glabrous. _Leaves_ 6 to 9 cm. long, imparipinnate; leaflets alternate or
opposite, 1 to 2 cm. long, 3 to 6 mm. broad, lanceolate or oblong,
obtuse, thinly pubescent. _Inflorescence_ an axillary raceme, peduncle
and pedicels covered with short stiff sparse hairs. _Floral-bracts_ 3
mm. long, oblong. _Pedicels_ 1·2 cm. long. _Calyx-tube_ 1 cm. long,
deeply campanulate; lobes 4·5 mm. long, ovate, acuminate. _Vexillum_ 3
cm. long, 1·2 cm. broad, obovate, acuminate; alae 8 mm. long, 1·5 mm.
broad, oblong, obliquely clawed; keel 3·5 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, more or
less oblong, with a linear claw 1·2 cm. long. _Stamens_ diadelphous;
filaments filiform. _Ovary_ stalked, 1·5 cm. long, linear, with many
ovules; style 1·5 cm. long, bearded on the inner face. _Pod_ membranous,
inflated. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2943.)
PLATE 193.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
[Illustration: 194.]
PLATE 194.
ORNITHOGALUM ODORATISSIMUM.
_Cape Province._
LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.
ORNITHOGALUM, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 815.
* * * * *
=Ornithogalum odoratissimum= _C. A. Smith_, sp. nov. _Bulbus_ ovoideo-globosus,
2 cm. diam., tunicis brunneis membranaceis. _Folia_ 2-6, 6-10
cm. longa, anguste linearia, basi leviter dilatata, glabra. _Pedunculus_
ad 14 cm. longus, cylindricus, glaber. _Inflorescentia_ ad 6 cm. longa,
pauci-vel multiflora. _Bracteae_ 1-1·8 cm. longae, ovato-acuminatae,
membranaceae. _Pedicelli_ 0·5-1 cm. longi, teretes. _Segmenta perianthii_
1·5 cm. longa, oblonga, apice inflexa pubescentia obtusa. _Filamenta_
0·5-1 cm. longa, basi 2 mm. lata; antherae oblongae. _Ovarium_ 5 mm.
longum, sessile. _Stylus_ 1·5 cm. longus, teres, apice minute capitatus,
penicillatus. _Fructus_ trigonus.
* * * * *
This Plate should be compared with that of _O. Roodeae_ figured on Plate
75, as the two species are no doubt closely related though differing
much in the colour of the flowers and the shape of the leaves. Like _O.
Roodeae_ the flowers are very sweet-scented, a character not usually met
with in the genus, and a single inflorescence is sufficient to saturate
a large room with a pleasant scent, and even when planted out in the
garden the strong perfume is noticeable for a considerable distance from
the plant. The plant has been compared with Jacquin’s figure of _O.
suaveolens_, from which it differs in being much smaller, and as it has
been figured it was thought better to describe it than to definitely
state that it is _O. suaveolens_.
We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of van Rhynsdorp for the specimens.
DESCRIPTION:--A simple erect herb. _Bulb_ 2 cm. in diameter, 2·5 cm.
high, ovoid, with brown tunics. _Leaves_ 2 to 6, 6 to 10 cm. long, 2 to
3 cm. broad at the base, linear to linear-lanceolate, deeply channelled,
glabrous. _Peduncle_ up to 14 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Raceme_ few
to many-flowered, up to 6 cm. long. _Bracts_ 1 to 1·8 cm. long,
ovate-acuminate, membranous, dry, partly sheathing the pedicels.
_Pedicels_ 0·5 to 1 cm. long, cylindric, erect-spreading.
_Perianth-segments_ 1·5 cm. long, oblong, inflexed obtuse and pubescent
at the apex, white with a broad green 3-nerved band. _Stamens_ slightly
shorter than the perianth-segments; filaments 2 mm. broad at the base;
anthers 2 mm. long, oblong, versatile. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, sessile;
style subequalling the perianth-segments, sub-capitate and penicillate
at the apex. _Fruit_ (immature) deeply and bluntly 3-lobed. (National
Herb., Pretoria, No. 2941.)
PLATE 194.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2,
cross-section of ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
[Illustration: 195.]
PLATE 195.
ATHRIXIA ELATA.
_Basutoland, Cape Province, Natal, O.F.S., Transvaal._
COMPOSITAE. Tribe INULOIDEAE.
ATHRIXIA, _Ker._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_, vol. ii. p. 328.
* * * * *
=Athrixia elata=, _Sond. in Linn._ vol. xxiii. p. 67; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 292.
