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THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF

SOUTH AFRICA.

A MAGAZINE CONTAINING HAND-COLOURED FIGURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE

FLOWERING PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO SOU^H AFRICA.

EDITED BY

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

Cfjief, Dibision of ^Iant Entmstrp, Department of 'agriculture, Pretoria;

anti Director of t^e Dotanical jourbep of tfje Dnion of Soutij Africa.

VOL. XI.

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. Macfie’s “Ex Unitate Vires. ”

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.

1931.

[ All right* reserved.)

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LY GIVEN

IIS WORK.

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

October, 1931.

W. F. Barker del.

Plate 401.

LACHENALIA ovatifolia.

Little Namaqualand.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

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

Gen. S. A. FI. PI. p. 154.

Lachenalia ovatifolia, L. Guthrie in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iv. (1927)

119.

The genus Lachenalia was named in honour of the botanist

De la Chenal. Up to the time of the publication of the

Flora Capensis in 1896, forty-two species were recognised.

Of these, Lachenalia pusilla has now been transferred to

Polyxena, and the additional twelve species published since

1896 therefore bring the total to fifty-three. The majority of

these are concentrated in the South-Western region of the Cape

Province, and the genus is also well represented in Little

Namaqualand, while several species occur eastwards as far as

Port Elizabeth.

The plant illustrated here was found last year by Mr.

P. Ross-Frames at Concordia, in Little Namaqualand, and

flowered in Mr. H. H. Bolus’ garden at Kenilworth in August.

When compared with the type-specimen (which was probably

stunted), this plant is much larger in the vegetative parts;

but the flowers, although more numerous, correspond exactly

to the description, and the veining of the leaves is characteristic.

Some of the plants of this collection have leaves which are free

from pustules, and in others the pustules are well defined, so

that this seems to be a variable character. This beautiful

species, with its rich bright flowers, should in time become

extremely popular as a garden bulb, especially as it has been

observed to flourish in cultivation.

Description : — Bulb ovoid, 2*5 cm. in diameter, 2 cm.

long. Leaves 2, pustulate or smooth above, up to 17 cm.

long, 6 cm. broad, with 10 to 13 impressed nerves, clasping the

peduncle, pale at the base, blade bright green, spreading on the

ground. Peduncle pale green and fleshy, up to 11 cm. long.

Inflorescence up to 15 cm. long, 3-2 cm. in diameter. Flowers

sessile, as many as 100, with intemodes 5 to 8 mm. long.

Bracts small below, gradually becoming attenuate, those at

the apex lanceolate. Flowers spreading, scented, 1*5 cm.

long ; perianth bilabiate, tubular; exterior segments 8 mm.

long, white below, bright purple above, with a green gibbosity

at the apex ; tube 3 mm. long, white tinged with blue ; inner

segments longer than the outer, white below, purple above,

the two upper overlapping, spreading near the apex, the

third diverging and forming a lower lip, recurved. Stamens

a little longer than the outer segments, reaching the mouth of

the flower ; filaments white ; anthers yellow. Ovary pale

green ; style white, finally as long as the stamens, narrowing

to a minute stigma. (P. Ross-Frames, National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 8701.) — W. Barker.

Plate 401. — Fig. 1, flower, side view; Fig. 2, do., front view; Fig. 3,

do., from below; Fig. 4, longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 5, outer

perianth-segment and stamen ; Fig. 6, upper inner perianth-segment ;

Fig. 7, lower inner perianth-segment; Fig. 8, gynaecium.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

402

C.Letty del.

Plate 402.

DOLICHOS gibbosus.

Cape Province , Transvaal.

Leguminosae. Tribe Phaseoleae.

Dolichos, Linn. : Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 540.

Dolichos gibbosus Thunb. FI. Cap. ed. Schult. p. 590; FI. Cap.

vol. ii. p. 244.

The genus Dolichos comprises some 100 species found in

the warm parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. A few occur

in South America and about 18 species are known from

South Africa. Many of the species are twining plants.

One of the best known is Dolichos Lahlab Linn., which is

cultivated as an ornamental climber and to some extent is

grown in the tropics for its edible pods.

Dolichos gibbosus is fairly well distributed over the Union

except the central districts, from which no records have been

noted. The specimen figured was collected in the Fountains

Valley near Pretoria by Miss C. Letty. It is one of the last

species to flower in the above locality, and at the end of

February and beginning of March it is found in profusion

twining round the rank grass and shrubs. The plant is a

delicate and beautiful twiner and well worth cultivating.

Description : — A twiner. Stems pubescent. Leaves

pinnately trifoliolate, petioled, stipulate. Stipules 2-5 mm.

long, ovate, ciliate. Petiole 1-5 to 2 cm. long, pubescent,

distinctly pulvinate at the base; leaflets 3*5 to 4 cm. long,

2-6 to 3-2 cm. broad near the base, ovate, acute, with a distinct

mucro, finely strigose on the upper surface, glabrous beneath

except on the veins. Flowers 3 to 6 in racemes. Peduncles

7 to 8 cm. long, terete, pubescent. Pedicels 2-5 mm. long.

Bracts 2-5 mm. long, ovate, somewhat saccate. Calyx 5 mm.

in diam., subglobose; lobes small, glabrous, ciliate; the two

upper lobes represented by minute teeth only. Vexillum

1*6 mm. broad, 9 mm. long, transversely oblong; claw short

and strongly curved ; inner face with two prominent callosities ;

alae 1 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, almost obovate, with a short

curved claw and eared at one side ; carina 1-6 cm. long, bent at

right angles, minutely ciliate. Free stamen with the filament

broadened towards the base. Ovary 7 mm. long, semiterete,

pubescent; style 7 mm. long, bent at right angles to the

ovary, bearded; stigma capitate; ovules several. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8461.)

Plate 402. — Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, ala; Fig. 3 vexillum seen from

within ; Fig. 4, carina ; Fig. 5, vexillum seen from outside ; Fig. 6,

androecium ; Fig. 7, pistil ; Fig. 8, free stamen.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4 03

C.Letty del.

Plate 403.

CRASSULA LETTYAE.

South Africa.

Crassulaceae.

Crassula, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 657.

Crassula Lettyae, Phillips, sp. nov.

Planta herbacea, glabra. Folia subrosulata, 5 — 6 cm. longa, 2 cm.

lata, oblonga, marginibus ciliatis. Flores in cymis parvis aggregatae ;

bracteae foliaceae. Calyx 5-lobatus, basi bracteatus. Petala 5, linearia,

apice acuta, recurva. Without precise locality or collector in National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8467.

We have named this Crassula in honour of Miss Cythna

Letty, who has been responsible for so many of the illustra-

tions in this work. The plant was cultivated in the garden

of the Division of Plant Industry at Pretoria, but no record is

available as to the collector or where it originally came from.

We experienced some difficulty in placing the species, and

specimens were submitted to Kew. Mr. C. A. Smith, who

examined the material, reports : “ Agrees with characters

of ‘ Tomentosa ’ group of the Section Sphaeritis and most nearly

allied to C. tomentosa Thunb. and C. interrupta E. Mey. ex

Harv., from which it is readily known by its glabrous stems

and bracts.” In dissecting the flowers we found that occa-

sionally the calyx was 4-lobed and the carpels 4 instead of the

usual 5.

Description : — Herbaceous, glabrous. Radical leaves sub-

rosulate, decussate, fleshy, 5 to 6 cm. long, 2 cm. broad,

oblong, ciliate on the margins, especially towards the apex,

with long white hairs ; cauline leaves smaller than the radical,

otherwise similar, connate, with the internodes about 2 cm.

long. Flowering stem 25 to 40 cm. long, bearing flowers in the

uppermost f, with a few short axillary flowering branches

near the base. Flowers arranged in small cymules in the

axils of opposite leafy bracts; intemodes 1 to 2-5 cm. long.

Calyx 2 5 mm. long, 5- (rarely 4-) lobed, bracteate at the base.

Bracts unequal ; the larger as long as the calyx, oblong ; the

smaller 2 linear, one on each side of the larger. Corolla white,

5 mm. long ; lobes 5, linear-oblong, acute and recurved at the

apex. Stamens 5. Carpels 5 (more rarely 4), 2 mm. long,

with a subsessile stigma and a lateral gland just below the

stigma. Squamae small, spathulate.

Plate 403. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, calyx laid open; Fig. 3,

a flower laid open ; Fig. 4, carpel ; Fig. 5, scale from base of carpel.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4 <94

W.F. Barker del.

Plate 404.

HESSEA Mathewsii.

Cape Province.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amaryllideae.

Hessea, Herb. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 720 ;

Phillips, Gen. S. A. FI. PI. p. 160.

Hessea Mathewsii, Barker, sp, nov. Bulbus depresso-globosus, in

collum elongatum productus, 2-5 cm. diam., 1-8 cm. longus. Folia 2,

hysterantha, linearia, subacuta, 16 cm. longa, 5 mm. lata. Pedunculus

flexuosus, basi purpurascens, 5 cm. longus. U rubella circiter 18-flora,

floribus pallide roseis ; spatha 2-foliata, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acumin-

atis ad 2-5 cm. longis. Pedicelli adscendentes vel patentes, 5-5 cm. longi.

Perigonium profunde sexpartitum ; segmenta subacuta, patentissima,

intus pallide rosea, basi rosea, 6 mm. longa, 3 mm. lata. Filamenta

subulata, aequalia, erecto-patula, demum reflexa, segmentis breviora, basi

rubra, superne albida, infra medium processu hamato onusta ; antherae

brunneae, ad 2 mm. longae. Ovarium globosum, loculis 2-ovulatis.

The genus Hessea , named in honour of Mr. K. Hess, a

missionary at the Cape before 1837, now contains twelve

species. Four have been added since the publication of the

Flora Capensis in 1896, namely, H. Schlechteri, Kuntze, H.

Bachmanniana, Schinz, H. cinnamomea, Durand and Schinz

{Amaryllis cinnamomea) and H. Leipoldtii, L. Bolus, while one

of the old species Hessea Rehmannii (Plate 120 of this work),

has been transferred to Nerine. With these twelve species

before us we find that the distribution of Hessea , though mainly

in the Western Province, extends northwards through Little

Namaqualand to Great Namaqualand, and eastwards to

Uitenhage and Colesberg, with one species, Hessea Schlechteri,

occurring in Natal.

The species we have illustrated was found at Vredenberg

in the Malmesbury Division by Mr. J. W. Mathews, the

Curator of the National Botanic Gardens, after whom it is

named. The flower is peculiar in having conspicuous inwardly

projecting hook-like processes below the middle on the inner

side of the filaments.

Description : — Bulb depressed-globose, 2-5 cm. diameter,

1*8 cm. long, inner tunics white and fleshy, outer brown and

somewhat membranous, produced into a long neck 3-5 mm.

in diameter. Leaves 2, hysteranthous, fully developed in J une,

linear, subacute, up to 16 cm. long from above the neck of the

bulb, 5 mm. broad, slightly concave along the upper surface,

convex on the lower, erect or spreading, glabrous and shining.

Inflorescence a centripetal umbel, about 18-flowered, produced

in May. Peduncle flexuous rigid, about 5 cm. long from above

the neck of the bulb, 3 mm. diam. and purplish-red at the base,

2 mm. diam. and grey below the umbel. Spathe-valves 2,

lanceolate, dark reddish-purple. Pedicels up to 5-5 cm. long,

1 mm. diam., pale greenish-brown. Flowers up to 1-5 cm.

diam. Perianth-segments very pale pink with crimson mark-

ings at the base, the outer with scarlet tips, up to 6 mm. long,

3 mm. broad, subacute, spreading, cut right down to the

ovary. Stamens adnate to the base of the perianth-segments,

at first more or less spreading, the outer at length erect, after

dehiscence gradually bent right back until the anthers touch

the perianth-segments, the inner following the same movement ;

filaments 4 mm. long, crimson at the base, all with hook-like

appendages below the middle on the inner side; anthers

nearly 2 mm. long, basifixed and versatile, dark brown.

Ovary globose, dark shining brown ; ovules 2 to each carpel ;

style accrescent to 5 mm., slightly and gradually thickened

downwards. (Mathews, National Botanic Gardens, No. Vo’*)

— W. Barker.

Plate 404. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of young flower, x3;

Fig. 2, section of older flower, x3; Fig. 3, three-quarter view of old

flower, x 3 ; Fig. 4, front view of same ; Fig. 5, section of old flower, x 3.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4,05.

Plate 405.

LACHENALIA longibracteata.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

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

Lachenalia longibracteata, Phillips, sp. nov.

Bulbus c. 1-5 cm. latus. Folia 2, sed unum rudimentum ; folium

productum 23 cm. longum, 3 cm. latum, glabrum. Scapus c. 40 cm.

longus, 5 mm. latus, teres, glaber. Flores subspicati. Bracteae 1 cm.

longae, lanceolatae, acuminatae. Perianthium 1 cm. longum ; segmenta

exterioria longiora. Stamina exserta. Ovarium 3-lobatum ; stylus

subulatus, exsertus ; stigma parvum. Clanwilliam district : Lambert' s Bay ,

van Nouhuys in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8189.

The species of Lachenalia described and figured here comes

closest to L. orchioides (L.) Dryand, which we illustrated on

Plate 374, but is at once distinguished from this and most

other species by the long linear acuminate bracts. The

flowers are lemon-yellow above with green midribs whitish

and semi-transparent below, so that the green ovary shows

through, giving the impression that the perianth is green

below. In the specimens we have seen the flowers on the

uppermost portion of the inflorescence are undeveloped.

