Part 4

_Caudex_ 7-25 cm. altus, carnosus, 4-7-angulosus. _Folia_ 2-5 mm. longa, erecta, subulata, emarcida. _Pedunculus_ 2 cm. longus, simplex, monocephalus, teres, glaber. _Capitulum_ discoideum, coccineum. _Bractae_ involucri, 1·5 cm. longae, 1 mm. latae, lineares, apice obtusae ciliataeque. _Receptaculum_ 3 mm. latum, planum. _Corollae_ tubus 2 cm. longus, cylindricus, glaber; lobi 3·5 mm. longi, ·75 mm. lati, lineares, apice obtusi. _Stamina_ inclusa; filamenta 6 mm. longa; antherae 2·5 mm. longae, lineares, apice appendice lineare instructae. _Ovarium_ 2·5 mm. longum, glabrum; stylus 2 mm. longus, glaber, lobis 4 mm. longis linearibus. _Pappus_ 1·6 cm. longus.

Transvaal: Lydenburg. _Carl Jeppe in National Herbarium,_ 1272. Pruizen, Potgeiters Rust, under bushes, _Burtt Davy_, 2203.

* * * * *

The specimens from which our figure was made were collected by Mr. Carl Jeppe in the Lydenburg District, Transvaal, and flowered in the Garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, in September, 1919.

It is closely allied to _Senecio pendula_, Sch. Bip., a native of Somaliland and Arabia, but differs in the erect, angled stems.

The stems resemble those of a _Stapelia_ to such an extent that it was thought to be a _Stapelia_ when received, and was planted out in the _Stapelia_ collection. This species will make a very welcome addition to the South African rockeries.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ 7-25 cm. long, simple, more rarely branched, thick and fleshy, 4-7-angled, with the angles compressed and toothed, each tooth tipped with an erect, slender, awl-like leaf 2-5 mm. long, withering and becoming hardened. _Peduncle_ often solitary and terminal, sometimes there is also an axilliary one on the stem, but then only the uppermost appears to develop; 2 cm. long, bearing one flower-head, terete, with 3-4 of the subulate leaves or bracts, glabrous. _Flower-head_ solitary, discoid, scarlet-red. _Involucral-scales_ in a single row of 10-12, more or less concrete, 1·5 cm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear, obtuse, ciliated at the apex, brick-red. _Receptacle_ 3 mm. in diameter, flat. _Florets_ all hermaphrodite. _Corolla-tube_ 2 cm. long, cylindric, glabrous, scarlet-red above, colourless below; lobes 3·5 mm. long, 0·75 mm. broad, linear, obtuse, scarlet-red. _Stamens_ inserted about halfway down the corolla-tube; filaments 6 mm. long, filiform, becoming linear for 1·5 mm. below the anthers; anthers 2·5 mm. long, linear, blunt at the base, tipped at the apex with a linear appendage 1·5 mm. long. _Ovary_ 2·5 mm. long, linear in outline, glabrous; style 2 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; style-arms 4 mm. long, linear, tipped with a bristly cone. _Pappus_ of white hairs 1·6 cm. long, distantly barbellate. _Fruit_ not seen.

[A few years before the war a plant of this species was sent by Mr. J. Burtt Davy to Kew Gardens, where it flowered annually, but has since died.--N. E. BROWN.]

* * * * *

PLATE 28.--Fig. 1, flower (enlarged); Fig. 2, style-arms; Fig. 3, stamens; Fig. 4, cross-section of stem.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 29.

NYMPHAEA STELLATA.

_Cape Province, Transvaal, Natal, Rhodesia._

* * * * *

NYMPHAEACEAE. Tribe NYMPHAEAE.

NYMPHAEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 46.

* * * * *

=Nymphaea stellata=, _Willd. Sp. Pl._ vol. ii. p. 1153; _Fl. Cap._ vol. i. p. 14.

* * * * *

A common water plant in many of our South African rivers and vleis, and it is not surprising that such a handsome species soon found its way to cultivators in Europe. Masson, about the year 1792, appears to have first introduced it into England by forwarding specimens from the Cape to the Royal Gardens at Kew. It was not long before coloured plates appeared in the botanical publications of the day, and the first of these was published in 1801 in the _Botanical Magazine_ and about the same time in Andrews’ _Botanist’s Repository_. A second figure again appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_ about 18 years later. The species, commonly known as the “Blue Water Lily” (Zulu “i-Ziba”), is easy of cultivation, and is found in most garden ponds in South Africa. Our illustration was made from specimens growing in the aquarium of the Natal Herbarium, Durban.

