Tas. 6315. 
CEROPEGIA sarkteyt. 
Native of South Africa. 
Nat. Ord. AscterIaDEZ—Tribe CERoPEGIE®, 
Genus Crnoprcis, Linn. (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant), v. ii. p. 779.) 
Cenorecia Barkleyi ; rhizomate tuberoso, caule gracili ascendente simpliciusculo 
glabro v. pilosulo, foliis sessilibus ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis carnosis, pe- 
dunculis axillaribus gracilibus paucifloris, floribus 2-pollicaribus, pedicellis 
apice incrassatis, calycis segmentis acicularibus, corolle tubo curvo basi 
globoso dein anguste infundibuliformi, ore dilatato, limbi lobis tubo fere 
sequilongis e basi triangulari filiformibus erectis medio pilosis apicibus hori- 
zontaliter incurvis connatis. 
This is one of many undescribed species of Ceropegia which 
seem to abound in the dry regions of South Africa. ‘These 
probably form a conspicuous feature in the flora of regions 
that are all but desert during a considerable portion of the year, 
to meet the exigences of which they are provided, some with 
tuberous rhizomes, others with very succulent leaves, 
whilst others still have fleshy leafless stems. They differ too 
remarkably in the structure of the corolla lobes; in the 
majority of them these are as in the present species slender, 
erect; spread first outwards and then inwards, finally meeting 
and cohering by their tips as in most extra-African species ; 
in others they dilate much at the tip, and cohering by broad 
expansions, form a sort of parachute over the mouth of the 
corolla, as in 0. Sandersoni, Tab. 5792, whilst in still others 
the lobes are free, clawed, and hang down loosely from the 
throat of the corolla, as in @. Sororia, (tab. 5578) and ©. 
Bowkeri, (tab. 5407). It would be an interesting study for 
some South Africa naturalist to ascertain the significance of 
these three types of corolla, which in all probability represent 
as many modes of fertilization by insect agency. _ Ceropegia 
Barkley’ flowered at the Royal Gardens, Kew, in May of 
the present year, from tubers sent toH. E. Sir Henry Barkly, 
K.C.B., (late Governor of the Cape Colony), from the 
Aucust lst, 1877. 
