2-12 LXXX. ASCLEPIADE^. 



38. DECACEBAS, Harv. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla somewhat bell-shaped, spreading, 

 deeply 5-lobed ; lobes ovate, subacute. Corona double ; the 

 outer cup-like, 10-toothed round the edge, the teeth approach- 

 ing in pairs ; inner of 5 subulate, simple folioles, opposite the 

 anthers, inserted considerably within the margin of the cup. 

 Otlier characters as in Brachystelma and Dichalia. — Thes. Cap. 

 t. 114. 



Scarcely diiferent from Dichalia, except in the form of the corolla, and 

 the complete confluence of the parts of outer corona. — D. HiUtoni, H., 

 grows on Botha's Hill, Grahamstovvu. 



39. MICRASTER, Harv. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla shortly and widely bell-shaped, 

 5-lobed ; lobes acuminate, spreading. Corona gamophyllous, 

 membranous, saucer-shaped, with 5 very short truncate lobes, 

 separated by shallow, rounded sinuses, and each bearing on its 

 face a fleshy ridge (or adnate inner foliole ?) opposite the an- 

 ther. Other characters as in Brachystelma. 



M. pulchellus, H., sent from Natal by Mr. Sanderson (342), is a trailing 

 herb ; root unknown to me. Stems simple ? Leaves ovate, acute, petioled, 

 in subdistant pairs, small. Flowers axillary, dark i^urple, 2-3 lines dia- 

 meter, resembling a minute starfish. It is known from Brachystelma by 

 its corona only. 



40. LOPHOSTEPHUS, Harv. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate-bellshaped, spreading, 

 5-lobed ; lobes ovoid, fleshy, margined, straight in bud. Co- 

 rona deeply 5-parted, the folioles deeply -2-6(1, bearing on the 

 inside (opposite the anthers) a very long, strap-shaped, taper- 

 pointed process. Anthers nude at tip. Pollinia ovoid, erect, 

 basifixed, with the apex and part of inner margin pellucid. 

 Stigma 5-angled, depressed. — Thes: Cap. t. 113. 



A trailing, softly leafy plant, with many fascicled, somewhat fleshy roots. 

 Leaves cordate. Flowers small, with white tube, and brown, velvety 

 limb, in peduncled, lateral umbels. — One described species {L. mollis^ H.), 

 from the Eastern mountains. 



41. SISYRANTHUS, E. Mey. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla bcri-shaped, with acute sinuses, 5- 

 lobed ; lobes erect, short, either bearded within or nude. 

 G-ynostege included. Corona 5-parted ; foholes short, broad, 

 3-cuspidate, the cusps bluntly deltoid. Anthers nude or cili- 

 ate at tip. Pollinia erect, oblong, pellucid obliquely at the 

 apex. Stigma depressed. — DC. Prod. viii. p. 496 ; Thes. Cap. 

 t. 115, 116. 



Erect, virgate, very slender, rigid herbs, with many fascicled, somewhat 



