Chapter II: Part 2

DESCRIPTION:--Bulb 2·7 cm. in diameter, globose, with papery tunics and thick wrinkled roots from the base. _Leaves_ contemporary with the flowers, about 3 to each bulb, spirally twisted, 12 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad, linear, obtuse, narrowed to the base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ arising at side of the leaves, 9 cm. long, but sometimes longer, terete, glabrous. _Spathe_ valves 2·5 cm. long, acuminate from an ovate base, membranous. _Flowers_ usually solitary. _Pedicel_ 1·2 cm. long, terete, glabrous, shorter than the spathe-valves. _Perianth-tube_ 3 cm. long, 2 mm. in diameter, and curved at the base, widening to 1·3 cm. in diameter at the throat; lobes 2 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, obovate, obtuse, or the outer segments bluntly apiculate with a pendulous appendage, 5-nerved. _Stamens_ in 2 series: the lower with filaments 1·1 cm. long; the upper with filaments 8 mm. long, all filiform; anthers 3·5 mm. long, linear. _Ovary_ 7 mm. long, ellipsoid, glabrous; style 5·5 cm. long; lobes 5 mm. long, linear (National Herb. Pretoria 2634).

* * * * *

PLATE 99.--Fig. 1, perianth laid open; Fig. 2, perianth lobes; Fig.
3, upper portion of style.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

K. A. Lansdell del]

PLATE 100.

PROTEA STOKOEI.

_Cape Province._

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEEAE.

PROTEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 169.

=Protea Stokoei=, _Phillips_, sp. nov. a _P. speciosa_, Linn.,
aristis calycis subequalibus, et pilis apice bractearum brevioribus
differt.

_Rami glabri_. _Folia_ 7-9 cm. longa, 3-4 cm. lata, obovata vel
obovato-oblonga, glabra. _Capitulum_ sessile, 10-11 cm. longum, 5·5
cm. latum. _Involucri bracteae_ 9-10-seriatae; exteriores 1·5-2 cm.
longae, ovato-oblongae, apice rotundatae, dense pubescentes, apice
barbatae; interiores 9 cm. longae, 2·5 cm. latae, spathulatae,
sericeo-pubescentes, infra glabrae, apice barbatae. _Receptaculum_
2 cm. longum, conicum. _Perianthi tubus_ 5·5 cm. longus, basi
dilatatus; laminae 1·2 cm. longae, villosae; apice triaristatae;
aristae laterales 1·8 cm. longae, villosae, media 1·5 cm. longa.
_Stamina_ 8 mm. longa, linearia, apice glandibus linearibus
instructa. _Ovarium_ pilis longis vestitum; stylus 6 cm. longus;
stigma 6 mm. longum.

This species of _Protea_ was collected early in 1921 by Mr. T. P. Stokoe. At the time there was some doubt about its identity, and it was provisionally placed under _P. speciosa_. Recently we received more and better material from the same collector, and have no hesitation in describing it as a species allied to _P. speciosa_. It differs from this species in having shorter tufts of hairs at the apices of the involucral bracts and the awns of the perianth are much longer and subequal. The species belongs to a section of the genus _Speciosae_, which is characterised by having the inner involucral bracts fringed with long hairs or bearded. A comparison should be made with Plates 22, 76 and 84, which illustrate examples of other sections of the genus.

The first specimens collected by Mr. Stokoe came from an isolated krantz on a peak directly opposite Kogelberg on the land side, and subsequently he found specimens also on high peaks facing Kogelberg, but on the seaward side. It probably does not occur lower than an altitude of 3000 ft. The plant is a spreading bush about 6 ft. high (not so compact as _P. speciosa_), and grows with such moisture-loving plants as _Mimetes hottentotica_ and _M. splendens_. The young leaves have a fringe of longish white hairs.

DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ glabrous. _Leaves_ 7-9 cm. long, 3-4 cm. broad, obovate, obovate-oblong, more rarely elliptic-lanceolate, rounded and slightly emarginate at the apex, slightly narrowed to the base, leathery, with reddish margins, quite glabrous. _Head_ sessile, 10-11 cm. long, 5·5 cm. in diameter. _Involucral bracts_ 9-10-seriate; the outermost 1·5-2 cm. long, ovate-oblong, rounded at the apex, densely silky pubescent, ciliate with white hairs with a small tuft of brown hairs at the apex; the innermost 9 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad above, spathulate, silky pubescent, except at the base, with a fringe of dark-brown hairs at the apex about 3 mm. long. _Receptacle_ 2 cm. long, conical. _Perianth-sheath_ 5·5 cm. long, dilated and 3-keeled below, glabrous; lip 1·2 cm. long, shortly but densely villous, 3-awned; lateral awns 1·8 cm. long, linear, acuminate, shortly but densely villous, tipped with a few brown hairs; median awn 1·5 cm. long, otherwise similar. _Stamens_ all fertile; anthers 8 mm. long, linear, with a pink linear apical gland. _Ovary_ covered with long, golden-brown hairs; style 6 cm. long, subterete, slightly curved, very sparsely pilose below; stigma 6 mm. long, linear; scarcely bent at junction with style (Type in National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2632).

* * * * *

PLATE 100.--Fig. 1, receptacle; Fig. 2, complete flower; Fig. 3,
lamina showing the three awns and stamens; Fig. 4, pistil; Fig. 5,
apex of style and stigma.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S Gower del.]

PLATE 101.

GREYIA RADLKOFERI

_Transvaal._

SAPINDACEAE. Tribe MELIANTHEAE. GREYIA, _Hook. et Harv._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 1000.

=Greyia Radlkoferi=, _Szyszy. Pl. Rehmann._ vol. ii. p. 49 (1880).

An extremely ornamental shrub found in the eastern Transvaal, where it has been recorded from Waterval Onder, ’Thlatikulu and Barberton. The plant does quite well at Pretoria, where specimens have been planted on Meintjes Kop behind the Union Buildings.

The genus _Greyia_, which contains only three known species, was named in honour of Sir George Grey, K.C.B. In South Africa it has a very limited distribution, and is interesting botanically, as there are still some doubts as to its affinities.

In the Transvaal the plant flowers from July to October, the young leaves appearing at the same time as the scarlet flowers. The flowers are proterandrous, _i. e._, the pollen is shed before the pistil has quite matured, and this makes self-pollination almost impossible.

The Cape species, _Greyia Sutherlandi_, is commonly known as “Baakhout” or “Wild bottlebrush,” so that our plant might be appropriately named the “Transvaal Baakhout.” The material from which our illustration was made was gathered by Miss S. Gower on Meintjes Kop, Pretoria.

For a roller account of this interesting genus the reader is referred to a paper by Dr. S. Schonland in the _Records of the Albany Museum_, vol. iii. p. 40.

