MARY GUNN LIBRARY

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE

PRIVATE BAG X 101

f PRETORIA 0001

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

r \

SELMAR SCHONLAND

THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF

SOUTH AFRICA.

A MAGAZINE CONTAINING HAND-COLOURED FIGURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE

FLOWERING PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO SOUTH AFRICA.

EDITED BY

E. P. PHILLIPS, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.(S. Afr.),

Chief, Division of Botany and Plant Pathology, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Pretoria;

and Director of the Botanical Survey of the Union of South Africa.

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

VOL. XXI

i

The veld which lies so desolate and bare

Will blossom into cities white and fair.

And pinnacles will pierce the desert air,

And sparkle in the sun.

R. C. Macfik’s “ Ex Unitatb Vires.’

L. REEYE & CO., Ltd.,

SANKEY HOUSE, BROOK, ASHFORD, KENT

SOUTH AFRICA:

J. L. VAN SCHAIK LTD.

P.O. BOX 724, PRETORIA

1941.

All rights reserved.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

TO THE MEMORY OF

SELMAR SCHONLAND

M.A.(OXON.), PH.D., C.M.Z.S., F.R.S.(S.AER.)

AT ONE TIME CURATOR OF THE ALBANY MUSEUM,

GRAHAMSTOWN, EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF BOTANY AT

THE RHODES UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, GRAHAMSTOWN,

FOUNDATION MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE

BOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA,

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED FOR THE INFLUENTIAL

PART HE TOOK IN MOULDING SOUTH AFRICAN BOTANY

ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS AND FOR HIS MANY NOTABLE

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ITS LITERATURE.

Division of Botany and Plant Pathology, Pretoria,

October, 1941.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/floweringplantso21unse

HOI

M.E. Conn ell. del.

Plate 801.

THUNBERGIA ERECTA.

West and Central Tropical Africa.

Acanthaceae.

Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anders, in Journ. Linn. Soc. VII.

18 (1864).

Among the plants collected on the Pole Evans Central and

East African Expedition 1938, and grown at the Division of

Botany and Plant Pathology, Pretoria, is the species of

Thunbergia figured on the accompanying Plate. In cultivation

the plant was only a little over a foot high when it began

flowering. The main stem is stiff and erect for about 1| ft.,

with only a few weak lateral shoots, then several long stiff

branches are developed. Probably in the forests where it

was found the straight stems first penetrate the overhanging

vegetation, then develop the lateral branches which support

the plant and give it the appearance of being a “ climber ” as

stated by the collector. The observation is added by the

collector that in a clearing the plant is shrubby in habit. It

was found in the Semliki Valley, Ituri Forest, west of Ruwen-

zori, Uganda, where it grows under very moist conditions.

The species was first described by Bentham, in 1849, under

the name Meyenia erecta, and was later transferred to the

genus Thunbergia by T. Anderson. There are several records

of this species occurring in West Tropical Africa, but ours is

the most easterly locality so far known. Previous figures of

the species may be found in Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.

5013 (1857) and in the Flora of West Tropical Africa by

J. Hutchinson and J. M. Dalziel, p. 251 (1936). Our plant

agrees well with the descriptions of the species and the figures

mentioned above. It seems therefore to be a well-established

species with quite a wide range of distribution.

Description :• — A shrub which in the dense forest grows

up to about 10 ft. into the overhanging branches and appears

to be climbing in them while in the open it forms a bushy

shrub with stiff-looking branches. Stems 4-angled, glabrous.

Leaves ovate, acuminate, 3 to 7 cm. long, 1*2 to 3 cm. wide,

glabrous or microscopically pubescent in parts, rather thin in

texture; margins microscopically ciliate towards the apex,

subentire with only a few irregular lobes; petioles 2-4 mm.

long. Flowers axillary, solitary. Pedicels 3-5 cm. long, very

slender but thickening at the upturned apex. Bracteoles pale

green to whitish, early deciduous, up to 2-5 cm. long, 8 mm.

wide, somewhat leathery but drying thin, subacute. Calyx

with up to 15 unequal linear lobes about 3 to 4 mm. long.

Corolla about 5 cm. long, oblique, somewhat 2-lipped; tube

4 cm. long, yellowish white tinted with purple, narrowing

gradually above the ovary to a 3 mm. diameter constriction

and then inflating and again narrowing only slightly at the

throat, which is about 1 cm. diameter in transverse plane and

less in the horizontal plane and golden yellow in colour with

2 darker yellow lines; lobes about 1-5 cm. long and 1-7 cm.

broad, a rich bluish-violet to spectrum violet (R.C.S. PI. X)

colour. Stamens 4; the filaments of the longer pah with

more glandular hairs near the apex on one side than on those

of the shorter pah ; anthers with fringes of translucent hairs

at the base and with similar hairs on the rims of the thecae ;

the lower theca of the shorter stamens, however, usually

without hairs on the rims. Ovary globose, slightly com-

pressed laterally, 1-5 mm. high; disc yellow; style 2-5 cm.

long ; stigma 2-lobed ; the upper lobe erect and folded ; the

lower lobe spreading and nearly flat. (I. B. Pole Evans and

J. Erens 1725 and in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

26427). — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 801. — Fig. 1, calyx with ovary within ; 2, ovary and disc ; 3, short

stamen ; 4, long stamen ; 5, stigma front view ; 6, stigma side view.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

80Z

Plate 802.

ALOE RUBROLUTEA.

S. W. Africa, Bechuanaland, Transvaal, P.E. Africa.

Liliaceae.

Aloe rubrolutea Schinz in Bull. Herb. Boiss. II, app. iii, 1896.

The author of this species of Aloe describes it as being 3-5

metres and more in height. A more usual height, when in

flower, is about 2 metres. It occurs in many parts of South-

West Africa and extends eastwards across South Africa into

Portuguese East Africa. Plants from the last-mentioned

locality were given the name A. Schinzii by Baker in Flora

Tropical Africa, vol. 7 (1898), but it is not considered that

they are specifically distinct. The plant here figured was the

smallest of a group found on a rocky plateau west of Seeheim,

South-west Africa, in 1937 (van der Merwe 1400), and trans-

planted to the Division of Plant Industry, Pretoria, where it

has since flowered several times a year. Although the usual

flowering time of this species is February or March, it seems

to respond to a good rain at other times by sending out an

inflorescence; and one scape may have ripening seed when a

new one appears.

A variety of this species, with bluish-green leaves, is found

in north-western Transvaal, from the Waterberg to Zout-

pansberg, near the Limpopo river.

Description : — Stem up to 2 met. or more in height,

usually less, and 20 cm. in diameter (much smaller in the

plant figured here), surrounded by dead leaves and topped by

a dense mass of 30-50 green leaves, the lowest cernuous.

Leaf fleshy, bright green, with a few characteristic oval

spots about 10 mm. long and 3 mm. across, especially on the

under surface and towards the base, lanceolate, about 50 cm.

long, and 10 cm. wide at the base and 2 cm thick; upper

surface plane, slightly concave towards the apex, lower

convex ; the margins armed with spines about 2 cm. apart,

curved forward, about 5 mm. long, light brown. Inflores-

cence : scape up to f met. long, branching and rebranching

near its base. Racemes 10-20, moderately dense, about 50 cm.

long each with 100 or more flowers, of which about 6 are open

at a time. Bracts dried, lanceolate, many-veined ; the lowest

about 15 mm. long and 5 mm. wide. Pedicel about 10 mm.

long, cemuous in open flowers. Perianth cylindric, waxy

vermilion outside, shading to pale yellow inside, slightly

compressed laterally, about 33 mm. long and 5 mm. vertical

diameter; segments connate for about 10 mm.; the outer

being about 6 mm. wide and the inner about 9 mm., at the

base, spreading very slightly at their tips. Filaments and

style slightly exserted. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

26382). — F. Z. Van der Merwe.

Plate 802. — Fig. 1, bract; 2, longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

803

Plate 803.

STREPTOCARPUS GRANDIS.

Zululand.

Gesneriaceae.

Streptocarpus grandis N.E. Br. in Bot. Mag. t. 8042 (1905).

Because of the limited size of the plates in this work, a

young plant was chosen for figuring. The species usually

grows much larger, the leaves attaining a length of several

feet, and the many-flowered, branched inflorescences reaching

to about 2 ft. in height, with a fair spread. The figure of

this species in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine cited above is

reproduced on a double page. The flower is represented as

having a dark throat, which is not the case in the specimen

figured here.

Father J. Gerstner, of the Little Flower Mission, Eshowe,

when sending in the plants in January 1939, wrote that they

were growing abundantly around the springs in the Hlinza

and Mpushini Forests at Eshowe. Several of these plants

flowered at the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology in

January 1940, and it was from one of these that the Plate

was made. Some of the plants sent in originally had a

prolongation of the hypocotyl up to 3 ins. long, resembling a

stem under the leaf, and with roots produced at the end of

this structure.

Description : — Leaf solitary, spreading on the ground,

the basal green portion only 20 cm. long, while the apical

portion had characteristically withered off, 22 cm. broad,

deeply cordate at the base, hirsute on both surfaces with

transparent bulbous based hairs, upper surface green with

impressed veins, under-surface reddish with very prominent

veins and midrib up to 1 cm. in diameter; margins crenate.

N.B. — Leaves usually attaining larger proportions and old

plants often with a prolonged hypocotyl up to 3 ins. long like

a stem under the leaf). Inflorescences several arising at the

base of the leaf, 22 cm. high, becoming forked later and

reaching 45 cm. or more in height, hirsute with ascending

transparent hairs which are very occasionally and obscurely

gland-tipped. Floivers arising in pairs; pedicels about 15

cm. long. Calyx-segments about 4 mm. long and 0-75 mm.

wide at the base, acute, hirsute. Corolla 4-2 cm. long, violet

and white; tube about 3 cm. long, subcylindric, slightly

curved downwards at the middle and upwards at the mouth,

pubescent with transparent somewhat patent hairs, violet

above with a white band beneath ; lobes rounded, somewhat

unequal, the 2 upper more or less spreading, 6 mm. long and

6 mm. wide, violet, the 3 lower forming a lip about 1 cm.

long with the lobes about 6 cm. long and 6 cm. wide, whitish,

the white of the central lobe running like a wedge into the

violet throat, inner surface of all the lobes with short erect

gland-tipped hairs. Stamens 2 perfect and 2 rudimentary;

filaments of the perfect stamens inserted about midway in the

tube ± 5 mm. long ; anthers ± 1 mm. long ± 2 mm. across,

adhering to each other by their faces; rudimentary stamens

inserted belowr the middle of the tube, white, ± 2-5 mm. long.

Ovary terete, attenuating into a more or less terete style, hirsute

with more or less oppressed transparent hairs which are very

occasionally gland-tipped. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 26390). — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 803. — Fig. 1, flower slit open and flattened out; 2, longitudinal

section of flower ; 3, gynoecium ; 4, cross section of ovary ; 5, stigma.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

SO

M.E. Cpxmell del.

Plate 804.

STREPTOCARPUS REYNOLDS!!.

Zululand, Natal.

Gesneriaceae.

Streptocarpus Reynoldsii Verdoorn, sp. nov. S. gracile B. L. Burtt

affinis sed inflorescentiis rigidioribus, floribus minoribus, corollae lobis

minus patentibus tubo intus baud luteo-lineato differt.

Herba acaulis, unifoliata. Folium ad 16 cm. longum, 11 cm. latum, basi

cordatum, supra viride passim nitidum, nervis impressis, subtus betaceo-

rubrum nervis valde prominentibus, utrinque sed subtus densiore pilis

diapbanis inaequilongis base papillosis vestitum. Inflorescentiae tres e basi

folii orientes, usque ad 30 cm. longae, pluriflorae, pilis patentibus super-

ioribus glandulosis sparse pubescentes. Flores saepe geminati. Bracteae

2-4 mm. longae, subfuscae, pubescentes. Pedicelli 8 mm. longi, deinde 18

mm. longi, pilis alii glandulosis alii acutis pubescentes. Calyx ad basin

lobatus, lobis lanceolatis 4 mm. longis subfuscis pubescentibus. Corolla

bilabiata, 2-2 cm. longa; tubus 1-2 mm. longus, albus pallide purpureo

suffusus, declinato-curvatus, fauce albus lateribus compressus intus obscure

pubescens pilis brevis glandulosis extra pilis alii acutes alii glandulosis

pubescens; limbus obliquus; labium superius 2-lobatum, lobis oblongo-

obovatis 8 mm. longis 3 mm. latis sub-erectis dorso sparse pubescentibus ;

labium inferius 3-lobatum, 1 cm. longum, basi album, lobis oblongo-obovatis

pallide purpureis circiter 7 mm. longis. Staminodia 2 ; stamina 2 fertilia,

medio corollae inserta; filamenta pubescentia, 3 mm. longa ad apices

crassa et curvata ; antherae cohaerentes, biloculares, loculis confluentibus a

latere dehiscentibus. Discus annularis. Ovarium 3 mm. longum, appresse

pubescens ; stylus brevis, stigmate capitato.

Natal : Nkandhla Forest, Zululand Reynolds 3229 and in National

Herbarium 26425.

This is the eighth species of Streptocarpus to be figured in

this publication. It is, however, the first of the S. polyanthus

group — that is, the group in which the character of the single

leaf is combined with flowers which have a slender curved

tube laterally compressed at the mouth and an oblique limb.

In March 1939 Mr. G. W. Reynolds sent some plants to

this Division from the Nkhandla Forest, Zululand. Among

them was this species of Streptocarpus, which flowered freely

in Pretoria in the following October and the accompanying

Plate was then prepared. Seeds taken from the original

plants were sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where

fine plants were raised. Mr. B. L. Burtt at Kew, working on

these plants in collaboration with Mr. Lawrence, of Merton,

describes the colour of the flowers as “a very pale cobalt

violet with slightly darker veins.”

Description : — An acaulescent, unifoliate herb. Leaf up

to 16 cm. long and 11 cm. wide, cordate at the base; upper

surface green and in parts with an oily shine, nerves impressed ;

under-surface beetroot red and nerves distinctly raised ; both

surfaces pubescent with transparent hairs of unequal length

produced from papillae, the lower much more densely so,

especially on the raised nerves. Inflorescences 3, produced

successively at the base of the leaf, up to 30 cm. tall, several

flowered, sparsely patently pubescent with transparent hairs,

which towards the apex of the peduncles are gland-tipped.

Flowers produced in pairs. Bracts brownish, 2-4 mm. long,

pubescent. Pedicels 8 mm. long, elongating with age to

about 18 mm. long, pubescent with gland-tipped and acute

hairs. Calyx lobed to the base; lobes lanceolate brownish,

4 mm. long, pubescent. Corolla 2-lipped, about 2-2 cm. long,

tube white suffused with pale bluish-violet, 1*2 cm. long,

strongly deflexed from the base and then distinctly upward

curving to the throat, which is white and somewhat laterally

compressed, pubescent within and outside with short gland-

tipped hairs; limb oblique; upper lip 2-lobed, lobes sub-

erect, oblong-obovate, 8 mm. long, 3 mm. wide dorsally,

sparsely pubescent ; lower lip more or less straight, 1 cm.

long, 3-lobed to about mid-way, the base white, lobes oblong-

obovate, 7 mm. long, pale bluish- violet. Stamens 2 fully

developed and 2 rudimentary; filaments of fertile stamens

inserted about midway in the tube, pubescent, 3 mm. long,

slightly thickening to the upturned apex ; anthers cohering ;

the thecae confluent and dehiscing sub-laterally. Disc

annular. Ovary 3 mm. long, appressed — pubescent; style

short; stigma capitate. — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 804. — Fig. 1, corolla in longitudinal section; 2, gynoecium.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

SOS

b’. Connell del.

Plate 805.

ALOE VRYHEIDENSIS.

Natal.

Liliaceae.

Aloe vryheidensis Groenewald in Tydskrif vir Wetenskap en Kuns,

1935, p. 38.

Aloe vryheidensis, together with four other species, A.

castanea Schonl., A. sessiliflora Pole Evans, A. dolomitica

Groenewald and A. recurvifolia Groenewald, form a natural

group in this large genus of heterogenous growth forms. In

the July issue of The Journal of South African Botany 1940

Mr. G. W. Reynolds established a new section Anguialoe for

these species. Mr. Reynolds pointed out that the species are

characterised either by very dense racemes or spikes with

short campanulate flowers, and further that A. vryheidensis

is the smallest of the group and is distinguished from its

allies and all other species in the genus by three narrow

longitudinal red stripes down the ovary.

In the text accompanying the original description the

author lays emphasis on the presence of glaucous leaves, the

comparatively conspicuous spikes and the yellow filaments

and anthers.

Another feature which appears to have diagnostic value

is the angle of the peduncle below the spike. The peduncles

of all plants are slightly inclined in one direction (to the north

in Pretoria, and probably in this direction in the veld also).

Immediately below the spike, however, the peduncle develops

an angle which brings the spike into a vertical position. A

character of this species, and one not unusual in the genus

Aloe, is the opening of the north-facing buds of the spike in

advance of those of the same height on the south-facing side.

