It may not be out of place to point out that dried specimens of _Mesembryanthemum chrysoleucum_, Schlechter are so similar to _Roodia digitifolia_ in general appearance, that the plant might easily be mistaken for a species of _Roodia_. It differs, however, by being destitute of bracts on its peduncle; by the leaves, peduncle, and calyx being papillate; by the calyx being lobed down to the top of the ovary, the stamens erect; and by having 7 stigmas and a 7-celled capsule.--N. E. BROWN.
PLATE 78.--Fig. 1, plant 2/3 nat. size; Fig. 2, longitudinal section through the flower; Fig. 3, calyx with 2 sepals; Fig. 4, longitudinal section through receptacle; Fig. 5, petals; Fig. 6, stamen; Fig. 7, bract; Fig. 8, fruit closed; Fig. 9, fruit open; Fig. 10, cross-section of leaf.
BAUHINIA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. i. p. 575.
=Bauhinia Galpinii=, _N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron._, 1891, p. 728; _Hook. Ic. Pl. t._ 19.
This handsome _Bauhinia_, known in the Transvaal as “The Pride of de Kaap,” is a common plant in the low veld east of the Drakensberg. It is a low half-climbing bush, and when in flower is a striking object in the veld, the bright red flowers standing out in sharp contrast to the surrounding vegetation. Specimens were first sent to Kew in 1880 by Mr. T. Nelson, and later Mr. E. E. Galpin sent material which he collected at Barberton. The plant lends itself to cultivation, and may be kept as a trimmed bush in lawns, etc. If left to grow unchecked it becomes very lanky. Our plate was prepared from a specimen growing in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and the plant has grown to a height of about 30 ft. up a tree of _Cupressus sempervirens_, var. _pyramidalis_. In cultivation, at least in Pretoria, very few seeds are produced. Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1601).
DESCRIPTION:--A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height of 5-30 ft. _Branches_ with light-brown bark, minutely pubescent. _Leaves_ petioled; lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5·5 cm. broad, more or less reniform in outline, lobed above, subcordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and prominent beneath, glabrous; petioles 8-1·5 cm. long, convex beneath, channelled above. _Stipules_ 3 mm. long, deciduous. _Flowers_ in 3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. _Bracts_ and bracteoles 3 mm. long, setaceous, deciduous. _Buds_ light brown, acuminate, pubescent. _Calyx-tube_, 2-2·7 cm. long; limb spathaceous, unilateral in open flowers. _Petals_ long clawed; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed; limb 1·7-2 cm. long, 1·5-1·7 cm. broad, ovate, apiculate, subcordate, at the base. _Fertile stamens_ 4; filaments 2·5 cm. long, terete, bent inwards above; anthers 7 mm. long, linear. _Staminodes_ 5 mm. long, setaceous, sometimes deeply 2-lobed. _Ovary_ on a long gynophore 1·5 cm. long, silky pubescent; style 5 mm. long, stigma capitate. _Fruit_ 12·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad, with a double margin along one edge, oblanceolate, tipped with the persistent style, and narrowed at the base. _Seeds_ 1·9 cm. long, oblong, flattened, dark brown.