61 
OF THE GENUS AGATHOSMA 
A species of the Euagathosmae group of Subsection A of Sonder, 
perhaps nearest to A. ciliata , Link, from which its more dwarf more 
divaricate habit, much smaller, more ovate, almost cordate, leaves 
(reflexed below the umbels) with cuspidate-acuminate tips, entire 
margins, epunctate dorsal surfaces, smaller capitate umbels, very 
slender petals, short staminodes in comparison with the calyx, separate 
it. Superficially it might be mistaken for a spreading leaved form of 
A. imbricata, v. acuminata. 
A. bicolor, A. capitatae aflinis, sed habitu, foliis longioribus, obtuse carinatis, 
parce pilosis, minute denticulatis, bracteolis basilaribus, petalis 
gracillimis, filiformibus, stylo infra medium patenter piloso differt. 
Fruticulus decumbens, serpyllaceus, gracillimus, parce foliatus, 
ramis saepe 1-5 m. longis, ramulis atrobrunneis, paullulo pilosis. 
Folia patula, raro ascendentia, interdum falcata, lanceolata, subacuta, 
5 — 10 mm. longa, 1-3 — 2 mm. lata, coriacea vel crasse coriacea, 
pallide viridia, supra sulcata vel concava, dorso carinata, utrinque 
sparse pilosula et minute denticulato-scaberula, margine minute denti- 
culata. Umbellae capitatae, fere nudae, confertiflorae, hemisqdiaericae, 
circiter 1 cm. diam., floribus albidis (sicco) ; pedicellis 0-7 — 1 mm. longis, 
glabrescentibus; bracteolis basilaribus, subulatis, 1 mm. longis, pilo- 
sulis. Calyx 1-7 mm. longus, utrinque glaber, segmentis obtuse sub- 
ulatis, dorso obtuse carinatis, marginibus pectinato-ciliatis. Petala 
unguiculata, filiformia, 4 — 4-5 mm. longa, 0-3 mm. lata, unguibus 
parce pectinato-ciliatis. Stamina glabra. Staminodia anguste fili- 
formia, circ. 3 mm. longa, inferne pectinato-ciliata. Ovarium albo- 
pilosum, stylo filiformi, inferne patenter piloso. 
Cape Province: South-Western Kegion; Clanwilliam Div., stony 
places, Packhuisberg, 2000 ft., August, 1897, R. Schlechter, 10803! 
(in Herb. Bolus and Albany Museum). 
Another member of the section Euagathosmae of Group C of Sonder, 
nearest to A. capitata, Sond., but characterised by its creeping sprawling 
slender habit, slightly pilose twigs, scarcely trigonous, longer, obtusely 
keeled, sparsely pilose, minutely denticulate leaves, shorter pedicels with 
basilar bracteoles, very slender filiform petals, with slightly pilose claws, 
more slender staminodes, and style patently pilose below the middle. 
Superficially it resembles a slender creeping form of A. florida, 
Sond. (A. mollis, Eckl. and Zeyh., but not of Bartling and Wendland). 
The very slender filiform petals are a characteristic of this species. In 
infancy the flower heads are red, eventually changing to creamy white. 
A. paludosa, A. erectae forsitan proxime accedit, sed facile distinguitur 
ramulis glabris, foliis adpressis, dorso convexis, umbellis capitatis 
majoribus, fere orbicularibus, bracteis scariosis, pedicellis bre\ioiibus. 
