Part 2

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VERBENACEAE. Tribe VITICEAE.

HOLMSKIOLDIA, _Retz._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1156.

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=Holmskioldia speciosa=, _Hutchinson et Corbishley in Kew Bull._ 1920, p. 332, Fig. 1.

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This beautiful and showy plant was first collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Komati Poort in November, 1917, and specimens sent to Kew were reported to be an undescribed species of the genus. Sir Wm. Hoy, the General Manager of the South African Railways, presented two living specimens to the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and our plate was prepared from these plants when they flowered.

The plant is a large bush 10-20 ft. high, and when in full bloom is one of the most conspicuous objects in the veld. The calyx in this species very soon becomes almost fully developed, and the young corolla is at first only visible as a minute ball at the base of the saucer-shaped calyx.

_Holmskioldia_ is a small genus with a curious distribution. A handsome species, _H. sanguinea_, Retz, occurs in the foothills of the Himalaya mountains of India at an altitude of 3000-5000 ft. _H. tettensis_, _H. spinescens_, and _H. mucronata_, Vatke, are found in the basin of the Lower Zambesi and Shire Rivers, and there is an unnamed species in Madagascar. The genus is very closely related to _Clerodendron_, largely represented in all these areas.

DESCRIPTION:--_Branchlets_ woody, terete, shortly and softly pubescent, marked with pale lenticels; internodes about 2 cm. long. _Leaves_ broadly ovate, triangular at the apex, broadly wedge-shaped at the base, 2·5-4 cm. long, 2-3 cm. broad, coarsely crenate, with few (about three) rounded teeth, very shortly setulose above, paler below and conspicuously glandular and shortly pubescent; lateral nerves about three on each side of the midrib; petiole 7 mm. long, densely pubescent. _Flowers_ few, arranged in axillary cymes about 4 cm. long; peduncles slender, softly pubescent; lower bracts more or less leafy, spathulate-obovate, up to 7 mm. long; pedicels up to 1·2 cm. long, with two small opposite linear bracteoles above the middle. _Calyx_ pink-coloured, gradually enlarging, broadly top-shaped, glandular-pubescent outside; tube 1 cm. long, with broadly rounded lobes, the latter rigidly membranous in the fruiting stage and expanding to 2·5 cm. _Corolla_ purple, 2-2·5 cm. long, glandular and softly pubescent outside; tube up to 1·5 cm. long. _Stamens_ long exserted; filaments glabrous. _Ovary_ hairy in the upper part; style a little longer than the stamens, slender, glabrous. _Fruit_ truncate, 4-horned, included by the accrescent calyx.--J. HUTCHINSON.

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PLATE 49.--Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, corolla bud; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, pistil; Fig. 5, young fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 50.

RHAMPHICARPA TUBULOSA.

_Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal._

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SCROPHULARIACEAE. Tribe GERARDIEAE.

RHAMPHICARPA, _Benth._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 969.

=Rhamphicarpa tubulosa=, _Benth. in Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag._ i. 368; _Harv. Thes. Cap._ i. 36, t. 57; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. 2, p. 399.

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This species belongs to a small genus of plants which are probably parasitic or semi-parasitic herbs. Three species are known in South Africa, and a few from Tropical Africa, East India, and Australia. _R. tubulosa_ also occurs in Tropical, and is the most widely distributed member of the genus in South Africa. In Natal it is always found in moist ground, edges of pools, and similar habitats.

The plate was prepared from plants collected by the late Dr. Medley Wood on the Berea Flats near Durban, Natal.

DESCRIPTION:--A herbaceous plant 12-60 cm. high. _Stem_ erect; simple or occasionally sparsely branched, terete, sometimes furrowed on two sides, glabrous or nearly so. _Leaves_ opposite or subopposite, exstipulate, sessile or nearly so, 2·6-7·5 cm. long, up to 1·2 cm. broad, linear, slightly narrowed at both ends, with entire margins and a prominent midrib, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a few-flowered raceme; pedicels 1·5-2·5 cm. long. _Calyx-tube_ 1·2 cm. long; lobes spreading, lanceolate, a little shorter than the tube, keeled. _Corolla-tube_ about 2 cm. long, narrowly subcylindric, more or less curved, glabrous or minutely puberulous; lobes 1·5 cm. long, 0·8 cm. broad, obovate, rounded, the upper 2 connate high up. _Stamens_ 4, in 2 pairs; filaments clothed with long hairs, the upper pair shorter than the lower pair; anthers 1-celled, oblong, dorsifixed. _Ovary_ oblong-ovoid; style terete; stigma thickened. _Capsule_ 1·2 cm. long, 8 mm. in diameter, obliquely ovoid, obliquely beaked at the apex, glabrous.

