994 ASCLEPIADE (Brown). [ Stapelia. 
Stapelia variegata is the oldest known member of the tribe Stapeliew and would 
appear to have been introduced into cultivation in Holland about 1640, since the 
first mention of the plant I can find is in Stapel’s edition of Theophrastus Historia 
Plantarum, 1644. 
The type specimen of S. variegata in Linneus’ Herbarium consists of a well- 
preserved flower of the particular form of this variable species described above, 
the inner corona-lobes have been removed from the specimen, but the outer 
(which afford one of the chief characteristics of this form) are well preserved. It 
is the plant figured by Jacquin as S. normalis, and the same as the type specimen 
of Orbea woodfordiana, Haw., in Haworth’s Herbarium at Oxford. On Linneeus’ 
specimen the spots on the corolla-lobes are arranged in longitudinal rows exactly 
as figured by Jacquin. On Haworth’s they are rather indistinct, but seem more 
scattered, this variation, however, I have seen on different flowers produced by the 
same plant. 
In its flowers S. variegata is extremely variable, the stems of the various 
forms being very similar and often indistinguishable. The flowers vary in 
the shape of the mature (but not young) bud, coloration, ciliation of the lobes, 
flatness of the disk, shape of the annulus, form and toothing of the outer corona- 
lobes, and length and direction of the outer horn of the inner corona-lobes. 
Upon the various combinations of these characters, numerous forms have been 
described and cultivated as distinct species. But some of these supposed specific 
characters vary in different flowers produced by the same individual, sometimes 
in the same, at others in different years. As distinct varieties are often crossed 
by insect agency, innumerable variations have thus arisen in their native habitat 
and in European gardens. Until recently I had supposed that most of these 
different forms were local variations or races, and that only one form grew in the 
vicinity of Cape Town, but I am informed by Mr. Pillans that several forms often 
grow intermingled within quite a limited area—for example, he states that he 
‘gathered 17 different variations of S. variegata on Robben Island in an area of 
80 by 100 yards. All these had distinct coronal and colour distinctions. Above 
Cape Town [on Table Mountain] there are quite as many, and on the Lion’s 
Rump rather fewer, I think.” 
For those forms which have been fully described and figured as distinct species 
I here give a synoptic key and enumerate their distinctive characters, but many 
variations of them merge into one another. Besides these, there are a large number 
of forms, distinct from any described, growing wild, which have not received 
names, but I refrain from describing these (except in 2 cases), because they are 
merely hybrid forms. In the Monatsschrift fir Kakteenkunde, vi. 35-43, Dr. Rist 
has published a synoptic key to 58 species and 27 varieties of the group to which 
S. variegata belongs. The characters given in the key are unfortunately quite 
inadequate for identification and there are no descriptions, but Dr. Rust has 
very kindly lent to me his admirable drawings of all the forms he has enumerated. 
With the exception of S. Barklyi and S. namaquensis and its two varieties, all 
are forms of the different varieties of S. variegata described below or of 
S. mutabilis or hybrids between these and other forms, which have been raised 
in Europe, most of them in the nursery of Messrs. Dammann & Co. at Naples. 
Some are arranged among the varieties here recognised and the remainder 1m 
alphabetical order at the end, as I have not seen specimens. All the forms 
enumerated in the key have the margin of the annulus very spreading or recurved 
except in 72, S. albicans, in which it is only slightly recurved. 
Corolla entirely blackish-purple or very dark purple- 
brown with a few irregular transverse, winding or 
longitudinal yellowish lines and spots producing a 
Corolla 13-2 in, in diam, ; inner corona-lobes with the = 
outer horn not more than half as long as the inner ( p ) marmorata. 
