498 DR. M. T. MASTEKS 0>' THE STRUCTrRE OF THE 



culars with that in the living plant, except that there is a more 

 distinct fold on the outer surface of the base of each of the seg- 

 ments, just opposite to the similar process on the inner surface of 

 the outer row. The anthers are about ten in number, one-celled, 

 the barren filaments being rounded at the extremity, not acutely 

 pointed as in the living plant. 



The specimens from the same collector, gathered at Fernando 

 Po in November I860, seem to differ in some respects from those 

 that have been previously described ; but these differences appear 

 to me not to be sufficiently important to do more than constitute 

 a distinct variety. In the following remarks I confine myself 

 to the points of comparison with the forms from other localities. 

 The leaves are eight or nine inches long, roundish or subcordate 

 at tlie base, obovate, acuminate. The flowers are pale in colour, 

 solitary and axillary, the calyx glandular, the corolla rather smaller 

 than that of the living plant, but larger than that of Yogel's or 

 Barker's. The first and second rows of tlie corona are like those 

 of the Old- Calabar plant, as also are the stamens ; the anthers 

 are extrorse, one-celled, and irregular in number. 



From what has beeii just said, it will be seen that in the plants 

 in question there ai'e slight differences in the form and size of the 

 leaves, in the number of the flowers, in the size, colour, and form 

 of the various whorls of the flower. I shall now proceed to con- 

 trast these points of difference with the recorded descriptions and 

 figures in tlie various works to which I have had aceess ; and this 

 comparison will, I believe, enable me to draw correct inferences 

 as to the value of the proposed specific distinctions between 

 these plants. 



Palisot de Beauvois's figure* corresponds in general aspect pretty 

 closely with the living plant, but in certain matters of detail it 

 differs materially. The figure shows a branch of a shrub or tree 

 with leaves like those of the cultivated plant, while the flowers 

 are represented of a blue colour, solitary in the axils of the leaves, 

 and some of them springing from the old wood just as in the 

 living plant. In the description the flowers are spoken of as 

 axillary, and arranged " par bouquets," while their colour is de- 

 scribed as " d'un beau bleu avec un reflet violet." The sepals 



r 



have two small marginal glands, one on each side near the apex. 

 The corolla is described as double, comprising what I have men- 

 tioned in the living plant as the corolla, and the second whorl of 

 the corona, the outer series having, apparently, been omitted 



T 



Flore d'Oware et de Benin, ii. 29, t. 78. 



