Part 1

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. I.

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.

SOUTH AFRICA: THE SPECIALITY PRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA, LTD. P.O. BOX 3958, JOHANNESBURG; P.O. BOX 388, CAPETOWN. 1921

[_All rights reserved._]

TO

MRS. HENRY BURTON

OF

VOORSPOED, RETREAT, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE,

A GREAT ADMIRER OF HER COUNTRY’S PLANTS, TO WHOSE ENTHUSIASM “THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA” OWES ITS ORIGIN, THIS, THE FIRST VOLUME, IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED BY HER TO SOUTH AFRICAN BOTANY AND HORTICULTURE.

DIVISION OF BOTANY, PRETORIA,

_August, 1921_.

FLOWERING PLANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA

PREFACE

The cultivation of South African plants in Europe dates back to early times.

Indeed, it may safely be assumed that it was in vogue soon after the Dutch settlement at the Cape, for Holland during the 16th and 17th centuries held first place in European horticulture. Her cities even vied with one another in the establishment of gardens of exotic plants, many of which came from the Cape.

These treasures created such interest and attracted such attention that Cape plants soon became the fashion and object of envy throughout Europe. Collectors were specially despatched to these shores for the purpose of hunting out and securing their botanical wealth.

Evidence also is not lacking that the cultivation of indigenous plants was carried out at the Cape prior to 1700.

Be this as it may, little remains to-day in South Africa to do credit to the past preservation and cultivation of our native flora.

In recent years, however, considerable interest has again sprung up in this direction; in fact, it is rapidly becoming fashionable to have a rockery of aloes, vijgies, and other succulents as one of the chief adjuncts to the garden.

Apart from these--perhaps better-known plants--there are many beautiful flowering herbs, shrubs and trees of the veld, which might with advantage be grown in our gardens and around our homes.

It is with the object of bringing these gems of nature to the notice of the public that this publication is offered.

A work of this kind is of necessity a costly undertaking, and its future existence and ultimate success will depend largely on the support which it receives at the hands of the public.

The publication of the present volume has only been made possible through the interest and keenness of a South African lady, whose love for her country and its natural beauties has been the means of procuring the necessary funds for the initiation of the work.

It is proposed to issue this publication as an illustrated serial, much on the same lines as the well-known Curtis’s _Botanical Magazine_, and for imitating which no apology need be tendered.

Should the publication be the means of stimulating further interest in the study and cultivation of our indigenous plants amongst the rising generation, the desire and object of its promoters will be achieved.

Living plants suitable for illustration, plants of economic value, or plants of general interest, will always be gladly received and welcomed by the Editor.

As regards the illustrations the Editor has been most fortunate in being able to place the work of that skilful artist, Miss K. A. Lansdell, before the public, while the descriptions have been prepared by Dr. E. Percy Phillips, Botanist in charge of the National Herbarium, to both of whom it is a pleasure to express one’s special thanks for the trouble and care which they have taken.

For the information of those of our readers who have not been fortunate enough to visit our country or our inland capital, it may be added that the illustration on our cover represents a glimpse of the magnificent Union Buildings at Pretoria, under whose shadow this work is being prepared, and on whose site the plants here figured are grown.

It has been the Editor’s privilege and good fortune to see a comparatively bare kopje converted in the course of a few years into the site of a grand and stately building surrounded with many of the country’s most beautiful and interesting herbs and shrubs.

The illustration depicts such characteristic plants as the arborescent _Aloe Marlothii_, Berg.; the handsome _Aloe Wickensii_, Pole Evans (in the centre); _Aloe aculeata_, Pole Evans; the neat _Aloe Peglerae_, Schönland; _Cotyledon orbiculata_, Linn.; _Encephalartos Altensteinii_, Lehm; and some arborescent euphorbias.

Although most of the plants just mentioned are typical of the vegetation of the Transvaal, an endeavour will be made in our magazine to depict in each volume as far as possible an equal number of floral representatives from all the Provinces.

As the authority for colour nomenclature, _Colour Standards and Colour Nomenclature_, by R. Ridgway, Washington, 1912, has been adopted.

I. B. POLE EVANS.

Pretoria, 1920.

PLATE 1.

AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS.

_Cape Province_, _Natal_, _Orange Free State_, _Basutoland_, and _Transvaal_.

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALLIOIDEAE.

AGAPANTHUS, _L’Herit_; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 798.

* * * * *

=Agapanthus umbellatus=, _L’Herit. Sert. Angl._ 17; _Fl. Cap._ vi. 402.

