm. long, 14‘5 cm.
broad, somewhat orbicular, narrowed and channelled at the
base, glabrous. Inflorescence an abbreviated raceme. Bracts
3‘5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, lanceolate, acuminate, acute, about
5-nerved, glabrous. Pedicels 6 mm. long, 4 mm. broad, fleshy.
Perianth-tube 7 mm. long, 6 mm. in diameter at the throat ;
lobes 1*2 mm. long, 4 mm. broad, oblong, minutely tufted
at the apex, membranous. Filaments inserted at mouth of
perianth-tube, 1‘4 cm. long, ovate and connate at the base,
becoming linear above ; anthers 3 mm. long, linear, versatile.
Ovary 5 mm. long, 7 mm. in diameter above, obovoid; style
2 cm. long, subterete ; stigma simple.
Plate 46. — Fig. 1, plant viewed from eye-level; Fig. 2, bract with flower;
Fig. 3, section of flower ; Fig. 4, flower, showing the filaments connate at the
base ; Fig. 5, apex of perianth lobe ; Fig. 6, bract ; Fig. 7, plant viewed
from above. All enlarged with the exception of Figs. 1 and 7.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
K.A. Lansdell del.
Plate 47.
KNIPHOFIA alooides.
Cape Province, Orange Free State , Transvaal, Basutoland , Natal.
Liliaceae. Tribe Hemerocalleae.
Kniphofia, Moench.; Benth. et Hootc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 775.
Kniphofia alooides, Moench. Meth. 632 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 283. Tritoma
Uvaria, Gawl. in Bot. Mag. t. 758; Kniphofia Uvaria, Hook. Bot. Mag.
t. 4816.
We may perhaps be excused for figuring this species,
which has appeared as a plate more than once in Curtis’s
Botanical Magazine. It is, however, still such a favourite with
cultivators that it is deemed worthy of a figure in a South
African publication. Like other of our native plants it was
known in European gardens many years ago, and is recorded
as having flowered at Kew Gardens in 1707. As a cultivated
plant it was known under the name of Tritoma Uvaria, which
was later changed to Kniphofia Uvaria. It was also described
by Linnaeus about the year 1735 as an Aloe. Specimens of
the plant in cultivation may be seen in many South African
gardens. It is the most robust and most variable species of
the genus. In the coastal districts of Natal two varieties,
nobilis and maxima , are found, but our figure and description
apply to the typical form. The common name is the
“ Ked-hot poker.” The natives of Natal know the plant as
“ i-Cacane.”
The plate was drawn from a specimen collected near
Durban in July, 1914.
Description : — A perennial stemless plant with radical
leaves, and long naked peduncles, bearing a short spike of
flowers at their apices. Rootstock thickened, not tuberous.
Leaves 30-45 cm. long, 1-5-1 ’8 cm. broad low down, strap-
shaped, acuminate, sheathing at the base, green, strongly and
acutely keeled, with smooth margins. Peduncle a little shorter
than the leaves, terete. Inflorescence 5 cm. long, dense, more
or less cylindric. Bracts 0*8 -1*2 cm. long, 3-6 mm. broad,
ovate, obtuse or acute. Perianth-tube 3-4 cm, long, 5 mm. in
diameter at the throat, more or less cylindric, 6-veined ;
lobes 2 mm. long, ovate, obtuse. Stamens 6, not all lengthen-
ing at the same time, exserted in the lower flowers. Ovary
3-celled, with many (12 or more) ovules in each cell ; style
exserted in the lower flowers ; stigma obtuse.
Plate 47. — Fig. 1, plant, reduced; Fig. 2, inflorescence; Fig. 3, flower
with subtending bract ; Fig. 4, leaf ; Fig. 5, gynaecium ; Figs. 6 and 7,
stamens, front and back view ; Fig. 8, cross-section through the ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
K. A.Lansdell deJ.
Plate 48.
HELIOPHILA scandens.
Natal.
Cbucifebae Tribe Sisymbbieae.
Heliophila, Linn. ; Bentli. et Hook. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 81.
Heliophila scandens, Harv. Thes. Cap. vol. ii. p. 43, t. 166 ; Bot. Mag.
t. 7668.
Harvey first described and figured this remarkable species
of Heliophila in 1868, from specimens which he received from
Mr. M‘Ken. The late Dr. Medley Wood sent a plant of it to
Kew in 1885, which flowered in the succulent house the
following year, and has continued to do so about mid-winter
ever since. From the plant which flowered at Kew a plate
was prepared for the Botanical Magazine, t. 7668.
According to the Kew authorities, in the whole of the
large Natural Order Cruciferae , embracing about 180 genera,
only two are recorded as having scandent species. They
are the South African Heliophila and the Peruvian Cremo-
lobus , and the scandent habit is exceptional in these two
genera.
The plant may be found in shady places amongst shrubs
along the coast near Durban and also at Inanda. The
present plate was prepared from specimens gathered near
Durban in July, 1914. The species is popularly known as the
“ Bridal Wreath.”
Description : — A climbing plant. Stein brown ; branches
green, terete, glabrous. Leaves 2*5-5 cm. long, 1 *2-2*5 cm.
broad, oblong to lanceolate, tapering at both ends, obtuse or
acute, gradually passing into a thickened, channelled and
usually recurved petiole, glabrous. Flowers in axillary and
terminal racemes ; pedicels 1 *2-2*5 cm. long. Sepals oblong,
obtuse ; the two lateral ones with thickened dorsal wings.
Petals 0*8-1 *2 cm. long, obovate-spathulate. Long stamens half
as long as the petals ; short stamens 4 mm. long ; anthers
ovate. Ovary globose ; style short ; stigma capitate. Fruit
4-5 cm. long, elliptic-oblong, flat, tipped by a short straight
style, 1-2-seeded.
Plate 48. — Fig. 1, portion of plant, nat. size; Fig. 2, flower; Figs. 3, 4,
and 5, stamens ; Fig. 6, petal ; Fig. 7, gynaecium ; Fig. 8, fruit. All enlarged
with the exception of Fig. 1.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
/,9
K-A.Lansdell del
Plate 49.
HOLM SKIOLDIA Speciosa.
Transvaal.
Verbenaceae. Tribe Yiticeae.
Holmskioldia, Retz. ; Bentli. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 1156.
Holmskioldia speciosa, Hutchinson et Corbishley in Kew Bull. 1920, p. 332,
Kg. 1.
This beautiful and showy plant was first collected by
Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Komati Poort in November, 1917, and
specimens sent to Kew were reported to be an undescribed
species of the genus. Sir Wm. Hoy, the G-eneral Manager of
the South African Railways, presented two living specimens
to the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and our plate was
prepared from these plants when they flowered.
The plant is a large bush 10-20 ft. high, and when in full
bloom is one of the most conspicuous objects in the veld. The
calyx in this species very soon becomes almost fully developed,
and the young corolla is at first only visible as a minute ball
at the base of the saucer-shaped calyx.
Holmskioldia is a small genus with a curious distribution.
A handsome species, H. sanguinea , Retz, occurs in the foot-
hills of the Himalaya mountains of India at an altitude of
3000-5000 ft. H. tettensis, H. spinescens, and H. mucronata ,
Vatke, are found in the basin of the Lower Zambesi and
Shire Rivers, and there is an unnamed species in Madagascar.
The genus is very closely related to Clerodendron, largely
represented in all these areas.
Description : — Branchlets woody, terete, shortly and softly
pubescent, marked with pale lenticels ; internodes about
2 cm. long. Leaves broadly ovate, triangular at the apex,
broadly wedge-shaped at the base, 2-5-4 cm. long, 2-3 cm.
broad, coarsely crenate, with few (about three) rounded teeth,
very shortly setulose above, paler below and conspicuously
glandular and shortly pubescent ; lateral nerves about three
on each side of the midrib ; petiole 7 mm. long, densely
pubescent. Flowers few, arranged in axillary cymes about
II. c
4 cm. long ; peduncles slender, softly pubescent ; lower bracts
more or less leafy, spathulate-obovate, up to 7 mm. long ;
pedicels up to 1*2 cm. long, with two small opposite linear
bracteoles above the middle. Calyx pink-coloured, gradually
enlarging, broadly top-shaped, glandular-pubescent outside ;
tube 1 cm. long, with broadly rounded lobes, the latter rigidly
membranous in the fruiting stage and expanding to 25 cm.
Corolla purple, 2-2-5 cm. long, glandular and softly pubescent
outside; tube up to 1*5 cm. long. Stamens long exserted ;
filaments glabrous. Ovary hairy in the upper part ; style
a little longer than the stamens, slender, glabrous. Fruit
truncate, 4-horned, included by the accrescent calyx. —
J. Hutchinson.
Plate 49. — Fig. 1, calyx ; Fig. 2, corolla bud ; Fig. 3, stamen ; Fig. 4,
pistil ; Fig. 5, young fruit.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
50.
K. A.Lansdell del.
Plate 50.
RHAMPHICARPA tubulosa.
Cape Province , Natal , Transvaal.
Scrophulariaceae. Tribe Gerardieae.
Rhamphicarpa, Benth. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 969.
Rhamphicarpa tubulosa, Benth. in Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag. i. 368 ; Harv.
Thes. Cap. i. 36, t. 57 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. 2, p. 399.
This species belongs to a small genus of plants which are
probably parasitic or semi-parasitic herbs. Three species are
known in South Africa, and a few from Tropical Africa, East
India, and Australia. R. tubulosa also occurs in Tropical, and
is the most widely distributed member of the genus in South
Africa. In Natal it is always found in moist ground, edges
of pools, and similar habitats.
The plate was prepared from plants collected by the late
Dr. Medley Wood on the Berea Flats near Durban, Natal.
Description : — A herbaceous plant 12-60 cm. high. Stem
erect ; simple or occasionally sparsely branched, terete, some-
times furrowed on two sides, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves
opposite or subopposite, exstipulate, sessile or nearly so,
2,5-7,5 cm. long, up to 1*2 cm. broad, linear, slightly narrowed
at both ends, with entire margins and a prominent midrib,
glabrous. Inflorescence a few-flowered raceme ; pedicels l-5-2’5
cm. long. Calyx-tube 1*2 cm. long ; lobes spreading, lanceolate,
a little shorter than the tube, keeled. Corolla-tube about 2 cm.
long, narrowly subcylindric, more or less curved, glabrous or
minutely puberulous ; lobes 1*5 cm. long, 0*8 cm. broad, obovate,
rounded, the upper 2 connate high up. Stamens 4, in 2 pairs ;
filaments clothed with long hairs, the upper pair shorter than
the lower pah; anthers 1-celled, oblong, dorsifixed. Ovary
oblong-ovoid; style terete; stigma thickened. Capsule 1*2
cm. long, 8 mm. in diameter, obliquely ovoid, obliquely
beaked at the apex, glabrous.
Plate 50. — Pig. 1, plant, natural size; Pig. 2, corolla, front view; Fig. 3,
corolla, back view ; Pig. 1, stamens ; Fig. 5, corolla laid open ; Fig. 6,
gynaecium; Fig. 7, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 8, calyx; Fig. 9, capsule. All
enlarged except Fig. 1.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
.57.
A/VVYN
S Gower del.
Plate 51.
GAZANIA SUBULATA.
Gape Province.
Compositae. Tribe Arctotideae.
Gazania, Gaertn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 459.
Gazania subulata, R. Br. in Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. II. vol. v. p. 140 ;
FI. Gap. vol. iii. p. 473.
The native species of Gazania receive perhaps more atten-
tion from gardeners than other groups of South African
Compositae. This is due to their easy cultivation and the
brightness of their “flowers.” The general names “ Gous-
blom ” and “Marigolds” are applied indiscriminately to
various species of Gazania, Arctotis and Dimorphotheca.
Our plate was prepared from plants flowering at the
Division of Botany, Pretoria. The plant is acaulescent and
forms a compact clump about 2 feet in diameter. It flowers
freely and is easily propagated. We hope in future numbers
to illustrate all the better known kinds of “Gousblom,”
especially some of the beautiful Namaqualand species.
