8 



PLATE 277. 



DRACAENA HOOKERIANA, K. Koch. (Fl. Cap. Vol. 6, p. 275.) 

 Natural Order, LIUACE^E. 



A tall perennial herb reaching to 6 or 8 feet in height, usually simple, but 

 occasionally branched. Leaves crowded towards apex of stem, sessile, ensiform, 

 2 to 3 feet long, 2^ to 3^ inches broad in centre, narrowed to 2 to 2^ inches at 

 base, and tapering to an obtuse apex, 2 to 3 lines thick at base, and strongly 

 channelled, thin towards apex, margins entire and with a distinct whitish border, 

 glabrous, dark green and shining on both surfaces, but slightly paler beneath ; 

 midrib rounded and thickened at base, gradually becoming less distinct upwards, 

 and scarcely discernable 2 to 3 inches from apex, the fine parallel veinlets hardly 

 visible. Inflorescence much branched forming an ample panicle 2 to 4 feet long, 

 the branches wide and spreading, often again branched. Pedicels fascicled, 3 to 8 

 together, articulated at apex closely below the flower ; bracts scarious, broad 

 based, tapering to an acute apex, whitish, persistent, ^ inch long, 2 to 3 lines 

 wide at base. Perianth green, 6-lobed, 1J inch long, the lobes linear, dull white 

 with a distinct central green line, minutely hooded at apex, tube a little swollen in 

 lower portion. Stamens 6, inserted at apex of perianth tube, and as long as its 

 segments, filaments inflated, very slender at apex, pure white, anthers sagittate, 

 attached at sinuses, 1^ line long. Ovary superior, 3-celled, cells 1-ovuled; styles 

 3, at first connate to apex, afterwards more or less separating ; stigmas capitate. 



Habitat : NATAL : Coast districts in woods. Umhloti, 500 feet alt, Wood ; 

 near Durban, 150 feet alt, January, Wood No 8435. Also collected by Thorn- 

 croft, near Barberton. 



The genus Dracaena contains about 50 species " spread throughout the tro- 

 pical and sub-tropical zones of the old world." Many of these species are in 

 cultivation, and numerous varieties of much beauty have been produced by horti- 

 culturists. The above described species is the only one that is indigenous in South 

 Africa, and is very plentiful at margins of woods especially in coast districts, but 

 it also reaches to some distance inland. Our plant appears to be the variety 

 latifolia (Regel). The leaves contain a fibre, which is, however, of no economic 

 value, as it is harsh and deficient in strength, A vnriety with variegated leaves 

 was found near Umhlali by the late Mr. S. Hill, of Verulam, it is now in cultiva- 

 tion and has been, we understand, named D. latifolia, var. Sckmidtiana,. 



Fig. 1, perianth opened; 2, a stamen; 3, ovary, style and stigma; 4, same 

 showing the styles separated ; 5, fruit ; 6, longitudinal section of ovary ; 7, cross 

 section of same ; all enlarged. 