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PLATE 50.--Fig. 1, plant, natural size; Fig. 2, corolla, front view; Fig. 3, corolla, back view; Fig. 4, stamens; Fig. 5, corolla laid open; Fig. 6, gynaecium; Fig. 7, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 8, calyx; Fig. 9, capsule. All enlarged except Fig. 1.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 51.

GAZANIA SUBULATA.

_Cape Province._

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COMPOSITAE. Tribe ARCTOTIDEAE.

GAZANIA, _Gaertn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 459.

=Gazania subulata=, _R. Br. in Ait. Hort. Kew._ ed. II. vol. v. p. 140; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 473.

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The native species of _Gazania_ receive perhaps more attention from gardeners than other groups of South African _Compositae_. This is due to their easy cultivation and the brightness of their “flowers.” The general names “Gousblom” and “Marigolds” are applied indiscriminately to various species of _Gazania_, _Arctotis_ and _Dimorphotheca_.

Our plate was prepared from plants flowering at the Division of Botany, Pretoria. The plant is acquiescent and forms a compact clump about 2 feet in diameter. It flowers freely and is easily propagated. We hope in future numbers to illustrate all the better known kinds of “Gousblom,” especially some of the beautiful Namaqualand species.

Our specimen bears out Harvey’s statement that this species and _G. longiscapa_ are scarcely distinct, as it agrees with _G. subulata_ in having the peduncle pilose and with _G. longiscapa_ in the cartilaginous-ciliate leaves which are glabrous on the mid-rib below.

Specimens of the plant figured are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1447).

DESCRIPTION:--An acaulescent plant. _Leaves_ radical, crowded, 10-40 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, linear, subacute, with a short spine at the apex, narrowed and channelled below and sheathing at the base, dark green and glabrous above, white tomentose beneath, except on the midrib, with the margins spinulose-ciliate. _Peduncle_ 24 cm. long, terete, hollow, pilose on the uppermost third, with 1 or 2 bracts. _Involucral scales_ connate at the base; tube 1 cm. long, 7 mm. in diameter, glabrous, intruse at the base; scales in three rows, 1-1·5 cm. long; the outer linear-acuminate, acute, with spinulose margins; the inner ovate, acuminate, acute, with membranous margins. _Receptacle_ convex, honeycombed. _Ray-florets_ neuter, 3·2 cm. long; the limb 1·2 cm. broad, obovate-oblong, obtuse, with a broad mouse-coloured band beneath and about 15-veined. _Disc florets_ hermaphrodite, 1-2 cm. long; tube 5-angled; lobes 4 mm. long, linear-oblong, obtuse. _Anthers_ minutely tailed at the base. _Pappus_ of delicate linear acuminate scales hidden by the long hairs which cover the ovary. _Ovary_ densely villous; style with a thickened ring about the middle; lobes linear, obtuse.

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PLATE 51.--Fig. 1, flowers and leaves; Fig. 2, upper portion of style; Fig. 3, stamens; Fig. 4, longitudinal section of capitulum with hairs from ovary removed; Fig. 5, corolla laid open; Fig. 6, disc-floret, showing pappus, with hairs from the ovary removed; Fig. 7, plant, much reduced.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 52.

PELARGONIUM CRASSICAULE.

_South-West Africa._

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GERANIACEAE. Tribe PELARGONIEAE.

PELARGONIUM, _L’Her._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 273.

* * * * *

=Pelargonium crassicaule=, _L’Her. Ger._ t. 36; _Fl. Cap._ vol. i. p. 299.

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This species of _Pelargonium_ is one of the many botanical curiosities found in the arid regions of South-West Africa, where the native plants have to contend against very adverse conditions. In the dry season the plant loses its leaves and assumes a knobby appearance due to the thick rather woody stems. The leaves appear after the rains and are more or less crowded at the ends of the branches.

