21 



The genus Samolus includes about 8 species ouly, two of which are natives of 

 Natal, viz., S. Valerandi, a cosmopolitan species, and S. porosus, which is confined 

 to South Africa, and is remarkable for the almost total absence of leaves, at any 

 rate at the flowering season, and for its pretty, bell shaped, pinky white flowers. 



Fig. 1, Plant reduced ; 2, Flower, side view ; 3, Flower from above; 4, Corolla 

 opened ; 5, Lobe of corolla showing relative length of scales ; 6, Flower, corolla 

 removed ; 7, a Stamen ; 8, Section of ovary ; all variously enlarged. 



PLATE 22. 



ECTEINANTHUS ORIGANOIDES, T. And. 



Natural Order, ACANTHAOEJE. 



A tall, erect under shrub, growing at edges and inside bush, forming in places 

 dense thickets. Stems copiously branched, and swollen at nodes, older ones green 

 and almost glabrous, shining, younger frequently channelled on each side, with 

 pilose hairs in the groove, and also at nodes, which in the lower portion of the stem 

 are 4 to 6 inches apart, in upper portion and branches, f to 2 inches apart. 

 Leaves opposite, petiolate, exstipulate, broadly ovate, acuminate at apex, tapering 

 to base, upper surface pubescent, with whitish scattered hairs ; midrib and veins 

 more thickly covered with similar but longer hairs 1 , pubescent beneath, 2 to 7 

 inches long, 1 to 5 inches wide ; petioles deeply channelled above, rounded beneath, 

 densely pilose, - to 4 inches long. Inflorescence in axillary and terminal bracteate 

 spikes, the upper ones often branched, from 1 to 4 inches long, rachis terete, 

 hispid with glandular hairs, and with a pair of bract-like depauperated leaves 

 at each node, which become smaller upwards ; bracts 3, lateral, subulate, medial 

 lanceolate, pilose with long white glandular hairs ; 2 to 3 lines long. Calyx 5 

 parted, nearly to base, lobes subulate, equal ; a little longer than the bracts, and 

 like them glandularly pilose. Corolla gamopetalous, bi-labiate, lower lip largest, 

 deflexed, minutely 3 fid at apex, with a large longitudinal projection on each Bide, 

 which is again cross ribbed and coloured pink in the depressions, the wings ribbed ; 

 upper lip nearly erect, concave, minutely 2 fid, white ; with a ring of hairs in the 

 throat. Stamens 2, on corolla at throat, ascending under its vaulted upper lip ; 

 anthers 2 celled, cells superposed. Style 1 glabrous. Stigma obtuse, Ovary 

 superior, on an annular disk, 2 celled, cells 2 ovuled. Capsule clavate, -com- 

 pressed, 4 seeded, the two lower ones frequently abortive. Seeds piano-com- 

 pressed, rugose. 



Habitat : NATAL : without locality. Gerrard, No. 1897, Berea, 150 feet altitude, 

 May, JT. M. Wood, No. 3945. 



This is a rather remarkable plant, flowering only once in several years, usually 

 4 to 6 years elapsing before flowers again appear, though in the interval a stray 

 plant or two may be found in flower, but when the year of flowering arrives it is 

 general all over the coast districts. It is almost confined to the coast, not reaching 

 to more than about 2000 feet above sea level. The natives say that when it 

 flowers honejr is always very plentiful, and from Avhat we hear from Europeans, 

 this is correct. Native name u-Bomaan. 



Described and figured from a plant found in flower in the Berea bush, May, 



1896. 