Our specimen bears out Harvey’s statement that this
species and G. longiscapa are scarcely distinct, as it agrees
with G. subulata in having the peduncle pilose and with
G. longiscapa in the cartilaginous-ciliate leaves which are
glabrous on the mid-rib below.
Specimens of the plant figured are preserved in the
National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1447).
Description : — An acaulescent plant. Leaves radical, crowded,
10-40 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, linear, subacute, with a
short spine at the apex, narrowed and channelled below and
sheathing at the base, dark green and glabrous above, white
tomentose beneath, except on the midrib, with the margins
spinulose-ciliate. Peduncle 24 cm. long, terete, hollow, pilose
on the uppermost third, with 1 or 2 bracts. Involucral scales
connate at the base ; tube 1 cm. long, 7 mm. in diameter,
glabrous, intruse at the base ; scales in three rows, 1—1 ’5 cm.
D
long ; the outer linear-acuminate, acute, with spinulose
margins ; the inner ovate, acuminate, acute, with membranous
margins. Receptacle convex, honeycombed. Ray-florets
neuter, 3'2 cm. long; the limb l-2 cm. broad, obovate-oblong,
obtuse, with a broad mouse-coloured band beneath and about
15- veined. Disc florets hermaphrodite, 1*2 cm. long; tube
5-angled ; lobes 4 mm. long, linear-oblong, obtuse. Anthers
minutely tailed at the base. Pappus of delicate linear
acuminate scales hidden by the long hairs which cover the
ovary. Ovary densely villous ; style with a thickened ring
about the middle ; lobes linear, obtuse.
Plate 51.- — Fig. 1, flowers and leaves ; Fig. 2, upper portion of style ;
Fig. 3, stamens ; Fig. 4, longitudinal section of capitulum with hairs from
ovary removed ; Fig. 5, corolla laid open ; Fig. 6, disc-floret, showing pappus,
with hairs from the ovary removed ; Fig. 7, plant, much reduced.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
52
S. Gower del.
Plate 52.
PELABGONIUM crassicatjle.
South-West Africa.
Geraniaceae. Tribe Pelargonieae.
Pelargonium, L'Her. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 273.
Pelargonium crassieaule, L'Her. Ger. t. 36 ; FI. Gap. vol. i. p. 299.
This species of Pelargonium is one of the many botanical
curiosities found in the arid regions of South-West Africa,
where the native plants have to contend against very adverse
conditions. In the dry season the plant loses its leaves and
assumes a knobby appearance due to the thick rather woody
stems. The leaves appear after the rains and are more or less
crowded at the ends of the branches.
The species was first discovered by Mr. Ant. Hove in 1786
in South-West Africa, and was introduced by him into Kew
Gardens the same year. In 1799 a figure was published in
the Botanical Magazine (t. 477) prepared from a plant which
flowered with Messrs. Grim wood & Co., Kensington, London.
Though this figure does not quite agree with our specimen in
the markings of the petals, we have no doubt that it repre-
sents the plant here illustrated, which can only be considered
as a variety.
Our plant was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G.,
who states that it is common on rocky outcrops in the Nabib
Desert at Luderitzbuch. It has been established and flowered
at the Gardens of the Division of Botany, Pretoria. Speci-
mens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria
(Herb. No. 1452).
Description : — Stems woody and swollen, with blackish
bark. Leaves crowded at the apex of the branches ; petioles
4-11 cm. long, semiterete, finely pilose with reflexed hairs ;
lamina 2-5 cm. long, 2-4*5 cm. broad, rounded-ovate, slightly
3-lobed, rounded above, cuneate at the base and merging into
the petiole, with crinkled bluntly dentate margins and
prominent veins beneath, finely pilose above and below ;
stipules brown, 4 mm. long, acuminate from an ovate base.
Peduncle 7'5 cm. long, terete, finely pilose with reflexed hairs,
branching above. Involucral bracts l-2 cm. long, lanceolate,
acute, pilose. Umbel 6-flowered ; pedicels about 1-2 cm. long.
Flowers faintly sweet scented. Petals 1-25 cm. long, 6 mm.
broad, obovate, rounded or truncate at the apex ; the three
lower produced into a linear claw 2 mm. long ; the two upper
slightly connate. Calyx-tube 2 mm. long, terete, pilose ;
sepals all pilose ; upper sepal erect, 8 mm. long, 2-5 mm.
broad, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse ; lower and lateral sepals
reflexed, 8 mm. long, 1-5-2 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse.
Stamens 7, in three rows of 2, 3 and 2 ; filaments linear,
4-7 mm. long, connate at the base; anthers 1*75 mm. long,
oblong ; staminodes 3, shorter than the filaments. Ovary
1-5 mm. long, densely pilose above ; styles united for 1-5 mm.
and then separating into 5 stigmas 1*5 mm. long.
Plate 52. — Fig. 1, plant as it appears in dry seasons; Fig. 2, plant with
leaves and flowers ; Fig. 3, lamina of leaf ; Fig. 4, involucre at base of flowers ;
Fig. 5, back view of flower ; Fig. 6, petals ; Fig. 7, calyx with stamens ;
Fig. 8, filaments and staminodes ; Fig. 9, gynaecium.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
K A LanadeJI del.
Plate 53.
ANDROCYMBIUM melanthioides.
Cape Province , Natal, Transvaal .
Liliaceae. Tribe Anguillarieae.
Androcymbium, Willd. ; Bentli. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 822.
Androeymbium melanthioides, Willd. in Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl. Mag.
vol. ii. p. 21 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 517.
The genus Androcymbium is represented by about eighteen
species, two of which are known from the Mediterranean
Region and two from Tropical Africa, the remainder of the
species being confined to South Africa.
Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by Dr.
I. B. Pole Evans at Silverton, near Pretoria, in May, 1921,
and represents the best known and most widely distributed
species of the genus. The plant shows the characteristic
habit of all the species, viz. stemless, with the flower head
hidden by large bracts which may be white, green, or purplish.
In cultivation it does not lend itself to planting out, but makes
a striking and pleasing object when placed singly in pots.
Specimens of the plant figured are preserved in the
National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1451).
Desckiption : — A stemless plant. Bulb about 1*5 cm. in
diameter, globose, covered with more or less hardened black
tunics. Leaves 2-3, 14-AJ2 cm. long, linear from an ovate
base, acutely acuminate, glabrous. Bracts white or purplish,
several, 3-8f5 cm. long, ‘8-3'5 cm. broad, oblong, ovate-oblong
or ovate, obtuse or sometimes apiculate at the apex, some-
times acuminate, many nerved (up to 50-nerved). Head about
6-fiowered, hidden and overtopped by the bracts. Bracts sub-
tending the flowers about 3*5 cm. long, lanceolate, acute,
5-nerved. Pedicel 3 mm. long, 2'5 mm. broad above, obovoid,
fleshy. Perianth segments produced into a distinct claw ; claw
5 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, with a more or less distinct keel ;
blade 6 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, ovate, cucullate, acuminate,
3-keeled. Stamens inserted at the junction of the claw and
blade ; filaments 9 mm. long, terete ; anthers 3 mm. long,
elliptic. Ovary 6 mm. long, 2 *5 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid,
subtrigonous ; styles free, 8 mm. long, terete ; stigma simple.
Plate 53. — Fig. 1, plant viewed from above (reduced) ; Fig. 2, in-
florescence ; Fig. 3, flower with bract ; Fig. 4, perianth segment with stamen,
front view ; Fig. 5, perianth segment with stamen, side view ; Fig. 6,
gynaecium.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
Si.
S. Gower del.
Plate 54.
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM aloides.
Bechuanaland:
Ficoideae. Tribe Mesembryanthemeae.
Mesembryanthemum, Linn.; Benth. et Eoolc.f. vol. i. p. 853.
Mesembryanthemum aloides, Haw. Suppl. p. 88 ; FI. Cap. vol. ii. p. 396.
This extremely rare plant, which was first found by
Burchell at Metlowing and at Jabirn Fontein, near Takun
in Bechuanaland, in 1812, was recently rediscovered by Dr.
I. B. Pole Evans near Postmas Berg, and has been estab-
lished in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria. In
the Journal of the Linnean Society (vol. xlv. p. 123) for 1920,
Mr. N. E. Brown gives a fuller description of the species
based mainly on a coloured drawing of the plant made by
Burchell, who states that the roots are “ eaten by natives as a
substitute for better food.”
The specimen from which the present plate was prepared
flowered at Pretoria in August, and has enabled us to draw up
a more complete description.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium.
Descbiption : — A stemless plant. Root thick and woody.
Leaves tufted, 8-12 in a cluster, forming a rosette about 9 cm.
in diameter, 3-5 5 cm. long, 1— 1*7 cm. broad in the widest
part, lanceolate-spathulate viewed from above, acuminate,
obtuse, mucronate at the apex and shaped like the bow of a
boat, slightly narrowed at the base and sheathing, flat above,
keeled beneath, dotted with white spots on both surfaces.
Floicers lemon-yellow, sessile between the leaves. Calyx-tube
2'2 cm. long, widening from a cylindrical base to P2 cm. in
diameter above, sparsely pustulate above ; lobes of two
different lengths, pustulate ; the longer 1*7 cm. long, ovate,
acuminate ; the shorter 9 mm. long with membranous margins.
Corolla 2*5 cm. in diameter when expanded ; petals up to
1 cm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear, obtuse. Filaments about
5 mm. long, hairy at the base. Ovary 10-celled ; styles 10 free.
Fruit, not seen.
Plate 54. — Fig. 1, calyx and calyx lobes ; Fig. 2, petal ; Fig. 3, stamen ;
Fig. 4, top of ovary showing styles ; Fig. 5, transverse section of ovary ;
Fig. 6, longitudinal section of leaf ; Fig. 7, transverse section of leaf near the
apex ; Fig. 8, apex of leaf.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
M'.
55.
K.A.Lansdell del.
Plate 55.
ALOE STRIATA.
Cape Province.
Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.
Aloe, Linn.; Benth. et Hooic.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776.
Aloe striata, flaw, in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. vii. p. 18 ; Syn. p. 81 ;
FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 311.
This is the well-known “ Coral Aloe ” of South Africa. It
is typical of both the Upper and Lower Karroo regions and
also of the Namaqualand region. The species is generally
found on dry rocky slopes, and the plants assume a sub-
decumbent position, very rarely growing erect. It is the only
South African species of Aloe which bears leaves without
prickly teeth. In the dry summer season the leaves lose their
bluish-grey colour and become a copper-red, which gives the
plants a very characteristic appearance in the veld. A large
number of hybrids have been raised by crossing this species
with others belonging to the Saponaria group, and a hybrid,
described as Aloe Lynchii , was obtained between this and
Gasteria verrucosa.
The late Prof. MacOwan states that sun-birds ( Nectarineae )
are the pollinating agents of Aloe striata and some other
species of Aloe, and if the birds are kept away by covering
the inflorescence with wire netting, few or no capsules are
produced.
Our specimen was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at
Dassie Deur near Port Elizabeth, and flowered in the garden
of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, in August.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium.
Description : — Stem underground. Leaves about 13,
crowded in a basal rosette, up to 30 cm. long, 6-1P5 cm.
broad, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or the inner ovate, acu-
minate, flat, bluish-grey, glaucous, faintly many-nerved, with
pink margins. Peduncle about 24 cm. long, branched above ;
at the base flat on one side, convex on the other ; in the upper
portion semitere^e. Inflorescence a panicle of racemes, the
ultimate racemes 1--9 cm. long, lax. Bracts subtending the
racemes about 1 im. long, membranous, ovate, acuminate.
Floral bracts 3 mm. ong, ovate, acuminate, acute, membranous.
Pedicels about 1 c u. long, spreading. Flowers more or less
pendulous. PeriantL-tube in mature flowers 2 cm. long, globose
at the base, then slightly constricted, then gradually widening
into a tube 6 mm. in diameter at the throat ; lobes about
3 mm. long, ovate, rounded at the apex. Stamens included or
slightly exserted ; filaments attached at the base of the
perianth-tube, 1*7 cm. long; anthers about 1 mm. long.