This is due probably in part both to a higher temperature and

greater light intensity on the former aspect.

As in the related species, the flowers of A. vryheidensis

excrete a liberal supply of nectar. When viewed in the

flower, the nectar appears almost black in colour, but when

removed from the flower it is seen to be dark brown. From

the presence of many worker bees on the inflorescence one

might assume that the nectar was the main source of attrac-

tion, but this is not so. The bees are intent on the collection

of the pollen, and, intentionally or prevented by the stamens,

make no use of the nectar. This was also noted on plants of

A. sessili flora growing in the grounds of the Division of

Botany and Plant Pathology. “ Honey birds,” however,

drink the nectar freely.

Aloe vryheidensis, as the name implies, originates from the

district of Vryheid in Natal. It is found plentifully there,

but not elsewhere. The plant illustrated here was collected

by Miss I. C. Verdoorn and the writer near Louwsberg in

July 1936, when the colony was in full bloom, but it was not

figured until it flowered in the writer’s garden in July 1940.

Description : — Plant acaulescent or with a very short suberect or

inclined stem, depending on the situation, unbranched or occasionally

branched at the base into 2 or 3 heads, crowned by a dense rosette of leaves.

Leaves 20-30, up to about 60 cm. long and 12 cm. broad, 1-5-2 -5 cm. thick

towards the base, gradually tapered to the apex, spreading, markedly

canaliculate, flatter, slightly recurved and dying back from the tip with age,

glaucous green, armed on the margins with reddish deltoid prickles 2-3 mm.

long and 10-15 mm. distant; leaf sap drying amber coloured. Inflorescence

an unbranched spike. Scapes usually 2 or 3, but varying from 1 to 5 from

each rosette, up to 1-5 m. tall, inclined from the base and angled immediately

below the spike, bringing the spike into a more or less perpendicular position,

up to 3 cm. broad, somewhat compressed, closely set with broadly ovate-

oblong bracts. Spike very dense, cylindric, subobtuse, about 35 cm. long,

4 cm. diameter across the mature buds and 6-5 diameter including the

stamens; flowers half filled with dark brown (appearing black) nectar.

Bracts about 1-4 cm. long, ovate-oblong, acute, sub membranous, with 3-5

veins from the base, but not all extending to the apex, margin crisped towards

the base. Perianth about 1-8 mm. long, more or less rose coloured; seg-

ments united only at the base ; outer segments 5 mm. broad with 3 green

ribs from the base confluent towards the apex; inner segments 8 mm.

broad with 3 closely placed ribs forming a green keel down the back ; the

margin towards the apex revolute and minutely serrate. Filaments up to

2-5 cm. long, bright lemon-yellow ; anthers orange coloured. Ovary 6 mm.

long and 3 mm. thick, oblong with a red line down the longitudinal grooves

between the carpels ; stjde up to about 2 cm. long. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 26381). — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 805. — Pig. 1, cross-section of leaf towards base; 2 terminal

portion of leaf with withered apex ; 3, bract ; 4, flower ; 5, exterior view of

one inner perianth- segment ; 6, gvnoecium.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

806

M. E. Connell del.

Plate 806.

SANSEVIERIA DESERTI.

Southern Rhodesia, Bechuanaland, Transvaal.

Liliaceae

Sansevieria deserti N.E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1915, 208.

The genus Sansevieria is well known on account of the

fibre it yields. For this reason the name has been conserved,

in spite of the fact that it is antedated by “ CordylineP

Dr. N. E. Brown gives an account of the nomenclature in the

Kew Bulletin 1914, and in the same work the following year

he published a further account of the genus with descriptions

of all the known species. In this monograph he points out

that the transfer of the genus by Bentham and Hooker to

the family Haemodoraceae is not sound, and he agrees with

Engler that it should be placed in the Liliaceae. Dr. J.

Hutchinson in his Families of Flowering Plants 1934 places

it, with Dracaena and other genera, in a newly described

family Agavaceae, which he describes as “ a half-way house

between the Liliaceous stock and the climax group of the

Palmae.”

Dr. F. Z. v.d. Merwe, who collected the specimen figured

on the accompanying Plate, found it south of Kranzberg in

the Rustenburg district, Transvaal. He writes that it grows

in dense colonies in the bush veld, usually under Acacia trees.

Another species of Sansevieria (S. aethiopica, see Plate 212

of this work) grows in the same locality, and another asso-

ciated species is Aloe Greatheadii. The species Sansevieria

deserti is found quite frequently in Bechuanaland, Southern

Rhodesia, and the western and northern Transvaal. Fibre

from this species is known to be used extensively by natives.

A sample of the fibre was submitted by this Division to the

Imperial Institute, London, for examination. Their report

read in part, “ Provided that more care is taken in the

preparation of this product, it would find a ready market as a

fine cordage fibre.”

Description : — Stem rhizomatous, not or sparsely pro-

duced above ground. Leaf-scales 1-5, more or less deltoid,

broad-based and clasping, 3-10 cm. long. Leaves 5-10,

2-ranked, erect, 30-60 cm. tall, ± 5 cm. broad at the sheathing

base, compressed cylindric, gradually tapering to the hard

white terete and sharp, 1-1-5 cm. long apex, channelled on

the face and with about 7-12 shallow grooves on the ±

rounded back, thickness from bottom of channel to the back

measured about \ of the the way up 1-5 cm. ; channel as wide

as leaf near the base and gradually narrowing upwards,

especially narrow on inner (i.e. youngest) leaf ; margins acute

red-broAvn, edged with white, in old leaves right to the base of

the terete apex and in younger leaves in low-er half, more or

less obtuse and green towards the apex ; the red-brown edge

of the margin runs like a collar round the base of the white

apical point. Inflorescence terminal, ± 50 cm. long un-

branched. Peduncle pale green, terete, with 3 large sterile

bracts at the base ; sterile bracts about 5 cm. long, clasping §

of the circumference at the base, acuminate to the apex.

Flowers drab-coloured, pale vinaceous to greyish-olive, com-

mencing 12 cm. from the base of the peduncle, 4-6 clustered

on cushions in the axil of bracts and each flower in turn

subtended by a bract. Bracts fleshy at the base, and thence

produced into a membranous acuminate early withering

scale 3-10 mm. long. Pedicels 8 mm. long, jointed about the

middle, the upper part early deciduous with the flower.

Buds cylindric, about 2 cm. long, with a metallic appearance,

drab yellow- or white faintly flushed with pink or mauve and

the slightly clavate tip greyish-olive; tube about 8 mm.

long; lobes 12 mm. long, linear, obtuse at the apex, strongly

revolute to near the base. Stamens inserted in the throat of

the perianth-tube; filaments straight, yellowish, about as

long as the perianth; anthers 2-5 mm. long. Ovary 2 mm.

long, yellowish, 3-chambered, with one ovule in each chamber ;

style whitish, filiform, about 2 cm. long; stigma terminal,

capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,380). —

I. C. Veredoorn.

Plate 806. — Fig. 1, transverse section of leaf 12 cm. from base; 2,

transverse section of leaf 2 cm. from apex ; 3, persistent portion of pedicels

with bracts ; 4, flower ; 5, longitudinal section of flower without gynoecium ;

6, ovary, style and stigma.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

S07

Plate 807.

CYRTANTHUS GUTHRIEAE.

Cape Province.

Amabyllidaceae

Cyrtanthus Guthrieae L. Bolus in Ann. Bolus Herb. 3, 79 (1921).

When reviewing the genus Cyrtanthus for Herbertia (1939),

the Journal of the American Amaryllis Society, material of

the genus was borrowed from several herbaria in South Africa.

Among the specimens received from the Bolus Herbarium

were three paintings, dating from 1917, by Miss L. Guthrie, of

the beautiful plant which was subsequently named after her.

The painting selected for reproduction here was made by Miss

Guthrie from plants collected near Bredasdorp in April 1920.

The leaves, however, were then absent, and it was not until

1931 that these were drawn by Miss B. 0. Carter at the Bolus

Herbarium.

Several species of Cyrtanthus have already been illustrated

on the pages of “ Flowering Plants of South Africa,” and these

should be consulted for comparison with C. Guthrieae. From

certain aspects this species is more interesting botanically

than the others, since it diverges farthest from the accepted

pattern of the genus. In the text accompanying the original

description of the species Dr. L. Bolus remarked on the

affinity of the plant to the allied genus Vallota (George Lily).

It was stated that “ the spread of the perianth and the

relatively long tube are more characteristic of Vallota than

Cyrtanthus, but there is no doubt the two genera are very

closely related, and C. Guthrieae may almost be considered a

connecting link.”

Cyrtanthus Guthrieae is one of the more decorative species

of the genus, but unfortunately it is also one of the rarest and

most unresponsive to cultivation. It is not recorded outside

the district of Bredasdorp, and Miss K. C. Stanford of Stellen-

bosch, otherwise very successful with the cultivation of

species of Cyrtanthus, has not induced more than an occasional

flower from C. Quthrieae bulbs.

Description : — Bulb globose-ovoid, 3 cm. long, 2-5 cm.

in diameter, with a short neck. Leaves produced after the

flowers, 2-3 from a bulb, up to 15 cm. long, 2 mm. broad.

Peduncle about 11 cm. long, curved, slender. Spathe-valves

2, lanceolate, attenuate, 3-3 cm. long. Flower 1, rarely 2,

sessile, bright red with a golden glitter. Perianth about 8-5

cm. long ; tube 4-3 cm. long, 4 mm. in diameter at the base,

cylindric, gradually expanded above to 1-1 cm. diameter at

the throat; lobes obovate-oblong, acute, 4-3 cm. long, 1*9

cm. broad. Stamens uniseriate; filaments 3-3-5 cm. long.

Capsule (immature) subcylindric, 1-5 cm. long, 0-7 cm. in

diameter; the seeds dark brown, 7 mm. long. (Bolus

Herbarium No. 16,907). — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 807. — Fig. 1, leaves (after B. 0. Carter); 2, flower; 3, old flower

with developing capsule ; 4, style tip X 3.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

C.Letty del

8 08

Plate 808.

COTYLEDON CAMPANULATA.

Cape Province.

CkASSUTjACEAE .

Cotyledon campanulata Marl, in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc. 18, 46 (1909).

When describing Cotyledon campanulata, Marloth said,

“ Resembling C. teretifolia in habit, but differing from it by

its leaves as well as its flowers.” Schonland, however, in

Records of the Albany Museum 1915, p. 143, states, “ I have

examined Marloth’s plant, both alive and dried, and cannot

separate it from C. teretifolia .” Presumably both these

references are intended to apply to C. teretifolia Thunb. It

is not possible to state precisely the reasons for this diver-

gence of opinion, but it is evident that their conception of C.

teretifolia was not identical. Be this as it may, the specific

epithet C. teretifolia had been used previously by Lamarck for

a distinct species, and Thunberg’s name is therefore invalid.

Although, as Marloth claimed, C. teretifolia Thunb. may not

be specifically equal to his C. campanulata, the latter name

would seem to be the earliest valid name for the eastern Cape

Province plants. Thunberg describes the leaves of his plant

as subterete, and Marloth draws attention to those of C.

campanulata as being canaliculate. Even a comparison of

the two respective type specimens might not lead to a definite

decision whether or not the differences noted constitute

sufficient evidence for specific separation.

C. campanulata is found frequently in the karoid scrub-

veld near Uitenhage, and it is found at least as far inland as

Graaff-Reinet. In its range of distribution it comes normally

into association with several other species, including C.

coruscans Haw., C. gracilis Harv. and C. Beckeri Schonl.

Although, as is frequently stressed, it is not possible to state

definitely that certain plants in the veld are hybrids, a com-

parison of their characters together with those of the supposed

parents may often by regarded as furnishing sufficient proof.

Such is the case with C. campanulata and those species

mentioned above. The writer was privileged to accompany

the two Dutch botanists, Drs. Lotsy and Goddyn, on many of

their excursions in 1927 in the eastern Cape Province. Here

they investigated hybrid populations, the results of which

they published in Genetica, 1928. An examination of the

figures and coloured illustrations accompanying this work

leaves little doubt that hybridisation between species of

Cotyledon in close proximity in the veld is the rule rather than

the exception. Schonland, lx., p. 131 had remarked earlier

that “ hybridisation seems to occur pretty frequently in this

genus.” It is not surprising, therefore, that the identification

of individual specimens without full field information, is

fraught with many pitfalls.

The accompanying Plate was prepared some years ago,

when an attempt was being made by another officer to classify

the genus in the light of the researches of Lotsy and Goddyn,

but, owing to unavoidable circumstances, the work was

abandoned. It may be stated with confidence that the plant

is fairly typical of the species in appearance. A similar plant

was figured in 1846 on Plate 6235 in Curtis's Botanical Magazine.

Description : — A tufted glandular pubescent perennial

up to about 40 cm. high. Branches at first semi-succulent,

becoming rigid with age and nude below. Leaves opposite,

decussate, subterete, concave or canaliculate on the upper

surface, averaging about 9 cm. long and 1 cm. broad, acute,

yellowish-green with a reddish margin at the apex, densely

glandular pubescent. Peduncle up to about 30 cm. long,

slender, glandular pubescent, several- to many-flowered.

Calyx-lobes deltoid, 4 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad at the base,

dark green. Corolla divided about § of its length, yellowish-

green at the base, gradually becoming more intensely yellow

towards the tips of the lobes, particularly on the inner

glabrous surface; tube 7 mm. long, 6 mm. in diameter;

lobes about 2 cm. long, 5 mm. broad at the base, lanceolate,

acuminate, recurved, slightly twisted at the apex. Stamens

somewhat shorter than the corolla lobes; filaments inserted

at the mouth of the tube, hairy at the base. Carpels with

styles eventually about equalling the corolla with subquadrate

squamae. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 14,400.) —

R. A. Dyer.

Plate 808. — Fig. 1, cross-section of leaf; 2, longitudinal section of

flower ; 3, basal portion of corolla showing filament attachment ; 4, carpels

and basal glands or squamae.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

809

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 809.

CEROPEGIA STAPELIIEORMIS.

Cape Province.

ASCLEPIAD ACEAE .

Ceropegia stapeliiformis Haw. in Phil. Mag. 1827, 121.

It not infrequently happens that plants figured in this

work have previously been illustrated in Curtis’s Botanical

Magazine. A figure of Ceropegia stapeliiformis Haw. is to be

found in the Botanical Magazine on Plate 3567 (1837), where

it was suggested that the plant originated in the East Indies.

It was, however, established many years ago that its natural

habitat is in the karoid scrub of the eastern Cape Province

from Uitenhage to Graaff Reinet and King William’s Town.

Our knowledge of the species has expanded considerably since

1837. The Botanical Magazine and the present work depict

two conspicuously different colour forms. Instead of a dark

purple margin to the corolla-lobes as in the former publica-

tion, our specimen has greenish-yellow margins and tips.

C. stapeliiformis is usually found rooted in leaf mould

under the protection of shrubs. It has a thick procumbent

basal stem rooting where it comes into contact with the soil,

and with one or more slender twining branches which may

attain a length of 3 or 4 feet. The flowering period is

extended over several weeks of the midsummer season. The

degree of spread of the corolla-lobes is not constant, some

flowers having much more recurved lobes than others.

Except for the comparatively recently discovered species C.

cimiciodora Obermeyer in the Transvaal, figured on Plate

488, this is the most succulent species of the genus.

The plant figured here was cultivated with great success

in Pretoria 1939-41 by Mr. A. G. McLoughlin. It was

growing in his garden in the shade of a fig tree which gave

support to a few slender twining branches ; the slender

branches occasionally hanging down and producing successive

flowers from several abbreviated flowering branches. The

plant originated from the neighbourhood of King William’s

Town. C. stapeliiformis has long been a favourite plant,

though rare enough to be thoroughly appreciated among

“ succulent enthusiasts,” and has been figured on several

other occasions.

Description : — A sparsely branched, almost leafless

succulent plant. Stem fleshy, up to 1-75 cm. thick, the basal

portion decumbent or trailing and rooting where it touches

the soil, producing short thick branches or (and) slender

somewhat twining branches; branches jointed at the point

of origin, glabrous, dull green with darker mottling, often

tinged with purple. Leaves rudimentary, ovate, acute,

seated on prominent swollen bases. Floivers 1 to several

together in cymes, opening successively occasionally on the

short thick branches, but more usually and more profusely on

the slender branches; peduncles up to 2 cm. long; pedicels

rarely up to 1 cm. long. Sepals ovate lanceolate acute,

seated on a swollen base. Corolla with a slender tube and

spreading lobes ; tube 2-4 cm. long and about 5 mm. diameter,

slightly constricted about 2 mm. above the base, then with a

somewhat ovoid inflation leading into a narrowly cylindric

neck which dilates abruptly to about 1-5 cm. across the funnel-

shaped mouth, glabrous outside, pubescent inside at the

mouth and in the basal swelling, pale greenish-white, un-

spotted below the basal constriction, densely spotted with

violet above, purple striped within the inflated basal portion ;

lobes free spreading or recurved, 2-3*5 cm. long, linear from a

deltoid base, acute, replicate, pubescent on the lower part of

the inner surface, white with greenish-yellow margin and

tips (or white with violet-purple or dark brown). Outer

corowa-lobes about 2 mm. high, bifid, united to the margins

of the inner corona-lobes, pubescent within and with a few

long hairs on the tips, amber coloured; inner corona-lobes

incumbent on the backs of the anthers with connivent erect

tips, purple on the margins towards the base. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,436). — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 809. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of basal portion of corolla-tube ;

2, corolla-tube cut away exposing inner and outer corona-lobes.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

C.Letty del.

