Scrophulariaceae. Tribe Gerardieae.
Hyobanche, Thunb.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 968.
Hyobanche Fulleri, Phillips, sp. nov. Stipes succulentus. Folia 1·4 cm. longa, superne 6 mm. lata, spathulata, apice obtusa, externe glanduloso-villosa. Inflorescentia ad 13 cm. longa, 3 cm. lata. Bracteae 2·5 cm. longae, superne 6 mm. latae, spathulatae, externe glanduloso-pilosae, 3-nervosae; bracteolae 2, 2·5 cm. longae, 2 mm. latae, lineares, apice subacutae. Pedicellus 3 mm. longus, 3 mm. latus, carnosus. Calyx inaequalis; segmentum infimum 3 mm. longum, lineare; cetera 2·5 cm. longa, pilosa. Corolla leviter curvata, 3·5 cm. longa, 7 mm. lata, superne viscido-pilosa. Filimenta 2·4 cm. longa. Ovarium 4 mm. longum, globosum, glabrum; stylus 2·7 cm. longus, superne curvatus; stigma clavatum.
This new Hyobanche is the only recorded species for Natal. Bews (“Flora of Natal and Zululand”) records H. sanguinea from Umzumbi, but we suspect it is the species here described. It was first collected by the late Dr. J. Medley Wood (Herb. Natal 11002) at Karridene Beach, and recently Mr. Claude Fuller of Pretoria forwarded living specimens from the same locality. Mr. Fuller was unable to determine the host on which the parasite grew. It differs from H. sanguinea, as from all the other known South African species, in having the lowest calyx segment very much shorter than the others. The genus Hyobanche is very closely related to Harveya, a species (Harveya squamosa) of which is figured on Plate 67. Species of the two genera can easily be distinguished by an examination of the stamens. In Hyobanche the anthers are one-celled, while in Harveya the anthers are two-celled but only one cell contains pollen. Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1643).
Description:—A parasitic herb. Stem fleshy. Leaves adpressed, 1·4 cm. long, 6 mm. broad above, spathulate, obtuse, glandular-villous without. Inflorescence up to 13 cm. long, 3 cm. in diameter; axis fleshy. Bracts 2·5 cm. long, 0·6 cm. broad above, spathulate, densely glandular-pilose without, 3-nerved above; bracteoles 2, 2·5 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, linear, subacute, narrowing at the base. Pedicels 3 mm. long, 3 mm. in diameter, fleshy. Calyx unequal; the anterior segment 3 mm. long, linear; the lateral and posterior segments 2·5 cm. long, pilose without. Corolla slightly curved, 3·5 cm. long, 7 mm. in diameter, viscously pilose without in the upper half; mouth a longitudinal slit, about 1 cm. long, more or less opening out upwards by a recurving of the margins which indicates the presence of a hooded faintly two-lobed upper lip and a very obscure lower lip split to the base. Filaments 2·4 cm. long, attached near base of corolla-tube. Ovary 4 mm. long, 4 mm. in diameter, globose, glabrous; style 2·7 cm. long, terete, gradually thickening and sharply curved above, glabrous; stigma clavate.
[Plate 89.]—Fig. 1, young inflorescence; Fig. 2, longitudinal section of inflorescence; Fig. 3, underground stem with young inflorescence; Fig. 4, flower, with bract and two bracteoles; Fig. 5, bract, front and side view; Fig. 6, calyx; Fig. 7, bracteole; Fig. 8, corolla; Fig. 9, gynæcium; Fig. 10, leaf; Fig. 11, upper portion of corolla, side view; Fig. 12, upper portion of corolla, front view.
F.P.S.A., 1923.