Plants -- South Africa -- Periodicals; Plants -- South Africa -- Pictorial works -- Periodicals
In general appearance and habit of growth this _Aloe_ closely resembles
_A. Pienaarii_ from the same locality, figured in vol. i. of this work
(Plate 27), but it is more commonly found on gentle slopes in bush
country, although it may frequently occur in open ground along with _A.
Pienaarii_. When the plants are not in flower, those of _A. Wickensii_
can be distinguished from _A. Pienaarii_ by their paler green leaves,
which are distinctly incurved.
We propose the name “Wickens’ Aloe” for this species.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No.
1449).
DESCRIPTION:--A stemless succulent herb. _Leaves_ pale glaucous-green,
40-50 in a dense rosette, 50-70 cm. long, 10-13 cm. broad at the base,
lanceolate-ensiform, erect, distinctly incurved, rather flat above,
convex beneath, beset on the margins with small deltoid black prickles
about 2 mm. long and about 6-8 mm. apart. _Inflorescences_ often 2-4
from the same rosette, spreading. _Peduncle_ laterally compressed,
naked, with usually two lateral branches, branches arcuateerect,
clothed with pale brown scariose broadly ovate-acuminate bracts.
_Raceme_ dense-flowered, 17-20 cm. long, conical-cylindric. _Bracts_
reflexed, 5-6 mm. long, ovate-cuspidate, scariose, pellucid. _Pedicels_
recurved, 3-4 mm. long. _Perianth_ 3·5 cm. long, cylindric-ventricose;
outer segments free for 16-17 mm., obtuse and recurved at the apex,
3-5-nerved; inner segments obtuse and recurved, 3-nerved. _Stamens_
projecting 11 mm. beyond the perianth and slightly recurved. _Style_
stout, strongly recurved. _Fruit_ 2·5 cm. long, 1·3 cm. in diameter,
oblong-ovoid.
* * * * *
PLATE 41.--Fig. 1, entire plant, much reduced; Fig. 2, raceme; Fig.
3, portion of leaf; Fig. 4, transverse section of leaf; Fig. 5,
bract; Fig. 6, open flower; Fig. 7, fruit showing remains of
perianth attached.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
[Illustration: _42._
M. Page del.]
PLATE 42.
COMMELINA BENGHALENSIS.
_Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal._
* * * * *
COMMELINACEAE. Tribe COMMELINEAE.
COMMELINA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 847.
* * * * *
=Commelina benghalensis=, _Linn. Sp. Pl._ 41; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vii. p. 9.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account