MARY GUNN LIBRARY

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THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF

SOUTH AFRICA.

A MAGAZINE CONTAINING HAND-COLOURED FIGURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE

FLOWERING PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO SOUTH AFRICA.

EDITED BY

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

Cijief, ©ibtsioti of $lant Knbustvp, ©apartment of Agriculture, Pretoria;

anU ©irector of ttye botanical Surbep of tije (Anion of Snutt) Africa.

YOL. XYI.

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 Unitatk Vires. "

L. REEVE & CO., Ltd.,

LLOYDS BANK BUILDINGS, BANK STREET, ASHFORD, KENT

SOUTH AFRICA:

J. L. VAN SCHAIK LTD.

P.O. BOX 724. PRETORIA

1936.

[All rights reserved.]

IT IS A REAL PLEASURE TO DEDICATE A VOLUME OF

THIS WORK ONCE AGAIN TO PUBLIC BENEFACTORS IN

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

TO

ALAIN WHITE OF LITCHFIELD

CONNECTICUT

AND

BOYD L. SLOANE OF PASADENA

CALIFORNIA

THIS VOLUME IS ADDRESSED AS A MARK OF APPRECI-

ATION FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO STIMULATE

INTEREST IN AFRICAN SUCCULENTS, AND, IN PAR-

TICULAR, FOR THEIR PUBLICATION “ THE STAPELIAE.”

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria.

October , 1936.

C.Letty del.

Plate 601.

ALOE RECURVIFOLIA.*

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloeneae.

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

Aloe recurvifolia, Groenewald in Tydskrif vir Wetenskap en Runs,

p. 39 (Okt. 1935).

This species has been photographed and collected by

Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., on the farm “ Hendriksdal,”

in the Pilgrims Rest district. The habitat is principally steep

rocky ledges and krantz faces, mostly in dolomite formation.

The species is also plentiful at “ The Bonnet,” Graskop, on the

mountains east and west of Pilgrims Rest, and near Hout-

bosloop, 26 miles west of Nelspruit, where it flowers during

the months of July and August.

A. recurvifolia is closely related to A. sessili flora Pole Evans

(figured in this work on Plates 180 and 435), which it closely

resembles in the racemes, but differs in having broader, more

deeply channelled arcuate-recurved leaves, larger red

marginal teeth, and shorter flowers. In A. sessili flora the

buds are striped and more pointed, the flowers 14 mm. long

and with a copious supply of dark nectar, the outer perianth-

segments are clearly 3-nerved, the inner perianth-segments

ovate-cuspidate. In A. recurvifolia the buds are more glo-

bular and not striped, the flowers are only 9 mm. long and

contain less, almost colourless, honey, the outer perianth-

segments more obscurely 3-5-nerved, the apex of the inner

perianth-segments are less cuspidate and almost rounded, and

the ovary is shorter and more globular. Another near ally

is A. castanea Schonl., but this species is easily recognised by

its shortly pedicellate flowers. When not in flower, young

plants of A. recurvifolia, with little or no stem, bear a very

striking resemblance to A. Vanbalenii Pillans.

* We are greatly indebted to Mr. G. W. Reynolds of Johannesburg for

copious notes from which the text in this Part has been prepared. Mr.

Reynolds has had unique opportunities for observing species of Aloe in their

native habitat, besides having most of the South African species growing in

his garden in Johannesburg.

The specimen we figure was copied from a photograph taken

by Mr. G. W. Reynolds, and coloured from a plant growing in

the collection of the Pretoria University. The dissections

were also made from that plant. This is in the National

Herbarium under number 20213.

Transvaal : — Pilgrims Rest distr., near Houtbosloop,

July 1935, Reynolds 1324 and in Nat. Herb. 20209; “The

Bonnet ” Graskop, July 1935, Reynolds 1459, and in Nat. Herb.

20208.

Description : — Stem simple, occasionally branched low

down, up to 2 m. long, covered with the remains of the old

dry leaves. Leaves densely rosulate, up to 1*3 m. long,

18 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate-ensiform, long-attenuate,

very arcuate-recurved with the apices of the lower leaves often

touching the stem, deeply channelled, green or often reddish

above, convex and green beneath ; margins sinuate-dentate,

usually with a distinct reddish edge 1-1-5 mm. wide, armed

with brown-tipped reddish teeth 2-3 mm. long and 10 mm.

apart which are curved forward. Inflorescence always simple,

up to 5 from a rosette. Peduncle deep brown, 30-60 cm.

long, flattened low down^ slightly silicate, covered with

numerous thin scarious ovate-cuspidate bracts about 8 mm.

long. Racemes densely multi-flowered, up to 1 m. long,

4-5 cm. diam., cylindric, very slightly tapering above.

Flowers lemon-yellow, sessile. Bracts thin, scarious, 5-7 mm.

long, 4-5 mm. broad at the base, ovate-cuspidate, 3-5-nerved.

Perianth 9 mm. long and almost as wide at the mouth,

campanulate-cylindric ; outer segments free, 5-6 mm. broad

at the middle, spathulate, obtuse, 3-5-nerved ; inner-segments

8-9 mm. long and almost as broad at the middle, broadly

ovate, with thin white margins and very obtuse almost

rounded apices, obscurely 3-5-nerved. Filaments pale yellow,

flattened, with the three inner narrower than the three outer,

exserted. Ovary orange, 3 mm. long, almost as broad,

finely 6-grooved ; stigma remaining exserted after the stamens

dry and contract. Capsule 0-9 mm. long, 7 mm. diam.,

6-grooved. (G. W. R.)

Plate 601. — Fig. 1, bud ; Fig. 2, flower, vertical section ; Fig. 3, an outer

segment ; Fig. 4, an inner segment ; Fig. 5, cross-section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C.Letty del.

Plate 602.

ALOE MUTANS.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe mutans Reynolds, sp. nov. affinis A. Fosteri Pillans sed minor et

foliis brevioribus differt.

Planta vix caulescens, sobolifera. Folia 10-16, dense rosulata, erecto-

patentia, 10 cm. longa, 6 cm. lata, lanceolata, supra planiuscula, fusco-viridis,

maculis oblongis numerosis transverse irregulariter fasciatim seriatis picta,

subtus convexa, immaculata, ad margines cartilaginea et sinuato-dentata ;

dentes 3-4 mm. longi, 8-10 mm. disjuncti, pungentes. Inflorescentia 60-90

cm. alta, saepe 2-3 ex eadem rosula ; rami sub medio, 3-7, arcuato-erecti.

Racemi 15-30 cm. longi, sub-densi. Bracteae 20 mm. longae, deltoideo-

acutae, plurinerviae. Pedicelli circiter 10 mm. longi. Perianthium rubrum,

30 mm. longum, basi subgloboso-inflatum et 9 mm. diam., supra ovarium

constrictum et paullum decurvatum; segmenta 10 mm. longa, oblonga,

apice obtusa, marginibus pallidioribus. Stamina et stylus exsertus.

Transvaal : Petersburg distr. ; Boschplaats, Aug. 1935, Reynolds 1527

(typus), and in Nat. Herb. 20215.

This new species of Aloe was collected by Mr. G. W.

Reynolds at Boschplaats, Mphathlele’s Location, 42 miles

south of Pietersburg in the northern Transvaal. At this

locality and continuously southwards for 8 miles to the

Olifants River bridge, it grows in countless thousands, and

when in flower, the veld is a blaze of colour as far as the eye

can see. Although solitary plants are occasionally seen,

groups of 6-12 plants which arise from suckers are normal.

A. mutans is a very distinct species whose nearest ally

seems to be A. Fosteri Pillans, which it rather resembles in

the shape and colour of flowers, but from which it differs in

being a smaller plant with much shorter leaves, a lower

inflorescence, and with shorter more long-conic racemes.

Like A. Fosteri, it is also rather variable in shape, size, and

colour of flowers. The buds are usually redder than those of

A. Fosteri, with distinct white stripes in the upper portion ; in

the open flowers the basal portion is a paler red, shading to

orange-yellow at the mouth. After pollination the perianth

becomes almost entirely yellow and it is on this character that

the specific epithet mutans has been chosen.

Description : — Herb, succulent, stemless or with a very

short stem, suckering, forming groups of up to 12 plants.

Leaves 10-16 in a dense rosette, 10 cm. long, with a dry

twisted tip up to 5 cm. long, up to 6 cm. broad at the base,

broadly and shortly lanceolate, spreading and sometimes

recurved, concave on the upper face near the base and more

channelled near the apex, brownish-green above, with

numerous oblong dull white spots more or less in irregular

wavy broken transverse bands, convex on the lower surface,

grey-green, sometimes obscurely spotted, with cartilaginous

sinuate-dentate margins; teeth brown, 3-4 mm. long, 8-10

mm. apart, rigid, pungent, with the interspaces between the

teeth rounded. Peduncle 60-90 cm. high, slender, flattened

on one side low down, with 3-7 arcuate-erect branches from

below the middle and with the lowest branch sometimes also

branched. Racemes 15-30 cm. long, with the terminal

usually longer and taller than the others, somewhat narrowly

cylindric, slightly acuminate, sub-densely flowered. Buds

strawberry-pink, with clear white stripes on the upper portion.

Open flowers rose-pink at the base, shading to orange-yellow

at the mouth and becoming almost entirely yellow after

pollination. Bracts thin, scarious, up to twice as long as the

pedicel, narrowly deltoid, very acuminate, many-nerved,

with the upper half often coiled or twisted. Perianth 29-32

cm. long, sub-globose at the base (9 mm. diam.), constricted

above the ovary (5-5 mm.), thence decurved and enlarging

towards the throat, slightly laterally compressed, with an

open slightly up-turned mouth ; outer segments slightly green

at the apex, free for one third of their length, with obscure

crowded nerves and a thin white marginal border 1 mm.

broad, with the apices spreading; inner segments obscurely

3-5-nerved, broader and more obtuse at the apex than the

outer, with a broader white marginal border and more spreading

apices. Filaments flattened, with the 3 inner slightly narrower

than the 3 outer and lengthening in advance of them ; anthers

not or very shortly exserted. Ovary 7 mm. long, 3-5 mm. in

diam. at the base, finely 6-grooved, tapering slightly into the

style; stigma exserted up to 2 mm., and remaining exserted

after pollination. (G. W. R.)

Plate 602. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C .Letty del.

Plate 603.

ALOE PONGOLENSIS.

Transvaal, Zululand, Swaziland.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe pongolensis Reynolds, sp. nov., ad A. Greenii Bak., affinis, sed

fauce perianthii ampliore differt.

Planta acaulis vel breviter caulescens sobolifera. Folia circiter

10-15, dense rosulata, valde patentia, 30 cm. longa, basi 6-5 cm. lata, ad

apicem sensim angustata; dentes marginis 4-6 mm. longi, 10 mm.

distantes, deflexi. Inflorescentia 0-6-1 -3 m. alta; scapus supra medium

ramosus; rami 3-7, arcuato-erecti, 12-20 cm. longi. Bracteae deltoideo-

acutae, scariosae, plurinerviae, pedicellos aequantes. Pedicelli 12-14

mm. longi. Perianthium 33 mm. longum, supra ovarium leviter constrictum

et decurvatum, faucem versus ampliatum ; segmenta 12 mm. longa, oblonga,

marginibus pallidioribus. Filamenta et stylus demum breviter exsertus.

Transvaal : Near Pongola, June 1935, Reynolds 1101 (typus), and in

Nat. Herb., 20216.

The specimen described and figured on the accompanying

plate was collected at Pongola and Gollel in the eastern

Transvaal, by Mr. G. W. Reynolds. In those localities Mr.

Reynolds states that specimens occur in tremendous quantities,

often in dense colonies, covering many acres. The species

extends southwards towards Mugut in northern Zululand

while, in the southern portion of Swaziland, it is found at

Nsoko (Ingwavuma River), Maloma, Sitobello Halt (M’Lla-

tuzan River), and northwards to the Great Usutu River. The

latter locality appears to be its most northerly station in

Swaziland. The species is variable in the leaf-markings, size,

shape, and colour of the flowers, but can usually be dis-

tinguished by its rather narrow leaves, the remarkably deflexed

teeth on the leaf-margins, and by the slender peduncle com-

pactly branched above the middle. Its nearest ally seems to

be A. Greenii Bak., from which it differs in leaf-marking —

especially below — the very deflexed teeth, laxer racemes, the

less swollen perianth-base, the less constricted and less

decurved perianth, and especially by the wide open mouth.

The description has been drawn up by Mr. Reynolds from

plants collected by him near the Pongola River, and which

flowered in his collection in Johannesburg during the months

of June- August 1935.

Description : — Acaulescent or sub-acaulescent, suckering

and soon forming dense groups. Leaves 10-15 in a dense

rosette, up to 30 cm. long, 6-5 cm. broad at the base, narrowly

lanceolate, tapering upwards, flat or slightly channelled above,

convex beneath, green with white oblong sometimes scattered

spots forming more or less wavy interrupted transverse bands

on the upper surface, not spotted on the lower surface ;

marginal teeth brown, 4-6 mm. long, 10 mm. apart, more

crowded near the base, more remote above, usually remarkably

deflexed, pungent; leaf-sap dries violet. Inflorescence often

2-3 consecutively from the same rosette, 0-6-1 *3 m. high.

Peduncle brown and covered with a wdiitish-grey powdery

substance, usually very slender and with 3-7 very slender sub-

erect or arcuate-erect branches above the middle. Racemes

cylindric, slightly tapering upwards, very laxly flowrered ; the

terminal 12-20 cm. long; the lateral shorter. Bracts thin,

scarious, about as long as the pedicels, namnvly deltoid-

acuminate. Pedicels up to 14 cm. long (a little longer in the

fruit) ; pedicels of buds almost as long as those of the open

flowers. Perianth dull to glossy red, 3-3 cm. long, 7-5 mm.

diam., slightly swollen at the base, somewhat constricted

above the ovary, thence very slightly decurved and enlarging

towards the throat and with a wide-open mouth; outer-

segments free for 1-2 cm., with about 9 very crowded obscure

nerves, with a whitish margin 1 mm. broad, sub-acute and

slightly spreading at the apex ; inner-segments much broader,

less nerved, with the apices more obtuse, more spreading, and

recurved, and with the margin twice as broad as that of outer-

segments. Filaments flattened ; the 3 inner narrower than

the 3 outer and wflth their anthers dehiscing considerably in

advance ; the anthers of the two series of stamens in turn very

shortly exserted. Ovary 1 cm. long, 3-5 mm. in diam., finely

6-grooved; stigma very shortly exserted. (G. W. R.)

Plate 603. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,

portion of leaf showing the deflexed marginal teeth.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C. Letty del.

Plate 604.

ALOE BREYIFOLIA.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe brevifolia, Mill. Gard. Did. ed. 8 (1768), n. 8 ; FI. Cap.

vol. vi. p. 310.

Aloe brevifolia was one of the aloes sent to the Botanic

Gardens, Amsterdam, about the year 1701, by Wilhelm

Adriaan van der Stel, at that time Governor at the Cape. In

the year 1768 it was described by Miller, but no locality given.

It has since been found near Bonnievale, Caledon, Bredasdorp,

Riversdale, Hermanus, and elsewhere in the south-western

districts of the Cape Province. The species was illustrated in

colour by de Candolle and Redante in the year 1790, and

again in 1799 in a second edition of their work. In the year

1826 a second coloured illustration appeared in Lindley’s

“ Botanical Register ” made from a plant which flowered in a

Mr. Hood’s garden, South Lambeth, England. Three varieties

of the species have been described, viz. var. postgenita Bkr. ;

var. depressa (Haw.) Bkr. ; and var. serra (DC.) Berg. ; the

last mentioned does not appear to have been collected or

recorded in recent times. Aloe brevifolia is a very charming

species, and may be found in flower during the month of

November. The specimen we figure was collected at Lewies-

drift in the strand veld area, Bredasdorp district, by Mr. C. A.

Smith, B.Sc.

Description : — An acaulescent plant, growing in groups

of up to seven. Leaves in a dense rosette, 4-5-5 cm. long,

2—2-3 cm. broad at the base, ovate-lanceolate, acute, concave

on the upper face, convex on the lower, toothed on the margins

and with a few teeth on the upper portion of the lower surface ;

marginal teeth 2 mm. long, up to 4 mm. apart, ovate, pungent.