Ovary 5 mm. long, oblong ; style 1-7 cm. long, terete ; stigma
faintly 3-lobed. Immature fruit 2 cm. long, 11 cm. in diameter,
ellipsoid, subtrigonous.
Plate 55. — Fig. 1, plant showing characteristic habit ; Fig. 2, transverse
section of leaf ; Fig. 3, flower ; Fig. 4, bract ; Fig. 5, stamen ; Fig. 6, young
fruit.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
56.
S. Gower del.
Plate 56.
POLYXENA HAEMANTHOIDES.
Cape Province.
Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.
Polyxena, Kunth ; Benth. d Hook. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 807.
Polyxena haemanthoides, Baker in Hook. Ic. t. 1727 ; FI. Gap. vol. vi.
p. 420.
This rare species was recently collected by Dr. Marloth in
the Calvinia Division, and to our knowledge has not been
collected since the late Dr. Bolus discovered it on the Nieuw-
veld Mountains near Fraserburg over thirty years ago.
Polyxena is a small endemic genus of about a dozen species,
the majority of which are very little known, as most of them
have not been collected since they were first found by the early
Cape botanical collectors. Baker, who described and figured
this species in Hooker’s leones , remarks, “ The affinity of this
interesting novelty is evidently close with Massonia rugulosa
of Lichtenstein and M. marginata of Willdenow, of neither of
which we possess specimens in the Kew Herbarium.” Both of
them fall under the genus Polyxena , as defined in the Genera
Plantarum. Specimens preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1448).
Description : — Bulb about 3—4 cm. in diameter, ovoid.
Leaves two, lying flat on the ground, 7 cm. long, 2*5-3 cm.
broad, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, narrowing at the
base, glabrous, about 10-nerved, with scabrous margins.
Inflorescence a contracted raceme, about 12-flowered. Bracts
white, 5 mm. long, ovate, acuminate. Flowers sessile ;
perianth-tube 1*3 cm. long, 3*5 mm. in diameter, slightly
compressed ; lobes in 2 rows, 9 mm. long, 3 mm. broad,
lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, glandular at the apex. Stamens
in a single row ; filaments united into a tube at the base,
1*5 cm. long; anthers 3 mm. long, linear, versatile. Ovary
6 mm. long, oblong in outline ; style 1*5 cm. long, terete ;
stigma simple.
Plate 56. — Eig. 1, leaf ; Pig. 2, inflorescence showing coma ; Fig. 3,
flower ; Fig. 4, flower in longitudinal section ; Fig. 5, upper portion of
perianth showing stamens and style ; Fig. 6, apex of perianth lobe.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
57
Kj\.Lans dell del.
Plate 57.
DIMORPHOTHECA SPECTABILIS.
Transvaal.
Compositae. Tribe Calendulaceae.
Dimorphotheca, Moench. ; Benth. et HooTc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 453.
Dimorphotheca spectabilis, Schltr. in Journ. Bot. vol. xxxv. p. 220 (1897).
For quite a considerable time this common and well-
known Dimorphotheca was placed in herbaria under the name
of Dimorphotheca Ecklonis , and Harvey, who examined speci-
mens of this plant collected by Burke and Zeyher on the
Aapies River and Magaliesberg, also included it under D.
Ecklonis. Dr. Schlechter first recognised that the Transvaal
plant was an undescribed species, but apparently did not
realise that Burke and Zeyher had collected the plant close
on a hundred years ago, as he founded his description on
specimens collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin, F.L.S., in 1887, on
the Saddleback Mountains, Barberton.
Dimorphotheca spectabilis is a spring flowering plant, and is
common around Pretoria during the months of September and
October. It is a well-grown plant with large mauve flowers,
and if introduced into cultivation would be an acquisition to
any garden. The plant sets seed freely, and could easily be
raised by this means. The species is poisonous, and in ex-
periments carried out by the Division of Veterinary Research,
the plant was found to cause death in sheep fed on it.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1470).
Description : — An herbaceous plant 24-40 cm. high with
one or more stems arising from the apex of a stout deep
underground root. Stem terete, faintly furrowed, covered
with short glandular hairs. Leaves 2-4 cm. long, *6-1 cm.
broad, lanceolate or lanceolate-ovate, obtuse, tapering upwards
from a broad base, sometimes slightly narrowed at the base,
with a prominent midrib and two faint lateral nerves more
distinct on the upper surface, punctate-glandular on both
surfaces, and with glandular hairs beneath, ciliate with
glandular hairs. Floiver head solitary at the ends of the stems.
Peduncle 6-10 cm. long, terete, furrowed, glandular-pubescent.
Involucral-scales in 2 rows, somewhat connate at the base,
1-3-2 cm. long, ovate, acuminate, acute with membranous
margins, glandular-pubescent. Receptacle 7 mm. broad, con-
vex, hollow. Ray florets female. Corolla-tube 2 mm. long,
cylindric, glandular-pilose ; limb 2 cm. long, 4 mm. broad,
linear, 3-toothed at the apex, glandular-pilose on the back at
the base. Style as long as the corolla-tube. Disc florets her-
maphrodite. Corolla-tube 5 mm. long, cylindric, constricted
and narrower near the base, sparsely covered with glandular
hairs on the broader portion of the tube ; lobes 2 mm. long,
almost 1 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse. Filaments 4 mm.
long, linear ; anthers 3*5 mm. long, with deep golden-yellow
pollen. Pappus none. Ovary 3 mm. long, flattened, winged
and 2-horned at the apex ; style 6 mm. long, cylindric ;
lobes 1 mm. long, truncate at the apex. Fruit 1*5 cm. long,
flattened, orbicular, with a circular wing.
Plate 57. — Fig. 1, whole plant showing habit (reduced) ; Fig. 2, flower
bud ; Fig. 3, disk flower ; Fig. 4, ray flower with ovary removed.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
\
58
K.A.L ansdell del-
Plate 58.
MIMETES CAPITULATA.
Cape Province.
Pboteaceae. Tribe Proteae.
Mimetes, Salisb.; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 171 (partly).
Mimetes capitulata, R. Br. in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. x. p. 106; FI. Cap.
vol. v. sect. i. p. 644.
The genus Mimetes constitutes a small group of South
African Proteaceae of nine species, all confined to the South-
Western area of the Cape Province. The genus was first
founded by Salisbury, but for over one hundred years after-
wards plants belonging to two other distinct genera were
placed under the name Mimetes. One of these, Orothamnus
Zeyheri , we figured on Plate 38 of this work. Like a great
many other groups of South African plants the species of
Mimetes have not been extensively collected, and we are
indebted to Mr. T. P. Stokoe, of Cape Town, who has
rediscovered so many interesting plants on the Hottentot
Hollands Mountains, for the opportunity of figuring the
present species. The examination of the fresh material has
enabled us to add a few descriptive details to the description
given in the Flora Capensis.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1457).
Description : — Branches villous. Leaves L2-3 cm. long,
•5-l’5 cm. broad, lanceolate, lanceolate-ovate or ovate,
gradually narrowed to an obtuse callous apex, a little narrowed
at the base, entire, coriaceous, indistinctly 3-nerved, densely
adpressed-villous with silky hairs. Heads sessile, 2-5— 3*3 cm.
long, 10—16 flowered, in the axils of the leaves at the ends of
the branches. Involucral-hracts 5— 6-seriate, varying from
linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, more or less narrowed
at the base, membranous, pubescent outside, long-ciliate.
Receptacle long-setose. Perianth-segments free or nearly so,
2 5— 3 cm. long, linear-filiform, slightly widened for about
5 mm. at the base, plumose, limb about 4 mm. long, linear-
lanceolate, subacute, long-villous on the back. Anthers sub-
sessile, about 2 mm. long, linear, with a lanceolate, subacute,
concave apical gland. Hypogynous scales 1 mm. long, linear,
obtuse, white. Ovary 2 mm. long, oblong in outline,
pubescent ; style 4 cm. long, subcylindric above, furrowed on
the lower half and usually twisted at the junction with the
ovary, swollen with an ellipsoid portion below the stigma,
glabrous ; stigma about 4 mm. long, furrowed, with an oblique
ovoid acuminate subacute apex and with a distinct collar at
the base.
Plate 58. — Fig. 1, capitulum ; Fig. 2, a single flower showing portion of
hairy receptacle ; Fig. 3, perianth segment ; Fig. 4, pistil.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
I
K.A.L&nsdell del.
Plate 59.
ERYTHRINA caffba.
Cape Province , Natal, Transvaal.
Leguminosae. Tribe Phaseoleae.
Erytheina, Linn. ; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 531.
Erythrina caffra, Thunb. FI. Cap. p. 559 ; FI. Cap. vol. ii. p. 236 ;
Wood, Natal Plants, pi. 542.
This species is a common tree in the eastern parts of the
Cape Province and also in the coastal and midland districts
of Natal. The plant is known as the “ Kaffir Boom,” and to
children in Natal as “ Cockie Doodles.” The Zulu name for
the tree is “ Umsini.”
The wood is very soft, and the only use to which it is put
is for fencing poles, as it easily takes root and is free from the
attack of termites. The scarlet seeds are strung as necklaces.
In various parts of the country the tree may be seen in
cultivation, and when in full bloom the bright scarlet flowers
make it extremely ornamental. The tree is deciduous and
the flowers appear in spring while the plant is still leafless,
but occasionally leaves and flowers may be produced at the
same time.
Our plate was prepared from material collected by Miss
K. A. Lansdell on the Berea, Durban, Natal. Specimens are
preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb.
No. 1455).
Description : — A tree 6-17 m. high. Branches pale-
coloured, rugose, prickly, the prickles dark-coloured, up to
7 mm. or more long, broad at the base, usually a little curved,
very sharp. Leaves clustered near the ends of the twigs,
trifoliolate : common petiole up to 21 cm. long, unarmed ;
terminal leaflet 6-5— 9 cm. long, 9— 11 ‘5 cm. broad, ovate or
sometimes sub 3-lobed, usually acuminate, more or less
cuneate at the base, glabrous with two small glands at the
base of the petiolule ; lateral leaflets 6‘5— 9 cm. long, 6-5-9 cm.
broad, similar in shape to the terminal leaflet, usually
E
acuminate, glabrous. Inflorescence a many-flowered dense
raceme, 4’6 cm. long ; flowers pendulous : peduncle dark
brown, 7'5— 15 cm. long, terete, velvety. Calyx up to 1 cm.
long, more or less tubular campanulate, 2-lipped, velvety-
brown outside. Vexillum up to 5 cm. long, 2-5 cm. broad
when expanded, conduplicate, falcate ; alae yellow-green,
4-8 mm. long, oblong, curved ; carina equalling the alae.
Stamens 10, exserted ; the vexillary filament free to the base.
Ovary stalked, villous ; stigma simple. Legume few-seeded,
constricted between the seeds. Seeds scarlet, with a black
hilum.
Plate 59. — Fig. 1, vexillum ; Fig. 2, carina ; Fig. 3, wing ; Fig. 4, calyx ;
Fig. 5, stamens ; Fig. 6, gynaecium ; Fig. 7, fruit, showing one seed.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
V
60.
K_A.LansdeU del.
Plate 60.
SPARAXIS GRANDIFLORA.
Cape Province.
Ikidaceae. Tribe Ixieae.
Spaeaxis, Ker ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 708.
Sparaxis grandiflora, Ker in Konig and Sims' Ann. i. 225 ; FI. Cap.
vol. vi. p. 116.
The plant here figured was introduced into Kew Gardens
in the year 1758. Though it has been more than once
illustrated in botanical publications, we do not apologise for
reproducing this coloured illustration of one of the common
bulbs found in so many gardens at the Cape. The species
grandiflora is represented by many colour varieties, and is
probably the same as the plant described as Spiraxis tricolor,
which only appears to differ from it in the colour markings on
the perianth. The variety here figured is probably the form
originally described under the name Spiraxis atropurpurea.
