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THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF

SOUTH AFRICA.

A MAGAZINE CONTAINING HAND-COLOURED FIGURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE

FLOWERING PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO 80UTH AFRICA.

EDITED BY

I. B. POLE EVANS, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S.,

Cfjicf, iBibusion of Jjilant InUustrp, JBcpartmcnt of Agriculture, Pretoria;

anli director of tfjr Botanical Surbep of tfje ©mon of 5outij Africa.

VOL. X.

The veld which lies so desolate and bare

Will blossom into cities white and fair

And pinnacles will pierce the desert air,

And sparkle in the sun.

R. C. Macfdcs “Ex Unitatb Virbs.”

L. REEVE & CO., Ltd.,

LLOYDS BANK BUILDINGS, BANK STREET, ASHFORD, KENT.

SOUTH AFRICA:

THE SPECIALTY PRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA, Ltd.

P.O. BOX 388, CAPETOWN ; P.O. BOX 21, WYNBERG, CAPE.

1930.

[All Tights ruertsd.]

TO

GENERAL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JAN CHRISTIAAN SMUTS, C.H, F.R.S.,

OF DOORNKLOOF, IRENE,

Soldier, Statesman, and Protagonist of world peace,

THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED, IN RECOGNITION

OF THE VALUABLE SERVICES WHICH HE HAS RENDERED TO

SCIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND OF HIS WIDE KNOWLEDGE

OF THE AFRICAN FLORA, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE VERY

CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH HE HAS GIVEN

TOWARDS THE PUBLICATION OF THESE VOLUMES.

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria,

October, 1930.

3K/

Plate 361.

ARISTEA COMPRESSA

Cape Province , Natal.

Iridaceae. Tribe Sisyrinchieae.

Aristea, Ait. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 701.

Aristea compressa, Bucking, ex Krauss in Flora, 1845, 309 ; FI. Cap.

vol. vi. p. 50.

This is the first occasion we have had an opportunity of

figuring a species of Aristea. The genus is represented in

South Africa by about 23 species, which extend in the coastal

belt from the Cape to Natal and into the northern Transvaal.

It belongs to the same section of the Iridaceae as Witsenia

and Klattia figured on Plates 34 and 80 respectively. All

the species of Aristea have the leaves in a distichous basal

rosette and have blue flowers. The flowers are fugacious,

but as they do not all develop at the same time, the individual

plants may bear open flowers for several days. When the

flowers fade, the perianth twists in a spiral manner and persists

on the fruit. The genus was founded by Solander on the

species A. cyanea, which was, however, previously known in

cultivation and described by earlier authors. Aiton mentions

that it was cultivated by Miller in 1759. A. compressa,

shown in the accompanying Plate, is one of the larger species

of the genus and makes a very effective display when grown in

masses. We are indebted to Miss H. Forbes for the specimen,

which she collected at Durban North, Natal, in October 1929.

Description : — Plant with a short rhizome and wiry

roots. Scape about 0-6 m. high, compressed, with sheathing

leaves. Leaves in a basal rosette, 25 to 30 cm. long, 0-8 to

1*3 cm. broad, linear, obtuse, strongly ribbed, glabrous.

Inflorescence a panicle of cymes ; cymes 3-5-flowered. Flowers

subsessile. Perianth-tube 2-5 mm. long; lobes 7 mm. long,

2 mm. broad, truncate at the apex. Stamens inserted at the

corolla-throat; filaments flattened below; anthers 2 mm.

long. Ovary 2 mm. long, bluntly 3-angled; style 7-5 mm.

long, terete ; stigmas 3, spathulate, pappilose on the margins.

Fruit (immature) 5 mm. long, bluntly 3-angled. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8307.)

Plate 361. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

3t>2

Plate 362.

GLADIOLUS papilio.

Natal , Zululand, Swaziland , Orange Free State.

Liliaceae. Tribe Ixieae.

Gladiolus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 709.

Gladiolus papilio, Hook. f. Bot. Mag. t. 5565 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 152.

This handsome species of Gladiolus was sent to the Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1861 by Mr. D. Arnot of Colesberg,

and was described by Sir Joseph Hooker in the Botanical

Magazine for the year 1866. Gladiolus papilio is related to

G. Rehmannii which we figured on Plate 20 ; but not only do

the two species differ in the colour of the flowers, but the

spathe-valves of the latter are much larger than those of the

former. While not the largest of the South African species,

it is certainly amongst the more handsome and deserves a

place in any living collection of Cape bulbs.

We are indebted to Miss K. A. Lansdell for the specimen,

which she collected on Mr. A. H. Tedder’s Farm at Pomula,

Umtwalumi, Natal, in October 1929.

Description : — Corm 1 cm. in diameter. Produced leaves

4, 15 to 19 cm. long, 8 cm. broad, linear, acute, with a

distinct midrib, glabrous. Flowers 4 to 5 in each spike.

Spathe-valves 2-2 cm. long, lanceolate, obtuse, folded round

the perianth-tube, glabrous. Perianth-tube L5 cm. long,

cylindric below, funnel-shaped above; lobes 2-2 cm. long,

9 mm. broad, obovate, rounded above. Stamens inserted in

the upper portion of the perianth-tube; filaments 1-2 cm.

long; anthers 6*5 mm. long, linear. Ovary 6 mm. long,

ellipsoid, glabrous; style 2-5 cm. long; lobes 3 mm. long,

somewhat spathulate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 8315.)

Plate 362. — Fig. 1, cross-section of ovary ; Fig. 2, upper portion of style

showing lobes.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

363

K.A.Lansdell del.

Plate 363.

STAPELIA Knobelii

Bechuanaland Protectorate.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Stapelia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Stapelia Knobelii, Phillips, sp. nov.

Stapelia vagae affinis sed floribus minoribus et coloribus differt.

Rami ad 8 cm. alti, glabri. Flores 3 basales. Pedicellus 1 cm. longus.

glaber. Sepala 5 cm. longa, ovata, acuminata, apice acuta, glabra.

Corolla 4 cm. diametro; lobi 1-5 cm. longi, 1*2 cm. lati, ovati, apice

acuti, ciliati. Coronae exterioris lobi 3 mm. longi, 2-5 mm. lati, apice

fere truncati, ad apice 2-lobati, coronae interioris lobi 2-cornuti.

(Knobel eie National Herb., Pretoria, No. 8308.)

This very distinct species of Stapelia was collected by

Mr. J. C. Knobel in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and was

grown and flowered by his brother, Mr. J. C. J. Knobel of

Pretoria. It appears to be near S. vaga, N.E. Br., collected

by Dr. Schinz in Amboland, but the flowers are smaller and

apparently differently coloured. We have not seen Schinz’s

specimen, but from Mr. Brown’s description it appears to be

quite distinct. In general appearance the flower resembles

that of S. variegata, but has vibratile clavate hairs on the

corolla-lobes. We have pleasure in naming the species after

Mr. Knobel, who first collected it.

Description : — Stems up to 8 cm. high, 1*5 cm. in

diameter (excluding the teeth), 4-angled, glabrous; teeth

0-5 cm. long, conical, pungent. Flowers in groups of 3 near

the base of the stem. Pedicel 1 cm. long, terete, glabrous.

Sepals 0-5 cm. long, ovate, acuminate, acute, glabrous.

Corolla 4 cm. in diameter when fully expanded; the disc

portion with a shallow depression in which the corona is

situated (the inner corona-lobes project above the depression),

whitish, with dark-purple markings; lobes 1*5 cm. long, 1-2

cm. broad, ovate, subacuminate, acute, rugose, whitish at

the base, merging into a light canary-yellow above, with

dark-purple markings, fringed with vibratile hairs, becoming

recurved in old flowers. Outer corona-lobes 3 mm. long, 2*5

mm. broad, quadrate, truncate above, with a short tooth on

either side of the truncate portion, with raised dark ridges on

the inner face ; inner corona-lobes 4-5 mm. long, terete, erect

and curved away from the centre of the flower, with a distinct

hom-like process at the outer base.

Plate 363. — Fig. 1 , corona (surface view) ; Fig. 2, a single outer corona-

lobe ; Fig. 3, a single inner corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

36'r

Plate 364.

OLDENLANDIA natalensis.

Cape Province , Natal, Transvaal.

Rtjbiaceae. Tribe Hedyotideae.

Oldenlandia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 58.

Oldenlandia natalensis, 0. Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. vol. iii. p. 121.

The plant here figured and described is the same species

as Hedyotis natalensis Hochst. of the Flora Capensis (vol. iii. p.

12). The genus Hedyotis kept up by Bentham and Hooker

as well as by Harvey in the Flora Capensis has by some later

authors been sunk under Oldenlandia. Oldenlandia natalensis

was collected by Drege, Krauss, Cooper, and Bowker in the

Transkei and Natal, and since then has been extensively

recorded from East London to the spurs of the Drakensbergen

in the northern Transvaal. As -will be seen from the accom-

panying illustration, it is quite a handsome plant which will

repay cultivation. The plant produces several erect stems

from the base and forms a more or less compact bush about

1 ft. in diameter, and the massed effect of the flowers is

particularly striking.

We are indebted to Miss K. A. Lansdell and Miss H.

Forbes for the specimens, which they collected near Durban

in October 1929.

Description : — A small bush about -3 m. high. Leaves

opposite, simple, 4*5 to 6-5 cm. long, *8 to 1*6 cm. broad,

lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, scarcely

narrowed at the base, entire, glabrous above, pubescent

beneath, especially on the ribs. Stipules small, toothed.

Inflorescence a few-flowered sessile umbel usually terminal

and scarcely or not over-topping the uppermost pair of leaves.

Pedicels *5 to 2 mm. long. Calyx-lobes 4, 6 mm. long, *75 mm.

broad, linear, acute, ciliate. Corolla-tube 1-4 cm. long,

cylindric, sparsely pilose; lobes 4, 2-5 mm. long, 1-5 mm.

broad, ovate, sub-acute, sparsely hirsute on the back. Anthers

sessile, 1-75 mm. long. Ovary globose, bluntly ridged, with

2 chambers; placenta plate-like projecting into the chamber

and with ovules on the outer face. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 8309.)

Plate 364. — Fig. 1, cross-section of stem; Fig. 2, stipule; Fig. 3,

upper portion of corolla showing stamens and part of style ; Fig. 4, cross-

section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

C.Letty del.

Plate 365.

SCILLA NATALENSIS.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Natal, Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

Scilla, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 814.

Scilla natalensis, Planch, in Flore des Senes, t. 1043 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi.

p. 482.

According to the Botanical Magazine (t. 5379), where this

species was figured in 1863, Scilla natalensis was introduced

into Europe from Natal by Mr. van Houtte. It is certainly

the most handsome species of the genus, and when grown in

masses the effect during the time the plant is in full bloom is

very pleasing. The usual colour of the flowers is a deep blue,

and the specimen we have figured should be considered as a

colour variety. The bulbs of Scilla natalensis have been

examined with a view to their possible use as a rat poison, but

were found to be ineffective. In Basutoland the natives

utilise the plant as a medicine for cattle suffering from lung

sickness, and in the case of humans suspected of suffering with

internal tumours a decoction of the bulb is taken as an enema.

The specimen figured was growing in the grounds of the

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — Bulb 8 cm. long, 6*5 cm. in diam. at the

base, ovoid, covered with brown membranous leaf-bases.

Leaves about 9, 14 cm. long, 4-2 cm. broad at the base, ovate,

acuminate, acute, with a distinct mid-nerve and numerous

lateral nerves, glabrous. Scape -7 m. long, 6 mm. in diam.,

convex on one side, somewhat keeled on the other, glabrous.

Raceme up to 35 cm. long. Bracts 5 mm. long, linear. Pedicels

purplish, T6 mm. long, terete. Perianth-segments 7 mm.

long, 3-5 mm. broad, elliptic, obtuse, with a minute tuft of

glandular hairs at the apex. Filaments adnate to the base of

the perianth-segments, 5 mm. long, 1-5 mm. broad, flattened,

elliptic, narrowed above; anthers 1-25 mm. long, versatile.

Ovary 3 mm. diam., globose, glabrous; style 2 mm. long;

stigma simple, glandular. Young fruits 8 mm. long, obtusely

3-lobed, surrounded at the base with the remains of the

perianth and capped with the persistent style. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8311.)

