PLATE 351 
GazaNIA LONGISCAPA, D.C., var (Fl. Cap. Vol. 3, p. 474). 
Natural Order, Composrvar. 
A perennial herb, bearing yellow flowers. Leaves many, all radical, narrowly 
linear, widened and sheathing at base, glabrous and green on upper surface, 
deeply channelled on face, lower surface covered w ith dense white tomentum 
except the midrib which is green, glabrous, very prominent and occupies nearly 
half the aes of leaf, margins scabrous with minute horny prickles ; 6 to 9 
inches long, 1 to 2 lines wide in upper portion, gradually tapering to a channelled 
petiole, which in the lower and sheathing ee reaches 3 lines in width. 
Peduncles much longer than the leaves, I-headed, glabrous. Heads radiate, 
involucral scales in 2 series, connate halt way in a cup which is truncate, or 
intruse at base, outer scales longest, subulate, inner ones a little broader, all 
sparsely ciliate. May florets, neuter, unilabiate: disk florets tubular, 5-toothed, 
perfect. Pappus of very delicate, scarious, lanceolate, toothed scales completely 
hidden in the wool of the achene, and connate at the base. Anthers sagittate at 
base. Style arms rounded and truncate. Achenes completely covered with long 
silky hairs. 
Habitat: Nata: Zululand, Ginginhlovu, ca 500 feet alt. August, J. Wylie, 
(Wood No. 8777). Same locality, August, J. Wylie. (Wood, No. 9405). 
The genus Gazania contains about 24 species, all natives of South Africa, 
and at least + of these are found in Natal. The species here figured appears to 
be a variety of G. longiscapa, from the type of which species it differs by its much 
narrower leaves which in our specimens are all quite simple, not pinnatifid, and 
also by its smaller flower heads. It is known to the natives as u-Benhle; they 
gather the leaves and place them for a few days under a heap of ashes, and when 
decayed they beat them until the fibre is separated, which is twisted into fine 
cords and used for making the fringe worn by the young girls. Sometimes the 
fibre is scraped from the leaf with the finger nails, and twisted without previous 
rotting. 
Fig. 1, involucre opened; 2, ray floret; 3, disk floret; 4, stamens; 5, style 
and stigma. All enlarged. 
