EE “LHORNe PEARS 
(Scolopia spp.). 
By E. P. PHILLIPS, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., Division of Botany, Pretoria. 
THE genus Scolopia was founded by Siri: in 1789, and the following year Loudon 
established the genus Phoberos for the same group of plants. It is under the latter name that 
the species are described in the “ Flora (apensis.” The genus is included by Bentham and 
Hooker under the natural order Birimeae, but Engler only includes the genus Biza in this 
family and places Scolopia in the family Flacourtiacecae. Gilg in Engler’s “ Botanische 
Jahrbiich,” vol. 40, p. 481, gives a list of the African species, and describes a new species 
from the Transvaal, viz. Scolopia Englert. Sim (” Forests and Forest Flora,” p. 126) 
recognized three South African species only, viz. S. Mundi, S. Zeyheri, and S. Flanagan, 
and regards $. Bcklomi and E. Gerrardu as co-specific with S. Zeyher:. My examination of 
herbarium material has led me to recognize S. Zeyheri and S. Ecklonw as specifically distinct, 
and to regard S. Gerrardu and S. Engleri as varieties of S. Hcklonit. A very distinct species of 
the genus, collected at Barberton by Mr. G. Thorncroft, is described here. 
The presence or absence of thorns is evidently not a constant character as Sim notes, 
as specimens sent in by Mr. A. O'Connor from the Woodbush Forest, Transvaal, are stated 
to be sometimes thorny and sometimes thornless. Though this may be the case, yet my 
examination of the genus does not confirm Sim’s suggestion that S. Zeyher: and S. Ecklonii 
are the same species. Both the character of the leaves and the presence or absence of hairs 
on the inflorescence can be used to distinguish them. In herbarium material thorns were 
present on some specimens of S. Zeyhert, and it is only from information supplied by 
Mr. O'Connor that we can be certain of the presence of thorns in S. Eeklonii, as this character 
was not observed in any of the herbarium specimens. Mr. O. B. Miller, commenting on 
specimens collected by him in the Amanzamnyaina and Buffalo Neck Forests, Mount 
Frere District, writes: “ Yesterday J found a very large old ‘red pear’ with several 
sucker shoots growing from the stem at a height of 2 ft. 6 in. from ground-level. So far 
as I could see the rest of the tree was quite unarmed. It is the first time I have ever observed 
a thorned tree of this species, except in the seedling stage, when it is always armed. I have 
since seen anotuer “red pear’ with armed suckers, and the native guard says they are fairly 
common in this district.” 
1 have not seen authentic specimens of S. Hngleri, but have examined Transvaal plants 
which agree with Gile’s description of this species. In some respects it appears to be an 
intermediate form between 5S. Zeyher, and S. Ecklon, having the pubescent inflorescence 
of the former and the leaves of the latter, but the specimens are so similar to S. Eeklonit 
and the distribution limited to the bushveld that I prefer keeping it as a variety of this 
species. I have also decided to place S. Gerrardii asa variety of S. Ecklonii, as though while 
the specimens hitherto placed under the former species have a distinctive appearance 
owing to the size of the leaves, yet the examination of a large series of specimens of 
S. Ecklonii indicated that this species merges into S. Gerrardi. 
I have to thank the Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Schonland, the Directors of the 
Transvaal and South African Museums, for the loan of the material in their respective 
herbaria. 
