PLATE 590. 



RHAMNUS ZEYHERI, Sond. (Fl. Cap. Vol. I., p. 477.) 

 Nat. Order, RHAMNE^E. 



A small unarmed tree, bark grey, quite glabrous, branches opposite or sub- 

 opposite. Leaves simple, petiolate, elliptical or oblong, 1 to 2 inches long, up to 

 1 inch wide, acute at apex, rounded to petiole, quite entire, glabrous, dark green 

 above, lighter and subglaucous beneath ; midrib rather prominent beneath, and 

 reddish in young leaves, with 5 or 6 lateral veins on each side. Stipules small 

 and evanescent; petioles 2 to 3 lines long a little swollen at base. Flowers few 

 together in the axils, greenish-yellow ; peduncles capillary, glabrous, 3 to 5 lines 

 long Calyx 1 line long, 5-cleft two-thirds of the way down, lobes deltoid, acute. 

 Corolla of 5 obovate-emarginate petals which equal the calyx lobes in length, their 

 margins incurved. Stamens 5, opposite the petals, anthers ovate, 2-celled. Disk 

 bluntly 5-lobed, thin, closing mouth of the calyx. Ovary free, 2-celled, cells 1 

 ovuled, styles 2, free, stigmas subcapitate. Fruit not seen. 



Habitat: NATAL. Port Shepstone, 100 to 200 ft. alt. September, (leaves 

 only) W. Razley (in Government Herbarium, 1 0,798) ; Camperdown, 2,000 ft. alt. 

 November, Miss Franks (in flower), Wood 11,944. 



Also Magaliesberg, Transvaal, Zeyher 316. November. 



This tree produces the well known " Red Ivory wood," of which Mr. Fourcade 

 says in his "Report on the Natal Forests," " wood heavy, hard not elastic, colour 

 light coral red, the thin sapwood nearly white ; takes a handsome polish, and is 

 prized for fancy work and turner's work." Mr. Fourcade gives the native name 

 as umNini, Mr. Bazley as umGologoti, most likely one is the name by which it is 

 known in the coast the other in the upper districts. The tree is not common, and 

 the wood is scarcely large enough to be of much value. 



Fig. 1, flower; 2, longitudinal section of same; 3, petal; 4 stamen, back and 

 front view ; all enlarged. 



