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Photo Pretoria Newi.

INEZ CLARE VERDOORN

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO

INEZ CLARE VERDOORN

LATELY RETIRED AS SENIOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICER

OF THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM, PRETORIA, IN

RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF BOTANICAL SCIENCE IN

THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA DURING MANY YEARS

OF DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE FLOWERING PLANTS

OF AFRICA

A MAGAZINE CONTAINING COLOURED FIGURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS

OF THE INDIGENOUS FLOWERING PLANTS OF AFRICA

EDITED BY

R. ALLEN DYER, M.Sc, D.Sc., F.R.S.S.Af.

Chief, Division of Botany and Plant Pathology, Department of

Agriculture, Pretoria and Director of the Botanical

Survey of the Union of South Africa

Vol. 28

All rights reserved

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, PRETORIA

1950 — 195 1.

.

101

Plate 1081.

XIMENIA CAFFRA.

Transvaal.

Olacaceae.

Ximenia caffra Sond. in Linnaea 23 (1850); FI. Cap. 1:235 (1894);

Burtt Davy FI. Transvaal 2: 453 (1932); Schweickerdt in Bothalia 3, 2: 179

(1937); Verdoorn, Edible Wild Fruits of the Transvaal 13 (1938).

Ximenia caffra is quite commonly found in the Transvaal

as far south as the Magaliesberg. It is not a very attractive

shrub, having rather coarse branches, rough, often spine-

tipped branchlets, and leaves matted with off-white to rusty-

coloured tomentum with only the upper surfaces glabrescent

and sometimes shiny. The fruit on the other hand is brightly

coloured and decorative. It is an edible drupe with a fairly

thin skin and the flesh just under the skin is juicy and tart;

the thicker flesh which adheres closely to the single stone is

very sour. It is reported that a good jelly can be made of

these fruits and the kernels have been tested at the Imperial

Institute for their oil content. These tests were made before

the second World War and at that time the exploitation of the

plant as a source of oil was not recommended.

In poor soils in Natal a variety, X. caffra var. natalensis,

occurs quite frequently and bears fruit profusely. It differs

in having the leaves and branchlets glabrous or at least early

glabrescent; otherwise it is very similar.

In tropical Africa Ximenia americana, the Hog plum of

Mexico, occurs. It is found in all tropical countries and its

wood is recognised as a fair timber; the fruit is used for

dessert and jelly making and the kernel is known to contain

oil. A variety of this species, X. americana var. microphylla

Welw. {—X. Rogersii Burtt Davy) is also to be found in the

Transvaal. It is readily distinguished from the species

figured here by its glabrous and glaucous leaves which are

usually folded along the midrib. The inflorescence is distinct

too, being a cyme (not solitary) but sometimes a one-flowered

cyme when it can be distinguished from the solitary inflo-

rescence by the pedicel being bracteate where it joins the

1079-1

peduncle, or in other words with the peduncle bi-bracteate

in the middle.

The fruiting branch on the plate, figure 4, was prepared

for “ Edible Wild Fruits of the Transvaal ” which was pub-

lished in 1938. The specimen came from Schuurpoort, Pretoria

district and was collected by Miss Esterhuizen. Only in

November 1948 were the flowers added, collected by Miss

Robertson from a plant at Derdepoort which is also in

Pretoria district. The shrub was 2-stemmed and much

branched from the base. Since the species Ximenia cajfra is

fairly uniform throughout the Transvaal it was felt that in

this case the mixed plate was permissible. The vernacular

names are Naffer Plum, Sour Plum or “ Suurpruim

Description: — Small much branched shrub about 7 ft.

tall with the leaves and flowers borne on short lateral branch-

lets and much abbreviated shoots, which often end in a

spine; young shoots rusty-tomentose. Leaves grass-green

with grey or rusty tomentum, variable in size, averaging

about 3-5 cm. long and 1-8 cm. broad, oblong to oblong-

ovate, tomentose or thickly pubescent on both surfaces,

glabrescent above, hairs longer on lower surface; petiole

about 6 mm. long. Flowers apple-green, solitary in the axil

of a leaf or bract, usually appearing fascicled owing to the

much abbreviated ultimate shoot on which they grow; bracts

short, about 0-5-1 -5 mm. long, rather thick, rusty-tomentose;

peduncles green, thickly pubescent with spreading hairs. Calyx

lobes 5 (or sometimes 4 in flowers on the same plant) ovate, 2

mm. long, 1 • 5 mm. broad, dorsally densely pubescent, glabrous

within. Petals 5 (or sometimes 4 in flowers on same plant)

spreading at base then erect with the apical third reflexed,

9 mm. long and 2 mm. broad, strap-shaped and shortly

acuminate to a blunt apex with an inflexed point, inner

surface bearded with white bristle-like hairs on the central

two thirds (that is glabrous at base and apex for about 2mm.),

on outer surface obscurely appressedly pubescent. Stamens 10

(or sometimes 8 in flowers on same plant) in a ring round the

base of the ovary; filaments almost threadlike, 3-5 mm. long;

anthers linear, 2-75 mm. long, 2-lobed at apex, tapering at base

into the filament. Ovary green, about 6-5 mm. long, 2mm.

diam. at the base, tapering gradually towards apex and slightly

constricted below the middle, 10- (or 8-fiuted), incompletely

3-celled with 1 ovule in each cell but usually only 1 of these

ovules developing; style thick, almost 1 mm. long, obscurely

2-lobed at apex. Fruit burnt-orange to scarlet, a drupe,

oblong to oblong-orbicular, about 3x2-4 cm., skin smooth,

shiny, flesh tart. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28373,

flower, and 19650, fruit.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 1081. — Fig. 1, twig with flowers; 2, flower, x3-5; 3, gynoecium

and 1 stamen, x 10; 4, fruiting branch natural size (tomentum on the leaves

not obvious on the painting; different plant from other figures); 5, habit.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1082.

DUVALIA TANGANYIKENSIS.

Tanganyika.

Asclepiadaceae.

Duvalia tanganyikensis E. A. Bruce and P. R. O. Bally in Cactus and

Succulent Journal, America 13:179. (1941); Journ. East Afr. Nat. Hist.

Soc. 16, 160 and pi. 53 fig. 23 (1942)

The discovery of Duvalia tanganyikensis Bruce and Bally

is of considerable interest from the point of view of the

distribution of the genus. Duvalia is for the most part a

South African genus, the majority of the species occurring in

the Cape Province. Until the discovery of our plant, there was

a large gap in the distribution, from Duvalia polita N. E. Br.

in Ngamiland, to D. sulcata N. E. Br. in Southern Arabia,

the northern limit of the genus. D. tanganyikensis helps to

bridge this gap and link up the distribution in a more normal

way.

The illustration on the opposite page was made from the

type plant, which was discovered by Mr. P. R. O. Bally,

co-author of the species. While on an Easter holiday

collecting trip, he made the ascent of Mt. Longido, a gneiss

formation on the Tanganyika-Kenya border, which has been

very little botanized. D. tanganyikensis was growing in

half-shade at the foot of outcrops of gneiss, about 1,500 m.

up the mountain side. The long branches formed a fairly

dense mat on the ground, similar in growth to Huernia aspera

N. E. Br. Though locally common, no other localities are

so far known. The species has been successfully cultivated

by Mr. Bally in his garden at Nairobi.

D. tanganyikensis is most closely allied to D. polita N. E.

Br. var. transvaalensis (Schltr.) White & Sloane. It differs

from this species in the narrower more acuminate corolla-

lobes, the glabrous deep wine-red annulus and the small

blunt stem teeth, which are more widely separated from one

another.

Description : — A procumbent succulent green plant with

purplish-red markings. Stems indistinctly 5-angled, the erect

branches ascending to about 5 cm., 1-1-8 cm. in diameter,

including the teeth; teeth small, tuberculate, 1 -5-3 mm. long,

1-1-5 cm. distant from one another; procumbent branches

up to 65 cm. long. Flowers up to 6 on each peduncle, pro-

duced in succession, arising near the apex of the young bran-

ches. Pedicles up to 1-8 cm. long, fleshy, glabrous. Calyx-

lobes 7-12 mm. long, triangular-subulate, acuminate, glabrous,

equalling or slightly exceeding the corolla sinuses. Corolla

glabrous, 3 cm. in diameter; lobes about 1 cm. long and 6 mm.

broad at the base, spreading or slightly recurved, narrowly

triangular, acuminate, salmon-coloured; annulus prominent,

convex, glabrous, shining, claret-coloured, about 1 cm. in

diameter and 3 mm. high. Corona double; outer corona

4 mm. in diameter, obtusely pentagonal; inner corona-lobes

sulphur-yellow, incumbent on the anthers, produced at the

back into a fleshy, ovate dorsal appendage, about 1-2 mm.

long, and projecting above the annulus. (Bally in Coryndon

Museum, Nairobi.) — E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1082. — Fig. 1. flowering branch, natural size: 2, corolla, natural

size; 3, section of flower, showing corona, 3; 4. part of the corona, from

the side, showing anther and 2 outer lobes, 6.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1083.

AR1STEA COERULEA.

Cape Province.

Iridaceae.

Aristea coerulea ( Thunb .) Vahl in Enum. pi 2:124 (1805); N. E. Brown in

Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. 48: 51 (1928). Moraea coerulea Thumb., Diss.

Moraea 12 (1787); FI. Cap. 1 : 277 (1807) pro parte, et FI. Cap. ed. Schultes

72 (1823) pro parte. Aristea capitata Ker. in Bot. Mag. t. 605 (1803) (des-

cript, pro parte); Klatt in Linnaea 34: 550 (1865-6) pro parte; Baker, Handbk.

Irid. 144 (1892) pro parte et in FI. Cap. 6: 53 (1896) pro parte. Aristea

bracteata Persoon, Syn. pi. 1: 41 (1805).

Until 1940, when a much needed monograph of the genus

Aristea was published by Dr. H. Weimarck of Sweden, this

genus was in a state of considerable confusion. The species

figured here is one which has only recently been correctly

understood and named in this country. It was originally

described in 1787 by Thunberg as Moraea coerulea. Two

years later the genus Aristea was established by Aiton but it

was not until 1805 that this species was transferred to Aristea

by Vahl. After this, however, it was confused with allied

species and it was not until more than a hundred years later

that its correct name and status were restored.

A. coerulea has a limited range of distribution, being

recorded only from the Piquetberg, Clanwilliam, Ceres,

Tulbagh and Worcester Divisions, but within this area it is

fairly frequent, on the upper and lower mountain slopes.

The dark brown bracts are rough to the touch, due to minute

bristle-like hairs, one of the distinguishing characters of this

species. The accompanying plate was prepared in August,

1937 from plants collected on the Piquetberg Mountains by

Prof. R. H. Compton in 1928 and grown in the National

Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch.

Description: — Plants 50-100 cm. high, with a small

oblique rhizome. Basal leaves 30-60 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide,

fairly thick, firm, acuminate; cauline leaves 3-6, erect; the

lower like the basal leaves, up to 25 cm. long; the uppermost

about 5 cm. long, with more or less colourless margins.

Infloresence paniculate, usually 10-20 cm. long; bracts

subtending the peduncles 1 -2-5 cm. long, often slightly-

keeled, with scariose margins; lower peduncles 2-5 cm. long,

sometimes branched; the upper shorter. Bracts and brac-

teoles 1-2-1 -7 cm. long and wide, spoon-shaped, densely or

sparsely minutely hirsute outside, dark brown, the bracteoles

with wide whitish margins which are usually deeply lacerated

in the fruiting stage. Pedicels at first very short, finally

about 3 mm. long. Perianth segments 1-8-2 -5 cm., long,

1-1-5 cm. wide, obovate, slightly emarginate. Stamens with

filaments 6-8 mm. long; anthers about 5 mm. long. Style

about 1-2 cm. long; stigma minute. Capsule 1 cm. long,

6 mm. wide, broadly 3-winged, with 2 seeds in each carpel.

(National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, No. 927/28.) —

G. J. Lewis.

Plate 1083. — Fig. 1, lower portion of stem and cauline leaves; 2,

inflorescence; 3, portion of basal leaf; 4, bract: 5, bracteoles; 6, outer

perianth segment; 7, inner perianth segment; 8, androecium and gynoecium,

x2; 9, stamen, x2; 10, immature capsule.

F.P.A., April, 1950

Plate 1084.

ARISTEA MACROCARPA.

Cape Province.

Iridaceae.

Aristea macrocarpa Lewis in Lund Univ. Yearbook, New Ser., Div. 2,

Vol. 36, No. 1, 74 (1940).

Although a very distinct species, and a fairly common one

on the Cape Peninsula, A. macrocarpa was described and

named for the first time in 1940, in Dr. Weimarck’s mono-

graph of the genus. Prior to that is was incorporated with

“ A. capitata ” which, according to the Flora Capensis,

was a collective species comprising the majority of the tall

species. Confined to a small area in the south-western Cape

Province, A. macrocarpa has been recorded from various

parts of the Cape Peninsula and the Caledon Division, on

hills near Grabouw and Sir Lowry’s Pass. The plant figured

here was growing on the slopes of Wynberg Hill, within the

boundaries of the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch.

In this locality it occurs in association with A. thyrsiflora

N. E. Br., another of the tall robust species, but the two are

quite distinct and do not appear to hybridise, although they

both flower from November to December. A. thyrsiflora

is distinguished by its denser, more compact inflorescence

with smaller flowers which are a darker blue, and by the very

much smaller capsules. The only features in common between

these two species are the height of the plants, one metre or

more, and the broad leaves. In A. macrocarpa the fruits

enlarge rapidly once fertilization has taken place.

Description: — Plants robust, up to 1 -5 m. high, caespi-

tose. Basal leaves erect or suberect, 1-1*2 m. long, 1*5-

2*5 cm. wide; cauline leaves usually 4, the lowest about 50

cm. long, the middle ones 15-20 cm., the uppermost about

10 cm. long. Inflorescence racemose-paniculate; bracts

subtending the branches of the inflorescence acuminate or

cuspidate, the lower up to 3*5 cm. long, the upper about

1 cm. long, rust-coloured, green at the base; lower peduncles

1-2*5 cm. long, the upper 1-2 mm. long. Bracts and brac-

teoles 0*8-1 *5 cm. long, membranous, cuspidate, hispiaulous

rust-coloured; the bracteoles with wide colourless margins,

bi-cuspidate or tri-cuspidate, sometimes becoming lacerated.

Perianth segments obovate-cuneate, often slightly emarginate,

about 2 cm. long, 1 -5 cm. wide, the inner slightly larger than

the outer. Stamens with filaments 7-8 mm. long; anthers

4-5 mm. long. Style about 1 cm. long; stigma small. Capsule

2 -5-2 -8 cm. long, 8-9 mm. wide, broadly 3-winged, with 2-3

seeds in each carpel. (Bolus Herbarium, No. 21665.) — G. J.

Lewis.

Plate 1084. — Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; 2, upper portion of inflo-

rescence; 3, upper portion of leaf; 4. bract: 5 and 6, bracteoles; 7, flower;

8, outer perianth segment; 9, inner perianth segment; 10, androecium and

avnoecium; 1 1, androecium and svnoecium, immature, x2; 12, capsule.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

/

Plate 1085.

CARALLUMA CARNOSA.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae.

Caralluma carnosa Stent in Kew Bull. 1916:42; White and Sloane, The

Stapelieae, 288 (1937) (excl. plate 3 and figure 222).

When this plant flowered in the National Herbarium

garden, Pretoria, in March 1949 it afforded this opportunity

of making a correction in the title of Plate 592 in Vol. 15, 1935

of this publication. The specimen figured there as Caralluma

carnosa has since been described as distinct and was given the

name C. schxveickerdtii by A. A. Obermeyer. The present

plate depicts the typical C. carnosa Stent. C. schweickerdtii was

established as a species in “ The Stapelieae ”, Volume I, p.

288 (1937). Miss Obermeyer’s description was received

when the text for the above publication was in the publisher’s

hands and the necessary alterations to the captions for plate 3

and figure 222 were unfortunately not made. These illustra-

tions are reproductions from the original Plate 592 and thus

represent C. schweickerdtii and not C. carnosa. The two species

are distinguished in that C. schweickerdtii has rather larger

flowers, which have the inner surface a deep wine colour

marked with yellow instead of creamy-white with purplish-

red spots as in C. carnosa. A comparison of this Plate and

No. 592 will show this difference and also some differences in

the structure of the corona. Besides these distinguishing

characters the species occur in different habitats, C. schwei-

ckerdtii being found on sandy flats, flowering in spring,

while C. carnosa grows on rocky slopes and flowers in autumn.

The plant figured here came originally from the Krantz-

berg, growing high up on the rocky slopes and was collected

there in March, 1948, by Mr. J. Erens and Dr. L. E. Codd.

In preparing the plate the artist found it difficult to do

justice to the internal structure of the flower, which gave her

the impression of embossed velvet. The background is

creamy-white and densely covered with short papillae, and

impressed on this surface are large clearly defined purplish-red

spots having fewer and shorter papillae and so appearing

sunken in the plush.

The branching of the particular plant figured here was

observed to be rather different from C. carnosa seen growing

at the type locality at Silikatsnek. The new branch arises

at or near the apex of the stem and develops to a length of

about 9 cm. before the next arises near its apex. The stem

therefore becomes trailing and roots where it touches the

ground. The plants at Silikatsnek were clustered and

branching more or less at the base.

Description: — Stems succulent, sage-green with darker

green mottling (young growth fresher green), branching spa-

ringly, becoming decumbent, rooting; branches about 9 cm.

long; 2-5 cm. diam. (inch teeth), 4-angled; teeth stout up to

1 • 2 cm. long, 1 cm. broad at base with an apical mucro about

2 mm. long (becoming hard and sharp) and two minute teeth

about 2-5 mm. below the apex. Flowers 1-3, developing

successively between the angles and in the upper half of the

stem. Pedicels stout up to 3 mm. long. Calyx segments

obscurely spotted with small red spots, narrowly ovate-

acuminate, up to 3-5 mm. long. Corolla campanulate more

or less parchment-coloured with small red dots without^.,

creamy white and verruculose (shortly and densely papillose)

within, with large purple-red spots on the face of the lobes

and annulus, smoother in the tube and with smaller spots;

lobes ovate from a broad base, shortly acuminate, 4 mm.

long, 4 mm. broad at base, sub-erect, sinuses shortly pro-

jecting (toothed) as in species of Huernia; annulus raised at

the mouth of the tube, 5-cornered; tube about 4 mm. diam.

Corona united into a shallow bowl-like structure, parchment

coloured without, dark red at the base, striped with red within ;

outer lobes deeply bifid, reflexed, spotted within, about 1 -2

mm. long; inner lobes incumbent on the anthers, about

1 -75 mm. long with their apices converging but not touching

or overlapping, fleshy in lower portion and slightly gibbous

on the back, sparingly spotted, apex slightly acuminate,

obtuse. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28374.)— I. C.

Verdoorn.

Plate 1085. — Fig. 1, plant natural size; 2, whole flower, x6; 3, whole

corona, inner and outer, x6.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1086.

PROTEA BARBIGERA.

Cape Province.

Proteaceae.

Protea barbigera Meisn. in DC. Prod. 14:233 (1856); Bolus in Nature

Notes 1, 5:4 (1923); Phillips and Stapf in FI. Cap. 5, 1 :563 (1912).

Protea barbigera is generally regarded as one of the most

handsome species of this large and characteristically Cape

genus and its beauty has been eulogised on several occasions.

The specially striking features are its size and the contrast in

colour of the purple-black beards of the central florets to the

white-fringed shell-pink bracts or scales of the whole head.

The leathery leaves, which partly surround the head, not

infrequently show attractive undulations. The common name

Woolly-bearded Protea or “ Wolbaardsuikerbos ” fits it well.

The natural habitat of P. barbigera is mainly above

3,000 ft. It extends from Swellendam to the slopes of the

Hottentots Holland Mountains and then northwards above

the Hex River Valley ultimately reaching the Clanwilliam

District. Often it develops into a sturdy shrub up to about 8 ft.

tall although it may begin to flower when only 1^—2 ft. tall.

The species has few close relatives and the one most likely

to be confused with it, namely P. marginata Thunb., is readily

distinguished by the colour and less copious beard of the

florets. Whereas it is the beards of the florets of P. barbigera

that are blackish-purple and the inner bracts that are whitish-

or orange-fringed, it is the inner bracts of P. marginata that

are blackish-purple bearded and the florets are more sparingly

and rather rufous bearded.

Protea barbigera has been cultivated successfully for many

years at the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, and

it was from seed collected there that Mr. G. W. Reynolds

grew the figured specimen at Northcliff, Johannesburg.

As with most other species of the family in South Africa,

the plants thrive best on an acid quartzite formation.

Description : — A shrub up to about 8 ft. tall, moderately

branched. Leaves sessile or subsessile, about 10 cm. long,

3 cm. broad, oblong-lanceolate, acute, leathery, with a

thickened cartilaginous margin and a prominent midrib,

glabrous except for a few long hairs near the base. Head

sessile, 12-14 cm. long and about 12 cm. broad across the top

of the longest bracts. Involucre bracts 9-10-seriate, silky-

pubescent; outer ovate-oblong, subacute to obtuse, grey-

bearded; inner oblanceolate-oblong with the innermost

narrowed to the base, subacuminate or cuspidate, pink with

a yellow-orange base and with a whitish or reddish beard.

Perianth sheath 5-6 cm. long, 3-keeled, densely pubescent

to villous except at the glabrous base; lip including awns

3-3*5 cm. long, villous except on the portion containing the

anthers, produced into 2 densely villous awns about 1 *5 cm.

long; cilia secund about 5 cm. long passing into blackish-

purple tufts. Stamens , 3 fertile, anthers linear, 6 mm. long,

apical gland 1 *5-2 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate. Ovary 3 mm.

long, covered with long reddish hairs; the style gently curved,

compressed below, more or less terete above and with a short

ventral groove; the stigma about 7 mm. long, linear, acute,

kneed at the junction with style; hypogvnous scales 3, ovate.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28335.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1086. — Fig. 1, flower and leaves, natural size: 2, individual flower,

very slightly enlarged; 3, gynoecium, very slightly enlarged; 4, ovary with

base of style, 6; 5 and 5a, hypoeynous scales, 6; 7, habit.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1087.

MONADENIUM SCHUBEI.

Kenya, Tanganyika, S. Rhodesia.

Euphorbiaceae.

Monadenium schubei N. E. Brown in FI. Trop. Afr. 6. 1: 453 (1911);

White, Dyer and Sloane in the Succulent Euphorbieae 2: 947 (1941); Eu-

phorbia Schubei Pax in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 34: 373 (1904).

In the Succulent Euphorbieae, 1941, Monadenium schubei

N. E. Br. is dealt with on pages 947-950. Three figures in

that work, 1081-3 were made from a plant forwarded in 1938

by Mr. Basil Christian from Southern Rhodesia. The

present illustration was made from the same plant when it

flowered, as it had done in previous years, during March,

1945, at the National Herbarium, Pretoria. The plants had

been collected originally on the Mtoko Hills on the north east

border of Southern Rhodesia near Portuguese East Africa.