The specimens flowered at the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria, from bulbs collected by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys at

Lambert’s Bay.

Description : — Bulb about 1-5 cm. in diam. Leaves 2,

basal ; one rudimentary and enclosed by the sheathing base of

the developed leaf; developed leaf dark green, 23 cm. long,

3 cm. broad, lorate, long-sheathing at the base, glabrous.

Scape about 40 cm. long, 5 mm. diam., terete, smooth.

Inflorescence a lax spike, with the uppermost flowers

undeveloped. Bracts whitish, 1 cm. long, linear-lanceolate,

long-acuminate. Perianth oblique at the base; tube 4 mm.

long ; outer segments 7 cm. long ; inner segments 1 cm. long,

much broader above than the outer. Stamens 6 ; those

opposite the outer segments inserted at the base of the seg-

ments; those opposite the inner segments attached for a

short distance above the base; all exserted; anthers small

versatile. Ovary green, 3-lobed; style subulate, exserted

beyond the stamens ; stigma small, terminal. Ovules

numerous.

Plate 405. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal of flower; Fig. 2, upper por-

tion of outer perianth-segment.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4 06.

C.Letty iel.

Plate 406.

MUNDULEA suberosa.

Transvaal, Natal.

Leguminosae. Tribe Galegeae.

Mundulea DC., Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 497.

Mundulea suberosa, Benth. in Miq. PI. Jungh. 248; FI. Trop. Afr. vol. ii.

p. 126.

Mundulea suberosa is quite a common plant in the neigh-

bourhood of Pretoria, where it is often found as a small

tree 10 to 15 ft. high. The species is found in Natal and

tropical Africa, and also occurs in Ceylon and the western

parts of India. The genus is represented by 15 species

found in Madagascar, Africa, and India, and is regarded as a

link between the genera Tephrosia and Milletia. The plant

is supposed to possess insecticidal properties, and material

has been sent to England for investigation. The specimen

figured was collected on Meintjies Kop, Pretoria, in October

1928 by Mr. A. 0. D. Mogg, M.A.

Description : — A small tree 10 to 15 ft. high. Branches

with a somewhat corky bark, velvety-pubescent when young.

Leaves imparipinnate, 6- 8-jugate, 5 to 7*5 cm. long; leaflets

1-2 to 1-8 cm. long, 3 to 4 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse,

densely pubescent above and beneath ; rhachis densely

pubescent, channelled above. Flowers blue in short racemes.

Pedicels about 1 cm. long, densely pubescent. Calyx broadly

campanulate, densely. pubescent without; tube 3 mm. long,

somewhat swollen on the posterior side ; lobes about 1 -5 mm.

long, ovate, obtuse; the 2 upper smaller. Vexillum T8 cm.

long, 1*4 cm. broad, almost suborbicular, glandular above,

pubescent without, with two callosities at the base and a

horseshoe-shaped claw; wings 1*8 cm. long, 5*5 mm. broad

above, oblanceolate-oblong, eared and saccate at the base,

ciliate at the base, with a curved linear claw; carina slightly

adnate to the wings, 2 cm. long, 5-5 mm. broad, straight

on one edge, convex on the other, saccate and ciliate at the

base, with a linear claw 4*5 mm. long. Staminal-tube 1*5 cm.

long; free filaments 4-5 mm. long, curved; anthers equal.

Ovary 1-5 mm. long, somewhat flattened, passing gradually

into the style, densely hirsute, stigma small. Ovules about 7.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8758.)

Plate 406. — Fig. 1, a flower; Fig. 2, calyx and pedicel; Fig. 3,

vexillum, front view ; Fig. 4, vexillum folded ; Fig. 5, a wing ; Fig. 6,

carina; Fig. 7, androecium ; Fig. 8, gynaecium.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

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C .Letty del.

Plate 407.

STAPELIA CLAVICORONA.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Stapelia clavicorona, Verdoom, sp. nov.

Planta c. 0-3 m. alta. Caules 4-angulati, velutini, angulis com-

pressis. Pedicelli 7 mm. longi, crassi, pubescentes. Sepala 6 mm. longa,

lanceolata, pubescentia. Corolla c. 6 cm. diam., rotata, extra velutino-

puberula, intra glabra sed medio pilis longis deflexis vestita ; lobi 1-7 cm.

longi, pilis subclavatis ciliati. Coronae lobi exterior es 4 mm. longi, basi

canaliculati, apice radiati ; lobi interiores bipartiti, clavati, parte exteriori

radiata, parte interiori minori erecta. Zoutpansberg district : Wylie's

Poort; van Nouhuys in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 9756.

In vegetative characters this remarkable species of

Stapelia resembles several well-known species in having very

robust stems, but differs from any known to us in the

unique corona. The inner corona is divided into two clavate

lobes and the corona is situated in a cup-like depression lined

with reflexed hairs. The corolla-lobes are fringed with long

subclavate fibritile hairs and ciliate with short simple hairs.

The flowers are light yellowish with a purplish tinge in the

centre but become greenish with age and older flowers appear

quite green when seen by transmitted light. The flowers

have the odour of cow-dung. The specimens were collected

by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys at Wylie’s Poort, in the central

gorge near the cement causeway. They were growing on

screes and appeared to be very local in distribution. The

specimens were grown and flowered at the Division of Plant

Industry in January of this year.

Description : — Plant up to 0*3 m. high. Stems erect, 4-

angled, stout, deeply concave between the angles, with

the angles compressed, velvety-pubescent. Flowers about

midway up the stem. Pedicel 7 mm. long, pubescent.

Calyx-lobes 6 mm. long, lanceolate, pubescent. Corolla about

6 cm. in diam., velvety pubescent outside, glabrous within

except for several deflexed white hairs in the depression in

the centre; disc and lobes transversely marked with purple-

brown stripes; lobes 1-7 cm. long, revolute at the apex,

ciliate with long obscurely clavate fibritile hairs and much

shorter simple cilia. Outer corona-lobes dark purple, about

4 mm. long, canaliculate at the base, spreading at the apex ;

inner corona-lobes dark purple, 2-horned, with the inner horns

3 mm. long, curved, clavate, clustered together over the

staminal-column and with the outer lobes clavate, thicker

than the inner, straight and standing at an angle of 45° to the

staminal-column.

Plate 407. — Fig. 1, corona from above ; Fig. 2, inner corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4 OS.

C.Letty del.

Plate 408.

ASCLEPIAS Dregeana var. Calceolus.

Transvaal , Cape Province, Natal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Cystanchae.

Asclepias, Linn; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 754.

Asclepias Dregeana, Schltr. var. Calceolus, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap.

vol. iv. sect, i, p. 697.

In Volume VI of this work we figured three species of

Asclepias, all from the neighbourhood of Pretoria, and have

now the opportunity of illustrating a fourth species from the

same locality. Asclepias Dregeana belongs to the same

section of the genus as A. adscendens figured on Plate 204,

but differs in having the umbels lateral and not terminating

the branches. In 1903 Mr. Spencer Moore described this

plant as Asclepias Calceolus, but this was eventually regarded

by Mr. N. E. Brown as a variety of A. Dregeana. It differs

from the type principally in the corona-lobes being deeply

channelled. The variety has been recorded from various

localities in the Transvaal and Natal, and has also been found

in Griqualand East. Our specimen was collected near

Pretoria in November by Mr. A. O. D. Mogg, M.A.

Description : — Plant with a long fusiform tap-root.

Stem usually simple, about 20 cm. high, pubescent with

rusty-brown hairs. Leaves usually about 4 pairs, sessile,

5 to 5-5 cm. long, 1-5 to 2*5 cm. broad (the youngest leaves

narrower), ovate-lanceolate, with the margins slightly thick-

ened and rough, sparsely strigose. Inflorescence a solitary

lateral 3- 6-flowered umbel. Peduncle 3 to 5 cm. long,

pubescent. Pedicels 1 to 2-5 cm. long, pubescent. Calyx-

lobes 7-5 mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate, acute, pubescent

outside, rigidly ciliate. Corolla-lobes 1 cm. long, 6-5 mm.

broad, ovate, obtuse, pubescent outside. Staminal column

evident below the corona. Corona in a single series attached

to the staminal column; lobes 4 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad,

almost quadrate in side view, laterally folded and channelled

on the inner face, with the flaps produced into an acuminate

projection over the staminal column, retuse at the base.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8759.)

Plate 408. — Fig. 1, view of corona from above ; Fig. 2, pollinia ; Fig. 3,

sepals and petals removed showing lower portion of staminal column with

corona-lobes attached.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

1*09.

Plate 409.

ASPARAGUS SUAVEOLENS.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Asparageae.

Asparagus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 765.

Asparagus suaveolens, Burch. Travels, vol. ii. p. 226.

This is the first occasion we have had the opportunity of

figuring a species of this typical South African genus. The

genus Asparagus is represented by about 150 species spread

through the temperate and tropical regions of the Old World,

and of these, 58 species are recorded from South Africa and

are widely distributed. The Flora Capensis (vol. vi. p. 265)

includes this species under A. stipulaceus Lam., from which,

however, it differs in general habit. So far as we have been

able to gather, A. suaveolens has been confused in South

African herbaria both with A. stipulaceus Lam. and with

A. BurJcei Baker.

The specimen from which our Plate was prepared was

grown at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria. When in

bloom the plant is extremely pretty and densely covered

with very fragrant white flowers.

Description : — A low-spreading shrub, with long lateral

branches standing almost at right angles to the stem but with

the upper portion of the stem apparently unbranched.

Stem and branches smooth and glabrous. Spines in groups of

3 on the branches, standing at right angles to the branches

and at an angle of 45° to each other. The groups of spines,

phyllodes, and flowers at well-defined nodes so that distinct

internodes appear between each group. Phyllodes 5*5 mm.

long, about 025 mm. in diameter, terete, mucronate, glabrous.

Flowers white, sweet-scented, usually solitary, sometimes

2-nate, terminating the ultimate branchlets. Peduncle

1-5 mm. long, terete, glabrous, articulated to a pedicel 3 mm.

long. Flower-bud bluish, with the perianth-segments pro-

minently keeled. Perianth-segments in old flowers 3 mm. long,

1 mm. broad, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, with a

green keel. Filaments 2-5 mm. long, semiterete; anthers

subglobose. Ovary 1-25 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, obovoid,

glabrous ; style 1 mm. long ; lobes -5 mm. long.

Plate 409. — Fig. 1, portion of an ultimate branchlet bearing a flower;

Fig. 2, group of three spines.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

C.L etty del.

Plate 410.

PARAPODIUM costatum.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Cynancheae.

Pakapodium E. Mey. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 749.

Parapodium costatum, E. Mey. Comm. 222; FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. 1,

p. 558.

This is the first occasion we have had an opportunity of

illustrating a species of the genus Parapodium. The genus

differs from other members of the family previously figured

in having the corona adnate to the base of the corolla-

lobes. The genus Parapodium is endemic in South Africa

and is represented by three species. The particular species

we describe here has in the past given rise to some confusion,

details of which are outlined by Mr. N. E. Brown in the Flora

Capensis and in Hooker’s leones Plantarum under Plate 2744.

When dissecting a flower we found that not only was the

corona adnate to the corolla but also to the staminal-column.

Unfortunately no material of the two other species was

available for comparison and we cannot say whether or not

this condition is also found in them. If on examination it

is found that the corona is quite free from the staminal

column, then Parapodium simile N. E. Br. and P. crispum

N. E. Br. might be placed in a genus distinct from Parapodium.

The specimen figured was collected on a vacant erf in Pretoria

by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys.

Description : — A herbaceous plant from an underground

woody rootstock. Stem simple, somewhat angled, sparsely

covered with a few crinkly hairs. Leaves in about 9 pairs,

petioled; petiole 1 to 1-7 cm. long, channelled above and

hairy in the channel; blade 5 to 11 cm. long, 1-2 to 2 cm.

broad, long-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, passing into the

petiole at the base, glabrous. Umbels peduncled, axillary,

about 9-flowered. Peduncle 1*5 cm. long, shortly pilose.

Pedicels 1 cm. long, shortly pilose. Calyfc-lobes 1-1 cm. long,

linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate, glabrous. Corolla-lobes

9 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, more or less oblong, convex without,

concave within, glabrous. Corona-lobes 2 mm. long, 3*5 mm.

broad, forming a shallow basin-like structure between the

corolla and the staminal column, adnate to the corolla-lobes

and also to the base of the staminal column. Anthers with

distinct ovate appendages. /Style projecting beyond the apex

of the anthers. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8760.)

Plate 410. — Fig. 1, view of corona from above; Fig. 2, side view of

corona (petals removed) ; Fig. 3, pollinici.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

l-Vi.'VAiE BAG X101

PRETORIA 00D1

^PUBLIC of soufh

C. Le tty del.

Plate 411.

CLIVIA MINIATA var. flava.

Natal.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Cltvia Lindt. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 729.

Clivia miniata Regel var. flava Phillips var. nov. ; a forma typica

floribus flavis differt. ( National Herbarium Pretoria , No. 8724.)

On Plate 13 we illustrated typical Clivia miniata as found

in Natal. The illustration on the accompanying Plate repre-

sents a variety, also found in Natal, which differs from the

species in having yellow flowers. We received the specimen

from Mr. B. Nicholson, D.S.O., of ’Mbabane, Swaziland, who

obtained the plant from Mr. C. R. Saunders of Melmoth,

Zululand. Mr. Saunders informs us that one or two plants

were found in the Eshowe Forest, Zululand, about the year

1888, and a number of plants have been propagated from

these originals. Plants were propagated from seed, but took

many years before they flowered. Mr. Saunders also informs

us that two or three years ago a plant flowered at the

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, but as far as we are aware has

not been figured. The fact that all plants raised from seed

have yellow flowers indicates that we are dealing with a pure

strain ; but except for the colour of the flowers we have not

been able to detect any tangible characters which would

separate it from C. miniata and have therefore kept it as a

yellow variety.