The species was first discovered by Mr. Ant. Hove in 1786 in South-West Africa, and was introduced by him into Kew Gardens the same year. In 1799 a figure was published in the _Botanical Magazine_ (t. 477) prepared from a plant which flowered with Messrs. Grimwood & Co., Kensington, London. Though this figure does not quite agree with our specimen in the markings of the petals, we have no doubt that it represents the plant here illustrated, which can only be considered as a variety.

Our plant was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., who states that it is common on rocky outcrops in the Nabib Desert at Luderitzbuch. It has been established and flowered at the Gardens of the Division of Botany, Pretoria. Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1452).

DESCRIPTION:--_Stems_ woody and swollen, with blackish bark. _Leaves_ crowded at the apex of the branches; petioles 4-11 cm. long, semiterete, finely pilose with reflexed hairs; lamina 2-5 cm. long, 2-4·5 cm. broad, rounded-ovate, slightly 3-lobed, rounded above, cuneate at the base and merging into the petiole, with crinkled bluntly dentate margins and prominent veins beneath, finely pilose above and below; stipules brown, 4 mm. long, acuminate from an ovate base. _Peduncle_ 7·5 cm. long, terete, finely pilose with reflexed hairs, branching above. _Involucral bracts_ 1·2 cm. long, lanceolate, acute, pilose. _Umbel_ 6-flowered; pedicels about 1-2 cm. long. _Flowers_ faintly sweet scented. _Petals_ 1·25 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, obovate, rounded or truncate at the apex; the three lower produced into a linear claw 2 mm. long; the two upper slightly connate. _Calyx-tube_ 2 mm. long, terete, pilose; sepals all pilose; upper sepal erect, 8 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse; lower and lateral sepals reflexed, 8 mm. long, 1·5-2 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse. _Stamens_ 7, in three rows of 2, 3 and 2; filaments linear, 4·7 mm. long, connate at the base; anthers 1·75 mm. long, oblong; staminodes 3, shorter than the filaments. Ovary 1·5 mm. long, densely pilose above; styles united for 1·5 mm. and then separating into 6 stigmas 1·5 mm. long.

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PLATE 52.--Fig. 1, plant as it appears in dry seasons; Fig. 2, plant with leaves and flowers; Fig. 3, lamina of leaf; Fig. 4, involucre at base of flowers; Fig. 5, back view of flower; Fig. 6, petals; Fig. 7, calyx with stamens; Fig. 8, filaments and staminodes; Fig. 9, gynaecium.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 53.

ANDROCYMBIUM MELANTHIOIDES.

_Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal._

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LILIACEAE. Tribe ANGUILLARIEAE.

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ANDROCYMBIUM, _Willd._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 822.

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=Androcymbium melanthioides=, _Willd. in Ges. Naturf. fr. Berl. Mag._ vol. ii. p. 21; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 517.

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The genus _Androcymbium_ is represented by about eighteen species, two of which are known from the Mediterranean Region and two from Tropical Africa, the remainder of the species being confined to South Africa.

Our plate was prepared from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Silverton, near Pretoria, in May, 1921, and represents the best known and most widely distributed species of the genus. The plant shows the characteristic habit of all the species, viz. stemless, with the flower head hidden by large bracts which may be white, green, or purplish. In cultivation it does not lend itself to planting out, but makes a striking and pleasing object when placed singly in pots.

Specimens of the plant figured are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1451).

DESCRIPTION:--A stemless plant. _Bulb_ about 1·5 cm. in diameter, globose, covered with more or less hardened black tunics. _Leaves_ 2-3, 14-22 cm. long, linear from an ovate base, acutely acuminate, glabrous. _Bracts_ white or purplish, several, 3-8·5 cm. long, ·8-3·5 cm. broad, oblong, ovate-oblong or ovate, obtuse or sometimes apiculate at the apex, sometimes acuminate, many nerved (up to 50-nerved). _Head_ about 6-flowered, hidden and overtopped by the bracts. _Bracts_ subtending the flowers about 3·5 cm. long, lanceolate, acute, 5-nerved. _Pedicel_ 3 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad above, obovoid, fleshy. _Perianth segments_ produced into a distinct claw; claw 5 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, with a more or less distinct keel; blade 6 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, ovate, cucullate, acuminate, 3-keeled. _Stamens_ inserted at the junction of the claw and blade; filaments 9 mm. long, terete; anthers 3 mm. long, elliptic. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, 2·5 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid, subtrigonous; styles free, 8 mm. long, terete; stigma simple,

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PLATE 53.--Fig. 1, plant viewed from above (reduced); Fig. 2, inflorescence; Fig. 3, flower with bract; Fig. 4, perianth segment with stamen, front view; Fig. 5, perianth segment with stamen, side view; Fig. 6, gynaecium.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 54.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM ALOIDES.

