64 



inch long, 6 to 10 lines wide. Inflorescence in axillary or terminal racemes, or 

 sub-paniculate, flowers rosy, disposed in small clusters on the peduncles, which are 

 slightly swollen at base of each cluster, and have one or more brown membranous 

 bracts at each fascicle. Pedicels slender, filiform, a little thickened near apex, 2-| 

 to 3^ lines long. Receptacle turbinate. Sepals 2, minute, semi-rotund, attached 

 by the broad base, edge quite entire ; membranous, greenish yellow at base, margin 

 rosy. Petals 5, hypogynous, equal, obovate, persistent; 1 to 2 lines long. 

 Stamens 4-5 inserted with petals, exserted, filaments linear, compressed and 

 widened at base, white. Anthers 2 celled, dorsally affixed, bright red. Ovary 

 superior, ovate, triquetrous, angles winged and deeply tinged with red ; 1 celled, 1 

 ovuled. Style none. Stigmas 3, sessile, spreading, densely muricate above, white. 

 Fruit not seen. 



Habitat: NATAL: Coast and midlands. 



Drawn and described from specimens in flower on Berea, October, 1898. 



The genus Portulacaria includes two species only, the one here described 

 which is also found in some parts of the Cape Colony, and P. namaquensis, which, 

 as the name implies, is a native of Namaqualand. P. afra has, we understand, 

 been exported to Algeria, and Australia as a browsing plant for cattle and sheep, 

 and is said also to be a valuable food for ostriches, but it does not seem to find 

 much favour for cattle feeding in Natal. The leaves are sour, and have been used 

 for culinary purposes. It is known to the Dutch colonists as " Spekboom " and to 

 Natal colonists as " Elephant food." 



Fig. 1 , Branch with leaves and flowers, natural size ; 2, Flower and buds in 

 situ ; 3, Section of flower ; 4, Stamen ; 5, Calyx, ovary and stigmas ; all enlarged. 



PLATE 79. 



DALBBEGIA ARMATA, B.M. 

 Natural Order, LEGUMINOSAE. 



A climbing spinous shrub with dark coloured bark, the spines on the stems 

 being sometimes 3 inches long. Leaves alternate, unequally pinnate, 10 to 16 

 jugate, l-i to 2-| inches long ; common petiole 2 lines long, swollen at base, finely 

 rusty-pubescent ; leaflets sub-opposite or alternate, oblong, obtuse at each end, 

 terminal one obovate ; paler beneath, very finely pubescent when young, older 

 glabrous, 3 to 4 lines long, 1 to 2 lines wide, petiolules line long. Inflorescence 

 axillary, corymbose-paniculate, shorter than leaves. Bracts 2, equal, minutely 

 rusty-pubescent, ciliate, persistent. Calyx campanulate, 5 toothed, two upper 

 teeth broader, obtuse, three lower subacute, middle one longest ; all puberulous. 

 Corolla 2 lines long. Standard broadly ovate, emarginate, erect, wings and keel 

 much smaller ; Stamens 9, monadelphous, anthers orbicular. Ovary stipitate, few 

 ovuled. Legume compressed, oblong, obtuse, tapering to base, glabrate, veiny, 

 1 to 3 seeded, papery, 1 to 2 inches long, ^ to f inch wide. 



Habitat : NATAL : Edges of woods in coast and midland districts. Flowering 

 in October and November. 



Drawn and described from plants in flower on Berea, November, 1898. 



A climbing shrub called by the natives " Hluhluwe." The woody stems are 

 turmshed with long spines, and climb to the tops of trees in the bush, the flowers 



