Chapter II: Part 2

DESCRIPTION:--“Roots tuberous similar to those of a Dahlia” (Gerrard); stem twining, 3 to 4 mm. thick, fleshy, glabrous, slightly rough to the touch; leaves fleshy, glabrous; petiole 2 to 6 mm. long, stout; blade 1·5 to 4·5 cm. long, 1·5 to 2·5 cm. broad, ovate-lanceolate to broadly cordate-ovate, acute or shortly cuspidate-acute, light green; cymes with 2 to 4 flowers, developed singly, glabrous; peduncles 4 to 10 mm. long, 3 to 4 mm. thick; pedicels 6 to 10 mm. long, nearly or quite 3 mm. thick, becoming stouter in fruit; sepals 6 to 7 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, narrowly oblong, acute, longitudinally folded, glabrous; corolla-tube curved, 3 to 4 mm. long, with an oblong inflation 6 mm. in diameter at the base, narrowed above and enlarged to 1·5 cm. or 2 cm. in diameter at the funnel-shaped mouth, glabrous with the exception of a few hairs at the very base inside; striped with green and white on the upper part outside and within, light green on the inflation outside, dull greyish-or purplish-green within, with numerous ribs, which abruptly terminate at the base of the purple contracted part; lobes united into a flattish 5-keeled umbrella-like canopy 3 to 4 cm. in diameter, supported on 5 short claws, with 5 broad obtuse slightly bifid marginal much-arched lobes, ciliate with vibratile white hairs, its centre distinctly depressed, with a 6-pointed tubercle above and a 5-ribbed projection beneath, yellowish-green, spotted with light green above and with brighter green underneath, with the ribbed projection beneath and some spots around it blackish-purple; outer corona 1 mm. long, cup-shaped, not pentagonal, truncate, entire, whitish, with the margin and at its junction with the inner corona-lobes purple-brown, ciliate with white hairs; inner corona-lobes 3 mm. long, incumbent on the backs of the anthers, with erect filiform tips, recurved at the apex, dorsally connected to the outer corona at the base, glabrous, white; follicles horizontally diverging, 7 to 14 cm. long, 6·5 to 7 mm. thick, terete, tapering from about the middle to a slightly dilated umbonate apex about 4 mm. in diameter, irregularly rugose and tuberculate, glabrous, green, stained with dull purplish. (_Flora Capensis._)

* * * * *

PLATE 143.--Fig. 1, outer corona lobe; Fig. 2, inner corona lobes;
Fig. 3, pollinia.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 144.

ANOIGANTHUS BREVIFLORUS.

_Cape Province, Natal, Swaziland._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

ANOIGANTHUS, _Baker_; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 722.

* * * * *

=Anoiganthus breviflorus=, _Baker in Journ. Bot._ 1878, p. 76; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 193.

* * * * *

IN 1889 a good coloured plate of this plant was reproduced in the _Botanical Magazine_. The plate was prepared from plants sent to Kew by the late Dr. Medley Wood, and which flowered freely there in the open. _Anoiganthus breviflorus_ is readily distinguished from species of _Cyrtanthus_ (species of which we figured in earlier plates) by having basifixed, not versatile anthers. It is a fairly widely distributed species, being found as far south as Somerset East, and spreading northward through the eastern parts of the Cape Province into Natal, Zululand, Basutoland, Swaziland and to Broken Hill, N.W. Rhodesia. The same yellow colour of the flowers is found in species of _Cyrtanthus_, but specimens with white flowers have been recorded.

The species does quite well in cultivation, and in its native habitat thrives in swampy and marshy ground.

Our plate was prepared from plants collected near Springfield (Durban), Natal.

[There appears to be a second and quite distinct species (_A. luteus_ Baker) of this interesting little genus, though Baker in the _Flora Capensis_ treated it as a variety. That it is distinct enough to be regarded as a species was very strongly supported by the late Dr. J. Medley Wood. According to him _A. breviflorus_ grows in swampy ground, commencing at about 1500 ft. above sea level, and is found upwards to 4000 ft. He observed it occasionally to 4 ft. in height, but the average was 2 to 3 ft. On the other hand, _A. luteus_ appears on grassy hills and plains from just above sea level to 2000 ft., but never in swamps. During the flowering stage it is rarely more than about 1 ft. high, but afterwards, in fruit, the scape lengthens considerably and often attains 2 ft. in length. These observations by Dr. Wood are confirmed by a critical examination of the specimens at Kew. The flowers and leaves appear to be always contemporaneous in _A. breviflorus_, but in _A. luteus_ the flowers appear first and the leaves are very small. Further notes by Natal botanists would be welcome.--J. H.]

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ ovoid, white, 2 to 3 cm. in diameter, with a short neck and brown membranous tunics. _Leaves_ 3 to 4, contemporary with the flowers, 4 to 30 cm. long, 7 to 14 mm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, strongly-nerved, glabrous. _Peduncle_ 8 to 20 cm. long, about 4 mm. in diameter, slender, erect. _Spathe-valves_ 4 to 5 cm. long, 4 mm. broad at the base lanceolate. _Pedicels_ 2 to 4 cm. long, erect. _Inflorescence_ a 2-to 10-flowered umbel. _Perianth-tube_ 5 mm. long; lobes 15 mm. long, lanceolate, acute. _Stamens_ included, in 2 series; anthers basifixed. _Ovary_ glabrous; style slender; stigmas 3, overtopping the stamens.

* * * * *

PLATE 144.--Fig. 1, perianth laid open; Fig. 2, stamens; Fig. 3,
cross-section of ovary; Fig. 4, style-branches.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 145.

