PLATE 555. 



STROPHANTHUS SPECIOSUS, Reber. (Fl. Cap. Vol. 4, Sec. I, p, 511.) 

 Natural Order, APOOYNACE^;. 



A rambling glabrous shrub, usually found supported by other shrubs at edges 

 of woods. Branches and branchlets rough with scars of fallen leaves, densely len- 

 ticillate. Leaves in whorls of 3, very rarely the uppermost opposite, oblong to 

 oblong-lanceolate, acute to shortly acuminate, margins entire, more or less recurved, 

 coriaceous, dark green, shining above, glabrous, 1 -|-3| inches long, -1^ inch broad; 

 petiole 2-3 lines long, with 2-3 simple or bifid glands at base. Inflorescence in 

 terminal or axillary cymes, which are 2-12 flowered. Flowers yellow, with brick 

 red markings at base of the petals. Calyx 3-5 lines long, sepals 5, lanceolate- 

 acuminate, bracts lanceo]ate to ovate-acuminate. Corolla 5-lobed ; lower portion 

 below insertion of the stamens tubular, 2 lines long, upper portion funnel-shaped, 

 4 lines long, lobes long attenuate from a broad base, the lobe twice to three times 

 as long as the whole of the tube, the tube furnished with 10 linear scales in pairs 

 at the throat. Stamens 5, inserted at base of the widened portion of the tube, 

 anthers conniving in a cone, lanceolate-acuminate, sagittate, 2-celled, covered with 

 silky hairs in upper portion. Follicles 2, lanceolate 7-8 inches long, I inch wide 

 in broadest portion when ripe, tip a little thickened. Seeds many, oblong-lanceo- 

 late, glabrous, 6 lines by 2 lines, with a sessile plume, the hairs 1-1^ inch long on 

 a fine awn about % inch long. 



Habitat: NATAL: Near York, 3,000 to 4,000 feet alt. April, Wood 4305, 

 (follicles, but no flowers) ; Zululand 6,000 ft. alt. Wood 7805 ; Polela district, 

 October Fernando, 2 (Wood 9926). Also in Cape Colony and Transvaal. 



The genus Strophanthus contains, according to the Index Kewensis and Sup- 

 plements, from 60 to 70 species, mostly from tropical Africa, but also a few in Asia 

 and South Africa. Of these two only are found in Natal, and another in the Dela- 

 goa Bay district Of 8. speciosus it is said in the Flora Capensis " only one oiher 

 species (8. grains, Baill) having glabrous seeds is known in the genus, while 8. 

 speciosus is unique in having a sessile plume." One or more of the tropical African 

 species have been known as " arrow poisons," and have been used by the natives 

 for poisoning the tips of their arrows, it is said with very fatal effects. The seeds 

 of the Natal species are harmless so far as known at present. The seeds of N. 

 Kombe and 8 hipsidus, or the active principle contained in them, is used in medi- 

 cine with some amount of success. 



Fig. 1, calyx ; 2, portion of same opened; 3, corolla opened showing stamens; 

 4, a stamen ; 5, same, back view ; 6, pistil ; 7, follicle ; 8, seed ; 9, base of petiole 

 showing glands ; figs. 7 and 8 natural size, remainder enlarged. 



