15 



PLATE 263. 



Phytolacca abyssinica, Hoffm. (in Comm. Getting XII, (1796), 27). 

 Natural Order, Phytolaocace^. 



A climbing shrub with greenish white flowers. Root thick, somewhat suc- 

 culent, ytem and branches green, terete, glabrous and shining. Leaves alternate, 

 petiolate, exstipulate, entire, ovate, glabrous, herbaceous, veins pinnate, midvein 

 very prominent beneath, lamina 3 to 4 inches long, by 2 to 3 inches wide ; petiole 

 fleshy, 1 to 1^ inch long. Inflorescence in axillary and terminal, many flowered 

 racemes, which reach to 6 inches or more in length, and are floriferous from base 

 to apex. Perianth 5-parted, 2-lines in diameter, the segments ovate, reflexed, 

 concave, minutely glandular, pubescent and ciliate, with a tuft of white hairs at 

 apex internally ; bracteate at base, the upper bract similar to the perianth seg- 

 ments, but a little smaller than them, 1 to 2 lower ones small ; pedicels 1 to 3 lines 

 long, minutely pubescent. Stamens 10-15-20, somewhat irregularly inserted on 

 disk at base of perianth segments, and much exserted ; filaments subulate, flattened 

 at base; anthers 2-celled, oblong, basifixed, splitting. Carpels 5, connate at base, 

 minutely glandular, 1 -celled, 1-ovuled; style very short, stigma minute, truncate, 

 papillose. Fruit fleshy, the 5 connate carpels each tipped with remains of the per- 

 sistent style ; yellow when ripe. 



Habitat: Natal: Coast and midlands; Umhloti valley, ca 1,000 feet alt, July, 

 Wood No. 949; Umlasi location, 800 feet alt, July, Wood; Botha's Hill, Wood; 

 near Pinetown, 800 feet alt, July, Wood No. 8279. 



This genus includes more than 20 species, two only of which are indigenous 

 in Natal, but a third one, P. odandm, a native of Japan has made its appearance 

 in the Colony and has spread considerably especially along the railway lines, and 

 it is said to be injurious to cattle. Our two indigenous species belong to the same 

 section of the genus, and the other one was figured and described in Vol. 1 of the 

 present work, Plate 3. Both of these species are considered by the natives to be 

 poisonous, and are known by the same name " Mahaden." 



Fig. 1, flower; 2, carpels in situ, one only complete; 3, disk and stamens, 

 carpels removed ; 4, stamens, back and front view ; all enlarged. 



