Oe aa ata ee aa laa 
os ns ae en alanis 
8 DR. J. D. HOOKER ON WELWITSCHIA. 
appropriated to the inflorescence; whilst, below, it is more or less suddenly contracted 
into (3) a subeylindrical ¢ap-root, that branches towards its base. 
All these parts, at all stages of their growth, are externally of a dark colour, and very 
hard woody consistence: the terminal lobed mass, from being ever exposed to the 
scorching rays of a tropical sun in an arid climate, is much the hardest and darkest, 
resembling, as I have before stated, both in colour and texture, the crust of an overbaked 
loaf: the stock is the lightest in colour and softest in consistence, and, as well as the root, 
often has pebbles imbedded in its cortical substance. 
All these parts differ a good deal in relative as well as in actual form and dimensions 
in the several specimens (amounting to fourteen) which I have received. Dr. Welwitsch’s 
largest (Plates IIT. & IV.) have a flattened turbinate stock with a lobed base, long root, 
and their crown is’ neither much dilated nor very concave. Dr. Welwitsch’s smallest 
specimen (Plate II. fig. 1), and Mr. Andersson’s very large one from Damara Land 
(Plate V. fig. 5) have globose stocks, in each case suddenly much contracted into a long 
root, and rather tumid crowns. Mr. Monteiro’s last-received specimens, on the other 
hand (Plate V. figs. 1-4, & Plate XI. figs. 1, 5 & 7), have all of them conical stocks, 
gradually or rapidly tapering into the roots, and much dilated crowns, of which the lobes 
in the older specimens are very concave, or almost erect. The amount of lobing of the 
periphery of the plant also varies extremely; in Mr. Monteiro’s oldest and largest, the 
periphery is cut into many lobes of various sizes (Plate V. figs. 1 & 2), some of which 
are contracted at the base, and form appendages singularly resembling in form, marking, 
and texture Polyporus fomentarius, to which a structureless fossil specimen of this part 
of the plant would probably be referred. 
Some of these peculiarities are no doubt to be attributed to age, and others to the 
nature of the soil, and the depth at which moisture exists in the arid coasts of Cape 
Negro and Damara Land. 
The following are the principal dimensions and weights of the largest specimens :— 
Girth round : 
1. Mr. Monteiro’s, which arrived December 13, 1862. ro ne Msg 
ae it 
Largest (Plate V.fig.8) . . . 2 0 4 7 ioe 
Second largest (Plate V. figs. 1, 2) 1. 8 4 0 202 
Third largest (Plate V. fig. 4) Cease boo. - 4.8. ..10% 
2. Mr. Andersson’s from Waalvisch Bay (Plate V. fig. 5) . SO Ba 264 
3. Dr. Welwitsch’s largest (Plates III. & $V ee Oh: 835 152 
Crown.—This is oblong in outline, with the longer axis parallel to the insertion of the 
leaves; it is at first very tumid, but as the plant grows older it gradually subsides, : 
especially towards the centre, until in some cases (Plate V. figs. 1, 2, 4, & Plate XI. fig. 1) 
it becomes so concave that the base of the hollow is far below the level of the insertion 
of the leaves. The surface is very irregularly marked with concentric ridges that are 
thickly studded with circular pits, denoting the position of fallen flowering peduncles. 
The number of distinct ridges in the largest specimens seldom amounts to more than 8 or 
* The lower part of the root is cut off. 