Plate 365. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, a stamen; Fig. 3, young

fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

360

K.A.LaJisdell del.

Plate 366.

LITTONIA MODESTA.

Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Uvularieae.

Littonia, Boole. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 831.

Littonia modesta, Hook, in Bot. Mag. t. 4723 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 527.

Sir William Hooker in 1853 first described the genus

Littonia from a plant sent by Mr. McKen of the Natal Botanic

Garden to Kew, where it flowered in April 1853. The genus

is named after Dr. Samuel Litton, who was Professor of

Botany in the Royal Dublin Society for twenty-one years.

Littonia and a few allied genera were formerly placed in a

distinct family, but are now considered as a section of the

family Liliaceae.

Littonia modesta is a scandent plant found growing in bush.

It extends from East London to Natal and Swaziland and into

the northern Transvaal, and has also been recorded from the

eastern parts of the Orange Free State. A near ally of the

species is Sandersonia aurantiaca, which we hope to figure

shortly, but the former may be at once distinguished by its

tendril-tipped leaves. Both plants have tubers and are easy

of cultivation, but are not so generally known to horticulturists

as they should be. We are indebted to Miss K. A. Lansdell

for the specimen, which she collected in the grounds of the

Natal Herbarium, Durban.

Description : — A scandent plant with a small tuber.

Stems simple, glabrous. Leaves about 13 cm. long, -8 to 1*2

cm. broad, lanceolate, long attenuated into a tendril, glabrous.

Flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves. Pedicels up to L5

cm. long, terete, glabrous. Perianth campanulate, 2-2 cm.

long, glabrous ; tube very short ; lobes lanceolate, acuminate,

acute, with a prominent mid-rib. Stamens inserted at the

base of the perianth-tube; filaments 3 mm. long, flattened.

linear; anthers 5 mm. long, oblong. Ovary 6 mm. long,

ellipsoid, glabrous; style 3 mm. long, terete; lobes 1-5 mm.

long, linear. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8312.)

Plate 366. — Fig. 1, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 2, portion of style

showing stigmas.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

367

C.Letty del.

Plate 367.

MASSONIA Bowkeri.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Basutoland.

Liliaceae. Tribe Allieae.

Massonia, Thunb. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 806.

Massonia Bowkeri, Bkr. in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xi. 390 ; FI. Cap.

vol. vi. p. 412.

On Plate 46 we figured the first representative of the genus

Massonia, and only now have the opportunity of illustrating

another species of the same genus. Massonia Bowkeri was

first collected by Mr. Fred Bowker in the Orange Free State

and described by Mr. J. G. Baker in 1871. From the horti-

culturist’s point of view the species of Massonia are not very

appealing, as none of them are particularly showy plants.

They should, however, find a place in any local collection

of native plants, though they are not very easily cultivated.

In Basutoland Massonia Bowkeri is one of the plants employed

by the witch doctors. In certain illnesses, if the divining

bones indicated this plant, it is then powdered and placed in

incisions made on the body of the patient.

We are indebted to Madame Wedlake Santanerra for the

specimens, which she collected at Maseru in Basutoland.

Description : — Bulb 1*5 cm. in diam. Leaves 2, opposite,

spreading on the ground, about 4 cm. long, 3-5 cm. broad,

broadly oblong, glabrous. Flowers in a globose head, half

enclosed by the base of the leaves and surrounded by a number

of ovate acuminate bracts ; each flower subtended by its own

bract. Perianth-tube 12 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; lobes

about 5 mm. long, spreading. Stamens inserted in the throat

of the perianth; filaments united at the base into a shallow

cup. Ovary glabrous; style about 1-2 cm. long; stigma

small, capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8191.)

Plate 367. — Fig. 1, one of bracts surrounding the flowers; Fig. 2, a

single flower with its subtending bract ; Fig. 3, median longitudinal section

of a flower.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

368

A

C.Letty del

Plate 368.

ERICA Macowanii.

Cape Province.

Ericaceae. Tribe Ericeae.

Erica, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 590.

Erica MacOwanii, Cufino in Bull. Soc. Bot. Ital., 1903, 290 ; FI. Cap.

vol. iv. sect. i. p. 77.

The genus Erica is represented in South Africa by about

500 species, mostly confined to the south-western portion of

the Cape Province. A few species are found on the Drakens-

bergen and along this range extending into the northern

Transvaal. Erica Macowanii belongs to the subgenus

Syringodea characterised by having a long tubular corolla.

The accompanying plate should be compared with that of

Erica blenna on Plate 199, which illustrates a member of the

subgenus Euerica in which the corolla is not tubular. The

species figured here was first collected by the late Prof. P.

MacOwan on the Zwart Berg in the Caledon district, and does

not appear to have been extensively collected since. E.

MacOwanii was distinguished from E. perspicua by the 4-

chambered ovary, but the specimens dissected when drawing

up the following description showed a constantly 8-chambered

ovary. The late Dr. H. Bolus in his copy of the Flora Capensis

has noted : “ Cufino in his description said the ovary was 4-

celled, but it was since found that most, if not all, were 8-

celled (or nearly so) as in E. perspicua .” We are indebted to

Mrs. Kenny, who collected the specimens near Sir Lowry’s

Pass in September 1929.

Description : — Leaves 4-nate, 4 mm. long, shortly

petioled, linear-lanceolate, subacute, flat on the face, convex

and channelled on the back, with scabrid margins, glabrous ;

young leaves linear, pubescent, long-ciliate. Flowers solitary

and sessile at the ends of short axillary branchlets. Bracts

similar to the leaves, but somewhat keeled on the back, shortly

ciliate, glabrous. Sepals 7 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, ovate,

subobtuse, keeled and sulcate on the back, shortly ciliate,

glabrous. Corolla red below, passing into yellow above ; tube

2 cm. long, 4 mm. in diameter, slightly curved, pilose; lobes

4 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad at the base, ovate, rounded above,

pilose. Anthers included, 2 mm. long, blunt at the base,

scabrous. Ovary 5 mm. in diam., depressed-globose, 8-

chambered, glabrous; style 1-8 cm. long, terete; stigma

capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8285.)

Plate 368. — Fig. 1, a single leaf; Fig. 2, bract (back view); Fig. 3,

bract (front view) ; Fig. 4, a single flower ; Fig. 5, part of stamen (side

view); Fig. 6, part of stamen (front view); Fig. 7, pistil; Fig. 8, cross-

section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

369

C.Letty del.

Plate 369.

ALOE Greatheadii.

Kalahari.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

Aloe, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776.

Aloe Greatheadii, Schonl. in Rec. Albany Mus. vol. i. p. 121.

Aloe Greatheadii was first collected by Dr. S. Schonland

and Dr. J. B. Greathead at Mapellapoede, 18 miles north of

Serowe on the road to Lake N’ Garni in August 1903. It has

since been found to be widely distributed in the Transvaal.

It is closely related to A. grandidentata, which we figured on

Plate 286, but differs in having a thick caudex, spotted on

upper leaves surfaces, and a more distinct “ bulb ” at the base

of the perianth.

We are indebted to Mr. E. E. Galpin, F.L.S., who for-

warded us living material from Magoeba’s Kloof, Northern

Transvaal in June 1929.*

Description : — Caulescent. Trunk ascending, 10 to 12

cm. thick, up to 30 cm. high. Leaves in a terminal dense

rosette, lanceolate, outer about 23 cm. long, 6 to 7 cm. broad

low down and 1 cm. thick, slightly incurved, upper surface

nearly flat, dark shining green, with numerous elongated

whitish spots which, especially in the lower portion, are united

into a number of irregular transverse bands, lower surface

unspotted, light green, with a few small prickles on the outer

surface near the tip, marginal prickles very pointed, usually

quite straight, brown, separated by rounded fairly regular

interspaces, which are 7 to 8 mm. long. Inflorescence 60 to

120 cm. high, usually branched. Peduncle glaucous, subterete,

bearing a number of ovate-lanceolate bracts in the axils of

* In a letter accompanying the specimens Mr. Galpin writes that his

specimens “ are typical when growing in deep shade and not subject to

veld fires.” The white spots on the upper surface of the leaf, therefore,

do not appear on the plants growing in such habitats.

which buds are present, when the terminal raceme is in flower.

Iiaceme moderately dense, usually about 15 cm. long. Bracts

deltoid-acuminate, lower about 15 mm. long, upper gradually

smaller. Pedicels nearly twice the length of the bracts, but

some (in the same raceme) only about | their length. Flower

buds upright, whitish, with 6 broad longitudinal stripes which

are dark-green above and become pale-reddish lower down.

Open flowers drooping, 3 cm. long; perianth curved, strongly

constricted above the base, tube a little over half the length

of the perianth ; outer petals, both inside and outside, whitish,

with a broad pale-red median line, inner petals similarly

coloured on the outside, but with yellowT margin above and

on the inside yellow with a reddish median line ; stamens and

style slightly exserted, filaments j^ellow, anthers on the inside,

reddish-brown outside. [Dr. Schonland’s original description.]

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8078.)

Plate 369. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section

of a flower.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

370

C.Letty del.

Plate 370.

HYPOESTES verticillaris .

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal.

Acanthaceae. Tribe Justicieae.

Hypoestes, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 1122.

Hypoestes verticillaris, R. Br. Prodr. 474, in obs. ; FI. Cap. vol. v.

sect. i. p. 88.

The genus Hypoestes is represented by about 60 species,

natives of Africa, Madagascar, East India, China, the Malay

Archipelago, and Australia. Six of these species are found in

South Africa, mostly in the eastern and northern districts.

They are absent from the central and western areas of the

Union. H. verticillaris, the species figured on the accompany-

ing Plate, is the best known and has a wider distribution than

any of the other native species. It is also abundant in tropical

Africa.

The specimens were collected by Miss C. Letty in the

Fountains Valley near Pretoria, where it forms a dense

undergrowth in the bush groups. This appears to be the

normal habitat of the species.

Description : — A herb. Stems straggling -3 to *5 mm.

long, with internodes up to 5 cm. long, hirsute. Leaves

opposite, 4 to 8 cm. long, elliptic-lanceolate, acute, narrowed

at the base into a petiole 1 to 3 cm. long, hirsute above and

beneath. Flowers arranged in sessile bracteate spikes borne

on axillary penduncles. Bracts up to 7 mm. long, hirsute;

the 2 outer united at the base to form a tube. Calyx hidden

by the bracts; segments 5, lanceolate, acute, shortly pubes-

cent. Corolla bilabiate; tube about 1 cm. long, slender,

dilated above, hirsute; upper lip strongly reflexed about \

the length of the tube, shallowly 3-lobed; lower lip curling

downwards, abruptly acuminate into a long curved point.

Stamens 2, exserted ; filaments often hairy ; anthers 1-thecous.

Ovary glabrous, style as long as the stamens, shortly 2-fid at

the apex. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8178.)

Plate 370. — Fig. 1, corolla; Fig. 2, calyx with 2 bracteoles; Fig. 3,

calyx removed, 2 bracteoles round ovary ; Fig. 4, ovary and part of style.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

C.Letty del.

Plate 371.

ALOE ACULEATA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloeneae.

Aloe, Linn. ; Benth. et HooJc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776.

Aloe aculeata, Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. vol. v. p. 34.

This handsome Aloe is found in the Northern Transvaal,

where it occurs in open bush country and forms, when in

flower, an attractive feature of the vegetation. The unopened

flowers of the raceme are bright orange-scarlet, while the

opened flowers on the lower portion of the raceme are bright

lemon-yellow. In young plants the peduncle is usually

unbranched, but commonly there are from 1 to 3 upright

branches, and in some cases as many as 5 branches.

The species was originally collected in the Zoutpansberg

and was added to the Aloe collection of the Division of Plant

Industry, Pretoria, where it flowers in May. Our Plate was

prepared from specimens growing in Pretoria.