It is regretted that, due to an error by the present writer, the

locality is incorrectly given under figures 1081-3 of the Suc-

culent Euphorbieae, as Matopo, instead of Mtoko.

The distribution records of Monadenium schubei have not

been extended since 1941 but it seems reasonable to surmise

that it occurs also in other parts of the intervening country

between Kenya and Southern Rhodesia.

Our coloured illustration, with figures, brings out more

clearly than the photographic records, the characters of the

single horseshoe-like gland, which is the main distinguishing

feature separating Monadenium from Euphorbia. Other note-

worthy characters are the serrated angles of the fruits and the

prominent prickled tubercles, but although these characters

are common to several species, they are not of generic im-

portance.

The genus Monadenium has been represented twice

previously in these pages — on plates 223 and 776 in volumes

6 and 20 and depicting M. lugardae N. E. Brown and M.

succulentum Schweickerdt respectively. Incidentally the former

of these is common and widely spread in Southern Rhodesia

according to the late Mr. Basil Christian.

Description: — A spiny tufted succlent 15-45 cm. high.

Branches cylindric, prominently tubercled, about 2*5-3 cm.

thick, excluding tubercles, or 3*5-4 cm. in diameter including

the tubercles, green; tubercles in several spirally arranged

rows, 8-10 mm. diam. across their angular base, and 5-6

mm. prominent, each bearing 4-6 short spines at the apex

which subtend the leaf or leaf scar; spines prickle-like,

up to 3*5 mm. long, variable in length, stout, radiating.

Leaves 3 *5-4 *5 cm. long, 1 *5-2*5 cm. broad, spathulate-

oblanceolate, acute to subacute at apex, more or less crisped

on the margin in the apical half, minutely pubescent on

both surfaces. Inflorescence : cymes pedunculate, several

produced towards apex of branches, each of 3 cyathia;

central cyathium male and two lateral bisexual: peduncles

up to 1 cm. long, with a broad bract enclosing the central

involucre and cyme branches; bract shortly 2-lobed. about

7 mm. long, with keels extending into the lobes; cyme branches

about 5 mm. long with similar bracts enclosing the involucres;

involucre cup-shaped up to 5 mm. long with a horseshoe-

shaped green gland around the rim, which is open down the

front of the involucre, overtopping the 4 fimbriate lobes

within. Ovary with short styles free to the base, with 2-lobed

tips. (National Herbarium, Pretoria. No. 27326.) — R. A.

Dyer.

Plate 1087. — Fig. 1, top of branch, natural size; 2 and 2a, face and

back view of young inflorescence. 3-5; 3, cross-section of ovary, <5: 4,

immature capsules in deflexed position, > 2: 5, nearly mature capsules in

erect position, 1-75; 6, habit.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1088.

BRACHYSTELMA PYGMAEUM var. BREVIFLORUM.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae.

Brachystelma pygmaeum ( Schlir .) N. E. Br. var. breviflorum N. E. Br.

in FI. Cap. 4, 1: 857 (1908). Dichaelia breviflora Schltr. in Engl. Bot. Jahrb.

20: Beibl. 51 (1895).

Schlechter was the original collector and author of this

species in the closing years of last century. He discovered

the plant over 50 years ago in stony country near Mooifontein,

in the Heidelberg District of the Transvaal, at an altitude of

5,500 ft., during a special botanical expedition through

Natal and the Transvaal, when he was collecting only Ascle-

piadaceae. The species was originally described by him as

Dichaelia breviflora.

N. E. Brown, in his monograph of the genus Brachy-

stelma in the Flora Capensis (1908) says that he can find no

distinction of structural importance to maintain Dichaelia

as a separate genus. The only difference between it and

Brachystelma is in the connate corolla-lobes, and in the

species B. pygmaeum flowers with free and connate lobes have

been found on the same plant. N. E. Brown has therefore

made Dichaelia a synonym of Brachystelma. Further, he

does not consider Schlechter’s species to be specifically

distinct from Brachystelma pygmaeum, and says that he can

find nothing to separate the two except the absence of hairs

on the inside of the corolla, and this he considers to be not

more than a varietal character. He has therefore reduced

Schlechter’s species to Brachystelma pygmaeum var. brevi-

florum, with which treatment we agree.

An interesting feature in our plant is the fact that the

leaves are often undeveloped at the time of flowering though

later they may attain a length of 3 cm. or more. This gives

the plant a very different appearance at different stages and

may prove confusing to the collector.

The present figure was drawn from a cultivated plant

originally collected by R. A. Dyer and Miss I. C. Verdoorn

(No. 4184) between Devon and Leslie, in the Heidelberg

District of the Transvaal, not far from the type locality. Two

plants in cultivation at Pretoria, show slight differences

in leaf-form and luxuriance. The narrow-leaved form appears

to be more floriferous than the broad-leaved one.

The specific epithet pygmaeum , meaning dwarf, refers to

the small habit, whilst the varietal name breviflorum refers to

the short flowers.

Description: — Tuber compressed, about 10 cm. in dia-

meter and 6 cm. deep, producing a tufted annual growth.

Plant up to about 9 cm. high, freely branched from just above

the base. Branches about 2 mm. in diameter, slender, pube-

scent, with short upcurved hairs. Leaves often undeveloped at

the time of flowering; basal leaves shorter and broader than the

upper ones, often longitudinally folded; leaves in the middle

of the stem 1 -5-4 mm. broad, about 3 cm. long, linear-oblong,

tapering slightly to both ends, without a distinct petiole,

minutely scabrid-ciliate on the margins and midrib below,

otherwise glabrous. Flowers in fascicles of 2 (rarely 1) at

the nodes, slightly to one side of the leaf base, subtended by

a linear-lanceolate bract, 1-5 mm. long. Pedicles 0-8-1 -3

cm. long, slender, minutely pubescent, suberect in bud,

becoming pendulous with age. Calyx*lobes narrowly oblong,

narrowed at the middle, often asymetric, 1-5-2 mm. long,

subacute at the apex, with a few minute hairs on the

margins towards the apex and on the keel, and with minute

glandular structures in the sinuses of the lobes. Corolla

greenish-yellow, cage-like, lobed almost to the base, with

the lobes connate at the apex, glabrous, united part tubular

or campanulate for 1 mm., surrounding the base of the

staminal column, then spreading abruptly and dividing

into 5 lobes; lobes 8 mm. long, linear to linear-lanceolate,

replicate, glabrous. Outer corona arising from the staminal

column, united into one series with the inner corona, forming

5 pouches alternating with the inner lobes, with a few scattered

hairs on the cupular portion, otherwise glabrous. Inner

corona lobes shortly oblong or subquadrate, membranous,

minutely toothed or emarginate, incumbent on the backs of

the anthers, but not exceeding them. Staminal column

about 1-75 mm. long. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

27135.) — R. A. Dyer and E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1088. — Figs. 1 and 4, flowering branch, natural size; 2, flower,

x 2; 3, habit, x -5; 5, coronas and staminal column, x 10; 6, calyx-lobe,

X 10; 7, pollinia; 8, stem node, x3.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1089.

KALANCHOE DENSIFLORA.

Sudan , Uganda , Kenya.

Crassulaceae.

Kalanchoe densiflora Rolfe in Kew Bull. 1919: 263.

Kalanchoe densiflora is a fairly common species in parts

of Tropical Africa. Its distribution stretches from the Sudan

through Uganda to Kenya Colony. It is a decorative plant

of the forest edge and ravines, and also occurs on rocky

ground under moist conditions. As a rule it frequents

localities above 6,000 ft. and is recognised by its glabrous,

comparatively dense, spreading inflorescence of bright yellow

flowers with their small, rounded, apiculate petals.

This species has been confused with K. petitiana A. Rich.,

but is distinguished from it by the smaller flowers with rather

thicker petals, the shorter calyx-lobes, and the longer carpels.

The type plant of K. densiflora was collected by Mr. J. D.

Snowden in June, 1918. It was discovered growing near

bushes in short grassland at Limuru, in Kenya Colony,

about 30 miles North West of Nairobi, at an altitude of

7,000 ft. Mr. Snowden describes the plant as an erect or sub-

erect succulent herb, 2-4 ft. high, with yellow or reddish

flowers.

The accompanying plate was drawn from a plant which

flowered in the National Herbarium garden at Pretoria in

September, 1942, and was originally collected by Mr. J. Erens

at Thompson’s Falls, Kenya Colony, in July, 1939.

The specific epithet densiflora is very appropriate, and

refers to the dense inflorescence which is one of the charac-

teristic features of the species.

Description: — A perennial succulent plant, 2-5 ft. high.

Stem erect or sub-erect, sometimes falling over due to its

inability to support the weight of the mature plant, glabrous,

terete, at first leafy, but leaves falling with age leaving the

lower part of the stem naked and covered with conspicuous

leaf scars. Leaves light green, subsessile or shortly petiolate,

with the petiole up to 2 cm. long; lamina broadly obovate to

1079-3

obovate-orbicular, 6-10 cm. long, 4-8 cm. broad, thick and

crisply fleshy, rounded or subtruncate at the apex and generally

cuneate at the base, concave on the upper surface and irregu-

larly crenate on the margin. Inflorescence quite glabrous,

corymbose, trichotomously branched into comparatively

dense, many-flowered, axillary and terminal cymes. Peduncles

of the lowest axillary cymes up to 17 cm. long. Bracts like

much reduced leaves; bracteoles becoming setaceous. Pedicels

3-5 mm. long. Calyx-lobes linear-lanceolate, 5-7 mm. long,

about 1 mm. broad at the base, acuminate at the apex.

Corolla bright yellow, primrose-yellow or orange, 1 -5 cm. long,

glabrous; tube urceolate, 4-angled below the middle, about

1-2 cm. long, 4 mm. in diameter just above the base and

narrowed to 2-5 mm. at the throat; lobes rather thick, broadly

obovate-cuneate, 4 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, rounded and

apiculate at the apex, slightly grooved down the centre. Sta-

mens 8, in two whorls, in the upper part of the corolla-tube,

filaments free for 2-5 mm., anthers included. Squamae linear,

2 mm. long, emarginate. Pistil 8-9 mm. long. Ovary narrowly

ovoid, about 6-5 mm. long and 2-5 mm. diameter near the

base; style about 2 mm. long, withering after fertilization;

stigma capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 27055.)

— E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1089. — Fig. 1, flowering branch and leaf, natural size; 2, corolla

split open showing stamens, x 4; 3, pistil and squamae, x 4-5; 4, habit.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

Plate 1090.

SANSEVIERIA PHILLIPSIAE.

Abyssinia , Somaliland.

Agavaceae.

Sansevieria phillipsiae N. E. Br. in Hook. Ic. pi. 30: t. 3000 (1913); and

in Kew Bulletin 1915: 203.

Little has been published on this difficult genus since

N. E. Brown’s excellent monograph in the Kew Bulletin of

1915. He here stresses the importance of leaf-form in the

differentiation of the species. Our plant belongs to the group

with more or less cylindrical leaves, which are channelled

down the face at the base, forming a sheath for the leaf above.

The length of this channel depends on the size of the leaf

which it sheathes. The blotching or zoning of the leaves

is also of specific value.

The genus is of economic importance because fibre

(bowstring hemp) suitable for cordage material, is obtained

from the leaves of certain species. About 40 years ago a

factory was set up in Kenya for the purpose of extracting this

fibre, but it was not a commercial success.

Sansevieria was placed in the Haemodoraceae by Bentham

& Hooker, was transferred by Engler to the Liliaceae and

was later put in a third family, the Agavaceae, by Hutchinson.

This family comprises the most advanced tribes formerly

included in the Liliaceae. The generic name Sansevieria,

though not the earliest, was conserved by the Vienna Congress

of 1905.

S. phillipsiae was first collected by Mrs. Lort Phillips in

Somaliland, and was described from a living plant which

flowered at Kew in January 1912 but which died later. The

plate on the opposite page was drawn from a plant in culti-

vation at Pretoria and originally collected by Major A. G.

McLoughlin in Abyssinia. It differs from the type in haying

rather shorter perianth-lobes and a longer tube, but this is

often a variable character in plants pollinated by night flying

moths. The genus derives its name from Raimond de

Sansgrio, Prince of Sanseviero.

Description: — A dwarf fibrous plant, branching from

the base with stems about 10 cm. high. Leaves up to 16 to

a growth, closely set, generally sheathing at the base, 3-30 cm.

long, spreading, rigid, of three forms which grade into one

another; lower ones 2-3 cm. long, channelled along the upper

face, convex below, about 2 cm. broad at the base and 5 mm.

thick, with a narrow membranous margin; upper ones 10-25

cm. long, channelled for about 2 cm. at the base otherwise

cylindric and gradually tapering to the acuminate apex;

sometimes (always?) final leaf from apex sub-cylindric with no

channel at base, up to about 30 cm. long; all forms minutely

and irregularly transversely rugose, dark green with lighter

transverse blotches, with 5-8 impressed longitudinal lines

extending from the base towards the apex, lines near the

margins not running the full length of the leaf. Flower-stem

about 30 cm. high and 4 mm. thick, minutely white-mottled;

basal part bearing 2-3 brown membranous, lanceolate,

many-nerved sheaths, 1 -5-3 cm. long, acuminate at the apex;

upper part bearing a spike-like raceme of flower-clusters.

Bracts similar to the membranous sheaths, but smaller.

Inflorescence about 20 cm. long. Flowers white, 2-6 -fasci-

culate, surrounded by about 4 small, membranous, bracteoles,

upper fascicles with fewer flowers than the lower and nearer

together. Pedicels about 2 mm. long, jointed just above

the middle. Perianth 3-4 cm. long; tube 2-2-8 cm. long,

2 mm. in diameter, slender, cylindric, not enlarged at the base;

lobes linear, 1 -5-1-7 cm. long, 2-2-5 mm. broad, opening in

the late afternoon towards sunset, often cohering and spread-

ing unevenly, closing after sunrise and only open for 1 night.

Stamens 1-5 cm. long, filaments inserted at the base of the

perianth lobes; anthers 2-5 mm. long, versatile. Ovary

cylindric, 3 mm. long; style exserted, slightly longer than the

stamens. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 27195.) —

R. A. Dyer & E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1090. — Fig. 1, inflorescence, natural size; 2, leaves and stem,

natural size; 3, habit, reduced; 4, section through perianth, x 2; 5, flower,

X 1-5.

F.P.A., April, 1950.

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1

Plate 1091.

ALOE MUNCHII.

S. Rhodesia.

Liu ace ae.

Aloe munchii Christian sp. nov.

Planta arborescens usque 6 m. alt. Caulis simplex, plerumque

ramosus, gracilis, erectus. Folia in rosula capitata dense congregata,

inferiora recurvato-patentia, superiora ascendentia, recurvata e basi sensim

attenuata, c 45-56 cm. longa, 6-10 cm. lata, supra profunde canali-

culata, subtus rotundata, pallide viridia, immaculata, marginibus

cartilagineis cinctis dentibus minutis 1 mm. longis armatis. Inflorescentia

erecta, bifurcata, rarius simplex vel 3-4 ramosa. Rami vacuo-bracteati.

Racerni densi, capitati. Bracteae florum oblongae, apiculatae, 10 mm.

longae et latae, 6-nervatae. Pedicelli arcuato-obliqui, 30 mm. longi.

Perianthium coccineum (vel aurantiacum) cylindricum, trigonum, 45 mm.

longum, circa ovarium 6-8 mm. diam., levissime ventricosum, segmenta

exteriora libera, vel basi connata, 3-nervata, segmenta interiora libera.

Stamina inclusa vel sub-exserta. Stylus exsertus. Ovarium 7 mm.

longum, 3 mm. diam.

S. Rhodesia: Chimanimani Mts., Munch in Herb. Christian No. 1219

(type); cult. Rusapi Verdoorn ex Munch in National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 28438.

In July 1950 the specimen figured here was taken from a

plant in Mr. Munch’s garden on his farm Mona near Rusapi.

At the time a number of these plants, which he had collected

in the Chimanimani Mts. in September 1945, were in flower,

as they were also in the late Mr. H. Basil Christian’s garden,

Ewanrigg. Mr. Munch had communicated this species to Mr.

Christian when he first discovered it in 1945 and the description

published here was drawn up at that time by Mr. Christian.

In his notes on the Aloe Mr. Christian wrote : “ It is a

pleasure to be able to name this rather remarkable species of

Aloe in honour of Mr. R. C. Munch who, for many years has

been a collector of our native flora, which he grows in his

splendid natural rock garden on his farm “ Mona ” near

Rusapi. This Aloe differs in most of its characters from any

of the published species. The inflorescence is most unusual

being bifurcate with distinctly capitate racemes which is rarely,

if ever, the case in arborescent species. At first the racemes are

in the form of a low flat cone, the buds and immature flowers

being deflexed with the individual perianths distinctly up-

curved at the apex. As the flowers mature the racemes alter

entirely in shape, assuming the more usual rounded capitate

form and showing no signs of the original cone shape. The

bracts are, for their size, very broad, not spreading from the

rhachis but hiding it entirely. This new Aloe occurs in

thousands at altitudes of from 5,000 to 7,000 ft. in a very

high rainfall area. No signs of hybridisation were seen.”

One of the reasons why Mr. Christian did not offer the

description for publication before his death was no doubt

because he was still considering the relationship of the species

and trying to decide into which section to place it. From his

letters to the National Herbarium, Pretoria, in which he asked

for advice and comments, he expressed the opinion that it

did not fit into any of the subdivisions of the sections in

Berger’s monograph in Das Pflanzenreich IV, 38 3.2 (1908).

It seems to the writer to be nearest A . arborescens in the

Arborescentes, differing principally in the broad capitate race-

mes with even the buds deflexed, and to A. angelica in the

Principales, differing, among other things, in the long perianth

and included, or very shortly exserted, anthers (see Plate 554

vol. 14 of this work). The slender stems which are usually

quite nude below the previous season’s dry leaves are un-

branched or with one or more branches above the base but

do not sucker on the base. The large handsome young

racemes are shaped like a pagoda, the flowers ranging, on

different plants, from apricot-buff through salmon-orange to

strawberry-peach and scarlet (R.C.S.). The slightly upturned

bud tips are dark coloured, usually madder-brown and the

leaves are greenish-glaucous with coral-pink on the extreme

edges, some turning this colour as they age. The leaves are

comparatively thin, not very fleshy, and when young are

ascending erect with the apices slightly recurved and the older

ones spreading recurved; all are deeply canaliculate.

It was noted that in some cases more than one inflores-

cence developed from a crown at the same time. According

to Mr. Munch the plants were found in poor sandy soil in the

Chimanimani Mountains. — I. C. Verdoorn.

Description. — An arborescent plant up to ca 18 ft. tall.

Stems slender sometimes unbranched, about 2 to 3 ins. diam.

Leaves in a terminal rosette the lower spreading recurved,

the upper ascending recurved, ca 45-56 cm. long, ca 6-10 cm.

broad near base, not very fleshy, thin and flexible, tapering

gradually from base to apex, upper surface concave above

base, deeply channelled higher up, pale greyish-green, immacu-

late, lower surface rounded, immaculate, margins with a coral

pink cartilaginous border armed with small red proclivent

deltoid teeth. 1 mm. long and ca 11 mm. apart in the middle,

interspaces straight. Inflorescence erect, ca 47-60 cm. high,

bifurcate from above the middle or rarely 3-4 branched some-

times simple. Peduncle brown, compressed, sometimes with

a narrow flat red rib on either edge to below branches.

Branches arcuate divergent, ca 10-22 mm. long, 6 mm. diam.

profusely sterile bracteate in upper half. Sterile bracts oblong,

apiculate, spreading, becoming deflexed, ca 11 mm. long and

wide, brownish white, scarious, 6-9 nerved. Racemes at first

flatly conical with buds and immature flowers deflexed, the

flowers slightly upcurved at apex, at length becoming shortly

capitate, flat or slightly rounded on top, 8-13 cm. long by

11-15 cm. diam., with a tuft of sterile bracts at tip of rhachis.

Floral bracts oblong, apiculate, 10 mm. long and wide, com-

pletely hiding the rhachis, brownish white, scarious, 6-nerved.

Pedicels arcuate-oblique, those of mature flowers cernuous.

Perianth strawberry-peach to scarlet or on some plants

apricot buff to salmon orange (R.C.S.) cylindric-trigonous

45 mm. long, 8 mm. diam. over ovary, widening to 10 mm.

diam. in middle and slightly constricted towards throat, outer

segments free almost to the base, red, boatshaped, the lower

up-turned at mouth, 3-nerved, apices sub-acute, slightly

spreading, inner segments free, white shading to pink at

margins, umber at apex with a narrow red keel, apices obtuse,

spreading. Filaments included, pale canary yellow. Anthers

peach brown, included ultimately sub-exserted. Style canary

yellow, exserted. Ovary green, 7 mm. long, 3 mm. diam.—

H. B. Christian.

Plate 1091. — Fig. 1, scarlet-flowered raceme; 2, orange flower from

a neighbouring plant; 3, section of leaf; 4, bract x 1-5; 5, longitudinal sec-

tion x 1 - 5; 6, habit.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

CyfKw^

^TTy. J ii.

Plate 1092.

DOL1CHANDRONE ALBA.

Portuguese East Africa.

Bignoniaceae.

Dolichandrone alba (j 'Sim) Sprague in Kew Bull. p. 308 (1919).

Spathodea alba Sim. For. FI. Port. E. Africa pp. 92, 116, t. 75 (1909).

This interesting tree with its spectacular white, sweet-

smelling flowers is the only African representative of the genus

Dolichandrone, which is otherwise restricted to Asia and

Australia.

The species was first figured and described by Sim nearly

40 years ago in his Forest Flora of Portuguese East Africa,

under the name Spathodea alba. This was later transferred

to Dolichandrone by Sprague, who points out that the long,

cylindrical corolla tube and pure white, fragrant, nocturnal

flowers are the distinguishing characters of this genus. In

Sim’s time the tree was apparently frequent in lower Gaza,

M’Chopes and Inhambane, and also present in the forests of

Magenja da Costa. To-day it is cultivated in some of the

gardens of Lourenco Marques, but is not so common in the

wild state.

The accompanying plate was prepared from a specimen

which flowered in February, 1948, in the gardens of the

National Herbarium, Pretoria. The origin of this tree is not

known for certain, but Dr. I. B. Pole Evans believes that he

collected it in dense forest in the vicinity of Crocodile Bridge,

near Komatipoort, on the borders of the Transvaal and

Portuguese East Africa. Our figure differs from that of Sim

in the smaller acuminate leaflets, the uncinate calyx and the

unequally lobed corolla. The size of the leaflets is variable

though there are none on our tree quite as large as those

figured by Sim. The difference in the other characters may

be partially due to the fact that Sim’s plate is not very detailed

and may even have been taken from a dried specimen, where

the details of the fresh corolla would be difficult to reconstruct.

