a) Calyx absent from the hermaphrodite and often from the female flowers:
b) Moss-like or hepaticiform aquatic herbs with minute flowers; ovules 2 or more in a 1-celled ovary.
bb) Above characters not associated:
c) Flowers surrounded by an involucre margined by fleshy glands; male flowers several to numerous and each consisting of a single stamen, with a single female flower often stalked in their midst.
cc) Flowers not as above:
d) Leaves stipulate, stipules sometimes adnate to the petiole:
e) Herbs or shrubs; flowers in dense spikes; petioles not dilated and not enclosing the young bud.
ee) Trees or shrubs; flowers on a common open receptacle, the fruit becoming immersed in it.
dd) Leaves without stipules; herbs sometimes slightly woody at the base; ovary 1-celled.
aa) Calyx always present:
b) Moss-like or hepaticiform aquatic herbs with minute flowers; ovules 2 or more in a 1-celled ovary.
bb) Above characters not associated:
c) Leaves opposite or verticillate, never all radical:
d) Leaves stipulate:
e) Flowers hermaphrodite:
f) Herbs, sometimes slightly woody at the base; leaves mostly pinnate.
ff) Herbs with simple leaves.
fff) Trees or shrubs with reduced flowers; leaves simple.
ee) Flowers unisexual:
f) Ovary 2- or more-celled, often deeply lobed; seeds usually with a distinct caruncle.
ff) Ovary 1-celled; ovary usually not lobed:
g) Ovule erect:
h) Filaments inflexed; mostly herbaceous with fibrous stems; juice not milky.
hh) Filaments not inflexed; mostly trees and shrubs, rarely herbs; juice mostly milky, the flowers often minute and arranged on or inside an enlarged receptacle.
gg) Ovule pendulous:
h) Not aquatic:
i) Filaments not inflexed in bud:
j) Fruit a drupe; flowers monœcious or subdiœcious.
jj) Fruit a small dry achene; flowers diœcious.
ii) Filaments erect or inflexed in bud.
hh) Aquatic herb with verticillate divided leaves.
dd) Leaves exstipulate:
e) Flowers unisexual; ovary usually 2- or more celled; seeds usually with a distinct caruncle.
ee) Flowers hermaphrodite; ovary 1-celled:
f) Stamens involute in bud; calyx more or less herbaceous, often long and tubular, mostly covered with sticky glands.
ff) Stamens erect in bud:
g) Sepals free or nearly so, calyx more or less dry and scarious:
gg) Sepals more or less united, herbaceous.
cc) Leaves alternate or radical or reduced to scales:
d) Leaves stipulate:
e) Stamens monadelphous, usually numerous; calyx valvate:
f) Flowers usually hermaphrodite; hairs usually stellate.
ff) Flowers always unisexual; hairs often simple.
ee) Stamens free or shortly connate only at the base:
f) Stamens the same number as the sepals and alternate with them.
ff) Stamens the same number as the sepals and opposite to them, or more numerous or fewer:
g) Stipules ochreate, i.e., sheathing and more or less membranous around the stem; fruit a small nut.
gg) Stipules not ochreate:
h) Flowers hermaphrodite; stipules sheathing, sometimes adnate to the petiole:
i) Leaves digitately lobed; stems herbaceous creeping.
ii) Leaves not digitate; erect or diffuse herbs.
hh) Flowers unisexual; stems not creeping:
i) Ovary 3-celled, composed of 3 carpels; fruit a capsule.
ii) Ovary 1-celled, composed of 1 carpel, fruit not a capsule.
dd) Leaves exstipulate:
e) Leaves ternately compound; herbs; ovary composed of 1 carpel, long-stipitate in fruit; flowers paniculate or racemose, very small.
ee) Leaves compound; trees and shrubs:
f) Cultivated trees with milky latex; fruit a capsule, with pendulous seeds; flowers unisexual; leaves digitate.
ff) Indigenous trees or shrub; latex not milky; leaves pinnate.
eee) Leaves simple:
f) Stamens circinnately involute in bud; calyx tube often rather long; ovary 1-celled; ovule 1, basal.
ff) Stamens sometimes inflexed but not circinnate in bud:
g) Stamens more or less connate into a central column; ovule erect; seeds with ruminate endosperm.