DESCRIPTION:--An aquatic plant with a submerged rhizome from which the floating leaves and flowers are produced. _Rhizome_ 4-5 cm. in diameter, black and spongy. _Leaves_ about 6 to each rhizome; petiole long or short according to the depth of the water, terete, striate, thickly clothed with transparent hairs; lamina green above, brownish beneath, up to 30 cm. long and 20-26 cm. broad, orbicular or elliptic, rounded at the apex, and with a deep acute triangular notch at the base, with entire or sometimes wavy margins, and prominent veins beneath, glabrous. _Peduncles_ longer than the petioles, raising the flower well above the surface of the water. _Sepals_ 4, green outside, blue within, 4-6 cm. long, 1·5-2 cm. broad, ovate-oblong, acuminate. _Petals_ numerous, about 4 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, blue. _Torus_ thick, fleshy. _Stamens_ numerous, in several rows; filaments flattened; the outer longer than the inner, and ½-⅔ the length of the petals; anthers yellow, with a long linear blue appendage at the apex. _Carpels_ many, inserted in the torus; stigma arcuate, obtuse. _Fruit_ a many-seeded berry. _Seeds_ spongy.

* * * * *

PLATE 29.--Fig. 1, torus; Fig. 2, plant reduced.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 30.

CEROPEGIA MEYERI.

_Cape Province, Transvaal, Natal._

* * * * *

ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe CEROPEGIEAE.

CEROPEGIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 779.

* * * * *

=Ceropegia Meyeri=, _Decne. in DC. Prodr._ vol. viii. p. 645; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv sect. 1, p. 828.

* * * * *

This species was first collected by Drège between the Bashee River and Morley, in Tembuland, about the year 1831, but the species has been found by several collectors since then. Its altitudinal range of distribution is wide, as it has been recorded by the late Dr. Wood from the sub-tropical climate of Durban and from Oliver’s Hoek Pass on the Drakensbergen, which is occasionally covered with snow in the winter months. The plant is a very ornamental twiner, easily cultivated, and well worth the attention of horticulturists. The accompanying illustration was made from specimens growing in the garden of the Natal Herbarium at Durban.

DESCRIPTION:--_Rootstock_ a flattened tuber. _Stem_ herbaceous, twining, up to 10 metres long, pubescent. _Leaves_ petioled; lamina 1·7-2·8 cm. long, 3-5·9 cm. broad, cordate-ovate or lanceolate-ovate, acute, somewhat acuminate, cordate or rounded at the base, more or less pubescent or rarely subglabrous on both sides, with the margins variously toothed or lobed. _Petiole_ 1-4 cm. long, pubescent. _Inflorescence_ 2-4-flowered, cymose, sessile or subsessile at the nodes. _Pedicels_ 0·6-1·1 cm. long, villous. _Sepals_ 8-11 mm. long, 1 mm. broad at the base, subulate, pubescent. _Corolla-tube_ whitish at the lowermost third, streaked with purple lines above, 2·5-3·1 cm. long, bottle-shaped, inflated and cylindric-oblong in the basal two-thirds, and narrowed into a cylindric neck above, then abruptly dilated at the mouth, glabrous without and within except at the throat; lobes almost black, connate at the tips, 1-1·2 cm. long, 3 mm. broad at the base, linear, pilose, with reflexed margins. _Outer corona-lobes_ white, ascending, 1 mm. long, deltoid, acute, glabrous; inner corona lobes connivent at the base, then slightly divergent, and again connivent at the tips, white above, black below, 2 mm. long, linear or slightly spathulate-linear, obtuse. _Follicles_ erect, sub-parallel, 8-10 cm. long, tapering into a beak, glabrous.

* * * * *

PLATE 30.--Fig. 1, calyx (enlarged); Fig. 2, corona; Fig. 3, a follicle.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 31.

MORAEA IRIDIOIDES.

_Cape Province, Transvaal, Natal._

* * * * *

IRIDEAE. Tribe MORAEEAE.

MORAEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 688.

* * * * *

=Moraea iridioides=, _Linn. Mant._ 28; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 25.

* * * * *

This is one of the largest and most handsome species in the genus and is frequently cultivated in South African gardens. Thunberg appears to have been the first collector of this plant; he gathered his specimens near the Zeekoe River in Humansdorp Division about 1772, but the species was known in England before then, as there is a record of Miller having it in cultivation in 1758. The first figure of the species appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_ in 1804 and it has been figured several times since. The present illustration was made from specimens growing in the garden of the Natal Herbarium, Durban.

