The species figured here was collected in 1922 by Mr. T. P. Stokoe on the Hottentot Hollands Mountains near Hang Klip, and forwarded by him to the Division of Botany, Pretoria. Near the same locality Mr. Stokoe discovered another species of Brunia, which is undescribed. We do not know of either of these species having been previously collected, and the fact that undescribed and rare plants have recently been found on such a well-known mountain range as the Hottentot Hollands, proves that there must be a large area, within easy reach of Cape Town, which has not yet been thoroughly botanically explored.
Description:—Branches glabrous. Leaves spreading 7-8 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, trigonous, almost flat above with a raised mid-rib, keeled beneath, obtuse, tipped with a small black globose mucro, the angles of the leaves when viewed by transmitted light are pellucid, glabrous. Inflorescence a stalked globose head arranged in groups up the branches. Peduncles 2-3 cm. long, 5-7 mm. in diameter, surrounded by adpressed imbricated bracts 3 mm. long, 1 mm. broad, lanceolate, obtuse, keeled below, glabrous. Axis of inflorescence 1·2-1·5 cm. long, 7-9 mm. in diameter, more or less ovate in longitudinal section. Floral-bracts 7 mm. long, obovate-spathulate, subacuminate, tipped with a black mucro, bent almost at right angles above, densely villous on back in the middle third. Calyx of 4 sepals, 4·5 mm. long; 3 sepals narrow-linear, the fourth oblanceolate, all densely villous without. Petals 5·5 mm. long, ·75 mm. broad, linear, with one large middle lobe and two small or almost obsolete side lobes. Filaments 5 mm. long, terete; anthers 1·25 mm. long, linear. Ovary 2 mm. long, 1 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid, densely villous above, 2-celled, with a pendulous ovule in each cell; styles two, 4 mm. long, terete, free from the base; stigma simple (in some flowers examined there was only a single style). Immature fruit 3·5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. in diameter, ellipsoid (National Herb. Pretoria 1668).
Plate 92.—Fig. 1, longitudinal section through head showing axis of the inflorescence; Fig. 2, floral bract; Fig. 3, a single flower; Fig. 4, a stamen; Fig. 5, longitudinal section of ovary showing the two cells and pendulous ovules.
F.P.S.A., 1923.
K. A. Lansdell del.