Suakin).
=D. elliptica= _Thunb._ & _Dalm._
Shrub with much-branched, slender woody stems. Leaves oblong, 5-6 in.
long; pet. short, channelled. Infl. panicled; per. whitish, ½ in. long;
segm. 6; sta. 6; berry 3-lobed, 3-seeded.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River: Kagiko).
760 =Asphodelus fistulosus= _Linn._ =var. tenuifolius= _Baker._
Herb with rosette of radical, hollow, pointed leaves, 6-9 in. long. Ped.
shorter than leaves; infl. panicled; racemes lax, pedicels jointed at
middle; per. white, ⅓ in. long; segm. 6, keeled with brown, spreading
from a short tube; sta. 6; anthers versatile; fr. globose, ⅛ in. diam.
Red Sea Prov. (21° N.L.); Berber Prov. (Abu Hashim).
The seeds are officinal and are said to be diuretic.
761 =Bulbine asphodeloides= _Roem._ & _Schult._
Tuberous acaulescent herb. Leaves 10-20 in dense basal rosette, 6-18 in.
long. Ped. shorter than leaves; raceme 3-6 in. long; pedicels solitary,
jointed at top; per. bright yellow, ⅓ in. long, segm. 6, divided to
base; sta. 6; filam. densely bearded; anthers versatile; caps. 3-angled,
⅓ in. long.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Abu Gurun’s
Zariba).
762 =Eriospermum abyssinicum= _Baker._
Tuberous herb. Leaf solitary, lanceolate, 5-6 in. long, appearing after
flowers. Ped. wiry, 3-6 in. long; racemes lax, 6-8 in. long; pedicels
jointed at apex; per. segm. 6, separate, white, keeled brown, ¼ in.
long; sta. 6, unequal, shorter than per.; caps. ¼ in. long with 3
obovate, reflexing valves.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: banks of the River Gendua); Bahr El Ghazal
Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas & Zariba Kutshok Ali); Mongalla Prov. (Lado
District: Doka’s).
763 =Acrospira sp.?=
Anthers basi-fixed, twisting up spirally.
Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,600 ft.).
764 =Anthericum monophyllum= _Baker._
Herb with tuber crowned with bristles; stem slender, angled, ½ in. long.
Leaf solitary, lanceolate, 6-9 in. long, with a clasping base from the
middle, enclosed by a sheath. Raceme simple 1-3 in. long; pedicels
solitary, ¼ in. long, jointed at the middle; per. ½ in. long, white;
segm. 6, free, as all in this genus, with a brown, 3-nerved keel; sta.
6; anthers basifixed, as all in the genus, as long as filam.; caps.
3-angled, shallowly lobed, also as others in this genus; seeds angular.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=A. triphyllum= _Baker._
Rootstock tuberous; fibres wiry. Leaves ab. 3, with long sheathing base
and lanceolate blade, 4-6 in. long and ab. ½ in. broad, with raised
veins and thickened margins. Ped. slender, pubescent, grooved, 6-8 in.
long; raceme 3-4 in. long; pedicels short, articulated, lower geminate;
bracts lanceolate, up to ¾ in. long. Per. ¼ in. long; segm. separate,
white with 3 brown ribs.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: by the River Jur).
=A. cf. A. triphyllum= _Baker._
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
=A. superpositum= _Baker._
Rootstock and root-leaves not known. Ped. 24-30 in. long, bearing 3-4
sessile, oblong leaves 3-6 in. long. Racemes 1-3, lax, 2-3 in. long;
pedicels short, articulated at middle, lower 3-4-nate; per. ⅙ in. long;
segm. linear, white, with a green keel; sta. nearly as long as per.,
anthers small; caps. ⅙ in. diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: River Ibba).
=A. triflorum= _Ait._ BERĪD (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab.
Rootstock fibrous, not tuberous; neck crowned by a dense ring of
bristles. Leaves linear, 1 ft. or more long. Ped. 12-18 in. long,
angled; raceme dense, 3-6 in. long; pedicels 1-4-nate, jointed in
middle; per. ab. ½ in. long; segm. lanceolate, 5-7 nerved, white with
red-brown keel; sta. ¼ in. long; filam. scabrous. Caps. oblong.
Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf); Bahr El Ghazal
Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Bongo: Lessi River); Mongalla Prov. (Bor &
Mongalla).
Said to be poisonous to cattle.
=A. near A. usseramense= _Baker._
Leaves several, basal, ensiform. Ped. long, flattened; pedicels short,
articulated at middle, lower geminate; racemes panicled; per. greenish-
white, ¼ in. long.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
765 =Chlorophytum macrophyllum= _Aschers._
Herb, not tuberous; root fibres long. Leaves 4-5 to a stem; blade
membranous, lanceolate, 12-18 in. long, narrowed at both ends; pet. 6-12
in. long, channelled. Ped. 6-12 in. long; raceme simple or branched at
base, 6-8 in. long; pedicels articulated, ab. ⅓ in. long, the lower
fascicled; lower bracts ab. 1 in. long. Per. white, ⅓ in. long, segm. 6,
free, with a 3-5 nerved brown keel; sta. 6, shorter than per., filam.
and anthers ⅛ in. long resp.; caps. ⅓ in. long and as others in this
genus deeply 3-lobed and seeds flat.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: banks of the River Gendua); Bahr El Ghazal
Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
=C. blepharophyllum= _Schweinfth._
Root crowned with dense bristles. Leaves ab. 4 sheathing base of stem,
lowest small, others oblong-lanceolate, 4-8 in. long. Ped. slender,
shorter than leaves; rac. dense, 2-3 in. long, simple or forked at base;
pedicels short, articulated, lowest 2-3-nate. Per. dark-green, ⅓ in.
long; segm. linear with 5-nerved keel. Caps. deeply emarginate, ⅓ in.
long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).
=C. pusillum= _Schweinfth._
Tuberous herb. Leaves ab. 4, basal, oblong, 4-5 in. long, sessile,
crisped at margin. Rac. dense, simple, 1-2 in. long, sessile in centre
of rosette of leaves; pedicels short, articulated, clustered. Per. ⅙ in.
long, white; segm. with a greenish-brown keel. Caps. globose, ¼ in.
diam.
=C. Schweinfurthii= _Baker._
Leaves 5-6 to a stem, oblong-lanceolate, not distinctly petiolate, 12-15
in. long, 2 in. broad. Ped. 2-3 in. long; rac. 2-3 in. long, dense,
simple or branched at base; pedicels short, articulated at middle, lower
2-3-nate. Per. ¼ in. long, greenish. Caps. ⅙ in. long, ¼ in. diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=C. gallabatense= _Schweinfth._
Rootstock horizontal. Leaves 6-8 to a stem, thin, lanceolate, narrowly
clasping, 12-18 in. long. Ped. slender, 1 ft. long; rac. many,
ascending, the end one 6-9 in. long; pedic. short, articulated at
middle, lower 2-3-nate. Per. dull greenish-white, ⅙ in. long. Caps. ¼
in. diam.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur
Ghattas).
=C. ciliatum= _Baker._
Neck of rootstock crowned with a ring of bristles. Leaves 3-4, with
sheathing base and lanceolate blade, 4-6 in. long, ciliated on margin.
Ped. slender, up to as long as leaves; racemes usually simple, dense
upwards, ab. 3 in. long, lower 3-4-nate, ab. ⅓ in. long. Per. ¼ in.
long. Caps. ⅓ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali).
=C. tenuifolium= _Baker._
Leaves 5-6 to a stem, linear, 12-18 long, ⅓-½ in. broad, narrowed to
base. Ped. long, slender; rac. lax, cylindric, up to 6-9 in. long;
pedicels solitary ab. ⅓ in. long, articulated below the middle. Per. ⅓
in. long, segm. linear, white with a green keel; anthers small; caps.
subglobose, emarginate, ⅓ in. long.
Mongalla Prov.