BURCHELLIA BUBALINA.

_Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal._

* * * * *

RUBIACEAE. Tribe GARDENIEAE.

BURCHELLIA, _R. Br._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 85.

* * * * *

=Burchellia bubalina=, _Sims Bot. Mag._ t. 2339 (1822). _Lonicera bubalina_, _Linn. f. Suppl. 146_ (1781). _Burchellia capensis_, _R. Br. in Ker. Bot. Reg._ t. 466 (1820); _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 2.

* * * * *

_Burchellia bubalina_ is known locally as “Buffels-hoorn” (not “Buffelsdoorn”), on account of the horn-like calyx lobes, which persist on the fruit. The bright-red flowers give rise to the name “Wild pomegranate,” or “Wilde granaat.” There are also various native names for the plant.

The single species of this genus is endemic to South Africa, and has a wide distribution. In the south-west it is known as far as Swellendam, whence it ranges through the forests to Natal and the Transvaal. Mr. Galpin has recorded the plant from the summit of Saddleback Mountain, at 4500 to 5000 ft., where it occurs as a shrub 8 ft. high. It is somewhat variable, the corolla differing much in size, and the length and hairiness of the style fluctuates, perhaps due to sexual differences. The calyx lobes are either 5 or 6 on the same plant.

No less than six different names have been applied to this species. Of these we have, with some reluctance, adopted the oldest, _B. bubalina_, Sims, using the specific name first applied by the younger Linnaeus in 1781 under the genus _Lonicera_ for specimens collected by Sparmann. A better known name is _B. capensis_.

DESCRIPTION:--A small tree reaching 3·6 to 4·2 m. high. _Leaves_ opposite, petiolate; petioles up to 1·2 cm. long, thick, pubescent; lamina up to 10·5 cm. long and 5·5 cm. broad, broadly ovate, entire, rounded or subcordate at the base, with revolute margins and the veins conspicuous above and very prominent beneath, dark green and glabrous above, pubescent on all the veins beneath. _Stipules_ semicircular from a broad base, ending in a linear cusp which almost equals the basal portion in length and is minutely pilose. _Inflorescence_ terminal, many-flowered. _Calyx-tube_ 6 mm. long, campanulate; lobes 5 to 6, 1 to 2 cm. long, linear, pubescent. _Corolla-tube_ 2 cm. long, inflated, puberulous without, glabrous within, with a ring of white hairs near the base; lobes 5 mm. long, triangular. _Stamens_ 5, inserted on the upper half of the corolla-tube; filaments very short; anthers with the connective slightly produced. _Ovary_ inferior, 2-celled, many-ovuled; style filiform, exserted; stigma clavate. _Fruit_ a subglobose berry, crowned with the persistent calyx-lobes.

* * * * *

PLATE 145.--Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, corolla laid open; Fig. 3,
showing pistil in calyx; Fig. 4, anther; Fig. 5, cross-section of
ovary; Fig. 6, stipule.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 146.

PELARGONIUM PULVERULENTUM.

_Cape Province, Natal._

* * * * *

GERANIACEAE. Tribe PELARGONIEAE. PELARGONIUM, _L’Herit._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 273.

* * * * *

=Pelargonium pulverulentum=, _Colv. in Sw. Ger._ t. 218; _Fl. Cap._ vol. i. p. 272.

* * * * *

THIS species of _Pelargonium_, according to the late Dr. J. Medley Wood, was first found in Natal in 1878, and was not met with again until 1914, when it was found on the south coast near the sea. It had previously been recorded from the eastern districts of the Cape Province by Ecklon and Zeyher, Drège and Burke. The species belongs to the section _Polyactium_ of the genus, and should be compared with _Pelargonium crassicaule_, which we figured on Plate 52.

The white powdery pubescence, mentioned by Sweet as covering the young leaves, has not been noticed in the Natal plants.

Our illustration was made and the description drawn up from specimens collected at Merebank, Natal.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ short, thick, woody. _Leaves_ petioled; petioles 3·1 to 7·5 cm. long, hispid; lamina 6·5 to 8·1 cm. long and broad, cordate, obtuse, somewhat lobed, with the lobes rounded and irregularly and sharply serrate, 5-veined at the base, glabrous above, hispid with minute short hairs beneath, more thickly on the margins; stipules broadly ovate, acute, ciliate. _Inflorescence_ an umbel of 6 to 12 flowers. _Peduncle_ up to 20 cm. long, hispid. _Bracts_ 3 to 4·5 cm. long, oblong, acute, hispid, ciliate. _Sepals_ 5, oblong-lanceolate, acute, densely and minutely hispid, shorter than the petals. _Petals_ 5, rather unequal, 1 to 1·2 cm. long, obovate, yellowish-white with a purple blotch. _Stamens_ 10, monadelphous, unequal; 6 stamens fertile; the remainder without anthers, of these 3 are short and subulate and 1 broad and acute. _Stigmas_ 5, filiform. Fruit not seen.

* * * * *

PLATE 146.--Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, longitudinal section of the
flower showing the monadelphous stamens; Fig. 3, petals; Fig. 4,
stamens; Fig. 5, pistil; Fig. 6, cross-section through the ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 147.

THUNBERGIA NATALENSIS.

_Transvaal, Cape Province, and Natal._

* * * * *

ACANTHACEAE. Tribe THUNBERGIEAE.

THUNBERGIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1072.

* * * * *

=Thunbergia natalensis=, _Hook. Bot. Mag._ t. 5082; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 4.