* * * * *

This well-known garden plant, commonly called the “Agapanthus” or “Blue Lily,” was introduced into cultivation in England from the Cape as far back as 1692, and was figured by Commelin of Amsterdam in 1697.

In South Africa the plant is characteristic of the vegetation found on high mountain ranges. It usually occurs on well-drained slopes.

It is a herbaceous plant with a tuberous rootstock from which 6-10 broad strap-shaped leaves arise. The lower stalk is about a metre high, and bears an umbel of 20-50 handsome blue flowers.

DESCRIPTION:--_Rootstock_ short, tuberous, with fleshy cylindric roots. _Leaves_ dark green, 6-10, basal, 20-60 cm. long, 2-4 cm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, glabrous. _Peduncle_ O·25-1 metre high, terete, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a many-flowered umbel. _Spathe-valves_ 2·5 cm. long, 2 cm. broad at the base, ovate, acuminate, withering in the mature inflorescence. _Floral-bracts_ 2·7 cm. long, linear. _Pedicels_ about 6 cm. long, terete, jointed at the apex. _Flowers_ blue; perianth-tube 1·7 cm. long, 6 mm. in diameter; lobes 2-5 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, oblanceolate, obtuse. _Stamens_ inserted at the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments 2·5-3 cm. long, arcuate; anthers oblong. _Fruit_ a triquetrous capsule.

F.P.S.A., 1920.

PLATE 2.

ALOE GLOBULIGEMMA.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Aloe globuligemma=, _Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Africa_, vol. v. pp. 30-32, Pls. x., xi.

* * * * *

This remarkable Aloe was collected by Messrs. Wickens and Pienaar in M‘Phathlele’s Location in the Pietersburg District during January, 1914. Specimens brought to the Botanical Laboratories, Pretoria, flowered during July and August of the same year.

In M‘Phathlele’s Location the plant occurs in vast numbers in a very gregarious manner on the open sandy plains. In fact, it is not uncommon to find long, continuous belts of thickly crowded plants extending for two or three hundred yards in length. The plant is typical of the Low Veld and the river valleys which run from the Zoutpansberg into the Limpopo basin.

At first the racemes are furnished with widely separated spherical to globular flower-buds which develop with considerable slowness.

The unopened flowers are rich nopal red (R.C.S.), tinged with green at the tips. When open, the flowers become a sulphur-yellow (R.C.S.).

Our illustration was made from a plant in the Aloe collection at the Botanical Laboratories, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--A succulent, stemless plant. _Leaves_ 16-23 in a dense rosette, glaucous, erect-spreading, 45-50 cm. long, 8-9 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate-ensiform, acuminate, acute and recurved at the apex, unspotted, somewhat flat at the base and canaliculate above, with cartilaginous wavy and toothed margins; teeth pale brown and at right angles to the margins, 1·5-2 mm. long, and about 8-9 mm. apart, deltoid, recurved. _Inflorescence_ a panicle, with 5-7 spreading horizontal to oblique branches with a few small deltoid-acute empty bracts at the base. _Peduncle_ 06-1 metre high, stout, glaucous, naked. _Racemes_ densely flowered, 22-40 cm. long. _Flowers_ secund, all pointing towards the centre of the inflorescence and at the same time slightly deflexed; young buds distinctly globular; in open flowers nopal-red (R.C.S.), green at the tips; mature flowers sulphur-yellow (R.C.S.) and tinged with red towards the base. _Floral-bracts_ reflexed, 5-6 mm. long, ovate-cuspidate, scariose, pellucid. _Pedicels_ recurved, 3-4 mm. long. _Perianth_ 25 mm. long, cylindrical-ventricose; outer segments free for 15-17 mm., obtuse and recurved at the apex, 3-5-veined; inner segments obtuse, recurved, tipped with auburn (R.C.S.) at the apex, with 3 inner veins. _Stamens_ exserted for 11 mm.; filaments slightly recurved, the exposed portion chestnut-brown (R.C.S.) to black. _Anthers_ mars-orange (R.C.S.). _Style_ pale sulphur-yellow (R.C.S.), stout, recurved. _Capsule_ shortly stipitate, 23 mm. long, 13 mm. in diameter, oblong-ovoid.

* * * * *

PLATE 2.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, lower part of spike; Fig. 3, apex of spike.

F.P.S.A., 1920.

PLATE 3.

ARCTOTIS FOSTERI.[A]

_Clanwilliam._

* * * * *

COMPOSITAE. Tribe ARCTOTIDEAE.

ARCTOTIS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 458.