=C. andongense= _Baker._
Tall herb. Leaves up to 2 ft. long, oblanceolate. Ped. up to 3 ft. long,
bearing a lax panicle of many ascending racemes 1-2 ft. long; pedicels
articulated at middle, lower 5-6-nate, finally 1 in. long. Per. ab. ½
in. long, brownish-green or white with 3-nerved green keel. Caps.
oblong, ⅓-½ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (Mongalla Prov.:
Bor).
=C. longifolium= _Schweinfth._
Rootstock horizontal, crowned with bristles. Leaves ab. 6 to a stem,
firm, linear, 12-18 in. long, ½-¾ in. broad, ciliate on margin. Ped.
12-18 in. long; rac. simple, 3-5 in. long, dense; pedicels very short,
lower 2-3-nate. Per ⅓ in. long, segm. lanceolate; anthers small. Caps.
deeply emarginate ¼-⅓ in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).
=C. micranthum= _Baker._
Neck of root crowned with a dense ring of fibres. Produced leaves firm,
linear, 4-6 in. long, ¼ in. broad. Ped. slender, as long as leaves; rac.
lax, simple or forked, at length 6-8 in. long; pedicels very short,
artic. at middle, lower 3-4-nate. Per. greenish-white, ⅛ in. long; segm.
linear laxly 3-nerved; anthers minute. Caps. ⅙ in diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba).
=C. tuberosum= _Baker._ SHANDAHA or SHANDAHAT & ASLANGA—Arab.
Root fibres bearing tubers at end; rootstock crowned with a dense ring
of bristles. Leaves 6-10, firm, lanceolate, base sheathing the stem,
3-12 in. long, ciliated at margin. Rac. 5-6 in. long, including ped.,
often forked near the base; fl. fairly dense on rachis, white; pedic.
short, artic. below middle, lower 2-3-nate. Per. ½ in. and more long;
segm. oblong, obscurely 7-nerved; filam. ⅙-¼ in. long; anthers ab. same
length, linear, curling after dehiscence. Caps. obovoid, ⅓ in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Blue Nile Prov. (Abu Haraz & Dinder
River); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (southwards from
Hillet Abbas); Darfur Prov.; Bahr El Jebel.
Edible.
=C. polystachyum= _Baker._
Neck of rootstock crowned with a few bristles. Produced leaves ab. 6 to
a stem, linear, ab. 1 ft. long, ¼-⅓ in. broad. Ped. as long as leaves;
rac. several, panicled, lax, the lower forked; pedic. ⅙-¼ in. long,
artic. at middle, lower 3-4-nate; per. campanulate, ⅛ in. long; segm.
green with white margin; anthers minute.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=C. breviscapum= _Dalz._
Rootstock erect, not bristly. Leaves linear-lanceolate, up to 9 in. long
and 1¼ in. broad. Racemes longer than the leaves; bracts lanceolate,
acuminate, about ½ in. long, ciliolate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Shambe).
=C. Tinneæ= _Baker._
Root leaves not known. Ped. very slender 6-12 in. long, bearing several
linear reduced leaves. Rac. very lax 6 in. long; pedic. very short,
lower 2-3-nate. Per. 1/5 in. long; segm. oblong with 3-nerved keel; sta.
rather shorter than per.; anthers linear, twice as long as filam.;
ovules 12 in a cell.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur).
=C. spp.=
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near Wau); Mongalla Prov. (Lado: Doka’s, &
Kagulu).
766 =Dasystachys aurea= _Baker._
Herb; leaves 5-6 to a stem, erect, glabrous, linear, 24-30 in. long, 1
in. broad at middle, base sheathing, margins obscurely ciliated. Ped.
erect, 3 ft. long, bearing a few reduced leaves, pubescent. Raceme
subspicate, 6-12 in. long; lower bracts large, lanceolate; fl. at first
clothed with golden pubescence. Per. ¼ in. long; segm. 6, oblong, white
with red-brown keel; sta. 6, as long as per.; anthers longer than
filam.; style much exserted. Caps. deeply 3-lobed; seeds flat.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba, Niamniam-land: Hu
River).