DESCRIPTION:--A perennial plant with short underground rhizomes. _Leaves_ crowded in dense fan-shaped basal rosettes, 0·6-1·3 metres long, 1-2 cm. broad, linear, acute, equitant at the base, glabrous. _Peduncles_ equalling or exceeding the leaves. _Inflorescence_ corymbose. _Spathe-valves_ 2, about 6·5 cm. long, obtuse, tightly folded; the outer smaller than the inner. _Perianth-segments_ 5-6 cm. long, 2-3 cm. broad, obovate, obtuse, clawed at the base; the 3 outer segments with an orange-yellow keel, densely pilose at the base; the 3 inner segments narrower, with dark markings above the claw. _Ovary_ ellipsoid. _Stigmas_ purple, lanceolate, 2-lobed. _Fruit_ 5 cm. long, 1·7 cm. in diameter, ellipsoid; valves coriaceous. _Seeds_ discoid.

* * * * *

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 32.

HAEMANTHUS NATALENSIS.

_Cape Province, Natal._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

HAEMANTHUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 730.

* * * * *

=Haemanthus natalensis=, _Pappe ex Hook. in Bot. Mag._ t. 5378; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 232.

* * * * *

The late Dr. Pappe first brought this species to the notice of Kew as an undescribed South African plant, and not long afterwards (1862), Dr. Sanderson sent bulbs from Natal to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which flowered the following year. An excellent figure of the plant appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_ of the same year. The species appears to be fairly common in Natal, but the only Cape Province record we have is supplied by a specimen collected by Mr. W. Tyson at Kokstad, East Griqualand, 1883. The present illustration was made from specimens collected by Miss K. A. Lansdell at “Stella Bush” near Durban. It is popularly known as the “Blood Flower,” “Snake Lily,” and “April Fool.” It is reputed to be poisonous, but is used medicinally by the natives of Natal who know it as “Indumbe-ka-Hloile.”

DESCRIPTION:--An erect plant about 1 metre high. _Bulb_ 2-7·5 cm. in diameter, usually globose. _Stem_ about 1 metre high, closely covered with leaves above and with a few scale-leaves at the base. _Leaves_ sub-erect, 32 cm. long, 8-9 cm. broad, acute, narrowed at the base, glabrous, shining; the sheathing petiole of the lowermost leaves with reddish-brown spots, and the margin round the apex coloured reddish-brown. _Peduncle_ lateral, from the base of the stem, generally shorter than the stem, semi-terete, smooth and glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a many-flowered umbel. _Involucral-bracts_ 7-8, vandyke red to blackish red-purple (R.C.S.), 6·5-7·5 cm. long, 2-5 cm. broad, oblong, sub-acuminate, rounded or obtuse at the apex, glabrous. _Floral-bracts_ about 4 cm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, linear. _Flowers_ scarlet (R.C.S.). _Pedicels_ 1·5-5 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Perianth-tube_ 1 cm. long, 0·9 cm. in diameter, campanulate, glabrous; lobes 1·2 cm. long, linear, obtuse and recurved at the apex, with a tuft of hairs on each alternate lobe, otherwise glabrous. _Stamens_ exserted, arising at the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments usually about 1·6 cm. long, hermosa pink (R.C.S.); anthers yellow. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, ellipsoid; style longer than the stamens, hermosa pink (R.C.S.); stigma minute, globose. _Fruit_ a bright-red berry about 1 cm. in diameter, sub-globose, 1-3 seeded.

* * * * *

PLATE 32.--Fig. 1, plant reduced; Fig. 2, flower, with bract; Fig. 3, stamen, showing attachment to segment of the perianth.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 33.

CYRTANTHUS MCKENII.

_Natal._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Cyrtanthus McKenii=, _Hook. fil. in Gard. Chron._, 1869, p. 641, with fig.; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 225; _Wood, Natal Plants_, vol. i. t. 51.

* * * * *

The species of _Cyrtanthus_, which with one exception are confined to South Africa, have always received notice from gardeners. Our plant was described in 1869 from specimens sent to Europe by Mr. McKen, and a coloured drawing appeared soon after (1873) in one of the illustrated botanical publications. As far as our records go, this species is confined to Natal, where it is known as the “Ifafa Lily.” The specimens from which our illustration was made were gathered by Miss K. A. Lansdell on the banks of the Ifafa River near Port Shepstone, the original locality in which Mr. McKen first discovered the species. The flowers are strongly scented.

