40 



inches wide in centre ; petiole \ f inch long, stellate and spiny like ths veins. 

 Inflorescence corymbose, corymbs few flowered, peduncles, pedicels and calyx 

 thickly covered with purple stellate hairs. Calyx 5 parted, lobes lanceolate, 

 spreading, with many erect spines, lobes enlarging in fruit, tube very short. 

 Corolla rotate, scarcely lobed, segments acute, externally stellate pubescent, 'inner 

 surface glabrous, stamens 5, anthers erect, sub-sessile, opening by pores at apex. 

 Ovary glabrous ; style longer or shorter than stamens ; stigma capitate, green. 

 Fruit a many seeded berry, enclosed in the persistent and enlarged calyx, the 

 lobes of which become 1^-2 inches long, overtopping the fruit, and 5-6 lines wide 

 at base, and are externally beset with numerous spines; berry globose, white in 

 upper third, green at base, and with many green branching lines . reaching from 

 base nearly to apex. 



Habitat .- NATAL : Berea, Wood, No. 5408. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered on Berea, December, 1897. 



The genus Solanum includes about 900 or more species, and though 8 only 

 are enumerated in Mr. Medley Wood's " Preliminary Catalogue," three more have 

 been added to the list since its publication, and it is quite likely that several more 

 will be added when the genus receives more attention. The present species was 

 first described from Mozambique, and was only recognized as a Natal plant 3 or 4 

 years ago. It is not uncommon about the Berea at edges of bush, and in slight 

 shade, -but does not appear to extend far inland ; its flowers are handsome, and 

 perhaps larger than those of any other Natal species. The berries, as also those 

 of 8. Thruppii, have been used as a remedy for ringworm, and it is said with 

 some success. We cannot learn that the natives have any distinctive name for it, 

 the whole of the larger Solanums being called by the same name, um-Tuma. 



Fig. 1, Leaf and flower reduced; 2, Calyx; 3, Fruit; 4, Stellate hair; 

 5, Spine 



PLATE 50. 



JASMINIUM STREPTOPUS, E. M. 

 Natural Order OLEACEAE. 



A climbing shrub. Stems woody, slender, terete, glabrous, brownish, branch- 

 ing; wigs green, slender, pubescent. Leaves opposite, simple, exstipulate; petio- 

 late, ovate, oblong, or ovato-lanceolate, quite entire, sub-mucronate at apex, 

 pubescent above, with foxy hairs on midrib, and conspicuous tufts of similar hairs 

 on angles of veins beneath, 1-3 inches k>ng,.i-]i wide, petiole thickened and 

 curved, 1-2 inches long. Flowers axillary and terminal, solitary or cymose ; 

 peduncle A-3 inches long, 2-5 flowered; pedicels 6-8 lines long. Calyx tubular, 

 5 toothed, teeth short and thickened, or longer aud acute. Corolla salver shaped, 

 white, tube 1-1 J- inches long, limb 5-9 lobed, lobes linear-lanceolate, spreading, 

 imbricate in bud, shorter than tube. Stamens 2, on tube, included, filaments short, 

 anther* ILD ear-oblong, mucronate, 2 celled, introrse. Style 1, rather abruptly 

 thickened in the upper half; Stigmas 2, linear, very finely pubescent. Ovary 2 

 celled, cells 1 seeded. Fruit a capsule. 



Habitat : NATAL : From the coast to at least 2000 feet above the sea level, 

 common. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered on the Berea, December, 1897. 



