353 



CONTEIBUTIONS to SOUTH AFRICAN ASCLEPIADOLOGY. 



By R. Schlechter. 



. (Continued from p. 274.) 



DECAS IV. 



31. Secamone Gerrardi Harv. MSS. Frutex volubilis, glabra, 

 alte scandens ; ramis teretibus verruculosis, dense foliosis ; foliis 

 patentibus ovato-oblongis oblongisve subacutis vel breviter acumi- 

 natis, subcoriaceis, utrinque glabris, brevissime petiolatis, 2-5-4'5 

 cm. longis, medio 1-3-2-5 cm. latis ; floribus pro genere majoribus, 

 in cymis alternantibus extra-axillaribus, laxis, multifloris, folia 

 excedentibus, pedunculo pedicellisqiie glabris teretibus ; calycis 

 segmentis ovatis obtusissimis vel suborbicularibus glabris, margine 

 tantmii ciliatis ; corollfe lobis in tiibum subcylindricum ad medium 

 usque connatis, apicibus liberis patentibus oblongis obtusis glabris, 

 0"4 cm. longis, vix 0-2 cm. latis, calycem 4-plo superantibus, 

 fauce intus pilis reflexis ornatis ; coronaB foliolis dorse anthe- 

 rarum adnatis ligulatis carnosis, antheras dimidio excedentibus, 

 apice subinflexis ; antheris angustis marginibus cartilagineis 

 angustissimis, marginibus loculorum rotundatis, appendice sub- 

 hyalino minuto suborbiculari ; polliniis generis. 



Natal, Gerranl S McKen. Inter frutices scandens, Berea, prope 

 Durban, J. M. Wood, No. 4497. In silvis prope Komgha (Kaf- 

 frarige), alt. c. 2000 ped., Nov. 1893, H. G. Flanagan, No. 376. 

 In fruticetis prope flumen Kei River, alt. c. 2000 ped., 12 Jan. 

 1895, R. Schlechter, No. 6249. 



Although well known in South Africa under the above name, 

 this species has never been described, and the name only is men- 

 tioned in the Genera Plantarum ii. 746. It is the third South 

 African species of Secamone. The large and long-pedicellate flowers 

 distinguish it at once from both S. Thunhergii E. Mey. and 

 S.frutescens Dene. The two latter species are very widely spread 

 over South Africa, S. Thimhenjii being common in the western 

 regions as well as in the east, where it even occurs in the tropics ; 

 S. friitescens beginning about at George, and being pretty common 

 all through Kaffraria, Natal, and East Griqualand, and passing 

 also into the tropical regions of the Trausvaal. S. Gerrardi seems 

 to be confined to a small stretch of country along the coast from 

 East London to Zululand. 



The flowers are brownish outside, olive-green inside. 



32. Astephanus paucifloeus E, Mey. Com. PI. Afr. Aitstr. 

 (1838), p. 224. Frutex glaberrima, volubilis, alte scandens; ramis 

 gracillimis teretibus, remote foliatis ; foliis patentibus patulisve 

 subcoriaceis, lineari-lanceolatis vel lineari- oblongis acutis vel 

 brevissime acuminatis, utrinque glabris, 7-45 cm. longis, petiolo 

 brevi vix 0*2 cm. longo, medio 2-3 cm. latis ; floribus in umbellis 

 extra-axillaribus paucifloris (2-3) patulis, pedunculo pedicellisque 

 filiformibus tenuissime puberulis, foliis paulo brevioribus vel sub- 

 jequilougis ; calycis segmentis lanceolatis acutis tenue puberulis, 



Journal of Botany. — Vol. 33. [Dec. 1895.] 2 a 