Description : — Stem usually short, rarely up to 1 m. high,

with a dense rosette of leaves. Leaves strongly recurved

upwards, 30 cm. long, 8 cm. broad at the base, ovate-lanceolate,

acuminate, acute, pungent, prickly on both surfaces, with

prickles on the margins; prickles 5 mm. long, 8 mm. apart,

dark-brown. Inflorescence about 1 m. high, sparsely branched,

with the branches ending in a raceme 26 cm. long ; branches of

inflorescence 1 cm. in diam., rather woody, striate, covered

with empty bracts. Bracts scarious, 1*15 cm. long, 5-5 mm.

broad, ovate-oblong, acuminate, acute, concave on the face,

convex on the back, glabrous. Flowers shortly pedicefled,

strongly reflexed. Perianth 3-5 cm. long, 9 mm. in diam.,

broadest about the middle; lobes 1-8 cm. long, oblong, obtuse,

tightly folding over one another. Filaments 3-5 cm. long,

linear, projecting from the perianth, withdrawn in old flowers ;

anthers 5 mm. long, linear. Ovary 6 mm. long, ellipsoid;

style 4 cm. long, terete, lengthening with age. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8183.)

Plate 371. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, corolla opened to show

stamens and pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

3 72

Plate 372.

LORANTHUS Zeyheri.

Transvaal.

Loranthaceae. Tribe Eulorantheae.

Loranthus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 207.

Loranthus Zeyheri, Harv. in Harv. and Sond. FI. Cap. vol. ii. p. 576;

FI. Cap. vol. v. sect. ii. p. 113.

Loranthus Zeyheri is quite common as a parasite on Acacia

caffra and A. Karroo in the neighbourhood of Pretoria. It

was first collected by Zeyher on the Magaliesberg Range and

described by Dr. Harvey about the year 1861. The drawings

of the dissections of the flower should be compared with those

of Loranthus rubromarginatus on Plate 336. In the latter

species the filament is produced as a tooth in front of the

anther, while in the species here illustrated such a tooth is

absent. The presence or absence of this tooth is a con-

venient and obvious character for grouping certain species.

The fruits of Loranthus Zeyheri produce a rubber-like substance

and are used locally for the preparation of bird-lime. In 1929

the fruits were examined by the Imperial Institute, London,

and reported on as follows : — “ The extract although some-

what rubber-like in appearance contains little, if any, caout-

chouc, but consists essentially of soft tacky resins emulsified

with water.”

We are indebted to Mr. C. M. Quarry for the specimens

which he collected at the Pyramids near Pretoria.

Description: — Branches woody, up to 1*5 cm. in diam. ;

bark somewhat rough, with distinct lenticels. Leaves aggre-

gated on short axillary branches, 2-5 to 3*5 cm. long, 1*5 to 1*7

cm. broad, elliptic, obtuse, shortly narrowed at the base,

indistinctly digitately veined, finely and densely pubescent.

Flowers in umbels at the apex of the leafy branchlets. Bract

resembling the leaves but smaller. Calyx 3 mm. long,

truncate, ciliate on the rim. Corolla 3*5 cm. long, in bud

white below and with a green beak in the uppermost

glabrous, when expanding splitting into a bird-cage-like

structure and eventually splitting laterally and the lobes

becoming free. Filaments strongly recurved in open flowers ;

anthers 5 mm. long, linear. Style 5 cm. long, terete, glabrous,

surrounded at the base with a brown disc; stigma capitate.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8291.)

Plate 372. — Fig. 1, upper part of bud showing cage-like arrangement;

Fig. 2, corolla opened showing stamens, style, and stigma ; Fig. 3, lower part

of flower showing calyx and subtending bract.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

3 73.

..villi'

ailin'#

C. Lefty del.

Plate 373.

LEUCADENDRON cordatum.

Cape Province.

Proteaceae. Tribe Proteae.

Leroadendron, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 169.

Leucadendron cordatum, Phillips in Ann. Bolus Herb. vol. ii. p. 97.

The accompanying illustration is that of the female of the

species, which was not known at the time the original descrip-

tion was published in 1918. The male plant on which the

species was founded was collected near the Montagu Baths, and

the specimen now figured comes from near the same locality.

We have no hesitation, however, in regarding it as L. cordatum ,

as the distinctly cordate-based leaves are quite peculiar in the

genus and somewhat resemble the leaves of Protea latifolia,

R. Br. Both the male and female plants are extremely

handsome, as the broad leaves which surround the heads

become a bright cariary-yellow when the flowers are mature.

As is so common with many species of the genus Leucadendron,

the yellow leaves at the base of the heads turn green and

function as ordinary foliage leaves.

We are indebted to Mrs. D. P. Burgers of P.O. Kao,

Montagu, C.P., who collected and forwarded us specimens in

August 1929.

Description : — Branches shortly villous. Leaves about

3*5 cm. long, about 1*5 cm. broad, bluntly mucronate,

glabrous; leaves surrounding the head 8 cm. long, 5*5 cm.

broad, broadly elliptic-ovate, pubescent on the lower portion,

otherwise glabrous. Female head 2 cm. long, 1-8 cm. in diam.,

subglobose. Receptacle 1*2 cm. long, 8 mm. in diam. at the

base, conical. Bracts 1*9 cm. long, 1*9 cm. broad, almost

quadrate in outline, very shortly and bluntly apiculate.

Flowers massed in a small group at the apex of the cone.

Perianth-tube 9 mm. long, flattened, villous on the outer side ;

lobes 3 mm. long, linear-oblong, obtuse, glabrous, each bearing

a staminode. Ovary 2 mm. long, ellipsoid, glabrous, hairy at

the base; style 1 cm. long, glabrous; stigma obliquely-

capitate. Hypogynous scales 2 mm. long, linear. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8176.)

Plate 373. — Fig. 1, female head; Fig. 2, longitudinal section of head;

Fig. 3, single flower ; Fig. 4, bract (inside view) ; Fig. 5, bract (outside view) ;

Fig. 6, cross section of perianth-tube; Fig. 7, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

C.Letty del.

Plate 374.

LACHENALIA orchioides.

Cape Province, Namaqualand Minor.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

Lachenalia, Jacq. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 807.

Lachenalia orchioides, Ait. Hort. Eew. vol. i. p. 460 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 426.

This species of Lachenalia, like several others in the genus,

was amongst the first of the South African bulbous plants

known in European horticulture. It is one of the most

common species of the genus and was first figured almost 150

years ago ; since that date we only know of two other illus-

trations in botanical literature. Lachenalia orchioides differs

from the species figured on Plates 166 and 184 in having the

perianth-segments more or less equal, and belongs, therefore,

to the subgenus Orchiops. More than one colour-form of the

species is known. At the Cape the common names “ groen

viooltjie ” and “ wild hyacinth ” are applied to the plant.

The specimen from which our Plate was prepared was

collected by Mrs. A. W. Freemantle at Milnerton near Cape

Town.

Description : — Bulb about 1*7 cm. in diam., globose-

compressed. Leaves 2, basal, 15 to 20 cm. long, 1 to 2-2 cm.

broad, long-lanceolate or more or less strap-shaped, sub-

acute, sheathing at the base. Peduncle (including the

inflorescence) 13 to 26 cm. long, terete, green with purple

markings at the base. Racemes 8 to 12 cm. long; bracts

2 mm. long, deltoid. Pedicels about 3 mm. long. Perianth

1 cm. long ; outer segments oblong, slightly shorter than the

inner, green-tipped ; inner segments yellow, oblong, broadened

at the tip. Filaments about 7 mm. long, subulate; the 3

opposite the inner segments shorter than those opposite the

outer segments. Ovary slightly 3-lobed; style about 6 mm.

long, subulate, exserted in the old flowers. (National Her-

barium, Pretoria, No. 8188.)

Plate 374. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

■/

3 75.

C.Letty del.

Plate 375.

STAPELIA concinna.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Stapelia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Stapelia concinna, Masson, var. paniculata, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol.

iv. sect. i. p. 968.

Stapelia concinna is one of the earliest known species of the

genus, having been figured by Masson in the year 1796, and

up to the time of the publication of the Flora Capensis in 1909

has not been collected by any other collector. Mr. N. E.

Brown described the var. paniculata, which he states differs

from the species by the corolla being an entirely dull purple

or purple-brown, without transverse yellow lines on the lobes.

The flower is extremely beautiful and the general colour, due

to whitish hairs on a purple-brown background, is a deep

vinaceous-grey (R.C.S., Plate 50). Unlike most species of the

genus, the flowers are entirely without scent. Specimens were

collected by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys on shales near the bank of

the Doom River on the road from Loeriesfontein to Nieuwonds-

ville in the Calvinia district. It was grown and flowered at

the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in April 1930, and our

Plate was prepared from these plants.

Description : — Stems 3 to 15 cm. high, rather slender,

7 mm. in diam., obtusely 4-angled, slightly grooved between

the angles, with rudimentary leaves along the angles, velvety

puberulous. Flowers 3 to 5 in a cluster near the base of the

stems. Pedicel 3*5 cm. long, puberulous. Calyx-lobes 5 mm.

long, lanceolate, velvety-puberulous. Corolla 3 cm. in diam. ;

lobes about 1 cm. long, ovate, acute, dull purple, covered with

semi-erect stiff whitish hairs ; disc covered with similar hairs.

Outer corona of 5 dark purple spreading linear lobes obscurely

3-toothed at the apex ; inner corona-lobes linear, with a dorsal

deltoid wing, erect, dark-purple. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 8445.)

Plate 375. — Fig. 1, calyx with ovary; Fig. 2, corona; Fig. 3, an inner

corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

3 7G.

C.Letty del.

Plate 376.

DUVALIA PARVIFLORA.

Cape Province.

ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe Stapelieae.

Duvaeia, Haw. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Oen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Duvalia parviflora, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 1034.

The genus Duvalia is represented in South Africa by about

15 species. One species, also found in South Africa, occurs in

Tropical Africa and one species has been recorded from Arabia.

The species are succulent dwarf herbs, with the leaves very

much reduced, and can usually be easily distinguished from the

species of the allied genera Caralluma and Stapelia by the

replicate corolla-lobes which often form narrow vertical plates.

The genus is not very well known and the majority of the

species have been described from single specimens. Mr. N. S.

Pillans has collected most of the species described by Mr. N. E.

Brown in the Flora Capensis. The specimen from which our

Plate was prepared was collected by Mr. C. D. B. Liebenberg

at Matjesfontein in November 1926, and was grown and

flowered at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — Plant spreading and growing in a clump.

Stems terete, somewhat resembling small green potatoes, 1 to

2 cm. in diam. ; each segment with a few hard tubercles, especi-

ally near the apex. Flowers usually 2 together, 1*4 cm. in

diam. when expanded, star-shaped. Sepals 3 mm. long, ovate,

acuminate. Corolla-lobes 6 mm. long, strongly reflexed and

channelled beneath, appearing linear from above, obtuse,

glabrous ; disc raised into a cushion-like ring supporting the

outer corona. Outer corona flat and disc-like, resting on the

disc of the corolla; inner corona of 5 free plates appearing

obovate-spathulate when viewed from above. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8454.)

Plate 376.— Fig. 1, flower-bud ; Fig. 2, flower seen from beneath ; Fig. 3,

sepals with ovary; Fig. 4, single corolla-lobe seen from beneath; Fig. 5,

corona.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

377.

CLetty del.

Plate 377.

BULBINE MESEMBRYANTHEMOIDES.

Cape Province.

LILIACEAE. Tribe Asphodeleae.

Buebike, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 784.

Bulbine mesembryanthemoid.es, Haw. in Phil. Mag. 1825, p. 31 ; FI.

Cap. vol. vi. p. 365.

BuTbine, of which we figured a representative on Plate 217,

is a South African genus of about 25 species with 3 repre-

sentatives in Tropical Africa and 2 in Australia. The genus,

like so many other genera of our native bulbous monocotyle-

dons, requires revision, as the majority of the species described

in the Flora Capensis are known from single specimens only.

The species figured on the accompanying Plate has been

recorded from the districts of Uitenhage and Albany, and also

from the neighbourhood of the village of Lady Grey in the

Robertson district. It is one of the remarkable “ window

plants ” of which we have several examples in the family

Aizoaceae. The leaves are quite buried in the ground and the

light enters the semi-transparent top and illuminates the

chlorophyll-bearing cells which line the walls of the leaf. The

species was known in cultivation in England in 1825, when a

plant collected by Bowie flowered at Kew. The specimen

illustrated flowered at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria,

and was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at Willow-

more, C.P., in September 1929.