Plate 810.

MUSA DAVYAE.

Transvaal , Portuguese East Africa.

Musaceae.

Musa Davyae Stapf in Kew Bull. 1913, 102.

A full account of the discovery, distribution and relation-

ship of this interesting plant was given by the late Dr. Stapf

in Kew Bulletin 1913, p. 102, where it was described for the

first time. The perianth, however, is apparently more

variable than Stapf recorded. The specific epithet commemo-

rates Alice Burtt Davy, wife of the late Dr. Joseph Burtt

Davy, formerly Government Botanist of the Union Depart-

ment of Agriculture, and until 1940 Lecturer in Forest

Botany at the Imperial Forestry Institute, University of

Oxford.

Musa Davyae is found commonly in sheltered kloofs

beside mountain streams in the Northern Transvaal, and is

recorded also from Portuguese East Africa. It is the only

species of Musa in South Africa, and is a primitive relative of

the cultivated edible banana. It is referred to in The Edible

Wild Fruits of the Transvaal by Miss I. C. Verdoorn. The

fruit of Musa Davyae, although closely resembling the edible

banana externally, except for slight irregular swellings, has a

dry pithy flesh surrounding comparatively large, dark brown

seeds. Only in times of need is the flesh made use of by

natives in their diet. The seeds are strung together like beads,

and tied round the ankles to produce a rattle effect in dancing,

and in addition natives make use of the fibre. The plant has

been introduced into several European gardens in the Trans-

vaal for its ornamental appearance.

The present illustration of the inflorescence and fruit was

made possible by the interest of Mr. A. E. Grewcock, who went

to considerable trouble to procure and forward suitable

material to the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology.

The native name is variously given in the Transvaal as

“ Matella,” “ Mawdwala ” and “ Mudollo.”

Description : — Plant up to 40 ft. high, the trunk becoming nude below

except for the sheathing leaf-bases. Leaf -blade erect and graduallj- spreading

with age, narrowly oblong or oblong-linear, 4-5 metres long and up to 60 cm.

broad, obtuse. Inflorescence with a stalk about 5 cm. thick at the base,

ultimately up to 1 metre long, with numerous imbricate bracts; the lower

12-15 bracts each subtending about 20 bisexual flowers in two rows,

deciduous and leaving a “ bunch ” of about 250 “ bananas the upper

bracts each subtending about 30 male flowers ; bracts ovate or ovate-oblong,

subacuminate to obtuse, up to 40 cm. long, 25 cm. broad, almost completely

crimson outside, yellow stained with crimson within. Flowers (apparently not

constant in structure, with transitional forms between bisexual basal flowers

and male flowers towards the apex, possibly first flowers are unisexual and

female), bisexual flowers with 3 outer sepaloid segments 6 cm. long united

for about 1-8 cm. except for split to base down adaxial side, free above, the

central one with lateral lobes nearly to the point of fusion with the lateral

sepals, with one ovate, acuminate aristate membranous petaloid segment

3 cm. long opposite the opening between the outer segments and 2 (always ?)

similar smaller segments within; stamens 4, and 1 filamentous staminode;

style slightly twisted; stigma subcapitate with 5 unequal lobes; flowers

approaching the male apex with the outer linear perianth-segments 2-3 mm.

broad, at first cohering, but opening apart as stamens develop, commencing

at the base and then at the apex, alternating with 3 petaloid inner segments ;

inner segments variable in shape, usually ovate-oblong with 2 lateral subobtuse

apical lobes and a central awn -like appendage at the apex ; stamens 5, with or

without a filamentous staminode ; anthers linear, about 3-5 cm. long ;

flower nearer the apex with outer segments cohering when young, opening

from the base for about 1-3 cm. on one or both sides of one segment, later

opening along its complete length with 1 petaloid segment within each

basal opening (other slight variations from the above description occur).

Receptacle or young fruit at first obtusely 3-angled, clavate, greenish-white,

with the perianth and style persisting until near maturity. Fruit up to

12 cm. long, with a short stipe, irregularly cylindric, with slight swellings

due to large seeds, orange, turning brown on drying; flesh pithy, dryish,

with little flavour; seed 1-5-2 cm. diam., irregularly subglobose with a

sunken hilum ; testa hard, dark brown. (National Herbarium No. 26,435). —

R. A. Dyer.

Plate 810. — Fig. 1, “bunch ” of young bananas; 2, basal portion of

bract with young flowers; 3, flower from transitional area from female to

male ; 4, petaloid segment ; 5, stamens ; 6, young receptacle ; 7, style ;

8 seed; 9, fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

811

M.E.ConneJl deJ.

7

Plate 811.

STAPELIA WOODII var. WESTII.

Natal.

Asclepiadaceae

Stapelia Woodii N.E. Br. var. Westii R. A. Dyer, var. nov. a typo corolla

majore, corollae lobis lanceolatis rubro-brunneis haud maculatis difEert.

This variety of Stapelia Woodii differs from the original

plant described by Brown in Gard. Ghron. 11, 554, 1892, in

the corolla-lobes. These are larger, lanceolate, reddish-

brown and unspotted. The plants were discovered by Mr.

Oliver West under the protection of shrubs near Estcourt,

not far distant from the habitat of the form of S. Woodii

figured on Plate 724.

In the text accompanying Plate 724 the present writer

stated, inter alia, that the disc of the corolla is strongly

reminiscent of the disc of Duvalia. At the same time it should

have been compared with that of Stultitia and with S. Cooperi

(N.E. Br.) Phill. in particular. Stapelia Woodii and Stapelia

Cooperi ( Stultitia Cooperi) were compared and placed by

Brown under the generic name Stapelia in Flora Capensis,

vol. 4, 1, p. 975. The difference between the disc of S. Woodii

and the annulus of S. Cooperi is a question of degree rather

than of structure. Since Brown’s revision in the Flora

Capensis the systematic position of Stapelia Cooperi has been

several times under review, as mentioned by White and Sloane

in “ The Stapelieae,” where it is retained under Stultitia. The

position of Stapelia Woodii, on the other hand, has not been

seriously questioned, and yet the two species cannot legiti-

mately be separated generically. Several groups of species

embodied in Stapelia differ among themselves in corolla and

coronal structure as much as they do from Stultitia. The

pages of The Flowering Plants of South Africa are not intended

for intricate discussions on the value of generic distinctions,

but it may be reiterated that the wider our knowledge becomes

by the discovery of previously undescribed species, the more

artificial appear the distinctions drawn between genera of the

Stapelieae. A more conservative view of characters given

generic importance enables emphasis to be placed on similari-

ties of groups of species rather than on differences, and by this

means evolutionary tendencies, which are of great interest and

importance, are the more clearly portrayed.

It is this conservative outlook which dictates the retention

of Stapelia Woodii in the genus Stapdia. On the present

accepted classification, however, its nearest relative is in

Stultitia. To conform with the above reasoning, the sinking

of Stultitia in the synonymy of Stapelia is advocated. This

decision has been strengthened by the recent discovery of

yet another “ connecting link ” in this series, which is figured

in the following Plate as Stapelia McLoughlanii. The

remarks of E. A. Bruce in Hooker’s leones Plantarum,

t. 3416, 1940, when discussing the related plant Stapelia

semota N.E. Br., from Tropical Africa, are also of special

significance to this discussion.

Description : — Stems in clumps up to about 6 cm. high ; branches up

to 1-25 cm. thick, 4-angled with ascending spreading teeth, light green,

mottled between the angles with purple; the teeth acutely pointed when

young, entire or occasionally toothed near the apex. Flowers 2-3 suc-

cessively produced from towards the base of young branches. Pedicels

2-3 cm. long, glabrous. Sepals about 6 mm. long, narrowly lanceolate,

glabrous. Corolla 4-2 cm. diameter, with a raised disc at the centre sup-

porting the corona ; the lobes spreading horizontally, glabrous on both

surfaces, rugose on the inner surface, 1-8— 1-9 cm. long and 6-7 mm. broad

at the base, lanceolate, acute, ciliate except at the tip with clavate vibratile

hairs. Outer corona-lobes horizontally spreading from the staminal column,

resting on the corolla disc, confluent at the base with the inner corona lobes,

2 mm. long, 1-5 mm. broad at the base, narrowed about the middle, and

contracting to the subacute apex, with 2 ridges on the upper surface and

canaliculate down the middlo, black ; inner-corona lobes incumbent on the

anthers and meeting at the centre, with a compressed tuberculation at the

basal angle, black. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,437.) — R. A.

Dyer.

Plate 811. — Fig. 1, cross-section of base of corolla showing disc or

annulus and corona ; 2, corona as seen from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

Plate 812.

STAPELIA MCLOUGHLINII.

Cape Province.

Asclepiadaoeae

Stapelia McLoughlinii Verdoorn, sp. nov. affinis S. Woodii sed floribus

majoribus, corollae lobis maculatis, obscure rugosis, disco minus prominente

differ t.

Caules carnosi, ascendentes, plus minusve 10 cm. longi, glabri, 4-angulati,

interdum purpureo-maculati, dentibus conicis 1-5 cm. longis decurrentibus

ad apicem acutum planum attenuatis minute bidenticulatis. Flores in

pedunculo brevi simplice vel ramoso 2-3-nati; pedicelli 3-5 cm. longi,

glabri. Sepala lanceolata, 0-6-1 cm. longa 2-5-3-5 mm. lata, glabra.

Corolla 4-5 cm. diam. ; cavitus circiter 2-5 mm. diam. 2-5 mm. profundus ;

discus circiter 1 cm. latus, circiter 2-5 mm. crassus ; lobi ovati, acuti, 1-6 cm.

longi, 1-1 cm. lati, patentes deinde valde reflexi, pilis vibrabilibus clavatis

ciliati (apice excluso) glabri, minute punctati, base obscure rugosi, bepatici,

apicem versus irregulariter luteo-maculati. Corona 2-5 mm. a basi columnae

orta; lobi exteriores patentes, annulo appresso, 1-5 mm. longi, 2 mm. lati,

truncati, obscure 3-lobati, bepatici ; lobi interiores incumbentes, 1-5-2-5 mm.

longi, 1-1-5 mm. lati, late elliptici vel ovati, apice rotundati vel obtuse

apiculati, hepatici vel lutei.

Cape Province: Pondoland; Umtata Falls, McLoughlin in National

Herbarium, No. 26,384.

This striking member of the Stapelieae seems to have

escaped the attention of botanists up to the present time. It

is hard to believe that it has not been discovered before and

possibly even grown in rock gardens, but in that case it was

either wrongly identified or has remained without specific

identity. It is nearest Stapelia Woodii N.E. Br., which was

figured on Plate 724 of this work, and Stapelia semota N.E. Br.

from Kenya Colony. These three species, and also the species

placed in the genus Stultitia — e.g., Stultitia Cooperi Phill. and

S. Tapscottii Phill. — resemble each other in having the disc

much thickened and the corolla-lobes ciliate with vibratile

hairs. In all, except the species described here, the raised disc

passes abruptly into the horizontally spreading or slightly

deflexed lobes. In S. McLoughlinii the thickened disc

merges gradually into the strongly reflexed lobes. Thus

our species becomes the link between the several species

mentioned above and other species of Stapelia apparently

through Stapelia jucunda N.E. Br. (see Plate 624), which has

the vibratile hairs, but not a swollen disc. The characters of

S. McLoughlinii therefore strengthen the arguments given in

the text of the preceding Plate for the retention of Staj)elia

Woodii in the genus Stapelia.

Description : — Stems erect from a decumbent ba-se, branches 4-angled,

glabrous, green with occasional purple red markings, about 10 cm. long;

teeth conical, about 1-5 cm. long, decurront on the stem, with an acute

flattened apex and 2 minute lateral teeth. Flowers borne in twos or threes

on very short simple or branched peduncles; pedicels about 3-5 cm. long,

glabrous. Sepals lanceolate, glabrous, 25-3-5 mm. broad. Corolla about

4-5 cm. in diameter; the cavity containing the staminal-column about

2-5 mm. diameter, and 2-5 mm. deep ; disc swollen, 1 cm. wide and 2-5 mm.

thick, glabrous and slightly rugose ; lobes dark reddish-brown with irregular

yellow markings, ovate, acute, 1-6 cm. long, 11 cm. wide at the base,

glabrous, punctate, with microscopic glands and very obscurely rugose,

strongly reflexed in the mature flower, margins flat and eiliate with vibratile

clavate hairs except at the apex. Corona arising about 2-5 mm. from the

base of the staminal-column ; 5 outer lobes spreading over the mouth of the

cavity, 1-5 mm. long and 2 mm. broad, truncate or obscurely 3-lobed at

the apex, dark blackish-red ; inner lobes incumbent on the anthers with the

apices not touching, 1 -5-2-5 mm. long and 1—1-5 mm. wide, broadly elliptic

and obtuse or ovate with a distinct obtuse spicule, varying in colour, mostly

dark red or yellow with red borders. — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 812. — Fig. 1, cross-section showing the thickened disc and the

staminal-column with corona ; 2, corona as seen from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

8/3

M.E. ConneH del.

Plate 813.

STREPTOCARPUS JOHANNIS.

Natal.

Gesneriaceae

Streptocarpus Johannis L. Britten in Journal of South African Botany,

vol. vi, part I, p. 23 (Jan. 1940).

This species, found at Port St. John’s and recently described

by Miss L. Britten, is one of the prettiest in the genus. It is

also of special interest to the systematist because the shape of

the corolla-tube usually associated with single-leafed species

is here found on a several-leafed plant. Mr. B. L. Burtt in

the Kew Bulletin, 1939, p. 69, expressed some doubt

whether the present subdivision of the genus into the two

sections Unifoliati and Rosulati is the best. In the “ poly-

anthus group ” of the section Unifoliati (i.e., S. polyanthus

and its near allies), the flower is characterised by the slender

downward- curving corolla-tube, laterally compressed at the

throat. In S. Johannis the shape of the flower is the same,

yet, on account of the number of leaves to the plant, it falls

in the section Rosulati. This lends support to the view

taken by Mr. Burtt that some other character than the number

of leaves should be used in the subdivision of the genus.

The specimen figured here was grown at the Division of

Botany and Plant Pathology from plants collected by Mr.

G. W. Reynolds at Port St. John’s. They flowered freely

from mid-October to the end of November.

Description : — Leaves several, developing successively,

with the oldest about 18 cm. long and 6 cm. wide, cuneate at

the base into a thick petiole, that varies in length with age,

dark green and pubescent with short translucent bulbous-

based hairs on the upper surface, pale green suffused with red

on the under-surface and scaly and densely pubescent on the

raised mid-rib and nerves, crenate on the margins. In-

florescences about 3 to each leaf, developing in succession.

Peduncle several flowered, up to 18 cm. long, pubescent with

acute and gland-tipped hairs. Flowers bi-nate ; bracts

4 mm. long, pubescent ; pedicels up to 6 mm. long,

pubescent. Calyx with lobes up to 6 mm. long, pubescent

as in other parts with translucent acute and gland-tipped

hairs. Corolla pale lilac, about 4 cm. long ; tube white flushed

with lilac, about 2 cm. long, slender, shortly pubescent with

gland-tipped hairs, strongly downward curved about the

middle, with the throat upward curved, white and faintly

flushed with yellow at the mouth and distinctly laterally

compressed; upper lip 2-lobed, lobes glabrous, 12 mm.

long, 9 mm. wide; lower lip 3-lobed, lobes glabrous, about

12 mm. long and 9 mm. wide, distinctly marked with a

darker lilac line in the centre on the inner face. Fertile

stamens 2, inserted just about the centre of the corolla-tube;

filaments 4-5 mm. long; anthers about 2 mm. long, cohering

by their faces; staminodes 2. Ovary about 7 mm.

long, obscurely pubescent with appressed translucent hairs.

(National Herbarium No. 26,383.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 813. — Fig. 1, calyx; 2, section of flower ; 3, gynoecinm ; 4, trans-

verse section of ovary ; 5, stigma.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

MARY GUNN LIBRARY

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE I

PRIVATE B&G X 1G1

T' PRETORIA 0001

REPUBUC OF SOUTH AFRICA

3/4

M.E.CormeJl del.

Plate 814.

CHIRONIA TRANSVAALENSIS.

Orange Free State, Transvaal, Swaziland, Rhodesia .

Gentianaceae

Chironia transvaalensis Gilg in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 26, 106 (1899).

The specimen figured was taken from a plant collected on

14th December, 1939, by the writer in a marsh on Mr. C.

