Part 3

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 184.]

PLATE 184.

LACHENALIA RUBIDA var. TIGRINA.

_Cape Province._

LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.

LACHENALIA, _Jacq._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 807.

* * * * *

=Lachenalia rubida=, _Jacq._ var. =tigrina=, _Bkr. Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 424.

* * * * *

On Plate 158 we figured a species _Lachenalia pendula_ belonging to the same subgenus (_Eulachenalia_) as the species here described. _Lachenalia rubida_ is a graceful little plant, though not so handsome as some species of the genus. It was figured by Jacquin between the years 1786-1793, from plants cultivated in Europe, so that it has been known for over 130 years to botanists.

The species appears to be confined to the Clanwilliam, Calvinia and van Rhynsdorp Districts of the Cape Province, and as far as our records go does not appear to have been frequently collected.

We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of van Rhynsdorp for the specimens from which our Plate was prepared.

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 1·5 cm. in diameter at the base, ovoid, white. _Produced leaves_ 1 or 2, as long or slightly longer than the naked portion of the peduncle, with the free portion 1·8 to 2·2 cm. broad, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse, with dark brown blotches on a dark green background, sometimes the spots absent, convolute and clasping the peduncle for the greater portion of its length. _Peduncle_ with maroon-coloured spots on a yellowish background; in concolorus leaves peduncle almost uniformly coloured. _Inflorescence_ 6-7-flowered. _Bracts_ forming small pockets from which the flowers arise. _Pedicels_ 3 mm. long. _Outer perianth-segments_ O·5 cm. shorter than the inner, slightly gibbous at the base, thickly speckled with red spots on a yellowish background; inner perianth-segments oblong, obtuse. _Stigma_ capitulate. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2901.)

PLATE 184.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 2, single flower; Fig. 3, anthers; Fig. 4, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 185.]

PLATE 185.

PROTEA MUNDII.

_Cape Province._

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Protea Mundii=, _Klotz in Otto and Dietr. Garten-Zeit._ 1838, 113; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 579.

* * * * *

The species of _Protea_ figured on the accompanying Plate represents a member of the section _Exertae_ of the genus. This section comprises four species which may be readily recognised by the fact that in the mature head the perianth is spirally coiled in the open flowers, leaving the style exserted. _Protea Mundii_ is closely related to another species found in the same localities, viz. _P. lacticolor_, Salisb., and the two were confused by E. Meyer, who named them both _P. penicillata_. As will be seen from the illustration, the stigma is very distinctly capitate at the apex, and as this character is unique in the genus the species can be easily recognised.

The plant is found in the mountains round Worcester, extends into the George, Knysna and Humansdorp Districts, and then passes through Uitenhage and Stutterheim into the Transkei.

The specimens were collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., in the George District in July 1925.

DESCRIPTION:--Branches tomentellous to tomentose above. _Leaves_ 4 to 11 cm. long, 1·2 to 3·2 cm. broad, lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptic, subobtuse, narrowing at the base, distinctly veined, glabrous or the youngest leaves sometimes loosely pilose. _Head_ sessile, 7 to 8 cm. long, about 5 cm. in diam. _Involucral-bracts_ 11-12-seriate; outer ovate, obtuse, silky on the back, green, ciliate; inner oblong or spathulate-oblong, whitish pubescent to tomentose, fringed with white cilia, shorter than the styles; perianth-sheath 4 cm. long, slender and thin above the middle, gradually dilated and 5-nerved below, not keeled, the upper half at length coiled up, loosely hairy; lip 1·5 cm. long, tridentate, glabrous, with a dense tuft of hairs at the apex; lateral teeth 2 mm. long; median tooth 1·5 mm. long; stamens all fertile; filaments 1 mm. long, channelled down the middle; anthers linear, 6 mm. long; apical glands 0·5 mm. long, ovate, subacuminate, subacute, keeled on the inner face; ovary covered with a tuft of long brown hairs; style 5 cm. long, almost straight, keeled on one side, compressed above the ovary, then more or less terete, glabrous; stigma 6 mm. long, furrowed, subcapitate at the apex, abruptly and obliquely passing into the much stouter style. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2918.)

