Part 4

DESCRIPTION:--A simple erect herb. _Bulb_ 2 cm. in diameter, 2·5 cm. high, ovoid, with brown tunics. _Leaves_ 2 to 6, 6 to 10 cm. long, 2 to 3 cm. broad at the base, linear to linear-lanceolate, deeply channelled, glabrous. _Peduncle_ up to 14 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Raceme_ few to many-flowered, up to 6 cm. long. _Bracts_ 1 to 1·8 cm. long, ovate-acuminate, membranous, dry, partly sheathing the pedicels. _Pedicels_ 0·5 to 1 cm. long, cylindric, erect-spreading. _Perianth-segments_ 1·5 cm. long, oblong, inflexed obtuse and pubescent at the apex, white with a broad green 3-nerved band. _Stamens_ slightly shorter than the perianth-segments; filaments 2 mm. broad at the base; anthers 2 mm. long, oblong, versatile. _Ovary_ 5 mm. long, sessile; style subequalling the perianth-segments, sub-capitate and penicillate at the apex. _Fruit_ (immature) deeply and bluntly 3-lobed. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2941.)

PLATE 194.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, cross-section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 195.]

PLATE 195.

ATHRIXIA ELATA.

_Basutoland, Cape Province, Natal, O.F.S., Transvaal._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe INULOIDEAE.

ATHRIXIA, _Ker._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_, vol. ii. p. 328.

* * * * *

=Athrixia elata=, _Sond. in Linn._ vol. xxiii. p. 67; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 292.

* * * * *

The plant figured on the accompanying Plate is a much-branched shrub almost 1 m. high, and may be found in flower on the hills surrounding Pretoria during the month of August. It grows in masses in certain localities and flowers very profusely; if brought under cultivation it could no doubt be much improved so as to make it a desirable garden plant.

_Athrixia elata_ is found on the Drakensberg in Natal, in Basutoland, the eastern Free State and on the spurs of the Drakensberg in the northern Transvaal, but extends westwards in the Transvaal as far as Rustenburg. The travellers Burke and Zeyher collected specimens almost 100 years ago on the Magaliesberg, and Cooper also came across the plant in his journey through Basutoland in 1861.

We are indebted to Mr. C. A. Smith, B.Sc., for the specimens from which our Plate was prepared.

DESCRIPTION:--A much-branched shrub. _Leaves_ alternate, sessile, 0·5 to 2·5 cm. long, linear, acute, pungent, with revolute margins, glabrous above, woolly beneath. _Heads_ subsessile, solitary, terminal, 2·5 to 3 cm. in diameter (including the rays). _Involucral-bracts_ in many rows, unequal; the outer gradually shorter, recurved, aristate, 3 to 4 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, narrowly ovate with the apices edged with brown to black, woolly; inner 5 to 6 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, linear-oblong; innermost 7 to 8·5 mm. long, 0·5 to 1 mm. broad, narrow-linear to oblong-elliptic, with membranous margins. _Receptacle_ flat, nude, honeycombed with the margins of the cells evident. _Ray-florets_ female; tube 4 to 5 mm. long, cylindric, widening above, glabrous; lamina oblong-elliptic. _Ovary_ terete, pilose; style cylindric, glabrous, deeply 2-cleft. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite, fertile. _Corolla_ 6 mm. long, tubular, cylindric below, then articulated and the uppermost one-third slightly wider, glabrous. _Anthers_ tailed at the base, with an ovate obtuse apical appendage. _Ovary_ pilose; style cylindric, glabrous, deeply 2-cleft; branches 1 mm. long, linear, truncate, penicillate. _Pappus-bristles_ equalling the corolla-tube, rigid, persistent, subplumose in the uppermost one-third, alternating with minute serrulate scales. (National Herb., Pretoria, 2942.)

PLATE 195.--Fig. 1, diagrammatic longitudinal section of head; Fig. 2, ray-floret; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, involucral-bract; Fig. 5, pappus enlarged; Fig. 6, pappus-bristle; Fig. 7, fimbriated pappus-scale.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 196.]

PLATE 196.

SUTERA BURKEANA.

_Transvaal, Zululand._

SCROPHULARIACEAE. Tribe _Manuleae_.

SUTERA, _Roth._ (including _Lyperia_, Benth.); _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 945.

* * * * *

=Sutera Burkeana=, _Hiern. Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 299.

* * * * *

The _Sutera Burkeana_ here figured for the first time is a common plant in some localities around Pretoria and is to be found in flower from the beginning of August onwards. It is a bush up to 2-1/2 ft. high and appears to be very localised in its distribution, as only isolated patches are met with on the hills surrounding Pretoria. It has also been recorded from the neighbourhood of Johannesburg and from Zululand.