Myristicaceæ
gg) Stamens free or the filaments shortly connate only at the base:
h) Stamens distinctly perigynous; sepals connate into a tube below:
i) Twiners; flowers in axillary spikes, racemes or panicles; ovule solitary, basal.
ii) Herbs; stamens numerous; flowers solitary or clustered in the axils of the leaves.
iii) Trees or shrubs; calyx mostly long and petaloid; leaves frequently small and evergreen; stamens definite; anthers opening by slits.
hh) Stamens hypogynous or slightly perigynous if accompanied by a disk:
i) Flowers arranged in an involucre (cyathium) margined by glands; male flower reduced to a single stamen, the female to a single stipitate ovary.
ii) Flowers not as above; stamens more than 1:
j) Trees or shrubs:
k) Flowers unisexual; ovules solitary, pendulous; seed with straight embryo.
kk) Flowers unisexual or polygamous; ovules 2 in each cell, collateral or the lower ascending; embryo spirally twisted.
jj) Herbs:
k) Calyx scarious; flowers often in spikes or heads; ovule 1 in a 1-celled ovary.
kk) Calyx herbaceous; flowers more or less paniculate; ovule 1 in a 1-celled ovary.
GROUP 13. One carpel or more than one united carpels; ovules attached to the central axis or to the base or apex of the ovary cell; ovary inferior; petals present, free from each other.
a) Leaves opposite or verticillate; never all radical; rarely reduced to scales:
b) Leaves stipulate:
c) Stamens opposite the petals and the same number.
cc) Stamens alternate with the petals or more numerous:
d) Ovary composed of 2-6 carpels; 2-6 celled; flowers rarely congested; ovules pendulous; mostly maritime trees or shrubs.
dd) Ovary various; flowers rarely in heads; ovules ascending or attached to the central axis; trees, shrubs or herbs.
bb) Leaves exstipulate:
c) Trees, shrubs or climbers:
d) Stamens numerous; leaves gland-dotted; style simple with a small capitate stigma or rarely 3-4 lobed.
dd) Stamens as many to twice as many as the petals:
e) Stamens the same number and opposite the petals; mostly parasitic shrubs or trees; calyx usually much reduced.
ee) Stamens the same number and alternate with the petals or more numerous:
f) Anthers opening by a terminal pore; filaments often jointed; leaves often with 3-9 longitudinally parallel nerves.
ff) Anthers opening by longitudinal slits; calyx mostly valvate; ovules 2 or more; fruits mostly winged; endosperm absent; flowers in heads, spikes, racemes or panicles.
cc) Herbs:
d) Anthers opening by a terminal pore; leaves mostly with longitudinally parallel nerves; filaments often jointed.
dd) Anthers opening by longitudinal slits:
e) Ovules numerous on placentas pendulous from the apex of the 1-celled ovary.
ee) Ovules 1-4, pendulous from the top of the ovary cells.
aa) Leaves alternate or all radical:
b) Flowers unisexual:
c) Flowers mostly zygomorphic; stamens mostly indefinite in number; no tendrils; stipules paired.
Begoniaceæ
cc) Flowers actinomorphic; stamens definite or rarely many, usually 3; anthers often curved or twisted; tendrils present or absent; no stipules.
bb) Flowers hermaphrodite:
c) Leaves stipulate:
d) Herbs; leaves usually compound or much dissected, sometimes peltate; sepals very small; fruit composed of 2 indehiscent mericarps.
dd) Trees or shrubs:
e) Stamens the same number and opposite the petals; leaves entire or toothed.
ee) Stamens alternate with the petals or more numerous or fewer; flowers mostly in umbels; leaves compound, rarely simple; fruit a berry or drupe.
Araliaceæ
cc) Leaves exstipulate:
d) Stamens as many as and opposite to the petals; often parasitic on other trees and shrubs; corolla usually brightly coloured.
dd) Stamens alternate with the petals or more numerous; not parasitic:
e) Herbs:
f) Ovules more than 1 in each ovary cell; ovary mostly 4-celled.
ff) Ovules 4 in a 1-celled ovary; flowers monœcious or polygamous, not umbellate.
fff) Ovules solitary in each cell; usually pendulous; flowers umbellate; carpels separating in fruit into 2 indehiscent mericarps.
ee) Shrubs or trees:
f) Petals entire or at most toothed; ovary 1-celled.
ff) Petals entire, 2-lobed or laciniate, often involute; ovary 4-celled.
