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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.,

(Etlicf, ©itoision of $lant Intmstvn, ©cpartment of Agriculture, )9retoria;

anti ©irector of tiir Botanical Surbeg of tfjc ©man of Souti) Africa.

(Published with the Assistance of the Carnegie Corporation of New York)

VOL. XVIII

The veld which lies so desolate and hare

Will blossom into cities white and fair,

And pinnacles will pierce the desert air,

And sparkle in the sun.

R. C. Macfie's ‘‘Ex Unitate Vires."

L. REEVE & CO., Ltd.,

LLOYDS BANK BUILDINGS, BANK STREET, ASHFORD, KENT

SOUTH AFRICA:

J. L. VAN SCHAIK LTD.

P.O. BOX 724, PRETORIA

1938.

All Tights reserved.

PRINTBD IN GREAT BRITAIN

TO

LADY FLORENCE PHILLIPS

OF

VERGELEGEN, SOMERSET WEST,

AND

TO THE MEMORY OF SIR LIONEL PHILLIPS THIS VOLUME IS

GRATEFULLY DEDICATED IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR

UNSTINTED PUBLIC SERVICE TO ART AND SCIENCE AND

IN PARTICULAR OF THE SUPPORT WHICH THEY GAVE TO

THE GREAT NATIONAL PROJECTS FOR THE PRESERVATION

OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE IN THIS LAND.

Division of Plant Industry,

October, 1938.

Pretoria,

6 8 7

C.Letty del.

Plate 681.

TRICHOC AULON Marlothii forma

Namaqualand.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Trichocaulon Marlothii N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. vol. 4, sect. 1, p. 894.

In the original description of the species, the author states

that the collector (Dr. R. Marloth) gives the colour of the

flower as “ dark purple brown.” So far we have not seen a

specimen to match that description exactly. The plant

figured differs from the typical form only in the colour of the

corolla, which is pale green, very prettily spotted with dark

red spots, and has a dark rim to the corolla-lobes. The spots

are arranged round the edges of the lobes, leaving a fairly

clear area at the centre towards the base.

Our plant is related to Trichocaulon simile (see Plate 620),

in which, however, the corolla is cup-shaped and encloses the

corona. In our plant the corolla is saucer-shaped and the

corona not completely enclosed. It differs from that species

also in having spreading bipartite outer corona-lobes, with the

segments strongly diverging and approaching the segments of

the adjacent lobes to form mandible-like structures behind

the inner corona-lobes. In T. simile the outer corona-lobes

are described as 3-fid and more or less erect, but this inter-

pretation of the outer corona is incorrect. As in Stapelia and

other related genera, the outer corona-lobes alternate with the

inner corona-lobes. In some species of Trichocaulon, such as

the two mentioned above, the outer corona-lobes are divided

down the centre almost to the base into two segments. Each

of these segments appears more closely connected with a

segment from the adjoining lobes, than with the segment from

the same lobe, and are united to the base of the inner corona-

lobes. This gives the impression that the outer corona-

lobes are opposite the inner corona-lobes.

In T. simile there is also a process from the outer corona

which alternates with its lobes. That process with the

segments from adjacent lobes gives the false impression of the

outer corona-lobes being 3-partite.

From T. keetmanshoopense Dinter our plant differs

principally in the smaller flowers, the rather shorter than

broad corolla-lobes, and in the plant being yellowish-green,

not greyish-green as in this species.

The specimen we figure was collected in Namaqualand by

Mr. J. E. Roux, and grown at the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria.

Description : — Dwarf succulent, branched just at surface of the soil.

Branches yellowish-green, 5 cm. long, 3-3 cm. diameter, cylindric-ovoid,

tubercled ; tubercles 4-5 mm. diameter, with a central depression containing

a small tooth-like projection. Flowers solitary towards the end of the plant

body. Buds green with small red spots, flat-topped and produced into a

short blunt point. Corolla pale green spotted with dark red, 7-5 mm.

diameter, saucer-shaped, lobed about i way; lobes with a dark red

margin, spotted with the spots arranged so as to leave a fairly clear area at

the base of the lobes, 1-5 mm. long, 2-5 mm. broad, ovate, obtuse. Outer

corona-lobes pale green marked with red, 2-fid, with the teeth 0-7 mm. long,

strongly diverging so that the tooth of one lobe approaches the tooth of the

adjacent lobe to form a mandible-like structure; inner corona-lobes pale

green, bordered with red, 0-75 mm. long, linear, incumbent on the anthers

and produced beyond in a small connivent erect column with the tips some-

times slightly diverging. [I.C.V. National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 22813.]

Plate 681. — Fig. 1, corona.

F.P.S.A. 1938.

682

G.J. Lewis del.

Plate 682.

HESPERANTHA pauciflora.

Namaqualand and Cape Province.

Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.

Hesperantha Ker. in Koen. et Sims, Ann. Bot. i. 224 ; Benth. et Hook. fil.

Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 702.

Hesperantha pauciflora (Baker) Lewis, comb. nov. — Tritonia pauci-

flora, Baker in Handb. Irid. 193.

Little Namaqualand ; mountains near ’Naries, 3400 ft., Bolus 6622 !

This is the first species of this large and widespread genus

to be figured in these volumes. At present there are about

forty described species, and a great many still awaiting

attention. They are entirely African, and are found all

round the coastal belt of South Africa, from Namaqualand to

Natal, inland on the Karroo and northwards to the Transvaal,

as well as a few in Tropical Africa. The very delicate flowers

are often sweetly scented and do not open until the sun

has lost its mid-day strength, or even sometimes until it is

setting.

Baker has placed this species in the genus Tritonia, but,

on examining his type specimens at Kew, I found that the

flowers, with their long style-branches unmistakably spreading

from the throat of the perianth-tube, are typical of the genus

Hesperantha, and that the type-plants exactly match specimens

collected by Mrs. L. Bolus and Mr. H. Buhr at Nieuwoudtville,

in the Calvinia Division. The plant figured here is one which

was sent by Mr. Buhr to the National Botanic Gardens,

Kirstenbosch, where it flowered in July 1933, the plants

varying in size from 12 to 35 cm. high.

The corm shown in this figure is a type very commonly

found in Hesperantha, cone-shaped above but quite flat at

the base, the hard, crustaceous, brown tunics splitting upwards

and ending in short bristles at the top, while at the base they

are distinctly and sharply pointed. The flowers in a large

number of the species are small and rather insignificant, the

present one being among the more showy members of the

genus. Very often the flowers have the lower surface of the

three outer perianth-segments suffused with a red or reddish-

brown colour, the plant figured here showing this quite clearly.

Description : — Plant 12-35 cm. high, the stem simple or branched,

2 mm. diameter, entirely glabrous. Corm cone-shaped above, the base

flat, tunics brown, rigid, lacerated from the base upwards, 1-5 cm. diameter.

Basal sheath colourless, 2-8 cm. long. Leaves 3 basal, 12-16-5 cm. long, up to

7 mm. broad, fairly firm in texture, the veins slightly raised ; 1 cauline leaf,

13-5 cm. long, sheathing the stem except for 3-5 cm. at the apex, the sheathing

portion slightly inflated, distinctly ribbed. Inflorescence a lax spike, 2-4-

flowered. Bract 2 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, green and herbaceous, streaked

with red. Bracteoles similar to bract, 1-5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad. (Bract

and bracteoles become membranous and dry fairly soon.) Flowers pale

mauve-pink, 3 outer perianth-segments red on the lower surface ; perianth-

tube slender, not exserted from the bracts, 8 mm. long; outer segments 2-3-

2-8 cm. long, 6-8 mm. broad; inner segments 1 -8-2-2 cm. long, 8-10 mm.

broad, the outer patent, the inner sub-erect. Stamens reaching half way up

segments, anthers longer than filaments 9 mm. long. Style-branches about

equalling, or slightly exceeding, the height of the stamens. Bolus

591

Herbarium (National Botanic Gardens, No. -33) plant figured; Bolus

Herbarium, No. 21241. — G. J. Lewis.

Plate 682. — Fig. 1, flower, broad segments; 2, flower, longitudinal

section ; 3, flower, narrow segments ; 4, flower, longitudinal section ; 6,

bract; 6, bracteoles ; 7, outer perianth-segment ; 8, inner perianth -segment ;

9, outer segment; 10, inner segment — nat. size; 11, stamen x 2; 12,

.gynaecium, nat. size.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

683

VV.p Barker del.

Plate 683.

Nerine hesseoides.

Cape Province.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Nerine Herb. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 728.

Nerine hesseoides L. Bolus, sp. nov.

Planta glabra, 17-25 cm. alta. Bulbus ovatus, ad 3 cm. longus, 1-7 cm.

diam., in collum productus; tunicae exteriores tenuissime papyraceae.

Folia 2-7, synantha, linearia, supra plana vel leviter sulcata, dorso rotundata,

ad 18 cm. longa, 1-1-5 mm. lata. Pedunculus teres, 2 mm. diam. Spathae

valvae ad 2-5 cm. longae. Umbella centripetens, 6-14-flora. Pedicelli

adscendentes vel erecti, 2-3 cm. longi. Perianthii segmenta regulariter

disposita in modo generis Hesseae, linearia, superne ampliata, prope medium

latissima, obtusa, marginibus in dimidio inferiore praecipue undulatis,

saepius ad 1 cm. lata, ad 3-5 mm. lata. Filamenta primum decurvata,

deinde erecta, demum subregulariter disposita, inaequilonga, 4-5-5 mm.

longa, basi appendiculata, appendicibus fere ad basin liberis superne sub-

patentibus angustis acuminatis saepius integris ad 2 mm. longis ; antherae

ante dehiscentes 1-2 mm. longae. Stigma minute lobatum ; stylus primum

decurvatus, demum sursum versus; ovarium primum acute triangulum,

1-5-2 mm. longum, 1-5 mm. diam. Capsula globosa, 6 mm. diam.

Griqualand West; Hay Div., Rocklands, March 1931, Miss E. M.

Turner (McGregor Museum, No. 2704).

There are four allied species of Nerine occurring in the

North which have now all been figured in “ Flowering Plants,”

namely, N. Rehmannii L. Bolus (Plate 120 — under the

synonym Hessea Rehmannii, Baker) and N. transvaalensis,

L. Bolus (Plate 132 — under the name N. Frithii L. Bolus,

with which it was at that time identified) in the Transvaal,

and N. Frithii L. Bolus (Plate 132) and N. hesseoides L.

Bolus from Griqualand West. They are all glabrous, and have

in common slender synanthous leaves, flowers which rank

among the smallest in the genus, and perianth-segments

distinctly broadest near the middle, with their margins closely

and conspicuously undulate in the lower part and obscurely

so upwards. N. Rehmannii is readily distinguished by its

white perianth and exappendiculate filaments ; N. trans-

vaalensis has narrower perianth-segments and longer and

more slender filaments than N. Frithii and N. hesseoides;

and finally N. hesseoides differs from N. Frithii in its smaller

flowers, with the perianth actinomorphic throughout the

whole life of the flower, and entire stamen-appendages which

are separate from one another almost to the base.

The drawing was made from one of Miss Turner’s plants

which flowered in our garden in February 1932. The species,

however, was first collected by Miss M. Wilman in 1923 at

Inglewood in the Hay Division, “ on limestone.” (McGregor

Museum, No. 2364.)

Description : — Plant glabrous, 17-25 cm. high. Bulb ovate, up to

3 cm. long, 1-7 cm. diameter, produced into a neck; outer tunics thin and

papery. Leaves 2-7, synanthous, linear, flat or slightly sulcate above,

rounded below, up to 18 cm. long, 1—1-5 mm. broad. Peduncle terete,

scarcely 2 mm. diam. Spathes up to 2-5 cm. long. Umbel centripetal,

6-14-flowered. Pedicels ascending or erect, 2-3 cm. long. Perianth-

segments regularly placed as in the genus Hessea, linear, widened upwards,

broadest near the middle, obtuse, margins conspicuously undulate in the

lower part, usually up to 1 cm. long, up to 3-5 mm. broad. Filaments at

first decurved, then erect, finally almost regularly disposed in the flower,

unequal in length, 4—5-5 mm. long, appendiculate at base, the appendages

almost free to the base, somewhat spreading upwards, narrow, acuminate,

usually entire, up to 2 mm. long ; anthers before dehiscence 1-2 mm. long ;

pollen whitish. Style at first decurved, finally curved upwards; stigma

minutely lobed. Ovary at first acutely angled, 1-5-2 mm. long, 1-5 mm.

diameter. Capsule globose, 6 mm. diameter. — L. Bolus.

Plate 683. — Fig. 1, front view of flower, x 3; 2, section of very young

flower ; 3, androecium and gynaecium ; 4, do., older flower ; 5, back view of

stamen; 6, front view of same; 7, gynaecium, x 6; 8, tranverse section of

leaf, x 9.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

i

Plate 684.

HOMERIA Pillansii.

Cape Province.

Iridaceae. Tribe Moreae.

Homeria Ventenat Dec. Gen. Nov. 5 (1808); Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant.

vol. iii. p. 692.

Homeria Pillansii L. Bolus, sp. nov.

Planta robusta, 73 cm. alta, caule 6 mm. diam. Folium productum 1,

basale, inferne caulem amplectens, deinde recurvatum, dumosum, laxissime

spiraliter 1-tortum, conduplicatum, longe attenuatum, apice teres indura-

tumque, glauco-viride supra, medio pallide vittatum, nervo medio vix

prominente, nervis lateralibus 3-6 plus minusve prominentibus, 90 cm.

longum, ad 2-7 cm. latum ; folia caulina 2, spathiformia, acuminata, apice

tantum membranacea, in axillo cymas 2 gerentia, ad 9-5 cm. longa. Cyma

6-flL, pedunculo 8-15 cm. longo. Spathae valvae herbaceae sinon apice

membranaceo, in setam attenuatae, carinatae, nervis vix visis, exteriores

ad 7 cm., interiores ad 10 cm., longae. Perianthii segmenta apice subro-

tundata late emarginata, unguibus erectis, approximatis, itaque quasi tubum

8 mm. longum formantibus, ad tubum staminale adpressis, laminis luteis,

genu aureo sordideque olivaceo maculato, exterioribus brevissime unguiculatis

suboblongis, ad 4-2 cm. longis, parum supra medium leviter ampliatis, ad

1-7 cm. latis, interioribus graciliter unguiculatis, ungue 3 mm. longo, lamina

subcuneate obovata, ad 3-4 cm. longa, ad 1-3 cm. lata. Filamenta 1-1 cm.

longa, per 8-9 mm. connata, e tubo per 6 mm. exserta, glabra; antherae

recurvatae basinque cristarum attingentes, 8 mm. longae. Styli rami 1 cm.

longi, apice stigmatifero undulato irregulariterque denticulato 4 mm. lato;

cristae intus patentes, semi-lanceolatae, acuminatae, apicibus vicinis con-

tiguis vel interdum subintertextis, 5 mm. longae. Ovarium 1-5 cm. longum,

2 mm. diam.

Cape Province : Ceres Div., Gydouw Pass, Oct. 1929, N. S. Pillans

(Bolus Herbarium, No. 19882.)

Our species is closely allied to H. Marlothii, L. Bolus, in

its robust habit of growth and height, as well as in having

the single broad basal leaf, perianth-segments appressed to

the staminal tube, and well-developed stigma-crests, all three

of which latter characteristics being also found in H. Cookii

L. Bolus (see Plate 306). But the leaf of H. Pillansii is only

about half as wide as that of H. Marlothii; the larger,

differently shaped, brighter yellow perianth-segments are more

or less obliquely set above the claw, the sides of the blades

being usually decurved or deflexed, and the inner ones having

a half-spiral twist, all being broadest above the middle,

whereas the outer ones in H. Marlothii are distinctly broadest

below the middle ; and the filaments are not entirely united

as in H. Marlothii.

The type is Mr. N. S. Pillans’ collection on the Gydouw,

near Ceres, in October 1929. One of the corms flowered in

my garden during September and October 1931, when the

drawing was made.

Description : — Plant robust, 73 cm. in height, the stem 6 mm. in

diameter. Produced leaf solitary, basal, the lower part embracing the

stem, the free part recurved, the upper portion lying on the ground, very

laxly spirally twisted once, conduplicate, tapering very gradually, the apex

terete and hardened, greyish green, the upper surface with a pallid stripe

down the middle, the midrib scarcely prominent, 3-6 lateral nerves more or

less prominent, 90 cm. long, up to 2-7 cm. broad ; cauline leaves 2, spathe-

like, acuminate, membranous at the apex only, bearing 2 cymes in the

axil, up to 9-5 cm. long. Cyme 6-flowered, the peduncle of the cyme 8-15

cm. long. Spathe-valves herbaceous except for the membranous apex,

attenuated into a bristle, keeled, nerves scarcely visible, outer valves up to

7 cm., inner up to 10 cm., long. Perianth-segments somewhat rounded

at the apex, broadly emarginate, the claws erect, approximate, and thus

forming a quasi-tube 8 mm. long and appressed to the staminal tube, the

blades yellow, golden and spotted with dull olive on the knee, the exterior

segments very shortly clawed, somewhat oblong, up to 4-2 cm. long, widened

a little above the middle and there up to 1-7 cm. broad, the inner having a

slender claw 3 mm. long, the blade somewhat cuneately obovate, up to 3-4

cm. long, up to 1-3 cm. broad. Filaments 11 cm. long, connate for 8-9

mm., exserted from the perianth-tube for 6 mm., glabrous ; anthers recurved

and reaching to the base of the crests, 8 mm. long. Style-branches 1 cm. long,

the stigmatiferous apex undulate and irregularly denticulate, 4 mm. broad ;

crests spreading inwards, semi-lanceolate, acuminate, the adjacent apices

contiguous or sometimes somewhat intertwined, 5 mm. long. Ovary 1-5

cm. long, 2 mm. diameter.

