Part 2

PLATE 171.--Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 3, bract; Fig. 4, part of stamen; Fig. 5, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 172.]

PLATE 172.

HYPOXIS ROOPERI.

_Basutoland_, _Cape Province_, _Natal_, _Transvaal_.

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe HYPOXIDEAE.

HYPOXIS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 717.

* * * * *

=Hypoxis Rooperi=, _Moore in Gard. Comp. 1_, 65, cum icone; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 188.

* * * * *

The accompanying plate is our first illustration of a characteristic South African genus, namely, _Hypoxis_. The genus contains over sixty species, of which number more than forty are found in the Union, the remainder being natives of tropical Africa, tropical Asia, Australia and America.

The species is acaulescent, with a large underground corm crowned with a ring of bristles, and bears a number of distichous leaves. The flower-stalks arise from the axils of the leaves.

It is quite a common plant in the south-eastern portion of the Cape Province, and extends through East Griqualand into Natal and northwards into the Drakensbergen round Barberton. It has, however, also been recorded from the Potchefstroom District in the Transvaal.

In winter the leaves die down, but appear again as soon as the frosts cease, and sometimes long before the summer rains commence the plants are in full bloom in the veld.

Our plate was prepared from specimens flowering at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Leaves_ up to 30 cm. long, 3·2 cm. broad, strap-shaped, narrowing upwards, falcate, folded from the midrib, closely and distinctly ribbed, almost glabrous on the upper surface, softly pilose on the back and margins. _Peduncles_ much shorter than the leaves, villous. _Bracts_ 1·3 cm. long, linear, acute, villous on the back. _Pedicels_ up to 1·6 cm. long, villous. _Outer perianth-segments_ 2·2 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse; inner segments 2·1 cm. long, 1·5 cm. broad, elliptic, obtuse. _Filaments_ shorter than the anthers. _Ovary_ subglobose, villous, stigmas 3-lobed, papillose on the margins.

PLATE 172.--Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, portion of peduncle showing bracts and part of pedicels; Fig. 3, flower, surface view; Fig. 4, flower, back view; Fig. 5, anthers; Fig. 6, stigma, side and top views; Fig. 7, transverse section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 173.]

PLATE 173.

CRASSULA COLUMNARIS.

_Cape Province._

CRASSULACEAE.

CRASSULA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 657.

* * * * *

=Crossula columnaris=, _Linn. f. Suppl. 191_; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 358.

* * * * *

This quaint little _Crassula_ may be found in parts of the Karroo and also in Namaqualand. It has on several occasions been collected in the neighbourhood of Matjesfontein and Ceres. In its native home, where it is usually exposed to the full force of the sun’s rays, it is far more compact than is shown in our illustration, which was made from a plant grown partly in the shelter of a tree. It is easily cultivated on the rockery if not kept too moist, as an abundance of water causes the plant to rot. It is a charming object when in flower, and growers of South African succulents should certainly try to secure specimens of this species, as in shape it is more or less unique in the genus _Crassula_.

Our plate was prepared from specimens presented by Mr. A. J. Austin of Matjesfontein, and grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria. We are indebted to Dr. R. Marloth for a photograph of the plant as it grows, and part of the plate has been prepared from this.

DESCRIPTION:--_Leaves_ 2·8 cm. broad, usually less than 1 cm. long, deeply concave on the inner face. _Inflorescence_ a compact globose head. _Calyx_ shortly campanulate at the base; lobes linear-spathulate, fringed above with papillose hairs. _Corolla_ somewhat ventricose below, tubular above; lobes linear-spathulate. _Stamens_ much shorter than the corolla-lobes. _Hypogynous glands_ spathulate above, narrowed into a long claw. _Carpels_ ventricose below, narrowed upwards, somewhat recurved above.

PLATE 173.--Fig. 1, a single leaf and cross-section of leaf; Fig. 2, single flower; Fig. 3, corolla laid open showing the stamens; Fig. 4, calyx-lobe, much enlarged; Fig. 5, corolla-lobe, enlarged; Fig. 6, gynaecium, showing hypogynous glands.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 174.]

