THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF
SOUTH AFRICA.
A MAGAZINE CONTAINING HAND-COLOURED FIGURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE
FLOWERING PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO SOUTH AFRICA.
EDITED BY I. B. POLE EVANS, C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S., Chief,
Division of Botany and Plant Pathology, Department of Agriculture,
Pretoria; and Director of the Botanical Survey of the Union of South
Africa.
VOL. IV.
[Illustration]
The veld which lies so desolate and bare
Will blossom into cities white and fair,
And pinnacles will pierce the desert air,
And sparkle in the sun.
R. C. MACFIE’S “EX UNITATE VIRES.”
LONDON:
L. REEVE & CO., LTD.,
6 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON.
SOUTH AFRICA:
THE SPECIALITY PRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA, LTD.,
P.O. BOX 3958, JOHANNESBURG; P.O. BOX 388, CAPETOWN.
1924.
[_All rights reserved._]
TO
PERCIVAL ROSS FRAMES, ESQUIRE, C.M.G.
LOVER, COLLECTOR, AND MOST SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATOR OF HIS COUNTRY’S
SUCCULENT PLANTS, THIS VOLUME OF “THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF SOUTH
AFRICA” IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED IN RECOGNITION OF HELP MOST
GENEROUSLY GIVEN.
DIVISION OF BOTANY, PRETORIA.
_October, 1924._
[Illustration: _121._]
PLATE 121.
STAPELIA FLAVOPURPUREA.
_Cape Province._
ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe STAPELIEAE.
STAPELIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 784.
=Stapelia flavopurpurea=, _Marloth in Trans. S. Afr. Phil. Soc._ vol.
18, p. 48, t. 5, fig. 1; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i, p. 969.
Representatives of this characteristic South African genus have been
figured on Plates 26 and 72, and we have pleasure in illustrating for
the first time in colour a species which is unique among the species of
_Stapelia_. It differs from all the known species in having clavate
hairs on the disc. The flowers, though much smaller than many in the
genus, are very beautiful, and lack the unpleasant smell so
characteristic of stapelias.
It is not a common species, and as far as our records go has only been
collected in the Tanqua Karroo by Dr. Marloth, and recently the Division
of Botany received specimens from Mr. E. Anderson, Matjesfontein. This
flowered at Pretoria in February 1923, and our Plate was prepared from
these specimens.
DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ 4 cm. high, 4-angled, minutely pubescent.
_Rudimentary leaves_ 2 mm. long, deltoid, acute. _Flowers_ 1-3 together
arising about 2/3 up the stem. _Pedicels_ 1·7 cm. long, terete, minutely
pubescent. _Sepals_ 5 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, acute, minutely
pubescent. _Corolla_ 3·6 cm. across when expanded; lobes 1·5 cm. long,
ovate-lanceolate, strongly revolute, so that they appear almost linear,
acute, strongly rugose; tube saucer-shaped, covered with numerous
clavate hairs about 1 mm. long. _Outer corona lobes_ 4·5 mm. long,
3-lobed, concave on the inner face, with the middle lobe narrower and
longer than the side lobes and with the side lobes sometimes bifid or
trifid. _Inner corona lobes_ 5 mm. long, incumbent over the anthers,
2-horned, with the upper horn erect and curving outwards above, and
with the lower horn erect-spreading shorter than the upper horn
(National Herb. 2712).
* * * * *
PLATE 121.--Fig. 1, surface view of flower; Fig. 2, median longitudinal
section of flower; Fig. 3, sepal; Fig. 4, petal; Fig. 5, outer corona;
Fig. 6, inner corona and pollen sac; Fig. 7, pollinia.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _122._]
PLATE 122.
ANSELLIA GIGANTEA.
_Transvaal, Natal, Portuguese East Africa._
ORCHIDACEAE. Tribe VANDEAE.
ANSELLIA, _Lindl._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 537.
=Ansellia gigantea=, _Reichb. f. in Linnaea_, vol. xx. p. 673; _Fl.
Cap._ vol. v. sect. 3, p. 62.
This epiphytic orchid belongs to a tropical African genus of about 6
species, and is the only representative which occurs in South Africa.
The flowers are a pale lemon colour, sometimes barred or blotched with
brown. Specimens were sent to England from Natal prior to 1857, and
might be considered, as was suggested by Hooker and the late Dr. Bolus,
a colour variety of the tropical African _Ansellia africana_. Mr. Rolfe
in the _Flora Capensis_ considers it to be a distinct species, as
described by Reichenbach, and we have followed his naming. The figure
given by Bolus (_Ic. Orch. Austro-Afric._ 11. t. 29) represents a colour
form different from that reproduced here.
The plant is found in the mountainous parts of the eastern Transvaal, on
the coast of Natal, and near Delagoa Bay. Our figure was prepared from a
specimen which flowered at the Division of Botany in June 1922, and
which was collected by Mrs. Sinclair Allen on the Lebombo Mountains in
Swaziland.
DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ elongate, terete or somewhat sulcate, 1/3-1 ft.
long, with 6 to many leaves on the upper part or near the apex and
numerous imbricate membranous sheaths below. _Leaves_ distichous,
linear-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, subacute, ¼-1 ft. long, ½-1½ in.
broad, with 3-5 prominent veins. _Panicle_ terminal, ½-1 ft. long,
usually with several branches, rarely reduced to a simple raceme, with a
few short sheaths below. _Bracts_ triangular-ovate, subacute, 1/6 in.
long. _Pedicels_ slender, 1-1¼ in. long. _Flowers_ medium-sized, light
yellow, more or less barred or blotched with light dusky brown; sepals
and petals spreading, oblong or elliptic-oblong, obtuse, about ¾ in.
long; lip 3-lobed, rather shorter than the sepals; side lobes erect,
oblong, obtuse; front lobe recurved, elliptic-oblong, obtuse or
emarginate; disc with 3 prominent crenulate keels; column clavate, 1/3
in. long (National Herb. Pretoria 2601).
* * * * *
PLATE 122.--Figs. 1, 2, front and side view of flower; Fig. 3, lip; Fig.
4, column; Fig. 5, pollinia.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _123._]
PLATE 123.
PACHYPODIUM SAUNDERSII.
