PLATE 507. 



LITTONIA MODESTA, HOOK. (Fl. Cap. Vol, VI, p. 527). 

 Natural Order, 



Rootstock tuberous, more or less bluntly angled. Stem usually simple, 

 sometimes branched, erect or sarmentose, leafy to apex, naked below, flowers 

 solitary in axils of upper leaves, yellow-orange. Leaves lanceolate, base rounded, 

 sessile, apex tendril bearing, the lower ones opposite, central ones in whorls of 

 3 to 6, uppermost similar, opposite, or occasionally alternate ; 3 to 6 or more 

 inches long, f to 1-J inch wide at base. Flowers pedicillate, pedicels curved, 1 to 



2 inches long. Perianth f to 1^ inch long, marcescent, cut nearly to base into 

 6 equal, oblong-lanceolate ascending acute segments. Stamens 6, hypogynous, 

 shorter than perianth; filaments filiform; anthers linear-oblong, versatile, introrsely 

 attached near the base, dehiscing extrorsely. Ovary sessile, oblong, 3-celled, 

 deeply trisulcate ; ovules many, superposed ; style short, erect, cylindrical, with 



3 falcate branches, stigmatose internally. Capsule subcoriaceous, 1 J to 2-J inches 

 long, 1J inch wide, deeply 3-lobed, septicidally valved; seeds numerous, ovate but 

 angled by pressure, quite glabrous, dull red-brown, 3 lines long. 



Habitat; NATAL: Common in coast and midland districts, Inanda 1800 ft. 

 alt., Wood 1186, December; Nottingham, Buchanan; near Tongaat, McKen. Also 

 in Orange River Colony and Transvaal. 



The genus Littonia includes 7 species, of which 4 are Tropical African, two 

 Arabian, and the present species which is confined to South Africa. It is often 

 found in the same localities as Sandersorda aurantiaca, (Plate 506) but is at once 

 distinguished by its climbing habit, and shape of its corolla. In cultivation it 

 frequently produces abnormal flowers much larger than here described, with 6 to 

 9 perianth lobes spreading to 2J inches diameter, and the capsule is sometimes 



4 or more lobed. 



Fig. 1, flower, two perianth lobes removed to show stamens; 2, stamen; 3, 

 pistil; 4, unripe capsule; 5, cross section of same; Figs. 1, 4, 5, natural size; 

 Figs. 2 and 3, enlarged. 