PLATE 174.

SENECIO TAMOIDES.

_Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe SENECIONIDEAE.

SENECIO, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 446.

* * * * *

=Senecis tamoides=, _DC. Prodr._ vol. vi. p. 403; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 404.

* * * * *

The species here figured belongs to a small group of species in the genus (Section _Scandentes_), which is characterised by its members being climbing, half-climbing or trailing plants. _Senecio tamoides_ is a very common plant in the bush and the coastal belt, and its large trusses of bright yellow, honey-scented flowers show up in strong contrast against the background of dark green foliage. At Durban, Natal, the flowers are frequently attacked by an insect, and as a result a gall is formed inside the flower head. The gall enlarges into a cylindric green body much longer than the flower-head, and each contains a single larva.

_Senecio tamoides_ has been recorded from the Chipete Forest in Rhodesia, and was also collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin, F.L.S., at Barberton in the Transvaal.

Our illustration was made from specimens collected by Miss K. A. Lansdell on the Berea, Durban.

DESCRIPTION:--A climbing herb. _Branches_ glabrous. _Leaves_ 2·2 to 5·5 cm. long, 2·7 to 6 cm. broad, ovate, acuminate, subobtuse, somewhat hastate, with the margins acutely lobulate, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a many-headed corymb. _Involucral-bracts_ about 6, 8 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong-linear, obtuse, with membranous margins. _Ray-florets_: _Tube_ 5 mm. long, cylindric; limb 6·5 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong. _Style_ exserted; style branches filiform. _Disc-florets_ male, cylindric, 6·5 mm. long, lobes ·75 mm. long, linear, obtuse. _Anthers_ blunt. _Style-branches_ linear, truncate. _Ovary_ infertile, 3 mm. long, cylindric, ribbed, glabrous. _Pappus_ copious.

PLATE 174.--Fig. 1, ray-floret; Fig. 2, disc-floret.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

[Illustration: 175.]

PLATE 175.

GLADIOLUS TRISTIS.

_Cape Province._

LILIACEAE. Tribe IXIEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Gladiolus tristis=, _Linn. Sp. Plant._ ed. 2, i. 53, ex parte; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 139.

* * * * *

There appears to be a great deal of confusion between this species of _Gladiolus_ and _G. grandis_, even among the specimens quoted under these species in the “Flora Capensis”; and possibly when a large range of living specimens is examined the two species now upheld will be referred to a single species. _Gladiolus tristis_ is quite a handsome member of the genus, and while not so highly coloured as some, the large semi-translucent flowers with such delicate markings have a charm of their own; besides which, the flowers are very sweetly scented. The species is readily raised from seed, and under proper cultivation it flowers about fifteen months after sowing.

Our plate was made from plants grown by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at Irene near Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Corm_ 1·5 cm. in diameter, globose. _Produced leaves_ 2 or 3; the lowest up to 36 cm. long, 4-angled, appearing as a cross in transverse section, glabrous; upper leaves similar but shorter. _Inflorescence_ usually 3-flowered. _Outer spathe-valves_ 3·5 cm. long, lanceolate-oblong, acute; inner spathe-valve similar, but slightly curved and gradually narrowing upwards; lobes 3·5 cm. long, 2·8 cm. broad, ovate, bluntly acuminate, obtuse minutely apiculate. _Stamens_ shorter than the style. _Style-branches_ cuneate, papillose on the margins.

PLATE 175.--Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, corm, showing bulbil; Fig. 3, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 4, portion of leaf; Fig. 5, cross-section of leaf; Fig. 6, anther with part of filament; Fig. 7, stigmae with part of style; Fig. 8, ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

[Illustration: 176.]

PLATE 176.

SARCOPHYTE SANGUINEA.

_Cape Province._

BALANOPHORACEAE. Tribe SARCOPHYTEAE.

SARCOPHYTE, _Sparrm._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 234.

* * * * *

=Sarcophyte sanguinea=, _Sparrm. in Vet. Acad. Handl. Stockh. 1776_, 300, t. 7; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. ii. p. 213.

