In an earlier part, on Plate 64, we figured a Transvaal plant, Gazania pygmaea, and stated it to be one of the first species to flower on burnt veld. The plant illustrated here is usually contemporary with the above, and before any of the other veld plants show signs of growth numerous inflorescences of Gerbera plantaginea may be seen pushing through the hard surface of the soil. The underground rootstock is well adapted to withstand the long, dry winter months, and can store up sufficient moisture to commence growth before the first summer rains begin. The plant is usually found growing in small colonies, and the colour of the ray-florets varies from pure white to yellow and through various shades of pink to red. Like Gazania pygmaea, this species was found by Burke and Zeyher on the Magaliesberg about the year 1841, and Harvey, in the “Flora Capensis,” based his description on their specimen. We are indebted to Mr. D. Fouche for the specimens which were collected near Meintjes Kopje, Pretoria. They are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 2580).
Description:—An acaulescent plant with an underground rhizome with a woolly crown and thick cylindric roots. Leaves 4·5-13cm. long, 0·8-2·2cm. broad, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, subacute, narrowed into a petiole at the base, with the midrib and lateral veins distinct beneath, and with entire or sub-denticulate margins, pilose above and beneath. Peduncle 11-27cm. long, naked, densely tomentose, at length becoming sparsely tomentose. Heads solitary, 3-4cm. in diameter. Involucral-bracts in 3 rows, all tomentose; the outer 7 mm. long, 1·5 mm. broad at the base, tapering to an acute point; the inner 1 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, lanceolate, acuminate, acute. Receptacle slightly convex, honeycombed. Ray-flowers in two rows; the outer with a strap-shaped limb 1 cm. long, 2·5 mm. broad, about 6-nerved, minutely 2-3-toothed at the apex and with the lower lip represented by 4 linear appendages 1·5-2 mm. long, the two outer narrower than the two inner. Pappus 6 mm. long, longer than the tube. Ovary 3 mm. long, oblong, pilose; style 8 mm. long, cylindric; lobes 0·5 mm. long, glandular (lobes sometimes three); inner ray-flowers similar to the outer but limb 4·5 mm. long, 0·75 mm. broad. Disc-flowers hermaphrodite. Corolla-tube 4·5 mm. long, cylindric; lobes 3 mm. long, 0·5 mm. broad, linear, obtuse. Anthers 5 mm. long, linear, obtuse, long-tailed at the base. Pappus 6 mm. long. Ovary 3 mm. long, terete, almost glabrous; style 6 mm. long, cylindric; lobes 0·5 mm. long, ovate, obtuse.
[Plate 85.]—Fig. 1, longitudinal section through head showing the convex receptacle; Fig. 2, a ray-floret; Fig. 3, a disc-floret; Fig. 4, upper portion of corolla of disc-floret; Fig. 5, apices of lips of disc-floret; Fig. 6, stamens; Fig. 7, upper portion of style of disc-floret showing the two lobes.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
