13 



PLATE 261. 



Cadaba natalensis, Sond. (Fl. Cap. Vol. 1, p. 59.) 

 Natural Order, Cappabidk^. 



A divaricately branched shrub with ash-coloured bark, and long, terete, 

 glabrous twigs. Leaves petiolate, alternate, closely placed on very short depau- 

 perated branchlets ; oblong to obovate-oblong, retuse, mucronulate, entire, very 

 minutely puberulous on upper surface above, midvein distinct, lateral ones im- 

 mersed; 1 to 1-| inches long, 4 to lines wide in centre, petiole 2 to 4 lines long, 

 pubescent on upper surface. Inflorescence solitary, the peduncles borne in axils 

 of the leaves. Peduncles slender, recurved, 1 to 1-| inch long. Sepals 4, unequal, 

 in opposite pairs, the two outer (upper and lower) enclosing the others in bud, 

 concave, acute, reddish brown ; two inner ones of equal size, but flat, ovate, with 

 numerous stalked white glands on both surfaces, veiny ; all ciliate with transparent 

 cellular hairs. Petals none. Stamens 5, on the upper portion of the stipe-like 

 torus (gynophore) which bears the ovary, 4 being near the summit, and one lower 

 down on the torus; filaments slender, anthers oblong, 2-ce]led, soon deciduous. 

 Torus elongated, having a flask-shaped, curved nectary at its base, the neck of 

 which is flattened, toothed, and so strongly curved that its mouth approaches 

 closely to the swollen flask-shaped base, 4 to 5 lines long, slit on upper edge. 

 Ovary elongate, 1 -celled, ovules numerous. Fruit cylindrical, about 1 inch long. 



Habitat : Natal : Coast districts; near Verulam, 800 feet alt, July, Wood No. 

 959; near Durban, July, Wood No. 8281; without locality Qerrard Sf McKen, 

 No. 629. 



This genus includes about 15 species natives of Tropical and South Africa, 

 Arabia, Bast Indies, and Madagascar ; two are found in South Africa, but the one 

 here described is the only one inhabiting Natal, the other one described in the 

 Flora Capensis, Vol.1, p. 50, as Schepperia juncea, Neck, being confined to the 

 Cape Colony. 



Fig. 1, flower ; 2, nectary at base of the torus ; all enlarged. 



