The flowering plants of South Africa; vol. 3Pole Evans, I. B. (Illtyd Buller)
Science
The flowering plants of South Africa; vol. 3
Pole Evans, I. B. (Illtyd Buller)
Plants -- South Africa -- Periodicals; Plants -- South Africa -- Pictorial works -- Periodicals
_Triaspis Nelsoni_ was first described and figured in 1883 from material
collected by Mr. W. Nelson at Pretoria. The figure given by Hooker is
incorrect in a few small details. The pedicels, for instance, are
articulated and bear 2 small bracteoles; the three styles are not equal,
but one is longer than the other two and is deflexed at an angle of
about 45°; the anterior petal is exterior in the bud and larger than the
other petals.
The genus Triaspis is found in Madagascar, tropical and southern Africa,
and was first recorded by the famous traveller Burchell, who collected
specimens of a plant he described as _T. hypericoides_ at Kosi Fountain
in Bechuanaland in 1812. Since then several species have been recorded
from the Transvaal.
The species figured on the accompanying plate is of frequent occurrence
on the soils overlying the dolomite outcrops south of Pretoria at an
elevation of 4000-5000 ft. above sea-level. It forms a subherbaceous
bush not more than two feet high, and the main branches always tend to
droop. When in flower it is a most attractive and beautiful object in
the veld, and is well worth cultivation in our gardens. In addition to
the beauty of its flowers, its large copper-coloured orbicular winged
fruits add considerably to its charm and gracefulness. The material from
which our plate was prepared was collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans,
C.M.G., on the farm Doornkloof, Irene, near Pretoria, belonging to
General the Rt. Hon. J. C. Smuts.
DESCRIPTION:--A subherbaceous plant with long slender and graceful
branches from an underground rootstock. _Branches_ terete, pubescent.
_Leaves_ opposite, decussate, 2-3 cm. long, 1-2·2 cm. broad, the upper
leaves smaller than the lower, ovate, sub-apiculate, cordate at the
base, with distinct reticulate veining and with the midrib prominent
beneath, sparsely pubescent, with ciliated margins. _Inflorescence_ a
5-6-flowered axillary raceme, arranged in the axils of the upper leaves.
_Peduncle_ 1·3 cm. long, terete, pubescent. _Pedicels_ 1·5 cm. long,
articulated in the lowermost ⅓, pubescent, bearing 2 small bracts.
_Sepals_ 3·5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad, oblong, rounded above, sparsely
pubescent. _Petals_ 1 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, concave, oblong, rounded
above, produced into a claw at the base, with fimbriated margins; the
lowermost petal overlapping the others in bud and larger than the rest.
_Stamens_ 10; filaments 5 mm. long, glabrous; stamens 2 mm. long,
linear-oblong. _Ovary_ 2 mm. long, globose, villous; styles 3, two stand
erect; the posterior style reflexed and smaller than the other two.
_Fruit_ 3-winged with the wings deeply saucer-shaped. (National Herb.
Pretoria, No. 2642.)
PLATE 109.--Fig. 1, bud; 2, median longitudinal section of flower;
3, pistil; 4, fruit..
F.P.S.A., 1923.
[Illustration: _110._
S. Gower del.]
PLATE 110.
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM PILLANSII.
_Cape Province._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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