_Transvaal, Swaziland._
APOCYNACEAE. Tribe ECHITIDEAE.
PACHYPODIUM, _Lindl._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 722.
Pachypodium Saundersii, _N. E. Br. in Kew Bulletin 1892_, 126; _Fl. Cap._
vol. iv. sect. i. p. 516.
It is with pleasure that we figure for the first time this species of
_Pachypodium_, which flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, in
1923, from tubers forwarded by Mr. J. Kirton, Pietersburg, Transvaal.
The genus _Pachypodium_ differs from _Adenium_ (see Plate 16) in having
a pair of spines at the base of the leaves, but the present species
agrees with _Adenium multiflorum_ in its general habit. Both have large
succulent stems, partly below the ground, from which the branches arise.
In _Pachypodium Saundersii_ the pollination mechanism is somewhat
complicated, but in what way the various structures function in this is
not quite clear. The flowers are protandrous and the anthers all
converge to a point. The base of the anther is provided with a pouch and
the filament with a ciliated hood, and these two structures form a cage
for the pollen. The stigma lies within this cage, and the style may
possibly elongate eventually, and thus push the pollen above the
anthers, as in the _Compositae_. The plant flowered freely in Pretoria,
but failed to fruit, and from this it may be assumed that
self-pollination does not take place.
DESCRIPTION:--_Inflorescence_ arising in an umbellate manner at apex of
stems, up to 11-flowered. _Sepals_ 4 mm. long, 3·5 mm. broad, ovate,
acuminate, acute, glabrous. _Corolla-tube_ 3·5 cm. long, cylindric and
1·2 cm. long below, with a subglobose base, then suddenly dilated and
narrowed towards the apex, glabrous without, pilose within; lobes 2·2
cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad in the widest part, straight on one side, very
convex and crisped on opposite side, subacuminate, acute. _Filament_ 3
mm. long, 2 mm. broad, ovate, with a ciliated hood at the base; anthers
6·7 mm. long, linear with a lanceolate, acute appendage 1·5 mm. long,
and a membranous pouch at the base. _Style_ 1·3 cm. long, terete,
glabrous; stigma club-shaped covered with a white opaque jelly-like
substance; ovary 3·5 mm. long, with a cupular disk at the base (National
Herb. 2736).
* * * * *
PLATE 123.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of the flower; Fig. 2,
stamen; Fig. 3, portion of style with the stigma; Fig. 4, the 2 carpels
with a cupular disk at the base.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _124._]
PLATE 124.
ALOE VERECUNDA.
_Transvaal._
LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.
ALOE, _Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 776.
=Aloe verecunda=, _Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr._ vol. v. p. 703.
This _Aloe_ is another of the many species from the Transvaal described
within recent years by Dr. Pole Evans, and it is here figured for the
first time. Our Plate was prepared from plants collected by Mr. D. J.
Fouche in the Middleburg District, Transvaal, and which subsequently
flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria. The specimens on which Dr.
Pole Evans based his description were found by Mr. P. J. Pienaar on the
Wolkberg, near Haenertsberg, in the Northern Transvaal. In the natural
state it usually flowers towards the latter part of December, and the
dark red racemes are then very conspicuous. As soon as winter sets in,
the leaves wither and fall.
DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ short. _Leaves_ 8-10, distichous, deciduous, 25-35
cm. long, 8-10 mm. broad at the base, narrowly linear, distinctly
channelled, rounded at the back, with numerous minute raised white spots
at the base, armed along the edges with delicate white teeth 2-7 mm.
apart. _Peduncle_ stout, 25 cm. long, clothed with broad ovate shortly
cuspidate green empty bracts. _Raceme_ more or less capitate. _Bracts_
20 mm. long, 15 mm. broad, ovate, acute. _Pedicels_ 25 mm. long.
_Perianth_ peach-red to scarlet, greenish towards the apex, 26-30 mm.
long, 12 mm. in diameter, straight, very markedly 3-angled, contracted
towards the mouth; segments free. _Style_ and _stamens_ not or scarcely
exserted (National Herb. 2743).
PLATE 124.--Fig. 1, portion of leaf showing white spots; Fig. 2, median
longitudinal section of the flower; Fig. 3, outer perianth-segment; Fig.
4, inner perianth-segment; Fig. 5, anther with part of the filament;
Fig. 6, top of style showing the simple stigma.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _125._]
PLATE 125.
GLADIOLUS LUDWIGII var. CALVATUS.
_Transvaal._
IRIDACEAE. Tribe GLADIOLEAE.
GLADIOLUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 709.
=Gladiolus Ludwigii=, _Pappe._ var. calvatus, _Baker Fl. Cap._ vol. vi.
p. 150.
This _Gladiolus_ belongs to the same section of the genus as _G.
Rehmanni_, figured on Plate 20. The variety _calvatus_ has up to the
present only been recorded from the Pretoria and Barberton Districts of
the Transvaal, but the species is a native of Natal, East Griqualand and
the Transkei. The specimens from which our illustration was made were
collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at Brits, and were found
growing in deep black turf soil. The variety is also figured in the
_Botanical Magazine_, t. 6291, and a comparison of that plate with the
one reproduced here will show a difference in the colouring of the
flowers, but Dr. Pole Evans states that the pale yellow and speckled
forms grow together and are undoubtedly the same. The yellow-flowered
form was introduced into cultivation in England in 1877, and both this
and our plant differ from the species in being glabrous.
DESCRIPTION:--_Plant_ about 1 m. high. _Old corm_ 4 cm. in diameter, 1·5
cm. thick, disc-like; new corm more or less globose on the old corm.