* * * * *

=Arctotis Fosteri=, _N.E. Br._

ARCTOTUS _Fosteri_; _Herbacea_, 60-90 cm. alta. _Folia_ inferiora lyrato-pinnatisecta, 30-40 cm. longa, 7-9 cm. lata, longe petiolata, ambitu obovato-oblonga, lobis lateralibus utrinque 3-4, oblongis subacutis dentatis, lobo terminali latissime ovato obtuso grandidentato; folia superiora sessilia, lanceolata, acuta, subintegra; omnia supra parce pubescentia, subtus albo-lanata. _Pedunculi_ 17-19 cm. longi, striati, pubescentes. _Capitula_ 7-9 cm. diametro. _Involucri bracteae_ exteriores ovatae, subulato-caudatae, virides; interiores oblongo-obovatae, obtusae, apice membranaceae, rubescentes. _Radii flores_ acuti, albi vel carnei, subtus purpurei, quisque basi maculo nigro et aurantiaco instructi. _Disci flores_ nigro-brunnei, antheribus luteia. _Pappi squamae_ lanceolatae, acutae vel subobtusae. _Ovarium_ villosum.--N. E. BROWN.

Cape Province: Clanwilliam Division, near Clanwilliam, _Foster_.

* * * * *

This handsome species of _Arctotis_ was raised in the Garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, from seed received in 1916 from Mr. C. Foster, of Clanwilliam, after whom I have much pleasure in naming it. The large size of the flower head and the delicate colouring of the rays make it worthy of a place in all South African Gardens. At Pretoria it flowers freely and has set mature seed.

DESCRIPTION:--A herbaceous perennial 60-90 cm. high. _Leaves_ many, lyrate; lower leaves 30-40 cm. long, 7-9 cm. broad, lanceolate in outline, obtuse, produced at the base into a long petiole, sparsely pubescent on the upper surface, white-woolly on the lower surface; leaf-lobes about 4 cm. long, 1-5·2 cm. broad, oblong, obtuse, with toothed margins; the terminal lobe much larger, otherwise similar; petiole up to 16 cm. long, flat on the upper surface, convex beneath, sparsely glandular-pilose; upper leaves sessile, lanceolate, acute, sparsely pilose, with more or less entire margins. _Peduncles_ pale in colour at the base, gradually becoming indian purple (R.C.S.) towards the apex, 17-19 cm. long, terete, striate, pilose, the hairs becoming reddish and denser towards the apex. _Capitulum_ solitary, 7-9 cm. in diameter when fully expanded. _Involucral bracts_ many-seriate; the outer green, ovate, with a hairy subulate appendage; the inner reddish and membranous at the apex. _Receptacle_ slightly convex. _Ray-florets_ female. _Corolla_ limb white or shrimp-pink (R.C.S.) above, with a golden-yellow and purple spot near the base, and eugenia red to vandyke red (R.C.S.) beneath. _Pappus_ of several membranous scales as long as the corolla-tube. _Ovary_ with a dense tuft of basal hairs. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite. _Corolla-tube_ 4-5 mm. long, campanulate above, cylindrical below; lobes lanceolate with black tips. _Pappus_ of several membranous scales about half length of the corolla-tube. _Ovary_ villous, with a dense basal tuft of hairs. _Fruit_ villous, crowned with the persistent pappus scales.--E. PERCY PHILLIPS.

* * * * *

PLATE 3.--Fig. 1, portion of ray-floret; Fig. 2, pappus-scale of ray-floret; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, pappus-scale of disc-floret; Fig. 5, apex of style showing the stigmas; Fig. 6, fruit; Fig. 7, involucral-bracts (all enlarged).

F.P.S.A., 1920.

PLATE 4.

CYRTANTHUS CONTRACTUS.[B]

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Cyrtanthus contractus=, _N.E. Br._

CYRTANTHUS _contractus_; _Bulbus_ 4-6 cm. diametro, ovoideus, brunneus. _Folia_ 2-3, adscendentia, 30-50 cm. longa, 8-12 mm. lata, linearia, longe et acutissime acuminata, basi in petiolum teretem angustata, glabra. _Pedunculus_ 18 cm. vel ultra longus, ad 1 cm. diametro, teres, fistularis, glaber, purpurascens, ad apicem 4-10-florus. _Bracteae_ 4·5-5 cm. longae, basi 8 mm. lati, lineari-attenuatae, membranaceae. _Pedicelli_ adacendentes, 2-4 cm. longi, rubri. _Perianthium_ nutante, coccineum; tubus 5-6 cm. longus, ad medium leviter ventricosum et circa 8 mm. diametro, basi longe et valde contractus et circa 1·5-2 mm. diametro; lobi 1·3 to 1·5 cm. longi, 7 mm. lati, elliptico-ovati, acuti. _Stamina_ perianthii lobis breviora; antherae luteae. _Ovarium_ 1 cm. longum, ovoideum. _Stylus_ inclusus, stigmatibus recurvis. _Semina_ complanata, atrata.--N. E. BROWN.