* * * * *

The family _Balanophoraceae_, to which our plant belongs, comprises plants all of which are parasitic on the roots of trees and shrubs. There are about fifty species, spread over about fifteen genera, widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions. In South Africa the family is represented by two genera and four species.

_Sarcophyte sanguinea_ is usually found as a parasite on the roots of _Acacia Karroo_, but so far as we know does not follow the same distribution as its host, but is confined to the eastern portion of the Cape Province. The plant really consists of a large inflorescence arising from the ground, and the two sexes are distinct. When in flower it has a most objectionable stench, so much so that the presence of a plant is known long before it is actually seen.

The accompanying plate illustrates a male plant.

DESCRIPTION:--Male plant about 30 cm. high. _Root-stock_ thick, irregularly lobed, verrucose; stem short erect; leaves reduced to oblong obtuse or subacute scales up to 2 cm. long and 1·2 cm. wide. _Inflorescence_ much-branched; flowers usually in pairs on short pedicels which are connate below. _Perianth-segments_ navicular, almost patent, very thick and fleshy, subacute, 4 mm. long, 2·5 mm. wide; filaments 3 to nearly 4 mm. long, cylindrical; anthers terminal, scarcely wider than the filaments. Female plants very similar to the male, but rather shorter, flowers numerous in subglobose shortly stalked heads about 6 mm. in diameter. _Ovary_ 1-3-celled; ovule solitary, pendulous; stigma discoid, sessile; fruit a syncarpium; seed about 1 mm. long (_Flora Capensis_).

PLATE 176.--Fig. 1, scale-like leaf; Fig. 2, portion of male inflorescence; Fig. 3, single male flower, showing the three perianth-segments and the 3 stamens; Fig. 4, single stamen.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

[Illustration: 177.]

PLATE 177.

PROTEA PITYPHYLLA.

_Cape Province._

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Protea pityphylla=, _Phillips in Kew Bulletin_, 1910, 234; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 594.

* * * * *

We have pleasure in showing for the first time this species of _Protea_, hitherto not figured in botanical publications. On a previous occasion we published an illustration of a broad-leaved variety, _P. pityphylla_, var. _latifolia_ (see Plate 108). Another variety with short leaves resembling those of _P. rosacea_ has been collected in the Ronde Bokkeveld, but it may be at once distinguished from this species by the foliaceous appendages of the outer bracts.

The late Dr. MacOwan distributed the species as a “sp. nov.” in 1888, and it is only within recent years that it has been at all largely collected.

The species has been successfully cultivated at the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, and is well worth the attention of gardeners interested in plants typically South African.

Our plate was prepared from specimens presented by Dr. R. Marloth.

DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ glabrous; leaves 6 to 8 cm. long, about 1 mm. wide, needle-shaped, acute, pungent, channelled and prominently costate on the upper face, glabrous. _Head_, sessile, 4 to 4·5 cm. long, about 6·5 cm. in diameter, cernuous. _Involucral-bracts_ 7-seriate, glabrous; outer ovate, acuminate, obtuse or acute, the lowest produced into long foliaceous appendages resembling the leaves, inner oblong, slightly concave, exceeding the flowers. _Perianth-sheath_ 1·5 cm. long, dilated, 3-keeled and 7-nerved below, scarious, rufously setulose within in the upper part, otherwise glabrous; lip 5 mm. long, 3-toothed, 3-keeled, setose below; teeth subequal, 0·5 mm. long. _Stamens_ all fertile; filaments 0·5 mm. long, dilated, concave; anthers oblong-linear, 3 mm. long, apical glands 0·25 mm. long, ovate, subacute, somewhat swollen on the inner face. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, obovate-oblong, covered with long reddish-yellow hairs; hypogynous scales 1 mm. long, oval-oblong; style up to 2·2 cm. long, widened and much compressed from the base upwards for 6 mm., then much constricted and strongly bent and subulate, the slender portion obliquely arching inwards, glabrous: stigma 3 mm. long, obtuse (_Flora Capensis_).

