98 MB HIERN, ON EBENACE^E. 



in diameter, pubescent or glabrescent, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Testa intruded some distance into 

 the albumen. 



A very variable species, and in some cases difficult to separate from E. ovata, BurcL, to 

 which possibly it ought to be united ; it is also nearly related to E. divinorum. It is called 

 Omgwali by the Kaffirs, according to Dr Pappe. 



South Africa; Cape Colony, Namaqualand, Natal and Trans-Vaal ; common. Massonf; 

 Burchell! 4880, 4938, 5648; Drege! ; Ecklon! 1123. Uitenhage, Harvey I 575, 690; Zeyher! 

 3355,3357,3359?; Bothasberg, in stony places at 2000ft. alt. Mac Owan! 902; Bruintjies 

 Hoghte, 4000 ft. alt. Mac Owan! 1740; Albany, T. Williamson!; Caffraria, Bowker! 324; 

 Namaqualand, Drege!; Natal, Gerrard! 33, 528, 1155, 1156, 1605; Macalisberg, Trans-Vaal, 

 Burke ! 



Dr Welwitsch has collected the following forms from Benguela: 



a. Leaves glabrous and shining, young ones lepidote; branches spreading. 



Benguela, Distr. Bumbo, 15 South Latitude, 2000 ft. altitude ; shrub, 8 ft. high, in thickets ; 

 in male flower at end of October; Dr Welwitsch f n. 2548. Distr. Mossamedes; much branched 

 shrub, 5 8 ft. high, branches occasionally 3 or 4 together; <J flowers of pale rose-colour; 

 frequent in rocky places near the river Meriombo in company with Tamarix articulata and 

 Ximenia americana, from Pedra de Rei almost to Bumbo ; Dr Welwitsch ! n. 2547. Distr 

 Huilla ; shrub 4 6 ft. high, with rather rigid and tortuous ramification ; 2 flowers fallen ; 

 ovary hairy; at margins of woods between Mumpulla and Nene, at end of October; Dr 

 Welwitsch ! n. 2549. Distr. Benguela ; shrub 4 6 ft. high, with virgate usually opposite 

 branches; in maritime thickets near the city of Benguela; fruit in middle of June; Dr 

 Welwitsch! n. 2545. Distr. Mossamedes; shrub, occasionally arborescent, 7 12 ft. high, ever- 

 green ; frequent in sandy and rocky thickets very near the river Bero ; July ; native name 

 Nboto or Emboto ; fruit edible, berries red ; Dr Welwitsch ! n. 2546. 



/3. Leaves and shoots pubescent. Branches ascending. 



Benguela, Distr. Huilla; small shrub 1 1J ft. high; flowers white; in somewhat stony 

 thickets near Mumpulla, not unfrequent ; male flower in October ; Dr Welwitsch ! n. 2550 ; 

 Cfr. E. ovata, Burch. Distr. Huilla ; small shrub 1 1 J ft. high, subcoespitose ; frequent in 

 steep pastures on right bank of river Lopollo in company with small myrtaceous plants ; flowers 

 in November, fruits in February; Dr Welwitsch! nn. 2551, 2552. 



The following two specimens may also belong to this variable species: 



Distr. Huilla ; a small shrub, 6 8 in. high, from a woody base ; fruit dark purple, edible, 

 in. in diameter ; in moist sandy thickets on the right bank of the river Lopollo in com- 

 pany with small species of Eugenia and Celastrus ; fruit in January ; Dr Welwitsch ! n. 2553. 

 Arborescent shrub ; in thickets on the sides of large rocks ; Pedras de Guinga, Angola. Distr. 

 Pungo Andongo; March, in young fruit; Dr Welwitsch! n. 1247. 



9. EUCLEA OVATA, Burch. Trav. Int. S. Afr. i. p. 387 (1822). 



E. foliis ellipticis vel acute ovatis, oppositis vel alternis, plerumque apiculatis, breviter 

 petiolatis, rigidis, margine planis et minute crenulatis vel undulatis et integerrimis ; cymis 

 racemosis, 3 *l-ftoris ; floribus sub-dicecis vel polygamis ; calyce depresso-campanulato ; corolla 