Transvaal: on kopjes near Mooi Plaates farm, in the vicinity of Pretoria, _Miss J. Stuart_.

* * * * *

The specimens from which our drawing was made were collected by Miss J. Stuart of Pretoria, on the slopes of stony kopjes near the farm “Mooi Plaates,” about 5 miles out of Pretoria. During the spring months the plant is very conspicuous on the kopjes when it flowers freely, usually after the grass has been burnt off, and from this it derives its common name of “Fire Lily.”

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 4-6 cm. in diameter, ovoid; tunics brown, membranous. _Leaves_ 2-3, contemporary with or appearing after the flowers, 30-50 cm. long, 0·8-1·2 cm. broad, linear, acuminate, acute, tapering to a terete petiole above the flattened base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ vandyke red (R.C.S.), 18 cm. long, lengthening in the fruit, 10 mm. in diameter, terete, hollow, glabrous. _Spathe-valves_ 4·5-5 cm. long, 8 mm. broad near the base, linear, acute, membranous, glabrous. _Inflorescence_, a 4-10-flowered umbel. _Flowers_ pendulous, scarlet-red to carmine (R.C.S.), faintly scented; pedicels 2-4 cm. long, strawberry-pink (R.C.S.), jointed at the apex; perianth-tube 5-6 cm. long, tubular, narrowed at the base, with an inflated portion about the middle; lobes 1·3-1·5 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, ovate-ellipsoid, acute, with a small tuft of white hairs on the inner surface just below the apex. _Stamens_ inserted just below the throat, a little shorter than the perianth-lobes; anthers chrome-yellow (R.C.S.), oblong. _Ovary_ 1 cm. long, 0·5 cm. in diameter, ovoid; style about the length of the perianth-tube, included; stigmas recurved. _Seeds_ black, flattened.--E. PERCY PHILLIPS.

* * * * *

PLATE 4.--Figs. 1 and 2, anthers back and side view; Fig. 3, apex of the perianth, showing the tufts of hairs.

F.P.S.A., 1920.

PLATE 5.

GERBERA JAMESONI.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

COMPOSITAE. Tribe MUTISIACEAE.

GERBERA, _Gronov._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 497.

* * * * *

=Gerbera Jamesoni=, _Bolus_; _Gard. Chron._, 1889, vol. 5, p. 772. fig. 122; _Bot. Mag._ t. 7087.

* * * * *

This plant, the “Barberton Daisy,” has attracted much attention in recent years as an addition to the herbaceous garden.

It was first discovered in the Transvaal by the collector Rehmann about 1878, and later by the Hon. R. Jameson on the mountains round Barberton. In 1889 it flowered at Kew Gardens and was illustrated in the _Gardener’s Chronicle_ for that year. Shortly afterwards a coloured plate and description appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_ (t. 7087). The specific name was proposed by the late Dr. Bolus, who himself collected the species at Barberton.

A mass of these plants in full bloom is very striking, the scarlet rays standing out in strong contrast to the green leaves.

The specimen from which the present illustration was made flowered at the Botanical Laboratories, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Rootstock_ perennial. _Leaves_ basal, numerous, 22-45 cm. long, 5-10 cm. broad, somewhat oblong in general outline, deeply lobed, with the terminal lobe broadly ovate, acute, pubescent on both surfaces, especially on the veins beneath; petiole 25-40 cm. long, terete, pilose, tinged with red at the base. _Peduncle_ 25-40 cm. long, terete, pilose, bearing a solitary capitulum. _Capitulum_ 8-10 cm. in diameter when fully expanded. _Involucral-bracts_ about 3-seriate, 1-1·5 cm. long, lanceolate, acuminate, acute, woolly. _Receptacle_ flat, naked. _Ray-florets_ female, scarlet to spectrum-red (R.C.S.); lower limb represented by 2 linear strongly reflexed lobes. _Ovary_ glandular-pubescent. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite. _Corolla_ bilabiate; tube 7 mm. long, cylindrical, glabrous; anterior limb of 2 linear recurved lobes; posterior limb 3-toothed, spreading. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, cylindrical, glandular-pubescent; _stigma_ bifid.