Description : — Boots tuberous, divided into about 4

branches. Leaves 2, very fleshy, very unequal, subterranean,

truncate and shallowly concave at the apex; the larger leaf

up to 3 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, and 1 cm. thick; the smaller

leaf 3 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, and 5 mm. thick. Peduncle

slender, arising from between the two leaves, about 6 cm. long.

Raceme about 8-flowered. Bracts scarious, ovate. Pedicel

1*5 cm. long, spreading. Perianth-segments bright yellow,

about 7 mm. long. Filaments about § as long as the perianth-

segments, bearded near the apex ; anthers about 1 mm. long.

Ovary slightly 3-lobed, 2 mm. long; style subulate, 5 mm.

long; stigma capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

8284.)

Plate 377. — Fig. 1, a single flower.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

.3 7*.

C.Let-ty del.

Plate 378.

PIARANTHUS foetidus.

Cape Province.

Asclepixdaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Piakanthtts, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 782.

Piaranthus foetidus, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 1021.

An account of the genus Piaranthus was given under Plate

324, where we figured the species P. geminatus. The type of

the species is a plant cultivated by Mr. N. E. Brown at Kew and

sent to him by the late Dr. Harry Bolus in 1878. It has sub-

sequently been collected by Mr. N. S. Pillans in the Bedford and

Graaff Reinet districts. P. foetidus may be distinguished from

P. geminatus by the raised purple ridges on the inner corona-

lobes and also by its smaller flowers. The flowers have a

sweet foetid odour. This plant and the species previously

figured were growing in the same pot, and it was only when they

flowered that they were recognised as two different species. It

is therefore probable that they were both collected by the

same collector on the same spot, namely, by Mr. C. A. Smith,

B.Sc., at Klipplaat in the JansenviUe district, and may

possibly be hybrids. The specimens from which our Plate

was prepared flowered at the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria, in February 1930.

Description : — A decumbent spreading plant. Stems

2 to 4 cm. long, about 1*5 cm. in diam., bluntly 4-angled, with

tubercles ending in a small white spine. Flowers usually 2

together on the upper part of the stem, more rarely solitary.

Pedicels 2 cm. long, gradually and slightly thickened upwards,

glabrous. Sepals 2-5 mm. long, ovate, acute. Corolla lobed

as far as the apex of the sepals ; lobes 1 cm. long, 5 mm. broad

at the base, ovate, acute, green and glabrous on the back,

yellowish on the face with close dark-brown markings, the

markings being closer on the uppermost densely hirsute.

Corona-lobes incumbent on the anthers, with their tips slightly

overlapping, with raised dark brown tubercles and tubercular

markings, 3-toothed at the apex. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 8455.)

Plate 378. — Fig. 1, pedicel and calyx; Fig. 2, corolla from beneath;

Fig. 3, corona ; Fig. 4, an inner corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

379

G.Letty del.

Plate 379.

CARALLUMA lutea.

Cape Province , Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieab.

Caralluma, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Oen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 782.

Caralluma lutea, N. E. Br. in Hook. Ic. PL t. 1901 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect.

i. p. 885.

The genus Caralluma is represented by over 80 species

distributed in North and Tropical Africa, South Europe,

Socotra, and through Arabia to India. Over 20 species are

represented in South Africa, mostly found in the Karroid areas,

but 2 species have been collected in the Transvaal. The genus

is most nearly related to Stapelia, but can be distinguished by

the outer corona-lobes, which are usually connate at the base

and not free as in Stapelia. The species figured flowers very

profusely ; the flowers are in large clusters which often

contain far more than is shown in the illustration. The

branches are often much shorter and thicker than those figured.

Caralluma lutea is one of the most evil-smelling of the

stapelioids, the odour resembling that of decaying fish. On

Plate 224 of this work we figured a species of Caralluma for the

first time, and subsequently another species on Plate 322.

Our specimens were collected by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys on the

Veld Reserve, Fauresmith, O.F.S. and flowered at the Division

of Plant Industry, March 1930.

Description : — Stems green, 4-angled, 7’5 to 15-5 cm.

long, 1*8 cm. in diam., toothed, glabrous; teeth about 3 mm.

long, rather distant on the angles, stout, horizontal, acute.

Flowers clustered near the base of the stem. Pedicels about

5 cm. long, glabrous. Sepals 5 mm. long, lanceolate,

acuminate. Corolla pure yellow, 6 cm. long ; lobes 2 cm. long,

lanceolate, acuminate, ciliate with vibratile clavate purple

hairs. Outer corona of five subquadrate spreading lobes 4 mm.

long, truncate and minutely toothed at the apex; inner

corona-lobes 4 ram. long, subulate, with the apices curving

slightly outwards and with a small subulate process at the

base. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8459.)

Plate 379. — Fig. 1, part of pedicel with calyx; Fig. 2, one of the

vibratile hairs ; Fig. 3, corona ; Fig. 4, an inner corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

HHO.

C.Letty del.

Plate 380.

HUERNIA LONGITUBA.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Htjeknia, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Oen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Huernia longituba, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 912.

This species of Huernia is allied to the species we figured

on Plates 216 and 229, but is distinguished from them and

other members of the genus by the long corolla-tube, which is

almost an inch long. The specimen from which Mr. N. E.

Brown described the species was collected by Mr. N. S. Pillans

near Douglas in Griqualand West, and the specimens from

which our Plate was prepared were presented by Miss M.

Wilman of the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum,

Kimberley. The genus Huernia contains some 30 species, of

which one is recorded from Arabia, 6 or 7 from Tropical Africa

and the remainder from South Africa. Most of the South

African species occur in the Karroo area, but two are recorded

from Natal and Zululand and three from the Transvaal.

The plants flowered at the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria.

Description : — A tufted plant. Stems 4 to 6 cm. long,

1*2 cm. in diam. (including teeth), sharply 4-angled, toothed

on the margins, glabrous. Flowers 2 to 3 from the base of the

stems, 3 cm. in diam. when fully expanded. Calyx-lobes 7-5

mm. long, long-acuminate from an ovate base, with a distinct

keel on the back. Corolla-tube 2*3 cm. long, 1 cm. in diam.,

distinctly ribbed without, glabrous, pale yellow within and

spotted with purple, but at the base banded with purple more

or less horizontal irregular lines, closely papillate, the papillae

becoming smaller and less dense in the upper part of the tube,

the lowermost portion of the tube (with the horizontal lines)

free from papillae; papillae spotted with purple; lobes 1 cm. long,

about 1 cm. broad at the base, acuminate, acute, covered within

with small scattered papillae. Outer corona-lobes dark purple,

2 mm. long, lying horizontal, bifid at the apex, with the lobes

truncate ; inner corona-lobes dark purple, almost black,

produced beyond the stamens and strongly reflexing, linear,

slightly thickened above, shortly hirsute on the thickened

portion. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8453.)

Plate 380. — Fig. 1, calyx ; Fig. 2, corolla (longitndinal section) ; Fig. 3,

corolla cut transversely showing horizontal bands and corona ; Fig. 4,

portion of corolla with papillae ; Fig. 5, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

38/

C . Letty del.

Plate 381.

RHIGOZUM BREVISPINOSUM.

Transvaal.

Bignoniaceae. Tribe Tecomeae.

Rhigozum, Burch. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 1048.

Rhigozum brevispinosum, 0. Kuntze in Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin, vol. iv.

p. 270; FI. Trop. Afr. vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 531.

This plant is described in the Flora Capensis under the

name Rhigozum spinosum, Burch., but was subsequently con-

sidered by Sprague to be the same plant described by O.

Kuntze as R. brevispinosum. It differs from the common

South African “ driedoorn ” (R. trichotomum) in not having

trichotomous branches. The genus Rhigozum is confined to

Africa and is represented by about six species, which are all

erect spiny shrubs, with simple, trifoliolate, or pinnate leaves.

The species are mostly showy and form a conspicuous feature

of the landscape when in full bloom. The specimen from

which our Plate was prepared was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole

Evans, C.M.G., at Bandolier Kop in the Louis Trichardt

district of the northern Transvaal.

Description : — An erect slightly branched spiny shrub

1-3*5 m. high. Branches glabrous, with the spines developing

into leafy branchlets. Leaves fascicled on tomentose cushions,

simple, 6 mm. long, subterete or sometimes linear-spathulate,

tomentose. Flowers solitary or fascicled on the leaf-cushions.

Pedicels up to 4 mm. long, tomentose. Calyx-tube 6 mm. long,

5 mm. in diam. above, campanulate, tomentose ; lobes 3 mm.

long, broadly ovate, tomentose. Corolla about 4-4*5 cm. in

diam. when expanded; tube about 2 cm. long, somewhat

constricted at the middle, glabrous without, glandular-pilose

at the throat; lobes 1-1*8 cm. long, suborbicular, slightly

emarginate. Stamens attached at the constricted portion of

the corolla-tube, slightly exserted. Ovary ellipsoid, glabrous ;

style almost reaching to the tips of the corolla-lobes ; stigma

shortly 2-lobed. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8472.)

Plate 381. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,

calyx showing style ; Fig. 3, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

MARY GUNN LIBRARY-

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE

PRIVATE BAG X 101

PRETORIA 0001

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

C.Letty del-

Plate 382.

CEROPEGIA Woodii.

Natal, Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Ceropegieae.

Ceropegia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 779.

Ceropegia Woodii, Schltr. in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. vol. xviii. Beibl. 45, p. 34 ;

FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 823.

This species of Ceropegia is closely allied to C. barber-

tonensis, which we recently figured, but is readily distinguished

by the whitish upper surface of the leaves. It was first

described by the late Dr. R. Schlechter from material collected

by Medley Wood in Natal in the year 1881. The species was

figured by Wood and Evans ( Natal Plants, t. 357), and they

state that it is a very graceful plant for hanging baskets.

The plant was figured again in 1900 ( Botanical Magazine,

t. 7704) from plants which flowered in the Botanic Gardens,

Cambridge, and also at Kew. The plant is easily propagated

from seed or from the tubers formed on the stems. In its

natural habitat the pendulous stems may be up to 3 ft. long.

Our specimens were collected by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys at

the Lomati Falls, near Barberton, not far from where the plants

of C. barbertonensis were found. They were growing on

exposed rocks in moist places. The plants flowered at the

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in May 1930.

Description : — Stems arising from a tuber. Branches long,

pendulous, reddish in colour, terete, 1 mm. in diam., glabrous ;

nodes 2—4 cm. apart. Leaves petioled; petiole 5 mm. long,

terete, glabrous, reddish with a dark ring at the base;

lamina 0*7-1 *2 cm. long, 0*9-1 *4 cm. broad, ovate, sub-

cordate at the base, shortly apiculate, reddish beneath with the

midrib evident, whitish above with small areas of green,

glabrous. Flowers pedunculate. Peduncle 5 mm. long, terete,

glabrous. Pedicel similar to the peduncle. Sepals 1*25 mm.

long, linear, with a slight cushion at the base, glabrous.

Corolla-tube 1 cm. long, ventricose at the base, 2-5 mm. in

diam., jasper-pink in colour ( R.C.S . PI. XIII), glabrous without

and within except for a few hairs at the constriction within ;

lobes liver-brown (R.C.S. PI. XIV) 5 mm. long, replicate,

curved, with long stiffish cilia. Corona white; outer corona

saucer-shaped; inner corona-lobes 1-5 mm. long, linear,

curved outwards. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8468.)

Plate 382. — Fig. 1, part of pedicel with calyx; Fig. 2, upper portion of

corolla ; Fig. 3, longitudinal section of lower part of corolla-tube ; Fig. 4,

corona.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

:i83

C.Lefcty del.

Plate 383.

DUVALIA RADIATA.

Cape Province ?

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Duvalia, Haw. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Duvalia radiata, Haw. Syn. PI. Succ. p. 45 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 1032.

We have little doubt that the plant figured on the accom-

panying plate is Duvalia radiata, Haw., as described by Mr.

N. E. Brown in the Flora Capensis. The corolla-lobes are not

as strongly replicate as described or as figured in the Botanical

Magazine (t. 619), but as described by Brown the lobes have

a few minute cilia near the base and the annulus is pubescent.

