NEW CAFFRARIAN PLANTS. 39 



the segments of the limb are ovate-ohtuse, erectish, the three inner 

 slightly recurved, the three outer shorter, their apices incurved. 

 The stamens are unequal and included. The figure referred to, 

 having been drawn from a specimen which blossomed during 

 winter and under cover, does not do justice to the colour which is 

 acquired at a more favourable season. 



Hypoxia Rooperii. * — Found by Captain Rooper, near the mouth 

 of the Buffalo river in Caffraria, and introduced in October, 1848. 

 It is a very brilliant plant ; but as it produces no side-shoots, nor 

 as yet has shown much disposition to ripen seeds, it is feared 

 that it can never become so common as its merits deserve. It 

 continues in blossom from March until August ; and, during that 

 period, under the influence of sunshine, is seen glittering with its 

 golden stars. It has an erect short stout stem, from which the 

 long narrow leaves grow in three ranks, about four in each rank 

 being perfect at one time ; they are from nine to eighteen inches 

 long, an inch and a half broad, narrowed to the base where they 

 embrace the stems, the apex being drawn out into a long taper 

 point ; on both sides are white stellate hairs, but those on the 

 upper are few and scattered, whilst those below are more dense, 

 and produce a hoary appearance. The scape is about a foot long, 

 and bears four to six flowers, each having a subulate membranous- 

 edged bract, shorter than its pedicel, which latter is about as long 

 as the perianth. The exterior surface of the perianth, as well as 

 the bracts and stalks, are shaggy, with long white hairs. The 

 flowers are green externally, clear bright yellow inside, about an 

 inch and a half in diameter when expanded ; the three outer 

 divisions ovate-lanceolate, entirely shaggy outside ; the three inner, 

 broader, more obtuse, and hairy only at the very base. This plant 

 would seem to be allied to H. stellipilis, but appears to be distinct 

 from it, and a much larger and more showy plant. 



Among other plants introduced from the same source, are the 

 Ipomcea palmata, and a fine rose-purple-flowered species, which 

 Mr. Henfrey identifies as the I. oblongata of E. Meyer. 



EXTRACT FROM MR. ROOPER's LETTER. 



" It is not, I believe, generally known, that the fruit of the 

 Cape Gooseberry (Physalis edulis), a very old inhabitant of our 



* Hypoxis Rooperii ; pilose ; leaves trifarious, elongate, recurved, 

 acutely keeled, narrowed below, tapering into a long point, with scattered 

 stellate hairs above, woolly beneath ; scape 4 — 6-flowered, much shorter 