_Produced leaves_ about 5, the longest up to almost 1 m. long, the free
portion of uppermost leaf about 30 cm. long; all 0·8-1·8 cm. broad,
strap-shaped, narrowing to the apex, acute or obtuse, equitant at the
base, 12-15-nerved with the main nerves subprominent and with
cartilaginous margins, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ densely many-flowered,
almost 30 cm. long. _Outer spathe valve_ 3·7 cm. long, 2 cm. broad,
ovate, acuminate, acute, 3-keeled below, with membranous margins,
glabrous; inner spathe-valve very similar to the outer, but strongly
2-keeled. _Perianth-tube_ 1·5 cm. long, slightly curved; the upper
perianth-lobe 4·2 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, elliptic, shortly apiculate;
two upper lateral lobes 3·5 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, ovate-elliptic,
shortly apiculate at the apex; lowermost lobe 3·2 cm. long, 1·3 cm.
broad, elliptic-ovate, minutely apiculate; two lower lateral lobes 2·5
cm. long, 6 mm. broad, linear-oblong, apiculate. _Filaments_ 1·2 cm.
long, terete, glabrous; anthers 1·25 cm. long, linear, somewhat
sagittate at the base. _Style_ 2·5 cm. long, terete, glabrous; stigmas 8
mm. long, linear, broadening to the apex (National Herb. 2731).
* * * * *
PLATE 125.--Fig. 1, leaf; Fig. 2, portion of leaf showing ribs; Fig. 3,
median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 4, inner spathe-valve; Fig.
5, outer spathe-valve; Fig. 6, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 7, style and
stigmas; Fig. 8, stamen.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _126._]
PLATE 126.
VELTHEIMIA ROODEAE.
_Cape Province._
LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.
VELTHEIMIA, _Gled._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 811.
=Veltheimia Roodeae=, _Phillips_, _sp. nov._, a _V. glauca_, Jacq.
foliis ovatis acuminatis et marginibus undulatis differt.
_Bulbus_ 13 cm. longus, 6 cm. latus. _Folia_ 12-15 cm. longa, basi 4-5
cm. lata, ovata, acuminata, apice acuta, marginibus undulatis, glabra.
_Pedunculus_ 12-15 cm. longus, 6 mm. latus. _Inflorescentia_ 3·5 cm.
longa. _Bracteae_ 1 cm. longae. _Pedicellus_ 1·5 mm. longus. _Tubus
perianthii_ 2·2 cm. longus, cylindricus, basi paullo globosus; lobi 1·5
mm. longi, 1·5 mm. lati, ovati, apice obtusi. _Filamenta_ 1 cm. longa;
antherae 2·25 mm. longae, oblongae. _Ovarium_ 1 cm. longum, 2·5 mm.
latum, sulcatum; stylus 1 cm. longus; stigma simplex.
As we find it impossible to place this plant into any of the known
species of the genus, we have decided to publish a description of it
under the name of _V. Roodeae_, in honour of Mrs. R. Rood of Van
Rhynsdorp, to whom our readers are greatly indebted for so many of the
rare plants we have previously figured. It differs in the shape of the
leaves from any of the species described in the _Flora Capensis_. They
are distinctly undulate.
_Veltheimia_ is a small genus of 3 species, none of which appears to
have been extensively gathered by recent botanical collectors. The first
known species, _V. viridifolia_, was described by Linneaus (as _Aletris
capensis_) in 1751, and was introduced into European cultivation in
1768, so that a species of the genus was known to botanical science over
150 years ago.
_V. viridifolia_, Jacq., does quite well under cultivation, but we have
not yet had an opportunity of growing the species here described.
DESCRIPTION:--Bulb 13 cm. long, 6 cm. in diameter, ellipsoid, covered
with membranous tunics, at the base with a disc-shaped rootstock 6 cm.
in diameter, 2·5 cm. thick, from which the roots arise. _Leaves_ 11 to a
bulb, 12-15 cm. long, 4·5 cm. broad near the base, ovate, acuminate,
acute, clasping at the base, with undulate margins and a broad thick
midrib beneath slightly raised, green and glaucous above, densely
reddish-spotted beneath, glabrous. _Peduncle_ as long as the leaves, 6
mm. in diameter, terete, reddish by being covered with close-set reddish
spots. _Inflorescence_ 3·5 cm. long. _Bracts_ 1 cm. long, almost
filiform. _Pedicels_ 1·5 mm. long. _Flowers_ somewhat reflexed;
perianth-tube 2·2 cm. long, 4 mm. in diameter, cylindric, faintly
globose and bent about the middle, white with reddish spots; lobes 1·5
mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, ovate, obtuse. _Stamens_ fixed to the middle of
the perianth-tube; filaments 1 cm. long; anthers 2·25 mm. long, oblong.
_Ovary_ 1 cm. long, 2·5 mm. in diameter, in the middle spindle-shaped,
furrowed; style 1 cm. long, terete; stigma simple (National Herb. 2739).
* * * * *
PLATE 126.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 2,
stamen; Fig. 3, pistil; Fig. 4, cross-section through the ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _127._]
PLATE 127.
STRUMARIA TRUNCATA.
_Cape Province._
AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.
STRUMARIA, _Jacq._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 728.
=Strumaria truncata=, _Jacq. Ic._ ii. t. 357; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 216.
_Strumaria_ is a small endemic South African genus, and five species
have been described in the _Flora Capensis_, all of which have been
figured by Jacquin in his _Icones Plantarum Rariorum_. Two of the
species are recorded from Little Namaqualand, but no locality is known
for the other three, nor do any specimens appear to exist in herbaria,
Jacquin’s figures and descriptions being all we know about them. It is
with particular pleasure, therefore, that we reproduce this illustration
of a species of this little-known genus, and our readers are again
indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of Van Rhynsdorp for sending us fresh material.
Our plant differs slightly from Jacquin’s figure, inasmuch as the
dilated portion of the style does not narrow towards the base and is
irregularly lobed above, but on this account we do not feel justified in
keeping it distinct from _Strumaria truncata_.
_Strumaria truncata_ is a charming little plant with an umbel of white,
sweet-smelling flowers, faintly tinged with pink (the _Flora Capensis_
states flowers “inodorous”). The bulbs received from Mrs. Rood are being
grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and we feel sure once the
species becomes known it will be sought after by cultivators of our
South African bulbs.
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 3 cm. in diameter, globose or ovoid, covered with
pale brown papery tunics, and produced into a distinct neck up to 3·5
cm. long. _Leaves_ 4-6, arising from a sheath, 2·2-4·5 cm. long, 1·2 cm.
broad, oblanceolate or oblong (strap-shaped), rounded at the apex,
glabrous. _Leaf-sheath_ 1·5-2 cm. in diameter, funnel-shaped, truncate,
fleshy, reddish. _Peduncle_ lateral, 15-23 cm. long, terete, glabrous.
