Bowieane. N. O. Urticez. 
TAB: CDLXXXI. 
ANTIDESMA ALNIFOLIUM. 
Glabrum, foliis cordato-v. cuneato-rotundatis 3-5-nerviis grosse 
dentato-serratis, spicis axillaribus pilosis, masculis compositis, 
feemineis simplicibus. 
Has. Eastern part of the Colony, Cape of Good Hope, Mr. 
Bowie ; Port Natal, Mr. Krauss, Herb. n. 160. 
It was my desire to give a name to a shrub that had been long cul- 
tivated at Kew, which induced me to figure and describe the present 
plant from very imperfect specimens, and of which only the female 
plant with immature ovaries, was known to me. This is a branching 
shrub, about 3 feet high, with the leaves variable, but not much unlike 
those of the Alder, the spikes of flowers axillary, scarcely longer than 
the petiole. The flowers clustered within small bracteas and sessile on 
the rachis. The perianth closely surrounding the germen, 5 to 6 cleft, 
the teeth obtuse. Germen ovate, styles 3; stigmas obtuse.—Long : 
after the engraving was executed, I detected a male specimen of the . 
same plant in Mr. Krauss’ collection from Port Natal. Its spikes are — 
long and compound, almost as long as the leaves. Flowers sca’ : 
som Perianth of 8 to 10 oblong segments, which are alternately — 
er. Filaments 10 to 12, much exserted, with long hairs on the — 
aie half. Anthers 2-celled, the lobes or cells rounded, spreading: 
Pistil none, but there are 3 or 4 fleshy glands at the base of the stamens. 
These male flowers are very small and not in perfect condition, 
more or less eaten by insects; so that this account of the fructification : 
Al 
is difficult to distinguish its internal structure. It was believed to be — 
3-celled by the artist ; but the representation is probably erroneous. 
Tas. CDLXXI. Female branch of Antidesma alnifolium. Fig. \« 
Portion of a female spike. f. 2. Single flower. /. 3. The same with 
the perianth laid open. f. 4. Section of the ovary, but probably et- 
roneously represented with 3 cells : :—magnified. 