_Bechuanaland._

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FICOIDEAE. Tribe MEBEMBRYANTHEMEAE.

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f._ vol. i. p. 853.

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=Mesembryanthemum aloides=, _Haw. Suppl._ p. 88; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 396.

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This extremely rare plant, which was first found by Burchell at Metlowing and at Jabirn Fontein, near Takun in Bechuanaland, in 1812, was recently rediscovered by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans near Postmas Berg, and has been established in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria. In the _Journal of the Linnean Society_ (vol. xlv. p. 123) for 1920, Mr. N. E. Brown gives a fuller description of the species based mainly on a coloured drawing of the plant made by Burchell, who states that the roots are “eaten by natives as a substitute for better food.”

The specimen from which the present plate was prepared flowered at Pretoria in August, and has enabled us to draw up a more complete description.

Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium.

DESCRIPTION:--A stemless plant. _Root_ thick and woody. _Leaves_ tufted, 8-12 in a cluster, forming a rosette about 9 cm. in diameter, 3-5·5 cm. long, 1-1·7 cm. broad in the widest part, lanceolate-spathulate viewed from above, acuminate, obtuse, mucronate at the apex and shaped like the bow of a boat, slightly narrowed at the base and sheathing, flat above, keeled beneath, dotted with white spots on both surfaces. _Flowers_ lemon-yellow, sessile between the leaves. _Calyx-tube_ 2·2 cm. long, widening from a cylindrical base to 1·2 cm. in diameter above, sparsely pustulate above; lobes of two different lengths, pustulate; the longer 1·7 cm. long, ovate, acuminate; the shorter 9 mm. long with membranous margins. _Corolla_ 2·5 cm. in diameter when expanded; petals up to 1 cm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear, obtuse. _Filaments_ about 5 mm. long, hairy at the base. _Ovary_ 10-celled; styles 10 free. _Fruit_ not seen.

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PLATE 54.--Fig. 1, calyx and calyx lobes; Fig. 2, petal; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, top of ovary showing styles; Fig. 5, transverse section of ovary; Fig. 6, longitudinal section of leaf; Fig. 7, transverse section of leaf near the apex; Fig. 8, apex of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 55.

ALOE STRIATA.

_Cape Province._

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LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

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=Aloe striata=, _Haw. in Trans. Linn. Soc._ vol. vii. p. 18; _Syn._ p. 81; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 311.

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This is the well-known “Coral Aloe” of South Africa. It is typical of both the Upper and Lower Karroo regions and also of the Namaqualand region. The species is generally found on dry rocky slopes, and the plants assume a subdecumbent position, very rarely growing erect. It is the only South African species of _Aloe_ which bears leaves without prickly teeth. In the dry summer season the leaves lose their bluish-grey colour and become a copper-red, which gives the plants a very characteristic appearance in the veld. A large number of hybrids have been raised by crossing this species with others belonging to the _Saponaria_ group, and a hybrid, described as _Aloe Lynchii_, was obtained between this and _Gasteria verrucosa_.

The late Prof. MacOwan states that sun-birds (_Nectarineae_) are the pollinating agents of _Aloe striata_ and some other species of _Aloe_, and if the birds are kept away by covering the inflorescence with wire netting, few or no capsules are produced.

Our specimen was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Dassie Deur near Port Elizabeth, and flowered in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, in August.

Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ underground. _Leaves_ about 13, crowded in a basal rosette, up to 30 cm. long, 6-11·5 cm. broad, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or the inner ovate, acuminate, flat, bluish-grey, glaucous, faintly many-nerved, with pink margins. _Peduncle_ about 24 cm. long, branched above; at the base flat on one side, convex on the other; in the upper portion semiterete. _Inflorescence_ a panicle of racemes, the ultimate racemes 6-9 cm. long, lax. _Bracts_ subtending the racemes about 1 cm. long, membranous, ovate, acuminate. _Floral bracts_ 3 mm. long, ovate, acuminate, acute, membranous. _Pedicels_ about 1 cm. long, spreading. _Flowers_ more or less pendulous. _Perianth-tube_ in mature flowers 2 cm. long, globose at the base, then slightly constricted, then gradually widening into a tube 6 mm. in diameter at the throat; lobes about 3 mm. long, ovate, rounded at the apex. _Stamens_ included or slightly exserted; filaments attached at the base of the perianth-tube, 1·7 cm. long; anthers about 1 mm. long. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, oblong; style 1·7 cm. long, terete; stigma faintly 3-lobed. _Immature fruit_ 2 cm. long, 1·1 cm. in diameter, ellipsoid, subtrigonous.

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PLATE 55.--Fig. 1, plant showing characteristic habit; Fig. 2, transverse section of leaf; Fig. 3, flower; Fig. 4, bract; Fig. 5, stamen; Fig. 6, young fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 56.

POLYXENA HAEMANTHOIDES.

_Cape Province._

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LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.

POLYXENA, _Kunth._; _Benth. et Hook. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 807.

* * * * *

=Polyxena haemanthoides=, _Baker in Hook. Ic._ t. 1727; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 420.

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This rare species was recently collected by Dr. Marloth in the Calvinia Division, and to our knowledge has not been collected since the late Dr. Bolus discovered it on the Nieuwveld Mountains near Fraserburg over thirty years ago. _Polyxena_ is a small endemic genus of about a dozen species, the majority of which are very little known, as most of them have not been collected since they were first found by the early Cape botanical collectors. Baker, who described and figured this species in Hooker’s _Icones_, remarks, “The affinity of this interesting novelty is evidently close with _Massonia rugulosa_ of Lichtenstein and _M. marginata_ of Willdenow, of neither of which we possess specimens in the Kew Herbarium.” Both of them fall under the genus _Polyxena_, as defined in the _Genera Plantarum_. Specimens preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1448).

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ about 3-4 cm. in diameter, ovoid. _Leaves_ two, lying flat on the ground, 7 cm. long, 2·5-3 cm. broad, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, narrowing at the base, glabrous, about 10-nerved, with scabrous margins. _Inflorescence_ a contracted raceme, about 12-flowered. _Bracts_ white, 5 mm. long, ovate, acuminate. _Flowers_ sessile; perianth-tube 1·3 cm. long, 3·5 mm. in diameter, slightly compressed; lobes in 2 rows, 9 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, glandular at the apex. _Stamens_ in a single row; filaments united into a tube at the base, 1·5 cm. long; anthers 3 mm. long, linear, versatile. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, oblong in outline; style 1·5 cm. long, terete; stigma simple.

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PLATE 56.--Fig. 1, leaf; Fig. 2, inflorescence showing coma; Fig. 3, flower; Fig. 4, flower in longitudinal section; Fig. 5, upper portion of perianth showing stamens and style; Fig. 6, apex of perianth lobe.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 57.

DIMORPHOTHECA SPECTABILIS.

_Transvaal._

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COMPOSITAE. Tribe CALENDULACEAE.

DIMORPHOTHECA, _Moench._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 453.

* * * * *

=Dimorphotheca spectabilis=, _Schltr. in Journ. Bot._ vol. xxxv. p. 220 (1897).

* * * * *

For quite a considerable time this common and well-known _Dimorphotheca_ was placed in herbaria under the name of _Dimorphotheca Ecklonis_, and Harvey, who examined specimens of this plant collected by Burke and Zeyher on the Aapies River and Magaliesberg, also included it under _D. Ecklonis_. Dr. Schlechter first recognised that the Transvaal plant was an undescribed species, but apparently did not realise that Burke and Zeyher had collected the plant close on a hundred years ago, as he founded his description on specimens collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin, F.L.S., in 1887, on the Saddleback Mountains, Barberton.

_Dimorphotheca spectabilis_ is a spring flowering plant, and is common around Pretoria during the months of September and October. It is a well-grown plant with large mauve flowers, and if introduced into cultivation would be an acquisition to any garden. The plant sets seed freely, and could easily be raised by this means. The species is poisonous, and in experiments carried out by the Division of Veterinary Research, the plant was found to cause death in sheep fed on it.

Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1470).