Plate 684. — Fig. 1, portion of plant, x J; 2, lower portion of stem with

leaf-sheath ; 3, apical part of leaf ; 4, portion of leaf from the middle of the

blade; 5, transverse section of leaf, x 3; 6, flower, oblique view; 7, ditto,

side view; 8, outer perianth-segment; 9, inner perianth-segment; 10,

androecium and gynaecium, x 3; 11, ditto, viewed from above, x 6;

12, androecium, x 3; 13, style-branch, back view, x 3; 14, ditto, front

view, x 3.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

G. J. Lewis del.

Plate 685.

BABIANA CUNEIFOLIA.

Namaqualand.

Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.

Babiana Ker ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 706.

Babiana cuneifolia Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xvi. 165 ; Handb. Irid. 182.

Three species of Babiana have already been figured in

these volumes, two of them, Babiana obliqua Phillips (Plate

357) and Babiana subglabra Lewis (Plate 545) fairly closely

allied and representing the type of plant more commonly

found in the genus. Babiana brachystachys Lewis (Plate 546)

which has a long perianth-tube and rigid, terete leaves, is

entirely different from these. The species figured here,

Babiana cuneifolia Baker, is a remarkably interesting one and

differs very perceptibly from those already mentioned. The

leaves, which are truncate and only appear an inch or two

above the ground, give the appearance of having been eaten

off by sheep. Anyone finding the plants in the wild would,

without examining them carefully, come to this conclusion,

as the country in which they grow, near Garies, Little

Namaqualand, is very extensively grazed by sheep. The

apical margin, however, is rough, brown and shortly pilose,

the slightly plicate blades being covered with short hairs as

well.

The plant figured here was grown at the National Botanic

Gardens, Kirstenbosch, where several specimens flowered

during June and July 1933, the leaves all retaining their

unusual character. They were collected, not in flower,

growing in hard sand on a slope just outside Garies, in

September 1932, by the writer.

Description : — Plant, including corm and flowers, 21-5

cm. high, with the portion above ground about 9 cm. high,

and with the inflorescence overtopping the leaves. Corm

globose, 4 cm. diameter, covered with numerous fibrous

tunics extending upwards in a neck about 10 cm. long.

Leaves truncate, 5 leaves produced; the blade up to 4 cm.

long and 2-5 cm. broad, slightly plicate, very shortly pilose,

with the apical margin rough, brown and shortly pilose;

1 cauline leaf, or bract, in axis of which 2 spikes arise, the

second one subtended by 2 bracteoles. Inflorescence a dense

spike, 8-6-5 cm. long, 10-6-flowered. Bract green and

herbaceous brown, at the apex 3-8 cm. long, 1-4 cm. broad,

minutely pilose and faintly veined. Bracteoles central part

green and herbaceous, the margins white and membranous,

3-2 cm. long, 1-3 cm. broad, fused except for the 2 brown tips.

Perianth-tube well exserted from the bract, curved and with

a definite bend or “ knee ” near the top, 5 cm. long, about

9 mm. in diameter at the throat; segments purple; the 3

lower marked with red and the 2 inner lower segments having

a white semi-circular mark above the red; upper segment

2 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, with the 2 side segments 2 cm. long,

5-5 mm. broad, minutely cuspidate ; lowest segment 1-7 cm.

long, 5 mm. broad; lower side-segments 1-7 cm. long, 6-5 mm.

broad ; segments all obtuse or sub-obtuse. Stamens reaching

two-thirds way up segments. Gynaecium with style-branches

just overtopping stamens. (Bolus Herbarium, No. 22162). —

G. J. Lewis.

Plate 685. — Fig. 1, flower, front view; 2, flower, side view; 3, flower,

longitudinal section; 4, bract; 5, bracteoles; 6, upper segment; 7, upper

side-segment; 8, lower side-segment; 9, lowest segment; 10, stamen;

11, gynaecium — nat. size.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

Plate 686.

BABIANA spiralis.

Cape Province.

Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.

Babiana Ker ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 706.

Babiana spiralis Baker in Handb. Irid. 183.

With a few exceptions all the species in this genus are low-

growing, compact sturdy plants with a comparatively long

portion of the stem below the ground very often, and a short

portion of the stem, or only the flowering axis, which is

sometimes branched, above. The species figured here repre-

sents a taller, more graceful and more laxly branched member

of the genus and, indeed, it very closely resembles the plants

named Gladiolus striatus Jacq., except that the leaves of

Babiana spiralis are very narrow, plicate, glabrous, have

entire margins and twist spirally towards the apex, whereas

in Gladiolus striatus the margins of the leaves are crisped, and,

although the leaves are broader, they are pilose, but not

plicate. In my opinion the plants named Gladiolus striatus

belong to the genus Babiana, and would be better placed next

to Babiana spiralis. The corm is typical of this genus,

having numerous soft, wiry tunics extending upwards to form

a neck.

Babiana spiralis was found flowering freely and growing in

thick yellow sand at Klaver, Van Rhynsdorp Division, in

August 1932, by the writer. It flowered again at the National

Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, during August 1933, when the

drawing was made. The rather delicate flowers change from

blue to pale mauve and pink as they mature and fade. The

margins of the three inner perianth-segments are somewhat

crisped.

Description : — Plant, including corm, 37 cm. high, 21*5

cm. above ground. Corm ovoid, 2*2 cm. in diameter ; tunics

of numerous, soft, matted fibres extending up in a neck 7 cm.

long. Leaves 8-10, up to 40 cm. long, 1-3 mm. broad, very-

narrow, linear or sub-terete, firm, twisting spirally towards

the apex, plicate, glabrous except for the sheathing portion

which is sometimes slightly pilose, overtopping the inflores-

cence. Stem pubescent, somewhat flattened, bearing 3-7

lateral branches. Inflorescence a secund spike, terminal

and lateral spikes 6-9-flowered. Bract green and herbaceous,

the apex a brown cusp, 1-1 cm. long, 6 mm. broad; bracteoles

fused in lower half, free above, green and herbaceous, a brown

scariose cusp at apex of each, 9 mm. long, 6 mm. broad.

Flowers changing from blue to pink as they fade, 3 lower

segments marked with yellow, margins of 3 inner segments

crisped, segments obtuse, 3 inner minutely cuspidate. Peri-

anth-tube 1 cm. long; upper perianth-segment arched and

distinct from the other 5, 2-8 cm. long, 1-1 cm. broad; 2 upper

side segments 1 -9 cm. long, 6 mm. broad ; 2 lower side seg-

ments 1-4 cm. long, 6 mm. broad; lowest segment 1-5 cm.

long, 5*5 mm. broad. Stamens arched, 2*3 cm. long. Style-

branches over-topping anthers. (Bolus Herbarium, No.

22161.) — G. J. Lewis.

Plate 686. — Fig. 1, flower, front view; 2, flower, side view; 3, flower,

longitudinal section ; 4, bract ; 5, bracteoles ; 6, upper perianth-segment ;

7, upper side - segment ; 8, lower side-segment; 9, lowest segment; 10,

stamen; 11, gynaecium — nat. size.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

W. F. B a r k er del .

Plate 687.

Anthericum Salteri.

Namaqualand.

Lili ace ae. Tribe Asphodeleae.

Anthericum Linn. Gen. n. 380; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant.

vol. iii. p. 788.

Anthericum Salteri Leighton, sp. nov. (§ Trachyandra.)

Tuber crassum, saepius 2, 5 cm. longum. Folia 3-6, saepius 5, transverse

ad 14-plicata, inferne plicantibus demum obscuris, 15-20-nervata, nervis

leviter prominentibus, viridi-glauca, 7-10 cm. longa, 1-1-5 cm. lata. Planta

18-20 cm. alta. Pedunculus rigidus, nudus, glauco-viridis. Panicula laxe

ramosa ; rami 8-10 cm. longi. Bracteae parvae. Pedicelli adscendentes,

3 mm. longi. Perianthium 2 cm. diam., segmentis oblanceolatis pallide

carneis viridi nervatis 9 mm. longis exterioribus ad 3 mm. interioribus ad

2 mm. latis. Stamina declinata, filamentis scabris basi hirsutis exterioribus

8 mm. interioribus 6 mm., longis ; antberae 1 mm. longae. Ovarium

parvum, 1-5 mm. longum. Stylus declinatus, glaber, staminibus longior.

Stigma capitellatum.

Little Namaqualand : near Springbok, June 1931, Salter 966 in Bolus

Herbarium.

Anthericum Salteri was collected by Paymaster-Captain

T. M. Salter near Springbok in June 1931, and flowered at

Kirstenbosch in September of the same year. Further

material of the species has since been collected by Mr. P.

Ross Frames in the Van Rhynsdorp district.

This species is characterised by the unusually broad erect

leaves which are transversely folded, for as many as fourteen

times in one case, and its strongly scented flowers.

The genus Anthericum has not previously been figured in

this work; but many species were shown in the works of

Jacquin and Redoute more than a hundred years ago.

Description : — Tubers thick and fleshy, usually 2, 5 cm.

long. Plants 18-20 cm. high. Leaves 3-6, usually 5,

7-10 cm. long, 1-1-5 cm. broad, transversely plicate, with the

folds up to 14, less marked towards the base of the leaf, with

slightly prominent veins, glaucous green. Peduncle rigid,

naked, glaucous. Panicle laxly branched; branches 8-10

cm. long. Bracts minute. Pedicels ascending, 3 mm. long.

Perianth 2 cm. in diameter when fully open ; segments pale

flesh pink keeled with green, 9 mm. long oblanceolate ; outer

up to 3 mm. ; inner up to 2 mm. broad. Stamens decimate,

filaments scabrous, hairy at the base; outer 8 mm., inner

6 mm. long; anthers 1 mm. long. Ovary small, 1-5 cm.

long, style declinate, glabrous, a little longer than the stamens ;

stigma capitate. — F. M. Leighton.

Plate 687. — Fig. 1, front view of flower ; 2, do., side view ; 3, perianth-

segments, x 3; 4, androecium ; 5, gynaecium, x 8; 6, 7, 8, fruit, x 3.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

VHf>

Plate 688.

Geissorhiza namaquensis.

Little Namaqualand.

Iridaceae. Tribe Ixiaea.

Geissorhiza Ker-Gawl ; Bot. Mag. PI. 672 (1803); Benth. et. Hook. fil. Gen.

Plant, vol. iii. p. 703.

Geissorhiza namaquensis Barker, sp. nov.

Planta circa 26 cm. alta. Cormus globosus, basi truncatus, circa 2 cm.

longus, 1-1-5 cm. diam., tunicis crustaceis saturate brunneis politis cuspidatis.

Folia basalia 2, adscendentia, apice vero incurvata, linearia, superne attenu-

ata, nervis 5-6 prominentibus utrinque pubescentibus pibs patentibus

minutis, ad 16 cm. longa cum vagina roseo suffusa, ad 6 cm. longa, medio ad

5 mm. lata; caulinum 1, 9-12 cm. longum, medio 4 mm. latum. Pedunculus

glaber, per 6-7 cm. exsertus, prope basin 1-ramosus, 1-5 mm. diam., rhachi

flexuosa. Spica laxe 6-fiora, ramo 2-4-fl. Bracteae oblongae, obtusae,

herbaceae, margine tantum membranaceo rubro-brunneo, 1 -4-0-9 cm.

longae ; bracteolae fere omnino coalitae, membranaceae, carinis viridibus,

1 cm. longae, basi 4 mm. latae. Perianthii tubus gracilis, apicem versus

ampliatus, ad 3 mm. diam., viridi-albus, 9-10 mm. longus; segmenta

patenti-incurva, concava, obtusa, leviter emarginata, saturate coerulea,

basin versus alba, exteriora lineari-lanceolata, leviter emarginata, ad 1-8 cm.

longa, 4—5 mm. lata, interiora oblongo-obovata, 1-6 cm. longa, 6-7 mm. lata.

Stamina subarcuata, parum ultra dimidium segmenti attingentia, antheris

luteis 6-7 mm. longis. Ovarium 3 mm. longum. Stylus unilateralis,

staminibus brevior. Stigmata demum recurvata. Capsula globosa, angulis

obtusis, glabra.

Little Namaqualand : Klipfontein, July 1931, Phillips in Bolus

Herbarium No. 22163, typus.

Two collections of this species have been recorded from

Little Namaqualand — namely, that of Dr. R. Marloth (6782)

in the Richtersveld, in August 1925, and of Mrs. E. Phillips

at Klipfontein in 1930. The latter sent corms to Kirstenbosch,

and these flowered the following year at the end of July,

when our drawings were made. It is among the earliest of

the Iridaceae to flower, and lasts into September.

The relative length of the bract and the perianth-tube

(the latter in some cases is slightly exserted beyond the bract),

as well as the actual length of the tube, would place G. nama-

quensis among the long-tubed species in the genus. Other

distinguishing marks are the firm texture of the leaves and

their closely set nerves, the almost entirely herbaceous bracts,

the somewhat arcuate stamens, and the unilateral style.

Description : — Plant about 26 cm. high. Corm about

2 cm. long, 1-1-5 cm. diam., globose, truncate at the base;

tunics crustaceous, dark brown, shining, cusped. Basal

leaves 2, ascending, hairs spreading minute, up to 16 cm.

long with the vagina suffused with pink up to 6 cm. long, 5 mm.

broad at the middle, linear, attenuate towards the apex,

and with the extreme apex incurved, with the nerves promin-

ent, 5-6, pubescent on both sides ; cauline leaf 1, 9-12 cm. long,

4 mm. broad at the middle. Peduncle glabrous, exserted for

6-7 cm., with one branch at the base, 1-5 mm. diameter;

rachis flexuous. Spike lax, 6-flowered, branch 2-4-flowered.

Bracts 1 -4-0-9 cm. long, oblong, obtuse, herbaceous, with the

margin membranous and reddish brown; bracteoles almost

entirely fused, membranous, with green keels, 1 cm. long,

4 mm. broad at the base. Periantli-tube greenish-white,

slender, widening towards the apex, up to 3 mm. diameter,

9-10 mm. long; segments deep blue, white towards the base,

spreading incurved, concave, obtuse, slightly emarginate ;

exterior up to 1-8 cm. long, 4-5 mm. broad, linear-lanceolate,

slightly emarginate; inner 1-6 cm. long, 6-7 mm. broad,

oblong-obovate. Stamens subarcuate, a little longer than

half the length of the segments; anthers yellow, 6-7 mm.

long. Ovary 3 mm. long ; style unilateral, shorter than the

stamens; stigmas finally recurved. Capsule globose, with

obtuse angles, glabrous. — W. F. Barker.

Plate 688. — Fig. 1 , front view of flower ; 2, longitudinal section of young

flower; 3, do. of old flower; 4, inner perianth-segment; 5, outer perianth-

segment; 6, bract; 7, bracteoles, x 2; 8, portion of leaf, x 4.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

6H 9

Plate 689.

WATSONIA alpina.

Transvaal.

Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.

Watsonia Miller ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 705.

Watsonia alpina Lewis, sp. nov. ; Watsoniae transvaalensi, Baker et W.

Strubeniae L. Bolus (= W. transvaalensi Baker, var. drakensbergensi

L. Bolus) affinis, sed ab ilia caule ramoso, folio multo latiore, et spica

longiore differt, et ab hac folio latiore, spica minus densiore, bracteis a

caule omnino distinctis neque basi axem amplectentibus ut in W. Strubeniae.

Planta 80 cm. alta. Caulis 4r-3 mm. diam., 3-ramosus, ramis 25, 38-5,

et 25-5 cm. longis. Cormus (e 2 cormis compositus, altero hornotino, altero

novello) 4-5 cm. diam., globosus, tunicis e fibris robustis parallelis compositis.

Vaginae basales 2-5 et 9 cm. longae. Folia basalia 4, disticha, plana, basi

arete equitantia, erecta vel suberecta, interdum apicem versus semi-spiraliter

torta, rigida, marginibus praecipue incrassatis luteisque, nervo medio leviter

prominente, ensiformia, 25-37 cm., longa, ad 3-6 cm. lata ; caulina 3, omnia

in axillo ramum gerentia, 13-5, 7, et 2-5 cm. longa. Inflorescentia e spica

sublaxa disticha composita, parte terminali 17-fl., 33 cm. longa, ramis

8-11-fl. Bractea 1-8— 1*1 cm. longa, acuta, viridis herbaceaque in dimidio

inferiore, superne brunnea, basi axem haud amplectens. Bracteolae bracteis

similes, eis parum breviores. Flos 4-3 cm. longus ; tubus perianthii infundi-

buliformis, curvatus itaque perianthium horizontale, 2 cm. longus, apice

8 mm. diam. ; segmenta rosea, vittata, vitta saturate rosea, in segmentis 3

inferioribus optime visa; exteriora 2 cm. longa, 6-5 mm. lata, minute

cuspidata, linearia, subaeuta; interiora 2-1 cm. longa, 8 mm. lata, apice

acuta. Stamina dimidium segmentorum attingentia, antheris lilacine

purpureis 7 mm. longis. Styli rami primarii parum ultra stamina patentes,

in perianthio inclusi.