* * * * *

_Thunbergia natalensis_ was described and figured in 1858 from plants cultivated by Messrs. Veitch of Chelsea, from seed received from South Africa. A year later Harvey gave a picture of the species in his _Thesaurus Capensis_ (Plate 38). The _Flora Capensis_ does not mention the peculiar stalked glandular hairs found on the funnel-shaped part of the style, though Hooker accurately figured these, neither does Harvey show them in his figure nor mention them in his description, although he was acquainted with the drawing in the _Botanical Magazine_.

The plant is a small shrub bearing large blue flowers with a bright yellow throat, and is confined to the eastern parts of the Cape Province, Natal, and the spurs of the Drakensbergen in the Transvaal. Notwithstanding its showy nature, it escaped the notice of the old collectors in Natal and the Transkei.

The species is worth the attention of horticulturists, and should find greater favour among growers who cultivate our native plants.

DESCRIPTION:--A shrub 20 to 50 cm. high. _Branches_ glabrous or thinly hairy. _Leaves_ 4 to 9 cm. long, 4 to 7 cm. broad, decussate, oblong or elliptic, acute, cordate or sub-hastate at the base, subentire or sinuate-toothed, slightly scabrous on both surfaces, with the veins prominent beneath; petiole 3 to 6 mm. long. _Inflorescence_ axillary 1-to 3-flowered; bracteoles 2, 1 to 2·5 cm. long, 1 to 1·3 cm. broad, lanceolate, acute, prominently 3-veined; peduncle 2 to 4 cm. long, glabrous. _Calyx-tube_ 2 mm. long; lobes ovate. _Corolla_ salver-shaped; tube 2 to 3·5 cm. long, curved, much inflated from near the base, sparsely pubescent; lobes 1 to 1·3 cm. long, ovate. _Stamens_ inserted on the corolla-tube; filaments filiform, thickened towards the base; anther-cells bearded, one cell in each of the two larger anthers spurred at the base. _Style_ funnel-shaped above, and produced in short triangular lobes, with stalked glandular-hairs on the funnel-shaped part and bearded on the lower surface of the lobes. _Capsule_ 3 cm. long, densely and minutely hairy or glabrous.

* * * * *

PLATE 147.--Fig. 1, showing ovary situated on the disc; Fig. 2,
stamen; Fig. 3, portion of style, showing funnel-shaped upper
portion covered with stalked glandular hairs; Fig. 4, fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 148.

THUNBERGIA ALATA.

_Natal._

* * * * *

ACANTHACEAE. Tribe THUNBERGIEAE.

THUNBERGIA, _Linn. fil._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1072.

* * * * *

=Thunbergia alata=, _Boj. ex Sims in Bot. Mag._ t. 2591; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 10.

* * * * *

_Thunbergia alata_ is a native of tropical Africa and Natal, but has been introduced into many warm parts of the world as an ornamental creeper, and it is often called “Black-eyed Susan.” It was first described and figured in 1825 from plants raised in England from seed collected in Mauritius.

In its natural habitat the species is found as a creeper in woods, and the bright-orange corolla with a dark maroon throat gives the flower a singularly beautiful effect. The plant grows readily under cultivation, and makes a fine trellis creeper, but in colder countries it requires the protection of a glass-house.

The petioles of the mature leaves, as will be seen from the plate, are distinctly winged, but in the younger leaves they are almost terete. The stamens, as is usually the case in the family _Acanthaceae_, are appendaged in some way, and exhibit two forms in this species. All the anthers are tailed, but the anther of the shorter stamen, instead of having two tails, is only tailed at the base of one pollen-sac, the other pollen-sac bearing a bunch of radiating glandular hairs.

Our plate was prepared from plants grown by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at Irene, near Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--A climber. _Branches_ terete, hirsute. _Leaves_ opposite, petioled; petiole 2 to 5 cm. long, at first terete, with a shallow groove on the upper side, at length expanded and winged, hirsute; lamina 2·2 to 6·5 cm. long, 2 to 5·5 cm. broad, ovate, subobtuse, lobed at the base, hirsute above and beneath, with the veins depressed above, prominent beneath. _Flowers_ solitary, axillary. _Pedicel_ up to 6 cm. long, terete, hirsute. _Bracts_ two, 2·2 cm. long, 1·2 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse, distinctly keeled, hirsute, connate on one side. _Calyx_ with many narrow linear lobes, covered with stalked glands. _Corolla-tube_ 2 cm. long, cylindric below, and then more or less suddenly widened into a tube 6 mm. in diameter above, glabrous without and with a ring of deflexed glandular hairs at the insertion of the stamens; limb more or less oblique, with the lobes 1·5 cm. long, 1·4 cm. broad, obovate, and with the margin concave at the apex. _Stamens_ unequal; anthers very distinctly tailed and covered on the face with long glandular hairs; the shorter anther with only 1 tail and with a tuft of glandular hairs on the other pollen sac. _Style-lobes_ unequal; the shorter in the form of a concave saucer; the upper deeply channelled (_National Herb. Pretoria_, No. 2847).

* * * * *

PLATE 148.--Fig. 1, young leaf with terete petiole; Fig. 2, median
longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 3, calyx; Fig. 4, larger
stamens; Fig. 5, smaller stamen; Fig. 6, style.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 149.

ALOE PEGLERAE.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

=Aloe Peglerae=, _Schonl. in Records Albany Mus._ vol. i. p. 120.

