Part 5

DESCRIPTION:--A spreading bush 5-6 ft. high. _Branches_ glabrous. _Leaves_ 8-8·5 cm. long, O·9-1 cm. broad, broadly linear, 3-toothed at the apex, slightly narrowed at the base with the midrib distinct beneath, veins faint above. _Heads_ solitary or 2-nate, 7-8 cm. long including the peduncle and styles, about 5·5 cm. in diameter. _Peduncle_ 2 cm. long, loosely covered with ovate subacuminate obtuse glabrous bracts 8 mm. long and about 8 mm. broad. _Receptacle_ 2·2 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, cylindric, densely villous on the back with long white hairs. _Perianth-tube_ 1 cm. long, glabrous; segments 2·5 cm. long, linear, villous and long ciliate; lobes 3 mm. long, oblong, subacuminate, ciliate and bearded. _Ovary_ 1 mm. long, villous; style 4·5 cm. long, terete, glabrous; stigma ovoid, subacuminate, obtuse.

* * * * *

PLATE 74.--Fig. 1, a single flower; Fig. 2, flower bud; Fig. 3, limb of posticous segment; Fig. 4, one lobe of limb showing stamen; Fig. 5, floral bracts; Fig. 6, longitudinal section of receptacle; Fig. 7, involucral bract; Fig. 8, stigma, side view; Fig. 9, stigma, front view.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 75.

ORNITHOGALUM ROODEAE.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.

ORNITHOGALUM, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 815.

* * * * *

=Ornithogalum Roodeae=, _Phillips_, sp. nov. _Bulbus_ globosus, albus. _Folia_ 3, ad 26 cm. longa, basi 2·5 cm. lata, lanceolata, acuminata, glabra. _Pedunculus_ ad 25 cm. longus, glaber. _Inflorescentia_ 4 cm. longa, circiter 6 cm. lata. _Bracteae_ 1·4-2·5 cm. longae, ovato-lanceolatae, acuminatae, membranaceae. _Pedicelli_ 1·1-2·5 cm. longi. _Segmenta_ perianthii 1·2 cm. longa, 4 mm. lata, oblongo-lanceolata, apice papillosa. _Filamenta_ 8 mm. longa, basi 1·5 lata, lanceolata, acuminata. _Ovarium_ 5 mm. longum, 2.5 mm. latum, glabrum; stylus 6 mm. longus; stigma semiglobosum, papillosum.

* * * * *

This handsome _Ornithogalum_ was collected by Mr. E. Rood at Van Rhynsdorp, and forwarded to the Division of Botany, Pretoria. The perianth segments are a deep reddish-brown, edged with white, and the flowers are extremely fragrant. Specimens were sent to Kew, and the Director reports that the plant had not been matched, the nearest affinity being _O. suaveolens_, Jacq., and that it was evidently a new species. This species exhibits a device for cross-pollination by the movement of the style. As soon as the flower opens the style bends downwards, and is thus in a position to receive pollen from the abdomen of a visiting insect. As the flowers wither the perianth segments close up, and the style becomes erect and would then be self-pollinated if cross-pollination has not taken place.

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 2·2 cm. long, 2·8 cm. in diameter, globose, white. _Leaves_ 3, up to 26 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad at the base, lanceolate (when opened flat), becoming deeply channelled above, acuminate, clasping at the base, glabrous. _Peduncle_ up to 25 cm. long, greenish-brown, glabrous. _Infloresence_ about 14-flowered, more or less corymbose, 4 mm. long, about 6 cm. in diameter. _Bracts_ 1·4-2·5 cm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate into a long fine point, membranous, as long as the pedicels. _Pedicels_ 1·1-2·5 cm. long, terete. _Perianth-segments_ free to the base, spreading, 1·2 cm. long, 4 mm. broad, oblong-lanceolate, dark purple with white margins, 5-nerved; the outer cucullate at the apex with a fringe of short glandular hairs; the inner rounded and fringed with short glandular hairs. _Filaments_ 8 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad in widest part, lanceolate, acuminate, more or less compressed below, convex on both sides above; anthers 4 mm. long, oblong, each lobe with a short beak. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, 2·5 mm. in diameter, 3-lobed, glabrous; style 6 mm. long, semiterete; the style in open flowers bent away from stamens and later becoming sharply bent; stigma semiglobose, covered with glandular hairs.

* * * * *

PLATE 75.--Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, bract; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 5, gynaecium; Fig. 6, outer perianth-segments, front and side views; Fig. 7, inner perianth-segments, front and side views.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 76.

