Tap. 6106. 
LESSERTIA perennans. 
Native of Natal. 
Nat. Ord. Lecuminosem.—Tribe GALEGE. 
Genus Lessertia, DC. ; (Benth. §& Hook. J. Gen. Pl., vol, i. p, 503). 
Lessertia perennans ; suffrutex, caulibus erectis virgatis valde striatis tenuiter 
puberulis, foliolis 7-10-jugis ellipticis elliptico-lanceolatisve utrinsecus 
sericeo-pubescentibus, racemis laxiusculis folia superantibus, floribus 
lilacinis, calycis lobis attenuatis, legumine stipitato compresso oblique 
elliptico mucronato glabro, seminibus 3-4. 
Lessertia perennans, DC. Prodr., vol. ii. p. 271; Harv. § Sond. Fl. Cap., 
vol. ii. p. 216. 
v 
All the species of the genus are natives of Southern Africa. 
The present one occurs in grassy places on the eastern side, 
from Albany to the Transvaal. The specimen figured was 
from a plant which flowered in the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 
July, 1873. | ; 
Duscr. Suffruticose with erect virgate strongly striate 
slightly pubescent fistular stems. Leaves imparipinnate, 
about two inches long, more or less silkily pubescent on 
both surfaces, and greyish, or rarely glabrate ; leaflets seven 
to ten pairs, very shortly petioluled, elliptic or elliptic- 
lanceolate, acute or mucronulate ; petiole about a quarter ol 
an inch long; stipules linear-falcate, membranous. Racemes 
rather lax, exceeding the leaves; peduncle one to three 
inches long. Pedicels rather longer than the flowers. /owers — 
@ quarter of an inch long, reddish-lilac or white. Calyx 
pubescent; teeth narrowly triangular, gradually attenuate. 
Legumes about three quarters of an inch long, obliquely 
elliptic or oblong-elliptic, very shortly stipitate, compressed, 
membranous, 3—4-seeded—W. 7. 7. D. 
Fig. 1, Leaflet; 2, flower; 3, do. petals removed; 4, standard; 5, wing; 
6, keel; 7, ovary :—ail magnified. 
_ JUNE Ist, 1874. 
