Chives nearly sessile, and attached to the nectary. Tips two-cleft.
Pointal. Seed-buds two, oblong, and tapered. Shafts two, awl-shaped. Summit common to both, large, thick, and five-cornered.
Seed-vessel. Two pods, one-celled, one-valved.
Seeds numerous, and crowned with a feather.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Stapelia orbicularis; ramis pluribus, erecto-patentibus, tetragonis, dentatis; corollis quinquefidis, in medio orbiculatis, densissime punctatis; laciniis cordatis, rugosis, striatis, fuscatis.
Stapelia with orbicular flowers; branches numerous, erect and spreading, four-sided, and toothed; blossom five-cleft, rounded in the centre, and closely dotted; segments of the border are heart-shaped, wrinkled, and striped with brown.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement, nectaries, chives and pointals.
2. The nectaries, chives, and pointals, magnified.
3. A section of the above, magnified.
4. The same shown in a side direction, to expose the situation of the chives.
5. The seed-buds, shafts, and summit.
This perfectly new Stapelia we have not met with in any other collection but that of Messrs. Loddige, from whom we received it under the title of orbicularis, a specific derived from the circular centre of the flower a very discriminative appellation; and, although not exclusively the character of this species, is much more distinctly marked in this plant than in any other we have as yet seen. Upon comparing our figure with forty-one species described and figured by Mr. F. Masson, not any affinity could be discerned powerful enough to render a reference by any means requisite: there is a sombre appearance annexed to almost all the flowers of this most curious tribe, and they more resemble pieces of mechanism than the vegetable productions of nature. They require but little water in summer, and still less in winter; should be carefully sheltered from rain and frost, and they will succeed very well, and are easily propagated by slips from the joints, but very rarely seed in this country. Natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and are called Stapelias after a Dutch botanist of the name of Stapel.[Pg 15]