DESCRIPTION:--A shrub 2-5 m. high. _Branches_ with light-brown bark, glabrous. _Leaves_ at the apex of the branches at the side of the flowers; blade 3·5-12 cm. long, ovate, subacute, cordate at the base, with lobed margins, sparsely pilose above with curled hairs, white-tomentose beneath; petioles 2-10 cm. long, terete, glandular-pilose. _Inflorescence_ of many inverted scarlet flowers. _Bracts_ 7 mm. long, boat-shaped, glandular-pilose. _Pedicels_ 7 mm. long, terete, glandular-pilose. _Calyx-tube_ 2 mm. long; lobes 5 mm. long, oblong, shortly apiculate, sparsely glandular-pilose. _Petals_ not all equal, 2-2·3 cm. long, almost 1 cm. broad, oblong-obovate, usually rounded at the apex, more rarely emarginate. _Stamens_ usually 10, sometimes 8, in two whorls; filaments 2·7 cm. long, terete; anthers 1·5 mm. long, ovate. _Disc_ cupular below with 10 or 8 arms from the rim of the cup, each arm has a peltate disc. _Ovary_ about 1 cm. long, terete; style 1·8 cm. long, terete; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2635.)

* * * * *

PLATE 101.--Fig. 1, leaf; 2, flower with petals removed showing
disc; 3, ground plan of flower; 4, sepal; 5, petal; 6, anthers
front and side view; 7, stamen; 8, pistil; 9, section through the
ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

K A Lansdell del]

PLATE 102.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM DIGITATUM.

_Cape Province._

FICOIDEAE. Tribe MESEMBRYEAE. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 853.

=Mesembryanthemum digitatum=, _Ait. Hort. Kew._ ed. 1, vol. ii. p.
181 (1789); _M. digitiforme_, Thunb. in Acad. Leop.-Car. Ephem.,
vol. viii. Append, p. 6 (1791); Thunb. Fl. Cap. p. 412; Fl. Cap.
vol. ii. p. 405.

This curious _Mesembryanthemum_ was first collected by Carl Thunberg between the Oliphants River and the Bokkeveld Mountains about 150 years ago. Thunberg described his plant in 1789, and in his herbarium there is one sheet with two perfect growths and two flowers upon it. Marloth (_Flora of South Africa_, Pl. 49) figures a small portion of a plant which, he states, was collected at Van Rhynsdorp by Mr. W. Spilhaus and was as large as a child’s head. The specimens from which our illustration was made were collected in the same locality by Mr. E. Rood and sent to the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

The corpuscula, which are very succulent, show an extremely interesting structure when examined in detail. If a longitudinal section is made, a hard green central core is seen, which is the stem; this is surrounded by long, crystalline cells, and the whole covered in by a juicy tissue. As the green tissue is buried in the stem, it is very probable that the crystalline cells referred to act as lenses and concentrate any light which penetrates the outer tissue on to the chlorophyll-bearing cells. The fleshy leaves are almost devoid of chlorophyll.

The flower is borne at the apex of the stem, but this can only be satisfactorily seen in a longitudinal section. The crystalline cells are continued round the base of the calyx.

DESCRIPTION:--Acaulescent plant with woody underground stems and fleshy aerial stems and leaves. _Stems_ 2-3 cm. long, 2-2·5 cm. in diameter, very succulent, glabrous. _Leaves_ two to each stem, usually one larger than the other, 1·5-2 cm. long, 0·8-1·3 cm. in diameter, terete, blunt, very succulent, glabrous. _Flowers_ white, arising from the apex of the stems but appearing on a casual examination to come from the base of one of the leaves, when expanded 1·2-1·5 cm. in diameter. _Petals_ in more than one row; the outermost row connate into definite groups, 7 mm. long, less than 0·5 mm. broad, linear, subacute. _Stamens_ in four rows; filaments 1 mm. long, filiform; anthers about 1 mm. long, oblong. _Calyx_ covered with crystalline cells; lobes almost membranous, 1 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, oblong, or oblong ovate, obtuse. _Ovary_ sunk in tissue of stem, 5-celled, with several stalked ovules with axile placentation; upper portion of ovary cone-shaped tipped with five terete, acute styles each 1 mm. long.

PLATE 102.--Fig. 1, longitudinal section of stem showing sheath of
crystalline cells and flower embedded at apex; 2, longitudinal
section of flower; 3, sepal; 4, top of ovary showing the five
stigmas; 5, cross section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

PLATE 103.

BRACHYCORYTHIS PUBESCENS.

_Cape Province. Natal. Swaziland. Transvaal._

ORCHIDACEAE. Tribe OPHRYDEAE. BRACHYCORYTHIS, _Lindl._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 632.

=Brachycorythis pubescens=, _Harv. Thes. Cop._ i. 35, t. 54;
_Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. 3, p. 86; _Bolus_, _Orchids of S. Afr._ tab. 73.

The genus _Brachycorythis_ is represented in Africa by over twenty species, five of which occur in South Africa, and of these three are endemic. The species described here is known from the Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Swaziland and the northern Transvaal, and extends into tropical Africa. Its occurrence near Pretoria, in a totally different botanical area, is therefore interesting. Harvey first described the plant from specimens found near Durban by Mr. Sanderson, who stated it was plentiful in the neighbourhood.

This attractive little orchid was collected by General the Rt. Hon. J. C. Smuts on the farm Rietvlei No. 221, at Irene, near Pretoria, at an altitude of about 5000 ft. above sea-level. The plant was found in open grassland in deep red loam soil. It has large spreading finger-like tubers and slightly scented flowers.

DESCRIPTION:--A herbaceous plant with long finger-like tubers about 1 cm. thick. _Stem_ with inflorescence up to 50 cm. high. _Leaves_ erect, crowded 6 cm. long, 3·2 cm. broad at the base of the stem, becoming smaller above, ovate, acuminate, shortly cuspidate, clasping at the base, with the midrib prominent beneath, densely pubescent, with the margins shortly ciliated and somewhat undulate. _Inflorescence_ up to 17 cm. long, racemose, many-flowered. _Bracts_ similar to the leaves but smaller. _Upper sepal_ 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, elliptic, rounded above, concave, sparsely pubescent without; lateral sepals 4 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad, oblong, unequal sided, rounded above, concave, sparsely pubescent without. _Lateral_ petals 6 mm. long, 3·5 mm. broad, oblong, rounded above, concave, unequal sided. _Lip_ 9 mm. long, 7 mm. broad, obovate, 3-lobed, the middle lobe smaller than the two lateral lobes, narrowed in the middle and then expanded to form a deep pouch. _Anther cells_ parallel; pollinia granular, each attached to a separate gland.

PLATE 103.--Fig. 1, lower part of plant showing tubers; 2, flower
(enlarged); 3, median longitudinal section of flower; 4, sepals; 5,
petal; 6, lip; 7, column showing pollinia sacs; 8, pollinium.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

PLATE 104.

MACKAYA BELLA.

_Natal._

ACANTHACEAE. Tribe JUSTICEAE.