PLATE 177.--Fig. 1, single flower; Fig. 2, single flower opened; Fig. 3, lip of perianth-segments showing the three stamens; Fig. 4, receptacle.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

[Illustration: 178.]

PLATE 178.

ALOE RUPESTRIS.

_Namaqualand._

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Aloe rupestris=, _Baker in Flora Capensis_, vol. vi. p. 326.

* * * * *

This remarkable _Aloe_ belongs to the same section of the genus as _A. ferox_, which we figured on Plate 169, but differs in having leaves which are not prickly on the under surface. It is only found, so far as we know, in Namaqualand, where it grows on rocky ground, and was first distributed by MacOwan. The locality from which the original specimens came was between Port Nolloth and Spektakel. The plant grows to a height of 10 to 12 feet, and produces a large terminal panicle of racemes which overtops the leaves. The young flowers are greenish-yellow in colour, but become red when adult. This difference in colour between the young and adult flowers is not an uncommon character in the genus, and we have noted it before in _A. Wickensii_ (Plate 41).

The plant from which our plate was prepared was presented by Dr. R. Marloth, and flowered at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, in September 1924.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ almost 2 m. high, thick. _Leaves_ in a rosette at the apex of the stem, up to 60 cm. long, 5 cm. broad near the base, lanceolate-ovate, acuminate, not prickly on either side, with small deltoid marginal teeth. _Inflorescence_ much-branched; racemes dense, 15 to 20 cm. long. _Bracts_ small. _Pedicels_ short. _Perianth_ over 2 cm. long; segments divided almost to the base, oblong, with a distinct green keel. _Stamens_ and _style_ much exserted.

PLATE 178.--Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 3, flowers in various stages of development; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, apex of style.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

[Illustration: 179.]

PLATE 179.

SENECIO FULGENS.

_Natal, Transvaal._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe SENECIONIDEAE.

SENECIO, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 446.

* * * * *

=Senecio fulgens=, _Nicholson Dict. Gard._ vol. iii. p. 420; Kleinia fulgens, _Hook. Bot. Mag._ t. 5590.

* * * * *

This species of _Senecio_ belongs to the section _Kelinoidei_ of the genus, to which section _Senecio stapelliaeformis_, figured on Plate 28, is also referred. The species was first introduced into England from Natal by a Mr. Plant in 1886, and flowered at Kew the same year. From these specimens the plate in the “Botanical Magazine” was made.

A comparison of the present plate with that of the “Botanical Magazine” quoted above will show that our plant has a more lax habit, and this is to be explained by the fact that it is growing under the shelter of a large tree. The shape and dentition of the leaves vary considerably. The young leaves are narrowly (1·5 cm.) lanceolate, while adult leaves are broadly (4·5 cm.) obovate. Some of the leaves are quite entire, while others are remotely toothed. All these variations are found on the same plant. On young branches the leaves are grouped in more or less of a rosette at the apex of the branch.

The species is well worthy of cultivation, as it grows luxuriantly and flowers profusely, and often produces flowering stems over 30 cm. long. The flowers are coral-red (R.C.S., Plate XIII).

DESCRIPTION:--A herbaceous shrub up to ·6 m. high. _Leaves_ more or less crowded at the base, 6 to 12 cm. long, 1·5 to 4·5 cm. broad, lanceolate, lanceolate-obovate to obovate, narrowed at the base, entire or remotely toothed, glaucous, fleshy; the older leaves channelled on the upper surface in the lower portion and distinctly keeled beneath. _Flowering stems_ up to 30 cm. long, with scattered leaves 2 to 9 cm. apart, which decrease in size upwards, usually simple. _Heads_ homogamous, solitary. _Involucral-bracts_ 1·9 cm. long, concrete, forming a tube 1 cm. in diameter and oblong in outline, produced into nine lanceolate lobes above. _Receptacle_ slightly concave. _Corolla-tube_ 1·9 cm. long, cylindric, very gradually widening upwards; lobes 2 mm. long, spreading, ovate-oblong, obtuse. _Anthers_ blunt at the base, with a lanceolate apical appendage. _Style-branches_ much recurved, obtuse, with marginal papillae. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous. _Pappus_ 1·2 cm. long, of many fine bristles. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2738.)

