Plate 90.—Fig. 1, leaf; Fig. 1a, section of leaf; Fig. 2, spathe valve; Fig. 3, perianth from outside; Fig. 4, same from above; Fig. 5, section of flower; Fig. 6, stamen; Fig. 7, base of filament; Fig. 8, anther (front); Fig. 9, anther (back); Fig. 10, style; Fig. 11, inner valve.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.
Lachenalia, Jacq.; Benth. et Hook. f. vol. iii. p. 807.
Lachenalia Roodeae, Phillips, sp. nov.
Bulbus 2·5 cm. longus, 1·8 cm. latus. Folia 2, 7-14 cm. longa, basi 2-4 cm. lata, ovato-lanceolata, apice obtusa, aliquando mucronata, glabra. Pedunculus 2-3·5 cm. longus, c. 7 cm. latus. Inflorescentia spicata, 9-14 cm. longa. Bracteae c. 1 mm. longae, ovatae, apice obtusae. Pedicellus c. 1 mm. longus. Flos 1-1·2 cm. longus, campanulatus, basi obliquus; lobi exteriores 8 mm. longi, 4·75 mm. lati, oblongo-ovati, apice obtusi; lobi interiores 1 cm. longi, 4·5 mm. lati, oblongo-obovati, apice rotundi. Stamina exserta; filamenta 1·2 cm. longa; antherae 1·5 mm. longae, oblongae. Ovarium 3·5 mm. longum, 2·5 mm. latum, trigonum; stylus 1·1 cm. longus, teres; stigma minute 3-lobatum.
Van Rhynsdorp District: Van Rhynsdorp, Mrs. E. Rood in National Herbarium Pretoria, 1461.
This extremely fine species of Lachenalia was sent to the Division of Botany by Mrs. E. Rood of Van Rhynsdorp, who states that the plant is quite common there. It belongs to an endemic South African genus of about fifty species, and surpasses any other species known to us in the rich colouring of the flowers. It flowers during August and September, and should make a welcome addition to the bulb garden as one of the earlier flowering species. There has been some doubt about the identity of this plant, and we were inclined to regard it as L. carnosa, Baker, which was collected by Drège in Little Namaqualand. Mr. N. E. Brown, of Kew, very kindly examined the plate, and is of the opinion that it is not this species, and that nothing like it is in the Kew Herbarium. It, however, is very near L. carnosa, Baker, but may be distinguished from this species in the inner perianth segments being longer than the outer and in the far exserted stamens. This latter character is not constant, as we find after examining a large series of specimens that the length to which the stamens are exserted from the perianth depends on the age of the flower. The stamens are in more or less two unilateral rows, the lower three ripening before the upper three.
Description:—Bulb 2·5 cm. long, 1·8 cm. in diameter, ovoid, covered with black membranous tunics with many fibrous roots from the base. Leaves 2, erect-spreading, 7-14 cm. long, 2-4 cm. broad in the widest part; the outer leaf always larger than the inner leaf, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, sometimes mucronate, narrowed and clasping at the base, with reddish margins, glabrous. Peduncle 2-3·5 cm. long, about 7 mm. in diameter, partially hidden by the clasping leaf bases. Inflorescence a dense many-flowered spike, 9-14 cm. long; axis fleshy, up to 8 cm. in diameter at the base, narrowing upwards, with a number of facets, each facet bearing a flower at the base. Bracts about 1 mm. long, ovate, obtuse, forming a small pocket from which the flower arises. Flowers subsessile; pedicels about 1 mm. long. Perianth purplish, 1-1·2 cm. long, campanulate, oblique at the base; tube about 3 mm. long, about 5 mm. in diameter above; lobes of outer segments 8 mm. long, 4·75 mm. broad, oblong-ovate, obtuse, rostrate on the outer surface just beneath the apex; lobes of the inner segments 1 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad above, oblong-obovate, rounded above. Stamens exserted, attached to base of the perianth segments; filaments 1·2 cm. long, terete; anthers 1·5 mm. long, oblong. Ovary 3·5 mm. long, 2·5 mm. in diameter, oblong in outline, trigonous; style 1·1 cm. long, terete, stigma very faintly 3-lobed.