Transvaal : Lydenburg distr. : Mt. Anderson, alt. 6000 feet, Galpin,

in Bolus Herbarium 22164.

The mountainous region in which it was found by Dr.

E. E. Galpin, in March 1933, has suggested the specific

epithet alpina. Only one clump was found in a valley bottom

at the foot of the terminal peak, Mt. Anderson, near Lyden-

burg, at an altitude of 6000 feet. Corms were sent to the

National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, where they flowered

in November of the same year, when the present drawing was

made.

The rather small and delicate-looking pink flowers, each

segment having a dark pink stripe running down the centre,

present a striking contrast to the broad, strong leaves with

their much-thickened yellow margins, and the robust corm

wrhich is coated with tough, wiry tunics.

Watsonia alpina is closely allied to W. transvaalensis

Baker, and W. Strubeniae L. Bolus (= W. transvaalensis

Baker var. drakensbergensis L. Bolus), but from the former it

differs in having a much broader leaf, a branched stem and a

much longer spike, while from W. Strubeniae it differs in

having a broader leaf, a less dense spike and the bracts

entirely free from the stem, whereas in IF. Strubeniae the

bracts clasp the stem at the base.

Desckiption : — Plant 80 cm. high. Stem 4-3 mm. diameter, bearing

3 branches, 25, 38-5 and 25-5 cm. long. Corm (consisting of 2 corms, one

giving rise to plant and one new) globose, 4-5 cm. diameter ; tunics of strong

parallel fibres. Basal sheaths 2, 5 and 9 cm. long. Leaves 4, basal, 25-37

cm. long, up to 3-6 cm. broad, distichous, flat, ensiform, tightly overlapping

at the base, erect or sub-erect, sometimes with a half spiral twist towards

the apex, rigid, with the margins very much thickened and yellow, and the

mid-rib slightly prominent ; 3 cauline leaves, each with a branch arising in

its axis, 13-5, 7 and 2-5 cm. long. Inflorescence a fairly lax distichous spike ;

main spike 33 cm. long, 17-flowered; lateral spikes 8-ll-flowrered. Bract

green and herbaceous in lower half, brown above, 1-8—1 - 1 cm. long, acute,

not clasping the stem at the base ; bracteoles similar to the bracts, a little

shorter. Flower 4-3 cm. long. Perianth-tube 2 cm. long, 8 mm. diameter

at the throat, infundibuliform, curved so that flowers are horizontal, seg-

ments a pale magenta pink with a deeper pink stripe running down centre of

each, most distinct in the 3 lower ; outer segments 2 cm. long, 6-5 mm. broad,

minutely cuspidate, linear, sub-acute; inner segments 2-1 cm. long, 8 mm.

broad, acute. Stamens reaching about half-way up segments; anthers

mauve, 7 mm. long. Style-branches spreading just above stamens but not

exserted from flower. — G. J. Lewis.

Plate 689. — Fig. 1, plant, J nat. size ; 2, corm ; 3, upper portion of leaf;

4, inflorescence; 5, flower, front view; 6, flower, opened out; 7, bract;

8, bracteoles.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

6 90

Plate 690.

COTYLEDON hlrtifolium.

Little Namaqualand.

Crassulaceae.

Cotyledon Linn. ; Benih. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. 1. p. 658.

Cotyledon hirtifolium Barker, sp. nov.

Planta 71 cm. alta vel ultra. Rami basi incrassati, glabri, 2-2 cm. diam.,

reliquis foliorum delapsorum induratis ad 8 mm. longis dense onusti, deinde

pedunculoidei, glanduloso-pubescentes, 4 mm. diam., reliquis distantibus

onusti. Folia circuitu variabilia, novella infeme fere semiteretia, demum

oblanceolata vel obovata, basin versus angustata, supra ± canaliculata,

utrinque pubescentia, 5-8 cm. longa, 1-2-3 cm. lata, per anthesin marcescentia,

disarticulataque. Panicula parce ramosa, ad 12 cm. longa, pedicellis

nutantibus , ad 7 mm . longis . Calycis tubus 1 mm . longus , segmentis lanceolatis

acutis viridibus glandulosis 7 mm. longis. Corollae tubus obtuse 5-angularis,

parum infra medium leviter constrictus, extus viridi-luteus, intus laete viridis,

1-4 cm. longus, basi 6 mm., apice 9 mm. diam. ; segmenta dimidio superiore

demum recurva, obovata, emarginata, supra glabra, alba, 8 mm. longa, 5 mm.

lata. Stamina corollae tubo aequilonga, fere ad dimidium adnata, parum infra

medium pubescentia, filamentis post dehiscentiam apicem versus reflexis;

antherae luteae, ad 2 mm. longae. Squamae quadratae, emarginatae,

viridi-albae, vix 1 mm. longae. Gynaecium 1-2 cm. longum, prope basin

3-5 mm. diam. ; styli graciles ; stigmata minuta.

Little Namaqualand : Kommaggas, Dec. 1931, Herre in Bolus Her-

barium No. 22165.

Our Cotyledon is best placed in the Paniculatae with C.

Eckloniana Harv., from which it differs chiefly in having

larger glandular pubescent flowers, with C. Wallichii Harv.,

which has terite glaucous leaves, unlike those of our plant, and

with C. paniculata, L.f., which seems to be its closest ally

on account of its broad flat leaves that are said to be pubescent

in their younger stages. In our plant the leaves are distinctly

pubescent even in the old stages, and, as this character is

unique for the group, it has suggested the specific name.

The stamens, too, in this plant are distinctive, being included

in the corolla-tube, while those of C. Wallichii and C. panicu-

lata, are well exserted in the open flower.

Description : — Pla?it 71 cm. high. Branches fleshy, 2-2

cm. diameter, glabrous, densely covered with hardened

prominent leaf-bases up to 8 mm. long, with the peduncle

terminal, glandular-pubescent, 4 mm. diameter, with a few

persistent remains of reduced leaves. Leaves disarticulating

at flowering time, 5-8 cm. long, 1-2-3 cm. broad, variable in

shape; young leaves often semiterete at the base; older

leaves oblanceolate or obovate, narrow towards the base, and

channelled above, pubescent on both sides. Panicle sparsely

branched, up to 12 cm. long; pedicels pendulous, 7 mm. long.

Calyx-tube 1 mm. long ; segments green, 7 mm. long, lanceolate

acute, glandular-pubescent. Corolla-tube yellowish-green on

the outside, bright green inside, 1-4 cm. long, 6 mm. diameter

at the base, 9 mm. diameter at the apex, obtusely 5-angled,

constricted a little below the middle ; segments white above,

8 mm. long, 5 mm. broad, recurved in the upper half, obovate,

emarginate, glabrous. Stamens as long as the corolla-tube;

filaments adnate almost to the middle, pubescent a little

below the middle, with the apices reflexed after dehiscence;

anthers yellow, 2 mm. long. Squamae greenish white,

scarcely 1 mm. long, quadrate, emarginate. Gynaecium 1-2

cm. long, 3-5 mm. diameter near the base; style slender;

stigma minute.

Plate 690. — Fig. 1, side view of flower; 2, front view of flower; 3,

corolla laid out to show the arrangement of the stamens; 4, gynaecium;

5, young leaf ; 6, old leaf ; 7, another do.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

<9.9f

M. M. Page del.

Plate 691.

Nerine Frithii.*

Cape Province.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Nerine Herb. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 728.

Nerine Frithii L. Bolus in Ann. Bolus Herb. vol. iii. p. 79

(Dec. 1921).

Plants of this species were sent to Kirstenbosch by Miss

Wilman from Riverton in the Kimberley Division, and by

Mr. Frith, without a locality, both in 1914. It was Mr.

Frith’s collection that survived until there was an opportunity

of making the drawing which is reproduced here, and his

plant must be considered the type of the species. Since

Nerine Frithii was published, we have been able to study

the genus as a whole more intensively than before from the

ample living material that has flowered at Kirstenbosch

during the last twelve years, and some of our former identifica-

tions require revision in the light of this additional knowledge.

For example, we now believe the plant figured under Plate

132, although a very close ally of N. Frithii, is sufficiently

different to rank as a distinct species (namely, N. trans-

vaalensis), by reason of its narrower perianth-segments,

longer and more slender filaments, and differently shaped

stamen-appendages. Living material from the Orange Free

State, at Hoopstad, is also very much wanted, so that this

locality may be confirmed. Then there is the species which

is said to grow “ on islands in the Orange River,” and is still

too insufficiently known for determination, as well as the

one from Gaberones in Bechuanaland (T.M. 28674) which

in the National Herbarium bears a manuscript name.

* We have accepted this name given by Dr. Bolus, who is more familiar

with the genus than we are, though we are not fully convinced that the

plant is specifically distinct from the plant figured on Plate 132.

Correction. — In the text referring to Plate 683 of this Volume, the

second reference to Plate 132 should have been to the accompanying Plate

(No. 691).

Description : — Plant glabrous. Bulb ovoid-globose, 2

cm. long, 1*7 cm. diam. Leaves synanthous, usually 2,

rather flaccid, somewhat filiform, concave above, up to 15

cm. long, 1-1-5 mm. broad. Peduncle terete, up to 20 cm.

long. Spathes oblong-linear, long-attenuated, 2-5-3 cm. long.

Bracts hair-like, membranous, 1-1*5 cm. long. Umbel 5-

7-fl. Pedicels ad 3 cm. long. Perianth-segments widely

spreading from the base, then strongly recurved, all finally

lateral and posterior, the stamens and style only forming the

anterior part of the flower, linear, obtuse or somewhat acute,

margins conspicuously undulate below, to 1-6 cm. long,

to 4 mm. broad near the middle. Stamens declinate;

filaments 3-5-6 mm. long, the appendages oblong, incised,

3 mm. long; anthers before dehiscing 4 mm. long. Ovary

obovate, the cells 2-ovulate; style finally 5 mm. long;

stigma minutely lobed. Capsule globose, 8 mm. diam.

(Bolus Herbarium, No. 22166.) — L. Bolus.

Plate 691 . — Fig. 1 , flower, front view, x 2£ ; 2, androecium and

gynaecium from a bud; 3, androecium, laid open, inner view; 4, stamen,

oblique view; 5, stamen-appendage, flattened ; 6, gynaecium, x 4.

Nertne transvaalensis L. Bolus, N. Frithii valde affinis, sed perianthii

segmentis angustioribus brevioribusque, filamentis gracilioribus longiori-

busque, appendicibus dissimilibus distinguitur — N. Frithii L. Bolus, partim,

ante Plate 132.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

692

C.Letty del.

Plate 692.

ALOE deWetii.

Zululand.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe deWetii, Reynolds in Journ. S.A. Botany, July 1937, p. 139.

The plant figured on the accompanying Plate is one of

the summer-flowering species of maculate Aloe, found in fairly

large numbers in Zululand. It occurs in the Umkuzi Valley,

26 miles east of Vryheid, also near Ingwavuma, Hlabisa, and

Nongoma. In mature specimens the inflorescence reaches

a height of 6-8 feet, and the leaves are characterised by a

peculiar dull glossy appearance, as if rubbed with an oily

cloth.

Aloe deWetii is allied to A. Lettyae Reynolds, but the latter

has greener leaves with much smaller marginal teeth, laxer

and more broadly cylindric racemes, and flowers with a more

globose swelling at the base. Another ally is A. komatiensis

Reynolds, which differs in having much narrower leaves and

shorter, differently-shaped flowers.

Our Plate was prepared from material sent in by Mr.

G. W. Reynolds from the Umkuzi Valley near Alpha, Zululand,

and from photographs of flowering plants at that locality.

Description : — Plant succulent, acaulescent. Leaves

about 20 in a dense rosette, dull green with numerous dull

white spots above, immaculate beneath, up to 48 cm. long,

13 cm. broad at the base, erectly spreading, lanceolate,

slightly caniculate above, convex beneath, with the margins

sinuate-dentate and with a very pronounced corneous brown

edge and armed with stout brown teeth up to 10 mm. long

and 10-15 mm. apart. Inflorescence a branched panicle up

to 2 m. high, bearing 15-25 racemes. Peduncle about 10-

branched from about the middle, with the lowest branches

bearing 1-4 branchlets. Racemes 40 cm. long, 7 cm. in

diameter, cylindric, acuminate. Bracts thin, scarious,

brownish, 20 mm. long, 3 mm. broad at the base, narrowly

deltoid, 7-9-nerved. Pedicels up to 15 mm. long. Perianth

dull scarlet with a bloom, 35-40 mm. long, with a basal

swelling 12-14 mm. in diameter, constricted to 6-7 mm.

above the ovary, thence decurved and enlarging towards the

throat, with the mouth trigonous; outer segments free for

6 mm. ; the inner broader and with more obtuse apices.

Anthers very shortly exserted. Ovary green, 10 mm. long,

4 mm. in diameter; stigma eventually exserted 1-2 mm.

Capsule 30 mm. long, 16 mm. in diameter. (National Herb-

arium, Pretoria, No. 22853.) — G. W. R.

Plate 692. — Fig. 1, plant, considerably reduced; 2, median longitudinal

section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

Plate 693.

CYRTANTHUS Flanagani.

Natal, Basutoland, Transvaal, Cape Province.

Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Cyrtanthus Ait. ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 729.

Cyrtanthus Flanagani Baker in FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 532.

We are indebted to Mrs. Simon Bekker, wife of the

Administrator for the Transvaal, for the plants which enabled

us to figure a little-known species and to clear up some

doubtful points.

In the National Herbarium, Pretoria, were four unnamed

specimens of a yellow-flowered species of Cyrtanthus collected

at Cala in the Transkei (National Herb. No. 23021); on

the Mount-aux-Sources ( Flanagan 1824) ; Bergville, Natal

(Galpin 10,148) ; Barkly East (National Herb. No. 23024).

Three of the above were noted by the collectors as having

yellow flowers. In the recorded descriptions of species of

Cyrtanthus, only two species, C. lutescens and C. flavus (see

Plate 559), have yellow flowers, but both differ considerably

from the unnamed herbarium specimens.

In the “ Flora Capensis,” where Baker described C.

Flanagani, the flowers are said to be white, and there was

no indication on our specimen collected by Flanagan as to the

colour of the flower. Through the courtesy of the Curator

of the Bolus Herbarium, we had the opportunity of examining

Flanagan’s specimen, on which the name C. Flanagani

appears in Baker’s handwriting. Flanagan had written in

the name C. lutescens, which is the only indication we have

that it was very probably a yellow-flowered plant. A careful

examination of the author’s type and a comparison with

our unnamed specimens have now confirmed their identity

as C. Flanagani. The measurements of the flower as given

by Baker in the “ Flora Capensis ” do not agree with the

type in which we found the corolla-throat to be | inch in

diameter.

Mrs. Bekker states that the species is plentiful on the

mountains round Barkly East, her home town. She now has

plants in cultivation in her garden at Pretoria, where they

are doing well and flower freely during the month of August.

They are very useful as cut flowers, and the delicate fragrance

is an added attraction.

Description : — Bulb budding at the base, 3 cm. diameter,

produced into a neck 1 1 cm. long. Leaves 4, appearing with

the flowers, somewhat firm, up to 20 cm. long, 1-9 cm. broad,

erect, lorate, somewhat falcate, obtuse. Peduncle 20 cm.

long, compressed. S path e- valves white with red veins, lanceo-

late; the largest 5 cm. long, 1-1 cm. broad near the base;

the smaller 4-5 cm. long, 1-0 cm. broad. Bracts white, 2 cm.

long, linear-filiform. Pedicels green, up to 2-5 cm. long,

terete. Perianth strontian yellow (R.C.S. XVI), semi-erect;

trumpet-shaped; tube 4-6 cm. long, 1 mm. diameter at the

base, 6 mm. diameter at the throat ; lobes erect-spreading,

1-5 cm. long; the 3 outer 9 mm. broad, slightly hooded at

the apex and with an apiculus; the 3 inner 8 mm. broad,

not hooded or apiculate at the apex. Stamens not exserted

from the corolla ; the 3 upper inserted just below the throat,

with the free portion of the filament 1*5 mm. long; the 3

lower inserted 1 cm. below the insertion of the upper fila-

ments; anthers 2-5 mm. long. Ovary 8 mm. long, cylindric,

oblong in outline, faintly 3-lobed ; style shortly 3-lobed,

with the lobes 1 mm. long. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 23023.)

Plate 693. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; 2, portion

of perianth, showing insertion of stamens ; 3, style lobes.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

694

C.Letty del.

Plate 694.

ROCHEA ODORATISSIMA.

Cape Province.

y

Crasstjeaceae.

Rochea DC. in Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 658.

Rochea odoratissima DC. Prodr. vol. iii. p. 394; FI. Cap. vol. ii.

p. 369.

Rochea odoratissima, a common plant on the Cape Peninsula,

was one of the many species of so-called “ Cape plants ” sent

to Europe over a century ago. In the year 1803 Jacquin

published a coloured plate of the species from plants which

flowered in Europe.

The genus Rochea is endemic in South Africa, and is

represented by four species found in the south-western

districts of the Cape Province. One very handsome species

with scarlet flowers is popularly known among mountaineers

of the Cape Peninsula as the “ Red Crassula.” It differs

from the genus Crassula in having a corolla-tube longer than

the calyx, and it may be distinguished from the genus

Cotyledon in having the leaves connate at the base.

The flowers vary somewhat in colour from pale-yellow

or creamy-white to flowers flushed with pink.

