XXXVI. CELASTKI]srE.E. 53 



8. PTEROCELASTRUS, Mcisn. 



Floral characters nearly as in Gymnosporia. Capsules carti- 

 laginous, 3-6-winged, 1-3-celled, loculicidally 3-valved, slowly 

 dehiscing, the valves septiferous in the middle ; cells 1-2- 

 seeded. Seeds with a thin, membranous arillus, albuminous. — 

 Fl.Cap.i.pAQl. 



South African slirubs, with alternate, leathery, quite entire leaves and 

 axillary, small, white, cymose or tufted flowers. — 6 species, dispersed. 



4. CATHA, Forsk. 



Calyx 5-lobed, small. Petals 5, erecto-patent. Stamens 5, 

 on the margin of the disk ; filaments subulate ; anthers 2- 

 parted. Disk thin, with an undulate margin. Ovary ovoid, 

 immersed in the disk, free, 3-celled ; style short, thick ; stigmas 

 3 ; ovules in pairs, erect. Capsules linear-oblong, 3-celled, 3- 

 valved, 1-3-seeded. " Ripe seeds winged." — Methyscophyllum, 

 Fl. Cap. i. p. 463. 



C. edulis, Forsk. { = Methyscophyllum glaucum, E. and Z.), the " Bosjes- 

 man's-the" of the colonists, grows in North and South Africa and in Arabia. 

 The leaves, cliewed to excess, are intoxicating. Leaves opposite, glaucous, 

 lanceolate, acuminate, repando-serrate, with revolute margins, netted-veined. 

 Peduncles axillary, dichotomous, short. 



5. CATHASTRUM, Turcz. 

 Calyx 5-parted, the lobes rounded, fimbriate. Petals 5, 

 obovate, ciliolate, revolute. Stamens 5, inserted under the 

 margin of the disk ; filaments thickish, recurved ; anthers sub- 

 cordate, affixed to the broadish apex of the filaments. Disk 

 thin, obtusely 5-angled. Ovary sessile on the disk, narrowed 

 at base, oblique, free, 1-celled ; style short, stigma thick, uni- 

 lateral, peltate ; ovules 4-8, in two rows, ascending. — Fl. Cap. 

 i. p. 526. 



C. Capensis^ Turcz., the only species, is a glabrous shrub, with opposite, 

 petioled, oblong or linear-oblong, leathery, obtuse, undulate, entire leaves, 

 and short, axillary cymes of small flowers. The fruit is unknown. It in- 

 habits woods in Uitenhage. 



6. HARTOGIA, Thunb. 

 Calyx 4-5-fid. Petals 4-5, spreading. Stamens 4-5, be- 

 tween the lobes of the disk. Disk annular, 4-5-lobed. Ovary 

 sessile, scarcely confluent with the disk, pyramidal, 2-3-celled, 

 tapering into a thick style ; stigma obtuse ; ovules solitary in 

 each cell, erect. Fruit ovoid, dry, indehiscent. Seed without 

 albumen. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 404. 



H. Capensis, Th., the only species, is a shrub with opposite, leathery 

 glaucous leaves, with revolute, serrulate margins. Cymes axillary ; flowers 

 small, white. Found in the Western and middle districts. 