The tree is rather loosely and irregularly branched and

the large white flowers, appearing a few at a time on the long

terminal inflorescences, soon fade and turn brown. The wood

apparently yields a light grey valuable board timber of good

surface.

Description. — A small tree about 4 m. high with a

main trunk about 2 m. long and 10 cm. diameter at the base

in the figured specimen, branched above into semi-erect

branches. Bark pale greyish-brown, rather thin, flaking

longitudinally. Leaves opposite

and decussate, imparipinnate,

dark shiny-green above, paler

below, glabrous, shortly petiolate.

12-24 cm. long; leaflets 3-5

jugate, subsessile, elliptic, variable

in size, basal pair smaller and

broader, apical leaflet 1-15 cm.,

petioiulate, largest leaflets 8 cm.

long, 4 cm. broad, serrulate,

smaller 3 5 cm. long, 2 5 cm.

broad, subentire, all acuminate at

the apex, cu.neate or rounded

(sometimes unequally so) at the

base, lateral nerves on upper

surface in 8 pairs prominent below,

tertiary veins finely reticulate.

Jnflorescense terminal, consisting

of a compound cyme, opening from

below upwards, cvmes opposite.

3-fiowered, 1 5—3 5 cm. distant,

about 10 pairs of cymes to an

inflorescence, but only a few

flowers opening at a time. Bracts

and bracteoles minute, deltoid,

easily overlooked. Peduncles

7-10 mm. long. Pedicels about

15 cm. long, both stout, glab-

rous, sparsely glandular. Flowers

large, white, glabrous, strongly

scented, opening in the evening.

Calyx spathaceous, split down the

adaxial side, pale green with a

thin red margin, about 3 cm. long,

uncinate at the apex, and

glandular just below the tip.

Corolla imbricate with lobes very

much crinkled in bud, tube about

5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad at

the base, widened to 8 mm. at the throat; sparsely and minutely

glandular within; lobes 4, unequal, crinkle-undulate, spread-

ing, minutely glandular on the upper surface; adaxial lobe

large, broadly transversely elliptic in outline about 3 cm.

long, 5 5 cm. broad; 3 smaller abaxial lobes subequal,

broadly obovate or suborbicular, about 3 cm. long and

broad, with 3 or 4 large prominent glands at the base of

each lobe on the under side. Stamens 4, inserted about

13 cm. below the mouth of the tube; filaments about 1 cm.

long with one pair slightly longer than the other; anthers

cream-coloured, 2-celled, divaricate, oblong, about 4 mm.

long, apiculate at the base. Ovary inserted in an annular

disc, oblong, gradually passing into the thickened elongated

3 cm. long style, which is widened at the apex into

2 thin, flattened, obovate stigma lobes about 5 mm. long and

3 mm. broad, minutely glandular on the inner surface.

Capsule about 20 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, tapered at the ends,

compressed, dark green, leathery, with an impressed midrib,

false septum thick, leathery, parallel to the carpels. Seeds

numerous, flattened winged at each end, 4-4 5 cm. long

(inch wings), 8 mm. broad, closely and longitudinally

overlapping in the capsule (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 28300.) — E. A". Bruce. ■

Plate 1092. — Fig. 1, inflorescence and leaf, natural size; 2, corolla,

front face showing lobes, natural size; 3, receptacle, annular disc and

ovary, x2-5; 4 and 5, upper part of style showing stigma lobes, x2-5;

6, inside of corolla tube with two stamens x2-5; 7, capsule, reduced;

8. cross section of capsule showing seed (s), wing (w), and false septum (fs),

x2; 9, seed with hyaline wing, slightly enlarged.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

MARY GUNN LIBRARY

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE

PRIVATE BAG X 101

PRETORIA 0001

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

>3

2

Plate 1093.

PACHYCARPUS GRANDIFLORUS.

Cape, Natal, Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae.

Pachycarpus grandifiorus E. Mey. Coram. 209 (1835); Brown in FI

Cap. 4, 1 : 734, (1908).

No more appropriate specific name than grandifiorus

could have been chosen for this outstanding species of

Pachycarpus. Although the flowers are not larger than those

of P. campanulatus N.E.Br., they are remarkable for their

colour, shape and abundance on one short stem. The lobing

of the inflated corolla is less than usual in the genus and is

another feature which makes the species especially noteworthy.

In its wide range of distribution, from Humansdorp

Division in the Cape Province eastwards into Natal and into

the Transvaal, the flowers are found to vary considerably in

size, colour, pubescence and other characters which are

apparently of minor taxonomic significance. Brown, in his

monograph of 1908, recognised three varieties, elatocarinatus,

chrysanthus and tomentosus, but the differences recorded are

in degree and one is left in doubt whether they should be up-

held. In the present instance, on the character of the corona,

the plant agrees with Brown’s variety elatocarinatus.

The taxonomic history of the species reveals that it was

first described in the genus Asclepias and later transferred in

succession to Pachycarpus, Xysmalobium and Gomphocarpus.

On the other hand it has retained throughout its history the

one specific epithet grandifiorus.

In spite of its remarkable appearance and the fact that it

was first described about 170 years ago, the plant has never

previously been figured in colour. This is doubtless due to a

combination of factors. The perennial tuberous rootstock

gives rise annually to herbaceous branches and is not known

to have been trasplanted successfully from its natural environ-

ment into cultivation. If plants are grown from seed they

are likely to take some years before coming into flower.

Flowers plucked in the veld do not withstand long journeys

and rough handling.

In the case of this illustrated plant, it was received by

rail from Iswepe, in the Piet Retief district, Transvaal, where

it was collected by Mr. J. L. Sidey. It arrived in a wilted con-

dition and revived for a day or two only after the cut stem had

been immersed in boiling water.

The genus Pachycarpus has been featured twice previously

in this work, on Plates 610 and 619 (1926) by P. schinzianus

N.E.Br. and P. concolor E. Mey. respectively.

Description. — Perennial herb with a tuberous rootstock.

Stems one to a few from each rootstock, usually simple, up to

about 40 cm. tall, 5-10 mm. in diam., variably pubescent, with

internodes 1-2 5 cm. long. Leaves with a petiole 3-12 mm.

long; blade oblong or the upper ones oblong-lanceolate and

those on the middle of the stem up to about 9 cm. long and 4

cm. broad, but often less, apiculate, usually undulate on the

margin, pubescent on the lower surface, pubescent and

scabrous on the upper surface. Flowers in 2-4-flowered ses-

sile or subsessile umbels at the nodes; pedicels 2-3 cm. long,

pubescent, spreading. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, about 2 cm.

long and less than 1 cm. broad, pubescent. Corolla yellowish-

green spotted with dark purple-brown, inflated globose, up

to about 4' 5 cm. in diam., but sometimes considerably less,

lobed to about half-way, glabrous or nearly so; lobes broadly

ovate, acute, incurved from the base and with overlapping

margins and recurved tips. Corona lobes very spreading,

about 2 25 cm. long when flattened, linear, with incurved

tongue-like tips; the basal half with 2 closely pressed flaps

(giving appearance of 1 inverted triangular keel) which at the

angular base may (unlike the typical form) be nearly as high

as the top of the staminal column. Anther appendages elliptic-

ovate, inflexed over the rim of the truncate, 5-crenate,

excavated staminal column. Follicles solitary, 6-winged.

(National Herbarium. Pretoria, No. 28377.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1093. — Fig. 1, top of stem, natural size; 2, staminal column

with one lobe, x 2; 3, habit.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

Plate 1094.

OXALIS SALTERI.

Cape Province.

bepublic of

OXALIDACEAE.

Oxalis salteri L. Bolus in Journ. of Bot. 68:75 (1930); T. M. Salter

in the Genus Oxalis in South Africa 221 (1944).

In all, 311 species of South African Oxalis have, from time

to time, been recognised and named, but recent and more

intensive study of the genus has shown that many of these

so-called species are merely forms of very variable broad

species, in which isolated forms, taken without consideration

of intermediates, look very different. Consequently the

number has now been reduced to 209. O. salteri, one of the

few monophyllous species is, however, very distinct. It was

first discovered in flower on a visit to Van Rhynsdorp Division

in May 1929 in company with Mr. N. S. Pillans.

It is most commonly found in shallow depressions in which

water lies for a time after rain, and under these conditions

the plants are abundant and almost matted together. Such

colonies often contain a few plants with white flowers, a varia-

tion which is found in several species in the section Crassulae.

The type is Bolus Herbarium No. 18937, from 7 miles south of

Van Rhynsdorp, on the road from Klaver. To the north-east

of Van Rhynsdorp the plants were scattered and distinctly

smaller, but the difference appears to be merely epharmonic.

It is interesting to note that it was first observed in this

region, though not in flower, by Francis Masson, probably

when he was in company with Thunberg in 1774, for, after it

had been described and named, a leafing specimen collected

by him was found in the British Museum.

It is now well established in the open at the National

Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch. Owing to the great depth

at which the mature flowering bulbs lie, attempts to grow it

in pots have been unsuccessful. The plant illustrated is from

the progeny of bulbils of Salter 695, from the type locality.

Description. — Plant stemless, rather robust, up to 16 cm.

high, entirely glabrous. Bulb about 2 cm. long, attenuate-

acute at the apex, with pale brown tunics. Rhizome 30-40

cm. long or more, very slender towards the base. Leaves

3-13, simple, procumbent, with petioles 3-5 mm. long; lamina

suborbicular, broadly elliptical or ovate, sometimes very

slightly incised at the apex, usually 2-4 cm. long, somewhat

glaucous-green above, rich brownish-purple beneath. Pedun-

cles several, 1 -flowered, 5-14 cm. long, with 2 alternate bracts

on the upper half. Sepals broadly lanceolate, 5-7 mm. long,

often dark -edged, sometimes indistinctly callose towards the

apex. Corolla 1 8-3 5 cm. long, yellow or more rarely white,

the yellow funnel-shaped tube often purple-streaked about

the throat; laminae of the petals obliquely cuneate-obovate,

very obliquely subtruncate, rather longer than the tapering

claw. Filaments sparsely glandular-pilose, the shorter 3 5—5

mm., the longer 5 5-9 mm. long, without teeth. Ovary 2 '5-3

mm. long, glabrous, with numerous orange striae and dots

on the upper part, the chambers 5-6-ovuled; styles with a few

simple hairs at the base, shortly glandular-pilose above.

Capsule elongate, twice as long as the sepals. Seeds without

endosperm. (Salter 695 in Bolus Herbarium.) — T. M. Salter.

Plate 1094. — Fig. 1, sepals, x 3. 2, bulb; 3. petal; 4. androecium

of the medio-slylar form.' x 6; 5. leaf, under side.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

Plate 1095.

EUPHORBIA WATERBERGENSIS.

Transvaal.

Eurphorbiaceae.

Euphorbia waterbergensis R .A. Dyer, sp. nov., affins E. lydenburg-

ensi Schweickerdt et Letty et E. heterochromae Pax ab ilia gynophorio

longiore stylis breviter connatis ab hac gynophorio breviore ab ambabus

cymis 3-5-cyatheis differt.

Planta succulenta, perennis, armata, basi profunde ramosa, usque

15 m. alta. Rami erecti vel suberecti, simplices vel sparse ramosi,

2-2-25 cm. crassi, segmentis oblongis 2-20 cm. constricti, 4—6 angulati;

anguli podariis comeis griseis confluentibus 1 • 5 — 2 mm. latis biaculeatis.

Aculei plus minusve 5 mm. longi vel ad ramorum constrictos minores.

Cy/na solitaris, brevissime pedunculata, 3 vel 4, rariter 5 cyathiis supra

aculeos circiter 2-5-3 mm. emittens; cyathium primum masculinum, mox

deciduum; cyathia bisexualia breviter pedunculata. Involucrum glabrum,

4—5 mm. diametro, lobis 5 subquadratis laceratis et glandulis 5 transverse

oblongis 2 — 2-5 mm. latis integris flavis munitum. Ovarium gynophorio

2 mm. longo elevatum; ' styli in columnam infra medium connati, apice

bifidi.

Transvaal.— Waterberg district, 2-5 miles from Elmeston Post

Office on Waterberg quartzite, 3,300 ft. April, Codd and Erens 4018

(type): May, Steyn; near Palala River, Jan., Lever.

The first record of this species in the National Herbarium,

Pretoria, was by Mr. Allen Lever in 1940 and in the following

year Mr. H. T. S. Steyn forwarded material. It was not until

1948, however, that Dr. L. E. Codd and Mr. J. Erens made

comprehensive records and photographs in the field and

secured adequate material for figuring and description. It

would seem that the species is restricted in its distribution to

the Waterberg range in the Transvaal.

E. waterbergensis is allied to E. lydenburgensis from the

eastern Transvaal and E. heterochroma from Tropical Africa.

From the former it differs somewhat in habit, in the darker

green colouration of the branches, in the more robust horny

margin to the angles, in the frequent occurrence of 4 cyathia

in the cymes, in the shortly staked ovary, and in the union of

the styles in the lower half. From the latter it is readily

distinguished by the young capsules not being long exserted

from the involucres and in the occurrence of 4 and 5 cyathia in

the cymes. In both these characters it differs also from E.

griseola Pax, an allied species also occurring in the western

Transvaal.

The importance of the arrangement of the cyathia in the

cymes as a means of classification in the spine-paired species

was unappreciated until recent years. It has been noted that

these species fall into natural groups on the pattern of the cyme

or cymes from each flowering eye. In the present species there

is but one cyme from each flowering eye. The peduncle

produces firstly a cyathium, entirely male, subtended by 2 to 4

bracts, from the axils of which are produced bisexual cyathia,

the position of the bracts obviously indicates the subsequent

disposition of the cyathia. If the cyme is to consist of only

three cyathia, there will be produced two bisexual cyathia

laterally, one on either side of the male (this has been termed

horizontal disposition in relation to the main axis) and if the

cyme is to consist of four cyathia, the fourth will be below the

male, that is on the abaxial side, or occasionally above it in

the adaxial position (this has been termed vertical disposition),

while if the cyme is to have five cyathia, the central male will

have one bisexual on either side and one above and below.

Description. — A spiny succulent shrub up to about

15 m. high with main stem suppressed, occasionally with a

few short stem-like branches, branching near ground level

and only sparsely branched above. Branches dark green, only

occasionally rebranched, more or less erect but eventually

spreading and finally falling with age, about 2—2 ' 25 cm.

diam. and contricted into segments 2-20 cm., long, with

nearly parallel sides, 4-6 angled; angles furnished with paired

spines on a continuous horny grey margin 15-2 mm. broad

Spines in pairs 0 75-T5 cm. apart, about 5 mm. long,

diverging and horizontally spreading with prickles above

their base very rudimentary or absent. Inflorescence of

single cymes from the flowering eyes 2 5-3 mm. above the

base of the spine pairs. Cymes of 3, 4 or 5 cyathia, subsessile

with 2-4 crescent-shaped bracts on the short peduncle;

peduncle branches very short bibracteate; central cyathium

male and developing first, always with 2, 3 or occasionally 4

bisexual cyathia, 2 lateral disposed in a plane at right angles

to the main axis and the third generally in abaxillary position

and fourth in adaxillary position; involucre shallowly cup-

shaped; male up to 5 mm. diam.; bisexual 4-4 5 mm. in diam.,

glabrous, with 5 glands and 5 small subquadrate lacerate

lobes; glands yellow transversely oblong, 2-2 5 mm. in their

greater diam., contiguous. Ovary on a stout gynophore about

2 mm. long, not exserted from involucre, obtusely 3-angled;

styles up to about 2 mm. long, united into a column below the

middle, with free portions spreading, recurved, with bifid

tips; ovules subglobose. — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1095. — Fig. 1, flowering branch, natural size; 2, cyme with 4

cyathia, x 5; 3, gynoecium, x 5; 4, gynoecium, x 10; 5, habit.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

f CythnflL Lefty

Plate 1096a.

BRACHYSTELMA MINOR.

Transvaal.

Asclepiadaceae.

Brachystelma minor E. A. Bruce, sp. nov. affinis B. brevipedicellato

Turrill, a qua pedicellis longioribus, lobis corollae nec corrugatis, lobis

coronae exterioribus bifidis facile distinguitur.

Tuber compresso-sphaericum, supra leviter planatum vel concavum

subtus convexum, circiter 5 cm. diametro, 2 cm. profundo. Caulis

simplex, circiter 2 5 cm. altus, glabrescens. Folia longe petiolata; petiolus

0-8-1 -6 cm. longus, supra camculatus, glabrescens; lamina aut oblongo-

elliptica 2 cm. longa, 1 cm. lata aut suborbiculata 1 • 5 cm. longa lataque,

subtus glabrescens, supra pilis albidis paucis appresso-pubescens, margine

breviter crispo-pubescens, nerva media subtus prominente supra impressa,

nervis lateralibus utrinque 3; lamina suborbicula apice subtruncata, alii

subacuti, omnia basi cuneata decurentiaque. Cymae 2-3 flora, axillares,

breviter pedunculatae; pedunculus circiter 1-5 mm. longus pedicelli

glabrescentes, 4—5 mm. longi. Calycis-lobi 1-5-2 mm. longi, lanceolait,

acuti, pilis paucis albidis ornati. Corolla (alabastro) circiter 7 mm. longa,

5 mm. diametro. Corolla (rnatura) 1/3-lobata, usque 7-5 mm. longa et

trans lobas 7-5 mm. diametro, extra glabra; tubus campanulatus, 4-5 mm.

longus, inlus setis paucis albidis ornatus, lobi suberecti vel leviter

recurvati, trianguli. 2-2-5 mm. longi, basi 2 mm. lati, apice subacuti,

margine dense ciliati; intus setis brevibus albidis obtecti. Corona vix

1 mm. alta, 15-2 mm. diametro; lobi exteriores 5. basi poculiformes,

apice profunde bifidi, vix 1 mm. longi latique, basi pilis patulis ornati;

lobi interiores oblongi vel subquadrati glabri, circiter 0-5 mm. longi, apice

truncati vel emarginati. Folliculi fusiformes, glabri, suberecti, 2 8-3 -8 cm.

longi, medio circiter 4 mm. diametro, basin apicemque versus angustati.

Transvaal: Pietersburg district; The Downs Murray, National

Herbarium. Pretoria, 28365.

Brachystelma minor was discovered in October, 1947, by

Mrs. Joan Murray who is a keen plant collector. It was found

growing between dolomite rocks near The Downs in the

Pietersburg district of the Transvaal. Tubers from there were

grown in the garden of the National Herbarium, Pretoria, and

one of these which flowered in October 1948, is the subject

of the accompanying plate. Since the plant was not previously

represented in the Herbarium here, a specimen was sent to Kew

for identification but it was not matched there either and it

appears to be undescribed.

The specific epithet minor refers to the small stature of

the plant. There is wide variation within the genus Brachys-

telma, for example, our present plant appears to be very

different from B. gracilis E. A. Bruce, figured on plate 1077.

B. minor belongs to the section of the genus which has free

corolla-lobes and a definite corolla tube. It is most closely

allied to B. brevipedicellata Turrill, a plant cultivated at Kew

but originally received from Pretoria.

Description. — Tuber compressed spherical, flattened or

slightly hollowed on the upperside, convex below, about 5 cm.

in diameter and 2 cm deep. Stem simple, about 2 5 cm. high,

glabrous except for a very few scattered appressed-ascending

white hairs. Leaves 3-5 pairs to the stem, long petiolate;

petiole 8-16 mm. long, channeled down the upper side,

glabrescent; lamina very variable in shape, varying from

oblong-elliptic (2 cm. long, 1 cm. broad) to suborbicular (15

cm. long and broad) glabrescent below, pubescent above, with

a few scattered appressed white hairs particularly towards the

margins which are shortly crisped pubescent, midrib promi-

nent below purple tinged, impressed above; lateral nerves

about 3 on each side of the midrib; suborbicular leaves more

or less truncate at the apex, others subacute, cuneate at the

base and decurrent into the petiole. Flowers about 1 cm.

long in 2-3-flowered shortly pedunculate axillary spreading

cymes; peduncle about 1 5 mm. long; pedicles vandyke-red,

glabrescent 4-5 mm. long. Calyx lobes vandyke-red, 15-2

mm. long, lanceolate, acute, with a few scattered white hairs.

Corolla (in bud) about 7 mm. long, 5 mm. in diameter at the

widest part, greenish-white, tinged with reddish-purple at the

base; (mature) 5-lobed to about ^ its length, up to 15 mm.

long and in diameter across the lobes, glabrous outside; tube

campanulate, 4-5 mm. long, outside greenish-cream with red

veins, inside dull red-maroon streaked with greenish-cream

with a few scattered long white bristles; lobes vaudyke-red in-

side, outside greenish-cream tinged with red, more or less erect

or slightly recurved, triangular in outline, 2-2 5 mm. long, 2

mm. broad at base, subacute at the apex, closely ciliate on the

margins and pubescent on the inner surface with short white

bristles. Corona purplish-maroon, scarcely 1 mm. high, 1 5-2

mm. in diameter; outer lobes 5, pouch-like 2-horned, scarcely

1 mm. long and broad, with spreading hairs at the base of the

pouch; inner corona lobes oblong to subquadrate, truncate or

emarginate at the apex about 0 5 mm. long, glabrous.

Follicles spindle-shaped, glabrous, suberect, 2 8-3 8 cm. long,

about 4 mm. diameter in the middle narrowed to the base and

apex. — E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1096A. — Fig. 1, plant with tuber, natural size; 2, leaf, natural

size; 3, flower, x 3; 4, corolla-lobe and section of tube from within, x 8;

5, tip of leaf x 10; 6, corona, x 10.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

Plate 1096b.

BRACHYSTELMA RINGENS.

Cape Province.

ASCLEPIADACEAE.

Brachystelma ringens E. A. Bruce, sp. nov., affinis B. schonlandiano

Schltr. lobis corollae triangulari-ovatis rugosis, corona exteriore collari-

forme diflert.

Planta parva, circiter 4 cm. alta. Tuber compresso-sphaericum,

circiier 6 cm. diametro, 3 cm. profundo. Caules 3, erecti, circiter 3 cm.

alti, crispo-pubescentes. Folia suberecta, opposita et decussata, breviter

petiolata, oblongo-lanceolata, longitudinaliter plicata, superiora vix 1 cm.

longa, 3-4 mm. lata, inferiora minora, basi cuneata vel rotundata, apice

rotundata, supra glabra, subtus et margine crispo-pubescentia. Cymae

5-7-florae, sessiles, axillares, floribus succedaneis. Pedicelli circiter 4 mm.

longi. Calycis-lobi 1-5-2 mm. longi, anguste triangulari-lanceolati, apice

acuti, crispo-pubescentes. Corolla (alabastro), viridis, depresso-spherica,

leviter 5-angulata, parcissime appresso-pubescens, circiter 4 mm. diametro.

Corolla (matura) 5-lobata, trans lobas circiter 9 mm. diametro, subrotata;

tubus brevissimus, late campanulatus, vix 2 mm. longus, lobis calycis

subaequalis vel longior; lobi patentes vel leviter reflexi, ovato-deltoidei,

subacuti, circiter 3 mm longi, basi 2-5 mm. lati, supra transverse rugosi,

glabrescentes, subtus parcissime pubescentes. Corona exterior collari-

formis, 2-2-5 mm. diametro, intra pilis paucis ornata; lobi-interiores 5,

antheris incumbentibus, dorso gibboso. Folliculi non visa.