Description : — Leaves up to 30 cm. long, 5 cm. broad,

strap-shaped, pointed at the apex, with somewhat rough

cartilaginous margins, glabrous. Peduncle about 30 cm. long,

3 cm. broad, 7 mm. thick, solid, flattened and slightly fluted

on one side, slightly convex on the other. Umbel of about

20 flowers, subtended by membranous bracts 4 cm. long.

Pedicels green, 4 cm. long, smooth. Perianth creamy-yellow ;

tube about 1 cm. long; limb 5-5 cm. long, oblanceolate-

oblong; outer narrower than the inner and with a small

hooded mucro at the apex; inner broadly rounded at the

apex ; all eventually recurving and showing the deeper cream

of the throat. Stamens inserted in the throat of the perianth ;

filaments deep cream in colour, almost as long as the perianth,

anthers versatile, 5 mm. long. Style longer than the stamens,

gradually curving downwards, shortly 3-cuspidate at the apex.

Plate 411. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,

cross-section of peduncle from lower half.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

A/2.

C.Le tty del.

Plate 412.

HUERNIA Nouhuysii.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Huernia R. Br ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 784.

Huernia Nouhuysii Verdoorn, sp. nov. Planta 8-20 cm. alta, ramosa.

Caules 4-6 angulati, contorti, ad angulos dentibus deltoideis acutis 5 mm.

longis instructi. Flores ad basin ramorum fasciculati. Pedicelli 2-3 cm.

longi, crassi, glabri. Sepala 6 mm. longa, lanceolato-subulata, glabra.

Corolla campanulata; tubus c. 1-3 cm. diam., intra lineis maculisque

sanguineis instructus et superne papillis apice sanguineis praeditus; lobi

5 mm. longi, deltoidei, apice acuti etiam maculis papillisque instructi,

dentibus 1 mm. longis alternati. Corona exterior 10-lobata, lutea, pallida ;

interior 5-lobata, luteo-clavata, lobi lineari-subulati antheris incumbentes

superne in cornu erectum producti. Zoutpansberg distr. : Wylie's Poort, van

Nouhuys in National Herbarium , Pretoria, No. 8757.

The Huernia we figure on the accompanying Plate is a

new record for the Transvaal. It is most closely allied to

H. Loeseneriana illustrated on Plate 216, but is readily dis-

tinguished from this species by the usually spirally twisted

stems which bear the flowers in conspicuous clusters. Speci-

mens were collected by Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys near Wylie’s

Poort in the Northern Transvaal and were grown and flowered

at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — Stems 8 to 20 cm. high, erect, branched.

Branches acutely 4-6-angled, usually spirally twisted; teeth

on the angles 5 mm. long, deltoid, acute. Flowers several

together near the base of the branches. Pedicels 2 to 3 cm.

long, stout, glabrous. Sepals 6 mm. long, subulate from an

ovate base. Corolla campanulate, with the tube gradually

passing into the spreading lobes, about 1-3 cm. in diam. at

the throat; lobes about 5 mm. long, deltoid, acute, alter-

nating with small teeth; inner surface greenish with red

spots and lines and covered from about the middle of the

tube to the tips of the lobes with small conical processes

tipped with a minute red mucro. Outer corona equally and

shallowly 10-lobed, light greenish-yellow; inner corona of 5

linear subulate lobes with a dorsal ridge, incumbent on the

anthers and produced beyond into erect apices which are not

obviously thickened at the tips.

Plate 412. — Fig. 1, corona, also showing portion of wall of corolla

with processes.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

<3

4 73

M.M.Pa^e del.

Plate 413.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM Comptonii.

Cape Province.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembryeae.

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

Mesembryanthemum Comptonii, L. Bolus in Annals Bolus Herb.

vol. iii. p. 162.

When in full growth and flowering from July, in the middle

of the rainy season at Kirstenbosch, this plant, with its

turgid, finely papillate, apple-green leaves, looks very different

from its summer state ; then the leaves are much smaller,

and the glaucous colouring more like that typical of the

section Lunata, in which our species must be included. It

differs from its allies chiefly in having white or cream petals

(the usual colour in the section being a pretty rose or pale

rose, with no suggestion of magenta) and with at most an

inconspicuous keel. The colourless petals contrast with the

crimson of the staminodes and filaments collected closely

together, and in its prime the whole plant forms an attractive

compact herb, producing both foliage and flowers freely, and

having a long flowering period.

The only station we have recorded for the species is

Klaver in the Clanwilliam Division, where Professor Compton

collected it in 1922.

Miss Page’s drawing was made from a plant which had

been in cultivation for about a year.

Description : — Plant erect, glabrous, diffusely branched,

15 to 23 cm. high, the herbaceous parts very finely papillate ;

younger branchlets compressed. Leaves ascending or nearly

spreading, sometimes slightly falcate, flat above, rounded at

the back or obscurely keeled towards the apex, viewed laterally

gradually widened upwards, obtuse or somewhat truncate, up

to 4 cm. long, 6 to 9 mm. broad, up to 1 cm. in diameter ;r

sheath very short. Cyme usually 3-branched or up to 22-

flowered; flowers expanded in full sunshine, 2-7 cm. in

diameter; peduncles up to 3 cm. long with bracts placed

near the middle. Receptacle turbinate or somewhat clavate,

3 to 4 mm. long, 7 mm. in diameter at the apex. Sepals 5,

acute, very unequal in length. Petals 1-2-seriate, linear,

slightly narrowed towards the base, white or cream, 1-1 cm.

long, usually 1*5 mm. broad. Staminodes and stamens col-

lected in a cone, crimson above, pallid below; filaments

papillate, up to 3-5 mm. long, a little shorter than the stami-

nodes. Glands often approximate, crenulate. Ovary convex

above. Stigmas 5, subulate-acuminate, 2 mm. long. Capsule

turbinate, raised above for about 3 mm., 1*4 cm. in diameter

when expanded, margins of the keels minutely lacerate. —

L. Bolus. (National Botanic Gardens, No. ^V-.)

Plate 413. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through the flower, x 3 ; Fig. 2,

receptacle and sepals ; Fig. 3, gynaecium and disk, x 3 ; Fig. 4, petal ;

Fig. 5, staminode ; Fig. 6, stamens ; Fig. 7, stigma, x 3 ; Fig. 8, trans-

verse sections of leaf; Fig. 9, capsule; Fig. 10, do., expanded, x 2.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

M M.Pa^e del.

Plate 414.

PSILOCAULON lutetjm.

South-West Africa.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembryeae.

Psilocaulon, N. E. Brown in Burtt Davy, Flora of the Transvaal, vol. i.

p. 157.

Psilocaulon luteum, L. Bolus in Mesemb. i. p. 141.

The genus Psilocaulon is widely distributed in South

Africa, occurring in all the Provinces except Natal, and being

specially well represented in the Karroo and Namaqualand.

Our species was collected by F. Coetzee at Keetmanshoop in

South-West Africa. The name, meaning “ bare stem ”

(psilo = bare ; caulon = stem), refers to the leafless and rush-

like appearance of the branches when the leaves have shrivelled

and fallen, leaving only the base persisting as a scale. The

nodes are always more or less constricted, so that the axillary

bud is well protected; and it is not uncommon, at any rate

in cultivation, to find two periods of growth : the flowering

period when the branches are developed from one axil of

each leaf-pair, and the vegetative period, when the opposite

axillary shoot develops into sterile branches, with leaves

longer than those on the fertile shoots. Our present species

is only known as yet with its flowering branches developed

(during November). With two exceptions (P. rapaceum, L.

Bol. and P. pomeridianum, L. Bol.) the flowers in the genus

are small and inconspicuous except in the mass. The sepals

and stigmas are four or five. The more usual colour of the

petals is some shade of pink, and white is not uncommon.

The petaloid staminodes are nearly always yellow in the

upper portion, and white or transparent below. These stami-

nodes are sometimes regarded as petals; but, as they are

always erect and adpressed to the stamens, while the petals

proper radiate, it is advisable to regard them as staminodes.

They differ, too, in having minutely lacerate margins. On

this understanding P. luteum has no true petals. The ovary

is conspicuously elevated, and the nectaries are in the form

of slight hollows at the base of the ovary-lobes.

Description : — Plant perennial, herbaceous, the green

parts minutely papillate and pubescent, the hairs spreading

or recurved and often somewhat like papillae, up to 30 cm.

high. Branches up to 5 mm. in diameter. Leaves almost

terete, obtuse or subacute, apiculate, up to 8 mm. long, up

to 4 mm. in diameter. Flowers numerous, paniculately

cymose, finally about 1 cm. in diameter. Peduncle usually 2

to 4 mm. long. Receptacle clavate-turbinate or turbinate.

Sepals 5, nearly equal in length, thick, up to 3 mm. long, 3

with membranous margins. Petals none. Staminodia 2-

seriate, subequal acuminate, the margins minutely lace-

rate, white at the base, yellow upwards, up to 4 mm. long,

the outer ovate-lanceolate, the inner much narrower. Stamens

at first cone-collected, soon erect; filaments white below,

together with the anthers golden above, 3 to 5 mm. long.

Ovary elevated above into a cone. Stigmas 5, slender, acumi-

nate, yellow, nearly equalling the longer stamens, 3 mm.

long. — L. Bolus. (Bolus Herbarium, No. 17,171.)

Plate 414. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through the flower; Fig. 2,

receptacle and sepals ; Fig. 3, gynaecium and nectaries ; Fig. 4, staminodes ;

Fig. 5, stamen ; Fig. 6, stigma, x 6 ; Fig. 7, leaf, x 3 ; Fig. 8, internode,

enlarged.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4-J5.

M.M.Pa^e del

Plate 415.

DISA Forficaria.

Orchid ace ae .

Disa, Bergius ; Descr. Plant. Cap. B. Spei, p. 348 (1767) ; Benth. et

Hook f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 630.

Disa Forficaria Bolus, Ic. Orchid, vol. i. t. 87, partim; Schlechter in

Engl. Bot. Jahrb. vol. xxxi. p. 297. Forficaria graminifolia, Lindley, Gen.

et Sp. Orch. p. 362 ; Sonder in Linnaea, vol. xix. p. 105 ; Kranzlin, Orch.

Gen. et Sp. vol. i. p. 723 ; Rolfe in Flor. Cap. vol. v. § 3, p. 207.

This species was originally described by Lindley in 1838

as Forficaria graminifolia, and the genus is upheld by Rolfe

in the Flora Capensis and by other authorities. But it is

difficult to see on what grounds Forficaria can be separated

from Disa, and Schlechter follows Bolus in reducing it. The

type is Drege’s collection from Dutoit’s Kloof in the Worcester

Division; and the only record we have of its occurrence on

the Cape Peninsula is the original of our plate — a solitary

plant found by Mr. Pillans (4125) at the end of January

1922, “on a low ridge in the middle part of Klaver Valley,

Simon’s Town.” The two other localities given are Hotten-

tots’ Holland Mountains, and at Forest Hall near Plettenberg

Bay. In the former are Ecklon and Zeyher’s collection (fide

Sonder) and that of Mr. T. P. Stokoe (No. 2560) from Wolvern

Kloof in the Hottentots’ Holland Mountains, Caledon Division,

at the end of February 1931.

It is evident, however, after an examination of the living

material recently collected, that more than one species has

been included in Disa Forficaria, Bolus. For Miss C. Newdi-

gate’s collections from Forest Hall ( Bolus 6327) differ from

Pillans 4125 and Stokoe 2650 in having the odd sepal definitely

clawed and the margin of the blade erosulate, the petals

shorter and dilated and bilobed at the apex, and the anther

shorter. These differences are sufficient to constitute a

species, and we, therefore, propose to separate Bolus 6327

from D. Forficaria and to call it D. Neivdigatae after its

discoverer.

The ovary in the typical form is straight ; but the follow-

ing observations made on Stokoe 2560 serve to prove that

this may be variable. In the youngest buds the ovary was

straight and the lip posticous. As the flower developed, and

when it was just about ready to open, the ovary had made a

half-twist and the lip was anticous. By the time the flower

had faded the full twist was completed and the lip once more

posticous. In the fully open flower the side-sepals were

porrect, with the inner margins contiguous, or one slightly

folded over the other; the outer side was deflexed and,

except at the base where it was adpressed to the ovary, the

margin was inflexed. (At a later stage the sepals diverge

before they ascend to the erect and final position of the wither-

ing flower.) The lip was arched over the base of the sepals.

It was broadly but obscurely emarginate and in this area

pilose and ciliate, the rest of the surface being glabrous.

The odd sepal, directed backwards in a straight line with the

side sepals, with the anther was placed at a right angle to the

ovary. The odd sepal was distinctly galeate at first, the

galea being up to 4 mm. in depth, and as the flower matured

tended to expand, remaining deeply concave to the last.

