204 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



A pretty and very distinct species of the genus. In habit it resembles 

 C. ramosissimus, Wight (Ic. t. 1416), a plant of Scindh and Beloochistan. But 

 that species is not so hoary, has pedicellate flowers arranged in racemes, and a 

 nearly orbicular fruit. The other species of the genus are distinguished by 

 their virgate habit. 



This is another very interesting find from the point of view of geographical 

 distribution, as all the other species have a limited distribution, and none are 

 African. 



10. STKIGA. 



Striga, Lour. Flor. Cochinch. 22 ; Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. ii. 968. 



A genus of about eighteen species of mostly root-parasites, inhabitants of 

 the tropical regions of the old world. Both the Socotran plants have a wide 

 range in Africa and south-west Asia, and one reaches Australia. 



1. S. orobanchoides, Benth. in Comp. Bot. Mag. i. 361, t. 19, and in DC. 

 Prod. x. 501 ; Ach. Rich. Tent. Flor. Abyss, ii. 129 ; Wight Ic. t. 1414. 



S. orchidea, Hochst. in herb. Kotscb. Nub. n. 387. 

 Buchncra orobanchoides, B. Br. in Salt. Abyss, app. 



For the extensive synonymy of this species see Bentham loc. cit. 



Socotra. Common on the plains. Parasitic on species of Vitis. B.C.S. 

 n. 38. Schweinf. n. 700 in lit. 



Distrib. Tropical Africa, south Africa, and north-west India. 



2. S. hirsuta, Benth. in DC. Prod. x. 502 ; Ach. Rich. Tent. Flor. Abyss, 

 ii. 132. 



X lutea, Bentb. in Comp. Bot. Mag. i. 363 (non Lour. Flor. Cochincb. 22). 

 S. pusilla, Hocbst. in berb. Scbimp. Abyss, sect. ii. n. 1209. 

 S. gracilis, Miq. PI. Ind. Or. (ed. Hobenack.) n. 141. 

 Campulcia coccinea, Hook. Exot. Flor. iii. t. 203. 



For the rest of an extensive synonymy see Bentham loc. cit. 



Socotra. Not uncommon on the plains about Galonsir. B.C.S. n. 142. 



Distrib. Throughout India, islands of Indian Ocean, Abyssinia, and 

 tropical Africa, and in Australia. 



A very variable species in the colour of its flower ; and it has been described 

 under a great number of names. Bentham originally identified this plant with 

 S. lutea, Lour.; but that is described as glabrous, and we never observe this 

 character in our plant. In Socotra the flowers vary in tint from white to purple. 



11. GRADERIA. 



Gradcria, Benth. in DC. Prod. x. 521 ; Bentb. et Hook. Gen. PI. ii. 970. 



A small genus of three species. Hitherto this genus has been considered 

 monotypic, having its only representative in South Africa, — G. scabra, Benth. ; 



