Plants -- South Africa -- Periodicals; Plants -- South Africa -- Pictorial works -- Periodicals
=Ochna pretoriensis=, _Phillips_, sp. nov. _Rami_ glabri. _Folia_
1·5-3·8 cm. longa, 0·5-1·7 cm. lata, lanceolata, obovata, elliptica
vel oblanceolata, apice obtusa, basi cuneata, marginibus serratis.
_Flores_ solitarii vel 2-nati. _Pedicelli_ 1-1·5 cm. longi, basi
articulati. _Sepala_ 7-8 mm. longa, 4·5 mm. lata, ovata vel
elliptica, apice rotundata, aliquando 2-3-lobata. _Petala_ 1·5 cm.
longa, 9·5 mm. lata, obovata, apice rotundata, basi unguiculata.
_Filamenta_ 4·5 mm. longa, apice articulata. _Ovarium_
4-5-loculare; stylus 5 mm. longus, apice 4-5-lobatus.
* * * * *
This _Ochna_, which is found in the Transvaal around Pretoria and at
Messina, has hitherto been confused with _O. atropurpurea_, but is
easily distinguished from that species by the larger more expanded
flowers and the non-pustulate branches. The latter character
distinguishes _O. atropurpurea_ from all the other South African species
of the genus.
Our plate was prepared from specimens collected on Meintjes Kop,
Pretoria, by Mr. D. J. Fouche in September, 1921. It is a low spreading
bush, and at this time of the year is one mass of sweet-smelling yellow
flowers. The leaves do not appear until December or January, and it is
then that the green sepals enlarge and turn a blood-red colour and
surround the black fruit. The plant, therefore, either in flower or
fruit makes a very ornamental shrub and well worth the attention of
cultivators.
The genus _Ochna_ contains several species producing valuable timber.
Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. Nos.
1422, 1491).
DESCRIPTION:--_Branches_ with light to dark brown bark, peeling off in
membranous strips, not pustulate. _Leaves_ 1·5-3·8 cm. long, ·5-1·7 cm.
broad, lanceolate, obovate, elliptic, or oblanceolate (mostly
oblanceolate), obtuse at the apex, cuneate or more rarely rounded at the
base, with serrated margins and with the mid-rib distinct and the
lateral veins evident. _Flowers_ solitary, very rarely paired, arising
at the apex of abbreviated shoots. _Pedicels_ 1-1·5 cm. long,
articulated at or 1-2 mm. above the base. _Sepals_ 7-8 mm. long, 4-5 mm.
broad, ovate or elliptic, rounded at and sometimes 2-8-lobed at the
apex, enlarging in the fruit. _Petals_ 1·5 cm. long, 9·5 mm. broad,
obovate, rounded at the apex, narrowed at the base into a claw.
_Filaments_ 4·5 mm. long, articulated at the apex; anthers 2 mm. long,
oblong. _Ovary_ of 4-6 carpels; style 5 mm. long; stigmas as many as the
carpels. _Fruit_ 7-8 mm. long, 5-6 mm. broad, more or less ellipsoid.
* * * * *
PLATE 70.--Fig. 1, fruiting branch; Fig. 2, flower with petals
removed; Fig. 3, sepal; Fig. 4, petal; Figs. 5 and 6, stamens; Fig.
7, gynaecium.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
[Illustration: _71._
S Gower del.]
PLATE 71.
DAUBENYA AUREA, _var._ COCCINEA.
_Cape Province._
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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