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
* * * * *
RUBIACEAE. Tribe GARDENIEAE.
BURCHELLIA, _R. Br._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 85.
* * * * *
=Burchellia bubalina=, _Sims Bot. Mag._ t. 2339 (1822). _Lonicera
bubalina_, _Linn. f. Suppl. 146_ (1781). _Burchellia capensis_, _R. Br.
in Ker. Bot. Reg._ t. 466 (1820); _Fl. Cap._ vol. iii. p. 2.
* * * * *
_Burchellia bubalina_ is known locally as “Buffels-hoorn” (not
“Buffelsdoorn”), on account of the horn-like calyx lobes, which persist
on the fruit. The bright-red flowers give rise to the name “Wild
pomegranate,” or “Wilde granaat.” There are also various native names
for the plant.
The single species of this genus is endemic to South Africa, and has a
wide distribution. In the south-west it is known as far as Swellendam,
whence it ranges through the forests to Natal and the Transvaal. Mr.
Galpin has recorded the plant from the summit of Saddleback Mountain, at
4500 to 5000 ft., where it occurs as a shrub 8 ft. high. It is somewhat
variable, the corolla differing much in size, and the length and
hairiness of the style fluctuates, perhaps due to sexual differences.
The calyx lobes are either 5 or 6 on the same plant.
No less than six different names have been applied to this species. Of
these we have, with some reluctance, adopted the oldest, _B. bubalina_,
Sims, using the specific name first applied by the younger Linnaeus in
1781 under the genus _Lonicera_ for specimens collected by Sparmann. A
better known name is _B. capensis_.
DESCRIPTION:--A small tree reaching 3·6 to 4·2 m. high. _Leaves_
opposite, petiolate; petioles up to 1·2 cm. long, thick, pubescent;
lamina up to 10·5 cm. long and 5·5 cm. broad, broadly ovate, entire,
rounded or subcordate at the base, with revolute margins and the veins
conspicuous above and very prominent beneath, dark green and glabrous
above, pubescent on all the veins beneath. _Stipules_ semicircular from
a broad base, ending in a linear cusp which almost equals the basal
portion in length and is minutely pilose. _Inflorescence_ terminal,
many-flowered. _Calyx-tube_ 6 mm. long, campanulate; lobes 5 to 6, 1 to
2 cm. long, linear, pubescent. _Corolla-tube_ 2 cm. long, inflated,
puberulous without, glabrous within, with a ring of white hairs near the
base; lobes 5 mm. long, triangular. _Stamens_ 5, inserted on the upper
half of the corolla-tube; filaments very short; anthers with the
connective slightly produced. _Ovary_ inferior, 2-celled, many-ovuled;
style filiform, exserted; stigma clavate. _Fruit_ a subglobose berry,
crowned with the persistent calyx-lobes.
* * * * *
PLATE 145.--Fig. 1, calyx; Fig. 2, corolla laid open; Fig. 3,
showing pistil in calyx; Fig. 4, anther; Fig. 5, cross-section of
ovary; Fig. 6, stipule.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _146._]
PLATE 146.
PELARGONIUM PULVERULENTUM.
_Cape Province, Natal._
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