1022 ASCLEPIADE (Brown). [Piaranthus. 
subquadrate crest, truncate and denticulate-tuberculate on the top, 
deep orange-yellow, with the margins, the raised lines on the back 
and the tubercles of the crest all dark purple-brown, odour very 
strong, carrion-like, penetrating and perceptible at a short distance 
from the plant. 
Var. 8, multipunctatus (N. E. Br.); corolla-lobes marked all over with small 
rounded dark purplish-crimson dots, otherwise as in the type. 
Var. y, pallidus (N. E. Br.); corolla-lobes pale purple with creamy-white 
transverse lines and spots on the basal two-thirds, otherwise as in the type. 
Var. 6, purpureus (N. E. Br.); corolla-lobes bright deep purplish-crimson, 
with faint dull yellow transverse markings on the basal half, otherwise as in the 
type. 
Var. e, diversus (N. E. Br.) ; corolla-lobes dark purplish-crimson, with creamy- 
yellow transverse lines and spots on the basal two-thirds ; pubescence on the 
lower two-thirds of the lobes consisting of short greyish hairs and on the apical 
part of much longer dark purple simple and slightly clavate hairs mixed ; 
otherwise as in the type. 
Coast Recion: Bedford Div. ; nine miles east-south-east of Bedford, Pillans, 
165! Var. 8: from the same locality growing with the type, Pillans, 185! 
CentRaL Reaion: Graaff Reinet Div.; ‘‘ Wheatlands,” Pillans, 697! 699! 
near Graaff Reinet, cultivated specimen! Var. 8B: Graaff Reinet Div. ; ‘* Wheat- 
lands,” Pillans, 695! Vars. y toe: Graaff Reinet Div. ; western aspects across 
the Sundays River, east of Graaff Reinet; var. y, Pillans, 111! var. 5, Pillans, 
690! ‘‘ Wheatlands,” Pillans, 698! var. e, Pillans, 142! 
in Ree@ion : Griqualand West ; Griquatown, Thompson in Herb, Pillans, 
This species is very variable in coloration, the above being some of the chief 
variations, 
~ The type is described from a living plant which flowered with me in 1878, sent 
to Kew by Dr. Bolus. 
8. P. pulcher (N. E. Br.); stems tufted, }—1 in. (or more?) long, 
3-—} in. thick, subglobose or oblong, obtusely 4-angled, with small 
tubercle-like teeth, glabrous, greyish-green or somewhat glaucous ; 
flowers 1-4 (often 2) together, near the middle or tips of the stems ; 
pedicels erect, 3-6 lin. long, stout, thickened upwards, glabrous ; 
sepals 2 lin. long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous ; corolla 
subrotate, without a distinct tube, 3 in. in diam., glabrous and dull 
greenish-brown on the back, inner face velvety-pubescent with 
white and purple hairs, bright clear greenish-yellow, marked all 
over with small rounded dark purple-brown spots; lobes not 
spreading horizontally, 44-5 lin. long, 2 lin. broad at the base, 
thence tapering in a nearly straight line to the apex, with revolute 
margins ; corona-lobes 1 lin. or rather more in length, linear- 
subulate, incumbent on the backs of and much exceeding the 
anthers, with short subdenticulate acute connivent-erect tips, 
dorsally produced at the base into a quadrate crest, flat and 
papillate on the top, clear deep yellow, without markings. = 
_ Sours Avrica: without locality, but possibly from Colesberg Div., Shaw 
__-_Deseribed from a living plant sent to me by Dr. Shaw in 1876. 