PLATE 185.--Fig. 1, single flower; Fig. 2, receptacle.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 186.]

PLATE 186.

STRELITZIA REGINAE.

_Cape Province._

SCITAMINEAE. Tribe MUSEAE.

STRELITZIA, _Ait. in Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 656.

* * * * *

=Strelitzia Reginae=, _Banks in Ait. Hort. Kew._ ed. 1, i. 285, t. 2; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. iii. p. 316.

* * * * *

In 1792 this plant was figured in the _Botanical Magazine_, (Plate 119), but had previously been figured by Sir Joseph Banks. _Strelitzia Reginae_, which was introduced into the Royal Gardens at Kew in 1773, excited a considerable amount of interest when it flowered. In the number of the _Botanical Magazine_ quoted above a double Plate was devoted to the illustration of the flowers so as to give “readers an opportunity of seeing a coloured representation of one of the most scarce and magnificent plants introduced into this country.” That the plant is a particularly handsome one there can be no doubt and it has been appropriately named the “Bird-of-paradise flower”; the Afrikaans name is “Gele piesang.” The species is native of the south-eastern and eastern districts of the Cape Province.

The specimen illustrated on the accompanying Plate was grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

The following description is taken mainly from the _Flora Capensis_.

DESCRIPTION:--Stemless; leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, cuneate at the base, up to 0·5 m. long and 10 cm. wide, entire, undulate, especially in the lower part, quite glabrous, bright green above, glaucescent beneath; petiole up to 1·25 m. long; peduncle as long as the petiole. _Bracts_ tubular, oblique and acute at the mouth, uppermost one cymbiform, acuminate, up to 20 cm. long, green, edged with purple. _Sepals_ lanceolate, 7 to 10 cm. long, orange-yellow. _Petals_ dark blue, blade of the lower two 5 cm. long, with a rounded basal auricle; claw 2·5 cm. long; upper petal ovate, 2·5 cm. long. _Stamens_ reaching to the top of the longer petals; anthers narrowly linear, twice as long as the filaments; style exserted, with 3 linear branches 2·5 cm. long. _Fruit_ a capsule; seeds covered with reddish woolly hairs. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2915.)

PLATE 186.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of a flower.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 187.]

PLATE 187.

ALOE ARBORESCENS var. FRUTESCENS.

_Transvaal._

LILIACEAE. Tribe ALOINEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Aloe arborescens=, _Miller, Gard. Chron._ ed. viii. No. 3; var. =frutescens=, _Bkr. Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 322.

* * * * *

This _Aloe_ is widely distributed along the eastern mountain range and is known to extend northwards as far as the Victoria Falls. The many stems which grow together give the plant a bush-like appearance which makes a very effective display in a large rockery, and it has the advantage over many other species of the genus in that the inflorescence is not nipped by a severe frost. The species also lends itself admirably to growing on rough stone pillars forming an entrance to a drive.

Our specimen was collected on the hills near Haenertsburg on the Drakensbergen in June 1914, and cultivated at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--An arborescent branched shrub. _Leaves_ up to 0·5 m. long, about 4 cm. broad at the base, gradually tapering to the apex, almost flat on the upper surface, convex on the lower surface, with ovate somewhat incurved teeth 1 cm. apart below, about 1·3 cm. apart above, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ solitary or 2-3 from each rosette of leaves, unbranched. _Peduncle_ 7 mm. in diameter, cylindric with scattered membranous bracts. _Floral-bracts_ membranous, 1·3 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, oblong, with straight margins, distinctly veined. _Pedicels_ 2 cm. long, elongating in the old flowers. _Raceme_ dense, up to 22 cm. long. _Young flowers_ erect-spreading, cylindric, with a subacute apex; old flowers pendulous. _Perianth_ (in open flowers) 3·2 cm. long; outer segments reddish, 5 mm. broad, obtuse; inner segments white, 9 mm. broad, with a distinct mid-rib, reddish below, greenish above, obtuse. _Stamens_ projecting. _Ovary_ 8 mm. long, cylindric; style 3·2 cm. long, cylindric; stigma minute. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2904.)