The specimens were collected by Dr. R. Marloth, who
forwarded them to the Division of Botany, Pretoria, where
they flowered in August. They are preserved in the National
Herbarium (Herb. No. 1454).
Description : — Bulb 1*3 cm. long, P3 cm. in diameter,
covered with light-coloured fibrous tunics. Leaves about 10 to
a bulb, distichous ; the lower leaves about 5 cm. long and
4 mm. broad ; the upper up to 26 cm. long and 1*2 cm. broad ;
all linear, acuminate, acute, with a distinct midrib and the
inner margin membranous, sheathing at the base, glabrous.
Inflorescence shorter than the upper leaves ; peduncle about
12 cm. long, clasped and hidden by the inner leaves. Flowers
about 6 to an inflorescence, purple. Bracts membranous, 1 cm.
long, awned or lacerated with the awns up to P2 cm. long.
Perianth-tube 9 mm. long, cylindric in the lower half, cam-
panulate in the upper half; lobes 1‘5 cm. long, 7 mm. broad,
spathulate-obovate. Stamens attached to the throat of the
perianth-tube ; filaments 9 mm. long; anthers 1*3 cm. long,
linear, eared at the base. Ovary 4 mm. long, 2-5 mm. in
diameter, oblong; style 15 cm. long, terete; stigmas 8 mm.
long.
Plate 60. — Fig. 1, perianth laid open; Fig. 2, bract; Fig. 3, stamen;
Fig. 4, style and stigmas.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
61.
K.A.Lansdell del.
Plate 61.
CORYCIUM CRISPUM.
Cape Province , Little Namaqualancl.
Orchidaceae. Tribe Ophrydeae.
Corycium, Sw. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 683.
Corycium crispum, Sw. in Vet. Acad. Handl. Stockh., 1800, 222; Bolus,
Orchids of South Africa, vol. i. t. 45 ; FI. Cap. vol. v. sect. 3, p. 286.
This extremely pretty little orchid was sent to us by Mrs.
E. Rood from Yan Rhynsdorp in August. Though the late
Dr. Bolus published a figure of this species in his “ Orchids
of South Africa,” we again reproduce a plate of the plant, and
it is the first member of the family Orchidaceae to appear in
this work. The species is fairly common in the Cape Province
extending from the Cape Peninsula up to Clanwilliam and
Yan Rhynsdorp and into Little Namaqualand. It has been
known to botanical science for a considerable time, and was
first described under its present name over 100 years ago.
The species belongs to the large group of terrestrial orchids
which are characteristic of the south-western region of the
Cape Province, the few epiphytic orchids which are found in
South Africa being mostly confined to the forest regions of
the Eastern Province and the Northern Transvaal.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1467).
Description : — Plant up to 18 cm. high. Tuber 3 cm. long,
P5 cm. in diameter, egg-shaped. Leaves cauline, somewhat
spreading and imbricate, 8-10 cm. long, 2*5 cm. broad, linear-
lanceolate to ovate, very acuminate, with undulate margins.
Inflorescence 9-10 cm. long, many-flowered. Bracts 2 cm. long,
1*7 cm. broad, ovate, shortly acuminate, as long as the ovary.
Flowers sessile. Dorsal sepal 8 mm. long, linear ; lateral sepals
connate into a bilobed limb, erect in young flowers, becoming
deflexed in older flowers. Side petals 8 mm. long, 6 mm.
broad above, deeply concave and saccate at the base ; lip
F
adnate to the column, horizontal, with a limb 5 mm. broad
from a distinct claw. Arms of rostellum rounded, recurved
and projecting into the concavity of the side petals.
Plate 61. — Fig. 1, bract; Fig. 2, petal ; Fig. 3, dorsal sepal; Fig. 4, lip ;
Fig. 5, ovary ; Fig. 6, column showing anthers ; Fig. 7, column showing
stigmas ; Fig. 8, side view of column.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
62.
K A Lansdell del.
Plate 62.
ALOE EXCELSA.
Rhodesia.
Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.
Aloe, Linn. ; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776.
Aloe exeelsa, Berger in Notizblatt Berl. Bot. Gart. u. Museums , vol. iv. (1906)
247 ; Las PJZanzenrekh, vol. iv. 38, p. 314.
This arborescent Aloe forms one of the most conspicnons
features of the vegetation of the Matoppos in Ehodesia in
July and August, when it brightens up the Kopjes with its
crimson flowers. Full-grown plants vary in height from
15-20 feet, and one of their chief characteristics is the grace-
ful recurving of the ends of the leaves. Our illustration is
made from one of the many plants of this species which adorn
the rockeries of the Union Buildings, and which were col-
lected by Mr. J. Wickens on the Matoppos. The plants
thrive well in Pretoria, and attract consideration through
their deep carmine inflorescence. They flower in Pretoria
during August and September.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium
(Herb. No. 1453).
Description : — Aborescent up to 5-6 ’3 m. high. Stems
about 3-4 cm. in diameter. Leaves crowded and forming a
rosette at the end of the stem up to 02 m. long, 8-9 cm.
broad at the base, gradually narrowing to the apex, lanceolate-
ovate, acuminate, with the uppermost third gracefully re-
curved, deeply channelled above, convex beneath, with spines
along the margin and with spines on the under surface ;
spines 4 mm. long, 5 mm. apart below and about 2'6 cm.
apart on the upper portion of the leaf. Inflorescence a panicle ;
peduncle 13-16 cm. long, compressed, convex on both sur-
faces, with a prominent ridge on either side. Bracts ovate,
acute, membranous. Ultimate racemes 22-25 cm. long, 5‘5 cm.
in diameter, cylindric, densely many-flowered. Floral-bracts
brown, about 5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad at the base, ovate,
acute. Flowers subsessile ; perianth-tube 1 cm. long, 5 mm. in
diameter, oblong in outline; lobes 1*8 cm. long, 0-6 mm.
broad, oblong, obtuse, 3-nerved, the outer with a small rostrate
body just below the apex ; the inner perianth-segments free
to the base. Ovary 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, oblong ; style
2-7 cm. long, cylindric ; stigma simple.
Plate 62. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced ; Fig. 2, stamens ; Fig. 3. perianth-
segments ; Fig. 4, apices of outer and inner perianth-segments ; Fig. 5, flower ;
Fig. 6, bract ; Fig. 7, leaf ; Fig. 8, transverse section of leaf.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
G3.
K.A.La.nsdell del.
Plate 63.
GLADIOLUS ALATUS, Var. NAMAQUENSIS.
Cape Province.
Ieidaceae. Tribe Ixieae.
Gladiolus, Linn. ; Benth. et HooJc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 709.
Gladiolus alatus, var. namaquensis, Balter in FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 159 ;
G. namaquensis , Ker. in Bot. Blag. t. 592.
This plant is a variety of the Cape “ Kalkoentje ” ( Gladiolus
alatus), and might conveniently be called the “ Namaqua
Kalkoentje.” This particular variety has been known for
almost 200 years, and in the Banksian Herbarium in the
British Museum is a well-preserved specimen which was
collected by Masson in Namaqualand. A figure of the plant
prepared from specimens which flowered in England was
published in the Botanical Magazine in 1801.
In the veld groups of plants are usually found together,
each forming a corm which has developed as an offshoot from
the parent corm. This character would render the plant easy
of propagation.
We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of van Rhynsdorp for
specimens which were received by the Division of Botany in
September, 1921. They are preserved in the National
Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1468).
Description : — Corm covered with fibrous tunics. Stem
with a basal sheath Z'5-3'5 cm. long. Leaves four, decreasing
in size upwards ; the outermost leaf 13-15 cm. long, 2'5-3 cm.
broad ; upper leaves 7-12 cm. long, *5-21 cm. broad, all
lanceolate, acuminate, clasping and equitant at the base,
5-nerved, with reddish margins ; the innermost almost wholly
clasping. Visible peduncle about 11 cm. long, 3-flowered.
Outer-bracts 4 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, boat-shaped, acuminate,
sharply keeled, with keel and margins reddish-brown ; inner
similar to the outer but bifid at the apex. Perianth-tube 1 cm.
long, cylindric below, campanulate above ; upper segments
2-5 cm. long, 2-2 cm. broad, ovate, subacuminate ; 2 lower
segments 2 cm. long, 5 mm. broad above, obovate, narrowed
into a long linear claw ; the lowermost segment 1*1 cm. broad,
ovate, subacuminate. Filaments 1'5 cm. long, cylindric ;
anthers 13 cm. long, linear. Ovary 8 mm. long, 2‘5 mm. in
diameter, narrowly ellipsoid ; style 3 cm. long, filiform ; lobes
5 mm. long, linear, slightly broadened above, rounded and
bifid at the apex.
Plate 63. — Fig. 1, conn ; Fig. 2, lower perianth-segment ; Fig. 3, lateral
perianth segment ; Fig. 4, stamens, front and side view ; Fig. 5, style and
stigmas.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
<54.
S. Gower del.
Plate 64.
GAZANIA PYGMAEA.
Transvaal.
Compositae. Tribe Akctotideae.
Gazania, Gciertn. ; Benth. et HooJc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 459.
Gazania pygmaea, Sond. in Linnaea, vol. xxiii. p. 69 ; FI. Cap. vol. iii. p. 478.
During the month of September the veld round Pretoria is
carpeted with the white flowers of this little Gazania. It is
one of the first, if not the first plant to flower on burnt veld,
and the contrast in colour between the white flowers and the
young green grass is very striking. While so extremely
common during the spring months, this species appears to be
little known botanically. It was evidently first collected by
the botanist Karl Zeyher on the Magaliesberg about the year
1841, and the description in the Flora Capensis based on
Zeyher’s specimen is the most recent published information
we have about this species. The plants are tufted, several
underground stems arising from a stout tap-root.
The present plate was prepared from specimens collected
by Mr. D. Fouche on the outskirts of Pretoria. Specimens are
preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria.
Desceiption : — Acaulescent plants with several subterranean
stems from the apex of the deep tap-root. Leaves crowded,
radical, 2-5-6’5 cm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, linear, with an acute
callous at the apex, attenuated at the base, somewhat
channelled above, hispid on the upper surface, woolly-canescent
beneath except on the midrib, entire, spinulose-ciliate. Heads
many to each root. Peduncle about 3*5 cm. long, sparsely
woolly, especially beneath the involucre, or subglabrous.
Involucral-tube 7 mm. long, 6 mm. in diameter, turbinate ;
lobes in 4 rows ; outer lobes 6 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear,
obtuse, spinulose-ciliate ; inner lobes 4 mm. long, 2 mm. broad,
ovate, obtuse with reddish-brown membranous margins. Ray-
Jlorets neuter, white with a purplish band beneath ; corolla
tube 7 mm. long, cylindric ; limb 1*7 mm. long, 4‘5 mm. broad,
lanceolate, bifid at the apes, with each lobe minutely 2-toothed,
about 7-nerved and distinctly 2-keeled beneath. Disc-florets
hermaphrodite ; corolla-tube 6 mm. long, subcylindric, some-
what 5-angled, glabrous ; lobes 1*5 mm. long, • 5 mm. broad,
lanceolate, obtuse. Pappus of hyaline linear scales 1'5 mm.
long. Ovary covered with long silky hairs ; style 7 mm. long,
cylindric (lengthening with age) ; stigmas *75 long, linear,
obtuse.
Plate G4. — Fig. 1, young flower head ; Fig. 2, section through involucre ;
Fig. 3, flower head just before opening ; Fig. 4, surface view of flower head ;
Fig. 5, corolla of ray-florets ; Fig. 6, disc floret ; Fig. 7, leaf ; all variously
enlarged.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
65.
K.A.Lansdell del.
Plate 65.
ORNITHOGALUM Thunbergianum.
Cape Province.
Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.
Ornithogalum, Linn.; Benih. et HooJc.f Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 815.
Omithogalum Thunbergianum, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xiii. p. 269 ■
FI. Gap. vol. vi. p. 497.
