Plate 15. 



RICHARDIA REHMANNI. 



Natal, Transvaal, Swaziland. 



Akoideae. Tribe Philodendeeae. 

 Eichardia, Kunth; Benth. et Hook./. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 982. 



Riehardia Rehmanni, N.E. Br. in Garcl. Chron. 1888, vol. iv. p. 570 ; Bot. 

 Mag. t. 7436 ; FJ. Cap. vol. vii. p. 36 ; Wood, Natal Plants, vol. vi. t. 512. 



This species was first collected by the traveller Rehmann 

 and described by Engler in 1883 as Zantedeschia Rehmanni. 

 Among English horticulturists the plant attracted a lot of 

 attention, and was several times referred to in the Gardener's 

 Chronicle. The chief attraction to cultivators is the deep 

 red colour of the spathes, but when grown in English gardens 

 and also in its native climate, the colour varies considerably. 

 Dr. Medley Wood notes that at the Natal Herbarium, Durban, 

 the original deep red colour returned to the plants after being 

 cultivated fifteen years. This loss of colour, however, does not 

 appear to be constant among plants which flowered for the 

 first time at the Division of Botany Gardens, Pretoria, from 

 tubers which were sent by S. G. Marwick, Esq., Assistant 

 Commissioner, Hlatikulu, Swaziland. In these the colour 

 ranged from pale pink to deep red. After fertilization, how- 

 ever, and during the formation of the fruits the colour 

 gradually fades from the spathes and they become green. 

 The species was introduced into England by Mr. R. W. Adlam 

 of Natal, who sent tubers to the Cambridge Botanic Gardens. 

 The leaves vary from a uniform green to green with white 

 markings, or green with darker green markings. 



Our illustration was made from specimens cultivated at 

 the Natal Herbarium, Durban, Natal. 



Description : — Plant about 0*5 metre high. Leaves 3-5, 

 the lower reduced to mere sheaths ; petiole 15-30 cm. long, 

 deeply channelled down the face, rounded on the back, stem- 

 clasping at the base ; blade 40-60 cm. long, 6-8 cm. broad, 

 lanceolate, acute, with a subulate point, narrowed at the base 