PLATE 179.--Fig. 1, plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, cross-section of leaf; Fig. 3, longitudinal section of head; Fig. 4, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 5, anthers; Fig. 6, style; Fig. 7, fruit and pappus.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

[Illustration: 180.]

PLATE 180.

ALOE SESSILIFLORA.

_Transvaal._

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Aloe sessiliflora=, _Pole Evans in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr._ vol. v. p. 708.

* * * * *

The species of _Aloe_ figured on the accompanying plate belongs to the less conspicuous members of the genus. The small cream-yellow flowers do not make the inflorescence very attractive. _Aloe sessiliflora_ was collected in the Barberton District by Mr. J. E. Wickens, and flowered at the Union Buildings for the first time in June and July of 1914. Mr. Geo. Thorncroft subsequently collected the plant near Barberton. During the winter months the leaves are of a distinct reddish colour, while in summer they are bright green. The flowers contain drops of very dark nectar at the base of the perianth.

Our plate was made from specimens growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ up to 90 cm. high. _Leaves_ in a dense rosette at the apex of the stem, 45 to 60 cm. long. 6 to 8 cm. broad, spreading or recurved, fleshy, channelled above, convex beneath, with the margins toothed. _Peduncle_ simple, 60 to 75 cm. long, laterally compressed, covered with numerous oblong brown bracts. _Spike_ densely many-flowered, more or less cylindric; bracts 10 mm. long, 7 mm. wide, ovate-cuspidate, 3-nerved. _Flowers_ campanulate-cylindric; perianth 14 mm. long; segments free; the outer 5 mm. broad, spathulate, fleshy-coloured with three longitudinal dark nerves; the inner 8 mm. broad, yellowish at the edges and with a reddish or greenish median line. _Stamens_ and _style_ protruding 8 to 10 mm. beyond the perianth. _Capsule_ 9 to 10 mm. long, cylindric-oblong, enclosed in the dry peri-anth. _Seeds_ 3 mm. long, three-angled, greyish, very narrowly winged. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2880.)

PLATE 180.--Fig. 1, habit; Fig. 2, median section of flower; Fig. 3, pistil; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 181.]

PLATE 181.

STAPELIA GIGANTEA var. PALLIDA.

_Transvaal (?)._

ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe STAPELIEAE.

STAPELIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 784.

* * * * *

=Stapelia gigantea=, _N.E. Br._ var. =Pallida=, _Phillips_ var. nov., a typo corolla depressiore differt.

* * * * *

The _Stapelia_ figured on the accompanying Plate is very near _S. gigantea_, N.E. Br., from which it differs, however, in having the disc portion of the corolla more depressed and being much lighter in colour. It appears to be an intermediate form between this species and _S. nobilis_, N.E. Br., differing from the latter species in not having such a cup-shaped corolla-disc and not having the lobes of the outer corona 3-toothed. The locality in which the plant is found is not known, and the specimen from which our Plate was prepared was kindly presented by Dr. A. J. T. Janse, who grew it in his rockery.

Description:--_Stems_ robust, bright green, finely pubescent, prominently ridged, with each ridge ending in a tooth-like leaf. _Flowers_ solitary. _Pedicel_ 5 cm. long, terete, finely pubescent. _Sepals_ 1·1 cm. long, lanceolate, acute, pubescent. _Corolla_ 25 cm. in diameter when expanded; lobes 10 cm. long, 3 cm. broad at the base, ovate, long-attenuate, pubescent without, transversely rugose and with fine purple hairs on the inner face; disc shallowly depressed, covered with long soft purple hairs. _Outer_ corona-lobes oblong; inner corona-lobes deeply cleft, with the outer lobes plate-like and the inner lobes linear. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2891.)

