25 



PLATE 294. 



ANEILEMA SINICUM, R. Br. (Fl. Cap. Vol. VII., p. 12.) 

 Natural Order, COMMELINACE.S:. 



Roots fibrous " thick and occasionally tuber-bearing." Stems erect, 1 to 3 

 feet long, sparingly leafy, finely striate and pilose below the sheaths. Leaves few, 



2 to 4, linear or linear-oblong, sheathing at base, the sheaths pilose with long 

 white hairs, base of leaf also ciliate with similar hairs, surfaces glabrous ; basal 

 leaves 2 to 4 inches long, 3 to 5 lines wide in centre, cauline ones, few, 1 to 2, 

 much smaller. Inflorescence a loose few flowered panicle with elongated lower 

 branches which are closely scarred for ^ inch or more below the lowest flowers 

 " where the numerous infertile flowers have fallen." Sepals 3, oblong, greenish, 



3 lines long, of thin texture. Petals 3, pale lilac, obovate, spreading. Stamens 6, 

 of which 2 or 3 only are fertile, the remainder smaller and barren. Filaments of 

 the fertile stamens longer than the others and pilose with long moniliform hairs, 

 of the sterile ones short, one occasionally much shorter than the others, or scarcely 

 developed ; anthers of fertile stamens linear-oblong, versatile, dark coloured, of the 

 barren ones 3-lobed, yellow, and without pollen. Ovary 3-celled, cells 2-ovuled, 

 ovules superposed, one only usually fertile. Capsule papery, milky juice, seeds 

 white, small. 



Habitat: NATAL: Near Tngela River, 150 feet alt, Wood 3854 ; near Nonoti 

 River, 500 feet alt, Wood ; Zululand, Mrs. McKenzie, and without precise locality, 

 Gerrard, 1483. 



Drawn and described from specimens growing in Botanic Gardens, Durban, 

 raised from seed which was brought from near Nonoti. 



A rather pretty plant, rare in Natal since so far as known to us it has only 

 been gathered in the localities quoted, which are only a few miles from each other, 

 Gerrard's plant having most likely been gathered in the same locality, which is only 

 a short distance from the sea side. It does not appear to be known to the natives 

 as distinguished from other species of Aneilema or Commelina, and it is of no 

 known economic value. 



Fig. 1, flower; 2, same, petals removed; 3, ovary and sepals; 4, longitudinal 

 section of ovary ; 5, cross section of same ; 6, moniliform hair of filament ; all 



enlarged. 