Halford’s farm “ Union ” at Pyramids near Pretoria. Of

the plants gathered one had 40 stems, another 63, and a third

had over 70. The species was dominant over an area of about

one-third of an acre of boggy land, to which it imparted a

beautiful appearance. Fringing this area were plants of the

mauve-flowered “ river mint,” Mentha longifolia Huds., sub-

species polyadena Briq., and the shrubby bright pink-flowered

Fpilobium hirsutum Linn. Standing in the water nearby was

the “ bull-rush ” Typha australis Schum. and Thonn.

Chironia transvaalensis occurs chiefly in temperate places

of the central and north-eastern portions of South Africa and

ranges into Rhodesia. Its nearest affinity is C. rosacea Gilg,

which, however, differs in having more numerous and larger

flowers, ovate corolla-lobes, shorter calyx-lobes and broader

ovate-lanceolate leaves. Further, it is recorded mainly from

the eastern coastal belt. Most of the 25 South African species

are worthy of horticultural attention.

Description : — Plants perennial, herbaceous, erect, 45-

75 cm. in height; branches pale green, glaucous, glabrous.

Leaves yellowish green, in opposite pairs 5*7-7 cm. apart,

sessile ; blades 1-3-nerved, somewhat succulent, 4-6 cm. long,

4- 8 mm. broad, lanceolate, acute, entire, glaucous, glabrous.

Inflorescence a terminal panicle of cymes, occasionally a

2-flowered cyme. Peduncles 2*5-5 cm. long. Bracts 0*5-1 *8

cm. long, linear-lanceolate. Calyx deeply 5-lobed ; tube

2 mm. long; lobes mid-green, 4 mm. long, keeled. Corolla

5- lobed; tube 5 mm. long; lobes magenta-pink, contorted,

1*6 cm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, patent, curving and

rolling backwards when old, semi-persistent. Stamens 5,

exserted, inserted in the corolla-throat; anthers spirally

twisted. Ovary 1-chambered, conical, acute, with numerous

ovules on 2-fid placentas; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule ovoid,

dehiscing septicidally into two valves. Seeds numerous,

globose, foveolate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria No.

26,423.)— A. 0. D. Mogg.

Plate 814. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

815

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 815.

BOWIEA VOLUBILIS.

Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal, S. W. Africa.

Liliaceae

Bowiea volubilis Harv. ex Bot. Mag. t. 5619 (1867).

This is yet another instance of a coloured illustration in

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine being followed by one of the

same species in Flowering Plants of South Africa. Con-

siderably more is known of Boiviea volubilis Harv. to-day than

was the case when it was described for the first time in the

former work in 1867. It was then stated : “ Though possess-

ing little beauty, this is certainly one of the most curious

plants ever introduced into Europe.” The bulb produces one

or two short rudimentary leaves which soon wither. The

“ breathing ” function of leaves is assumed by the intricately

branched inflorescence, which resembles the appearance of

one of the delicate species of Asparagus.

The species was first discovered in the eastern Cape

Province, probably on the Katberg or adjacent mountain,

where it occurs under the protection of rocks. It extends in

its distribution from thereabouts along the mountain ranges,

and in some valleys to the northern Transvaal, and is also

recorded from South-west Africa. It is tolerant of both wet

and dry conditions; in some places it is found under the

protection of low bush, and in others in boulder-screes either

on northern or southern aspects. When growing in bush-

groups the bulb is mostly exposed above ground, and when

in boulder-screes the bulb is usually seated in a small amount

of leaf-mould under the top boulders. Our plant, which was

figured in January 1940, was grown at the Division of Botany

and Plant Pathology from a bulb collected on the south-

eastern slope of the Magaliesberg, about 1 mile west of Horn’s

Nek, near Pretoria. It will be noted in the Plate that the

branchlets are descending. The basal portion at least is

almost invariably at such an angle to the main stem or branch.

Thus if these branchlets are over branches of shrubs, they

give additional efficiency to the twining habit as a means of

support.

There is little doubt that the plant has long been known to

the natives, and the bulb is used extensively in native medicine,

and has on several occasions been cited in murder cases. There

is now an extensive literature on the medicinal and toxic

properties of the bulb. It has a digitalis effect, and recent

experiments indicate that it may be of considerable value in

medicine if correctly administered. Several parcels of bulbs

have been sent by the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology

to experimental institutions overseas.

B. volubilis constituted a monotypic genus until in 1034 a

second species was described from Tanganyika Territory. The

generic name Boiviea was first used by Haworth for two plants

since included in the genus Aloe. Normally this would have

invalidated the name Bowiea for our plant, but the name was

placed on the list of “Nomina Conservanda” in 1935, which

was published in Kew Bulletin, 1940.

Description : — Bulb up to 15 cm. in diameter, subglobose

or somewhat broader than high, composed of several very

fleshy scales; scales nearly or completely enveloping those

within, white or, if somewhat exposed, greenish-yellow.

Leaves 1 or 2 rudimentary, 2-4 cm. long or occasionally longer

under cultivation, canaliculate, obtuse, soon withering.

Flowering stem or scape slender, twining, reaching a length of

2-3 metres, nude towards the base, producing intricately

branched branches above ; branches refiexed-spreading ;

pedicels curved, those of the basal branches mostly sterile,

2-3 cm. long. Perianth green, lobed to the base, expanding

to 1*3 cm. in diameter; segments spreading, eventually

reflexed, 5 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, with incurved tips.

Stamens inserted at the base of the perianth-segments,

filaments slender above from a cuneate base, shorter than the

perianth-segments. Ovary conical; style 2-2-5 mm. long,

slightly clavate, 3-lobed at the apex. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 26,438.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 815. — Fig. 1, face view of flower; 2, developing capsule; 3,

gynoecium ; 4, stigma.

F.P.S.A., 194L

816

:v

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 816.

SERRURIA MILLEFOLIA.

Cape Province.

Pboteaceae

Serruria millefolia Knight Prot. 79; FI. Cap., vol. 5, sect. 1, p. 676.

On Plates 481 and 482 we figured two of the more striking

species of the genus Serruria, and through the courtesy of

Mr. T. P. Stokoe we are now able to figure a third species.

The genus is endemic in the south-western regions of the

Cape Province, where it is represented by about fifty species.

Like other members of the family Proteaceae, the species vary

considerably in habit, some being decumbent plants, while

others are shrubs up to 6-7 feet high. Several species are a

characteristic element in the vegetation of the “ flats ” in

many of the south-western districts of the Cape Province.

It is possible that in the Flora Capensis there has been some

confusion in the inclusion of all the specimens quoted under S.

millefolia. Our plant agrees with Drege’s specimen collected

between Berg Valley and Lange Valley, but differs in some

respects from Bolus 9081 and Schlechter 8668, also quoted in

the Flora Capensis. The large and evident bracts subtending

the flowers are absent in the latter two collectings. As it has

not been possible to examine Niven’s specimen, the type of

S. millefolia, we have decided to describe the specimen under

the name of S. millefolia as recognised in the Flora Capensis.

The specimen we describe and figure was collected by Mr.

Stokoe near Citrusdal in the Piquetberg district.

Description : — An erect shrub. Young branches yellow-

ish, scantily pilose. Leaves crowded, 1 cm. long, trifurcate

from near the base, with each branch again trifurcate. Heads

solitary, 1-1 -5 cm. long, 2-2-5 cm. diameter, globose.

Peduncle 1-5 cm. long, pilose, with several linear ciliate bracts

1-1-5 cm. long. Axis 8 mm. long, 1-5 mm. diameter, cylindric,

long-pilose. Bracts 1-2 cm. long, 5 mm. broad and obovate

when flattened out, long-acuminate, curved and deeply concave

when seen in side view, long ciliatc on the upper portion.

Perianth-segments 1 cm. long, linear, claw and limb pilose;

tube short, glabrous. Ovary shortly pilose; style filiform,

glabrous; stigma small, ellipsoid. Nut 5-5 mm. long, 2-25

mm. diameter, ellipsoid, scantily pilose. (National Her-

barium, Pretoria, No. 26,424.) — E. P. Phillips.

Plate 81G. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section of head ; 2, bracts (two different

views) ; 3, an unopened flower ; 4, style with the slightly thickened stigma ;

6, fruit; 6, a leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

4.77

2

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 817.

HELIPTERUM VARIEGATUM.

Cape Province .

COMPOSITAE

Helipterum variegatum DC. Prodr. 6, p. 212 (1837) Harv. and Sond.

FI. Cap, vol. 3, p. 257 (1864-65).

The common name “ everlasting ” or “ sewejaartjie ” is

applied to species of more than one genus of the family

Compositae which have chartaceous involucral-bracts. So

far only one “ everlasting,” Helichrysum summo-montanum

Verdoorn (Plate 483), has been figured in this work, and the

present Plate represents the first species of Helipterum, also

commonly known as an “ everlasting,” we have been able to

illustrate. Helipterum is distinguished from Helichrysum,

which contains the majority of the “ everlastings,” by the

structure of the pappus. The pappus segments of the former

are plumose or feathery, whereas those of the latter are

bristle-like. The difference is not great, and the species under

consideration, and several other species of Helipterum, were

originally described under the genus Helichrysum. The

distribution of the genus Helipterum is noteworthy. It is

represented by about 45 species, 15 of which occur in the

south-eastern and south-western Cape Province, and the

others in Australia. This is a particle of evidence in favour

of the theory of a former land connection between the two

continents.

An interesting feature of Helipterum variegatum is the

transition in structure from the leaves to the involucral

bracts. The upper leaves are furnished with a membranous

tip, similar in texture to the bracts, and thence upwards the

relative size of the membranous portion increases until the

normal leaf has given place completely to membranous bracts

below the head.

Mr. T. P. Stokoe, to whom we owe this opportunity of

figuring one of the rarer species of the South African Flora,

collected the specimens on a boulder slope of the Matroosberg,

above 4,000 ft., approaching Conical Peak from the Ceres side.

It is not unlikely that it would prove a handsome addition to

an “ alpine rockery.” There is a small export trade from

South Africa in several kinds of “ everlasting,” which are

used to make wreaths, posies, etc. In Cape Town “ ever-

lastings ” are sold by coloured flower-hawkers, who often dye

the heads with bright analine dyes.

Description : — An undershrub, up to about 2 ft. tall,

sometimes unbranched, and flowering in the first year of

growth, later becoming tufted at the base and occasionally

branched a few inches from the base. Leaves densely

imbricate, gradually smaller, and the upper ones membrane-

tipped, up to about 3 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, elliptic-oblong,

sessile, subacute, densely and softly whitish or fulvous woolly

on both surfaces. Capitula up to 5 cm. diameter, solitary,

nodding. Involucral-bracts in many series up to 1-5 cm. long,

oblong-lanceolate, glossy, tipped to a varying degree with

brown ; the innermost ones shorter than the medial ones and

entirely white; Disc-floivers numerous. Corolla 5-lobed,

glossy brownish-black. Pappus plumose. Achenes papillose.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,389.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 817. — Fig. 1, achene with pappus and disc-flower; 2, single

pappus plume.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

BJ8

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 818.

HAWORTHIA UBOMBOENSIS.

Swaziland.

Liliaceae

Haworthia ubomboensis Verdoorn, sp. nov., in sectione Magaritiferae

distincta accedit H. limifoliae sed foliis sparse tuberculatis non lineis

elevatis undulatis transverse striatis facile distinguitur.

Planta subacaulis, subolifera ; rhizomata usque ad 5 cm. longa. Folia

plus minus 20, rosulata, ovato-lanceolata, acuminata, 3-6 cm. longa, 12-20

mm. lata, 2 mm. crassa, rigida, patula, leviter recurvata, supra plano-

concava, obscure longitudinaliter lineata, etuberculata vel sparse tuber-

culata, subtus convexa, sparse tuberculata, tuberculis in lineam longi-

tudinaliter ordinatis ; margines integri, peranguste cartilaginei ; apices acuti.

Pedunculus simplex, 30 cm. longus, leviter curvatus. Bracteae late ovatae,

3 mm. longae, cuspidatae. Pedicelli 1 cm. longi, sub-erecti. Perigonium

bilabiatum, albido vel roseo tinctum, viridule carinata ; tubus 1 cm. longus,

intus marginibus segmentorum interiorum decurrentibus ; segmenta oblonga,

obtusa 5 mm. longa, 2 mm. lata, 3 segmentis superioribus recurvatis, 3

inferioribus medio valde revoluto, lateralibus replicatis revolutisque.

Stamina 6, basi tubi inserta, inclusa, 3 exterioribus quam interioribus

brevioribus. Ovarium oblongum, 2-5 mm. longum, obtusum, trigonum;

stylus 2-5 mm. longus.

Swaziland : Ubombo Mts., Keith in National Herbarium, No. 26,392.

In September 1937 Captain D. R. Keith sent to the

National Herbarium for identification two small leaves of a

plant he had growing in his garden at his home, Ravelston,

near Stegi, Swaziland. He had collected the plants a few

years previously in a rather inaccessible place on the Ubombo

Mountains near Stegi. The leaves were obviously those of

a species of Haworthia, and since the locality was . msual for

this genus, which is centralised in the Cape Prcr mce, Capt.

Keith was asked for further material and infoimation. He

sent one of the plants from his garden, and this was cultivated

at the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology. In Decem-

ber 1940 it flowered, and the accompanying Plate was prepared

from it. Several small plants developed from rhizomes, and

three of these are shown in the figure.

In the National Herbarium we have one other record of a

species of Hawmthia from the Ubombo Mountains. It was

collected by Mr. J. F. de Wet just north of Pongola, and is

Haworthia limifolia Marl. Both these species belong to the

section M agariti ferae, but they are easily distinguished by the

markings on the leaves. In H. limifolia the leaves are trans-

versely ridged, like a coarse file, as the name implies, while

in our specimen the leaves arc sparsely tubcrculate and the

tubercles arranged in longitudinal series. From typical

II. margaritifera our plant differs in the spreading and some-

what recurved leaves, which are also not transversely and

prominently tubcrculate as in that species.

Description : — Plant sub-acaulescent, suckcring; rhizomes slender and

about 2 in. long. Loaves up to 20 or more in a rosette, ovate-lanceolate,

acuminate, 3-6 cm. long, 12-20 mm. wide, 2 mm. thick, spreading, slightly

recurved, rigid, flat-concave above faintly lineate, smooth or with a few

localised tubercles running longitudinally, convex below, obscurely or

sparsely tuberculate in longitudinal series ; margin entire, with a very narrow

cartilaginous edge; apex acute. Inflorescence simple, about 30 cm. long,

slightly curved. Brads broadly ovate, about 3 mm. long, shortly cuspidate

or the lower with the cusp up to 2 mm. long. Pedicels up to 1 cm. long, sub-

erect. Perianth somewhat bi-labiate, white with a pinkish tinge and bands

of greenish markings down the centre of the segments ; perianth-tube 1 cm.

long, with the margins of the inner segments free within to the base of the

tube; segments oblong, obtuse, 5 mm. long and2 mm. wide, 2 outer and 1 inner

forming the upper lip with all three segments slightly recurved, while 1 outer

and 2 inner form the lower lip with the central segment strongly revolute

and the lateral replicate as well as revolute. Stamens 6, inserted at the base

of the perianth-tube, included ; the 3 outer filaments slightly shorter and

thicker than the 3 inner. Ovary 2-5 mm. long, oblong, obtuse, trigonous;

stylo 2-5 mm. long. — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 818. — Fig. 1, transverse section of leaf; 2, longitudinal section of

the flower ; 3, stigma, style and ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

819

Plate 819.

LISSOCHILUS BUCHANAN!.

Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal, Rhodesia.

Orchidaceae

Lissochilus Buchanani Reichb. f. Otia Bot. Hamb. 1. 64 (1878) ; FI.

Cap. vol. 5, sect. 3, p. 60 (1912) ; FI. PL S.A. vol. 15, pi. 586 (1935).

When the present Plate and description were being pre-

pared the plant was considered to differ sufficiently in habit

from the typical form of Lissochilus Buchanani, figured on

Plate 586 (1935), to be regarded as specifically distinct. In

the typical form the leaves are characterised by a com-

paratively well-marked, narrow, sheathing petiole which is

absent in the broader leaves of the present form. These

points were drawn to the attention of Dr. L. Bolus, who

examined the specimens and gave it as her opinion that too

much importance should not be placed on these differences

unless proof was forthcoming to prove their stability. On

the other hand, it was at least a form “ well worth noting.”

The collector of the specimen, Mr. A. E. Grewcock, who has

submitted several other orchids for figuring, later forwarded

further material from the same area, and this conformed much

nearer with the typical form of L. Buchanani, thus proving the

wisdom of Dr. Bolus’ caution.

The following information was recorded by Mr. Grewcock :

“ The plant was collected at Middlekop Plantation near

Tzaneen, where it seems to be very rare. It was found in a

sheltered gully where weed-growth is very rank. This was

originally open veld with patches of shrubs. It was then

planted with Eucalyptus sp. and later clear felled. Eulophia

Krebsii is fairly common, and flourishes under the same

conditions.” E. Krebsii is illustrated on the following Plate,

and reference is there made to other species of the genus

published in this work.