Description : — Plant slender, 31 cm. high. Tuber 7-5 cm.

long, up to 3-2 cm. diam. Basal leaves 8 for the season’s

growth, narrow-linear, acuminate, glabrous, up to 26 cm.

long, 1 to 2 mm. broad; cauline leaves 10, sheath-like, 6 to

1*5 cm. long, the blades setaceously acuminate, up to 1 cm.

long. Bracts broad-ovate below, tapering upwards and ter-

minating in a bristle. Raceme 12 to 14 fl., flowers ascending;

pedicels up to 6 mm. long. Sepals when flattened obliquely

oblong-ovate, up to 1 cm. long, up to 5 mm. broad; odd

sepal galeate or concave, circular in outline, entire, minutely

ciholate, otherwise glabrous, 0-8 to 1 cm. long. Petals

enclosed by the odd sepal, adpressed to the anther for the

whole of its length, then genuflexed and diverging, the apical

portion sometimes decurved and adpressed to the sepal, 2 mm.

broad at the base, tapering upwards to a fine point, the

inner surface and margins pubescent with purple gland-tipped

hairs, dorsally glabrous, 0-9 to 1 cm. long. Labellum convex,

truncate or obscurely emarginate, 4 mm. long, 5 mm. broad.

Rostellum erect, about 1-5 mm. high, concave at the base

above the two convex stigmas, the middle lobe well-developed ;

tubercle surmounting the lateral wings of the rostellum com-

posed of a number of translucent papillae. Anther ovate,

obtuse, scabrid, up to 4 mm. long; glands of the pollinia

nearly circular. Ovary cylindrical, tapering to the base, 7 to

8 mm. long. ( Pillans , 4125 ; StoJcoe, 2560). L. Bolus.

Disa Newdigatae, L. Bolus, a D. Forficaria sepalo impari unguiculato,

margine erosulo, petalis brevioribus, apicem versus ampliatis bilobulatisque,

anthera breviore differt. D. Forficaria, Bolus, Ic. Orchid, vol. i. t. 87,

■partim.

Plate 415. — Fig. 1, flower, side view ; Fig. 2, bract ; Fig. 3, lateral

sepal ; Fig. 4, dorsal sepal ; Fig. 5, petals ; Fig. 6, section of petal ; Fig. 7,

lip ; Fig. 8, column ; Fig. 9, side view of column ; Fig. 10, same from

behind ; Fig. 11, tuber ; Fig. 12, whole plant.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

-4/6

M M. Pag e del.

Plate 416.

RUSCHIA MUCRONATA.

Cape Province.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembryeae.

Ruschia, Schwantes in Zeitschr. Succulentenk. II. ii. p. 186 (Apr. 1926).

Rusohia mucronata, Schwantes in Zeitschr. Succulentenk. I, iii. p. 20

(Feb. 1927). Mesembryanthemum mucronatum, Haw. Misc. 73.

This species dates back to 1803, when it was described by

Haworth, who states that it was introduced into England in

1794 and that he had not seen flowers. Neither is there any

record since of its flowering in Europe, nor of any other

collection except the plant figured here. Unfortunately the

exact details of its origin were not preserved, and we can

only say now that it was sent to the Bolus Herbarium about

1922, probably by Mr. V. S. Peers from the Malmesbury

Division. It flowered in Miss Arbuthnot’s garden in July

1923, when the drawing was made. A comparison of this

with an unpublished drawing at Kew, representing Haworth’s

type, leaves very little room for doubting the specific identity

of the two plants.

Ruschia mucronata belonged to a section of Mesembfyan-

themum which Haworth named Microphylla. Up to 1821 the

section contained four species, and during the last few years

about twenty-five have been added to this number. They occur

eastwards as far as Riversdale and extend into the Karroo

and Little Namaqualand. Heterophylly is exhibited more or

less in nearly all of them; and during the period of rest the

future growth is enclosed in a whitish sheath formed by the

dried remains of the broader leaves of the previous season.

Description : — Plant glabrous, 4 cm. high. Branches

short and crowded in the centre of the plant or spreading

and decumbent, elongating to 6 cm. or more, up to 2 mm. in

diameter, internodes up to 1 cm. long; flowering branchlets

erect or ascending, short. Leaves ascending or almost spread-

ing, ovate-oblong or lanceolate-linear, flat above, rounded on

the back or obtusely keeled, acute, mucronate, the mucro

white, closely punctate, the dots somewhat raised, the longer

leaves up to 1*2 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, 2 mm. in diameter,

almost free at the base, the shorter leaves up to 9 mm. long,

4 mm. broad, 2 mm. in diameter, the sheath up to 2 mm. long.

Flowers solitary, open in bright sunshine, 2 cm. in diameter.

Receptacle turbinate, 3 mm. long, up to 5 mm. in diameter.

Sepals 5, slightly unequal, mucronate, up to 6 mm. long.

Petals 2-seriate, acute or obtuse, slightly narrowed down-

wards, deep rose with a darker stripe in the lower half, up to

9 mm. long, up to 1-25 mm. broad. Staminodes recurved

near the apex, white below, about as long as the outer stamens.

Stamens at first collected in the form of a cone; filaments

pink above, up to 4-5 mm. long, the inner papillate at the

base; anthers about 1 mm. long, pallid. Disk crenulate.

Ovary 5-lobed above, the lobes obtuse. Stigmas 5, slender-

subulate below, long-acuminate, 4 mm. long. — L. Bolus.

(Bolus Herbarium, No. 17388.)

Plate 416. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower, x 4; Fig. 2, recep-

tacle and sepals, x 2 ; Fig. 3, gynaeciura with disk ; Fig. 4, petals ; Fig. 5,

staminode ; Fig. 6, stamens ; Fig. 7, stigma — all x 4 ; Fig. 8, longer leaf,

back view ; Fig. 8a, transverse sections of same ; Fig. 9, shorter leaf, back

view ; Fig. 9a, transverse sections of same — all x 3.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4-17.

Plate 417.

HOMERIA Galpinii.

Cape Province.

Iridaceae. Tribe Moreae.

Homeria, Ventenat, Dec. Gen. Nov. 5 (1808) ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen.

Plant, vol. iii. p. 692.

Homeria Galpinii, L. Bolus, sp. nov. Cormus subglobosus, ad 2-5 cm.

diam., reliquis fibrosis coronatus, tunicis e segmentis rigidis atro brunneis,

interioribus saepe ad 1 mm. latis, apice subpungentibus, compositis. Caulis

20—40 cm. altus, 2-3 mm. diam. basin versus, cum vaginis basalibus 2-4,

obtusis vel truncatis, membranaceis, 1-9 cm. longis, aurantiacus. Folium

productum sub inflorescentia positum erectum rigidum, apice pungens vel

subpungens, sat prominenter 2-4 nervatum, 8-17 cm. longum cum vagina

clausa 2 cm. longa, lamina conduplicata, manu expansa 3-6 mm. lata ;

folium e cormulo laterali productum subpungens, ad 31 cm. longum, 2 mm.

latum. Cymae 2-3, erectae, ad 4-fl., floribus luteis; spathae valvae her-

baceae, apice membranaceae, setaceo acuminatae, exteriores 3-5-6 cm.,

interiores 4-5-7 cm., longae. Perianihii segmenta erecta, deinde patentia,

os angustum, 3-4 mm. diam. formantia, glabra lutea immaculata ; exteriora

3 cm. longa cum ungue 2 mm. longo, ad 9 mm. lata, lamina oblonga, medio

vel interdum prope basin latissima, obtusa vel subtruncata ; interiora

obovato oblonga, prope apicem latissima, ad 9 mm. lata. Squamae nectari-

ferae minutae. Tubus stamineys puberulus, 4-6 mm. longus ; antherae

ad 8 mm. longae, primo styli ramos bene superantes. Styli rami 4 mm.

longi; stigmatis cristae aureae, 0-75 mm. longae; ovarium 1 cm. longum.

Capsula cylindrica vel clavato-cylindrica, angulis obscuris, substipitata, ad

2-5 cm. longa, ad 4 mm. diam.

Mr. E. E. Galpin’s discovery of this Homeria “ in burned

sandy patches between rocks ” on the summit of one of the

Klein Drakenstein Mountains, near Salem in the Paarl Divi-

sion, forms a most interesting addition to the extensive list of

new species we owe to his untiring zeal through a long life in

the cause of South African botany, and calls for a little more

than the usual comment. For the several ascents of this

mountain, in the hottest and driest season of the year, are

an achievement which commands our greatest respect and

admiration, and doubles our pleasure in associating his name

with a genus that still requires considerable study and further

attention in these pages. The species itself is remarkable in

several ways. Apart from the habitat the flowering season

is quite unusual, no other autumnal species having yet been

recorded. The pungent leaf-apex is also unique. Another

characteristic worthy of note is the small diameter of the

“ cup ” of the perianth; and yet another the entire absence

of any markings on the perianth-segments. The first

flowering material was collected on March 6th, 1931, with

additional specimens on the 14th, and fruit in April to

complete the collection.

Description : — Corm subglobose, up to 2*5 cm. in diameter,

crowned with fibrous remains, the tunics composed of rigid

blackish-brown segments, somewhat pungent at the apex, the

interior ones often up to 1 mm. broad. Stem 20 to 40 cm.

high, 2 to 3 mm. in diameter, orange towards the base, as are

the 2-4 basal, obtuse or truncate membranous sheaths, 1 to

9 cm. long. Leaf subtending the inflorescence erect rigid,

pungent or subpungent, rather prominently 2-4-nerved, 8 to

17 cm. long, including the closed sheath 2 cm. long, the blade

folded in half lengthways, when flattened 3 to 6 mm. broad;

the leaf produced from a lateral cormlet up to 31 cm. long,

2 mm. broad. Cymes 2-3, erect, up to 4-fl., flowers yellow;

spathe-valves herbaceous, the apex membranous, tapering off

into a long bristle-point, the outer ones 3*5 to 6 cm., the

inner 4-5 to 7 cm., long. Perianth-segments erect, then

spreading, forming a narrow mouth, 3 to 4 mm. in diameter,

glabrous, yellow, immaculate, the exterior 3 cm. long, including

the claw 2 mm. long, up to 9 mm. broad, the blade oblong,

broadest in the middle or sometimes near the base, obtuse or

subtruncate, the interior obovate-oblong, broadest near the

apex, up to 9 mm. broad. Nectariferous scales minute.

Staminal tube puberulous, 4 to 6 mm. long; qnthers up to

8 mm. long, at first reaching well beyond the style-branches,

4 mm. long. Stigma-crests golden, 0-75 mm. long; ovary

1 cm. long. Capsule cylindrical or clavate-cylindrical, the

angles inconspicuous, somewhat stipitate, ad 2-5 cm. long, ad

4 mm. diam. (Bolus Herbarium, No. 19420.)

Plate 417. — Fig. 1, flower viewed from above; Fig. 2, centre of same,

X 2 ; Fig. 3, outer segment ; Fig. 4, inner segment ; Fig. 5, androecium

and part of gynaecium, x 4 ; Fig. 6, upper part of do. from an older flower,

X 4; Fig. 7, do., viewed from above, x 4; Fig. 8, gynaecium, ovary

removed, x 4 ; Fig. 9, fruiting cyme ; Fig. 10, portion of an outer tunic

of the corm.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

IrlS

M.M.Page del

Plate 418.

RUSCHIA KARROOICA.

Cape Province.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembbyeae.

Ruschia, Schwantes in Zeitschr. Succulentenk. II, ii. p. 186 (Apr. 1926).

Ruschia karrooica, L. Bol. in Mesemb. i. p. 72 (Jul. 1927). Mesem-

bryanthemum karrooicum, L. Bol. in Ann. Bolus Herb. vol. iv. p. 9.

This species is one of the finest in the section Uncinata, a

section created by Haworth to embrace six species, of which

five are still to be retained in it, as well as about twenty

recently described. The early species, M. uncinatum , M. per -

foliatum, M. unidens, and M. semidentatum, as the names

imply, illustrate the chief characteristics of the section,

namely, a hooked leaf -apex, a sheathing of the internode,

and a tooth or teeth on the keel, or on the keel and margins,

of the leaf. Haworth describes the leaves as “ connato-

vaginantia ” ; but, as may be seen from the position of the

axillary buds, the actual leaf-sheath is comparatively short,

and the “ entirely fleshy internodes ” are the result of an

extension of leaf-like tissue from node to node. In Ruschia

karrooica the apex of the leaf is usually hooked, and the

internodes are sheathed with leaf -like tissue; but the keel

and margins are quite entire, and the actual leaf-sheath is

rather long. The specimen figured is from a plant collected

at Whitehill by Professor Compton, which had been in cul-

tivation at Kirstenbosch for about a year. Even allowing

for this, however, the flowers are probably the largest to be

found in this section. In wild plants the measurements are

less, and the herbaceous parts are usually brownish-green or

sometimes very like the purplish-brown colour shown here on

the base of the branch. The capsule figured is that of a

previous season and is consequently dried and shrivelled.

The first collection we have recorded is that of H. Bolus

(13454) from near Matjesfontein in September 1908.

Description : — Plant erect rigid robust glabrous, up to

30 cm. high. Branches and branchlets usually almost erect.

Leaves ascending, often almost spreading, apiculate and hooked

at the apex, keeled or rounded on the back, slightly convex

above, narrowed upwards, glaucous green-dotted, 0-8 to 2-1

cm. long, 0-3 to 0-5 cm. broad and thick ; intemodes entirely

sheathed, clavate, longer than the leaf, 0-8 to 1*1 cm. in

diameter at the apex ; vagina 4 mm. long. Flowers expanded

in sunshine, up to 5 cm. in diameter; peduncle 2 to 4*5 cm.

long, with the bracts near the middle. Receptacle clavate.