Cape Province: Vryburg district, Poppvsdale, 6 miles East of Vry-

burg, E. A. Phillips, 119, in National Herbarium, Pretoria, 28400.

Brachystelma ringens is similar in habit to B. minor, the

subject of the other half of this plate. Both have maroon-

coloured flowers and short erect stems springing from a large

depressed spherical' tuber. Here the similarity ends, as B.

ringens has a very different flower structure from B. minor

in that the corolla-lobes are rugose, spreading or slightly

reflexed and the outer -corona forms a raised central ring or

collar arising from the base of the corolla-tube. This ring-

like structure is very characteristic of the species and it is from

this that the specific name is derived.

B. ringens was originally collected by Mr. J. J. Minnaar

about June 1949 at Poppysdale near Vryburg and a tuber was

sent to Mr. E. A. Phillips, who has had great success in culti-

vating species in both Ceropegia and Brachystelma. The plant

flowered in Mr. Phillips’ garden in November 1949 and it was

from this specimen that the accompanying plate was made.

The species is most nearly allied to Brachystelma schon-

landianum Schltr. from the Uitenhage district, but differs in

the smaller leaves, which are crisped pubescent on the margins

and lower surface, the shorter corolla-tube and rather longer

deltoid, rugose, corolla-lobes and the ring-like outer corona.

Description. — Plant small, about 4 cm. high. Tuber

compressed spherical, flattened to slightly convex on the

upper side, convex below, about 6 cm. in diameter and 3 cm.

thick. Stems 3, erect, simple, springing from the raised

central portion of the tuber, about 3 cm. long, thinly reflexed-

crisped-pubescent. Leaves suberect, in 4-5 opposite and

decussate pairs, shortly oblong-lanceolate, longitudinally

folded; upper ones scarcely 1 cm. long, 3-4 mm. broad; lower

ones smaller, cuneate or rounded at the base, rounded at the

apex, dark green and glabrous above, fairly densely crisped-

pubescent on the margins and lower surface. Cymes 5-7-

flowered, sessile, in the axils of the leaves, flowers opening

successively. Pedicels, about 4 mm. long. Calyx 5-lobed to

the base; lobes narrowly triangular-lanceolate, acute at the

apex, 15-2 mm. long, crisped-pubescent. Corolla (in bud)

green, depressed spherical, slightly 5-angled, very thinly

appressed pubescent, about 4 mm. in diameter; (mature)

5-lobed, more or less rotate, 9 mm. in diameter across the

lobes; tube very short, campanulate, scarcely 2 mm. long

subequal to or a little longer than the calyx lobes, pale green

outside, pale maroon within; lobes ovate-deltoid, spreading

or slightly reflexed, about 3 mm. long, 2 5 mm. broad at the

base, transversely-rugose, glabrescent and dark maroon

above, paler toward the centre, sparsely pubescent and paler

beneath. Outer corona consisting of a red-maroon, raised

5-notched ring or collar slightly bent over towards the centre,

2-2 5 mm. in diameter with a few white erect hairs within.

Inner corona lobes 5, oblong, shining, yellow, with a dorsal

gibbosity, incumbent over the anthers but not touching in

the centre. — E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1096B. — Fig. 1, plant with tuber, natural size; 2, leaf, x 6; 3,

corolla from above, x 6; 4, corolla from the side with corolla-lobe removed,

showing outer-corona, x 6; 5, section through outer-corona showing

attachment of inner-corona lobe, x 15.

F.P.A. January. 1951.

Plate 1097.

PROTEA LATIFOLIA.

Cape Province.

Proteaceae.

Protea latifolia R. Hr. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 10:75 (1808); Phillips and

Stapf in FI. Cap. 5, 1:569 (1912).

As in the case of Protea barbigera Meisn. figured on Plate

1086, P. latifolia also was figured from garden material

obtained in Johannesburg. Whereas the former was grown

by Mr. G. W. Reynolds, the latter was from the garden of

the late Mr. Bran Key, who, like Mr. Reynolds had obtained

his seed from the National Botanic Gardens,, Kirstenbosch.

The shrub from which Mrs. Key cut the flowering head had

reached a height of nearly seven feet and had flowered well

almost continuously for several years. Proteas in general

require a well-drained sandy loam.

The first botanical description of P. latifolia appeared in

1808 and in 1815 it was illustrated for the first time, in Curtis’s

Botanical Magazine, from a plant which grew in “ Mr. Knight’s

Exotic Nursery, in the King’s Road, Little Chelsea, in August

1811 At that time it was recorded that the Proteas (mainly

indigenous in southern Africa) were much admired for then-

variety, singularity and frequently the splendour of their head

of flowers, the beauty of which being chiefly in the involucrum

or bracts surrounding the heads. Much of the knowledge of

cultivation of Proteas gained in those days has been forgotten,

and this group of plants no longer enjoys the popularity and

attention it did in European gardens a century and a half ago.

A revival of interest is overdue.

The distribution of P. latifolia from Caledon to Uitenhage

Division in the Cape Province follows the course of greatest

concentration in the genus in the Union. The type specimen

was collected by Niven on the Zwartberg. The species was

described independently by different botanists in the early days

and one of the very closely related forms received the name

P. auriculata. This was accorded varietal rank in the Flora

Capensis, 1912, because it differed from the typical form of

P. latifolia in the texture of the leaves and in the dilation of

the style base.

Description. — A dense shrub up to about 8 ft. tall with

very shortly pubescent branches. Leaves sessile, crowded,

oblong-elliptic to elliptic, up to 10 cm. long and 3-5 cm.

broad, occasionally even broader, obtuse, cordate at the base,

subglaucous, curved upwards and sometimes undulate, gla-

brous except for cilia along the margin. Flowering-head

sessile, 11-12 cm. long, 7-7 5 cm. in diameter, more or less

oblong in outline and not greatly expanded above; involucral

bracts 9-12-seriate; outer ovate, obtuse, adpressedly pubescent

to tomentose, ciliate; inner red, but varying from flesh-

coloured to carmine, with an oblong limb and a linear claw,

densely pubescent and fringed above with white cilia, about

equalling the flowers. Perianth-sheath about 6 cm. long, 3-

keeled or angled below, pubescent except at the glabrous base;

lip 2'5 cm. long, villous, 3-awned; lateral awns 2 cm. long

with intermixed grey tomentum and long dark purple hairs;

median awn up to 1 cm. long, filiform. Stamens 3 fertile;

anthers linear, 6 mm. long; apical glands about 1 5 mm. long,

lanceolate; barren anther adhering to the back of the stigma,

soft granulated, reddish-black, with lanceolate apical portion

equivalent to glands of fertile anthers. Ovary covered with

numerous long reddish hairs; style 6 cm. long, swollen above

ovary and kneed below stigma, pubescent; stigma 6 mm. long

grooved; hypogynous scales O. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 28380.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1097. — Fig. 1, flowering-head . natural size; 2, individual flower,

natural size; 3, ovary with base of style, x 3 5; 4, longitudinal section of

ovary and base of style, x 3 5; 5. stigma with sterile anther cohering to

its back, x 3 5.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

Plate 1098.

CROSSANDRA PUBERULA.

Tanganyika, Portuguese East Africa, Nyasaland, S. Rhodesia.

Acanthaceae.

Crossandra puberala Kl. in Peters Reise Mossamb. 214 (1863); FI.

Trop. Afr. 5:117 (1900). C. pubescens Kl. l.c. 213 (1863).

The plate on the opposite page was prepared from a pot

plant, which flowered in the garden of the National

Herbarium, Pretoria, in November, 1947. The plant was kept

in a cool greenhouse and bore flowers almost continuously for

eleven months. Several species of Crossandra are known in

cultivation. Our plant, though bearing attractive light coral-

red flowers, has yet to prove its value as a suitable subject for

general cultivation.

This is the second species of Crossandra to be figured in

this work. C. greenstockii (PL 77) is common to both tropical

and southern Africa, whilst our species is restricted to tropical

Africa, its southernmost limit being Southern Rhodesia.

C. puberula differs from C. greenstockii in its slender spikes

and the narrower, entire more or less glabrous, papery bracts.

The plants of C. puberula were originally sent to this

division for identification by Mr. Munch, a farmer from

Rusapi. Southern Rhodesia, who is specially interested in the

native flora. It was from his plant that the one figured here

was raised and has continued to do well. Mr. Munch des-

cribed the plant as a small evergreen bush about a foot high

with showy red flowers shaped like Ceratostigma. Odd bushes

were found scattered on a wooded hillslope along the middle

reaches of the Odzi River Valley at an altitude of about 3,000

feet, and in an area where the annual rainfall was about 30

inches. Dried specimens have also been received from Mrs.

Benson, who collected them in riparian forests at Mwanza

and in a dry stream bed near Blantyre, Nyasaland. She

describes the plants as being about 18 inches high with pale

salmon-pink, unscented flowers.

Mr. Milne-Redhead of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,

kindly identified the plant as Crossandra puberula Kl.

Description.— A perennial, caulescent, more or less ever-

green plant, about 40 cm. high from a short rhizome, which

produces slender subhorizontal, underground stems from

which arise secondary plants. Stems pubescent, about 4 5

mm. diameter at the base, naked in the lower half and bearing

pale brown reniform leafscars about 2 mm. in diam. Leaves

subverticillate, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 3-8 cm. long, 2-5 cm.

broad, obtuse or subacute at the apex, rounded at the base and

then decurrent nearly to the base of the petiole, sparingly

pubescent to glabrous on the upper surface, shortly pubescent

on the lower surface particularly on the nerves; nerves 5-7

pairs, impressed above, prominent below, arising at an angle

of about 45° from the midrib, curved-ascending within the

undulate margin; petiole (including the decurrent blade) 2-4

cm. long. Peduncles lateral 3 5-9 cm. long, pubescent. Spike

3 5-6 cm. long, scarcely 1 cm. in diam. Bracts papery, pale

green with a white margin (becoming pale brown in the fruit-

ing stage), broadly lanceolate, entire or subundulate, minutely

ciliate on the margin in the upper part, 15 cm. long, 07

cm. broad, acuminate at the apex, glabrescent on both sur-

faces, 7-nerved on the back. Bracteales 2, oblong-

lanceolate, about 1 cm. long, 3 5 mm. broad, glabrescent

to minutely pubescent on the back and on the margins,

glabrous within, acute or occasionally widely emarginate at

the apex and with an apical puberulous mucro up to 1 mm.

long. Calyx 5-partite to the base, subhyaline, glabrous;

posterior lobe oblong-ovate; 2-aristate from the nerves, 9 mm.

long inclusive of the 15 mm. awns; anterior pair of lobes

lanceolate, 1-nerved, 9 mm. long including the 15 mm. long

awn; inner pair of lobes similar but smaller, about 7 mm.

long. Corolla light coral-red (Ridgeway colour standard

PI. XIII); tube pubescent outside, pubescent and glandular

within, narrowly cylindrical from a narrowly ovoid base and

slightly inflated at the mouth, about 2 cm. long, with a kink

about 5 mm. below the apex; limb dorsally split to the base,

about 2 5 cm. broad and 1 5 cm. from back to front, minutely

ciliate on the margins otherwise sparsely pubescent to

glabrous, lateral lobes unequal, sub-oblong, rounded at the

apex, anterior lobe broadly obovate, emarginate at the apex.

Stamens 4. inserted at the kink, filaments very short, anthers

1 -celled about 15 mm. long, ciliolate. Ovary oblong-

ellipsoid, 3 mm. long, 1'3 mm. diam., glabrous or with a few

short hairs at the apex; style filiform about 1 2 cm. long,

sparsely long-pubescent throughout with an inflated trumpet-

like stigma at the apex; ovules 4, compressed discoid, 0 8

mm. diameter. Capsule oblong-ellipsoid, acute at the apex,

14 cm. long, 4 5 mm. diam. Seeds 4, compressed, discoid,

about 4 mm. diam., densely covered with adpressed oblong

scales and papillae. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

28283.) — E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1098. — Fig. 1, flowering branch, natural size; 2, corolla (front

face), slightly enlarged; 3, corolla split down tube x 2; 4, bract x 2 5;

5, bracteole x 2 5; 6, calyx split open from within x 2-5; 7, capsule

opened up showing seeds x 2 5; 8, anther x 10.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

J99

Plate 1099.

ERICA CERINTHOIDES.

Cape, Natal, Basutoland, Transvaal.

Ericaceae.

Erica cerinthoides stands out as a well known and clear-

cut species, being quite commonly called Erica while all the

rest are Heaths. A striking flower, it is also widely distributed,

occurring all over the south western Cape, on the Khamies-

bergen and Little Karoo mountains, and along the eastern

Cape Province mountains and the Drakensberg into the eastern

Transvaal. Thus it is found both in the Cape fynbos and in

mountain grassland. In the Cape it grows on the less luxuriant

and lower slopes and survives burning, as it sprouts from the

thick woody rootstock. The unburnt plants become tall and

lanky whereas a short many-stemmed plant is the more

familiar form. The flowers are distinctive in colour and

arrangement, and, besides being conspicuous, are to be seen

nearly all fhe year round, a short off-season coming at the

end of summer only.

The only close ally, E. oatesii, occurs in Natal on the

Drakensberg and differs in leaf, habit and length of flowers.

Other remoter allies are the magnificient high-mountain species

E. splendens and E. cameronii in the Clanwilliam and

Worcester mountains.

It was introduced to Kew by Masson in 1774 and in 1794

was figured in the Botanical Magazine where it is referred to

as a favourite species. Other old works in which it is figured

are those of Bauer, Andrew and Loddiges, and to-day it is

often seen on postcards and in flower designs. Material

collected by Miss A. W. Wilman on the south east side of

Fransch Hoek Pass was used for the accompanying plate.

Description. — Shrublet dwarfed by fire or up to 1 m.

high, branched from the base. Branches erect, virgate.

Leaves 4-6-nate, from erect and closely imbricate to

spreading, recurved, linear or linear-lanceolate, blunt, deeply

sulcate to slightly open-backed, variably pubescent and

mostly glandular, hispid and ciliate, more rarely glabrous and

naked, 6-1 6 mm. long. Inflorescence umbellate; pedicels

glabrous or pubescent, 2-12 mm. long, bracts approximate or

one sub-remote, lanceolate, gland-hispid and ciliate, about

4 mm. long. Sepals like the bracts but larger, 4-7 mm. long.

Corolla crimson, more rarely rosy, tubular, more or less

inflated, slightly constricted at the mouth, more or less

pubescent, usually shortly so and also pilose with longer,

sometimes glandular, hairs, 12-30 mm. long; lobes spreading

or erect. Anthers included, dorsi-fixed just above the base,

oblong, pallid, about 2 mm. long, muticous or with very

short or rudimentary minute awns. Ovary broadly turbinate,

villous; style included or exserted; stigma capitate, lobed.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28385.) — E. Ester-

HUYSEN.

Plate 1099. — Fig. 1, flowering stem, natural size, 2, leaf x 3 • 5 : 3 ,

bract and calyx, x 10; 4, stamens and gynoecium, x 5; 5. anther x 20;

6, stigma, x 20.

F.P.A. January 1951.

Plate 1100.

ENCEPHALARTOS UMBELUZIENSIS.

Portuguese East Africa.

Cycadaceae.

Encephalartos umbeluziensis R. A. Dyer, sp. nov., afiinis E. villoso

Lehm. habitu minore foliolis infimis non spinellis reductis strobilis

minoribus differt.

Caudex subterraneus, usque 30 cm. longus, 25 cm. diam. Folia 2-5

simultanea erecto-patentia, 1-2 m. longa; pulvini compacti, bruneo-lanati,

4-5 cm. lati, 7-8 cm. longi; petioli 10-30 cm. longi, basin versus

0- 7-1 -2 cm. crassi, demum glabrescentes; foliola usque 20 cm. rariter

30 cm. longa, 8-15 mm. lata, spinescentia, marginibus apicem versus

utrinque 1-spinuloso-dentatis margine superiore nonnunquam 1-dentatis

inferiore 1-3 dentatis. Strobilus masculinus usque 30 cm. rariter 35 cm.

longus, 6-8 cm. diam., cylindricus, pedunculo 10-12 cm. longo, 2-5-3

cm. crasso; squamae plus minusve 2 cm. longae; facies squamarum

1— 1 - 2 x 2-2-4 cm. latae, 5 cm. prominentes, apicibus leviter concavo-

rhomboideis 6-9 mm. x 8-12 mm. latis Strobilus femineus usque

30 cm. longus, 12 cm. diam. pedunculo usque 15 cm. longo 3 5 cm.

crasso; facies squamarum circiter 3-5 x 6-5 cm. lata apicibus

rhomboideis 13 x 2 cm. latis. Semina coccinea, 3 • 5 cm. longa, 2 cm.

crassa.

Portuguese East Africa: Lourenco Marques distrtict: S.W. of

Goba, in ravine below the Monument, Verdoorn and Dyer 2314 A-F;

near bank of Umbeluzi River, Key in National Herbarium, Pretoria,

28429 (type); Dyer 4798; de Sousa 212.

Cultivated. — Lourenco Marques district: Ressano Garcia, Moss in

N.H.P. 28432; Gunn in N.H.P. 28431; Swaziland; Stegi, Verdoorn and

Christian, 725. South Africa: Johannesburg, from Umbeluzi, Key in

N.H.P. 28429A; Pretoria, from Umbeluzi, Key in N.H.P 28429B;

Pretoria, from Namaacha, Mogg in N.H.P. 28430; Cape Town, from

InhamPane, Marloth 11044; Komatipoort, Moss, in N.H.P. 28432;

Barberton, T homer aft per Dyer 4810.

This species from Lourenco Marques district has been

under investigation for a number of years. The main discus-

sion has centered on its relationship to the South African

species E. villosus. By degrees evidence has accumulated,

largely through the efforts of the late Mr. B. A. Key of

Johannesburg, which has confirmed the view that the plant

from the Lourenco Marques district deserves separate

specific status.

There is little difficulty in separating the two species when

plants of each are examined side by side. E. villosus is

generally more robust, with longer curved leaves; the leaflets

are reduced to conspicuous prickles towards the base of the

petoile (which is not the case in E. umbel uziensis); the leaflets

are generally more glossy green, larger and more tapering,

with their surfaces arranged more or less in the same plane as

the rhachis (as in a closed Venetian blind); the cones and fruits

are larger. In E. umbel unziensis the leaflets are not reduced to

prickles towards the base of the rhachis, although occasionally

the lower leaflets wither when young and leave a somewhat

hardened base. The leaflets are set at an angle to the rhachis

(resembling a three-quarter-open Venetian blind).

An important feature of the comparison between the two

species is that no plants with characters intermediate between

the two types have been discovered in spite of the fact that a

large number of each has been studied both in cultivation and

in their natural surroundings.

When growing under natural conditions under the protec-

tion of tall trees in ravines and along watercourses leading to

the Umbeluzi River, the leaves of E. umbeluziensis are usually

spreading and curved as shown in the habit sketch whereas in

cultivated plants they are more erect and stiff.

Description. — Stem underground, with a thick tuberous

root from the base, up to about 30 cm. long and 25 cm. diam.,

covered with the compact persistent bases of leaves, densely

woolly. Leaves 2-5, arising together, 1-2 m. long, slightly

recurved or arched when in dense shade suberect and almost

straight in exposed sites, in the young stage woolly except on

the inner surface of the leaflets, glabrescent, with the wool

last to fall from the petiole; pudvinus densely woolly, 4-5 cm.

broad, 7-8 cm. long, petiole comparatively slender, 10-30

cm. long, 7-12 mm. thick towards base, with the rhachis

rounded on the under surface and not grooved on the upper

surface when fresh; leaflets light green when young, soon

becoming dark green on both surfaces, spaced about 1 cm.

apart with the bases inserted into the rhachis more or less

along a straight line, twisted slightly near the base so that

the upper surfaces face upwards and almost at right angles

to the rhachis, with the median leaflets linear, 5-20 cm. long,

rarely up to 30 cm., 8-15 mm. broad, reduced in size towards

apex and base of the rhachis but the basal ones not reduced

to true prickles although sometimes withering and becoming

falsely prickle-like, with the apex of the developed leaflets

acuminate pungent usually with a single terminal prickle

and lateral ones on either side occasionally augmented by

an additional prickle on the upper margin and 1-3 on the

lower margin and contracted towards the base. Male cone

olive-green turning sulphur yellow, sub-cylindric, tapering

slightly towards both ends, up to about 30 cm. long rarely

up to 35 cm. long, 6-8 cm. diam. with peduncle 10-12 cm.

long and 2 5-3 cm. thick, with pollen like Fuller’s earth and

without unpleasant smell; scale face olive green turning

sulphur yellow, 1-12 cm. x 2-2'4 cm. broad, projecting

5 cm. and with a slightly concave rhomboid area 6-9

mm. x 8-12 cm. broad on the lower portion. Female cone

green with yellow and pink tinge while somewhat immature,

on a peduncle up to about 15 cm. long and 3 ‘5 cm. diam.,

up to 30 cm. long, 12 cm. diam. with about 12 spirals of

closely packed scales; scale-face about 3 5 x 6 5 cm. broad

having a rhomboid area 13 x 2 cm. broad and more or

less flat; the lateral angles raised into acute ridges; the upper

angle obtuse with 2 faint ribs, 15 cm. long; the angle of the

lower surface obtuse, extending 5 mm. below the rhomboid

area, and with the scale stipe about 3 cm. long, yellow. Seed

scarlet-red, about 3 5 cm. long, 2 cm. thick, unequally 6-sided.

— R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1100. — Fig. 1, male cone; 2 and 2a, female scales from above

and below respectively; 3, face view of female scale; 4 and 4a. leaflets and

tip; 5, rhachis with basal leaflets; 6, base of rhachis with indumentum

all natural size; 7 line drawing of habit.

F.P.A. January, 1951.

f'-- fjU-C^IC-S

Plate 1101.

PLECTRANTHUS FRUTICOSUS.

Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal.

Labiatah.

Plectranthus fruticosus L’Herit., Stirp. Nov. fasc. 4, 85, t. 41 (1788);

FI. Cap. 5, 1 : 271 (1910); Burtt in Bot. Mag. t. 9616 (1940);’ P. urticifolius

(Lam.) Salisb., Prod. Stirp. Hort. Chapel Allerton Vig. 88 (1796). P.

peglerae T. Cooke in Kew Bull. p. 378, 1909; FI. Cap. l.c. p. 283.