_Spathe-valves_ reddish, 2-3·2 cm. long, longer or shorter than the
pedicels. _Pedicels_ slender, 1·2-2 cm. long, glabrous. _Inflorescence_
13-25-flowered; flowers white, faintly but sweet-scented. _Segments_ 1
cm. long, 3·6 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse. _Filaments_ connate into a
tube for 5 mm., then free for 7 mm., erect, glabrous; anthers 2·5 mm.
long, oblong, versatile. _Ovary_ 1·5 mm. long, globose, glabrous, with
about 5 ovules in each cell; style dilated, sharply 3-angled below and
united with filaments; free part of style 5·5 mm. long, terete; stigma
minutely 3-fid (National Herb., Pretoria, 2729).
* * * * *
PLATE 127.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of the flower; Fig. 2, a
perianth segment; Fig. 3, style, showing the dilated 3-angled lower
portion of the 3 stigmas; Fig. 4, a stamen.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _128._]
PLATE 128.
MIMETES ARGENTEA.
_Cape Province._
PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEEAE.
MIMETES, _Salisb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 171.
Mimetes argentea, _Knight, Prot. 67_; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 647.
We have previously figured species of _Mimetes_, viz. _M. palustris_
(Pl. 36), _M. hottentotica_ (Pl. 82) and _M. capitulata_ (Pl. 58), and a
comparison of the present Plate with the above will show that _M.
argentea_ differs from the former two species in the cylindric, not
swollen, stigma, and from the latter in the larger leaves and the
greater number of flowers in each head.
_M. argentea_, up to the time of the publication of the _Flora
Capensis_, was only known from specimens collected by Roxburgh, Masson
and Niven over one hundred years ago, and it was only recently that the
species was rediscovered. In May 1923, Mr. A. T. Prentice collected
specimens near Villiersdorp, very probably in the same locality visited
by Masson. Mr. Prentice writes: “They were found on the slopes of the
south (_i.e._ Villiersdorp) side of French Hoek Peak about 3000 ft.
There were about 50 trees, 3-6 ft. high, and the habit is different from
most of the _Proteaceae_ I have noticed. I do not know how to describe
it, but it is very open and something like a candelabra, branching all
round. The flower spikes all stick straight up, in fact it grows like
the advertised type of pruned apple-tree.” Mr. R. Hallack came across
the species on the Hottentot Holland Mountains, and in June last Mr. T.
P. Stokoe also collected it on the same mountain range. He had noted the
plant two years previously, but was unable to obtain it in flower. It is
from specimens forwarded by Mr. Stokoe that the present Plate was
prepared.
DESCRIPTION:--_Shrub_ 4 ft. high; branches velvety-tomentose. _Leaves_
1½-2½ in. long, 1-1½ in. broad, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, with a
subobtuse callus at the apex, entire, slightly narrowed to the base,
indistinctly 9-nerved, very densely tomentose with adpressed silky
hairs. _Heads_ subsessile, 1½ in. long, including the styles,
7-9-flowered, axillary; involucral bracts about 3-seriate, coriaceous,
the outer ovate-oblong, silky tomentose, the inner linear, long-villous;
receptacle densely setose with long weak hairs. _Perianth-tube_ very
short, rusty-villous; segments 1 in. long, linear, rusty-villous; limb
4½ in. long, villous. _Stamens_ 3 in. long; filaments swollen, fused
with the perianth anthers 2¾ in. long, linear; apical gland 1/8 in.
long, ovoid, acute. _Hypogynous scales_ 1¼ in. long, linear, subacute,
white. _Ovary_ ¾ in. long, oblong, pubescent; style 1½ in. long,
filiform, glabrous; stigma 3 in. long, linear, obtuse, furrowed, kneed
at the junction with the style (National Herb. 2728).
* * * * *
PLATE 128.--Fig. 1, a single head; Fig. 2, an involucral bract; Fig. 3,
a single flower; Fig. 4, complete perianth segment and a limb showing
position of the stamen; Fig. 5, stigma; Fig. 6, ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _129._]
PLATE 129.
POLYXENA ENSIFOLIA.
_Cape Province._
* * * * *
LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.
POLYXENA, _Kunth_; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 807.
* * * * *
=Polyxena ensifolia=, _Schönland in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr._ vol. i. p. 444,
Fig. 2.
* * * * *
On Plate 56 we figured a species of _Polyxena (P. haemanthoides)_, and
gave a few remarks on the genus. The present species, collected by Mr.
A. J. Austin at Matjesfontein, C. P., was at first thought to be _P.
pygmaea_, Kunth, but it differs in many respects from the published
figures, and as it agrees quite well with Schönland’s description of _P.
ensifolia_, we have decided to place it under this species for the
present. Dr. Schönland, who saw the living plant at Pretoria, suggested
that it was a species differing both from _P. ensifolia_ and _P.
pygmaea_; but until we know more about the genus both as regards the
variability of the species and its distribution, it seems desirable to
regard it as a form of P. ensifolia.
_P. ensifolia_ is a pretty little plant. The leaves are semi-erect and
the inflorescence of pale lilac flowers arises between them. It does
quite well under cultivation, and has flowered for two seasons at the
Division of Botany, Pretoria. We are indebted to Mr. Austin for the
original bulbs.
_Description_:--_Bulb_ 2·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. in diameter, ovoid, covered
with papery tunics. _Leaves_ two, erect or spreading above, produced
into a long clasping base 5-6 cm. long; the broadened lamina 5 cm. long,
3 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse, with reddish somewhat scarious margins, not
distinctly veined, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ corymbose, about
35-flowered. _Peduncle_ 6 cm. long, subterete. _Bracts_ 4·5 mm. long,
ovate, acuminate, colourless. _Pedicels_, ·35-1·6 cm. long, glabrous.
_Perianth-tube_ 1·5 cm. long, cylindric, gradually widening above; lobes
5·5 to 6 mm. long, 1·75 mm. broad, oblong, somewhat emarginate and
hooded at the apex. _Stamens_ in two rows; filaments 3 mm. long, terete,
glabrous; anthers 1 mm. long, oblong. _Ovary_ 3 mm. long, 1·5 mm. in
diameter, ellipsoid; style 1·4 cm. long, terete; stigma minutely 3-lobed
(National Herb. 2741).