The species was first described by Haworth from specimens

introduced into cultivation in 1779, and though several

subsequent descriptions have appeared they were all taken

over from Haworth, as up to the date of the publication of the

Flora Capensis no further collections are recorded.

We figured the species from a specimen cultivated and

flowered at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, but have

no information as to the original locality.

Description : — A creeping tufted plant. Stems 4-angled,

sometimes bluntly so, with distinct teeth on the angles. Flowers

usually in clusters of 3. Pedicel 1-5 cm. long, 3 mm. in diam.,

glabrous. Sepals 3-5 mm. long, ovate, acute. Corolla about

3 cm. in diam. when fully expanded ; lobes strongly laterally

compressed but not markedly replicate, 1-3 cm. long, 3 mm.

broad, gradually narrowing to the somewhat falcate acute

apex, ciliate with a few hairs on the lower portion; corolla

forming a deep cavity beneath in which the sepals lie ; annulus

pubescent. Outer corona almost circular, lying on the annulus ;

inner corona-lobes somewhat spathulate, yellow. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8456.)

Plate 383. — Fig. 1, flower enlarged ; Fig. 2, back view of flower showing

sepals in depression.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

334

C.Letty del.

Plate 384.

GRADERIA subintegra.

Transvaal.

Scrophulariaceae. Tribe Gerardieae.

Graderia, Benth. in Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 970.

Graderia subintegra, Mast, in Gard. Chron. 1893, vol. xiv. p. 798, fig. 122 ;

FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 390.

This beautiful member of the family Scrojphulariaceae was

described by Dr. M. T. Masters in the Gardeners' Chronicle for

the year 1893, where it was also figured. In its native habitat

the plant is a small bush with decumbent branches arising

from a main stem which has a deep tap root. The inflorescence

in reality is much less densely flowered than is shown in the

illustration quoted above. Small native bushes such as the

one figured here should appeal more to horticulturists than

they do at present, as there can be but little doubt that many

of them would be well worth growing. Graderia subintegra

occurs from the Witwatersrand to the Zoutpansberg in the

northern Transvaal. In the neighbourhood of Pretoria it is

one of the early spring plants, flowering from September to

about the end of November.

We are indebted to Miss C. Letty for the specimens, which

she collected on veld near the Union Buildings, Pretoria.

Description : — A small sub-herbaceous plant with

several branches from a short woody base. Branches about

15-26 cm. long, more or less trailing, pilose with spreading

hairs. Leaves 1-1*75 cm. long, oblong-ovate, sub-acute,

almost entire, glabrous above, pilose beneath. Flowers

axillary, on short pedicels about 5 mm. long. Bracts 2 at the

base of the calyx, 6 mm. long, linear-lanceolate. Calyx

5-lobed, thinly pilose ; lobes about 8 mm. long, acute. Corolla

pink, with a white patch on the lower side, pilose ; tube about

2*2 cm. long, funnel-shaped, pilose; lobes 5, spreading,

rounded at the apex. Stamens 4, inserted on the corolla-

tube; filaments 6-12 mm. long, bearded, one pair longer than

the other ; anthers 2-celled with the cells strongly diverging.

Ovary compressed, 2-celled, many-seeded; style about 2 cm.

long, simple; stigma small, very shortly 2-lobed. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8290.)

Plate 384. — Fig. 1 , median longitudinal section of flower ; Fig. 2, a

stamen ; Fig. 3, hair from filament ; Fig. 4, pistil ; Fig. 5, cross-section of

ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

Plate 385.

LINCONIA alopecuroides .

Cape Province.

Bruniaceae.

Linconia, L. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 672.

Linconia alopecuroides, L. Mant. p. 216; FI. Cap. vol. ii. p. 318.

We previously figured (see Plates 92, 118) representatives

of this endemic family. The genus now illustrated differs from

Brunia in having a bicoccus fruit and from Lonchostoma in the

corolla which has free petals. The genus Linconia is a small

one consisting of 3 species all confined to the south-western

districts of the Cape Province. The species are all heath-like

plants, and are often mistaken for heaths by the uninitiated ;

the flowers are crowded in the axils of the upper leaves,

forming a leafy spike. The species figured here has been

recorded from the Caledon and Swellendam districts. We

are indebted to Mr. T. P. Stokoe, who has sent us so many

rarities, for the specimens.

Description : — A small shrub. Branches glabrous.

Leaves somewhat crowded, up to 1*8 cm. long, 1 mm. broad,

linear, channelled on the upper surface, keeled beneath,

obtuse, with a small black apiculus, glabrous. Inflorescence

1*5-3 cm. long, 1*5-2 cm. in diam., forming a dense sub-

globose spike at the apex of the branches. Bracts 4r-6, 6*5

mm. long, 2*5 mm. broad, ovate, acute, chartaceous, with a

distinct keel, ciliate; the outer pilose at the base. Calyx

adnate to the ovary, with a very shortly 5-lobed limb. Petals

9 mm. long, 3 mm. broad (when flattened out), linear-oblong,

deeply channelled, obtuse, glabrous. Filaments 6 mm. long,

linear, with membranous margins, glabrous; anthers 3 mm.

long, with a blunt apical fleshy appendage, 2-celled, the cells

diverging at the base. Ovary 2-celled, with 2 ovules in each

cell; styles 2, free, 8 mm. long; stigma small, capitate.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8471.)

Plate 385. — Fig. 1, a single flower, with bracts; Fig.

bracts removed ; Fig. 3, pistil ; Fig. 4, stamen (back view) ;

(front view) ; Fig. 6, section of ovary paralled with septum ;

of ovary at right angles to septum.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

2, flower with

Fig. 5, stamen

Fig. 7, section

386

C.Letty del.

Plate 386.

CROTALARIA capensis.

Cape Province , Natal, Transvaal.

Leguminosae. Tribe Genisteae.

Crotalaria, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 479.

Crotalaria capensis, Jacq. Hort. Bot. Vind. vol. iii. p. 36, t. 64; FI. Cap.

vol. ii. p. 46.

This is the first opportunity we have had of figuring a

species of the common South African genus Crotalaria. The

plant we have illustrated is one of the few shrubby species

found in South Africa and one well worthy of more attention

by horticulturists. The genus is represented by over 300

species found in most warm countries, though concentrated in

Africa. Miss I. C. Verdoorn in a recent monograph records

over 100 species from South Africa. The genus is of economic

interest in the Union as several species are the cause of well

defined stock-diseases.

Our Plate was prepared from plants flowering at the

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — A much-branched shrub 1-2 m. high.

Twigs softly greyish-pubescent. Leaves petioled, trifoliolate ;

petioles 1-4 cm. long, pubescent; leaflets 1-5 cm. long, 0-7-

2-5 cm. broad, obovate, mucronate, very shortly petioluled,

strigose, with the intermediate leaflets larger than the lateral

ones. Racemes drooping, peduncled, up to 20 cm. long,

laxly many-flowered, near the apex of the branches and always

opposite a leaf. Bracts 2-5 mm. long, linear, pubescent.

Pedicels 1-1-5 cm. long. Calyx 1-1-5 cm. long, softly

pubescent; lobes slightly longer than the tube, lanceolate-

acuminate. Standard bright yellow, turning reddish with

age, reflexed; wings yellow, shorter than the keel; keel

greenish-yellow, rounded at the middle and bluntly keeled.

Filaments united at the base, unequal in length; anthers

unequal with the small anthers on the longer filaments.

Ovary glabrous ; style abruptly ascending, penicillate on the

upper side near the apex. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 8457.)

Plate 386. — Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, standard; Fig. 3, one of the wings;

Fig. 4, keel; Fig. 5, androecium with enclosed pistil; Fig. 6, pistil; Fig. 7,

a bract.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

387

C. Letty del.

Plate 387.

CEROPEGIA BARBERTONENSIS.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Ceropegieae.

Ceropegia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 779.

Ceropegia barbertonensis, N.E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 1132.

We have figured several species of Ceropegia previously,

and our present plate should be compared with the former

illustrations to show the variable structure of the corolla. The

species figured and described here is most nearly related to

C. Meyeri, which was illustrated on Plate 30, but the corolla-

lobes do not form a canopy, being merely connate at the

apex. The stems do not produce tubers and the leaves are

either green or become reddish with age. Like most members

of the genus, it makes a graceful plant for the conservatory,

the long branches dropping down in festoons from the hanging

basket. The specimen figured flowered at the Division of

Plant Industry, Pretoria, in March 1930, and was originally

collected by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys at the Lomati Falls,

Barberton, Transvaal.

Description : — A twining plant from a tuberous root-

stock. Stem brown, terete, glabrous, with the nodes at

intervals of 3-6 cm. Leaves petioled, sub-fleshy when old;

petiole about 5 mm. long, usually curved, with a dark ring at

the base ; lamina 1-2*2 cm. long, 0-5-2-5 cm. broad, ovate or

elliptic, with distinct immersed reddish veins, bluntly apiculate,

glabrous. Flowers in shortly pedunculate 3-flowered cymes,

usually only one flower developing. Sepals 1*5 mm. long,

lanceolate, with a distinct swollen cushion at the base of each.

Corolla-tube 1*7 cm. long, tubular from a large globose base,

glabrous without, with reflexed hairs within, except on the

swollen portion which is glabrous and marked with tubercles ;

lobes joined to form a cage-like structure, covered with long

purplish rather stiff hairs. Outer corona white, saucer-

shaped; inner corona-lobes white, 2-5 mm. long, narrowed

above and below. Follicles (immature) 9 mm. long, 2 mm. in

diam., terete, glabrous. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

8463.)

Plate 387. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, longitudinal section of

corolla-tube; Fig. 3, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

Plate 388.

PHAENOCOMA prolifera.

Cape Province.

Compositae. Tribe Inuloideae.

Phaenocoma, Don; Benth. et Hootc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 313.

Phaenocoma prolifera, Don in Mem. Wern. Soc. vol. v. (1826), p. 554 ; FI.

Cap. vol. iii. p. 288.

The plant we here figure is the only species in the genus

and is confined to the south-western districts of the Cape

Province. In outward appearance it resembles some species

of Helichrysum and Helipterum, but differs in having the

disc-florets either male or abortive. The plant is commonly

included under the general term “ everlastings ” and the

flower-heads are sometimes gathered and used for decorative

purposes. In the veld the plant is quite conspicuous when in

flower, but is too stiff and rigid and not at all graceful as are

some species of Helichrysum. We are indebted to Dr. I. B.

Pole Evans, C.M.G., for the specimens, which he collected at

Hermanus in the Caledon district, C.P.

Description : — A rigid bush 03-0-6 m. high. Stems

woolly, covered with closely leafy abbreviated branchlets

about 4 mm. long. Leaves closely packed and imbricate on

the branchlets, about 0-75 mm. long, ovate, obtuse, sub-

glabrous. Flower-heads sessile, 5 cm. in diam. Involucral-

scales in many rows ; the outermost linear, brownish, woolly ;

the inner 1-3 cm. long, lanceolate-linear, acute, glabrous.

Receptacle cone-shaped, with 4 angles. Marginal florets

female. Fruit 3-5 mm. long, ellipsoid, densely villous.

Pappus 5 mm. long, minutely barbellate. Disc-florets male.

Corolla-tube 4 mm. long, 0-25 mm. in diam., tubular, glabrous ;

lobes minute. Anthers 2 mm. long, linear, sagittate at the base.

Style 3 mm. long, not divided at the apex. Pappus of a few

bristles (7-12), shortly plumose at the apex. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8473.)

389

C.Letty del.

Plate 389.

HUERNIOPSIS decipiens.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Huerniopsis, N.E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. xvii. p. 171.

Huerniopsis decipiens, N.E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. xvii.

p. 171, t. 12, figs. 9-13; FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 922.

This very distinct Stapelia-like plant was first described

by Mr. N. E. Brown in 1880 from spirit material forwarded

to him by the late Prof. P. MacOwan. Only one species is

known, which also occurs in South-West Africa. The genus

is allied to Piaranthus, examples of which we have previously

figured, but the different habit, and the absence of dorsal

crests to the lobes of the corona distinguish it from this genus.