The plant flowers profusely, and when in full bloom makes a fine display and would no doubt be improved under proper cultivation.

Our Plate was prepared from specimens collected by Mr. C. A. Smith near Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION:--A much-branched shrub ·3 to 1·3 m. high. _Branches_ glandular-puberulous. _Leaves_ fascicled recurved 3 to 8 mm. long, linear to oblong, cuneate at the base, acute, toothed, punctate. _Flowers_ arranged racemosely at the ends of the branches. _Pedicels_ 7 mm. long, terete, rigid, viscid-puberulous. _Calyx_ 3 to 4 mm. long, deeply 5-lobed; lobes lanceolate-linear or oblong-lanceolate, acute, glandular-hairy. _Corolla-tube_ cylindric, somewhat swollen and twice curved above, glandular-hairy without, softly hairy in the throat; lobes broadly obovate, obtuse, entire, often curled or recurved, glandular-hairy outside. _Stamens_ 4, hardly exserted; filaments filiform, inserted on the corolla-tube. _Anthers_ 1-thecous, all perfect. _Ovary_ 2-chambered with numerous ovules; style subulate, included; stigma obtuse. _Fruit_ a capsule; valves cleft at the apex. _Seeds_ numerous, regose. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2937.)

PLATE 196.--Fig. 1, longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, pistil; Fig. 3, cross-section of ovary.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 197.]

PLATE 197.

EUPHORBIA TRIDENTATA.

_Cape Province._

EUPHORBIACEAE. Tribe EUPHORBIEAE.

EUPHORBIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 258.

* * * * *

=Euphorbia tridentata=, _Lam. Encycl._ ii. 416; _Fl. Cap._ vol. v. sect. ii. p. 298.

* * * * *

The species of _Euphorbia_ figured on the accompanying Plate is a somewhat rare plant and until quite recently it was not known where the plant was found, although it was known in European gardens and figured almost 100 years ago. The plant belongs to a small group of three species in the genus characterised by having the branches constricted at their origin of growth. All of them are very dwarf plants.

We are indebted to Mr. H. M. Bartlett of Riversdale for the specimens which he sent in July 1924, and these were successfully grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and flowered in September 1925.

DESCRIPTION:--Plant dwarf, succulent, spineless, branching from the base. _Branches_ ascending or somewhat spreading, 2·5 to 15 cm. long, 1 to 1·4 cm. thick, cylindric or slightly tapering upwards, tessellately tuberculate with hexagonal flattish tubercles 6 to 10 mm. in diam., having a slightly prominent whitish leaf-scar, glabrous, dull green. _Leaves_ sessile, soon deciduous, 4 to 6 mm. long, 3 to 4 mm. broad, elliptic or elliptic-oblong, acute, dark green, with a reddish minutely toothed margin. _Peduncles_ 3 to 4 at the ends of the branches, about 4 mm. long, bearing a pair of ovate or elliptic bracts and 1 involucre, glabrous. _Involucre_ about 1·3 to 1·8 cm. in diam., cup-shaped, glabrous, with 5 glands and 5 transversely oblong, toothed and ciliate, inflexed, purplish lobes. _Glands_ subcontiguous, about 5 mm. in diam. across the tips, very concave at the basal part, divided into 3 to 4 spreading finger-like corrugated white processes 2 to 3 mm. long. _Ovary_ pedicellate, scarcely exserted, with styles 7 mm. long, united for two-thirds of their length, with entire spreading tips. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2989.)

PLATE 197.--Fig. 1, inflorescence; Fig. 2, gland with lobes.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 198.]

PLATE 198.

VENIDIUM WYLEYI.

_Little Namaqualand._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe ARCTOTIDEAE.

VENIDIUM, _Less._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_, vol. ii. p. 459.

* * * * *

=Venidium Wyley=i, _Harv. Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 463.

* * * * *

This Plate, and that on Plate 117, should be compared with _Arctotis Fosteri_ which we figured on Plate 3, when the difference between the genera _Venidium_ and _Arctotis_ will be seen. In the former genus the fruits are without a pappus or with a very rudimentary one, while in the latter genus a well-developed pappus is always present.

The plant is commonly known as the “Namaqua Daisy,” and in its native home the flower-heads attain a very large size when the season is favourable, but may be quite small when no rain has fallen. _Venidium Wyleyi_ does quite well under cultivation, and is easily grown and forms a very effective border.

We are indebted to Mr. L. R. Vogt of Waterkloof near Pretoria for the specimens, which were grown in his garden.