MACKAYA, _Harv._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1095 (under _Asystasia_).

=MacKaya bella=, _Harv. Thes. Cap._ i. 8, t. 13; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. 1, p. 44; _Wood_, _Natal Plant._ t. 585.

This plant was discovered in Natal by Mr. J. Sanderson, who sent living specimens to Kew, where it flowered first in May 1869. From the material a figure of the plant was published in the _Botanical Magazine_ of the same year. This figure, however, does not accurately represent the plant as it is known in its native habitat and in local cultivation. The flowers are lilac, and not almost white, as indicated in the _Botanical Magazine_. The late Dr. Medley Wood reproduced a pencil drawing of the plant in “Natal Plants” in 1912, and states it “is a handsome shrub, but it is of no economic value; it is found only in the coast and midland districts of Natal, and does not seem to be very common.” _MacKaya bella_ differs from _Crossandra Greenstockii_ (see Plate 77), which also belongs to the _Acanthaceae_, in having almost a regular, not a 1-lipped corolla.

Dr. Harvey, who first described the genus, dedicated it to Dr. J. T. MacKay, keeper of the Dublin University Botanic Garden. Our figure was prepared from plants growing in the “Flanagan Arboretum,” Union Buildings, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--A shrub about 1-1·5 m. high. _Branches_ pubescent. _Leaves_ opposite, petioled; blade 3-6 cm. long, 1·3-3·5 cm. broad, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, obtuse, usually narrowed at the base, margins lobulate or subentire, with the nerves distinct beneath, glabrous; petioles about 1 cm. long, pubescent. _Flowers_ opposite in a terminal lax raceme; the internodes almost 2 cm. long. _Bracts_ 4·5 mm. long, subulate; bracteoles 2, at the base of the pedicels. _Pedicel_ 5-7 mm. long, pubescent. _Calyx_ divided almost to the base; lobes 8 mm. long, acuminate from a base 1 mm. broad, very finely pubescent, and ciliate on the margins. _Corolla-tube_ 3·5 cm. long, 2 cm. in diameter at the throat, campanulate above, becoming cylindric below, finely pubescent; lobes 2 cm. long, 1-1·5 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse, very finely pubescent or glabrous. _Fertile stamens_ two; filaments fixed to narrow portion of corolla-tube, 1·5 cm. long, terete, with a few scattered short stiff hairs; anthers 7 mm. long, bluntly sagittate at the base, hirsute on the back; sterile stamens represented by filaments only. _Ovary_ 3 mm. long, 2-celled, with 2 superposed ovules in each cell, glabrous; style 3·3 cm. long, filiform, with a few scattered hairs at the base; stigma shortly bifid. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2638.)

PLATE 104.--Fig. 1, calyx; 2, corolla; 3, anther back view and
filament; 4, anther front view; 5, ovary; 6, apex of style showing
shortly bifid stigma; 7, longitudinal section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S Gower del.]

PLATE 105.

ADENIUM OLEIFOLIUM.

_Transvaal. Cape Province._

APOCYNACEAE. Tribe ECHITIDEAE. ADENIUM, _Roem. et Schult._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 722.

=Adenium oleifolium=, _Stapf_, var. angustifolium, _Phillips_ var. nov., a typo foliis angustis differt.

The genus _Adenium_ is represented in South Africa by three species found in the Transvaal, Swaziland and the North-Western Cape Province. Species of the genus are also found extending through tropical Africa to Socotra. On Plate 16 we figured _Adenium multiflorum_, from which the present plant differs in having long narrow leaves; both, however, have very large tuberous underground stems from which the branches arise. The peculiar tailed anthers and the scales in the corolla-throat which sometimes form small pouches are characteristic of the genus.

Specimens were submitted to Kew for confirmation of the name, and the Director reports “very probably _A. oleifolium_, Stapf, but leaves are much narrower than in the type,” and it was thought advisable to describe this as a narrow-leaved variety.

Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by Dr. W. M. Borcherds at Upington, and forwarded by him to the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--Plant with large underground tuberous stems from which the branches arise. _Branches_ densely pubescent when young, at length becoming glabrous. _Leaves_ crowded at the ends of the branches, 6-10 cm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, linear, acute, pubescent. _Flowers_ terminal. _Sepals_ 6·5 mm. long, ovate, acuminate, acute, densely pilose, united at the base. _Corolla-tube_ 3·5 cm. long, cylindric and 3 mm. in diameter in lowest third, campanulate and 1·1 cm. in diameter in uppermost ⅔, pubescent without and within and with pockets in the angles formed by the lobes; lobes 1·3 cm. long, 8-9 mm. broad, broadly-elliptic, acuminate, sub-acute, minutely ciliate. _Filaments_ 4 mm. long, thick, terete, densely pilose; anthers 4 mm. long, hairy on the backs, sagittate at the base and produced into a long coiled apical hairy appendage 1 cm. long. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, glabrous, separating into 2 carpels; style 1·6 cm. long, cylindric, glabrous; stigmas 3 mm. long, lanceolate, subacuminate, with a mass of glandular hairs at the back which fix the stigmas to the connective of the anthers. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2598.)

PLATE 105.--Fig. 1, plant reduced; 2, corolla laid open; 3, corolla
from above; 4, pocket in corolla; 5, calyx; 6, stamens; 7, style
and stigma; 8, carpels; 9, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 106.

CRATEROSTIGMA PLANTAGINEUM.

_Transvaal._

SCROPHULARIACEAE. Tribe GRATIOLEAE. CRATEROSTIGMA, _Hochst._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 954.

=Craterostigma plantagineum=, _Hochst. in Flora_, 1841, 669; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. 2, p. 361.

The _Craterostigma_ figured on the accompanying plate is known from various localities in the Transvaal. It is also recorded from the neighbourhood of Bulawayo in Rhodesia and from other parts of tropical Africa reaching as far north as Arabia and Abyssinia. The genus is mainly a tropical one, and is represented by about a dozen species, three of which are found in South Africa.

_C. plantagineum_ is a charming little plant which would be well worth cultivation in the greenhouse and should be easily grown. Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., on the portion of the farm Rietfontein 448, near Pretoria, belonging to Mr. J. F. Ludorf. The plants were found growing in great profusion in shallow soil not more than one inch deep on a large quartzite outcrop. They were in flower during November and December.

