1·8-7 cm. broad (the largest leaves surrounding the head), elliptic or
elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed to the base, with distinct reddish
veins and a reddish margin, glabrous. _Head_ sessile, 5·5 cm. long, 7
cm. in diameter. _Involucral-bracts_ in about 9 rows; the outer ovate,
subacuminate, obtuse, ciliate; the inner oblong, incurved, somewhat
concave, slightly exceeding the flowers, scantily pilose. _Receptacle_
3·2 cm. broad at base, about 1·5 cm. high, conical. _Perianth-sheath_
2·6 cm. long, dilated, keeled and 3-nerved below, glabrous, except for
setae near the apex; lip 6 mm. long, setulose with golden-brown hairs.
_Hypogynous scales_ 1·5 mm. long, ovate. _Ovary_ covered with long
golden-brown hairs; style 4 cm. long, strongly falcate; stigma 3 mm.
long, almost imperceptibly passing into the style.
* * * * *
PLATE 76.--Fig. 1, branch with flower head; Fig. 2, receptacle;
Fig. 3, inner bract; Fig. 4, outer bract; Fig. 5, single flower;
Fig. 6, one perianthlobe.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
[Illustration: _77._
S. Gower del.]
PLATE 77.
CROSSANDRA GREENSTOCKII.
_Transvaal, Natal._
* * * * *
ACANTHACEAE. Tribe JUSTICIEAE.
CROSSANDRA, _Salisb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1094.
* * * * *
=Crossandra Greenstockii=, _S. Moore in Journ. Bot._, 1880, p. 37; _Fl.
Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 37.
* * * * *
This plant is of interest as being one of the many outliers of the
Tropical African flora in Southern Africa, and also as showing a
connection between the floras of Eastern India and Tropical Africa. The
genus _Crossandra_ is represented by about 15 species, most of which
occur in Tropical Africa, and one is recorded from India and the Malay
States. The species figured here occurs in the Nyasa Highlands, and
extends into Natal and the Transvaal as far south as Pretoria. During
the month of October the plant may be found in flower in the
neighbourhood of the Premier Mine, Pretoria, and the bright scarlet
flowers form a conspicuous feature in the veld. Specimens have been
recorded from various localities in the Northern Transvaal.
The fruits, as is so frequent in many species of _Acanthaceae_, have an
explosive mechanism, _i.e._ they burst suddenly into two valves when
wetted and scatter the seeds. The seeds, of which there are four in each
fruit, are tightly enveloped with long hairs which straighten out and
become mucilaginous when wet, thus fixing the seed to the ground.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No.
1494).
DESCRIPTION:--An acaulescent plant with underground rootstocks. _Stem_
short, glabrous. _Leaves_ opposite, 5-11 cm. long, 2·2-5·2 cm. broad,
obovate or elliptic, the narrower leaves sometimes lanceolate, obtuse,
narrowed at the base, with the midrib and lateral veins prominent
beneath, distinct above, glabrous or very sparsely pilose, especially
on the midrib and veins. _Peduncle_ 11-16 cm. long, terete, pilose,
naked below, but with 2 opposite leaves above. _Inflorescence_ 5-8 cm.
long, 1·7-2·2 cm. in diameter, more or less 4-angled. _Bracts_ 2·5 cm.
long, 1·8 cm. broad, obovate, shortly aristate, with 4-7 long teeth on
the margins, ciliate-glandular on both sides; bracteoles two, 2·5 cm.
long, 2 mm. broad, linear, acuminate, acute, glandular. _Sepals_ 5; the
lateral sepals 5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, linear, shortly aristate;
remainder 9 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad, oblong, subacuminate, ciliate
above. _Corolla-tube_ 2·2 cm. long, cylindric, ventricose at the base,
inflated and glandular above; lobe 1·2 cm. long, 2·2 cm. broad, somewhat
semicircular in outline. _Anthers_ hairy. _Ovary_ 1 cm. long, 3 mm.
broad, oblong in outline, shortly beaked, glabrous; style threadlike;
stigma inflated and hollow at the apex. _Ovules_ 2 in each cell,
discoid, covered with scales.
* * * * *
PLATE 77.--Fig. 1, corolla; Fig. 2, a single flower, showing bract
and bracteoles; Fig. 3, corolla laid open; Fig. 4, calyx
surrounding the ovary; Fig. 5, gynaecium; Fig. 6, apex of style;
Fig. 7, ovary with two ovules.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
[Illustration: _78._
S. Gower del.]
PLATE 78.
