1731 
* STAPELIA Gussoneâna. 
Sicilian. Stapelia. 
PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. ASCLEPIADEm. (Introduction to the Natural System of 
Botany, p. 210.) 
STAPELIA. Supra, vol. 9, fol. 755. 
S. Gussoneana ; caulibus cinereo-glaucis:crassis tetraquetris faciebus concavis, 
angulis dentatis inermibus, floribus fascieulatis parvis, corollis glabris. 
S. Gussoneana. Jacquin. 
One of the greatest geographical curiosities we know. 
The genus Stapelia, extensive as it is in species, does not 
possess one other which is not found in South Africa ; so that 
this, which is a native of rocks on the south of Sicily, is cut - 
off, as far as we know, from all the remainder of the genus, 
by the whole continent of Africa. Are we to infer from 
this that Central Africa contains Stapelias in its unknown 
Flora? or isthis a northern form, having no connection 
with the Hottentot races except in general structure?  Per- 
haps we shall be justified in assuming the former to be the 
more probable theory, if we take into consideration that 
Forskahl found a plant without flower, which he took for a 
Stapelia, in Arabia; and that Carallumas, which are alto- 
_ gether Stapelias in habit, are found in Continental India. 
The species was first made known by Baron von Jacquin 
at the meeting of Naturalists at Vienna in 1832, and we 
presume that he has since published it somewhere under the 
name he then gaveit. Mr. Bentham brought it to England 
with him, and gave it to the Garden of the Horticultural 
Society, where our drawing was made last October. 
* See folio 755. 