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 3-4 cm. in diameter, ovoid; tunics brown, membranous. _Leaves_ 2-6, erect, contemporary with the flowers, 20-30 cm. long, 0·9-2 cm. broad, linear, obtuse, narrowed to the base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ reddish-brown near the base, longer than the leaves, sub-terete, hollow. _Inflorescence_ a 4-10-flowered umbel. _Spathe-valves_ 2, green, spotted with reddish-brown marks when young, at length withering, 2·5-3·5 cm. long, 4-7 mm. broad, lanceolate, acute. _Flowers_ sub-erect, pure white with yellowish throats. _Floral-bracts_ linear. _Pedicle_ 0·8-1·5 cm. long, terete. _Perianth-tube_ 3-3·5 cm. long, 7-9 mm. in diameter at the throat, gradually widening from the base upwards; lobes spreading, 6-7 mm. long, 5-6 mm. broad, ovate, the 3 outer cucullate at the apex; the 3 inner emarginate. _Stamens_ sub-sessile, in 2 whorls below the throat of the perianth tube; anthers oblong. _Ovary_ sub-trigonous; style exserted; stigmas spreading, oblong-linear, tufted at the apex. _Fruit_ a trigonous capsule.

* * * * *

PLATE 33.--Fig. 1, leaf and flowers, natural size; Fig. 2, perianth laid open; Fig. 3, apex of style showing stigmas.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 34.

WITSENIA MAURA.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

IRIDACEAE. Tribe SISYRINCHIEAE.

WITSENIA, _Thunb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 701.

* * * * *

=Witsenia maura=, _Thunb. Nov. Gen._ pl. p. 34; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 46.

* * * * *

This interesting plant, the only species known in the genus, was first found by Dr. Carl Thunberg at Noordhoek and False Bay on the Cape Peninsula and described by him in 1782. It appears to be confined to damp habitats in the Cape Province, and has been found by the late Dr. Bolus at Houw Hoek in Caledon Division. It has also been recorded from the Tradouw Mountains in Swellendam Division, and this year (1920) Mr. T. P. Stokoe has discovered the plant on the Klein River Mountains near Caledon. It is a rare species and would only interest enthusiastic cultivators on account of its rarity.

We are indebted to Mr. Stokoe for the living specimens from which this plate was prepared. The plant is known locally as “Waaiertje.”

DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ woody. _Leaves_ distichous, about 18 cm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, linear, tapering to an acute point, amplexi-caul, glabrous. _Flowers_ in terminal heads. _Bracts_ 4·5 cm. long, boat-shaped, shorter than the flowers. _Perianth-tube_ 2·7 cm. long, brown below, becoming blue-black above; lobes 1·4 cm. long, 5·5 mm. broad, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, densely tomentose with yellow hairs outside, glabrous within, with a tuft of yellow hairs at the apex of the inner segments and marginal hairs round the apex of the outer segments. _Stamens_ inserted near the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments 5 mm. long, linear and slightly dilated at the base; anthers 6 mm. long, linear. _Ovary_ small; style 4 cm. long, slightly bifid at the apex.

* * * * *

PLATE 34.--Fig. 1, plant natural size; Fig. 2, unopened flower; Fig. 3, lobes of perianth; Figs. 4 and 5, stamens; Fig. 6, ovary and style; Fig. 7, tip of style, showing the three stigmas.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 35.

CYRTANTHUS OBLIQUUS.

_Cape Province, Natal._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Cyrtanthus obliquus=, _Ait.; Hort. Kew._ vol. i. p. 414; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 219; _Wood, Natal Plants_, vol. iv. t. 391.

* * * * *

This beautiful _Cyrtanthus_ was described by Aiton in 1789, probably from plants collected in South Africa by Masson, who sent specimens of this species to England in 1774. The fact that it has been so frequently figured is an indication that it has appealed largely to horticulturists. Jacquin first produced a coloured plate in 1797 and the last figure we know of in botanical literature is that quoted above.

The specimens from which the present plate was prepared flowered in the Gardens of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, from bulbs gathered on the mountains at Bethelsdorp near Port Elizabeth by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans.

In Natal this plant is known as “Justifina” or “Sore-eye flower” by the natives, who use it medicinally, as “Matoonga.”

