PLATE 514. 



RUTTYA OVATA, HARV. (Fl. Cap. Vol. V, p. 55.) 

 Natural Order, AOANTHACE^;. 



A glabrescent rambling much branched shrub, branches a little compressed 

 and thickened at nodes, glabrous. Leaves opposite, ovate-acuminate, tapering to 

 base and decurrent on the petiole nearly to base, the decurrent portion strongly 

 undulate, the blade glabrous, entire, 3 to 4 inches long, including the petiole, 

 1 to 2 inches wide. Inflorescence axillary and terminal, appearing Tike a densely 

 flowered coinose spike, but really composed of a large number of few flowered 

 cymes, the long sepals giving the comose appearance; the whole inflorescence 

 reaching to 4 inches long by 1 J to 2 inches wide. Bracts 2, linear-subulate, up 

 to 6 lines long, 1 line wide at base, bracteoles 2, similar to the bracts. Calyx 

 5-parted nearly to base, lobes equal, linear- subulate, up to 11 lines long ; peduncle 

 bracts and calyx minutely pubescent. Corolla bilabiate, upper lip deeply 2-lobed, 

 lower 3-lobed, lobes linear-oblong, spreading, white, lowest lobe with a few purple 

 spots at base ; whole corolla spreading to 1 4 lines long. Stamens 2, inserted at 

 throat of corolla, shorter than its upper lobe, filaments white; anthers dark 

 coloured, 1-celled. Style longer than the stamens, shorter than the corolla, 

 minutely 2-lobed. Ovary superior 2-celled, cells 2-ovuled. Capsule clavate, 

 acute, 4 seeded in the upper portion. 



Habitat: NATAL: Umhloti River 500 feet, February, Wood 1224; near 

 Verulam 200 feet, February, Wood 462 ; near Bellair 250 feet, January, Wood 

 11067; also collected by Williamson, Urege, Sutherland, Peddie and Gueinius. 

 Also in Transvaal. 



This genus includes 5 species, R. ovata being the only one fit present known 

 in South Africa. It is usually found at the edges of woods, where it rambles 

 about supporting itself by the low bushes among which it grows ; it is rather a 

 striking object when in full flower, but the flowering season does not last long. 



Fig. 1, calyx; 2, corolla opened showing insertion of stamens; 3, stamen; 

 4, pistil ; 5, longitudinal section of ovary ; all enlarged. 