The plants we figure were collected by Mrs. J. C. Letty

in October 1932 at Camp’s Bay, near Cape Town.

Description : — A succulent plant up to 30 cm. high,

simple or with one or two short branches. Stem green or

red, erect, scabrous. Leaves opposite, connate at the base,

up to 2-5 cm. long, linear-lanceolate, channelled above, acute

or sub-acute, cartilaginous-ciliate on the margins. Cymes

many-flowered, sub-capitate. Calyx-lobes connate below, 1

cm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear-lanceolate, cartilaginous, ciliate.

Corolla cream, greenish-cream, and rosy; tube 7 mm. long,

3-5 mm. diameter, glabrous; lobes 2 cm. long, 1-25 mm.

broad below, gradually widening upwards, slightly hooded

at the apex and with a small knob at the back below the apex,

adhering but not connate, glabrous. Stamens about as

long as the corolla ; anthers 3 mm. long, oblong-linear.

Capels 5, 1*7 cm. long; ovary linear in outline; style linear,

somewhat club-shaped above. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 14392.)

Plate 694. — Fig. 1, a single flower; 2, a sepal; 3, section of corolla;

4, gynaecium.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

c. Letty del.

Plate 695.

HAEMANTHUS Nelsonii.

Transvaal.

Amah YLLiD ace ae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Haemanthus Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 730.

Haemanthus Nelsonii Baker in Kew Bull. 1898, p. 310.

The genus Haemanthus, of which we have previously-

figured three species, is represented in South Africa by over

30 species. Several occur in tropical Africa, and one species

is recorded from the island of Socotra. H. Nelsonii was

described by Baker in the year 1898 from a dried specimen

and living bulbs said to have come from near Johannesburg.

In the Botanical Magazine for 1933 (t. 9293) the species

was illustrated in colour from plants that were direct

descendants of the bulbs sent to Kew in the year 1897.

The plant figured was grown at the Division of Plant

Industry, Pretoria, and flowered in January 1937. The

original was collected by Mr. L. C. C. Liebenberg, M.Sc.,

on the Maquassi hills, east of Wolmaranstad, in March 1935.

Mr. Liebenberg notes that in the area plants are somewhat

rare.

As will be seen from the Plate, the species is quite a hand-

some one, and a worthy addition to the bulb garden. In the

particular bulb examined there were four structures differing

from the ordinary bulb scales and which appeared to be

undeveloped leaves; two were 6-5 cm. long and 1-5-2 cm.

broad; two were 5-5 cm. long and 0-7-1 cm. broad.

Description : — Bulb about 6-5 cm. diameter, biconvex.

Roots thick, fleshy. Leaves 2, erect, fight green beneath,

darker green above, 15 cm. long, about 8 cm. broad, oblong,

obtuse, densely hirsute above, less densely hirsute beneath,

ciliate. Peduncle arising behind one of the leaves, 35 cm.

long, 1-2 cm. diameter, semi-terete, glabrous at the base,

pilose above. Spathe-valves 3-5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad,

ovate-lanceolate, membranous, with pinkish veins. Pedicels

1 -5-3-5 cm. long, terete, glabrous. Perianth-tube 5-5 mm.

long, 2 mm. diameter above, tubular; lobes 1 cm. long, 2

mm. broad, linear, obtuse, of a beautiful crystalline appearance,

with a tuft of multicellular hairs on the inner face just below

the tip. Stamens inserted at the mouth of the corolla-tube;

filaments from 0-6-1 -6 cm. long, terete, gradually narrowing

upwards; anthers 3 mm. long, oblong. Style 1 cm. long,

shortly 3-lobed at the apex, in older flowers overtopping the

stamens. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 22850.)

Plate 695. — Fig. 1, bulb with leaves (much reduced); 2, median

longitudinal section of flower ; 3, tip of perianth-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

696

Plate 696.

SENECIO BRY ONIIFOLIU S .

Cape Province.

Compositae. Tribe Senecionideae.

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

Senecio bryoniifolius Harv. in FI. Cap. vol. iii. p. 404.

The specimen we figure is from a plant which flowered at

the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in April 1937. The

original plants were collected by Mr. A. O. D. Mogg, M.A.,

in the evergreen forest at Mount Sullivan, near Port St.

Johns, in January 1933. The collector states that in their

native habitat flowering commences in mid-December, and

that the optimum flowering period appears to be mid-

January. In the evergreen forest of “ yellow-wood ” and

“ stinkwood ” the species, when in flower, forms a beautiful

sight, as the golden clusters of flower-heads form a long

curtain pendant from the loftiest trees. When viewed from

below at a distance, even several miles away, against the deep

green background of the forest, the mass of yellow flower-

heads presents an unforgettable sight. Although so common

in its habitat, it does not appear to have been extensively

collected. The only record in the National Herbarium are

specimens gathered by the late H. G. Flanagan near the

Kei Mouth. The figure on Plate 174 ( S . tamoides) should be

compared with this Plate.

The species deserves attention as a horticultural plant.

It is easily propagated from slips and appears to be disease

proof.

Description : — Plants scandent ; branches glabrous.

Leaves 2-6 cm. apart; petioles usually not straight, 1-2 cm.

long, glabrous; blades somewhat succulent, 1-5 cm. long,

1 *3-5*5 cm. broad, triangular-ovate, sometimes obscurely

5-lobed, sparsely toothed or sometimes almost entire,

glabrous. Heads 3-5 together at the end of the branches,

4 cm. in diameter. Peduncles 3-5 cm. long, bare or with

1-2 bracts. Bracts at base of the involucre 5-6, 8 mm. long,

linear. Involucre 1 cm. long, 6 mm. diameter, oblong in

outline; bracts connate, free above, with the alternate free

portions shortly winged and minutely ciliate at the apex.

Receptacle flat, honeycombed. Ray florets : — Corolla-tube 5

mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; limb 1-6 cm. long, 0-6 cm.

broad, elliptic-oblong, 8-9-nerved, minutely toothed at the

apex. Pappus as long as the corolla-tube, barbellate.

Ovary 2-5 mm. long, oblong in outline, ribbed, glabrous;

style 1*5 mm. longer than the corolla-tube; lobes linear.

Disc floret : — 7 mm. long, cylindric below, widening above ;

lobes 1*5 mm. long, lanceolate, sub-acute. Pappus 1-1 cm.

long, barbellate. Ovary 2*25 mm. long, oblong in outline,

ribbed, glabrous. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 22855.)

Plate 696. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of head; 2, ray-floret;

3, disc-floret.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C.Letty del.

<59 7

Plate 697.

ALOE MELSETTERENSIS.

Southern Rhodesia *

Llliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe melsetterensis Christian, sp. nov. in sectione “ Saponariae.”

A. chimanimaniensi Christian affinis, sed foliis majoribus recurvatioribusque,

supra haud lineatis, bracteis pedicellis floribusque longioribus differt.

Herba succulenta, acaulis vel tandem breviter caulescens, sobolifera.

Folia ca. 25, dense rosulata, usque 84 cm. longa, 14 cm. lata et 1-2 cm.

crassa, e basi apicem versus sensim acuminata, patentia, recurvata, supra

canaliculata, viridia, maculis lenticularibus albidis sparsis picta, subtus

convexa vel rotundata, pallidiora, obscure maculata, lineata, striata, ad

margines linea tenui cornea cincta ; dentes 4 mm. longi, 12-26 mm. distantes,

interstitiis rectis. Inflorescentia usque 1-75 m. alta, supra medium ramosa.

Pedunculus validus, nudus, laterahter compressus. Bracteae ramos sub-

tendentes usque 10 cm. longae. Rami arcuato-erecti, bracteis vacuis

paucis usque 6 cm. longis praediti. Racemi corymbosi, densi, 11 cm.

diam. Bracteae florum 24 mm. longae, 4 mm. latae, 3-5-nervatae, scariosae ;

pedicelli 45 mm. longi. Perianthium pallide rubrum, 40 mm. longum, circa

ovarium 8 mm. diam. supra ovarium constrictum et 4 mm. diam., hinc

ampliatum et 8 mm. diam., faucem versus contractum. decurvulum ; seg-

menta exteriora 14 mm. longa, apicem versus lutescentia, leviter patentia,

sub-acuta; segmenta interiora pallidiora, 5-nervata, obtusiora. Filamenta

inclusa. Ovarium 8 mm. longum, 3 mm. diam.

Southern Rhodesia : — Melsetter distr. : One mile east of Melsetter

village, Christian 275 and in National Herbarium, No. 23026.

This species was first collected in June 1930 by Major

R. H. Everett in a wet vlei, actually in standing water, one

mile east of the village of Melsetter. It is found growing

both in very wet vleis, where it forms large clumps, and on

dry hillsides. It occurs in considerable numbers along the

eastern border of Southern Rhodesia, in the mist belt, from

near the junction of the Umtali-Melsetter and Umtali-

Chipinga roads, and extends north into the Umtali district.

* Not up to the present recorded from South Africa. — J. H.

When in flower it is readily distinguished from A. chimani-

maniensis (see Plate 639) by its much more robust inflorescence ;

by the colour of the flowers, especially the bright green buds ;

by its very long subulate bracts and pedicels and larger

flowers : when not in flower by its rather flat rosette, larger,

more recurved leaves, and especially by its rather large

lenticular spots, and by having the lower surface obscurely

spotted. It flowers in June-July, rather later than A.

chimanimaniensis.

Description : — Plant succulent, acaulescent or shortly caulescent with

age, suckering from the base. Leaves about 25 in a dense rosette, bright

green, with rather large scattered paler green lenticular spots on the upper

surface, paler green and more obscurely spotted and striate and with a few

interrupted dark-green longitudinal lines on the lower surface, 84 cm. long,

14 cm. broad, 1*2 cm. thick in the middle, spreading, recurved, tapering

gradually from the base to the apex, broadly concave towards the base

and canaliculate above on the upper surface, convex low down and rounded

above on the lower surface, bounded on the margins with a whitish horny

line and armed with teeth ; teeth reddish-brown, pungent, 4 mm. long,

12-26 mm. apart, inclined forwards, with the interspaces straight. In-

florescence one or more from the same rosette, up to 1-75 m. high, branched

and sub-branched from above the middle with about 6-8 branches. Peduncle

stout, naked, laterally compressed all the way up, coated wdth a bloom.

Bracts subtending the lower branches 10 cm. long, long-attenuate. Branches

pro rata stout, erect spreading or arcuate-erect, with 6-8 empty scarious

subulate bracts up to 60 mm. long ; lateral branches often longer than the

terminal. Raceme densely corymbose, sub-capitate ; the terminal up to

1 1 cm. broad ; the lateral smaller ; young buds erect, bright light-green,

not changing colour until the mature flowers have become pendulous.

Floral-bracts scarious, up to 24 mm. long, 4 mm. broad at the base, 3-5-

nerved. Pedicels greenish below, pinkish above, ascending, cernuous,

ultimately straight; the lower 40-45 mm. long. Perianth light yellowish-

red, 40 mm. long, 8 mm. diameter over the ovary, constricted above the

ovary to 4 mm. diameter, then widened again to 8 mm. diameter and laterally

compressed to 5 mm., slightly contracted towards the throat, slightly

decurved ; outer segments free for 14 mm., slightly spreading at the apices,

sub-acute; inner segments pale-flesh with a 5-nerved red median line

shading to yellowish at the apex, dorsifixed to outer segments, sub-obtuse.

Ovary 8 mm. long, 3 mm. diameter. Filaments included ; anthers brown.

— H. B. C.

Plate 697. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, a single flower; 3, median

longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C. Letty del.

Plate 698.

ALOE Chabaudii var. mlanjeana.

Nyasaland*

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Chabaudii Schonl. var. mlanjeana Christian, var. nov., a typo,

in eo quod planta minor est, foliis viribus supra rufescentibus, breviori

inflorescentia plerumque obliqua, ramis profunde patulantibus differt.

Nyasaland : Mlanje Mountain, Christian 274 and in National

Herbarium.

This pretty little Aloe, which belongs to Berger’s Section

Aethiopicae, flowers during the months of July and August.

It was first collected by Major R. H. Everett on the slopes of

Mlanje Mountain in June 1913. The variety is readily

distinguished from the type in being a smaller plant sucker-

ing from the base, with bright green leaves which, in the dry

season, turn a dull brick-red in the upper part on the upper

surface only; the lower surface, except for a reddish tinge

towards the margins, does not change colour unless exposed

to the sun. It may also be distinguished by the narrow,

horny white line on the margins, which curves up into the

basal portion of the brown-tipped teeth. The inflorescence

differs from that of the type in being shorter and nearly

always rising at an oblique angle, with pronounced spreading

branches which cause the flowers to turn upwards thereby

becoming sub-secund. This new variety is far more consistent

in its various characters than the type which, especially in

its branching habits, is exceedingly variable.

Description : — Plant succulent, stemless, suckering from

the base. Leaves rosulate, erect-spreading to spreading,

slightly recurved towards the apex, 35-40 cm. long, 9 cm.

broad low down, ovate-lanceolate, gradually attenuate ;

upper surface green shading to dull brick-red in the upper

* See footnote to Plate 697.

part, immaculate, obscurely striate, broadly concave low

down, channelled above ; lower surface green with a reddish

tinge towards the margins, immaculate, obscurely striate,

convex low down, rounded above; margins bounded by a

narrow white horny line and armed with teeth ; teeth horny,

brown-tipped, flat, 3 mm. long, 10-14 mm. apart, smaller

and more crowded towards the base, with straight interspaces

between them. Inflorescence loosely panicled, 40-50 cm.

long, usually rising obliquely, branched from low down with

about 8-12 distinctly patulate branches. Racemes sub-lax,

with the lower 16-18 cm. long, with the flowers becoming

sub-secund as they develop. Bracts thin, scarious, 5 mm.

long, 5-nerved. Pedicels spreading, 18-20 mm. long. Perianth

usually shortly stipitate, 30-32 mm. long, slightly decurved,

obconical, 9 mm. diameter over the ovary, with three distinct

indentations above it (in line with the inner segments),

gradually constricted to 6 mm. diameter and again widened

to 9 mm. diameter and contracted toward the throat; outer

segments coral-red shading to flesh at the margins, 12 mm.

long, hardly spreading, sub-acute, 5-nerved; inner segments

white shading to yellow at the apex, dorsifixed to the outer,

free at the margins, sub-spreading, sub-obtuse, with a narrow

3-nerved red keel. Filaments white below with a yellowish

tinge above, unequal, just exserted; anthers pale terracotta,

3 mm. long, exserted. Ovary green, 5 mm. long, 3 mm.

diameter, acuminate ; style white, at length exserted.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria.) — H. B. C.

Plate 698. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, a single flower; 3, median

longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C. Letty del.

1

Plate 699.

ALOE Chabaudh var. Verekeri.

Southern Rhodesia .*

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe Chabaudii Schonl. var. Verekeri Christian var. nov., a typo

foliis olivaceo-viridibus apicem versus rubescentibus, recurvulis, dentibus

marginalibus uncinatis, racemis qua sub-capitatis facile distinguitur.

Southern Rhodesia : — Upper end of Salbi River Gorge, Christian 395

and in National Herbarium.

This Aloe, which belongs to Berger’s Section Aethiopicae,

was first collected by Mr. L. S. A. Vereker in July 1931, and

is named in honour of the collector, who has, for many years,

been a keen collector of the native succulents of Southern

Rhodesia. It was found covering one of three small hills at

the mouth of the Salbi gorge; one of the other hills was

covered with A. Pienaarii Pole Evans, and A. aculeata

Pole Evans covered the third hill. None of the three species

mixed, and no other species of Abe have been found within

many miles.

In the colour of its flowers our new variety varies from

shades of yellow to shades of red, no one colour predom-

inating. The racemes, though usually sub-capitate, are some-

times shortly conical and very occasionally cylindric-acuminate.

The colour of the leaves and hooked marginal teeth appear

to be constant characters.

Description : — Plant succulent, acaulescent. Leaves

rosulate, olive green, becoming reddish in the upper half in

the dry season, 58 cm. long, 10 cm. broad, ascending, slightly

recurved towards the apex, ovate-lanceolate, attenuate,

on the upper surface obscurely striate and flat low down but

concave above and channelled towards the apex, convex on

the under surface, with toothed narrow whitish cartilaginous

* See footnote to Plate 697.

MARY GUNN LIBRARY

I SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BlODiYf RSITY INSTITUTE

I , PKiVATR BAG X 101

PRETORIA 0001

I REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

margins; teeth pale-brown at the tip, homy, 4 mm. long,

uncinate, 18 mm. apart but closer low down and more distant

above, with the interspaces straight. Inflorescence a branched

panicle 75-90 cm. high, branched and sub-branched from

low dowrn ; lower branches erect-spreading ; upper branches

arcuate-spreading. Peduncle furrowed and covered with a

bloom. Raceme condensed at the ends of the branches into

a sub-capitate head 8 cm. diameter, with 3^4 laxly disposed

flowers below it ; buds spreading ; mature flowers sub-

pendulous. Bracts scarious, 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad,

deltoid, acute, 5-nerved. Pedicels arcuate-erect; the lower

15-17 mm. long. Perianth various shades of yellow and red,

shortly stipitate, 32 mm. long, decurved, 5-5 mm. diameter

over the ovary, gradually slightly constricted to 4-5 mm.

diameter towards the middle, with 3 pronounced oblong

indentations above the ovary (in line with the inner segments),

thence widened to 8 mm. diameter and laterally compressed

to 6 mm., slightly contracted towards the throat; outer seg-

ments paler on the margins, hardly spreading, as long as the

tube, sub-acute, 5-nerved; inner segments whitish with a

narrow darker 3-nerved median line, slightly spreading,

dorsifixed to the outer segments, sub-obtuse. Filaments

pale yellow, unequal, included ; anthers pale terracotta,

3 mm. long, just exserted. Ovary pale olive-green, 4 mm.

long, 2 mm. diameter, tapering into the pale yellow included

style. — H. B. C.