Inflorescence simple, up to 30 cm. long. Peduncle reddish,

16-17 cm. long, about 6 mm. in diam., covered with scarious

ovate sub-obtuse bracts 1*2-1 -5 cm. long, about 12-nerved,

sub-clasping at the base and somewhat overlapping one

another. Raceme 10-13 cm. long. Flowers red. Bracts

similar to empty bracts of the peduncle. Pedicel 1-1*3 cm.

long, articulated at the apex. Perianth 2*7-3 cm. long,

cylindric, slightly swollen at the base. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 20210.)

Plate 604. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

605

C. Letty del.

Plate 605.

ALOE Broomii.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Basutoland.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Broomii, Schonl. Rec. Albany. Mus. vol. ii. p. 137.

Aloe Broomii was described by Dr. Schonland from a plant

collected by Dr. R. Broom in 1905 at Pampoenpoort, between

Carnarvon and Victoria West. The species is quite common

in the central and north western districts of the Cape Province.

In the districts of Prieska, Carnarvon, Victoria West, Murrays-

burg, Richmond, Hanover, de Aar, Colesburg, Philipstown,

Britstown, Hopetown, Herbert, Burgersdorp, Steynsburg,

Mariasburg (Hofmeyr), Tarkastad, Cradock, Molteno,

Aliwal North, Lady Grey, and Herschel, it may be found in

large numbers. It is also plentiful in the hilly parts of the

southern Orange Free State, and at Jammersberg, near

Wepener, it appears to have reached its most northerly limit.

Along the Orange River, in the Quthing and Mohales Hoek

districts, all in Basutoland, it is also plentiful. On the spur

of the Witteberg at an altitude of 6200 ft. obvious crosses with

A. supralaevis may be found. In its natural state it also

appears to hybridise with A. hereroensis Engl. var. Orpiniae

(Schonl.) Berg.

The inflorescence is usually simple and rarely branched,

though near Tarkastad some luxuriant plants, with two-

forked inflorescences from a rosette, have been met with.

These forms usually flower in February, whereas the normal

flower period is from September to October elsewhere. As

A. Broomii usually grows on rocky slopes, it is frequently

referred to as the “ Berg Alwyn.” The species is characterised

by the buds and open flowers always being covered by their

large leafy bracts and only the exserted portion of the stamens

being visible. In the Burgersdorp and Steynsburg districts

the farmers boil down the leaves and prepare a disinfectant

and cattle dip from the solution. The plant we figure was

collected by Mr. G. W. Reynolds at Burgersdorp, C.P.

Description : — Acaulescent, sometimes up to 80 cm. in

diam. Leaves green, without markings, in a dense rosette of

up to 20 rows, up to 25 cm. long, 8 cm. broad at the base,

ovate, acuminate, with the acuminate portion becoming dry

and breaking off leaving a truncate apex, more or less flat

above and slightly convex beneath with occasionally 1 or 2

prickles, with the margins reddish; teeth reddish-brown,

3 mm. long, up to 7 mm. apart, usually somewhat deflexed.

Inflorescence up to 83 cm. long. Peduncle 26 cm. long, 3-5 cm.

in diam., densely covered with oblong acuminate about

12-nerved empty bracts 3-8 cm. long and T5 cm. broad;

bracts with membranous margins. Raceme dense, 57 cm.

long, 7 cm. in diam. at the base, tapering upwards. Floivers

greenish-yellow, sessile. Floral-bracts similar to the sterile

bracts but somewhat smaller. Perianth T5 cm. long, 6 mm.

diam., cylindric ; outer segments free almost to the base,

linear-oblong, 3-nerved ; inner segments with a narrow

3-4-nerved keel, obtuse and hooded at the apex. Filaments

golden, flattened; anthers dark reddish-yellow, exserted.

Ovary light-yellow, 7 mm. long, ellipsoid, 6-grooved ; style

light-yellow, 2-6 cm. long, terete; stigma simple, exserted.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20214.)

Plate 605. — Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, outer perianth-segment; Fig. 3,

inner perianth-segment ; Fig. 4, median longitudinal section of flower ;

Fig. 5, cross-section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

606

C.Letty del.

Plate 606.

ALOE speciosa.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe speciosa, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xviii. p. 178;

FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 323.

The specimen on which the original description of Aloe

speciosa was drawn up by Baker in the Journal of the Linnean

Society, was collected by Dr. P. MacOwan near Somerset East.

The species is a particularly handsome one, and is plentiful

in the Albany district, where it occurs in large numbers at

Pluto’s Vale, Queen’s Drive, Koonap, Hell’s Poort and along

the Port Elizabeth road. It also occurs near Kirkwood and

Glenconnor (Perrekloof), Steytlerville and westwards to the

Swellendam district. In the neighbourhood of Swellendam it

crosses with A. supralaevis Haw.; the late Dr. R. Marloth

named the hybrid A. Tomlinsonii. The same hybrid is found

near Kirkwood and in Hell’s Poort, while in different parts of

the Albany Division crosses with A. africana Mill, are also

recorded.

Aloe speciosa varies considerably in its habit of growth in

different localities. When growing in dense bush, the plants

usually have a simple stem 15-20 ft. high and sometimes

branched high up. In more open country the stem is fre-

quently 3-6-branched from or near the ground level, and in

the Sundays River Valley specimens with over 20 crowns are

met with. The racemes of A. speciosa are among the most

handsome in the genus ; the red buds, greenish-white flowers,

and orange filaments and style give a pleasing tricoloured

effect. The inflorescence is usually simple and the leaf-

margins bear very small widely spaced pink teeth ; when the

inflorescence is branched and the marginal teeth larger and

closer spaced one would suspect that there has been some

crossing with A. africana or A. supralaevis. The specimen

we figure is growing in the garden of the Division of Plant

Industry, Pretoria.

Description : — Stem 1 m. high. Leaves in a dense

characteristically oblique rosette, up to 80 cm. long, 7 cm.

broad near base, ensiform, glaucous ; marginal teeth orange-

coloured, weak, varying from close together to 1-5 cm. apart.

Peduncle 12 cm. long, clothed with papery bracts up to 1-5 cm.

long and 2-5 cm. broad. Inflorescence 45 cm. long, unbranched.

Flowers deep rose-madder when young; white, striped with

green when mature. Bracts 1 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, sub-

orbicular, with a short obtuse apiculus. Pedicel 3-4 mm. long.

Perianth 2-8 cm. long, subcylindric, slightly inflated below

the middle ; tube almost obsolete. Filaments orange-red

when young, brownish-crimson when old, exserted up to

1-5 cm. Style same colour and exserted as far as the stamens.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20200.)

Plate 606. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower ; Fig. 2, bract ;

Fig. 3, flower-bud ; Fig. 4, same ; Fig. 5, open flower ; Fig. 6, cross-section

of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

607

C.Let-ty del.

Plate 607.

ALOE INTEGRA.

Transvaal .

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe integra Reynolds, species nova et distincta in Sectione Leptoaloum,

A. Ecklonis Salm., et A. Kraussii, Bak., affinis, sed foliis integris facile

distinguitur.

Radices fusiformes. Planta breviter caulescens, simplex. Folia 15-30,

multifaria, e basi 4-5 cm. lata sensim attenuata usque 10-12 cm. longa,

carnosula, supra planiscula vel leviter canaliculata, viridia, obscure lineata,

immaculata, subtus convexa, immaculata, integra, marginibus integris

cartilagineis vel rarissime dentibus minutissimis 2-5 mm. inter se distantibus.

Pedunculus usque 50 cm. longus. Racemus densus, capitatus, circiter

8-12 cm. longus et 7-9 cm. latus. Pedicelli 25-30 mm. longi. Bracteae

deltoideo-acuminatae, 15-20 mm. longae, 5-7 nerviae. Perigonium parvum,

15-18 mm. longum, cylindrico-elHpsoideum, rectum, apice levissime

recurvulum, luteum, basi conspicue stipitatum; segmenta exteriora libera,

subacuta, interiora latiora, marginibus pallidioribus, nervis coalitis carinata.

Antherae per 2-3 mm. exsertae. Stylus usque 3 mm. exsertus. Ovarium

5 mm. longum, 2 mm. diam. Capsula oblongo-cylindracea, 12 mm. longa,

medio 5-5 mm. diam. Semina non visa.

Eastern Transvaal. Carolina District : On the farm Konigstein 92, 57

miles east of Carolina, flowering 11.11.35, G. W. Reynolds 1636 in National

Herbarium Pretoria. Lydenburg District : On the farm Op en Af 408, 13

miles north-west of Lydenburg, flowering 18.11.35, G. W. Reynolds 1650

(type), in National Herbarium, Pretoria 20243 ; also in Bolus Herb.

A flowering plant of this species was first collected by the

author on November 11th, 1935, in the Nelsberg series of

mountains, high up on grassy rocky slopes of the farm “ Konig-

stein 92 ” at an elevation of 4800 feet, 57 miles east of Carolina

and 27 miles west of Barberton. Several dozen plants were

noticed there.

On November 18th the author also photographed and

collected several flowering specimens on the farm “ Op en Af

408,” which is 13 miles north-west of Lydenburg and about

65 miles north of the Nelsberg. At the Lydenburg locality

(where Mr. L. R. Vogts had collected specimens a few months

previously) large numbers were found growing along the

summit and high up on eastern slopes of a mountain at an

altitude of about 5200 feet. Usually solitary plants occur a

yard or more apart, but occasionally groups of 3-6 plants were

seen. Specimens are in cultivation at the National Herbarium,

Pretoria and the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch.

The only other Aloes noticed in the Nelsberg locality were

A. Boylei Baker, and a variety of A. arborescens Mill.; on a

neighbouring slope, but in the Lydenburg area the species is

growing in association with a remarkably strong form of A.

pretoriensis Pole Evans, A . longibracteata Pole Evans, together

with Protea caffra Meisn., ancl Crassula acinaciforme Schinz.

At the foot of the mountain in the Waterval Valley A . Marlothii

Berger, A. castanea Schonl., A. Pienaarii Pole Evans, A.

globuligemma Pole Evans, A. Fosteri Pillans, and A. burger s-

fortensis Reynolds.

A. Integra is a very distinct species, which can hardly be

confused with any other in the Section Leptoaloe, while its

nearest allies appear to be A. Ecklonis Salm.-Dyk. and A.

Kraussii Bak. With leaves multifarious and in shape (not

size) of flowers it is near A. Ecklonis; in leaf margin, shape

and size of flowers it approaches A. Kraussii. It is, however,

immediately separated from both by the deep green rather

glossy leaves, which are stiffer and tougher in texture, the leaf-

margins without teeth, and especially by the broadly pyramidal

racemes terminating in a dense star-like tuft of reflexed purple

bracts.

Occasionally plants occur with the leaf margins denticulate

with exceedingly minute, almost invisible teeth. The leaves

usually have the apices dry, but do not appear to dry entirely

and fall in winter, as is the case with most Leptoaloes, while the

flowers vary from lemon-yellow to rich canary-yellow in

colour.

Description : — Roots fusiform, very fleshy, 15 mm. diam.

Stem simple, up to 20 cm. long and 4*6 cm. diam. Leaves

15-30, multifarious, suberect and slightly recurved in upper

third, forming a rather compact rosette, 4-5 cm. broad at

base, gradually attenuate, up to 10-12 cm. long, with about

5 cm. of the apex dried ; upper surface flat or slightly concave

at base, slightly canaliculate above; lower surface convex,

both surfaces rather glossy deep green, obscurely lineate and

entirely immaculate; the margins with very narrow thin

white cartilaginous edge, usually without teeth, occasionally

ciliate with exceedingly minute almost invisible teeth 2-5 mm.

distant. Peduncles simple, semi-terete, up to 50 cm. long,

including the raceme, 13 mm. diam., flattened low down,

clothed with several scattered thin many-nerved sterile bracts

which are up to 35 mm. long, 12 mm. broad at base, ovate in

lower part, long-acuminate above, often reflexed at the

middle, at length turning purple. Raceme broadly pyramidal,

8-12 cm. long, 7-9 cm. broad, the apex rounded, the buds

densely imbricate, the open flowers laxer, terminating in a

dense star-like tuft of reflexed purple bracts. Bracts narrowly

deltoid, long-acuminate, 15-20 mm. long, 5-7-nerved, thin

scarious, often reflexed at middle, purple for their greater

length. Pedicels up to 30 mm. long, lengthening to 35-40 mm.

in the fruit. Perianth 15-18 mm. long, cylindric-ellipsoid,

roundly trigonous, with slightly upturned mouth, distinctly

stipitate at base; outer segments free to base, obscurely

3-nerved, the two upper closely grouped and with sub-acute

slightly spreading apices, the lower naviculate and with up-

turned apex ; inner segments broader, with more obtuse more

spreading apices, with thinner pale margins and with a keel

which is lemon in lower portion, green at apex. Filaments

flattened, the 3 inner narrower and lengthening in advance of

the 3 outer. Anthers, the 3 inner and 3 outer in turn exserted

2-3 mm. Stigma exserted 2-3 mm. and remaining exserted

after pollination. Ovary 5 mm. long, 2 mm. diam., finely

6-grooved, olive green. Capsule 12 mm. long, 5-5 mm. diam.

at the middle, enwrapped with the remains of the dry perianth.

Seeds not seen. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20243.)

(G. W. R.)

Plate 607. — Fig. 1, bract; Fig. 2, flower; Fig. 3, longitudinal section

of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

60*

C.Letty del.

Plate 608.

ALOE Vanbalenii.

Zululand.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Vanbalenii, Pillans in 8.A. Gardening and Country Life,

vol. 24, p. 25 (1934).

This very attractive species of Aloe was described in 1934

from plants collected by Mr. J. C. van Balen between the White

and Black Umfolosi Rivers in Zululand. The precise locality

is 8 miles north of Mahlabatini, where many hundreds are

growing, mostly on flat rocky faces, not in grass veld. In

the character of the racemes and flowers it has affinities with

A. arbor escens Mill., but develops little or no stem, and the

leaves are arcuate-recurved, deeply channelled, with red

marginal teeth. The colour of the flowers as indicated in the

accompanying plate is typical, though plants with flowers of

a deeper red occur. Our plate was prepared from plants

growing in the garden of the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria.

When not in flower, A. Vanbalenii closely resembles young

plants of A. Pole-Evansii (figured in this work on Plate 601),

but the latter bears long, narrowly cylindric racemes, similar

to A. sessiliflora Pole Evans (see Plate 180) and cannot be

mistaken for that species when in flower.

Description : — A subcaulescent plant up to 60 cm. high,

forming a dense bush, owing to many irregular rosettes of

recurved leaves arising from the axils of the older leaves.

Leaves bright green, 75 cm. long, 10 cm. broad at the base,

linear, narrowing to a membranous tip ; marginal teeth bright

red, 5 mm. long, 8 mm. broad at the base, about 1*2 cm. apart,

claw-shaped. Peduncle 35-85 cm. long, simple or once forked,

flattened below, slightly ribbed. Racemes laxly flowered.

12-20 cm. long. Pedicels 2*4 cm. long, terete, articulated at

the apex. Bracts 1-1*5 cm. long, ovate, shortly acuminate,

curling inwards when old. Flowers amber-coloured, 3*5 cm.

long, 0*8 cm. in diam., subcylindric, erect when young,

pendulous when mature. Perianth-tube 2 mm. long; lobes

veined with green, with the inner slightly broader than the

outer. Filaments 3*5-4 cm. long, terete, exserted; anthers

scarlet, 2 mm. long, basifixed. Ovary 5 mm. long, ellipsoid ;

style 4 cm. long, simple, terete. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 10840.)

Plate 608. — Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of

flower ; Fig. 3, fruit ; Fig. 4, fruit with persistent perianth ; Fig. 5, bract ;

Fig. 6, cross-section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

WARY GUNN LIBRARY

SOLm AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE

PRIVATE BAG X 191

' PRETORIA 0001

REPUBLIC OF -SOUTH AFRICA

C.Letty del.

Plate 609.

ALOE Ecklonis.

Cape Province, Transvaal, Orange Free State.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Ecklonis, Salm. Monogr. Gen. Aloe, § 21, fig. 2 ; FI. Cap.

vol. vi. p. 309.

