PLATE 346. 



ADENOSTEMMA CAFPEUM, D.C. (Fl. Capensis, Vol. III., p. 57.) 

 Natural Order, COMPOSITE. 



An erect herbaceous plant bearing white flowers. Stem quadrangular, stout, 

 Dranching, pubescent, reaching to 4 feet high. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate to 

 jvate-acuminate, unequal at base, gradually tapering to apex, 3 to o| inches long, 

 to 3 inches wide, margins irregularly, deeply and sharply toothed, the teeth 

 callous at tip, glabrous except for a few minute scattered hairs on the veins espe- 

 cially beneath. Petioles up to 1 inch long, shorter upwards, the uppermost sub- 

 sessile. Infloresence in loose terminal, spreading, pubescent panicles, the pedicels J 

 to 1 inch long, bracts small, linear. Heads, many flowered, homogamous. Recep- 

 tacle flat, nak^d, honeycombed. Involucre campanulate, after flowering strongly 

 reflexed, its scales sub-biseriate, connate at base, oblong, obtuse, pubescent exter- 

 nally, occasionally with a sinuate linear, ciliate bract thickly covered with white 

 moniliform hairs Anthers linear, 2-celled, apiculate. obtuse at base. Style arms 

 long exserted, flattened, linear. Achenes oblong, glandular. Pappus of 3 to 5 

 bristles, each tipped with an oblong, glutinous gland. 



Habitat: NATAL: Gueinzius, No. 347; Gerrard $ McKen, No. 313; Inanda, in 

 swamp, 1800 feet alt, January, Wood, No. 322 ; near Umhlali, in moist ground, 

 500 feet alt, May, W od, (Gov. Herbarium, No. 3733) ; Bntumeni, Zululand, 2-3000 

 feet alt, March, Wylie. 



The genus Adenostemma includes about 18 or 20 species widely dispersed in 

 warm regions. Of these, two are natives of Natal, one of which is also found in 

 Kaffraria. Another one, A. natalensis, is said in the Fl. Capensis to be a synonym 

 of A. Dregei, but in the Index Kewensis it is kept a separate species. It is un- 

 known to us. These plants are usually found in very moist ground. When the 

 achenes are ripe the involucre becomes much reflexed, the hold of the achenes 

 upon the receptacle is relaxed, and the glands on the pappus bristles become very 

 glutinous, so that the achenes adhere to passing animals or to clothing on the very 

 slightest touch. The action of the sun and wind soon dries the glutinous substance, 

 so that the achenes are not carried far, as in the cas^ of Hidcus pilosa (the " Black 

 Jack"), usually falling into the damp soil where they were grown, as if carried on 

 to exposed or "dry ground plants would scarcely be likely to come to maturity even 

 if the seeds were to germinate in such a situation. We have never seen either of 

 the plants away from moist ground or the edge of swamps It is interesting to 

 notice that the corollas i!o not fall away from the receptacle singly as is usually the 

 case, but being matted together by the moniliform hairs under the lobes they fall 

 away in a compact mass, each one carrying away the style in its centre. 



Fig. 1, upper portion of panicle, natural size; 2, portion of involucre ; 3, 

 floret ; 4, the stamens ; 5, style and style arms ; 6, achene ; 7, head showing ripe 

 achenes ; all enlarged. 