767 =Allium (Molium) spathaceum= _Steud._
Herb; bulb globose 3 in. diam. Leaves 1-2, linear, thin, up to 9 in.
long. Ped. 4-9 in. long; umbel of 10-15 fl.; spathe of 1 short ovate
valve; pedic. ½-¾ in. long. Per. ⅙ in. long, white; segm. with distinct
brown keel; sta. 6.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit).
=A. ascalonicum= _Linn._
Herb; bulb ovoid, ¾ in. diam. Leaves few, linear, up to 1 ft. long and ¼
in. broad. Peduncle longer than the leaves, stout; pedicels slender,
crowded, about ⅓ in. long. Per. ⅙ in. long, white.
Kordofan Prov. (Bara).
=A. alibile= _A. Rich._
Bulb globose, ab. 1 in. diam. Leaves not known. Ped. 18 in. long; umbel
many-flowered; pedic. short; spathe short, many-valved. Per.
campanulate, pale rose, segm. ovate-obl., acute; filam. of 3 inner sta.
tri-cuspidate, 3 outer lanceolate.
Sudan?
768 =Dipcadi unifolium= _Baker._
Bulb ½ in. diam. Leaf 1, linear, 6-7 in. long, base long sheathing. Ped.
ab. 5 in. long; rac. laxly 3-6 flowered; pedic. very short. Per. green
as others in this genus; tube ⅙ in. long; inner segm. flat, ⅙ in. long,
outer caudate, 1/5 in. long; anthers subsessile.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Gendua River).
=D. fesoghlense= _Baker._
Leaves 2, 6-8 in. long, very narrow. Ped. 4 in. long; rac. laxly many-
flowered; pedic. very short. Per. ½ in. long, tube and inner segm. ¼
in., outer segm. caudate, just longer.
Red Sea Prov. (Dongonab); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli & Jongol’s Post).
=D. filifolium= _Baker._
Bulb ab. ½ in. diam. Leaves 2, subterete, 1 ft. long. Ped. 1 ft. or
more; rac. lax 3-10 flowered; pedic. short. Per. fulvous green; tube and
inner segm. ⅙ in., outer up to ⅓ in. long.
Upper White Nile Prov. (Sobat mouth); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur
Ghattas).
=D. tacazzeanum= _Baker._
Bulb 1 in. diam. Leaves 2-3, linear, flat, 3-4 in. long. Ped. 6-9 in.
long; rac. 6-12 flowered; pedic. very short. Per. tube and inner segm. ¼
in. long respectively, outer segm. ⅓ in., subulate-falcate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Abu Gurun’s Zariba); Mongalla Prov.
(Mongalla).
=D. lanceolatum= _Baker._
Leaves 4-5, lanceolate, 3-4 in. long. Ped. 8-18 in. long; rac. very lax,
½-1 ft. long; pedic. very short. Per. tube ab. 1/5 in. long; inner segm.
a little longer, outer complicate, ab. ¼ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: Gir).
769 =Drimia laxiflora= _Baker._
Bulb and leaves not known. Ped. slender, 15-18 in. long; rac. very lax,
6-8 in. long; lower pedic. up to ½ in. long. Per. gamophyllous, ab. ⅓
in. long, greenish-brown; tube campanulate; segm. oblong twice as long
as tube; style slightly exserted. Caps. deeply lobed; seeds flat.
White Nile Prov. (Khor Attar).
770 =Albuca tayloriana= _Rendle._
Bulb ¾ in. diam. Leaves radical, narrow-linear. Ped. ab. 2 ft. long;
rac. 4-5 in. long, laxly 10-12 fld., cylindrical; lower pedic. ⅓ in.
long. Per. segm. free, ½ in. long, outer spreading, oblong greenish-
white, with a broad, purple, 7-nerved keel, inner segm. connivent,
hooded; sta. 6, filam. subulate; style subulate, more than twice length
of ovary. Caps. 3-valved; seeds flat, black.
Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla to Gemeiza).
