Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 34 (1896).djvu/35

 dONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FLORA. OF SOUTH AFRICA. lO to L. dehilis, Benth. Well characterised by its long carina and narrow long-clawed acute vexillum. The flowers are yellow, the apex of the carina reddish. Lotononis grandifolia, n. sp. — Procumbens ? ; rami sub- si mplices vel parce ramosi foliosi pubescentes nodis genuflexi, 16-19 cm. longi; stipulae cordate acuminatae, ssepius reflexse, petiolis 5 mill, longis subsequilongae ; foliolse 3 obovata acuta mucronata undique pubescentia, minute reticulato-venosa, inter- medio 2-8-4-4 cm. longo, 1-3 cm. lato, lateralibus minoribus ; spica terminalis, laxe 8-15-fl., 6-9 cm. longa ; flores patentes, 1-3-1-5 cm. longi; bracteae minutse ; calyx obconicus sericeo- villosus, 1-1-1-3 cm. longus, segmentis subulatis acuminatis, intermedio tubo longiori, lateralibus tubo brevioribus; vexillum ellipticum concavum, basi breviter cuneato-unguiculatum, apice tenuiter villosum, 1-7 cm. longum, alse subspathulatse aequilongfc, carina lineari-lanceolata subacuta recta, 1-4 cm. longa; ovarium lineare pubescens (legumina baud suppetunt). Ha:b : Natal, grassy hill, Van Reenen's Pass, Drakensberg Mts,, alt. 1600-1850 met., fl. Dec, J.M. Wood (No. 5152). "■ Flowers purple." Noticeable in the genus by its large leaves. The two lateral calyx-segments (which are actually longer, from the base, than the intermediate) are connate for about two-thirds of their length. There are three branches laid down in the Cape Govt. Herb., and the habit appears to be procumbent, but I cannot be certain. Lotononis Woodii, n. sp. — Fruticulus procumbens sub- caespitosus, totus, corollis exceptis, albo-sericeus ; rami patentes foliosi, ad 22 cm. longi; folia 3-foliolata, foliolis obovatis acutis 1-nervis crassiusculis subrigidis, 4-9 mill, longis, stipulis lineari- subulatis saepe recurvis petiolis 2-3 mill, longis aequilongis vel brevioribus ; flores 2-3, ad apices ramulorum umbellati, 7-8 mill, longi, pedicellis 5-6 mill, longis ; calyx obconicus, 6 mill, longus ; vexillum obovatum, basi cuneatum, ungui concavo brevi ; alls oblongis auriculatis carina rostrata acuta auriculata subaequilongis ; legumen immaturum turgidum oblongum sericeum. Hab : South-eastern Region; Natal: Amawahqua Mt., alt. 1900-2200 met., fl. April, J. M. Wood (No. 4603). By its very acute carina, resembling that of a Crotalaria, this seems to belong to Harvey's section Oxydium; I should place it next to L. trichopoda, Benth. in the Flor. Cap. The flowers are very like those of L. micrantha (Thunb.), Harv., not of E. & Z. But the habit is very different, and the inflorescence has no peduncle, as in that and most of this section. The leaves on the older branches are very much smaller than those on the younger ; all are somewhat shiny. Aspalathus Bodkini, n. sp. (§ Serice^). — Fruticulus pro- stratus ramosus subcsespitosus ; rami rigidi spithamaei, ad 6 mill, diametro, ramulis divaricatis intricatis, sursum dense foliosia sericeis demum glabrescentibus, deorsum nudis cicatricibus pul- vinulorum dense vestitis ; folia terna obovata acuta albo-sericea c 2