* * * * *

_Aloe Peglerae_ is quite a common plant in parts of the Transvaal, and may be found in quantities on the stony hills of the Magaliesberg round Pretoria. The species was first described by Dr. S. Schönland in 1903 from specimens collected by Miss Alice Pegler near Rustenburg. The peculiar lax arrangement of the leaves is very characteristic, and Miss Pegler not inaptly compared its appearance to a loose cabbage.

In the description accompanying Plate 107 (_Aloe comosa_) we described the method in which the flowers mature. _Aloe Peglerae_, as far as we have observed, is an exception to this general rule, as the style is exserted with the filaments and does not wait until the filaments are withdrawn, and the perianth withers before protruding.

Our plate was prepared from specimens which flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Plant_ almost acaulescent with a dense rosette of leaves. _Leaves_ curved, about 28 cm. long, 5·5 cm. broad, below lanceolate, ending in a short spine, almost flat on the upper surface, slightly convex on the lower surface, faintly keeled and spiny on the back in the uppermost third, with the margins spiny; the spines on lower portion of leaf about 1 mm. long and about 5 mm. apart, becoming 5 mm. long and 1·5 cm. apart in the upper part of the leaf. _Peduncle_ solitary from the middle of the leaf rosette, about 1·2 cm. in diameter and covered with ovate long-acuminate erect membranous bracts. _Flower spike_ about 18 cm. long, up to 8 cm. in diameter; flowers at first reddish, becoming greenish-white at maturity. _Outer perianth-segments_ 2·5 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, oblanceolate, with the apex slightly recurved, 3-nerved; inner segments 2 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, oblong, 1-nerved. _Stamens_ at length long exserted; filaments dark purple above, greenish below, linear. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, ellipsoid; style 4·2 cm. long, cylindric, exserted with the stamens; stigma small (_National Herb. Pretoria_, No. 2846).

* * * * *

PLATE 149.--Fig. 1, upper portion of leaf; Fig. 2, flower; Fig. 3,
median longitudinal section of a flower.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 150.

PSEUDOBAECKEA VIRGATA.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

BRUNIACEAE.

PSEUDOBAECKIA, _Nied. in Engl. and Prantl. Naturl. Pflanzenfam._ vol. iii. 2a, p. 136 (1891).

* * * * *

=Pseudobaeckia virgata=, _Nied. l. c._; _Dummer in Journ. Bot._ 1912, Suppl. 2. _Brunia virgata_, Brogn.; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 315.

* * * * *

ON Plate 92 we figured a member of the family _Bruniaceae, Brunia Stokoei_, which differs from the genus _Pseudobaeckia_ in having the sepals united beyond the ovary and the stamens shorter than the petals. The species of _Pseudobaeckia_ were formerly placed under the genus _Brunia_, until a separate genus was constituted for them in 1891.

The species figured is not a particularly striking one, but it is worthy of illustration, as it belongs to a group only found in the south-western area of the Cape Province.

The specimens from which our plate was prepared were collected by Mr. T. P. Stokoe on the Hottentot Hollands Mountains, where it is found growing in very damp places near Kogelberg. It also occurs in the mountains of Swellendam. We are indebted to the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for comparing the plant with the material in the Kew Herbarium.

DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ slender, arranged in a racemose manner above, yellowish, the young branches densely woolly, at length becoming glabrous. _Leaves_ adpressed, somewhat distant below, becoming more crowded above, 3·5 to 6 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, lanceolate, with a long black mucro at the apex, convex and glabrous beneath, concave and woolly above. _Flowers_ sessile, solitary in the uppermost leaves of the ultimate branchlets. _Bracts_ two, 1 mm. long, ·25 mm. broad, linear, convex beneath, concave above, obtuse, glabrous. _Sepals_ 1·25 mm. long, ·5 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse, glabrous. _Petals_ 1 mm. long, slightly over ·5 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse. _Filaments_ ·5 mm. long, linear; anthers less than ·25 mm. long. _Ovary_ 2-celled, with a single red pendulous ovule in each cell, sometimes only one ovule present; style ·5 mm. long, bifid at the apex (_National Herb. Pretoria_, No. 2578).

* * * * *

PLATE 150.--Fig. 1, tip of branch enlarged, showing flowers; Fig.
2, portion of branch enlarged; Fig. 3, single leaf showing under
surface; Fig. 4, longitudinal section through a flower; Fig. 5, a
single flower; Fig. 6, stamen; Fig. 7, bracteole; Fig. 8, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 151.

ALOE SCHLECHTERI.

_Cape Province, Namaqualand._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Aloe Schlechteri=, _Schonl. in Records Albany Mus._ vol. i. p. 45.

* * * * *

This somewhat rare _Aloe_ was first described by Dr. Schönland from material collected by Max Schlechter at Pella, S.W. Africa. The Division of Botany in 1921 received living specimens from Dr. W. Borchards of Upington, and these subsequently flowered at Pretoria.

_Aloe Schlechteri_ is found growing on the bare veld. The short stems are decumbent and the rosette of leaves almost at right angles to the stems, giving the plant, when viewed from a little distance, an acaulescent appearance. The plants are invariably found in groups, and the individual plants are so arranged that the group forms a half-circle or sometimes a complete circle on the ground. The inflorescence appears to be always forked.