=A. Schweinfurthii= _Engl._
Bulb 1 in. diam. Leaves linear, 24-30 in. long, ⅓ in. broad. Ped. longer
than leaves; rac. 1 ft. or more, 20-30 fld.; pedic. short; lower bracts
up to 1½ in. long. Per. nearly 1 in. long; segm. linear-obl., pale
yellow with a broad red-brown keel. Caps. ovoid, ab. ½ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam: at the River Buddu, near Abu Samat’s
Zariba).
=A. purpurascens= _Engl._
Bulb 2-3 in. diam. Leaves linear 12-18 in. long. Ped. slightly longer;
rac. 6-8 in. long, 10-15 fld.; pedic. half as long as fl.; lower bracts
ab. ½ in. long. Per. ab. ½ in. long; segm. lin.-obl., with a broad
purplish keel. Caps. ovoid, ab. ½ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba, Jur River;
Mittu; Kuragerra & Dimindu).
=A. Steudneri= _Schweinfth._
Bulb over 1 in. diam. Leaves 6-10 in. long, ⅓-½ in. broad below. Ped. 1
ft. or more long; rac. lax, 8-10 fld.; pedic. half as long as fl. Per.
over ½ in. long; segm. linear, with a broad green keel. Caps. oblong, ½
in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat).
771 =Urginea micrantha= _Solms._ ABUTKULA—Hadendowa.
Bulb 2-3 in. diam. Leaves linear, appearing after the flowers. Ped. 1-2
ft. long; raceme 12-18 in., moderately dense; pedic. rigid, jointed at
apex, up to ¾ in. long. Per. ⅙ in. long, segm. 6, free, white with
1-nerved brown keel; sta. 6, shorter than per.; anthers versatile,
small. Caps. globose, acutely angled, ¼ in. diam.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); Fung Prov. (Roseires, Jongol’s Post, etc.,
etc.); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 5,800 ft.); South of 13° N.L.; Bahr El
Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba, Abu Gurun’s Zariba; Mittu at
Reggo; Dar Fertit; Deim Zubeir & near Chak-Chak).
The starch contained in the bulbs is used by the Hadendowas to stiffen
their hair.
=U. indica= _Kunth._
Bulb and leaves much as above. Ped. 1-2 ft. long; rac. 6-12 in., very
lax; pedic. ascending, lower 1-2 in. long. Per. ⅓-½ in. long; segm.
whitish, keel brownish-green, 2-3 nerved. Caps. oblong, ½-¾ in. long.
Fung Prov. (J. Moya & Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Meshra El
Rek).
The bruised bulbs are applied as a poultice for rheumatic pains or
contusions.
=U. Petitiana= _Solms._
Bulb 1½ in. diam. Leaves linear, appearing after fl. Ped. up to 2 ft.
long; raceme 6 in., dense above; pedic. very short; bracts linear, ¼-⅓
in. long. Per. 1/5 in. long, segm. white; keel 2-3 nerved, greenish-
brown.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Mongalla Prov. (Bor to Mongalla).
=U. nigritana= _Baker._
Bulb moderately large. Leaves linear, channelled, 12-18 in. long. Ped.
18-24 in. long; rac. up to 18 in., lax; upper pedic. short, lower up to
1½ in.; bracts up to ¾ in. long. Per. ab. ¾ in. long, segm. whitish with
a broad 5-nerved red-brown keel. Caps. ovoid, ½-¾ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Mittu: Dimindu; Niamniam-land: River Buddu).
772 =Scilla spicata= _Baker._
Bulb 1 in. diam. Leaves 2, lanceolate, 2-5 in. long. Ped. 4-6 in. long;
spike 1-2 in., dense. Per. campanulate, bright purple; segm. 6,
1-nerved, minute; sta. 6, short; anthers versatile. Caps. 3-valved.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Wau River).
=S. edulis= _Engl._ MAKPĀRA—Bongo.
Bulb over ½ in. diam. Leaves 4-6, linear, up to 3 in. long. Ped.
slender, 2-3 in. long; raceme up to 2 in. long, fairly dense; pedic.
short; per. mauve-purple, ⅛ in. long; sta. ab as long, filam. mauve-
purple.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
=S. indica= _Baker._
Bulb up to 2 in. diam. Leaves 5-6, lanceolate, 6 in. long, sheathing.