P. fruticosus is the earliest recorded member in the genus

Plectranthus. It is found in damp shady places in temperate

forests of the Union forming a dense herbaceous undergrowth

2-7 ft. high. The plant figured here was collected in May

1943 in a small forest patch 8-10 miles from Krantzkop on

the Mambula Road just south of the Tugela Valley. The

species is common in the George and Knysna districts of the

Cape Province and spreads north-east through Kentani and

Port St. Johns to Natal and the north eastern Transvaal. In

the account of P. fruticosus in the Botanical Magasine t. 9616

(1940), a specimen from Ngoya, Natal, (Wood 5751) is referred

to as being possibly distinct on account of the thicker and

blunter crenate leaves. There are specimens from this area in

the National Herbarium, Pretoria, and also others collected at

Camperdown, Krantzkop, Port Durnford and Ngome, which

show a certain amount of variation in the dentation and thick-

ness of the leaf, but nothing constant or definite enough to

warrant specific or even varietal separation.

P. peglerae, from Kentani, has been included in the syno-

nymy, though it differs slightly from typical P. fruticosus in

being less pubescent and in the corolla having a very pro-

nounced, acute protuberance, which is directed more or less

horizontally backwards. P. behrii Compton, originally

collected by Mr. Charles Behr in the Lusikisiki district,

Pondoland, in 1931 and described in the Journal of South

African Botany in July 1945, is very closely related to P.

fruticosus, but differs in the pinkish-lilac flowers, the shorter

pubescence of the calyx and the denser and more robust habit.

P. galpinii from the Transvaal is another nearly allied species,

which was figured earlier in this work (Plate 294). This has

rather smaller flowers with the lower calyx teeth only a little

longer than the laterals, the corolla thinly covered with short,

stiff, hair-like papillae and the protuberance at the base of the

10927-1

corolla-tube much less conspicuous and rounded and not

acute or pronounced; the leaves are thinner in texture and

pale green on both surfaces. These three species were flower-

ing side by side in the National Herbarium Gardens and can be

separated readily in their natural state.

Description. — A perennial herb up to 4 ft. or more high, herbaceous

when young, becoming woody with age. Stems sowewhat straggling, four-

angled when young, becoming subterete later, thinly pubescent to glabres-

cent. Leaf scars prominent, disc-like, pale brown, about 3 mm. diameter.

Leaves opposite, petiolate; petiole up to 3 cm. long, channeled along the

upper side, pubescent; lamina green with a reddish tinge, rather thick and

subfleshy when fresh, drying thin, broadly ovate, variable in size, up to

10 cm. long, 7-5 cm. broad, spreading-recurved, acute at the apex, widely

cuneate to almost trunctate at the base, coarsely serrate-dentate on the

margin with the larger teeth denticulate; upper surface rugose and

asperate and also thinly furnished with short hairs, venation impressed;

lower surface shortly pubescent, particularly on the prominent nerves and

glandular-punctate when mature; lateral nerves 5-6 on each side of

the midrib, lower ones spreading, upper ascending. Inflorescence terminal

at the ends of the main branches and smaller laterals, simple or branched,

up to 30 cm. long, with the branches mauve-tinged; verticels sessile, 6-

13 mm. distant from one another, rarely more than six-flowered; cymes

on the main branch of the inflorescence opposite, those on the laterals

somewhat secund, directed outwards,, subtended by small lanceolate acute

bracts, about 3 mm. long. Pedicels 5-7 mm. long, pubescent with

strigose hairs. Calyx about 5 5 mm. long, tube about 1 mm. long in the

flowering stage, dorsal lobe very broadly ovate, 2-3 mm. long, 2-2 5

mm. broad, lateral teeth lanceolate, just over 1 mm. long, lower teeth

narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, about twice the length of the laterals,

3 -5-4 -5 mm. long from the base of the dorsal lobe. 15-2 5 mm.

from the sinus, the whole calyx pubescent with strigose hairs and

glandular. Corolla blue-mauve with a few dark spots towards the middle

on the upper lip, variable in size, tube 9-11 mm. long with a dorsal

gibbosity towards the base of variable prominence, sometimes rounded,

sometimes subacute, glabrous inside with one prominent and one or two

smaller oblique ribs on the sides about the middle; upper lip cordate,

6-9 mm. long, about 8-10 mm. broad with two small rounded

lobes at the base; lower lip boat-shaped, 5-8 mm. long, strongly deflexcd,

entire. Stamens far exserted. filaments united at the base and concurrent

with the corolla tube, free above, anterior filaments 12-17 mm. long,

posterior pair 8-14 mm. long. Disc annular with a large protuberance

on the lower margin, usually two nutlets only developing. (Dyer 4350 in

National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 27244.) — R. A. Dyer and E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1101. — Fig. 1. inflorescence, natural size; 2, leaf, natural size;

3, portion of upper surface of leaf showing pubescence, natural size; 4,

calyx with two lobes removed showing disc and ovary, x 8; 5, calyx and

base of corolla tube showing gibbosity, x 2 5; 6, flower, x 2; 7, section,

through corolla, x 4; 8, corolla, front view, x 4; 9, habit.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

CyT^n^L l^tty

z.

Plate 1102.

DISPARAGO ERICOIDES,

Natal and Cape Province.

Compositae.

Disparago ericoides Gaertn. Fruct. 2:463, t. 173 (1791); Harv. in FI.

Cap. 3:278 (1864-65); Levyns in Journ. S.A. Bot. 2:190 (1936).

Twenty-five years ago, when stationed at Granamstown,

the present writer came into frequent contact with the plant

now figured. It grows plentifully in the eastern Cape Province,

from which area the type and the figured plant originated.

The range of distribution, however, is far more extensive, being

from southern Natal along the coastal districts as far as the

Stellenbosch Division in the Cape. Its presence indicates a

comparatively sour veld, indifferent in feeding value for stock.

The specimen figured flowered at the National Herbarium

in September, 1948, from seed collected by Mr. J. Erens in the

Nature Reserve at Dassie Krantz, Grahamstown. It was

grown in a normal potting mixture of sandy compost with the

usual precautions for drainage. It flowered well even with

several" plants together in half 4 gallon paraffin tins, and shows

definite promise as a border plant in cultivation. The compact

heads of flowers are both unusual and attractive.

As is well known, one of the main characteristics of the

family Compositae is in the aggregation of flowers into heads

surrounded by a common involucre of bracts. In several

related genera in the African flora the number of flowers per

head or capitulum has been greatly reduced, even to one single

flower throughout the genus Stoebe, consisting of 34 species,

mainly South African. In the genus Disparago, the minimum

number was at first recorded as 2, one ligulate and one discord,

whereas it was found, and later recorded by Dr. M. R. Levyns

in The Journal of South African Botany, 1930, that Disparago

ericoides is unique in the genus with 1 -flowered capitula, either

discoid or radiate. Thus the globose clusters of flowers seen

in the illustration are not capitula in the recognised sense of

the word, but are aggregations of reduced capitula. Another

point of interest— although the typical form of D. ericoides has

5 plumose pappus bristles, Levyns records that towards the

northern limits of its distribution in Kentani and the southern

part of Natal, the number is always greater than five and may

be as large as thirteen.

Description. — A moderately branched shrublet with

slender leafy branches, generally up to about 45 cm. tall, but

occasionally up to 90 cm. Leaves ericoid, sessile, pressed to

the stem for about 1 mm. then spreading more or less at right

angles or reflexed, 3-7 mm. long, tipped by a fine bristle about

1 mm. long, usually spirally twisted with upper surface woolly,

rounded on the lower surface and with involute margins.

Capitula crowded, forming dense, globose, terminal heads,

each capitulum normally with one floret, either tubular or

ligulate, the percentage of each varying in each head.

Involucral bracts scarious, outer ones obtuse with woolly

beard, inner ones scarious acuminate, somewhat shorter than

the florets. Tubular florets bisexual, purplish-pink, occasion-

ally white, about 4 mm. long with triangular lobes about 5 mm.

long; pappus usually of five feathery bristles with the hairs in

two opposite rows; style divided into branches less than half

its length, the stigmas being very minutely papillate as seen

under high magnification. Ligulate florets female or neuter,

usually purplish-pink, occasionally white, about 5 mm. long

with the expanded part about 2 mm. long and broad, with

pappus similar to that of tubular florets; style divided into

branches slightly more than half total length, stigma not

papillate. Achenes cylindrical, 1 mm. long, glabrous.

(National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28359.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1102. — Fig. 1, twig from near base of plant; 2, leaf, x 6; 3,

tubular floret within involucre, x 6; 4. ligulate floret within involucre,

x 6; 5, pappus bristle, x 14; 6, style from tubular floret, x 14; 7, style

from ligulate floret, x 14; 8. stigmatic surface from tubular floret, much

enlarged.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

Plate 1103.

STERCULIA ALEXANDRI.

Cape Province.

Sterculiaceae.

Sterculia alexandri Harv. in Proc. Dub. Univ. Zool. & Bot. Assn., I:

140, t. 15 (1859); Harv. in Thes. Cap., I: 3, pi. 3 (1859); Harv. in FI.

Cap., I: 178 (1860); Sprague in Kew Buli. 1908, p. 137.

This rare and interesting tree is known from only two

areas in the eastern Cape Province where it occurs in narrow

valleys of Table Mountain Sandstone in the Van Staadens and

Winterhoek Mountains.

It was discovered in 1848 by Dr. Alexander Prior, after

whom it was named and from whose material Harvey described

it as having unisexual flowers, although at the time only male

flowers were seen. In 1908 Dr. S. Schonland sent fruit and

what he called female flowers to Kew and Dr. T. A. Sprague

gave a supplementary description from this material in the

Kew Bulletin of that year. Sprague’s account, however, seems

to have been faulty since the gynoecium is not described and

in a footnote he says : — “ The female flowers of S. alexandri

have well-developed anthers containing an abundance of

pollen, and it is possible that they are really hermaphrodite.”

Marloth, in his Flora of South Africa published in 1925, refers

to the genus Sterculia as being unisexual, although he figures

a bisexual flower as well as a male flower of S. alexandri. It

seems therefore that the descriptions of the flowers of this

species are incomplete and that it is worthwhile to fill in

certain gaps in our knowledge about the manner of

reproduction.

As the plants in the Uitenhage district were known to be

rather inaccessible, an attempt was first made to locate those

in the Van Staadens gorge since notes preserved in the Albany

Museum Herbarium showed that their position had been

minutely described by MacOwen in 1873. Miss Grace Britten &

assisted in making a thorough search of this area but without

success and it is thought that they must have been destroyed

by the recent building of a national road through the gorge.

Fortunately, however, the presence of S. alexandri was later

confirmed at another site in the Van Staadens Mountains.

Examination of material both from this area and from the

Uitenhage area, at different times during the flowering period,

showed that in the majority of cases, particularly in the early

part of the season, the carpels are abortive but that the

younger parts of the inflorescence or those developed later in

the season, may produce bisexual flowers.

Products of economic importance are obtained from the

mucilage and fruit of several tropical and sub-tropical species

of the family Sterculiaceae, and it is interesting to note that

S. alexandri produces quantities of mucilage and that its seeds

are edible. Dr. Schonland was tempted to try freshly collected

seeds and found them extremely tasty being “ of a particu-

larly agreeable nutty flavour Native herd boys make a

practice of collecting them and baboons are very fond of them.

As baboons are prevalent in the only two regions where the

species is known to exist the chances of natural propagation

from seed are small, and it seems that it is chiefly owing to

its ability to produce offshoots from underground parts that

the species has persisted.

Description. — Trees up to 25 ft., apparently gregarious owing to

formation of suckers from underground parts, coppicing freely when

injured; trunk up to 8 ins. in diam.; bark silvery, smooth; wood soft;

mucilage present; branches leafy towards extremities only. Leaves alter-

nate, stipulate, digitate; stipules up to 1 cm. long, deciduous; leaflets 3-

7, generally 5 up to 10 cm. long, 2 5 cm. wide, oblong, tapering towards

base and apex obtuse, mucronulate, glabrous, upper surface dark green,

slightly shining, lower surface greyish-green, matt, with prominent yellow

midrid and pulvinus, spreading at right angles to petiole, closing upwards

when dry; petioles yellow, glabrous, as long as leaflets. Inflorescence

axillary, a compound cyme, bracteate. bracts deciduous. Flowers mostly

male by abortion, bisexual flowers less frequent and generally on younger

parts of inflorescence. Calyx five-lobed, petaloid, broadly campanulate,

yellow with claret coloured throat, 22-30 mm. diam.. lobes 10—1 3 mm.

long, tube 5-9 mm. long, stellate hairs on outer surface, erect multi-

cellular hairs on inner surface. Corolla wanting. Andro-gvnopliore 9-

12 mm. long, straight in bud but curved over in median plane in open

flower, bearing cupule at tip, finely pubescent with erect multicellular

hairs. Bisexual cupule spherical, about 2 mm. diam., base cup-shaped

with numerous multicellular hairs, upper part formed of free filaments;

filaments in two series, five long and five short, incurved, pubescent with

multicellular hairs; anthers bilocular, opening by longitudinal slits, enclos-

ing top of cupule; gynoecium of five carpels, free at base and covered with

numerous stellate hairs, joined above into short style with rotate, five-

lobed stigma; style in bud straight, protruding very slightly above anthers;

style elongated and fully exerted in open flower, bent at an acute angle

to carpels in median plane; carpels with marginal placentation; ovules

numerous, anatropous. Male cupule similar to bisexual cupule but

gynoecium of five minute carpels, free, without development of style or

stigma. Fruit one to five free follicles radiating in star-like manner; folli-

cles up to 9 cm. long, 2-5 cm. broad and 2-5 cm. thick, with beak up to 15

cm. long; outer surface woody, covered with numerous conical projections

of varying sizes up to 15 cm. long, the whole densely pubescent with

golden-brown stellate hairs; dehiscence by splitting along ventral suture.

Seeds 4-8 in each follicle, oval, up to 2 cm. long, 1-2 cm. diam., endos-

permous, edible. (G. V. Britten and E. E. A. Archibald 3410, in Natio-

nal Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28473.) — E. E. A. Archibald.

Plate 1103. — Fig. 1, flowering shoot, natural size; 2, longitudinal view

of flower, x 2; 3, fruit prior to dehiscence, x Text fig. 1, longitudinal

view of bisexual flower bud, x 8; 2, longitudinal section of male cupule,

x 8; 3, early stage in development of fruit, x 8; 4, multicellular hairs,

x 125; 5, stellate hair, x 125.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

iCdcbi, K.Bucsab

Plate 1104.

CROTALARIA RECTA.

Abyssinia through Tropical Africa into Transvaal.

Leguminosae.

Crotalaria recta Stead ex A. Rich. Tent. FI. Abyss. 1 : 152 (1847);

Bak. in Linn. Soc. Bot. 42; 352 (1914); Verdoorn in Botohalia 2: 393

(1928).

Although so widely spread throughout Tropical Africa

and occuring in the warmer parts of the Transvaal, the

specimen figured here originated from the seed collected in the

remote Ngorongoro crater in Tanganyika. The seed was

collected on the Pole Evans East and Central African Expedi-

tion, 1938, and was grown in the gardens of the National

Herbarium, Pretoria, where the plate was prepared in

February, 1941. The collector records that it was found on the

South-western rim of the crater where it grew in rich red

loam amongst tall grass. According to his notes the plants

were about 3 ft. tall but in cultivation in these gardens they

grew to 5 feet. In the Transvaal, Crotalaria recta is recorded

from the Barberton districtt growing in “ grassy places in a

creek up to 6 feet tall ” It has also been recorded from other

parts of the north-eastern Transvaal in “ shade of bush on

hills ” and in old lands. This coloured illustration and descrip-

tion may help to establish the extent of variation in this very

widely distributed species.

The generic name Crotalaria comes from a Greek word

meaning “ castanet ” and was given because of the sound the

seeds make when rattling in the dry inflated pods.

Description. — Plant up to 5 or 6 ft. tall, branched in the

upper half; branches hollow, striate pubescent. Stipules

linear-acuminate, about 7 mm. long, reflexed. Leaves tri-

foliolate; petiole patently spreading, grooved above, about 2

cm. long. Leaflets obovate, average leaflets with the terminal

about 8 cm. long and 4 cm. broad and the two lateral about

6 cm. long and 3 cm. broad decreasing in size towards the apex

of the branch, glabrous on the upper surface and softly

pubescent below, apex mucronate. Flowers arranged in

many-flowered terminal racemes. Stipules linear-lanceolate

to subulate, spreading, up to 1 cm. long. Pedicels cernuous,

softly pubescent glabrescent at the apex, bi-bracteolate about

midway or near the apex. Bracteoles subulate up to about

4 mm. long. Calyx smooth sometimes with a few hairs at

the apex of the lobes, glaucous, about 12 cm. long; lobes

deltoid, about as long as the tube, the two upper slightly

broader than the three lower. Standard shortly clawed,

strongly reflexed from the claw, bright yellow with a dark

purplish blotch at the base; the keel and the veins at least

in lower half, dark purple, about 14 cm. long and 18 cm.

broad, with two calluses at the base; claw about 4 mm. long,

channeled, the edges white pubescent. Wings greeny-yellow

with a purple blotch on upper edge and a reticulate patch in

the purple area; limb about 12 cm. long saccate near the

base and with claw about 4 mm. long, margins of the claw

fringed with white hairs, the limb also fringed for a short

distance along the upper edge and half-way along the

lower. Stamens with all the filaments united at the base

into a sheath enclosing the ovary, free portion ascending

with the anthers erect; five anthers about 2 mm. long

and the alternate ones globose about 1 mm. in diameter.

Ovary glabrous; style abruptly ascending, pubescent along

two lines to the apex, shortly stipitate; ovules many.

Pods inflated pale green with the

upper margin purple, pendulous,

broadening towards the apex, about

6-7 cm. long, and up to 18 cm.

broad. (Pole Evans and J. Erens in

National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

28411.) — T. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 1104. — Fig. 1, terminal portion of

flowering branch; 2a, standard dorsal view,

x 2; 2b, standard front view, x 2; 3,

wing x 2; 4. keels x 2; 5, androecium

x 4; 6. ovary and style x 4; 7, pod with

calyx at base, natural size; 8. habit.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

Plate 1105.

CELSIA BREVIPEDICELLATA.

Kenya, Tanganyika.

SCROPHULARIACEAE.

Celsia brevipedsceiiata Engl. Hochgebirgsfl. Trop. Afr. 376 (1892);

FI. Trop. Afr. 4, 2 (1906); Monographic der Gattung Celsia in Lund Univ.

Arsskrift. N.F. 22 No. 1 (1925).

The plant figured here was raised from seed collected on

the Pole Evans, East and Central African Expedition 1938,

and first flowered in the gardens of the National Herbarium,

Pretoria in September 1941. The identification was made at

Kew where our material was compared with specimens named

by. Murbeck. It appears that in his monograph of the genus

Murbeck takes a wider view of the range of variation of the

species than did Hemsley and Slcan in Flora of Tropical Africa,

for Murbeck places it in his key under the species that have

“ the lowest leaves with lateral segments ”, and “ bracts a

little shorter to j the length of the fruiting pedicels ”, whereas

Hemsley and Skan have it under the heading “ leaves all

simple ”, and “ bracts only half as long as the pedicels ”.

The genus Celsia differs from the related genus Verbascum

in having 4 stamens instead of five. The relationship will be

seen if the plate in Vol. 21 pi. 834 of this work is examined.

In the native habitat the plants were seen by Dr. Pole

Evans and party in grassveld at the Ngorongoro Crater,

Tanganyika and at Thompson’s Falls, Kenya. The long

racemes of primrose-yellow flowers with the hairy stamens

and purplish-brown markings are quite attractive. In the

figure the portion illustrated was taken from the terminal

raceme of one of the lateral branches and the flowers are

usually rather smaller than are those at the apex of the plant.

Description. — A biennial about 2-3 ft. high (individual

plants vary considerably in size), stem four-angled simple or

branched, tomentose at the base and densely glandular with

small stalked glands above. Leaves usually alternate but the

lower 2-4 on the branches usually sub-opposite, ovate-oblong,

2-12 cm. long and 1-3 cm. wide, cordate or subtruncate at

the base, sessile or shortly petioled, the petiole often lobed,

rugose and more or less glabrous above, white tomentose with

curly branched hairs beneath. Racemes terminal, 15-35 cm.

long, glandular with small stalked glands, lax; bracts ovate-

acuminate, those of open flower about 1 cm. long and 0 6 cm.

broad, glabrous and rugose above, covered with small shortly

stalked glands below, margins crenate; pedicels patent, about

2 cm. long on open flowers (but vary in length on different

plants), glandular with small shortly stalked glands. Calyx

glandular with stalked glands; lobes linear-oblong, acute, 6

mm. long. Corolla primrose-yellow, about 15-3 cm. diam.,

rotate with a tube 15 mm. long, disc about 3 5 mm. wide;

with a ring of purplish markings round the mouth of the

tube, then a ring of clavate translucent hairs and brownish

markings in the upper crescent above the hairs; lobes five

unequal, broad, the two upper about 4 mm. long, two lateral

about 5 mm., and the lower 6 5 mm. long. Stamens four, the

two upper 4 mm. long and the two lower 7 mm. long; filaments

of upper covered in upper part with translucent clavate hairs

a few of which are red, those of lower reddish-brown in upper

half, bearded in middle on one side with long clavate hairs,

the upper ones being red and the lower translucent; anthers

one-celled those of the upper stamens transverse and those of

the lower pair in line with the filaments. Ovary ovoid 2 mm.

long, style reddish-brown, 6 5 cm. long. Capsule septicidal,

two-valved, valves with indexed margins splitting at apex and

showing the placentas with seeds. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 26493.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 1105. — Fig. 1, inflorescence from lateral branch; 2, flower from

terminal inflorescence; 3, lower leaf with lobed petiole; 4, lower stamen,

x 6; 5, anther of lower stamen, side view, x 6; 6. upper stamen, x 5;

7, gynoecium, x 5; 8, capsule split, natural size; 9, habit.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

Plate 1106.

DROSANTHEMUM BELLUM.

Cape Province.

Aizoaceae.

D rosy n tile m uni bellum L. Bolus, Mesemb. 2 : 43 (1929).

The genus Drosanthemum, containing about 90 species,

is confined to the Cape Province and South West Africa, no

record as yet being available of its occurrence in the Trans-

vaal, Orange Free State or Natal. Ranging from the coast, on

rocks within reach of the sea-spray, it extends northwards to

the Orange River and throughout the south-western districts,

being well represented in the Little Karroo, Karroo and

Namaqualand and poorly in the eastern districts. Many of

the species grow in brak soil, and of one eaten by sheep

(probably the widely distributed D. hispidum) it was said: “ A

good stretch of this is worth as much as a dam ”.*

The descriptive name, Drosanthemum or “ dew-flower ”,

alludes to the sparkling papillae on the sepals and other her-

baceous parts of most of the species. The division of the

genus into its two main groups is based upon the shape of

the branch-papillae : those species with elongated or hair-like

papillae being placed in the section Hispida, and those with

short blunt papillae, which when dry give a roughness or

asperity to the surface, in the section Aspericaulia. The

species figured here belongs to the latter, and is the first

Drosanthemum to appear in these pages.