Plate 699. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, a single flower; 3, median

longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

700

C.Letty del.

Plate 700.

UTRICULARIA livida.

Griqualand East, Pondoland, Natal, Transvaal.

LeNTIBULAKIACE AE .

U TBictiTiARiA Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 987.

Utricularia livida E. Mey. Comm. 281 ; FI. Cap. vol. 4, sect. 2,

p. 425.

On Plate 515 we figured a species of Utricularia belonging

to the aquatic group of the genus. The accompanying

Plate is that of a species belonging to the terrestrial group.

The specimens were collected by Dr. R. A. Dyer on a farm

about 10 miles south-west of Underberg in Natal, in December

1935. Dr. Dyer states that plants were common in marshy

ground or vleis in the area. Plants were growing in soil of

a stiff, clay-like texture, and the delicate nature of the plants

made it difficult to transport fresh material to Pretoria for

figuring. The petioles are extremely delicate, and the leaves

very readily become detached when separating the plants from

the mud.

Description : — Plants very slender, 11-20 cm. high,

unbranched, glabrous, with 2-3 minute scales on the stems.

Leaves at the base of the stems, 1-1*5 cm. long, 2 mm. broad

above, obovate, narrowing into the slender petiole, glabrous,

bearing 1-2 shortly stalked bladders. Flowers purplish,

shortly petioled, 3-5 on each stem. Bracts 2, up to 1*5 mm.

long, linear. Sepals 2, 3-5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, 5-7-

nerved, deeply concave, elliptic-ovate, glabrous. Corolla

2-lipped; upper lip 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad below, 1*75

mm. broad above, somewhat oblong, ciliate, with glandular

hairs on the lower § ; lower lip 10 mm. long, 10 mm. broad

above, more or less obovate, with a palate of 2 raised ridges

each bearing a number of parallel folded plates ; spur 8 mm.

long, 2 mm. diameter above, gradually narrowed below.

Filaments 1*5 mm. long, linear, curved; anthers 1 mm. long.

Gynaecium 2*5 mm. long; ovary 1 mm. diameter; style

short and thick, merging into a flattened stigma 1 mm. broad.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20255.)

Plate 700. — Fig. 1, a single flower in side view; 2, upper lip showing

the 2 stamens; 3, gynaecium and one of sepals; 4, gynaecium; 5, leaf

showing bladders.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

70/

C. J-ettj del.

Plate 701.

ADENIUM Boehmianum.

South- W est Africa.

Apocynaceae. Tribe Echitideae.

Adenium R. & S. ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 722.

Adenium Boehmianum Schinz in Verh. des Bot. Ver. Brand.

vol. 30, p. 259.

This handsome species of Adenium we received from Mr.

R. N. Fuller, the magistrate at Outjo, in South-West Africa,

who had it growing in his garden. Mr. Fuller was good

enough to send the plant to the Division of Plant Industry,

Pretoria, where it flowered in April 1937. Sergeant Krogh,

the local Station Commander at Outjo in charge of the

Police, sent us through Mr. Fuller, an interesting note on the

plant. He writes : “ This plant is found in various parts of

the Outjo district and areas to the north. It is practically

the only plant used by the Heikom Bushmen for poisoning

their arrows for the purpose of killing game. The process of

extracting the poison is as follows : — During winter, after the

plant has flowered, the bulb is dug up and from this the sap

is extracted by pressure. This sap is then boiled in order to

condense it. The Bushmen sometimes add a little water

during the process of boiling. If the poison has been prepared

by a Bushman, it has a black colour, but this is due to charcoal

and ash which happen to get mixed with the poison ; actually

the sap when boiled down to the required thickness is a light-

brown, thick syrup. This syrup is allowed to cool and then

applied to the point of the arrow, just behind the barb.”

The species is related to A. multiflorum (see Plate 16),

but differs in the shape, size, and markings of the flowers.

Description : — Branches 1*5 cm. in diameter, greyish,

covered with dark marking from the old leaf-bases. Leaves

paler beneath, arising from the apex of the branches, 10-12

cm. long, 5-5 cm. broad, falcate, obovate, folded upwards from

the mid-rib which is very prominent beneath, with the

veins parallel and looping up with one another just below the

margins, finely pubescent above and beneath. Flowers in

groups of 3-4 at the apex of the branches. Buds up to 4 cm.

long, cylindric. Bracts at the base of the pedicel 4 mm. long,

ovate, shortly pilose. Pedicel 1-1-2 cm. long, 2 mm. dia-

meter, pubescent. Calyx-lobes 7 mm. long, ovate, sub-obtuse,

pubescent. Corolla-tube 3-5 cm. long, 1 cm. diam., cylindric,

pubescent without, hairy within below the stamens; lobes

2-8 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, obovate, rounded above, glabrous.

Stamens 5 mm. long, with an apical linear hairy appendage

1-5 cm. long. Style 8 mm. long, cylindric; stigma swollen,

with a short apical projection. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 22,848.)

Plate 701. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

102

Plate 702.

BROWNLEEA coerulea.

Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Transvaal.

Orchid ace ae. Tribe Ophrydeae.

Brownleea Harv. ex Lindl. ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 631.

Brownleea coerulea Harv. ex Lindl. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot.

vol. 1, p. 16 (1842).

Through the courtesy of Mr. A. E. Grewcock, forester at

Woodbush, Transvaal, we are enabled to figure for the first

time a species of Brownleea — a characteristic South African

genus of the family. Thirteen species of the genus are

known, of which ten are found in South Africa, and one in

Madagascar. The genus Brownleea was first described in the

year 1842 by Harvey in a paper “ Notes upon Cape Orchi-

daceae,” by Professor Lindley. It was named by Harvey

after the Rev. J. Brownlee, a missionary stationed at King

William’s Town. The type species is the one we figure.

Species of the genus occur from the George district, through

the eastern districts, Natal, Zululand to the mountains of the

eastern Transvaal. B. coerulea has a wide distribution and

has been recorded from the Bathurst, Albany, Stockenstroom,

King William’s Town districts, from Tembuland, Natal and

Zululand, and from the Barberton and Henaertsburg in the

Transvaal. The genus is related to the genus Disa, from

which it differs in having the petals more or less adnate to

the dorsal sepal.

Description : — Tubers not seen. Plant 20 cm. high,

glabrous. Leaves 3, more or less horizontal, 6-8 cm. long,

1-7-3 cm. broad, lanceolate, acute, clasping at the base.

Inflorescence 4-fiowered, about 4 cm. long. Bracts 1 -5-2-5

cm. long, 3-6 mm. broad, lanceolate, acute. Dorsal sepal acute

and recurved at the tip, with a cylindric spur about 2 cm.

long ; spur somewhat globose at the tip. Lateral sepals

1-6 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, sub-elliptic, narrowed at the base

and apex. Lateral petals 1 cm. long, somewhat crenate on the

upper outer margin and adnate to the dorsal sepal. Lip a

small linear structure about 1 mm. long, lying between the

two lobes of the stigma and not at first easily seen. Anther

sacs more or less horizontal ; pollinia free, with a long caudicle

reaching the tip of the rostellum. Rostellum 3-lobed at the

apex, with the centre lobe as an obtuse conical tooth, with a

tuberculate mass on either side near the base. Stigma a

bilobed cushion. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20,151.)

Plate 702. — Pig. 1, flower with petals removed, showing a lateral sepal,

anther sacs and long caudicle of pollinia, and rostellum.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

703

E.Niemeyer del.

Plate 703.

ANSELLIA gigantea var. nilotica.

Transvaal, Zululand, Tropical Africa.

Orchid ace ae. Tribe Vandeae.

Ansellia Lindl. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 537.

Ansellia gigantea Rchb. f. var. nilotica Summerhayes in Kew Bull.

1937, p. 462.

In the Kew Bulletin for the year 1937, pages 461-463,

Mr. V. S. Summerhayes gives a note on the genus Ansellia,

in which he reduces the six described species to two species,

each with a variety. Ansellia gigantea var. nilotica, which

we figure here, was first described as a variety of A. africana

Lindl. by Baker in the year 1875, and a few years later (1886)

raised to specific rank by the late Dr. N. E. Brown. As

recognised by Summerhayes, the variety has a wide range,

extending from Northern Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, through

the eastern parts of tropical Africa to the eastern Transvaal

and Zululand.

On Plate 122 we illustrated the species A. gigantea, from

which the variety differs in having usually larger flowers

with heavier spotting on the sepals. The specimen we figure

here was collected by the late Mr. Eugene Marais at Rooiberg,

in the Waterberg district of the Transvaal. It has been

identified by Mr. Summerhayes as his variety nilotica.

Description : — An epiphytic herb. Leaves 10-20 cm.

long, 1-T5 cm. broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, shortly

mucronate, prominently 3-nerved, with many secondary

nerves, glabrous. Flowers in a lax 7-flowered raceme.

Peduncle about 20 cm. long, terete, bearing a few scattered

scarious ovate obtuse bracts about 5 mm. long. Pedicels

(ovary) up to 4 cm. long. Sepals 2-5-3 cm. long, 9 mm.

broad, oblong-linear, obtuse, 6- veined. Side petals 2-8 cm.

long, 1 cm. broad, lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, about 8-veined.

Lip 2-2 cm. long, 3-lobed; side lobes 1-5 cm. long, -8 cm.

broad, somewhat elliptic, 6- veined; middle lobe 1*1 cm. long,

4-5 mm. broad, spathulate-oblong, with 3 prominent parallel

ridges, with the two outer ridges broadening into short wings

below. Rostellum 1*3 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, linear-oblong,

somewhat curved, deeply channelled in the upper portions,

with a hood at the apex covering a distinct cavity. Pollinia

2 mm. long, 1-25 mm. broad, elliptic. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 14,401.)

Plate 703. — Fig. 1, the 3-lobed lip; 2, rostellum in side view; 3,

rostellum in front view.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

704.

C. Letty del.

Plate 704.

STAPELIA REVOLUTA.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

Stapelta Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. ii. p. 784.

Stapelia revoluta Masson, Stap. 12 t. 10; FI. Cap. vol. 4, sect. 1, p. 980.

The specimen figured was sent to us by Dr. J. LuckhofE

of Cape Town, but without any recorded locality. S. revoluta

appears to be confined to the Clanwilliam district of the Cape

Province, and though the “ Flora Capensis ” cites only two

collectors, the species was well known in old botanical

literature. That may be because Masson’s coloured plate

gave it some prominence. Masson figured it in his Stapelieae

Novae in the year 1796. Eight years later a coloured illustra-

tion appeared in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, the illustration

being made from a plant which flowered in the collection of

Mr. Woodford at Vauxhall in July 1801. A good photograph

of the species appears in White and Sloane’s Stapelieae (vol. 2,

p. 654).

The species is somewhat anomalous in the genus, as the

inner and outer corona-lobes are adnate — a character of the

genus Caralluma.

Description : — Stems up to 30 cm. high, 1-5 cm. diameter,

4-angled, with the faces almost flat or not deeply concave;

teeth about 1 mm. long. Flowers solitary. Pedicel 8 mm.

long, terete. Calyx-lobes 6 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, acute.

Corolla 5-5 cm. diameter, with the disc raised so as to form

a deep depression in which the corona is situated; disc

covered with minute erect hairs; lobes 1-5 cm. long, 1*6 cm.

broad at the base, ovate, acute, hirsute with short hairs,

with vibritile clavate cilia on the margins. Outer corona-

lobes 3 mm. long, 1*75 mm. broad, oblong, shortly 2-lobed at

the apex ; inner corona-lobes 7 mm. long, at first bent over the

anthers and then recurving outwards, senii-terete, flattened

at the apex and with small protuberances on the flattened

portion, with a linear almost horizontal horn 3 mm. long from

the base. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 20,154.)

Plate 704. — Fig. 1, corona, much enlarged.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C. Letfcy del.

Plate 705.

STAPELIA unicornis.

Swaziland.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapeueae.

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

Stapelia unicornis Luckhojf in “ S.A.G.” vol. xxviii, no. 4 (1938).

With the publication in 1937 of the three magnificent

volumes on the Stapelieae by Alain White and Boyd Sloane,

one may have been led to think that the last word had been

written on this group of plants. Yet, as was inevitable, the

ink was not dry, so to speak, before undescribed species were

being brought to light. One of the most remarkable of these

is Stultitia paradoxa Verdoorn, described under Plate 677

(1937). Carl Luckhoff described four in “ S.A.G” vol. 28,

No. 4 (1938). Stapelia unicornis is one of these. At least two

more apparently undescribed species of Stapelieae are known

from the northern Transvaal. It is certain that tropical

parts of Africa, which have not generally been looked upon as

succulent plant country, will yield more novelties in this

interesting group, when botanical exploration is carried out in

greater detail than has been possible up to the present time.

Stapelia unicornis has the appearance of a miniature

S. nobilis N. E. Br. (to be seen on Plate 465), to which species

it is most nearly related. Not only does it differ from this in

size, but also in the structure of the inner corona-lobes, the

dorsal wing of which in S. unicornis is united for its whole

length to the inner horn, whereas in S. nobilis it is free beyond

the middle.

The plant figured here was collected by Mr. D. R. Keith in

1935 in Swaziland, about 10 miles from Stegi, on the slopes of

the Ubombo Hills. Although the material was too poor for

figuring at the time, a description was drawn up. The plant

did remarkably well at the Division of Plant Industry both in

1937 and early 1938, when our illustration was made. In the

meantime, however, Carl Luckhoff had received a flowering

specimen in May 1937 originally collected in Swaziland by

Miss S. Postma. This is the specimen he described in

“ S.A.G.” The flowers produced on Mr. Keith’s plant are

smaller than those described by Luckhoff, but do not differ in

any character of even varietal importance. Regarding the

success attending the cultivation of this species in Pretoria,

it is interesting to note that succulents indigenous in the

Transvaal are usually far more amenable to cultivation here

than those from the other provinces.

Description : — Stems branched from the base, tufted,

13-15 cm. high; branches sub-horizontal at the base with

the major portion sub-erect, about 1*5 cm. thick, 4-angled,

somewhat concave on the sides, softly pubescent, green ;

leaves rudimentary. Floivers 1-3 from towards the base of

the branches, successively developed. Pedicels 6-12 mm.

long, pubescent. Calyx-lobes 5-6 mm. long, lanceolate.

Corolla in bud ovate, acuminate, when open 9 cm. across,

shortly pubescent on the outside, basal part saucer shaped,

covered within with long curved purple hairs which extend

| up the lobes and only a few scattered hairs on the upper

obscurely rugose on the surface, greenish yellow with very

light purple transverse markings except on the tips of the

lobes; lobes about 3-5 cm. long, 2 cm. broad at the base,

ovate-lanceolate, recurving with age, ciliate on the margin

with long hairs, thinly so towards the tips. Outer corona-

lobes ascending-spreading, recurved towards the tip, 5-6 mm.

long, oblong-linear, acuminate, purple-brown; inner corona-

lobes erect, almost completely wing-like with a short erect

hom-like projection from the inner margin. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 23,309.) R. A. Dyer.

Plate 705. — Fig. 1 , staminal column with outer and inner coronas.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

7 06

C.Letty del.

Plate 706.

STAPELIA verrucosa.

Cape Province, Natal ? Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Stapelia verrucosa Masson, Stap. Nov. 11, t. 8; FI. Cap. vol. iv.

sect. 1, p. 987.

Stapelia verrucosa Masson var. pulchra N. E. Br. was

figured in this work in 1932 on Plate 480, and it may be asked

why a very similar form should be reproduced now. In the

text referring to Plate 480 the statement was made that no

exact match of Masson’s type specimen, collected in the Cape

Province over 150 years ago, had been recorded since. The

particular feature mentioned as characterising the type as

distinct from the several varieties commonly found, is five

well-marked channels radiating to the angles of the annulus.

It was the presence of radiating channels between the outer

corona-lobes in the specimen figured here, which first attracted

attention. The depressions on our specimen may not be

absolutely identical with those on Masson’s type, but they are

certainly very similar. Masson figured the type in his classic

work Stapelieae Novae 1796, t. 8. It is obvious that the figure

is somewhat unnatural, since the branches are abnormally

regular in shape, hence too much importance must not be

attached to differences between it and the one here.

Our specimen was brought to the National Herbarium,

Pretoria, by Mr. M. Segel, who in turn had obtained the plant

from Mr. F. Anderson of Johannesburg. On the authority of

the latter it is stated to have been collected at the foot of a

granite koppie near Woodbush in the Pietersburg district,

Transvaal. There seems no reason to doubt the authenticity

of this record, but it must be pointed out that the locality is

considerably farther north than any previously recorded

habitat for the species. Further, this part of the country was

terra incognita to the white man when Masson collected in the

Cape Province, several hundred miles distant. The similarity

between the unusual form collected by Masson and the plant

stated to have originated in the Transvaal is remarkable, and in

view of this it is of importance to have the latter record verified.

