LXXX. ASCLEPIADE. QA 
and varied in aspect, but dull in colour.—There are several species, natives 
of the Eastern frontier and Natal. 
35. BRACHYSTELMA, R. Br. 
Calyx 5-parted. Corolla bell-shaped, with projecting or re- 
flexed sinuses ; limb 5-parted ; segments acuminate, spreading. 
Corona 5-leaved; folioles adnate to the middle of the gyno- 
stege, 3-lobed, short, the lobes opposite the anthers simple and 
longer, “furnished at base within with 2 more or less pilose 
teeth.” Gynostege included. Anthers not membrane-tipped. 
Pollinia erect, obliquely ovate, with a pellucid, subtruncate, 
oblique apex. Follicles in pairs, slender, smooth, erect, on 
a straight peduncle.—DC. Prod. viii. p. 646. 
Herbs with large tuberous turnip-shaped roots, opposite, pilose, broad- 
ish or narrow leaves, and solitary or 2-3-nate, interpetiolar, brown flowers. 
—Several species, some undescribed, all Eastern. 
36. DICH ALIA, Harv. 
Calyx 5-parted. Corolla bell-shaped, with projecting or 
reflexed sinuses ; limb 5-parted; segments taper-pointed (often 
linear-elongate), rarely panduriform, erect, mostly cohering 
by the tips, rarely free. Corona double ; the outer of 5 2-fid, 
2-dentate, or 2-parted, or of 10 simple, ligulate folioles 
adnate to the middle of the gynostege ; the inner of 5 simple, 
linear-oblong or spathulate folioles, opposite the anthers. 
Other characters as in Brachystelma.—Thes. Cap. t. 93. 
Herbs, with tuberous roots, etc., as in Brachystelma; from which this 
genus differs in the structure of its corona, and very generally by the co- 
hering tips of the corolla-lobes. D. Gerrardi and another unpublished 
species from Natal want this character, and differ slightly from the rest 
in habit.—There are several species. 
37. MACROPETALUM, Burch. mss. 
Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-parted, the segments narrow- 
linear, very slender, reflexed. Corona 5-parted ; folioles acu- 
minate, attenuate, overtopping the erect gynostege, sagittate- 
eared at base, the ears rounded. Anthers tipped with a small 
membrane. Pollinia erect, subobovate, on one side and below 
with the margin pellucid, affixed to a small corpuscle. Stigma 
conoid, scarcely overtopping the stamens, 5-angled at base. 
Follicles erect, slender, the adult coalescing below, free above, 
glabrous.—DC. Prod. viii. p. 626. 
M. Burchellii, Dene., is a very slender, glabrous, straight, erect herb, 
with filiform leaves, and pale green flowers, 3-5 together, on extra-axillary 
pedicels.—Found by Burchell between Klaar-water and Litakun. 
R 
