PLATE 380. 
Hebbnstebitia polystachya, Harv. MSS. (Fl. Cap. Vol. V., p. 98.) 
Natural Order, Selagine^. 
An erect much branched undershrub, reaching to 6 feet high. Branches 
pubescent, the hairs in l)road decurrent lines from node to node. Leaves fascicled, 
petiolate, very irregular in size, f to 3 inches long including the short petiole, 
lanceolate, acute, margins closely and sharply serrate, except near the base of the 
leaf, glabrous. Inflorescence spicate, the spikes many flowered, elongating. 
Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 2-| to 3 lines long ; calyx ovate oblong, obtuse, 
membranaceous, 2-nerved, 1^ to \^ line long, enclosed by the bract and adnate to 
it at the base. Corolla 4 to 5 lines long, cleft in front to below the middle, limb 
4-lobed, the two central lobes narrower than the outer, the short tube cylindrical. 
Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted on margin of divided corolla tube, filaments 
short, anthers 1 -celled, linear-oblong. Ovary oblong, 2-celled. Style terminal, 
filiform, obtuse. Fruit small, oblong, enclosed by the calyx or between the calyx 
and the large bract, 2-celled, cells 1 -seeded, one cell often abortive. 
Habitat .- Natal : Tugela River, Gerrard, 376 ; Umvoti district in a swamp, 
Oerrard, 1248; Noodsberg, 2500 feet alt. Wood, 104; near Bnon, Wood; Murchi- 
son, 1800 feet alt. Wood, 301 ; near Newcastle, Behmann, 7032 ; Oliver's Hoek 
sources of Tugela River, 5000 feet alt, Allison ; in marshes near Richmond, 3000 
feet alt, Scldechter, 6730; and without precise locality. Cooper, 1150. 
In Vol I. of this work under plate 67 it was stated that there are 18 species 
included in the genus Hebenstreitia ; since that time the part of the Flora 
Capensis containing the Order Selaginese has been published, and several species 
are added, bringing the number of known species to 31, of which 30 are South 
African, one of which is also found in Abyssinia, and one other only known from 
tropical Africa. 
Of the 30 South African species 7 are found in Natal, the remainder in the 
Cape and Orange River Colonies, Transvaal and Pondoland. H. polystachya is 
the tallest and most luxuriant of the Natal species. There appears to have been 
some doubt as to the colour of the flowers of this species ; I have seen them pure 
white, and also like H. comosa with reddish markings, but I think from recollec- 
tion that the red colour is paler in this species than in H. comosa. 
Fig 1, calyx and bract; 2, corolla; 3, a stamen; 4, pistil; 5, cross section 
of young ovary ; 6, cross section of capsule showing abortive cells ; all enlarged. 