DESCRIPTION:--An acaulescent plant with a rosette of radical leaves. _Leaves_ 6-6·5 cm. long, 3-3·5 cm. broad (the inner smaller), ovate, obtuse, narrowed at the base, with crenulate, ciliated margins and with the nerves depressed above, prominent beneath, glabrous above, pubescent beneath, especially on the veins. _Peduncles_ 3 or more to a plant, 3·5-4 cm. long, terete, pubescent, bearing about 8 opposite flowers in a raceme. _Bracts_ 1 cm. long, 5 mm. broad, ovate-lanceolate, acute, slightly connate at the base, glabrous except on the keel, ciliate. _Pedicel_ 7 mm. long, flat on the upper surface, convex on the lower surface, pubescent, ciliate. _Calyx-tube_ 4·5 mm. long, 2·5 mm. in diameter, deeply fluted, pubescent; lobes 1 mm. long, ovate, sub-acute, ciliated. _Corolla_ 2-lipped; tube 7 mm. long, tubular; lower lip 9 mm. long, 1 cm. broad, 3-lobed, with the lobes obovate, crenulate; upper lip 7 mm. long, oblong-ovate, bilobed at the apex. _Stamens_ of two different kinds; those attached to the lower lip with filaments 7 mm. long, bent at right angles below and then swollen to form two callosities on the lip; those attached to the upper lip 2 mm. long; anther cells diverging, those of each pair of stamens joined. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, 1·25 mm. in diameter, ovoid; style 8 mm. long, terete, gradually widening above, glabrous; stigma bilobed, with the lobes broadly ovate and somewhat membranous. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2644.)

PLATE 106.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; 2, front
view of flower enlarged; 3, bract; 4, calyx; 5, stamens; 6, pistil;
7, lower portion of under surface of leaf; 8, section of pedicel
snowing convex and flat surfaces.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 107.

ALOE COMOSA.

_Cape Province._

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE. ALOE, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 776.

=Aloe comosa=, _Marloth and A. Berg. in Engl. Bot. Jahrb._ vol. 38, p. 86.

The Aloe which forms the subject of this plate is, so far as is known, only found on the Bokkeveld beds in the Clanwilliam and Van Rhynsdorp Districts of the Cape Province. Full-grown plants attain a height of 12-15 ft., and when in full bloom, which is usually during December and January, their long massive inflorescences make such a display of colour in the veld that they cannot fail to attract the notice of the traveller. As will be seen from the illustration, the uppermost flowers are hidden by the long bracts, the flowers in the middle portion of the inflorescence are pink and spreading, while those at the base are pendulous and greenish-white. The stamens are only exserted from the pendulous flowers, and after pollination the filaments contract and are withdrawn into the perianth, which closes round them, leaving the style exserted. This phenomenon is also found in _Aloe saponaria_ figured on Plate 96, and is probably fairly general in the genus _Aloe_.

The material from which our plate was made was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., on the Doorn River near Van Rhynsdorp, and brought to Pretoria, where the plants flower regularly every year during December and January. _Aloe comosa_ was first collected and described by Dr. R. Marloth, who found it between Clanwilliam and Van Rhynsdorp in 1904.

DESCRIPTION:--Plant with a short stout stem or sometimes up to 12 ft. bearing a rosette of fleshy leaves at the apex, _Leaves_ up to 52 cm. long, 10 cm. broad in the widest part, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, flat above, slightly convex beneath, deeply channelled on the upper surface above, with the veins somewhat distinct on the upper surface and with the margins covered with sharp teeth; teeth 5-7 mm. apart, 2 mm. long, ovate. _Inflorescence_ lateral about 1·3 m. long, racemose, narrowly cylindric, with the lowermost flowers pendulous, the upper flowers erect and adpressed and the median flowers spreading. _Peduncle_ about 60 cm. long, 1·5 cm. in diameter, terete, covered with long membranous ovate-acuminate bracts 5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad. _Floral-bracts_ 6 cm. long, lanceolate, long acuminate, acute, with membranous margins, encircling the pedicel. _Pedicel_ 1·8-2 cm. long, at first erect, at length becoming curved, terete. _Perianth-tube_ 1·2 cm. long, campanulate; outer lobes grenadine-pink, 2 cm. long, 5 mm. broad, lanceolate, hooded at the apex, 3-nerved; inner lobes whitish, 2 cm. long, obtuse and hooded at the apex, 1-nerved. _Filaments_ 1·8 cm. long, lengthening to 4 cm. long in old flowers; anthers 3 mm. long, oblong. _Ovary_ ellipsoid; style 2 cm. long, lengthening to 4 cm. in old flowers; stigma simple with a ring of papillose hairs. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2643.)

PLATE 107.--Fig. 1, entire plant much reduced; 2, inflorescence ×
⅔; 3, leaf × ⅔; 4, median longitudinal section of flower; 5, bract;
6, young flower; 7, mature flower with stamens exserted; 8, inner
perianth segment; 9, outer perianth segment.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 108.

PROTEA PITYPHYLLA var. LATIFOLIA.

_Cape Province._

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEAE. PROTEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 169.

=Protea pityphylla=, _Phill._ var. latifolia, _Phillips_ var. nov., a typo foliis latis differt.

The _Protea_ figured on the accompanying plate is readily distinguished from the species by its flat, linear leaves, and on this character alone has been described as a variety of _P. pityphylla_, Phill. We are indebted to Miss L. Guthrie of the Bolus Herbarium for the specimens, which she received from Mr. de Wet of Ceres. The plant is stated to grow in the same habitat and to be found associated with _P. pityphylla_ and _P. Marlothii_. It has the characteristic involucre of the former species, namely, the long leaf-like appendages from the apices of the lowermost bracts and also the same pendulous heads. The section of the genus (§ _Pinifoliæ_), comprising species with narrowly linear, filiform or needle-shaped leaves, to which this plant belongs is illustrated here for the first time.

DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ glabrous. _Leaves_ 5·5-6·5 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, linear, bluntly apiculate, slightly narrowed to the base, glabrous. _Head_ sessile, 4·5 cm. long, about 6·5 cm. in diameter, cernuous. _Involucral-bracts_ 7-8-seriate, glabrous; the outer ovate, obtuse, sometimes subacuminate, minutely ciliate, the lowermost produced into long foliaceous appendages resembling the leaves; inner 3·5 cm. long, 1·3 cm. broad, concave, arching over and exceeding the flowers. _Perianth-sheath_ 2 cm. long, dilated and 3-keeled below, setulose on the uppermost portion, otherwise glabrous; lip 5·5 mm. long, 3-toothed, 3-keeled, setulose below; teeth subequal, ·5 mm. long, the middle tooth smaller than the two lateral. _Filaments_ ·5 mm. long; anthers 3·5 mm. long, linear, with an ovate fleshy apical gland less than ·5 mm. long. _Ovary_ covered with long golden hairs; style over 2·5 cm. long, widened and much compressed at the base, sickle-shaped, glabrous; stigma 4 mm. long, scarcely swollen at the junction with the style, obtuse. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2586.)

PLATE 108.--Fig. 1, receptacle; 2, unopened flower; 3, flower with
perianth segments separated; 4, base of style showing the flattened
portion.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 109.

TRIASPIS NELSONI.

_Transvaal._

MALPIGHIACEAE. Tribe HIRRAE. TRIASPIS, _Burch._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 259.

