24 



PLATE 247. 



Stetohnos Henningsii, Gilg. (Engl. Jalir. Vol. xvii., p. 669). 

 Natural Order, LoGANiAOEiE. 



A tree reaching 30 to 10 feet in height. Twigs divaricately branching, 

 slightly swollen at nodes, bark light coloured in basal portion, green above. 

 Leaves opposite, petiolate, exstipulate, coriaceous, broadly ovate, rounded and 

 tapering more or less abruptly to base, and more gradually to an obtuse or sub- 

 acute apex, margins entire ; dark green and glossy above, duller and lighter 

 coloured beneath ; 3 to 5 veined at base, vein prominent beneath, only the main 

 ones conspicuous above ; l^ to 3^ inches long, 1 to 2-| inches wide, usually gra- 

 dually diminishing in size downwards on the twig, which terminates with a pair 

 of leaves ; petioles 2 to 3 lines long. Inflorescence cymose, axillary, cymes few 

 flowered, up to one third as long as the leaves, the branches of the cyme decussate, 

 3 to 5 flowered ; peduncles 3 to 6 lines long ; pedicels 2 to 3 lines long. Calyx 

 gamosepalous, 5-lobed, open, green, finely pubescent. Bracts minute, oblong. 

 Corolla gamopetalous, 5 to 6 lobed, tube very short, lobes oblong, acute, 3-ribbed, 

 recurved, fleshy, at first white, afterwards orange, spreading to 3 lines wide. 

 Stamens 5, inserted at apex of corolla tube, alternate with and half as long as the 

 lobes; filaments thick; anthers oblong, 2-celled, dorsifixed, minutely apiculate. 

 Ovary superior,, 2-celled, cells 1-ovuled, globose, glabrous. Style short, stigma 

 capitate, bristly. Fruit a globose berry, ^ inch diameter, orange red when ripe, 

 usually, perhaps always 1-seeded by abortion. Seed globose, 3-lines diameter. 



Habitat: Natal: Coast districts. Berea, 150 feet alt., December, TFood No. 

 6672; 7978. 



A handsome tree found sparingly in coast forests from Tugela to Umzimkulu, 

 and also found by Mr. T. R. Sim of the Cape Forest Department, in Pondoland, 

 where it is known to the natives at Umnonono. The wood is said by Mr. Sim to 

 be used for spokes of wheels. In Natal it is called by the natives um-Oaloti and 

 the bark is used medicinally. We have seen one tree only, and though a good 

 lookout was kept only one ripe fruit was found. The tree bore flowers in abundance, 

 but perhaps on account of the very dry season nearly all the fruits fell off when 

 about the size of peas, so that the solitary one seen, may perhaps have been 

 smaller than usual, though it appeared to be quite perfect ; it has been preserved 

 in the Herbarium. 



Fig, 1, corolla opened ; 2, calyx, ovary, style and stigma ; 3, section of ovary ; 

 all enlarged. 