Ornithogalum Thunbergianum , the “ Yellow Chinkerickee,”
is found in the Malmesbury, Paarl, and Van Rhynsdorp
Districts of Cape Province. It was found by Carl Thunberg
at Saldana Bay about the year 1772, and named by him
0. maculatum, but as this specific name had already been
given to a plant figured by Jacquin, the late Mr. Baker
redescribed the species here dealt with and named it after
Thunberg, although there is some doubt as to whether the
plant figured by Jacquin is specifically distinct from 0.
Thunbergianum.
The perianth is a beautiful “ flame scarlet ” colour with a
black mark at the tip of the three outer segments. The
species should be grown by all lovers of our native flora, and
would well repay cultivation.
We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood, Van Rhynsdorp, for
specimens which enabled us to prepare the present plate.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria
(Herb. No. 1469).
Desckiption : — Bulb 2-3 cm. long, 2-3 cm. in diameter,
ovoid or compressed-globose, covered with thin membranous
tunics. Leaves withering at time of flowering, 5-10 cm. long,
1 cm. broad below, ovate-linear, tapering to an acute apex,
glabrous, glaucous-green. Peduncle 12-38 cm. long, terete,
rigid, glabrous. Inflorescence 2— 6-flowered. Bracts membranous,
2-3— 2-5 cm. long, linear-oblong, acuminate, more or less
clasping and equalling the pedicel. Pedicels P7 cm. long,
terete, the lower somewhat arcuate. Perianth segments 2—2-3
long, *8-1 cm. broad ; the outer obovate-oblanceolate, sub-
acute, with a black mark at the apex ; the inner ovate-lance-
olate. Filaments 7 mm. long, cylindric, slightly narrowing
above ; anthers 3 mm. long. Ovary 8 mm. long, 5 mm. in
diameter, ellipsoid ; style 2 mm. long ; stigma trigonous.
Plate 65. — Fig. 1, stamens ; Fig. 2, gynaecium ; Fig. 3, bract.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
K.A.Lansdell del.
Plate 66.
FERRARIA antherosa.
Cape Province.
Ieidaceae. Tribe Moeoeeae.
Feeeaeia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 692.
Ferraria antherosa, Ker. in Bot, Mag. 751 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 29.
Our species was first figured in Curtis’ Botanical Magazine
in 1804 from a plant which was raised in Salisbury’s garden
at Brompton, England. It is not at all a well-known plant,
as it is only recorded in the Flora Capensis as having been
collected by Zeyher in the Clan william District, and by
Ecklon at Groenkloof in the Malmesbury District. The
plant from which our plate was prepared was sent to the
Division of Botany, Pretoria, by Mrs. E. Rood from Van
Rhynsdorp. The genus Ferraria is represented in South
Africa by six species, and by one species in Angola. The
flowers last only for a very short time after opening, but a
succession of flowers appears on each plant. None of the
species can be called ornamental from a gardener’s point of
view, but the structure of the flower is very beautiful and the
colouring quaint. Plants would only be grown as a botanical
curiosity, and not for their beauty. Specimens are preserved
in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1471).
Description : — Conns several arranged one on top of the
other, discoid, about 3*5 cm. in diameter. Plant about 23 cm.
high. Leaves three, 17-26 cm. long, linear and 1 cm. broad
above, subacute, equitant and clasping the stem below. Bracts
subtending the inflorescences, resembling the leaves. Bracts
subtending the ultimate inflorescence 5-8 cm. long, 1 -6-2-6
cm. broad, elliptic, boat-shaped, with membranous margins.
Perianth segments 2’5 cm. long, forming a campanulate portion
1*5 cm. long and 1*3 cm. in diameter, then spreading into a
horizontal portion; the spreading portion 1*4 cm. long, 1*4
broad, ovate, subacute, with frilled margins. Staminal tube
1’6 cm. long, cylindric, anther lobes diverging. Ovary cylin-
dric, with a beak 3 cm. long ; stigmas long-fimbriated.
Plate 66. — Fig.
stigmas and anthers ;
F.P.S.A., 1922.
1, corms; Fig. 2, flower; Fig. 3, top of style showing
Fig. 4, stigma.
(57
K.A.La.nsdeU del.
Plate 67.
HARYEYA squamosa.
Cape Province, Natal, Little Namaqualand.
Scrophulariaceae. Tribe Gerardieae.
Harveya, Hook. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 967.
Harveya squamosa, Steud. Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2, i. 723; FI. Cap. iv. sect. 2,
p. 413.
The Genus Harveya contains 27 species, all of which are
parasitic on the roots of other plants. In South Africa 21
species are recorded, the remainder being found in Tropical
Africa and the Mascarene Islands. The name was given by
Sir William Hooker in commemoration of Dr. Harvey, who
was one of the pioneers of South African systematic botany.
The plant belongs to a group known as total parasites, i.e. it is
wholly dependent on its host for its food supply. Specialised
roots technically known as “ haustoria ” penetrate the roots
of the host plant and absorb the requisite food material.
The species here figured occurs in the Cape Peninsula, all
along the western coastal districts to Clan william and Yan
Rhynsdorp and into Little Namaqualand. It has also been
recorded from the sand-dunes near Durban in Natal. The
specimens from which our plate was prepared were collected
by Mrs. E. Rood at Yan Rhynsdorp, and are preserved in the
National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1456).
Description : — A herbaceous plant about 13 cm. high.
Scale leaves 8 mm. long, 1 cm. broad, ovate, acuminate,
pubescent without. Inflorescence racemose, densely many-
flowered, 2* 5 cm. in diameter, more or less cylindric ; axis
1 cm. in diameter near base, narrowing upwards. Bracts
1-2 cm. long, *5-9 cm. broad, oblong or obovate-spathulate,
obtuse, glandular pilose without ; bracteoles 2, opposite at
base of the calyx, 3 cm. long, P5 mm. broad, linear, glandular-
pilose. Pedicels 1 cm. long, fleshy. Calyx-tube 2 5 cm. long,
7 mm. in diameter, tubular, glandular-pilose without, glabrous
within; lobes 1*5-1 *7 cm. long, 3 mm. broad at the base,
gradually tapering from a triangular base. Corolla-tube 3 cm.
long, 4 mm. in diameter, tubular, glandular-pilose without and
also within about the middle ; lobes 4 mm. long, 5 mm. broad,
semiorbicular, rounded above, somewhat concave, glandular-
pubescent without. Stamens attached to the middle of the
corolla tube ; filaments of 2 different lengths ; the longer
1-6 cm. long; the shorter 1*3 cm. long; all sparsely covered
with glandular hairs ; anthers with one fertile lobe and one
unfertile lobe. Ovary 5 mm. long, 4 mm. in diameter ; style
2 ‘5 cm. long, terete, sparsely covered with a few glandular
hairs ; stigma clavate, faintly 2-lobed.
Plate 67. — Fig. 1, showing haustoria attached to portion of host; Fig. 2,
single flowers showing bract and bracteoles ; Fig. 3, bract ; Fig. 4, bracteole ;
Fig. 5, calyx laid open ; Fig. 6, corolla ; Fig. 7, corolla laid open ; Fig. 8,
stigma; Figs. 9, 10, portion of filaments with anther; Fig. 11, style and
ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
K A.Lansdell del.
Plate 68.
GLADIOLUS Pritzelii.
Cape Province.
Irideae. Tribe Ixieae.
Gladiolus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 709.
Gladiolus Pritzelii, Diels in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. vol. xliv. p. 118.
This graceful little Gladiolus was first found by Diels at
Hantams Berg, Calvinia District, and described by him in
1909, and in September 1921 the plant was again collected by
Dr. B. Marloth in the same locality. It belongs to the same
group in the genus as G. spathaceus (the Caledon Bluebell),
and G. involutus (the George Bluebell), having the same
bell-shaped flowers. In the original description the plant
is said to be one-flowered, but in the specimens received from
Dr. Marloth the spikes were 2-4-flowered.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1459).
Description : — Conn globose, 2 cm. long, 2’2 cm. in
diameter, with fibrous tunics produced into a short neck.
Leaves two to each plant ; the lower about 5 cm. long, spath-
aceous, clasping the stem, minutely pubescent and with
hyaline margins ; the upper 26-43 cm. long, free for 14-24 cm.
above, linear, acute, with two prominent ribs above and
beneath. Spikes 2-4-flowered. Outer spathe valve membran-
ous, 3 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, lanceolate, many- veined, with
membranous margins, glabrous ; inner valve 2 cm. long,
hyaline-membranous. Perianth-tube 7 mm. long, curved,
cylindric below, becoming campanulate above. Posterior-lobes
1*5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, obovate, subacuminate, obtuse;
anterior lobe 23 cm. long, L3 cm. broad, obovate, rounded
above, hooded; side lobes L5 cm. long, P3 cm. broad, obovate,
shortly and bluntly acuminate. Anthers projecting beyond the
junction with the filament. Ovary 3 mm. long, ellipsoid ;
style terete ; stigmas spathulate, 2-lobed.
Plate 68. — Fig. 1, front view of flower ; Fig. 2, perianth laid open ;
Fig. 3, upper part of style, showing stigmas ; Fig. 4, anthers.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
69.
S. Gower del
Plate 69.
GAZANIA Pavonia.
Cctpe Province.
Compositae. Tribe Arctotideae.
Gazania, Gaertn. ; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 459.
Gazania Pavonia, R. Br. in Ait. Hort. Keiv. 2, vol. v. p. 140 ;
FI. Cap. vol. in. p. 476.
This extremely handsome species of Gazania was cultivated
by Mr. C. _N. Knox-Davies in Johannesburg from plants
collected at Worcester in the Cape Province. The plants
form a dense mass, and are suitable either for growing in a
border or in large pots. The ray florets are a beautiful nopal
red, with a warm sepia-brown eye-spot at the base, and when
the plants are in full bloom they present a very striking
appearance. It is surprising that species of this genus, which
are amongst the most handsome of the South African
Compositae, have received so little attention from horti-
culturists, and though hundreds of our native plants have
been figured in the Botanical Magazine only two species of
Gazania have been illustrated.
Mr. N. E. Brown, who contributed an account of the genus
to The Garden , wrote that “it is one of the most per-
plexing that a botanist has to deal with,” and even to-day the
species are very imperfectly known. Our plant was sub-
mitted to Kew for verification of the name, and the Director
reports, “ The Gazania has not been exactly matched, but
might be regarded as a form of G. Pavonia , R. Br .”
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1473).
Description : — Plant compact, decumbent, forming a
clump about 30 cm. in diamater. Leaves crowded near the
apex of short shoots, 6-10 cm. long, pinnatisect, slightly
broadened and clasping at the base ; lobes 1-2-5 cm. long,
2-5-4 mm. broad, linear, subacute, woolly-tomentose beneath
G
except on the mid-rib, sparsely woolly above, at length
becoming glabrous. Peduncle 9 mm. long, terete, sparsely
woolly, at length becoming glabrous. Tube of involucre 9 mm.
long, 8 mm. in diameter, sparsely woolly, intruse at the base ;
lobes in three rows ; the outer 4 mm. long, less than 1 mm.
broad, linear, subacute ; the innermost ovate, subacuminate,
subobtuse, with reddish-brown margins. Ray-florets neuter,
corolla tube 7 mm. long, cylindric ; limb red with a dark-
coloured mark at the base, 1*9 cm. long, 8 mm. broad,
obovate, rounded and minutely 3-fid at the apex, with two
prominent veins beneath. Disc-florets hermaphrodite. Corolla-
tube 7 mm. long, more or less angled, glabrous ; lobes -5 mm.
long, ovate, subacute. Anthers 3 mm. long. Pappus of long
delicate linear scales connate in the lower half and encasing
the base of the corolla tube, free in the upper half. Ovary
densely clothed with long silky hairs ; style elongating up to
1*3 cm. long, filiform ; stigmas about 075 mm. long.
