366 xcn. scrophulariace,e (hemsley and skan). [Alectra. 



by Drege, near Durban, at an elevation of less than 100 ft. It has slender, simple 

 stems (or is only branched from the base)., bearing few, very small flowers ; besides 

 presenting other differences. The only other specimen we have identified with this 

 species is Galpin's No. 847, from near Barberton, Transvaal, at an elevation of 

 2800-3000 ft. Among the extratropical South African specimens referred to 

 A. or obanchoides there are perhaps one or two other distinct species. A. pumila, 

 Benth., from numerous localities, is uniformly dwarf and tufted. The Abyssinian 

 A. parasitica, Rich., which has also been referred to A. orobanchoides, differs 

 entirely in habit and in having glabrous filaments. 



5. A. parvifolia, Schinz'in Verh. Bot. Ver. Branclenb. xxxi. (1890) 

 195. An almost leafless, hispid root-parasite, changing black in drying. 

 Stems simple or slightly branched from near the base, sometimes 

 clustered, about a foot high. Leaves few, distant, opposite in the lower 

 part of the stem, but mostly alternate, sessile, rather thick, ovate- 

 oblong, largest about J in. long, obtuse. Flowers numerous, crowded, 

 distinctly pedicellate ; lower pedicels J in. long. Bracts similar to the 

 leaves, snorter than the flowers. Bracteoles filiform, about half as long 

 as the calyx. Calyx hispid, about 3-4 lin. long, 10-costate, nearly 

 equally 5-lobed ; lobes ovate, obtuse, hairy on both sides. Corolla ^ in. 

 or more across, 15 -nerved ; lobes nearly equal, rounded. Stamens nearly 

 equal; filaments all strongly bearded ; anther-cells nearly equal, slightly 

 oblique, obtuse. — Gelsia parvifolia, Engl. Jahrb. x. 252. 



Xiower Guinea. Angola : Ambriz, Monteiro ! Damaraland : near Usakos, 

 3000 ft. Marloth, 1273 ! Upingtonia, Schinz, 12 ! 



Specimens collected in Ngamiland by Mrs. Lugard, 186, and Captain E. J. Lugard, 

 171, may also belong to this species. 



6. A. Kirkii, Hemsl. An erect, almost leafless, or slightly hispid 

 pubescent, parasitic herb, changing black in drying. Stem 1~2 ft. high, 

 straight, \-\ in. thick at the base, usually bearing a few slender, short 

 branches about the middle, floriferous two-thirds of its length. Leaves 

 few, alternate, mostly scale-like ; lower adpressed, rounded ; upper 

 narrow, lanceolate, somewhat acute, longest about |- in. Flowers numer- 

 ous but not overlapping ; lower distinctly pedicellate. Bracts similar 

 to the leaves, adnate to the base of the pedicels, shorter than the 

 flowers. Bracteoles linear, shorter than the calyx, persistent. Calyx 

 thin, hispid, less than \ in. long, 10-nerved, almost equally 5-lobed ; 

 lobes deltoid, scarcely acute, shorter than the tube. Corolla less 

 than % in. long. Filaments all hairy ; anther-cells nearly equal, 

 obtuse. 



Mozamtt. Uist. German East Africa : Usambara, Scheffler, 131 ! Umba 

 Valley, Smith ! Zambesi Delta : Kongone River, Kirk ! British Central Africa : 

 Nyasaland ; Plateau of Mount Zomba, 5000-6000 ft., Whyte ! 



This is one of several species that have been referred to A. orobancltoides, Benth., 

 from which it is quite different in habit and larger flowers. 



7. A. parasitica, A. Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss, ii. 117. An almost 

 leafless root-parasite, changing black in drying. Stems slender, erect, 



