PLATES 386, 3S7. 
KiGELiA PiNNATA, D.C. (Fl. Cap. Vol. IV., 454.) 
Natural Order. Bignoniaobj;. 
A tree reaching to 80 feet or more in height, and bearing lax panicles of dull, 
dark crimson flowers on long peduncles. Bark greyish ; twigs stoat, terete, 
glabrous. Leaves scattered, petiolate, unequally pinnate, 2 or 3 pairs and an odd 
one, common petiole thickened at base, 5 to 8 inches long; lateral leaflets usually 
opposite, oblong, entire, obtuse and mucronate at apex, unequal sided at base, veins 
and veinlets prominent beneath; glabrous and shining above, duller beneath ; very 
shortly petiolate, 3 to 5 inches long, 1 J to 3 inches broad ; terminal leaflet narrow- 
oblong, its petiole 4 to 15 lines long. Inflorescence a loose panicle, 12 to 15 inches 
long ; peduncles stout, terete, pendulous, pedicels reaching to 3 inches long, 
ascending and like the peduncle reddish coloured. Calyx at first completely 
enclosing the flower, and then 5-ribbed, the ribs meeting in a point at the apex, 
valvate, afterwards opening widely and becoming 3-4-5-fid at apex ; 1 to 1^^ inches 
long, f inch wide, oblique. Corolla campanulate, gamopetalous, tube cylindric at 
base, widening and compressed above, strongly ribbed externally, the ribs greenish- 
yellow ; limb bilabiate, upper lip 2-lobed, erect, lower 3-lobed, the lobes reflexed, 
hullate, lowest lobe largest, deflexed, the whole corolla spreading to 4 to 5 inches 
across, dull dark crimson above, reddish between the ribs beneath. Stamens 4, 
didynamous, with rudiment of the 5th opposite the back lobe of the corolla, 
inserted near base of corolla tube, subexserted, filaments swollen and pilose at 
base, reaching to sinuses of corolla ; anthers 2-celled, the cells separate nearly to 
apex, 4 lines long. Disk large, annular, rugose. Ovary 1-celled, puberulous, 
ovules numerous, multiseriate, on two parietal placentas. Fruit cylindric, 1 foot 
or more long, 4 to 6 inches thick. Seeds not seen. 
Habitat : Natal : Tugela valley, and probably in Zululand. 
Drawn and described from a tree in flower in Botanic Gardens, Durban, 
September, 1905. 
The genus Kigelia includes 9 species, all tropical African, K. ^Jwnata being the 
only one that has been observed in South Africa. Specimens of it were first sent 
from Natal by the late Mr J. Sanderson. It is remarkable for the manner in 
which its fruit is produced. We have never seen more than one to each panicle, and 
as the fruit enlarges the peduncle elongates, sometimes I'eaching to 2 feet or more 
in length. The fruits do not attain the size and weight here that they are said to 
do in tropical Africa, but we have seen them more than a foot long. It is also 
said that they have a habit of falling from the tree without warning, making it 
unpleasant for those who may be under the tree at the time, as the fruits are 
rather heavy. The flowers are very handsome, but rather unpleasantly scented. 
The natives use some part of the tree medicinally, and know it as um-Zingula, or 
um-Fongote. 
Plate 386. — Fig. 1, panicle ; 2, flower. 
Plate 387.— Fig. l,]eaf; 2, colyx ; 3, base of corolla, showing insertion of 
stamens ; 4, stamen, front view ; 5, same, back view ; 6, pistil ; 7, stigma ; except 
fig. 1 mid 2, all enlarged. 