* * * * *
The plant figured on the accompanying Plate is a much-branched shrub
almost 1 m. high, and may be found in flower on the hills surrounding
Pretoria during the month of August. It grows in masses in certain
localities and flowers very profusely; if brought under cultivation it
could no doubt be much improved so as to make it a desirable garden
plant.
_Athrixia elata_ is found on the Drakensberg in Natal, in Basutoland,
the eastern Free State and on the spurs of the Drakensberg in the
northern Transvaal, but extends westwards in the Transvaal as far as
Rustenburg. The travellers Burke and Zeyher collected specimens almost
100 years ago on the Magaliesberg, and Cooper also came across the plant
in his journey through Basutoland in 1861.
We are indebted to Mr. C. A. Smith, B.Sc., for the specimens from which
our Plate was prepared.
DESCRIPTION:--A much-branched shrub. _Leaves_ alternate, sessile, 0·5 to
2·5 cm. long, linear, acute, pungent, with revolute margins, glabrous
above, woolly beneath. _Heads_ subsessile, solitary, terminal, 2·5 to 3
cm. in diameter (including the rays). _Involucral-bracts_ in many rows,
unequal; the outer gradually shorter, recurved, aristate, 3 to 4 mm.
long, 1 mm. broad, narrowly ovate with the apices edged with brown to
black, woolly; inner 5 to 6 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear-oblong;
innermost 7 to 8·5 mm. long, 0·5 to 1 mm. broad, narrow-linear to
oblong-elliptic, with membranous margins. _Receptacle_ flat, nude,
honeycombed with the margins of the cells evident. _Ray-florets_ female;
tube 4 to 5 mm. long, cylindric, widening above, glabrous; lamina
oblong-elliptic. _Ovary_ terete, pilose; style cylindric, glabrous,
deeply 2-cleft. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite, fertile. _Corolla_ 6 mm.
long, tubular, cylindric below, then articulated and the uppermost
one-third slightly wider, glabrous. _Anthers_ tailed at the base, with
an ovate obtuse apical appendage. _Ovary_ pilose; style cylindric,
glabrous, deeply 2-cleft; branches 1 mm. long, linear, truncate,
penicillate. _Pappus-bristles_ equalling the corolla-tube, rigid,
persistent, subplumose in the uppermost one-third, alternating with
minute serrulate scales. (National Herb., Pretoria, 2942.)
PLATE 195.--Fig. 1, diagrammatic longitudinal section of head; Fig.
2, ray-floret; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, involucral-bract; Fig.
5, pappus enlarged; Fig. 6, pappus-bristle; Fig. 7, fimbriated
pappus-scale.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
[Illustration: 196.]
PLATE 196.
SUTERA BURKEANA.
_Transvaal, Zululand._
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Tribe _Manuleae_.
SUTERA, _Roth._ (including _Lyperia_, Benth.); _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._
vol. ii. p. 945.
* * * * *
=Sutera Burkeana=, _Hiern. Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 299.
* * * * *
The _Sutera Burkeana_ here figured for the first time is a common plant
in some localities around Pretoria and is to be found in flower from the
beginning of August onwards. It is a bush up to 2-1/2 ft. high and
appears to be very localised in its distribution, as only isolated
patches are met with on the hills surrounding Pretoria. It has also been
recorded from the neighbourhood of Johannesburg and from Zululand.
The plant flowers profusely, and when in full bloom makes a fine display
and would no doubt be improved under proper cultivation.
Our Plate was prepared from specimens collected by Mr. C. A. Smith near
Pretoria.
DESCRIPTION:--A much-branched shrub ·3 to 1·3 m. high. _Branches_
glandular-puberulous. _Leaves_ fascicled recurved 3 to 8 mm. long,
linear to oblong, cuneate at the base, acute, toothed, punctate.
_Flowers_ arranged racemosely at the ends of the branches. _Pedicels_ 7
mm. long, terete, rigid, viscid-puberulous. _Calyx_ 3 to 4 mm. long,
deeply 5-lobed; lobes lanceolate-linear or oblong-lanceolate, acute,
glandular-hairy. _Corolla-tube_ cylindric, somewhat swollen and twice
curved above, glandular-hairy without, softly hairy in the throat; lobes
broadly obovate, obtuse, entire, often curled or recurved,
glandular-hairy outside. _Stamens_ 4, hardly exserted; filaments
filiform, inserted on the corolla-tube. _Anthers_ 1-thecous, all
perfect. _Ovary_ 2-chambered with numerous ovules; style subulate,
included; stigma obtuse. _Fruit_ a capsule; valves cleft at the apex.