* * * * *
PLATE 129.--Fig. 1, inflorescence; Fig. 2, a single flower; Fig. 3,
flower laid open, showing position of stamens and pistil; Fig. 4,
stamen; Fig. 5, pistil.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _130._]
PLATE 130.
HABENARIA FOLIOSA.
_Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal._
* * * * *
ORCHIDACEAE. Tribe OPHRYDEAE.
HABENARIA, _Willd._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 624.
* * * * *
=Habenaria foliosa=, _Reichb. f. in Flora_, 1865, 180; _Fl. Cap_. vol.
v. sect. iii. p. 121; _Bolus Ic. Orch. Austro-Afr_. ii. t. 46.
* * * * *
The species of _Habenaria_ figured here has a wide range of distribution
in South Africa. Starting from Swellendam in the south, it follows more
or less the littoral strip as far as Port Alfred, and then spreads
inland through the Transkei and East Griqualand into Natal, and through
Basutoland and the eastern part of the Free State and up into the
Transvaal Drakensbergen. The species is also met with in the Pretoria
District, which is outside its normal range of distribution. In
Basutoland the natives call it “_Mametsana_,” meaning “the mother of the
small water.” The spur contains a watery substance which becomes
jelly-like on exposure to air.
Around Pretoria the plant flowers in late summer, about February, after
the rains, and is then frequently met with in the veld. The plate was
prepared from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at
Irene in February 1923.
DESCRIPTION:--_Plant_ 30-40 cm. high. _Tuber_ 5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. in
diameter, ellipsoid, with thick cylindric roots arising from the
junction of the stem and tuber. _Stem_ covered with many amplexicaul
leaves which pass gradually into the bracts. _Leaves_ 4·5-8 cm. long, up
to 3 cm. wide, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, stem-clasping at the base,
obtuse or subapiculate at the apex, keeled with the midrib and 2 lateral
veins prominent or distinct, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ many-flowered, up
to 13 cm. long. _Bracts_ similar to the leaves but smaller. _Dorsal
sepal_ 1 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, ovate, deeply concave, faintly
3-nerved; lateral sepals 1·3 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad, oblong, unequal
sided, slightly cucullate at the apex, faintly 3-nerved. _Petals_
1·4-1·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, unequal sided, revolute on one margin
near the apex, faintly 5-nerved. _Lip_ 2 cm. long, with revolute margins
and with two lateral filiform appendages at the base. _Spur_ 3·5 cm.
long, cylindric, clavate at the apex. _Rostellum_ triangular in outline,
the two side lobes notched. _Pollinia_ sacs behind the rostellum.
_Stigmas_ separate, oblong, with small papillae at the junction of the
stigma and pollinium sac. _Ovary_ deeply grooved and angled (National
Herb. 2730).
* * * * *
PLATE 130.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, front
of flower, showing lip and column; Fig. 3, sepals; Fig. 4, a petal; Fig.
5, ovary; Fig. 6, pollinium.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _131._]
PLATE 131.
SUTERA GRANDIFLORA.
_Transvaal._
* * * * *
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Tribe MANULEAE.
SUTERA, _Roth._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. ii. p. 945.
* * * * *
=Sutera grandiflora=, _Hiern._; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 304.
* * * * *
Mr. E. E. Galpin, who collected this species round Barberton in 1889,
described it in the _Kew Bulletin_ (1895, p. 151) under the name of
_Lyperia grandiflora_. The species is a native of the Barberton District
of the Transvaal, but has not been extensively collected. Mr. Galpin
describes it as “abundant amongst scrub on the hillsides and in the
valleys around Barberton, flowering throughout the year, but chiefly in
June and July.” In cultivation it grows to a rather dense bush 2 to 4
feet high, and flowers profusely. Very fine specimens are in cultivation
at the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, and we are indebted to
the Director of the gardens for the fresh material from which the
accompanying Plate was prepared. The species should prove a great
acquisition to horticulturists.
DESCRIPTION:--An undershrub, viscid-pubescent erect, 0·4 to 1·2 m. high;
branches alternate or opposite, ascending, leafy, rigid, rather robust,
the lower elongated. _Leaves_ mostly alternate, subfasciculate,
oval-oblong, obtuse or subacute, more or less wedge-shaped at the base,
crenate-serrate, hispid, scabrid, shortly petiolate, 0·6 to 3 cm. long,
3 to 8 mm. broad; lateral veins alternate, narrowly impressed on the
upper face, hispid and raised on the lower. _Flowers_ racemose,
numerous, 2 to 3 cm. long; racemes terminal, simple, subcorymbose and
rather dense at first, afterwards elongating and rather lax, deep
purple, 4 to 30 cm. long; pedicels divaricate or ascending,
glandular-pilose, moderately rigid, 1-flowered, alternate, 6 to 8 mm.
long, the upper crowded; bracts basal, sublinear, solitary or
subfasciculate. _Calyx_ glandular-hispid, deeply 5-lobed, 6 to 8 mm.
long; segments linear-oblong or spathulate or sublinear, obtuse.
_Corolla-tube_ shortly glandular-pubescent, 0·8 to 3 cm. long,
subcylindrical, rather slender, slightly dilated and curved near the
top; limb spreading, 2 to 3 cm. in diameter; lobes obovate-rotund,
entire or retuse, 1 to 1·3 cm. long. _Stamens_ included; style filiform,
glabrous, about 1·5 cm. long; ovary sprinkled especially near the apex
with small glands, otherwise glabrous. _Capsules_ ovoid-oblong, minutely
glandular, 1 cm. long; seeds very numerous, irregularly oblong, 0-5 mm.
long. (_Flora Capensis_; National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2742.)
* * * * *
PLATE 131.--Fig. 1, portion of branch, showing leaves; Fig. 2, median
longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 3, bud showing folding of petals;
Fig. 4, corolla laid open; Fig. 5, calyx; Fig. 6, front view of petals;
Fig. 7, ovary; Fig. 8, upper portion of style; Fig. 9, anther.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _132._]
PLATE 132.
NERINE FRITHII.
_Cape Province, Orange Free State._
* * * * *
AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.