Description : — Plant producing a tuft of leaves from

thickened rhizomes. Stem 5 cm. thick at the base. Leaves

about 8, distichous, up to 60 cm. long; the lowest one 19 cm.

long, 4-5 cm. wide towards the apex, slightly contracted above

the middle, expanding and clasping the inner leaves below;

the second and third leaves from the base also show a slight

waist-like contraction above the broad clasping base ; the

fourth leaf from the bottom 7 cm. broad, and those above

progressively slightly narrower, but longer, plicate, and boat-

shaped. Scapes produced from the axils of the first, second

and third leaves successively, stout, about 4 ft. high, with

spathaceous imbricate sheaths below. Racemes elongating to

30 — 40 cm., many flowered. Flowers yellow, moderately

spaced. Bracts oblong-lanceolate, up to 2*5 cm. long and 8

mm. broad, becoming gradually smaller above. Pedicels

slender, up to 2-5 cm. long. Sepals spathulate-oblong, obtuse,

boat-shaped, above 2-2*5 cm. long, 8-9 mm. broad, rcflexed.

Petals elliptic-oblong, obtuse, nearly as long and nearly twice

as broad as the sepals; lip longer than the petals, very

obscurely 3-lobed, obtuse, with the margin of the central lobe

undulate, especially at the base passing into the side lobes,

and with 3-4 thickened crenulate keels terminating and most

prominent 5 mm. from the tip ; spur broadly conical, obtuse,

5 mm. long. Column somewhat clavate, 1*25 cm. long.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,433.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 819. — Fig. 1, side view of lip ; 2, front view of lip.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 820.

LISSOCHILUS KREBSII.

Natal, Transvaal, Tropical Africa.

Okchidaceae

Lissochilus Krebsii Reichb. f. in Linnaea, vol. 20, p. 685 (1847) ;

This. -Dyer, FI. Cap. 5, sect. 3, p. 58 (1912).

Lissochilus Krebsii, like L. Buchanani, figured on the

previous Plate, has a wide distribution. It occurs from

central Tropical Africa into central Natal. Distribution records

for the genus as a whole are given in the text accompanying

other species of Lissochilus previously published in these pages.

In addition to an earlier plate of L. Buchanani, pi. 586, the

following three species have been illustrated, L. speciosus, L.

Sander soni and L. parviflorus on Plates 493, 586 and 739,

respectively. As pointed out under Plate 493, the difference

between the two genera Lissochilus and Eulophia is not great,

and the merits of each were discussed there fully by Dr. L.

Bolus. The retention of the two genera is now generally

agreed upon.

An illustration of L. Krebsii appeared in Curtis’s Botanical

Magazine, tab. 5861. This was painted from a cultivated

plant, whereas the present one was prepared from a plant

growing under natural conditions. The pose of the flowers

and the colour values differ in the two Plates, but there is no

fundamental difference. The specimen illustrated here was

collected by our artist, Miss M. E. Connell, on a dead tree-

stump in a wood near Skeerpoort at the foot of the Magalies-

berg in the Transvaal. Species of Lissochilus generally lend

themselves readily to cultivation and this is no exception.

Description : — Plant producing many pseudo -bulbs, the

young ones giving rise to tufts of leaves. Pseudo-bulb ovate.

Leaves about 7 from each pseudo -bulb, shortly sheathing,

increasing in size from the lowest up to 45 cm. long and 9 cm.

broad, with about 7 prominent nerves on the under-surface,

articulated above the base. Scape lateral, sub-erect, up

to 1*3 m. (4f ft.) high, with several spathaceous sheaths.

Racemes up to 50 cm. long, simple or once-branched below.

Flowers numerous, moderately spaced. Bracts ovate-lanceo-

late, 1-1-5 cm. long. Pedicels 2-2-5 cm. long. Sepals

elliptic-oblong, obtuse or apiculate, r5-l*7 cm. long, 5-6 mm.

broad, half reflexed, green with brown tinge on outer surface,

bronze within. Petals ovate-orbicular, spreading, somewhat

longer than the sepals and as broad or broader than long,

bright yellow on the outer surface, cream within. Lip

3-lobed, about equal to the petals; side lobes erect, sub-

quadrate, obtuse, creamy-yellow, brown tinged along the

outer margin within ; front lobe orbicular, obtuse with

reflexed sides, bright yellow with brown marking on either

side towards the base ; disc convex with 2 obtuse keels ; spur

broadly conical, obtuse, about 4 mm. long. Column oblong,

8-9 mm. long. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,388.) —

R. A. Dyer.

Plate 820. — Fig. 1, side view of lip ; 2, front view of lip showing reflexed

sides of front lobe and erect side lobes.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

82/

M. E. C oimell del.

z

Plate 821.

SCILLA RIGIDIFOLIA var. ACEROSA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae

Scilla rigidifolia Baker var. acerosa F. van der Merwe var. nov. a

S. rigidifolia var. Gerrardi Baker foliis acerosis differt.

This little species of Scilla belongs to a group of plants

that Baker retained as varieties of S. rigidifolia, in the subgenus

Euscilla. The leaves are among the most slender in the genus,

and bear a tolerable resemblance to pine-tree needles; it is

this character that distinguishes the new variety from S.

rigidifolia var. Gerrardi Baker. The plant figured was col-

lected by the writer on a grassy hillside some miles east of

Middelburg, Transvaal, amongst Nerine Rehmanni L. Bolus,

for which it was at first mistaken owing to a superficial

resemblance.

Description : — Bulb oblong, 3 cm. long, 2 cm. in diameter,

produced into a neck about 1 cm. long, with a dense fibrous

covering (the remains of previous years’ leaf-bases). Leaves

3-4, about 10 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, deeply grooved along the

upper surface, strengthened by stout fibrous bundles. In-

florescence somewhat longer than the leaves. Raceme about

15-flowered, about 3 cm. long, 2-5 cm. diameter, lax. Pedicels

8-10 mm. long, subtended by small, thin, fibrous bracts about

2 mm. long. Perianth-segments white with oval green marking

near the apex, 3-4 mm. long, spreading widely from the base.

Filaments white, as long as the perianth-segments; anthers

bluish-green. Ovary green, obtusely 6-lobed, broader below

than above; style whitish, acute. (National Herbarium, No.

26,402.) — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 821. — Fig. 1, cross-section of leaf; 2, portion of inflorescence axis

showing bracts ; 3 and 4, perianth-segments with stamens ; 5, gynaecium ;

6, gynaecium from above ; 7, cross-section of one carpel of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

822

C. Letty del.

Plate 822.

SCILLA KRAUSSII.

Cape Province, Natal.

Liliaceae

Scilla Kraussii Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. 13, 243 (1873); FI. Cap.,

vol. 6, p. 481 (1896-7).

This beautiful plant is allied to forms of Scilla natalensis

in the structure of its flowers, but is readily distinguished by

its miniature size and by its lax racemes, consisting of about

25 flowers. The specimen figured was collected by Mr.

A. O. D. Mogg in January 1937, on the summit of cliffs of

Table Mountain sandstone, near Nkambati River, in North-

east Pondoland. The bulbs have flowered annually at the

Division of Botany and Plant Pathology. The species also

occurs in various parts of Natal.

Description : — Bulb covered by a thin layer of dead leaves,

about 2 cm. in diameter, 4-5 cm. long, including a neck of

about 1 cm. long, 0-7 cm. diam. below ground, and a solid butt

below the bulb about 1 cm. long and 2 cm. diameter. Leaves

about 4, rigid, with the upper surface deep green and lower

surface blackish-purple, up to 7 cm. long, 1 cm. wide, oblong-

lanceolate, acuminate, forming an angle of about 45° with the

main axis, convex above with an acute longitudinal furrow,

pilose on both surfaces with the hairs mainly along the nerves.

Inflorescence one from each bulb, arising below the youngest

leaves. Scape deep purple, erect, terete, about 3 mm. diameter,

and 12 cm. tall below the flowers. Raceme loosely cylindric,

about 10 cm. long, 3 cm. diameter, very lax, about 25-flowered,

of which 6 are open simultaneously. Bracts dark purple, a

few sterile ones below the raceme up to 10 mm. long, 2 mm.

wide at their base, acuminate ; lower fertile ones about 5 mm.

long, narrowly acuminate, erect, usually with a spreading

bracteole up to 2 mm. long from one side of the base of the

pedicel. Perianth-segments ultramarine blue, spreading at

right angles to the axis from the base, not enclosing the ovary,

about 4-5 mm. long, ovate-elliptic, broadest above the middle,

usually concave above; 3 outer 2 mm. wide; 3 inner ones

3 mm. wide. Filaments shorter than the perianth-segments,

1-5 mm. wide slightly above the base, ovate-lanceolate;

anthers oval. Ovary sessile, globose, 2 mm. long, obtusely

3-lobed and with 3 intermediate grooves, more than 6 ovules

in each chamber ; style white, as long as the ovary, tapered to

the stigma; stigma capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 26,403.) — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 822. — Fig. 1, peart of axis show ing bract and lateral bractcole.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

bZ3

M.E. Connell del.

tnnr~y

Plate 823.

SCILLA SCHLECHTERI.

Natal , Transvaal.

Liliaceae

Scilla Schlechteri Baker in Bull. Herb. Boiss., Ser. 2, vol. 4,

p. 1002 (1904).

Scilla Schlechteri is closely related to S. lachenalioides

Baker, and with it forms a distinct subgroup of the genus,

showing certain affinities with the genus Drimiopsis. S.

Schlechteri differs from S. lachenalioides in having elongated

racemes and smaller flowers of a dull brownish-purple colour.

It was first described from Natal, and has a wide range of

distribution, extending into the Transvaal from Piet Retief to

Barberton in open grassland and among rocks usually at an

altitude of 2,000-5,000 ft. above sea-level. The specimen

here figured was collected by the writer in December 1937

near Amsterdam in the eastern Transvaal, and the bulbs

flowered at the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology in

November 1939.

Description : — Bulb whitish, consisting of fleshy scales,

not surrounded by the dry remains of leaves, pyriform, about

6 cm. long and up to 5 cm. in diameter. Leaves usually 3,

green, sometimes purplish towards base, covered with fine

hairs on both surfaces, giving a matt appearance, about 7 cm.

long, 5 cm. wide, ovate-lanceolate, contracted for about 4 cm.

to a base T5 cm. wide, slightly spreading and somewhat

channelled on the upper surface down the midrib. Inflores-

cence longer than the leaves. Scape green or brownish purple,

stout, up to 25 cm. long below the raceme. Raceme 30-50-

flowered, dense, cylindric, up to 15 cm. long (usually about

10 cm.), 3 cm. diameter. Pedicels about 2 mm. long, fleshy,

ebracteate. Flowers cernuous, having a deeply cup-shaped

appearance. Perianth-segments white-margined with a broad,

greenish, purple-brown medial band giving the flower its

characteristic striped appearance, about 6 mm. long, very

shortly connate at the 2 mm. broad base or arising from a

disc-like base, not spreading except for a length of 1 mm. at

the apex. Filaments white, about 2 mm. shorter than the

perianth-segments and adnate to their base, slightly flattened.

Ovary green, sessile on disc of perianth, obtusely 6-angled,

broadest at the middle. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

26,432.) — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 823. — Fig. 1, portion of axis showing pedicels; 2, longitudinal

section through flower ; 3, gynaecium ; 4, gvnaecium from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

S24

5

Plate 824.

SCILLA LACHENALIOIDES.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae

Scilla lachenalioides Baker in FI. Cap. vol. 6, p. 482 (1896-7).

This, one of the most beautiful of the South African species

of Scilla, is closely related to S. Schlechteri, which is figured on

the previous plate. It is found on mist-haunted mountains

of the eastern Cape Province, and does not thrive as an ordinary

pot plant, being apparently very sensitive to environmental

conditions. The specimen here figured was collected by Major

A. G. McLoughlin in the Transkei, and flowered at the National

Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, in October 1919. We are

indebted to Dr. L. Bolus, Curator of the Bolus Herbarium,

for the use of the accompanying figure, prepared from a

specimen preserved in the Bolus Herbarium.

Description : — Bulb whitish, pyriform, up to 5 cm. long,

3-5 cm. in diameter, consisting of thick fleshy scales, often

slightly flattened on two opposite sides, readily broken apart.

Leaves usually 2, dark green, sometimes with roundish darker

green blotches on the upper surface and with brownish-purple

transverse markings on the under surface towards the base,

up to 12 cm. long, 3-5 cm. wide in the middle, ovate-lanceolate,

obtuse, tapering into a petiole-like base up to 7 cm. long

underground; upper surface covered with very short hairs,

dull. Infioresce7ice taller than the leaves. Scape brownish-

green, terete, about 20 cm. long below the raceme. Raceme

10-20-flowered, dense, oblong, all the flowers often hanging

one way. Pedicels about 3 mm. long, subtended by a vestigial,

fleshy, round bract about 1 mm. long. Flower about 1*5 cm.

long, more or less urceolate, about 4 mm. broad at the base.

Perianth-segments rose-coloured within, with a green medial

band, deep rose outside, slightly paler towards the margins,

about 1*5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad, not spreading except for

the reflexed apex. Filaments whitish, half as long as the

perianth-segments. Ovary sessile, about 5 mm. long, oblong

in outline ; style whitish, 5 mm. long, capitate. (McLoughlin

in Bolus Herbarium.) — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 824. — Fig. 1, flower x 2; 2, perianth laid open x 2; 3, outer

segment inside view x 2; 4, inner segment, inside view x 2; 5, outer segment

outside view x 2; 6, inner segment outside view x 2; 7, gvnaecium ; 8,

stamen x 2.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

825

z

M.E. ConneJl del

Plate 825.

SCILLA VIOLACEA.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae

Scilla violacea Hutch, in Kew Bull. 1932, p. 511.

This species of Scilla was described from bulbs collected

by Dr. J. Hutchinson and Mr. F. R. Long in September 1930,

at the Klein River near Hankey, in the Uitenhage district of

the eastern Cape Province, and which flowered at the Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew, two years later. Under cultivation

the bulbs multiply profusely by budding from the base and by

the production of new bulbs from the root system. Our plate

was prepared from bulbs received from Dr. L. Bolus which

flowered at the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology in

October 1940. The deep purple under surface of the leaves,

their mottled upper surface, and the pale flowers make this a

striking pot plant.

Description : — Bulb whitish, covered by a few dry leaf-

bases, which may be purplish, 3 cm. or more long, ending in a

short neck, with roots from which secondary bulbs may develop

(compare S. saturata Plate 674). Leaves 3-5, lanceolate, 7-10

cm. long, about 2 cm. wide ; the bases over-lapping ; the upper

surface whitish with small irregular dark green blotches,

slightly channelled along the mid nerve ; under surface bright

purple. Scape purplish below, about 10 cm. long. Raceme

about 20-flowered, lax, about 4 cm. long and 2 cm. in diameter.

Pedicel whitish, subtended by a fleshy vestigial bract. Flowers

pendant. Perianth-segments green with whitish margins,

the bases forming a cup and recurved above, about 4 mm. long,

2 mm. wide. Filaments whitish below and deep purple towards

their apex, almost as long as the perianth-segments ; anthers

oval, yellow. Ovary green, 6-lobed, broadest at its base, but

without a discoiclal swelling ; style whitish, stigma very slightly

capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,399.) —

F. VAN DER MERWE.

Plate 825. — Fig. 1, portion of axis showing bracts ; 2, perianth-segment

with stamen ; 3, gynaecium from above ; 4, gynaecium side view.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

6 26

M. E . Connell del.

Plate 826.

SCILLA PRASINA.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae

Scilla prasina Baker in Saund. Ref. Bot. vol. 3, App., p. 10 (1870) ;

FI. Cap., vol. 6, p. 489 (1896-7).

The accompanying' plate was made from a plant collected

by the writer in December 1938, in the mixed grass veld a

few miles north-west of Grahamstown, and which flowered at

the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology a year later.

The plants were identified by comparison with a photo of the

type specimen (Gill, Kafferland), one of a collection specially

prepared for the National Herbarium by the Director of the

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The species, which belongs to

the section Ledebouria, is characterised by fleshy roots, a large

number of brown, papyrus-like, dry leaf-bases round the bulb

and by the green flowers, which have a round bowl-like shape

below, narrowed above, with only the upper half of the seg-

ments spreading. The ovary is broadest at the base, but not

discoidally extended, and the bracts subtending the pedicels

are rudimentary.

Description : — Bulb 2-5-3 cm. long, 1-5-2 cm. diameter,

covered with a thick layer of loosely packed, dry, brittle

scales and with strong, fleshy roots. Leaves about 6, about

10 cm. long, 2-5 cm. wide near the base, oblong-lanceolate;

upper and lower surf aces green, sometimes spotted with distinct,

round, light-brownish blotches, slightly waxy in appearance.