Plate 91.—Fig. 1, base of leaves; Fig. 2, axis of inflorescence showing the small cups in which the flowers are situated; Fig. 3, a single flower; Fig. 4, perianth laid open; Fig. 5, apices of outer perianth segments; Fig. 6, apex of an inner perianth segment. Fig. 7, stamens; Fig. 8, pistil.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Bruniaceae.
Brunia, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 671.
Brunia Stokoei, Phillips in Kew Bulletin, 1923, ined.
This is the first occasion upon which we have had an opportunity of figuring a member of the Natural Order Bruniaceae, which is one of the endemic South African families. The Bruniaceae comprise about fifty species, all confined to the south-western portion of the Cape Province. The genera Brunia and Berzelia often form a conspicuous feature in the landscape in some areas, the spherical heads of white flowers making the bushes noticeable amongst the surrounding vegetation.
The species figured here was collected in 1922 by Mr. T. P. Stokoe on the Hottentot Hollands Mountains near Hang Klip, and forwarded by him to the Division of Botany, Pretoria. Near the same locality Mr. Stokoe discovered another species of Brunia, which is undescribed. We do not know of either of these species having been previously collected, and the fact that undescribed and rare plants have recently been found on such a well-known mountain range as the Hottentot Hollands, proves that there must be a large area, within easy reach of Cape Town, which has not yet been thoroughly botanically explored.
Description:—Branches glabrous. Leaves spreading 7-8 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, trigonous, almost flat above with a raised mid-rib, keeled beneath, obtuse, tipped with a small black globose mucro, the angles of the leaves when viewed by transmitted light are pellucid, glabrous. Inflorescence a stalked globose head arranged in groups up the branches. Peduncles 2-3 cm. long, 5-7 mm. in diameter, surrounded by adpressed imbricated bracts 3 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse, keeled below, glabrous. Axis of inflorescence 1·2-1·5 cm. long, 7-9 mm. in diameter, more or less ovate in longitudinal section. Floral-bracts 7 mm. long, obovate-spathulate, subacuminate, tipped with a black mucro, bent almost at right angles above, densely villous on back in the middle third. Calyx of 4 sepals, 4·5 mm. long; 3 sepals narrow-linear, the fourth oblanceolate, all densely villous without. Petals 5·5 mm. long, ·75 mm. broad, linear, with one large middle lobe and two small or almost obsolete side lobes. Filaments 5 mm. long, terete; anthers 1·25 mm. long, linear. Ovary 2 mm. long, 1 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid, densely villous above, 2-celled, with a pendulous ovule in each cell; styles two, 4 mm. long, terete, free from the base; stigma simple (in some flowers examined there was only a single style). Immature fruit 3·5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid (National Herb. Pretoria 1668).
Plate 92.—Fig. 1, longitudinal section through head showing axis of the inflorescence; Fig. 2, floral bract; Fig. 3, a single flower; Fig. 4, a stamen; Fig. 5, longitudinal section of ovary showing the two cells and pendulous ovules.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Asclepiadaceae. Tribe Stapelieae.
Hoodia, Sweet.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 783.
Hoodia Bainii, Dyer in Bot. Mag. t. 6348; Fl. Cap. vol. iv. sect. i. p. 897.
This plant, although previously figured in botanical publications, has been thought worthy of another illustration, especially as the former figures are not generally available to cultivators of South African succulents.
The first species of this interesting genus was brought to the notice of botanists in 1874 by Sir Henry Barkly, who sent specimens to Kew, where it flowered the following year. Since then other species have come to light, and we now know of seven species of the genus occurring in the desert regions of the Cape Province and Namaqualand.
The specimen figured was collected by Mrs. D. van der Bijl, Kruidfontein, Fraserburg District, in 1921, and sent to the Division of Botany, where it flowered in September 1922. The plant sends up numerous stems 9-12 inches high, and on these flowers profusely. The flowers are martius yellow (Ridgway Colour Standards) in colour, with a dark corona standing out in sharp relief in the middle of the saucer-shaped corolla. Like many other members of this group of plants, the flowers have a disagreeable odour.