GROUP 14. One carpel or more than one united carpel; ovules attached to the central axis or to the base or apex of the ovary cell; ovary inferior; petals present, more or less united.
a) Leave opposite:
b) Leaves stipulate, entire, stipules mostly inter- or intrapetiolar; anthers free from each other; corolla always actinomorphic.
bb) Leaves exstipulate:
c) Anthers free from each other; ovules mostly pendulous:
d) Leaves not gland-dotted; stamens definite; shrubs, mostly parasitic on trees; flowers usually not in heads and not surrounded by bracts.
dd) Leaves gland-dotted; stamens mostly numerous; trees or shrubs; flowers cymose or fasciculate.
cc) Anthers mostly connivent or in pairs around the style:
d) Ovule solitary erect; flowers mostly in heads surrounded by an involucre of bracts.
dd) Ovules numerous; flowers usually not in heads and not surrounded by bracts.
aa) Leaves alternate or radical:
b) Anthers free from one another:
c) Stamens the same number and opposite the corolla lobes:
d) Herbaceous, leaves not gland-dotted.
dd) Trees and shrubs:
e) Not parasitic; leaves often gland-dotted; corolla short.
ee) Often parasitic; leaves not gland-dotted; corolla often long.
cc) Stamens alternate with the corolla lobes or more numerous or fewer:
d) Flowers hermaphrodite; stems not climbing; anthers straight.
dd) Flowers unisexual; stems often climbing by tendrils; anthers often sinuous or twisted.
bb) Anthers united into a ring around the style or flowers unisexual:
c) Flowers not in heads surrounded by a common involucre.
cc) Flowers in heads surrounded by a common involucre.
GROUP 15. One carpel or more than one united carpels; ovules attached to the central axis or to the base or apex of the ovary cell; ovary inferior; petals absent.
a) Parasitic herbs destitute of chlorophyll, the leaves reduced to scales; ovules nude or with a single integument:
b) Flowers densely crowded; fruits nut-like, 1-seeded; ovule solitary, pendulous.
Balanophoraceæ
bb) Flowers solitary, large; ovules numerous.
aa) Not parasitic or if so then more or less woody and often with normally developed leaves:
b) Leaves stipulate:
c) Flowers unisexual, stamens and ovules few, the latter solitary; trees or shrubs.
cc) Flowers hermaphrodite; stamens the same number and alternate with the sepals.
bb) Leaves exstipulate:
c) Ovules pendulous from the apex of the ovary or from the apex of a basal placenta:
d) Not parasitic; stamens inflexed in bud, often double the number of the sepals; fruits often winged.
dd) Mostly parasitic; flowers small and leaves often reduced; stamens erect in bud, the same number and opposite the sepals; fruit not winged.
cc) Ovule 1, erect; mostly parasitic; flowers often brightly coloured.
ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF MONOCOTYLEDONES REPRESENTED IN THIS FLORA.
a) Flowers very small, arranged on a spadix, more or less enclosed by a green or coloured spathe; erect, creeping or climbing herbs; rootstock often tuberous or thick and fleshy.
aa) Flowers not arranged as above:
b) Small or minute floating plants not differentiated into stem and leaves and with much reduced flowers consisting of 1-2 stamens and a sessile ovary either naked or enclosed in a membranous perianth, anthers 1-2 celled; ovary 1-celled; ovule 1 or more on a basal placenta.
bb) Characters not as above; if aquatic plants then usually with well-developed leaves:
c) Ovary apocarpous, of more than 1 carpel:
d) Submerged aquatic plants:
e) Perianth-segments 1-3, white or coloured.
ee) Perianth-segments 4 and herbaceous, or absent.
dd) Not aquatic or if so then not submerged:
e) Carpels indehiscent; ovules 1 to few, basal or on the inner angle of the carpel; marsh or aquatic herbs.
ee) Carpels dehiscent; ovules numerous on reticulately branched parietal placentas; scapigerous marsh herbs with milky juice; stamens usually 9.
eee) Carpels or fruit indehiscent, trees or shrubs with simple stems and usually large, often palmate leaves.
