15 



PLATE 213. 



Calophanbs Btjrkei T. And. (in Journ. Linn. Soc. vii. (1864) 24). 

 Natural Order, Aoanthacej;. 



A low growing plant from a thick woody root. Stems erect or decumbent, 

 6-12 inches long, branched from base, striate, strongly ribbed or quadrangular, 

 retrorsely hispid with whitish hairs, older ones subglabrous. Leaves opposite, 

 petiolat^-, exstipulate, ovate, entire, obtuse at apex, cuneate at base, veins immersed 

 but plainly visible on both siiies, very finely pubescent on both surfaces, 6-10 lines 

 long, 4-7 lines broad ; petiole flattened abov=, rounded beneath, l-|-3 lines long. 

 Flowers axillary, 1-3 together, white. Calyx 5-parted nearly to base, lobes 

 setaceous, similar, 5 lines long, glandularly pubescent. Corolla tube laterally com- 

 pressed, widening to throat, 15-7 lines long, limb 5-lobed, bilabiate, upper lip 2 

 cleft, its teeth connate below, lower 3 cleft, lobes equal or nearly so, oblanceolate, 

 2-3 lines long. Stamens 2, exserted, filaments flattened below and decurrent on 

 the upper portion of the tube of the corolla for nearly its whole length ; anthers 

 2-celled, cells parallel, very shortly spurred, deep lilac. Ovary superior, elongate, 

 surrounded at base by a swollen yellow disk, 2-celled, cells 2-seeded. Style 

 equalling stamens, stigma filiform, compressed, recurved and brown below the 

 apex. Capsule compressed, included in the unaltered calyx, 2-valved. 



Habitat : Natal : In open grassy ground from the coast to the Drakensberg. 

 Near Durban, Wood 1157; Inanda, 1,800 feet alt, Wood 213. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, February, 1900. 



The genus Calophanes contains about 50 or more species, natives of tropical 

 and subtropical countries. In South Africa we have about 6 species, three of 

 which are found in Natal, and there are 6 others in Tropical Africa, none of the 

 species have any useful properties so far as known to us. The species above 

 described is common in most parts of the Colony, usually on hill sides amongst 

 grass, or occasionally on stony hills, but never in the bush. 



Fig. 1 , a flower ; 2, calyx opened ; 3, corolla opened ; 4, section of corolla 

 showing insertion of stamens; 5, stamen; 6, pistil; 7, capsule; 8, valve of capsule 

 with seeds in situ; all enlarged. 