Description:—Plant 6-8 in. high in the specimens seen (12-15 in. according to Barkly), bushily branched; branches 1-1½ in. thick, with 12-15 tuberculate angles, glabrous, green, somewhat glaucous; tubercles tipped with a slender pale brown spine 3½-5 in. long; flowers 1-2 together, glabrous in all parts; pedicels ¼-½ in. long; sepals 2-2½ in. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate; corolla in bud hemispheric at the basal part, 5-winged above, truncate, with a short central point, when expanded 2½-3 in. in diameter, cup-shaped, about 1 in. deep, subtruncate at the margin with 5 subulate or awn-like points 1½-3 in. long, glabrous, smooth, not papillate on the central part, light yellow or pale buff, sometimes tinged with pinkish or very pale purple; tube obsolete, represented by a slight depression from which the blackish corona is exserted or its margins resting upon the rim, when dried contained in a very small cup; outer corona 1¾-2 in. in diameter, cupular, 5-lobed; lobes ¼-⅓ in. long, nearly 1 in. broad, emarginate; inner corona-lobes ⅖ in. long, oblong, obtuse, closely incumbent upon the backs of the anthers and not exceeding them, dorsally connected to the inflexed sinuses of the outer corona; follicles 4-5 in. long, 4-5 in. thick, terete-fusiform, tapering to a beak, glabrous, smooth; seeds 3-3½ in. long, 1½ in. broad, ovate, flat, with a slightly thickened margin, glabrous, smooth, light brown. Flora Capensis (National Herb. Pretoria 2592).
Plate 93.—Fig. 1, bud; Fig. 2, transverse section of stem; Fig. 3, corona; Fig. 4, pollinia.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Transvaal.
Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.
Tritonia, Ker.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 708.
Tritonia Mathewsiana, L. Bolus in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iii. p. 76.
This species, which belongs to one of the large South African genera of the iris family, differs from all genera of Iridaceae hitherto figured in this publication in having small brown spathe valves. The genus is represented in South Africa by over thirty species, mostly confined to the coastal region of the Cape Province, but with a few in Namaqualand, Natal, and the Transvaal. Tritonia lineata is the most widely distributed species of the genus, occurring in the Mossel Bay, Bathurst, Albany, Stockenstroom, and Somerset East Divisions, and extending into East Griqualand, Basutoland, and Natal.
The species here figured is a new record for the Transvaal, and was found by Mrs. H. M. Wood at Graskop, Pilgrim’s Rest. Plants were sent to the National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch, and flowered there during February of the years 1918-1921 (National Botanic Gardens, No. 542/16). An illustration was made from these specimens and kindly lent to us by the Curator of the Bolus Herbarium for reproduction.
Description:—An erect glabrous plant 1·5 mm. or more high. Leaves ascending or almost erect, 35 cm. long, 4 cm. broad, ensiform, with about 13 primary nerves; radical leaves about 4; cauline leaves about 10. Peduncle up to 15 cm. long clasped by the uppermost leaf which is reduced to 6 cm. long. Inflorescence racemose with the branches divaricate and the flowering axis flexuose, moderately dense with the flowers secund, at length perpendicular to the axis. Bracts 3-5 mm. long, oblong, acute, the younger herbaceous; bracteoles almost joined to their apices, acute, equalling the bracts. Perianth 3-3·5 cm. long; tube 1·8 cm. long, 1·5 mm. in diameter at the base, 5 mm. in diameter above, infundibuliform; segments at length spreading, ovate-oblong, obtuse; the outer 1·3 cm. long, 5 mm. broad; the inner 1·5 cm. long, 6 mm. broad; the uppermost 1·7 cm. long, 7 mm. broad. Stamens more or less curved; filaments 1·3 cm. long; anthers 5-7 mm. long. Style 2·3 cm. long; branches 5 mm. long. Capsule 8 mm. long, subglobose, obtusely 3-angled. Seeds many, 4 mm. long, subtriangular.
Plate 94.—Fig. 1, whole plant (reduced); Fig. 2, flower laid open; Fig. 3, fruit; Fig. 4, seed × 2.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Proteaceae. Tribe Proteeae.
Leucospermum, R. Br.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 170.
Leucospermum cordatum, Phillips in Kew Bulletin, 1923, ined.
Although the South African Proteaceae are usually conspicuous plants and have been recently monographed in the Flora Capensis, undescribed species continue to be discovered. This is the case with the plant here figured, which was collected in November 1922 by Mr. T. P. Stokoe near Kogel Bai, on the Hottentots Holland Mountains at an altitude of 2500 ft.
Mr. Stokoe describes it as a plant of straggling growth among loose stones and grass. We have previously figured a species of this genus (Plate 74), and readers are referred to the description there for the principal differences between the genera Protea and Leucospermum.