Sepals 5, unequal, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate,

1 to 1*4 cm. long. Petals 2-3-seriate, obtuse or emarginate,

narrowed from the middle downwards, rosy purple with a

darker median line extending to a little beyond the middle,

up to 2-2 cm. long, 2 to 2*5 mm. broad, a few innermost

6 mm. long. Stamens soon diffuse, 7 mm. in diameter at the

apex, surrounded at first by the acuminate, recurved starni-

nodes, 6 mm. long; filaments purple, papillate at the base,

5 to 7 mm. long; anthers and pollen pale. Disk crenulate.

Ovary conspicuously raised above, the lobes obtuse. Stigmas 5,

slender-subulate, long-acuminate, yellow, 6 mm. long. Lobes

of the capsule strongly compressed ; expanded valves without

wings, keels diverging upwards, reaching to about the middle

of the valve. — L. Bolus. (National Botanic Gardens,

Plate 418. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower, x 2; Fig. 2, recep-

tacle and sepals ; Fig. 3, gynaeciura with disk ; Fig. 4, petals ; Fig. 5,

staminode; Fig. 6, stamens; Fig. 7, stigma — X 2; Fig. 8, transverse

sections of leaf ; Fig. 9, capsule ; Fig. 10, the same, expanded, x 4.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

419.

B.O. Carter del.

Plate 419.

DELOSPERMA hirtum.

Orange Free State.

Ficoidaceae. Tribe Mesembryeae.

Delosperma, N. E. Brown in Burtt Davy, Flora Transvaal, vol. i. p. 157.

Delosperma hirtum, L. Bolus in Mesemb. ii. p. 269. Mesem-

bryanthemum hirtum, N. E. Br. in Oard. Chron. vol. x. p. 138 (1878) ;

var. bicolor, var. nov., petalis basin versus albis.

The chief characters which distinguish our variety from

the typical form of this species are the short internodes

(which have not elongated after being in cultivation for more

than a year) and the petals white in the lower part. The

type was introduced into England by Mr. T. Cooper, and was

described and figured in 1878, no locality being given. Since

then collections from Natal (Mooi River, Wood 4046) and the

Caledon Pass “ leading from Witzieshoek into Basutoland ”

( Thode 15) have been identified with the type. Mr. J. W.

Pont’s specimens were found at Kroonstadt, in November

1929, in old fruit, and the drawings were made during the

following September and October from two plants which

flowered at Kirstenbosch. Two flowers were produced during

January and February of 1931, and these were a little finer

than the earlier ones. This may indicate that the normal

flowering period is during the summer.

Description : — Plant 5 to 8 cm. high. Branches spread-

ing decumbent, rather fleshy, bearing the remains of fallen

leaves, often 3-5 mm. in diameter ; flowering branchlets erect

or ascending, densely 8-10-leaved, the internodes invisible.

Leaves ascending, finally spreading, linear-lanceolate, broadest

at the base, narrowing slightly upwards from about the

middle, acute or obtuse, keeled, at first concave above,

finally flat, green, rather coarsely papillate, papillae orbi-

cular, ending in a short ascending bristle, or those on the

keel, margins, and near the apex of the leaf, in a longer and

almost rigid bristle, up to 5 cm. long, 7 mm. broad at the

base, the sheath up to 2 mm. long. Flowers solitary, ter-

minating the shoot (apparently axillary), open in full sun-

shine, finally up to 3-3 cm. diam. Peduncle without bracts,

terete, pubescent, 0-5 to 3 cm. long. Receptacle obconic,

rather densely setose, hairs almost erect, up to 4 mm. long,

8 mm. in diameter. Sepals 5, obtuse, 0-6 to 1*1 cm., or

rarely up to 1-4 cm., long. Petals 3-seriate, emarginate or

obtuse, or the inner acute, often scarcely narrowed down-

wards, rosy purple, white towards the base, up to 1-5 cm.

long, usually 1*5 to 2 mm. broad. Staminodes recurved at

the apex, acuminate, white, slightly longer than the collected

stamens; filaments white, 5 to 7 mm. long, the interior

papillate a little below the middle; anthers yellow. Glands

5, conspicuous, crenulate. Ovary 5-lobed above, scarcely 1

mm. high. Stigmas 5, narrowly subulate, gradually tapering

upwards, 3 to 4 mm. long. Capsule expanded 1-6 cm. diam.,

keels parallel, wings of the loculus covering about half the

loculus or less. — L. Bolus. (National Botanic Gardens,

Plate 419. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through the flower, x 4; Fig. 2,

sepals; Fig. 3, gynaeciura with glands; Fig. 4, petals; Fig. 5, starainode;

Fig. 6, stamens; Fig. 7, stigma — x 3; Fig. 8, capsule expanded, x 2;

Fig. 9, transverse sections of leaf ; Fig. 10, portion of leaf surface with

papillae, enlarged; Fig. 11, flower on first day of opening.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

420

W.KBarker del.

Plate 420.

POLYXENA Maughanii.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

Polyxena, Kunth ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 807.

Polyxena Maughanii, Barker, sp. nov. Bulbus depresso-globosus,

1-2-1-8 cm. diam. Folia 2, lanceolata vel oblanceolata, acuta, glabra,

marginibus cartilagineo-ciliatis, adscendentia, demum bumistrata, 5-10 cm.

longa, 2-3 cm. lata. Scapus curtus, inclusus. Corymbus 7-20-florus. Pedicelli

exteriores 1 cm. longi. Bracteae minutae, deltoideae. Perianthium albidum,

tubo gracile 2 cm. longo, segmentis patentibus oblongis acutis 6 mm.

longis. Stamina biseriata, segmentis breviora; filamenta 1-5 mm.

longa. Ovarium 1 mm. diam., 5 mm. longum, loculis multi-ovulatis ; stylus

albidus, carnosus, obliquus, 5-10 mm. longus.

Prior to 1924 the genus Polyxena consisted of the 10

species published in the Flora Capensis in 1896, and P. ensi-

folia, Schonl., published in 1910. In 1924 Schlechter separated

the six species having uniseriate stamens from the rest,

placing them in the new genus N eobakeria, named in honour

of the botanist, J. G. Baker. The remaining five species

now comprise the genus Polyxena, with the addition of P.

Maughanii, Barker, first sent from Nieuwoudtville to the

National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, by Dr. Maughan

Brown in 1928, while the plant figured was collected in 1930,

in the same locality, by Mrs. L. Bolus and flowered in her

garden during April and May of this year.

Description : — Bulb depressed globose, 1-2 to 1-8 cm.

diam. Leaves 2, lanceolate or oblanceolate, acute, glabrous,

with a cartilagino-ciliate margin, ascending or prostrate, 5 to

10 cm. long, 2 to 3 cm. broad. Scape short, included. Corymb

7-20 flowered. Exterior pedicels 1 cm. long. Bracts minute,

deltoid. Perianth white; tube slender, swelling slightly at

the throat, 2 cm. long ; segments patent, oblong, acute, 6 mm.

long. Stamens distinctly biseriate, shorter than the segments,

the 3 longest reaching the mouth of the tube, the filaments

adnate to the base of the inner segments, their free portion

1-5 mm. long; anthers 1 mm. long, purple before dehiscing;

pollen yellow. Ovary 5 mm. long, 1 mm. diam., bright green ;

style white, stout, oblique at the apex, usually much shorter

than the stamens, sometimes as long as the short stamens.

— W. Barker. (L. Bolus in Bolus Herbarium, No. 19613.)

Plate 420. — Fig. 1, portion of leaf showing cartilagino-ciliate margin,

X 8 ; Fig. 2, corymb, nat. size ; Fig. 3, longitudinal section of flower ;

Fig. 4, perianth laid out to show biseriate stamens, x 2 ; Fig. 5, front and

back view of anther and upper part of filament, x 8; Fig. 6, gynaecium,

X 2.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4>2J.

C.Letty del.

Plate 421.

SARCOCOLLA squamosa.

Cape Province.

Penaeaceae.

Sarcocolla squamosa, Endl. Gen. Suppl. iv. ii. 74 ; FI. Cap. vol. v.

sect. ii. p. 94.

This is the first occasion we have had the opportunity of

figuring a plant belonging to the interesting South African

endemic family — the Penaeaceae. The family is represented

by five genera containing 23 species, almost all confined to

the south-western districts of the Cape Province, with a few

in the south-eastern districts.

Sarcocolla squamosa is a common species, and according to

the late Dr. R. Marloth is pollinated by sun-birds. The

floral-bracts which surround the flower secrete a balsam which

forms a thin sticky coating on the outside of the perianth and

thus preventing the entrance of ants and other small insects.

The specimen from which our Plate was prepared has a

special interest, as it is one of the plants collected by Dr.

Marloth at Caledon the day before his death and posted by

him to the Division of Plant Industry for figuring.

Description : — An undershrub up to 0*6 m. high. Stems

glabrous, with a rough bark and covered with the old leaf-

scars. Leaves somewhat imbricate, up to 1 cm. long and

8 mm. broad, semi-elliptic, with a blunt callus, glabrous.

Inflorescence capitate, of about 6 flowers. Lower-bracts leaf-

like, larger than the leaves; median-bracts subtending the

flowers broadly obovate to cuneate, larger than the leaves,

ciliate; upper spathulate-linear, ciliate. Perianth-tube about

2 cm. long, sticky; lobes ovate, acute. Stamens exserted

from the perianth-tube; anthers oblong. Ovary superior;

style exserted; stigma capitate, 4-lobed. (National Herb.

Pretoria, No. 8892.)

Plate 421. — Fig. 1, a single flower with bracts removed; Fig. 2,

stamens ; Fig. 3, bract ; Fig. 4, bracteole ; Fig. 5, leaf ; Fig. 6, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

422.

W.F. Barker del.

Plate 422.

LACHENALIA Mathewsii.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

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

Lachenalia Mathewsii, Barker, sp. nov. Bulbus globosus, 1 cm. diam.

Folia 2, erecta, superne attenuata, conduplicata, 10-18 cm. longa, basi

1-1-5 cm. lata. Pedunculus inferne brunneus, 6-9 cm. longus. Inflores-

centia racemosa, pauciflora, ad 4-9 cm. longa, 2-2-5 cm. diam. ; pedicelli

adscendentes, 1-2 mm. longi ; flores patentes. Perianthium campanu-

latum, laete luteum, 1 cm. longum, basi 7 mm. diam. ; segmenta prope

apicem viridi macula notata, exteriora acuta, apice compressa gibbosa,

9 mm. longa, 3^t mm. lata; segmenta interiora obovata, obtusa, 1-1 cm.

longa, apice 4 mm. lata. Stamina declinata, inclusa vel parum exserta,

filamentis antherisque flavis. Ovarium obovatum, 5 mm. longum; stylus

declinatus, demum stamina parum superans.

Lachenalia is one of the most interesting and attractive

genera of the Liliaceae endemic to South Africa. In the last

30 years 12 new species have been added to the 42 already

published in the Flora Capensis, and it seems likely that their

numbers have by no means been exhausted, as several new

ones have been sent to Kirstenbosch by collectors. Among

these was Lachenalia Mathewsii, Barker, collected by Mr.

J. W. Mathews, the curator of the National Botanic Gardens,

as early as 1923. The drawing was made from plants which

flowered during September 1929-30. It was found growing

in damp ground near Vredenberg in the Malmesbury Division,

and the fact that it fails to appear in dry seasons may partly

explain why so charming a bulb has remained till recently

undiscovered by botanists. Its habitat contrasts strongly

with that of L. trichophylla, Baker, growing in hard stony

ground under bushes in the Karroo; and with that of L.

rubida, Jacq., which flourishes in the sand dunes of the Cape

Peninsula. But in spite of its varied habitat, Lachenalia has

proved to be an excellent garden subject, a fact which is well

illustrated by the magnificent display to be seen in the

National Botanic Gardens, where more than half the species

are represented, and, with one or more species in flower at a

time, blooming for nearly nine months of the year.

Description : — Bulb globose, 1 cm. diam. Leaves 2 erect,

attenuate at the apex, conduplicate, 10 to 18 cm. long, 1 to

1-5 cm. broad. Peduncle dark brown 6 to 9 cm. long.

Inflorescence racemose, 4 to 9 cm. long, 2 to 2-5 cm. diam. ;

pedicels erect, 1 to 2 mm. long; bracts small amplexicaul;

flowers patent. Perianth campanulate, 1 cm. long, 7 mm.

wide near the base; segments with a green spot near the

apex ; outer segments subacute, the upper with a gibbosity at

the apex ; inner segments obovate, obtuse, the lower spreading

away from the 2 upper. Stamens declinate, included or

slightly exserted; filaments pale yellow; anthers yellow.

Ovary obovoid, 5 mm. long; style declinate, pale yellow,

finally exserted a little beyond the stamens. (Mathews,

National Botanic Gardens, No. W. Barker.

Plate 422. — Fig. 1, side view of flower; Fig. 2, do., viewed from below;

Fig. 3, same, front view ; Fig. 4, longitudinal section of same ; Fig. 5, upper

outer segment ; Fig. 6, lateral outer segment ; Fig. 7, inner segment ; Fig. 8,

gynaecium, X 3.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

423.

C.Letty del.

Plate 423.

PENTARRHINUM insipid fm.

N amaqualand, Cape Province , Orange Free State, Transvaal,

Natal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Cynancheae.

Pentarrhinum, E. Mey. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 758.

Pentarrhinum insipidum, E. Mey. Comm. 200 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv.

sect. i. p. 741.

