PLATE 332. 
VERNONIA VERNONEDLA, Harv. (FI. Cap. Vol. II, p. 53.) 
Natural Order, Comrosit2. 
A perennial glabrous plant throwing up several stems from a woody root. 
Stems furrow-striate, 6 to 15 inches long. Leaves linear-oblong, entire, narrowed 
to base, acute, sessile, 1-veined, 1 to 24 inches long, smaller upwards, margins a 
little recurved. Heads terminal, solitary, pedunculate, many flowered, ? to 14 inch 
diameter, flowers purple. Involucral scales in several rows, oblong, obtuse, 
glabrous, margins irregularly lacerate. Pappus in two series, outer ones much the 
shortest, of very short narrow scales, inner of many long, minutely serrate, dull 
coloured bristles. Corollas tubular, very deeply 5-fid, lobes lanceolate. Stamens 
5, filaments smooth ; anthers sagittate. Achenes densely silky. 
Habitat: Nava: Guienzius No. 384; Inyaninga, near Verulam, 200 feet alt, 
November, Wood, No. 2848; Mount Edgecombe, 200 feet alt, November, Wood. 
This plant does not appear to be very common; we have only met with it in 
the localities quoted, both being only a mile or two from the sea-coast.. It would 
seem to be confined to Natal. It does not appear to be known to the natives, who 
probably confuse it with V. monocephala, or V. Gerrardi, from both of which it is 
easily distinguished by its broad, obtuse, lacerate involucral scales. It is a rather 
coarse looking plant and is scarcely worthy of cultivation. 
>. Fig. 1, involucral scale; 2, floret ; 3, achene; all enlarged. 
