199 



THE PINKS OF THE TRANSVAAL. 



By F. N. Williams, F.L.S. 



The tbree new species described in this paper are from Nelson's 

 coUectioQ of Transvaal plants deposited in the Kew Herbarium, 

 and are dated August, 1880. They have been compared side by 

 side with all the Cape specimens of Dianthus in the Herbarium, 

 and appear to be distinct. This country has been but little 

 explored botanically ; and, as Dr. Harvey wrote in the preface to 

 the ' Flora Capeusis,' " from what we know of the plants of Trans- 

 vaal, especially of its mountains and high plateaux, this country 

 promises to the botanist the richest harvest yet ungathered in 

 South Africa." After examining the specimens from different 

 collectors, I have thought it well to record the three other species 

 which are found in the country. Like all the Cape species they 

 come under the subgenus Canjoplujllastnim.-'^ 



Section Fimbriatum. 

 Subsection ScJiistostulun. 



1. D. Zeyheri Sond. (Fl. Capensis i. 124).— Hb. Kew. no. 5015, 

 Dr. llehmann. Between Elands Biver and Klippan. 



2. D. mecistocalyx, n. sp. — Glaucous, 45-48 centim. Stems 

 terete, branching from the middle in dichotomous cymes. Leaves 

 elongate-liuear, acuminate, radical 66-G8 mm., patent, 7-nerved, 

 sheath twice as long as broad, caulme 25 mm., adpressed, 9-11- 

 nerved, sheath as long as broad. Flowers solitary, white. Bracts 

 4-6 obovate, lowest pair (of three) obovate- lanceolate, mucronate to 

 ^ length of calyx, adpressed. Calyx 36 mm., teeth lanceolate- 

 linear, acuminate, 9-nerved, edges scabrous. Capsule ovoid. — 

 No. 555, W. Xelson. 



Hab. Apies Biver, Pretoria district. 



Of Cape species nearest to D. Zei/heri, but the latter differs 

 from it in having angular branches, the stems dividing near the 

 top, in the lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate leaves, the narrow acumi- 

 nate bracts, and shorter calyx. From D. prustratm it differs still 

 more; and of extra African species is perhaps most like the Persian 

 IJ. Tfihrisicmus. 



3. D. moviensis, n. sp. — Glaucous, 25 centim. Stems terete, 

 dividing above mto strict dichotomous branches. Leaves 15 mm., 

 linear, acuminate, adpressed, 9-11 -nerved, sheath twice as long as 

 broad. Flowers solitary, loosely cymose, white. Bracts 6 obovate, 

 lowest pair obovate lanceolate, mucronate to ^ length of calyx, 

 adpressed. Calyx-teeth lanceolate, acuminate, 9-nerved. Petals 

 not contiguous, lamina obovate. Capsule ovoid. Seeds minutely 

 tuberculate. — No. 334, W. Nelson. 



Hab. Movi Biver. 



1). Zeyheri differs from it in its angular branches, broader 

 leaves, shorter leaf- sheath, narrow acuminate bracts, narrow calyx- 



* See Journ. of Bot. 1885, p. 342. 



