Tas. 6804. 
DIOSCOREA CRINITA. 
Native of Natal. 
Nat. Ord. DioscorgacrZ. 
Genus Dioscorga, Linn. ; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gea. Pi. vol. iii. p. 742.) 
Dioscorra crinita; tota molliter pubescens v. puberula, ramulis gracillimis 
teretiusculis, foliis longe petiolatis 5-foliolatis, foliolis petiolulatis elliptico- 
lanceolatis oblongis v. oblanceolatis obtusis v. acutis apice longe cuspidatis 
integerrimis vy. margine sinuatis, racemis axillaribus solitariis v. fasciculatis v. 
ad apices ramulorum subpaniculatis breviter pedunculatis gracilibus niveis 
villosis bracteis imbricatis stipitatis ovatis concavis apicibus acuminatis 
elongatis recurvis, fl. ¢ sepalis ovatis subacutis 3 exterioribus villosis 3 
interioribus glabris, filamentis brevibus, antheris sepalis exterioribus oppositis 
didymis connectivo dorso carunculato cum staminodiis trulliformibus sepalis 
interioribus oppositis alternantibus, pistilli rudimento subclavato, fl. 2 ovario 
ellipsoideo tomentoso, sepalis 6 minutis obtusis, staminodiis minimis, stigmatibus 
3 brevibus recurvis. 
As trained on a balloon trellis, this forms one of the 
most elegant conceivable pot-plants, from its delicate pale- 
green translucent foliage and copious snow-white pendulous 
racemes. Itisanative of Natal, where it was first collected 
by the late W. T. Gerrard, and is the No. 445 of his 
distributed collection. It has also been received from Mr. 
J. M. Wood, now Superintendent of the Natal Botanical 
Gardens, who collected it in the bush at Umhloti, flowering 
in February, 1882. It has two closely allied South African 
neighbours, J). retusa, Masters (in Gard. Chron. 1870, 
p. 1149, fig. 217), from the country west of Natal, which 
has broader retuse leaves, and much smaller male bracts 
and flowers, and D. Forbesti, Baker, of Delagoa Bay, which 
has similar bracts, but sessile leaflets. 
For the plant here figured the Royal Gardens are 
indebted to Mrs. Eliza Steane, of New House Park, Rick- 
mansworth, Herts, who sent it in full flower and great 
beauty, September, 1884. The female flowers here figured 
are from the Herbarium specimens; the fruit is unknown. 
MancH Ist, 1885. 