It, however, resembles Piaranthus in having only a single

corona, but in this respect differs from Huernia, with which it

might at first be confused. The flowers emit a foetid odour

towards the evening. Our Plate was prepared from a plant

which flowered at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria,

but the locality from which it originally came is not known.

Description : — Stem 3-5 cm. long, about 1 cm. in diam.,

obtusely 4-angled, with spreading acute teeth ; teeth 2-3 mm.

long, bearing a pair of very small teeth at the base. Flowers

about mid-way up the stem, arising between the angles.

Pedicel 8 mm. long. Sepals 4 mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate.

Corolla grey-green and glabrous without, rich brown mottled

with short greenish-yellow stripes and shortly pubescent

within; tube 5 mm. long, passing gradually into 5 deltoid

ovate acute lobes which are shortly recurved near the apex.

Corona of 5 lobes arising from the staminal column and adnate

to it ; lobes stout at the base, narrowing into erect points which

exceed the staminal column, brownish on the backs and yellow

on the slightly concave sides below the middle. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8462.)

Plate 389. — Fig. 1, part of pedicel with sepals and ovary ; Fig. 2,

corona ; Fig. 3, a single corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

390

C Letty del.

Plate 390.

EUPHORBIA HEPTAGONA.

Cape Province.

Euphorbiaceae. Tribe Euphorbieae.

Euphorbia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 258.

Euphorbia heptagona, Linn. Sp. PI. ed. i. p. 450; FI. Cap. vol. v. sect.

ii. p. 350.

This species of Euphorbia is among the earliest known

species of the genus from South Africa. According to Mr.

N. E. Brown, it was cultivated at the Leyden Botanic Garden

prior to the year 1717, and was also figured about that date.

It belongs to the same group of spiny species as E. stellaespina,

figured on Plate 344, but the spines are simple. The plant

makes quite a pleasing growth when grown in a pot. As will

be seen from the reduced drawing, it branches only near the

uppermost part of the stem. The species is dioecious, and we

have only seen a male plant. Our specimen was collected by

Mr. C. D. B. Liebenberg in November, 1926, and flowered at

the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in April, 1930.

Description : — Succulent plant about 25 cm. high, with

several main stems forming a cluster. Main stems usually

8-angled, more rarely 7-angled, covered with spines on the

ridges, branched in the uppermost portion. Spines simple,

brown, up to 3 cm. long. Branches lateral, 3-5 cm. long,

more or less stoutly clavate, 7-angled, more rarely 6-angled,

spiny on the ridges, bearing the flowers on the uppermost

portion. Peduncles 1-5 cm. long, reddish in the lower portion,

green in the upper portion, bearing a single involucre, with

about 4 scale-like bracts, glabrous. Involucre 4 mm. in diam.

above, 3 mm. long, campanulate, with 3 somewhat fimbriate

bracts at the base. Glands 5, green, 1-25 mm. long, about

1-25 mm. broad, obovate, somewhat fleshy, glabrous; scales

alternating with the glands 1*5 mm. long, incurved, fimbriate.

Scales on involucre 3 mm. long, narrowly linear, pilose on the

upper portion. Pedicel of male flower 3-5 mm. long, terete,

pilose, articulated above and bearing the stamen. Filament

1*5 mm. long, terete, glabrous; anther about 1 mm. diam.,

with the cells diverging. Female 'plant not seen. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8563.)

Plate 390. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, an involucre; Fig. 3,

involucre opened ; Fig. 4, a male flower ; Fig. 5, stamen ; Fig. 6, scales

intermingled with the male flowers.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

391

Plate 391.

FAUREA speciosa.

Transvaal.

Proteaceae. Tribe Proteeae.

Faurea, Harv. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 170.

Faurea speciosa, Welw. in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. xxvii. 63, t. 20 ;

FI. Cap. vol. v. sect. 1, p. 642.

We figure for the first time a species of Faurea, which

differs from the genus Leucadendron (see Plates 8, 170) in

having bisexual flowers, and from the genera Leucospermum

(see Plates 74, 95, 311) and Protea (see Plates 22, 76, 84,

100, etc.) in having a spicate inflorescence. The genus

consists of some 14 species, 5 of which are represented in

South Africa, 1 in Madagascar, and the others in tropical

Africa. Harvey founded the genus on the Transvaal

Baekenhout, which he named F. saligna. Another species of

Faurea, F. Macnaughtonii is the Terblanz of Knysna. The

generic name is after a Mr. G. Faure. The species figured on

the accompanying Plate was described by Welwitsch in 1871

on specimens he collected in Angola, but since then the plant

has been found in the north-eastern Transvaal. The figure

given by Welwitsch is not quite correct, as in nature the spikes

are pendulous, not erect, also one perianth-segment separates

from the other three, and they are not all connate, as shown in

Welwitsch’ s figure. We are indebted to Mr. D. J. Esselen,

B.Sc., for the specimens, which he collected near Nelspruit in

June 1930.

Description: — A tree 10-15 ft. high. Youngest branches

shortly and scantily pilose, at length becoming glabrous, with

rough brown bark. Leaves shortly petioled ; petiole 5-8 mm.

long; lamina 11-14 cm. long, 4-3-6 cm. broad, ovate-elliptic

or lanceolate-elliptic, obtuse, distinctly veined, glabrous.

Inflorescence 16 cm. long, about 5 cm. in diam. (to tips of

style), pendulous. Axis tomentose, with a few bracts at the

base. Floral-bracts 2 mm. long, ovate, tomentose. Perianth

3 cm. long, circumscissle at the base, splitting down one side,

tomentose ; lobes 5 mm. long. Anthers 3 '5 mm. long, linear.

Ovary 1 mm. long, covered as well as the base of the style with

white hairs 6 mm. long ; style 2-4 cm. long, glabrous (except at

base) ; stigma 3-5 mm. long, linear. Hypogynous scales

1*5 mm. long, lanceolate-linear. (National Herbarium, Pre-

toria, No. 8564.)

Plate 391. — Fig. 1, bud, showing curved style; Fig. 2, an open flower;

Fig. 3, perianth -lobes ; Fig. 4, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

392

C.Leity del.

Plate 392.

STAPELIA Asterias var. lucida.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Stapelia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Stapelia Asterias, Masson var. lucida, N.E. Br. FI. Cap. vol. iv.

sect. 1, p. 952.

This plant was first figured in Hooker’s leones PI. 1919 and

described by Mr. N. E. Brown as Stapelia lucida, but he sub-

sequently reduced this as a variety of S. Asterias, Masson. It is

rather a striking species in the genus, owing to the shining

corolla, which is marked with faint transverse rugose fines.

The corolla is diamine brown ( B.C.S . PI. XIII) when viewed

in reflected fight, but somewhat greenish in transmitted fight.

The flower is almost odourless. The species has been recorded

from the Riversdale, George, and Laingsburg districts, but the

plant from which our Plate was prepared was received from

the late Miss Alice Pegler and localised as from Mgandufi,

Transkei. We are not quite certain whether it occurs there

native or was cultivated. A plant flowered at the Division

of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in May 1930.

Description : — Stems decumbent ; branches up to 10 cm.

long, 4-angled, very concave between the angles, with the

teeth on the angles distinct, minutely puberulous. Flowers

arising at about the middle of the branches. Pedicel 1*7 cm.

long, terete, glabrous. Sepals 5 mm. long, lanceolate, acute,

with a distinct cushion at the base, ciliate, glabrous. Corolla

7-5 cm., in diam., pubescent on the disc, with short erect hairs,

usually with more or less distinct bands of hair to the sinus

and somewhat bearded in the sinus; lobes 3 cm. long, 1*7 cm.

broad, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, faintly rugose, ciliate with

purple hairs, with here and there some of the hairs longer and

stiffer than the others, otherwise glabrous. Outer corona-

lobes 5 mm. long, 1-5 mm. broad, oblong, bluntly 3-toothed,

with the middle tooth longest ; inner corona-lobes 9 mm. long,

2-horned, with the inner horn 7 mm. long, terete, acute,

curving outwards and the outer horn 4-5 mm. long linear in

side view, more or less straight. (National Herbarium, Pre-

toria, No. 8469.)

Plate 392. — Fig. 1, corona ; Fig. 2, corona-lobe ; Fig. 3, portion of

petal showing uneven hairs on edge.

F.P.S.A. 1930.

M.M. Page del.

Plate 393.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM Mari an ae.

Cape Province.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembbyanthemeae.

Mesembryanthemum, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 853 ;

Phillips, Gen. S.A. FI. Plants, p. 241.

Mesembryanthemum Marianae, L. Bolus in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iii.

p. 169.

This species is remarkable for its petals, their brilliant

blood-red colour and great breadth, their rather thick texture

and the minute incisions occurring on the upper side-margins

as well as on the apical margin, and especially for the un-

usually large number which occur in a flower. There are no

staminodes, as one might have expected in a flower with

clustered stamens. No fruit is available, and the genus must

therefore remain uncertain until a capsule can be examined.

The leaves are like those of several species of Ruschia in the

section “ Tumidula.”

The plant from which our drawing was made flowered in

Dr. Marloth’s garden in July 1923, and was named after Mrs.

Marloth. There is unfortunately some doubt regarding its

locality. For Dr. Marloth now believes his plant was not

collected at Nieuwoudtville, but was obtained in the Ceres

Karroo in October 1921. No other collection of this striking

plant appears to have been made before or since, and we

trust collectors will look out for it in both localities.

Description : — Plant erect, glabrous, shrubby, 30-60 cm.

high. Leaves ascending, obtusely keeled, flat above, sides

convex, viewed laterally tapering upwards, acute greyish

green, smooth, 5-10 cm. long, 4r- 7 mm. in diam. and broad,

sheath up to 1*5 cm. long, scarcely turgid, with a longitudinal

impressed line. Flowers 3-nate, expanded in full sunshine,

4 cm. in diam. ; peduncles up to 4 cm. long, all bracteated a

little above the middle; bracts 1-3 cm. long, very broad,

deeply concave, margins membranous. Receptacle globosely

turbinate, 6 mm. long, 1*2 cm. in diam. Sepals ovate-oblong,

obtuse, all with membranous margins, 0-7-1 cm. long.

Petals very numerous in several series, the greater number

more or less equal in length, the shorter ones being few,

obtuse, minutely lacerate-denticulate, up to 1-9 cm. long,

5 mm. broad, tapering downwards to 1-2 mm. broad. Stamens

collected, slightly spreading towards the apex ; filaments red,

glabrous, 5-9 mm. long; anthers and pollen golden. Disk

inconspicuous crenulate. Ovary obtusely 5-lobed above ;

stigmas subulate caudate-acuminate, 4 mm. long. (Marloth

10648, Ceres Karroo? in Bolus Herbarium.) L. Bolus.

Plate 393. — Fig. 1 , longitudinal section through the flower, x 2 ; Fig. 2,

receptacle and sepals, nat. size ; Fig. 3, gynaeceum ; Fig. 4, petal ; Fig. 5,

stamens; Fig. 6, stigma, x 2; Fig. 7, transverse sections of leaf, nat. size.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

39tr

a

W. F. Barker del.

Plate 394.

COTYLEDON Schaferiana.

Great N amaqualand.

Crassttlaceae.

Cotyledon, Linn. ; Benth. et Hoolc. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 659 ; Phillips,

Gen. S.A. FI. Plants, p. 283.

Cotyledon Schaferiana, Dtr. in Fedde. Rep. 19 (1923), p. 145.

Great Namaqualand has produced many remarkable plants,

and not least among them is Cotyledon Schaferiana, which,

unlike any other species of the genus, has a fleshy under-

ground root-stock, from which short slender branches arise,

producing small bluish-green leaves close to the surface of the

ground. These leaves are very variable in shape and size,

and are said to simulate the stones among which they grow.

As in a number of other species with fleshy stems, the leaves

are shed at flowering time.

Our plants have been identified from description only, and

except for a slight difference in the colour of the corolla

(described by Dinter as violet) agree admirably, especially in

the case of Krabbenhoft and Lampe’s collection sent to

Kirstenbosch from Luderitzbucht, the type locality. From

this plant, which has not yet been altered by cultivation,

Figs. 1 and 2 have been made. The remaining figures are

from Erni’s plant from Kolmanskop, which, owing to a

longer period of cultivation, is larger in the vegetative parts

and has a longer peduncle.