It happens that both the sections are represented by a

Linnaean species, namely, D. hispidum (L.) Schwant. and D.

micans (L.) Schwant., respectively, grown in Europe before

1732 when Dillenius’ description and drawing of Linnaeus’

types were published. Another species was added to the

Aspericaulia in 1794, the “ perpulchra ” of Haworth, who

writes : “ As this species is being sold by Mr. Lee under the

name of speciosum and a little known by that term, I have

thought it better to continue it.” At first he thought it almost

too near D. micans to be considered distinct, but in his subse-

quent writings up to 1820 all doubt in the matter is laid aside,

and he cites its obtuse sepals and petals, and the deep red of

*P. MacOwan, quoted by Von Mueller, Select Extra-Tropical Plants,

p. 242 (1888).

the latter with their green base, as good distinguishing

characters. The remarkable black staminodes, not previously

observed in any other member of the family, are noted in both

species, as well as the brilliant colour of the petals, and they

were obviously highly prized horticulturally at that time as

they, or their allies, are now. For although we of later years

have been at great pains to rediscover these species in their

wild state, we have not actually succeeded in finding anything

that exactly answers to the entire description of the types.

Meantime collections presenting a bewildering number of

varieties or forms are accumulating, and a clearly defined

subsection, which may aptly be called Aspericaulia-Speciosa,

has emerged with some 15 species, including D. exspersum

(N.E. Br.) Schwant., founded on Thunberg’s collection from

the Bokkeveld Mts., and D. fiavum (Haw.) Schwant., which

Sonder identifies with a Zeyher-collection from the vicinity of

the Zwartkops River in the eastern Cape Province. As several

collections from near Caledon agree well with the type-

description of D. fiavum, however, it seems unlikely that the

species should be found in two such distant localities. It

should also be noted that recent collections of a Delosperma

from the Bokkeveld Mts. exactly correspond to the description

of Drosanthemum exspersum, and it is, therefore, probable

that this combination, made in the absence of fruit, is

erroneous. Our subsection is concentrated in the Worcester,

Robertson and Montagu Divisions with the Ceres Division on

the western, and Riversdale on the eastern, boundary. About

9 species have black staminodes, and the rest either have white

ones or are without staminodes at all. D. helium, with its

acuminate, acute, or acutish petals, narrow black staminodes,

and strongly compressed elevated ovary-lobes, is certainly

closely allied to D. micans, but does not altogether correspond

to Bradley's charming description (anno 1700) of the leaves:

“ seemingly powdered with Silver which gives a beautiful

Lustre to the Plant when the Sun shines upon it ” . . . and of

the petals : “ finely intermixed with Gold and Orange colours.”

There is also a white-petalled form of D. helium, sent by

Mr. Hugo Naude from the neighbourhood of Worcester. The

branches figured are from the type-plant, collected by Dr. J.

Hutchinson near Ceres in September, 1928, when it flowered in

my garden in October, 1929.

Description. — Plant laxly and diffusely branched, in cultivation up

to 30 cm. high, branches reaching 45 cm. in length, with intemodes up to

6 cm. long. Leaves nearly erect or with age more or less spreading.

often recurved at the apex, semiterete or almost terete, glabrous, con-

spicuously papillate, up to 3 cm. long, 4 mm. in diameter. Flowers

solitary, up to 5 cm. in diameter. Receptacle turbinate, 1 cm. long, usually

up to 8 mm. in diameter. Sepals 5, up to 1 cm. long, the 2 outer

slightly shorter than 2 of the inner ones. Petals densely 3-4-seriate,

narrowed and whitish downwards, thus forming a whitish eye, usually

acute or acuminate, up to 2 mm. broad. Staminodes black, rather few,

acute, soon fading and becoming filamentous, slightly longer than the

stamens. Stamens collected and slow to separate; filaments up to 6 mm.

long, the inner papillate at the base; anthers and pollen pale straw-

coloured. Glands 5, conspicuous. Ovary-lobes elevated beyond the

apex of the receptacle, stellately spreading; stigmas 5, conspicuously

papillate, 2 mm. long. (Bolus Herbarium, No. 18862.) — L. Bolus.

Plate 1106. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through portion of flower

x 3; 2, sepals, natural size; 3, gvnoecium, with glands, x 3; 4, petals;

5, staminodes; 6, stamens; 7, stigma — x 2; 8, transverse sections of a leaf

at the apex, middle and base, natural size; 9, papillae of leaf, enlarged.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

Plate 1107.

DROSANTHEMUM LAVISH.

Cape Province.

Aizoaceae.

Drosaatheniuni lavisii L. Bolus, Mesemb. 2: 482 (1934).

This species also belongs to the subsection Aspericaulia-

Speciosa, and its closest affinity is with D. speciosa rather than

with D. micans, especially in the shape of the top of the ovary

with its less compressed and less elevated lobes. The colouring

of the petals, with their lower part transparent enough for the

green of the sepals to show through it and thus appearing

green, is another link with D. speciosa. But the relationship

with D. micans is more evident in the comparatively longer,

narrower, and acute sepals with spreading points. Other dis-

tinctive characters are in the acuminate petals, which are often

semi-rhomboid in the upper part and in the acute and recurved

leaves.

D. lavisii is known only from the original collection made

by Bishop La vis in September 1934, between Bredasdorp and

Struis Bay — an area which has already yielded other species

not found elsewhere, and which does not seem by any means

to have been adequately explored as yet. This station consti-

tutes the southernmost locality recorded for this subsection.

Bishop Lavis had previously collected the type-plants of

D. pulchrum L.Bol. and D. semiglobosum L.Bol. in the

Worcester Division, both members of the same subsection as

the species which bears his name.

It is to be regretted that no attempt was made to grow

some part of the type-collection. For there can be little doubt

that, if it yielded to cultivation and its bright red flowers were

more freely produced and increased in size thereby, this species

would also have a great future. It is hoped, therefore, it may

be found again and be grown and established as a garden

plant before it is exterminated by the spread of civilisation.

Description. — Plant erect, diffusely branched. Primary

branches up to 4 mm., ultimate 0 5-1 mm., in diameter, inter-

nodes 1—2 5 cm. long. Leaves at first erect and in side view

shaped like an elongated S, broadest near the middle, finally

spreading recurved towards the apex, acute, dull dark green,

inconspicuously papillate, L5-2 cm. long, 2-3 mm. broad and

10927-2

in diameter. Receptacle globosely turbinate, papillae round,

conspicuous, 4-5 mm. long, up to 6-7 mm. in diameter.

Sepals 5, slightly unequal in length, two of the inner the

longest, usually 7—7 5 mm. long, the upper half subulate,

spreading or recurved, 3 with an ample membranous margin.

Petals in 4-5 series, usually acuminate, the outer ones con-

spicuously narrowed in the lower part, up to 2 cm. long and

2 5 mm. broad in the largest flower seen. Staminodes black,

as long as, or slightly longer than, the stamens. Filaments

white, usually up to 4 mm. long, the innermost papillate at

the base; anthers and pollen pallid. Glands 5, rather close

together, seen from above somewhat flattened. Ovary flat

above or slightly concave, lobed towards the middle, the lobes

obtuse, not elevated to the level of the apex of the receptacles.

Stigmas 5, deeply set at the base of the ovary-lobes; the long

papillae spreading on each side of the lobe, 15-2 mm. long,

shortly caudate. (Bolus Herbarium, No. 21372.) — L. Bolus.

Plate 1107. — Fig. 1, longitudinal section through portion of flower,

x 4; 2, petals x 3; 3, staminodes; 4. stamens; 5, stigma — x 3; 6, gynoe-

cium, with glands, x 4; 7, gland, lobe of ovary, and deeply set stigma

with long papillae spreading out beyond each side of the lobe, anterior

view, enlarged; 8, tip of leaf, enlarged; 9. cross section of leaf x 2.

F.P.A. June. 1951.

I IVJO

Plate 1108.

HUERNIA PENDULA.

Cape Province.

ASCLEPIADACEAE.

Huemia pendula E. A. Bruce, sp. nov., affinis H. simili N.E. Br.

caulibus longissimis obtuse 4-angulatis, cyrnis caulis apicem versus, pedi-

cellis brevioribus differt.

Planta succulenta. Caules penduli, crassi, 45-150 cm. longi,

(plerumque 90 cm.), ramosi, basi circiter 7 mm. diam., cylindrici vel

leviter et obtuse 4-angulati, glabri; rami 3-4 cm. longi, patentes. Cymae

breviter pedunculatae, 3-^t florae, plerumque e ramo laterale caulis apicem

versus ortae. Bracteae parvae, triangulares, acutae, vix 1 mm. longae.

Pedicelli circiter 5 mm. longi, glabri. Calyx fere ad basin lobatus; lobi

lanceolati vel ovato-lanceolati, 3^t mm. longi, apice acuti. Corolla

(alabastro) obturbinata, 8-9 mm. longa lataque, apice acuta; (matura)

campanulata, 1-5 cm. diam., circiter |-lobata; tubus 6-8 mm. longus,

fauce fere 1 cm. diam., extra glaber, intus dense et minute tuberculatus;

lobi deltoidei, recurvo-patentes, circiter 4 mm. longi, basi 6-7 mm. lati,

apice acuminati, lobis intermediis brevissimis. Corona duplex, interiore

et exteriore in corpus unum confluentibus; lobi coronae exteriores 5,

breves, lati, emarginati, basi corollae appressi; interiores erecti, 2-2-5 mm.

longi, oblongo-lanceolati, apice subacuti, dorso incrassati, antheris incum-

bentes. Folliculi suberecti, 2-5-4 5 cm. longi, 5-7 mm. diam.

Cape Province: Bolo Native Reserve, Kei River near Ngancule,

2,000 to 3,000 ft., E. A. Phillips 1, in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

28399 (type); Bolo Head, Smith 3132.

The accompanying plate of Huemia pendula was made

from a pot plant which flowered in Mr. E. A. Phillips’ garden

in October 1949. This was originally collected by him in

February, 1949 near Ngancule in the vicinity of the Kei River

in the Bolo Native Reserve of the eastern Cape Province.

The plant was found growing on a ledge in hard soil alongside

a dry watercourse in association with some species of Cras-

sula. It was, however, nearly 30 years previously that Mr.

King, a storekeeper at Ngamakwe, who is keenly interested

in the local flora and cultivates many wild plants in his garden,

first observed the species. The plant is apparently rare and

localised and Mr. King has found it in only one small area,

though the natives say they have seen it growing on the other

side of the river. Mr. G. G. Smith and Miss Latimer collected

the plant at Bolo Head near the Upper Kei river in 1938 and

again in 1 949. According to these collectors the plant flowers

only when it appears in poor condition. Plants collected by

both Mr. Smith and Mr. Phillips are in cultivation at the

National Herbarium, Pretoria.

The Fingo native name for the species means “ boot-

laces ”, which is quite appropriate on account of the pale brown

rather stringy pendant stems produced in the wild state. In

cultivation the stems are greener and thicker.

H. pedula appears to be nearest in affinity to the little

known H. similis N.E.Br. from Angola, but differs from this

species in the longer pendant stems which are obtusely 4 not

5-angled and in the position of the ilowers, which are borne

near the apex and not at the base of the stems. The specific

name pendula refers to the long pendulous stems which are

characteristic of the species.

Description. — Succulent plant. Stems pendant, 45-150 cm. long

(generally about 90 cm.), branched or occasionally simple, young stems

green, older ones rather greyish-green sometimes tinged with pale purple,

glabrous, about 7 mm. diam. at the base, more or less cylindrical or

slightly four-furrowed, with the angles obtuse and very little raised; leaf

tubercles arranged in opposite and decussate pairs 6-7 mm. apart;

branches spreading more or less at right angles to the main stem, generally

3-4 cm. long but sometimes up to 9 cm., jointed at the base and slightly

tapered at the apex. Cymes subsessile, 3-4-flowered on short lateral

branches towards the ends of the stems, opening successively. Bracts

small, subulate from a triangular base, less than I mm. long. Pedicels

about 5 mm. long, terete, glabrous. Calyx lobes lanceolate to ovate-

lanceolate. dull purplish-brown, acute at the apex, minutely lepidote.

Corolla (in bud) inverted top-shaped, 8-9 mm. long and broad, acute at

the apex, pentagonal as viewed from above, the five intermediate lobes

forming the corners of the pentagon; (in open flower) campanulate. about

1-5 cm. diam., rounded at the base, lobed to about ^ of the way; tube

outside dull biscuit-coloured with a slight purple tinge, longitudinally

ridged and very minutely lepidote; inside deep maroon densely and

minutely tuberculate throughout, not ciliate or pubescent. 6-8 mm. long

and about 1 cm. diam. at the throat; lobes deltoid, spreading, slightly

recurved, about 4 mm. long, 6-7 mm. broad at the base, tuberculate

within and longitudinally ridged without like the tube, acute at the apex;

intermediate lobes very small, tooth-like. Outer corotta lobes 5, broad,

emarginate. together forming an almost black undulating minutely

papillate plate or frill about 3 mm. in diam., closely appressed to the

base of the corolla, produced in the centre into a short column from the

top edges of which the inner corona-lobes arise. Inner corona lobes

erect. 2-2 5 .mm. long, purplish-maroon, incumbent over the anthers, just

touching one another at the tips, oblong-lanceolate, more or less flattened,

subacute and not thickened at the apex but with a dorsal swelling near

the centre where the lobe bends over the anthers. Anthers yellow.

Follicles suberect 2 ■ 5—4 - 5 cm. long, 5-7 mm. diam. — E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1108. — Fig. 1. stem and flower, natural size; 2, longitudinal

section of flower, x 4; 3, corona, x 10; 4, follicle, slightly reduced.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

Plate 1109.

PLECTRANTKUS BEHRII.

Cape Province.

Labiatae.

PSectranthus behrii Compton in Journ. of S. Afr. Bot., 11 : 122 (1945).

Plectranthus behrii belongs to the section which has a

small spur at the base of the corolla tube and is most closely

related to the well known P. jruticosus (Plate 1101) an attrac-

tive blue-flowered shrub fairly common in shady places in the

Caledon and Knysna Divisions and further east. The present

plate was prepared from a plant which flowered at Kirsten-

bosch in April 1937, originally sent to the National Botanic

Gardens five or six years previously by Mr. C. Behr, from the

Lusikisiki district, Pondoland, where, according to the

collector, it is not very frequent. It is now well established at

Kirstenbosch and flowers profusely there at the end of summer,

attracting the attention that it well deserves. The compact,

well-shaped shrubs thrive in the full sun or partial shade and

as the flowering season lasts for several weeks, this species

should appeal to all horticulturists.

Description. — An erect soft-wooded shrub 60-100 cm.

high or more, with shorter lateral branches. Stem

quadrangular with rounded angles and deeply grooved sides,

puberulous; the internodes up to 5 cm. long. Leaves green

above, purple below, thinly puberulous on both surfaces, ovate

with an acute apex and crenate-dentate margins, up to 7 cm.

long and 6 5 cm. wide; the veins prominent below and

impressed above; petiole about 1-15 cm. long. Inflorescence

paniculate, the terminal raceme up to 25 cm. long, the lateral

ones shorter, semi-erect, in the axils of the upper leaves and

lower bracts, bare below with numerous pairs of about three-

flowered cymes above. Bracts sub-scarious, acuminate, up to

8 mm. long and 5 mm. wide. Peduncles about 1 mm. long;

pedicels slender, hirsute, about 6 mm. long. Calyx with a

green tube about 1 mm. long, the lobes pink, ciliate, dorsal

lobe 3 mm. long, 3—4 mm. wide; lateral lobes 2 mm. long,

subulate; ventral lobes 4 mm. long subulate. Corolla mauve-

pink, the upper lip with a few dark pink spots; tube 7-9 mm.

long, more or less laterally compressed, 2-2 ' 5 mm. wide, with

a conical obtuse dorsal spur about 2 mm. long, at the base;

upper lip erect, orbicular, 8 mm. long and wide, glabrous or

very minutely velvety outside; side lobes 2 mm. wide, obtuse,

indexed across the mouth of the tube; lower lip at first erect,

boat-shaped, 6 mm. long, sharply deflexed at maturity, the

margins becoming undulate. Stamens long-exserted, the pairs

8 and 10 mm. long, at first slightly curved upwards, later

curved downwards and backwards. Style finally exserted 10

mm. Fruiting calyx retaining its colour, in all about 1 cm.

long. (National Botanic Gardens No. 1252/31.) — G. J. Lewis.

Plate 110?. — Fig. 1, leaves and inflorescence, natural size; 2. flower

side view, x 2; 3, flower, later stage, x 2; 4, young calyx, from above,

x 2; 5, longitudinal section of flower, x 2.

F.P.A. June. 1951.

Plate 1110.

PLECTRANTHUS ZULUENSIS.

Natal, Zululand.

Labiatae.

Plectranthus zuluensis T. Cooke in Kew Bull. 1909, p. 379; FI Cap

5, 1:281 (1910).

The specimen figured in the accompanying plate was

collected in May 1943 in the Krantzkop district of Natal.

The plant was found growing under very moist conditions

in a small forest patch in association with at least six different

species of Plectranthus, including P. fruticosus now figured

in this work (Plate 1101). The plants were very free flowering

and made a fine display but it was no simple matter to separate

out the various distinct species. On dissection our plant was

found to have only two fertile stamens and two staminodes,

whereas the genus Plectranthus is characterized by 4 fertile

stamens, so that our specimen was at first thought to be an

undescribed though nearly related genus. In view of the

doubt in identifying the material, a specimen was sent to Kew

for comparison. It was found to be identical with Gerrard

1675, the type of P. zuluensis T. Cooke, which was collected

by Gerrard in Natal and Zululand and described by Cooke

in the Kew bulletin in 1909. Cooke makes no mention of the

abortive stamens in his description, simply stating “ stamina

exserta Bentham, however, in his Labiatarum p. XXV

(1832-36) does not think that this character alone is of very

much value. He states : “ The abortion of the upper pair of

stamina has been hitherto much relied on in the division of

Labiatae into two great sections; but this tallies so little with

other characters, and is often so uncertain, that in many cases

is appears to be scarcely available even for generic distinc-

tions As P. zuluensis conforms with the generic description

of Plectranthus except in the character of the abortive stamens

it has been decided to retain it in this genus and not to add

another new genus to the already large number in the Tribe

Ocymoideae.

Description. — Plant 2-4 ft. high, straggling in the shade but form-

ing a bush in the open, at first herbaceous but becoming somewhat woody

with age. Main branches up to about 1 • 5 cm. diam., obtusely four-angled;

branches shortly puberulous and velvety to the touch, very minutely black

gland-dotted, especially on the younger portions in the fresh-state, not

visible in dried material. Leaves opposite, petiolate; petiole up to 6 cm.

long on the larger leaves, about 1 cm. long on smaller ones, puberulous;

lamina ovate, variable in size, 7-10 cm. long, 5-7 cm. broad on the

main stem, soon deciduous, reduced in size on the lateral branches, about

3 5 cm. long, 2 5 cm. broad and even smaller on the branchlets, acute

at the apex, widely cuneate at the base, crenate -dentate on the margin

in the upper two-thirds, entire at the base; in the fresh state fairly thick

with a smooth soapy feeling on the surface, in the dried state thinner,

purple-tinged below, very thinly and shortly pubescent on both surfaces,

denser on the nerves and margins, glandular-punctate below; lateral nerves

about five on each side of the midrib, ascending, looped within the margin,

prominent below. Inflorescence terminal at the ends of branchlets, simple,

4-8 cm. long, verticles generally six-flowered, upper ones sessile, lower

ones shortly pedunculate. 5-10 mm. distant from one another; bracts

ovate to suborbicular, 2-4 mm. long. Pedicels 2-3 mm. long,

pubescent. Calyx pubescent, up to 3 mm. long in the flowering stage,

dorsal lobe orbicular-ovate or suborbicular, 15 mm. broad, lateral teeth

triangular about 1 5 mm. long, lower teeth narrowly triangular about 2

mm. long to the base of the lateral lobe; in fruit about 7 mm. long.

Corolla very pale mauve to almost white, with usually six rows of mauve

dots from near the apex of the upper lip, the two middle rows confluent

near the base, tube straight, laterally compressed, about 6 mm. long 2 5-

3 mm. diam. with a rounded dorsal gibbosity at the base on the upper

side; upper lip suberect, slightly deflexed. more or less obovale, 6 mm. long,

5 mm. broad towards the emarginate apex, slightly constricted on the

sides about the middle to form two broad lateral lobes; lower lip shallowly

boat-shaped, 3 mm. long, deflexed. Stamens : the lower pair fertile with

filaments 5-7 mm. long inserted in the throat of the corolla-tube and

decurrent down the tube, upper pair abortive, reduced to staminodes, 1-

15 mm. long. Ovary four-lobed, inserted in an annular disc with a

fleshy protuberance on the lower margin; style elongating after the stamens

shrivel, about 5 mm. exserted, stigma shortly and subequally bifid. Nutlets

dark brown, somewhat compressed and slightly angled, at maturity up to

1 - 75 mm. long, sometimes three of the four nutlets abortive. (Dyer 4355

in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 27243.) — R. A. Dyer and E. A.

Bruce.

Plate 1110. — Fig. 1, inflorescence, natural size; 2, apical part of leaf,

(lower surface), x 15; 3, calyx, ovary and disc, x 5; 4, flower, side view,

x 5; 5, flower, front view, x 5; 6, corolla, side view, showing stamen

and staminode x 5; 7, habit.

F.P.A. June, 1951.

Plate 1111.

ONCOBA SPINOSA.

Western , Central and Eastern Tropical Africa to the Northern

Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal.

Flacourtiaceae.

Oncoba spinosa Forsk. FI. Aegypt. Arab. (1775); Oliver in FI. Trop.

Afr. 1 : 115 (1868); Hutchinson in FI. West Trop. Afr. 1: 161 (1927); Lundia

monacantha Thonning & Schumack Guin. PI. p. 231 (1827).

The specimen figured here was grown by Mr. Myles

Bourke in his Pretoria garden of indigenous trees and shrubs.

The seed was given to him by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans who

collected it at Lake Funduzi in the Northern Transvaal. Two

fine specimens had been raised from the seed and were proving

to be decorative members in the collection with their fragrant

flowers of white, spreading petals and a group of golden

stamens in the centre, showing up to perfection among the

dark shiny leaves. The shrubby growth of the plants, about

8 ft. tall, looked very much at home among the African trees

in this garden on the northern slope of the range south of

Pretoria.

Oncoba spinosa has a very wide distribution in Africa

being found from Senegambia eastwards and southwards to

the northern Transvaal, Swaziland and Natal. It was first

described from Hadie Yemen, Arabia, in 1775 and the generic

name is derived from the Arabic word “ onkob ” by which it

is known also in North Africa. It was next described from

Senegambia and since then from time to time, the species has

been recorded from many parts of tropical Africa covering

the regions mentioned above. The earliest South African

record in the National Herbarium is a specimen collected in

Natal by P. MacOwan in 1891. The species may be seen in

the surrounding vegetation at the Victoria Falls.

In 1932 a consignment of fruits collected at Ingwavuma,

Zululand, was sent to the “ Imperial Institute ” for analysis.

