PLATE 346. 
Adenostemma cappeum, D.C. (F1. Oapensis, Vol. Ill,, p. 57.) 
Natural Order, CojrposiT^. 
An erect herbaceous plant bearing white flowers. Stem quadrangular, stout, 
branching, pubescent, reaching to 4 feet high. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate to 
ovate-acuminate, unequal at base, gradually tapering to apex, 8 to 5^ inches long, 
2 to 3 inches wide, margins irregularly, deeply and sharply toothed, the teeth 
callous at tip, glabrous except for a few minute scattered hairs on the veins espe- 
cially beneath. Petioles up to 1 inch long, shorter upwards, the uppermost sub- 
sessile. Infloresence in loose terminal, spreading, pubescent panicles, the pedicels ^ 
to 1 inch long, bracts small, linear. Heads, many flowered, homogamous. Recep- 
tacle flat, naked, honeycombed. Involucre campanulate, after flowering strongly 
reflexed, its scales sub-biseriate, connate at base, oblong, obtuse, pubescent exter- 
nally, occasionally with a sinuate linear, ciliate bract thickly covered with white 
moniliform hairs Anthers linear, 2-celled, apiculate. obtuse at base. Style arms 
long exserted, flattened, linear. Achenes oblong, glandular. Pappus of o to 5 
bristles, each tipped with an oblong, glutinous gland. 
Habitat: Natal: Gneinzivs, No. 347; Gerrard cj- McKen, No. 313; Inanda, in 
swamp, 180O feet alt, January, Wont], No. 3'22 ; near Umhlali, in moist ground, 
500 feet alt. May, W od, (Gov. Herbarium, No. 3733) ; Bntumeni, Zululand, 2-3000 
feet alt, March, Wylie. 
The genus Adenostemma includes about 18 or 20 species widely dispersed in 
warm regions. Of these, two are natives of Natal, one of which is also found in 
Kaffraria. Another one, A. natalensis, is said in the Fl. Capensis to be a synonym 
of A. Dregei, but in the Index Kewensis it is kept a separate species, ft is un- 
known to us. These plants are usually found in very moist ground. When the 
achenes are ripe the involucre becomes much reflexed, the hold of the achenes 
upon the receptacle is relaxed, and the glands on the pappus bristles become very 
glutinous, so that the achenes adhere to passing animals or to clothing on the very 
slightest touch. The r.ction of the sun and wind soon dries the glutinous substance, 
so that the achenes are not carried far, as in the casf^ of TUdt'-iis •pilosa (the " Black 
Jack"), usually falling into the damp soil where they were grown, as if carried on 
to exposed or dry ground plants would scarcely be likely to come to maturity even 
if the seeds were to germinate in such a situation. We have never seen either of 
the plants away fi-o/n moist ground or the edge of swamps It is interesting to 
notice that the corollas do not fall away from the receptacle singly as is usually the 
case, but being matted together by the moniliform hairs under the lobes they fall 
away in a compact mass, each one carrying away the style in its centre. 
Fig. 1, upper portion of panicle, natural size ; 2, portion of involucre ; 3, 
floret ; 4, the stamens ; 5, style and style arms ; 6, achene ; 7, head showing ripe 
achenes ; all enlarged. 
