24 



Habitat : NATAL : Coast lands. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, January, 1898. 



An exceedingly handsome shrub of good habit, growing generally under large 

 trees in those parts of the coast bush which are free from scrub and undergrowth. 

 The leaves are peculiarly large and shining, the corolla tube is very long, and the 

 flowers are probably fertilised by Hawk moths, as we have not noticed any insect 

 visitors during the day time. The genus contains 18 .species, all South African, 

 with one exception, which is a native of Cuba. We have 3 species in Natal, of 

 which this is the handsomest. Well worth cultivation. It has no economic value 

 so far as we are aware. 



Fig. 1, Twigs with leaves and flowers ; 2, Corolla, tube opened, upper portion ; 

 3, Stigma ; 4, Perpendicular section of ovary ; 5, Cross section of ovary ; 6, Fruit. 



PLATE 27. 



ALBIZZIA FASTIGIATA, Oliv. 

 Natural Order LEGUMINOS*. . 



A tree. Bark even, gray. Twigs and petioles finely pubescent. Leaves 

 alternate, abruptly bipinnate, pinna; opposite, in 4 to 8 pairs ; common petiole 4 to 

 6 inches long, with a large prominent oblong gland on upper side % to ^ inch 

 above the swollen base, and a smaller and circular one at base of the terminal pair 

 of leaflets, both glands with a central depression, secondary petioles swollen at 

 base, the lowest pair of leaflets being just above the swollen portion ; ending in 

 a mucro between the terminal pair of leaflets. Leaflets opposite, sessile, in 5 

 to 1 5 pairs, the lowest pair of pinna? having the smallest number of leaflets, the 

 two or three uppermost ones subequal ; obliquely trapezoid oblong ; mucronulatfe 

 at apex, the uppermost pair ovate oblong, all entire, glabrous, dark coloured 

 and shining above, lighter, and pubescent on the conspicuous midvein beneath, 

 5 to 8 lines long, 2-| to 3| lines wide. Stipules obliquely ovate, acute, deciduous, 



4 to 6 lines long. Inflorescence axillary and terminal, in subglobose heads, 

 the central flower differing from the others, being staminate only. Calyx tubular, 



5 fid, lobes erect; 2 to 3 lines long. Corolla narrowly funnel shaped, 5 lobed, 

 3 lines long, lobes erect, obtuse, 1^ to 2 lines long. Stamens indefinite, united 

 in a tube which is 7 to 9 lines long, the free portion of the filaments being- about 

 3 lines long, filaments thread like, erect, anthers minute, dark coloured, each cell 

 containing 2 to 4 globose masses of pollen grains; staminal' tube of the central 

 flower shorter than corolla, the free portion of the filaments only, exserled, and 

 recurved ; more numerous than in the outer flowers. Style longer than stamens, 

 filiform, obtuse, pink. Legume shortly pedicillate, 5 to 6| inches long, 1 to 1^ 

 inches broad, obtuse at apex, prominently reticulate, papery, 5 to 10 seeded". 

 Seeds ovate to oblong, compressed, glabrous and shining, 4 to 5 lines long, 3 to 4 

 lines wide; the funicle 3 to 4 lines long, thickened, and recurved at apex. 



A tree from 20 to 30 feet high, with a spreading flattened top, bearing white 

 or greenish white flowers. It is known to colonists as " Flat-crown," and to the 

 natives as um-Hlandhloti ; the wood is light, the sap wood bluish white, and of 

 little vahre, the heartwood golden yellow, and is preferred by wa^onreakers to all 

 others for naves of wheels. Also used for yokes and numerous other purposes. 

 Jnfortunately the tree is very liable to attacks of white ants, so that after a tree is 

 felled, it is often found to be hollow in the centre, and therefore useless for timber. 