Ped. ab. 6 in. long; rac. 3-4 in. lax; ped. ¼-⅓ in. longer, lower
drooping. Per. campanulate, greenish-purple, ⅛ in. long; filam. purple.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).
=S. Schweinfurthii= _Engl._
Bulb ¾ in. diam. Leaves 3-6, linear, 2-3 in. long. Ped. 2-3 in. long;
raceme ab. 1½ in. lax, lower fl. drooping; centr. pedic. ⅙ in. long.
Per. campanulate, green, ⅙ in. long; filam. pale.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=S. mæsta= _Baker._
Bulb ab. 1½ in. diam. Leaves 5-6, lanceolate with a few purple spots,
4-6 in. long. Ped. 2-3 to a bulb, ab. 4 in. long; rac. 1-2 in. dense,
lower ped. drooping, ⅓ in. long. Per. campanulate, green, ⅛ in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
=S. modesta= _Baker._
Bulb ab. 1½ in. diam. Leaves 2, obl. or lanc., 2-6 in. long. Ped. 2-6
in. long; rac. 2-3 in., lax; pedic. ab. ⅙ in. long. Per. campanulate,
green, ⅛ in. long; filam. pale.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Wau).
=S. chlorantha= _Baker._
Bulb 1½ in. diam. Leaves 3, obl. or obl.-lanc., 6 in. long, 1-2 in.
broad, sheathing at base. Ped. 4 in. long; rac. 3-5 in., moderately
dense; pedic. ab. ⅙ in. long. Per. campanulate, green, ⅛ in. long;
filam. green.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=S. lilacina= _Baker._ BASSAL EL KELB, KILGA & BERID (Blue Nile)—Arab.
Bulb ½ in. diam. Leaves 6-8, obl.-lanc., thin, 3-4 in. long, ab. 1 in.
broad. Ped. 4-6 in. long; rac. 3-5 in., lax; pedic. ab. ⅓ in. long. Per.
tubular-campanulate, ¼ in. long, pale purple; filam. bright mauve-
purple.
Blue Nile Prov. (Abu Haraz); Upper White Nile Prov. (Renk); Kordofan
Prov.
=S. cf. S. lanceæfolia= _Baker._
Leaves obl. or obl.-lanc., spotted dark green. Rac. 2-3 in. long; pedic.
longer than fl. Per. campanulate, purplish, ab. ¼ in. long; filam.
purple.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
773 =Ornithogalum Eckloni= _Schlecht._
Bulb 1-2 in. diam. Leaves 4-6, linear, 1-2 ft. long, ab. ¾ in. broad
near base. Ped. fairly stout 18-24 in. long; rac. 3-4 in., rather dense;
pedic. short, ascending. Per. ¼ in. long; segm. free, obl., white with
green keel; sta. 6, hypogynous, shorter than per.; filam. linear;
anthers versatile. Caps. globose, ¼ in. diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
774 =Gloriosa virescens= _Lindl._ HABALEKO—Rashida.
Sarmentose herb climbing by means of prehensile leaf-tips. Leaves
usually obl. or obl.-lanc., with tendril-like tips, 5-6 in. long, the
lower verticillate or opp. Infl. a lax terminal corymb; pedic. long,
nodding at tip. Per. ab. 2 in. long; segm. free, lanceolate-cuspidate,
slightly or not crisped, usually bright red, ultimately strongly
reflexed; sta. 6, hypogynous, shorter than per.; style over 1 in. long,
3-forked above. Caps. ab. 2 in. long.
Red Sea Prov. (Karora); Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Kio);
Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,600 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas &
Wau; Shambe); Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla & Lado. Asugi).
Probably has medicinal properties; the tuber is poisonous.
=G. virescens= _Lindl._ =var. grandiflora= _Baker._
Fl. larger; per. segm. 3-4 in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Abu Kuka).