NERINE, _Herb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_, vol. iii. p. 728.
* * * * *
=Nerine Frithii=, _L. Bolus in Ann. Bolus Herb._ vol. iii. p. 79.
* * * * *
It is the first occasion that we figure a species of one of the most
beautiful of South African genera, namely _Nerine_. _N. sarniensis_,
known as the “Guernsey Lily,” and to mountaineers in the Cape as the
“Nerina,” ranks with _Disa uniflora_ as one of the floral beauties of
Table Mountain. The species illustrated, while it does not equal its
Cape congener in the size of its flowers, is a charming little plant
when seen growing. It differs from the closely allied genus _Hessea_
(see Plate 43) in having dorsifixed instead of basifixed anthers, and
belongs to a small group of species in the genus _Nerine_ which have the
anthers appendiculate at the base. The species has been successfully
grown in the National Botanic Gardens at Kirstenbosch, near Cape Town,
and was described by Mrs. L. Bolus from specimens which flowered at
Kirstenbosch. Our plate was prepared from specimens which flowered at
the Division of Botany, Pretoria. The plant figured differs from the
description in not having two of the lobes of the staminal cup longer
than the others, but Mrs. Bolus, who kindly examined our specimens,
agrees that it is _N. Frithii_.
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 2 cm. long, 1·7 cm. in diameter, ovoid-globose.
_Leaves_ present with the flowers, very often only two, up to 15 cm.
long, 1 to 1·5 mm. broad, subfiliform, channelled above. _Inflorescence_
an umbel of 5 to 7 flowers. _Peduncle_ up to 20 cm. long, terete.
_Spathe-valves_ 2·5 to 3 cm. long, oblong, long-attenuate. _Pedicels_ up
to 3 cm. long. _Floral-bracts_ 1 to 1·5 cm. long, thread-like,
membranous. _Perianth-segments_ spreading, at length recurved, 1.5 cm.
long, 4 mm. broad, linear, acute, with undulate margins. _Stamens_
declinate; filaments 0.35 to 6 mm. long, appendiculate at the base
forming a cup 3 cm. long, somewhat lacerated above, with two lobes
usually much exceeding the others; anthers 4 mm. long. _Ovary_ obovate,
with 2 ovules in each loculus. _Capsule_ globose, 8 mm. in diameter.
(National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2746.)
* * * * *
PLATE 132.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, cross
section of leaf; Fig. 3, a single perianth-segment; Fig. 4, a stamen,
showing position of appendage at the base; Fig. 5, anther; Fig. 6,
fruit, showing cup formed of staminal appendages; Fig. 7, tip of style;
Fig. 8, fruit.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _133._]
PLATE 133.
PROTEA ROUPPELLIAE.
_Orange Free State, Transvaal, Swaziland, Cape Province,
Natal._
* * * * *
PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEAE.
PROTEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 169.
* * * * *
=Protea Rouppelliae=, _Meisn. in DC. Prodr._ vol. xiv. p. 237; _Fl. Cap._
vol. v. sect. i. p. 573.
* * * * *
This common and characteristic _Protea_ of the Drakensbergen we figure
here for the first time. It appears to have been originally collected by
Burke and Zeyher on the Magaliesberg, and was described by Meisner and
named after Mrs. Rouppell, who published an illustrated book of Cape
flowers.
_P. Rouppelliae_ forms extensive thickets on the slopes of the
Drakensbergen, and in this respect resembles _P. mellifera_, _P.
lepidocarpodendron_ and _P. neriifolia_ of the Cape Province. The
species belongs to the same section of the genus as _P. compacta_,
figured on Plate 84.
The specimens from which the accompanying Plate was painted were
collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at the Devil’s Kantoor in the
Barberton District of the Transvaal.
DESCRIPTION:--A small tree 8 to 15 ft. high; branches villous or
tomentose above, at length glabrescent. _Leaves_ 10 to 15 cm. long, 2 to
4 cm. broad at the widest part, 4 mm. broad at the base,
oblong-lanceolate or obovate-spathulate, acute, the younger densely
villous or tomentose, at length glabrous, narrowed at the base,
reticulately veined. _Head_ shortly peduncled, 7 to 9 mm. long, 5 to 10
cm. in diameter. _Involucral bracts_ 10-seriate, silky-tomentose, deep
pink to pinky-white; outer ovate, obtuse, recurved to revolute, ciliate;
inner with an obovate to obovate-oblong limb, gradually passing into the
claw, shortly ciliate above, exceeding the flowers; perianth-sheath 4·5
cm. long, dilated and 3-keeled and 7-nerved below, loosely villous
above the dilated portion; lip 3 cm. long, 3-awned, spreadingly villous;
lateral awns 1·2 cm. long, linear, acuminate, purple, tomentose to
villous; median awn 8 mm. long; fertile stamens 3; filaments 1 mm. long,
flattened; anthers linear, 3 mm. long; apical glands 0·5 mm. long,
oblong, acute; barren stamen acute, eglandular; ovary 4 mm. long,
obovate in outline, densely covered with numerous long golden hairs;
style 5 cm. long, curved, somewhat flattened, keeled below on the convex
side, usually more or less shortly villous; stigma 4 mm. long, curved
and kneed at the junction with the style. (_Flora Capensis_; National
Herb. Pretoria, No. 2836.)
* * * * *
PLATE 133.--Fig. 1, receptacle; Fig. 2, inner bract; Fig. 3, single
flower; Fig. 4, pistil.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _134._]
PLATE 134.
NERINE LUCIDA.
_Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal._
* * * * *
AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.
NERINE, _Herb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 728.
* * * * *
=Nerine lucida=, _Herb. Amaryllid_. 283, t. 36, fig. 3; _Fl. Cap._ vol.
vi. p. 214.
* * * * *
This species is, so far as we know, confined to the dry western portions
of the Cape Province, S.W. Protectorate, Transvaal, and Orange Free
State. Burchell found the plant both in Griqualand West and in
Bechuanaland, and Burke on his journey up to the Transvaal found it near
the Sand River in the Orange Free State. In habit the species very much
resembles a dwarf _Brunsvigia_, but is distinguished from this genus by
the obtusely angled ovary. The short stout peduncle is also found in two
other species of _Nerine_.