Damaged flowers, apparently belonging to a form of this

species, were received from northern Natal, but complete

material was not available. If the presence of the species in

northern Natal should be established, it would be a natural

connecting link with the present record from the Transvaal.

The forms of Stapelia verrucosa are classified under six

varieties by N. E. Brown in FI. Cap. 4, 1 : 1909. Taken as a

whole, they are widely distributed in the eastern Cape

Province and extend into Griqualand West. The commonest

variety is pulchra, but, as has been noted by other workers,

intermediate forms between the varieties exist to complicate

precise identification.

Description : — Densely tufted succulent 5-7 cm. high ;

branches 6-9 mm. thick (excluding the tubercular leaf bases),

obscurely 4-angled, with acute rudimentary leaves on

prominent leaf bases. Flowers usually single from towards

the base of young branches. Pedicels 3—4 cm. long, 2 mm.

thick. Sepals lanceolate, acuminate, 8 mm. long. Corolla

with a united somewhat cup-shaped basal portion 1 cm. from

the base ( ± 7 mm. deep) furnished with a narrow pentagonal

annulus 1-5 mm. high (as measured from the outer margin)

surrounding the staminal column, with 5 radiating channels

between the outer corona-lobes extending to the angles of the

annulus and a few erect hairs round the base of the staminal

column, yellowish-green, spotted with purple red, more

densely so on the annulus, and less so towards the tips of the

lobes; lobes 1 ’8-1*9 cm. long, 1-3-1 -4 cm. across the base.

Outer corona-lobes radiating from the staminal column 1 mm.

above its base, 1-5 mm. long, bifid, with or without a small

tooth in the concave portion, dark purple-red ; inner corona-

lobes incumbent on the backs of the anthers but not equalling

them and furnished with a small thickened hump on the dorsal

side, yellow stained with red. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 23,310.) R. A. Dyer.

Plate 706. — Fig. 1, staminal column with inner and outer coronas.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

707

C-Letty del.

Plate 707.

ALOE LUTESCENS.

Transvaal.

Ltltaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe lutescens Groenewald sp. nov. A. Pienaarii Pole Evans simillima,

sed racemis longioribus et conicis, inflorescentia plerumque tri-ramosa,

et floribus minoribus differt.

Caulis brevis. Folia flavo-viridia, c. 30, dense rosulata, erecta, 40 cm.

longa, basin versus 8 cm. lata, lanceolato-ensiformia, leviter apice recurvata,

ad margines aculeis deltoideis brunneis vel luteis 1-5 mm. longis et 4 mm.

inter se distantibus armata. Inflorescentia 1 m. alta, erecta, infra medium

3-ramosa, ramis arcuato -acuminata in eodem piano verticale, basi bractea

deltoideo-acuminata munitis. Racemi 40 cm. longi, cylindrico-elongati.

Flores deinde lutescentes; alabastra rubra, apice viridia. Bracteae initio

dense imbricatae, c. 15 mm. longae et latae, late ovato-acuminatae, pluri-

nervae. Pedicelli c. 10 mm. longi. Perigonium 30 mm. longum, eylin-

draceum vel trigonum ; segmenta libera, exteriora acuta, interiora obtusa.

Genitalia vix exserta.

Transvaal : Zoutpansberg distr. ; Chipese, June 1937, van der Merwe

in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 23,301.

This aloe resembles Aloe Pienaarii Pole Evans (see Plate

17) in general appearance and in its habit of forming new

plants by division. It differs, however, in its much longer

racemes, which are cylindric, but not conical, and are con-

sistently coloured a bright vermilion when in bud, while the

open flowers are a pale yellow with occasionally a little red

left round the base. Its habit of branching, as in A. Wickensii

(see Plate 41), nearly always consists of a main axis dividing

into three in one vertical plane, whereas the branching of

A. Pienaarii is irregular and the branches usually more than

three in number. The flowers are smaller than those of A.

Pienaarii, though similar in shape. Its claim to specific

rank rests on the above differences.

Aloe lutescens occurs along a wide belt south of the

Limpopo, from the northern Waterberg and Piet Potgieters-

rust districts to many localities in the Zoutpansberg, such as

Mara, Waterpoort, and Chipese. The large clumps of plants

with their yellowish-green leaves, often burnt by the sun to a

straw colour, are quite characteristic and easily distinguishable

from the more variable A. Pienaarii and the non-suckering

dolomite-loving A. Wickensii.

The specimen figured was collected by Dr. F. Z. van der

Merwe at Chipese in the Zoutpansberg district in June 1937.

In that locality it makes a brave show when in flower from the

end of June to the end of August.

Description : — Plant with a short stem 5-50 cm. long, often covered by

dried leaves ; original base often decays in an old plant and lies on its side

on the ground supported by adventitious roots ; leaf-bearing portion of

stem always erect ; plants multiply freely by division, forming colonies.

Leaves a matt yellowish-green, sometimes reddish or straw-coloured where

dried, about 30 in a dense rosette, erect and slightly recurved toward the

apex, 40-50 cm. long, 8 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate-ensiform, slightly

concave above the base, but convex for the rest of its length on the upper

surface, convex beneath, with the margins bearing small yellowish or brown

deltoid spines about 4 mm. apart and 1-5 mm. long. Inflorescence 1—4,

often 3, from each plant, about 1 m. high, erect, divided below the middle

into 3 arcuate-erect branches. Bracts deltoid-acuminate. Racemes up to

40 cm. long, cylindric. Bracts at first imbricate, at first concealing the small

buds, 15 mm. long, about 15 mm. wide, broadly ovate-acuminate, many-

veined. Buds scarlet vermilion with greenish tips when they first emerge

from the bracts. Pedicel about 1 cm. long. Perianth pale yellow, some-

times with scarlet patches around the base, about 3 cm. long, cylindric or

slightly triangular in cross-section ; segments free, equally long ; outer 3

acute; inner 3 obtuse and slightly recurved at the apex. Genitalia just

exserted. Fruit about 2 cm. long, cylindric. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 23,301.)

Plate 707. — Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; 2, a bract; 3, median longi-

tudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

708

C. Letty del.

Plate 708.

ALOE ANGUSTIFOLIA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe angustifolia Groenewald sp. nov. in Sectione Saponariae, A.

transvaalensi Kuntze paullum affinis, sed foliis angustioribus et longissimis

et inflorescentiae habitu differt.

Planta subcaulescens. Folia c. 15-20, patentia, c. 60 cm. longa et 3-5

cm. lata, linearia, ex medio sensim acuminata, supra planiuscula obscure

viridia, saepe purpurascentia, maculis magnis albidis oblongis transverse

fasciatis picta, subtus convexa pallide viridia, vix maculis picta, ad margines

fere rectos dentibus corneis deltoideis apice brunneis c. 5 mm. longis et

circiter 14 mm. inter se armata, succum purpurascentem in contusionibus

exsudanta. Inflorescentia circiter 1 m. alta; scapus supra medium 10-12-

ramosus, ramis arcuato-erectis terminali paullum brevioribus, ad basin

bracteis acuminatis 6 cm. longis et 2 cm. latis, dentibus armatis, suffultis.

Racemi laxi, 7-20 cm. longi; bracteae scariosae, circiter 1 cm. longae,

acuminatae ; pedicelli circiter 1 cm. longi. Perigonium 30 cm. longum, basi

valde globoso-inflatum, 7-8 mm. latum, deinde constrictum ad c. 4 mm.

paene curvatum, denique ad 7 mm. ampliatum et faucem versus ad 9 mm.,

pallide rubrum; segmenta per § connata, lineis rubris faucem versus

brunneis- viridibus picta. Filamenta brevissime exserta.

Transvaal : — Leysdorp distr., near Gravelotte, April 1936, F. Z. van

der Merwe in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 21,288.

Aloe angustifolia occurs in clayey soil among grass in

openings among acacia and other trees of the low veld near

Leydsdorp. It forms large suckering groups, and flowers in

February and March. The species belongs to the maculate

group ( Saponariae ) and is related to A. transvaalensis Kuntze

in its suckering habit, its time of flowering, and the lax racemes,

but differs in the unusual length and narrowness of the leaves,

even when growing in a dry and exposed habitat. The side

axes of the inflorescence are more erect than those of A.

transvaalensis which gives the impression of a more congested

inflorescence; the flowers are also wider and less curved.

The leaves spread outward toward the ground and, on account

of their length and pliability, are often twisted about, giving

them a snake-like appearance which is added to by the peculiar

markings. The sap in the leaf turns a deep purple on exposure

to the air.

Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by

Dr. F. Z. van der Merwe in April 1936.

Description : — Stem short with a rosette of 15-20 leaves. Leaves up

to 60 cm. long or more, about 3-5 cm. broad at the base, about 5 mm. thick

at the base, linear, tapering above, with the apex not usually dry, dark green

and often shading into purplish-brown on the upper surface, with distinct

whitish oval spots about 12 x 3 mm. often arranged in transverse bands,

paler green with corresponding but less distinct markings on the under

surface, armed on the margins with small spines about 3 mm. long and about

14 mm. apart, usually at right angles to the margin. Inflorescence about

1 m. high. Peduncle about 2-5 cm. diameter, terete, branched slightly

above the middle, with the 10-12 branches arising at an angle of 40° to the

main peduncle and somewhat curved ; secondary branches few. Bract

about 6 mm. long, 2 cm. broad at the base, acuminate, with numerous

brownish veins, with small spines along the margins and at apex. Raceme

lax, somewhat cylindric, 7-20 cm. long. Bracts membranous, 1 cm. or less

long. Pedicel about 1 cm. long. Perianth pale pinkish-red, with marked

red lines along the middle of the segments, turning brownish-green at the

tips, 30 mm. long, globose and 7-8 mm. diameter at the base, then con-

stricted to 4 mm. diameter and gradually widening to 7-9 mm. at the mouth ;

segments free for 1 cm. Anthers bright orange, slightly exserted. Fruit

3 cm. long, 1 cm. diameter, cylindric, not distinctly lobed.

Plate 708. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, median longitudinal section

of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C.Letty del.

Plate 709.

ALOE DICHOTOMA.

Cape Province, Namaqualand, S.-IV. Africa .

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe dichotoma Linn. fil. Suppl. 206 ; FI. Cap. vol. vi. p. 325.

Abe dichotoma is the well-known “ Kokerboom,” so called

because the Bushmen made quivers from the thick branches.

In its native habitat it is a conspicuous and characteristic

feature of the landscape, and has given the name to a botanical

area called the “ Kokerboom veld.” This tree aloe may grow

to a height of 40 ft., though usually it is from 15 to 25 ft. high.

At the Aughrabies Falls on the Orange River in the Kenhardt

district, a specimen with a stem circumference of 12 ft.,

breast high, was met with. Like most South African species

of Abe, it flowers during the winter months. The flowers

produce a quantity of nectar and when the trees are in flower,

birds and bees swarm on the inflorescences. The epithet

“ dichotoma ” is given as the branches divide in a character-

istic manner. Our plate was prepared from specimens

collected by Dr. F. Z. van der Merwe, near Keetmanshoop,

South-West Africa, in July 1937. Dr. van der Merwe states

that the plants grow chiefly on stony hillsides and hilltops,

often in large colonies, though many isolated specimens occur

on level ground. The inflorescence most often consists of

three equal racemes but scapes of two racemes are frequent.

The reddish-brown leaves often prevent the beautiful racemes

of lemon-yellow flowers from making much of a show at a

distance, but from near by the attractive blossoms have a

definite sheen, comparable with that of the flowers of Nerine

sarniensis. The great scarcity of small plants, even in

remote localities, seems to point to a great age for the large

plants : probably of all seeds shed every year, only a very

few germinate and are able successfully to establish them-

selves in favourable seasons. Small plants have the leaves

arranged in four vertical rows, but on large trees the leaves

occur as terminal tufts on the branchlets. The bulky stems,

covered with tortoiseshell-like scales on the bark, together

with the typical dichotomous division of the bare branches,

make this aloe an unforgettable feature of many an other-

wise barren landscape.

Description : — A tree with a distinct trunk. Branches

dichotomously divided. Leaves in rosettes at the end of the

branches, up to 30 cm. long, 3-5-4 cm. broad at the base, linear-

lanceolate, acute, clasping the branches at the base, with the

margins armed with a toothed cartilaginous band, glabrous.

Peduncle about 5 cm. from the base to base of the raceme.

Racemes 17 cm. long, about 9 cm. diameter. Bracts 5 mm.

long, narrowly acuminate. Pedicels 10-12 mm. long. Perianth

lemon-yellow, 3-5 cm. long, somewhat cylindric-trigonous and

ventricose, stipitate at the base, rather rough to the touch;

outer segments connate into a tube almost to the middle,

many-nerved throughout, with the nerves greenish and

rather raised; inner segments with thin white margins, about

5-nerved, with the nerves rather raised and forming a broad

keel. Anthers 5 mm. long; the 3 inner and 3 outer in turn

exserted 6 mm. Ovary 8 mm. long, 4 mm. diameter, rather

3-angled; stigma exserted 8 mm. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 23,271.)

Plate 709. — Fig. 1. plant, much reduced; 2, cross-section of leaf; 3,

median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

7JO

C. Letty del.

Plate 710.

ALOE HLANGAPIES.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.

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

Aloe hlangapies Groenewald Tydskrif vir Wetenskap en Kuns,

Jan. 1936, p. 60.

In the original description mentioned above, the name of

this Aloe was spelled hlangapies; this was subsequently

changed by the author in the same publication (April 1936,

p. 140) to hlangapitis, and eventually to hlangapensis (April

1937, p. 132).1

The specimen figured was collected by Dr. F. Z. van der

Merwe at Hlangapies in the Piet Retief district of the Trans-

vaal. Dr. van der Merwe states that the species has a wide

distribution in the Piet Retief district, though it is gradually

disappearing from the black “ turf ” valleys before cultivation

and the plough. It is still plentiful on certain hillsides and

along streams, although the plants do not reach the same

perfection as they do in the valleys. It is a showy aloe with

bright, apricot-coloured racemes, and a field of blooms is

often interspersed with bright red heads of Aloe Marshallii.

In the west the species appears to cross extensively with a

red form of A. Ecklonis (see Plate 609), which is its nearest ally,

but differs in being distichous, with much smaller spines along

its leaf-margins, and in having large and more handsome

flowers. A. hlangapies is more distantly related to A.

Kraussii (see Plate 635) which, however, has smaller and duller

flowers and usually narrower leaves.

Description : — Caulescent, frequently duplicating itself

by suckering. Leaves 10-15, nearly always distichous, with

small white oval spots at the base on the under-surface, about

1 According to the International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature the

original name given to this species (A. hlangapies) should be accepted.

— J. H.

20 cm. long, up to 5 cm. broad, acuminate, with parallel

margins armed with fine spines which may be sometimes

abortive or absent. Peduncle sometimes more than one to a

plant, about 35 cm. long, 1 cm. diameter, terete. Bracts

borne on the upper part of the peduncle especially, 12 mm.

long, ovate, acuminate. Raceme containing up to 60 flowers,

short, dense, capitate. Bracts green, scarious on the mar-

gins, ovate-deltoid, many-veined. Pedicel 3-3-5 cm. long.

Perianth bright apricot-yellow, green at the tip and segments

with typical whitish margins above, about 3 cm. long, 8 mm.

diameter, sub-terete in cross-section ; segments free, with the

3 inner slightly longer than the 3 outer. Stamens slightly

exserted. Ovary 3-5 cm. long, 1-5 cm. diameter. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 22,702.)

Plate 710. — Fig. 1, plant, much reduced ; 2, bud ; 3, median longitudinal

section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

r//

C.Letty del.

Plate 711.

COTYLEDON mtjcronata.

Cape Province.

CkASSTJLACE AE .

Cotyledon Linn.; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 659.

Cotyledon mucronata Lam. Did. vol. ii. p. 142.

The species of Cotyledon figured on the accompanying

Plate is one of a number cited in the “ Flora Capensis ” as

imperfectly known and doubtful species. It was identified

by Mr. C. A. Smith, B.Sc., and the name subsequently veri-

fied at Kew. The specimens figured were grown at the

Division of Veterinary Services, Onderstepoort, near Pretoria.

They were originally collected by Dr. D. G. Steyn on the

farm “ Skilpadbeen ” in the Willowmore district of the Cape

Province. Dr. Steyn reports that he found the plants

growing on top of the mountains in rugged country and in

gravelly or stony ground. They were common in that locality.

Description : — A succulent plant, laxly branched and

leafy towards the apices of the branches. Leaves hard, dark

green with a waxy bloom, very fleshy, thickest at the sessile

base, opposite and decussate, 7-9-5 cm. long, 6-5-7-5 cm.

broad above, obovate, with an indexed rigid mucro, some-

what cuneate at the base, with the margins on the upper

portion undulate, glabrous. Peduncle (including the inflores-

cence) 30 cm. long. Flowers loosely panicled, pendulous.

Pedicels 1-4 cm. long. Calyx-lobes 5 mm. long, 5 mm. broad at

the base, subtriangular, acute. Perianth coral-red with a

white, waxy bloom on the outer surface, brighter within ; tube

cylindric, 1-8 cm. long, 1 cm. diameter; lobes 1-5 cm. long,

oblong-oblique, curved to one side at the apex, reflexed.

Filaments whitish ; anthers yellow. Ovaries and styles green.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 10845.)

Plate 711. — Fig. 1, median longitudinal Bection of a flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C. Letty del.

Plate 712.

AMMOCHARIS coranica.

