ON Plate 10 we figured a species of _Richardia_ (_R. angustifolia_) found in the Transvaal and Basutoland, and on comparing that plate with the present one, illustrating a Natal species, the most striking difference noticed is the different colour of the spathes. In both species the spathes are blotched at the base, but the leaves of _R. melanoleuca_ are usually covered with translucent spots due to the loss of chlorophyll (for further details see Saxton in _Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr._ vol. iii. p. 136). The species is fairly common in parts of Natal, and is often found cultivated in local gardens. It was introduced into England and flowered there in 1868. Our plate was prepared from specimens collected at Krantz Kloof, near Durban. DESCRIPTION:--Root tuberous. _Petiole_ of leaf 15 to 35 cm. long, furrowed on the inner surface, with soft bristles on the lower parts; blade 10 to 25 cm. long, 12 to 20 cm. broad across the basal lobes, cordate, deltoid or ovate-deltoid, acute, with a subulate point, hastate or sagittate at the base, green, shining, glabrous, covered with numerous translucent spots. _Spathe_ 5 to 8 cm. long, obliquely subtruncate at the mouth; spadix shortly stipitate, cylindric. _Ovary_ sessile; stigma sessile or subsessile. _Anthers_ numerous. _Staminodes_ none. * * * * * PLATE 141.--Fig. 1, ovary; Fig. 2, cross-section through fruit; Fig. 3, spadix with spathe removed. F.P.S.A., 1924. [Illustration: _142._] PLATE 142. URGINEA MACROCENTRA. _Cape Province, Natal._ * * * * * LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE. URGINEA, _Steinh._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 810. * * * * * =Urginea macrocentra=, _Baker in Gard. Chron._ 1887, vol. i. p. 702; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 466. * * * * * THIS plant, commonly known as the “Natal Slangkop,” owing to the resemblance of the young inflorescence to a snake’s head, has been recorded from the Umvoti District along the coast of Natal, and also from the Transkei. The inflorescence makes its appearance in early spring, and is then eaten by stock, when other herbage is scarce, with fatal results (for an account of symptoms due to “slangkop” poisoning see Bulletin No. 7 of 1922, Dept. Agric. Union S. Africa). During the spring months, especially if the rains are later than usual, losses of stock in parts where this “slangkop” occurs are of almost annual occurrence. The late Dr. Wood stated that he did not think _U. macrocentra_ was specifically distinct from _U. lilacina_. He carefully compared his specimens of the latter-named plant with the former, and could detect no difference, and suggested that the specimens described by Baker as _U. lilacina_ were merely _U. macrocentra_ which had lost the conspicuous spurs, these being very early deciduous.