LXXX. ASCLEPIADEiE. 241 



and varied in aspect, but dull in colour.— There are several species, natives 

 of the Eastern frontier and Natal. 



35. BRACHYSTELMA, E. Br. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla bell-shaped, with projecting or re- 

 flexed sinuses ; limb 5-parted ; segments acuminate, spreading. 

 Corona 5-leaved ; folioles adnate to the middle of the gyno- 

 stege, 3-lobed, short, the lobes opposite the anthers simple and 

 longer, " furnished at base within with 2 more or less pilose 

 teeth." Grynostege included. Anthers not membrane- tipped. 

 Pollinia erect, obliquely ovate, with a pellucid, subtruncate, 

 oblique apex. Follicles in pairs, slender, smooth, erect, on 

 a straight peduncle. — DO. Frod. y'm. p. Q^Q. 



Herbs with large tuberous tui'nip-sliaped roots, opposite, pilose, broad- 

 ish or narrow leaves, and solitary or 2-3-nate, interpetiolar, brown tlowers. 

 — Several species, some undescribed, all Eastern. 



36. DICHJELIA, Harv. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla bell-shaped, with projecting or 

 reflexed sinuses ; limb 5-parted; segments taper-pointed (often 

 linear-elongate), rarely panduriform, erect, mostly cohering 

 by the tips, rarely free. Corona double ; the outer of 5 2-fid, 

 2-dentate, or 2-parted, or of 10 simple, ligulate folioles 

 adnate to the middle of the gynostege ; the inner of 5 simple, 

 linear-oblong or spathulate folioles, opposite the anthers. 

 Other characters as in Brachystelma. — Thes. Cap. t. 93. 



Herbs, with tuberous roots, etc., as in Brachystelma ; from which this 

 genus differs in the structure of its corona, and very generally by the co- 

 hering tips of the corolla-lobes. D. Gerrardi and another unpublished 

 species from Natal want this character, and differ slightly from the rest 

 in habit. — There are several species, 



37. MACROPETALUM, Burch. mss. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-parted, the segments narrow- 

 linear, very slender, reflexed. Corona 5-parted ; folioles acu- 

 minate, attenuate, overtopping the erect gynostege, sagittate- 

 eared at base, the ears rounded. Anthers tipped with a small 

 membrane. Pollinia erect, subobovate, on one side and below 

 with the margin pellucid, afiixed to a small corpuscle. Stigma 

 conoid, scarcely overtopping the stamens, 5-angled at base. 

 Pollicles erect, slender, the adult coalescing below, free above, 

 glabrous. — DC. Prod. viii. p. 626. 



M. Burchellii^ Dene., is a very slender, glabrous, straight, erect herb, 

 with lihform leaves, and pale green flowers, 3-5 together, on extra-axillary 

 pedicels. — Found by Burchell between Klaar-water and Litakun. 



R 