Palmaceæ (part)
cc) Ovary syncarpous or carpel solitary:
d) Ovary superior:
e) Flowers in the axils of membranous or more or less dry bracts (glumes) arranged in spikelets mostly arranged in spikes, racemes, panicles or heads; carpel solitary; perianth of small scales or bristles or absent:
f) Stems usually triangular, solid and without nodes; leaf-sheaths mostly closed all round the stem and usually without a ligule; filament often attached to the base of the anther; ovule basal; seed free from the pericarp.
ff) Stems mostly cylindrical and hollow between the nodes; leaf-sheaths nearly always split down one side and often terminating in a distinct ligule; filament usually attached to the back of the anther; ovule attached laterally; seed more or less adnate to the pericarp.
ee) Flowers usually with a distinct perianth or at any rate not in spikelets, etc., as above; ovary usually composed of more than 1 carpel:
f) Flowers mostly hermaphrodite or if unisexual then not collected into involucrate heads or dense spikes:
g) Ovules on parietal placentas; fertile stamens 3: all the perianth-segments petaloid; aquatic herbs; stamens 3 or 1.
Pontederiaceæ (part)
gg) Ovules on axile or basal placentas; fertile stamens usually 6:
h) Perianth present:
i) Perianth-segments 2-seriate, the outer herbaceous, the inner petaloid; leaf-bases sheathing.
ii) Perianth-segments all more or less petaloid:
j) Aquatic floating herbs with long petioles sheathing at the base; 3 upper stamens included, 3 lower ones more or less exserted.
jj) Not aquatic or rarely subaquatic; stamens 6, more or less equal;
hh) Perianth absent or very rudimentary; carpel 1; submerged aquatics with branched filiform smooth or muricate stems, flowers diœcious or monœcious, axillary, small.
ff) Flowers unisexual, collected into involucrate heads or dense spikes:
g) Flowers in dense involucrate heads; low herbs often stemless with mostly densely crowded leaves.
gg) Flowers in spadices; trees or shrubs, the stems bearing thick aerial roots.
ggg) Flowers in dense cylindric spikes; aquatic herbs with linear alternate leaves and creeping rhizomes.
dd) Ovary inferior:
e) Stamens 3-6:
f) Ovules parietal:
g) Leaves not divided; stigma not umbrella-shaped, flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual.
gg) Leaves divided; stigma umbrella-shaped; leaves large, divided.
ff) Ovules axile, basal or apical:
g) Perianth-lobes or segments 3-6:
h) Stamens 6 or 3; flowers very small, diœcious; stems climbing.
hh) Stamens 6; flowers conspicuous, hermaphrodite; stems not climbing.
hhh) Stamens 3; inserted opposite the outer perianth-segments; not climbing.
gg) Perianth-segment 1; stamens 5, rarely 6; leaves with pinnate nervation; tall plants.
ee) Stamen 1:
f) Flowers actinomorphic or nearly so:
g) Anthers 2-celled; ovules numerous; perianth-segments united below.
gg) Anthers 1-celled; ovules solitary in each cell; petiole thickened towards the apex.
ff) Flowers very zygomorphic; ovules numerous; andrœcium united with the gynæcium into a column; anther sessile or subsessile on the column.
GYMNOSPERMÆ
CYCADACEÆ.
1Encephalartos septentrionalis Schwfth. MURIEPAI—Zande; KOTTO—Krej & Indogo.
Palm-like undershrub; stem fusiform or globose; up to 2 ft. high. Leaves up to 5 ft. long, pinnate, pinnules up to 50 pairs, ovate-lanceolate, falcate, 4-5 in. long, with 3-8 teeth in basal half, densely tomentose on young fronds.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Golo; Deim Zubeir; Niamniam-land: Mambeli, Gumango Hill near the Rye, on the Ibba (Tonj) River, east of the upper Hoo; Bongo; Lessi River).
A kind of beer is made from the central portion of the stem.
GNETACEÆ.
2Ephedra Alte C. A. Mey.
Diœcious shrub, climbing or erect; branches more or less whorled on upper nodes. Leaves scale-like in whorls of 2-3, connate at base. Male spikes axillary, solitary or in dense glomerules. Fem. spikes solitary or fascicled.
Red Sea Prov. (21° N.L.).
ANGIOSPERMÆ
DICOTYLEDONES
ANONACEÆ.
3Uvaria bukobensis Eng.
Small tree. Leaves oblong-elliptic, obtusely acuminate, up to 6 in. long, nearly glabrous. Flowers usually in pairs above the axils. Sepals and petals warted and shortly tomentose.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
U. Schweinfurthii Eng. & Diels.
Leaves oblong cordate at the base, subacutely acuminate, 3-4 in. long, with long weak hairs on the midrib. Flowers yellow, small. Petals ¾ in. long. Fruiting carpels oblong with 3 or 4 transverse constrictions, rusty-hairy.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Ibba River near Nganye: Niamniam-land).