Aloe Ecklonis has a wide distribution in the Union. It is

found in the Bushmans River Valley in the Alexandria

district; near Thomas River and Komgha; throughout the

Transkei and Pondoland; in northern Natal, especially near

Newcastle ; it is plentiful in the eastern portion of the Orange

Free State and Basutoland; it occurs in large quantities in

the eastern Transvaal highveld, where it is particularly

plentiful near Standerton, Amersfoort, Carolina and Belfast

(6400 ft.) which appears to be its most northerly station and

highest elevation. Its habitat is principally flat grass-veld and

on account of the typical habitat it is called the “ grass aloe.”

As the leaves die and fall in winter the name “ deciduous

aloe ” is also applied to the species. In the wild plants the

stem produces off-shoots which form groups of 6-12 plants;

the leaves may reach a length of 45 cm. and 9 cm. broad at

the base, while frequently 2-3 inflorescences, up to 60 cm.

high, appear from a rosette. The colour of the flowers in our

plate is typical of the plants found in the eastern Transvaal

and Orange Free State, but in the lower country east of the

Drakensberg the flowers are of a more reddish-brown colour.

The species is closely allied to A. Kraussii Bkr., especially

in characters of the racemes and flowers, but the leaves

are multifarious, and not distichous, as in A. Kraussii.

Dr. H. G. Schweickerdt, of the Division of Plant Industry,

collected the specimen figured on the accompanying Plate

near Belfast, in the north-eastern Transvaal in January 1933.

The species has been known to European horticulture for

almost a century, as seeds were sent to Europe by the

botanical collector Ecklon in the year 1836.

Description : — Acaulescent. Leaves dark green, veined

with darker green, up to 14, 35 cm. long, 3*5-4 cm. wide,

5 mm. thick, linear to linear-lanceolate, tapering to a point;

margins denticulate with white flexible cartilaginous teeth at

irregular intervals up to 1 cm. apart. Peduncle simple, 40 cm.

long, stout, with many membranous ovate bracts. Flowers

yellow, in a dense corymb 5 cm. long, 12 cm. wide. Pedicels

up to 5 cm. long; bracts papery, white, veined with green

below, reddish above, 2 cm. long, 1*1 cm. wide, ovate.

Perianth up to 2 cm. long, 7 mm. in diam. ; segments veined

and tipped with green ; tube almost obsolete. Stamens

slightly exserted ; anthers orange-red. Style slightly exserted.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 14513.)

Plate 609. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

670

C. L etty del.

Plate 610.

ALOE PLURIDENS.

Cape Province, Natal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe pluridens, Haw. in Phil. Mag. 1824, 299; FI. Cap.

vol. vi. p. 322.

This species of Aloe was introduced into cultivation in

Europe about the year 1820, and was first described by

Haworth in 1824. It is found in the coastal belt east of the

first mountain ranges and is very plentiful in the vicinity of

Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, on the slopes of the Boschberg

near Somerset East, Fort Beaufort, and is especially common

in the Albany district. In the Transkei it is found near the

sea and there known as the “ French Aloe.” Its northern

limit appears to be the Umgeni River Heights near Durban in

Natal. In dense bush, the stem is usually unbranched and

up to 15-20 ft. high, but in flatter more open country the

stem is divided from the middle or lower into 6-10 branches.

This species is closely allied to A. arbor escens Mill., from

which it is distinguished by the longer narrower more yellow-

green leaves, the smaller more crowded pink upper marginal

teeth, and especially by the peculiar sharp odour of the leaf-

sap. The racemes are less pointed and bear fewer flowers,

while the buds and bracts are not so densely imbricate as

A. arbor escens. In the Bedford district about 8 miles from

Carlisle Bridge, a hybrid between A. pluridens and A. supra-

laevis Haw. is found. It flowers from April to June, and is an

attractive species worth cultivating. Our Plate was prepared

from plants growing in the garden of the Division of Plant

Industry, Pretoria, but the habit is not typical of the species

growing in its natural habitat. The leaf sap has a sickening

odour.

Description: — Caulescent; stem about 1-5 m. high,

6 cm. in diameter. Leaves in a dense terminal rosette which

is elongated to about 40 cm. Outer leaves about 50 cm. long,

about 4 cm. broad near the base, lanceolate, attenuate,

slightly concave above, somewhat convex beneath; marginal

spines 3 mm. long, 4-10 mm. apart, with a hard upward

curved point. Inflorescence 60 cm. high, with 2 lateral

ascending branches. Peduncle reddish-brown, subterete,

smooth. Racemes dense, about 17 cm. long, with the flowers

obviously spirally arranged in the axils of conspicuous bracts.

Bracts membranous, 13 mm. long, 11 mm. broad, ovate, acute.

Pedicels erect, 1-8 cm. long. Perianth about 4 cm. long,

tubular ; buds erect ; open flowers pendulous ; outer segments

red with green tips, about as long as the tube ; inner whitish,

with green tips and a coral red median line. Stamens slightly

exserted; filaments greenish -yellow ; anthers brown. Style

exserted. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, 8704.)

Plate 610. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower ; Fig. 2, cross-

section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

611

C.L ettv del.

Plate 611.

ALOE MUTABILIS.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe mutabilis, Pillans in S.A. Gardening and Country Life,

July 1933, p. 168.

Mr. N. S. Pillans in his description of the species states that

the precise locality is unknown, but we are informed by

Mr. J. C. van Balen, who collected the plant, that it was found

on rock faces, midway between Warmbaths and Nylstroom

in the Waterberg district of the Transvaal. Mr. G. W.

Reynolds has seen and examined specimens in that precise

locality. The species appears to be confined to the Transvaal,

where it is found on the northern slopes of the Witwatersrand

at First Falls, near Johannesburg, and Witpoortje Falls, near

Krugersdorp ; at Haartebeestpoort, near Pretoria ; near

Rustenburg and Groot Marico ; north of Witbank ; near

Nylstroom and Naboomspruit ; and as far north as Chunes

Poort in the Pietersburg district.

Aloe mutabilis is closely allied to A. arbor escens Mill., and

when not in flower can usually be distinguished by the larger

much broader leaves (sometimes 10 cm. broad at the base),

and by the more distantly spaced marginal teeth. When in

flower it cannot easily be confused with A. arbor escens, as

the racemes are bicoloured with reddish buds and lemon-

coloured, green- tipped flowers, while in A. arbor escens the

racemes are uniformly reddish. The species is found on

krantz faces or overhanging rocky ledges, while A. arbor escens

is much more branched, and often develops stems from

6-10 ft. high. The habit of the plant in nature is not that

shown in the accompanying figure. This was drawn from a

specimen growing in the garden of Mr. J. C. H. Beynow,

Pretoria, who allowed us to have specimens. In its typical

habitat the plants are more or less pendulous and not erect.

Description : — Caulescent. Leaves about 0-5 m. long,

5 cm. broad at the base, gradually narrowing upwards, flat

on the upper surface, concave on the lower ; marginal spines

2 mm. long, 2-3 cm. apart. Inflorescence about 1 m. long.

Peduncle flattened and 2-3 cm. broad at the base, becoming

semiterete and 1-2 cm. in diam. above, bearing distant

brown membranous bracts which are 1-5-1 -8 cm. long and

1-3 cm. broad. Floral bracts 1-3 cm. long, 5 mm. broad, oblong,

obtuse. Flowers greenish-yellow. Pedicels up to 2 cm. long,

articulated below the perianth and persistent after the flower

falls. Perianth 3-5 cm. long; outer segments 5 mm. broad;

inner segments 7 mm. broad. Stamens exserted in mature

flowers ; filaments 3-5 cm. long, flattish ; anthers 2 mm. long.

Ovary 8 mm. long, 2 mm. in diam., linear-oblong in outline;

style 3 cm. long, exserted in mature flowers; stigma small,

with glandular hairs. (National Herbarium, Pretoria No.

15872).

Plate 611. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, floral

bract.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

612

C.Lett/y del.

Plate 612.

ALOE Fosteri.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Fosteri, Pillans in S.A. Gardening and Country Life,

June 1933, p. 140.

The species of Aloe we figure is one of the most handsome

in the section Saponariae, and is a species well worth culti-

vating. It was originally collected by Mr. Cyril Foster of

Krugersdorp, after whom it is named, on the farm “ Krantz-

kloof,” about 12 miles west of Steelpoort, and near the con-

fluence of the Olifants and Steelpoort Rivers. This is in the

Lydenburg district of the eastern Transvaal. The species

occurs in considerable numbers near Steelpoort, near Burgers-

fort, and northwards towards Malips Drift, near Buffelsvlei

and in the Waterval valley. It is particularly dense near

Rustplaats, about 20 miles N.E. of Lydenburg, where, during

the months of March and April, the blooms transform the veld

into a blaze of colour. Individual plants vary in shape, size,

and colour of the flowers. In the type the perianth is described

as orange-red below and golden-yellow above, but forms occur

with reddish flowers and some with yellow flowers. The leaves

are narrower than most of the species in the section Saponariae,

and usually have a peculiar blue-grey ground colour, while the

leaf-sap dries purple-violet.

Large specimens produce an inflorescence up to 2 metres

high which bear up to 60 racemes.

The specimen from which our Plate was prepared is

growing in the garden of Mrs. A. F. Neethling of Pretoria.

It was collected at Rustplaats by Dr. F. V. d. Merwe. We

are indebted to Mr. G. W. Reynolds for the above notes.

Description : — Plant acaulescent. Leaves green beneath

with darker green stripes, green above and mottled with

whitish blotches, about 20 in a basal rosette, 20-40 cm. long.

3-8*5 cm. broad at the base and then tapering upwards to

an acute point which becomes withered in the old leaves,

slightly convex on the back, slightly concave on the face,

toothed on the margins; teeth pungent, about 5 mm. long,

1- 1*5 cm. apart. Inflorescence a panicle up to 1*5 m. high.

Main peduncle about 2*3 cm. in diam. at the base, semiterete,

not branched for 50 cm. from the base; branches distinctly

curved. Bracts at the base of main branches membranous,

4 cm. long, 1 cm. broad at the base, gradually tapering up-

wards (in the axil of each branch of the inflorescence is a

2- lobed membranous structure 1 cm. long and 1 cm. broad).

Floral-bracts 1*5 cm. long, linear. Pedicels 8 mm. Ion;

articulated at the apex. Perianth 3*5-3*8 cm. long, 0 mm.

in diam. above, then narrowing, globose below, intruse at the

base; lobes 1 cm. long, *5 cm. broad, oblong, obtuse. Fi la-

ments 2*5 cm. long, linear; in older flowers becoming wavy

and almost filiform ; anthers 3 mm. long, oblong. Ovary

6 mm. long, oblong in outline ; style 3 cm. long ; stigma simple.

Plate 612. — Fig. 1, axil of main peduncle and branch showing bracts;

Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A.,1936.

6/3

C.Lett y del.

Plate 613.

HUERNIA zebrina var. magniflorus.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Huernia, R. Br. ; Benih. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Huernia zebrina, N.E.Br. var. magmflora Phillips, var. nov., a typo

floribus amplis differt.

The variety of Huernia zebrina we figure on the accom-

panying Plate differs sufficiently from the species illustrated

on Plate 451 to warrant regarding it as a distinct variety.

The flower is larger; the corolla-tube shorter; the markings

on the corolla are different. The “ Flora Capensis ” gives

the locality of the type as Zululand, though there may be

some doubt if the type specimen was found native in Zululand,

or whether it was a cultivated specimen brought from elsewhere.

As we have since received true H. zebrina from Zululand, we

think it legitimate to assume that Eshowe is the type locality.

The specimens we have figured were received from Mrs. L. M.

Ralston, who collected them in the Piet Potgietersrust district

of the Transvaal. They were grown at the Division of Plant

Industry, Pretoria, and flowered in March 1934.

Description : — Stems bluish-green, up to 12 cm. high,

1*5-2 cm. in diam. (including the teeth), 4- and 5-angled;

angles compressed, with small spine-tipped teeth on some

stems, with teeth up to 5 mm. long usually on the younger

growths. Flowers arising at the base of the young stem,

numerous, successively developed. Pedicel 1 cm. long,

glabrous. Calyx-lobes 1*3 cm. long, 0*3 cm. broad at the base,

subulate-acuminate from an ovate-lanceolate base, glabrous.

Corolla yellowish- white, marked with transverse light purple

carmine (R.C.S.) broken bands which pass into spots and

blotches and finally merge on the smooth shining annulus,

6*5-7*5 cm. in diam. (as the flower matures the annulus

contracts slightly decreasing the measurement of the diameter),

puberulous on the lobes within, elsewhere glabrous; tube

7 mm. deep, 9 mm. in diam. at the mouth, very slightly

constricted ; limb spreading abruptly from the tube, raised

round its mouth into a broad thick convex annulus 1 cm.

wide and 4 mm. thick; lobes 2-2-20’4 cm. long, 2-2 cm. broad

at the base, triangular, acuminate. Corona 6 mm. in diam.,

5 mm. high ; outer corona 5-lobed ; lobes white, evenly edged

with velvety purple-black, deeply bifid, 3 mm. long, almost

2 mm. broad; inner corona-lobes dark purple-red, with a

bright yellow dorsal crest at the elbow, 1*5 mm. long, deltoid-

lanceolate, acute, incumbent on the anthers, with the tips

meeting.

Plate 613. — Fig. 1, a sepal; Fig. 2, corona in side-view; Fig. 3, corona

seen from above.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

6JA.

Plate 614.

STAPELIA GLABRIC AULIS .

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Stapelia glabricaulis, N. E. Br. in Hook. Ic. PI. t. 1917 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv.

sect. 1, p. 953.

This species was first collected by Sir Henry Barkly in the

Fort Beaufort district, and described by the late Dr. N. E.

Brown in 1891. In general appearance it is very similar to

S. hirsuta, which we figured on Plate 556, but differs in the

smaller flowers and glabrous stems. Stapelia glabricaulis is

a species which evidently has not been extensively collected,

for, besides Barkly’ s specimens, only cultivated specimens

were known at the time of the publication of the Stapelieae

in the “ Flora Capensis.” Recently it was collected by Mr.

F. R. Long in the Port Elizabeth district. Mr. Long sent

specimens to Pretoria, and these flowered at the Transvaal

Museum. It was from those specimens that our plate was

prepared.

Description : — Stems stout, branching, 14 cm. high,

glabrous ; old growths yellowish-green ; young growth bright

green; angles much compressed; teeth not prominent, with

erect rudimentary leaves about 2 mm. long. Flowers many

together in the angles low down on the young stems, developing

successively. Pedicel 2 cm. long, subglabrous. Sepals 6 mm.

long, lanceolate, acuminate, minutely pubescent, with small

teeth in the sinuses. Corolla subglobose in bud, with 5

depressions just below the obtusely pointed apex, when

expanded 7 cm. in diam. ; lobes stellately spreading, 2-8 cm.

long, 1*7 cm. broad, ovate-oblong, acute, with revolute margins,

ciliate to their tips with long simple pale purple hairs half

of which are directed inwards, glabrous and veined on the back.

transversely rugose and reddish-purple on the inner face,

becoming somewhat ochreous at the centre and sinuses of the

lobes, glabrous on the upper part of the lobes, densely covered

with long fine silky purple hairs on the basal half and on the

disc ; hairs more or less adpressed and directed towards the

tips of the lobes. Outer corona-lobes 7 mm. long, spreading,

linear, recurved, slightly 3-lobed at the tips ; the central lobe

purplish-brown with a yellow base and yellow-brown margins ;

inner corona-lobes dark purple-brown ; dorsal wing free

almost to the base of the inner horn, ascending, 5 mm. long,

1-5 mm. broad at the base, gradually tapering to the acute

apex ; inner horn 8 mm. long, triquetrous-subulate, ascending,

recurving upwards and outwards over the dorsal wings, acute.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20,295.)

Plate 614. — Fig. 1, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

G75

C.Letty del.

Plate 615.

HOODIA ROSEA.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Hoodia, Sweet. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 783.

Hoodia rosea, Obermeyer et Letty, sp. nov., affinis H. Dregei N. E. Br.

sed floribus amplis differt.