PROTEA RECONDITA.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEEAE.

PROTEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 169.

* * * * *

=Protea recondita=, _Buek. ex Meisn. in DC. Prodr._ xiv. 237; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 584.

* * * * *

This rare _Protea_ was sent to us by Miss L. Guthrie of the Bolus Herbarium, who received it from Mr. de Wet of Ceres. Mr. de Wet described it as a low trailing plant with the branches 2 feet long and raised about a foot above the ground. The heads are hidden by the upper leaves. Hitherto the species has only been recorded from Ezelsbank on the Cedarberg Range, Clanwilliam Division, where it was collected by Drège almost a hundred years ago.

This example, unlike so many species of _Protea_, is not particularly handsome. The bracts are a pale dull green, and the flowers somewhat scented, reminding one very much of the odour of _Protea mellifera_.

Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1490).

DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ pale green, glabrous. _Leaves_ 7-19 cm. long, 1·8-7 cm. broad (the largest leaves surrounding the head), elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed to the base, with distinct reddish veins and a reddish margin, glabrous. _Head_ sessile, 5·5 cm. long, 7 cm. in diameter. _Involucral-bracts_ in about 9 rows; the outer ovate, subacuminate, obtuse, ciliate; the inner oblong, incurved, somewhat concave, slightly exceeding the flowers, scantily pilose. _Receptacle_ 3·2 cm. broad at base, about 1·5 cm. high, conical. _Perianth-sheath_ 2·6 cm. long, dilated, keeled and 3-nerved below, glabrous, except for setae near the apex; lip 6 mm. long, setulose with golden-brown hairs. _Hypogynous scales_ 1·5 mm. long, ovate. _Ovary_ covered with long golden-brown hairs; style 4 cm. long, strongly falcate; stigma 3 mm. long, almost imperceptibly passing into the style.

* * * * *

PLATE 76.--Fig. 1, branch with flower head; Fig. 2, receptacle; Fig. 3, inner bract; Fig. 4, outer bract; Fig. 5, single flower; Fig. 6, one perianthlobe.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 77.

CROSSANDRA GREENSTOCKII.

_Transvaal, Natal._

* * * * *

ACANTHACEAE. Tribe JUSTICIEAE.

CROSSANDRA, _Salisb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1094.

* * * * *

=Crossandra Greenstockii=, _S. Moore in Journ. Bot._, 1880, p. 37; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 37.

* * * * *

This plant is of interest as being one of the many outliers of the Tropical African flora in Southern Africa, and also as showing a connection between the floras of Eastern India and Tropical Africa. The genus _Crossandra_ is represented by about 15 species, most of which occur in Tropical Africa, and one is recorded from India and the Malay States. The species figured here occurs in the Nyasa Highlands, and extends into Natal and the Transvaal as far south as Pretoria. During the month of October the plant may be found in flower in the neighbourhood of the Premier Mine, Pretoria, and the bright scarlet flowers form a conspicuous feature in the veld. Specimens have been recorded from various localities in the Northern Transvaal.

The fruits, as is so frequent in many species of _Acanthaceae_, have an explosive mechanism, _i.e._ they burst suddenly into two valves when wetted and scatter the seeds. The seeds, of which there are four in each fruit, are tightly enveloped with long hairs which straighten out and become mucilaginous when wet, thus fixing the seed to the ground.

Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1494).

DESCRIPTION:--An acaulescent plant with underground rootstocks. _Stem_ short, glabrous. _Leaves_ opposite, 5-11 cm. long, 2·2-5·2 cm. broad, obovate or elliptic, the narrower leaves sometimes lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed at the base, with the midrib and lateral veins prominent beneath, distinct above, glabrous or very sparsely pilose, especially on the midrib and veins. _Peduncle_ 11-16 cm. long, terete, pilose, naked below, but with 2 opposite leaves above. _Inflorescence_ 5-8 cm. long, 1·7-2·2 cm. in diameter, more or less 4-angled. _Bracts_ 2·5 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, obovate, shortly aristate, with 4-7 long teeth on the margins, ciliate-glandular on both sides; bracteoles two, 2·5 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear, acuminate, acute, glandular. _Sepals_ 5; the lateral sepals 5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, linear, shortly aristate; remainder 9 mm. long, 2·5 mm. broad, oblong, subacuminate, ciliate above. _Corolla-tube_ 2·2 cm. long, cylindric, ventricose at the base, inflated and glandular above; lobe 1·2 cm. long, 2·2 cm. broad, somewhat semicircular in outline. _Anthers_ hairy. _Ovary_ 1 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, oblong in outline, shortly beaked, glabrous; style threadlike; stigma inflated and hollow at the apex. _Ovules_ 2 in each cell, discoid, covered with scales.