PLATE 187.--Fig. 1, young and adult flowers; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of a flower; Fig. 3, pistil; Fig. 4, bract.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 188.]

PLATE 188.

DERMATOBOTRYS SAUNDERSII.

_Cape Province, Natal._

SCROPHULARIACEAE.

DERMATOBOTRYS, _Bolus in Hook. Ic._ Pl. 1940.

* * * * *

=Dermatobotrys Saundersii=, _Bolus in Hook. Ic._ Pl. Zwilt’s 1940; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 206.

* * * * *

This interesting member of the _Scrophulariaceae_ is peculiar in that it grows as an epiphyte on other trees. Miss Pegler records it from the Kentani District as growing on the Cape Chestnut (_Calodendron capense_). It ranges from Kentani to Zululand. It differs also from most members of the family in having 5 well-developed stamens, and for this reason was first referred to the family _Solanaceae_, but the straight or almost straight embryo indicates an affinity with the family _Scrophulariaceae_.

Mr. Saunders, who first collected the plant, described it as a parasite which killed the host on which it grew, but the late Dr. Medley Wood states that the plant has a tendency to fix itself to trees already dead.

We are indebted to Mr. K. B. Jameson, Scottsville, Maritzburg, for the specimen from which our illustration was prepared.

DESCRIPTION:--A glabrous epiphytic shrub; root-stock 1·25 m. high, about 1 cm. thick but increasing towards the top to 5 cm., furrowed transversely as in a _Dahlia_ root; rootlets fibrous; stems more or less quadrangular; ultimate branchlets 1·5 to 3 mm. thick. _Leaves_ opposite, decussate, ovate or elliptical, acute or broadly pointed at the apex, more or less narrowed at the entire base, strongly toothed or repand-dentate, fleshy, red-veined, turning black-green in the dried state, 5 to 15 cm. long, 2·5 to 9 cm. broad; petioles 1 to 5 cm. long. _Flowers_ clustered at the nodes on the branchlets, usually three together, bracteate at the base, about 4 cm. long; peduncles 1 to 3 mm. long, spreading; bract elliptic-linear, acute at both ends, about 2 cm. long, 5 mm. broad; calyx-segments lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 3 to 5 mm. long. _Corolla_ red; tube beset inside towards the base with stiff broad white hairs; lobes about 5 mm. long; anthers glabrous; style glabrous, slender, tapering towards the stigma. _Ovary_ ovoid-conical, glabrous; ripe berry ovoid, blunt, smooth, about 2 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, green; embryo about 1/3 to 3/4 of the seed in length. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2917.)

PLATE 188.--Fig. 1, single flower; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 3, pistil.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 189.]

PLATE 189.

CRASSULA LATICEPHALA.

_Cape Province._

CRASSULACEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Crassula laticephala=, _Schonl. in Rec. Albany Mus._ vol. ii. p. 457.

* * * * *

The dwarf _Crassula_ figured on the accompanying Plate was described by Dr. S. Schonland in 1913 from a specimen collected in the Riversdale District by Mr. J. E. A. Volschenk. The species is closely allied to _C. congesta_, N.E.Br., which we figured on Plate 115, and Dr. Schonland suggests that when more material is available it might be considered a variety of the latter species.

_Crassula laticephala_ is confined, so far as we know, to the Riversdale District, and there only found in the Klein Karroo. We are indebted to Dr. J. Muir of Riversdale for the specimen figured.

