VEE GENIS DERSAMA. 
By E. P. PuIuLIps, MA., D.Sc., F.L.S., Botanist in Charge of the 
National Herbarium. 
TEE genus Bersama was monographed by Mr. HE. G. Baker in 1907 (Journ. Bot., XLV, 
p. 12), and two species, viz., B. lucens, Szyszl., and B. tysoniana, Oliv., were described 
from South Africa. From information received from the Union Forest Department, it 
was suspected that other species occurred in the South African forests, and, at the sug- 
gestion of the Chief of the Division of Botany, I undertook the examination of all the 
material in the local herbaria. This has led me to separate two plants as distinct species 
from specimens hitherto always called B. tysoniana. 
The interest in the various species was first aroused by Mr. C. C. Robertson, M F., 
the Senior Research Forest Officer, who sent samples of the bark of B. tysomiana to the 
Imperial Institute for examination, as it was reported that the natives used the bark 
medicinally. The information supplied by Mr. Robertson to the Imperial Institute 
did not tally in some respects with the actual samples forwarded, and he took a good 
deal of trouble to clear up the matter. Weare now in a position to state that the 
information Mr. Robertson received applied to a distinct species which I have named 
B. Swinnyt, while the bark supplied was that of B. tysonzana. Dr. T. R. Sim,* in his 
description of B. tysomiama, falls into the same error, as the tree referred to by Mr. Henkel 
as having “a very bitter bark, like quinine in taste,” is not this species, but quite a 
distinct plant, which [ have named B. Stayner, so his remarks on B. tysoniana do 
not refer to this species alone. Sim suspected the Port St. Johns’ plants to be an 
allied but distinct species, and I have been able to confirm this. It is the plant now 
named B. Swinny. 
Mr. J. J. Kotze, B.Sc., of the Forest Department, who has given me every assistance 
in this work, allowed me to go through the files relating to the genus, and, having the 
actual specimens in the Forestry Herbarium, I was able to clear up some doubtful points. 
All the correspondence referred to plants which went under the name of B. tysoniana and 
the information was confusing until I was able to definitely recognize that three distinct 
species were involved. The information derived from the above source I have tabulated 
under the specific names. 
B. tysoniana. 
The Conservator of Forests, Transkeian Conservancy, states: “ Trees are scattered 
singly, fairly plentifully over most of the mountain forests and where accessible. It is 
a prolific seeder, and I am of opinion that it could be easily propagated artificially under 
mountain forest conditions in its habitat. In collecting the bark, natives do not cut 
down the whole tree, but merely take their requirements from time to time from living 
trees. I can confirm the statement: it is a well-known fact that local natives use the 
bark medicinally.” (Stated that native doctors use the bark asa specific against fevers.— 
(E. P. P.) 
* Sim, “ Forest Flora, Cape Colony,” p. 175. 
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