25 



The central flower of the head is usually found to be filled almost to the brim 

 with nectar, and che tree when in flower is much frequented by insects. On the 

 West (Joast of Africa, where this tree is also found, the natives prepare a sauce 

 from the seeds by maceration. The leaves are frequently attacked by parasitic 

 fungi, the most frequent among them being Ravenata minima, Cooke /, M. Wood, 

 No. A 571 ; and Dothidea viventes. Cooke /. M. Wood, No. A 583. both of 

 which are interesting objects for microscopical examination. In the Flora 

 Capensis this tree is called Zygia fastigiata, E.M., but the genus Zygia, which 

 apparently only differs from Albizzia in the length of the staminal tube, has now 

 been united with it. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered on the Berea, October, 1896. 



Fig. 1. Leaf, flower and legume, natural size ; 2, Central flower ; 3, Section 

 of central flower ; 4, Outer flower ; 5, Corolla of outer flower laid open ; 6, 

 Stamens, all variously enlarged. 



PLATE 28. 



CELTIS KRAUSSJANA, Beruh. 

 Natural Order URTICACE^E. 



A fcall handsome tree, reaching to 60 feet in height, with trunk 2 to 3 feet in 

 diameter. Bark yellow-grey, thick, even. Leaves alternate, petiolate, exstipulate, 

 ovate-acuminate, serrate, teeth slightly thickened ; unequal at base, acuminate at 

 apex, 8 veined at base, veins prominent beneath, and plainly visible above ; glab- 

 rous on both sides, dark coloured and shining above, lighter and dull beneath, 

 2 to 3 inches long, | to 2 inches wide ; petiole 2 to 4 lines long. Flowers small, 

 fasciculate in axils of leaves, or between the nodes, polygamous ; pedicels 3 to 9 

 lines long. Male; perianth 4 cleft nearly to base, segments oblong, white edged, 

 ciliate, concave, 1 to 1| lines long, imbricate in bud. Stamens as many as perianth 

 lobes, and opposite to them, inserted under a small pilose disk, filaments flattened, 

 curved upwards, as long as perianth segments, anthers 2 celled, oolong, introrse, 

 dorsifixed. Hermaphrodite ; perianth and stamens as in male ; Ovary, ovoid, on a 

 pilose disk, pilose; stigmas 2, sessile, flattened, recurved, deciduous, stigmatio 

 surfaces densely hispid ; 1 lines long. Fruit a small ovoid, glabrous drupe, 1 

 celled, 1 seeded. Seed pendulous from apex of cell. 



Habitat : NATAL : In woods all over the Colony. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered on the Berea, August and 

 September, 1896. 



A handsome tree of slow growth, the wood is heavy, hard and strong, but 

 becomes brittle when dry. It is known to colonists as " Kamdeboo Stinkhout," 

 and to the natives as um-Vumvu. Said by Mr. Fourcade to be suitable for 

 railway sleepers. 



Fig. 1, Branches with flowers and fruit; natural size; 2, Male flower; 3, 

 Female flower; 4, Stamens; 5, Longitudinal section of ovary; all variously 

 enlarged. 