Description : — Plant very small, consisting of a fleshy

underground root-stock, producing slender branches from the

crown, 2-4 cm. long, up to 5 mm. thick, covered with greyish

bark. Leaves produced during May and June, alternate,

sessile, at the ends of the branches, single or in tufts, very

variable in size and shape, in some plants twice as long as

broad, 1*5 cm. long, obovate-obtuse, narrowing gradually to

the base, with a shallow channel down the face, margins

rounded, or in others the leaves nearly spherical, up to

5 mm. thick, or broader than long, or irregularly shaped,

usually glaucous and minutely spotted with red, micro-

scopically glandular-hairy in the young stage. (Towards

February the leaves turn pale yellow and fall, none being

present when the inflorescence is mature.) Inflorescence

usually 2 cm. long (in the wild plant), 1-3-flowered ; peduncles

short with 2-5 bracts 1-5 mm. long; pedicels 2-5 mm. long,

brownish-green. Calyx pale green, 2 mm. long, 3 mm. broad,

with five lanceolate segments. Corolla-tube five-sided, 9-12

mm. long, pale green with bright red vertical ribs. Corolla-

lobes 3-5 mm. long, pale pink towards the margin, rose-pink

with reddish-purple veins towards the centre. Stamens as

long as the tube, filaments pale green, the lower third adnate

to the tube, and with colourless hairs; anthers dark brown.

Carpels up to 1 cm. long, bright green below, yellow above,

glands oblong emarginate. (Krabbenhoft and Lampe,

National Botanic Gardens, No. Erni, National Botanic

Gardens, No. W. F. Barker.

Plate 394. — Fig. 1, plant in flower ; Fig. 2, do., in leaf ; Fig. 3, cultivated

plant in flower; Fig. 4, do., in leaf, nat. size; Fig. 5, front view of flower;

Fig. 6, three petals ; Fig. 7, gynaeclum, X 3.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

395

C.I-etty del

Plate 395.

STAPELIA VARIEGATA.

Cape Province.

Asclepiad ace ae . Tribe Stapelieae.

Stapelia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Stapelia variegata, Linn. Sp. PI. i. 217 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i.

p. 992.

In the Flora Capensis Mr. N. E. Brown has recognised and

separated twenty-five varieties of the species we figure. The

form we figure appears to be the plant called by Brown

Stapelia variegata, and not one of the numerous varieties.

It is a common plant on the slopes of Lion’s Head and Signal

Hill near Cape Town, and extends into the Piquetberg,

Worcester, Paarl, Caledon, and Riversdale districts. When

we note the flower with its unusual colouring, and remember

that it emits a carrion-like odour instead of a pleasant per-

fume, then it is not at all surprising that it attracted the

special attention of sailors who landed at the Cape; and

we know that it was introduced into cultivation in Holland

almost three hundred years ago. Stapelia variegata was also

the first South African plant to be figured and described in

a botanical publication. We are indebted to Mr. W. J. H.

Farrell for the specimen, which flowered at the Division of

Plant Industry, Pretoria, in May 1930.

Description : — A glabrous succulent. Stems up to 8 cm.

long, simple or branched, obtusely 4-angled, with promi-

nent conical teeth which are shortly spine-tipped. Flowers

solitary, 6 cm. when expanded, pale greenish-yellow, with

medium-sized dark-purple spots more or less arranged longi-

tudinally, with the spots on the annulus smaller than those on

the lobes. Calyx-lobes 6 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, ovate,

acuminate, acute. Outer corona-lobes 5 mm. long, 2 mm.

broad, yellowish-green, with a large dark-purple blotch at the

base, and dotted with purple above, with the dots fairly large

and converging into more or less vertical lines, 3-toothed at the

apex, with the teeth obtuse and the middle tooth longer or

shorter than the lateral teeth (on the same plant one flower

had long middle teeth and other short middle teeth) ; inner

corona-lobes yellowish-green and spotted with dark purple,

with the inner horn arising above the staminal column and

curving outwards and the outer horn more or less erect and

rising to almost the same level as the inner horn. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8562.)

Plate 395. — Fig. 1, corona; Fig. 2, one of the inner corona-lobes.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

396

W.F. Barker del.

Plate 396.

COTYLEDON pygmaea.

Cape Province.

Crassttlaceae.

Cotyledon, Linn ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 659 ; Phillips,

Gen. S.A. FI. Plants , p. 283.

Cotyledon pygmaea, Barker, sp. nov. Fruticulus pauce ramosus. Rami

breves, c. 3-5 cm. longi, 1 cm. diam. Folia hysteranthia, camosa, alterna,

supra canaliculata, erecta, 2 cm. longa, 1 cm. lata, 5 mm. diam. obovato-

obtusa. Pedunculus 1 cm. longus, 10-florus, glanduloso-pubescens. Flores

erecti, in cymam corymbosam dispositi, pedicellis glanduloso-pubescentibus.

Corolla flavo-viridis rubro-lineata, extus glanduloso-pubescens, tubo infundi-

buliformi 4 mm. longo lobis obtusis emarginatis 4-5 mm. longis. Calyx

extus glanduloso-pubescens, tubo brevi 0-5 mm. longo, lobis 2 mm. longis.

Stamina tubo corollae basi adnata, interiora c. 6 mm. longa, exteriora c.

7 mm. longa, filamentis pallido-viridibus hirsutis, antheris flavis.

Squamae minutae, leviter emarginatae.

Cotyledon pygmaea, given that name on account of its

dwarfed appearance, is a remarkably small plant in every way,

being only 5 cm. high, including the inflorescence. It is like

Cotyledon Schdferiana, Dtr., in that it loses its leaves during the

flowering season, but unlike it in having its fleshy stem above

ground, and the peduncle, pedicels, outer surfaces of the

calyx and corolla, as well as the leaves when they appear,

covered with large glistening papilla-like hairs. Our drawing

was taken from a plant collected by Mr. Vigne at Van Rhyns-

dorp, and sent to the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch,

where it flowered during February 1929. Another collection

was made in the same locality by Dame Alice Godman in

October, 1929.

Description : — Plant very small, the whole, including the

inflorescence, 5 cm. above the ground. Stem sparsely

branching at the surface of the soil, branches up to 3-5 cm.

long, 1 cm. thick, covered with greyish-green shining bark.

Inflorescence together with the peduncle not more than 3 cm.

long, cymose, with about 4 primary branches 2-3 mm. long,

each bearing 2-3 flowers on pedicels up to 6 mm. long, those

below being longest, giving the inflorescence a corymbose

appearance. Peduncles, pedicels, and outer surface of calyx

and corolla covered with glandular papilla-like hairs. Flowers

small, 8 mm. long, erect. Calyx-lobes 2 mm. long; tube 0-5

mm. long ; segments 1 -5 mm. broad at the base. Corolla pale

greenish-yellow on the outside; tube 4 mm. long, 5-angled,

each angle with a reddish rib, slightly constricted at apex;

lobes 4-5 mm. long, obtuse, slightly emarginate, smooth inside

pale greenish-yellow, spreading, the edges and tips curling

back, increasing the emarginate appearance from above.

Stamens of almost equal length, exserted for 3 mm. beyond the

corolla-tube, and adnate to it 1 mm. from the base, with a tuft

of hairs at the connection; filaments pale green; anthers

yellow. Carpels 6 mm. long, 1-5 mm. wide at the base,

ovary narrowing suddenly into the style; squamae minute,

emarginate. Leaves developed after inflorescence has fallen,

arising alternately in a tuft at the end of the branches which

produced the inflorescence, up to 2 cm. long, 1 cm. broad,

and 5 mm. thick, broadest near the apex, gradually attenuate

to a sessile base; dark green, convex below, flattened above

with a groove down the middle, the whole covered with

papillae similar to those on the peduncle. (Vigne, National

Botanic Gardens, No. W. F. Barker.

Plate 396. — Fig. 1, plant in flower ; Fig. 2, do., in leaf, nat. size ; Fig. 3,

front view of flower ; Fig. 4, side view of flower ; Fig. 5, three petals ; Fig. 6,

gynaecium, x 3 ; Fig. 7, lower side of leaf ; Fig. 8, upper side of leaf, nat.

size.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

Plate 397.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM longifolium.

Cape Province.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembeyanthemeae.

Mesembeyanthemum, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 853 ;

Phillips, Gen. S.A. FI. Plants, p. 241.

Mesembryanthemum longifolium, L. Bolus in Journ. Bot. 1928,

p. 196.

This fine species was discovered by Mr. N. S. Pillans

between Sendling’s Drift and Doornpoort, Namaqualand, in

October 1926. It flowered in his garden for the first time in

March 1928, when the drawing was made. Only one flower

was produced and no fruit was available till November of the

following year. The capsule took an unusually long time to

ripen — between 8 and 9 months. Its structure differs from

that of a typical Mesembryanthemum solely in the absence of

membranous wings from the valves.

The rich red colour of the petals and the size of the flower,

as well as the handsome foliage, place this species among the

more handsome ones of the genus. In cultivation, at least, it

flowers but sparingly ; but the individual flowers are hardy and

remain open for as long as a week.

Description : — Plant erect, 24 cm. high or more, the stem

7 mm. in diam. at the base. Branches and branchlets erect or

nearly ascending, the internodes 0-5-3 cm. long. Leaves

finally wide-spreading, the younger somewhat falcate, keel and

margins obscure, flat above or slightly convex, laterally some-

what compressed, convex on one side, flat on the other,

viewed laterally usually narrowed upwards, acute or more

rarely abruptly acute, very slightly velvety, glaucous green,

up to 9 cm. long, at the middle 7-8 mm., more rarely up to

1 cm., wide, up to 1-6 cm. in diam., sheath up to 4 mm. long.

Flower solitary, diurnal, 5-3 cm. in diam. Bracts embracing the

globosely turbinate receptacle, extending beyond the petals,

4*5 cm. long. Sepals 6, the 2 longer 1 -4 cm. long, the 4 shorter

with a membranous margin, up to 1*1 cm. long. Petals

3-seriate, 2-dentate at the apex or more rarely subacute,

bright red, golden or whitish towards the base, 2*3 cm. long,

2 mm. broad. Stamens collected into a cone 1 cm. in diam. at

the apex, surrounded by the reddish-golden staminodes, which

are paler in the lower part ; filaments yellow, papillate, up to

1*2 cm. long; anthers golden. Ovary flat above near the

margin, deeply 6-lobed towards the middle ; stigmas 6,

subulate-acuminate, 6 mm. long. Capsule about 6 mm. high,

the lobes strongly compressed, 1-4 cm., expanded 2 cm., in

diam., the valves without membranous wings; seeds oval,

minutely punctate. (Pillans 5830 in Bolus Herbarium). L.

Bolus.

Plate 397. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of the flower, x 2; Fig. 2,

sepals; Fig. 3, gynaeceum, x 2; Fig. 4, petals, x 2J; Fig. 5, staminode;

Fig. 6, stamens ; Fig. 7, stigma, x 2 ; Fig. 8, bract ; Fig. 9, transverse

sections of a leaf ; Fig. 10, portion of leaf surface, enlarged ; Fig. 11, flower

on first day; Fig. 12, do. on the fourth day of opening; Fig. 13, capsule;

Fig. 14, do. expanded; Fig. 15, longitudinal section of do., X 2; Fig. 16,

seed, enlarged.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

398

M.M.PaJe del.

Plate 398.

STRUMARIA Watermeyeri.

Cape Province.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Strumaria, Jacq. Ic. ii. t. 356 (1786) ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii.

p. 728; Phillips, Gen. S.A. FI. Plants, p. 161.

Strumaria Watermeyeri, L. Bolus in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iii. p. 78.

Strumaria is one of the less conspicuous genera of its

family, and has hitherto not attracted the attention of horti-

culturists. For from 1786 to 1793, when Jacquin’s five species

were described and illustrated, there appears to be no other

plate recorded until Strumaria truncata, Jacq. was figured

in this work in 1924 (t. 127). Nor was any additional species

published until 1896, after an interval of 103 years, when

Strumaria bidentata, Schinz, was described. Two species have

been added since, namely, S. phonolithica, Dinter, and S.

