11 



Habitat; NATAL: On the side of a -grassy hill near Van Reenen's Pass, 

 Drakensberg, J. M. Wood, No. 4516 same locality, No. 5152. 



Mr. Bolus, who described this species in the' Journal of Botany, Vol XXXV, 

 a 19, January 1 896, says of it : " Noticeable in the genus by its large leaves, 

 two lateral calyx segments (which are actually longer from the base than the 

 intermediate) are connate for about two thirds of their length.'' 



We have found this plant in one locality only, but in looking over some old 

 duplicates of Gerrard's in the Government Herbarium, several specimens of it 

 wei-e found, but. without No., locality, or any information whatever. It will 

 probably be found either in the Herbarium of Trinity College, Dublin, or at Kew, 

 to both of which places Gerrard and McKen sent specimens of plants, and 

 it will be interesting to know the locality in which Gerrard collected it. 



The flowers are pale dull purple, varying in depth of tint, and it is in flower 



in December. 



< 



Drawn and described from specimens in the Government Heroarium. 



Fig. 1, Stem with leaves and flowers, natural size ; 2, Flower ; 3, Calyx opened; 

 4, Corolla with parts separated ; 5, Stamina! tube opened ; 6, Ovary ; 7, Keel, 

 side view ; all variously enlarged. 



PLATE 10. 



EXCCECARIA ftETICULATA, Mull Arg. 



Natural Order ECPHORBIACE.E. 



A tree of 10-20 feet in height, Twigs terete, glabrous, brown. Leaves 

 alternate, petiolate, exstipxilate, varying in shape from ovate, to ovate-oblong, or 

 lanceolate, narrowing to an obtuse point at apex, obscui'ely crenato- serrate, and 

 with minute teeth at the serratures, glabrous, lighter or sub-glaucous beneath, 

 2-3 inches long, f 1 wide, petiole 2-4 lines long, with a gland in each axil. 

 Inflorescence in axillary racemes, 1-2 inches long, composed of a large number of 

 male flowers, in bracteate clusters, with a solitary, or sometimes two female 

 flowers at or near base of peduncle. Male flowers ; Sepals 3, small, sub-equal, 

 connate at base, Stamens 3, filaments free, anthers 2 celled, didymous. Ovary o, 

 Bract 1, enclosing 4-7 flowers, broadly obloug, truncate, lacerate, and tinged with 

 pink at apex, and with 2 small sub-globose glands just above the base. Female 

 flowers ; Sepals 3, deltoid, lacerate and coloured at edge. Styles 3, divergent, 

 strongly recurved, stigmatose on upper surface, and channelled in lower portion. 

 Ovary 3 celled, cells 1-ovuled. Fruit a 3 celled fleshy capsule, which is 3 lobed, 

 and the lobes strongly ribbed, forming a six angled fruit, the angles rounded. 



Habitat: NATAL: Coast and midlands. Addington, J. M. Wood, No. 1012; 

 Berea, /. If. Wood, No. 6259. 



This tree was formerly known as Sclerocroton reticulatius, Hochst, but that 

 genus, which contained 3 species only, all South African, has now been merged in 

 Excwcaria, a genus which contains 60 or more species, having a wide distribution 

 in tropical and sub-tropical countries. One of the species is known as the " Tallow 

 tree " of China and Japan, and the fatty covering of the seeds is separated for 

 use. Another species contains an acrid sap, and is a dangerous plant to handle. 

 The well known " uVi-Toraboti " tree of Natal (B. Africana, Mull Arg) is another 

 species, the wood of which is said to be very valuable, but its sap is very acrid. 