=PONTEDERIACEÆ.=
775 =Eichornia natans= _Solms._
Aquatic herb; stems floating or creeping in the mud. Submerged leaves
sessile, linear, 2-4 in. long; floating leaves petiolate, ½-1 in. long,
½-1 in. broad ovate or orbicular, cordate; produced sheath of petiole
(so-called stipule) up to 1¼ in. long. Fl. apparently issuing from below
middle of pet. of floating leaves. Perianth inferior; segm. 5, united
below, blue, ¼ in. diam.; sta. 6; ovary 3-celled; style shortly 3-6
lobed. Caps. spindle-shaped, ½ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: between Gir & Addai; Ghazal R.).
776 =Heteranthera kotschyana= _Fenzl._
Aquatic herb; stem creeping in the mud. Leaves 1-3 in. long ovate,
cordate; pet. 2-8 in. long, whose sheath embraces the membranous spathe
out of which issues the 2-4 in. long spike. Per. segm. 6; sta. 3. Caps.
½-¾ in. long.
Kordofan Prov. (between Melbes & El Obeid); White Nile Prov. (J.
Arashkol); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: Gurfala).
777 =Monochoria africana= _N.E. Br._
Aquatic herb. Leaves radical, 3-4 in. long, ovate, acuminate, slightly
cordate; pet. long. Flowering stems 11-14 in. long with a leaf or
tubular leaf-sheath at their summit enclosing a filiform-pointed spathe
1 in. long. Raceme 2-4 in. long, emerging from the spathe. Per. segm. 6,
free, blue or violet; sta. 6, unequal, the filam. of largest toothed;
stigma of 3 bifid lobes.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=TACCACEÆ.=
778 =Tacca pinnatifida= _Forst._
Rootstock tuberous, up to 1 ft. diam. Leaves radical, long-petioled (1-3
ft. long), large, dividing into 3 forked branches; final segments ovate
or lanceolate. Fl. many in an umbel; ped. 1-3 ft. long; bracts 4-6 in a
whorl; per. superior; segm. 6, all small, greenish-brown; sta. 6, filam.
hooded, purple; stigma peltate; lobes 3, bifid; berry 1 in. long,
subglobose.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur
Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Bor to Gigging, Yei River).
The tuber yields starch, which is said to be similar to arrow-root, but
of poor quality. It is not cultivated, but is gathered wild and eaten.
=DIOSCOREACEÆ.=
779 =Dioscorea (Helmia) sativa= _Linn._ MAYDOK or NYTI, also MERE
(aerial tuber) & BARANDOKA (undergr. tuber)—Zande. The Yam.
Herbaceous twiner with edible tuber. Leaves alt., ovate or orbicular,
cuspidate, cordate, 1 ft. long, 7-9 nerved, often with bulbils in the
axils. Infl. diœcious, spicate, the male spikes fascicled at leafless
nodes. Male fl. minute; per. segm. 6; sta. 6. Fem. fl. also minute; per.
segm. 6; styles 3. Caps. deeply 3-lobed; seeds broadly winged at base.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land);
Mongalla Prov. (Sheikh Tombé).
The plant is cultivated throughout Tropical Africa for food, and flour
being made from the dried tubers.
=D. sagittifolia= _Pax._
Twining herb with tuberous root. Leaves triangular-sagittate, 4-5 in.
long, 5-nerved. Male spikes geminate. Fem. fl. and fruit unknown.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Okale).
Tuber probably edible.
=D. alata= _Linn._
Twiner with 4-winged stem; tuber large, edible. Leaves usually opp.,
ovate-acuminate, cordate, 7-nerved, 6-9 in. long. Caps. glabrous, 1¼ in.
diam., 3-winged; seeds orbicular, winged all round.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nabambisso River). Cultivated, see
above _D. sativa_ L.
=D. abyssinica= _Hochst._
Twiner; stem terete. Leaves ovate-acuminate, cordate, 7-nerved, 3-4 in.
long. Caps. orbicular, deeply-lobed, 1¼ in. diam.; seeds orbicular,
winged all round.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur
Ghattas).
=D. schimperiana= _Hochst._
Leaves as above, but 5-nerved and rather larger and hairy. Infl.
pubescent. Caps. with 3 orbicular lobes, 1 in. long and 1½ in. diam.;
seeds orbicular, winged all round.