Planta circiter 30 cm. alta, ramosa. Rami circiter 14-angulati, tuber-

culati, spinosi. Flores solitarii, ad apicem ramomm dispositi ; pedicelli

T2 cm. longi, crassi. Sepala 3 mm. longa, ovata, acuminata, glabra.

Corolla rosea, rotata, paullo pentagona, circiter 7 cm. diam., paullo

hirsuta. Corona exterior paullo erateriformis ; lobi erecti, truncati ;

coronae interioris lobi oblongi, incumbentes, supra antherum dispositi sed

non excedentes, dorso carnoso-gibbosi.

Cape Province : — Near Rietvlei in the Gordonia district, H. Lang and

E. Schweickerdt in Herb. Transvaal Mus., No. 34896 and in Nat. Herb.

20261.

On Plate 93 we figured for the first time a species of Hoodia

( H . Bainii). The chief difference between that species and the

species we now figure is the presence of hairs on the corolla

of H. rosea. The genus Hoodia contains about eleven species,

which are all African ; seven of these species occur in South

Africa in the dry central Karroo area. Our figure was prepared

from specimens collected by Messrs. Lang and Schweickerdt

in April 1933, and which flowered at the Transvaal Museum,

Pretoria, in March of the following year.

Description Plant about 30 cm. high, branching freely

from the base and also above. Stems green, 3 cm. in diam.,

with about 14 tuberculate angles, glabrous; tubercles tipped

with pale brown spines 4-8 mm. long. Flowers solitary,

borne near the apex of the stems. Pedicels 1*2 cm. long,

stout. Sepals 3 mm. long, ovate, acuminate. Corolla

shell-pink, 7 cm. in diam., saucer-shaped, slightly concave

in the middle, obscurely pentagonal, with the aristate lobes

somewhat recurved, thinly hairy all over the inner face,

papillate, with each papilla tipped with a distinct red hair;

sinuses with a small tooth; lobes very distinctly 7-nerved.

Corona dark purple-brown raised above the centre of the

corolla, 5 mm. in diam. ; outer corona of 5 erect truncate lobes

with a deep sinus between each and there broadly connected

with the inner corona ; lobes of the inner corona oblong,

obtuse, incumbent over the anthers but not meeting, with

a dorsal gibbosity at the base.

Plate 615. — Fig. 1, corona; Fig. 2, cross-section of portion of corolla.

Note on Hoodia Bainii Dyer (see Plate 93). In the “ Flora Capensis ”

and in the description of H. Bainii we gave previously the diameter of the

expanded corolla is stated to be from 2J-3 inches. We have recently been

able to examine a fine specimen, collected by Mr. C. G. Maddison at Letjies-

bosch, Beaufort West, and which flowered at the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria,

in January 1936. In this specimen the corolla varies from 3-5-9 cm. in

diameter and the depth of the cup from 05-2-2 cm. In very mature flowers

the corolla is almost flat, without any indication of a cup.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

676

C. Letty del.

Plate 616.

HUERNIA Levyi.

Rhodesia.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Huernla Levyi, Obermeyer, sp. nov., ab omnibus speciebus tubo

corollae longo in lobis 5 brevissimis sensim ampliato, intus annulo elevato et

papillis setiferis instructo facile distinguitur.

Caules circiter 7 cm. alti, 3-5 cm. crassi, 4-5-angulati, profunde sulcati,

dentati. Flores 1-3 prope basin caulis ; pedicelli 8 mm. longi. Calyx

6 mm. longus ; lobi anguste ovati, acuminati. Corolla tubulosa, 3-5 cm.

longa ; tubus cylindricus, 3 cm. longus, prope basin T2 cm. ad apicem T7 cm.

diametro ; lobi triangulares, acuminati, leviter recurvi, sinibus acutis leviter

recurvatis ; corolla extus scabrida, rubro-purpureo-maculata, nervis promin-

entibus, intus basi tubi velutina, brunneo-purpurea, annulo elevato

5 mm. supra basin instructa ; annulus papillis parvis conicis dense indutus ;

tubi pars supra annulum papillis elongatis conicis dense induta; papillae

1-2 setosae, setis 1-1-5 mm. longis; tubi pars superior et corollae lobi

papillis sensim minoribus et esetosa ; color ex atro-purpureo ad pallide

flavo et rubro-maculato transiens. Corona exterior late conica, basi

annularis, lobis interioribus basi geniculatis 3 mm. longis processibus 5

digitiformibus supra columnam staminum inflexis apicibus leviter recurvatis

et tuberculato-brunneo-purpureis.

Southern Rhodesia : — Wankie, B. Levy in Herb. Transvaal Museum,

Pretoria, 31142.

This species of Huernia is easily distinguished from the

other known species by the long tube which gradually passes

into five relatively short lobes, the raised annulus present on

the inside of the tube, and which is not visible from the

outside, and the long setiferous papillae. The flowers have a

very disagreeable odour, like that of Piaranthus foetidus.

The specimens were collected by Mr. B. Levy, of Wankie,

Southern Rhodesia, and were grown at the Transvaal Museum,

Pretoria, where they flowered in December 1934. We have

pleasure in naming the plant after Mr. Levy.

Description : — Stems robust, 4-angled, 1-5-3 cm. in

diam., often sending out young shoots ; teeth conspicuous

in young shoots, tipped with a rudimentary leaf which falls

off in old stems. Flowers arising singly or in pairs on the

young stem. Young buds 2 cm. long, oblong in outline,

pointed, with 5 teeth from the sinus between the lobes, ribbed,

glandular without. Calyx-lobes 6 mm. long, ovate, acuminate.

Corolla-tube 3-5 cm. long, 1 cm. in diam., oblong in outline,

slightly widened above, distinctly ribbed outside, within

(on the lower half) with an annulus covered with long papillae

each tipped with a hair, with purple spots on a light brown

background and with the spots merging bclowr so that the

lowrer portion of the tube is almost purple; lobes 7 mm. long,

about 5 mm. broad at the base, ovate, acuminate; teeth

between the lobes prominent. Corona dark purple; lobes

4 mm. long, linear-oblong, obtuse, with a collar near the base,

minutely pubescent at the apex. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 10602.)

Plate 616. — Fig. 1, corona with part of wall of corolla-tube in longi-

tudinal section showing the annulus.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

6/ 7

C. Letty del

7

Plate 617.

HOODIA Lugardi.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Hoodia Sweet. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 783.

Hoodia Lugardi, N. E. Br. in FI. Trop. Afric. vol. iv. sect, i, p. 491.

Hoodia Lugardi, which we figure on the accompanying

Plate, differs from H. Bainii (see Plate 93) in having a dif-

ferently coloured corolla that is covered with hairs on the upper

surface. The species was described by the late Dr. N. E.

Brown in 1903 from specimens collected by Major E. J. Lugard

in Ngamiland. We have no record of any subsequent col-

lectings until 1933, when Messrs. H. Lang and E. Schweickerdt

found the species growing on dolerite formation about 90

miles west of Upington. The specimens were grown at the

Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, and flowered in December

1933, and from those specimens our Plate was prepared.

The species of Hoodia are not easy of cultivation unless

special care is taken, as they are very liable to rot. Before

the plants are potted they should be left to dry for at least

two weeks, and then placed in well-drained soil. After being

potted they may be watered, and should not be watered again

until growth has commenced.

Description : — Plant about 40 cm. high, with many

individual simple stems from the base. Stems green, 3 cm.

in diam., with about 14 tuberculate angles, glabrous; tuber-

cules tipped with pale brown spines 4-8 mm. long. Flowers

solitary, situated towards the tips of the stems. Pedicels

7 mm. long. Sepals 3 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate.

Corolla 5 cm. in diam., saucer-shaped, shell-pink suffused with

brown; lobes obscurely indicated by 5 slight emarginations

and 5 aristate points 3 mm. long, densely hairy all over the

inner face, with the hairs up to 3 mm. long and arising from

small dark-tipped papillae ; nerves distinct, 6-7 to each lobe.

Corona dark-red, situated in a small cupular depression of the

corolla, 4 mm. in diarn., outer corona-lobes erect, deeply

bifid, broadly connected at the base to the inner corona;

lobes of the inner corona trowel-shaped, incumbent on the

anthers, with the blunt apices almost meeting. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20260.)

Plate 617. — Fig. 1, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

G18

C. Letty del.

Plate 618.

PECTIN ARIA saxatilis.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Pectin aeia Haw. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 782 (under

Piaranthus R. Br.).

Pectinaria saxatilis, N. E. Br. in Garcl. Chron. vol. 35, p. 211 ;

FI. Cap. vol. 4, sect, i, p. 868.

The genus Pectinaria is endemic to South Africa, and is

represented by five species, found in the dry Karroo area,

the north-western Cape Province, and Namaqualand. The

type species is P. articulata Haw., and was founded on plants

collected by Thunberg and Masson in the Calvinia district.

It was first described as Stapelia articulata by Aiton in the

Hortus Kewensis in 1789. The genus Pectinaria differs from

all the other genera in the tribe Stapelieae by having the

corolla-lobes connate at the tips. The growth habit of the

species gives the plant an untidy look. The branches are

sometimes bent at right angles to each other, and are easily

broken off at the points of attachment. They root on contact

with the soil.

Our Plate was prepared from a plant which flowered at

the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in January 1936,

and was sent to us by Dr. J. Luckhoff of Cape Town.

Description : — Stems branching, with the branches

delicately attached to each other so that they easily break off

where joined. Branches fight-green, sometimes brownish,

1 *3-1*5 cm. in diam., acutely 4-angled, with the sides almost

flat ; teeth 2-5 mm. long, pungent. Flowers arising in clusters

near the base of young growths. Pedicel 2-3 mm. long.

Sepals 2*5 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acute. Buds globose,

sub-acuminate, 9 mm. in diameter. Corolla a uniform red-

dish-brown; tube 7 mm. long, with long fine white hairs

pointing inwards ; lobes 4 mm. long, 4 mm. broad at the base,

lanceolate, subacute, with long fine white hairs on the inner

face. Outer corona of 5 minute ovate obtuse scales; inner

corona lobes 3*5 mm. long, linear, obtuse, with an appendage

about half-way up. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

20387).

Plate 618. — Fig. 1, sepal; Fig. 2, corolla cut through longitudinally;

Fig. 3, corona ; Fig. 4, outer corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

619

C. Lett y del.

Plate 619.

HUERNIA oculata.

South-West Africa.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Huernia oculata, Hook. f. Bot. Mag. t. 6658 ; FI. Trop. Afr. vol. 4.

sect. 1. p. 496.

As pointed out by Sir Joseph Hooker in his account in

the Botanical Magazine, this species is probably unique in

the genus in having a sharp contrast between the colours of

the tube and limb of the corolla. It certainly is one of the

most dainty species in the genus. We have previously figured

thirteen species of the Huernia, and a comparison of the

accompanying Plate with those published earlier will give a

good idea of the distinctiveness of H. oculata. In the

“ Records of the Albany Museum ” (vol. 3, p. 468), Mr. R. A.

Dyer described a species H. Rogersii. Messrs. White and Sloane

in their fine work “ The Stapelieae,” keep this separate from

H. oculata, and reproduce a photograph by Dinter (Neue und

wenig bekannte Pflanzen Deutsch-Siidwest-Afrikas, PI. 24)

of H. oculata as representing H. Rogersii. There can be very

little doubt that the plants are conspecific, and that H. Rogersii

should be regarded as a synonym of H. oculata.

Our Plate was prepared from a plant which flowered at

the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, and which was

originally received from Miss O. Bar, who collected it in

South-West Africa.

Description : — Plant up to 12 cm. high, tufted and

branching from the base. Stems 5-angled, glabrous, with the

angles compressed and produced into spine-like teeth which

become sharp as the stems age. Flowers arising from the base

of the young stems and opening in succession. Calyx-lobes

1*1 cm. long, J5 cm. broad at the base, subulate. Corolla

hemispherical, 1-7 cm. in diam., distinctly ribbed, greenish

speckled and stained with red without, densely and minutely

papillate within ; tube white in the lower half, with minute

pink spots on the lower two-thirds of the white area, rich

deep-purple — almost black — in upper half ; lobes similar in

colour to the upper part of the tube, 4 mm. long, 8 mm.

broad at the base, sub-triangular, acuminate. Corona 5 mm.

high, parchment coloured and speckled with red, all except

the tips of the inner corona-lobes ; outer corona inconspicuous,

obscurely 5-lobed; inner corona-lobes 3 mm. long, narrowly

wedge-shaped, bent over the anthers but not incumbent on

them for their whole length, with an irregular dorsal crest at

the elbow, papillate on the upper portion, meeting at the tips.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20386.)

Plate 619. — Fig. 1, side view of flower; Fig. 2, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

6Z0

C.I.etty del.

Plate 620.

TRICHOCAULON simile.

Cape Province, Namaqualand.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Trichocaulon, N. E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. 17, p. 164.

Trichocaulon simile, N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. iv. sect. 1. p. 895.

The genus Trichocaulon may be divided into two distinct

groups on the character of the stem. In the first group the

stem-tubercles are tipped with a stiff bristle or slender spine,

and a representative of this group we figured on Plate 594.

The second group comprises those species in which the stem-

tubercles are without spines or bristles. The present Plate

shows a representative of that group.

Since the publication of the genus in the “ Flora Capensis ”

in 1909, several species of Trichocaulon have been described,

and at least twenty-five names now appear in literature.

We are convinced that where some future monographer

revises the genus and has sufficient material for examination,

many of the names now in use will disappear into synonomy.

Our specimen was received from a correspondent who

collected it at Pofadder in Namaqualand. It flowered at the

Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in October 1933.

Description : — Stem greyish-green, 9-5 cm. high, 6 mm.

in diam. at the base, tapering upwards, covered with irregular

hexagonal tubercles, glabrous. Leaves appearing on young

tubercles, almost 1 mm. long and 1 mm. broad. Flowers

arising from the apical new growth, opening in succes-

sion until a number are open together. Pedicel 2-3 mm.

long. Calyx-lobes 1*5 -2 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, ovate, acute.

Corolla green outside with copious reddish-brown blotches

giving it a brown appearance, pale greenish-yellow above,

with round dark brown-red spots, 1-5 cm. in diam., campanu-

late ; tube 3 mm. deep, with fleshy ridges from the sinuses to

the floor of the tube ; lobes 4 nun. long, 5 mm. broad, broadly

ovate, shortly acuminate, reflexed. Outer corona 5-lobed,

with each lobe deeply trifid and with the apices of the two

lateral red teeth converging slightly over the somewhat

shorter central spotted tooth; inner corona-lobes copiously

spotted, 1*5 mm. long, linear, incumbent on the anthers and

then ascending, converging to form a column for l mm. of

their length. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 15876.)

Plate 620. — Fig. 1, bract; Fig. 2, section of corolla; Fig. 3, corona, side

view; Fig. 4, corona seen from above; Fig. 5, stem tubercle with leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

671

C. Lett-y del.

Plate 621.

CARALLUMA lutea.

Cape Province, Transvaal, Bechuanaland Protectorate.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

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

eec. i. p. 885 ; C. Vansonii Bremekamp et Obermeyer in Ann. Transv. Mus.

vol. 16, p. 429 (1935).

In the original description of C. Vansonii, the authors

state that from C. lutea “it is easily distinguishable by its

pale green stems and by the relatively much narrower corolla-

lobes, and the brown, not contiguous, lobes of the outer

corona with their five longitudinal ridges in the middle.”

The accompanying plate should be compared with that of

C. lutea given on Plate 379. We have examined many speci-

mens of C. lutea, and find that the size of the flowers varies

considerably. Our figure was prepared from plants collected

by Mr. G. van Son in the same locality as the type of C.

Vansonii, and reference to the figure will show that the

stems are not always pale green. In C. lutea the outer corona-

lobes also have five ridges. In our opinion C. Vansonii is

only a large-flowered form of C. lutea, and cannot even be

regarded as a variety of it. The reason we figure the species

again is to show the variation in form, and because the speci-

mens are of the same collecting as those on which the species

C. Vansonii was based. The plants flowered in the nursery

of the Union Buildings Gardens in March 1932.

Description : — A freely branching decumbent plant.

