PLATE 575. 



RAWSONIA LUCIDA, Harv. & Sond. (Fl, Cap. Vol. 1 , p. 67.) 

 Natural Order, BIXACE.E. 



A shrub with large glossy leaves and white flowers. Leaves alternate, ex- 

 stipulate, petiolate, oblong, sharply dentate-serrate, coriaceous, glabrous, acute or 

 acuminate, gradually or abruptly narrowed to the petiole, 3 to 7 inches long, 2 to 

 3 inches wide ; petiole 5 lines long, swollen. Inflorescence in short 3 to 7 flowered 

 axillary spikes, the common peduncle ^ to f inch long ; flowers hermaphrodite or 

 unisexual, often mixed on the same spike. Calyx 4-5 parted, the sepals very un- 

 equal, concave, imbricate, persistent. Corolla of 4-5 deciduous unequal, concave 

 petals, which are longer than the sepals. Petaloid scales, one opposite each petal, 

 and longer than them, hypogynous, each with a fleshy 2-lobed gland at base. 

 Stamens 40-60, in several rows, the inner hypogynous, the outer attached to the 

 base of the petaloid scales. Anthers sagittate, erect. Ovary on a convex torus, 

 1 -celled, with 4-5 parietal many ovuled placentas. Stigma subsessile, 4-5 parted. 

 Fruit a light green globose berry, 1 lines diameter, several seeded. 



Habitat; NATAL. Sanderson. Inanda, 1,800 ft. alt. September, October, 

 Wood 1045; near Durban, 150 ft. alt., Miss Franks; A. D. Millar; without precise 

 locality, Gerrard fy McKen 1 1 38. 



A shrub 10-12 feet in height, of no special value. The genus is named after 

 Rawson W. B. Rawson, C.B., who was at one time Secretary to Government of 

 Cape Colony, and who was joint author of a " Synopsis Filicum Af ricae Australis," 

 and who gave much assistance to the authors of the early volumes of the Flora 

 Capensis. It is a monotypic genus. 



Fig. 1, hermaphrodite flower; 2, calyx; 3, petals and scales; 4, stamens; 5, 

 pistil ; 6, cross section of ovary ; 7, cross section of fruit ; 8, branch with fruits ; 

 figs. 1 to 6 enlarged ; figs. 7 fy 8 natural size. 