The genus Pentarrhinum, of which there are 3 species, is

endemic to Africa. The species are all twining herbs and are

found scrambling over the bush. Pentarrhinum insipidum is

distributed almost over the whole Union and was collected by

several of the old South African botanical collectors. The

species was known in early botanical literature, as Burmann in

1738 ( Rariorum Africanarum Plantarum, Dec. 2. 38. t. 16,

fig. 2) described and figured the plant placing it in the genus

Cynanchum. E. Meyer in 1837 first established the genus

Pentharrhinum and based his description on specimens

collected by Drege on the Klein Winterhoek and from the

Sunday’s River in the Jansenville district.

The specimen we figure was collected by Mr. A. O. D.

Mogg, M.A., near Pretoria in January 1928.

Description : — Stem twining, puberulous or glabrous.

Leaves petiolate ; petiole 1*5 to 5 cm. long ; lamina 2 to 7-5 cm.

long, 1*5 to 5 cm. broad, cordate-ovate, acute, sometimes

acuminate, with broadly rounded basal lobes, glabrous.

Inflorescence an umbel-like corymb, lateral at the nodes.

Peduncles 2-5 to 7*5 cm. long, usually puberulous along one

side. Bracts up to 2 mm. long, subulate, deciduous.

Pedicels 9 to 11 mm. long, puberulous. Sepals 2 to 4 mm.

long, lanceolate, acute, more or less puberulous. Corolla

reflexed ; lobes about 4 mm. long, 2 to 2*5 mm. broad, oblong,

obtuse, glabrous, minutely ciliate. Corona-lobes about 2 mm.

long, equalling the staminal column, obconic, thick and

fleshy, narrowly channelled down the face, truncate, with a

slightly projecting rim at the top, from which a stout central

subulate tooth is directed forwards over the tip of the anthers.

Follicles solitary, 4 to 7*2 cm. long, lanceolate, acute, some-

times acuminate into a beak, more or less tuberculate-

echinate, puberulous or glabrous. Seeds 6 to 6-5 mm. long,

4 mm. broad, ovate, plano-convex, with a thin wing-like

margin, toothed at the broadest end, rugose or sub-reticulate

on both sides, with short irregular linear ridges, brown,

glabrous (descr. from FI. Cap. ex parte. National Herb.

Pretoria, No. 8890).

Plate 423. — Fig. 1, corona seen from above; Fig. 2, pollinium; Fig. 3,

cross-section through fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4*24.

C.L ett y del.

Plate 424.

SENECIO ANGULATUS.

Cape Province , Natal.

Compositae. Tribe Senecionideae.

Senecio, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 446.

Senecio angulatus, Linn. f. Suppl. 369 ; FI. Cap. vol. iii. p. 404.

Senecio angulatus is closely allied to S. tamoides, which we

figured on Plate 174 of this work, and belongs to the same

section of the genus. A comparison of the two plates will

show the chief differences ; in the latter species the leaves are

hastate at the base, while in S. angulatus the leaves taper to

the base.

The species occurs as a scrambler in bush in the neighbour-

hood of East London, Port Elizabeth, Komgha, and extends

into Natal. The flowers are sweet-scented and are produced

in great abundance. The species is frequently found in

cultivation, as it is a very suitable plant for growing over

summer-houses and easy of cultivation. The specimen

figured was grown by Mr. A. O. D. Mogg, M.A., in Pretoria

from plants which originally came from East London.

Description : — A scrambler. Stems terete, somewhat

ribbed, glabrous. Leaves petioled ; petiole 2 to 2-5 cm. long,

much shorter in the upper leaves ; lamina of lower leaves 4 to

5 cm. long, 3 to 4-2 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse, narrowed to the

base, bluntly lobed, glabrous; upper leaves sometimes sub-

sessile, L8 to 3-5 cm. long, lanceolate, sub-obtuse, glabrous.

Inflorescence a large terminal corymb. Heads 1-2 cm. long,

2 cm. in diameter. Involucral-bracts 13, 6 mm. long, 1 mm.

broad, linear, sub-acute, with membranous margins. Re-

ceptacle flat, deeply honeycombed. Disc-florets bisexual.

Corolla-tube 6-5 mm. long, cylindric, slightly dilated on the

uppermost ; lobes 1 mm. long, 0-5 mm. broad, oblong,

obtuse. Anthers 2 mm. long, linear, tipped with a small

oblong appendage, minutely sagittate at the base. Ovary

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

truncate. Pappus 5 mm. long, of many fine bristles. Ray-

florets female. Corolla-tube 4*5 mm. long, cylindric; limb

8 mm. long, 4 mm. broad, linear-oblong, minutely 3-toothed.

Style-branches linear. Ovary and pappus as in disc-florets.

(National Herb. Pretoria, No. 8174.)

Plate 424. — Fig. 1, involucre; Fig. 2, involucre spread open; Fig. 3,

receptacle ; Fig. 4, single involucral-bract ; Fig. 5, disc-floret ; Fig. 6, ray-

floret ; Fig. 7, fruit with pappus.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

425

C.Letty del.

Plate 425.

CRASSULA INAEQUALIS.

Transvaal.

Crassulaceae.

Crassttla, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 657.

Crassula inaequalis, Schdnland in Bee. Albany Mus. vol. ii. p. 452.

This remarkable species of Crassula is probably the largest

of the South African species, being sometimes more than 1 m.

in height. It has an erect embranched leafy stem bearing the

large many-flowered inflorescence. Dr. S. Schdnland first

described the species from specimens collected in Swaziland

by Miss M. Stewart, and in the Transvaal by Mr. E. Dyke.

(Herb. Marloth, 5348.)

The specimen we have figured came originally from Bar-

berton in the Transvaal and was grown and flowered in

January 1931 by Mr. L. R. Vogts of Waterkloof, near Pretoria.

The plant, which grows in moist places, is a biennial and dies

down after the flowers have been produced. In the first

year a basal rosette of leaves is formed and the flowering stem

the following year.

Description : — Plant about 1 m. high. Stem simple,

leafy to the summit. Lower leaves somewhat fleshy, de-

creasing in size upwards, 23 cm. long, 5 cm. broad, ovate-

lanceolate, acuminate, acute, very concave above, convex

beneath, glabrous; uppermost leaves 3-5 cm. long, 1*2 cm.

broad, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, sparsely rigidly

ciliate, glabrous. Inflorescence a panicled cyme, 18 cm. in

diameter. Flowers in the ultimate cymules opening irregularly,

young buds and fully developed flowers occurring together.

Calyx-tube 1-5 mm. long, 0-75 mm. broad, lanceolate, sub-

acute, glabrous. Petals 3 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, oblong,

with a small projection at the tip just below the back of the

apex. Filaments 3 mm. long, filiform; anthers more or less

orbicular in outline. Carpels 2 mm. long; stigma simple.

Squamae 0-5 mm. long, more or less spathulate. (National

Herb. Pretoria, No. 8885.)

Plate 425. — Fig. 1, complete flower; Fig. 2, calyx; Fig. 3, carpel with

gland at base ; Fig. 4, cross-section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4 26

C.Letty del.

Plate 426.

GLORIOSA virescens.

Cape Province, Natal, Tropical Africa.

Liliaceae. Tribe Uvulakieae.

Globiosa, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 830.

Gloriosa virescens, Lindl. in Bot. Mag. t. 2539 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi.

p. 526.

The genus Gloriosa contains three species found in the

warmer parts of Africa and Asia. Judging from the plants

which flower in the garden of the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria, there appears to be considerable variation in the

colour and colour-pattern of the flowers. In the various

colour-forms we have examined we see correlated morpho-

logical differences, but just how far these will hold good if a

large series were studied we cannot say. Two species of the

genus are recorded from South Africa which differ in the

amount of “ crisping ” of the perianth-segments, but we are

inclined to doubt whether they are specifically distinct,

though for the present accepting the names given in the Flora

Capensis.

Gloriosa virescens extends from the Albany district through

the eastern part of South Africa and into tropical Africa. The

plant is a scrambler, sending out stems from a tuberous root-

stock. The latter is stated by the late Dr. Medley Wood to

be extremely poisonous. When in flower the plants make a

glorious show and are quite easily cultivated from the tubers.

The specimen we figure was grown and flowered at the Division

of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — A climbing plant. Stems terete, glabrous.

Leaves about 10 cm. long, 4*8 cm. broad, ovate, long-acuminate

into a tendril, glabrous. Flowers solitary ; buds ovate in out-

line, winged. Pedicel up to 13 cm. long, terete, glabrous, sharply

bent at the apex. Perianth-segments at first a pale yellow in

colour, changing to red above and yellow beneath when more

mature, at first horizontal and then strongly reflexed, 5 cm.

long, 2 cm. broad, lanceolate, acuminate, with a deeply

channelled claw, keeled in the channel. Stamens at first

pointing downwards, at length becoming horizontal and

radiating, 2-7 cm. long; anthers 1-2 cm. long, 3 mm. broad,

linear. Ovary 1-7 cm. long, deeply 3-lobed; style bent at

right angles to the ovary, 3-8 cm. long; lobes 3 mm. long.

(National Herb. Pretoria, No. 8824.)

Plate 426. — Fig. 1, anthers; Fig. 2, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 3,

pistil, with one ovary-chamber exposed.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

427

Plate 427.

GLORIOSA virescens.

Cape Province, Natal, Tropical Africa.

Liliaceae. Tribe Uvularieae.

Gloriosa, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Oen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 830.

Gloriosa virescens, Lindl. in Bot. Mag. t. 2539; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 526.

At the risk of repetition we have decided to publish what

may only be a colour variety of Gloriosa virescens (see Plate

426). This will at least give some indication of the variation

which is found in the species. A careful comparison of the

two Plates will reveal some of the morphological differences of

which mention was made under Plate 426. The specimen

figured on the accompanying Plate has the style and filaments

relatively longer (when compared with the ovary) than the

specimen illustrated on the previous Plate.

In this plant the flowers are yellow below and reddish-

brown above, but the yellow colour disappears with age and

the perianth turns a deep wine-red colour. We obtained our

specimens for figuring from the garden of the Division of

Plant Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — A twining plant. Stems terete, glabrous.

Leaves 10 to 13 cm. long, 1*7 to 3-3 cm. broad, ovate, long-

acuminate, ending in a tendril, glabrous. Flowers solitary;

buds ovate in outline, evidently 6-winged. Pedicel up to

9 cm. long, terete, sharply bent at the apex. Perianth-

segments strongly reflexed, slightly crisped on the margins,

5-3 cm. long, 2-2 cm. broad, more or less ovate, acute, with a

deeply channelled claw which is strongly keeled within at the

base. Filaments 2 cm. long, radiating; anthers 1 cm. long,

2-5 mm. broad, linear. Ovary 1-2 cm. long, deeply 3-lobed;

style 2-6 cm. long, bent sharply at right angles to the ovary;

lobes 2 mm. long. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 8825.)

Plate 427. — Fig. 1, cross-section of ovary ; Fig. 2, pistil with one ovary-

chamber exposed.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

425

C. L et-iy del.

Plate 428.

HYDNORA Solmsiana.

South-West Africa, Transvaal.

Hydnoraceae.

Hydnora, Thunb. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 120.

Hydnora Solmsiana, Dinter in Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrilca (1909), p. 57 ;

Marloth Flora S. Afr. vol. i. p. 178, fig. 82 d.

On Plate 207 of this work we figured Hydnora africana,

which was long thought to be the only species of the genus

represented in South Africa and the species on which Thun-

berg founded the genus. The family Hydnoraceae contains

the two genera Hydnora and Prosopanche, the former occurring

in Africa and Madagascar, the latter in the Argentine. The

genus Hydnora itself contains at least eleven species, only one

of which is found in Madagascar. They are all total parasites

growing on the roots of their host. The species we figure is

found on the roots of Acacia Karoo. The attachment of the

parasite to the host shows some interesting features, as the

tissues of the host form a deep cup, composed of vascular

tissue into which a projection of the parasite fits. We are

indebted to Mr. P. G. van der Byl, Biesjeskinl, P.O. Settlers,

Transvaal, for the specimens which he collected on lime soil

in the Springbok Flats.

Description : — Flowers evil-smelling when old. Perianth-

tube 9-5 cm. long, 3-5 cm. in diameter, leathery, dark brown

without, pinkish within when fresh; lobes 8 cm. long, 1*8 cm.

broad on the back, keeled on the face, covered with coarse

deflexed hairs on the lower half. Anthers fixed at about the

middle of the perianth-tube and together forming a cylindric

body 6 mm. in diameter and bent into four inverted V-shaped

bodies. Ovary 6-5 cm. long, with a large single chamber and

with the ovules produced from an apical placenta; stigma

cushion-shaped on top of the ovary, faintly 4-lobed. Fruit

4’5 cm. in diameter. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 8829.)

Plate 428. — Fig. 1, complete flower; Fig. 2, perianth-lobes; Fig. 3,

longitudinal section of flower ; Fig. 3, a, longitudinal section of ovary ;

Fig. 4, portion of underground stem.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

A-29

W. F Barker del.

Plate 429.

MASSONIA Bolusiae.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Allieae.

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

Massonia Bolusiae, Barker, sp. nov. Bulbus subglobosus, 4 cm. diam.

Folia sat carnosa, per 2 cm. vaginantia, lamina ovata obtusa, glabra,

conspicue 11-14-nervata, nervis impressis, 7 cm. longa, 6-7-5 cm. lata.

