PLATE 311. 
RiCHARDSONiA PiLOSA, fl. B. & K. (Fl. Trop. Africa, Vol. Ill,, p. 242, sub-Richardia 
scabra, St. Hil). 
Natural Order, Rubiaoeab. 
A many stemmed procumbent branching herb, with heads of small white 
flowers. Stems elongate, copiously branching, reaching to 2 to 3 feet or more 
long, terete, densely hispid, often reddish coloured. Leaves opposite, subsessile, 
stipulate, oval to ovate or obovate, acute at apex, gradually tapering at base to 
a short channelled petiole, densely hispid on both surfaces, each hair springing 
from a semi-globose swollen base, margins entire and ciliate ; !|- to 2f inches long, 
including the short petiole, ^ to 1^ inch wide, veins pinnate and prominent beneath. 
Stipules of 2 to 5 bristles on each side, rising from a broad base, which is connate 
with the petiole. Inflorescence in axillary and terminal heads, each head sub- 
tended by 2 to 5 floral leaves, which are subrotund, quite sessile, 5 to 7 veined at 
base, hispid like the true leaves, and unequal in size, the largest 1 inch by 10 lines. 
Calyx gamosepalons, tube ovoid or obovoid, densely hispid, 1 to 2 lines long, limb 
deeply 5 to 6 lobed, lobes ciliate, shorter than the calyx tube, spreading, dark 
green. Disk annular, small. Corolla gamopetalous, tube funnel-shaped, glabrous, 
white, of thin texture, limb 4 to 6-lobed, lobes erect, finely pilose with scattered 
hairs. Stamens 4 to 6, inserted at mouth of tube, just below the sinus ; filaments 
filiform, half as long as corolla lobes ; anthers oblong, 2-celled, dorsifixed. Style 
filiform, longer than stamens, shortly 3-cleft, stigmas 3, subcapitate. Ovary 
inferior, hispid, 3-celled, cells 1-ovuled. Fruit 3-coccous, cocci separating at 
maturity, indehiscent. 
Habitat : Natal : Coast and Midlands, common, near Durban, November, 
Wood, No. 1392. 
Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, January, 1903. 
A troublesome weed. Originally a native of Tropical America, it has gradu- 
ally spread to other tropical and subtropical countries, and was most likely 
introduced into Natal about the time of the Zulu war, and since that time it has 
spread almost all over the colony. In the " Flora of Tropical Africa," published 
in 1877, it is described under the name of Richardia scabra, but the name Richardia 
being pre-occupied by a genus of Aroideae, the name was altered to Bicha dsonia 
scabra, but, according to the " Genera Plantarum," its proper name is as given 
above. Baron Mueller says of it : " From Mexico to Brazil. As an herb for 
pastures and hay-crop appreciated in localities with sandy soil. It has spread 
over the Southern States of North America." 
In Natal it is not g•en^■rally known as a pasture plant, but it is a great nuisance 
amongst grass on lawns, and is very difficult to eradicate when once it has obtained 
a footing, as it has long roots, and bears seeds in abundance. I am informed by 
Mr. R. Beningfield that not only cattle and horses, but also rabbits and fowls are 
extremely fond of it. Whether it would yield a heavy crop or not is somewhat 
doubtful. The roots are emetic, and have been used at Home under the name of 
" White Ipecacuana," but have now been superseded by the true drug. 
Fig. 1 , flower ; 2, calyx ; 3, corolla opened ; 4, style and stigma ; 5, coccus ; 
all enlarged. 