=Triaspis Nelsoni=, _Oliv. in Hook. Ic. Pl._ t. 1418.

_Triaspis Nelsoni_ was first described and figured in 1883 from material collected by Mr. W. Nelson at Pretoria. The figure given by Hooker is incorrect in a few small details. The pedicels, for instance, are articulated and bear 2 small bracteoles; the three styles are not equal, but one is longer than the other two and is deflexed at an angle of about 45°; the anterior petal is exterior in the bud and larger than the other petals.

The genus Triaspis is found in Madagascar, tropical and southern Africa, and was first recorded by the famous traveller Burchell, who collected specimens of a plant he described as _T. hypericoides_ at Kosi Fountain in Bechuanaland in 1812. Since then several species have been recorded from the Transvaal.

The species figured on the accompanying plate is of frequent occurrence on the soils overlying the dolomite outcrops south of Pretoria at an elevation of 4000-5000 ft. above sea-level. It forms a subherbaceous bush not more than two feet high, and the main branches always tend to droop. When in flower it is a most attractive and beautiful object in the veld, and is well worth cultivation in our gardens. In addition to the beauty of its flowers, its large copper-coloured orbicular winged fruits add considerably to its charm and gracefulness. The material from which our plate was prepared was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., on the farm Doornkloof, Irene, near Pretoria, belonging to General the Rt. Hon. J. C. Smuts.

DESCRIPTION:--A subherbaceous plant with long slender and graceful branches from an underground rootstock. _Branches_ terete, pubescent. _Leaves_ opposite, decussate, 2-3 cm. long, 1-2·2 cm. broad, the upper leaves smaller than the lower, ovate, sub-apiculate, cordate at the base, with distinct reticulate veining and with the midrib prominent beneath, sparsely pubescent, with ciliated margins. _Inflorescence_ a 5-6-flowered axillary raceme, arranged in the axils of the upper leaves. _Peduncle_ 1·3 cm. long, terete, pubescent. _Pedicels_ 1·5 cm. long, articulated in the lowermost ⅓, pubescent, bearing 2 small bracts. _Sepals_ 3·5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, oblong, rounded above, sparsely pubescent. _Petals_ 1 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, concave, oblong, rounded above, produced into a claw at the base, with fimbriated margins; the lowermost petal overlapping the others in bud and larger than the rest. _Stamens_ 10; filaments 5 mm. long, glabrous; stamens 2 mm. long, linear-oblong. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, globose, villous; styles 3, two stand erect; the posterior style reflexed and smaller than the other two. _Fruit_ 3-winged with the wings deeply saucer-shaped. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2642.)

PLATE 109.--Fig. 1, bud; 2, median longitudinal section of flower;
3, pistil; 4, fruit..

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 110.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM PILLANSII.

_Cape Province._

FICOIDEAE. Tribe MESEMBRYEAE. _Mesembryanthemum_, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 853.

=Mesembryanthemum Pillansii=, _Kensit in Plant. Nov. Hort. Then._ II. tab. 57 (1908); _Botanical Mag._ t. 8703.

Dr. R. Marloth supplies the following interesting note on this plant. “Originally found by Mr. Eustace Pillans (not Mr. N. Pillans, as stated in the _Botanical Magazine_) on the farm Mouton Valley on the Piquetberg mountains to the north-west of Piquetberg.

The present plants were gathered by me at the same locality in October 1922 on sandstone hills among _Protea_ trees (waabom, _P. grandiflora_), forming shrublets 1½ to 2 ft. high with erect virgate branches.

The description in the _Botanical Magazine_ is fairly correct, but the coloured petals are all radiating on the wild plants (not some erect and conniving, as stated in the _Botanical Magazine_ for the cultivated plants). They are arranged in 5 groups in front of the sepals. The stigmata are distinct and papillate in the later stages of the flower.

The plant is easily cultivated at Cape Town, and I have had it in flower for several years from September to December.

The flowers are of special biological interest. The stamens do not stand erect as in most other species, but are incurved towards the centre to such an extent that the filaments from opposite stamens meet and the anthers are consequently enclosed in the lentil-shaped cavity thus formed above the concave apex of the ovary. The roof of this cavity is further strengthened by the filiform white inner petals which possess a rough surface and are also tightly incurved inwards, meeting at the centre.

The pollen is produced in profusion, and a mass of white powder is found in every flower when slit open at this stage. In all the flowers examined by me I found a number of small black beetles not more than 2 mm. long and a few specimens of haplothrips, all thoroughly covered with pollen. These insects are able to force their way in between the filaments and inner petals, but cannot escape until the stamens wither. Up to that time no stigmatic surfaces are visible in the centre of the flower, but within a few days, when the flower is about a week old and when the pollen at first accumulated in the concave apex of the ovary has been blown away by the wind, the stigmas develop to a length of 2-3 mm., showing a papillate surface, and are then in a condition to be cross-pollinated by the insects released from flowers in the first stage.”

DESCRIPTION:--A succulent plant. _Branches_ glabrous, angled and somewhat winged. _Leaves_ connate 2·8-4 cm. long, ovate, acute, flat above, acutely keeled beneath, with the margins somewhat scarious. _Flowers_ terminal, about 4 cm. in diameter when expanded. _Sepals_ unequal, ovate, acuminate, acute, two of the sepals have membranous appendages on the inner face. _Petals_ 1·7 cm. long, obovate, produced into a long claw. _Stamens_ bending over into cavity of receptacle; filaments linear. _Stigmas_ sessile on floor of receptacle. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2646.)

PLATE 110.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower with
sepals and petals removed; 2, sepals; 3, petal enlarged; 4, stamen;
5, cross section of ovary; 6, fruit; 7, section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 111.

ALOE MICROCANTHA.

_Cape Province, Swaziland, Transvaal._

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

ALOE, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 776.

=Aloe microcantha=, _Haw. Suppl._ 105; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 306; _Sims in Bot. Mag._ t. 2272.

_Aloe microcantha_, which forms the subject of the accompanying plate, occurs frequently in the open grass veld along the eastern mountain range from Grahamstown northwards as far as the valley of the Limpopo. In Swaziland and the eastern Transvaal it is usually found along the edges of streams and in marshy places. In localities of high rainfall, such as Haenertsberg on the Drakensbergen in the Transvaal, this plant is often a conspicuous and beautiful object on the grassy slopes facing east. It flowers during January and February. As soon as the seed has set, a few months later, the leaves wither almost completely to their bases, leaving a short stem surrounded by a few dried leaves to weather the winter drought.

We are indebted to Mr. Chas. Maggs of Pretoria for the specimen figured in our illustration. It was collected by Mr. Maggs on his Waterval Estate, near Sabie, on the Drakensberg, in January 1921, and forwarded to the Division of Botany, where it flowered in January the following year.

_Aloe microcantha_ was first collected by Bowie and introduced into cultivation in 1819. It was figured in Curtis’ _Botanical Magazine_ in 1821 as a plant of great rarity from the Cape of Good Hope.