Inflorescentia multiflora, 5 cm. diam. Bracteae cuspidatae, exteriores

orbiculares, virides, basin versus albidae, 3 cm. longae ; bracteae interiores

oblongo-obovatae, 1-8 cm. longae, 6 mm. latae. Pedicelli exteriores 1-2 cm.

longi. Perianthium albidum, ad 1-6 cm. longum, segmentis lineari-lanceolatis

reflexis 9 mm. longis, tubo 1-1 cm. longo, 2 mm. diam. Filamenta albida,

7 mm. longa, segmenta subaequantia. Ovarium 1-5 mm. diam., 3 mm.

longum ; stylus demum staminibus fere aequans.

Up to the present 38 species of Massonia have been

described, four of them, not including M. Bolusiae, Barker,

since the publication of Baker’s account in the Flora Capensis.

Two species have already been figured in these pages, namely,

Massonia latifolia, Linn. f. (PI. 46), and Massonia Bowkeri ,

Baker (PI. 367). Our species was collected by Miss Pamela

Bolus in 1930, on the farm Bangor, near Middleburg in the

Karroo, and flowered in Mr. H. H. Bolus’ garden during May

of this year. It differs from another Karroo species, M.

calvata, Baker, by its glabrous leaves, larger orbicular ovate

bracts, and its perianth-segments, which are shorter than the

tube.

Description : — Bulb subglobose, 4 cm. diam. Leaves

fleshy, the base 2 cm. long, the blade ovate, obtuse, glabrous,

11 to 14 nerved, 7 cm. long, 6 to 7-5 cm. broad. Inflorescence

dense, 5 cm. diam. Bracts cuspidate ; outer orbicular-ovate,

white at the base, green at the apex, 3 cm. long ; inner oblong,

obovate, 1-8 cm. long, 6 mm. broad. Pedicels of outer flowers

1-2 cm. long. Perianth white, 1-6 mm. long, segments linear-

lanceolate, reflexed, 9 mm. long, a little shorter than the tube ;

tube 1-1 cm. long, 2 mm. diam. Filaments white, 7 mm.

long. Ovary 1*5 mm. diam., 3 mm. long; style white, finally

as long as the stamens. (Miss P. Bolus in Bolus Herbarium,

No. 19615.) W. Barker.

Plate 429. — Fig. 1, flower in male stage; Fig. 2, longitudinal section

of do. ; Fig. 3, longitudinal section of do., female stage ; Fig. 4, gynaecium,

X 3 ; Fig. 5, outer bract ; Fig. 6, inner bract, nat. size ; Fig. 7, do., X 3.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

430

C . L e tty dol.

Plate 430.

GLORIOSA superba.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Uvularieae.

Glokiosa, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 830.

Gloriosa superba, Linn. Sp. Plant. 305 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 526.

This species is said to occur also in tropical Africa and

Asia. So far as we are aware it has only been recorded in

South Africa from the northern Transvaal. The first pub-

lished illustration of the species is in the Botanical Register

(Plate 77) for the year 1815. Linnaeus in his original descrip-

tion notes that the perianth-segments are a scarlet-red, but

Baker in the Flora Capensis includes the plant with yellow

flowers in the same species. A comparison of the accom-

panying Plate with the two previous Plates (Nos. 426-7) will

show that in G. superba the perianth-segments are crisped all

along the margins, while in G. virescens the segments are

crisped only in the upper portion. Like the other species of

the genus, the aerial stems die down in winter and the tuber

lies dormant until the following spring. Our specimen was

obtained from the garden of the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria.

Description : — A climbing plant. Stems terete, glabrous.

Leaves 7 to 10 cm. long, 1 to 3 cm. broad at the widest part,

ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate and ending in a tendril,

glabrous. Flowers solitary ; buds pendulous, ovate in outline,

sub-acuminate, with 6 prominent wings. Pedicel up to 15 cm.

long, terete, glabrous, sharply bent under the flowers.

Perianth-segments strongly reflexed, becoming horizontal with

age, 8 cm. long, about 1*5 cm. broad, keeled on the inner face

at the base, with the margins strongly crisped. Stamens

radiating; filaments 4-5 cm. long, terete, glabrous; anthers

versatile, 8 mm. long, linear. Ovary 1 cm. long, oblong in

outline, bluntly 3-lobed; style sharply bent at the base and

standing erect, 6-7 cm. long, terete, glabrous; lobes 3, terete,

•5 cm. long; ovules many. (National Herb. Pretoria, No.

8827.)

Plate 430. — Fig. 1, anthers; Fig. 2, pistil; Fig. 3, cross-section of

ovary; Fig. 4, longitudinal section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

*r31

W. F. Barker del.

Plate 431.

LACHENALIA undulata.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.

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

Lachenalia undulata, Masson ex Baker in Journ. Bot. (1886), p. 336.

In a comparatively young country like South Africa,

where new tracts of land are being opened up, interesting

discoveries are frequently made, new plants constantly being

added to our collections. But it gives us even greater pleasure

to be able to fill in the blanks left in our herbaria, of plants

discovered by the early Cape Botanists, and of which no

specimen was preserved, and to know that at least one more

of our native plants has escaped annihilation. Lachenalia

undulata, Masson, was first discovered by Masson, and it was

from his drawing that Baker made his description. In 1928

it was rediscovered by Mr. P. Ross-Frames about 20 miles

north of Van Rhynsdorp, and from this collection our sketch

was made. In 1930 Mr. Buhr reported it plentiful round

Nieuwoudtville, and he sent to the National Botanic Gardens,

Kirstenbosch, some bulbs which are expected to flower in

August of this year.

Description : — Bulb small, globose. Leaves 1 to 2, lanceo-

late, erect or falcate, dark green, the margin undulate, 7*5 to

10 cm. long, 1 to 1*5 cm. broad. Peduncle slender 9 cm.

long, 2 to 3 mm. diam. Spike 5 cm. long, 2 cm. diam., 10 to

20-flowered, upper flowers sterile. Bracts minute, amplexi-

caul. Flowers 1 cm. long, 5 mm. diam., quite sessile; outer

segments bright yellowish-green tinged with green near the

apex, with a white membranous edge, the upper gibbous,

8 mm. long ; inner segments 2 mm. longer than the outer, the

two lateral, yellowish-green in the upper half with a purple

apex, the lower segment longer and narrower than the rest,

white with purple in the upper third. Stamens declinate, as

long as the outer segments; filaments pale yellow, anthers

small, purplish before dehiscing. Gynaecium as long as the

stamens; ovary yellowish-green 3 mm. long; style white,

stigma minute. (P. Ross-Frames in Bolus Herbarium, No.

19614.) — W. Barker.

Plate 431. — Fig. 1, flower side view; Fig. 2, from below; Fig. 3,

front view ; Fig. 4, longitudinal section ; Fig. 5, lateral outer segment ;

Fig. 6, upper outer segment ; Fig. 7, lateral inner segment ; Fig. 8, lower

inner segment with stamen attached ; Fig. 9, gynaecium, x 3.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

C.Let/ty del.

Plate 432.

ALOE PRATENSIS.

Cape Province, Basutoland, Natal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe pratensis, Bkr. in Journ. Linn. Soc. xviii. (1880), p. 156;

FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 308.

This handsome little species of Aloe is frequent in the

grass country along the eastern slopes of the Drakensbergen.

In the Cape Province it is found on the Boschberg in

the Somerset East district, whence it extends its range

northwards through Basutoland into Natal. The flowering

period is usually from June to October. The plants readily

stand transplanting, and frequently throw out a number of

suckers. Our specimen was grown by Mr. J. C. van Balen —

the officer in charge of the Union Buildings Gardens.

Description : — An acaulescent plant 8 to 15 cm. high

with a dense rosette of leaves. Leaves 10 to 12 cm. long, 4 to

4-5 cm. broad at the middle, 1*5 cm. thick, ovate-lanceolate,

acuminate, glaucous and unspotted, with many marginal teeth

and a few spines on upper surface ; teeth 3 to 3-5 mm. long,

2 mm. broad at the base, lanceolate-deltoid, brown-tipped.

Inflorescence a simple dense raceme 27 cm. long. Pedicels

ascending, 2-5 cm. long. Bracts 1-5 to 2 cm. long, ovate,

acuminate into a cusp as long as the pedicel. Perianth 3 to

3*5 cm. long, subcylindric, straight, bright red tipped with

green. Style and stamens included, slightly exserted in mature

flowers. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8891.)

Plate 432. — Fig. 1, complete plant reduced; Fig. 2, cross-section of

leaf ; Fig. 3, perianth in longitudinal section.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

433

C.Letty del.

Plate 433.

ALOE MELANACANTHA.

Namaqualand.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe melanacantha, A. Berg, in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. vol. xxxvi. (1905),

p. 63.

This remarkable Aloe, which is easily distinguished from

the rest of those belonging to Berger’s section Asperifoliae

by its very thorny leaves and long perianth, has a very local

distribution in South Africa. So far as at present known, it

is confined to certain portions of Namaqualand and Little

Namaqualand south of the Orange River. It is frequent on

the hills in the neighbourhood of Springbok and Okiep. The

specimen from which our illustration was made was collected

by Mr. van Balen on the hills behind the railway station of

Bitterfontein and flowered at the Union Buildings, Pretoria,

June 1930.

Description : — An acaulescent plant with a dense rosette

of leaves. Leaves 17 to 19 cm. long, 4*5 to 6 cm. broad,

recurved, slightly velvety, terminating in a hard sharp point,

and furnished on the margins and back of the upper section

with large irregular horny prickles. Prickles 0*5 to 1 cm.

long, 0-3 to 0*5 cm. broad at the base and about 1 cm. apart,

dark brown with black tip. Peduncle stout, simple or spar-

ingly branched, bearing many empty bracts. Raceme dense,

18 cm. long. Bracts 3 cm. long, ovate, acuminate, cuspidate,

longer than the pedicels. Pedicels 1-5 cm. long. Perianth

subcylindrical, 3-5 to 4 cm. long, erect, bright red when

young, pendulous and bright yellow on maturing; tube 1 to

1-5 cm. long; stamens and style slightly exserted. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8663.) — I. B. Pole-Evans.

Plate 433. — Fig. 1, plant reduced ; Fig. 2, back view of leaf tip (terminal

prickle absent) ; Fig. 3, median longitudinal section of flower ; Fig. 4, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

454

C.Letty del.

Plate 434.

SENECIO scaposus.

Cape Province.

Compositae. Tribe Senecio nideae.

Senecio, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, ii. 446.

Senecio scaposus, DC. Prod. vol. vi. 2 (1837), p. 403; FI. Cap. vol. iii.

p. 406.

The celebrated traveller Dr. W. J. Burchell was the first

botanist to preserve this interesting species and he collected

it between Bethelsdorp and Uitenhage in December 1813.

It occurs frequently in the Addo bush and amongst karroid

scrub of neighbouring districts. About 1842 it was sent by

Bowie to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and his plant was

figured under the name Senecio calamifolius ( Botanical Maga-

zine, t. 4011) in 1843, by which time it had partly lost its

characteristic appearance on account of cultivation. The

dwarf succulent habit, and the leaves covered with a silver-

coloured woolly indumentum, make it an admirable subject

for the rockery.

The specimen figured flowered at the Division of Botany,

Pretoria, in July 1929, and was originally collected by Mr.

B. A. M. Liebenberg, No. 577, in Ladismith Div., C.P.

Although this is considerably west of the “ type ” locality it

agrees very closely with Burchell’ s specimen in the Kew

Herbarium.

Description : — A perennial succulent plant, stemless or

nearly so, with a number of closely set fleshy leaves. Leaves

terete, 3 to 10 cm. long and about 7 mm. in diam., tapering

at the apex, subacute, with an aluminium grey or silver

cobweb or woolly covering, which rubs off with age. Inflores-

cence of (1) 2-5 capitula borne on a scape about a foot long.

Peduncles 5 to 10 cm. long, loosely cobwebbed. Involucre

with 12 to 13 lanceolate or linear lanceolate bracts, scarcely

calycled, densely cobwebbed. Ray-flowers 7 to 10, up to

1-5 cm. long, becoming reflexed, yellow. Disc-flowers many,

yellow. Anthers united in a tube, blunt at the base. Style

branched, branches truncate. Pappus of many bristles.

Achenes with a few scattered hairs. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 8190.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 434. — Fig. 1, ray-flower with ovary and pappus attached; Fig. 2,

disc-flower in young stage ; Fig. 3, the anther tube split down and opened

out ; Fig. 4, style with truncate branches attached to ovary, pappus removed ;

Fig. 5, cross section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

Plate 435.

ALOE SESSILIFLORA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe sessiliflora, Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. South Afr. v. 708

(1917).

The plant figured does not agree in every detail with the

type of Aloe sessiliflora, but it is considered that it does so

sufficiently closely to be regarded merely as a growth form of

that species. It differs mainly in the more erect habit of

the leaves, which during a dry season develop a wine-red

coloration. Owing to the small and congested heads, this

species when in flower is not so attractive as many other

Aloes, as is seen by comparing it with the other species illus-

trated in the present volume. Our plant was collected by

Mr. J. J. van Nouhuys at Wylies Poort, in Northern Transvaal,

on sandstone, and flowered at the Division of Botany during

1930.

Description : — An acaulescent plant with a basal rosette

of leaves. Leaves up to 50 cm. long, 6*5 cm. broad at the

base and then gradually tapering to the withered apex, with

reddish prickles on the margin. Prickles about 1 mm. long,

curved upwards. Inflorescence 53 cm. long, simple, apparently

arising from the centre of the leaf-rosette. Peduncle 24 cm.

long, 1*5 cm. thick, covered with papery bracts on the upper

portion. Spike 29 cm. long, 7 cm. in diameter with the

flowers opening from the base upwards. Bracts scarious,

1-5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, oblong. Flowers sessile. Perianth-

segments 1*6 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, oblong-oblanceolate, 3 to

5-nerved, forming a campanulate structure, the base of which

is filled with a reddish nectar in newly-opened flowers.