Stems about 12 cm. high, green, speckled with purple, 4-angled,

glabrous; teeth spreading, up to 1*3 cm. long. Flowers in

dense clusters, opening in rapid succession until all are open

at the same time; bud twisted and recurved. Calyx-lobes

0-7 cm. long, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous. Corolla 11 cm.

in diam., glabrous without, papillate within, with each of the

papillae surmounted by a minute hair; lobes 5-2 cm. long,

1 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate, long-acuminate, ciliate with

vibritile clavate purple hairs 0-3 cm. long. Corona cup-

shaped, 1 cm. in diam. ; outer corona-lobes 0-4 cm. long,

0-3 cm. broad, yellow, stained with red, spreading, oblong,

crenate on apical edge, with crinkled raised ridges down the

face; inner corona-lobes bright yellow, reddish at the base,

0-3 cm. long, slightly bent over the anthers and recurved,

spreading, tapering to a subulate point, with a small dorsal

tooth less than 1 mm. long. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 12424).

Plate 621. — Fig. 1, corona; Fig. 2, outer corona-lobe; Fig. 3, inner

corona-lobe ; Fig. 4, calyx-lobe ; Fig. 5, vibritile hair ; Fig. 6, piece of

corolla-lobe; Fig. 7, section through corolla-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

622

C Le tty del.

Plate 622.

PTEROCARPUS rotundifolius.

Transvaal.

Leguminosae. Tribe Dalbergieae.

Pterocarpus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Plant, vol. i, p. 547.

Pterocarpus rotundifolius ( Sond .) Druce in Rep. Bot. Exch. Cl. Brit. Isles,

1916, p. 642; FI. Cap. vol. ii. p. 264 (under P. sericeus Benth.).

The beautiful leguminous tree we figure was first collected

by Burke and Zeyher on the Aapies River, a little over one

hundred years ago. Dr. Sonder, who examined Zeyher’s

Transvaal collections, described and named the plant Dalbergia

rotundifolia. Ten years later (1860), Bentham published a

revision of the tribe Dalbergieae and described a plant collected

by Burke as P. sericeus. As Burke and Zeyher were together

on the expedition to the Magaliesberg, the specimens ex-

amined by Sonder and Bentham were probably of the same

collection, and Bentham could not have known of Sonder’s

name and description, which explains the duplication of

names.

P. rotundifolius, known as the “ blinkblaarboom,” is found

in the bushveld and lowveld areas of the Transvaal, and

extends into Southern Rhodesia. According to the Forest

Department, the species is not very common, is of small

stature, and occurs in little-frequented localities. The species

is more plentiful in Southern Rhodesia, where the tree has a

better form. The specimen we figure was collected by Sir

Arthur W. Hill between Duivels Kloof and Munich in December

1930.

Description : — A small tree. Young branches densely

pubescent. Leaves imparipinnate, usually of 5 leaflets, more

rarely leaflets only 3 ; common petiole 3-3-5 cm. long, densely

pubescent ; rhachis densely pubescent ; petiolule about 1 cm.

long, densely pubescent; leaflets alternate, 3-5-5 cm. long,

2-5-4*7 cm. broad, usually broadly elliptic, more rarely ovate

or orbicular, obtuse, minutely pubescent above, densely silky

pubescent beneath. Flowers crisped, arranged in axillary

panicles which are clustered near the tips of the branches,

and longer than the leaves. Unopened flower-buds ellipsoid.

Petioles 7 mm. long, pubescent. Calyx-tube G mm. long, 4-5

mm. diam. above, campanulate, glabrous ; lobes 3 mm. long,

2 mm. broad, ovate, obtuse, glabrous, with 2 lobes not as

deeply divided as the other three. Standard strongly reflexed,

1-4 cm. long, 1-2 cm. broad, obovate, narrowed into a distinct

claw; wings 1-5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad, more or less oblong,

narrowed into a long claw; keel 1*2 cm. long, 3 mm. broad,

more or less oblong, narrowed into a long claw. Stamens

monadelphous ; filaments 8 mm. long; anthers oblong, of

uniform size. Ovary stalked ; stalk 3 mm. long, villous ;

ovary when young about as long as the stalk, sparsely hairy ;

ovules 3 ; style about as long as the ovary ; stigma simple.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 8830).

Plate 622. — Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, calyx; Fig. 3, standard;

Fig. 4, a wing; Fig. 5, one of petals forming the heel; Fig. 6, stamens;

Fig. 7, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

623

E. Niemeyer del.

Plate 623.

HELIXYRA simulans.

Orange Free State.

Iridaceae. Tribe Moreae.

Helixyra, Salisbury in Trans. R. Hort. Soc. vol. i. p. 305 (1812), & N. E.

Brown in Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. vol. xvii. p. 342 and 348.

Helixyra simulans, N. E. Br. in Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. vol. xvii. p. 349,

350. Morea simulans, Baker in Handb. Irid. p. 58, and in FI. Cap. vol. vi.

p. 22.

Helix yra is a generic name given by Salisbury in 1812 in

Trans. R. Hort. Soc. vol. i. p. 305 to Morea longiftora, Ker,

because that acute observer perceived that it distinctly

differed in structure from other members of the genus Morea,

but in his usual manner unjustly changed the specific name to

H. flava. Salisbury did not, however, characterise the genus,

and subsequent authors did not distinguish it from Morea

until 1929, when the present writer, at the place above quoted,

pointed out the distinctive characters of the two genera, and

also indicated that the spelling Moraea adopted by authors is

incorrect, and that it should be Morea, as the name with the

latter spelling was given by Miller in honour of “ Robert

More of Shropshire,” and was erroneously altered by Linne

to Moraea.

Generically Helixyra is distinguished from Morea by its

bracts being membranous and distinctly veined, by its ovary

and fruit being concealed within the bracts and tapering into

a long, slender beak, and by the ripe capsule being thin and

membranous in texture, instead of firm or hard as in Morea.

H. simulans was originally discovered by Mr. W. Nelson

in 1880 at Bloemhof on a Spruit of Vaal River, and later

found by Mr. C. A. Smith near Fauresmith (no. 954), and in

1931 in the same locality by Miss I. C. Verdoorn (no. 912),

from whose specimens the accompanying plate and descrip-

tion has been made.

The habit of burying the corm so deeply as 30-60 cm. in

the ground is peculiar, and seems worthy of investigating as

to why and how it is brought about from the seedling stage.

Description : — Corm buried very deeply in the ground.

Stem below the base of the leaf 45-60 cm. long, 2 mm. thick,

terete, glabrous. Leaf solitary but often accompanied by

a short membranous bract-leaf, prostrate, up to 90 cm. long,

1-5-4 mm. broad, linear and deeply channelled down the face

or terete from inrolled edges, thick and firm or rather stiff

in texture, glabrous, green. Inflorescence of two or more

compound spikes 7-5-12-5 cm. long, each composed of 4-6

sessile spikelets or flower-clusters 4-5 cm. long, clothed with

membranous bracts. Spikelets 4-6-flowercd. Bracts one to

each flower, 3-2-4-2 cm. long, the lowest one open, the others

tubular, all acuminate, membranous, with conspicuous veins.

Flower solitary within each bract; pedicels 4-6 mm. long;

outer segments 2-2-4 cm. long, 6-9 mm. broad, spathulate-

ovate, being narrowed from the middle into a claw; inner

segments about 15-20 mm. long and 2-5-3 mm. broad, cuneately

lanceolate, acute, all covered with mauve spots and markings

on a white ground, and the outer segments with a yellow blotch

at the base of the limb. Filaments about 5 mm. long, free;

anthers about 6 mm. long, apiculate. Ovary tapering into a

long and slender beak. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

20391).

The flowers are stated to open between 4 and 5 p.m.

N. E. Brown.

Plate 623. — Fig. 1, flower ; Fig. 2, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

624

C.Letty del.

Plate 624.

STAPELIA jucunda.

Cape Province, Orange Free State.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Stapelia jucunda, N. E. Br. in Hook. Ic. PI. t. 1923 ; FI. Cap. vol. iv.

sect. 1, p. 976.

This species of Stapelia, which we recently had an oppor-

tunity of figuring, is closely allied to S. parvipuncta N. E. Br.,

illustrated on Plate 470. It differs, however, not only in the

colour of the corolla, but also in the structure of the inner

corona-lobes, which are very much longer than those of S.

parvipuncta. The species was first collected by Mr. Eustace

Pillans near Douglas in the Herbert district, but has since

been found in the Prieska and Calvinia districts of the Cape

Province and near Fauresmith in the Orange Free State.

The plant we figure was collected by Mr. G. W. Reynolds

on the farm “ Solon,” 5 miles north of Luckhoff, O.F.S., and

flowered in his garden at Johannesburg in December 1935.

Description : — Stems green when young, becoming tinged

with red when older, branched, 1-1*5 cm. in diam., bluntly

4-angled, usually narrowing above; cushions on stem-angles

with a small round white callus indicating the leaf-scar.

Leaves on young stems 2 mm. long, lanceolate, acute. Pedicel

1*5 cm. long, glabrous. Sepals 3 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate.

Corolla 2*2 cm. in diam., with relatively large purple spots on

a yellowish background; lobes 7 mm. long, 8 mm. broad at

the base, ciliate with vibritile sub-clavate hairs. Outer

corona-lobes 3 mm. long, lanceolate, recurved; inner corona-

lobes 3*5 mm. long, linear, incumbent over the anthers and

then recurving. Follicle (only a single developed follicle seen)

18 cm. long, 1*2 cm. in diam., terete, streaked with dark olive-

green on a whitish background. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 20408).

Plate 624. — Fig. 1, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

62 5

C. Letty del.

Plate 625.

DICOMA ANOMALA.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal.

Compositae. Tribe Mutisieae.

Dicoma, Cass. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 492.

Dicoma anomala, Sond. in Linnaea 23, p. 71 ; FI. Cap. vol. iii. p. 517.

Dicoma anomala Sond. is a species with a fairly wide dis-

tribution. In the west it is recorded from Vryburg, and

extends eastwards into Natal ; from the Transkei in the south

it is distributed over the Orange Free State, Basutoland and

the Transvaal, and is also found in Rhodesia. Many forms of

the species are met with ; the leaves vary from narrowly linear

to broadly lanceolate or ovate. On a herbarium sheet ( Rogers

25356) which is a match with the plant we have figured, Mr.

C. A. Smith notes that he “ has not been able to find a single

‘ stable ’ character (except for details of flower structure).

In leaf-width, length, and canescence all stages are to be

found between a narrowly linear almost glabrous entire-mar-

gined leaf to the elliptic-oblong or broadly lance-linear very

canescent conspicuously serrated type. [The type specimen

itself at Kew has leaves sub-serrate and up to 1 cm. broad].

In the number of rows of the involucral scales, the variation

is equally great as in the leaf-characters.” If one saw only

specimens of the two extremes, there would be some justi-

fication for regarding them as specifically distinct. When a

large range of herbarium material is examined, coupled with a

knowledge of the species in the field, it is evident that the

forms cannot be kept up as varieties. Our plate represents

one of the broader-leaved forms, and was drawn from speci-

mens collected by Mr. H. K. Munro, B.Sc., in January 1936.

The plant was found growing in open sandy grassland flats

near Pretoria North, about nine miles from Pretoria.

Description : — Decumbent perennial sub-woody plant,

5-10 cm. high. Branches radiate from a thick central root

and form clumps 0-3-1 m. in diam. Leaves petioled, 0-2-4 cm.

long, 0-6-1 -5 cm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse, dark green and

scabrid above, white-canescent beneath, with the margins

serrated; petiole 5-8 mm. long. Heads sessile, solitary at

the apex of the branches and surrounded by the upper leaves,

2 cm. long, 2 cm. in diam., campanulate. Involucral-bracts

in about 8 rows; the innermost 1-4 cm. long, about 3 mm.

broad at the base, lanceolate, acuminate, sub-pungent; the

outer bracts similar but smaller. Receptacle 6 mm. broad,

flat, deeply honeycombed. Pappus-bristles white, 1 cm. long,

finely barbellate. Corolla-tube 7 mm. long, cylindric below,

campanulate above, glabrous ; lobes 4-5 mm. long, linear from

a slightly broadened base, glabrous. Anthers 5-5 mm. long,

linear, tailed at the base with feathery tails, with a lanceolate

appendage at the apex. Ovary 2-5 mm. long, obovate in

outline, pilose; style 1-3 cm. long, terete, glabrous; lobes

about 1 mm. long, ovate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 20410).

Plate 625. Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower-head; Fig. 2, a single

floret.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C Letty del.

Plate 626.

DIANTHUS Kirkii.

Natal, Transvaal.

Caryophyllaceae. Tribe Sileneae.

Dianthus, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 144.

Dianthus Kirkii, Burtt Davy in Kew Bull. 1922, p. 220.

This is the first opportunity we have had of figuring a

species of Dianthus. The plant shown was collected by Mr.

A. O. D. Mogg, M.A., near Silikats Nek on the Magaliesberg

Range near Pretoria. In habit it forms a dense tuft and

when in flower is a graceful plant well worthy of attention

by horticulturists. In the original description, Dr. J. Burtt

Davy states that the petals are white, though in subsequent

collectings the flowers are described as white, tinged with

pink. The flowers on the plant we figure are uniformly

pale pink and, when growing in the veld, are sweetly scented.

Dr. Burtt Davy in his account of the South African species

in the Kew Bulletin mentions the difficulties in correctly

naming the native species. We are of opinion that when

they are more fully known in the wild state the seventeen

odd named species will be considerably reduced.

Description : — Plant about 30 cm. high, with numerous

simple, very rarely branched, stems from an underground

rootstock. Root thick and very brittle. Stems slender, about

1 mm. in diam., light green, with minute white spots when

seen under a lens; internodes up to 4-5 cm. long above,

decreasing on lower portion of stem. Leaves 1 -7-2-5 cm. long,

under 0-1 cm. broad, linear, acute, channelled above, with

minute teeth on the margins especially in the lower half,

glabrous. Flowers solitary at the ends of the stems. Bracts 4,

in 2 opposite pairs ; the outer 6 mm. long, 2-5 mm. broad, elliptic-

lanceolate, minutely toothed on the membranous margins;

the inner 7-5 mm. long, otherwise similar to the outer. Calyx

dark purple, green at the base where enclosed by the bracts,

2-5-2-6 cm. long, about 0-3 cm. in diameter ; lobes 7 mm. long,

lanceolate, acuminate, minutely toothed. Petals projecting

for 1-2—1 -5 cm. bej'ond the calyx; claw 2 cm. long, linear;

limb 1*5 cm. long, more or less oblong in general outline,

deeply pectinate. Filaments 3 mm. long, filiform; anthers

2 mm. long. Ovary 7 mm. long, terete, very shallowly

grooved ; styles 2, free, 2-2 cm. long, linear, with a minutely

glandular upper portion forming the stigmatic surface. Fruit

(immature) 2-8 cm. long, 0*3 cm. in diam., terete, slightly

falcate, surrounded by the persistent calyx. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20411).

Plate 626. — Fig. 1, bracts; Fig. 2, calyx; Fig. 3, a petal; Fig. 4,

pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

627

C.Letty del.

Plate 627.

POLYSTACHYA Sandersoni.

Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Transvaal.

Orchidaceae. Tribe Vandeae.

Polystachya, Hook. Exot. FI. t. 103 ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant.

vol. iii. p. 540.

Polystachya Sandersoni, Haw. Thes. Cap. ii. 49 t. 177 ; FI. Cap.

vol. v. sect. 3, p. 65.

Mr. A. E. Grewcock, of the Division of Forestry Manage-

ment, who has sent us so many orchids from the north-eastern

portion of the Transvaal, forwarded the specimen from

which the accompanying plate was prepared. While the

species was described by Harvey nearly seventy-five years

ago from a Natal plant communicated to him by Mr. Sander-

son, this is the first Transvaal record of the species we have.

In 1911, the late Dr. H. Bolus published a coloured plate of

the species prepared from specimens collected in the eastern

districts of the Cape Province. Our specimen was collected

at Haenertsburg in the Transvaal, and so the known range

of the species has been considerably increased. On Plate 297

of this work we figured Polystachya transvaalensis, which

comes from the same general area as P. Sandersoni. The two

species are readily distinguished, as P. Sandersoni has very

evident pseudo-bulbs. Found in the lower and warmer eleva-

tions of the Hoek van Hel forest near Haenertsburg, the

specimen figured was growing on a tree of lemonwood [ Xymalos

monospora (Harv.) Baill.].