The seeds are reported to yield a drying oil which might be

useful for paint or varnish but the difficulty of separating the

small seeds from the pulp is a disadvantage.

5596— A

The roots and leaves are said to be used medicinally by

some native tribes while the fruits are eaten. The chrome

yellow pulp which has a mealy consistency tastes something

like hips and haws or a green apple, certainly not particularly

pleasant to some tastes. The fruits are also used by some

tribes to make rattles for children, or snuff boxes, while the

Bavendas in the Zoutpansberg are said to string them together

into ankle bands to be worn when dancing. In Zululand the

fruits are called “ Thunga ”.

Description. — Shrub 8 ft. tall, much branched above

with long festooning branches, armed with straight axillary

spines, branchlets lepidote. Leaves dark glossy green above,

slightly paler below, alternate, varying in size from 3 cm. to

13 cm. long and 1-5-6 cm. broad, margins coarsely serrate,

apex acuminate to an acute or blunt apex, base rounded or

subcuneate; petiole 1 cm. long. Flowers solitary on short

axillary shoots, about 9 cm. in diameter; pedicels green about

2-5 cm. long; sepals 3 or 4, more or less oblong orbicular

about 1 5 cm. long, green dorsally and pure white on inner

face, strongly reflexed with the exposed shiny white face

convex; petals whorled, pure white or tinged pink in bud or

when aging, 7-13, spreading, the outer 4 cm. long 3 cm. wide,

the inner narrower and slightly narrowed to a claw, margins

slightly undulate and sometimes notched near the base.

Stamens numerous whorled to form a puff-like centre to

the flower, filaments pale yellow, varying in length 4-8 cm.

long, anthers yellow, basifixed, dehiscing by slits in the lower

two thirds of the cells. Ovary 1 -celled with numerous ovules,

small at time of flowering, developing rapidly after the petals

have fallen; style thick, crowned by the pateliform, lobed

Stigma. Fruit yellow globose about 5 5 cm. diam., marked

with lines like the quarters of an orange, androecium persis-

tent at base and the thickened style and patelliform stigma at

the apex, rind woody, thin but very hard, pulp yellow, seeds

very many and small. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

28462.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 1 1 1 1. — Fig. 1, three twigs, natural size, one bearing a flower, one

an immature fruit and the third a mature fruit; 2, bud showing the pink

tinge which is sometimes also seen in the fading flowers; 3, stamen, x 7.

F.P.A., December, 1951.

Plate 1112.

ALOE MCLOUGHLINII.

Abyssinia.

Liliaceae.

Aloe mcloughlinii Christian, sp. nov. in sectione Aethiopicae Berg,

foliis nitidis politis pedunculis lineari-maculatis distinguenda.

Plant a succulenta, acaulis. Folia circiter 18, rosulata, ascendentia,

apicem versus recurvata, 45 cm. longa, 7-8 cm. lata, ovato-acuminata,

superne basin versus concava, sursum planiora, subtus convexa, ubique

viridia, maculis longis lenticularibus picta, ad margines linea albida cartila-

ginea cincta, dentibus procliventibus, 3-4 mm. longis, 10 mm. inter se dis-

tantibus armata. Inflorescentia plerumque 2, erecta, ramosa 60 cm. plus

alta; pedunculus viride griseus, pruinosus, obscure lineari-maculatus,

subtus compressus; rami ca. 7-9 arcuato-erecti, nudi. Racemi cylindrici,

acuminati, sub-laxi; gemmae erecto-patentes; flores pendulosi; bracteae

florigerae longi-cuspidatae, 6 mm. longae, scariosae, 3-nervatae. Pedicelli

rubri, erecti, vel arcuato-erecti, cernui, 8 mm. longi. Perianthium rubrum,

pruinosum, cylindricum, rectum, trigonum, basi stipitatum, 20-22 mm.

longum, 6-8 mm. diam, obscure 3-nervatum, nerviis percursis; segmenta

exteriora libera, vel basi connata, apice distincte recurvata; segmenta

interiora libera, vel interdum leviter dorsifixa, 3-nervata, apice recta, vel

leviter patentia. Filamenta flava, exserta, demum retracta; anthera brunnea.

Stylus exsertus. Ovarium 6 mm. longum, 2-5 mm. diam.

Abyssinia.— Diredawa; McLoughlin 826, in National Herbarium;

cult, in Herb. Christian No. 1170 (type).

When the specimen figured here flowered in January,

1951, and this plate was prepared it afforded the opportunity

to publish the late Mr. Basil Christian’s description of this

species. The original plants were sent to the National Her-

barium, Pretoria, by Major A. G. McLoughlin in June, 1941

from Abyssinia. In accord with an arrangement with Mr.

Christian all tropical Aloe plants were shared with him so

that in case the plants did not thrive here some would be

cultivated in the more tropical conditions of S. Rhodesia.

In this case the plants both in the Pretoria garden and those

grown in Mr. Christian’s garden, Ewanrigg, flourished and

some flowered within 2 years. Mr. Christian was given the

responsibility of describing the species but he did not get as

far as publishing it. The manuscript was found among

several other newly described species of tropical Aloes after

his death in May, 1950.

The following notes which accompanied Mr. Christian’s

Latin description given above are taken from his manuscript:

“ It is a pleasure to name this distinctive Aloe in

honour of Major A. G. McLoughlin, who for many

years has been a collector and delineator (notably of

orchids) of the flora of Africa. His recent botanical

activity has been referred to in the text for Aloe trichosantha

Berger shown on Plate 1014. This aloe named after

him falls into the section Aethiopicae Berg, in which the

species generally are not readily distinguished when not in

flower owing to the similarity of the leaves and habit.

But the relatively small A. mcloughlinii presents no diffi-

culty in this respect, being one of the most easily recog-

nisable species from tropical Africa. Its most noticeable

features are the shiny or ‘ glassy ’ looking leaves with

the very long, narrow lenticular markings on both

surfaces, the peduncle, bearing similar but rather longer

and narrower markings in the lower half, and the dense

bloom on the perianth.”

From observations of the plant in Pretoria over the last

ten years it has been found that it remains acaulescent and

while it does not seem to sucker normally, lateral shoots soon

arise if the growing point of the old plant is injured. The

species seems to be very susceptible to the Aloe grub but the

shoots which then arise mature quite quickly.

These plants are readily recognised by the rather narrow,

long-acuminate, polished-looking leaves with unusually long,

narrow, lenticular, green or creamy markings on both sur-

faces.

The flowers were consistent in length on all the plants,

about 2-2 -2 cm. long and were covered with a bloom which

also appears on the peduncle and branches of the inflorescence.

The polished leaves of our species are reminiscent of

those of Aloe mwanzana Christian from Tanganyika but the

inflorescence of the latter species is very different with its long

tapering racemes and comparatively large floral bracts.

When Major McLoughlin collected this species in June,

1941, he was travelling between Awash and Diredawa. In his

letter he mentioned 4 species of Aloe common in that area.

One, which has since been identified as Aloe trichosantha

and figured on Plate 1014 of this work, he described as plenti-

ful from Awash to within 25 miles of Diredawa. From there,

the Aloe since described as A. magnidentata Verdoom and

Christian and figured on Plate 1015 became plentiful and

with it grew two other Aloes which he referred to as Nos. 825

and 826. No. 826 is the one here described and named after

the collector. The fourth species, No. 825, which seems to

be related to A. mcloughlinii still requires investigation. It is

caulescent and the leaves are not polished-looking but except

that the flowers are longer the inflorescence resembles A.

mcloughlinii very closely.

Description. — An acaulescent. succulent plant. Leaves

18-20, rosulate, the younger ascending, recurved towards apex,

the older rather obliquely spreading and slightly recurved

towards tips, sub-ovate-acuminate, long-attentuate towards

apex, up to 45 cm. long, 7-8 cm. broad above base, upper

surface green with long, narrow, cream, lenticular markings,

concave, becoming flat, or even convex towards apex bi-

convex towards margins, lower surface convex, dark green,

more copiously marked with larger and green markings often

confluent length-wise; margins thin, acute, with a narrow

whitish cartilaginous border, sinuate-dentate, or sometimes

with straight inter spaces, with green brown-tipped proclivent

teeth, 3-4 mm. long, 10 mm. apart in the middle, smaller and

more crowded below, more distant above. Inflorescence an

erect panicle arising laterally, 60 cm. or up to 1 m. high,

branched from above or below the middle. Peduncle greyish

green, thinly pruinose, obscurely marked in lower half with

narrow lenticular markings, flattened on inner face low down,

with narrow cartilaginous margins with a few minute car-

tilaginous teeth; branches 6 (or up to 9) and at least one sub-

branched, arcuate-erect; bract subtending lowest branch

triangular-acute, 12 mm. long, 5 mm. wide, scarious, 3-5

nerved. Racemes cylindric-acuminate, sub-lax, on lateral

branches inclined to be sub-secund, the terminal 10 cm. (or up

to 15 cm.) long, 6 cm. diam.; buds strawberry-red tipped

with pale green, pruinose, erect-spreading, slightly up-turned

towards apex, mature flowers strawberry-red, pruinose, pen-

dulous; floral bracts triangular cuspidate, 5-8*5 mm. long,

3 mm. broad at base, 3-7-nerved, scarious. Pedicels straw-

berry-red, arcuate-erect, about 8 mm. long, those of mature

flowers becoming cemuous. Perianth strawberry-red, prui-

nose with 3 obscure nerves running to the base, cylindric,

trigonous, straieht, base obscurely stipitate, about 20 mm.

long, 8 mm. diam. over ovary, slightly constricted towards the

middle (more so on underside, upper almost straight) then

widened again; outer segments free, or slightly connate at

base, with broad white margins, usually with a pinkish tinge

towards base, 3-nerved; nerves shading to green at apex,

apices subacute, distinctly recurved; inner segments slightly

broader than outer, free, or sometimes lightly dorsifixed to the

outer, connate at base, white with an obscurely 3-nerved

narrow red keel changing to green in upper part, apices more

obtuse, straight or slightly spreading. Stamens with filaments

yellow, exserted, at length withdrawn; anther’s brown.

Style whitish, exserted; ovary pale yellowish-green, cylindric,

acuminate, 6 mm. long, 3 mm. diam. (National Herbarium,

Pretoria, No. 28464.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 1112. — Fig. 1, racemes from lateral branch; 2, floral bract, x 5;

3 longitudinal section of flower, x 2; 4, section of peduncle near base;

5, upper portion of leaf in colour; 6, habit.

F.P.A., December, 1951

Plate 1113.

CEROPEGIA GRANDIS.

Zululand.

Asclepiadaceae.

Ceropegia grandis E. A. Bruce sp. nov., affinis C. plicatae E. A. Bruce,

a qua floribusmajoribus, lobis corollae apice rotundatis basin versus gibbosis,

tubo intus basin versus numquam in annulum erectum producto recedit.

Radices fusiformes, 4-5 cm. longae, 5 mm. diam. Caulis volubilis,

subcrassus, glaber, basi circiter 4 mm. diam., supra basin ramosus, intir-

nodiis 3-8 cm. longis. Folia opposita et decussata, patula, petiolata.

petiolus 6-11 mm. longus, setis paucis brevibus erectis ornatus; lamina

ovata, carnosiuscula, 3-4 cm. longa, 2-3 cm. lata, supra atro-viridis, lucida.

subtus pallidiora, uterque glabra, apice rotundata vel acuta, abrupte et

breviter acuminata, basi late cuneata, margine nonnumquam indistinctc

undulato-serrulata parcissime ciliata. Cymae 1-2 florae, e nodis lateralitei

ortae; pedunculi c. 1-3 cm. longi, pedicelli c. 1 cm. longi. Calyx fere ad

basin lobatus; lobi 5, angustissime triangulares, c. 5 mm. longi, glabri,

acuti, patulo-erecti. Corolla 5-5-6 cm. longa; tubus leviter curvatus,

4-3-5 cm. longus, 1 cm. supra basin constrictus vix 5 mm. diam., superne

8 mm. leviter inflatus 5 mm. diam., deinde 2 cm. subcylindricus 3-5-4 mm.

diam., apicem versus dilatatus infundibuliformis, fauce circiter 2 cm. diam.,

extra glaber, basin versus pallido-virens apicem versus atro-virens vel

purpureo-virens notatus, intus e constrictione leviter prominens numquam

in annulum erectum productus, infra constrictionem crispo-pubescens,

supra per 8 mm. sulcatus et glaber deinde pilis paucis onnatus aliter glaber;

lcbi erecti, apice connati; plus minusve oblongi, circiter 1 -6-1 -8 cm. longi,

lateraliter compressi et replicati; basin versus gibbosi, circiter 6 mm. lati,

apice rotundata, virides cum zona alba basin versus, margine et basi albido-

et purpureo-pilosi. Corona exterior cupuliformis, c. 1 mm. alta, 5-saccata,

columna staminum brevior, glabra; lobi coronae interioris, lineares, glabri,

circiter 3-5 mm. longi, basi antheris incumbentes, superne erecti, conni-

ventes, apice recurvati, viridi-cremei, basi purpureo-notati.

Zululand. — Nongoma, F. G. Carnegie. Cultivated Pretoria, April,

1950, E. A. Phillips 29, in Nat. Herb. No. 28419 (type).

Ceropegia grandis E. A. Bruce is a striking plant charac-

terized by the large erect green and purple marked flowers

with a constriction in the tube just above the base. This

constriction is shown in only a few species in the genus and is

a good diagnostic character. Our species is most closely

related to C. plicata E. A. Bruce, a species previously figured

in this work (Plate 675). It has the same slight constriction

in the tube just above the base, though, as seen from the inside,

this is only represented by a narrow circular ridge more like

C. mozambicensis Schltr. (Hook. leones tab. 344 1 ) and not by an

erect collar-like structure as in C. plicata. The shape and

markings of the tube in both C. grandis and C. plicata and the

distribution of the pubescence and the striations on the inside

of the tube are also very similar. C. grandis , as the name

implies, has large, conspicuous flowers and differs from C.

plicata in the size of the flowers and in the oblong not trian-

gular corolla lobes which are rounded and not acute at the

apex; this point is clearly demonstrated in the plate (see

fig. 2). The accompanying plate was prepared from a plant

cultivated by Mr. E. A. Phillips at Pretoria, which was origi-

nally collected by Mr. F. G. Carnegie at Nongoma, Zululand.

Description. — Roots fusiform or finger-like, 4-5 cm.

long, 5 mm. diam., pale cream-coloured. Stems twining

rather fleshy, about 4 mm. diam. at the base, glabrous, dark

green speckled with paler green, branched above the base,

internodes 3-8 cm. long. Leaves opposite and decussate,

spreading, petiolate; petioles 6-11 mm. long with a very few

scattered erect short setae, otherwise glabrous, and with a

dull purple ring at the base; blade ovate, leathery to more or

less fleshy, 3-4 cm. long, 2-3 cm. broad (apical leaves smaller)

dark green and rather shiny on the upper surface, paler green

below, glabrous on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate, apex

rounded to acute, then abruptly and shortly acuminate;

margins paler, indistinctly undulate, serrulate, sparsely ciliate

with a few small erect setae. Cymes 1-2-flowered, axillary,

shortly pedunculate; peduncle about 1-3 cm. long, pedicels

a little shorter, 1 cm. long. Calyx lobed almost to the base,

very narrowly triangular, about 5 mm. long, glabrous, acute,

spreading erect. Corolla tube slightly curved, glabrous out-

side, 4-3-5 cm. long, basal portion cylindric, 1 cm. long, 4-5-

5 mm. diam., then slightly but abruptly widened to 5-5 mm.

diam. forming a slight bulge for the next 8 mm.; then slightly

narrowed to 3-5 or 4 mm. for the next 2 cm. and finally

funnel-shaped and gradually widened to about 2 cm. at the

throat; basal part of the tube pale green, upper part pale

green marked with deeper green or dull purple-green blotches;

tube within with a circular ridge at the constriction but with

no erect collar or annulus, crisped pubescent below the

constriction, longitudinally ridged and glabrous above in the

slight inflation, then with a few crisped white hairs and gla-

brous above in the upper part of the tube; lobes connate at

the tip, 1 -6-1 -8 cm. long, laterally compressed and replicate

with a gibbous projection on the inner side towards the base

about 6 mm. broad, rounded at the apex with a small apicule

towards the inner edge (fig. 2), olive green and glabrous above

with a purple fine just below the centre and a white more or

less triangular blotch below this and at the very base a paler

green area; ciliate on the margins and with long white and

purple hairs on the inner face at the base. Outer corona

shallowly cup shaped, about 1 mm. high, cream-coloured,

forming 5 truncate pockets shorter than the staminal column ;

inner corona-lobes linear, incumbent on the anthers at the

base, then erect connivent for about 3 • 5 mm. and recurved at

the apex, greenish-cream with a purple eye each side at the

base. — E. A. Bruce.

Plate 1113. — Fig 1, flowering shoot, nat. size; 2, corolla-lobe from

the side, x 4; 3, longitudinal section through corolla-tube showing con-

striction, pubescence and corona, x 4.

F.P.A., December, 1951.

Plate 1114.

SANSEVIERIA DOONERL

Kenya.

Liliaceae.

Sansevieria dooneri N. E. Br. in Kew Bull. 1915 page 231.

Sansevieria dooneri is one of the very many African

plants in which the flowers open in the late afternoon. When

this p ant was being figured and described at the National

Herbarium, Pretoria, some of the staff had to remain after

hours to draw and describe the open flowers. They commen-

ced opening at 4 • 30 p.m. At the same time a sweet scent was

perceived which grew more pronounced as the evening ad-

vanced. It was observed that the segments adhered in pairs,

an inner and an outer cohering, and so at first it looked like a

3-lobed perianth. As the cohering segments spread they

eventually separated and the three outer segments curled

right back while the 3 inner followed more slowly. The

plants were among the many collected on the Pole Evans,

East and Central African Expedition, 1938. They were

found at Ngong, Kenya, and took favourably to their new

home in the shade house at Pretoria, where they have flowered

quite frequently since. The plate was prepared in September,

1942.

Description. — Rootstock creeping, often above the sur-

face, about 5 mm. diam. ; the young shoots green with brown-

ish-red sheathing scales up to 1-3 cm. long, turning light

brown and chartaceous with age. Leaves up to 10, coriaceous,

flexible, erect spreading at basal part and recurved spreading

above, narrowly lanceolate, tapering from above the middle

to the base and apex, ending in a green subulate point up to

3 cm. long, 15-50 cm. long and up to 2 .4 cm. broad and 2 mm.

thick, somewhat canaliculate, smooth, shiny green, banded

with dark green on both surfaces but less distinctly so on

lower surface. Inflorescence 25-30 cm. long; peduncle

green, terete, gradually becoming slightly thicker upwards

from the slender base, 2-5-5 mm. diam., sterile bracts 4,

clasping at the base decreasing in size upwards, the lowest 9 • 5

cm. long and the uppermost 1-5 cm. long, green, becoming

light brown and chartaceous with age; floral bracts up to

about 5 mm. long, each subtending 2 flowers; pedicels about

3 mm. long, terete, articulated at the apex, persisting. Peri-

anth 2-2 cm. long, green at the base, purplish-pink on a pale

green-white background; tube about 9 mm. long, very

^lightly contracted above the ovary; lobes closed during

the day, opening about 5 p.m. spreading gradually from the

base, at first an inner and an outer cohering giving the ap-

pearance of a 3-lobed perianth then separating into the 6

segments, the 3 outer eventually becoming recurved, apices

cuculate incurved, those of outer segments acute, inner obtuse,

all bearded with translucent hairs. Stamens 6, inserted in the

mouth of the tube and reaching almost to the tops of the

perianth lobes. Ovary green, somewhat 3-lobed, 2-5 mm.

long and 2 mm. diam., 3-celled with 1 ovule in each cell; style

simple, triquetrous, becoming exserted, up to 2-8 cm long:

stigmas 3, capitate. (National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

27034.) — I. C. Verdoorn.

Plate 1114. — Fig. 1, inflorescence; 2, leaf, upper surface; 3, portion

of leaf, dorsal face; 4, transverse section of leaf near base; 5, transverse

section of leaf in upper half; 6, whole flower, open; 7, transverse section

of flower, x 3; 8, habit.

F.P.A. December, 1951.

Plate 1115.

PROTEA ACAULIS var. COCKSCOMBENSIS.

Cape Province.

Proteaceae.

Protea acaulis Thunb. var. cockscombensis Archibald var. nov., a typo

foliis oblanceolatis et minoribus, bracteis infra puberulis, segmentis glabris

et glandibus ovatis distinguitur.

Eastfrn Cape Province. — Uitenhage District, E. E. A. Archibald

No. 3435 in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28456.

The Winterhoek Mountains in the Eastern Cape Province

are dominated by a fine set of peaks known collectively as the

Cockscomb, the highest point being 5,772 feet above sea level

and more than 1 ,000 feet higher than any other summit in the

range. The Cockscomb is thus a familliar landmark for

many miles around and forms the culminating point of some

of the finest scenery in the country, but, in spite of its pre-

eminence, the mountain itself and the region around it have

been little explored botanically, probably because the roads

are poor and inadequate and a long and arduous journey on

foot has to be made before the final somewhat precipitous

ascent can be attempted.

Undoubtedly the area is of great floristic interest for,

being in a transitional region where neither summer nor

winter rainfall predominates, the varied topography plays an

important part in creating conditions favourable to plants

typical of the Western Province as well as those characteristic

of arid climates. Thus on the open flats on the northern side

of the Cockscomb one finds Augea capensis, a monotypic

genus characteristic of the Karoo and here surely at its most

easterly station. In the foothills, where precipitous rock-

sided kloofs protect almost permanent streams, luxuriant spe-

cimens of Pelargonium pandurae forme, Lobostemon stachy-

deus, L. decorus, Polygala myrtifolia and Peucedanum tenui-

folium are to be found. On the tops of these hills, fully

exposed to the intense light of the north, Lobelia scorpioides

and a variety of Restionaceae are present. Higher up, round

the base of the “ comb ”, where snow may he for several days

at a time during winter and early spring, are Protea comp acta,

P. neriifolia, Brunia nodiflora and many other species character-

istic of the Cape Flora.

The southern side of the mountain receives the full benefit

of moisture-laden winds from the sea and, in parts, temperate

forest fills the lower kloofs giving place to macchia and grass

at higher levels.

The summit is covered with enormous boulders of Table

Mountain Sandstone and although not infrequently shrouded

in mist it becomes intensely hot on clear days. Between the

boulders and receiving a certain amount of shelter from them,

are species such as Thamnochortus argenteus, Hvpodiscus sp.,

Tretaria sp. and Erica sp. with quite a variety of mosses.

This meagre review of some of the more extensive plant

communities does less than justice to the region but the fact

that Rochea jasminea was discovered on the Cockscomb by

Mr. N. Chase some few years prior to 1919 shows what un-

expected treasures may yet await discovery. This new variety

of Protea acaulis was found about 200 feet below the summit

of the Cockscomb, after which it is named. Only the tips

of the leaves were visible above the surrounding vegetation

whish was composed chiefly of Agathosma sonderiana , Berk-

heya sp., Ehrharta aphylla and several species of Restionaceae.