Stamen filaments 2-6 cm. long somewhat flattened, yellow;

anthers 3 mm. long, oblong, dark orange-yellow. Ovary 5 mm.

long, dark orange-yellow. Style 2*2 cm. long, simple, inclined

upward from the top of the ovary. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 8726.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 435. — Fig. 1, transverse section of leaf; Fig. 2, median longi-

tudinal section of flower showing the upward inclination of the style from

the apex of the ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

436

C.Letty del.

Plate 436.

HIBISCUS PRAETERITUS.

Transvaal.

Malvaceae. Tribe Bombycella.

Hibiscus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 207.

Hibiscus praeteritus, R. A. Dyer, sp. nov. affinis H. mutato N.E. Br. et

H. aponeuro Sprague et Hutch., ab illo floribus ab initio rubris, epicalyce

longiore, ab hoc foliorum indumento utrinque parco, infra pilis 3-4-

radiatis, ab ambobus foliis crasse dentatis differt.

Suffrutex, ramis rectis tenuibus, indumento stellato scabrido. Folia

ovata, obtusa vel subacuta, circiter 2-3 cm. longa, 1-2 cm. lata, marginibus

crasse dentatis, subtus leviter scabrida, supra glabra vel pilis brevioribus

stellato-scabrida ; petioli 5-10 mm. longi. Flores axillares ; pedicelli usque

ad 3 cm. longi, prope calycem articulati. Epicalyx 10-lobatus, 5-6 mm.

longus, lobis linearibus. Calycis lobi basi connati, 6-7 mm. longi, ovato-

lanceolati, stellato-scabridi. Corolla 3 cm. expansa, ab initio rubra ; petala

obovato-elliptica, extra pilis paucis stellatis instructa. Stylus 5-ramosus,

ramis 8-9 mm. longis teretibus, stigmatibus capitatis pubescentibus.

Capsula globosa, stellato-scabrida, loculis lanigeris seminibus 1-2.

Northern Transvaal ; Zoutpansberg, Dec., Smuts in Nat. Herb., 8863 ;

Fogwell’s Paradise, at north entrance to Wylie’s Poort, Dec., Hutchinson ,

2080 ; Gillett, 2982 ; Rogers, 21682 ; Messina, Rogers 19328 ; South Angola ;

between Gambos Port and Mission Station, among rocks, up to 5 ft.,

fl. scarlet, May, Pearson, 2257, 2464 ; between Gambos Mission Station and

Cabama, Pearson, 2471, 2582 ; near Jau River, Baum, 1000.

Hibiscus 'praeteritus is so named because it has been over-

looked up to the present time, although collected as far back

as 1900 by Baum. It belongs to a section of the genus in

which many closely related species are concerned. Although

individual flowers are attractive they are not borne in sufficient

quantity at one time to make it a very desirable plant for

cultivation. We are indebted to General J. C. Smuts for the

type specimen and seed from which the plant figured was

grown. “ When it flowered in the grounds of the Division of

Botany, Pretoria, it was noticed that wasps fed on the secre-

tion from the glands on the under surface of the leaves.”

Description : — A shrub up to 7 ft. high with fibrous bark

and slender rod-like branches, moderately covered with scabrid

stellate hairs. Leaves ovate, obtuse or subacute, about 2 to

3 cm. long and 1 to 2 cm. broad at the base, coarsely dentate

on the margin, thinly covered with 3 to 4-branched stellate

hairs below, glabrous or scabrid with a few shorter stellate

hairs above ; petioles 5 to 10 mm. long. Flowers axillary on

pedicels up to 3 cm. long, articulated slightly below the

epicalyx. Epicalyx 10-lobed, 5 to 6 mm. long, lobes linear.

Calyx- lobes united at the base, 6 to 7 mm. long ; lobes ovate-

lanceolate, stellate-hispid. Corolla 3 cm. when expanded,

crimson in bud and when open; petals obovate-elliptic with

a few stellate hairs on the lower surface. Staminal column

twisted in the open flower, about 1*5 cm. long with the

stamens in 3 to 4 fairly definite whorls. Style-branches 5,

8 to 9 mm. long, terete; stigmas capitate, hairy. Young

capsule globose, stellate-scabrid ; 1 to 2 woolly seeds in each

loculus. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8863.) — R. A.

Dyer.

Plate 436. — Fig. 1 , section of a branch showing the stellate hairs ;

Fig. 2, epicalyx surrounding calyx ; Fig. 3, ovary, staminal column and stjde-

branches with capitate hairy stigmas ; Fig. 4, transverse section of developing

capsule.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

43 7

C.Letty del.

Plate 437.

ALOE LINEATA.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe lineata, Haw. in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. vii. p. 18; FI. Cap. vol. vi.

p. 310.

This beautiful Aloe was first introduced into cultivation

in England about 1789. It is placed by Berger in his section

Purpurascentes. The plants usually have a short stem from

2 to 7 ft. high which is crowned at flowering time with 3 or 4

inflorescences borne on peduncles 2 to 3 ft. long. Aloe lineata

is confined to the eastern portion of the Cape of Good Hope,

and is especially abundant on the hills round Grahamstown.

Some particularly fine specimens are to be seen in Howiesons

Poort. The plant usually flowers from January to April, and

generally stands transplanting well.

Our Plate is made from a specimen which was grown at

Pretoria by Mr. L. R. Vogts of Waterkloof, a most successful

cultivator of this group of succulent plants.

Description : — A plant 2 to 4 ft. rarely up to 7 ft. high,

crowned with a rosette of 30 to 40 leaves. Leaves 20 to 30 cm.

long, 6 to 7 cm. broad at the base, about 1 cm. thick, lanceo-

late, narrowing gradually to the apex, slightly rounded on

the back, smooth, glaucous-green with distinct longitudinal

green lines ; margin furnished with prickles. Prickles 3 mm.

long, 2 mm. broad at the base, 5 to 7-5 mm. apart, reddish-

brown. Peduncles stout, simple, 20 to 24 cm. long, bearing a

few large oblong, membranous bracts. Raceme dense, 27 cm.

long. Bracts lanceolate deltoid, 2-5 cm. long, shorter than

the peduncles. Perianth cylindrical, bright red with green

tip ; tube about 1 cm. long ; stamens and style about as long

as the perianth. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8727.)

I. B. Pole-Evans.

Plate 437. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

U38

Plate 438.

TULBAGHIA fragrans.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Allieae.

Tulbaghia, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 798.

Tulbaghia fragrans, Verdoorn, sp. nov.

Bulbus 6 cm. longus, 3-5 cm. latus, in collum 10 cm. longum productus.

Folia circiter 6, disticba, lorata, circiter 30 cm. longa, 2 cm. lata. Pedun-

cnlus 2 ped. longus, laevis, laterale compressus, 11 mm. latus, purpureo-

viridis. Bracteae involucrantes 2, scariosae, 1-5 cm. longae. Umbella 30-40-

flora, floribus violaceis fragrantibus. Pedicelli 2 cm. longi, basi bracteati.

Tubus perianthii 9 mm. longus ; lobi oblongi, 8 mm. longi. Corona peri-

anthio in textu et colore similis, lobis 3 longis bifidis et lobis 3 brevibus

bifidis. Stamina sessilia, 3 corona aflixa, 3 in tubum inserta. Ovarium

3 mm. longum, 6-canaliculatum. Stylus 2 mm. longus. Stigma parvum,

capitatum.

Transvaal; Lydenburg district, on the farm Dientje just

below the Treur and Blyde rivers, Celliers in National Herb.

No. 8894.

The genus Tulbaghia is confined to South and Central

Africa, from which area there are about 22 species described.

The species illustrated differs from those already known in

having broader lorate leaves and more numerous flowers in

the umbel. It is most nearly allied to T. violacea Harv., a

species common in the eastern Cape and Natal.

Our plants were grown in Miss Knob el’s garden in Pretoria,

and she very kindly presented us with several bulbs which

have been planted in the garden of the Division of Plant

Industry at Pretoria. Her original stock was received from

Mr. Celliers, a land-surveyor. The flowers are sweetly scented

and this character added to their attractive appearance makes

it a desirable plant for cultivation.

Description : — Bulb ovoid, 6 cm. long and 3-5 cm. broad,

produced into a neck 10 cm. long. Leaves about six, lorate,

flaccid, distichously arranged, about 30 cm. long and 2 cm.

broad. Peduncle up to 60 cm. long, smooth, laterally com-

pressed, 1-1 cm. wide, purplish-green. Inflorescence with 2

membranous spathe-valves 1*5 cm. long; umbels of 30 to 40

sweetly scented flowers. Pedicels 2 cm. long, with a mem-

branous white bract 1 cm. long at the base. Perianth- tube

9 mm. long, lobes 8 mm. long, mauve. Corona about the

same colour and texture as the corolla, united at the base

and furnished with three long and three short bifid lobes.

Stamens small, sessile, three inserted on the long lobes of the

corona and three in the corolla-tube. Ovary 3 mm. long,

6-grooved. Style 2 mm. long, stigma small, capitate. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8894.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 438. Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

4 39

Plate 439.

ALOE HUMILIS.

Cape Province.

Lujaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe humilis, Mill. Abr. Gard. Diet. ed. vi. no. 10 (1771) ; FI. Cap.

vol. vi. p. 307.

Aloe humilis is a small species inhabiting dry karroid

localities of the eastern Cape Province. It is usually to be

found in hard stony ground in groups of 2 to 6 stems. In

exceptional cases, however, where it has escaped interference

for a long period, clumps of one foot in diameter are formed

by vegetative budding of the parent stock. It exhibits many

growth forms, and Baker in Harv. & Sond. FI. Cap. recog-

nised seven varieties, some of which were only known in

cultivation. Berger placed it in the section Eualoe and

accepted the same varieties.

It is to Mr. E. E. Galpin, whose fame as a botanical col-

lector is so well known, that we are indebted for the specimen

figured. It was collected by him in March 1930, on the farm

Rietvlei, 14 miles from Graaff Reinet, forming clumps 2 ft. in

diameter.

Description : — An acaulescent plant with a basal rosette

of leaves. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, up to 10 cm. long,

1*3 cm. broad and 0-5 cm. thick near the base, blue-green in

colour; the backs convex and irregularly tuberculate with

whitish horny tubercles; the upper surface concave with

fewer tubercles; margins with horny white prickles about

6 mm. apart. Peduncles stout, simple, about 25 cm. long,

bearing bracts. Bracts ovate acuminate, 3 cm. long, 1 cm.

broad at the base. Raceme 9 cm. long, simple. Pedicels

erect, 2-5 cm. long. Perianth cylindrical, 3 cm. long; buds

upright, bright red with green tips ; open flowers pendulous ;

stamens and style about equalling the perianth.

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8906.)— R. A. Dyer.

(National

Plate 439. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

44 O

C. Letty del.

Plate 440.

GEIGERIA PASSERINOIDES.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, South West Africa

Compositae. Tribe Asteroideae.

Geigeria, Griessel. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 337.

Geigeria passerinoides, Harv. in Harv. and Sond. FI. Cap. vol. iii. p. 125.

This plant was first described by L’Heretier as Relhania

passerinoides and was subsequently placed in Geigeria by

Harvey. The shrublet, which is widely spread in karroid

localities of South Africa, is of economic importance owing to

its toxic properties. It has been proved that it causes

“ vermeersiekte ” in cattle, sheep and goats, and for this

reason is known by the common name “ vermeerbossie.”

The material figured flowered in the grounds of the

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, during June 1931.

Description : — Usually an acaulescent plant, sometimes

up to 15 cm. high. Branches usually from the crown of the

root-stock, glabrous. Leaves clustered under the inflores-

cences, 4 to 9 cm. long, about 1 mm. broad, linear, shallowly

channelled on the upper side, punctate, glabrous. Heads

solitary, sessile, 1*2 cm. long, 1-5 cm. across. Bracts in 4 to

5 series ; outer herbaceous, 6 mm. long, appendaged from an

ovate base; inner membranous, 7*5 mm. long, 2 mm. broad,

lanceolate-oblong, acute, with a single midrib, ciliate especially

on the upper portion of the margins. Receptacle 3 mm. long,

2 mm. broad, more or less conical. Ray-flowers ligulate,

female. Corolla-tube 2-5 mm. long, tubular, glabrous; limb

6 mm. long, 1-75 mm. broad, 3-toothed, sparsely glandular.

Ovary villous; style-branches linear, obtuse. Pappus-scales

in two rows; the outer entire; the inner bifid and awned

from the sinus of the lobes. Disc- flowers bisexual. Corolla-

tube 4-5 mm. long; lobes 2*25 mm. long, lanceolate, sub-

acute. Anthers tailed at the base, tipped with a lanceolate

appendage. Style-branches linear, sub-acute. Papjms as in

the ray-flowers. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 10064.)

Plate 440. — Fig. 1, single capitulum ; Fig. 2, median section of capi-

tulum ; Fig. 3, inner bract; Fig. 4, ray-flower; Fig. 5, disc-flower; Fig. 6,

stamen ; Fig. 7, style ; Fig. 8, pappus ; Fig. 9, a single inner pappus-scale

enlarged.

F.P.S.A., 1931.

INDEX TO VOLUME XI.

PLATE

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