56 XXXVII. RHAMNE-E. 



Shrubs or trees, often trailing, mostly armed with hooked prickles. 

 Leaves alternate, petiolate, entire or crenate, 3-5-nerved. Cymes axillary, 

 few-Uowered. — 3 South African species, from the Northern and Eastern 

 districts. 



2. RHAMNUS, Linn. 



Calyx 4-5-fid ; tube urceolate, the lobes triangular, erect or 

 spreading, keeled within. Petals 4-5 or 0, hooded or flat. 

 Stamens 4-5, with very short filaments. Disk clothing the 

 whole calyx- tube, the margin thin. Ovary free, ovoid, hidden 

 in the calyx-tube, 3-4-celled, tapering into a 3-4-lobed style. 

 Drupe fleshy, oblong or globose, girt by the persistent base of 

 calyx ; stone 2-4-celled. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 476. 



Shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite, penninerved, entire or toothed. 

 Flowers axillary, racemose or cymose. — 2 South African species, natives of 

 the Eastern district and Natal. 



3. SCUTIA, Comm. 



Calyx 5-fid, with a hemispherical or turbinate tube, the lobes 

 ovate, thickened at the point, deciduous. Petals 5, clawed, 

 erect, flat or hooded. Stamens 5. Disk filling up the tube 

 of the calyx, the margin free, undulate. Ovary ovoid or glo- 

 bose, hidden in the disk, but not confluent with it, free, 2-4- 

 celled, tapering into a short simple or 2-4-fid style. Drupe 

 obovoid or subglobose, dry or sparingly fleshy, girt by the 

 cup-like base of the calyx ; stone 2-4-celled. — Fl. Cap. i. 

 2?. 477. 



Glabrous, unarmed or .spiny shrubs, often with angular twigs. Leaves 

 approaching in pairs, but not strictly opposite, petioled, coriaceous, penni- 

 nerved. Flowers in axillary tufts or umbels. — S. Commersoni, Br., the only 

 South African species, is common in woods, from Swellendam to Natal. 



4. NOLTEA, Echb. 



Plowers polygamous. Calyx 5-fid, the tube turbinate ; lobes 

 ovate, erect or recurved. Petals 5, cueullate, sessile. Sta- 

 mens 5, equalling the petals. Disk thin, lining the calyx- 

 tube, the margin inconspicuous. Ovary half-inferior, 3-lobed 

 at summit, 3-celled, tapering into a 3-angled style. Drupe 

 dry, obovoid, girt below^ the middle by the persistent and ad- 

 herent calyx-tube, 3-lobed, the lobes dorsally keeled. — Fl. Cap. 

 i. p. 478. 



N. Africana, Rchb., the only species, grows wild in the Eastern district 

 and at Natal ; it is commonly cultivated throughout the colony. Leaves 

 alternate, oblongo-lanceolate, serrated, penninerved, obtuse. Flowers small, 

 wiiite, in terminal or axillary panicles. 



5. HELINUS, E. Mey. 



Calyx-tube obconical, adhering to the ovary ; limb 5-par(:ed, 