Inflorescence several scapes from each bulb. Scape spreading-

erect in flower and gradually reclining in fruit, about 50-

flowered, 6 cm. long below the flowers. Raceme 5-10 cm.

long, cylindric. Pedicel about 5 cm. long; bract absent or

rudimentary. Perianth-segments green, incurved-erect from

the base, forming a bowl-like shape and spreading in their upper

half, about 5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide at the base. Filaments

bright purple, shorter than the perianth-segments. Ovary

stipitate, 6-lobed, subglobosely expanded below ; style whitish,

stigma very slightly capitate ; ovules 6. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 26,401.) — F. van der-Merwe.

Plate 826. — Fig. 1, section of axis showing bracts; 2, perianth-segment

with stamen ; 3, gynaecium side view ; 4, gvnaecium from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

8 2 7

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 827.

SCILLA CINERASCENS.

Transvaal.

Llliaceae

Scilla cinerascens F. van der Merwe, sp. nov., S. saturatae cupula

lata perianthii et ovario non discoideo-ampliato accedit, sed ceterum valde

differt.

Bulbus subglobosus, tunicatus, brunneus, usque 2-5 cm. diam., apice in

collum ca. 3 cm. immersum productus. Folia circiter 10, erecta, linearia

sensim attenuata, acuta, basin versus non inter se amplexa, late canaliculata,

tenuiter carnosa, circiter 4 mm. lata et 9 cm. longa, viridia, subtus basi

maculis transversis brunneis irregulariter picta. Inflorescentiae circiter 3,

foliis breviores deinde subaequantes, adscendentes vel recurvo-adscendentes.

Scapus sub racemo tenuis, ca. 6 cm. longus. Racemus pyramidalis, ca.

20-florus, 1-5 cm. longus deinde in fructu ad 3 cm. longus, 1 cm. latus.

Pedicelli purpurei, 3-5 mm. longi, bracteis minutis carnosis ca. 1 mm. longis.

Perianthii segmenta subaequalia, vix basi in cupulam latam conniventia dein

patentia, obscure purpurea ca. 1 mm. lata et 3 mm. longa, apice interiora

saepe papillam ferentia. Filamenta purpurea, segmentis valde breviora,

antheris viridulis vel fuscis saepe polline aurantiaco plenis. Ovarium

breviter stipitatum, viride, globoso-sex-lobatum inaequaliter sulcatum, basi

non ampliatum ; stylus purpureus.

Transvaal: Piet Retief, Wolwekop, van der Merwe 1,119, 1838, and in

National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,430.

This miniature species of Scilla, which was collected in

flower in November 1938, at Wolwekop, Piet Retief district,

is found in dense colonies along crevices in rocks where water

seeps through after rains. Grown in tins, it multiplies rapidly

by division. It is allied to the S. saturata group by the shallow-

ness of the cup formed by the perianth-segments, the fairly

uniform colouring of the upper surface of the segment, and the

absence of a distinct discoidal widening of the base of the

ovary. The accompanying plate was made from a plant

flowering at the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology in

November 1939.

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

contracted into a subterranean neck of about 3 cm. long and

covered by a number of dry leaf-bases. Leaves about 10,

grass-like, often becoming procumbent in one direction, about

9 cm. long and 4 mm. broad, linear, acuminate, shallowly

concave above, both surfaces bright green with a few irregular

purplish transverse bands towards the base on the back.

Inflorescence about 3 racemes per bulb, shorter than the leaves

when in flower, occasionally as long when in fruit. Scape

below the raceme about G cm. long, very slender, often spread-

ing-erect. Raceme about 20-flowered, greyish purple, about

1*5 cm. long and 1 cm. broad, pyriform, dense, elongating to

3 cm. long in fruit. Pedicel purple, comparatively robust,

3-5 mm. long. Bract greyish, about 1 mm. long, narrow,

fleshy. Perianth -segments subequal, forming a shallow cup

below and spreading at an angle of about 60°, above about

3 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse, with a small mucro

within the apex ; both surfaces greyish purple with a green

tinge. Filaments purple, terete, much shorter than the

perianth-segments; anthers greenish or blackish, often ap-

pearing yellow due to dehiscing pollen. Ovary shortly stipi-

tate, obtusely G-lobed, without a discoidal expansion at the

base ; style purple, longer than the ovary, narrowing into the

truncated stigma. — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 827. — Fig. 1, portion of axis showing bracts; 2, perianth-segment

and stamen ; gynaecium lateral view ; 4, gynaecium from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

828

M. E. Connell del

3

Plate 828.

SCILLA RUPESTRIS.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae

Scilla rupestris F. van der Merwe, sp. nov., ad S. saturatam accedit,

sed planta parva et foliis fere linearibus inter alia differt.

Bulbus ca. 2 cm. longus, 1-5 cm. diametro, collo breve valde angustato.

Folia 3-5, linearia, 2-3 cm. longa, et 5 mm. lata, demum ad 10 cm. longa,

supra maculis parvis distincte pi eta, et longitudinaliter sulcata. Inflores-

centia ca. 5 cm. longa, cujus racemus 2 cm. longus et 1-5 cm. latus, floribus

ca. 10. Pedicellus ca. 2 mm. longus, bracteis minutis, ex basi carnoso in

duobus divisis. Perianthii laciniae basi in cupulam latam conniventiae,

superne patentes, laete purpureae in medio in longitudinem viride striatae.

Filamenta segmentis breviora, laete purpurea, antheris aperte distincte

luteis. Ovarium stipitatum, basin versus haud discoideo ampliatum ;

stylus rubro-purpureus, apice truncato.

Transvaal : Pilgrims Rest, near MacMac and Sabife, van der Merwe

1,586 and in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,400.

Scilla rupestris, which shows certain affinities with S.

saturata, Plate 674, is one of the smallest species in the genus,

and is characterised by the bright green linear leaves, distinctly

mottled above and corrugated by shallow longitudinal grooves.

This corrugated leaf-surface makes an interesting point of

comparison with the verrucose leaves of S. Galpini Baker.

S. rupestris grows in moss on rocky ledges at the edge of the

Drakensberg, near Macmac and Sabie, and owes its attractive-

ness to the contrast between the dark purple of the perianth-

segments and the filaments, and the bright yellow of the

dehiscing anthers. The type specimen was collected in

January 1938, and was figured when it flowered at the

Division of Botany and Plant Pathology in October 1940.

Description : — Bulb small, about 2 cm. long and 1-5 cm.

in diameter, contracted into a narrow neck and surrounded by

a few dry leaf-bases. Leaves 3-5, linear, spreading, at time of

flowering 2-3 cm. long, up to 5 mm. broad, developing to

about 10 cm. in length ; under surface bright green ; upper

surface green with distinct small brown blotches and with

distinct longitudinal parallel grooves. Inflorescence about

5-6 cm. long, spreading erect. Raceme about 10-flowered,

2 cm. long, 1*5 cm. in diameter. Pedicel about 2 mm. long,

subtended by a small bract on a fleshy bilobed base. Perianth-

segments bright purple with a dark green middle band, about

4 mm. long, forming a very shallow cup surrounding the ovary,

spreading widely above. Filaments dark purple, shorter than

the segments; anthers purple with bright yellow pollen.

Ovary shortly stipitate, without a discoiclal swelling at the

base, shallowly and obtusely 6-lobed ; style somewhat longer

than the ovar}% truncate. — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 828. — Fig. 1, portion of axis showing bracts ; 2, perianth-segment

and stamen ; 3, gynaccium side view ; 4, gynaecium from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

829

4

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 829.

SCILLA INQUINATA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae

Scilla inquinata C. A. Sm. in Kew Bull. 1930, p. 249.

This is one of the early spring flowering species of Scilla.

It is usually found in colonies on or among rocks, and is

characterised by the leaves being only about one-quarter of

their full size when the first flowers open. As a result of the

inconspicuousness of the leaves at this stage, in contrast with

the inflorescences, the colonies of plants have a very delicate,

silvery-lilac appearance. The leaves attain their full size

only after the fruits have developed. S. inquinata is distin-

guished by its habit of growth and by the glaucous leaves with

their regular margins.

The accompanying Plate was made from plants found by

the writer in flower early in September 1939, on rocky ledges

near Hartebeestpoort Dam, about 25 miles from Pretoria.

The species has also been found in the Pretoria district near

the Saltpan and in the Waterberg district, near Rooiberg and

north of Nylstroom. We are indebted to Mr. C. A. Smith, the

author of the species, for confirming our identification.

Description : — Bulbs gregarious, the parent bulbs often

dividing into small tufts, usually above but occasionally below

ground-level, globose or somewhat taller than broad, about 4

cm. in diameter, including a thick cover of hard, dry, purplish-

brown leaf-bases characterised by transverse ridges in the

upper portion, and often all of about the same height, giving

the bulb a truncate appearance. Leaves about 6, glaucous

green with the under surface towards the base marked with

inconspicuous transverse brown bands, suberect, often appear-

ing in 2 whorls of 3, the largest of which at flowering are about

5 cm. long, 2 cm. wide at their base, abruptly broadening to

2-5 cm. about 1 cm. above, and thence abruptly narrowed to

the obtuse apex, developing up to 15 cm. long, 5 cm. wide,

ovate-lanceolate. Inflorescence usually two from each bulb,

developed successively ; axis below raceme about 5 cm. long.

Raceme about 50-flow'ered, giving a general impression of a

delicate mosaic of whitish green and lilac, up to 6 cm. long,

3 cm. in diameter, cylindric-pyramidal. Pedicel about 8 mm.

long, spreading horizontally in flower, drooping in fruit, usually

bibracteate ; bracts on a swollen base, silky white, threadlike,

1 mm. long, often one more or less laterally placed at the base

of the pedicel. Perianth-segments subequal, about 6 mm. long,

2 mm. broad at the base, narrowed to the obtuse apex, forming

a comparatively deep cup below 3 mm. wide and 2 mm. deep,

spreading-recurved above, ultimately enveloping the develop-

ing capsule; the apex thickened on the under side; upper

surface white with a brownish-green middle band at the base,

becoming purplish-maroon at the apex; the under surface

similar but of a lighter shade. Filaments olive green at the

base, then whitish, with the upper three-quarters bright

crimson-purple, about as long as the perianth-segments ;

anthers oval, blackish ; pollen yellow. Ovary stipitate, green,

with a discoid expansion at the base and dome-shaped above,

obtusely 6-lobed; style purple in its upper three-quarters,

much longer than the ovary, subcylindric, narrowed to the

stigma. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,428.) — F. van

der Merwe.

Plate 829. — Fig. 1, mature leaf; 2, portion of axis showing bracts; 3,

perianth-segment with stamen ; 4, gynaecium ; 5, young capsule with only

2 carpels maturing seeds.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

830

M. E. Connell del.

Plate 830.

SCILLA OVATIFOLIA.

Cape Province, O.F.S., Natal, Transvaal.

Liliaceae

SciUa ovatifolia Baker in Saund. Ref. Bot. vol. 3, t. 183 (1870) ; FI. Cap.

vol. 6, p. 487 (1896-7).

Scilla ovatifolia was first described from plants collected in

Natal, and lias since been found to have a far wider area of

distribution, occurring extensively in the eastern Cape Pro-

vince, Orange Free State and the Transvaal as well. It usually

occurs in open grassland, and is one of the most readily dis-

tinguishable species in the Ledebouria section. It is recognised

by the compact bulb, consisting of tightly appressed fleshy

scales (often tinged purplish), which in longitudinal section

are seen to be attached to a somwhat elongated axis. In

addition, its leaves, in its usual habitat, are characteristically

roundly triangular in shape and closely pressed to the ground,

although when occasionally it is found in the shade of long

grass or trees, the leaves may be partially erect.

The specimen here figured was collected in the Lions River

division, Natal, by Mr. C. A. Smith, who stated, “ One of the

early spring-flowering plants in dry localities and in amongst

rocks, in various stages of flowering : petals greenish-brown

exteriorly, purple within; filaments and style purple and

showy when the flowers are fully open.”

Description : — Bulb often stained purple, firm, sub-

globose in young plants and somewhat oblong in outline with

age, up to about 8 cm. long and 5 cm. in diameter, consisting

of broad, fleshy, densely packed scales and without dry

remnants of leaf-bases. Leaves usually about 6, usually

marked with dark green or brownish blotches on the upper

surface, occasionally immaculate, ovate, obtuse, moderately

fleshy, spreading flat on the ground. Inflorescence 3 or more

to each bulb, produced successively; axis firm, up to about

4 cm. long below the raceme, erect when young but pro-

gressively more spreading with age. Raceme dense, 50-100-

flowered, about 3 cm. long and 2*5 cm. broad. Pedicel usually

subtended by 2 small fibrous bracts from a common fleshy

base. Perianth-segments greenish towards their base and

purple towards the apex with a narrow whitish margin, form-

ing a cup in their lower third and spreading recurved above.

Filaments purple, slightly shorter than the perianth-segments ;

anthers oval. Ovary green, stipitate, with a discoidal expan-

sion at the base, obtusely 6-lobed; style purple, capitate;

ovules 6. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,398.) —

F. VAN DER MERWE.

Plate 830. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through mature bulb; 2, leaf

cut off and viewed from the cut end showing usual position ; 3, portion of

axis showing bracts ; 4, perianth-segment and stamen ; 5, gynaecium side

view.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

83 J

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 831.

SCILLA GRAMINIFOLIA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae.

Scilla graminifolia Baker in Bull. Herb. Boiss. 2nd ser. vol. 4, p. 1001

(1904).

The type specimen of this species is recorded from Modder-

fontein, near Johannesburg, whereas the plant figured here

was collected on the lower slopes of the Krantzberg in the

Waterberg district. It does not show the typical corkscrew

shape of the leaves, for which reason an additional sketch is

included of a typical specimen from Modderfontein ; the

latter, however, was unfortunately not in flower. The

coloured illustration was made in September 1940, the bulbs

having been collected by the writer the previous November.

The bulb appears rather larger than usual, owing to its

flattened shape through growing in a crevice between rocks.

Description : — Bulb up to 3-5 cm. long and 3 cm. in

diameter, often with a butt below the bulb of about *5 cm.

long and 1 cm. diameter. Leaves 8-10, immature at the time

of flowering, about 3 mm. broad, usually with a characteristic

corkscrew twist, developing up to 10 cm. long, but not in-

creasing appreciably in width, slightly channelled on the upper

surface ; the under surface towards the base often with

transverse brownish markings. Inflorescence shorter than the

leaves, suberect ; the axis below the raceme about 2 cm. long.

Raceme fairly dense, about 20-flowered, about 3 cm. long and

2 cm. in diameter. Pedicel about 3 mm. long, subtended by

a small membranous bract and usually with a bracteole

laterally placed; the lowest pedicels cernuous. Perianth-

segments greenish purple towards their base, purplish-brown

towards the tips on the upper surface, the bases arranged

in a campanulate manner and spreading in the apical two-

thirds. Filaments deep purple, about as long as the perianth-

segments; anthers oval, yellow. Ovary stipitate with a dis-

coidal expansion at the base, obtusely 6-lobed ; style purple,

truncate ; ovules 6. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

26,396.) — F. van der Merwe.

Plate 831. — Fig. 1, mature leaves from type locality; 2, portion of

axis showing bracts and bracteoles ; 3, perianth-segment with anthers ;

4, gynaecium ; 5, gynaecium from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

832

M.E. Connell del.

2

Plate 832.

SCILLA PETIOLATA.

Transvaal.

Liliaceae.

Scilla petiolata F. van der Merwe, sp. nov. ; a speciebus affinibus foliis

parvis longe petiolatis differt.

Bulbus 1-5 cm. diametro, ca. 3 cm. longus, in collum productus, foliis

siccis circumdatus. Folia ca. 8, erecta, 6 cm. longa, basin versus 3 mm.

lata, dein per 3 cm. ad 1 mm. latitudinis contracta, dein apicem versus

per 2 cm. ad 7 mm. dilatata, ad apicem angustata, leviter canaliculata,

immaculata. Inflorescentia ca. 10 cm. longa; racemus ca. 1-5 cm. longus

et 3 cm. latus, ca. 20-florus. Pedicellus ca. 9 mm. longus, purpureus,

bracteis duabus parvis circumdatus. Segmenta perianthii basi in cupulam

conniventia, superne patentia, 5 mm. longa, purpurea, linea mediana viridi

longitudinali picta. Filamenta vix segmentis breviora, parte infima viridia

supra purpurea. Ovarium stipitatum, basi discoideo-ampliatum, stylo

purpureo.

This attractive little species of Scilla is characterised by

the shape of the leaves, which have a petiole-like base about

twice the length of the sub-clavate lamina. It was first

recorded in January 1938 by Mr. C. Strydom near the edge

of the Drakensberg, north of Graskop in the vicinity of the

Treur River, where it is plentiful amongst short grass. Bulbs

planted at the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology

flowered in November 1939, and the accompanying plate

was made from one of them. The racemes, unfortunately,

had not developed to the same size and symmetry as they

do in the veld, and for this reason the plate does not do full

justice to the species.