DESCRIPTION:--An erect herb. _Stems_ terete, hollow, striate, pilose-hoary, laxly leafy. _Cauline leaves_ 1·2 to 15 cm. long, sessile; the lower lyrato-pinnatifid, amply auricled, amplexicaul, on both sides cobwebby-tomentose; the upper broadly ovate, closely crowded in the young stems, cobwebby-tomentose, obtuse, with the margins entire or remotely 1 to 2 toothed. _Heads_ peduncled, terminal, very large and showy, 8 cm. in diam. (including the rays), the buds very hoary. _Involucral bracts_ imbricate, in several rows; the outer narrower, reflexed, herbaceous, green; the innermost row much longer, broadly scariose, spreading below the rays; the whole involucre densely cobwebby. _Receptacle_ 1·8 cm. in diam., convex, deeply honeycombed, with the margins of the cells produced into a few bristles. _Ray-florets_ female, 1-seriate, alternate rays spreading, others at first ascending, then spreading, giving an appearance of two rows. _Corolla_ ligulate; lamina bright orange coloured, oblong-cuneate, very faintly 3-toothed at apex, of lower whorl smaller (2·5 cm. long) and with a smaller brow-black blotch at the base than that of upper whorl (3 cm. long); tube 3 mm. long, broader at base than at the top, subglabrous. _Ovary_ obovate in outline, muricated, glabrous; style 4 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; stigmatic portion wider, with the branches 0·5 mm. long, linear, flat, spreading. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite, fertile, numerous, crowded on the head. _Corolla_ 4 mm. long, subcylindric, 5-cleft at the apex for about a quarter the length of the tube, with 5 longitudinal rows of glandular hairs; lobes blackish, 1 mm. long, linear, subacute, with the angles between the lobes obtuse. _Anthers_ purplish, black, 2 mm. long, obtuse, with a small suborbicular apical appendage; filaments 1·5 mm. long, linear, flat, at length filiform, inserted on lower half of corolla tube. _Ovary_ obovate in outline, white, muricated, glabrous; style 5·5 mm. long, at first narrowly cylindric, then in upper half abruptly widening into a yellow stigmatic portion, 2 mm. long, slightly cleft at the apex, becoming much exserted. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2944.)

PLATE 198.--Fig. 1, longitudinal section of receptacle; Fig. 2, ray-floret; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, inner involucral-bract; Fig. 5, outer involucral-bract; Fig. 6, achene.

F.P.S.A., 1923. [Illustration: 199.]

PLATE 199.

ERICA BLENNA var. GRANDIFLORA.

_Cape Province._

ERICACEAE. Tribe ERICEAE.

ERICA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 590.

* * * * *

=Erica blenna=, _Salisb._ var. =grandiflora=, _Bolus. Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. i. p. 202.

* * * * *

Through the courtesy of Dr. J. Muir of Riversdale we are able to figure for the first time a species of heath, and perhaps one of the most beautiful of all the Cape heaths. The variety _grandiflora_ is only found as far as we know in the Riversdale and Bredasdorp Districts and is by no means a common plant. It is known locally as the “lantern” or “Riversdale” heath. The species itself, like so many of the South African species of _Erica_, was first collected by Masson about the year 1772, and was successfully cultivated in Europe and figured on more than one occasion in early botanical literature.

DESCRIPTION:--Erect, 0·3 to 0·5 m. high. _Branches_ stout, ascending, virgate or flexuous, puberulous or glabrous. _Leaves_ 3-nate, mostly erect and imbricate or subspreading, linear, subobtuse, flat above, keeled and sulcate beneath, glabrous, 8 to 10 mm. long. _Flowers_ usually solitary, rarely in pairs (“here and there sublateral,” Bentham). _Pedicels_ about 8 mm. long; bracts remote, lanceolate, about 6 mm. long; sepals ovate, acuminate, keel-tipped, thickish, subscarious, viscid, coloured or greenish, about 5 mm. long. _Corolla_ conical-ovoid or suburceolate-conical, much contracted to the mouth but only slightly constricted at the throat, very viscid, 1·6 to 2 cm. long, bright orange-red, the limb and some distance below it green; segments spreading or erect, about one-eighth the length of the tube; filaments broad at the base tapering upwards, bent below the anther; anthers included, dorsifixed well above the base, cuneate, subacute, scaberulous, ciliolate, about 3 mm. long, crested; pore three-fifths to two-thirds the length of the cell; crests quite free from the filament, subsemiorbicular in outline, deeply inciso-lacerate, about half the length of the cell; style included, straight; stigma capitellate; ovary glabrous. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2991.)

PLATE 199.--Fig. 1, pedicel showing bracts; Fig. 2, androecium and gynaecium; Fig. 3, single stamen; Fig. 4, pistil; Fig. 5, anther enlarged.

F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 200.]

PLATE 200.

DIMORPHOTHECA CUNEATA.

_Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State._

COMPOSITAE. Tribe CALENDULEAE.

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

* * * * *

=Dimorphotheca cuneata=, _Less. Syn._ 257; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 422.

