Entry From
Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol 4, Part 1, page 231, (1904) Author: (By N. E. Brown.)
Names
SECAMONE Alpini Schult. [family ASCLEPIADACEAE], in Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg. vi. 125 (excl. syn. Secamone, Alpin. Ægypt. (ed. 1640) 133, and 134 fig.).
SECAMONE Thunbergii E. Mey. [family ASCLEPIADACEAE], Comm. 224; Decne. in DC. Prod. viii. 501; K. Schum. in Engl. & Prantl, Pflanzenfam. iv. ii. 263.
Periploca Secamone Linn. [family ASCLEPIADACEAE], Mant. Alt. 216, excl. both synonyms; Thunb. Prodr. 47, and Fl. Cap. ed. Schult. 233.
Distribution
Nyasaland Mozamb. Dist. Mount Malosa, 4000–6000 ft., Whyte! Mount Zomba, 4000–5000 ft., Whyte!
Notes
As the above quoted specimens are without fruit, the follicles and seeds are described from South African examples. The species is easily recognised by the flowers being pubescent inside.The Egyptian plant described and figured by Alpino has been misunderstood by all authors. Linnæus & Schultes wrongly refer it to this plant, which is not known to occur north of the Equator and was unknown to Alpino. Decaisne refers it to Oxystelma Alpini, Decne., a somewhat remarkable error, as Alpino's figure bears no resemblance to that plant. The figure in question is a fairly good one for that period and is undoubtedly a representation of Leptadenia heterophylla, Decne. The plant described by Schultes as Secamone Alpini is characterised in such an unmistakable manner that is is quite evident the description was made entirely from the South African, without reference to the Egyptian plant of Alpino.