The decumbent habit of this species is also found in Leucospermum hypophyllum, but is not common in the family.
Our plate was prepared from fresh plants forwarded by Mr. Stokoe.
Description:—A decumbent plant with long trailing branches. Branches scantily pilose with long hairs. Leaves more or less horizontal or slightly reflexed, 3-5 cm. long, 1·8-2·2 cm. broad at the base, ovate, obtuse with a blunt callus, cordate at the base, pilose and shortly tomentose especially near the base, at length becoming glabrous. Heads solitary, very rarely 3-nate at the ends of the branches, 3-4 cm. in diameter, semiglobose. Peduncle 2 cm. long, covered with numerous barren bracts, tomentose. Bracts 5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, at the base, ovate, obtuse, sometimes reflexed, pilose outside, glabrous within, ciliate. Receptacle 7 mm. long, 5 mm. in diameter at the base, conical. Floral-bracts 1 cm. long, obovate, shortly awned, attenuate at the base, densely villous outside, glabrous within, ciliate. Perianth-tube 5 mm. long, tubular; lobes 9 mm. long, linear, long pilose; limb 3 mm. long, elliptic, subacuminate, sub-obtuse, pilose without. Anthers 2 mm. long, linear. Ovary 2·5 mm. long, ellipsoid, glabrous; style 1·7 cm. long, terete, glabrous; stigma 1·7 mm. long, conical, shortly subacuminate, swollen at the junction with the style (National Herb. Pretoria 2607).
Plate 95.—Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, flower showing perianth lobes; Fig. 3, floral bract; Fig. 4, style and stigma; Fig. 5, longitudinal section of receptacle.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal.
Liliaceae. Tribe Aloineae.
Aloe, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 776.
Aloe saponaria, Haw. Syn. 83; Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 312.
This Aloe, known as the common soap-aloe, was introduced into cultivation in Europe early in the eighteenth century, and it still retains its popularity. Three colour varieties are known: one with salmon-coloured flowers, one with red flowers, and one with pale lemon-yellow flowers. The inflorescence in all these varieties may be either simple or branched. The plants are common on the south and east coasts of South Africa.
The buds just before the flowers open are between 3 and 4 cm. long, and in about four days are completely open, and then a little over 4 cm. long. The stamens do not all ripen at the same time; two or three project and shed their pollen, being followed after a short interval by the remainder. While the stamens are dehiscing the style remains within the perianth and lengthens only after the pollen has been shed. It then projects beyond the perianth, which now begins to wither and close tightly round the style. While this is taking place the filaments contract by twisting and are drawn back into the perianth. The inclusion of the style during the dehiscence of the anthers and its subsequent projection ensures cross-pollination.
Our plate was prepared from specimens growing in the Aloe collection at the Division of Botany, Pretoria.
Description:—An acaulescent plant or with a short stem with a rosette of leaves. Leaves up to 20 cm. long, about 8 cm. broad, dark green with dark longitudinal marking on the upper surface, lighter green and faintly spotted beneath, acuminate, usually brown and withered at the tip, with spines on the margins; spines 8 mm. long, about 1·5 cm. apart and more or less at right angles to the leaf. Inflorescence ·3-·5 m. high, simple or branched. Peduncle terete with a few dry membranous acuminate bracts. Flowers in a contracted raceme. Floral bracts 1·5-2·5 cm. long, long-acuminate from an ovate-lanceolate base. Pedicels 2·5-4 cm. long, terete. Perianth-tube 3·3 cm. long, 9 mm. in diameter above, gradually narrowing below and dilated into a globose base; segments 1 cm. long, ·5 cm. broad, oblong, obtuse, slightly reflexed in the mature flower. Filaments in buds 2·4 cm. long, linear, in mature flowers lengthening to 3·5 cm. and becoming corrugated in the upper half. Ovary 8 mm. long, cylindric; style 2·5 cm. long, cylindric, lengthening in older flowers to 3·8 cm.; stigma simple (National Herb. Pretoria 2593).
Plate 96.—Fig. 1, perianth-lobes; Fig. 2, stamens; Fig. 3, pistil; Fig. 4, tip of style, much enlarged.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae.
Synnotia, Sweet.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 709.
Synnotia Metelerkampiae, L. Bolus in Annals Bolus Herb. vol. iii. p. 77.
