211 
“ Last year (1910), thanks to the kindness of First Lieutenant 
Hiring of Sokodé-Basari (Togo), the Botanic Garden at Dahlem 
They germinated well and numerous plants were raised by Chief- 
Inspector F, Ledien, not a few of them flowering in July and 
August. A number of seeds were sent to Inspector E. Retti 
prevented their maturation, The flowers are very small and 
papilionaceous and spring from the creeping stem close to the 
ground. The flowers of the variety with light or occasionally 
black-mottled seeds are white, those of the other varieties pale 
violet, 
_ “Tt is desirable to follow up the distribution of this cultivation, 
particularly among the natives in Togo, where it may also be found 
in the wild state. Similarly Voandzeia subterranea, so generall 
cultivated in Togo, has never been observed in the spontaneous 
condition, It is also possible that Kerstingiella occurs in the 
Hinterland of the Cameroons (Adamaua, Zola, Garua, &c.). 
Chevalier states that the Hausa traders contended that it existed 
in British Nigeria, and the probability that the Hausa people were 
instrumental in the spreading of the cultivation is obvious. The 
Hausas call it Kouarourou according to Chevalier. It is also said 
to occur in Borgu. It is true, at the first glance it might be 
mistaken for Voandzeia subterranea and Schweinfurth actuall 
suggests that this has been the case with certain writers (Zeitschrift 
d. Gesellschaft f, Erdkunde, 1910), but the expert will always 
distinguish them. Habit and leaves are similar and yet distinct, 
and Voandzeia, so long and so well known to us, has above all 
much larger globose seeds. 
“In any case, I should be very grateful for any communications 
concerning Kerstingiella or Voandzeia, their cultivation and use, 
and particularly if they are accompanied by flowers, fruits and seeds. 
Material of this kind would enable us to establish the distribution of 
Ly | 
in a climate of low humidity with occasional heavy showers and a 
shade temperature of 18°-34° C.” 
MorPrHOLOGY AND BIOLOGY. 
As there is only one specimen of Kerstingiella geocarpa in the 
Kew Herbarium—and this only in the fruiting stage—the following 
description and observations are mainly taken from Harms’ paper in 
the Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft. 
A prostrate herb. Taproot with slender branches sometimes bear- 
ing nodules. Main stem creeping, 5-8 cm. long, hirsute-pubescent 
or nearly glabrous, rooting from the nodes, emitting numerous short 
stolons with approximate nodes and mostly bearing leaves which are 
reduced to the stipules (Chevalier). Normal leaves 3-foliolate, borne 
on upright, pubescent petioles, 6-12 or, according to Harms, as much 
24254 A2 