Description : — Pseudo-bulbs up to 3 cm. long and 1-5 cm.

in diam. at the base, ovate in outline. Leaves 2-4 from each

pseudo-bulb, dark green above, paler beneath, with the flat-

tened portion 5-10 cm. long, 0-8-2-5 cm. broad, lanceolate,

indistinctly veined, subacute. Scape green, with purple

spots, 13-22 cm. long, 6-18 flowered, shortly pilose. Bracts

spotted with purple, 5 mm. long, ovate, deeply concave on

face, acute. Flowers a dull reddish-yellow; buds ovate in

outline, flat above, convex beneath, with the pouch forming

a sub-bilobed excrescence at the base of the flat face, densely

pubescent. Dorsal sepal 1 cm. long, 0-5 cm. broad, ovate,

shortly acuminate, with 5 purplish veins within, pubescent

without; lateral sepals somewhat similar, but keeled on the

back and united at the base to form a sub-2-lobed pouch,

pubescent. Lip 9 mm. long, with the appendage, ovate, re-

flexed, eared at the base, papillose and hirsute on the face, and

with the claw obovate; the whole strongly reflexed so that

the apex lies between the two lateral petals ; lateral petals

9 mm. long, spathulate, with 2-3 purple veins. Column

aduate with the joined lateral sepals, oblong and then ex-

panded into a deeply hooded broader portion. Operculum

1*5 mm. long; pollinia sub-quadrate; gland solitary, almost

circular in outline. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

20392).

Plate 627. — Fig. 1, bud; Fig. 2, dorsal sepal; Fig. 3, lateral sepal;

Fig. 4, lip and lateral petals; Fig. 5, column; Fig. 6, pollen-sac.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C. Letty del.

Plate 628.

ALOE NUBIGENA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe nubigena, Groenewald in Tydskrif vir Wetenskap en Kuns, vol. xiv.

pt. 3 (April 1936).

This dainty little species of Aloe was found by Mr. B. H.

Groenewald in the mist-belt on the Krantzes of the Drakens-

berg near Graskop in the Pilgrim’s Rest district of the Trans-

vaal. Mr. Groenewald describes the plant as growing in

clumps on the Krantzes facing the east. The plants grow

more or less at right angles to the rocks, but the peduncle

curves upwards at about the point where the bracts com-

mence. Individual plants have a stem from 1 to 8 cm. long,

and in some plants the stems are even longer. As they grow

in clumps, they have the appearance of being acaulescent.

The specimen we figured was cultivated in Pretoria.

Description : — A sub-acaulescent plant growing in more

or less circular clumps. Leaves distichous (in a cultivated

specimen) dark-green above and beneath, except at the base

beneath which is white, up to 43 cm. long, 2 cm. broad at the

base, thin, concave on the upper surface, with the margin

furnished with minute teeth which are closer near the base.

Inflorescence 21 cm. long. Peduncle 14 cm. long, terete above,

flattened and biconvex in the lower portion, bearing about 4

bracts. Bracts membranous, 1 cm. long, about 6 mm. broad,

ovate, slightly acuminate. Raceme 7 cm. long. Bracts very

similar to bracts on peduncle with blackish tips. Pedicel 1*5-

3 cm. long. Flowers eventually pendulous. Perianth 2*7 cm.

long, 0*7 cm. in diam., constricted at the base into a very

short stalk which is articulated with the apex of the pedicel;

outer segments slightly shorter and slightly narrower than

the inner segments, obtuse; tips of inner segments slightly

recurved, appearing as if rounded at the apex. Filaments

2 cm. long, linear; anthers 3 mm. long, dark orange. Ovary

green, 4 mm. long, oblong in outline; style shorter than the

perianth. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20407).

Plate 628. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

629

Plate 629.

DIMORPHOTHECA jucunda.

Transvaal.

Compositae. Tribe Calendulaceae.

Dimorphotheca, Moench. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 453.

Dimorphotheca jucunda, Phillips, sp. nov. ; affinis D. Barberiae sed

lobis florum disci non barbatis et involucro disco aequilongo differt.

Herba robusta, basi suffruticosa et ramosa. Rami plures, decumbenti-

ascendentes, laxe ramulosi, glanduloso-pubescentes. Folia 3-6 cm. longa,

0-5-1 -5 cm. lata, anguste oblonga, irregulariter et sparse dentata, glanduloso-

pubescentia. Involucrum 13-bracteatum ; bracteae lanceolatae, disco

aequilongae, dorso glanduloso-pubescentes. Radii 13, supra rubicundi;

flores exteriores disci lobis erectis delloideis non barbatis; interiores lobis

valde gibbosis brunneo-purpureis. Achaenia florum radii 3-lobata, glabra ;

achaenia disci compressa.

Transvaal : — Carolina distr., Nelshoogte, van der Wal in Nat. Herb.

20569 (typus). Barberton distr., stony slopes near Barberton, Sept., Galpin

512; Lydenburg distr., near Lydenburg, Dec., Schltr. 3924; Belfast distr.,

Suikerbos Kop, near Dullstroom, Dec., Galpin 13082; Piet Retief distr.,

grassy slopes, near Piet Retief, Oct., Galpin 9596 ; Waterberg distr., on river

bank, Bokpoort 25 miles west of Naboomspruit, Dec., Galpin 11686.

The specimen we figure was grown by Mr. J. C. van Balen,

officer-in-charge of the Union Buildings gardens, from plants

received from Mr. J. P. P. van der Wal, who collected them

on Nelshoogte near Barberton. The small lax bushes which

bear deep pink flowers were found scattered on the grassy

slopes. The species seems to be well worth attention by horti-

culturists. As far back as 1889, Dr. E. E. Galpin collected

the species near Barberton, and. since that time a few other

records have been noted. The specimens were tentatively

named either D. Barberiae or D. caulescens, though later a

careful examination confirmed our opinion that these plants

should be described as a new species. The fresh material gave

us the opportunity to do so.

The species differs from D. Barberiae, to which it is most

closely allied, in the lobes of the outer disc-florets not being

bearded, in the fewer involucral-bracts which do not exceed

the disc-florets in length. From D. caulescens it differs in

having branched stems, in the rays being deep pink on the

upper surface, and in the lobes of the inner disc-florets being

strongly gibbous.

The distribution of these three species overlaps, as also

the time of flowering, and, judging by a few specimens

in the herbarium, it seems reasonable to suggest that

natural hybridisation may have taken place.

Description : — A glandular-pubescent suffrutex, branched

at the base. Branches decumbent ascending, weakly and

laxly branched above. Leaves 3-6 cm. long, 0-5-1 -5 cm.

broad, linear to oblong, glandular-pubescent with the margins

sparsely and irregularly toothed. Peduncle 10-14 cm. long.

Heads solitary, almost 5 cm. in diam. Involucral-bracts 13,

8 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, lanceolate, with slightly membran-

ous margins, glandular-pubescent and dotted with black

glands on the back. Ray-florets 13, each subtended by an

involucral-bract, 2-2 cm. long, 0-7 cm. broad, oblong, cuneate

at base, 3-toothed at the apex, 4-nerved, pilose on the tubular

basal part. Disc convex. Disc-florets of two kinds ; lobes

of outer disc-florets erect ; lobes of inner disc-florets strongly

gibbous; all lobes deep purple-red, glabrous; tubes lighter

in colour than the lobes, sparsely pubescent. Ray-achenes

2 mm. long, 1-5 mm. broad, 3-lobed, glabrous; disc-achenes

compressed, glabrous. [I. C. V.]

Plate 629. Fig. 1, longitudinal section of head; Fig. 2, an involucral-

bract ; Fig. 3, a ray-floret ; Fig. 4, an outer disc-floret ; Fig. 5, an inner disc-

floret; Fig. 6, stamens ; Fig. 7, style of disc-floret.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

630

C.Letty del.

Plate 630.

ALOE BULBICATJLIS.

Northern Rhodesia.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe bulbicaulis, Christian, sp. nov., species distinctissima, nulli alii

affinis, sectionem propriam constituere differt.

Sect. Bulbicaules Christian, sect. nov. Caules bulbiformes sub terram

vaginis exsiccatis membranaceis tecti. Folia decidua, rosulata. Pedun-

culus infra medium ramosus. Perianthium basi stipitatum.

Acaules, sub terram caulibus bulbiformibus vaginis exsiccatis tecti.

Folia immaculata, decidua, rosulata, 33-53 cm. longa, basin versus 8-10 cm.

lata, ovata, acuminata, profunde naviculoideo-plicata, margine distincte

linea cartilaginea cincta denticulisque ; dentes circiter 1-5 mm. longi, albi.

Inflorescentia circiter 70-80 cm. alta, infra medium paullulum ramosa, ramis

3-4 erecto-patentibus. Pedunculus parce vacue bracteatus. Bracteae 30 mm.

longae, 20 mm. latae, triangulares, acuminatae. Racemus laxus, circiter

20-30-florus, circiter 13 cm. longus, cylindricus. Bracteae 11 mm. longae,

9 mm. latae, deltoideae, apice acutae, Perianthium stipitatum, 4-1 cm.

longum, 1 cm. diam., basi obconicum, distincte costatum, supra ovarium

gradatim constrictum, sub-cylindricum ; tubus 3 cm. longus ; segmenta

exteriora 1-1 cm. longa, 0-6 cm. lata, leviter patentia; segmenta interoria

libera, recurva. Stamina inaequalia; filamenta infra leviter ampliata;

antherae 2-2 mm. longae. Ovarium 5 mm. longum, 3 mm. diam., acumina-

tum ; stylus inclusus vel tandem exsertus.

Northern Rhodesia : — Misundu Siding on Northern Rhodesian -

Belgian Congo border, Christian in National Herbarium No. 20587.

We have been extremely fortunate in enlisting the assist-

ance of Mr. H. Basil Christian so far as the genus Aloe is con-

cerned. Mr. Christian, at his farm near Salisbury, Southern

Rhodesia, has a fine collection of living aloes. We are

indebted to him for the specimen we have figured, and which

he has described.

Mr. Christian considers that Aloe bulbicaulis cannot be

placed in either Section Leptoaloe or Oethiopica of Berger.

The branched inflorescence would definitely exclude it from

Section Leptoaloe, while the bulbous stem, leaves, and habit

of growth would exclude it from the Section Oethiopica.

He considers it should represent a distinct section in the genus,

and has proposed the name Bulbiformes for that section.

Mr. F. W. Porter, the Government Surveyor, in charge of

the Rhodesian Railways survey work, sent the original speci-

mens, collected in December 1933, to Mr. Christian, and

supplied the following note : “ Misundu, alt. 4200 ft., among

trees in flat savannah country, deep heavy red soil without

rocks or stones; no other species of Aloe growing in the

neighbourhood. A plant was also found lying on the railway

track near N’Kana, 40 miles to the west. Owing to the fact

that this species loses its leaves in winter, it was very difficult

to locate at that season, and only four plants were collected,

all of which were identical; it flowers in February.”

Description : — Acaulescent ; stem bulbiform below the

ground, covered with dry membranous leaf-sheaths. Leaves

about 10-14, rosulate, leathery, deciduous, 33-53 cm. long,

8-10 cm. broad near the base, 5 mm. thick in the middle,

ovate, acuminate, acute, with a brown pungent apex, edged

with distinct white cartilaginous lines on the margins, toothed ;

younger leaves green, erect-spreading, broadly flattish on

the face but with the sides approximating from the middle of

the leaf upwards, forming a canaliculate portion, lineate on

both faces; older leaves spreading, slightly recurved; teeth

white, about 1-5 mm. long, irregularly disposed, 3-5 mm. apart

low down, up to 10 mm. apart on upper portion ; interspaces

straight. Inflorescence 70-80 cm. high, with 3-4 erect spread-

ing branches from slightly below the middle; lower lateral

branches with one empty bract ; upper branches naked ;

terminal branch with about 4 empty bracts. Peduncle stout,

naked. Bracts subtending the lower branches membranous,

3 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, triangular, acuminate. Racemes

lax, 20-30-flowered, up to 13 cm. long, cylindric. Floral-

bracts green, whitish on margins, 11 mm. long, 9 mm. broad,

deltoid, acute, 5-6-nerved, folded round the pedicels. Flowers

erect-spreading in bud, pendulous when mature. Perianth

olive-buff (R.C.S. PI. XL), with greenish-brown nerves ex-

tending to the base, stipitate, slightly decurved, 4-1 cm. long,

sub-cylindric, at the base obconic ribbed and 1 cm. in diam.,

above the ovary gradually constricted to 7 mm. diam., then

slightly widened and flattened, slightly contracted towards

the throat and spreading at the apex ; tube 3 cm. long ; outer

segments olive-buff (R.C.S. PI. XL), with whitish margins,

shading to brown above, 1 1 mm. long, 6 mm. broad, sub-acute,

with 5-8 green nerves; inner segments free, pale yellow,

becoming reddish-brown on the margins near the apex, sub-

obtuse, recurved. Stamens unequal; filaments white below,

yellow above, as long as the perianth, slightly broadened and

flattened below; anthers reddish-brown, 2-2 mm. long.

Ovary green, 5 mm. long, 3 mm. diam. ; style yellow, included

or at length exserted. [H. B. C.]

Plate 630. — Fig. 1, flower in longitudinal section ; Fig. 2, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

631

C. Letty de].

2

Plate 631.

CARALLUMA Gerstneri.

Zululand.

Asclepxadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Caralluma Gerstneri Betty, sp. nov., affinis C. intermediae (N. E. Br.)

Schltr. sed corollae forma et corona interiore differt.

Planta rhizomata. Caules simplices vel basi ramosi, purpureo-maculati,

circiter 6-7 cm. longi, 4-angulati, glabri; dentes subrobusti, 1-3 cm. longi,

infra apicem interdum minute bidenticulati. Flores 2-6-nati, medio ramo-

rum producti. Pedunculus crassus, circiter 2 mm. longus, glaber. Pedi-

cellus crassus, circiter 1 cm. longus, glaber. Alabastra conica, 5-angulata,

obtusa. Sepala 8 mm. longa, lanceolata, acuminata. Corolla 3-5 cm.

diam. ; tubus 7 mm. longus, 9 mm. diam., extra glaber, intra papillosis-

simus; lobi 1-5 cm. longi, 8 mm. lati, oblongi, rugosi, marginibus leviter

reflexis et in parte ciliatis. Coronae exterioris lobi 2 mm. longi, 2 mm. lati,

tridentati; coronae interioris lobi 3-5 mm. longi, bicornuti.

Zululand : — Magut, Feb. 1936, Gerstner 740 and in Nat. Herb. 20409.

Caralluma Gerstneri has a distinct corolla-tube, a character

not often found in the genus. It appears to fall in Berger’s

Section Boucerosia and near C. intermedia (N.E. Br.) Schltr.,

from which it differs mainly in having a larger corolla, a

densely papillate cup-shaped corolla-tube, and longer two-

horned inner corona-lobes.

We take the opportunity of naming the species after the

Rev. F. J. Gerstner of the Benedictine Mission at Nougoma,

Zululand, who has been a regular correspondent of the National

Herbarium since 1933. The specimen we figured was found

by him near the Mission Station.

Description : — Plants growing in dense clumps, spreading

by stout underground runners. Stems bluish-green, mottled

in patches with dull purple spots, 6-7 cm. high, 2-5-3 cm.

broad (including the teeth) rather deeply 4-angled, glabrous;

teeth conical, spreading, up to 1-3 cm. long, with 2 minute

teeth on each side towards the apex. Flowers in fascicles of

2-6, arising in the angles of the stems and opening in succes-

sion, sometimes 2 or 3 being open at the same time. Peduncle

stout, 2 mm. long, glabrous. Pedicel 1 cm. long, 2 mm. thick,

glabrous. Bud conical, obtuse, with 5 small teeth at the

sinuses of the lobes. Calyx-lobes green, shading to brown at

the tips, 8 mm. long, 1*5 mm. wide, lanceolate, with subulate

acuminate tips, glabrous. Corolla 3-5 cm. in diam. ; tube

cup-shaped, pentagonal, pale cobalt green without, dark

purple-red velvety densely and minutely papillate within,

with the papillae erect larger and white under the outer

corona-lobes; lobes spreading cobalt-green without, parch-

ment-coloured above but colour almost obliterated by dark

purple-red spots and blotches, rugose velvety, with the

rugosities having a crystalline frosted appearance, 1-5 cm.

long, 8 mm. broad at the base, ciliate on the margins from

just above the sinuses for 5 mm. of the length ; cilia purple,

vibritile, 1*5 mm. long, clavate, occasionally bristle-tipped.