Plate 69. — Fig. 1, limb of ray flower ; Fig. 2, longitudinal section of
involucre ; Fig. 3, ray flower ; Fig. 4, segment of leaf enlarged.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
70.
K A-Lansdell del.
Plate 70.
OCHNA PRETORIENSIS.
Transvaal.
Ochnaceae. Tribe Ochnaceae.
Ochna, Schreb. ,- Benth. et ffoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 317.
Oehna pretoriensis, Phillips, sp. nov. Rami glabri. Folia 1 -5-3-8 cm.
longa, 0'5-T7 cm. lata, laneeolata, obovata, elliptica vel oblanceolata,
apice obtusa, basi cuneata, marginibus serratis. Flores solitarii vel
2-nati. Pedicelli 1-1*5 cm. longi, basi articulati. Sepala 7-8 mm. longa,
4- 5 mm. lata, ovata vel elliptica, apice rotundata, aliquando 2-3-lobata.
Petala 1-5 cm. longa, 9-5 mm. lata, obovata, apice rotundata, basi
unguieulata. Filamenta 4-5 mm. longa, apice articulata. Ovarium
4-5-loculare ; stylus 5 mm. longus, apice 4-5-lobatus.
This Ochna , which is found in the Transvaal around
Pretoria and at Messina, has hitherto been confused with
0. atropurpurea, but is easily distinguished from that species
by the larger more expanded flowers and the non-pustulate
branches. The latter character distinguishes 0. atropurpurea
from all the other South African species of the genus.
Our plate was prepared from specimens collected on
Meintjes Kop, Pretoria, by Mr. D. J. Fouche in September,
1921. It is a low spreading bush, and at this time of the year
is one mass of sweet-smelling yellow flowers. The leaves do
not appear until December or January, and it is then that the
green sepals enlarge and turn a blood-red colour and surround
the black fruit. The plant, therefore, either in flower or fruit
makes a very ornamental shrub and well worth the attention
of cultivators.
The genus Ochna contains several species producing
valuable timber.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. Nos. 1422, 1491).
Description : — Branches with light to dark brown bark,
peeling off in membranous strips, not pustulate. Leaves
1 *5-3*8 cm. long, *5-1-7 cm. broad, lanceolate, obovate,
elliptic, or oblanceolate (mostly oblanceolate), obtuse at the
apex, cuneate or more rarely rounded at the base, with
serrated margins and with the mid-rib distinct and the lateral
veins evident. Flowers solitary, very rarely paired, arising
at the apex of abbreviated shoots. Pedicels 1-15 cm. long,
articulated at or 1-2 mm. above the base. Sepals 7-8 mm.
long, 4-5 mm. broad, ovate or elliptic, rounded at and
sometimes 2-3-lobed at the apex, enlarging in the fruit.
Petals 15 cm. long, 9 5 mm. broad, obovate, rounded at the
apex, narrowed at the base into a claw. Filaments 4-5 mm.
long, articulated at the apex ; anthers 2 mm. long, oblong.
Ovary of 4-5 carpels ; style 5 mm. long ; stigmas as many as
the carpels. Fruit 7-8 mm. long, 5-6 mm. broad, more or less
ellipsoid.
Plate 70. — Fig. 1, fruiting branch ; Fig. 2, flower with petals removed ;
Fig. 3, sepal ; Fig. 4, petal ; Figs. 5 and 6, stamens ; Fig. 7, gynaecium.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
71 .
S. Gower del.
Plate 71.
DAUBENYA aueea, var. coccinea.
Cape Province.
Liliaceae. Tribe Allieae.
Daubenya, Lindl.; Benth. et HooTc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 807.
Daubenya aurea, Lindl., var. coccinea, Marloth comb. nov.
Daubenya coccinea, Harv. FI. Gap. vol. vi. p. 417.
This rare and interesting plant was found by Dr. B.
Marloth in the Calvinia District. An examination of fresh
specimens has enabled us to reduce the three species described
in the “Flora Capensis ” to a single species, and the genus
Daubenya therefore becomes one of South Africa’s monotypic
genera. Our conclusions have been confirmed by independent
observations made by Dr. Marloth, and we give below the
notes he forwarded to the Division of Botany.
“ The colour of the flower is the most brilliant scarlet
known in the Flora of South Africa, and especially dazzling
when seen in full sunlight. This effect is due to the com-
bination of two pigments in the subepidermal tissues of the
flower, viz. a granular yellow pigment distributed through all
the cells, and a bright red solution present in most of the
cells of the subepidermal layer, but absent in others. This
peculiarity of structure also explains the occurrence of plants
with yellow flowers, for if through some cause or other (as a
sport), the red pigment is not produced, the flower is plain
yellow, just as in such a case the flower of the red Watsonia
(W rosa) becomes pure white (Arderne’s Watsonia). It so
happened that the yellow form was first introduced into
England and described by Lindley as Daubenya aurea (1835),
hence this name has to be retained for the species, although
the flower is generally scarlet, and the yellow form has only
arisen as a sport. There is, however, no structural difference
between D. aurea Lindl., D. coccinea Harv., and D.fulva Lindl.”
The length of the floral segments and of the peduncle,
given as distinguishing characters by Lindley, is very variable
in the specimens seen by us (over one hundred) ; some of
H
them are scarlet, others yellow, and some dull orange. The
scent of the flowers is unpleasant, somewhat recalling that
of the flowers of Rhus.
The home of this remarkable plant was unknown to
botanists until re-discovered in 1920. It grows in heavy red
clay soil on the farm Fransplaas, about 40 miles north of
Sutherland, and flowers in September.
The genus was named by Dr. Lindley in honour of Dr.
Charles Daubeny, Professor of Botany at Oxford, “ whose
interesting researches in vegetable Chemistry have materially
conduced to improve our knowledge of the physiology of
plants.”
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1458).
Descbiption : — An acaulescent herbaceous plant. Bulb
P6 cm. long, 1*9 cm. in diameter, covered with brown mem-
branous tunics with numerous fibrous roots from the base.
Leaves 2, flat, 5-8 cm. long, 4-5 cm. broad, ovate, subacumi-
nate, obtuse, narrowed and clasping at the base, many-
nerved, with margins narrowly membranous. Capitulum
about 10-flowered, with a peduncle 3 cm. long, clasped by
the leaf base and beneath the soil. Outer bracts white, mem-
branous, 2-7 cm. long, P6 cm. broad, oblong; inner bracts
2*5 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, obovate-spathulate, entire, clasping
the perianth-tube. Pedicels 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, com-
pressed, fleshy. The outer flowers 2-lipped and differently
shaped from the inner. Perianth-tube of outer flowers 2 cm.
long, 4 mm. in diameter, somewhat compressed ; lobes of
lower lip 2*6 cm. long; the middle lobe P4 cm. broad; the
2 side lobes 1 cm. broad ; all obovate-oblong, obtuse ; lobes of
upper lip 3 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear. Perianth-lobes of
inner flowers 3-6 mm. long, all linear or lanceolate. Stamens
inserted at different levels ; filaments 3-6 mm. long, terete,
fleshy, tapering upwards ; anthers 2 mm. long, oblong. Ovary
7 mm. long, 2*5 mm. in diameter, narrowly ellipsoid, glabrous ;
style 2*5 cm. long, terete, with 3 minute stigmas at the apex.
Plate 71. — Eig. 1, plant viewed from above ; Fig. 2, plant, side view ;
Fig. 3, a single flower ; Fig. 4, side view of flower of outer whorl ; Fig. 5,
flower from middle of inflorescence ; Fig. 6, the same flower viewed from
above, showing the stamens and style ; Fig. 7, bract.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
72
K.A.Lansdwll del.
Plate 72.
STAPELIA Pillansii, var. attenuata.
Cape Province.
Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.
Stapelia, Linn.; Bentk. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.
Stapelia Pillansii, N. E. Br., var. attenuata, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. iv.
sect. i. p. 958.
This interesting Stapelia was first discovered by Mr. N. S.
Pillans, of Cape Town, at Witte Poort in the Laingsburg
Division, and described by Mr. N. E. Brown, to whom Mr.
Pillans sent most of bis collections of this group. Our plant
is one of the larger-flowered species of the genus, resembling
in this respect S. gigantea and S. nobilis, but differing in colour
from both these species. The flowers have a distinct carrion-
like odour, although this is not so strong as in many other
species of the genus. When in bud the petals form an
acuminate beak recurved at the apex. Under cultivation in
the greenhouse the stems turn a dark reddish-brown colour.
Our specimen was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at
Laingsburg, and flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria,
in October, 1921. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, Herb.
No. 1492.)
Description : — Sterns 9-15 cm. high, 1 '4-2*2 cm. in diameter,
4-angled and with concave sides, pubescent, usually green.
Teeth with erect whitish rudimentary leaves about 2 mm.
long. Flowers 2 (4 or 5 according to Brown) from near the
base of the stems. Pedicels 3-4 cm. long, terete, pubescent.
Sepals 1*7 cm. long, 2 mm. broad at the base, linear-lanceolate,
acuminate, acute, pubescent. Corolla when expanded 22*5 cm.
in diameter, diamine-brown above, smooth and without mark-
ings, glabrous ; lobes 105 cm. long, 2'2 cm. broad at the
base, ovate, tapering to a long point, strongly revolute, ciliate
with short hairs and with longer vibratile hairs. Corona dark
coloured ; outer corona lobes 4 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong,
bluntly 3-lobed at the apex ; the middle lobe the largest ;
inner corona-lobes 7 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, obovate, flattened
and appearing to stand at right angles to the outer lobes, on
either edge produced into a beak ; the inner beak longer than
the outer and recurved over the flattened portion of the
corona ; the outer beak entire or irregularly 2-3-lobed.
Plate 72. — Fig. 1, corona ; Fig. 2, lobe of inner corona ; Fig. 3, lobe of
outer corona.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
73.
M.M.Page del.
Plate 73.
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM crassipes.
Cape Province.
Ficoideae. Tribe Mesembryeae.
Mesembryanthemum, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 853.
Mesembryanthemum crassipes, Marloth, sp. nov. habitu M. rosuluti (Kensifc
in Trans. Eoy. Soc. S. Afr. i. p. 155, pi. xxib) et M. calcarei, Marl. (Flora
of S. A. vol. i. pi. 52) sed foliis cuneatis aspero-marginatis et floribus
roseis 5-meris distincta.
Planta subaeaulis, ramis paucis brevissimis e radice crasso carnoso ramoso.
Folia in rosulam aggregata, plana, cuneata, crassa, suberecta, apiee retusa
vel rotnndata, apicem versus margineque tuberculis minutis griseis
numerosis munita. Flores apice ramulorum solitarii. Calyx 5-fidus,
lobis subaequalibus triangularibus, colore griseo foliorum. Petala laneeo-
lata, uniseriata, saturate rosea. Stamina inearnata basin versus barbata.
Stigmata 8-10, filiformia, staminibus aequilonga.
This is a beautiful plant when in flower, owing to the
contrast between the deep pink petals and the rugose grey
leaves. It was collected on a stony plain of grey shale near
Sutherland, at an altitude of 4600 feet, by Dr. R. Marloth, and
flowered in his garden at Cape Town in September, 1921.
Description : — Root thick, fleshy, simple or branched up
to 30 mm. in diam. and 20 cm. long. Stem none, but one or
more short branches arising from the crown of the caudex.
Leaves crowded, 6-10 on a branch, mostly erect and exposing
the margin to the midday sun, cuneate, gradually narrowed
to the base, the apex straight or slightly rounded, occasionally
with a blunt mucro ; the apical portion, and especially the
apical margin, closely covered with fine tubercles; on the
wild plant the entire leaf greyish-green, the margin reddish.