U. near U. Schweinfurthii Eng. & Diels. (small leaves).
Leaves oblong-lanceolate, rounded at the base, acute, 2-2½ in. long, ¾-1 in. broad, covered below with soft stellate hairs. Flowers very small; buds ovoid. Fruiting carpels oblong, with about 5 transverse constrictions, rusty-tomentose.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Mittu-land: Kuddu).
U. verrucosa Eng. & Diels.
Branchlets scurfy. Leaves oblong-elliptic, subcordate, 6 in. long, with numerous lateral nerves, closely stellate-tomentellous below; flowers not known. Fruiting carpels long stalked, warted.
Congo Border by the Kambele.
4Meiocarpidium lepidotum Eng. & Diels. WINGA—Jur.
Small to middle-sized tree. Leaves oblong, long-acuminate, up to 8 in. long, densely scaly below. Flowers covered with scales. Fruiting carpels terete.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Tonj).
5Hexalobus monopetalus Eng. & Diels. M’BANDA—Golo.
Tree; fruit said to be edible. Leaves oblong, up to 5 in. long. Flowers cream-coloured, sessile; 1-3 together, axillary; carpels 4-6.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land: Jur Ghattas and Kutshuk Ali, Mittu-land: Mvolo, near Biri River); Bahr El Jebel (Madi & Bari countries).
H. grandiflorus Benth. BEJUGOLO & PORO—Golo.
Middle-sized tree, with handsome pendant cream-coloured petals. Leaves narrowly oval or oblanceolate, glabrous, carpels 10-12; ovary pilose.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land, Niamniam-land, Mittu-land & Dar Fertit).
White wood used for carpentry.
6Popowia djurensis Eng. & Diels.
Scandent shrub. Leaves small, up to 2 in. long, obtuse, oblong. Flowers in shortly stalked axillary clusters.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land, Bongo-land & near Biri River).
P. Schweinfurthii Eng. & Diels.
Scandent shrub. Leaves up to 6 in. long, sub-acuminate. Flowers very small, axillary, in pairs on slender pedicels.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: by the Mbrwole River).
7Xylopia near oxypetala Eng. & Diels.
Leaves oblong-lanceolate, obtusely acuminate, 2-4 in. long, 1 in. broad, finely pubescent below. Flowers axillary, subsessile. Fruits tomentose, glabrous, whitish.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by the Nabambisso River); Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: Mbrwole River).
X. Vallotii Chipp. CHUWEI (J. Eliri)—Nuba.
A middle-sized, straight tree. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 2-2½ in. long, 1 in. broad, rounded at base. Fruiting carpels up to about 1 in. long.
Nuba Mountains Prov. (J. Eliri).
8Anona senegalensis Pers. KATEING (J. Eliri)—Nuba; APINROT—Dinka; AMBALU—Jur; BAFI, DU, NDU & NU—Golo; BOGORA—Zande.
Small tree; fruit up to size of a small orange, edible, nearly smooth. Flowers solitary, pedunculate. Leaves oblong-elliptical to broadly elliptical, pubescent above. Petals 6.
Upper Nile Prov.; Nuba Mountains Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Wau, Niamniam & Jur-land).
The fruit is edible; the boiled leaves are used as a perfume by Golo women. In Western Africa the whole plant is used in native medicine.
A. reticulata Linn. Bullock’s heart—Introduced.
Small tree. Leaves narrow oval-oblong. Flowers 2-4 together; petals 3. Fruit cordate or ovoid, faintly marked.
Khartoum Prov. (Khartoum North: Shambat).
A. squamosa Linn. Custard Apple—GISHTA—Arab; Introduced.
Shrub or small tree. Fruit ab. 2-3 in. across, green, marked with somewhat rhomboidal adnate scales; pulp white, seeds black. Petals 3.
Grown in gardens in many parts of the country.
A. Cherimolla Mill. Cherimoyer. Introduced.
Shrub. Leaves acute to nearly obtuse. Flowers solitary or in pairs; petals 3. Fruit sub-ovoid-cordate with obtusely tubercled areoles.
Khartoum Prov. (Khartoum North: Shambat).
The best of the Anonas.
9Monodora sp. nov.