PLATE 181.--Fig. 1, side view of flower; Fig. 2, corona; Fig. 3, cross-section through stem.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 182.]

PLATE 182.

GLADIOLUS CRUENTUS.

_Natal, Basutoland._

IRIDACEAE. Tribe IXIEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Gladiolus cruentus=, _Moore in Gard. Chron._ 1868, 1138; _Bot. Mag._ t. 5810; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 157.

* * * * *

This is the first opportunity we have had of figuring a species of _Gladiolus_ belonging to the section Cardinales. As far as our records go the species appears to be little known to botanical science. In 1868 a Mr. Bull flowered it in his nursery at Chelsea, and it was from specimens supplied by Mr. Bull that the Plate in the _Botanical Magazine_ was prepared. We are indebted to Mr. L. F. Wacher, who sent us specimens from Basutoland in 1923, for information about this beautiful plant. Mr. Wacher states that the plant grows in many places in the mountain area of Basutoland, and it is probable that the species is confined to the high mountain regions of Natal and Basutoland. While we have no definite information as to the precise habitat, there appears to be little doubt that it favours similar localities to _G. cardinalis_ of the Cape Province, which is usually found growing near waterfalls.

DESCRIPTION:--_Corm_ 3·5 cm. in diameter, with thick cylindric roots. _Leaves_ about four, 16 to 30 cm. long, 1·5 to 2·5 cm. broad, ensiform, glabrous. _Spike_ few-flowered. _Spathe-valves_ large, lanceolate; the lower from 7 to 15 cm. long. _Perianth-tube_ funnel-shaped, curved; upper segments 5 to 6·5 cm. long, obovate-spathulate; lower segments about 4 cm. long, with a white blotch at the throat covered with red spots. _Style-branches_ papillose on the margins.

PLATE 182.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, style showing the style-branches.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 183.]

PLATE 183.

GAZANIA SUFFRUTICOSA.

_S.W. Africa._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe ARCTOTIDEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Gazania suffruticosa=, _Muschler in Engl. Bot. Jahrb._ vol. 46, p. 120.

* * * * *

In a collection of succulents received from South-West Africa and planted at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, fruits of this _Gazania_ were evidently mixed with the soil, as a plant grew in the succulent bed. It is a somewhat remarkable species and differs considerably in habit from the two species previously figured on Plates 51 and 64. The whole plant is covered with cobwebby hairs. The leaves are somewhat succulent, extremely brittle, and snap when bent; they are also easily snapped from the branches.

The single specimen in the garden has made vigorous growth and promises to do well under cultivation. It flowered in May of this year.

DESCRIPTION:--A branched herb up to 30 cm. high. _Branches_ cobwebby. _Leaves_ 5·5 to 7·5 cm. long, 1 to 1·5 cm. broad above, obovate-spathulate, narrowed into a petiole, pungent at the apex, irregularly lobed, or toothed, with the lobes and teeth tipped with a short pungent mucro, cobwebby above and beneath. _Flower-heads_ in the axils of the leaves. _Peduncles_ slightly longer, as long as or shorter than the leaves with tufts of cobwebby hairs. _Involucre_ 1·8 cm. long, 6 mm. in diameter below, the concrete portion oblong in outline, inflexed at the base, sparsely cobwebby; outermost lobes 2·5 to 4 mm. long, ovate, acute; inner lobes 1 cm. long, ovate, acuminate, acute, with membranous margin. _Ray-florets_ neuter; tube 9 mm. long, somewhat compressed; limb 1·6 cm. long, 7 mm. broad, obovate-elliptic, yellow, with a black eye-spot. _Disc-florets_: tube 7 mm. long, cylindric; lobes 1·5 mm. long, oblong, shortly acuminate, subobtuse. _Anthers_ minutely sagittate at the base. _Ovary_ very villous; style-branches linear, obtuse. _Pappus_ of many delicate very narrow scales 5 mm. long.

PLATE 183.--Fig. 1, involucre; Fig. 2, longitudinal section through involucre; Fig. 3, ray-floret; Fig. 4, disc-floret.