Flowers solitary on each branch, sessile or subsessile, sup-
ported by 2 connate leaf-like bracts. Calyx turbiniform,
10-12 mm. long, the tube 11-13 mm. in diam. at the mouth ;
sepals 5, of which 3 nearly equal, the 2 others narrower, all
triangular, 10 mm. long and wide, with a very narrow hyaline
margin and a thick umbo below the apex, finely tuberculate
like the leaves, grey, the margin red. Petals uniseriate,
narrow-lanceolate or spathulate, 13-14 mm. long and 2-2-5
mm. wide in the middle, deep pink on the inner side,
paler on the outer side. Stamens white, bending inwards
near the base and then erect, bearded at the bend. Styles
8-10, filiform, 6 mm. long, arising from the apex of the conical
ovary. Total diam. of open flower 20-25 mm., opening in the
sun and closing towards evening for several days.
Plate 73. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through the flower ; Fig. 2, calyx ;
Fig. 3, gynaecium ; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, petals and stamen ; Fig. 8, entire leaf ;
Fig. 9, cross-sections of leaf.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
t
S. Gower del.
Plate 74.
LEUCOSPERMUM tottum, var. glabrum.
Cape Province.
Proteaceae. Tribe Proteeae.
Leucospermum, R. Br.; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 170.
Leucospermum tottum, R. Br., var. glabrum, Phillips, var. nov. a typo
ramis glabris, braeteis eciliatis differt.
This interesting Leucospermum was collected by Mr. T. P.
Stokoe in Jan dn Toit’s Kloof near Chavonnesberg, in the
Western Province. Mr. Stokoe states that only a few plants
were observed growing in a belt of Proteaceae. It is evidently
very closely related to L. tottum , from which it differs in
having glabrous branches and non-ciliate involucral bracts,
and should be regarded as a glabrous variety of this species.
The genus Leucospermum is closely related to Protea (see
plate 22) but differs from that genus in having the limb of
the posticous segment divided and not completely fused.
The well-known “ Kreupelboom ” (L. concospermum) belongs
to this genus.
The variety here figured might be regarded as one of the
more striking plants in the genus Leucospermum. The yellow
styles with red stigmas projecting from an involucre tinged
with delicate shades of red and green give a particularly
pleasing effect.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1493).
Description : — A spreading bush 5-6 ft. high. Branches
glabrous. Leaves 8-8 '5 cm. long, 0*9-1 cm. broad, broadly
linear, 3-toothed at the apes, slightly narrowed at the base
with the midrib distinct beneath, veins faint above. Heads
solitary or 2-nate, 7-8 cm. long including the peduncle and
styles, about 5*5 cm. in diameter. Peduncle 2 cm. long,
loosely covered with ovate subacuminate obtuse glabrous
bracts 8 mm. long and about 8 mm. broad. Receptacle 2*2 cm.
long, 7 mm. broad, cylindric, densely villous on the back with
long white hairs. Perianth-tube 1 cm. long, glabrous ; seg-
ments 2'5 cm. long, linear, villous and long ciliate ; lobes
3 mm. long, oblong, subacuminate, ciliate and bearded.
Ovary 1 mm. long, villous ; style 4'5 cm. long, terete,
glabrous ; stigma ovoid, subacuminate, obtuse.
Plate 74. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, flower bud; Fig. 3, limb of
posticous segment ; Fig. 4, one lobe of limb showing stamen ; Fig. 5, floral
bracts ; Fig. 6, longitudinal section of receptacle ; Fig. 7, involucral bract ;
Fig. 8, stigma, side view ; Fig. 9, stigma, front view.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
75
S. Gower del.
Plate 75.
ORNITHOGALUM Roodeae.
Cape Province.
Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.
Ornithogalum, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 815.
Ornithogalum Roodeae, Phillips, sp. nov. Bulbas globosus, albus. Folia 3, ad
26 cm. longa, basi 2'5 cm. lata, laneeolata, acuminata, glabra. Pedunculus
ad 25 cm. longus, glaber. Inflorescentia 4 cm. longa, cireiter 6 cm. lata.
Bracteae T 4-2-5 cm. longae, ovato-lanceolatae, acuminatae, membranaceae.
Pedicelli IT-2'5 cm. longi. Segmenta perianthii T2 cm. longa, 4 mm.
lata, oblongo-laneeolata, apice papillosa. Filamenta 8 mm. longa, basi
1*5 lata, laneeolata, acuminata. Ovarium 5 mm. longum, 2-5 mm. latum,
glabrum ; stylus 6 mm. longus ; stigma semiglobosum, papillosum.
Tliis handsome Ornithogalum was collected by Mr. E. Rood
at Van Rhynsdorp, and forwarded to the Division of Botany,
Pretoria. The perianth segments are a deep reddish-brown,
edged with white, and the flowers are extremely fragrant.
Specimens were sent to Kew, and the Director reports that
the plant had not been matched, the nearest affinity being
0. suaveolens, Jacq., and that it was evidently a new species.
This species exhibits a device for cross-pollination by the
movement of the style. As soon as the flower opens the style
bends downwards, and is thus in a position to receive pollen
from the abdomen of a visiting insect. As the flowers wither
the perianth segments close up, and the style becomes erect
and would then be self-pollinated if cross-pollination has not
taken place.
Description : — Bulb 2-2 cm. long, 2'8 cm. in diameter,
globose, white. Leaves 3, up to 26 cm. long, 2’5 cm.
broad at the base, lanceolate (when opened flat), becoming
deeply channelled above, acuminate, clasping at the base,
glabrous. Peduncle up to 25 cm. long, greenish-brown,
glabrous. Injloresence about 14-flowered, more or less corym-
bose, 4 mm. long, about 6 cm. in diameter. Bracts P4 -
2*5 cm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate into a long fine
point, membranous, as long as the pedicels. Pedicels 11-
2 ‘5 cm. long, terete. Perianth-segments free to the base,
spreading, 1*2 cm. long, 4 mm. broad, oblong-lanceolate, dark
purple with white margins, 5-nerved ; the outer cucullate at
the apex with a fringe of short glandular hairs; the inner
rounded and fringed with short glandular hairs. Filaments
8 mm. long, 1*5 mm. broad in widest part, lanceolate, acumi-
nate, more or less compressed below, convex on both sides
above ; anthers 4 mm. long, oblong, each lobe with a short
beak. Ovary 5 mm. long, 2 ’5 mm. in diameter, 3-lobed,
glabrous ; style 6 mm. long, semiterete ; the style in open
dowers bent away from stamens and later becoming sharply
bent ; stigma semiglobose, covered with glandular hairs.
Plate 75. — Fig. 1, flower ; Fig. 2, bract ; Fig. 3, stamen ; Fig. 4, cross-
section of ovary ; Fig. 5, gynaecium ; Fig. 6, outer perianth-segments, front
and side views ; Fig. 7, inner perianth-segments, front and side views.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
76
K-A.Lans&eU del.
4
<r=
Plate 76.
PROTEA RECONDITA.
Cape Province.
Proteaceae. Tribe Proteeae.
Protea, Linn. ; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 169.
Protea reeondita, BueJc. ex Meisn. in DO. Prodr. xiv. 237 ; FI. Cap. vol. v.
sect. i. p. 584.
This rare Protea was sent to ns by Miss L. Guthrie of the
Bolus Herbarium, who received it from Mr. de Wet of Ceres.
Mr. de Wet described it as a low trailing plant with the
branches 2 feet long and raised about a foot above the ground.
The heads are hidden by the upper leaves. Hitherto the
species has only been recorded from Ezelsbank on the Cedar-
berg Range, Clanwilliam Division, where it was collected by
Drege almost a hundred years ago.
This example, unlike so many species of Protea , is not
particularly handsome. The bracts are a pale dull green, and
the flowers somewhat scented, reminding one very much of
the odour of Protea mellifera.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1490).
Description : — Branches pale green, glabrous. Leaves 7-
19 cm. long, 1-8-7 cm. broad (the largest leaves surrounding
the head), elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed to
the base, with distinct reddish veins and a reddish margin,
glabrous. Head sessile, 5-5 cm. long, 7 cm. in diameter.
Involucral-bracts in about 9 rows ; the outer ovate, sub-
acuminate, obtuse, ciliate ; the inner oblong, incurved, some-
what concave, slightly exceeding the flowers, scantily pilose.
Receptacle 32 cm. broad at base, about 1*5 cm. high, conical.
Perianth-sheath 2-6 cm. long, dilated, keeled and 3-nerved
below, glabrous, except for setae near the apex; lip 6 mm.
long, setulose with golden-brown hairs. Hypogynous scales
1*5 mm. long, ovate. Ovary covered with long golden-brown
hairs ; style 4 cm. long, strongly falcate ; stigma 3 mm. long,
almost imperceptibly passing into the style.
Plate 76. — Fig. 1, branch with flower head ; Fig. 2, receptacle ; Fig. 3,
inner bract ; Fig. 4, outer bract ; Fig. 5, single flower ; Fig. 6, one perianth-
lobe.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
77.
S. Gower del.
Plate 77.
CROSSANDRA Greenstockii.
Transvaal , Natal.
Acanthaceae. Tribe Justicieae.
Crossandra, Salisb. ; Benth et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 1094.
Crossandra Greenstockii, S. Moore in Journ. Bot., 1880, p. 37 ; FI. Gap.
vol. v. sect. i. p. 37.
This plant is of interest as being one of the many outliers
of the Tropical African flora in Southern Africa, and also
as showing a connection between the floras of Eastern India
and Tropical Africa. The genus Crossandra is represented by
about 15 species, most of which occur in Tropical Africa, and
one is recorded from India and the Malay States. The
species figured here occurs in the Nyasa Highlands, and
extends into Natal and the Transvaal as far south as Pretoria.
During the month of October the plant may be found in
flower in the neighbourhood of the Premier Mine, Pretoria,
and the bright scarlet flowers form a conspicuous feature
in the veld. Specimens have been recorded from various
localities in the Northern Transvaal.
The fruits, as is so frequent in many species of Acanthaceae ,
have an explosive mechanism, i.e. they burst suddenly into
two valves when wetted and scatter the seeds. The seeds,
of which there are four in each fruit, are tightly enveloped
with long hairs which straighten out and become mucilaginous
when wet, thus fixing the seed to the ground.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1494).
Description : — An acaulescent plant with underground
rootstocks. Stem short, glabrous. Leaves opposite, 5-11 cm.
long, 2‘2-5-2 cm. broad, obovate or elliptic, the narrower
leaves sometimes lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed at the base,
with the midrib and lateral veins prominent beneath, distinct
above, glabrous or very sparsely pilose, especially on the mid-
rib and veins. Peduncle 11-16 cm. long, terete, pilose, naked
below, but with 2 opposite leaves above. Inflorescence 5-8 cm.
long, 1-7-22 cm. in diameter, more or less 4-angled. Bracts
2-5 cm. long, 1*8 cm. broad, obovate, shortly aristate, with
4-7 long teeth on the margins, ciliate-glandular on both
sides ; bracteoles two, 2‘5 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear,
acuminate, acute, glandular. Sepals 5 ; the lateral sepals
5 mm. long, 1*5 mm. broad, linear, shortly aristate ; remainder
9 mm. long, 2’5 mm. broad, oblong, subacuminate, ciliate
above. Corolla-tube 2‘2 cm. long, cylindric, ventricose at the
base, inflated and glandular above ; lobe 1*2 cm. long, 2-2 cm.
broad, somewhat semicircular in outline. Anthers hairy.
Ovary 1 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, oblong in outline, shortly
beaked, glabrous ; style threadlike ; stigma inflated and
hollow at the apex. Ovules 2 in each cell, discoid, covered
with scales.
Plate 77. — Fig. 1, corolla ; Fig. 2, a single flower, showing bract and
bracteoles ; Fig. 3, corolla laid open ; Fig. 4, calyx surrounding the ovary ;
Fig. 5, gynaecium ; Fig. 6, apex of style ; Fig. 7, ovary with two ovules.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
78.
Plate 78.
ROODIA DIGITIFOLIA.
Cape Province.
Ficoideae. Tribe Mesembeyeae.
Roodia, N. E. Brown (genus novum), Herba succulenta, nana, caespitosa.
Proles bifoliatae. Pedunculus bracteatus, uniflorus. Calyx in tubum
distinctum supra ovarium productus 6-lobus. Petala numerosa, libera.