The genus Synnotia is one of the endemic genera of the family Iridaceae, and has hitherto only been represented by two species. The species here figured is a new record for the genus in South Africa. On Plate 60 we figured a species of Sparaxis, and a comparison of that plate with the present one will show that the two genera Sparaxis and Synnotia are nearly related: the rootstock, inflorescence, and spathe valves are the same in both, but the former has regular flowers, while in the latter genus the flowers are irregular.
The species is found near Eendekuil in the Clanwilliam Division, and the original description was prepared from specimens flowering in the garden of Mrs. F. Metelerkamp. We are indebted to the Curator of the Bolus Herbarium for lending us the illustration from which the accompanying plate was prepared.
Description:—A glabrous herb, 16-25 cm. high. Corm 1·6 cm. long, 1·2 cm. in diameter, ovoid, with rigid tunics prominently nerved and with the nerves reticulated. Stem erect. Leaves 6-7 to each stem, 5-8 cm. long, 1-1·2 cm. broad, equitant, adscending, linear, obtuse, apiculate or acute, with inconspicuous nerves. Inflorescence racemose, laxly 9-12-flowered, with the flowers almost erect. Bracts clasping, about 2 cm. long, ovate; bracteoles united beyond the middle, setaceous-acuminate, almost equalling the bracts. Perianth-tube 4-4·5 cm. long, 1-2 mm. in diameter, oblique and expanding to 7 mm. in diameter above; segments unequal; the lower smaller than the upper; the outer segments 1·2 cm. long, 4-6 mm. broad, ovate-oblong, subacute; the inner segments subclawed, obtuse, and with obscurely undulate margins; the uppermost 1·4 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, ovate; the lower 5 mm. broad. Filaments 1·2 cm. long; anthers 3-5 mm. long, with purple pollen. Style 4·6 cm. long with spathulate branches 3 mm. long. Capsule 1·5 cm. long. Seeds many, 2 mm. in diameter, subglobose (Bolus Herb. Cape Town 16039).
Plate 97.—Fig. 1, flower laid open; Fig. 2, capsule; Fig. 3, seed × 4; Fig. 4, corm.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Transvaal.
Sapotaceae.
Chrysophyllum, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 653.
Chrysophyllum magalismontanum, Sond. in Linnaea, vol. xxiii. p. 72;
Fl. Cap. vol. iv. sect. 1, p. 437.
The genus Chrysophyllum is a small genus in South Africa, having only three representatives, two in Natal and one in the Transvaal. The species figured here is the common one in the Transvaal, being found all along the rocky outcrops of the Magaliesberg range and known as “stam vrucht,” because the fruits are borne on the old stems. The fruits, which are oval in shape, are somewhat larger than a cherry, and are used to make preserve. The plants flower in October and ripe fruits are formed in January. A milky juice characteristic of all the species in the Sapotaceae is present in the plant. A member of the order, Mimusops balata, Crueg, native of Guiana, yields a guttapercha (balata).
The specimens from which our illustration was made were gathered at Eloff’s Cutting near Pretoria by Mr. D. J. Fouche.
Description:—A bush. Youngest branchlets rufo-tomentose, at length becoming pubescent. Leaves petioled; blades 3-9 cm. long, 1·6-4·4 cm. broad, oblong-obovate or oblong, retuse at the apex, slightly narrowed at the base, dark green above, rufo-tomentose beneath on young leaves, becoming greyish tomentose on the older leaves; petiole 1 cm. long, pubescent. Flowers arising on the old wood. Pedicels 2 mm. long, rufo-tomentose. Sepals unequal 2·5-3 mm. long, 2-3·5 mm. broad, ovate, obtuse; the 3 outer longer than the 2 inner and densely rufo-tomentose. Corolla-tube 1 mm. long; lobes 2·5 mm. long, ovate, obtuse. Filaments 1·5-2 mm. long, terete, glabrous; anthers 1 mm. long, oblong in outline. Ovary 2 mm. in diameter, villous, gradually passing into the 1·5 mm. long style; stigma terminal, simple. Fruit 2·5 cm. long, 1·7 cm. in diameter, ellipsoid, dark-red when ripe (National Herb. Pretoria 2636).
Plate 98.—Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, portion of corolla and stamens; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, pistil; Fig. 5, seed.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Amaryllidaceae. Tribe Amarylleae.
