PLATE 347- 



JUSTICIA PETIOLARIS, B.M. (Fl. Cap. Vol. V., p. 59.) 

 Natural Order, ACANTHACEJE. 



A branching undershrub, Stems, 2 to 4 lined below, 2 to 4 angled upwards, 

 pubescent with whitish deflexed hairs upwards, sub-glabrous in lower portion, a 

 little swollen just above the nodes. Leaves, opposite, petiolate, ex-stipulate, 2 to 8 

 inches long including the petiole, 1| to 3 inches wide, ovate-acuminate, obtuse at 

 apex, unequal at base and gradually tapering to the petiole, along which it is de- 

 current as a very narrow wing on each side, almost glabrous on the lamina, but 

 with numerous hairs on the veins, which are strigose on the upper surface, but 

 er'ect on the lower one, margins entire. Infloresence in axillary and terminal, many 

 flowered spikes, which are more or less interrupted at the base. Calyx 5-parted to 

 base, segments lanceolate, acute, ciliate with long white hairs, which are glandular 

 at tip, bracteoles \ in. long, linear, ciliate like the calyx lobes. Corolla 2-lipped, 

 lower lip much the largest, 3-lobed for one-third of its length, deflexed, 4 to 5 lines 

 long, 4 lines wide, the lobes sub-equal in length, but central one broadest, pale blue, 

 dark lined, middle lobe with a fine red line in the centre, throat rugose, pale pink, 

 or whitish with dark purplish lines ; upper lip erect, hooded, concave, 2-fid at apex, 

 dark lined ; the whole corolla except the lower lobe externally pink ; lower lobe 

 whitish, faintly lined. Stamens 2, anther cells superposed, pubescent, one much 

 below the other, the lower ones spurred ; pollen ellipsoid with 2 stopples, tubercles 

 obsolete (Fl. Cap.), cells purple. Ovary superior, seated in a cup-shaped 2-3-toothed 

 disk, 2-celled, cells 2-ovuled ; style elongate, thinly pubescent, unequally 2-lobed, 

 lobes very short. Capsule ^ inch long, glabrous, 4-seeded ; seeds tubercular- 

 rugose. 



Habitat: NATAL: OerrariJ, No. 1896; Indulindi, Zaluland, 1-2000 feet alt, 

 April, Wood, No. 3953 ; near Durban, April, Wood ; near Port Shepstone, April, 

 Dr. I 'imock Brown, No. 467 (Gov. Herbarium, No. 7592). 



In Vol. III. of this work Plate 216, another species of this genus (/. protracta), 

 is described. Since that time the name has been altered to /. pulegioides (E. Mey). 

 It was also stated that the genus included about 100 species. In the Part of Fl. 

 Capensis where this plant is described it is now stated that the genus contains about 

 200 species, and that if the genus Dianthera be included, as has been proposed, it will 

 number at least 300 species. The plant here described does not appear to be very 

 common, and as there would seem to be some doubt as to the colour of the 

 flowers I have described it at some length from freshly gathered specimens. Dr. 

 Dimock Brown on his ticket also gives the colour as blue. 



Fig. 1 , calyx and bracteoles ; 2, corolla opened ; 3, stamen ; 4, ovary aud disk ; 

 5, style and stigma ; 6, calyx and capsule ; 7, longitudinal section of capsule ; 8, 

 seed ; all enlarged. 