ROODIA DIGITIFOLIA.
_Cape Province._
* * * * *
FICOIDEAE. Tribe MESEMBRYEAE.
* * * * *
=Roodia=, _N. E. Brown_ (genus novum). _Herba_ succulenta, nana,
caespitosa. _Proles_ bifoliatae. _Pedunculus_ bracteatus,
uniflorus. _Calyx_ in tubum distinctum supra ovarium productus
6-lobus. _Petala_ numerosa, libera. _Stamina_ numerosissima,
pluriseriata, omnia a basi in tubum abrupte inflexa, exterioribus
brevioribus. _Ovarium_ multiloculare. _Stigma_ parvum,
inconspicuum, sessile, integrum. _Fructus_ multilocularis; loculi
alis binis subchartaceis tecti et dorsum versus tuberculo clausi.
=Roodia digitifolia=, _N. E. Brown_. _Planta_ 8-11 cm. alta,
caespitosa, glabra. _Proles_ bifoliatae, confertae. _Folia_ erecta,
8-11 cm. longa, 10-15 mm. crassa, digitiformia, subteretia faciebus
interioribus planis, apice obtusissima, inferne viridia, superne
purpureo-tincta. _Pedunculus_ 3-6 cm. longus, apice 4-5 mm.
crassus, erectus, uniflorus, infra medium bibracteatus, purpureus.
_Calycis tubus_ cum ovario 10 mm. longus, 10-11 mm. diametro; lobi
inaequales, 5-8 mm. longi, 5-7 mm. lati, ovati, obtusi vel
subacuti. _Corolla_ circiter 4 cm. diametro; petala numerosa,
subquadriseriata, exteriora circiter 15 mm. longa et 1 mm. lata,
interiora breviora, linearia, apice obtusa vel dentata, pulchre
purpurea. _Stamina_ numerosissima, in tubum calycis abrupte et
arcte inflexa. _Ovarium_ supra concavum. _Stigma_ sessile, parvum,
inconspicuum. _Fructus_ 12-14-locularis.
Cape Province: Van Rhynsdorp Division, near Van Rhynsdorp (_Mrs. E.
Rood_). Growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria (Garden No.
403).
* * * * *
This interesting plant is so like some species of _Mesembryanthemum_ in
general appearance, that most would unhesitatingly place it in that
genus. For a long time past, however, as I have elsewhere stated, it has
been dawning upon me that _Mesembryanthemum_, as at present understood,
is rather of the nature of a natural order than of a single genus. In
vegetative characters it presents a very great amount of variation, and
in most cases any particular kind of variation is found to be common to
several species, so as to form of them a group, indicating a generic
difference from the others. About a hundred years ago Haworth recognised
this and gave generic names to some of the groups he had formed, which
have neither been accepted nor taken notice of by subsequent authors.
Undoubtedly there is a great similarity in the flowers of many groups of
this genus that differ widely in their vegetative characteristics; yet
when investigated differences in floral structure may often be found
also, which, taken in conjunction with vegetative characters, are quite
as great and as distinctive as those which separate genera in many other
families of plants. This is the case with the plant at present under
consideration, for I find that it has a combination of three floral
characters, which, so far as known to me do not all occur together in
any species of _Mesembryanthemum_, namely: (1) the calyx is produced
into a distinct green tube above the ovary; (2) the stamens are all
abruptly bent down into the calyx-tube; and (3) the stigma is sessile,
undivided, and inconspicuous. Upon this combination of characters in
conjunction with its vegetative character, I establish a new genus, and
have much pleasure in naming it after its discoverer, Mrs. E. Rood, of
Van Rhynsdorp, who sent living plants of it to Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at
Pretoria, where it flowered. The accompanying figure of it was sent to
me by Dr. Pole Evans, together with a living plant and a flower in
fluid, with some notes by Dr. E. P. Phillips, from which the description
has been prepared.
