Plate 70. 



ochna peetoriensis. 



Transvaal. 



Ochnaceae. Tribe Ochnaceae. 

 Ochna, Schreh. ■ Benth. et ffoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 317. 



Ochna pretoriensis, Phillips, sp. nov. Rami glabri. Folia 1-5-3-8 cm. 

 longa, 0-5-1-7 cm. lata, lanceolata, obovata, elliptica vel oblanceolata, 

 apice obtusa, basi cuneata, marginibus serratis. Flores solitarii vel 

 2-nati. Pedicelli 1-1*5 cm. longi, basi articulati. Sepala 7-8 mm. longa, 

 4-5 mm. lata, ovata vel elliptica, apice rotundata, aliquando 2-3-lobata. 

 Petala 1*5 cm. longa, 9*5 mm, lata, obovata, apice rotundata, basi 

 unguiculata. Filamenta 4-5 mm. longa, apice articulata. Ovarium 

 4~5-loculare ; stylus 5 mm. longus, apice 4-5-lobatus. 



This Ochna, which is found in the Transvaal around 

 Pretoria and at Messina, has hitherto been confused with 

 0. atropurpurea, but is easily distinguished from that species 

 by the larger more expanded flowers and the non-pustulate 

 branches. The latter character distinguishes O. atropurpurea 

 from all the other South African species of the genus. 



Our plate was prepared from specimens collected on 

 Meintjes Kop, Pretoria, by Mr. D. J. Fouche in September, 

 1921. It is a low spreading bush, and at this time of the year 

 is one mass of sweet-smelling yellow flowers. The leaves do 

 not appear until December or January, and it is then that the 

 green sepals enlarge and turn a blood-red colour and surround 

 the black fruit. The plant, therefore, either in flower or fruit 

 makes a very ornamental shrub and well worth the attention 

 of cultivators. 



The genus Ochna contains several species producing 

 valuable timber. 



Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, 

 Pretoria (Herb. Nos. 1422, 1491). 



Description : — Branches with light to dark brown bark, 

 peeling off in membranous strips, not pustulate. Leaves 

 l'5-3'8 cm. long, -5-1-7 cm. broad, lanceolate, obovate, 