DESCRIPTION:--A dwarf succulent 4·5 cm. high. _Leaves_ fleshy, 4-ranked, strongly reflexed, 3 cm. long, 1·2 cm. broad at the base, ovate, acuminate, obtuse, flat above with a distinct keel, somewhat convex beneath, scurfy. _Flowers_ in heads 2·5 to 3 cm. in diameter surrounded by floral-leaves. _Floral-leaves_ 1·2 cm. long, 1·5 cm. broad at the base, ovate, suddenly contracted into a fleshy cylindric appendage. _Receptacle_ convex. _Floral-bracts_ 4·5 mm. long, linear, ciliated. _Caylx-lobes_ 3 mm. long, linear, cucullate at the apex, ciliate. _Petals_ 5·5 mm. long, linear, slightly broadened below, concave. _Filaments_ 1 mm. long, slender; anthers 1·25 mm. long, oblong. _Carpels_ 2 mm. long. _Hypogynous scales_ transversely oblong, on distinct stalks. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2936.) PLATE 189.--Fig. 1, flower-bud; Fig. 2, petal with 2 stamens; Fig. 3, carpels; Fig. 4, longitudinal section of head showing convex receptacle; Fig. 5, cross-section through leaf; Fig. 6, leaf.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 190.]

PLATE 190.

HAEMANTHUS ALBIFLOS.

_Cape Province._

AMARYLLIDACEAE. Tribe AMARYLLEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Haemanthus albiflos=, _Jacq. Hort. Schoenbr._ i. 31, t. 59; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 235.

* * * * *

This species of _Haemanthus_ was known to European horticulturists almost 150 years ago and was first shown in colour by Jacquin in 1797. In the _Botanical Magazine_ it was again figured in 1810 (Plate 1239) from plants which flowered in the greenhouse of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy of Hammersmith. The plant has been recorded from the Uitenhage, Graaf Reinet and Somerset East Divisions of the Cape Province, but does not appear to have been extensively collected. In general habit _H. albiflos_ resembles _H. natalensis_ figured in Plate 32, but the leaves are thicker and more fleshy.

The species responds well to proper cultivation and has been successfully grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria. It was from plants grown at Pretoria that our Plate was prepared.

DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ tunicated, 4·5 cm. in diameter; tunics fleshy, white becoming green. _Leaves_ 4, contemporary with the flowers, 42 to 46 cm. long, 10 cm. broad at the widest part, tongue-shaped, obtuse, narrowed to the base, with ciliated margins, dark green on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface. _Peduncle_ 16 cm. long, 1·3 cm. in diameter, erect, compressed, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a dense umbel, 2·5 cm. in diameter. _Involucral-bracts_ 5, ascending, white with 6 to 9 distinct green nerves, short mucronate, ciliated with reflexed hairs. _Pedicels_ 4 to 5 mm. long, glabrous. Flowers white. _Perianth-tube_ subcylindric, glabrous; segments 1·7 cm. long, linear, obtuse. _Stamens_ 6; filaments subulate; anthers versatile. _Ovary_ globose, 3 mm. in diameter; style subulate; stigma minutely tricuspidate. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2933.)

PLATE 190.--Fig. 1, whole plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, single flower; Fig. 3, involucral bract.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 191.]

PLATE 191.

CEROPEGIA HAYGARTHII.

_Natal, Cape Province._

ASCLEPIADACEAE. Tribe CEROPEGIEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Ceropegia Haygarthii=, _Schltr. in Engl. Bot. Jahrb._ vol. xxxviii. 46, fig. 7 A; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 813.

* * * * *

This beautiful species of _Ceropegia_ is almost unique in the genus on account of the peculiar formation of the corolla-lobes. The illustration should be compared with those given on Plates 39, 44 and 143, and the striking differences will then be seen. It is closely related to _C. tristis_, Hutch. described on Plate 44, but the corolla-lobes are produced into a much longer cylindric portion and the calyx-lobes are longer.

The specimen from which our illustration was made flowered in the greenhouse at the Division of Botany in July 1925, and like the other species of the genus always attracts attention owing to the peculiar shape of the flowers.