A fine foliage tree 20 ft. Leaves oblong-elliptic, obtuse, cordate at the base, 10-12 in. long, with numerous lateral nerves; flowers not known, but probably handsome and mottled.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
RANUNCULACEÆ.
10Clematis inciso-dentata Hochst. SHADDEIP—Hadendowa.
Woody climber. Leaves variable, pinnately or ternately divided. Flowers in terminal or axillary panicles. Sepals petaloid, white, hairy inside; petals 0. Fruiting head of silky white achenes.
Red Sea Province (Erkowit); Nuba Mountains Prov. (Khor Abu Habl, Dilling).
C. glaucescens Fresen.
Weak woody climber. Leaves ternately divided, softly hairy below. Flowers in short terminal and axillary panicles. Sepals very silky. Fruiting heads with silky achenes shortly tailed.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Doguddu & Sabbi). Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
C. cf. C. glaucescens Fresen.
As above, but much longer tails to the achenes.
C. simensis Fresen.
Woody climber. Leaves pinnatisect; leaflets 1-5, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, crenate-serrate. Panicles many flowered. Flowers white, ¾ in. diam.; sepals short silky within. Carpels hairy; tails 1 in. or more.
White Nile Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Kulme & Jebel Marra; up to 9,500 ft.).
C. grata Wall.
Climber. Leaves pinnatisect; leaflets 3-7, ovate, rounded or cordate at base, broadly crenate, silky or pubescent beneath. Flowers ¾ in. in diam.; sepals nearly glabrous inside.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit).
11Clematopsis Oliveri Hutchinson.
Erect semi-woody plant. Upper leaves usually 3-fol., lower often 1-fol.; leaflets obovate to linear-oblong. Flowers white, solitary; petals 0. Achenes silky with long plumose tails.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
12Ranunculus pubescens Thunb.
Herb. Stems erect 1-2 ft. high. Lowest pinnæ usually petiolulate, lobes 3-fid or 3-partite; uppermost leaves sessile, 3-fid or rarely entire. Petals 5, yellow.
Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra, 6,000 to 9,000 ft. Kulme).
13Nigella sativa Linn.
Erect herb. Sepals petaloid, blue; carpels connected together in the middle, diverging above into 5 points.
Darfur Prov. (Melit & Jebel Marra, 6,500 ft.).
CERATOPHYLLACEÆ.
14Ceratophyllum demersum Linn.
Sea-weed-like aquatic herb with verticils of 2-fid or dichotomously divided and toothed leaves. Flowers axillary, monœcious, minute.
Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov. (several places); Sobat River; Bahr El Jebel (Mouth); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (above the mouth of the Jur River, etc.).
C. spp.
White Nile Prov.; Sobat River; Bahr El Ghazal Prov.; Bahr El Jebel.
NYMPHÆACEÆ (Water lilies).
15Nymphæa micrantha Guill. & Perr.
Aquatic herb with broadly ovate sagittate leaves and hairy bulbil at the apex of the petiole. Flowers about 2½ in. long. Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Kulongo).
N. nubica Lehm.
Aquatic herb with large almost orbicular peltate leaves with undulate margins. Flowers about 4 in. long.
Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol).
N. cærulea Savign. SUTEIB—Arab; TWAL—Nuer.
Aquatic herb. Leaves ovate-orbicular, very deeply cordate at the base, glabrous, about 5 in. long. Flowers 2½ in. long, bluish. Sepals lanceolate, subacute, lined with red.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Mittu-land: between Reggo & Kiro).
var. Schweinfurthiana Gilg & Muschl.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Meshra El Rek, near Nuer villages).
var. Rehneltiana Gilg & Muschl.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land: Jur Ghattas & Aggadi, & Bongo-land; Balu Stream near Sabbi, Shambé); Upper White Nile Prov. (Tonga); Darfur Prov. (Zalingei); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
N. cf. N. cærulea Sav.
As preceding, but leaves more widely cordate and with undulate margins and inconspicuous nerves.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
N. Lotus Linn. SUTEIB—Arab; RUNGAIME—Zande.
Leaves shortly peltate and deeply cordate at the base, coarsely toothed and nervose below, shortly pubescent; flowers yellowish; stamens not produced into an appendage beyond the anther cells.
White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land, Addai, Mittu-land, Niamniam-land, Kero, Lake No).
The powdered root is used for piles, dysentery, and dyspepsia; the seeds are used in skin diseases, leprosy, etc.
MENISPERMACEÆ.