Cyrtanthus, Ait.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 729.
Cyrtanthus helictus, Lehm. Delect. Sem. Hort. Hamburg. 1839, 7; Fl.
Cap. vol. vi. p. 226.
This species of Cyrtanthus belongs to the same group as the species figured on Plate 25 (C. sanguineus). The group is characterised by having a single flower or few flowers in each umbel. Our previous illustrations of Cyrtanthus should be compared with the above two and the present plate. C. helictus, which is an exceptionally graceful representative of the genus, has not been extensively collected by botanists, and we know of its occurrence in the Somerset East, Graaff Reinet, Fort Beaufort, and Queenstown Divisions only. It should certainly engage the attention of cultivators of South African plants, as it is well worthy of a place in the bulb garden.
Our illustration was made from specimens collected by Dr. E. P. Phillips near Fort Beaufort; these flowered at the Division of Botany in November 1922.
Description:—Bulb 2·7 cm. in diameter, globose, with papery tunics and thick wrinkled roots from the base. Leaves contemporary with the flowers, about 3 to each bulb, spirally twisted, 12 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad, linear, obtuse, narrowed to the base, glabrous. Peduncle arising at side of the leaves, 9 cm. long, but sometimes longer, terete, glabrous. Spathe valves 2·5 cm. long, acuminate from an ovate base, membranous. Flowers usually solitary. Pedicel 1·2 cm. long, terete, glabrous, shorter than the spathe-valves. Perianth-tube 3 cm. long, 2 mm. in diameter, and curved at the base, widening to 1·3 cm. in diameter at the throat; lobes 2 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, obovate, obtuse, or the outer segments bluntly apiculate with a pendulous appendage, 5-nerved. Stamens in 2 series: the lower with filaments 1·1 cm. long; the upper with filaments 8 mm. long, all filiform; anthers 3·5 mm. long, linear. Ovary 7 mm. long, ellipsoid, glabrous; style 5·5 cm. long; lobes 5 mm. long, linear (National Herb. Pretoria 2634).
Plate 99.—Fig. 1, perianth laid open; Fig. 2, perianth lobes; Fig. 3, upper portion of style.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Cape Province.
Proteaceae. Tribe Proteeae.
Protea, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 169.
Protea Stokoei, Phillips, sp. nov. a P. speciosa, Linn., aristis calycis subequalibus, et pilis apice bractearum brevioribus differt.
Rami glabri. Folia 7-9 cm. longa, 3-4 cm. lata, obovata vel obovato-oblonga, glabra. Capitulum sessile, 10-11 cm. longum, 5·5 cm. latum. Involucri bracteae 9-10-seriatae; exteriores 1·5-2 cm. longae, ovato-oblongae, apice rotundatae, dense pubescentes, apice barbatae; interiores 9 cm. longae, 2·5 cm. latae, spathulatae, sericeo-pubescentes, infra glabrae, apice barbatae. Receptaculum 2 cm. longum, conicum. Perianthi tubus 5·5 cm. longus, basi dilatatus; laminae 1·2 cm. longae, villosae; apice triaristatae; aristae laterales 1·8 cm. longae, villosae, media 1·5 cm. longa. Stamina 8 mm. longa, linearia, apice glandibus linearibus instructa. Ovarium pilis longis vestitum; stylus 6 cm. longus; stigma 6 mm. longum.
This species of Protea was collected early in 1921 by Mr. T. P. Stokoe. At the time there was some doubt about its identity, and it was provisionally placed under P. speciosa. Recently we received more and better material from the same collector, and have no hesitation in describing it as a species allied to P. speciosa. It differs from this species in having shorter tufts of hairs at the apices of the involucral bracts and the awns of the perianth are much longer and subequal. The species belongs to a section of the genus Speciosae, which is characterised by having the inner involucral bracts fringed with long hairs or bearded. A comparison should be made with Plates 22, 76 and 84, which illustrate examples of other sections of the genus.
The first specimens collected by Mr. Stokoe came from an isolated krantz on a peak directly opposite Kogelberg on the land side, and subsequently he found specimens also on high peaks facing Kogelberg, but on the seaward side. It probably does not occur lower than an altitude of 3000 ft. The plant is a spreading bush about 6 ft. high (not so compact as P. speciosa), and grows with such moisture-loving plants as Mimetes hottentotica and M. splendens. The young leaves have a fringe of longish white hairs.
