MR. J. MIERS ON SOME SOUTH-AMERICAN GENERA. 333 



On some South -American Genera of uncertain Position^Afid on 

 others not recognized by Botanists. By John Miers, F.E.S., 

 F.L.S., &c, Dignitario et Commmendor Imp. Bras. Ordo 



Rosse. 



[Read February 20, 1879.] 



Among the foremost of these genera is the Pleraginea of Arruda 

 da Camara, mentioned in his Centenary of the plants of Pernam- 

 buco 1 , of which he enumerated three species, all belonging to the 

 Chrysohalanacece : — 1. Pleraginea rufa, the plant of wlr h is not 

 described ; but it produces a large drupaceous fruit, called " Oiti- 

 cica coroia," sold in the markets, and at that time cultivated. This 

 fruit is " irregular in shape, having a kernel covered with sweet 

 fa3cula, somewhat aromatic, pleasant, nutritive, and large enough 

 to satisfy one person " — from which we may conclude that it is of 

 considerable magnitude. It seems to approach the genus Acioa 

 of Aublet. Acioa guianensis, described and figured by him, pro- 

 duces an ovate drupe 2f in. long, 2g in. in diameter, with a peri- 

 carp 6 lines thick, subcoriaceous, transversely fibrous, splitting 

 all over the surface between the fibres into irregular chinks which 

 reach the endocarp, from which these frustums do not separate ; 

 within this endocarp is a nut, oblong-ovate, 2 in. long, 1 J in. broad, 

 enclosing a seed covered by a reddish membranaceous integument, 

 consisting of 2 large plano-convex fleshy cotyledons, which are 

 edible, of a pleasant and agreeable flavour resembling that of 

 fresh walnuts, and greatly esteemed by the natives. Here is 

 some analogy between the seeds of Acioa and Pleraginea ; but as 

 Aublet makes no mention of the sweet arilliform coating over the 

 cotyledons of Acioa, which is a prominent feature in Pleraginea, 

 we may conclude that they form two distinct genera. 



2. Pleraginea odorata : the plant is not described ; it produces 

 an oval or obl6ng drupe, very little smaller than a hen's egg, 

 yellowish at the time of maturation. It is edible, the kernel 

 being enveloped in a sweet aromatic nutritive pulp ; this copious 

 pulp, apparently arilliform, sufficiently distinguishes Pleraginea 

 from Acioa, Couepia, and Moquilea. 



Travels in Brazil.' Lond 



4 Dissertac/io sobre as plantas do Brazil/ Rio de Janeiro, 1810, in octavo,. froTL* 

 which Koster s account seems to be a translation in part, 



XDHT. JOtJRN. — BOTANY, TOL. XVII. 2 B 