* * * * *

PLATE 77.--Fig. 1, corolla; Fig. 2, a single flower, showing bract and bracteoles; Fig. 3, corolla laid open; Fig. 4, calyx surrounding the ovary; Fig. 5, gynaecium; Fig. 6, apex of style; Fig. 7, ovary with two ovules.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 78.

ROODIA DIGITIFOLIA.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

FICOIDEAE. Tribe MESEMBRYEAE.

* * * * *

=Roodia=, _N. E. Brown_ (genus novum). _Herba_ succulenta, nana, caespitosa. _Proles_ bifoliatae. _Pedunculus_ bracteatus, uniflorus. _Calyx_ in tubum distinctum supra ovarium productus 6-lobus. _Petala_ numerosa, libera. _Stamina_ numerosissima, pluriseriata, omnia a basi in tubum abrupte inflexa, exterioribus brevioribus. _Ovarium_ multiloculare. _Stigma_ parvum, inconspicuum, sessile, integrum. _Fructus_ multilocularis; loculi alis binis subchartaceis tecti et dorsum versus tuberculo clausi.

=Roodia digitifolia=, _N. E. Brown_. _Planta_ 8-11 cm. alta, caespitosa, glabra. _Proles_ bifoliatae, confertae. _Folia_ erecta, 8-11 cm. longa, 10-15 mm. crassa, digitiformia, subteretia faciebus interioribus planis, apice obtusissima, inferne viridia, superne purpureo-tincta. _Pedunculus_ 3-6 cm. longus, apice 4-5 mm. crassus, erectus, uniflorus, infra medium bibracteatus, purpureus. _Calycis tubus_ cum ovario 10 mm. longus, 10-11 mm. diametro; lobi inaequales, 5-8 mm. longi, 5-7 mm. lati, ovati, obtusi vel subacuti. _Corolla_ circiter 4 cm. diametro; petala numerosa, subquadriseriata, exteriora circiter 15 mm. longa et 1 mm. lata, interiora breviora, linearia, apice obtusa vel dentata, pulchre purpurea. _Stamina_ numerosissima, in tubum calycis abrupte et arcte inflexa. _Ovarium_ supra concavum. _Stigma_ sessile, parvum, inconspicuum. _Fructus_ 12-14-locularis.

Cape Province: Van Rhynsdorp Division, near Van Rhynsdorp (_Mrs. E. Rood_). Growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria (Garden No. 403).

* * * * *

This interesting plant is so like some species of _Mesembryanthemum_ in general appearance, that most would unhesitatingly place it in that genus. For a long time past, however, as I have elsewhere stated, it has been dawning upon me that _Mesembryanthemum_, as at present understood, is rather of the nature of a natural order than of a single genus. In vegetative characters it presents a very great amount of variation, and in most cases any particular kind of variation is found to be common to several species, so as to form of them a group, indicating a generic difference from the others. About a hundred years ago Haworth recognised this and gave generic names to some of the groups he had formed, which have neither been accepted nor taken notice of by subsequent authors.

Undoubtedly there is a great similarity in the flowers of many groups of this genus that differ widely in their vegetative characteristics; yet when investigated differences in floral structure may often be found also, which, taken in conjunction with vegetative characters, are quite as great and as distinctive as those which separate genera in many other families of plants. This is the case with the plant at present under consideration, for I find that it has a combination of three floral characters, which, so far as known to me do not all occur together in any species of _Mesembryanthemum_, namely: (1) the calyx is produced into a distinct green tube above the ovary; (2) the stamens are all abruptly bent down into the calyx-tube; and (3) the stigma is sessile, undivided, and inconspicuous. Upon this combination of characters in conjunction with its vegetative character, I establish a new genus, and have much pleasure in naming it after its discoverer, Mrs. E. Rood, of Van Rhynsdorp, who sent living plants of it to Dr. I. B. Pole Evans at Pretoria, where it flowered. The accompanying figure of it was sent to me by Dr. Pole Evans, together with a living plant and a flower in fluid, with some notes by Dr. E. P. Phillips, from which the description has been prepared.