Stamina numerosissima, pluriseriata, omnia a basi in tubum abrupte
inflexa, exterioribus brevioribus. Ovarium multiloculare. Stigma parvum,
inconspicuum, sessile, integrum. Fructus multilocularis ; loculi alis binis
subehartaceis tecti et dorsum versus tuberculo clausi.
Roodia digitifolia, N. E. Broivn. Planta 8-11 cm. alta, caespitosa, glabra.
Proles bifoliatae, confertae. Folia erecta, 8-11 cm. longa, 10-15 mm.
crassa, digitiformia, subteretia faciebus interioribus planis, apice obtusis-
sima, inferne viridia, superne purpureo-tincta. Pedunculus 3-6 cm.
longus, apice 4-5 mm. crassus, erectus, uniflorus, infra medium bibracte-
atus, purpureus. Calycis tubus cum ovario 10 mm. longus, 10-11 mm.
diametro ; lobi inaequales, 5-8 mm. longi, 5-7 mm. lati, ovati, obtusi vel
subacuti. Corolla circiter 4 cm. diametro ; petala numerosa, subquadri-
seriata, exteriora circiter 15 mm. longa et 1 mm. lata, interiora breviora,
linearia, apice obtusa vel dentata, pulehre purpurea. Stamina numeros-
issima, in tubum calycis abrupte et arete inflexa. Ovarium supra con-
cavum. Stigma sessile, parvum, inconspicuum. Fructus 12-14-locularis.
Cape Province : Van Rhynsdorp Division, near Van Rhynsdorp ( Mrs . E. Rood).
Growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria (Garden No. 403).
This interesting plant is so like some species of Mesem-
bryanthemum in general appearance, that most would unhesi-
tatingly place it in that genus. For a long time past, however,
as I have elsewhere stated, it has been dawning upon me that
Mesembryanthemum , as at present understood, is rather of the
nature of a natural order than of a single genus. In vegetative
characters it presents a very great amount of variation, and
in most cases any particular kind of variation is found to be
common to several species, so as to form of them a group,
indicating a generic difference from the others. About a
hundred years ago Haworth recognised this and gave generic
names to some of the groups he had formed, which have
neither been accepted nor taken notice of by subsequent
authors.
Undoubtedly there is a great similarity in the flowers of
many groups of this genus that differ widely in their vegetative
characteristics ; yet when investigated differences in floral
structure may often be found also, which, taken in conjunction
with vegetative characters, are quite as great and as distinctive
as those which separate genera in many other families of
plants. This is the case with the plant at present under
consideration, for I find that it has a combination of three
floral characters, which, so far as known to me do not all
occur together in any species of Mesembryanthemum , namely :
(1) the calyx is produced into a distinct green tube above
the ovary ; (2) the stamens are all abruptly bent down into
the calyx-tube ; and (3) the stigma is sessile, undivided, and
inconspicuous. Upon this combination of characters in con-
junction with its vegetative character, I establish a new
genus, and have much pleasure in naming it after its dis-
coverer, Mrs. E. Rood, of Van Rhynsdorp, who sent living
plants of it to Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Pretoria, where it
flowered. The accompanying figure of it was sent to me by
Dr. Pole Evans, together with a living plant and a flower in
fluid, with some notes by Dr. E. P. Phillips, from which the
description has been prepared.
Description : — A dwarf succulent plant branching at or
below ground level and forming clumps about 8-11 cm. high.
Leaves 2 to each growth, or 4 when the new growth is
made, 8-11 cm. long, 10-15 mm. thick, erect, nearly cylindric
or finger-like, but with the inner face flattened, united at the
base, obtuse at the apex, glabrous and smooth, green below,
purplish at the apical part. Peduncle erect, 3-6 cm. long, and
4-5 mm. thick at the apex, with a pair of bracts about 2 cm.
long below the middle. Calyx 6-lobed, tube (including the
ovary) 10 mm. long, produced about 7 mm. above the ovary,
about 10-11 mm. in diameter, slightly constricted under the
lobes, glabrous, green ; lobes unequal, 5-8 mm. long, 5-7 mm.
broad, ovate, subacute or obtuse, four of them with mem-
branous margins. Corolla about 4 cm. in diameter, petals
numerous, in about 4 series, loosely recurved, spreading over
one another, the outer about 15 mm. long and 1 mm. broad,
the others gradually shorter, all linear, obtuse or notched
at the apex, bright magenta. Stamens very numerous, all
abruptly bent into and closely pressed against the calyx-tube
in a dense mass, leaving a clear central opening to the stigma,
the outermost series being the shortest. Stigma sessile, sunk
in a slight pit and level with the concave top of the ovary,
entire, inconspicuous.
It may not be out of place to point out that dried specimens
of Mesembryantliemum chrysoleucum , Schlechter are so similar to
Roodia digitifolia in general appearance, that the plant might
easily he mistaken for a species of Roodia. It differs, however,
by being destitute of bracts on its peduncle ; by the leaves,
peduncle, and calyx being papillate ; by the calyx being lobed
down to the top of the ovary, the stamens erect ; and by
having 7 stigmas and a 7-celled capsule. — N. E. Beown.
Plate 78. — Pig. 1, plant § nat. size ; Fig. 2, longitudinal section through
the flower • Fig. 8, calyx with 2 sepals ; Fig. 4, longitudinal section through
receptacle ; Fig. 5, petals ; Fig. 6, stamen ; Fig. 7, bract ; Fig. 8, fruit closed ;
Fig. 9, fruit open ; Fig. 10, cross-section of leaf.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
I
Plate 79.
BAUHINIA Galpinii.
Transvaal.
Leguminosae. Tribe Bauhinieae.
Bauhinia, Linn.; Bentli. et HooTc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 575.
Bauhinia Galpinii, N. E. Br. in Gard. Chran., 1891, p. 728 ; HooJc. Ic PI. 1. 19.
This handsome Bauhinia , known in the Transvaal as “ The
Pride of de Kaap,” is a common plant in the low veld east of
the Drakensberg. It is a low half-climbing bush, and when
in flower is a striking object in the veld, the bright red
flowers standing out in sharp contrast to the surrounding
vegetation. Specimens were first sent to Kew in 1880 by
Mr. T. Nelson, and later Mr. E. E. Galpin sent material
which he collected at Barberton. The plant lends itself to
cultivation, and may be kept as a trimmed bush in lawns, etc.
If left to grow unchecked it becomes very lanky. Our plate
was prepared from a specimen growing in the garden of the
Division of Botany, Pretoria, and the plant has grown to a
height of about 30 ft. up a tree of Cupressus senipervirens, var.
pyramidalis. In cultivation, at least in Pretoria, very fewr
seeds are produced. Specimens are preserved in the National
Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1601).
Description : — A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height
of 5-30 ft. Branches with light-brown bark, minutely
pubescent. Leaves petioled ; lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5*5 cm.
broad, more or less reniform in outline, lobed above, sub-
cordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and
prominent beneath, glabrous ; petioles 8-1*5 cm. long, convex
beneath, channelled above. Stipules 3 mm. long, deciduous.
Flowers in 3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. Bracts
and bracteoles 3 mm. long, setaceous, deciduous. Buds light
brown, acuminate, pubescent. Calyx-tube , 2-2*7 cm. long ;
limb spathaceous, unilateral in open flowers. Petals long
clawed ; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed ; limb
1*7-2 cm. long, 1*5-1 *7 cm. broad, ovate, apiculate, subcordate,
at tlie base. Fertile stamens 4 ; filaments 2*5 cm. long,
terete, bent inwards above ; anthers 7 mm. long, linear.
Staminodes 5 mm. long, setaceous, sometimes deeply 2-lobed.
Ovary on a long gynophore 1*5 cm. long, silky pubescent;
style 5 mm. long, stigma capitate. Fruit 12*5 cm. long,
2*5 cm. broad, with a double margin along one edge, oblanceo-
late, tipped with the persistent style, and narrowed at the
base. Seeds 1*9 cm. long, oblong, flattened, dark brown.
Plate 79. — Pig. 1, surface view of flower to show staminodes, the limb of
the petals removed ; Pig. 2, pistil, showing long gynophore ; Pig. 3, stamen ;
Figs. 4, 5, front and side views of calyx ; Pig. 6, fruit.
F.P.S.A., 1922
so
S . Gower del
Plate 80.
KLATTIA Stokoei.
Cape Province.
Ibidaceae. Tribe Sisykinchieae.
Klattia, B. Kr. ; Benth. et HooJc. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 702.
Klattia Stokoei, L. Guthrie in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iii. p. 75.
The discovery of this remarkable plant by Mr. T. P.
Stokoe on the Hottentot’s Holland Mountains, near Somerset
West, adds another species to one of the South African
endemic genera, which hitherto has been regarded as
monotypic. Klattia partita , found by Bowie, Thunberg, and
Burchell, is a rare plant, and is only known from the Lange-
bergen near Swellendam. It is figured by Marloth in “ The
Flora of South Africa,” t. 41. Our present species differs
from K. partita in the more spreading leaves, the very much
shorter perianth-tube, the narrower segments which have a
red limb, and the larger capsule. The genus Klattia is closely
related to Witsenia, which we figured on plate 34, but is
distinguished from this genus by having a very short perianth-
tube and long segments, much longer than the tube. Klattia
was named in honour of Dr. F. W. Klatt, a teacher at Ham-
burg, who published several memoirs on the Iridaceae.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium,
Pretoria (Herb. No. 1436).
Description : — Inflorescence about 8-flowered. Spathe-valves
2 ; the larger 11 '5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, green and lanceolate
above, red and strongly keeled below, subacute, glabrous ; the
smaller red 5 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, rounded above, keeled
on the back with the keel produced into a beak 7 mm. long.
Floral bracts white 3 cm. long, keeled, acute. Perianth-segments
divided almost to the base 5’7 cm. long, filiform below,
broadened above into a linear portion 1 mm. broad. Filaments
45 mm. long, filiform ; anthers 1 mm. long, linear, sagittate
at the base. Ovary 2 mm. long, 2 mm. in diameter, obovate
in outline. Style 6 cm. long, filiform ; stigma simple. Capsule
13 cm. long. Seeds 8 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear, concave
in front, silky and 2-grooved at the back.
Plate 80. — Pig. 1, portion of stem ; Fig. 2, inflorescence ; Figs. 3, 4,
spathe valves ; Fig. 5, a single flower laid open ; Fig. 6, pistil ; Fig. 7, anther ;
Fig. 8, ovary ; Fig. 9, top of style, showing the three stigmas.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
INDEX TO VOLUME II.
PLATE
Aloe excelsa . 62
Aloe striata 55
Aloe Wickensii 41
Androcymbium melanthioides 53
Bauhinia Galpinii 79
Ceropegia tristis 44
COMMELINA BENGHALENSIS 42
CORYCIUM CRISPUM 61
Crossandra Greenstoceii ....... 77
Daubenya aurea, var. coccinea ...... 71
Dimorphotheca spectabilis ...... 57
Erythrina caffra 59
Ferraria antherosa 66
Gazania Pavonia 69
Gazania pygmaea 64
Gazania subulata 51
Gladiolus alatus, var. namaquensis 63
Gladiolus Pritzelii 68
Harveya squamosa 67
Heliophila scandens 48
Hessea Zeyheri 43
Holmskioldia speciosa 49
Klattia Stokoei 80
Kniphofia alooides 47
Leucospermum tottum, var. glabrum. .... 74
Massonia latifolia 46
Mesembryanthemum aloides 54
Mesembryanthemum crassipes 73
Mimetes capitulata 58
OcHNA PRETORIENSIS 70
Ornithogalum Boodiae 75
Ornithogalum Thunbergianum ...... 65
Pelargonium crassicaule 52
POLYXENA HAEMANTHOIDES 56
Protea recondita 76
Rhamphicarpa tubulosa 50
Roodia digitifolia 78
Sparaxis grandiflora 60
Stapelia Pillansii, var. attenuata 72
Watsonia Galpinii 45