OF THE GENUS BYRSANTHUS. 17 
in Brown's plant the ovary is wholly inseparate from the flower- 
tube, while in the species described by Guillemin the ovary is 
half superior; moreover the petals in the specimen collected by 
Chr. Smith are patent, while in the description and figure given 
by Guillemin the petals are connivent *. 
But the great interest attaching to these plants resides in their 
curious morphological structure. Owing to the great thickness 
and opacity of the parts of the flower in the dried plant, it is 
not altogether an easy matter to determine accurately the rela- 
tionship of the several parts. An examination of recent spe- 
cimens in all stages of development is, indeed, necessary for their 
full comprehension; nevertheless from the evidence before me, 
and from the analogies offered by allied genera, I believe the 
structure to be correctly interpreted as follows :— 
From the summit of the top-shaped flower-tube emerge five 
(rarely six) ovate leathery valvate sepals. Within, and alter- 
nating with the sepals, originate the petals, of the same number 
and form as the sepals, but larger, thicker, and more indu- 
plicate at the margins, and hence somewhat concave. Within 
the petals are two or three series of fleshy cushion-like glands 
intermingled with stamens. The difficulty before alluded to con- 
sists in ascertaining the precise relative position of the glands 
and stamens, and in consequence their exact morphological sig- 
nificance. 
If my interpretation be correct, the arrangement is as follows :— 
First row of 5 or 6 sepals; second of 5 or 6 petals; third of 
glands and stamens thus disposed :—in front of each sepal one 
gland; in front of each petal one gland, flanked on either side 
by a fertile stamen: fourth row of glands and stamens, one 
gland before each sepal, one perfect stamen before each petal ; 
* The two species may briefly thus be characterized ; a fuller description 
will appear in the forthcoming (second) volume of the ‘ Flora of Tropical Africa,’ 
while certain structural details are alluded to in the context :— 
Byrsantuus Brownsu, Guill. in Ic. Deless. iii. p. 30, t. 52, Foliis ovali-ob- 
longis; petalis conniventibus; ovario basi tantum cum floris tubo coad- 
unato; stylis in tubum fusiformem inferne coalitis. 
Hab. Senegal, Coll. Heudelot. 
B. grrovsvs, Mast., sp. nov. Foliis oblongis; petalis patentibus ; ovario 
omnino cum floris tubo coadunato; stylis divergentibus omnino liberis vel 
imo basi tantum coalitis. 
Hab, Gambia, Park; Congo, Chr. Smith. 
LINN. JOURN.—BOTANY, VOL. XIII. C 
