The flowering plants of South Africa; vol. 4 — John Shaqi
The flowering plants of South Africa; vol. 4Pole Evans, I. B. (Illtyd Buller)
Science
The flowering plants of South Africa; vol. 4
Pole Evans, I. B. (Illtyd Buller)
Plants -- South Africa -- Periodicals; Plants -- South Africa -- Pictorial works -- Periodicals
The species of _Habenaria_ figured here has a wide range of distribution
in South Africa. Starting from Swellendam in the south, it follows more
or less the littoral strip as far as Port Alfred, and then spreads
inland through the Transkei and East Griqualand into Natal, and through
Basutoland and the eastern part of the Free State and up into the
Transvaal Drakensbergen. The species is also met with in the Pretoria
District, which is outside its normal range of distribution. In
Basutoland the natives call it “_Mametsana_,” meaning “the mother of the
small water.” The spur contains a watery substance which becomes
jelly-like on exposure to air.
Around Pretoria the plant flowers in late summer, about February, after
the rains, and is then frequently met with in the veld. The plate was
prepared from specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at
Irene in February 1923.
DESCRIPTION:--_Plant_ 30-40 cm. high. _Tuber_ 5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. in
diameter, ellipsoid, with thick cylindric roots arising from the
junction of the stem and tuber. _Stem_ covered with many amplexicaul
leaves which pass gradually into the bracts. _Leaves_ 4·5-8 cm. long, up
to 3 cm. wide, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, stem-clasping at the base,
obtuse or subapiculate at the apex, keeled with the midrib and 2 lateral
veins prominent or distinct, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ many-flowered, up
to 13 cm. long. _Bracts_ similar to the leaves but smaller. _Dorsal
sepal_ 1 cm. long, 9 mm. broad, ovate, deeply concave, faintly
3-nerved; lateral sepals 1·3 cm. long, 4·5 mm. broad, oblong, unequal
sided, slightly cucullate at the apex, faintly 3-nerved. _Petals_
1·4-1·5 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, unequal sided, revolute on one margin
near the apex, faintly 5-nerved. _Lip_ 2 cm. long, with revolute margins
and with two lateral filiform appendages at the base. _Spur_ 3·5 cm.
long, cylindric, clavate at the apex. _Rostellum_ triangular in outline,
the two side lobes notched. _Pollinia_ sacs behind the rostellum.
_Stigmas_ separate, oblong, with small papillae at the junction of the
stigma and pollinium sac. _Ovary_ deeply grooved and angled (National
Herb. 2730).
* * * * *
PLATE 130.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, front
of flower, showing lip and column; Fig. 3, sepals; Fig. 4, a petal; Fig.
5, ovary; Fig. 6, pollinium.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _131._]
PLATE 131.
SUTERA GRANDIFLORA.
_Transvaal._
* * * * *
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Tribe MANULEAE.
SUTERA, _Roth._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. ii. p. 945.
* * * * *
=Sutera grandiflora=, _Hiern._; _Fl. Cap._ vol. iv. sect. ii. p. 304.
* * * * *
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