/ 
Refuffiwn Botaniciim.] [September, 1870. 
TAB. 226. 
Natural Order AsclepiadacetE. 
Tribe Stapelie^. 
Genus Brachystelma, R. Br. 
Section Dich^lia (Haw.) 
B. ovATA (Oliver). Multicaule, caiilibus erectis di- trichotomis cum 
foliis crispule pubescentibus, foliis parvis caulinis ovatis ovato- 
lanceolatisve obtusiuscidis breviter petiolatis, floribus in nodis 
solitariis brevissime pedunculatis decurvis, corollae tube brevissimo, 
laciniis limbi anguste lineari-attenuatis apice incurvis cobasrentibus 
extus scabride puberulis, corona staminea lobis exterioribus brevibus 
basi subquadratis divaricatim bifidis, interioribus integris ovatis 
obtusis. 
A native of the Province of Colesberg, in South Africa, figured 
from specimens sent by Mr. Arnott, which flowered in the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, in April, 1868. 
Tuber napiform, depressed, cinnamon-coloured, four to five 
inches in diameter. Annual stems eight to twelve inches high, 
two to four times forked or occasionally trichotomous, rather 
thinly clothed with short crisp pubescence. Leaves a third to a 
little over half an inch in length, ovate -lanceolate or ovate, 
crisply pubescent or subscabrid, with a very short petiole. 
Peduncles recurved, not exceeding a line in length. Calyx 
5-partite, half a line long, crisply hairy externally, the segments 
linear-subulate. Corolla 5-partite, the segments narrow -linear, 
incurved and cohering at the tip, united at the base in a very 
short annulus. Corona double ; the five outer segments bifid, 
with divaricate cusps ; the five inner ovate, entire, blunt, inflexed 
over the stigma. 
Tab. 226. — 1, flower, complete ; 2, the same, with corolla taken away ; 
3, pair of pollen-masses ; all magnified. — D'Oliver. 
For the opportunity of figuring this very interesting and 
curious Asclepiadeous plant I am indebted to the Ro3^al Botanic 
Garden at Kew. The large tuber from which the branches 
spring, and the cage-like arrangement of the petnls enclosing the 
parts of fructification, give the plant a very quaint and unusual 
appearance ; but among the plants of South Africa the diversity 
of form is so great that unusual appearances are rather the law 
than any exception to it.— I^. W. S. 