Watermeyeri, L. Bolus, in 1923.

Up to 1793 Thunberg’s and Masson’s collections of Stru-

maria truncata in the Hardeveld and Rhenosterfontein in

Little Namaqualand, were the only ones localised. Later

Whitehead got S. linguaefolia, also in Little Namaqualand.

Since then S. angustifolia, Jacq. has been found, but exact

details regarding the collector and locality are unfortunately

not available. S. bidentata, Schinz, from the Orange River,

Great Namaqualand (Schenk No. 232), was also collected, in

1926, in the Richtersveld, Little Namaqualand (Pillans 5779) ;

Dinter got S. phonolithica in the Klinghartgebirge in Great

Namaqualand in 1923 ; and S. Watermeyeri was sent by Miss

Mostert (N.B.G. -%%0-) from Van Rhynsdorp in 1923. The

distribution of the genus is therefore very probably confined

to the Western Region, since there is some uncertainty with

regard to the locality given for the type of S. Watermeyeri.

For although the original plants were sent from Mr. E. B.

Watermeyer’s home at Nieuwoudtville, there is no guarantee

that they were actually collected there.

The name Strumaria is derived from the Latin struma = a

swelling, referring to the style, which is often swollen at the

base. S. bidentata and S. Watermeyeri are the only species

with hysteranthous leaves.

Strumaria is closely allied to Hessea, the chief differences

being the dorsifixed anthers of the former, as compared with

the basifixed ones of the latter. In Strumaria, too, the

perianth is nearly always campanulate and the set of the

stamens is erect, as exemplified in S. Watermeyeri ; whereas in

Hessea the stellate perianth and more or less spreading

stamens, are the general rule.

Description : — Bulb ovoid, outer tunics woolly in texture,

2-3 cm. long, 1-6 cm. in diam., produced into a short neck.

Leaves 2, hysteranthous, linear, subacute, narrowing towards

the base almost into a petiole, papillate towards the apex and

margin, dark green above, yellowish-green below, 45-5-5 cm.

long, up to 1*2 cm. broad. Peduncle about 7-flowered, 9-11

cm. long, 0-3 cm. diam. at the base, 0-2 cm. in diam. at the

apex. Spathe-valves 2, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 2-5 cm.

long. Pedicels erect or spreading, 1 *7-2-7 cm. long. Perianth-

tube very short, 0-15 cm. long; segments erect, recurved at the

middle or above, linear, obtuse, gradually attenuate towards

the base, 1-5 cm. long, 02-03 cm. broad, pale pink within,

pink outside, the three outer with a dark pink central line,

hooded and papillate at the apex. Interior stamens often

reaching the apices of the segments ; exterior short ; filaments

06-0-8 cm. long ; anthers 0-2 cm. long. Ovary finally obovoid-

globose; loculus about 4-ovulate; seeds pyriform, bright

green, shining, 0-7 cm. long. (E. B. Watermeyer, National

Botanic Gardens, No. ^67-). W. Barker.

Plate 398. — Fig. 1, plant, flowering stage; Fig. 2, do., leafy stage;

Fig. 3, perianth laid open, x 2 ; Fig. 4, two perianth segments and gynaecium ;

Fig. 5, tip of outer segment ; Fig. 6, gynaecium ; Fig. 7, dehiscing capsule ;

Fig. 8, seed ; Fig. 9, dehisced capsule.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

3 99

Plate 399.

MONSONIA MULTI FID A.

Cape Province.

Geraniaceae. Tribe Geranieae.

Monsonia, Linn. Mant. i. 1767, 14, n. 1268 ; Benth. et Hook. f. Oen. Plant.

vol. i. p. 271 ; Phillips, Gen. 8.A. FI. Plants, p. 342.

Monsonia multifida, E. Mey. in Drege Zivei Pfl. Docum. 1843. p. 203.

Sarcocaulon multifidum, R. Knuth in EnglePs Pflanzenreich, iv. 129. p. 313.

In its dormant and leafless state, without a sign of life in

its thickened branches and branchlets scarred with the remains

of fallen leaves, this plant somewhat resembles a Sarcocaulon ;

and it was placed in that genus by Knuth in his account

published in Engler’s “ Pflanzenreich ” in 1912. Knuth notes,

however, that the only specimen he has seen is very imperfect,

having but a single flower, and he remarks on the absence of

the spines which characterize the genus Sarcocaulon. This

specimen was collected by Drege in 1830 “ at the mouth of the

Garip,” and was named Monsonia multifida by E. Meyer, the

specific name being in reference to the leaves divided into many

segments. No other collection is recorded till October 1926,

when Pillans gathered good flowering material in Namaqua-

land, south of the Orange River, between Dun Vlei and Groot

Derm (5262), on north bases of hills between Groot Doom and

Groot Derm (5341), and on dry stony hills north of Anis-

fontein (5484). In 1927 it was sent by Erni, from the mouth

of the Orange River, to Mr. P. Ross-Frames, in whose garden

the original of our Plate flowered in November 1928. Some of

the older plants in the collection were nearly twice this size.

With ample living material at our disposal, we have been able

to ascertain that the stamens are arranged in bundles of three,

with the filaments united at the base, as in typical Monsonia',

and that the leafless petioles never become spinous. The

petioles disarticulate low down, and only the thickened basal

portion persists.

The only other plate we know of this interesting plant is

the excellent one in Paterson’s “ Travels,” opposite page 113. It

is entitled “ Geranium, Orange River,” and it is probably one

of the plants Paterson refers to in the text when in August

1799 he writes : “ About a thousand yards from the banks of

the river, the country is extremely barren, and to the eastward

very mountainous. On these eminences there is scarcely any

apparent vegetation ; but in the plain part of the country to

the westward, I found a variety of the most beautiful plants,

particularly Geraniums and Asclepias.”

Description : — Branches spreading or ascending, bearing

short shoots in 2 ranks on their upper surface, up to 10 cm.

long, or more in old plants, 1-3 cm. in diam. ; cuticle glabrous,

brownish black. Leaves 1-4 on the short shoots, usually erect,

like all the other herbaceous parts pilose with spreading white

hairs ; petiole disarticulating near the thickened and persistent

base, up to 3 cm. long; blade divided and subdivided into

narrow, obtuse segments. Peduncle 2-5 cm. long. Sepals

lanceolate, acuminate, 1-2-1 -5 cm. long. Petals 2-2 cm. long;

lamina nearly orbicular, up to 2 cm. in diam., with the apical

margin undulate, broken or erose ; claw 3 mm. long. Stamens

up to 8 mm. long; filaments pilose. Carpels silky with

adpressed hairs, 1-2 cm. long; stigmas deep red, 2 mm. long.

(E. Erni in Bolus Herbarium, No. 19,222). L. Bolus.

Plate 399. — Fig. 1, sepals; Fig. 2, petal; Fig. 3, androecium and

gynaeceum, x 3 ; Fig. 4, two bundles of stamens, x 5 ; Fig. 5, anthers, back

and side view, enlarged ; Fig. 6, gynaeceum, x 3 ; Fig. 7, a short shoot ;

Fig. 8, portion of a leaf, flattened.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

4 00

C.Letty del.

Plate 400.

CONOPHYTUM minutum.

Van Rhynsdorp.

Ficoidaoeae. Tribe Mesembryanthemeae.

Conophytum, N.E. Br. in Gard. Chron. vol. Ixxi. p. 198; Phillips, Gen. S.A.

FI. Plants, p. 241, 2405a.

Conophytum minutum, N.E. Br. in Gard. Chron. vol. Ixxi. p. 231.

Mesembryanthemum minutum, Haw. in Mix. Nat. p. 21, 1803; Bot.

Mag. t. 1376 ; M . thecatum, N.E. Br. Bot. Mag. t. 8595a.

This species was introduced into England by Masson in 1795,

and was figured in the Botanical Magazine (t. 1376) in 1811,

from a plant lent by Mr. Haworth out of his collection at Little

Chelsea. A note was made of the fact that, as it flowered

from November till well into December, it was most acceptable

for cultivation. The next collection recorded is Pearson’s

( Percy Sladen Memorial Expedition, No. 5574 — the type of M.

thecatum, N.E. Br.), found on dry ridges south of Bakhius in

1910. Since then the species has been collected frequently,

and all the evidence available points to its distribution being

restricted to the Van Rhynsdorp Division. For the last six

or seven years it has flowered during April and May at Kirsten-

bosch, where it is one of the hardiest and among the most free-

flowering of the genus in cultivation there. Large clumps are

formed in time, and such a plant in full flower is a fine sight,

with the large rose-purple corollas fully expanded during the

day and completely hiding the glaucous-green bodies.

Conophytum minutum is one of seven species ( C . Pearsonii,

N.E. Br. might be regarded as a form of C. minutum), all from

the Van Rhynsdorp Division and Namaqualand, which are

distinguished by having the surface of the bodies smooth and

nearly always without dots or markings. Three of them — C.

flavum, C. Pageae, and C. calculus — have yellow petals, and

C. globosum, C. gratum and C. Wettsteinii pink ones, the latter

with those of C. flavum, being expanded during the day.

»

From all its allies our species is easily recognised by the

presence of golden acute petaloid staminodes, or inner petals,

filling up the throat of the corolla-tube and hiding the stamens.

Description : — Growths forming large close clumps with

remains of the white sheaths persisting at time of flowering.

Corpusculum pear-shaped, glaucous-green, plain or sometimes

with a few dots of darker green, up to 1-5 cm. high, 1-1-2 cm.

in diam., orifice slightly depressed. Calyx whitish, mem-

branous, the 4 lobes obtuse, sometimes with reddish-brown

dots; (occasionally the sepals do not expand, but remain

tightly twisted over the tips of the petals till the flower is

fully grown and pushes the sheath off. ) Corolla expanded by

day, up to 2-3 cm. in diam. ; tube, about 8 mm. long, exserted

from the calyx-tube, varying in colour from white to orange ;

petals of two kinds, the outer rose-purple, broad, obtuse, often

toothed, spreading, up to 1-3 cm. long, the inner erect or

ascending, in one or two series, filling up the throat of the

corolla-tube and hiding the stamens. Stamens in twro or

three series, included in the corolla-tube; filaments whitish,

anthers yellow, not reaching to the inner petals. Disk

prominent. Style 4 mm. long; stigmas very short, about

1 mm. long, greenish; top of ovary raised in centre. M.

Lavis.

Plate 400. — Fig. 1, flower ; Fig. 2, longitudinal section body and flower ;

Fig. 3, longitudinal section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1930.

INDEX TO VOLUME X

Aloe aculeata .

Aloe Greatheadii

Aristea compressa

Bulbine mesembryanthejyioides

Caralluma lutea

Ceropegla barbertonensis

Ceropegia Woodii

CONOPHYTUM MINUTUM .

Cotyledon pygmaea .

Cotyledon Schaferiana

Crotalaria oapensis .

Duvalia parviflora .

Duvalia radiata

Erica Macowanii

Euphorbia heptagona

Faurea speciosa

Gladiolus papilio

Graderia subintegra

Huernia longituba .

Huerniopsis decipiens

Hypoestes verticillaris .

LACHENALIA ORCHIOIDES

Leucadendron cordatum .

Linconia alopecuroides

Littonia modesta

Loranthus Zeyheri .

Massonia Bowkert

Mesembryanthemum LONGIFOLIUJ

Mesembryanthemum Marianae

Monsonia multifida .

Oldenlandia natalensis .

PHAENOCOMA PROLIFERA

Pi ARANTHU S FOETIDUS

Rhigozum brevispinosum .

SciLLA NATALENSIS

Stapelia Asterias var. lucid a

Stapella concinna

Stapelia Knobelii

Stapella variegata .

Strumaria Watermeyeri .

Plate

. 371

. 369

. 361

. 377

. 379

. 387

. 382

. 400

. 396

. 394

. 386

. 376

. 383

. 368

. 390

. 391

. 362

. 384

. 380

. 389

. 370

. 374

. 373

. 385

. 366

. 372

. 367

. 397

. 393

. 399

. 364

. 388

. 378

. 381

. 365

. 392

. 375

. 363

. 395

. 398

*

*