M l-qr _ 



M. CORUEA DE MELLO OS MYROCARPUS FKONDOSUS. 263 



acquires a height of 8 or 9 palnms and a diameter of 2 inches, the 

 leaves are ovate-lanceolate, abruptly acuminate, broad, and un- 

 equally rounded at the base. The bracts are of a deep scarlet 

 colour, the fertile flowers (?) usually solitary in the axils of the 

 lower bracts, the sterile ones ((^) two together in the axils of the 

 upper bracts, the spadix erect. Of the genus Heliconia I have 

 seen two species, one with the spathes but little conspicuous, 

 which occurs sometimes in the w^oods near this town ; the other, 

 whose characters agree w^ell with the H- latis^atlta^ Benth. 

 (AValp, Ann. i. 811), differs from the genus in that the fruit is a 

 berry (trigonous, pedicellate, of a blue slightly purplish colour, 

 1- to 3-seeded), and not a 3-valved capsule. It so far establishes 

 a passage from the genus Heliconia to that of Musa; and it will 

 be necessary either to make a new genus for it, or to reform the 

 character of Heliconia as to the fruits, so as to enable it to 

 comprehend this species. This Musacea is probably already 

 known ; for it is very common from the middle to the base of 



the Cordillera called Serra de Santos, and occurs also in the 

 liitoral. 



Iridero, besides tlic numerous species cultivated for ornament in 

 our gardens, are represented here by very few species. 



Of all these plants I shall send you specimens, accompanied 

 by descriptions and draAvings, to the best of my ability. 



Canii)inas, June 3, 1869, 



JOAQriM COBREA i)E MeLLO. 



On Myrocarpus frondosus, Allem. By J. Correa de Mello, of 

 Campinas, in South Brazil. (Translated from the Portuguese, 

 with a Note, by G. Bektham, Esq.) 



[Read February 3, 1870.] 



Myrocarpus fkondosus, Allem. Diss, 184/ et 1848, cum ic. Calyx 

 tubulosus, obeonicus, rectus, breviter 5-dentatus, vix a latere compres- 

 sus, infra medium (ad disci marginem) leviter constrictus, parte di- 

 scifera carnosula, supra discum metnbranaceus, nervis 5 tenuibus in 

 apices dentium terminantibus percursus, extus tenuiter pubescens ; 

 dentibus inter se a^quahbus, aestivatione varie imbricatis, ad iDarginem 

 disci baud divisis (sepalis ultra discum coalitis). Discus in fundo ca- 

 lycis, tetnus, viridis. Pelala 5, inter se aequalia, obovato-linearia, apicc 

 rotunrlata concavaqne, membranacea^medio nervotenuissiino viresccntc 

 percursa, incuntc anthcsi alba patentiaque, niox levitcr flavicantia, ad 



