130 xv. polygale^; (olivek). [Polygala. 



lateral racemes or axillary fascicles, shorter than the leaves or pedicels, 

 equalling or exceeding the outer free sepals. Bracts and bracteoles herba- 

 ceous, lanceolate. Wing-sepals rotundate-ovate, with numerous radiating, 

 looping nervures. Lateral petals ovate, considerably shorter than the keel. 

 Capsule quadrate-rotundate, retuse, minutely pubescent, scarcely or not at all 

 winged, enclosed by the wing-sepals. — P. obtusisuma, tlochst. in PL Schimp. 

 Abyss. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper ! 



Mozamb. Distr. Zambesi, Dr. Kirk ! 



9. P. Myrtillopsis, Welw. mss. A low herb of about 6 in., with 

 shrubby habit, giving off numerous ascending, shortly hirsute branches from 

 the thick root-stock. Leaves somewhat rigid, oblong-elliptical, mucronulate, 

 glabrous or ciliolate, finely reticulate-venulose, sessile or subsessile, j-1 in- 

 long, $— \ in. wide. Flowers nodding, in short, extra-axillary, few-flowered 

 racemes of \ in. or less. Bracts subulate, persistent, shorter than the 

 pedicels. Wing-sepals green, obliquely obovate-oblong, narrowed below, 

 slightly mucronulate. Capsule rotundate-obcordate, emarginate, narrowly- 

 winged, ciliolate, broader, but shorter, than the wings. 



Lower Guinea. Angola, prov. Huilla, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



In habit resembling the Indian P. arvensis, from which its more rigid, reticulated leaves 

 distinguish it ; it approaches also P. japotiica, differing in the capsule and wings. 



10. P. abyssinica, Fresen. in Mas. Seuck. ii. 273. Occurring both as 

 an annual and with a woody, branching, no doubt perennial stock ; erect or 

 ascending, forking or a good deal branched below, from £ to 2 ft., minutely 

 pilose towards the extremities in the tropical specimens. Leaves linear, 

 tapering to a fine point, or in the depressed perennial form oblong or nar- 

 rowly elliptical, apiculate, pilulose or glabrate, very shortly petiolate, y-U 

 iu. long, 1-3 lines broad. Flowers secund, in terminal, sometimes elongate 

 racemes ; pedicels spreading, about equal to the free outer sepals. Bracts 

 early deciduous. Wing-sepals ovate, narrowed at the base, sometimes so 

 much so as to appear obovate, with 3 nerves connected towards the apex. 

 Lateral corolla-lobes shorter than the median, orbicular, shortly narrowed be- 

 low or unguiculate. Capsule obovate, emarginate, narrowly winged in front, 

 glabrous or nearly so.— P. hoUenlotta, Presl, Bot. Bern. 15. P. Gerardiana, 

 Wall. Cat. 4187. P. adoensis, Hochst. in PI. Schimp. Abyss. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Salt I Schimper! and others. 



Var. rupicola, much-branched at the base, pilose, with oval or oblong leaves (P. ruptcok, 

 Iloihst. et Steud. in Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 36). 



Abyssinia, Schimper! 



I have but little hesitation in identifying P. hottentotta of S. extratropical Africa an 

 P. Gerar/fiana of the Himalaya with the Abyssinian plant. Perhaps P. leptalea, *£*»(!* 

 P. oliyophylla, DC, may prove to be synonymous. The two latter are identified by » 

 Bentham. 



11. P. Mannii, Oliv. A low, leafy, perennial herb, a few inches m 

 height, apparently with a prostrate stem or rhizome. Ascending axis simp e > 

 glabrous or nearly so. Leaves large, membranous, obovate-elliptical or oD- 

 lanceolate, more or less acuminate, narrowed into the petiole, slightly denti- 

 culate forward or entire, glabrous, 2-4 in. long, \-\\ in. broad; P etl ° 