Description:—Branches glabrous. Leaves 7-9 cm. long, 3-4 cm. broad, obovate, obovate-oblong, more rarely elliptic-lanceolate, rounded and slightly emarginate at the apex, slightly narrowed to the base, leathery, with reddish margins, quite glabrous. Head sessile, 10-11 cm. long, 5·5 cm. in diameter. Involucral bracts 9-10-seriate; the outermost 1·5-2 cm. long, ovate-oblong, rounded at the apex, densely silky pubescent, ciliate with white hairs with a small tuft of brown hairs at the apex; the innermost 9 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad above, spathulate, silky pubescent, except at the base, with a fringe of dark-brown hairs at the apex about 3 mm. long. Receptacle 2 cm. long, conical. Perianth-sheath 5·5 cm. long, dilated and 3-keeled below, glabrous; lip 1·2 cm. long, shortly but densely villous, 3-awned; lateral awns 1·8 cm. long, linear, acuminate, shortly but densely villous, tipped with a few brown hairs; median awn 1·5 cm. long, otherwise similar. Stamens all fertile; anthers 8 mm. long, linear, with a pink linear apical gland. Ovary covered with long, golden-brown hairs; style 6 cm. long, subterete, slightly curved, very sparsely pilose below; stigma 6 mm. long, linear; scarcely bent at junction with style (Type in National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2632).
Plate 100.—Fig. 1, receptacle; Fig. 2, complete flower; Fig. 3, lamina showing the three awns and stamens; Fig. 4, pistil; Fig. 5, apex of style and stigma.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
Transvaal.
Sapindaceae. Tribe Meliantheae.
Greyia, Hook. et Harv.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 1000.
Greyia Radlkoferi, Szyszy. Pl. Rehmann. vol. ii. p. 49 (1880).
An extremely ornamental shrub found in the eastern Transvaal, where it has been recorded from Waterval Onder, ’Thlatikulu and Barberton. The plant does quite well at Pretoria, where specimens have been planted on Meintjes Kop behind the Union Buildings.
The genus Greyia, which contains only three known species, was named in honour of Sir George Grey, K.C.B. In South Africa it has a very limited distribution, and is interesting botanically, as there are still some doubts as to its affinities.
In the Transvaal the plant flowers from July to October, the young leaves appearing at the same time as the scarlet flowers. The flowers are proterandrous, i. e., the pollen is shed before the pistil has quite matured, and this makes self-pollination almost impossible.
The Cape species, Greyia Sutherlandi, is commonly known as “Baakhout” or “Wild bottlebrush,” so that our plant might be appropriately named the “Transvaal Baakhout.” The material from which our illustration was made was gathered by Miss S. Gower on Meintjes Kop, Pretoria.
For a roller account of this interesting genus the reader is referred to a paper by Dr. S. Schonland in the Records of the Albany Museum, vol. iii. p. 40.
Description:—A shrub 2-5 m. high. Branches with light-brown bark, glabrous. Leaves at the apex of the branches at the side of the flowers; blade 3·5-12 cm. long, ovate, subacute, cordate at the base, with lobed margins, sparsely pilose above with curled hairs, white-tomentose beneath; petioles 2-10 cm. long, terete, glandular-pilose. Inflorescence of many inverted scarlet flowers. Bracts 7 mm. long, boat-shaped, glandular-pilose. Pedicels 7 mm. long, terete, glandular-pilose. Calyx-tube 2 mm. long; lobes 5 mm. long, oblong, shortly apiculate, sparsely glandular-pilose. Petals not all equal, 2-2·3 cm. long, almost 1 cm. broad, oblong-obovate, usually rounded at the apex, more rarely emarginate. Stamens usually 10, sometimes 8, in two whorls; filaments 2·7 cm. long, terete; anthers 1·5 mm. long, ovate. Disc cupular below with 10 or 8 arms from the rim of the cup, each arm has a peltate disc. Ovary about 1 cm. long, terete; style 1·8 cm. long, terete; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2635.)
Plate 101.—Fig. 1, leaf; 2, flower with petals removed showing disc; 3, ground plan of flower; 4, sepal; 5, petal; 6, anthers front and side view; 7, stamen; 8, pistil; 9, section through the ovary.
F.P.S.A., 1923.