Our illustration was made from the specimens collected by Dr. Borchards.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ short decumbent with a dense rosette of leaves. _Leaves_ somewhat incurved, up to 24 cm. long, up to 4 cm. broad near the base, lanceolate, acuminate, ending in a sharp spine, convex beneath, flat or slightly convex above, with the margins covered with prickles and a few prickles on the keel beneath near the apex; prickles about 1·2 cm. apart, straight or slightly incurved. _Inflorescence_ branched into two arms; the common peduncle about 10 cm. long, bluntly 3-angled, naked; peduncle of arms up to lowermost flowers 9 cm. long, covered with a few membranous ovate acuminate bracts; raceme 15 cm. long, many-flowered. _Pedicels_ 8 mm. long, erect. _Youngest flowers_ tubular, erect, becoming later horizontal and at length pendulous and then clavate. _Perianth-tube_ 1·8 cm. long, widening from the base upwards; inner lobes 1·2 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse, usually 5-nerved; outer lobes 1·6 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, concave usually 3-nerved. _Stamens_ 3·5 cm. long, at first included, at length exserted. _Ovary_ 8 mm. long, 3-angled; style 1·6 cm. long, terete; stigma minute (National Herb. 2845).

* * * * *

PLATE 151.--Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of
flower; Fig. 3, perianth-segments; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, style.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 152.

MONTBRETIA CROCOSMAEFLORA.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

IRIDACEAE. Tribe IXIEAE.

=Montbretia crocosmaeflora=, _Hort._; _Flor. Mag._ n.s. t. 472; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 129.

* * * * *

This plant, commonly seen in South African gardens, is a hybrid between _Tritonia Pottsii_ and _Crocosmia aurea_, and was described from plants which flowered at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in August 1889. As the plant has been described under the generic name of _Montbretia_ in the _Flora Capensis_ we retain the combination here.

The plant blooms in Pretoria during the month of April, and furnishes a good supply of cut flowers during a time when they are scarce. Our illustration was made from specimens flowering at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Corm_ 2·5 cm. in diameter, almost spherical, sending out lateral rhizomes. _Leaves_ arranged up the stem in a fan-like manner, 6 to 7 on each side, up to 30 cm. long, ·8 to 1 cm. broad, linear, acute, equitant at the base, with the midrib prominent and the lateral veins evident in fresh specimens, glabrous. _Peduncle_ up to 25 cm. long, 7-to 10-ribbed (almost narrowly winged), glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a lax panicle of 3 to 4 spikes. _Spikes_ 4 to 5 cm. long, 4-to 6-flowered. _Spathe-valves_ 8 mm. long, ovate, acuminate, brown, membranous. _Perianth-tube_ 1·5 cm. long, 4 mm. in diameter above, gradually narrowing below; lobes 2·8 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse, somewhat unequal. _Stamens_ fixed in the upper portion of the perianth-tube; filaments 2·2 mm. long, terete; anthers 8 mm. long, linear, versatile. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, ellipsoid; style 3 cm. long, terete; style-branches 1 mm. long, bifid and papillose at the apex. _Fruit_ 9 mm. in diameter, globose, obtusely 3-angled, several seeds in each cell (National Herb. 2848).

* * * * *

PLATE 152.--Fig. 1, corm showing rhizomes; Fig. 2, median
longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 3, spathe-valves; Fig. 4,
stamen; Fig. 5, upper part of style; Fig. 6, fruits.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 153.

OXALIS LUPINIFOLIUS.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

OXALIDACEAE.

OXALIS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 276.

* * * * *

=Oxalis lupinifolius=, _Jacq. Oxal._ t. 72; _Fl. Cap._ vol. i. p. 348.

* * * * *

This beautiful little _Oxalis_ belongs to a small group of about eight species which are characterised by having the leaves digitately 5-to 19-foliate, and in some respects these species are more showy than many of the others.

The genus as a whole is essentially characteristic of the south-western portion of the Cape Province, but scattered species are found in various parts of the Union. Species of _Oxalis_ are also abundant in South America, where some of them form tall shrubs.

Heterostylism, _i. e._ the different relative lengths of the stamens and styles, is found in the genus. In some flowers the styles exceed the stamens, while in others the stamens are longer than the styles. This arrangement of the sexual organs ensures that cross-pollination will take place.

Our plate was prepared from specimens grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, from corms presented by Dr. C. L. Leipoldt, who collected them at Pakhuis in the Clanwilliam Division. According to Dr. Leipoldt the corms are edible.

DESCRIPTION:--Internodes very short, so that the leaves appear more or less in a rosette. _Leaves_ digitately 3-to 6-foliate; petioles 3 to 9 cm. long, 4 to 5 mm. broad, flattened glabrous; the shorter petioles very distinctly winged; the longer petioles not so evidently winged; leaflets up to 3·5 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, obovate, cuneate, rounded at the apex, glabrous, punctate beneath. _Pedicels_ 1 to 6 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Bracts_ 2, 4 mm. long, linear. _Sepals_ 6 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse, with membranous margins, glabrous. _Corolla-tube_ 7 mm. long, 5 mm. in diameter above, campanulate; lobes 1·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, obovate. _Stamens_ unequal; longer stamens 6·5 mm. long, subterete, pubescent, with an appendage on the back; shorter stamens 3·5 mm. long, similar to the longer, but without the appendage; anthers oblong. _Ovary_ 1·5 mm. long, 1 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid, glabrous; styles 1 mm. long; stigmas penicillate.

* * * * *

PLATE 153.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,
calyx; Fig. 3, androecium; Fig. 4, pistil of long-styled flower;
Fig. 5. pistil of short-styled flower.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 154.

COTYLEDON WICKENSII.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

CRASSULACEAE.

COTYLEDON, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 658.

* * * * *

=Cotyledon Wickensii=, _Schonl. in Records Albany Museum_, vol. iii. p. 141.

