OF WESTERN TROPICAL AFRICA. 161 
This interesting addition to the anomalous group of the Loga- 
niaceæ presents, in the bifid lobes of the stigma, the same pecu- 
liarity in the Order as the genus Gelsemium, from which, how- 
ever, it widely differs in its definite ovules and fruit. 
Technically, I presume it must be, for the present, disposed 
under Mr. Bentham’s tribe Gaertneres, characterized by solitary 
or geminate ovules. It is, however, very different in habit from 
any genus of this group known to me. 
OcTOLEPIS. 
THYMELZACEARUM genus novum. 
CHAR. GEN.— Perianthium quadripartitum, loborum marginibus zsti- 
vatione imbricatis. Squame 8 per paria lobis perianthii opposite, 
integra, wstivatione valvate. Stamina 8 fere hypogyna squamis 
alterna; filamentis liberis subulatis; antheris parvis ovatis v. ovato- 
cordatis, bilocularibus, longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Ovarium su- 
perum, sessile, ovoideum, quadriloculare; stylo brevi, terminali; 
stigmate parvo, papilloso-dilatato; ovula in loculis solitaria pendula. 
Fructus ignotus.—Arbor parva. Folia alterna. Flores axillares, albi. 
Fig. 1. Flower, natural size. 2. Vertical section of flower. 3. Stamen. 
4. Seale. 5. Pistil. 6. Transverse section of an ovary. 
1. O. CASEARIA, sp. unica. Frutex 6-8-pedalis. Ramuli juniores 
pubescentes v. puberuli, deinde glabrescentes. Folia breviter petiolata 
obovato-lanceolata, breviter acuminata v. apiculata, integra v. ob- 
scure repando-denticulata, membranacea, glabra, lamina 43-9) poll. 
longa, 21-33 poll. lata, petiolus 1-3 lin. longus. Flores in fasci- 
culos paucifloros (3-4) dispositi, pedicellis gracilibus 2-3 lin. longis. 
Alabastra ovata, pedicellis zquilonga v. breviora. Perianthium lobis 
oblongo-ovatis obtusis v. obtusiusculis, extus pubescentibus, intus 
puberulis. Squamz quadrato-oblonge marginibus intus apicemque 
versus pilosz, basin prope perianthii inserte. Stamina filamentis basi 
pilosis. Ovarium dense pilosum, stylus brevis. 
Hab. River Kongui, Mr. Gustav Mann, September 1862 and February 
1863; Old Calabar, Rev. W. C. Thomson. 
Octolepis is so far removed in floral structure from any other 
Thymeleaceous genus with which I am acquainted, that I am at 
a loss to know what are its nearest affinities. With its quadri- 
partite perianth, squamze, and four-celled ovary, it does not con- 
sort well with any described Aquilarinese. In Geissoloma and the 
Cape group of Penzaces we find an approach to the structure of 
the pistil of Octolepis, but their habit is extremely diverse, and their 
perianth is usually, if not always, more or less deeply tubular. 
PanoPsIA GuINEENSIS, sp. nov. Ramulis ferrugineo-pubescentibus. 
foliis late ovalibus v. ellipticis, obtusiuscule acuminatis, repando-den- 
o 2 
