PLATE 311. 



RICHARDSONIA PILOSA, H. B. & K. (Fl. Trop. Africa, Vol. III., p. 242, sub-Richardia 



scabra, St. Hil). 



Natural Order, RUBIAOEAE. 



A many stemmed procumbent branching herb, with heads of small white 

 flowers. Stems elongate, copiously branching, reaching to 2 to 3 feet or more 

 long, terete, densely hispid, often reddish coloured. Leaves opposite, subsessile, 

 stipulate, oval to ovate or obovate, acute at apex, gradually tapering at base to 

 a short channelled petiole, densely hispid on both surfaces, each hair springing 

 from a semi-globose swollen base, margins entire and ciliate; !|- to 2f inches long, 

 including the short petiole, ^ to ly inch wide, veins pinnate and prominent beneath. 

 Stipules of 2 to 5 bristles on each side, rising from a broad base, which is connate 

 with the petiole. Inflorescence in axillary and terminal heads, each head sub- 

 tended by 2 to 5 floral leaves, which are subrotund, quite sessile, 5 to 7 veined at 

 base, hispid like the true leaves, and unequal in size, the largest 1 inch by 10 lines. 

 Calyx gamosepalons, tube ovoid or obovoid, densely hispid, 1 to 2 lines long, limb 

 deeply 5 to 6 lobed, lobes ciliate, shorter than the calyx tube, spreading, dark 

 green. Disk annular, small. Corolla gamopetalous, tube funnel-shaped, glabrous, 

 white, of thin texture, limb 4 to 6-lobed, lobes erect, finely pilose with scattered 

 hairs. Stamens 4 to 6, inserted at mouth of tube, just below the sinus; filaments 

 filiform, half as long as corolla lobes ; anthers oblong, 2-celled, dorsifixed. Style 

 filiform, longer than stamens, shortly 3-cleft, stigmas 3, subcapitate. Ovary 

 inferior, hispid, 3-celled, cells 1-ovuled. Fruit 3-coccous, cocci separating at 

 maturity, indehiscent. 



Habitat: NATAL: Coast and Midlands, common, near Durban, November, 

 Wood, N T o. 1392. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, January, 1903. 



A troublesome weed. Originally a native of Tropical America, it has gradu- 

 ally spread to other tropical and subtropical countries, and was most likely 

 introduced into Natal about the time of the Zulu war, and since that time it has 

 spread almost all over the colony. In the " Flora of Tropical Africa," published 

 in ] 877, it is described under the name of Richardia scabra, but the name Richardia 

 being pre-occupied by a genus of Aroideae, the name was altered to Richa dsonia 

 scabra, but, according to the " Genera Plantarum," its proper name is as given 

 above. Baron Mueller says of it : " From Mexico to Brazil. As an herb for 

 pastures and hay-crop appreciated in localities with sandy soil. It has spread 

 over the Southern States of North America." 



In Natal it is not genrrally known as a pasture plant, but it is a great nuisance 

 amongst grass on lawns, and is very difficult to eradicate when once it has obtained 

 a footing, as it has long roots, and bears seeds in abundance. I am informed by 

 Mr. R. Beningfield that not only cattle and horses, but also rabbits and fowls are 

 extremely fond of it. "Whether it would yield a heavy crop or not is somewhat 

 doubtful. The roots are emetic, and have been used at Home under the name of 

 " White Ipecacuana," but have now been superseded by the true drug. 



Fig. 1 , flower ; 2, calyx ; 3, corolla opened ; 4, style and stigma ; 5, coccus ; 

 all enlarged. 