A coloured plant of _N. lucida_ was published in 1820 (_Botanical
Register_, Plate 497), drawn from a plant which flowered in the garden
of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg.
The specimens from which the accompanying Plate was prepared were
collected at Vryburg by Mr. A. O. D. Mogg, and flowered at the Division
of Botany, Pretoria, in 1924.
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ globose, 4 cm. in diameter, produced into a neck
about 4 cm. long. _Leaves_ 6, contemporary with the flowers, about 18
cm. long, about 12 mm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, bright green.
_Peduncle_ lateral, about 12 cm. long, compressed. _Inflorescence_ an
umbel of 20 flowers. _Pedicels_ up to 7 cm. long, shortly hairy.
_Spathe-valves_ ovate-lanceolate, membranous, shorter than the pedicels.
_Perianth-segments_ 15 mm. long, 5 mm. broad, lanceolate-linear, obtuse.
_Stamens_ declinate, almost as long as the perianth segments. _Ovary_
obtusely trigonous; style declinate, as long as the stamens. (National
Herb., Pretoria, No. 2835.)
PLATE 134.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 2,
upper portion of perianth lobe, showing apex; Fig. 3, cross-section
through the peduncle.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _135._]
PLATE 135.
EULOPHIA LEONTOGLOSSA.
_Orange Free State, Transvaal, Cape Province, Natal._
* * * * *
ORCHIDACEAE. Tribe VANDEAE.
EULOPHIA, _R.Br._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 535.
* * * * *
=Eulophia leontoglossa=, _Reichb. f. in Flora_, 1881, 329; _Fl. Cap_. vol. v.
sect. iii. p. 45.
* * * * *
This charming little _Eulophia_ is found in the summer months round
Pretoria growing in the grass veld, and is fairly abundant. Like many
other plants found in the neighbourhood of the Magaliesberg, it was
collected by the travellers Burke and Zeyher. It ranges from the Maclear
Division, through the Orange Free State, to Natal and the Transvaal.
_E. leontoglossa_ belongs to the same small group (four species) in the
genus as _E. Zeyheri_ (figured on Plate 119), which is characterised by
the flowers being arranged in congested racemes or short heads. Like _E.
Zeyheri_ also, the tubers are arranged in a linear series and resemble
large oval beads.
Our figure was made from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans,
C.M.G., at Irene, near Pretoria.
DESCRIPTION:--_Tubers_ subglobose, about 2 cm. broad; leaves 2 or 3 in a
fascicle, linear or lanceolate-linear, acute or acuminate, 10 to 36 cm.
long, 1·25 to 8 mm. broad. _Scapes_ erect, 10 to 35 cm. long, with a few
lanceolate acuminate sheaths below. _Flower-heads_ congested or rarely
oblong, 2·5 to 5 cm. long; bracts linear or linear-lanceolate,
acuminate, 1·3 to 2 cm. long; pedicels 6 to 8 mm. long; lip 3-lobed,
elliptic-oblong, narrowed at the base, about as long as the petals;
side-lobes somewhat divergent, oblong, obtuse or truncate, short; front
lobe elliptic-oblong, obtuse; disc with 5 obscure keels below, papillose
above, and with the surface of the front lobe strongly papillose all
over; spur oblong or subclavate, obtuse, 4 mm. long; column clavate, 4
mm. long. (_Fl. Cap._)
* * * * *
PLATE 135.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, lip;
Fig. 3, sepal; Fig. 4, petal; Fig. 5, column; Fig. 6, pollinia.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _136._]
PLATE 136.
HAEMANTHUS KATHARINAE.
_Natal, Transvaal._
* * * * *
AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.
HAEMANTHUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 730.
* * * * *
=Haemanthus Katharinae=, _Baker in Gard. Chron._ 1877, vol. vii. p. 656;
_Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 231.
* * * * *
On Plate 32 of this work we figured a species of _Haemanthus_ (_H.
natalensis_) which differs from the present species in having the
involucral-bracts erect instead of spreading. _Haemanthus Katharinae_,
with its spreading involucral-bracts and perianth-segments, is unique in
this respect amongst the South African species of the genus. On the
inflorescence figured was an odd flower with 8 perianth-lobes and 8
stamens.
The species was introduced into England in 1877 by Mr. Keith, who was
then Superintendent of the Durban Botanic Gardens. In 1884 an excellent
figure (Plate 6778) appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_, made from
plants which flowered at Kew from bulbs sent by Mr. W. B. Lyle of Kirkly
Vale Estate, Natal.
We are indebted to Mr. P. S. Follwell, Isezela, Natal, for our specimen,
which was cultivated at the Division and flowered in January 1923.
DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ up to 18 cm. long. _Leaves_ 5 to 6 to a plant,
contemporary with the flowers, 20 to 30 cm. long, 10 to 13 cm. broad,
oblong, shortly mucronate; petiole 3 to 4 cm. long, channelled above.
_Peduncle_ lateral, terete, up to 40 cm. long. _Inflorescence_ a
many-flowered umbel. _Bracts_ 6, membranous, spreading or reflexed.
_Pedicels_ slender, 2·5 to 4 cm. long. _Perianth-tube_ 2 cm. long; lobes
2·5 cm. long, linear-lanceolate, spreading or reflexed. _Stamens_
inserted at the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments 4·5 cm. long,
erect; anthers 3 mm. long. _Ovary_ ellipsoid; style up to 6 cm. long;
stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2837.)
* * * * *
PLATE 136.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, median longitudinal
section of the flower; Fig. 3, perianth segment showing attachment of
stamen.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _137._]
PLATE 137.
DIPLOCYATHA CILIATA.
_Cape Province._
* * * * *
ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe STAPELIEAE.
DIPLOCYATHA, _N. E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Soc._ vol. xvii. p. 168, t. 12,
figs. 1 to 3.
* * * * *
=Diplocyatha ciliata=, _N. E. Br._ l.c.; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. i. p. 923.
* * * * *
When Mr. Brown first described this remarkable genus in 1880, he only
knew of Masson’s and Thunberg’s specimens, and up to the time of the
account in the _Flora Capensis_ (1909) Dr. Marloth was the only recent
collector who had found the plant. Mrs. D. van der Bijl, of Abraham’s
Kraal, in the Beaufort West District, who has contributed several
interesting plants we have figured, sent us specimens in 1919, which
flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, this year.
