Plate 70.
OCHNA pretoriensis.
Transvaal.
Ochnaceae. Tribe Ochnaceae.
Ochna, Schreb.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 317.
Ochna pretoriensis, Phillips, sp. nov. Rami glabri. Folia 1·5-3·8 cm. longa, 0·5-1·7 cm. lata, lanceolata, obovata, elliptica vel oblanceolata, apice obtusa, basi cuneata, marginibus serratis. Flores solitarii vel 2-nati. Pedicelli 1-1·5 cm. longi, basi articulati. Sepala 7-8 mm. longa, 4·5 mm. lata, ovata vel elliptica, apice rotundata, aliquando 2-3-lobata. Petala 1·5 cm. longa, 9·5 mm. lata, obovata, apice rotundata, basi unguiculata. Filamenta 4·5 mm. longa, apice articulata. Ovarium 4-5-loculare; stylus 5 mm. longus, apice 4-5-lobatus.
This Ochna, which is found in the Transvaal around Pretoria and at Messina, has hitherto been confused with O. atropurpurea, but is easily distinguished from that species by the larger more expanded flowers and the non-pustulate branches. The latter character distinguishes O. atropurpurea from all the other South African species of the genus.
Our plate was prepared from specimens collected on Meintjes Kop, Pretoria, by Mr. D. J. Fouche in September, 1921. It is a low spreading bush, and at this time of the year is one mass of sweet-smelling yellow flowers. The leaves do not appear until December or January, and it is then that the green sepals enlarge and turn a blood-red colour and surround the black fruit. The plant, therefore, either in flower or fruit makes a very ornamental shrub and well worth the attention of cultivators.
The genus Ochna contains several species producing valuable timber.