Cape Province, Orange Free State, Basutoland, Transvaal.

Amaeyllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.

Ammocharis Herb. ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 727.

Ammocharis coranica (Ker Gawl.) Herb. App. 17 (1821).

The specimen of Ammocharis coranica illustrated was

collected by Mr. A. O. D. Mogg, M.A., on the farm

“ Welgevonden ” in the Brits area of the Transvaal in Decem-

ber 1934. The species has a fairly wide range of distribution

from the Transkei to the north-western portion of the Cape

Province, and extends to the northern Transvaal. In the

Lydenburg district of the Transvaal, the species is known by

the Bakone tribe as Imbote. Mr. W. G. Barnard, who is sta-

tioned in Sekukuniland in the district of Lydenburg, contributes

the following information : “ The bulb grows along old river-

beds and old lands, and bears a head of beautiful red flowers.

The Swazi people take the outside layers of the bulb and

partially burn them. The charred portions are then chewed

until a sort of pitch is formed, and the pitch-like substance is

used to make the headring of the chiefs and head-men. The

ring itself is also named Imbote. When the rings are being

made the whole adult population of a village goes into the

veld and with great ceremonial make the rings in a single day.”

Description : — Bulb 25 cm. long, 16 cm. diameter,

produced into a neck about 4 cm. long, covered with numerous

large dark-brown or almost black somewhat elastic scales.

Roots up to 8 mm. diameter, cylindric. Leaves up to 14,

lying flat on the ground, 12-34 cm. long, 2-5-6*5 cm. broad,

strap-shaped, obtuse, with short cartilaginous processes on

the margins, glabrous. Inflorescence a many-flowered (30-40)

umbel. Peduncle arising from the side, 13 cm. long, 2-5 cm.

broad, flat on one side, slightly concave on the other.

Involucral bracts 2, membranous, 6 cm. long, 2 cm. broad at

the base. Pedicels 3-5-5 cm. long, semiterete, glabrous.

Perianth-tube 1 cm. long, 4 mm. diameter ; lobes 3-5 cm. long,

7 mm. broad, oblong, with the 3 outer lobes hooded and with

a small process on the inner face below the hood. Stamens

adnate to the perianth-tube and then free at the top of the

tube ; each stamen comes away attached to a perianth-lobe ;

filaments red, whitish at the tip, 1-8 cm. long; anthers 6 mm.

long, versatile. Ovary 3-chambered, with many ovules in

each chamber; style reddish, 4-5 cm. long; stigma simple.

Seeds 1-1-3 cm. diameter, subglobose or bluntly angled,

germinating while still in the capsule. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No 19648.)

Plate 712. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced ; 2, median longitudinal section

of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

773

CLetty del.

Plate 713.

EUPHORBIA PERSISTENS.

Portuguese East Africa.

Euphorbiaceae. Tribe Euphorbieae.

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

Euphorbia persistens R. A. Dyer, sp. nov., affinis E. clavigerae

N. E. Br. ramis glaucis crassioribus plerumque 4-angulatis intervallis seg-

mentis constrictis differt.

Planta succulenta, perennis, armata. Radix tuberosa caudice continuata

usque 30 cm. longa, apicem versus 2-15 cm. crassa, basin versus angustata,

radicibus tenuibus paucis instructa. Caulis brevissimus, crassus, leviter

ramosus, tuberculatus. Rami pauci vel plurimi caudicis apice editi, 3-5-

plerumque 4-angulati, 10-20 cm. longi, juniores 1-1-5 cm. crassi, maiores

2-3 cm. intervallis segmentis constricti, basi angustati, glauci, podariis

corneis haud confluentibus 2-aculeatis ; segmenta circiter 1-2 cm. longa, basi

7-10 mm., supeme 2-3 cm. crassa; anguli recti vel rariter leviter torti.

Aculei usque T5 cm. longi, ad ramorum constrictiones minimi. Cyma

singula pedunculata, tribus cyathiis; pedunculi 3-10 mm. longi, crassi,

apice 2-bracteis basin versus ciliatis superne minute dentatis induti. Cyathium

primum masculinum, 2 bisexualia. Involucrum[ usque 7 mm. diam., glabrum,

lobis 5 parvis ciliatis et glandulis transverse oblongis integris luteis munitum.

Ovarium glabrum, sessile; styli 4-5 mm. longi, basin versus 1 mm. connati,

apice bifidi, granulati. Capsula circiter 1 cm. diam., sessilis, obtuse tri-

lobata ; semina suborbiculata.

Portuguese East Aerica : Near main road to Lorenco Marques east of

Ressano Garcia, in rock fissures, van der Merwe in Nat. Herb., Pretoria,

23395 (type) ; Obermeijer in Transvaal Museum, 37557 ; Reynolds in Nat.

Herb., Pretoria, 24163.

Euphorbia persistens shows a marked similarity to the

widely known species E. Schinzii (Plate 523) and some of

its allies. It differs materially from E. Schinzii in the pre-

sence of a tuberous root, which increases greatly in size with

age, and also in the segmented branches and cymes. It is

more closely allied to E. clavigera N. E. Br., E. tortirama R. A.

Dyer (Plate 644) and E. Groenewaldii R. A. Dyer (Plate 714 in

this part). From all three it is readily distinguished ; from the

first by the segmented branches, and from the others by the

straight or only very slightly twisted branches. The glaucous

appearance of the young growth is more pronounced than in

any of the related species. When the branches die they

become hard and brittle and persist attached to the stem for a

considerable period, for which reason the name given was

chosen. The name is also appropriate in that the plant

evidently has a very long life, judging by the appearance of the

adult specimens. xAn examination of the drawings reveals a

further unusual feature in the granulated appearance of the

mature stigmas. The connective tissue of the ovary wall is

much swollen, enclosing the apex of the ovules, which occupy

little more than half of the ovary chambers.

Specimens of E. persistens were brought to the National

Herbarium by three collectors independently within a short

period during 1936, all discovered in Portuguese East Africa

not many miles from Komati Poort on the eastern border of

the Transvaal. One of these specimens collected by Dr. F.

van der Merwe flowered at the National Herbarium, Pretoria,

in December 1937, at which time our figure was made. Owing

to the large size of the adult plant, only a stem-like branch

(natural size) and a cyme (enlarged) were reproduced in

colour.

Description : — A dwarf, spiny, succulent plant with the

main stem and root forming a large tuberous body, mostly

below ground, up to 30 cm. long and 15 cm. thick. Main stem

unbranched or bearing one or several short stem-like branches,

all of which produce a few to many flowering branches from

the apex. Flowering branches 3-5- but usually 4-angled,

10-20 cm. long, drying hard with age, in young stage 1-1-5 cm.

thick without constrictions, older branches constricted at

irregular intervals; segments 7-10 mm. thick at the base,

increasing to 2-3 cm. thick towards the next constriction,

seasonal growth on adjacent plants being variable; branches

glaucous green when young, faintly fighter green marked;

angles straight, rarely somewhat twisted, armed with paired

spines; sides channelled. Spines largest on the broadest

portions of the segments up to 1-5 cm. long, moderately stout,

fight brown, often with a dark reddish-brown tip, with a pair

of minute prickles at the base and one on either side of the

fertile flowering eyes ; spine shields interrupted, touching the

lower margin of the flowering eye but not produced beyond it.

Cymes single from a flowering eye, one or more near the apex

of the branches, 3 cyathia each, the first male, the lateral

ones bisexual in the ad- and ab-axial positions; peduncles

3-10 mm. long, stout, bibracteate ; bracts united at the base,

ciliate towards the base, minutely toothed towards the apex.

Involucre cup-shaped, about 7 mm. diam. including glands,

glabrous, with 5 glands and 5 small subquadrate or broadly

ovate ciliate lobes ; glands transversely oblong, 3-3*5 mm. in

their greater diam., yellow. Ovary sessile, the connective

tissue swollen and encasing the apex of the ovules; styles

4*5 mm. total length, united into a 1 mm. column at the base ;

stigmas bifid having a granulated appearance on maturity.

Capsule about 1 cm. diam., obtusely 3-lobed, seeds subglobose.

— It. A. Dyer.

Plate 713. — Fig. 1, gynoecium with granulated styles; 2, ovary with

one ovule exposed showing swollen connective tissue.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

7/4

C.Letty del.

Plate 714.

EUPHORBIA Groenewaldii.

Transvaal.

Euphorbiaceae . Tribe Euphorbieae.

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

Euphorbia Groenewaldii R. A. Dyer, sp. nov., affinis E. tortiramae

R. A. Dyer, ramis paucioribus brevioribusque haud constrictis ramorum

tubercubs prominentioribus distinguitur.

Planta succulenta, perennis, armata. Radix tuberosa caudice con-

tinuata, usque 18 cm. longa et 4-7 cm. crassa, medio latissima basin versus

angustata, radicibus tenuibus paucis instructa. Rami 3-7 caudicis apice

editi, 3-angulati, 2-5-7 cm. longi, 1-25-2 cm. crassi, tuberculis exclusis,

spiraliter torti, prominente tuberculati, basi breviter stipitati, angulis plus

minusve compressis, tuberculis 0-5-1 cm. prominentibus, podariis corneis

haud confluentibus 2-aculeatis. Aculei tenues, 0-3-1 cm. longi. Cyma

tribus cyatheis (rariter 4-5) breviter pedunculata; pedunculi 4-10 mm.

longi, robusti. Cyathium primum masculinum vel bisexualium, sessile,

2 (rariter 3-4) bisexualia, pedicellata. Involucrum 5-7 mm. diam. glabrum,

lobis 5 parvis fimbriatis et 5 glandulis transverse oblongis integris 3 mm.

latis intergris viridis munitum. Ovarium glabrum, sessile; styli 3 mm.

longi fere ad medium connati, apice bifidi. Capsula 8 mm. diam., sessilis,

partim involucro exserta, obtuse trilobata ; semina suborbiculata.

Transvaal : — Petersburg district ; stony hillside near Petersburg,

May 1936, van der Merwe in Nat. Herb., Pretoria, 23398 ; Nov. 1936, Groene-

wald in Nat. Herb., Pretoria, 23397 (type) ; Gravel ridges in Sand River

valley, June 1937, Kirsten, photograph.

This new species of Euphorbia from the northern Transvaal

is readily distinguished from all its close allies, mainly by the

very prominent tubercular projections from the angles of

the spirally twisted branches. The most closely related

species is E. tortirama R. A. Dyer (Plate 644), but this is more

robust generally, and, in addition to the differences noted in

the Latin diagnosis, the main stem is not markedly contracted

to the apex, as is the case with E. Groenewaldii. The main

body of the plant is a subterranean tuberous structure com-

posed of both stem and root tissue. The transitional zone

between the two organs is distinguished only by careful

observation. The main stem of E. Groenewaldii rarely, if

ever, divides under normal conditions, but may do so as a

result of injury. In this event tufts of three or four branches

are produced from each of the growing points of the stem.

The cymes consist usually of 3 cyathia, but up to 5 have

been observed. The first cyathium, which in most related

species bears only stamens (male flowers), in this species

often has a normal ovary. It may be remembered that in

the case of E. V andermerwei (Plate 660) the inflorescence is

reduced to a single bisexual cyathium.

Euphorbia Groenewaldii bears the name of the collector

who forwarded the flowering and fruiting material from which

our drawing was made. Mr. B. H. Groenewald is better

known for his work on the genus Aloe, several of his species

having been illustrated in this work.

Description : — A dwarf, spiny, succulent plant with the main stem and

root forming a large subterranean tuberous body. Root up to about 18 cm.

long and 7 cm. thick, usually unbranched, terminating in a tap root and

also giving rise to secondary roots, some of which grow near the surface

of the soil. Stem crowning the root and distinguished from it by horizontally

extended impressions from which old branches have fallen, producing from

its narrowed apex 3-7 branches. Branches 2-5-7 cm. long, 1-25-2 cm. thick

(excluding the tubercular projections) not constricted at intervals, 3-angled,

spirally twisted in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, simple or occasion-

ally with 1-2 lateral branches from near the base, bluish-green, occasionally

with lighter green marking; angles more or less compressed, and owing to

the twist, slightly folded upwards ; tubercles 0-5-1 cm. prominent, slender,

with a pair of spines and a rudimentary leaf at the apex. Spines slender, 3-10

mm. long, separate or somewhat united at the base and with or without a

pair of minute prickles at their base ; spine-shields discontinuous, triangular

above the base of the spines or extending to the flowering eye. Cymes few,

on old and young branches, one from each eye consisting of 3 (rarely twice-

branched giving 4-5 cyathia) ; the first cyathium male or bisexual, the others

bisexual, produced in the ad- and ab-axial positions; peduncles 4—10 mm.

long, stout. Involucre cup-shaped, 5-7 mm. diam., with 5 glands and 5

small fringed lobes ; glands contiguous, transversly oblong, about 3 mm. in

their greater diam., obtusely triangular; ovule attached to a swollen

connective without a hood-like flap ; styles 3 mm. long, united for half their

length, bifid at the apex. Capsule 8 mm. diam, obtusely triangular, sessile ;

seed subglobose. — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 714. — Fig. 1, young cyme; 2, two involucre glands and fimbriate

lobe; 3, stamen (male flower) with lacerate membrane from within the

involucre ; 4, gynoecium (female flower).

F.P.S.A., 1938.

7/5

Plate 715.

EUPHORBIA ZOUTPANSBERGENSIS.

Transvaal.

Euthorbiaceae. Tribe Etxphorbieae.

Euphorbia L. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 258.

Euphorbia zoutpansbergensis R. A. Dyer, sp. nov., ab omnibus

africani australis valde distincta.

Frutex vel arbor usque 5 m. alta, succulenta spinosa, aphylla, trunco

teretiusculo ramis numerosis patenti-ascendentibus. Rami simplices vel

perrariter apicem versus ramosi, segmentis plus minusve 5-10 cm. longis

2-3-5 cm. crassis constricti, 6- rariter 5-7-angulati, inter angulos acute

sulcati ; anguli multo compressi, podariis corneis griseis confluentibus aculeis

plus minusve 1 cm. longis sed ad ramorum constrictos minoribus instructi.

Cymae 1-3 supra aculeos breviter pedunculatae, 3 cyathia ; pedunculus

bibracteatus ; bracteae ovato-rotundatae concavae. Cyathium primum

masculinum deciduum ; cyathia bisexualia breviter pedunculata. In-

volucrum circiter 6 mm. diam., glabrum, 5 lobis ovatis fimbriatis et glandulis

transverse oblongis 3-4 mm. latis integris contiguis flavis munitum. Ovarium

stipitatum, glabrum; styli in columnam connati, apice bifidi. Capsula

trilobata, usque 1 cm. lata, stipite usque 6 mm. longo ; semina globosa vel

subglobosa.

Transvaal : — Zoutpansberg district, on rocky slope at southern entrance

to Wylies Poort, Sept., van der Merwe in Nat. Herb., Pretoria, 23394, Dyer

in Nat. Herb., Pretoria, 23393 (type).

There appears to be no very closely allied species to E.

zoutpansbergensis in South Africa, and its nearest affinity is

probably farther north. But in the absence of a represen-

tative collection of specimens from Tropical Africa for com-

parison, it is unwise to speculate on this point. It is not

unlike E. Cooperi N. E. Br. (Plate 157) in habit, with its

crown of unbranched, segmented branches. It differs very

markedly in detail, however, in the size of the branches, the

shape and number of the angles of the segments and, among

other things, in the ovary being exserted on a comparatively

long stalk.

As is the case with most species of Euphorbia with angular

branches, the number of angles is not constant. Whereas

branches were found with either 5, 6 or 7 angles, the usual

number was 6. The number of cymes at each flowering eye

varies from 1 to 3. On the young branches there are gland-

like swellings on either side of the flowering eye, through

which the two lateral cymes grow. Above the spine pairs

are two other gland-like swellings which, in other species,

such as E. Cooperi, are represented by a pair of prickles.

The gland-like swellings become less conspicuous with age,

and are eventually hardly distinguishable from the continuous

horny margin. Only in very rare instances is the horny

margin interrupted along the angles. The styles are united

into a stout column for most of their length and, owing to

the bifid nature of their apices, give a false impression of six

short styles. A further point of interest was noted in the

young fruit. Above the swollen area of attachment of the

ovule is a small fringed hood, a feature not observed in other

species.

Euphorbia zoutpansbergensis is another of the new species

brought to our notice by Dr. F. van der Merwe. It was,

however, due to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. van der Vyver in

September 1937 that flowering specimens were first received

at the National Herbarium, Pretoria. These were collected

in the only known locality — namely, a few miles north of

Louis Trichardt on the steep rocky slope at the entrance to

Wylies Poort in the Zoutpansberg range. The writer visited

the site three weeks later in the company of Dr. van der

Merwe and Air. and Mrs. van der Vyver. The plants are not

readily detected in the low bush growth where they grow in

association with Euphorbia Cooperi N. E. Br. and Aloe

angelica Pole Evans.

