47 



tomentum ; 2^-4 inches long, lf-lf inches wide ; petiole channelled above, pilose 

 with long white silky hairs ; 1-2| inches long. Peduncles usually one, but some- 

 times more to each plant, terete, tomentose, and with numerous pilose hairs; 6-15 

 inches long, 1 headed. Heads many flowered, radiate, rays in two rows, female. 

 Corolla of outer ray florets strap shaped, elongate, with a small filiform bifid inner 

 lobe at base, which is coloured purple, the large strap shaped lobe being white 

 above, pink or coppery beneath, inner row subtubular, short, 2 lobed, outer lobe 3 

 fid, inner 2 lobed, purple, disk florets similar, perfect. Involucral scales numerous, 

 in 2 rows, lanceolate-acuminate, densely rusty tomentose. Pappus copious, rough, 

 violet purple. Achenes hispid. 



Habitat : Natal : On grassy lands all over the Colony. 



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



The genus Gerbera contains about 40 species, of which 18 or 19 are natives of 

 South Africa, 6 being found in Natal. The species here described is a rather 

 variable one, and may be distinguished from all the other Natal species by its 

 white ray florets, with purple or violet pappus. The well known " Barberton 

 Daisy " (Gerbera Jamesoni) which is named in honour of our fellow-townsman Hon. 

 R. Jameson, M.L.C., belongs to this genus, and we have in the Colony one species 

 (G. Aurantiaca) whose flowers are a similar colour. 



The native name of G. Kraussii is Cabazaan. 



Fig. 1, Plant about natural size ; 2, Outer ray floret; 3, Base of same, showing 

 inner lobe ; 4, Inner ray floret ; 5, Disk floret ; 6, Pappus bristle ; all enlarged. 



PLATE 57. 



OTHONNA CABNOSA, LESS, var discoidea. 

 Natural Order COMPOSITE. 



A low growing glaucous, branching, fleshy, undershrub with prostrate rooting 

 stems. Stems terete, green, glabrous, prostrate or ascending, branches suberect, 

 leafy only in lowest half. Leaves scattered, sessile, concave in lower third, 

 channelled in central portion, quite terete in upper third, light green, glabrous, 

 glaucous, usually erect, but lower ones often drooping, 1^6 inches long, 2-2 lines 

 wide at base, tapering gradually to an acute apex. Peduncles erect, with or with- 

 out 1-3 depauperated leaves in lower portion. Inflorescence cymose, cymes 4-14 

 headed. Heads many flowered, discoid, sub-hemispherical. Involucral scales 6-8, 

 obloii!?, acute, at first concrete, afterwards separating nearly to base, valvate. 

 Outer florets tubular, 5 fid, perfect, in one row, their styles bi-fid. Disk florets 

 tubular, 5 toothed, male, their styles undivided, abortive. Anthers membrane 

 tipped. Pappus bristles rough. Achenes of ray obliquely oblong, microscopically 

 glandular, of disk glabrous. 



Habitat : NATAL : Sandy soil near the sea. Wood No. 1309. 



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



The g3nus Othonna includes about 80 species, all natives of South Africa, 6 

 of which are found in Natal. The plant here described is a variety of one found 

 in Cape Colony, but our plant differs from the type mainly by the absence of 

 elongated ray florets, the head being thus discoid, not radiate. In consequence of 

 its succulent character, it is very difficult to dry, so as to secure good specimens, 