The variety differs from the type in having leaves which are

narrower and less varied in shape being constantly

oblanceolate, it may be further distinguished by its pubescent

involucral bracts, glabrous perianth segments and ovate

glands at the apex of the anthers. I am indebted to Dr.

E. P. Phillips for his guidance in this determination.

Description. — Growth , monochasial. Stems prostrate,

1-24 cm. long, combining to form trailers up to 1 metre long,

only branches of current season with green leaves, stems

glabrous, roughened by leaf scars. Leaves secund, 3-10 cm.

long, 6-22 mm. broad, varying considerably on any one

branch but generally with a few short leaves below the in-

florescence, oblanceolate, acute, tapering towards the base,

glabrous, isobilateral; mid-rib prominent, white below, con-

colorous above; margins thickened, white or reddish-yellow.

Capitulum terminal, 4 cm. long, 4-5 cm. diam., rounded at

base; buds ovate, erect; open heads bowl shaped, prostrate,

hidden by surrounding vegetation. Involucral-bracts in about

8 rows; inner surface glabrous, outer surface covered with

fine silky hairs ; margins minutely ciliate ; outer bracts shield-

shaped, pale green; inner bracts ovate-oblong, greenish-cream.

Receptacle about 1*5 cm. long, up to 2 cm. diam. uooer

surface broadly conical with white, ovate-concave bracts

surface broadly conical with white, ovate-concave bracts

about 2 mm. long. Perianht cylindrical, dilated at the base,

glabrous, about 2 cm. long, anterior segment free; remaining

three segments joined; free margins undulating, upper part

of segments forming a lip 1 cm. long, three-toothed, teeth

about 1-5 mm. long with white silky hairs up to 2 - 5 mm. long.

Androecium with filaments adhering to perianth segments;

anthers free, including in lip, linear, 8 mm. long tippe dwith

ovate, translucent-green glands. Gynoecium with stigma

pointed, style 2 cm. long, flattened in the middle, bulbous at

the base, narrowing abruply to ovary, ovary pubescent,

abaxial side partly naked, hairs up to twice as long as ovary,

basal hairs much shorter. Nut about 1-2 cm. long, hairs

peisistent, golden brown, apex with a hard beak bent to one

side.— E. E. A. Archibald.

Plate 1115. — Fig. 1, longitudunal section of receptacle, X 2; 2, single

flower, X 3; 3, lip showing stamens, x 5 ; 4, gynoecium X 2; 5, nut.

F.P.A. December 1951.

Plate 1116.

ROELLA CILIATA.

Cape Province.

Campanulaceae.

Roella ciliata L. Sp. Plant. 170 (1753); Sond. in FI. Cap. 3 : 591 (1865);

Adamson and Salter FI. Cap. Penin. 742 (1950).

By virtue of its abundance on the Cape Peninsula, its

attractive flowers and prolonged flowering period, this must

have been one of the undershrubs first to catch the eye of

Europeans who set foot at the Cape in the early days of

exploration. It is not surprising either that it was soon

introduced to gardens in Europe, no doubt by seed, and that

it was figured in such works as Plukenet’s Almagestum 1696,

Commelin’s Hort. Med. Am. 2,1701, and Hortus Cliffortianus

in 1737.

When dealing with the genus for the Flora of the Cape

Peninsula, 1950, Professor R. S. Adamson recorded that the

species is frequent on dry heathy sands, that it flowers almost

throughout the year but most freely from November to March,

that it is variable in size and habit, and in the length and

colour of the corolla, and that in old plants the leaves are

incurved.

These observations confirm the impression left by Sonder

in his classification in the Flora Capensis 1865. Sonder,

however, attempted to distinguish four varieties but in the

present state of our knowledge it is not practical to maintain

them. Our figure shows many similarities to the plate

published in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine t. 378 (1797) and

another in Loddiges Botanical Cabinet 1. 1 1 56 (1826). Both

these were placed under his variety linnaeana by Sonder, which

includes forms with the largest and most attractive flowers.

The specimens illustrated here were collected by Miss

E. Ester huyzen in March 1949 on the east side of Table

Mountain along the De Waal Drive above Newlands. They

were growing in sandy soil and this is evidently the type of

medium one should use in maintaining the species under

cultivation.

Description. — A diffusely branched shrublet, rarely entirely

erect with stems up to about 60 cm. long, pubescent, densely

leafy. Leaves ericoid, usually erect or appressed, linear

5596— B

acuminate, involute; those on the main branches up to about

1 cm. long and 2 mm. broad, glabrous, ciliate with stiff white

hairs, with fascicles of smaller non-ciliate leaves in their axils.

Flowers terminal, solitary but often on closely grouped

branchlets. Bracts erect, longer and broader than the leaves.

Calyx about 1 cm. long, divided nearly to the base; lobes

linear-lanceolate, acuminate with an uneven fringe and about

3 stout reflexed hairs from either margin. Corolla about

2-2-5 cm. long, but ranging from 1 -5-3 cm. long rarely 5 cm.,

divided about § of its length, pale violet or slate-blue, with a

dark band sometimes edged with white at the base of the lobes,

white or very pale blue at the base of the tube; tube cam-

panulate, 1-2 cm. wide at the mouth; lobes broadly oblong-

ovate, about 8-9 mm. broad. Stamens with the filaments

kneed and with an expanded ciliate base; anthers 5 mm.

long. Ovary glabrous. Fruit with persistent sepals, glabrous,

deeply concave on the top. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 28393.)— R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1116. — Fig. 1, flowering branches, natural size; 2, part of twig

showing fascicle of small leaves, x 5; 3, calyx lobe, x 5; 4, stamen,

X 5; 5, young stamens, x 5; 6, young style, X 5; 7, mature style, x 5.

F.P.A., December 1951.

Plate 1117.

DRIMIA ANOMALA.

Cape Province.

Liliaceae.

Drimia anomala {Baker) Benth. in Gen. Plant. 3 : 808 (1883); Baker in

FI. Cap. 6 : 442 (1897).

Although Drimia anomala has little to commend it as an

object of beauty in horticulture, there are several features

about it of particular interest botanically. The specific

epithet anomala , which Baker applied when first describing it

under the genus Ornithogalum in Saunders’ Refugium Botani-

cum, Plate 178 (1870), signifies his uncertainty about its

correct classification. He even suggested that it might be

better excluded from that genus. Bentham transferred it to

Drimia and Baker followed this when monographing the

Liliaceae for the Flora Capensis 1897, but was still doubtful

when placing it here with several other anomalous species.

These species, however, including D. ? hyacinthoides Baker,

D. ? macrantha Baker, and D. ? chlorantha Baker do not

together form a natural group, leaving one with the alternative

of creating a few small or monotypic genera. Whether this

would have any advantage over the presently accepted classi-

fication, I am not prepared to discuss here. These plants,

which do not fit readily into any established genus are general-

ly found to exhibit characters of two of more genera and one is

encouraged in the opinion that they are connecting links in

the family tree of evolution.

Apart from the interest of the floral characters of Drimia

anomala , the leaves are also noteworthy. Under normal

conditions a bulb produces only one leaf per season. It is

cylindric and solid and may be up to about lJr feet in length

and 5 mm. in diameter. Before it reaches maturity in its

dry habitat, however, it withers from the tip, the withering

process being arrested at different stages, depending on the

conditions of moisture. Thus the cultivated specimen figured

in 1870 with a complete leaf differs markedly from our plant

in which the leaf had withered quite extensively.

This withering from the leaftip due to a reduction in

water supply is not an uncommon feature in species of Lilia-

ceae in Southern Africa.

The specimen originally described by Baker was forward-

ed from the Cape by Thos. Cooper to Mr. W. W. Saunders

but without a precise locality. There seems no reason to

doubt that Cooper obtained bulbs in the eastern Cape Pro-

vince to which area our species, with a centre of distribution

near Grahamstown, is apparently restricted. The figured

plant was collected there.

Description. — Bulb fleshy, up to about 6 cm. diam.,

5 cm. high with a short neck, covered by a dry membranous

outer coat. Leaf 1 per season, cylindric, up to about 5 mm.

diam., elongating up to about 45 cm. but before maturity

it may commence to wither from the tip and continue to do

so down to the bulb, by which time the one following may

have begun to develop, depending on environmental con-

ditions. Inflorescences 1-2 to a bulb per season; the first up

to about 40 cm. tall; the second usually shorter; about half

the length being taken up by flowers. Pedicels 5-7 mm. long,

spreading, slender. Bracts broadly ovate, the lowest few

with spurs up to 1 cm. long, soon falling, upper ones notched

on the back with no spur. Perianth lasting one day, greenish-

or dirty-yellow, about 6 mm. long, with the lobes united at the

base for 1-1 -5 mm.; outer ones about 1 -5 mm. broad; inner

ones 2 mm. broad, becoming strongly reflexed when fully open.

Stamens slightly shorter than the perianth; the filaments

inserted at the throat of the short perianth tube, sub-cylindric,

extremely minutely papillose; anthers oblong, 1-5 mm. long.

Ovary about 2 mm. long, obtusely triangular, with a sub-

cylindric, slightly triangular style 2-5 mm. long, with a few

short hairs from the stigma. (National Herbarium, Pretoria,

No. 28383.)— R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1117. — Fig. 1, leaf and inflorescence natural size; 2, flower, x 10;

3, bud with spurred bract, X 10; 4, stamen, x 10; 5, gynoecium, x 10;

6, bulb, reduced.

F.P.A., December, 1951.

Plate 1118.

NERINE DUPARQUETIANA.

Transvaal, Bechuanaland, S.W. Africa .

Amaryllidaceae.

Nerine duparquetiana Baker in FI. Cap. 6:214 (1896).

Although it was not possible to illustrate the complete

umbel life size, it may be judged from the illustration that it

was most attractive and that it would be useful in a breeding

programme designed to produce types of horticultural value.

The plant illustrated was grown in a pot at the University of

Pretoria from bulbs collected north of Brandberg in South

West Africa by Mr. L. C. C. Liebenberg in 1949. It flowered

during February, 1950, when it produced flowers larger than

usual for Nerine duparquetiana, the species with which it has

been identified.

Except for the minor discrepancy of size our plant agrees

well with Baker’s description of N. duparquetiana. The type,

named after its collector, came from the Kalahari area without

precise locality. A difficult question to answer in this in-

vestigation is whether N. duparquetiana is sufficiently distinct

from N. laticoma (Ker.) Dur. & Schinz (=N. lucida Herb.)

to uphold both names. Baker in Flora Capensis 6 : 1896,

drew attention in his key to the “ linear ” leaves of N. laticoma

and the “ lorate ” leaves of N. duparquetiana. The implied

difference seems hardly real when a range of material is

examined, but there are still the generally denser umbels of

pale or bright red flowers of the former as against the fewer,

and generally larger white flowers of the latter to distinguish

the plants.

Dr. J. B. Gouws has investigated the cytological structure

of plants identified with the above-mentioned two species.

His findings reported in Plant Life (Herbertia) 5 : 60 (1949)

support the principle of maintaining the 2 species and thus for

the time being, at any rate, this course is being followed.

A reference by Schinz to the presence of N. lucida in

Hereroland and Amboland and repeated by Baker in Flora

Trop. Africa 1898, probably relates to plants equal to the one

figured here.

5594— C

Description. — Bulb globose, about 6 cm. diam., con-

tracted into a neck and covered with a dry tunic. Leaves 4-6,

lorate, up to about 26 cm. long and 1 -5 cm. broad, straight or

slightly falcate, spreading on ground with age, glabrous,

green. Peduncle arising with, but outside, the same season’s

leaves, compressed, about 18 cm. tall, 7-8 mm. at its greatest

width and 4 mm. at its least, minutely pubescent with delicate

short hairs. Spathe valves 3-5-4 cm. long, lanceolate,

scaiious. Umbel about 15-flowered, centripetal; pedicels

6-9 cm. long, about 2-5 mm. diam., pubescent with delicate

short hairs. Perianth lobes white within, flushed with shell-

pink at the base and with a green keel down the back, united

into a short tube at the base, up to about 8 cm. long and 6 mm.

broad; at first 5 lobes spread upwards and reflex and the 6th

subtends the stamens and style, but gradually this rotates

from the base, clockwise or anti-clockwise and the others move

slightly in the same direction so that they are more or less

symmetrically arranged, 3 on either side of the vertical axis.

Filaments declinate, shorter than the perianth, 3 slightly

longer than others inserted on the short perianth tube, with-

out basal appendages but occasionally showing rudimentary

shoulders. Ovary about 6 mm. diam. somewhat obscurely

3-angled. Style at first straight, curving above the dehisced

anthers as it matures; stigma capitate, pubescent. (National

Herbarium, Pretoria, No. 28417.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 11 18. — Fig. 1, habit; 2, top of leaf, natural size; 3, a, b, c, bud,

newly opened flower and mature flower, natural size; 4, longitudinal section

of ovary and perianth-base, x 4.

F.P.A., December, 1951.

Plate 1119.

PERGULARIA EXTENSA.

Natal , Transvaal, Tropical Africa to India.

Asclepiadaceae.

Pergularia extensa ( Jacq .) N. E. Br. in FI. Cap. 4, 1 : 758 (1908); Daemia

extensa R. Br. in Mem. Wern., Soc. 1 : 50 (1809); N. E. Br. in FI. Trop.

Afr. 4, 1 : 387 (1903).

We are dealing here with an interesting plant with a

checkered history in botanical nomenclature. This can be

seen from N. E. Brown’s account in Flora Capensis where

he concludes by saying:

“Also in Tropical Africa, Madagascar and extending

through Arabia into India. In the Tropical African

forms the flowers vary from white or whitish-green, with

or without a red blotch at the base of the lobes, to pale

yellowish-green or lurid green with a red blotch at the base

of the lobes. The follicles are exceedingly variable in

their amount of echination.”

A remarkable feature about Pergularia extensa, not

referred to by Brown, and one possibly shared by the other

4 species of the genus, is the normal opening of the flowers

only after sundown. The flowers are seen to their advantage

during hours of complete darkness by means of artificial light.

The flowers in the present illustration, however, v/ere induced

to remain open by picking them at 8 o’clock in the evening

and placing the cut stems in boiling water for about 30 seconds

before transferring into cold water containing a dissolved

aspirin.

It was Dr. H. K. Munro’s interest in the flowering habit

of the plant that prompted him to draw our attention to it

at the National Herbarium. The plants which he had raised

from seed and which were examined in his garden were very

luxuriant and most of the flowering branches had become

pendulous for the want of adequate support. Given full

scope the climber would have reached a height of anything up

to about 30 feet in ordinary garden soil.

Dr. Munro, an entomologist, supplied the following

additional information :

“ Pods infected by maggots of the Trypetid fly Dacus

binotcitus Lw. were collected by Mr. W. H. Ghent at

Tugela Ferry, Natal, in July, 1949. Seed sown about

mid-August was up within 2-3 weeks and came into

flower towards the end of January. By February the

plants were covered with many sprays of pleasantly,

though rather faintly scented flowers, which open only

towards evening and through the night.”

Jacquin’s original figure under the name Cynanchum

extensum is so life-like that one feels he must have observed

it flowering naturally and yet its flowering peculiarity is not

mentioned in his or the other works of reference at present

available. The plant is recorded as having been first intro-

duced into cultivation as early as 1777 from the East Indies.

For the interest of students, attention is drawn to the

presence of minute ovate or slightly cordate appendages

situated within the sinuses of the calyx. Similar structures

have been recorded in related genera but references to them

in literature are extremely rare.

Description. — Herb with fibrous root system, climbing,

with milky latex, pubescent, setose pubescent or hispid.

Leaves with petiole generally between 2-7 cm. long, blade be-

tween 3-12 cm. long and 3-10 cm. broad, cordate-orbicular or

cordate-ovate, cuspidate-acuminate with variable pubescence,

basal lobes incurved and with a broad truncate-based sinus

between them. Peduncle sub-lateral, longer than the leaves,

spreading more or less horizontally, with the flowers pen-

dulous, developing in a corymbose manner with the axis

gradually elongating into a raceme usually between 20-30 cm.

long including the peduncle, 20-30-flowered, bracts 1-3 mm.

long, linear or subulate, incurved: pedicels 2-4 cm. long,

slender. Flowers closed in daytime, expanded at night and

sweetly scented soon after opening, Sepals about 3 mm.

long, lanceolate or ovate, acute, glabrous or pubescent, and

with minute ovate sometimes slightly cordate appendages

within the sinuses. Corolla green, stained with brownish-

purple on outside, with a narrow tube about 5 mm. long;

lobes up to about 1 cm. long, 5 mm. broad ovate-triangular

but appearing ovate-oblong when margins recurve slightly,

acute with a fringe of long spreading hairs from the margin

of the inner surface. Outer corona arising from the base of

the staminal column, which is inserted in the throat of the

corolla; lobes about 1 mm. high, subquadrate or oblong.

obtuse, truncate, or denticulate. Inner corona lobes white,

5-8 mm. long, fleshy, lanceolate and attenuate into a subulate

entire or minutely bifid incurved point over the staminal

column and with curved lateral ribs which extend into an

ovate basal projection about 1 mm. long. Follicles bent

abruptly on the pedicel, 5-6 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, attenuate

into a beak, varying from densely echinate to nearly or quite

free from processes, pubescent. (National Herbarium, Pre-

toria, No. 28416.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1119. — Fig. 1, hanging branch, natural size; 2, developing

follicles, natural size; 3, calyx lobes from within, showing appendages, x 8;

4, appendage, further enlarged ; 5, corolla and coronas, face view, x 1 • 5 ;

6, corolla lobe x 3; 7, coronas, x 6; 8, inner corona lobe, x 10; 9, pollen

carrier with two pendulous flattened pollen masses, x 25.

F.P.A., December, 1951.

Plate 1120.

ALOE KNIPHOFIOIDES.

Cape Province, Natal.

Liliaceae.

Aloe kniphofioides Baker in Hook. Icon. Plant, t. 1939 (1890); FI. Cap.

6 : 305 (1896); Reynolds in Journ. S.A. Bot. 14 : 9 (1948); Aloes S. Afr.

122 (1950).

Nearly 100 species of Aloe have been published in this

work so far. Many of those appearing from 1936 onwards

were figured from excellent material supplied by Mr. G. W.

Reynolds, whose book on the Aloes of South Africa published

late in 1950 must be well known to all our readers. This

work will long remain the authority for those interested in

this prominent and picturesque genus in our Flora.

It so happens that it was Mr. J. Sidey, a former botanical

survey officer, and not Mr. Reynolds, who collected the

material figured on this occasion. Mr. Sidey forwarded

several fine plants to the National Herbarium in October 1948

from near Iswepe in the district of Piet Retief in the south-

eastern Transvaal.

The distribution range of A. kniphofioides is from Pondo-

land northwards to the eastern mountains of the Transvaal,

with an apparent break, however, in the southern portion of

Natal as far as Dundee. The type of habitat most favourable

to the species appears to be well watered grassy mountain

slopes among rocks, where the plants grow with a single

bulbous rootstock, unlike its relatives which mostly grow in

tufts. The bulbous rootstock of A. kniphofioides is unique

among Southern African species and there is no species with

which it could legitimately be confused. A. bulbicaulis

Christian from Northern Rhodesia also has a bulbous root-

stock, but has differently shaped flowers and inflorescence

and much broader leaves, which features make the relationship

between the two species rather remote.

Mr. Reynolds gives an account of the botanical history of

A. kniphofioides in the Journal of S.A. Botany, 1948, where

he confirms the suggestion made many years earlier by Schon-

land, that the name A. marshallii, given by Wood and Evans

to plants from Natal, must be regarded as a synonym of

A. kniphofioides.

Description. — Perennial acaulescent succulent herb, with

a bulbous rootstock 5-6 cm. diam. and fusiform roots.

Leaves green without spots, up to about 20, sub-erect, narrowly

linear, 20-30 cm. long, 6-7 mm. broad, generally slightly

concave on upper surface and convex on under surface;

margin entire or minutely dentate with reflexed teeth towards

base. Infloresence simple, single, rarely 2, up to about 60 cm.

tall. Peduncle with few sterile ovate-acuminate bracts above

the middle. Raceme 10-20-flowered. Bracts scarious, nar-

rowly ovate-acuminate, up to about 15 mm. long, a little

longer than the pedicels. Perianth scarlet with greenish tips,

cylindrical, very slightly curved, usually 40-50 mm. long;

tube 30-40 mm. long; outer lobes free for 6-8 mm., oblong,

subacute, 4-5 mm. broad; inner lobes dorsally fused to the

outer lobes for the greater part and slightly broader than

the latter, obtuse, free portion with greenish keel. Stamens

about equal to the perianth. Ovary 6-7 mm. long, 2-5 mm.

diameter. (Sidey in National Herbarium, Pretoria, No.

28364.) — R. A. Dyer.

Plate 1120. — Fig. 1, plant natural size; 2, longitudal section of

flower, X 1.75.

F.P.A., December. 1951.

INDEX TO VOLUME 28.

PLATE

ALOE KNIPHOFIOIDES 1120

ALOE MCLOUGHLINI1 1112

ALOE MUNCHII 1091

ARISTEA COERULEA 1083

ARISTEA MACROCARPA 1084

BRACHYSTELMA MINOR 1096a

BRACHYSTELMA PYGMAEA VAR. BREVIFLORUM 1088

BRACHYSTELMA RINGENS 1096b

CARALLUMA CARNOSA 1085

CELSIA BREVIPEDICELLATA 1105

CEROPEGI A GRANDIS 1113

CROSSANDRA PUBERULA 1098

CROTALARIA RECTA 1104

DISPARAGO ERICOIDES 1102

DOLICHANDRONE ALBA 1092

DRIMIA ANOMALA 1117

DROSANTHEMUM BELLUM 1106

DROSANTHEMUM LAVISH 1107

DUVALIA TANGANYIKENSIS 1082

ENCEPHALARTOS UMBELUZIENSIS 1100

ERICA CERINTHOIDES 1099

EUPHORBIA WATERBERGENSIS 1095

HUERNIA PENDULA 1108

KALANCHOE DENSIFLORA 1089

MONADENIUM SCHUBEI 1087

NERINE DUPARQUETIANA 1118

ONCOBA SPINOSA 1111

OXALIS SALTERI 1094

PACHYCARPUS GRANDIFLORUS 1093

PERGULARIA EXTENSA 1119

PLECTRANTHUS BEHRII 1109

PLECTRANTHUS FRUTICOSUS 1101

PLECTRANTHUS ZULUENSIS 1110

PROTEA ACAULIS VAR. COCKSCOMBENSIS 1115

PROTEA BARBIGERA 1086

PROTEA LATIFOLIA 1097

ROELLA CILIATA 1116

SANSEVIERIA DOONERI 1114

SANSEVIERIA PHILLIPSIAE 1090

STERCULIA ALEXANDRI 1103

XIMENIA CAFFRA 1081

y.