4G8 Lxxxv. ASCLEPiADE^ (brown). [Brachystelma. 



exceeding them, glabrous. — B. shirmse^ Schlechter in Journ. of Bot. 

 1895, 331). 



IMEozamb. X»ist. British Centi-al Africa: Nyasaland ; Shire Highlands, 

 Buchanan, 116 1 Mount Sochi, 4500 ft., Scotl-Elliot, 8520 ! Mount Mlanji, Scott- 

 JEUiot^ 8666 ! Chiromo, Scott-Mliot, 8697 ! Namasi, Cameron, 5 ! 



In my original description the inflorescence is inaccurately described, the umbel 

 of the specimen has been split for drying so as to resemble a cyme, which I liad not 

 perceived when first describing it. Mr, Buchanan states that " the large fleshy root 

 is said to possess remarkable healing qualities. When applied to a wound the root is 

 simi)ly chewed and then laid on. Wounds of a serious nature thus dressed are said 

 to heal rapidly." Both this plant and Margarefta Whytei were accidentally num- 

 bered 8666 by Scott-Elliot. 



2. B. xnagicum, N, E. Br. in Kew Bulletin^ 1895, 263. Leaf 3J 

 in. long, 1| in. broad, oblanceolate-oblong, subobtuse, cuneate-acute at 

 the base, pubescent on both sides, especially on the veins and midrib 

 beneath. Pedicels about 1 in. long, slender, pubescent. Sepals \ in. 

 long, lanceolate-attenuate, pubescent. Corolla quite glabrous, concentri- 

 cally zoned with yellowish and blackish -purple or dark purple-brown, 

 about 1 in. in diam., rotate or broadly saucer-shaped ; lobes reduced to 5 

 short deltoid teeth, about l-J-2 lin. long, separated by intervals of J an 

 inch. Outer corona annular or shortly cupular at the base, 10-toothed ; 

 teeth adnate at their base to the partitions connecting them with the 

 inner coronal-lobes, their free part 1 lin. long, subulate, probably erect, 

 glabrous ; inner coronal-lobes J-f lin. long, linear, obtuse, incumbent on 

 the backs of the anthers and not exceeding them, glabrous. 



l^ozaxnb. Dist. German East Africa: "collected a long day's journey this 

 side of Ujiji," by the Belgian Consul at Zanzibar, in January 1884 ! 



Of this A-ery distinct species 1 have only seen a single leaf and a flower, but it is 

 probably a large stout-stemmed species allied to B. Biichanani, The /on.ing of the 

 corolla is very distinct and rather pretty. This species is stated to be " regarded by 

 the natives as a magic plant, causing them to lose their way when met with on a 

 journey." 



3. B. Johnstoni, N. E. Br. in Hook. Ic. PL xxviii. t. 2754. 

 Plant 6-9 in. high. Stem branching, compressed, with rather acute 

 edges, puberulous. Leaves opposite, spreading, -J-lJ in. long, 1-2 lin. 

 broad, linear, acute, narrowed at the base into a very short petiole or 

 subsessile, apparently longitudinally folded or with incurved more or 

 less undulate margins, glabrous above, very thinly pubescent beneath ; 

 midrib very prominent beneath. Flowers 4-5 at the top of the stem, 

 large, umbella,te in the axils of the terminal or subterminal pair of 

 leaves; peduncle none ; pedicels 1-IJ lin. long, rather stout, pubescent. 

 Sepals 3 lin. long, | lin. broad at the" base, thence gradually tapering to 

 a very acute apex, pubescent on the back, channelled on the face in 

 the upper part. Corolla glabrous and purpHsh- or dull greenish- 

 brown outside, densely covered with long white woolly hairs on the 

 inner face of the lobes, puberulous in the tube, which is dark purple- 

 brown, marked with a few narrow w-hitish or yellowish concentric zones 

 at the mouth ; tube \ in. long, about J in. in diam. at the mouth, cam- 