Description : — Bulb pear-shaped, about 2-3 cm. long and

1*5 cm. in diameter, contracted gradually into a neck about

2 cm. long, covered by a few dry leaf bases. Leaves about

8, erect, with spreading apices, 6 cm. long, the basal 1 cm.

being about 3 mm. wide, contracted to 1 mm. for 3 cm. and

the apical 2 cm. broadened to about 7 mm. wide, acuminate.

Inflorescence 1 or occasionally 2 to a bulb, about 10 cm.

long. Raceme about 20-flowered, 1*5 cm long, 3 cm. broad.

Pedicel about 9 mm. long, pale purple with small bracts at

the base, the smaller one being laterally disposed. Perianth-

segments bright purple with whitish base and a narrow green

longitudinal band showing on both surfaces, 5 mm. long,

forming a comparatively deep cup below and spreading-

reflexed above. Filaments purple, very slightly shorter than

the perianth segments; anthers with orange coloured pollen.

Ovary shortly stipitate with a discoid expansion at the base,

obtusely 6-lobed ; ovules 6 ; style whitish below, bright

purple above. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,397.) —

F. VAN DER MERWE.

Plate 832. — Fig. 1, portion of axis showing bracts; 2, flower showing

perianth-segments forming a basal cup ; 3, perianth-segment and stamen ;

4, gynaecium ; 5, gynaecium from above.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

833

Plate 833.

PRIESTLEYA UMBELLIFERA.

Cape Province.

Leguminosae.

Priestleya umbellifera DC. Prodr. vol. 2, p. 122 (1825) ; FI. Cap. vol. 2,

p. 17 (1861-1862).

The genus Priestleya, with several other genera such as

Cyclopia, Podalyria, and Liparia, to cite only a few, is one

of the characteristic elements in the Cape flora. Almost all

the known species are confined to the south-western districts

of the Cape Province; one or two species extend as far east

as the Uitenhage district. Several species now included in

the genus Priestleya had previously been referred by Lin-

neaus and Thunberg to the genus Liparia, but were separ-

ated by de Candolle from Liparia on account of the absence

of a very large petaloid coloured lower calyx-segment, de

Candolle founded the genus Priestleya in the year 1825 and

recognised three species. In the same year he monographed

the genus and described fifteen species, which number included

a few doubtful species. Harvey in the Flora Capensis (1861-

1862) described fifteen species, and since that date four

species have been described by Dr. L. Bolus. The genus

was named in honour of M. Priestley, a plant physiologist.

The specimen figured on the opposite plate was collected

by Mr. T. P. Stokoe on the slopes of Conical Peak in the

Ceres district. It differed in some respects from any of the

species described in the Flora Capensis, and was sent to the

Bolus Herbarium for comparison. It was pointed out that

in the ultimately longer pedicels, the acute calyx-lobes, and

the pungent leaves the specimen differed from P. umbellifera

as described in the Flora Capensis. Until a large range of

material can be examined we have decided to place it under

P. umbellifera and not give it varietal rank.

Description : — A small bush ; branches often divided

trichotomously with the branchlets bearing the inflorescences,

pilose with appressed hairs. Leaves silvery, green, simple,

1-5-2 cm. long, about 0-4 cm. broad, lanceolate, bluntly

mucronate, pilose when young, becoming more or less glabrous

with age. Inflorescence a 3-6-flowered umbel at the end of

the branchlets. Bracts 8 mm. long, ovate, shortly acuminate,

clasping the pedicel, pilose. Pedicel 1 cm. long, curved,

pilose. Calyx intruse and 7 mm. diameter at the base; tube

2 mm. long, 7 mm. diameter above; lobes darker in colour

than the tube, about 5 mm. long, 2-5 mm. diameter at the

base, ovate, obtuse, pilose, with the two posterior lobes

joined higher up than the others. Petals yellow, becoming

blackish with age; vexillum 9 mm. long, 1-5 cm. broad,

subcircular in outline, reflexed, deeply channelled on the

face, with a short broad curved claw; wings 1-3 cm. long,

6 mm. broad, more or less oblong in outline, curved, obtuse,

with a short linear claw curved at right angles to the blade ;

keel 1-3 cm. long, joined in the upper portion and fashioned

into a broad curved obtuse beak, with a claw narrowing from

above downwards. Stamens diadelphous ; staminal-tube and

free portion of filaments curved; anthers of different sizes.

Ovary densely villous, passing gradually into the style which

is bent at right angles to the ovary; stigma simple, with a

few long hairs ; ovules 6-7 in ovary-chamber. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,387.) — E. P. Phillips.

Plate 833. — Fig. 1, a flower; 2, vexillum (front and side view); 3,

wing ; 4, keel ; 5, a bract ; 6, stamens ; 7, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

/

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 834.

VERBASCUM TERNACHA.

Kenya Colony.

ScROP H ULAEIACE AE .

Verbascum Ternacha Hochst. ex A. Rich. Tent. FI. Abyss. 2. 108.

The plant figured on the accompanying plate was grown

in the garden of the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology,

Pretoria, from seed collected on the Pole Evans Central and

East African Expedition (May to September 1938). Mr. J.

Erens, who raised the plants and who was a member of the

expedition, states that this species was found growing quite

plentifully in open grass country near Nanyuki, and on the

north-western plains of Mt. Kenya. He adds that it is easily

propagated from seed, the plants flowering in the second

year only, but that even in the first year the rosettes of

silvery-grey leaves, which attain a diameter of 2\ ft., are

very decorative and attractive in the garden.

This African species resembles the Great Mullein of

gardens, V. Thapsus, quite closely. It can, however, be dis-

tinguished by the denser tomentum, which gives the whole

plant a greyish- white appearance ; also the radical leaves are

more rounded at the apex. The flowers are just as numerous

and brightly coloured as those of the cultivated species, but

they are not quite as large, being usually under an inch in

diameter instead of up to 2 inches across, and they are more

closely beset with bracts, which also appear silvery from the

dense tomentose covering. These distinguishing features

cannot be seen on the plate. The species belongs to the

section Lichnitis, in which all the anthers are kidney-shaped,

whereas the Great Mullein falls in section Thapsus, with two

of the stamens bearing anthers which are adnate in a straight

line and decurrent on the filament.

Description : — Plant up to about 6 ft. high (in wild

state usually 3 to 4 ft. tall), practically all parts covered

with a tomentum of branched hairs. Basal leaves spreading

on the ground, up to 45 cm. long, 16 cm. broad, tomentose on

both sides, crenate, rounded at the apex and cuneate at the

base into a flattened petiole about 5*5 cm. long; cauline

leaves smaller, sessile, cordate at base and acute at apex.

Stem 2 cm. thick near base, unbranched for about 1 m., then

bearing a branched inflorescence up to 0-8 m. long, the branches

45 cm. long. Flowers about 6 in a cluster. Bracts ovate,

acuminate or the lower orbicular and abruptly acuminate,

1*2-1’5 cm. long and 0*4-l*2 cm. wide; bracteoles similar

but smaller, tomentose without. Pedicels about 3 mm. long,

tomentose. Calyx 6 mm. long, more or less equally 5-lobed

to below the middle, persistent. Corolla bright yellow,

shortly tubular and rotate, tomentose in part without, smooth

within and with 5 short lines at mouth of tube; two upper

lobes about 8 mm. long and 6 mm. broad; two lateral 1 cm.

long and 8 cm. broad; the lower about 1-2 cm. long and

1 cm. broad. Stamens 5, inserted near the base of the corolla ;

filaments bearded in upper portion and mostly on upper

side, with long white and violet simple, minutely clavate,

hairs; the upper filaments 5 mm. long, lateral pair 6 mm.

long and the lower pair about 7 mm. long; anthers kidney

shaped. Ovary densely white-tomentose with branched hairs

which rub off with age; style smooth green, about 9 mm.

long. (National Herbarium, No. 26,393.)

Plate 834. — Fig. 1, whole plant; 2, bract; 3, calyx lobes, slit on one

side ; 4, corolla, dorsal view ; 5, stamens, reading left to right, one of lower

pair, one of lateral pair and the upper stamen ; 6, gynaeciun.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

M.E. Connell del.

Plate 835.

SCABIOSA ALBANENSIS.

Cape Province.

Dips ao ace ae.

Scabiosa albanensis R. A. Dyer in Kew Bull. 1934, p. 267.

This is the first occasion on which a member of the genus

Scabiosa has been figured in these pages. A feature of the

genus which does not appear to have received due attention

in literature is the character of the involucel which encloses

the achene. There is generally no amplification to the state-

ment that the involucel is contracted above and expanded

into a cup-shaped limb. In all the specimens in the National

Herbarium, including some from oversea, there exists an out-

growth from the inner wall of the involucel, which projects

in the form of an upturned, ruffle-like collar, and fits closely

round the neck of the achene below the calyx-bristles. This

collar prevents the escape of the achene, which is retained

in the involucel during germination. The structure is shown

in Fig. 4. That the involucel is a protection to the achene

is obvious, but equally important may be its function after

rain as a small water reservoir to facilitate germination.

The question whether or not the most common species

of Scabiosa in South Africa should be regarded as a form of

the European species, S. Columbaria L., or as a distinct

species, S. anthemifolia E. & Z., is likely to remain a debat-

able issue for some time to come. The former view was

adopted in the Flora Capensis, and has been followed by

several competent workers since. The latter view was held

by Stapf in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, t. 9115 (1925). An

opinion on this problem need not be given here, although

there is a fairly close relationship between S. albanensis and

some forms of S. Columbaria L. sensu lat. In the original

description of S. albanensis the flowers are given as 4-fid,

but those on the present plants, which originated near the

type locality, are 5-fid, and an examination of a duplicate

of the type specimen showed that 5 is the general number of

corolla-lobes.

The plant figured here was grown at the Division of Botany

and Plant Pathology from seed collected by the writer in

1936 near Grahamstown. Not unnaturally, it is somewhat

more robust under cultivation than in the veld, and forms

a well-branched little bush which flowers freely throughout

the greater part of the year. Notwithstanding its com-

paratively small flower-heads, it is an attractive subject for

rockery work, and resists several degrees of frost.

Description : — Plant biennial or perennial, up to about 45 cm. high,

erect or suberect, sparsely or freely branched, herbaceous above becoming

woody with age below. Branches densely leafy, especially towards the base,

hispid with short reflexed hairs. Leaves numerous ; the lower ones bipin-

nately lobed, 3-5 cm. long or longer under cultivation, with linear lobes ;

the upper ones pinnately or bipinnately lobed, glabrous or sparsely hispid,

the lobes flat or with slightly revolute margins. Peduncles 12-20 mm. long,

or up to 30 cm. under cultivation, unicapitate, slender, sparsely pilose but

fairly densely so under the capitulum. Capitula subglobose, the involucre-

bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, in one series ; bracts subtending the

flowers oblong-lanceolate. Torus oblong, about 5 mm. long, covered with

the persistent bracts. Involucel much enlarged in the fruit, urceolate ; tube

3 mm. long with 8 narrow grooves and as many stout ribs, with suberect,

stiff hairs along the ribs, produced at the apex on the inner surface into an

upturned membranous ruffle-shaped collar around the neck of the achene

below the calyx and produced above into a membranous limb ; limb up to

1-5 mm. high, and expanding with age to a diameter of 3-5 mm. with up

to about 19 ribs. Corolla mauve, 5-lobed, softly hairy on the outer surface;

ray-flowers up to about 1-5 cm. long, with the lobes of the lower lip obovate

or obovate-oblong ; disc-flowers somewhat less than 1 cm. long. Calyx

shortly disc-like at the base, extended into 5 bristle-like segments overtop-

ping the flower buds, but shorter than the open flow’ers, blackish, scaberulous.

Ovary pilose; style filiform; stigma crateriform. Fruit contracted into a

neck below the persistent calyx, obscurely ribbed, thinly pubescent.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26468). — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 835. — Fig. 1, ray-flower with bracteole, young involucel and

calyx ; 2, disc-flower with involucel removed showing calyx and ovary ;

3, mature involucel enclosing achene and persistent calyx ; 4, longitudinal

section of 3, showing ruffle-like collar around neck of achene.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

S3 6

M.E. Coimejl del

Plate 836.

DIERAMA REYNOLDSII.

Transkeif Natal.

Ikidaceae.

Dierama Reynoldsii Verdoorn sp. nov. a speciebus bracteis albidis

chartaceis non vel parce brunneo-notatis praeditis, plantis 1-75 m. altis

floribus purpureis distinguitur.

Planta plus minus 1-75 m. alta. Cormus albidus, 4 cm. diam., tunicis

fibris superne setis rumpentibus instructis. Caulis gracillimus, teres, politus,

pro parte majore vaginatus. Folia 8, basalia, vaginantia ; 5 laminis 30-40

cm. longis 7 mm. latis; 3 pro parte majore vaginantia laminis 10-18 cm.

longis 3 mm. latis, apicibus marcescentibus attenuatis. Inflorescentia 5-9-

ramosa; spica secunda, 7-1 1-flora, 8-15 cm. longa, pedunculis gracillimis

cernuis spicas sub-equilongis. Spathae (e quibus rami orti sunt) albidae,

membranaceae, angustatae; exteriores 3-5 cm. longae; interiores longiores,

bifidae, lobis 1 cm. longis. Bracteae ovatae, breviter acuminatae, integrae

vel ultimo sub-laceratae, 2-7 cm. longae, 8 mm. latae, albidae, translucentes,

chartaceae, basi distincte nervatae, non nullum parce medio longitudinaliter

brunneo-notatae. Bracteolae 2-4 cm. longae, 6 mm. latae, 2-costatae, apice

bifidae, lobis 5 mm. longis. Perianthium purpureum, 2-4 cm. longum ;

tubus 9 mm. longus; segmenta 1-5 cm. longa, 7 mm. lata. Stamina sub

fauce inserta, filamentis 1 cm. longis tubo decurrentibus ; antherae 7 mm.

longae, fere ad apicem segmentorum attingentes. Ovarium viride, 3 mm.

longum; stylus 2-1 cm. longus, ramis 2-5 mm. longis.

Cape Province : Transkei ; Engcobo, Reynolds 3153 in National

Herbarium 26480 (type) ; Elliot, Reynolds 2183 and 3437.

Natal : Ixopo, Reynolds 3446, Dyer 4136 ; Donny brook, Medley Wood

10806; Mooi River, Reynolds 3247, Medley Wood 3772 and 7598.

In 1934 two species of Dierama appeared in this work,

on Plates 541 and 542. As in other genera of the Iridaceae,

it is very difficult to define the species of Dierama , especially

from dried material. In his revision of the genus in 1929,

Dr. N. E. Brown suggested that, working with herbarium

material, the size of the plant, the texture and colour of

the bracts and the size of the perianth are probably some

of the best diagnostic characters. A more natural arrange-

ment accrues when the species are grouped according to the

character of the bracts, and they fall into the following three

groups : (1) bracts translucent, papery, entirely white or

obscurely line-marked; (2) bracts papery, obviously line-

marked giving them a sordid appearance, and (3) bracts firm

and opaque at least at the base. Dierama Reynoldsii falls

into the first group. In this group, too, are D. argypeum,

D. latifolium, D. dubium, D. medium var. Mossii and D.

robustum (but the last is variable). Our species is easily

distinguished from the first four by its tall habit, and from

the fifth in the colour of the perianth, which is purplish,

not pink, and is without a spot at the base of each lobe.

Also the leaves are slightly narrower, usually 3-7 mm. wide,

whereas those of D. robustum are usually 5-10 mm. wide.

The specimen from which the figure was prepared flowered

during December in Mr. G. W. Reynolds’ garden at Johannes-

burg. Mr. Reynolds had collected the corms in the moun-

tains about 5 miles north of Engcobo in the Transkei, where,

according to his notes, the species occurs plentifully to the

north-east beyond Elliot, and he also found it in Natal at Ixopo

and Mooi River, places which lie in mountainous country

similar to the Transkei localities. Material borrowed from

the Natal Herbarium, Durban, showed that this species had

been collected by Dr. J. Medley Wood at Donnybrook and

Mooi River as far back as 1896. According to Mr. Reynolds,

the perianth is at first bell-shaped, and only after pollination

do the lobes spread slightly as in the figure.

Description : — Plant about 1-75 m. tall. Corms white, about 4 cm.

diameter, covered with fibrous tunics splitting into bristles above. Stems

very slender, terete, shiny and wiry but sheathed right up to the lowest

spike of the inflorescence by the leaf-bases. Leave s basal, sheathing, about

8 to each of the season’s flowering stalks, the 5 lower with long free blades

(30-40 cm. long and 7 mm. wide) the 3 upper for the most part sheathing

with short free blades (10-18 cm. long and 3 mm. wide) ; blades attenuating

to an acute withering apex. Inflorescence 5-9-branched ; spikes secund,

7-11 -flowered, 8-15 cm. long, borne on very slender nodding peduncles

about as long as the spikes. Spathes subtending the branches of the inflor-

escence membranous, white, very narrow ; the outer undivided, 3-5 cm.

long; the inner slightly longer and split into 2 filiform lobes 1 cm. long,

Floral bracts white, translucent chartaceous, ovate, shortly acuminate,

entire or ultimately sub-lacerate, about 2-7 cm. long, 8 mm. wide, dis-

tinctly nerved at the base and sometimes with a few brown line-marking

along the midrib; bracteole 2-4 cm. long, 6 mm. wide, with 2 main nerves,

bifid; the lobes 5 mm. long. Perianth dahlia purple (R.C.S. XII), about

2-4 cm. long; tube 9 mm. long; segments 1-5 cm. long and up to 7 mm.

wide. Stamens inserted just below^ the mouth of the tube, 1 cm. long,

decurrent on the tube ; the anthers reaching almost to tops of the perianth-

segments, 7 mm. long. Ovary green, about 3 mm. long; style 2-1 cm. long;

branches 2-5 mm. long. — I. C. Vebdoorn.

