160 XXI. HYPERICINEiE (oliver). [Haronga. 



with the radicle equalling or rather shorter than the cotyledons.— -A shrub or 

 tree with opposite entire leaves connected by a rather prominent interpetiolar 

 ridge. Flowers small, in broad corymbose terminal cymes. 



The following is the only species of the genus, limited to Africa and its islands. 



1. H. madagascariensis, Chois. ,- DC. Prod. i. 541. A shrub or 

 sometimes arborescent, attaining 30-50 ft. Branches rusty or hoary with a 

 short deciduous tomentum or hoary -puberulous. Leaves opposite, ovate-ob- 

 long or -elliptical, acute or apiculate, rounded sometimes very broadly or 

 even cordate at the base, usually more or less rusty -tomentose when young, 

 early glabrous or glabrescent above, tomentose or nearly glabrous and usually 

 much paler or glaucescent with rather prominent midrib and secondary 

 veins below, 3-6 in. long, 1^-3 in. broad (or occasionally larger, 10 in. by 5 

 in.) ; petioles £-f in. Berries smooth, the size of small pepper-grains.— 

 Lam. III. t. 645. Arungana paniculata, Pers. Syn. PI. ii. 91. Psoro- 

 spermum Leonense, Turcz. in Bull. Mosc. xxxvi. 578 (ex descr.). 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia ! Sierra Leone, Barter ! Fernando Po, T. Vogel I and 

 others ; Grand Bassa, T. Vogel I Old Calabar, Matin ! 



Lower Guinea. Golungo Alto, Angola, Welmtsch I 



Mozamb. Distr. Mozambique^ Forbes ! Zambesi, Peters, (ex Kloizsch, who gives 

 synonymy.) 



Also in Madagascar and Mauritius. 



5. VISMIA, Veil. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 166. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, usually villous within. Stamens 5-adelphous, pha- 

 langes opposite to the petals, oligo- or polyandrous ; squamae 5, alternating 

 with the phalanges. Ovary 5-celled (or placentas imperfectly cohering) ; 

 styles distinct ; stigmas clavate-capitate. Ovules indefinite biseriate, or about 

 5, ascending. Berry indehiscent. Seeds horizontal or ascending, terete, 

 eglandular, unappendaged. Embryo straight or slightly curved. — Shrubs or 

 trees. Leaves opposite, entire, more or less glandular-punctate, the petioles 

 connected by a transverse line or ridge. Flowers in terminal or axillary 

 cymes. 



Principally a South American genus. Very nearly allied to Psorospermum, but until 

 we obtain both flower and fruit of the following species and of the species described under 

 Psorospermum, it may be convenient to distinguish the genera by the number of the ovules. 

 When the fruits of all shall have been collected, it is probable some use may be made of the 

 form of the cotyledons and presence or absence of glands in the testa. 



Leaves with a cordate base. Stamens 4-0 in each phalange. Ovules 



about 5 in each cell \. V. rubescens. 



Leaves acute, cuneate or rounded not cordate at the base. 



Extremities rusty-tomentose. (Stamens 20-40 in each phalange?) 



Ovules 10-12 ... 2. V. leonensts. 



Extremities glabrous or with a pilose ring at insertion of lateral 

 branches. 

 Leaves membranous. Cymes rounded, 1-1$ iu. across .... 3- ^ offinis- 

 Leaves rather coriaceous. Cymes corymbose, 2-3 in. across . . 4- V- /rondos". 



1. V. rubescens, Oliv. A climbing shrub attaining 20 ft. with terete 

 smooth opposite branches, at first minutely puberulous, soon glabrous- 