DESCRIPTION:--A dwarf succulent plant branching at or below ground level
and forming clumps about 8-11 cm. high. _Leaves_ 2 to each growth, or 4
when the new growth is made, 8-11 cm. long, 10-15 mm. thick, erect,
nearly cylindric or finger-like, but with the inner face flattened,
united at the base, obtuse at the apex, glabrous and smooth, green
below, purplish at the apical part. _Peduncle_ erect, 3-6 cm. long, and
4-5 mm. thick at the apex, with a pair of bracts about 2 cm. long below
the middle. _Calyx_ 6-lobed, tube (including the ovary) 10 mm. long,
produced about 7 mm. above the ovary, about 10-11 mm. in diameter,
slightly constricted under the lobes, glabrous, green; lobes unequal,
5-8 mm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, ovate, subacute or obtuse, four of them
with membranous margins. _Corolla_ about 4 cm. in diameter, petals
numerous, in about 4 series, loosely recurved, spreading over one
another, the outer about 15 mm. long and 1 mm. broad, the others
gradually shorter, all linear, obtuse or notched at the apex, bright
magenta. _Stamens_ very numerous, all abruptly bent into and closely
pressed against the calyx-tube in a dense mass, leaving a clear central
opening to the stigma, the outermost series being the shortest.
_Stigma_ sessile, sunk in a slight pit and level with the concave top of
the ovary, entire, inconspicuous.
It may not be out of place to point out that dried specimens of
_Mesembryanthemum chrysoleucum_, Schlechter are so similar to _Roodia
digitifolia_ in general appearance, that the plant might easily be
mistaken for a species of _Roodia_. It differs, however, by being
destitute of bracts on its peduncle; by the leaves, peduncle, and calyx
being papillate; by the calyx being lobed down to the top of the ovary,
the stamens erect; and by having 7 stigmas and a 7-celled capsule.--N.
E. BROWN.
* * * * *
PLATE 78.--Fig. 1, plant 2/3 nat. size; Fig. 2, longitudinal
section through the flower; Fig. 3, calyx with 2 sepals; Fig. 4,
longitudinal section through receptacle; Fig. 5, petals; Fig. 6,
stamen; Fig. 7, bract; Fig. 8, fruit closed; Fig. 9, fruit open;
Fig. 10, cross-section of leaf.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
[Illustration: _79._
S. Gower del.]
PLATE 79.
BAUHINIA GALPINII.
_Transvaal._
* * * * *
LEGUMINOSAE. Tribe BAUHINIEAE.
BAUHINIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 575.
* * * * *
=Bauhinia Galpinii=, _N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron._, 1891, p. 728; _Hook. Ic.
Pl. t._ 19.
* * * * *
This handsome _Bauhinia_, known in the Transvaal as “The Pride of de
Kaap,” is a common plant in the low veld east of the Drakensberg. It is
a low half-climbing bush, and when in flower is a striking object in the
veld, the bright red flowers standing out in sharp contrast to the
surrounding vegetation. Specimens were first sent to Kew in 1880 by Mr.
T. Nelson, and later Mr. E. E. Galpin sent material which he collected
at Barberton. The plant lends itself to cultivation, and may be kept as
a trimmed bush in lawns, etc. If left to grow unchecked it becomes very
lanky. Our plate was prepared from a specimen growing in the garden of
the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and the plant has grown to a height of
about 30 ft. up a tree of _Cupressus sempervirens_, var. _pyramidalis_.
In cultivation, at least in Pretoria, very few seeds are produced.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No.
1601).
DESCRIPTION:--A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height of 5-30 ft.
_Branches_ with light-brown bark, minutely pubescent. _Leaves_ petioled;
lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5·5 cm. broad, more or less reniform in outline,
lobed above, subcordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and
prominent beneath, glabrous; petioles 8-1·5 cm. long, convex beneath,
channelled above. _Stipules_ 3 mm. long, deciduous. _Flowers_ in
3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. _Bracts_ and bracteoles 3 mm.
long, setaceous, deciduous. _Buds_ light brown, acuminate, pubescent.
_Calyx-tube_, 2-2·7 cm. long; limb spathaceous, unilateral in open
flowers. _Petals_ long clawed; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed;
limb 1·7-2 cm. long, 1·5-1·7 cm. broad, ovate, apiculate, subcordate,
at the base. _Fertile stamens_ 4; filaments 2·5 cm. long, terete, bent
inwards above; anthers 7 mm. long, linear. _Staminodes_ 5 mm. long,
setaceous, sometimes deeply 2-lobed. _Ovary_ on a long gynophore 1·5 cm.
long, silky pubescent; style 5 mm. long, stigma capitate. _Fruit_ 12·5
cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad, with a double margin along one edge,
oblanceolate, tipped with the persistent style, and narrowed at the
base. _Seeds_ 1·9 cm. long, oblong, flattened, dark brown.
* * * * *
PLATE 79.--Fig. 1, surface view of flower to show staminodes, the
limb of the petals removed; Fig. 2, pistil, showing long gynophore;
Fig. 3, stamen; Figs. 4, 5, front and side views of calyx; Fig. 6,
fruit.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
[Illustration: _80._
S. Gower del.]
PLATE 80.
