PLATE 571. 



BouoHBA ODNBiPOLiA, Schauer. (Fl, Cap. Vol. 5, Part 1, p. 201.) 

 Natural Order, Vbrbbnacej;. 



A much branched undershrub, 12 to 18 inches high, with small white flowers. 

 Stems very short, erect, branches more or less tetragonal, with two opposite lines 

 of minute pubescence alternating in successive internodes. Leaves opposite or 

 sub-opposite, exstipulate, petiolate, broadlj cuneate or oblong-cuneate, gradually 

 passing into the short petiole, rounded at apex, coarsely and acutely toothed in 

 upper portion for half to two-thirds of their length, lower portion entire, veins 

 pinnate, obscure, sparsely and minutely ciliate, otherwise nearly glabrous, -^ to 1-| 

 inch long by 3 to 8 lines wide. Inflorescence racemose, racemes lax, 3 to 6 inches 

 long, bracts linear subulate, minutely puberulous, 1-2 lines long, bracteoles 2, trian- 

 gular-subulate, :|- to ^ line long. Calyx tubular, 5-ribbed, 5-toothed, minutely 

 pubescent, 3 to 5 lines long, teeth | to J line long. Corolla tube long, slender, 

 widening to throat, curved, glabrous. 6 to 9 lines long, lobes subequal, rounded, 

 emarginate at apex, glabrous, 2 to 3 lines long. Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted 

 on corolla tube, included, filaments short, anthers ovate, cells parallel. Ovary 2- 

 celled, cells 1-ovuled, ovule basal, erect. Style filiform, bent near apex, with a 

 minute tooth at the bend ; stigma club-shaped. Capsule oblong, enclosed in calyx 

 tube, hard, veiny, the calyx tube splitting longitudinally. 



Habitat : iVatal. Umkomaas, 1,500 feet alt. March, Wood 877; Camperdown, 

 2,000ft. alt., Wood in Govt. Herbarium 7101 October; Camperdown, 2,000 ft. alt., 

 March, Miss Franks {Wood 11664.) ; near Durban, below 400 ft. alt., Drege; near 

 Mooi River, Gerrard Sf McKen 1245 



This genus includes 20 to 30 species, of which 13 are found in south and 5 in 

 tropical Africa, one of which is also in South Africa ; other species inhabit Bast 

 and West Indies. All the African species are low undershrubs, and so far as known 

 to us have no economic value, but the leaves of a South African species, B. pseudo- 

 gervao, have been used in Brazil as a substitute for tea. Of the South African 

 species three only are found in Natal. 



Fig. 1, calyx, bract and bracteole ; 2, corolla tube opened, showing stamens ; 

 3, a stamen ; 4 pistil ; 6, cross section of ovary ; 6, split calyx and capsule ; 7, 

 capsule; 8, longitudinal section of same ; all enlarged. 



