THE SOUTH AFRICAN GERBERAS. 



Distribution. Eastern Region. Natal, Port Natal, Sanderson, 

 154 ! StUherland ! Pietermaritzburg, 2000-3000 feet, Oct. 1858 ; 

 from the top of the Town Hill, Pietermaritzburg, Oct. 1883, Sanderson ! 

 Nov., Rutter ex Wood ; grassy hill, Liddesdale, near Ho wick, 5000 feet, 

 Dec. 12, 1889, Wood, 4254 ! between Greytown and Newcastle, 

 Nov. 1883, Wilms, 2082 ! near Greytown, April, Wood, 4986, ex Wood ; 

 Zululand, Qudeni, 6000 feet. May, Davis, 85, ex Wood. Kalahari 

 Region. Transvaal, Sanderson ; Modderfontein, Nov. 1900, Conrath, 542 ! 



A desirable acquisition to the Gerberas now fortunately in culti- 

 vation, but as yet too rare to have become known. Mr. N. E. 

 Brown, who is responsible for the description and figure in 

 the Botanical Magazine, says that it is allied to the better-known 

 G. Jamesonii, differing from that species in its entire leaves and 

 the rich blood-red colour of its more numerous and more crowded 

 ray-florets. It was originally discovered by the botanical collector 

 Krauss on a hill near Pietermaritzburg, where subsequent col- 

 lectors have also found it, and it is remarkable that such a beautiful 

 plant should not have been introduced from such a frequented 

 locality into cultivation long ago. Medley Wood mentions that 

 in nature the flower-heads vary from a scarlet to a deep crimson, 

 and plants introduced into the Botanical Gardens at Durban (Natal) 

 are growing well. The species extends into the Transvaal, but is 

 sparingly represented there. 



The figure in the Botanical Magazine was prepared from a plant 

 which flowered at Kew in June 1905, purchased from the late M. 

 Max Leichlin of Baden-Baden, who stated that it was introduced 

 from Natal by a daughter of Baron Saint Paul ; he distributed plants 

 under the name of G. Elsae. Mr. Brown believes that Gerhera aurantiaca 

 is probably half hardy, but as the region in which it grows has a very 

 small rainfall during the winter, it requires greenhouse protection 

 with very little water during that season. It would undoubtedly 

 do well outside in the extreme south and west of England. Two 

 varieties occur in nature, which have, however, not been introduced 

 to cultivation. 



Var. alba,* Diimmer. 



Leaves with the cobwebby indumentum persisting on the lower 

 surface. Ray-florets creamy-white. Pappus violet-purple. 



This charming variety was detected by Mr. J. Wylie, Curator of 

 the Durban Botanical Gardens, on the Zwartkop Mountain in Natal, 

 at elevations of 4000-5000 feet above sea-level, in November 1906. 



Var. Wylieijf Diimmer. 



Leaves, scape, and flower-head as in the species, but the ray-florets 



yellow, and the pappus a decided tawny tint. 



* G. aurantiaca var. alha Diimmer, Var. nov, Typae persimiiis, sed foliis 

 subtus griseo-araneosis, floribus ligulatis albidis recedit. {Wood, 10151, Herb. 

 Kew. et Natal.) 



^, t ^- aurantiaca var. Wyliei Diimmer. Var. nov. Ab typae floribus ligulatis 

 I flavidis, pappo pallide brunneis distinguitur. [Wood, 10150, Herb. Kew. et 

 I Natal.) 



I 