Plate 836. — Fig. 1, floral bract; 2, bracteole; 3, flower opened out.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

837

.M.E.Cojmell dei.

Plate 837.

TOXICODENDRUM GLOBOSUM.

Cape Province.

Euphorbiaceae.

Toxicodendrum globosum (Gaertn.) Pax & K. Hoffm. in Engl. Pflanzen-

reich IV. 147. XV (1922) ; T. capense Thunb. ; FI. Cap. vol. 5, sect. 2,

p. 408 (1920).

The nomenclature of this species has been somewhat

confused. The first reference in botanical literature to the

plant was in the year 1791, when Gaertn er described it as

Jatropha globosa. Thunberg in 1796 described and named

the plant Toxicodendrum capense’, he ignored or did not

know that the generic name was used in 1735 for plants now

included under the genus Rhus, and again in 1788 for plants

now included under the genus Allophylus. A year after

Thunberg’ s publication, Lambert gave the generic name

Hyaenanche to the plant, and used Gaertner’s specific epithet

globosa. Ordinarily Thunberg’s name Toxicodendrum would

be invalid, as it had been used previously, and the name

Hyaenanche globosa (Gaertn.) Lamb, would stand. The

International Botanic Congress (1930), however, conserved

Thunberg’s name Toxicodendrum, and as globosa was the first

specific epithet to be used, the accepted combination must

be as above, namely Toxicodendrum globosum (Gaertn.)

Pax & K. Hoffm.

The species has a very limited distribution in South

Africa, and is only known from the Gifberg and near Klaver

station in the van Rhynsdorp district and at Windhoek in

the Clan william district.

The species has several common names, all relating to its

poisonous (gif = poison) nature — e.g., “ boesmansgif,” “ wol-

wegif,” “ wolweboontjies,” “ gif boom ” — and the mountain

Gifberg takes its name from the plants growing there. The

seeds were formerly employed by the old colonists to poison

hyaenas (wolwen), and so the name “ wolwenboontjies ”

came to be applied to the seeds. The seeds contain a poison-

ous principle, hyaenanchine, which acts on the heart like

strychnine. It is stated that the Bushmen used the seeds

as an arrow-poison. The fruits as shown in the figure, and

which appear to be almost mature, still contain quite young

ovules. The male inflorescence, male flower, and stamen

were drawn from material taken from the National Her-

barium.

It was through the courtesy of Mr. John van Niekerk,

Puts, P.O. van Rhynsdorp, who sent us specimens, that we

were able to figure this interesting species.

Description : — A shrub or small tree. Leaves in whorls

of 4, coriaceous, 6-5-10-5 cm. long, 1-5-3-5 cm. broad, laceo-

late, rounded and sometimes emarginate at the apex, gradu-

ally narrowed to the base, entire, becoming glabrous ; petiole

0-7-1 -4 cm. long. Male inflorescence axillary, densely cymulose,

much shorter than the leaves; peduncle very short, rather

densely and shortly pubescent. Sepals 5, rounded, much

shorter than the stamens. Stamens numerous, with large

anthers. Female flowers sessile, 1-3 between each leaf-axil.

Sepals 6, in 2 series. Ovary ovoid, 4-chambered, with 2

ovules attached to the top of each chamber, tomentulose;

styles 3-5, connate in the lower half. Capsule usually 4-

locular, 8-lobed, sub-globose, with a crustaceous exocarp and

bony endocarp. Seeds black and shining. (National Her-

barium, Pretoria, No. 26,481.) — E. P. Phillips.

Plate 837. — Fig. 1, male inflorescence; 2, a male flower; 3, a single

stamen; 4, a female flower (after Marloth); 5, section of young fruit

(reduced) showing 2 developing ovules.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

838

ME. Connell del.

Plate 838.

ALOE MZIMBANA.

Nyasaland.

Liliaceae.

Aloe mzimbana Verdoorn et Christian, sp. nov. in Sect. Aethiopicae

Berg, forma characteribusque florum affinis est A. Chabaudii Schonl. sed

habitu minore et omnibus characteribus foliorum et habitu inflorescentiae

differt.

Planta succulenta, acaulis. Folia rosulata, ascendentia, incurvula,

elliptica, breviter acuta, 24 cm. longa, 7 cm. lata, et 7 mm. crassa, supra

viridia, in tempore arido griseo-fulva, immaculata, striata, piano- concava,

apice canaliculata, subtus pallidiora, convexa ; ad margines linea tenui

puniceo-alba, cartilaginea cincta, dentibus deltoideis proclivibus summa

brunneis 2 mm. longis ca. 8-10 mm. distantibus armata. Inflorescentia

erecta, usque 55 cm. alta, simplex vel usque 5-ramosa. Pedunculus latera-

liter compressus, 11 mm. latus et 6. mm. crassus. Rami arcuato-ascendentes,

5 mm. diam. bracteati. Racemi subdensi, cylindrici, usque 15 cm. longi et

8 cm. diam. Bracteae usque 12 mm. longae, 5 mm. latae, scariosae, 3-

nervatae. Pedicelli erecto-patentes, usque 15 mm. longi. Perianthium

corallinum, 35 mm. longum, late stipitatum, circa ovarium 8 mm. diam.,

supra ovarium le viter constrictum, 5 mm. diam., turn ad 8 mm. ampliatum,

trigonum ; segmenta exteriora per 12-14 mm. libera, ad margines punicea,

3-nervata, ad apices subacuta, patentia, segmenta interiora ad margines

libera, pallide punicea, carina tenui rubra, 3-nervata, ad apices flavescentia,

obtusiora, patentia. Filamenta inaequalia 3 perianthium aequantia, 3

exserta; antherae exsertae. Ovarium 5 mm. longum, 2-5 mm. latum;

stylus exsertus.

Nyasaland : A few miles north of Mzimba, Pole Evans and Evens 653

and in National Herbarium, No. 26,486.

The interesting character of the three oblong indentations

above the ovary in line with the inner segments found in

this species is a well-known feature of A. Chabaudii. Since

at one time it had not been known to occur in any other

species, it was looked upon as diagnostic of that species.

Recently, however, aloes have been collected with similar

indentations, but differing in other characters to such an

extent that it is impossible to place them under A. Chabaudii.

Of these, A. Milne- Redheadii Christian has already been

published, and there are others to follow. The species here

described is nearest to typical A. Chabaudii , but differs in

the habit, shape, size and colour of the leaves and branching

of the inflorescence. The leaves are consistently much

shorter and broader in proportion, and grow in a smaller,

more compact rosette, and are incurved at the tips after

the habit of A. Peglerae Schonl. The infloresence differs

from typical A. Chabaudii in being from 1 to 5-branched,

with more erect branches and the racemes densely and shortly

cylindric with pendulous flowers, whereas A. Chabaudii has

a much-branched inflorescence, rarely under 5-branched, with

lax tapering racemes and the flowers mostly spreading.

The plant from which the figure was made flowered in

the gardens of the Division of Botany and Plant Pathology

in June 1940. It was collected on the Pole-Evans Central

and East African Expedition in 1938, a few miles north of

Mzimba, Nyasaland, in sandy loam at the foot of hills. It

has also been collected by H. C. Ducher on the Vipya Plateau

near Mzimba in similar type of country.

Description : — Acaulescent. Leaves rosulate, with the older spreading-

incurved and the younger ascending-incurved, elliptic, shortly acute, 24 cm.

long, 7 cm. broad, and 7 mm. thick in the middle, green, turning drab in

the dry season, striate, immaculate ; upper surface flatly concave, chan-

nelled at apex ; lower surface convex, paler green ; margins with a narrow

pinkish cartilaginous border armed with deltoid brown tipped proclivent

teeth 2 mm. long and 8-10 mm. apart. Inflorescence erect, up to 55 cm.

high, branched from below the middle with up to 5 branches. Peduncle

greenish-brown, laterally compressed, 11 mm. wide and 6 mm. thick. Bract

subtending lowest branch triangular-acute, 15 mm. long, 12 mm. broad,

scarious, 8-nerved. Branches arcuate-ascending 5 mm. diam. bracteate.

Racemes conico-cylindric, becoming cylindric as apical flowers develop, sub-

dense, up to 15 cm. long and 8 cm. diameter. Floral-bracts 12 mm. long,

5 mm. broad, carious, 3-5 nerved. Pedicels erect-spreading, 15 mm. long,

those of mature flowers cernuous. Perianth coral red, 35 mm. long, broadly

stipitate at base, 8 mm. over the ovary, constricted to 5 mm. diameter

above the ovary and widened again to 8 mm. diameter, with 3 oblong

indentations above the ovary in line with the inner segments, trigonous ;

outer segments free for 12-14 mm., coral fading to pink at margins and

apex, 3-nerved, with the apices sub-acute and spreading ; inner segments

free on margins, dorsifixed to outer, flesh pink, becoming yellowish at apex,

with a narrowed 3-nerved keel, with the apices sub-obtuse and spreading.

Filaments unequal, 3 as long as perianth, 3 exserted, white below', yellow-

above; anthers reddish-brown, exserted, 2 mm. long, 0-75 mm. broad.

Ovary pale greenish-yellow, 5 mm. long, 2-5 mm. diameter; style pale

yellow, exserted.

Plate 838. — Fig. 1, bract; 2, longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

839

C.Letty deL

Plate 839.

CRASSULA RUPESTRIS.

Cape Province.

Crass ul ace ae.

Crassula rupestris Thunb. in Nova Acta Nat. Cur. 1778, 329, 337 ; C.

perfossa Lam. ; FI. Cap. 2, 338 (1861-62).

This shrublet is one of the most characteristic succulents

to be found on exposed rocky mountain -sides in many parts

of the Cape Province. It occurs as a constituent of karoid

scrub veld in the districts of Fort Beaufort and Albany, and

extends westwards more or less continuously along the

mountain ranges of the coastal region and Little Karoo to

the Cape Peninsula and Clan william areas. The flowering

period is generally during July and August, but, depending

on climatic conditions, may be as late as September and

October. At this stage the plants become covered with a

mass of very light pink flowers. Even when not in flower

the compact bushes have an attractive appearance, due to

the symmetrical arrangement and whitish powdery bloom of

the leaves. The specimen figured here was grown at the

Division of Botany and Plant Pathology and, no doubt due

to the unnatural environment, it produced more slender and

flexible branches than usual. The species has been figured

in several other illustrated works featuring the South African

flora.

For many years Crassula rupestris was known by the

name C. perfossa Lam., under which it was referred to by

Harvey in the Flora Capensis. The older name given to the

plant by Thunberg was restored by Schonland in his con-

tribution on the genus Crassula published in the Transactions

of the Royal Society of South Africa 1929. It was there

pointed out that variations in the shape and size of the

vegetative organs are not uncommon.

Description : — A freely branched shrublet up to about

40 cm. high. Branches rough and woody below, smooth and

subsucculent in the young tips and with a white waxy bloom.

Leaves green, glaucous with a waxy bloom, tinged round the

margin with yellow or red, averaging 1-4 cm. long, the same

in width and 3 mm. thick, connate-perfoliate, ovate or sub-

rotund, obtuse or subacute, fleshy, glabrous, punctate above,

entire. Inflorescence capitate or subcorymbose, sessile or

subsessile, erect or somewhat nodding under cultivation,

varying considerably in size, up to 5 cm. across, with subulate

bracts. Calyx-lobes green, glabrous, deltoid 0-5 mm. long

and approximately of equal width across the base. Corolla

very pale pink, 5 mm. across; lobes 4 mm. long, 1-5 mm.

wide, oblong, connate at the base, obtuse and mucronulate

at the apex, reflexed. Carpels papillate ; styles shortly

subulate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 13,048.) —

R. A. Dyer.

Plate 839. — Fig. 1, diagrammatic illustration of the inflorescence branch-

ing ; 2, pair of leaves ; 3, calvx ; 4, petal, inner view.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

; /

&4-0

M. E. Connell del.

Plate 840.

STAPELIA TSOMOENSIS.

Cape Province.

Asolepiadaceae.

Stapelia tsomoensis N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron. 1882, 18; 168; Hooker

leones PL, Plate 1918 (1891) ; FI. Cap. 4, 1, 954 (1904) ; White & Sloane,

Stapelieae 627 (1937).

The unusual specific name of this plant is derived from

the native name of the village Tsomo in the Transkei, near

which the type plant was originally collected. The specimen

figured here was collected near Tsitsa Falls, not far from

Umtata, by Major A. G. McLoughlin, in 1939. This locality

record extends considerably the distribution range of the

species, and includes Mqanduli, another native village, the

type locality of S. Peglerae, N.E.Br. The main distinguish-

ing features between these two species as set forth by N. E.

Brown in the Flora Capensis are the less dense pubescence

on the corolla of S. Peglerae and its apparently unmarked

corolla-lobes. In the original description of S. tsomoensis,

Brown described the stems as glabrous, but later, with living

material at his disposal, stated that they were “ very minutely

puberulous on the angles viewed through a lens ”. White

and Sloane, in their Stapelieae, used the latter character to

distinguish 8. tsomoensis, stating about 8. Peglerae, “ Occa-

sionally plants are found which seem to belong to this species,

having some few transverse yellowish lines on the corolla-

lobes, but these doubtless betray some hybrid influence.”

Major McLoughlin collected more than one plant at the

Tsitsa Falls, and the plants and flowers cultivated at the

Division of Botany and Plant Pathology showed such varia-

tion that, following on the above records, one was led to

conclude that 8. Peglerae is not more than a varietal form

of 8. tsomoensis N.E.Br. (S. tsomoensis N.E.Br. var. Peglerae

var. comb. nov.). The corolla-lobes were either clearly

marked with transverse yellow lines or were practically un-

marked, and the stems of some were extremely minutely

puberulous, the hairs even extending between the angles,

and others again were apparently glabrous. The pubescence

on the disk, however, was not so copious as for typical

S. tsomoensis.

Another closely related species is Stapelia glabricaulis

N.E.Br., and Schlechter gave it as his opinion, in the Journal

of Botany 1898, that it was conspecific with S. tsomoensis.

This view, however, is not supported by White and Sloane,

and in any case Schlechter was incorrect in affording priority

to the former name. Admittedly S. glabricaulis is closely

related to S. tsomoensis, but, in addition to slight differences

in pubescence and colour, the spreading corolla-lobes with

recurved margins of the former as described by N. E. Brown,

opposed to the strongly reflexed corolla-lobes without revolute

margins of S. tsomoensis (and S. Peglerae ), has also to be

accounted for, before one would be justified in considering

S. glabricaulis specifically equal to S. tsomoensis. In the

present illustration only one of the corolla-lobes is shown as

strongly reflexed. The others were prevented from assuming

this position by the adjacent branches of the plant and by

the side of the pot in which the plant was growing. The

hairs on the disk, being practically the same colour as the

disk, could not well be shown. The transition in shape of

the flower-bud from ovate to subglobose is noteworthy.

Description : — A tufted succulent plant up to about 15 cm. high.

Branches 4-angled, slightly concave between the angles, 1-1-5 cm. broad,

very minutely puberulous on the angles, or the hairs extending between the

angles, or glabrous. Leaves rudimentary, situated along the angles, minutely

puberulous. Flowers 2-9, successively developed from each peduncle near

the base of young branches. Pedicels 2-2-5 cm. long. Sepals up to 6 mm.

long, lanceolate. Corolla, in bud ovate, becoming subglobose and obtusely

pointed, expanding to 7-5-8-25 cm. in diameter (somewhat less in the veld)

very minutely puberulous on the back or only on the nerves ; disk flattish,

with long purple hairs round the corona and radiating to the sinuses and

along the margin of the lobes ; lobes verrucose, purple, darker at the base

and tips, and with some of the ridges greenish yellow, ciliate with long

spreading whitish hairs and a narrow border of long purple hairs directed

towards the tips. Outer corona-lobes purple, about 5 mm. long, ascending-

spreading, linear-oblong, acute or tridentate at the apex, concave down the

face ; inner corona-lobes dark purple, with a dorsal wing up to 4 mm.

long and with connivent-recurved, subulate- filiform inner horns. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 26,482). — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 840. — Fig. 1, half-developed bud; 2, mature bud; 3, inner and

outer coronas.

F.P.S.A., 1941.

INDEX TO VOLUME XXI

PLATE