_Seeds_ numerous, regose. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2937.)
PLATE 196.--Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, pistil;
Fig. 3, cross-section of ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
[Illustration: 197.]
PLATE 197.
EUPHORBIA TRIDENTATA.
_Cape Province._
EUPHORBIACEAE. Tribe EUPHORBIEAE.
EUPHORBIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 258.
* * * * *
=Euphorbia tridentata=, _Lam. Encycl._ ii. 416; _Fl.
Cap._ vol. v. sect. ii. p. 298.
* * * * *
The species of _Euphorbia_ figured on the accompanying Plate is a
somewhat rare plant and until quite recently it was not known where the
plant was found, although it was known in European gardens and figured
almost 100 years ago. The plant belongs to a small group of three
species in the genus characterised by having the branches constricted at
their origin of growth. All of them are very dwarf plants.
We are indebted to Mr. H. M. Bartlett of Riversdale for the specimens
which he sent in July 1924, and these were successfully grown at the
Division of Botany, Pretoria, and flowered in September 1925.
DESCRIPTION:--Plant dwarf, succulent, spineless, branching from the
base. _Branches_ ascending or somewhat spreading, 2·5 to 15 cm. long, 1
to 1·4 cm. thick, cylindric or slightly tapering upwards, tessellately
tuberculate with hexagonal flattish tubercles 6 to 10 mm. in diam.,
having a slightly prominent whitish leaf-scar, glabrous, dull green.
_Leaves_ sessile, soon deciduous, 4 to 6 mm. long, 3 to 4 mm. broad,
elliptic or elliptic-oblong, acute, dark green, with a reddish minutely
toothed margin. _Peduncles_ 3 to 4 at the ends of the branches, about 4
mm. long, bearing a pair of ovate or elliptic bracts and 1 involucre,
glabrous. _Involucre_ about 1·3 to 1·8 cm. in diam., cup-shaped,
glabrous, with 5 glands and 5 transversely oblong, toothed and ciliate,
inflexed, purplish lobes. _Glands_ subcontiguous, about 5 mm. in diam.
across the tips, very concave at the basal part, divided into 3 to 4
spreading finger-like corrugated white processes 2 to 3 mm. long.
_Ovary_ pedicellate, scarcely exserted, with styles 7 mm. long, united
for two-thirds of their length, with entire spreading tips. (National
Herb., Pretoria, No. 2989.)
PLATE 197.--Fig. 1, inflorescence; Fig. 2, gland with lobes.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
[Illustration: 198.]
PLATE 198.
VENIDIUM WYLEYI.
_Little Namaqualand._
COMPOSITAE. Tribe ARCTOTIDEAE.
VENIDIUM, _Less._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_, vol. ii. p. 459.
* * * * *
=Venidium Wyley=i, _Harv. Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 463.
* * * * *
This Plate, and that on Plate 117, should be compared with _Arctotis
Fosteri_ which we figured on Plate 3, when the difference between the
genera _Venidium_ and _Arctotis_ will be seen. In the former genus the
fruits are without a pappus or with a very rudimentary one, while in the
latter genus a well-developed pappus is always present.
The plant is commonly known as the “Namaqua Daisy,” and in its native
home the flower-heads attain a very large size when the season is
favourable, but may be quite small when no rain has fallen. _Venidium
Wyleyi_ does quite well under cultivation, and is easily grown and forms
a very effective border.
We are indebted to Mr. L. R. Vogt of Waterkloof near Pretoria for the
specimens, which were grown in his garden.
DESCRIPTION:--An erect herb. _Stems_ terete, hollow, striate,
pilose-hoary, laxly leafy. _Cauline leaves_ 1·2 to 15 cm. long, sessile;
the lower lyrato-pinnatifid, amply auricled, amplexicaul, on both sides
cobwebby-tomentose; the upper broadly ovate, closely crowded in the
young stems, cobwebby-tomentose, obtuse, with the margins entire or
remotely 1 to 2 toothed. _Heads_ peduncled, terminal, very large and
showy, 8 cm. in diam. (including the rays), the buds very hoary.
_Involucral bracts_ imbricate, in several rows; the outer narrower,
reflexed, herbaceous, green; the innermost row much longer, broadly
scariose, spreading below the rays; the whole involucre densely
cobwebby. _Receptacle_ 1·8 cm. in diam., convex, deeply honeycombed,
with the margins of the cells produced into a few bristles.
_Ray-florets_ female, 1-seriate, alternate rays spreading, others at
first ascending, then spreading, giving an appearance of two rows.