DESCRIPTION:--A dwarf succulent plant branching at or below ground level and forming clumps about 8-11 cm. high. _Leaves_ 2 to each growth, or 4 when the new growth is made, 8-11 cm. long, 10-15 mm. thick, erect, nearly cylindric or finger-like, but with the inner face flattened, united at the base, obtuse at the apex, glabrous and smooth, green below, purplish at the apical part. _Peduncle_ erect, 3-6 cm. long, and 4-5 mm. thick at the apex, with a pair of bracts about 2 cm. long below the middle. _Calyx_ 6-lobed, tube (including the ovary) 10 mm. long, produced about 7 mm. above the ovary, about 10-11 mm. in diameter, slightly constricted under the lobes, glabrous, green; lobes unequal, 5-8 mm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, ovate, subacute or obtuse, four of them with membranous margins. _Corolla_ about 4 cm. in diameter, petals numerous, in about 4 series, loosely recurved, spreading over one another, the outer about 15 mm. long and 1 mm. broad, the others gradually shorter, all linear, obtuse or notched at the apex, bright magenta. _Stamens_ very numerous, all abruptly bent into and closely pressed against the calyx-tube in a dense mass, leaving a clear central opening to the stigma, the outermost series being the shortest. _Stigma_ sessile, sunk in a slight pit and level with the concave top of the ovary, entire, inconspicuous.

It may not be out of place to point out that dried specimens of _Mesembryanthemum chrysoleucum_, Schlechter are so similar to _Roodia digitifolia_ in general appearance, that the plant might easily be mistaken for a species of _Roodia_. It differs, however, by being destitute of bracts on its peduncle; by the leaves, peduncle, and calyx being papillate; by the calyx being lobed down to the top of the ovary, the stamens erect; and by having 7 stigmas and a 7-celled capsule.--N. E. BROWN.

* * * * *

PLATE 78.--Fig. 1, plant 2/3 nat. size; Fig. 2, longitudinal section through the flower; Fig. 3, calyx with 2 sepals; Fig. 4, longitudinal section through receptacle; Fig. 5, petals; Fig. 6, stamen; Fig. 7, bract; Fig. 8, fruit closed; Fig. 9, fruit open; Fig. 10, cross-section of leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 79.

BAUHINIA GALPINII.

_Transvaal._

* * * * *

LEGUMINOSAE. Tribe BAUHINIEAE.

BAUHINIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 575.

* * * * *

=Bauhinia Galpinii=, _N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron._, 1891, p. 728; _Hook. Ic. Pl. t._ 19.

* * * * *

This handsome _Bauhinia_, known in the Transvaal as “The Pride of de Kaap,” is a common plant in the low veld east of the Drakensberg. It is a low half-climbing bush, and when in flower is a striking object in the veld, the bright red flowers standing out in sharp contrast to the surrounding vegetation. Specimens were first sent to Kew in 1880 by Mr. T. Nelson, and later Mr. E. E. Galpin sent material which he collected at Barberton. The plant lends itself to cultivation, and may be kept as a trimmed bush in lawns, etc. If left to grow unchecked it becomes very lanky. Our plate was prepared from a specimen growing in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and the plant has grown to a height of about 30 ft. up a tree of _Cupressus sempervirens_, var. _pyramidalis_. In cultivation, at least in Pretoria, very few seeds are produced. Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1601).

DESCRIPTION:--A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height of 5-30 ft. _Branches_ with light-brown bark, minutely pubescent. _Leaves_ petioled; lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5·5 cm. broad, more or less reniform in outline, lobed above, subcordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and prominent beneath, glabrous; petioles 8-1·5 cm. long, convex beneath, channelled above. _Stipules_ 3 mm. long, deciduous. _Flowers_ in 3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. _Bracts_ and bracteoles 3 mm. long, setaceous, deciduous. _Buds_ light brown, acuminate, pubescent. _Calyx-tube_, 2-2·7 cm. long; limb spathaceous, unilateral in open flowers. _Petals_ long clawed; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed; limb 1·7-2 cm. long, 1·5-1·7 cm. broad, ovate, apiculate, subcordate, at the base. _Fertile stamens_ 4; filaments 2·5 cm. long, terete, bent inwards above; anthers 7 mm. long, linear. _Staminodes_ 5 mm. long, setaceous, sometimes deeply 2-lobed. _Ovary_ on a long gynophore 1·5 cm. long, silky pubescent; style 5 mm. long, stigma capitate. _Fruit_ 12·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad, with a double margin along one edge, oblanceolate, tipped with the persistent style, and narrowed at the base. _Seeds_ 1·9 cm. long, oblong, flattened, dark brown.

