44 



Drawn and described from plants gathered on Little Zwartkop, July, 1898. 



This species differs from the other members of the genus known to us in the 

 inflorescence and the obtuse corolla lobes. It grows amongst rocks in sunny 

 exposed situations. The white powder which covers the whole plant feels sticky 

 and almost resinous to the touch. Flowers during the winter months. We 

 cannot learn that the natives have any distinctive name for it, and so far as we 

 can ascertain, it has no economic value, but it is not uncommon in cultivation in 

 the Colony. 



Fig. 1, Flowering stem, flowers and leaves; 2, Section of flower; 3, Corolla 

 opened ; 4, Stamen front and side view ; 5, Ovaries showing squamas ; 6, Section 

 of ovary ; about natural size. 



PLATE 53. 



LEONOTIS LEONUIUJS, R. Br. 

 Natural Order LABIATE. 







A many stemmed undershrub, reaching 4-6 feet in height. Stems quad- 

 rangular, with rounded angles, and a deep furrow on each side ; densely tomentose. 

 Leaves opposite, with smaller ones in the axils, narrowly oblong, acute at apex, 

 tapering at base to a short petiole, entire in middle and lower portions, and with a 

 few blunt teeth towards apex, finely pubescent above, more densely so beneath, 

 finely ciliate, veins prominent beneath, and strongly marked on upper surface ; 2-5 

 inches long, 2-8 lines wide. 



Inflorescence in dense whorls at nodes in upper portion of the stem. Calyx 

 tubular, narrowed at base, 10 toothed, 10 ribbed, oblique at apex, the ribs raised 

 and green, the interspaces lighter coloured with transverse plainly marked veinlets, 

 finely pubescent; 6-10 lines long, including pedicel; bracts many, linear, acute, 

 ascending, curved, with a central vein, pubescent; inner flowers ebracteate. 

 Corolla gamopetalous, irregular, 2 lipped, the upper lip very long and curved, 

 conduplicate. widening a little to apex, lower lip 3 lobed, spreading, membranous, 

 and soon withering, the middle lobe largest, or sub-equal, all acute ; tube com- 

 pressed, the upper portion and the whole of the upper lip densely villous with 

 orange scarlet hairs; tubes 1| If inches long, 2 lines wide; upper lip f-1 inch 

 long, lower lip 2-3 lines long ; colour bright orange scarlet. Stamens 4, ascending 

 in pairs under the upper lip of corolla, anthers 2 celled, cells divaricate. Style 1, 

 longer than stamens, with a little notch below apex, scarcely lobed, apex acute. 

 Fruit of 4 little nuts seated in base of calyx tube, and surrounded by a lobed cup- 

 like disk ; the apices of the nuts rounded and thickly studded with minute glands. 

 Seeds triquetrous. 



Habitat : NATAL : Edges of woods, thickets and similar situations all over the 

 Colony. 



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



This plant is common all over the Colony, and produces its brightly coloured 

 and conspicuous flowers in the autumn, continuing in flower almost or quite 

 through the winter months. The genus contains about 12 species, 8 of which are 

 South African, 3 being found in Natal. In Turkey it is known as the " Minaret 

 flower " and in Cape Colony as " Wild Dagga." It appears to possess purgative 

 properties, and is used in the form of a decoction as an emenagogue, and also in 