It was figured in a coloured plate by Masson in 1796, and our present
Plate is the first to be produced since then. A pencil drawing of a
portion of the flower, the corona and the pollinia, accompanied Brown’s
original description, and while our specimen differs in some minor
points from the drawings, we have no hesitation in referring it to the
same species. The flower is rather handsome, and devoid of the
objectionable smell usually associated with the members of the tribe
_Stapelieae_.
DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ decumbent and ascending, 4 to 6·5 cm. long, 1·5 to
2 cm. thick excluding the teeth, obtusely 4-angled, with stout conical
acute teeth 4 to 6 mm. long, glabrous, green, mottled with purple.
_Flowers_ subsolitary from near the base or middle of the stems;
pedicels 1 to 2 cm. long, erect, glabrous. _Sepals_ about 6 mm. long,
ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, glabrous. _Corolla_ about 7·5 cm. in
diameter, smooth and glabrous outside, densely papillate-rugose on the
inner face, according to Thunberg and Masson, greyish, with the tips of
the papillae reddish, but according to Masson’s figure, pale yellowish
with a greyish ring around the mouth of the tube, minutely dotted with
red; tube campanulate, apparently slightly raised at its mouth around
the very thick recurved papillate-rugose rim of the inner tube, which is
densely covered with stiff purple hairs at the base around and under the
corona; lobes about 2·5 cm. long, 1·5 to 2 cm. broad, spreading, ovate,
acute, ciliate from base to apex with clavate vibratile white hairs;
outer corona-lobes arising above the base of the staminal column,
connate at the base, somewhat spreading, with the free 2/3 to 1·5 mm.
long, 2 mm. broad, transverse or subquadrate, very obtusely or
subacutely bifid, glabrous, apparently yellowish dotted with
purple-brown; inner corona-lobes incumbent on the backs of the anthers,
about 1·5 mm. long, thick, ovate, acute, or acuminate with the tips
produced into a very short erect point, apparently yellowish, dotted and
marked with purple-brown. (_Flora Capensis_; National Herb. Pretoria,
No. 2841.)
* * * * *
PLATE 137.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of the flower with
corona removed; Fig. 2, sepals; Fig. 3, corona; Fig. 4, pollinia; Fig.
5, inner corona lobe showing pollen-sac; Fig. 6, cross-section of stem.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _138._]
PLATE 138.
URGINEA BURKEI.
_Transvaal, Cape Province._
* * * * *
LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.
URGINEA, _Steinh._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_, vol. iii. p. 810.
* * * * *
=Urginea Burkei=, _Baker_; _Fl. Cap_. vol. vi. p. 469.
* * * * *
This species of _Urginea_ is well known to the farmers of the Transvaal
under the common name of “Transvaal Slangkop,” owing to the somewhat
striking resemblance of the young inflorescence to a snake’s head. The
plant is extremely poisonous to stock, and in early spring many
fatalities are reported. For a fuller account of this plant see Bulletin
No. 7, 1922, of the Union Department of Agriculture. Burke first
collected the species on the Magaliesberg about 1830, but it remained
undescribed until Baker published his description in the _Flora
Capensis_ in 1896.
The specimen figured on the accompanying Plate was grown and flowered in
the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria.
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ globose, tunicated, about 7 cm. in diameter.
_Leaves_ about 26 cm. long, about 1 cm. broad, linear. _Peduncle_ 17 cm.
long, terete. _Inflorescence_ a cylindric raceme, 17 cm. long.
_Pedicels_ ascending; the lower 1 cm. long. _Bracts_ small, oblong,
subacuminate, membranous, spurred at the base, deciduous. _Perianth_ 1
cm. long; segments oblong-lanceolate, white with a brown keel. _Stamens_
shorter than the perianth-segments. _Ovary_ 4 mm. long, obtusely
trigonous; style 3·5 mm. long. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2647.)
PLATE 138.--Fig. 1, surface view of flower; Fig. 2, perianth-segment
with stamen; Fig. 3, pistil; Fig. 4, bract.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _139._]
PLATE 139.
NERINE FLEXUOSA
var. SANDERSONI.
_Transvaal._
* * * * *
AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.
* * * * *
NERINE, _Herb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 728.
=Nerine flexuosa=, _Herb. App. 19_; _Fl. Cap_. vol. vi. p. 211.
* * * * *
Our Plate represents a variety of _Nerine flexuosa_ found in the
Transvaal, which is distinguished from the type in having a more robust
inflorescence. It very much resembles _N. lucida_, figured on Plate 134,
but the peduncle is much longer and not so stout. Very little is known
about this variety. It is recorded in the _Flora Capensis_ as collected
by Sanderson in the Transvaal, and does not appear to have been found
again by any recent collector. When planted in a mass it makes a very
effective display as soon as the flowers appear.
The plants from which this Plate was prepared were grown at the Division
of Botany, Pretoria, but no information is available as to where the
bulbs originally came from.
DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ globose, 7 cm. in diameter. _Leaves_ about 7, 30
cm. long, 2·7 cm. broad, strap-shaped, usually twisted. _Umbel_ about
25-flowered. _Peduncle_ up to 40 cm. long, elliptic in cross-section.
_Pedicels_ up to 7 cm. long, slender. _Spathe-valves_ 4 cm. long, ovate,
acuminate. _Perianth-segments_ about 4 cm. long, crisped in the upper
half. _Stamens_ declinate; filaments almost as long as the
perianth-segments. _Ovary_ globose, obtusely 3-angled; style declinate,
as long as the filaments; stigma simple.
PLATE 139.--Fig. 1, bulb; Fig. 2, leaf; Fig. 3, cross-section of
peduncle; Fig. 4, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 5, upper
portion of perianth-segment, showing tuft of papillose hairs.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _140._]
PLATE 140.
CEROPEGIA AMPLIATA.
_Cape Province, Natal._
* * * * *
ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe CEROPEGIEAE.
CEROPEGIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. ii. p. 779.
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=Ceropegia ampliata=, _E. Mey. Comm. 194_; _Fl. Cap_. vol. iv. sect. i.
p. 817.
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