* * * * *

PLATE 79.--Fig. 1, surface view of flower to show staminodes, the limb of the petals removed; Fig. 2, pistil, showing long gynophore; Fig. 3, stamen; Figs. 4, 5, front and side views of calyx; Fig. 6, fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

PLATE 80.

KLATTIA STOKOEI.

_Cape Province._

* * * * *

IRIDACEAE. Tribe SISYRINCHIEAE.

KLATTIA, _B. Kr._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 702.

* * * * *

=Klattia Stokoei=, _L. Guthrie in Annals Bolus Herb_. vol. iii. p. 76.

* * * * *

The discovery of this remarkable plant by Mr. T. P. Stokoe on the Hottentot’s Holland Mountains, near Somerset West, adds another species to one of the South African endemic genera, which hitherto has been regarded as monotypic. _Klattia partita_, found by Bowie, Thunberg, and Burchell, is a rare plant, and is only known from the Langebergen near Swellendam. It is figured by Marloth in “The Flora of South Africa,” t. 41. Our present species differs from _K. partita_ in the more spreading leaves, the very much shorter perianth-tube, the narrower segments which have a red limb, and the larger capsule. The genus _Klattia_ is closely related to _Witsenia_, which we figured on plate 34, but is distinguished from this genus by having a very short perianth-tube and long segments, much longer than the tube. _Klattia_ was named in honour of Dr. F. W. Klatt, a teacher at Hamburg, who published several memoirs on the _Iridaceae_.

Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1436).

DESCRIPTION:--_Inflorescence_ about 8-flowered. _Spathe-valves_ 2; the larger 11·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, green and lanceolate above, red and strongly keeled below, subacute, glabrous; the smaller red 5 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, rounded above, keeled on the back with the keel produced into a beak 7 mm. long. _Floral_ bracts white 3 cm. long, keeled, acute. _Perianth-segments_ divided almost to the base 5·7 cm. long, filiform below, broadened above into a linear portion 1 mm. broad. _Filaments_ 4·5 mm. long, filiform; anthers 1 mm. long, linear, sagittate at the base. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, 2 mm. in diameter, obovate in outline. Style 6 cm. long, filiform; stigma simple. _Capsule_ 1·3 cm. long. _Seeds_ 8 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear, concave in front, silky and 2-grooved at the back.

* * * * *

PLATE 80.--Fig. 1, portion of stem; Fig. 2, inflorescence; Figs. 3, 4, spathe valves; Fig. 5, a single flower laid open; Fig. 6, pistil; Fig. 7, anther; Fig. 8, ovary; Fig. 9, top of style, showing the three stigmas.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

INDEX TO VOLUME II.

PLATE

ALOE EXCELSA, 62

ALOE STRIATA, 55

ALOE WICKENSII, 41

ANDROCYMBIUM MELANTHIOIDES, 53

BAUHINIA GALPINII, 79

CEROPEGIA TRISTIS, 44

COMMELINA BENGHALENSIS, 42

CORYCIUM CRISPUM, 61

CROSSANDRA GREENSTOCKII, 77

DAUBENYA AUREA, var. COCCINEA, 71

DIMORPHOTHECA SPECTABILIS, 57

ERYTHRINA CAFFRA, 59

FERRARIA ANTHEROSA, 66

GAZANIA PAVONIA, 69

GAZANIA PYGMAEA, 64

GAZANIA SUBULATA, 51

GLADIOLUS ALATUS, var. NAMAQUENSIS, 63

GLADIOLUS PRITZELII, 68

HARVEYA SQUAMOSA, 67

HELIOPHILA SCANDENS, 48

HESSEA ZEYHERI, 43

HOLMSKIOLDIA SPECIOSA, 49

KLATTIA STOKOEI, 80

KNIPHOFIA ALOOIDES, 47

LEUCOSPERMUM TOTTUM, var. GLABRUM, 74

MASSONIA LATIFOLIA, 46

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM ALOIDES, 54

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CRASSIPES, 73

MIMETES CAPITULATA, 58

OCHNA PRETORIENSIS, 70

ORNITHOGALUM ROODIAE, 75

ORNITHOGALUM THUNBERGIANUM, 65

PELARGONIUM CRASSICAULE, 52

POLYXENA HAEMANTHOIDES, 56

PROTEA RECONDITA, 76

RHAMPHICARPA TUBULOSA, 50

ROODIA DIGITIFOLIA, 78

SPARAXIS GRANDIFLORA, 60

STAPELIA PILLANSII, var. ATTENUATA, 72

WATSONIA GALPINII, 45