_Transvaal, Rhodesia, Portuguese East Africa._
BOLUSANTHUS, _Harms in Fedde Repert. Nov. Sp._ vol. ii. p. 14 (1906).
_Lonchocarpus speciosus_, _Bolus in Journ. Linn. Soc._ vol. xxv. p. 161 (1889).
This remarkable and handsome leguminous plant was collected by the late Dr. Bolus near the Komati River Drift in 1886, and described by him as _Lonchocarpus speciosus_. Dr. Harms of Berlin, when examining a collection of Rhodesian plants, came across the same species on which he founded the genus _Bolusanthus_. The free stamens would indicate that it is not a species of _Lonchocarpus_.
Our illustration was made from material collected by Dr. Pole Evans at Chunies Poort, Transvaal, in October, 1919. The tree, which frequently reaches a height of 30-40 feet, is locally known as “Van Wyk’s Hout,” or “Wild Wisteria.” It is frequent along the northern foothills of the Zoutpansberg range of mountains and in the low veld bush country along the Selati River. When in full bloom it is one of the most beautiful sights seen in the veld, and is a species which should certainly be introduced into cultivation.
DESCRIPTION:--Tree up to 30-40 ft. high. _Branchlets_ pubescent. _Leaves_ 10-27 cm. long; leaflets petiolate; petiole 5 mm. long; leaflet 2·5-7·5 cm. long, ·5-2·5 cm. broad, ovate-elliptic or lanceolate, very often sub-falcate, long-acuminate, acute, oblique at the base, villous when young, becoming pubescent with age. _Inflorescence_ a raceme 14-20 cm. long; rachis pubescent. _Pedicels_ up to 2 cm. long, pubescent. _Calyx_ 7 mm. long, densely tomentose. _Corolla_ dark blue; vexillum 1·5 cm. long, about 1·3 cm. broad, obovate; alae 1·3 cm. long, carina as long as the alae. _Stamens_ free. _Ovary_ linear, densely pubescent. _Fruit_ up to 7 cm. long, 1-1·2 cm. broad, linear-oblong.
PLATE 23.--Fig. 1, branch with flowers; Fig. 2, leaf; Fig. 3, legumes; Fig. 4, calyx; Fig. 5, vexillum; Fig. 6, alae; Fig. 7, carina; Fig. 8, ovary.
ACOKANTHERA, _G. Don._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 696.
=Acokanthera spectabilis=, _Hook. f. Bot. Mag._ t. 6359; _Fl. Cap._ vol. 4, sect. 1, p. 501.
The above figure in the _Botanical Magazine_ was published in 1878, and together with the description which accompanied it was the first recognition that the so-called “Gift Boom” of the Eastern Province consisted of two distinct species. The plant from which the figure in the _Botanical Magazine_ was made, flowered at Kew Gardens in 1878. Mr. T. R. Sim states that he cannot distinguish _A. spectabilis_, Hook. from _A. venenata_, G. Don., but regards it as an eastern coastal form. The plant is reputed to be extremely poisonous, and as the fruits are so attractive-looking, it makes the species also a dangerous one. In habit our plant is an evergreen shrub which lends itself to cultivation in the shrubbery; the flowers are very fragrant, and even in fruit the shrub does not lose its beauty, as the dark purple fruits show up conspicuously against the green leaves. The specimen figured here was presented by Mr. J. W. Wickens from the Garden of the Union Buildings, Pretoria.