* * * * *

The _Pillansii_ group of _Cotyledon_ as defined by Dr. Schönland includes species with a suffructicose, mostly robust habit, with the lobes of the corolla usually longer than the tube, glandular flowers, and with a tuft of hairs at the base of the filaments where they join the corolla. The species figured here was collected by Mr. J. Wickens and Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., on stony kopjes at Smit’s Drift, in the Pietersburg District of the northern Transvaal.

It is well adapted for rockeries, and flowers profusely during the mid-winter months of June and July. The species has been established in the rockeries of the Union Building gardens at Pretoria, and is doing remarkably well.

Our plate was prepared from specimens growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--A tall herbaceous shrub up to 2 m. high. _Stems_ somewhat fleshy, glabrous. _Leaves_ 8·5 to 11 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad, lanceolate, acute, or sometimes rounded, distinctly narrowed to the base into a terete portion, flat above, slightly convex beneath, glabrous and covered with a glaucous bloom. _Inflorescence_ cymose, 12-to 15-flowered at the end of a naked peduncle. _Peduncle_ up to 30 cm. long, terete, 6 mm. in diameter. _Pedicels_ 1·5 to 3 cm. long, terete, densely covered with glandular hairs, expanded and disc-like above. _Sepals_ 8 mm. long, 4 mm. broad, ovate, obtuse, glandular-pubescent. _Petals_ persistent. _Corolla-tube_ 2 mm. long, gibbous at the base between the petals, glandular hispid; lobes 2 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong-linear, with a small blunt apiculus, glandular-hispid, especially on the margins. _Stamens_ equal; filaments 2·2 cm. long, terete, with reflexed hairs at the base; anthers ovate or almost orbicular. _Carpels_ a little shorter than the stamens. _Glands_ at base of each carpel, 3 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, oblong, truncate, projecting into the cavity at base of the petals.

* * * * *

PLATE 154.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,
longitudinal section of flower with pistil removed; Fig. 3, carpels
showing glands at the base; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, cross-section
of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 155.

ALOE PETRICOLA.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Aloe petricola=, _Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr._ vol. v. p. 707.

* * * * *

This _Aloe_ was first collected and photographed by Dr. Pole Evans at Nelspruit in September 1905. In the Nelspruit Valley (Barberton District) the plant is found chiefly on the granite outcrops, and in similar localities at Eland’s Hoek and in the Kaap Valley, where it was collected by Mr. Geo. Thorncroft. Like most of our Transvaal aloes, it flowers in mid-winter (July), and the flowering period extends well into August. _Aloe petricola_ is one of the stemless species, and the bicoloured inflorescence makes it quite a striking plant in the rockery. In the oldest flowers the filaments contract within the perianth, and the style then becomes exserted.

Our plate was prepared from specimens which flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Leaves_ 34 cm. long, 8 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate, acuminate, ending in a short spine, concave on the upper surface, convex on the lower, with spines along the margins and 1 to 3 spines on the back near the apex; spines about ·2 mm. long and 1·5 cm. apart. _Inflorescence_ forked; peduncle bearing the inflorescence about 20 cm. long, 1·2 cm. in diameter, terete, bearing ovate acuminate membranous bracts; flowers in a dense spike about 21 cm. long, 6 cm. in diameter, all reflexed, at first red, later becoming greenish-white, with dark green bands. _Floral bracts_ membranous, reflexed, 1·5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad at the base, ovate, cuspidate, 5-nerved. _Outer perianth-segments_ 2·5 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse, distinctly 3-nerved (faintly 5-nerved); inner segments 2·3 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, somewhat keeled, 3-nerved. _Filaments_ 2·5 cm. long, broadest in the middle and tapering to the base and apex, dark purple above, greenish-white below; anthers 3 mm. long with dark yellow pollen. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, cylindric; style 2 cm. long, cylindric; stigma minute.

* * * * *

PLATE 155.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,
bud; Fig. 3, perianth-segments; Fig. 4, stamen.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 156.

CRASSULA PORTULACEA.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

CRASSULACEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Crassula portulacea=, _Lam. Dict._ ii. p. 172; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 337.

* * * * *

This species of _Crassula_ is somewhat related to _C. falcata_, figured on Plate 12, but differs in its more shrubby habit. It belongs to the section _Latifoliae_ of the genus, which contains three species, all succulent branching shrubs, with broad flat fleshy leaves.

_Crassula portulacea_ is a large much-branched shrub up to 10 to 12 ft. high, and is found in the south-eastern parts of the Cape Province, in the coastal districts from Montagu to Port Elizabeth.

Our plate was prepared from plants flowering in the rockeries at the Division of Botany, Pretoria. Here it forms a small, more or less compact shrub about 2 ft. high, and flowers very profusely. The flowers appear during the winter months, and when in full bloom the plant makes a very effective show on the rockery.

DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ succulent. _Leaves_ up to 5 cm. long, 3 cm. broad, obovate, rounded at the apex, produced into a short broad petiole, articulated to the branches, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ terminal, in large lax cymose panicles. _Calyx_ campanulate, with very short lobes. _Petals_ 1 cm. long, 2·5 mm. broad, oblong, with a small apiculus at the apex. _Stamens_ 5, alternating with the petals; filaments 5·5 mm. long, linear, tapering upwards; anthers more or less crescent-shaped. _Hypogynous glands_ oblong, rounded above. _Carpels_ 5, free; ovary ellipsoid; style 3 mm. long, terete; stigma small, capitate.

* * * * *

PLATE 156.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,
a single carpel; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, hypogynous gland.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 157.

EUPHORBIA COOPERI.

