PLATE 302. 
EvPHORBIA NATALENSIS, Bernh. (ex Krauss in Fiora XXVITI. (1845), 86). 
Natural Order, HurHorBracran. 
A low undershrub, having one or many stems from a woody root. Stems 
erect, terete, simple, minutely pubescent; 6 to 18 imches high. Leaves thickly 
scattered on the stem, subsessile, linear-oblong, quite entire, rounded at each end, 
mucronate at apex, patent, dark green above, glaucous beneath; 2 to 1 inch long, 
134 to 2 lines wide, the upper ones or floral leaves much wider. Inflorescence of 
many male and a solitary female flower, enclosed in a cup-like involucre; the 
involucres in terminal or subterminal compound cymes. Bracts 2, sub-rotund, 
emarginate, margins entire, mucronate, light green, longer than the involucre; 3 
to 4 lines long, 14 to 2 lines wide. Involucre campanulate with 5 quadrangular 
lacerate lobes. Glands 4, on margin of involucre, shortly stalked, flattened, and 
irregularly toothed on upper portion, or entire; yellow-green. Male flowers 
numerous, without floral envelopes, mixed with numerous filiform pilose bracteoles. 
Filaments each on a pilose pedicel, and globose at base, glabrous ; anthers 2-celled, 
cells distinct, globose. Female flower pedicelled, pedicel pilose, much longer than 
the involucre, and usually much recurved. Floral envelopes none. Ovary sub- 
globose, 3 cells, cells 1-ovuled. Styles 3, 2-fid; stigmas obtuse. Capsule, 3- 
coccous, cocci elastically 2-valved. 
Habitat : Nata: Clairmont, 50 feet alt., February, Wood, No. 1429; Inanda, 
Wood; near Durban, August, Wood. 
A rather pretty plant, which is not uncommon in the coast and midland dis- 
tricts. It will be noticed that though the involucre is 5-lobed the glands are 4 
only and alternate with the lobes, the place of the 5th gland being occupied by the 
bending pedicel of the ovary which springs from the centre of the involucre, and 
becomes strongly recurved, the ovary turning completely over. A secondary 
peduncle frequently proceeds from the primary pair of floral leaves, occasionally, 
perhaps, more than one. 
The sap of the plant is milky, but does not appear to have vesicatory proper- 
ties. The natives have no name for it, and do not appear to use it in any way. 
Fig. 1, flower head; 2, same opened two glands removed; 3, a gland; all 
enlarged, 