Corona basin-shaped, 4 mm. high from base to tips of inner

corona-lobes, 9 mm. in diam. ; outer corona-lobes 2 mm. long,

2 mm. wide, 2-keeled on the face, 3-toothed, with the middle

tooth light yellow oblong-ovate, subacute ; lateral teeth

reddish-browm, narrower, attached to the inner corona-lobes;

inner corona-lobes 2-horned, semi-cylindric, lanceolate, incum-

bent on the anthers and produced beyond them, slightly

tliickened, touching and then diverging at the tips, with the

dorsal horn subulate and joined for two thirds the length of

the lobe then spreading and rugose crested at the base.

Plate 631. — Fig. 1, part of section through corolla; Fig. 2, corona;

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

F.P.S.A., 1936.

632

C.Letty dei.

Plate 632.

HUERNIA Whitesloaneana.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Huernia Whitesloaneana Nel in Journ. Cactus Soc. Amer. viii. 9 (1936).

Huernia Whitesloaneana is named in honour of Messrs.

Alain White and Boyd Sloane, who have done so much to

further knowledge of the Stapelieae by the publication, in

joint authorship, of a well-illustrated book on these plants.

A second and much enlarged volume by the same authors is

now in the press.

The species was first collected by Prof. G. Nel, University

of Stellenbosch, in the Zoutpansberg district in June, 1935,

and in the following month, in the same locality, by Mr.

L. E. Taylor, who was then on a botanical tour of South

Africa from British Columbia. The plants were found in rock

crevices in association with Euphorbia pulvinata Marl, at an

altitude of 4500-5000 ft. on the north-western slope of the

mountain near Entabene. The rainfall is estimated at an

average of 70 in. or more per annum, and the humidity

throughout the year is also comparatively high, conditions

under which few stapeliads are able to survive.

H. Whitesloaneana is readily distinguished from all its

allies, mainly by the small campanulate corolla-tube passing

into more or less straight lobes. In addition to H. barbata

Harv. (t. 468) and H. Levyi Obermeijer (t. 616), it should be

compared with H. campanulata R. Br. (t. 469), H. Loeseneriana

Schlechter (t. 216) and H. longituba N.E. Br. (t. 380). The

character of the inner corona of the last two should be noted

particularly.

The accompanying illustration was made from one of Mr.

Taylor’s plants which flowered at the National Herbarium,

Pretoria, during April 1936.

Description : — A dwarf succulent branched at the base.

Stems erect or spreading, 3-5 cm. high, 0-75-1-25 cm. thick

(excluding teeth) glabrous, green, 5-angled, very rarely

Dangled; angles obtuse, toothed; teeth about 3 mm., promi-

nent, deltoid, acute, the point withering and leaving a

whitish scar. Flowers 1-3 together near the base of the

young branches, opening successively at fair intervals.

Pedicels ± 4 mm. long. Calyx-seqments 5-6 mm. long,

narrowly lanceolate. Corolla 1-3-1 -4 cm. long, campanulate,

slightly 20-nerved from near the base, three running into

each of the 5 main lobes and one branched below the base

of each of the small intermediate lobes or teeth, closely

mottled with purple-red except on the ribs, creamish white

within, horizontally banded on the bottom half of the tube,

the lowest band broadest and gradually reduced to spots on

the lobes, the bottom half of the corolla-tube glabrous, the

upper half and the lobes papillose, the papillae shorter towards

the tips; tube 8-9 mm. long and about the same in diameter

at the mouth; lobes about 5 mm. long, straight or only

slightly curved outwards, deltoid, acute, intermediate teeth

1 mm. long, spreading. Outer corona disc-like, appressed to

the base of the corolla, 5-lobed, each lobe bifid, purple ; inner

corona-lobes 4 mm. long, 0-75 mm. wide at the base, incum-

bent erect below, linear filiform and spreading above.

Transvaal : — Zoutpansberg district, Entabene, in cracks

of rocks, 5000 ft., Taylor 2514 and in Nat. Herb. Pretoria

20939. R. A. Dyer.

Plate 632. — Fig. 1, section of corolla showing inner and outer corona.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C.-Letty del.

Plate 633.

ALOE striatula var. caesia.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe striatula Haw., var. caesia Reynolds', var. nov. ; a typo

foliis caesio-viridulis minoribus, alabastris viridulo-luteis rectis, floribus

viridi-luteis brevioribus rectioribus diiFert.

Cape Province, Maraisburg district, on slopes of the Bamboesberg at

Marais Krantz, 26 miles east of Hofmeyr ; Reynolds 1607 and in Nat. Herb.

Pretoria 20250, and in Herb. Bolus., Kirstenbosch.

The typical form of A. striatula recorded from Queens-

town and Somerset East, and which is also found on the

Windvogelberg, Cathcart, and in the Witteberg Mountains

near Lady Grey and Herschel, is described with bright green

(glossy) leaves, with buds at first reddish, then yellow, and

with curved flowers up to 40 mm. long.

The varietal form which occurs at Marais Krantz in the

Bamboesberg 26 miles east of Hofmeyr and 26 miles west

of Molteno, 7 miles and 19 miles south of Tarkastad, and in

hills near Cradock, differs by having the internodes shorter,

the sheaths obscurely striatulate, the leaves smaller and

milky-green in colour, the buds greenish-yellow, not reddish

at base, the flowers straighter, usually only 30 mm. in length

and forming a more or less unicoloured yellow raceme.

The raceme and leaf figured on the accompanying Plate

are from a plant sent from Marais Krantz to Pretoria, where

it flowered in the garden of the Division of Plant Industry,

during November 1935, while the plant was figured from a

photograph taken 7 miles south of Tarkastad. The descrip-

tion is drawn up from observations made in the districts of

Maraisburg and Tarkastad during November 1934 and 1935.

Description : — A bushy herb, with branches 1-2 m.

long, 15-20 mm. diam. Leaves in a capitate rosette, linear-

lanceolate, acuminate, spreading or recurved, 10-15 cm. long.

15-25 mm. broad at the base, hardly fleshy, flat or slightly

canaliculate above, slightly convex below, milky-green, ob-

scurely veined, from an obscurely striatulate sheathing base,

with internodes 5-15 mm. distant; margins with exceedingly

narrow, white, cartilaginous, armed with minute dull white

teeth 5-10 mm. distant. Inflorescence simple, 25-40 cm. long,

including the raceme. Peduncle with a few scattered sterile

bracts. Raceme cylindric-acuminate, about 12 cm. long,

5 cm. broad ; buds greenish ; open flowers lemon-yellow.

Bracts minute, deltoid, 2-3 mm. long. Pedicels 2-5 mm.

long. Perianth 30-33 mm. long, cylindric, roundly trigonous ;

outer segments free to base, but lightly cohering to the inner

for one-third their length, obscurely nerved, with the nerves

confluent and greenish at the apex, subacute and very slightly

spreading at the apex ; inner segments free, broader than the

outer (7 mm. broad at middle), with thin white marginal

edge, 3-5 nerved, with the nerves pale yellow turning green

at apex, brown and slightly revolute at the apex. Filaments

3, inner narrower and lengthening in advance of the 3 outer,

pale lemon within the perianth, the exserted portion orange ;

the 3 inner anthers and 3 outer in turn exserted up to 10 mm.

Stigma at length exserted 10 mm. and remaining exserted

after pollination. Ovary sub-globose, 3-5 mm. long, finely

6-grooved, pale green. (G.W.R.)

Plate (533. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, cross

section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

G34

Plate 634.

ALOE Boylei.

Natal, Swaziland, Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Boylei Bak. in Kew Bull. 1892. p. 84 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 307.

The figure we reproduce of this attractive Aloe was made

from a plant which flowered in the garden of Mr. G. W.

Reynolds in Johannesburg. The specimen he collected at

Oshoek, on the Transvaal-Swaziland border (between Carolina

and Mbabane). The specimens from which the original

description was drawn up, were sent to Kew in 1892 by Mr.

Allison, who collected them at the Head of the Tugela Valley,

Natal, besides Air. F. Boyle in 1891. Mr. Reynolds records

that the species is widely distributed in parts of the Drakens-

bergen, being found at van Reenen’s Pass, Botha’s Pass,

Mount Prospect, Majuba and Laing’s Nek. It also occurs

in the mountains near Barberton and at Haenertsburg in the

northern Transvaal. The species grows on grassy mountain

slopes, usually in damp places near streams, under which

conditions the leaves reach a length of 72 cm., with a basal

width of 10 cm., while one to three inflorescences appear up

to 75 cm. high. When found on dry, exposed slopes, the

leaves are smaller, thinner, and usually with involute margins.

Solitary plants are sometimes noticed, but usually they occur

in groups of up to nine individuals. The flowers of A. Boylei

resemble those of A. Cooperi (see Plate 578), but the latter

is distinguished by having narrower keeled leaves, distichously

arranged, and longer conic racemes. The leaves of A. Boylei,

in common with most species in the section Leptaloe, dry

and fall in winter. Berger in “ Das Pflanzenreich ” (III, 38,

iii, ii. p. 170) records the species, on a specimen cultivated

by Dr. S. Schonland, from the Transkei. The specimen in

the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, identified by Dr. Schon-

land as A. Boylei is A. Ecklonis, a common species throughout

the Transkei.

Description : — Acaulescent. Leaves 8-10 in a rosette ;

the outer up to 55 cm. long, 6-7 mm. broad at the base;

the inner smaller and narrower ; all deeply channelled on the

inner face, ensiform, tapering above, green with whitish spots

on the under surface near the base, with a white cartilaginous

margin and numerous small teeth about 1 mm. long.

Inflorescence solitary from each rosette. Peduncle 55 cm.

long, simple, 1 cm. in diam., terete, naked on the lower half,

with distant bracts on the upper half. Bracts 4 mm. long,

acuminate from a semi-clasping base. Flowers in a corym-

bose-raceme. Pedicels 3-2 cm. long, 2 mm. in diam., terete,

articulated below the perianth. Perianth 3-3 cm. long, 7 mm.

in diam., cylindric, slightly swollen at the base; outer seg-

ments slightly shorter and narrower than the inner. Fi la-

ments 3 cm. long, flattened, narrowing upwards; anthers

4 mm. long, reddish-orange. Ovary green, 6 mm. long, 3 mm.

diam. at the base, slightly narrowed upwards; style 2-5 cm.

long, terete; stigma minute (National Herb. Pretoria, No.

20567).

Plate 634. — Fig. 1, section of lower portion of leaf; Fig. 2, median

longitudinal section of flower ; Fig. 3, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C.Letty del.

Plate 635.

ALOE Kraussii.

Cape Province, Natal, Swaziland.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Kraussii Bkr. in Journ. Linn. Soc. xviii. p. 159; FI. Cajp. vol. vi.

p. 306.

Mr. G. W. Reynolds, who knows this species of Aloe in

the field, states that it is frequent in the coastal belt of Natal,

but has been recorded as far north as Swaziland. It is found

chiefly in grassveld, often in damp places, and when cultivated

may be watered freely. The typical form is described with

leaves distichous and with the marginal teeth minute and

remote, but plants are found with leaves spirally twisted and

sometimes multifarious. There are usually a few spots on

the dorsal surface of the leaf near the base. Aloe Kraussii

appears to be nearest related to A. Ecldonis Salm Dyck, but

in the latter the leaves are multifarious, the marginal teeth

larger and more crowded, while the flowers are larger and

more ellipsoidal in shape.

The leaf and inflorescence figured on the accompanying

Plate are from a plant which flowered in Johannesburg during

December 1935, and which was collected by Mr. G. W. Rey-

nolds near Umlass Road, Natal.

Description : — Plant sub-acaulescent. Leaves dark-

green, in a rosette at the apex of the short stem, 30 cm. long,

4*5 cm. broad at the widest part, linear-lanceolate, tapering

above, concave on the inner face, convex on the back; mar-

ginal teeth very minute, about 2 mm. apart on the upper half

of the leaf, more apart on the lower hah. Peduncle un-

branched, 33 cm. long, 7 mm. in diam., terete above, becom-

ing somewhat biconvex below; bracts 2-5-4-5 cm. long,

lanceolate, acuminate, with the few upper bracts overlapping

one another. Flowers light yellow, crowded in a corymb.

Floral-bracts about 2 cm. long, lanceolate, acuminate. Pedicels

up to 3 cm. long. Perianth 1-6 cm. long, 0-6 cm. in diam.,

divided for about § of its length; outer segments light-

yellow, tipped with green, oblong, obtuse; inner segments

with a greenish keel and broad whitish margins, slightly

broader than the outer. Filaments greenish, 1-7 cm. long,

linear ; anthers dark orange-yellow, small. Ovary dark green,

4 mm. long; style shorter than the perianth. (National

Herb. Pretoria, No. 20942.)

Plate 635. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C.Letty del.

Plate 636.

ALOE TRANS VAALENSIS.

t/

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe transvaalensis O. Kuntze Rev. Gen. iii. 2. 314.

There has been some doubt about the plants which repre-

sent typical Aloe transvaalensis as the type specimen is not

in South Africa. The Curator of the Herbarium, New York

Botanic Gardens, was good enough to lend us O. Kuntze’s

specimen and we have now been able to settle which of the

several local forms is typical of the species. The figure on

the accompanying Plate represents true A. transvaalensis.

The specimen from which the figure was prepared was col-

lected by Dr. F. v. d. Merwe near the Selons Rivier, west of

Rustenburg on the road to Zwartruggens. Dr. v. d. Merwe

states that the species, with minor variations, covers a large

area in the western and northern Transvaal. It forms typical

colonies consisting of 20-50 plants, surrounded by types of

winter-flowering “ maculates,” resembling A. Greatheadii. In

those complexes A. transvaalensis can always be distinguished

by being a slightly smaller plant, usually flowering in summer,

and with leaves almost similarly marked on front and back;

the colour of the flowers varies from a dead-cream to a dusty

salmon-red. A. transvaalensis is a common species on the

hills in the neighbourhood of Pretoria and flowers from

January to March. A characteristic feature of the species

is the somewhat milky appearance of the leaves.

Description : — Plant acaulescent. Leaves about 20, in

a basal rosette; the outer about 16 cm. long, 5-5 cm. broad

at the base, lanceolate, acuminate, acute, dark green with

fighter markings above and beneath which sometimes coalesce

into transverse bands; teeth 3 mm. long, 8 mm. apart,

yellowish, sometimes tinged with red; outer leaves more or

less flat; inner leaves concave on the upper surface; tips

of oldest leaves withering. Inflorescence a panicle, about 80

cm. long; peduncle 45 cm. long up to the lowest branch,

0-9 cm. in diam., terete, smooth and without bracts; branches

about 27 cm. long with a slight upward curve, each in the

axil of an ovate acuminate bract 1-5 cm. long. Floral-bracts

about 5 mm. long. Pedicels 1-1-5 cm. long, articulated at

the apex. Perianth-tube 3-1 cm. long, 7 mm. in diam. above,

then narrowing below and expanded into a globose portion

at the base. Outer-segments 7 mm. long, 3 mm. broad,

oblong, obtuse ; inner-segments 4 mm. broad. Filaments

2-8 cm. long, narrowing upwards from a broader base, pale

yellow; anthers 2 mm. long, reddish-brown. Ovary 6 mm.

long, oblong in outline, light green ; style 2-5 cm. long, light

yellow. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 20940.)

Plate 636. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, cross

section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

6 3 7

C.Letty del.

Plate 637.

ALOE Dinteri.

South West Africa.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Dinteri Berger in Dinter, Neue Pfl. Deutsch-Siid-west-Afr. 14 (1914).

Aloe Dinteri, belonging to the section Serrulatae of the

genus, was discovered by K. Dinter near Out jo in South-

West Africa in 1912, and appears to be a plant of great rarity.

Very few plants of the species are in private collections. The

specimen from which our plate was prepared flowered in the

garden of Mr. G. W. Reynolds in Johannesburg during

February 1936. It was originally collected by Mr. W.

