MR. &. BENTHAM ON MENISPEBMACE-E. 51 



Botryopsis, Miers. 



The Cocculus platyphylla, A. de St. HiL, upon which this genus 

 is founded, is certainly very distinct from other Cocculi, both in 

 calyx and fruit. It appears to be widely spread in southern Brazil 

 and is Spruce's n. 4474 from Tarapoto. The Abuta ? tornentosa 

 of Sagot's Cayenne plants, n. 19, is probably a second species ; for 

 it has the same multiplication of sepals, but the female flowers and 

 fruit are as yet unknown. 



Sciadot^nia, Miers. 



A genus founded on a specimen of Martin's from Cayenne, with 

 long axillary peduncles, bearing each what at first sight appears to 

 be a fruiting umbel, and is so described by Miers ; but a more 

 careful examination shows that each ray bears only a single carpel, 

 that the scars of the perianth are round the base, not at the sum- 

 mit of the rays, and that these rays are not pedicels, but podo- 

 carps, more or less united at the base (in Martin's specimen), 

 precisely as in Tiliacora, the supposed umbel of fruits being the 

 result of a single flower. The unusual number of carpels, the 

 peculiar inflorescence, and fleshy embryo without albumen, are, 

 however, sufficient to characterize it as a distinct genus, inde- 

 pendently of the flowers, which were entirely unknown. Since, 

 however, these observations have been drawn up, I have received, 

 in a most valuable set of Cayenne plants collected by Dr. Sagot, 

 a specimen of the same species under the name of Abuta ? umbel- 

 hta, also in fruit, but with notes on, and a sketch of, the female 

 flower, which entirely confirms the above views. The perianth is 

 in 3 series of 3 each, of which the inner series is twice as large as 

 the other, as in Coscinium. This proportion is quite exceptional 

 in Menispermacece, if this perianth be considered as consisting of 

 3 sepals and 6 petals ; for in all other genera the petals where 

 present are shorter than the sepals. Perhaps it would be more in 

 conformity with the general plan of the order to consider both 

 Coscinium and Sciadotcenia as apetalous ; the perianth consisting, 

 as in some Aluta, of 3 rows of sepals, or of 2 rows of sepals with 

 2 or 3 external bracts. In Sagot's specimen the podocarps are 

 more spreading than in Martin's, and scarcely united at the base ; 

 tut it appears to belong to the same species, which may be thus 

 described : — 



Sciadotjenia cayennensis. Scandens. Ramuli, petioli, et interdum 

 vena; primarite foliorum tomentoso-pubescentes vel demum glabrati. 



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