75 



which is closed by claw of the vexillum. Anthers dissimilar, 5 linear-oblong 5 

 ovate, fctyle strongly falcate hirsute beneath. Ovary stipitale, minutely pubes- 

 cent. Legume much inflated, pubescent, many seeded; lf-2 inches lonT 4 

 lines wide. 



Habitat: NATAL: Coast and midlands common. Inanda, April. Wood 

 Wo. 5o5. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, May, 1899. 



The genus Crotalaria has its name from a word meaning a Castanet on 

 account of the seeds in the dry inflated pods when they become detached crivimr 

 out a rattling sound. The genus contains 120 or more species, widely distributed 

 in the warmer parts of the world. In Natal we have 10 or 12 species, none of 

 which are known to be of any commercial value. Some species yield a good fibre 

 from their stems, suqh as C. juncea from which the " Sunn " hemp of India is 

 obtained, and according to Baron Mueller C. retusa, and C. Burhia also yield a 

 useful fibre. We are not aware that any of our indigenous species have been 

 tested in this direction, and the only two that would be likely to be useful for this 

 purpose, are the above described species and C. natalitia, Meisn. 



Fig. 1, Branch with leaves, flowers and fruit, natural size ; 2, Flower opened, 

 A, standard, B, B, wings, c, keel ; 3, Staminal tube ; 4, Ovary and style ; 5, Stami- 

 nal tube opened ; 6, Anthers, one of each kind ; all enlarged. 7, Legume, natural 

 size. 



PLATE 93. 



IPOMCEA CONGKSTA, R. Br. 

 Natural Order, CONVOLVULACE.S. 



Roots cord-like, spreading and stoloniferous. Stems climbing, light brown, 

 glabrous, and with numerous scattered tubercles, young ones green, thickly hirsute 

 with setose hairs. Leaves alternate, petiolate, cordate, acuminate, often trilobate, 

 the upper lobe oblong, acute or acuminate, lateral ones shorter and obtuse, the 

 upper lobe varying much in length, the basal ones sometimes overlapping each 

 other ; 5-9 veined at base, thinly hirsute above, thickly villous beneath ; 3-4 inches 

 long, 1^-3 inches wide ; petiole reaching to 5 inches long, terete, hirsute with 

 retrorse hairs. Inflorescence axillary ; of 1-4 or more flowers on a common 

 peduncle. Calyx 5 parted, in two rows, the outer row of 3 ovate-acuminate sepals 

 with numerous veins, pilose externally especially at base, minutely pubescent on 

 upper surface, ciliate ; inner two lanceolate, otherwise like the outer ones and 

 equalling them in length ; all 8-11 lines long, outer ones 4-5 lines, inner 2 lines 

 wide. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, leafy, 9-12 lines long, 3-4 lines wide. Corolla 

 salver-shaped, 2 inches long, 5 plaited, the plaits lighter in colour, the lamina blue- 

 purple, fading to deep pink, tube light pink. Stamens 5, inserted at base of tube, 

 filaments unequal in length, the longest equalling the tube, pilose at base. Anthers 

 2 celled, basifixed. Style equalling stamens, stigma indistinctly 3-lobed. Ovary 

 pentagonal with rounded angles, flattened, normally 3-celled, cells 2-seeded, seeds 

 trigonous, outer face convex. 



Habitat: NATAL: Coast districts, not uncommon. Sydenham, September, 

 Wood 4018. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, May, 1899. 



