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
LILIACEAE. Tribe SCILLEAE.
POLYXENA, _Kunth_; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 807.
* * * * *
=Polyxena ensifolia=, _Schönland in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr._ vol. i. p. 444,
Fig. 2.
* * * * *
On Plate 56 we figured a species of _Polyxena (P. haemanthoides)_, and
gave a few remarks on the genus. The present species, collected by Mr.
A. J. Austin at Matjesfontein, C. P., was at first thought to be _P.
pygmaea_, Kunth, but it differs in many respects from the published
figures, and as it agrees quite well with Schönland’s description of _P.
ensifolia_, we have decided to place it under this species for the
present. Dr. Schönland, who saw the living plant at Pretoria, suggested
that it was a species differing both from _P. ensifolia_ and _P.
pygmaea_; but until we know more about the genus both as regards the
variability of the species and its distribution, it seems desirable to
regard it as a form of P. ensifolia.
_P. ensifolia_ is a pretty little plant. The leaves are semi-erect and
the inflorescence of pale lilac flowers arises between them. It does
quite well under cultivation, and has flowered for two seasons at the
Division of Botany, Pretoria. We are indebted to Mr. Austin for the
original bulbs.
_Description_:--_Bulb_ 2·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. in diameter, ovoid, covered
with papery tunics. _Leaves_ two, erect or spreading above, produced
into a long clasping base 5-6 cm. long; the broadened lamina 5 cm. long,
3 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse, with reddish somewhat scarious margins, not
distinctly veined, glabrous. _Inflorescence_ corymbose, about
35-flowered. _Peduncle_ 6 cm. long, subterete. _Bracts_ 4·5 mm. long,
ovate, acuminate, colourless. _Pedicels_, ·35-1·6 cm. long, glabrous.
_Perianth-tube_ 1·5 cm. long, cylindric, gradually widening above; lobes
5·5 to 6 mm. long, 1·75 mm. broad, oblong, somewhat emarginate and
hooded at the apex. _Stamens_ in two rows; filaments 3 mm. long, terete,
glabrous; anthers 1 mm. long, oblong. _Ovary_ 3 mm. long, 1·5 mm. in
diameter, ellipsoid; style 1·4 cm. long, terete; stigma minutely 3-lobed
(National Herb. 2741).
* * * * *
PLATE 129.--Fig. 1, inflorescence; Fig. 2, a single flower; Fig. 3,
flower laid open, showing position of stamens and pistil; Fig. 4,
stamen; Fig. 5, pistil.
F.P.S.A., 1924.
[Illustration: _130._]
PLATE 130.
HABENARIA FOLIOSA.
_Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal._
* * * * *
ORCHIDACEAE. Tribe OPHRYDEAE.
HABENARIA, _Willd._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant_. vol. iii. p. 624.
* * * * *
=Habenaria foliosa=, _Reichb. f. in Flora_, 1865, 180; _Fl. Cap_. vol.
v. sect. iii. p. 121; _Bolus Ic. Orch. Austro-Afr_. ii. t. 46.
* * * * *
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