PLATE 618. 



DoMBBTA BuEaESSM, Gbke. (F1. Cap. Vol. II, p. 590.) 

 Natural Order, STEEOULiACBiE. 



A much branched shrub, 8 to 10 feet high, with large handsome leaves and 

 bearing numeious white flowers with pink centre. Branches when young densely 

 pilose with white hairs; leaves petiolate, stipulate, orbicular in general outline, 

 cordate at base, shortly and bluntly 3 to 5 lobed, 7 veined, main veins prominent 

 beneath, softly and densely pilose on both surfaces; 8 to 11 inches long and wide, 

 petiole up to 10 inches long, swollen at base and apex, densely pilose like the 

 leaves ; stipules lanceolate, 3|- lines long, soon deciduous. Inflorescence cymoso- 

 corymbose, axillary, many flowered, open flowers 1;^ inch diameter; peduncles 

 equaling the petioles, pilose; pedicels :| to 1 inch long; involucral leaflets 3, 

 ovato-lanceolate, 5 to 6 lines long, 1|- line wide, unilateral, very soon deciduous. 

 Calyx 5-parted, lobes lanceolate, 8 lines long, 2 lines wide, pilose. Corolla of 5 

 unequal-sided subovate, marcescent petals with broadly truncate apex, white with 

 deep pink centre, the colour radiating in fine lines for varying distances from the 

 base. Stamens 15 with 5 staminodes, all connate in a tube at base, the stamens 

 unequal in length, the longest shorter than the staminodes, all antheriferous, the 

 anthers oblong, erect, slitting; staminodes filiform, clavate, white. Ovary 

 superior, globose, densely tomentose, 5-celled, ovules 2-3 in each cell, collateral; 

 style slender, 5-cleft at apex, the arms revolute, stigmatose on inner surface. 

 Capsule coriaceous, septicidal, ^ inch diameter. 



Habitat: Natal: Elip River district,Cerra7-(Z ; Zululand, ilicZie^i; in Botanic 

 Gardens, Durban 150 feet, March, Wood 11094. 



This species was found by the late M, J. McKen in Zululand, and planted by him 

 in the Durban Botanic Gardens, where it or its descendant still is ; at any rate the 

 writer has known this particular plant for 26 years, and it must have been planted 

 at least 12 years before the writer saw it ; it is a very handsome shrub, and bears 

 its flowers in profusion during the season. The writer has also seen the plant on 

 the slopes of the Drakensberg, but was not fortunate enough to find it in flower. 

 The specific name was given by Mr. Gerrard in honour of Miss Burgess of 

 Birkenhead. Two other species of this genus have been figured in this work, 

 1). natalensis, Sond, in Vol. I, pi, 90 ; D. rotundijolia, Planch, in Vol. Ill, pi. 228, 

 two other species D. Dregeana, Sond and D. cymosa, Harv., are known in Natal, 

 they are natives of the midland and upper districts. The shoots are used by the 

 natives for making rough baskets, and the leaves for polishing the head rings of 

 the old men. 



Fig. 1, bud, showing involucel; 2, sepal; 3, petal; 4, portion of etaminal 

 tube ; 5, staminode ; 6, pistil ; 7, cross section of ovary ; figs, 1 and 8 natural size, 

 remainder enla/rged. 



