Plate 174.
Reading edition
SENECIO TAMOIDES. Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal. Compositae. Tribe Senecionideae. Senecio, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 446.
Senecis tamoides, DC. Prodr. vol. vi. p. 403; Fl. Cap. vol. iii. p. 404.
The species here figured belongs to a small group of species in the genus (Section Scandentes), which is characterised by its members being climbing, half-climbing or trailing plants. Senecio tamoides is a very common plant in the bush and the coastal belt, and its large trusses of bright yellow, honey-scented flowers show up in strong contrast against the background of dark green foliage. At Durban, Natal, the flowers are frequently attacked by an insect, and as a result a gall is formed inside the flower head. The gall enlarges into a cylindric green body much longer than the flower-head, and each contains a single larva.
Senecio tamoides has been recorded from the Chipete Forest in Rhodesia, and was also collected by Mr. E. E. Galpin, F.L.S., at Barberton in the Transvaal.
Our illustration was made from specimens collected by Miss K. A. Lansdell on the Berea, Durban.
Description:—A climbing herb. Branches glabrous. Leaves 2·2 to 5·5 cm. long, 2·7 to 6 cm. broad, ovate, acuminate, subobtuse, somewhat hastate, with the margins acutely lobulate, glabrous. Inflorescence a many-headed corymb. Involucral-bracts about 6, 8 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong-linear, obtuse, with membranous margins. Ray-florets: Tube 5 mm. long, cylindric; limb 6·5 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong. Style exserted; style branches filiform. Disc-florets male, cylindric, 6·5 mm. long, lobes ·75 mm. long, linear, obtuse. Anthers blunt. Style-branches linear, truncate. Ovary infertile, 3 mm. long, cylindric, ribbed, glabrous. Pappus copious.
Plate 174.—Fig. 1, ray-floret; Fig. 2, disc-floret.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