DESCRIPTION:--_Stem_ climbing, fleshy, 3 to 4 mm. thick, glabrous. _Leaves_ small, fleshy, flat, 0·6 to 3·5 cm. long, 0·3 to 2·5 cm. broad, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate. _Cymes_ 1-2-flowered, lateral at the nodes. _Peduncles_ 2 to 4 cm. long, glabrous. _Bracts_ 2 to 4 mm. long, subulate. _Pedicels_ 1 to 1·4 cm. long, glabrous. _Sepals_ 1 cm. (0·5 cm., _Schlechter_) long, subulate, glabrous. _Corolla_ abruptly bent at a right angle near the base. _Tube_ (following the bend) about 3·5 cm. long, according to a drawing, or about 2·5 cm. long in dried flowers, globosely inflated at the base, cylindric above, enlarging (according to a drawing) to about 2 cm. in diam. at the mouth, pinkish-white or greenish tinted, spotted with violet, glabrous outside, pilose with very fine long hairs within. _Lobes_ free at the base, abruptly inflexed over the mouth of the tube and produced beneath into broad triangular partition-like green plates or keels, meeting at the centre and connate into a slender erect column 1 to 1·4 cm. long, then again becoming free and expanding into elliptic-lanceolate replicate segments connate at the tips, forming a small apical ellipsoid cage-like body 5 to 6 mm. long, ciliate on the margins, dull purple or purple-brown. _Corona_ in the flowers seen much eaten by insects, but apparently the outer corona is cupular, with 5 acutely bifid lobes rising to the level of the top of the staminal column, ciliate and hairy within with long fine hairs. _Inner_ corona-lobes 2 mm. long, linear or linear-spathulate, connivent-erect over the staminal column, with very revolute tips. (_Fl. Cap._--National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2932.)

PLATE 191.--Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, ground plan of corolla from above; Fig. 3, terminal portion of corolla lobes; Fig. 4, corona.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 192.]

PLATE 192.

PROTEA HARMERI.

_Cape Province._

PROTEACEAE. Tribe PROTEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Protea Harmeri=, _Phillips in Kew Bulletin 1911_, p. 83; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. i. p. 593.

* * * * *

A comparison of the accompanying Plate should be made with the illustration on Plate 108. Both the species figured belong to the same section of the genus _Protea_, all characterised by very narrow leaves.

_Protea Harmeri_ was first found by Dr. (now Sir Sydney) Harmer on a hill near Matjesfontein when he visited South Africa in 1905; it was subsequently collected by Dr. R. Marloth on the Wittebergen and again later in the Zwartberg Pass between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert. The specimen figured was collected near the summit of the Zwartberg Pass in July 1925. The plant is a bush about 6 ft. high and is extremely handsome, as the dark heads show up in strong relief from the greyish-green leaves.

DESCRIPTION:--A bush about 1 m. high. _Branches_ greyish tomentellous above, becoming glabrous. _Leaves_ 4·5 to 6·5 cm. long, 2·5 to 3·5 mm. broad, linear, obtuse to subacute with a callous point attenuated at the base, margins recurved; youngest leaves finely villous at the base. _Head_ sessile, 2·5 cm. long, about 2·5 cm. in diam., globose; receptacle convex. _Involucral-bracts_ 10-11-seriate; outer ovate, obtuse, glabrous or the lowest very finely pubescent, with membranous ciliate margins; inner oblong-spathulate, obtuse, brick-red, recurved above, glabrous or minutely pubescent, not equalling the styles. _Perianth-sheath_ 1·5 cm. long, 0·75 mm. broad, dilated above, 3-keeled and 3-nerved below, glabrous or hirsute at the apex; lip 4 mm. long, 3-toothed, rufously setulose, glabrescent on the back; teeth subequal, 0·25 mm. long, the middle one smaller. _Stamens_ all fertile, subsessile; anthers linear, 3 mm. long; apical glands 0·25 mm. long, ovate, obtuse, swollen on the inner face. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, oblong-obovate in outline, covered with long brown hairs; hypogynous scales 1 mm. long, 0·25 to 0·5 mm. broad, oblong, obtuse; style 2 cm. long, falcate, arching over the centre of the head, terete above, flattened and hollow below, glabrous; stigma 2·25 mm. long, linear, obtuse, grooved, passing into the style. (_Fl. Cap._--National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2916.)

PLATE 192.--Fig. 1, single flower; Fig. 2, posterior perianth lobe; Fig. 3, pistil; Fig. 4, receptacle.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 193.]

PLATE 193.

SUTHERLANDIA FRUTESCENS.

