PLATE 254. 



DiCMPTEEA HETEEOSTEGiA, Nees. (Presl., Bot. Bemerk, 95 ; Nees in D.C., 



Prod. XI., 478). 

 Natural Order, Acanthacej?. 



A herbaceous plant with white or pale lilac flowers. Steins 18 inches to 2 

 feet long, but sometimes by the aid of adjacent plants reaching to four feet or 

 more in length, branching, and both stems and branches angularly furrowed, and 

 pilose with whitish hairs on the angles, swollen above the nodes. Leaves opposite, 

 petiolate, ovate, entire, tapering gradually to the petiole, and to an obtuse apex, 

 veins conspicuous on both surfaces ; 1^ to 4 inches long, 1 to 2-J inches wide ; 

 petioles flattened above, rounded beneath, pilose, reaching to two inches long. In- 

 florescence axillary, cymose, bracteate, the bracts opening away from the axis. 

 Flowers pale lilac. Bracts 2, opposite, unequal in size, enclosing 1 to 3 flowers, 

 one or two of which are often abortive ; the back one largest, ovate acuminate, 

 entire, 7-veined from base, green, pilose on both surfaces, ciliate ; 4 to 8 lines 

 long, front one obtuse, 4-lines long, bracteoles two to each flower, subulate, shorter 

 than bracts, a little longer than the calyx segments, pubescent. Calyx 5-parted 

 nearly to base, lobes linear-setaceous, 2-lines long. Corolla 2-lipped, the apparent 

 upper lip 3-toothed, suberect, lower emarginate or entire, recurved, tube com- 

 pressed, twisted, a little inflated at throat ; 6 to 9 lines long. Stamens 2, inserted 

 on corolla at throat, filaments equalling corolla lobes in length ; anther cells super- 

 posed, pointless, lilac. Ovary superior, 2-celled, seated on a cupular disk, cells 2- 

 ovuled ; style filiform, pilose, ec^ualling stamens, 2-lobed. Capsule suborbicular, 

 laterally compressed ; on a thick solid stalk, finely pilose especially round the mar- 

 gin ; with a thickened green projection at apex. Seeds disciform, muricate. 



Habitat: Natal: Coast districts; Clairmont; 50 feet alt, Wuod No. 1309 ; near 

 Durban, 150 feet alt. May, Wood No. 4880. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, June, 1901. 



The genus Dicliptera includes 50 or more species widely spread in warm 

 regions of the world. In South Africa we have three or four species, two at least 

 of which are found in Natal. The species here described is usually found at edges 

 of bush, its stem are often elongated and supported by the adjoining plants. It 

 has no known economic value, nor can I learn that the natives have any distinctive 

 name for it. 



Fig. 1, flower and bract ; 2, corolla opened showing attachment of stamens ; 3, 

 ovary, style and stigma; 4, capsule; 5, valve of same showing attachment of 

 ovules ; all enlarged. 