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ globose, about 10 cm. in diameter, with a short neck about 4 cm. long, and thick cylindrical roots from the base; outer tunics membranous. _Leaves_ 18 cm. long, 4 cm. broad, strap-shaped, obtuse, glabrous. _Peduncle_ 28 cm. long, 1·3 cm. in diameter at the base, cylindric, tapering slightly towards the apex, hollow, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ an umbel of 6 flowers. _Bracts_ 3 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, ovate, sub-acuminate, acute. _Pedicels_ 2 cm. long, cylindric, glabrous. _Flowers_ pendulous. _Perianth-tube_ 4·5 cm. long, 2 cm. in diameter at the throat, funnel-shaped; outer lobes 2·5 cm. long, 1·4 cm. broad, oblong, slightly mucronate; inner lobes 2·4 cm. long, 1·7 cm. broad, obovate, obtuse, green, passing into yellow and red at their base. _Stamens_ arising from near the base of the perianth-tube; filaments 3 cm. long, cylindric; anthers 4 mm. long, oblong. _Ovary_ sub-globose, 5 mm. long, about 6 mm. in diameter; style 7·9 cm. long, cylindric; stigma faintly 3-lobed.

* * * * *

PLATE 35.--Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, leaf and flowers, natural size; Fig. 3, perianth laid open; Fig. 4, apex of style.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 36.

MIMETES PALUSTRIS.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEEAE.

MIMETES, _Salisb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 171.

* * * * *

=Mimetes palustris=, _Knight, Prot._ p. 66, _excl. syn. Boerh.; Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. 1, p. 649.

* * * * *

We have much pleasure in figuring this species, one of the many botanical rarities which have recently been brought to the notice of South African botanists by Mr. T. P. Stokoe.

Mr. Stokoe collected the specimens in August, 1920, between Hermanus and Stanford in the Caledon District. They were growing on damp slopes of shallow soil overlaying quartzite, with a southern aspect. In the locality the plant is extremely rare.

As far as we are aware this is the first record of the species since it was collected by Niven.

The common species of _Mimetes_ (_M. lyrigera_, Knight) is known as the “Rooi Stompie,” and as the above species is confined to damp habitats we propose the name “Water Stompie” for it.

DESCRIPTION:--A small shrub about 24 cm. high. _Branches_ pilose. _Leaves_ more or less imbricated, 1·7-2·5 cm. long, 7-9 mm. broad, the leaves subtending the flowers broader, elliptic-lanceolate, sub-acute, villous, ciliate with long hairs on the margins. _Heads_ longer than the leaves, 3-5 flowered. _Outer involucral bracts_ about 2·2 cm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, villous. _Perianth_ hairy; the limb densely setose. _Style_ with a dilated ring at the base of the stigma, glabrous.

* * * * *

PLATE 36.--Fig. 1, plant natural size; Fig. 2, a single flower; Fig. 3, a single perianth segment; Fig. 4, limb of perianth; Fig. 5, style; Fig. 6, stigma.

F.P.S.A., 1921.

PLATE 37.

CYRTANTHUS ROTUNDILOBUS.[C]

_Transkei._

* * * * *

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Cyrtanthus rotundilobus=, _N.E. Br. sp. nov._

CYRTANTHUS _rotundilobus_; _Bulbus_ ovoideus, 3 cm. diametro, in collo productus. _Folia_ 4, erecto-recurva, 16-30 cm. longa, 1·7 cm. lata, lineari-lanceolata, apice attenuata, subtus carinata, glabra. _Pedunculus_ circa 14 cm. longus, teres, solidus, glaber. _Umbella_ 9-11-flora. _Bracteæ_ 2·5 cm. longae, ovatæ acuminatae. _Pedicelli_ 1·7 cm. longi, teretes, glabri. _Perianthium_ plus minusve nutans rubro-cinnabarinum; tubus 2·5 cm. longus, infundibularis, ad apicem 8-9 mm. diametro; lobi circa 7 mm. longi et 5 mm. lati, elliptici vel suborbiculari, minute apiculati. _Stamina_ ad faucem perianthii inserta, biseriata, superioria subexserta; antherae 4 mm. longae. _Ovarium_ 4 mm. longum, ellipsoideum; stylus 2·2 cm. longus, filiformis, stigmatibus tribus minutis.--N. E. BROWN.

=Transkei=, _Wickens_.

* * * * *

This is not such a conspicuous plant as some other species of the genus, yet the brilliant colouring of the perianth is sufficient to warrant attention being given to this species in collections.

Our plate was figured from specimens grown by Mr. Wickens from bulbs collected in the Transkei, where it is known as the “Red Dobo-lily.”