Triebner in the Kaokoveld, 30 miles east of Zesfontein, S.W.

Africa. The species is allied to A. variegata (see Plate 86)

and A. Sladeniana Pole Evans. In A. variegata the leaves

are shorter, broader, and much more fleshy, while the leaf-

margins and keel are notched rather than toothed; the

inflorescence is much lower, with the flowers quite different

in structure and colour. A. Sladeniana, a very little-known

species, also has a tall branched inflorescence, but the flowers

are shorter and red-lead coloured, while in A. Dinteri they

are rose-pink and distinctly nerved. The species does not

sucker and form groups.

Description : — Stemless, solitary, not suckering. Leaves

9-12, trifarious, chocolate-brown, copiously spotted through-

out with small crowded narrowly elongated white spots

arranged more or less in a series of interrupted transverse

bands, with the facial spots more scattered and the dorsal

spots more crowded, up to 25 cm. long, 5 cm. broad, narrowly

lanceolate, attenuate upwards, plicate-carinate ; margins with

a narrow white cartilaginous edge, armed with firm white

teeth 0-5 mm. long and 1-2 mm. apart; keel in upper half

with a similar white edge and teeth. Inflorescence 50 cm.

high, with 2 arcuate-erect branches above the middle.

Peduncle 5 mm. in diam., terete. Terminal raceme 16 cm.

long, 6 cm. broad, cylindric, acuminate. Bracts thin, scarious,

slightly shorter than the pedicels, lanceolate-deltoid, 3-nerved.

Pedicels 14 mm. long. Youngest buds congested, almost

globular ; older buds clavate, gradually laxer downwards

and with the lowest open flowers 5-10 mm. apart. Perianth

pale rose-pink, with the mouth almost white, 2-7 cm. long,

with a basal swelling 6 mm. diam., constricted above the

ovary to 3-5 mm. diam., slightly decurved and enlarging

towards the throat ; outer segments free for 4mm., 3-nerved

throughout, sub-acute and spreading at the apex, with white

marginal borders; inner segments free, cohering dorsally to

the outer for the greater portion of their length, slightly

keeled, with 3 congested nerves, spreading and somewhat

obtuse at the apex. Filaments white, flattened, scarcely

exserted; the 3 inner narrower and lengthening in advance

of the 3 outer. Ovary olive-green, 6 mm. long, 2-5 mm.

diam., finely 6-grooved, cylindric ; style scarcely exserted

(National Herb. Pretoria, No. 20944). (G.W.R.)

Plate 637. — Fig. 1, cross-section of leaf; Fig. 2, median longitudinal

section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

638

Plate 638.

ALOE Eylesii.

Southern Rhodesia.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Eylesii Christian, sp. nov. A. integrae Reynolds affinis, sed

marginibus foliorum denticulatis et habitu inflorescentiae differt.

Planta succulenta. Caulis simplex, usque 40 cm. longus, 4 cm. diam.,

vaginis exsiccatis tectus. Folia 14-18, rosulata, decidua, carnosula, usque

45 cm. longa, basin versus 3-4 cm. lata, linearia, gradatim attenuata, supra

canaliculata, superne involuta, viridia, utrinque basin versus maculis paucis

sparsis vel interdum immaculata, subtus rotundata, striata, ad margines

albis denticulis crebribus ciliata. Inflorescentia simplex, usque 45 cm. alta.

Pedunculus viridis, subtus lateraliter compressus. Bracteae vacuae ca. 9,

1-1-4 cm. longae, 1 cm. latae, ovatae, acutae. Racemus sub-laxus, cylin-

draceo-acuminatus, ca. 22-26 cm. longus. Bracteae florum 3 cm. longae,

1 cm. latae, lanceolatae, acuminatae, ca. 8-nervatae, pedicellos amplectantes.

Pedicelli 4 cm. longi, erecto-patentes, cernui. Perianthium 3-3-2 cm.

longum, 0-7 cm. latum, trigonum, rectum, salmoneum; segmenta libera,

apicem versus viridiuscula. Genitalia inaequalia, alba, inclusa.

Southern Rhodesia : — Mt. Inyongoni, 6500-8000 ft. alt., Oct.-Feb.,

Eyles in National Herbarium, Pretoria 21200.

We are once more indebted to Mr. Basil Christian of

“ Ewanrigg,” Arcturus, S. Rhodesia, for this new Aloe,

which he has described. Mr. Christian states that the plant

was collected by Messrs. F. S. Eyles and D. Purdon during

the last week in October 1935, on the slopes of Mt. Inyongoni,

the highest peak of the Inyanga range, at an altitude of

6500-8000 ft. above sea level. Scattered plants are found

in all classes of soil except swampy ground; plants usually

come into flower towards the end of October, when the new

leaves are only a few inches long, and generally flower again

in January-March, according to the season. Under cultivated

conditions at “ Ewanrigg ” flowers are produced off and on

into June. The species does not sucker except as the result

of injury. Two colour-forms occur, one in which the flowers

are light salmon orange (R.C.S. PI. II) and the other straw-

berry pink (R.C.S. PI. I).

Description : — A succulent plant. Stem simple, up to

40 cm. high, 4 cm. diam., covered with the remains of the

dry leaf -bases. Leaves ca. 14-18, rosulate, deciduous, soft

and fleshy, up to 45 cm. long, 3-4 cm. wide at the base and

0-4 cm. thick in the middle, linear, tapering gradually from

the base to the apex, broadly concave on the upper face at

the base, becoming channelled and involute higher up,

obscurely lineate, with or without a few small scattered

elliptic spots towards the base on both faces, rounded on the

back, striate, with the margins edged with a veiy narrow

white cartilaginous line and armed with flat white spreading

teeth up to 2 mm. long and 2 mm. apart, and with the

alternate teeth usually smaller and larger. Inflorescence

simple up to 45 cm. high. Peduncle pale green, soft, laterally

compressed low down, clothed in the upper three-quarters

with about 9 ovate-acute empty bracts; bracts 1-1-4 cm.

long, 1 cm. wide, green with vrhitish margins. Raceme sub-

lax, cylindric-acuminate, 22-26 cm. long, with the mature

flowers pendulous. Floral bracts 3 cm. long, 1 cm. wide,

lanceolate-acuminate, clasping the pedicels, ca. 8-nerved.

Pedicels the same colour as the flow-ers, erect-spreading ; the

lower cernuous ca. 4 cm. long. Perianth light salmon orange

(R.C.S. PI. II) obscurely green at the apex, 3-3-2 cm. long,

0-7 cm. diam. in the middle, slightly contracted at the throat,

trigonous, straight, obconic at the base ; outer segments free,

5 mm. wide, obscurely 7-nerved, acute, very slightly spreading

at the apex; inner segments pale flesh with a pink median

line, greenish at the apex, subobtuse, nearly straight.

Stamens unequal, white, flattened and dilated below, included ;

anthers terracotta, 4 mm. long; style white, as long as the

stamens or sometimes at length exserted ; ovary green,

acuminate, 6 mm. long, 2 mm. diam. (H.B.C.)

Plate 638. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, median longitudinal

section of perianth; Fig. 3, portion of ventral surface of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

C.Letty del.

Plate 639.

ALOE CHIMANIMANIENSIS.

Southern Rhodesia, Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe chimanimaniensis Christian sp. no v.,A.petrophilae Pillans affinis.

Herba succulenta, acaulis vel tandem breviter caulescens, sobolifera.

Folia ca. 20, dense rosulata, usque 60 cm. longa, 11 cm. lata, e basi apicem

versus gradatim attenuata patentia, concava, apicem versus canaliculata,

fuscoviridia, lineata, maculis albidis oblongis numerosis adspera, subtus

convexa, pallida viridia, immaculata, striata, ad margines linea tenui cornea

cincta; dentes 3-5 mm. longi, usque 25 mm. distantes, interstitiis rectis.

Inflorescentia usque 1-3 m. alta, supra medium ramosa. Pedunculus nudus.

Bracteae ramos subtendentes usque 40 cm. longae. Racemi corymbosi,

densi, usque 9 cm. diam. Bracteae florum scariosae, 6 mm. longae, 3 mm.

latae, 5-nervatae. Pedicelli 25 mm. longi. Perianthium 30 mm. longum,

circa ovarium inflatum et 8 mm. diam., supra ovarium constrictum et 4 mm.

diam., hinc ampliatum et 8 mm. diam., faucem versus contractum, decur-

vulum. Segmenta exteriora 15 mm. longa, recta, marginibus pallidioribus ;

segmenta interiora pallidiora, apice subobtusa. Filamenta inaequalia,

inclusa. Ovarium 7 mm. longum, 3 mm. diam., acuminatum.

Southern Rhodesia : — Along the Chimanimani Mts. on eastern border

of S. Rhodesia and between Umtali and Melsetter, 4000-5000 ft., June 1936,

Christian in National Herbarium, Pretoria 21201 (Typus).

Transvaal : — Zoutpansberg distr. : grassy slopes at Lake Fundusi,

July, Vogts & Galpin in National Herbarium 21202 ; Reynolds 1873.

Living specimens of A. chimanimaniensis were sent to

us by Mr. Basil Christian, from which the accompanying

Plate was prepared. It is allied to A. petrophila Pillans, but

is a larger plant in all respects, and is readily distinguishable

by its darker flowers and the lateral racemes nearly always

being smaller and higher than the terminal. The species

extends into the N.E. Transvaal, where it was collected by

Mr. L. R. Vogts and Dr. E. E. Galpin at Lake Funduzi in

the Zoutpansberg district. The Rhodesian specimens differ

from the Transvaal specimens in having longer bracts, pedicels,

perianth, and tube, but in other respects are identical. Old

plants become caulescent with stems 6-9 inches high and

sucker from their base.

Description : — Plant stemless or, in older plants, with a

short stem suckering from the base. Leaves about 20, in a

dense rosette, 60 cm. long, 11 cm. broad, 1-2 cm. thick in

the middle, tapering gradually from the base to the apex,

bounded on the margin by a narrow horny line and armed

with light browm spreading (or inclined forwards) pungent

teeth 3-5 mm. long and 10-25 mm. apart with straight inter-

spaces ; upper surface broadly concave at the base, becoming

channelled towards the apex, dark green, turning to browrnish

in winter, lineate, more or less copiously spotted with oblong

whitish spots arranged in interrupted longitudinal rows

bounded by the lineate markings; lower surface pale green,

unspotted, striate, with a few dark green interrupted lines

more prominent towards the margins; younger leaves erect-

spreading ; older leaves spreading. Inflorescence one or more

from the same rosette, up to 1-3 m. high, branched and

sub-branched from above the middle; lower branches sub-

tended by long acuminate bracts up to 10 cm. long. Peduncle

naked; branches sometimes with one empty scarious bract;

bract 5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, ovate, acute, 5-nerved.

Racemes corymbose, dense, with the terminal one up to 9 cm.

broad and the lateral smaller and higher than the terminal;

young buds erect, with a greenish tinge towards the apex ;

mature flowers pendulous. Floral bracts 6 mm. long, 3 mm.

wide, scarious, 5-nerved. Pedicels erect-spreading, cernuous,

25 mm. long. Perianth coral-red (R.C.S. PI. XIII), 30 mm.

long, swollen over the ovary to 8 mm. diam., then constricted

above the ovary to 4 mm. diam., then again widened to

8 mm. diam. and laterally compressed to 4 mm., gradually

contracted towards the mouth, slightly decurved, with the

base flat; outer segments as long as the tube, paler at the

margins, almost straight, obscurely 5-7-nerved, subacute;

inner segments dorsifixed to the outer, hardly spreading,

white with a 5-6-nerved keel. Stamens pale flesh coloured,

unequal, included; anthers reddish-browm. Ovary green,

7 mm. long, 3 mm. diam., acuminate; style yellowish, as

long as the perianth, sometimes shortly exserted. (H.B.C.)

Plate 639. — Fig, 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

640

C.Letty del.

Plate 640.

ALOE INYANGENSIS.

Rhodesia.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe inyangensis Christian, sp. nov., affinis A. verecundae Pole Evans,

sed caulibus brevibus, foliorum marginibus paullo crebrius ciliatis, racemis

acuminato-cylindraceis, perigonio longiore et haud stipitato differt.

Planta succulenta ; caulis usque 15 cm. longus, caespitosus. Folia 6-8,

distieha, anguste linearia, ca. 25 cm. longa, 10 mm. lata, supra canaliculata,

apicem versus planiuscula, fusco-viridia, maculis paucis sparsis, subtus

sulcata, tuberculato-punctata, ad margines albis denticulis crebribus ciliata.

Inflorescentia simplex, ca. 15 cm. alta. Pedunculus viridis, lateraliter com-

pressus, costatus. Bracteae vacuae ca. 4, 23 mm. longae, 12 mm. latae,

ovato-acuminatae, multinervae. Racemus ca. 14-20-florus, ca. 8 cm. longus,

subdensus, cylindraceo-acuminatus. Bracteae florum 20 mm. longae, 12 mm.

latae, ovato-acutae. Pedicelli rubri, 40 mm. longi, erecto-patentes. Peri-

gonium 38^0 mm. longum, trigonum, haud stipitatum, rectum, laete

coccineum; segmenta libera, apicem versus viridia. Genitalia inaequalia,

inclusa vel interdum exserta.

Rhodesia : — Rokotso, Inyanga Mts., alt. 6500, Febr., Piers in Nat.

Herb.

Mr. H. Basil Christian, who sent us this pretty Aloe for

figuring, states that it was first collected by Mr. C. P. Piers,

Government Surveyor, in February 1931, on Rokotso,

Inyanga Mts., at an altitude of 6500 ft. above sea level. It

forms large clumps 8-9 ft. in diameter on the tops and sides

of bare flattish outcrops. Mr. Piers collected the plant on

another hill as well, where it was growing in a much stronger

form on the ruined walls of Inyanga. Under cultivation it

increases considerably in size of leaf and stem. Mr. Christian

records a form with distichously branched stems up to 2 ft.

high from Mt. Vumba, near Umtali. When the plant is in

flower, the size of the clumps and the brilliant colour of the

flowers make it visible from a considerable distance. It has

a long flowering period, extending from early February to

well into April.

Description : — A succulent plant. Stems up to 15 cm.

high, 1 cm. diam., densely tufted, with the tufts up to 3 m.

diam. Leaves distichous, up to 25 cm. long, 10 mm. wide

at the base, linear, broadly canaliculate on the upper face,

usually more or less involute, becoming flat towards the apex,

darkish-green, sparsely spotted low down with scattered

greenish-white lenticular spots, sulcate on the back from the

apex to below the middle and more copiously spotted with

the spots consisting of pale green lenticular depressions with

a whitish rounded tubercle in the centre of each, profusely

tubercled towards the base ; margins ciliate-denticulate, edged

with a wliite cartilaginous line and crowded flat white pellucid

spreading cartilaginous teeth on the lower half, often becom-

ing smooth above. Inflorescence simple, about 15 cm. high.

Peduncle green, hard, laterally compressed, lenticular in cross-

section, with a prominent rib running down each side, bear-

ing about 4 ovate-acuminate many-nerved empty bracts

23 mm. long and 12 mm. wide. Raceme 14-20-flowered, sub-

dense, cylindric, acuminate. Floral bracts scarious, 20 mm.

long, 12 mm. wide, ovate, acute, many-nerved. Pedicels red,

erect-spreading; lower 40 mm. long, 3 mm. diam. Perianth

bright scarlet shading to green at the apex, 38-40 mm. long,

12 mm. diam. in the middle, contracted at the throat, broadly

trigonous, not stipitate at the base, straight; outer segments

free, 8 mm. broad, 5-7-nerved, acute, hardly spreading at the

apex ; inner segments white with a red keel shading to green

above, 9 mm. broad, slightly recurved at the apex, obtuse.

Stamens greenish-white, unequal, included or sometimes

slightly exserted, flattened and much dilated below; anthers

brownish-red, 2-5 mm. long; style greenish-white, as long as

the stamens; ovary pale yellowish-green, 8 mm. long, 2-7

mm. diam., oblong in outline, broadly trigonous. (H.B.C.)

Plate 640. — Fig. 1, perianth in longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a bract.

F.P.S.A., 1936.

INDEX TO VOLUME XVI

PLATE

Ar

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