Plate 79. 



BAUHINIA Galpinii. 



Transvaal. 



Leguminosae. Tribe Bauhinieae. 

 Bauhinia, Linn.; Benth. et Hooh.f. Oen. Plant, vol. i. p. 575. 



Bauhinia Galpinii, N. E. Br. in Oard. Chron., 1891, p. 728 ■ Hook. Ic. PI. 1. 19. 



This handsome Bauhinia, known in the Transvaal as " The 

 Pride of de Kaap," is a common plant in the low veld east of 

 the Drakensberg. It is a low half-climbing bush, and when 

 in flower is a striking object in the veld, the bright red 

 flowers standing out in sharp contrast to the surrounding 

 vegetation. Specimens were first sent to Kew in 1880 by- 

 Mr. T. Nelson, and later Mr. E. E. G-alpin sent material 

 which he collected at Barberton. The plant lends itself to 

 cultivation, and may be kept as a trimmed bush in lawns, etc. 

 If left to grow unchecked it becomes very lanky. Our plate 

 was prepared from a specimen growing in the garden of the 

 Division of Botany, Pretoria, and the plant has grown to a 

 height of about 30 ft. up a tree of Cupressus sempervirens, var. 

 pyramidalis. In cultivation, at least in Pretoria, very few 

 seeds are produced. Specimens are preserved in the National 

 Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1601). 



Description : — A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height 

 of 5-30 ft. Branches with light-brown bark, minutely 

 pubescent. Leaves petioled ; lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5*5 cm. 

 broad, more or less reniform in outline, lobed above, sub- 

 cordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and 

 prominent beneath, glabrous ; petioles 8-1*5 cm. long, convex 

 beneath, channelled above. Stipules 3 mm. long, deciduous. 

 Flowers in 3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. Bracts 

 and bracteoles 3 mm. long, setaceous, deciduous. Buds light 

 brown, acuminate, pubescent. Calyx-tube, 2-2*7 cm. long ; 

 limb spathaceous, unilateral in open flowers. Petals long- 

 clawed ; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed ; limb 