* * * * *

PLATE 5.--Fig. 1, ray-floret; Fig. 2, disc-floret; Fig. 3, apex of style, showing the two stigmas.

F.P.S.A., 1920.

PLATE 6.

GLADIOLUS PSITTACINUS, var. COOPERI.

_Basutoland_ and _Transvaal_.

* * * * *

IRIDACEAE. Tribe IXIEAE.

GLADIOLUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 709.

* * * * *

=Gladiolus psittacinus=, _Hook f._ var. =Cooperi=, _Bkr. Bot. Mag._ t. 6202; _Fl. Cap._ vi. 158.

* * * * *

This striking species of _Gladiolus_ belongs to the section _Dracocephali_ of the genus which contains some seven species all characterised by having the upper segments hooded. It is a favourite with cultivators, and has also been taken up by nurserymen who grow blooms for sale. Like a great many of our beautiful native species, it was left to Kew Gardens to bring the species to public notice.

Corms of this _Gladiolus_ were brought to England by Mr. Thomas Cooper, who collected in South Africa for Mr. Wilson Saunders. It first flowered at Kew in 1872, when it was described and figured.

The species is easy of cultivation, and flowers at Pretoria in November. Apart from the interest it is to gardeners generally, it should be of special interest to breeders, as there seems little doubt that some very fine hybrids could be raised from this species.

DESCRIPTION:--A tall plant O·9-1·2 metres high. _Corm_ red, 2·5-6 cm. in diameter, globose; tunics chartaceous, broad, ultimately breaking up into fibres. _Leaves_ 6-8, 60-90 cm. long, 2-3 cm. broad, ensiform, acute, slightly narrowed at the base, glabrous, rigid. _Inflorescence_ a lax 5-10-flowered spike, 20 cm. or more long. _Spathe-valves_ 5-9 cm. long, oblong-lanceolate, sub-acute, kildare-green (R.C.S.). _Flowers_ large, hooded, lemon-yellow (R.C.S.), striped with scarlet-red (R.C.S.). _Perianth-tube_ curved, 5-6 cm. long, trumpet-shaped, glabrous; three upper lobes forming a hood 2-2·5 cm. broad, ovate or obovate, acute, with a distinct claw; the posterior lobe crimson without, lighter in colour within, smaller than the other two upper lobes; the three lower lobes smaller than the upper lobes and strongly reflexed; the anterior lobe 3-4 cm. long, O·5-2 cm. broad, broadly-lanceolate, acute, lemon-yellow (R.C.S.) in the lower half; the lateral lower lobes 2-2·5 cm. long, 0·4-0·5 cm. broad, lanceolate, acute. _Stamens_ inserted at the base of the perianth-tube, shorter than the upper lobes, arcuate. _Ovary_ ellipsoid; style slightly longer than the stamens, arcuate; stigmas terete, pubescent on the stigmatic surface. _Capsule_ 2-2·5 cm. long, ellipsoid. _Seeds_ discoid.

* * * * *

PLATE 6.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, apex of style, showing the three stigmas; Figs. 3 and 4, back and side view of stamens.

F.P.S.A., 1920.

PLATES 7 AND 8.

LEUCADENDRON STOKOEI.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEEAE.

LEUCADENDRON, _R. Br._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 169.

* * * * *

=Leucadendron Stokoei=, Phillips sp. nov.

LEUCADENDRON _Stokoei_; _Rami_ et ramuli glabri. _Folia_ 7-8·5 cm. longa, 1-2·1 cm. lata, oblonga vel oblongo-lanceolata, apice obtusa, basi paullo angustata, glabra. _Inflorescentia_ ♂ 2 cm. longa, 2·5 cm. lata; bractae involucri 1·1 cm. longae, apice obtusae, glabrae viscidaeque, eximae reflexae; bractae floris 1 mm. longae, lanceolatae, acuminatae, apice subacutae, basi villosae. _Inflorescentia_ ♀ 2·5 cm. longa, 1·7 cm. lata; bractae involucri reflexae; bractae floris 6 mm. longae, 1·1 cm. latae, apice obtusae, sericeae. _Fructus_ 7 mm. longus, 6 mm. latus, obovatus, anguste alatus.

Cape Province: Caledon Division, Standford, near Caledon, _Stokoe in National Herbarium_.

* * * * *

The remarkable group of South African plants--the _Proteaceae_--still continues to yield interesting novelties, though it was monographed as recently as 1910. This is especially true of the genus _Leucadendron_, on which much work remains to be done.