12 



Tho seds of this species are often destroyed by a small grub, which having eaten 

 the kernel, fills the interior of the shell, and causes it to spnng from the ground 

 in a remarkable manner, hence they have been called "jumping beans Lhe 

 wood of E reticulate is of little use, but the fleshy fruits were in the old dsysof 

 the colony used for making ink, for which purpose they are very suitable We 

 have in the colony at least 3 other species, one or two of which have only lately 

 been described and named. The native name is um-Vuma, or um-HIampurizi, 

 and the fruits are said to be eaten by antelopes. 



Fio-. 1, Twigs with leaves and flowers about natural size; 2, Bract with male 

 flowersl 3, Male flower seen from above; 4, Section of male flower; 5, Bract 

 opened out; 6, Bract front view; 7, Female flower; 8, Section of ovary; all 

 variously enlarged. 



PLATE 11. 



OPHIOCAllTjON GUMM1FEBA, Hook, f. 



Natural Order PASSIFLORE*. 



A climber widely spreading over trees aud shrubs in woods. 'Dioecious. 

 Stems and branches green, striate, the lines filled with a white powdery substance 

 which is readily removed by the fingers ; terete, the branches cord like, very 

 equal in diameter. Leaves alternate, petiolate, exstipulate, simple; petioles 

 reaching to 4 inches long, with a small brownish gland at each side at base, and a 

 larger one terminating the petiole at base of lamina ; bluntly 3, or obscurely 

 5 lobed, the lobes rounded, emarginate, edge quite entire, glabrous, membranous, 

 pale beneath, veins conspicuous on both surfaces ; 3-4 inches long, and wide ; 

 tendrils axillary, simple. Inflorescence cymose, flowers several on a common 

 peduncle which forms a tendril beyond the flowers ; 1-3 inches long, green. Female 

 flowers; Calyx 5 lobed, lobes ovate-oblong, erect; Petals 5, linear, inserted beneath 

 the edge of the disk, and two thirds the length of calyx lobes. Ovary stipitate 

 from a circular pitted disk, ovate ; stigmas 3, sessile, expanded ; staminodes 5, 

 minute, flabellate. Male flowers similar to female ones, but a little larger, and 

 the petals equalling the sepals in length; Stamens 5, central, about half as long 

 as the petals ; filaments subulate ; anthers 2 celled, basifixed, introrse, equalling 

 the filaments in length. Ovary none Fruit a capsule, much inflated, 3 valved, 

 glabrous, green, subtended at base by the persistent calyx aud corolla, 6 lined from 

 base to apex. Seeds many, attached in doable rows to each of the 3 placentas ; 

 ovate, compressed, pitted. 



Habitat : NATAL : Coast to 2000 feet above sea level, or perhaps more. 

 A well known plant climbing to the tops of the trees in the woods, and 

 covering many square yards with a dense mass of foliage. The whole plant is 

 somewhat sticky or gummy, probably from the white powdery matter in the steins, 

 and branches It is known to the natives as im-Fulwa, and Mr. John Kirkman 

 Used as an emetic, also as a soothing tonic for children and cattle. 

 p whole of the plant is used." It is not used by Europeans in any way, so far 



\JUfi O Tl u ^17 01*11 * * " 



as we are aware. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered on Berea, January, 1898. 

 Fig ; 1 .Branch of male plant with leaves and flowers; la, Branch of female 

 Wl 



l F^ l 'fl emae Wer; 3 ' the 8ame > Cal ^ X re " i0ved ' 4 > Section of 

 5, lemale flower, front view; 6, Male flower; 7, the same calyx and 



8 ' C8lyX and C0r lla0f male *>* ed * &* 