_Corolla_ ligulate; lamina bright orange coloured, oblong-cuneate, very
faintly 3-toothed at apex, of lower whorl smaller (2·5 cm. long) and
with a smaller brow-black blotch at the base than that of upper whorl (3
cm. long); tube 3 mm. long, broader at base than at the top,
subglabrous. _Ovary_ obovate in outline, muricated, glabrous; style 4
mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; stigmatic portion wider, with the
branches 0·5 mm. long, linear, flat, spreading. _Disc-florets_
hermaphrodite, fertile, numerous, crowded on the head. _Corolla_ 4 mm.
long, subcylindric, 5-cleft at the apex for about a quarter the length
of the tube, with 5 longitudinal rows of glandular hairs; lobes
blackish, 1 mm. long, linear, subacute, with the angles between the
lobes obtuse. _Anthers_ purplish, black, 2 mm. long, obtuse, with a
small suborbicular apical appendage; filaments 1·5 mm. long, linear,
flat, at length filiform, inserted on lower half of corolla tube.
_Ovary_ obovate in outline, white, muricated, glabrous; style 5·5 mm.
long, at first narrowly cylindric, then in upper half abruptly widening
into a yellow stigmatic portion, 2 mm. long, slightly cleft at the apex,
becoming much exserted. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2944.)
PLATE 198.--Fig. 1, longitudinal section of receptacle; Fig. 2,
ray-floret; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, inner involucral-bract;
Fig. 5, outer involucral-bract; Fig. 6, achene.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
[Illustration: 199.]
PLATE 199.
ERICA BLENNA var. GRANDIFLORA.
_Cape Province._
ERICACEAE. Tribe ERICEAE.
ERICA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 590.
* * * * *
=Erica blenna=, _Salisb._ var. =grandiflora=, _Bolus. Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. i.
p. 202.
* * * * *
Through the courtesy of Dr. J. Muir of Riversdale we are able to figure
for the first time a species of heath, and perhaps one of the most
beautiful of all the Cape heaths. The variety _grandiflora_ is only
found as far as we know in the Riversdale and Bredasdorp Districts and
is by no means a common plant. It is known locally as the “lantern” or
“Riversdale” heath. The species itself, like so many of the South
African species of _Erica_, was first collected by Masson about the year
1772, and was successfully cultivated in Europe and figured on more than
one occasion in early botanical literature.
DESCRIPTION:--Erect, 0·3 to 0·5 m. high. _Branches_ stout, ascending,
virgate or flexuous, puberulous or glabrous. _Leaves_ 3-nate, mostly
erect and imbricate or subspreading, linear, subobtuse, flat above,
keeled and sulcate beneath, glabrous, 8 to 10 mm. long. _Flowers_
usually solitary, rarely in pairs (“here and there sublateral,”
Bentham). _Pedicels_ about 8 mm. long; bracts remote, lanceolate, about
6 mm. long; sepals ovate, acuminate, keel-tipped, thickish, subscarious,
viscid, coloured or greenish, about 5 mm. long. _Corolla_ conical-ovoid
or suburceolate-conical, much contracted to the mouth but only slightly
constricted at the throat, very viscid, 1·6 to 2 cm. long, bright
orange-red, the limb and some distance below it green; segments
spreading or erect, about one-eighth the length of the tube; filaments
broad at the base tapering upwards, bent below the anther; anthers
included, dorsifixed well above the base, cuneate, subacute,
scaberulous, ciliolate, about 3 mm. long, crested; pore three-fifths to
two-thirds the length of the cell; crests quite free from the filament,
subsemiorbicular in outline, deeply inciso-lacerate, about half the
length of the cell; style included, straight; stigma capitellate; ovary
glabrous. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2991.)
PLATE 199.--Fig. 1, pedicel showing bracts; Fig. 2, androecium and
gynaecium; Fig. 3, single stamen; Fig. 4, pistil; Fig. 5, anther
enlarged.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
[Illustration: 200.]
PLATE 200.
DIMORPHOTHECA CUNEATA.
_Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State._
COMPOSITAE. Tribe CALENDULEAE.
DIMORPHOTHECA, _Moench._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 453.
* * * * *
=Dimorphotheca cuneata=, _Less. Syn._ 257; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 422.
* * * * *
We are indebted for the specimens, from which the accompanying Plate was
prepared, to Mr. C. A. Smith, B.Sc., who collected them in September
1925 on the botanical reserve near Fauresmith, Orange Free State.
