Heliophila Scandens, Harv. Thes. Cap. vol. ii. p. 43, t. 166; Bot. Mag. t. 7668.
Harvey first described and figured this remarkable species of Heliophila in 1863, from specimens which he received from Mr. M‘Ken. The late Dr. Medley Wood sent a plant of it to Kew in 1885, which flowered in the succulent house the following year, and has continued to do so about mid-winter ever since. From the plant which flowered at Kew a plate was prepared for the Botanical Magazine, t. 7668.
According to the Kew authorities, in the whole of the large Natural Order Cruciferae, embracing about 180 genera, only two are recorded as having scandent species. They are the South African Heliophila and the Peruvian Cremolobus, and the scandent habit is exceptional in these two genera.
The plant may be found in shady places amongst shrubs along the coast near Durban and also at Inanda. The present plate was prepared from specimens gathered near Durban in July, 1914. The species is popularly known as the “Bridal Wreath.”
Description:—A climbing plant. Stem brown; branches green, terete, glabrous. Leaves 2·5-5 cm. long, 1·2-2·5 cm. broad, oblong to lanceolate, tapering at both ends, obtuse or acute, gradually passing into a thickened, channelled and usually recurved petiole, glabrous. Flowers in axillary and terminal racemes; pedicels 1·2-2·5 cm. long. Sepals oblong, obtuse; the two lateral ones with thickened dorsal wings. Petals 0·8-1·2 cm. long, obovate-spathulate. Long stamens half as long as the petals; short stamens 4 mm. long; anthers ovate. Ovary globose; style short; stigma capitate. Fruit 4-5 cm. long, elliptic-oblong, flat, tipped by a short straight style, 1-2-seeded.
Plate 48.—Fig. 1, portion of plant, nat. size; Fig. 2, flower; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, stamens; Fig. 6, petal; Fig. 7, gynaecium; Fig. 8, fruit. All enlarged with the exception of Fig. 1.
F.P.S.A., 1922.