DESCRIPTION:--An acaulescent plant. _Leaves_ up to 33 cm. long, 4·5 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate, acuminate, acute, concave, sparsely covered with greenish-white spots near the base and with rigidly ciliated margins. _Inflorescence_ about 50 cm. long, terete, glabrous, bearing a few distant membranous ovate acuminate acute bracts. _Inflorescence_ congested, corymbose. _Bracts_ 1·5 cm. long, ovate, acuminate, acute. _Pedicels_ 3 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Perianth_ 2·8 to 3·2 cm. long; lobes 2·7 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, linear, obtuse. _Filaments_ 2 cm. long, filiform; anthers linear. _Ovary_ 1 cm. long, cylindric; style 2·7 cm. long, filiform; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2645.)

PLATE 111.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, median longitudinal
section of flower; 3, perianth segments; 4, anther; 5, style; 6,
cross-section of leaf about the middle.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

K.A. Lansdell del.]

PLATE 112.

ERYTHRINA HUMEANA.

_Cape Province, Natal._

LEGUMINOSAE. Tribe PHASEOLEAE.

ERYTHRINA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 531.

=Erythrina Humeana=, _Spreng. Syst._ iii. 243; _E. Humei, E. Mey. Comm. Pl. Afr. Austr._ 150; _Fl. Cap._ vol. i. p. 237.

In a previous issue, on Plate 59, we figured the Kaffir Boom (_Erythrina caffra_), from which the present species differs in being of a dwarf habit and having the nerves of the leaves and petioles covered with prickles. It is a common plant on the slopes of the Drakensberg in Natal, extending southward to Grahamstown, and during the summer months the bright red flowers are very conspicuous in the veld. The leaves of this species, as well as those of _E. caffra_, are attacked by a gall-producing insect, and the seeds are attacked by insects to such an extent that it is difficult to find ripe seed.

The species has been known to cultivators in Europe for over 100 years, and was figured in the _Botanical Magazine_ as early as 1823. It is a very handsome shrub which stands from 4 to 8 ft. high, and is well worth cultivation.

DESCRIPTION:--An erect shrub ·9 to 3 m. high. _Stem_ and branches terete, ashen-grey, prickly. _Leaves_ pinnately trifoliate, 5 to 7·5 cm. long and wide, broadly ovate, gradually narrowing to an acute apex, occasionally very much attenuated and 3-veined at the base; the terminal leaflet similar but smaller and broader in proportion to its length; the midribs of all usually bearing prickles; stipule 6 mm. long, oblong, acute; stipellae glandular. _Petiole_ 5 to 7·5 cm. long, with scattered broad-based prickles along its whole length. _Peduncle_ 30 to 40 cm. long, terete, bearing flowers in the upper half. _Flowers_ crowded. _Calyx_ 5-toothed, 1 cm. long, pubescent; tube subcylindric; teeth acute. _Vexillum_ 3·7 cm. long, oblong; alae 1 cm. long, oblong; carina 1·1 cm. long, ovate. _Ovary_ many-ovuled, tipped with the persistent style. _Legume_ 7·5 to 12·5 cm. long, 2-to 5-seeded, torulose with wide spaces between the seeds.

PLATE 112.--Fig. 1, leaf and raceme, natural size; 2, calyx, twice
natural size; 3, vexillum; 4, wing; 5, keel; 6, stamens; 7, pistil;
8, pod; 9, portion of branch, much reduced.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 113.

ADENIA DIGITATA.

_Transvaal._

PASSIFLORACEAE. Tribe MODECCEAE.

ADENIA, _Forsk. Fl. Aegypt. Arab._ 77 (1775).

=Adenia digitata=, _Engl. Bot. Jahrb._ vol. xiv. p. 375; _Modecca digitata, Harv. Thes. Cap._ t. 12, 167; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 499.

The species of _Adenia_ described below and figured on the accompanying Plate is of special interest, inasmuch as the large tuberous roots have proved to be extremely poisonous. In October 1922 the plant was brought to the notice of the Division of Botany by Dr. H. Osborne of Pretoria, who reported that two white labourers were admitted to the Pretoria Hospital suspected of having been poisoned by eating a portion of the root, and that one of them died shortly after admission to the Hospital. A sample of the root sent in by Dr. Osborne was submitted to Drs. H. H. Green and W. H. Andrews of the Division of Veterinary Research, and as a result of their investigations two types of poison were discovered. One of these acts very rapidly, and with symptoms which can be attributed to the small amount of a cyanogetic glucoside; the other acts more slowly, but its chemical nature is as yet unknown. A full account of these investigations will be published in the _Report of the Director of Veterinary Research_.

The fruits of _Adenia digitata_ are berries of a very attractive nature, and also appear to be poisonous, for some years ago in the Pretoria District two native children died after eating them.

The plant is quite common in the Pretoria District, and also occurs in the Barberton District. It has long, graceful branches provided with tendrils, by means of which it climbs up neighbouring bushes and shrubs.

DESCRIPTION:--_Roots_ tuberous, sometimes up to 50 cm. in diameter. _Stems_ striate. _Leaves_ 8 to 14 cm. long, digitately 3-to 5-lobed; the middle lobe pinnatisect; the side lobes again lobed on one side only or pinnatilobed, more rarely almost entire; the mid-rib prominent above and beneath, and with two prominent glands on the upper side at base of the lamina, and with glands beneath at the base of each leaf-segment, glabrous; petiole 1·3 to 1·7 cm. long, 6 to 7 mm. broad, flat above, convex beneath, glabrous. _Calyx-tube_ 1·5 cm. long, campanulate, 1 cm. in diameter above, narrowing to 1·5 mm. in diameter at the base, glabrous; lobes 7 cm. long, 5·5 mm. broad, ovate, obtuse, glabrous; two lobes with entire, the other three with lacerated margins. _Petals_ 9 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad at the widest part, obovate, acuminate, obtuse, narrowed at the base, with shortly ciliated margins, 3-nerved. _Filaments_ united at the base, 4 mm. long, linear, broadening at the base; anthers 6·5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, linear, falcate when seen in side view. _Glands_ at base of filaments ·5 mm. long, more or less quadrate. _Style_ 1 mm. long, bilobed at the apex. _Corona_ represented by a fimbriated rim. _Fruit_ fleshy, 3·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. in diameter. _Female flower_ not seen. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2639.)

PLATE 113.--Fig. 1, tuberous root × ½; 2, portion of petiole and
bases of leaf-lobes showing glands; 3, flower laid open showing
entire and fimbriated sepals; 4, petal; 5, stamens side view; 6,
stamen front view; 7, fruit; 8, longitudinal section of fruit
showing seeds.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 114.

WACHENDORFIA PANICULATA.

_Cape Province._

HAEMODORACEAE. Tribe EUHAEMODOREAE.

WACHENDORFIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 673.