16Tinospora Bakis Miers. ERG EL HAGGAR (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
Woody climber with thick fleshy bark. Leaves cordate, entire, glabrous. Racemes axillary or at end of lateral shoots. Flowers small diœcious, solitary or fascicled in the axils of minute bracts.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Kordofan Prov. (Wadi El Ain, J. Kōn, J. Tellele, Daragaza).
17Desmonema mucronulatum Eng.
Climber. Leaves rhomboid sub-cordate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: J. Baginze).
18Chasmanthera dependens Hochst.
Climber. Leaves rotundate ovate, more or less lobed; inflor. in pendent racemes.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dinka-land: Lau, Jur-land: Wau, & Kutshuk Ali).
19Cocculus Leæba DC. ZEGAI or ZEGAIN (Kordn.)—Arab.
Woody climber with red berries. Leaves alternate, oblong, ½ to 1 in. long. Flowers green, diœcious, small. Male flowers in axillary panicles; sepals, petals and stamens 6 respectively. Female flower solitary or in pairs on axillary peduncles; style 3-armed.
Red Sea Prov. (Port Sudan to Soturba); Berber Prov. (Atbara); Blue Nile Prov. (Abu Haraz); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov.
Used in native medicine in various parts of the world for intermittent fevers. It contains two alkaloids and is similar to the official Pareira Brava in properties.
C. Holopeira-torrida Miers. GUMALI (Fung)—Arab; LELINGA—Bari.
Pubescent, woody climber. Leaves sometimes very variable, from hastate-lanceolate to deltoid rotundate, or hastately 3-7 lobed. Male flowers fascicled, sessile or nearly so. Female flowers fascicled or solitary, subsessile.
Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (Bahr El Jebel: Bor Mission, Malik).
In Dar-Fung the pounded stem is given with Durra to donkeys for cough.
20Cissampelos Pareira Linn. DERE—Golo.
Climber with reniform-cordate leaves. Flowers diœcious. Male flowers in axillary, usually branched racemes, tetramerous; petals connate into a 4-lobed cup; stamens monadelphous. Female flowers in long, usually simple racemes, with numerous broad foliaceous bracts.
Fung, & Bahr El Ghazal Provinces.
The Golo women wear the plant round their necks to bring luck. In India it is used as a mild tonic and diuretic.
C. mucronata A. Rich.
Climber with broadly ovate leaves widely cordate at the base and a little peltate, laxly pubescent below. Male flowers in rather short cymes.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli & Jongol’s Post).
C. rigidifolia Eng.
Climber with very broadly ovate peltate leaves about 3 in. long, softly tomentose below; male flowers in long slender racemes of umbels.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Ibba River, near Nganye, Nabambisso River in Niamniam-land).
21Stephania abyssinica Rich.
Wiry climber with small broadly ovate leaves peltate and rounded at the base, glaucous and strongly reticulate, glabrous; flowers small in axillary cymes.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
ARISTOLOCHIACEÆ.
22Aristolochia bracteata Retz. ABU- and UM-GALAGEL (or ABJALAJEL), ERG EL AKRAB (or AGRAB), UM GEREISAT—Arab; LEJIR (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka; KĀWKAWL (J. Eliri)—Nuba.
Trailing, glaucous herb, glabrous except inside the perianth. Leaves alt., ovate-subcordate, ¾ in.-2 in. long, crenulate-undulate. Flowers solitary, axillary; bracts cordate, about ½ in. long; per. tube green, yellow inside, with short reflexed hair, dilated and globose at base, tubular above, about ½ in. long; limb maroon-coloured, unilateral, ligulate, 1 in. long; st. 6; styles 6. Caps. subglobose, about ½ in. diam.
Red Sea Prov. (Suakin, Sinkat, J. Waratab); Kassala Prov. (Goz Regeb); Khartoum Prov.; White Nile Prov. (Wad Shallai, Salati, J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Taiara to J. Eliri); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel.
The whole plant is very bitter and is said to have anthelmentic and purgative properties. A portion made of pounded roots and water is used to calm abdominal pains. The leaves and roots are also used as a cure for boils and guinea-worm. It is believed to be an antidote to snake-poison and scorpion bites; the Sudanese wear the plant as a charm to avert scorpion stings, and also rub the charred roots on the site of the sting.