_Cape Province, Orange Free State, Natal, Transvaal._

LEGUMINOSAE. Tribe GALEGEAE.

SUTHERLANDIA, _R.Br._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 503.

* * * * *

=Sutherlandia frutescens=, _R.Br. Hort. Kew_. ed. 2, p. 327; _Fl. Cap._ vol. ii. p. 212.

* * * * *

This plant was named by the great English botanist in honour of James Sutherland, one of the earliest superintendents of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens. The genus has only one species, which is widely distributed throughout South Africa, and is probably the most handsome native plant in the family _Leguminosae_. According to the _Botanical Magazine_, in which the plant was figured (Plate 181), _Sutherlandia frutescens_ was known in cultivation as early as 1683, and later became generally known in European gardens.

_Sutherlandia frutescens_ forms a small bush, but may grow to 3-4 ft. high, and is found usually in fairly dry places. It is known under several local names, but probably the most common is “Kanker bos” (cancer-bush), as it is reputed to be a cure for cancer.

As the plant is easily raised from seed, and the flowers are particularly beautiful, it should be more generally cultivated.

We are indebted to Mr. C. A. Smith, B.Sc., for the specimens which he collected at Fauresmith in the Orange Free State.

DESCRIPTION:--A shrub. _Branches_ pubescent, at length becoming glabrous. _Leaves_ 6 to 9 cm. long, imparipinnate; leaflets alternate or opposite, 1 to 2 cm. long, 3 to 6 mm. broad, lanceolate or oblong, obtuse, thinly pubescent. _Inflorescence_ an axillary raceme, peduncle and pedicels covered with short stiff sparse hairs. _Floral-bracts_ 3 mm. long, oblong. _Pedicels_ 1·2 cm. long. _Calyx-tube_ 1 cm. long, deeply campanulate; lobes 4·5 mm. long, ovate, acuminate. _Vexillum_ 3 cm. long, 1·2 cm. broad, obovate, acuminate; alae 8 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, oblong, obliquely clawed; keel 3·5 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, more or less oblong, with a linear claw 1·2 cm. long. _Stamens_ diadelphous; filaments filiform. _Ovary_ stalked, 1·5 cm. long, linear, with many ovules; style 1·5 cm. long, bearded on the inner face. _Pod_ membranous, inflated. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2943.)

PLATE 193.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 194.]

PLATE 194.

ORNITHOGALUM ODORATISSIMUM.

_Cape Province._

LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Ornithogalum odoratissimum= _C. A. Smith_, sp. nov. _Bulbus_ ovoideo-globosus, 2 cm. diam., tunicis brunneis membranaceis. _Folia_ 2-6, 6-10 cm. longa, anguste linearia, basi leviter dilatata, glabra. _Pedunculus_ ad 14 cm. longus, cylindricus, glaber. _Inflorescentia_ ad 6 cm. longa, pauci-vel multiflora. _Bracteae_ 1-1·8 cm. longae, ovato-acuminatae, membranaceae. _Pedicelli_ 0·5-1 cm. longi, teretes. _Segmenta perianthii_ 1·5 cm. longa, oblonga, apice inflexa pubescentia obtusa. _Filamenta_ 0·5-1 cm. longa, basi 2 mm. lata; antherae oblongae. _Ovarium_ 5 mm. longum, sessile. _Stylus_ 1·5 cm. longus, teres, apice minute capitatus, penicillatus. _Fructus_ trigonus.

* * * * *

This Plate should be compared with that of _O. Roodeae_ figured on Plate 75, as the two species are no doubt closely related though differing much in the colour of the flowers and the shape of the leaves. Like _O. Roodeae_ the flowers are very sweet-scented, a character not usually met with in the genus, and a single inflorescence is sufficient to saturate a large room with a pleasant scent, and even when planted out in the garden the strong perfume is noticeable for a considerable distance from the plant. The plant has been compared with Jacquin’s figure of _O. suaveolens_, from which it differs in being much smaller, and as it has been figured it was thought better to describe it than to definitely state that it is _O. suaveolens_.

We are indebted to Mrs. E. Rood of van Rhynsdorp for the specimens.