=Wachendorfia paniculata=, _Linn. Sp. Plant._ 59; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 2.

This plant is popularly known as “rooi knol,” because of the deep red colour of the tubers when cut, and it is also known as “Spinnekop blom,” as the colour and marking of the perianth resemble that of some spiders. The latter name is also applied to _Ferraria undulata_ (see Plate 66 for an illustration of a species of the genus).

The species was known in England at least as early as 1767, as there is a record of its introduction into Kew Gardens in that year. The dull brown colour of the flowers, which is rare among South African plants, does not make the plant a very ornamental object in gardens, but as the plant is interesting botanically it should have a place in any collection of the native flora.

The family _Haemodoraceae_ contains about 120 species, found principally in Australia, but species are also known in North and South America and in Asia. In South Africa the family is represented by less than 50 species, the largest genus being _Sansevieria_. The genus _Wachendorfia_ is known by only two species.

Our plate was prepared from plants sent by Mrs. E. Rood, Van Rhynsdorp; they flowered at the Division of Botany in 1922.

DESCRIPTION:--_Rhizomes_ a deep red colour when freshly cut. _Leaves_ 5 to 6 to a plant, 16 to 23 cm. long, 1·2 to 1·8 cm. broad, long-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, narrowed below, sheathing at the base with 3 main nerves, glabrous and with ciliated margins. _Peduncle_, including the inflorescence, up to 60 cm. long, glandular-pubescent, with about 3 reduced leaves 5 cm. long, and long-acuminate from a broad base. _Inflorescence_ a lax panicle. _Bracts_ 1 to 3 cm. long, long acuminate, membranous, distinctly veined, pilose. _Pedicels_ ·6 to 1 cm. long, pilose with glandular hairs. _Outer perianth-lobes_ 1·7 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad, oblanceolate, obtuse, many-nerved, pilose outside with glandular hairs; inner lobes 1·7 cm. long, 3·5 mm. broad, oblanceolate, obtuse, membranous, nerved, glabrous. _Filaments_ 1·2 cm. long, linear, narrowing above, membranous, with a single vein, glabrous; anthers 2·5 mm. long, oblong. _Ovary_ 2 mm. in diameter, bluntly 3-angled, very densely pilose with glandular hairs; style 1·95 cm. long, linear, glabrous; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2605.)

PLATE 114.--Fig. 1, perianth segment; 2, stamen and single anther;
3, pistil showing side and top view of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 115.

CRASSULA CONGESTA.

_Cape Province._

CRASSULACEAE.

CRASSULA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 657.

=Crassula congesta=, _N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron._ 11 (1902), p. 171; _C. pachyphylla, Schonl. in Record. Albany Museum_, vol. i. (1903), pp. 59, 67.

This little _Crassula_, which belongs to the section _Pryamidella_, is, as pointed out by Dr. Schonland, closely allied to _C. columnaris_, Thunb., but the shape of the leaves is sufficient to distinguish it from the latter species. It was described almost simultaneously by Mr. N. E. Brown and Dr. Schonland, but as Brown’s description was the first to be published we retain his name for the species.

_Crassula congesta_ appears to be confined to the Matjesfontein and Laingsburg Divisions in the Karroo, and at present we have no records of the species outside these two Divisions.

We are indebted to Mr. A. J. Austin of Matjesfontein for living specimens which flowered at the Division of Botany in July 1922.

DESCRIPTION:--Plant succulent, about 9 cm. high. _Stem_ glabrous. _Leaves_ 1·7 cm. long, up to 2·7 cm. broad, decussate, connate, transversely oblong, convex without, concave within, glabrous. _Heads_ many flowered, 2·5 cm. in diameter. _Receptacle_ convex. _Floral-bracts_ ·5 mm. long, ·75 mm. broad, linear, obtuse; ciliated, membranous. _Calyx-tube_ 1 mm. long, glabrous, membranous; lobes 2·5 mm. long, ·5 mm. broad, linear, obtuse, ciliate. _Corolla-tube_ 3·5 mm. long, membranous; lobes 5 mm. long, ·75 mm. broad, linear, obtuse. _Filaments_ 2 mm. long, filiform; anthers 1·25 mm. long, oblong. _Squamae_ 1 mm. long, spatulate and produced into a long claw. _Carpels_ 2·5 mm. long, tapering from the base upwards; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2602.)

PLATE 115.--Figs. 1, 2, leaf and section of leaf; 3, single flower;
4, corolla opened; 5, sepal; 6, bract; 7, scale; 8, carpels showing
scales.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 116.

GLADIOLUS PSITTACINUS.

_Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal, Portuguese East Africa._

IRIDACEAE. Tribe IXIEAE.

GLADIOLUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 709.

=Gladiolus psittacinus=, _Hook. in Bot. Mag._ 3032; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 158.

On Plate 6 we figured a variety of this magnificent species of _Gladiolus_, which differs from our present plant not only in the colouring of the flower, but also in the size of the perianth-segments.

It was figured in the _Botanical Magazine_ (t. 3032) from specimens which flowered at Kew, and was known in cultivation in England at least as early as 1830, and in Holland before that date.

A bed of plants growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, made an exceptionally fine display this season (1923), and there can be little doubt that it is the finest native _Gladiolus_ to be found in South Africa.

The plant is quite easily propagated, and forms new corms very readily. It is commonly known as the “Natal Lily.” Our plate was prepared from specimens forwarded by Mr. H. E. Forsyth, the Curator, Municipal Park, Benoni, and were stated to have been collected in Portuguese East Africa.

DESCRIPTION:--_Corm_ 3 cm. in diameter, globose, covered with fibrous tunics. _Plant_ 1 to 1·5 m. high. _Leaves_ 10 to 12 to a plant, equitant, up to 70 cm. long, 2·5 to 3 cm. broad, ensiform, acuminate, acute, with a prominent midrib above and beneath, and with the lateral veins distinct, with a cartilaginous margin which is sometimes very minutely denticulate, glabrous. _Spike_ ·3 to almost 1 m. long, up to 15-flowered. _Outer spathe_ 8 cm. long, 2·1 cm. broad, ovate, acuminate, acute, closely nerved, glabrous; inner spathe 6 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, ovate, acute, 2-keeled, glabrous (in the flowering stage spathes are smaller). _Perianth-tube_ 4 cm. long, 1 cm. in diameter above, yellow on the posterior side, red on anterior side. _Upper lobe_ 5·5 cm. long, 3·2 cm. broad, obovate, narrowed to the base, shortly cuspidate; side lobes 4·5 cm. long, 3·5 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse; lower lateral lobes 3 cm. long, 1·5 cm. broad, elliptic, narrowed to the base, acuminate, acute; lowest petal 3·5 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, elliptic narrowed to the base, cuspidate at the apex. _Anthers_ 1·6 cm. long, linear, sagittate at the base. _Style_ 7 cm. long, terete, glabrous; lobes 6 cm. long, spatulate, papillose on the margins. _Young fruit_ 4·5 cm. long, 3-angled. _Seeds_ winged. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2711.)