* * * * *

We are indebted for the specimens, from which the accompanying Plate was prepared, to Mr. C. A. Smith, B.Sc., who collected them in September 1925 on the botanical reserve near Fauresmith, Orange Free State. According to Mr. Smith the plants cover the hill-sides and from a distance appear as large white patches. It flowers very profusely, so much so that the leaves are almost hidden by the mass of flowers. The laminae of the ray-florets are white above and copper-coloured beneath, not yellow as described in the _Flora Capensis_.

The specimens collected by Mr. Smith are an exact match with those collected by Zeyher (No. 2812). Zeyher No. 3066, quoted by Harvey as _D. cuneata_, is quite a different plant, perhaps a _Tripteris_. We have accepted the specific name “cuneata,” as this was the name given by Mr. N. E. Brown to a specimen collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin. Locally known as “mak-bietou.”

DESCRIPTION:--A densely and closely branched bushy shrub up to 1·05 m. high, the older branches naked, rough, the younger short and closely leafy. _Leaves_ varying in shape (linear to obovate) and size (0·5 to 1·3 cm. long), always cuneate at the base, sharply 2 to 4 toothed, obscurely mid-ribbed, gland-dotted, subdecurrent, glabrous or nearly so. _Peduncles_ terminal, 2 to 3·5 cm. long, glandular-pubescent, viscidulous, becoming widened at the top. _Involucre_ uni-seriate, glaucescent, viscidulous; scales linear-acuminate, minutely glandular-puberulous, with pale-edged and ciliate margins. _Receptacle_ about 3·5 mm. in diam., nude, flat. Ray-florets female, uniseriate. _Corolla_ ligulate, white above, yellow to bronze-coppery below; lamina spreading, finely-three toothed, cuneate at the base; tube of corolla 1·5 mm. long, terete, glandular-hairy. _Ovary_ triquetrous, green, obconic, somewhat curved, glandular hairy with stalked glands, with the angular margins bluntly toothed; style 4·5 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; branches 2 mm. long, yellow, flat, subacute. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite, fertile. _Corolla-tube_ yellow, 3 mm. long, subcylindric, with a 5-fid limb, very densely glandular-hairy at the base, glabrous above. _Anthers_ 3 mm. long, subsagittate at the base, with an ovate obtuse apical appendage. _Ovary_ very much laterally compressed, obcordate, glandular, with a wide thick-rimmed entire marginal wing; style 6 mm. long, cylindric, glabrous; branches appearing truncate with a ring of bristles, capped by a short conical apex. (National Herb., Pretoria, No. 2990.)

PLATE 200.--Fig. 1, ray-floret; Fig. 2, ray-achene; Fig. 3, disc-floret; Fig. 4, disc-achene; Fig. 5, stamen.

F.P.S.A., 1925.

INDEX TO VOLUME V.

PLATE

ALOE ARBORESCENS _var._ FRUTESCENS, 187

ALOE CHABAUDII, 164

ALOE FEROX, 169

ALOE MARLOTHII, 171

ALOE RUPESTRIS, 178

ALOE SESSILIFLORA, 180

ATHRIXIA ELATA, 195

CEROPEGIA HAYGARTHII, 191

COTYLEDON ORBICULATA, 161

CRASSULA COLUMNARIS, 173

CRASSULA LATICEPHALA, 189

CRASSULA ROSULARIS, 167

DERMATOBOTRYS SAUNDERSII, 188

DIMORPHOTHECA CUNEATA, 200

ERICA BLENNA _var._ GRANDIFLORA, 199

EUPHORBIA TRIDENTATA, 197

GAZANIA SUFFRUTICOSA, 183

GLADIOLUS CRUENTUS, 182

GLADIOLUS ORCHIDIFLORUS, 165

GLADIOLUS TRICHOSTACHYS, 163

GLADIOLUS TRISTIS, 175

HAEMANTHUS ALBIFLOS, 190

HYPOXIS ROOPERI, 172

LACHENALIA RUBIDA _var._ TIGRINA, 184

LACHENALIA TRICOLOR, 166

LEUCADENDRON HUMIFUSUM, 170

LISSOCHILUS SPECIOSUS, 168

ORNITHOGALUM ODORATISSIMUM, 194

PROTEA HARMERI, 192

PROTEA MUNDII, 185

PROTEA PITYPHYLLA, 177

SARCOPHYTE SANGUINEA, 176

SENECIO FULGENS, 179

SENECIO TAMOIDES, 174

STAPELIA GIGANTEA _var._ PALLIDA, 181

STRELITZIA REGINAE, 186

SUTERA BURKEANA, 196

SUTHERLANDIA FRUTESCENS, 193

SYNNOTIA BICOLOR, 162

VENIDIUM WYLEYI, 198

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