KLATTIA STOKOEI.
_Cape Province._
* * * * *
IRIDACEAE. Tribe SISYRINCHIEAE.
KLATTIA, _B. Kr._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 702.
* * * * *
=Klattia Stokoei=, _L. Guthrie in Annals Bolus Herb_. vol. iii. p. 76.
* * * * *
The discovery of this remarkable plant by Mr. T. P. Stokoe on the
Hottentot’s Holland Mountains, near Somerset West, adds another species
to one of the South African endemic genera, which hitherto has been
regarded as monotypic. _Klattia partita_, found by Bowie, Thunberg, and
Burchell, is a rare plant, and is only known from the Langebergen near
Swellendam. It is figured by Marloth in “The Flora of South Africa,” t.
41. Our present species differs from _K. partita_ in the more spreading
leaves, the very much shorter perianth-tube, the narrower segments which
have a red limb, and the larger capsule. The genus _Klattia_ is closely
related to _Witsenia_, which we figured on plate 34, but is
distinguished from this genus by having a very short perianth-tube and
long segments, much longer than the tube. _Klattia_ was named in honour
of Dr. F. W. Klatt, a teacher at Hamburg, who published several memoirs
on the _Iridaceae_.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No.
1436).
DESCRIPTION:--_Inflorescence_ about 8-flowered. _Spathe-valves_ 2; the
larger 11·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, green and lanceolate above, red and
strongly keeled below, subacute, glabrous; the smaller red 5 mm. long, 2
mm. broad, rounded above, keeled on the back with the keel produced into
a beak 7 mm. long. _Floral_ bracts white 3 cm. long, keeled, acute.
_Perianth-segments_ divided almost to the base 5·7 cm. long, filiform
below, broadened above into a linear portion 1 mm. broad. _Filaments_
4·5 mm. long, filiform; anthers 1 mm. long, linear, sagittate at the
base. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, 2 mm. in diameter, obovate in outline. Style
6 cm. long, filiform; stigma simple. _Capsule_ 1·3 cm. long. _Seeds_ 8
mm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear, concave in front, silky and 2-grooved at
the back.
* * * * *
PLATE 80.--Fig. 1, portion of stem; Fig. 2, inflorescence; Figs. 3,
4, spathe valves; Fig. 5, a single flower laid open; Fig. 6,
pistil; Fig. 7, anther; Fig. 8, ovary; Fig. 9, top of style,
showing the three stigmas.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
INDEX TO VOLUME II.
PLATE
ALOE EXCELSA, 62
ALOE STRIATA, 55
ALOE WICKENSII, 41
ANDROCYMBIUM MELANTHIOIDES, 53
BAUHINIA GALPINII, 79
CEROPEGIA TRISTIS, 44
COMMELINA BENGHALENSIS, 42
CORYCIUM CRISPUM, 61
CROSSANDRA GREENSTOCKII, 77
DAUBENYA AUREA, var. COCCINEA, 71
DIMORPHOTHECA SPECTABILIS, 57
ERYTHRINA CAFFRA, 59
FERRARIA ANTHEROSA, 66
GAZANIA PAVONIA, 69
GAZANIA PYGMAEA, 64
GAZANIA SUBULATA, 51
GLADIOLUS ALATUS, var. NAMAQUENSIS, 63
GLADIOLUS PRITZELII, 68
HARVEYA SQUAMOSA, 67
HELIOPHILA SCANDENS, 48
HESSEA ZEYHERI, 43
HOLMSKIOLDIA SPECIOSA, 49
KLATTIA STOKOEI, 80
KNIPHOFIA ALOOIDES, 47
LEUCOSPERMUM TOTTUM, var. GLABRUM, 74
MASSONIA LATIFOLIA, 46
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM ALOIDES, 54
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CRASSIPES, 73
MIMETES CAPITULATA, 58
OCHNA PRETORIENSIS, 70
ORNITHOGALUM ROODIAE, 75
ORNITHOGALUM THUNBERGIANUM, 65
PELARGONIUM CRASSICAULE, 52
POLYXENA HAEMANTHOIDES, 56
PROTEA RECONDITA, 76
RHAMPHICARPA TUBULOSA, 50
ROODIA DIGITIFOLIA, 78
SPARAXIS GRANDIFLORA, 60
STAPELIA PILLANSII, var. ATTENUATA, 72
WATSONIA GALPINII, 45