PLATE 116.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, longitudinal section of
flower; 3, outer bract; 4, inner bract; 5, anther with part of
filament; 6, stigmas with part of style; 7, young fruit; 8, seed.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.]

PLATE 117.

VENIDIUM MACROCEPHALUM.

_S.W. Africa._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe ARCTOTIDEAE.

VENIDIUM, _Less._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 459.

=Venidium macrocephalum=, _DC. Prodr._ vol. vi. p. 494; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 463; _Bot. Mag._ t. 8845.

Our illustration was made from plants raised at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, from seed collected by Dr. J. M. Troup at Aus in South-west Africa. The plant flowers freely and makes a splendid display, and as a garden plant for supplying cut flowers it is well worth cultivation.

Seed was sent by the Chief of the Division of Botany to Kew in 1918, and the plants raised were figured in the _Botanical Magazine_ (t. 8845). Mr. J. Hutchinson, who drew up the description for the _Botanical Magazine_, gives as his reason for retaining this genus separate from _Arctotis_ (see Plate 3) that the latter has a well-developed double pappus, whereas in _Venidium_ the pappus is either absent or very rudimentary.

The species of _Venidium_, in common with many species of _Gazania_, _Arctotis_ and _Dimorphotheca_, are collectively known as “Gous Bloom.”

DESCRIPTION:--A herbaceous sticky plant with radicle leaves. _Leaves_ 16 to 19 cm. long lyrate; the uppermost lobe 7 to 8 cm. long, 2·5 to 5 cm. broad, the margins lobed with broad oblong lobes, with three main veins, distinct above and prominent beneath, cobwebby on both surfaces; lower lobes 1 to 2·5 cm. long; ·7 to 1·3 broad, oblong, obtuse, cobwebby above and beneath; petiole flat above, convex beneath, with three distinct keels, scantily cobwebby; cauline leaves 2 to 9 cm. long, pinnatilobed, eared and somewhat clasping at the base. _Stems_ up to 33 cm. long, terete, ribbed, covered with long glandular hairs. _Heads_ solitary at ends of stems, 8 to 9 cm. in diameter when fully expanded. _Involucral bracts_ in 4 rows; outermost 8 mm. long, acuminate from a broad base, green, covered with long glandular hairs; innermost 1·2 cm. long, glabrous, membranous. _Receptacle_ 1·5 cm. in diameter, honeycombed, the margins of the cells membranous and produced into long awns. _Ray-floret_ female, lemon-chrome, orange at base. _Tube_ 3 mm. long, cylindric; lobe 3·5 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, lanceolate, minutely 3-toothed at the apex, 2-keeled beneath; at throat of tube are four minute black structures representing reduced corolla lobes. _Pappus_ less than ·5 mm. membranous. _Ovary_ 1 mm. long; style 4 mm. long, terete, thickened below the lobes; lobes 1 mm. long, oblong, obtuse. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite. _Corolla-tube_ 3 mm. long, 1·25 mm. in diameter above, slightly narrower at the base, sparsely glandular; lobes 1·5 mm. long, linear, obtuse. _Anthers_ black, 2·25 mm. long, blunt at base. _Ovary_ and pappus similar to those of ray-florets; style thin for the first 3 mm., then suddenly much thickened in the upper 2 mm. of its length; lobes ·5 mm. long, oblong, obtuse. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2599.)

PLATE 117.--Fig. 1, basal leaf reduced; 2, outer involucral bract;
3, inner involucral bract; 4, longitudinal section through
receptacle; 5, surface view of part of receptacle; 6, ray-floret;
7, stigmas and portion of style of ray-floret; 8, disc-floret; 9,
stigmas and portion of style of disc-floret; 10, fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S Gower del]

PLATE 118.

LONCHOSTOMA MONOSTYLIS.

_Cape Province._

BRUNIACEAE.

LONCHOSTOMA, _Wickstr._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 673.

=Lonchostoma monostylis=, _Sond. in Harv. et Sond. Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 317.

This member of the family _Bruniaceae_ differs from that previously figured (_Brunia Stokoei_, Plate 92) in having a tubular corolla. In this respect it is also unique in the family. The genus is a small one, comprising only four known species.

Ecklon and Zeyher collected this plant in the Palmiet River Valley, and since then it has not been recorded until recently, when Mr. T. P. Stokoe gathered it in the same locality. He sent fresh specimens to the Division of Botany, and from these the plate was made.

_Lonchostoma monostylis_ is a graceful plant with long, thin, erect stems, at the apex of which the flowers are borne.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ simple or sometimes branched above, 40 to 50 cm. long, almost woolly, at length becoming glabrous. _Leaves_ erect, adpressed to the branches and almost hiding them, 5 to 6 mm. long, 1·5 to 2 mm. broad, elliptic, obtuse, with a small black mucro, concave, pubescent without, glabrous within, long ciliate. _Flower-heads_ terminal, 1·3 cm. in diameter, about 14-flowered. _Bracteoles_ 5 mm. long, 1 mm. broad at the base, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with a long black mucro, membranous long pilose and ciliate. _Sepals_ similar to the bracteoles. _Corolla-tube_, 3 mm. long, glabrous; lobes 6 mm. long, 3 to 3·5 mm. broad, obovate, shortly acuminate, obtuse. _Anthers_ subsessile, 1·5 mm. long, linear, sagittate at the base. _Ovary_ 1 mm. long, globose, pilose; style 2 mm. long, terete, glabrous; stigma minutely bifid. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2600.)

PLATE 118.--Fig. 1, corolla laid open; 2, bract and bracteole; 3,
leaf and calyx; 4, anther; 5, pistil; 6, cross-section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S Gower del.]

PLATE 119.

EULOPHIA ZEYHERI.

_Cape Province, Transvaal, Natal, Basutoland._

ORCHIDACEAE. Tribe VANDEAE.

EULOPHIA, _R. Br._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 535.

=Eulophia Zeyheri=, _Hook. f. Bot. Mag._ t. 7330; _Bolus Ic. Orch. Austr.-Afr._ ii. t. 24; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. iii. p. 43.

This pretty little orchid is quite a common plant in the grass veld during the summer months, and has been extensively gathered by botanical collectors, though strangely enough it is not generally met with in gardens. It has been known to botanists for about sixty years, but under the name _E. bicolor_, until Sir Joseph Hooker in 1893 pointed out that this name had already been assigned to another species in the genus, and published the present name _E. Zeyheri_.

The tubers resemble a string of large beads, and send out leaves and roots from the constrictions between the swollen portions. The plant has been successfully grown in Gloucestershire, England, by the late Mr. H. J. Elwes, and should certainly receive the attention of South African cultivators.

Our illustration was made from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at Irene, near Pretoria.