Liliaceae. Tribe Scilleae.
Urginea, Steinh.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 810.
Urginea macrocentra, Baker in Gard. Chron. 1887, vol. i. p. 702; Fl. Cap.
vol. vi. p. 466.
This plant, commonly known as the “Natal Slangkop,� owing to the resemblance of the young inflorescence to a snake’s head, has been recorded from the Umvoti District along the coast of Natal, and also from the Transkei. The inflorescence makes its appearance in early spring, and is then eaten by stock, when other herbage is scarce, with fatal results (for an account of symptoms due to “slangkop� poisoning see Bulletin No. 7 of 1922, Dept. Agric. Union S. Africa). During the spring months, especially if the rains are later than usual, losses of stock in parts where this “slangkop� occurs are of almost annual occurrence.
The late Dr. Wood stated that he did not think U. macrocentra was specifically distinct from U. lilacina. He carefully compared his specimens of the latter-named plant with the former, and could detect no difference, and suggested that the specimens described by Baker as U. lilacina were merely U. macrocentra which had lost the conspicuous spurs, these being very early deciduous.
Our plate was prepared from specimens collected near Merebank outside Durban, and cultivated at the Natal Herbarium.
Description:—Bulb large, globose, 4 to 6 cm. in diameter. Leaf single, 30 to 60 cm. long, 1 mm. in diameter, terete, purple-red at the base. Peduncle 70 to 90 cm. long, 7 mm. in diameter, terete. Inflorescence a dense cylindric raceme 8 to 15 cm. long and 2 to 3 cm. in diameter. Bracts with a long reflexed spur; spur 2 to 3 cm. long, 4 mm. broad[{92}] at the base, convolute, bifid. Perianth-segments 6 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate. Stamens shorter than the perianth-segments. Ovary sessile; style short.
Plate 142.—Fig. 1, single flower; Fig. 2, part of inflorescence axis showing pedicel and bract with the spur removed; Fig. 3, spur; Fig. 4, stamen; Fig. 5, cross-section of ovary.