_Natal and Transvaal._

* * * * *

EUPHORBIACEAE. Tribe EUPHORBIEAE.

EUPHORBIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 258.

* * * * *

=Euphorbia Cooperi=, _N.E. Br. ex Berger, Sukk. Euphorb._ 83 and 84, Fig. 21; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. 2, p. 368.

* * * * *

The genus _Euphorbia_ is represented in South Africa by one hundred and eighty-three species, and we figure a representative of this genus for the first time. The genus contains many species which are of economic value as stock-food plants in the drier parts of the country, and among these may be mentioned _E. esculenta_, Marl. (Vingerpol), _E. brachiata_, E. Mey. (Soet or Blou Melkbos), _E. coerulescens_, Haw. (Soet Noorsdoring), and several other species which are commonly known as “Noorsdoring.”

The species figured here is one of the arborescent members of the family, and is found in Natal and in the Rustenburg and Piet Potgieter’s Rust Districts of the Transvaal. It is easily recognised by the continuous horny margins on the stems.

The plant when cut exudes a copious milky juice, which is a skin irritant, and which also causes a burning sensation in the throat if the air is inhaled when standing in close proximity to a bleeding plant.

Our plate was prepared from a plant growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--A succulent leafless spiny tree, 10 to 15 ft. high; trunk becoming naked and cylindric below, 15 to 20 cm. thick; branches ascending, curved at their basal part, 5-to 6-angled, deeply constricted into conic-ovate or somewhat heart-shaped segments 5 to 15 cm. long, and 4 to 7·5 cm. in diameter, with the small central solid part not more than 2 to 2·5 cm. thick in the younger branches, glabrous; angles wing-like, with triangular channels 2 to 4 cm. deep between them, their margins with a continuous horny nearly even grey border. _Leaves_ rudimentary, scale-like, about 1 mm. long and 2 mm. broad, transverse, apiculate; spines 3 to 8 mm. long, in pairs 6 to 18 mm. apart, widely diverging, grey, with blackish tips; flowering-eyes 3 to 8 mm. above the spine-pairs; cymes 1 to 3 from the same eye, sessile, each with 3 involucres, glabrous. _Bracts_ about 3 mm. long and 4 mm. broad, rounded, concave, usually minutely denticulate; involucres all sessile and the middle one male, lateral fertile, 5 to 6 mm. in diameter, cup-shaped, glabrous, with 5 glands and 5 erect short transversely rectangular fringed lobes; glands contiguous, 3 mm. in their greater diameter, narrowly transverse oblong, very minutely rugulose on the upper surface; capsule about 6 mm. long and 9 to 12 mm. in diameter, exserted on a stout pedicel, curved to one side, deeply 3-lobed seen from above, with laterally compressed lobes, glabrous, dark purple on the apex and along the angles, having a somewhat fleshy calyx at its base, with 3 deltoid-ovate acute lobes about 2 mm. long; cell-walls about 0·5 mm. thick, woody. _Styles_ 2 mm. long, united for two-thirds of their length, with spreading arms, bifid at the apex; seeds 3 mm. in diameter, globose, with a raised line in a very slight furrow on one side, and a small pit at one end, light grey.

* * * * *

PLATE 157.--Fig. 1, cross section of stem; Fig. 2, inflorescence;
Fig. 3, male flowers; Fig. 4, male flower with fringed lobe; Fig.
5, gynaecium of female flower.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 158.

LACHENALIA PENDULA.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.

LACHENALIA, _Jacq._; _Benth. et. Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 807.

* * * * *

=Lachenalia pendula=, _Ait. Hort. Kew._ vol. i. p. 461; edit. 2, vol. ii. p. 288; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 423.

* * * * *

This species of _Lachenalia_ was amongst some of the earliest of the Cape introductions into the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, having been sent by Masson in 1774. About the same time, or probably earlier, it was introduced into the gardens of Holland, and was eventually imported into England from Holland. In 1801 an excellent figure appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_ (Plate 590).

_Lachenalia pendula_ is a robust species of the genus, and is easily cultivated. It flowers freely under cultivation, and makes a very effective display.

Our plate was prepared from specimens grown by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., from bulbs supplied by Lady Smartt.

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ globose, 3·5 cm. in diameter, covered with thin membranous white tunics. _Leaves_ 2, clasping the base of the stem, up to 16 cm. long, up to 6 cm. broad below the middle, ovate, bluntly apiculate. _Peduncle_ (including the flowers) up to 27 cm. long, 8 mm. in diameter, terete. _Bracts_ small, broadly ovate, membranous. _Pedicels_ 6 mm. long. _Flowers_ arising from small pockets on the peduncle, first almost erect, then horizontal and at length pendulous. _Perianth-tube_ slightly gibbous and oblique at the base; outer segments 3·3 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, oblong-linear, obtuse, with an outstanding ridge on the back near the apex, of one only; inner segments longer than the outer, 3·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad near the apex, obovate-oblong, almost truncate at the apex. _Stamens_ of two different lengths; the longer equalling the inner perianth-segments; the shorter slightly included; filaments terete, glabrous; anthers oblong. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, ellipsoid; style slightly exceeding the longer stamens, minutely capitate at the apex.

* * * * *

PLATE 158.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig.
2, part of outer perianth-segment showing transverse ridge; Fig. 3,
part of inner perianth-segment; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, upper
portion of style; Fig. 6, ovary; Fig. 7, portion of peduncle with
bracts and pockets from which the flowers arise.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 159.

CYRTANTHUS GALPINI.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

CYRTANTHUS, _Ait._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 729.

