NOTES OX EKSTIACEJB. 575 



reparation to restore the species as Eottboll intended it. At the 

 same time I have been enabled, as I think, to find a partner for 

 the female plant, which alone was known to the Danish naturalist. 

 The description of the species thus completed is given at a sub- 

 sequent page. 



The following notes comprise the description of certain new 

 species detected by Bolus, Eehmann, and others, chiefly in the 

 genera Dovea and Eleqia, together with sundry modifications 

 and adjustments which the examination of more perfect speci- 

 mens has necessitated. I have also thought it useful to append : — 

 1. A list of the specimens in the Linnean herbarium ; and 2. Lists 

 of the specimens collected by Bolus and Eehmann, and the 

 numbers under which they have been distributed. 



Eestio. 



? E. MULTiFLORUs, Sprengel, Mast, in DC. Mon. Phanerog. 

 i. 279. (Plantae masculae patefactio.) 



Of this species only the female plant has been hitherto de- 

 scribed. With some hesitation 1 venture to describe a specimen 

 in the herbarium of the British Museum, collected by Col. Bolton, 

 as the male. The grounds for hesitation are threefold : first, 

 there is not exact correspondence between the sexes ; secondly, 

 there is no direct evidence on the point ; and, thirdly, the 

 locality given, "Natal," is open to doubt. On the two first 

 matters the difficulty is no greater than is met with in the Order 

 generally ; rarely, indeed, does it happen that the home-botanist 

 can produce more than a strong probability in favour of his 

 attempts at matching the sexes. The locality, Natal, is probably 

 an error. In all probability this specimen and one or two others 

 similarly labelled were collected at the Cape in the course of a 

 journey to Natal. In any case there is no confirmation to be 

 had of the occurrence of any Eestiaceous plant in Natal. The 

 general habit of Col. Bolton's specimen, the markings of the 

 stem, the nature of the vagina?, all correspond with those of the 

 female plant of B. multiflorus, save that the membranous edges 

 to the vagina? are less deep. The many-flowered spikelets are 

 arranged in much-branched spicate cymes, the branches ascending 

 or slightly radiating. Each spikelet measures 4-5 mm., and 

 when mature is somewhat pear-shaped ; the bracts ovate-oblong, 

 wucronate, slightlv boat-shaped, and about the length of the 



2u 2 