According to Mr. Smith the plants cover the hill-sides and from a
distance appear as large white patches. It flowers very profusely, so
much so that the leaves are almost hidden by the mass of flowers. The
laminae of the ray-florets are white above and copper-coloured beneath,
not yellow as described in the _Flora Capensis_.
The specimens collected by Mr. Smith are an exact match with those
collected by Zeyher (No. 2812). Zeyher No. 3066, quoted by Harvey as _D.
cuneata_, is quite a different plant, perhaps a _Tripteris_. We have
accepted the specific name “cuneata,” as this was the name given by Mr.
N. E. Brown to a specimen collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin. Locally known
as “mak-bietou.”
DESCRIPTION:--A densely and closely branched bushy shrub up to 1·05 m.
high, the older branches naked, rough, the younger short and closely
leafy. _Leaves_ varying in shape (linear to obovate) and size (0·5 to
1·3 cm. long), always cuneate at the base, sharply 2 to 4 toothed,
obscurely mid-ribbed, gland-dotted, subdecurrent, glabrous or nearly so.
_Peduncles_ terminal, 2 to 3·5 cm. long, glandular-pubescent,
viscidulous, becoming widened at the top. _Involucre_ uni-seriate,
glaucescent, viscidulous; scales linear-acuminate, minutely
glandular-puberulous, with pale-edged and ciliate margins. _Receptacle_
about 3·5 mm. in diam., nude, flat. Ray-florets female, uniseriate.
_Corolla_ ligulate, white above, yellow to bronze-coppery below; lamina
spreading, finely-three toothed, cuneate at the base; tube of corolla
1·5 mm. long, terete, glandular-hairy. _Ovary_ triquetrous, green,
obconic, somewhat curved, glandular hairy with stalked glands, with the
angular margins bluntly toothed; style 4·5 mm. long, cylindric,
glabrous; branches 2 mm. long, yellow, flat, subacute. _Disc-florets_
hermaphrodite, fertile. _Corolla-tube_ yellow, 3 mm. long, subcylindric,
with a 5-fid limb, very densely glandular-hairy at the base, glabrous
above. _Anthers_ 3 mm. long, subsagittate at the base, with an ovate
obtuse apical appendage. _Ovary_ very much laterally compressed,
obcordate, glandular, with a wide thick-rimmed entire marginal wing;
style 6 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; branches appearing truncate with
a ring of bristles, capped by a short conical apex. (National Herb.,
Pretoria, No. 2990.)
PLATE 200.--Fig. 1, ray-floret; Fig. 2, ray-achene; Fig. 3,
disc-floret; Fig. 4, disc-achene; Fig. 5, stamen.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
INDEX TO VOLUME V.
PLATE
ALOE ARBORESCENS _var._ FRUTESCENS, 187
ALOE CHABAUDII, 164
ALOE FEROX, 169
ALOE MARLOTHII, 171
ALOE RUPESTRIS, 178
ALOE SESSILIFLORA, 180
ATHRIXIA ELATA, 195
CEROPEGIA HAYGARTHII, 191
COTYLEDON ORBICULATA, 161
CRASSULA COLUMNARIS, 173
CRASSULA LATICEPHALA, 189
CRASSULA ROSULARIS, 167
DERMATOBOTRYS SAUNDERSII, 188
DIMORPHOTHECA CUNEATA, 200
ERICA BLENNA _var._ GRANDIFLORA, 199
EUPHORBIA TRIDENTATA, 197
GAZANIA SUFFRUTICOSA, 183
GLADIOLUS CRUENTUS, 182
GLADIOLUS ORCHIDIFLORUS, 165
GLADIOLUS TRICHOSTACHYS, 163
GLADIOLUS TRISTIS, 175
HAEMANTHUS ALBIFLOS, 190
HYPOXIS ROOPERI, 172
LACHENALIA RUBIDA _var._ TIGRINA, 184
LACHENALIA TRICOLOR, 166
LEUCADENDRON HUMIFUSUM, 170
LISSOCHILUS SPECIOSUS, 168
ORNITHOGALUM ODORATISSIMUM, 194
PROTEA HARMERI, 192
PROTEA MUNDII, 185
PROTEA PITYPHYLLA, 177
SARCOPHYTE SANGUINEA, 176
SENECIO FULGENS, 179
SENECIO TAMOIDES, 174
STAPELIA GIGANTEA _var._ PALLIDA, 181
STRELITZIA REGINAE, 186
SUTERA BURKEANA, 196
SUTHERLANDIA FRUTESCENS, 193
SYNNOTIA BICOLOR, 162
VENIDIUM WYLEYI, 198
* * * * *