PLATE 373. 
Geeyia Sutherlandi, Hook & Harv (Fl. Cap. Vol. II. p. 309). 
Natural Order, ^S^PINDACEiE. 
A moderately sized tree bearing sliort densely flowered racemes of crimson 
flowers. Bark rough, grey, ofren split longitudinally. Brandies and twigs leafy 
near the end, bare below. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate, exstipnlate, orbicular 
in general outline, cordate at base, margins crenate, the lobes again finely crenate 
or toothed, glabr'ous, liiinutel}^ glandular above, resinous beneath; 2 to 4 inches 
in diameter ; petiole 2 to 3 inches long, widened and semiaraplexicaul at base. 
Inflorescence racemose at extremities of branches and branchlets. Racemes 2 to 
4 inches long, densely many flowered, (-alyx gamosepalous, 5-parted nearly to 
bas •, 2 to o lines long, persistent, lobes olitnse, imbricace in eestivation, pedicels J 
inch long, bracteatt? at base. Petals 5, oblong, sessile, deciduous, imbricate, thick 
in substance, glossy, bright crimson, ciliolate ; 7 to 9 lines long. Stamens in two 
rows, sulihypogynous, those of the outer row 10, abortive, their filaments very 
short, inserted on a fleshy cap, without fertile anthers, but each tipped with a 
peltate gland; those of the inner row 1 0, separate, fertile, filaments filiform,! 
ineh long; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior, deeply 5-furrowed, "formed of 5 
indu plicate- valvate carpels," each 1 -celled, tapering gradually to a subulate style; 
stigma minutely 5-toothed. Capsule membranous, 5-lobed, almost separating into 
5 follicles Seeds numerous, minute. 
Habitat: Natal: Rocky mountainous situations, 2,000 to 6,000 feet alt. 
Siithe)iand ; Inanda, 2,000 feet alt. August, WooJ, 987 ; Liddesdale, near Hovrick, 
4-5,000 feet alt.. Wood ; Van Reenen, 5-6,000 feet alt., December, Wood. 
The genus Greyia was first established on the above described species, and 
named in honour of Sir G-. orge Grey, and of Dr. Sutherland, who was the first to 
send Homt- specimens of the tree ; since that t'me two oth^r species have been 
established, viz., G. Flauagani from Cape Colony and Transvaal, and G. Badikoferi 
from Transvaal. G. Sutlteiiandi when first described by Professor Harvey was 
provisionally placed in the Order Saxifragaceee, but has since been removed to 
Sapindacea3 ; it is the first plant figured and described in Professor Harvey's 
Thesaurus Capensis, and he says " the foliage is not unlike that of a Ribes or of 
the scarlet Pelargoniums," and some years ago the leaves were sent to me for 
identification as those of a large Geranium ! The tree in the upper districts 
reaches to 20 feet or more in height, and when in flower is a very conspicuous 
object, but at lower altitudes it is usually but a large shrub, but bears its hand- 
some flowers in profusion. The wood is said by Fourcade to be light, soft, very 
weak, pale pink tinged with brown, and to be used by the natives for catving, but 
is of little value. Kafir name in-Dalu. 
Fig. 1, a flower ; 2, staminal cup, showing perfect and imperfect stamens ; 3, 
portion of stamen ; 4, ovary ; 5, portion of style with stigma ; 6, capsule ; except 
fig. 1, all enlarged. 