A. bongoensis Engl.
Glaucous twining herb. Leaves cordate, obtuse about 1½ in. long and wide; basal nerves about 8; pet. 1 in. long. Infl. elongated; bracts cordate-ovate, amplexicaul. Flowers not known. Caps. obovoid, about 2 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: near Sabbi).
23Pararistolochia triactina Hutch. & J. M. Dalz.
Aristolochia triactina Hook. f.
Woody climber; stem smooth, shining. Leaves deeply cordate, entire to 3- or obscurely 5-lobed, ¾ in. long and wide; pet. 1-4 in. long. Flowers in short axillary racemes; per.: lower part obliquely ovoid, 1½ in. long, tube curved, 2 in. long, ½ in. diam., ciliate at throat, lobes 3, sub-equal, patent, triangular-caudate, 2 in. long, anthers and stigmas 10. Fruit about 1 ft. long and 1½ in. diam.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
HYDNORACEÆ.
24Hydnora sp. TARTŪS—Arab.
Parasitic, fungus-like plant with a fleshy, warted, subterranean rhizome. Flowers large evil-smelling.
Kassala, Blue Nile & Fung Provinces.
Parasitic on roots of Acacia sp. The rhizomes contain a large percentage of tannin and are used medicinally as an astringent in dysentery and also for tanning skins.
PIPERACEÆ.
25Piper umbellatum Linn.
Erect shrub, 4-5 ft. high; branches jointed at the nodes. Leaves reniform, 3-12 in. across, cuspidate, deeply cordate, basal nerves 11-13; pet. sheathing at base. Umbels of 2-7 spikes on short axillary peduncles. Flowers minute 2-sexual; per. 0; stamens about 3; stigmas 3; fr. trigonous; bracts suborbicular, ciliate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: near Nakofo River).
P. guineense Schum. & Thonn.
Stout woody creeper, climbing by means of densely hairy adventitious rootlets. Leaves ovate, acuminate, cordate to cuneate, 4-5 in. long, glabrous except under the nerves; petals up to ¾ in. Spikes solitary, leaf-opposed, in fruit up to 4 in. long; bracts rotundate, peltate; per. 0; stigmas 3. Fr. globose, mucronate, about ⅙ in. diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit: Deim Guju, Niamniam-land: Rivers Boddo, Atasilli & Kalensho).
P. capense Linn. f. ADURAKA—Zande.
Erect or climbing shrub; branches swollen at the nodes. Leaves ovate, shortly acuminate, about 4 in. long, base cordate or rounded, pellucid-dotted, 5-7 nerved, villous beneath on nerves; petals about 1 in. long. Catkins at end of short lateral branches appearing to spring from middle of petiole, about 2 in. long; peduncles about ¾ in. long; bracts peltate; per. 0; stamens 2-3, anther-cells with wide connective stigmas 2, recurved. Fr. obtuse, compressed, sessile.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
26Peperomia knoblecheriana Schott.
Succulent glabrous annual, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves, except 2 lowest, alternate, rotundate-ovate, ⅛ in. long, subcordate. Spikes solitary and terminal, lax, ¼ in. long; flowers 8-12; per. 0; stamens 2. Berry subglobose, minute, blackish.
Banks of the Bahr El Jebel (5°-7° Lat. N.).
PAPAVERACEÆ.
27Argemone mexicana Linn.
Herb; leaves prickly; flowers yellow. Capsule with 4-7 placentas, dehiscing at apex into short valves.
Red Sea Prov.; Khartoum Prov.
Introduced.
The seeds are acrid and possess emetic and cathartic properties, they are poisonous in large doses. They yield an oil which has been suggested for use in soap-making and as an illuminant, and which has been classed as a drying oil.
FUMARIACEÆ.
28Fumaria officinalis Linn.
Pale, weak annual, with white, rose or purple flowers. Leaves much divided.
White Nile Prov. (probably introduced).
TURNERACEÆ.
29Wormskioldia lobata Urban.
Herb, 18 in.; stems not bristly. Flowers dilute yellow. Petals clawed. Stamens 5, unequal. Capsule linear, almost moniliform. Seeds pitted.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Bahr El Jebel).
W. pilosa Schwfth.—W. heterophylla Sch. & Thonn.
Stout herb; stems with numerous purplish bristles. Leaves alternate, 4-5 in. long, lanceolate, toothed or pinnately lobed. Peduncles axillary, about 5-flowered. Flowers yellow. Petals clawed. Stamens 5, unequal. Capsule moniliform.