* * * * *

=Cyrtanthus Galpinii=, _Baker in Kew Bull._ 1892, p. 83; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 227.

* * * * *

We have pleasure in figuring for the first time this charming little _Cyrtanthus_ from the Barberton District of the Transvaal. According to Mr. G. J. Hofmeyr, B.Sc., of the Forest Department, who collected the flowers, the plants are found growing in long grass at Kaapse Hoop. The plant is subsocial, and forms conspicuous pink patches in the veld. Mr. Hofmeyr informs us that the flowers at Barberton are scarlet, and not alizams pink (R. C. S), as in the Kaapse Hoop plants.

The species was first collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin, F.L.S., amongst rocks on Berea Ridge, near Barberton, in 1889. He describes the flowers as scarlet, dusted with gold. It flowers during the months of July and August.

_C. Galpini_ falls into the same section of the genus as _C. helictus_, which we figured on Plate 99.

Our plate was partly prepared from Galpin’s specimens (_Galpin_ 409) and partly from living flowers collected by Mr. Hofmeyr.

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ ovoid, 2·5 to 3 mm. in diameter. _Leaves_ appearing before the flowers, up to 8 cm. long, 2 mm. broad above, narrowing to a filiform portion below, with a single rib, glabrous. _Peduncle_ 10 to 19 cm. long, 3 mm. in diameter, terete, very gradually narrowing upwards. _Bracts_ 2·5 to 3 cm. long, scarious, linear, acuminate. _Flowers_ solitary, more rarely 2-nate. _Perianth-tube_ with a narrow-cylindric lower portion 1·5 cm. long, broadening out into a funnel-shaped portion 2 cm. long and 1·3 cm. in diameter at the throat; lobes 2 cm. long, 7 to 9 mm. broad, oblong, bluntly apiculate, with a very small tuft of glandular hairs on the apex of three of them. _Stamens_ all arising from the base of the widened portion of the perianth-tube; filaments of unequal lengths and attached to the perianth-tube for different distances, giving the stamens the appearance of being in two rows; anthers oblong, versatile. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, ellipsoid; style 3-8 cm. long, filiform; stigmas 3 mm. long, recurved, papillose on the upper side.

* * * * *

PLATE 159.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig.
2, portion of a perianth lobe showing apiculus and tuft of
glandular hairs. Fig. 3, ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

PLATE 160.

ALOE CHORTOLIRIOIDES.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

=Aloe chortolirioides=, _Berger in Engl. Pflanzenreich, Liliac-Asphodel-Aloin_. 171 (1908).

* * * * *

This graceful little _Aloe_, so far as we are aware, is confined to the Barberton District of the Transvaal. The plant has a very different habit from most species in the genus, inasmuch as it grows in large tufts, and the short stem, covered with the membranous leaf-bases, very much resembles that of a _Vellozia_.

We are indebted to Mr. Geo. Thorncroft of Barberton for the specimens from which the plate was prepared.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ tufted, covered with the remains of the leaf-bases; leaves 10 to 20 cm. long, linear from a dilated base, channelled, with the margins lined with small spines. _Peduncle_ 16 cm. long, bearing, almost to the base, membranous ovate awned bracts. _Floral-bracts_ 1·4 cm. long, membranous, ovate, long-acuminate, distinctly veined. _Pedicels_ articulating at the apex and persistent. _Perianth_ 3 cm. long, with a cylindric tube and 1-nerved lobes. _Stamens_ exserted. _Style_ 4 cm. long, filiform, long-exserted in old flowers (National Herb. 2733).

* * * * *

PLATE 160.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,
perianth-segments.

F.P.S.A., 1924.

INDEX TO VOLUME IV.

PLATE

ALOE CHOKTOLIRIOIDES, 160

ALOE PEGLERAE, 149

ALOE PETEICOLA, 155

ALOE SCHLECHTERI, 151

ALOE VERECUNDA, 124

ANOIGANTHUS BREVIFLORUS, 144

ANSELLIA GIGANTEA, 122

BURCHELLIA BUBALINA, 145

CEROPEGIA AMPLIATA, 140

CEROPEGIA SANDERSONI, 143

COTYLEDON WICKENSII, 154

CRASSULA PORTULACEAE, 156

CYRTANTHUS GALPINII, 159

DIPLOCYATHA CILIATA, 137

EULOPHIA LEONTOGLOSSA, 135

EUPHORBIA COOPERI, 157

GLADIOLUS LUDWIGII, 125

HABENARIA FOLIOSA, 130

HAEMANTHUS KATHABINAE, 136

LACHENALIA PENDULA, 158

MIMETES ARGENTEA, 128

MONTBRETIA CROCOSMAEFLORA, 152

NERINE FLEXUOSA, 139

NERINE FRITHII, 132

NERINE LUCIDA, 134

OXALIS LUPINIFOLIUS, 153

PACHYPODIUM SAUNDERSII, 123

PELARGONIUM PULVERULENTUM, 146

POLYXENA ENSIFOLIA, 129

PROTEA ROUPPELLIAE, 133

PSEUDOBAECKEA VIRGATA, 150

RICHARDIA MELANOLEUCA, 141

STAPELIA FLAVOPURPUREA, 121

STRUMARIA TRUNCATA, 127

SUTERA GRANDIFLORA, 131

THUNBERGIA ALATA, 148

THUNBERGIA NATALENSIS, 147

URGINEA BURKEI, 138

URGINEA MACROCENTRA, 142

VELTHEIMIA ROODEAE, 126