Description : — Succulent shrub or small tree up to about

5 m. high, crowned by a number of spreading-ascending

branches. Branches reaching 1-5 m. in length, usually un-

branched, occasionally a branchlet produced towards the end

of an old branch, constricted at intervals into segments;

segments 5-10 cm. long, 2-3-5 cm. across the angles, with a

central solid portion about 1-2 cm. thick, 5-7- usually 6-

angled ; angles narrow, wing-like with a continuous horny mar-

gin, very rarely with the horny margin interrupted, armed with

pairs of spines. Spine-pairs 1-1*7 apart, fairly stout and very

sharp, 1 cm. long, reduced on the constricted areas of the

stems. Cymes 1-3 at each flowering eye, each cyme with 3

cyathia; the central cyathium usually male and the two

lateral ones bisexual. Involucre 5-6 mm. diam., with 5

fimbriate lobes and 5 transversely oblong glands; glands

3-4 mm. wide. Ovary on a pedicel up to 6 mm. long exserted

from the cyathium, there is a small fringed hood above the

swollen tissue of attachment of the ovary ; styles 1 mm. long,

united into a stout column for nearly their whole length,

bifid at the apex giving the erroneous impression of 6 short

styles. Capsule 1 cm. diam., triangular; seed globose. —

R. A. Dyer.

Plate 715. — Fig. 1, horny margin of stem- angle showing paired spines

and glandular swellings; 2, young cyme; 3, developing inflorescence,

ovaries on pedicels ; 4, cyathium showing columnar styles ; 5, half mature

capsule ; 6, transverse section of ovary ; 7, half mature capsule showing

hood above swollen tissue of attachment of ovule ; 8, transverse section of

branch.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

776

C.Letty del

Plate 716.

EUPHORBIA PERANGUSTA.

Transvaal.

Euphorbiaceae . Tribe Euphorbieae.

Euphorbia L. ; Benth. et Hook. fil. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 258.

Euphorbia perangusta R. A. Dyer, sp. nov., affinis E. Knobelii

Letty, ramis simplicibus rariter ramosis intervallis conspicue constrictis

angufis angustioribus podariis corneis confluentibus involucris minoribus

differt.

Planta succulenta, armata, basi multe ramosa, usque 1 m. alta. Rami

plurimi, ascendentes, haud vel rariter ramosi, 5-7-angulati, intervallis

constricti; segmenta 1-5-9 cm. longa (plerumque circiter 5 cm.) basin versus

latissima usque 5 cm. diam., viridia et transverse dilute viridi-lineata ;

anguli angusti, podariis corneis confluentibus 2-aculeatis induti. Aculei

usque 1-3 cm. longi vel ad ramorum constrictiones minuti. Cymae 1-3,

breviter pedunculatae, tribus cyathiis; pedunculus bibracteatus ; bracteae

obtusae apice dentatae ; cyathium primum masculinum deciduum, cyatbia

lateralia bisexualia breviter pedunculata. Involucrum plus minusve 3 mm.

diam., glabrum, lobis 5 parvis fimbriatis et glandulis 5 transverse oblongis

1-5 mm. latis integris luteis munitum. Ovarium subconicum, pedicello

6-7 mm. longo recurvo exsertum, glabrum, triangulatum ; styli 1-5 mm.

longi, basin versus connati, apice bifidi.

Transvaal : — Marico district; on farm “ Koedoesrand,” 50 miles north

of Zeerust, Oct. 1937, Louw in Nat. Herb., Pretoria, 23399.

The species dealt with here is most nearly related to

Euphorbia Knobelii Letty, which was described for the first

time in 1934 under Plate 521 of this work. Both species

occur in the western Transvaal, and have in common a similar

habit and inflorescence. But they differ in several details.

The branches of E. perangusta rarely show secondary

branching above ground ; the branch segments differ in shape

and coloration, and in the number of angles and their thickness.

There is little possibility of confusion with E. Knobelii pro-

viding adequate material is available for examination.

The honour of discovery of the species under review goes

to Mr. W. J. Louw. Although it was known to him several

years ago, it was not until October 1937 that he was able

to collect suitable material for description and figuring.

He writes as follows : “I collected this plant on the farm

‘ Koedoesrand,’ Marico district, about 50 miles north of

Zeerust. There were only a few plants growing together,

and in spite of my searching in the neighbourhood for miles

around, I was unable to find any more. About 15 miles north,

there occurs what I take to be the same species. The

‘ Koedoesrand ’ species does not seem to increase, yet whilst

in flower, these plants were being visited by thousands of

‘ bluebottle ’ and other species of flies, so that there seems

no lack of pollinating agents. It grows on the southern

slope of a hill in sandstone, and is very difficult to remove.

The stems are very densely crowded, emerging from a common

rootstock; they crawl on the surface until the outer edge

of the clump is reached, and then turn erect. In some plants

the stems are mostly 5- and 6-angled, while in others they are

6- and 7-angled. Occasionally a slightly spiral stem may be

found, but almost invariably the angles are straight.”

Description : — A spiny succulent plant up to about 1 m. high ; main

stem much abbreviated, mostly underground, giving rise to a few or several

short stem-like branches from the apices of which are produced numerous

flowering branches. Flowering branches constricted at intervals, simple or

very occasionally branched, 5-7 angled, green with light green bands radiating

from the centre; segment 1-5-9 cm., usually about 5 cm. long, broadest

towards the base, up to 5 cm. broad, with a central solid core 1—1 -3 cm.

thick; angles wing-like, thin, armed with paired spines attached to a con-

tinuous horny margin (horny margin rarely interrupted). Spines up to 1-3

cm. long on the broadest part of the segments, much reduced on the con-

stricted portion. Cymes 1-3 together at each eye, each cyme consisting

of 3 cyathia, the first male and the other two bisexual. Involucre cup-shaped,

about 3 mm. diam., with 5 glands and 5 subquadrate fimbriate lobes ; glands

about 1-5 mm. in their greater diam., transversely oblong, yellow. Ovary

triangular subconical, exserted on a recurved pedicel 6-7 mm. long ; styles

1-5 mm. long, united at the base, bifid at the apex; ovule with its apex

somewhat enclosed in the enlarged attachment tissue. — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 716. — Fig. 1, cyme showing ovaries exserted on long recurved

pedicels ; 2, cross section of branch showing particularly thin wing-like angles.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

7/7

Plate 717.

TAPELIA TAKANTULOIDES.

Southern Rhodesia.

Asclepladaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.

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

Stapelia tarantuloid.es R. A. Dyer, sp. nov., affirm 8. Schinzii

Berger, corollae tubo pilis longis rectis induto coronae exterioris lobis

irregulariter dentatis coronae interioris loborum cornu interiore ala dorsale

angusta longiore distinguitur.

Planta succulenta usque 15 cm. alta. Rami 10-15 cm. longi, 4-angulati,

1-1*5 cm. diam., minute pubescentes; anguli foliis subulatis suberectis

muniti. Flores 1-3 alabastro ovato-lanceolato acuminato ad ramorum

medium vel basin versus emittentes ; pedicelli plus minusve 2-5 cm. longi.

Sepala 1-1-2 cm. longa, lineari-lanceolata. Corolla usque 15 cm. diam.,

basin versus subtubulosa, extra minutissime pubescens, intra leviter rugosa,

tubo pilis usque 1 cm. longis rectis atropurpureis indunto ; lobi 6-5-7 cm.

longi, basi 1-7-2 cm. lati, anguste lanceolati, acuminati, extra 3-purpureo-

lineati, intra minutissime papillosi, purpureo-brunei, intra rugos angus-

tissime viridi-lineati, pilis usque 1-2 cm. longis vibritilis leviter clavatis

ciliati. Coronae exterioris lobi plus minusve 3-5 mm. longi, oblongi, apice

plerumque irregulariter 3-dentati, basin versus subcanaliculati, purpureo-

brunei ; coronae interioris loborum cornu interiore gracile, 6-7 mm. longum,

superne recurvatum ala exteriori angusta longiore.

Southern Rhodesia : — Gwanda district, near Mwewe River in the

Matopo Hills, Thompson in Nat. Herb., Pretoria, 24162.

The nearest affinity of Stapelia tarantuloides is S. Schinzii

Berger, a striking species illustrated on Plate 457. Both

are related to S. Pillansii N. E. Br., and together these three

species comprise a natural group characterised by long

slender corolla-lobes with vibritile hairs on the margins.

S. tarantuloides is distinguished from the other two species

mentioned by the presence of long straight hairs on the inner

surface of the corolla-tube and by differences in the corona-

lobes. The outer corona-lobes are irregularly toothed, and the

inner horn of the inner corona-lobes is considerably longer than

the narrow dorsal wing. Owing to the uniform colour of the

corolla-tubes and the hairs on it, the hairs are not readily

noticed in a front view. The hairs on the margin of the

corolla-lobes are very different. They are very slightly

thickened towards the apex and respond to the slightest

movement of the air. Due to their very delicate nature,

they wither rather soon after the flowers have opened. It

seems hardly necessary to mention that the sinister spider-

like appearance of the expanded flower suggested the specific

epithet.

The type specimen of this outstanding new species was

collected by Miss Sheilah Thompson about 50 miles due west

of Gwanda near the Mwewe River in the Matopo Hills,

Southern Rhodesia. It was growing there under the pro-

tection of a low thorny species of Acacia. The collector

states further : “We found the specimen in July (winter),

and during the week we spent there, the days were misty, but

judging from the vegetation, the area appeared to be dry.”

Flowers from this plant, cultivated in Messina, Transvaal,

were first communicated to us by Mr. T. B. Verschuur. Later

Dr. Louis Thompson successfully packed material from which

our artist made the accompanying illustration.

Description : — A succulent plant up to about 15 cm. high. Branches

10-15 cm. long, 4^5-angled, 1-1-5 cm. thick including the teeth, minutely

pubescent, the young teeth ending in small subulate-lanceolate leaves, pale

bluish-green mottled with purple on the sides. Buds ovate-lanceolate,

acuminate. Flowers 1-3 from the middle or towards the base of young

branches, opening successively. Pedicels about 2-5 cm. long, minutely

pubescent. Sepals 1-1-2 cm. long, linear-lanceolate, sparsely and very

minutely pubescent. Corolla about 15 cm. across, shallowly tubular towards

the base, exceedingly minutely pubescent on the outer surface ; tube slightly

rugose within and furnished with a moderate covering of dark purplish-

brown hairs up to 1 cm. long; lobes 6-5-7 cm. long, 1-7-2 cm. across the

base, lanceolate, acuminate, “ tailed ” to the apex, 3-veined down the back

with purple spots, rugose above, extremely minutely papillate, dark purplish-

brown with very narrow stripes of green between the rugosities, ciliate on the

margin with long somewhat clavate vibritile hairs. Outer corona-lobes

about 3-5 mm. long, oblong, minutely 3-toothed at the apex, grooved to-

wards the base, purplish-brown. Inner corona-lobes with an inner horn

6-7 mm. long, incumbent on the backs of the anthers at the base, ascending,

recurved towards the apex, and an outer narrow wing shorter than the

inner horn.

Plate 717. — Fig. 1, section of corolla-tube showing hair; 2, somewhat

clavate cilia; 3, staminal column with inner and outer corona; 4, outer

corona-lobe ; 5, inner corona-lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C.Letty del.

Plate 718.

GNIDIA ANTHYLLOIDES Var. MACROPHYLLA

Cape Province, Transvaal, Natal, Basutoland.

Thymelaeaceae. Tribe Euthymelaeae.

Gnidia Linn. ; Benth. et Hook, fit- Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 197.

Gnidia anthylloides (L. fil-) Gilg, var. macrophylla ( Meisn .) M. Moss,

var. comb. nov.

Linneaus f. (1781) first described this species as Passer ina

anthylloides so the specific epithet must stand. Meisner

transferred the species to the genus Lasiosiphon, and his

name Lasiosiphon anthylloides was accepted for the “ Flora

Capensis.” In the year 1895, Gilg (“ Engl. Bot. Jahrb.,”

vol. 19, p. 265) used the combination Gnidia anthylloides

(Linn, f.) Gilg, and it is now generally accepted that plants

formerly described and placed in the genera Lasiosiphon

Fresen and Arthrosolen C. A. Mey should be included in the

genus Gnidia. The characters given in the “ Flora Capensis ”

to distinguish the three genera are not constant.

Gnidia anthylloides has a wide distribution from the Rivers-

dale district through the coastal districts to Natal, and has

also been recorded from near Pretoria in the Transvaal.

The variety described differs from the typical form in the

larger leaves, but may only be a form that does not even

warrant varietal rank. The “ Botanical Magazine ” (t. 7303)

in the year 1903 reproduced a coloured plate of the species

prepared from plants that flowered in the Cambridge Botanic

Gardens.

The family Thymelaeaceae occurs mostly in South Africa

and Australia, with some species in the Mediterranean region

and a few species in Asia and North and South America.

In South Africa the family forms one of the characteristic

features of the “ Cape ” flora. The genus Gnidia comprises

about 150 species, which are chiefly African; several of

the species are very showy. The specimen from which our

Plate was prepared was collected by Miss C. L. Letty between

Shelly Beach and Beach Terminus on the south coast of

Natal in July 1932.

Description : — A small branched shrub about 60 cm.

high. Branches villous. Leaves bright green, alternate,

sessile, 1 -3-2*3 cm. long, 0-5-1 cm. broad, mostly elliptic or

oblong-elliptic, obtuse, glabrous above, strigose beneath,

especially when young, distinctly ciliate. Heads sessile or

subsessile, up to 20-flowered, with an involucre of leaf-like

bracts at the base. Calyx-tube greenish-yellow, translucent,

3 cm. long, 2 mm. diameter at the mouth, cylindric, cir-

cumscissile just above the base and also 5 mm. above the

base, densely hairy. Petals obsolete. Stamens 10, in 2 rows,

with the upper opposite the calyx-lobes. Style slender ;

stigma capitate, covered with hairs. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 13047.)

Plate 718. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower; 2, pistil; 3, anther;

4, bract ; 5, flower enlarged.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

C.Letty del.

Plate 719.

POLYSTACHYA Ottoniana.

Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal.

Orchid ace ae . Tribe Vandeae.

Polystachya Hook. Exot. fl. t. 103 ; Benth. et Hook, fit- Gen. Plant, vol. iii.

p. 540.

Polystachya Ottoniana Reichb. f. in Harnb. Gartenz. 1855, 249 ; Pel. Cap.

vol. 5. sect. 3. p. 66.

On Plate 297 we figured Polystachya transvaalensis, and

on Plate 627 the species P. Sandersoni, both of which differ

from P. Ottoniana in having green or brownish-green, not

white, sepals. The species we now figure is more widely-

distributed than any other South African species, and has

been recorded from Knysna in the south to Haenertsburg in

the north-eastern Transvaal.

The specimen figured was collected by Mr. L. E. Taylor,

and was found growing among granite rocks at Pilgrim’s

Rest in the Transvaal. The plant was grown and flowered

at the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, in September 1935.

Description : — Pseudobulbs somewhat crowded, T5-2

cm. long, up to 1 cm. diameter, sheathed. Leaves 2-3 from

each pseudobulb, 4-5 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, linear or linear-

lanceolate, narrowed to the base, articulated on the narrowed

portion, obtuse, glabrous. Inflorescence 5-6 cm. long, up to

4-flowered, sometimes with a solitary flower. Peduncle

slender, with 1-2 bracts, pubescent. Flowers white. Sepals

up to 1-3 cm. long, triangular-ovate or triangular-oblong,

obtuse. Petals almost as long as the sepals. Lip 3-lobed,

with the median lobe broadly oblong, obtuse and the side

lobes smaller and obtuse. Column short. (National Her-

barium, Pretoria, No. 24093.)

Plate 719. — Fig. 1, a single flower; 2, side-view of flower with petals

and sepals cut through; 3, column.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

720

C.Letty del

Plate 720.

ALOE KARASBERGENSIS.

South West Africa, Namaqualand.

Liliaceae. Tribe Aeoineae.

Aloe Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. fit. Ben. Plant, vol. iii. p. 776.

Aloe karasbergensis Pillans in Journ. Bot. vol. 66. p. 233.

The plant of Aloe karasbergensis we figure was cultivated

at the Division of Plant Industry and flowered in February

1938. The original plant was collected by Dr. F. Z. van der

Merwe near Griinau in South-West Africa about 80 miles

west of Warmbad. The species was first described by Mr.

N. S. Pillans in the year 1928 from a plant he collected in

Little Namaqualand, and which eventually flowered in his

garden at Rosebank near Cape Town. Mr. Pillans states

the species is “ most nearly allied to A. striata Haw. from

which it is chiefly distinguished by its downwardly-curved

and more conspicuously striped leaves, the formation of its

inflorescence, and the coloration of its flowers.”

Description : — Leaves greyish-green with darker green

longitudinal markings above and beneath, up to 36 in. long,

11 cm. broad at the base, about 1-5 cm. thick, lanceolate,

acuminate, with the margins infolded above, convex beneath,

concave above, with a pale-pink broad (3 mm.) entire car-

tilaginous band on the margins. Inflorescence a lax panicle,

about 50 cm. high. Peduncle semi-terete, 1-5 cm. diameter

below, gradually becoming thinner above. Branches 22 cm.

long, almost horizontal; the upper about 10 cm. long.

Bracts subtending the main branches of the inflorescence

1*5 cm. long, membranous, dark- veined, ovate, acuminate.

Flowers pink, becoming greenish above, distant on short

secondary branches; open flowers 2-5 cm. long, 4 mm.

diameter above, globose at the base. Pedicels 1 cm. long,

persistent, articulating at the apex with the base of the

flower. Stamens first projecting from the mouth of the

open flower ; filaments whitish ; anthers orange. Ovary

greenish, oblong in outline; style as long as the perianth.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 24078.)

Plate 720. — Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, cross section of leaf; 3,

median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1938.

INDEX TO VOLUME XVIII

PLATE