222 xxvi. sterculi.ace.e (mastees). [Cola. 



others. I cannot look on this as of specific importance, as in some of the other specimens 

 both sessile and stalked leaves may be found, and also considerable difference in the shape of 

 the leaves on the same specimen. 



The size of the flowers is also notoriously variable in this genus. 



3. C. laurifolia, Mast. A small tree ; the younger branches angular, 

 and, as well as the petioles, covered with ferruginous tomentum. Leafstalks 

 4-5 in. long, spreading, thickened at the extremity. Leaves 6-8 in. long, 

 leathery, elliptic-lanceolate, tapering at the base, acuminate at the apex, 

 crisped or sinuous, 1-costate, smooth above and with a slight covering of 

 rusty tomentum along the nerves on the under surface. Panicles cymose, 

 axillary, many flowered, much shorter than the leafstalks. Pedicels slender, 

 ^ in. long, like the calyx, very densely covered with dark reddish-brown stel- 

 liform tomentum. Flower-buds globose. Flowers small, not \ in. in diam. 

 Ca'yx broadly campanulate, deeply 5-parted ; segments ultimately spread- 

 ing, oblong-lanceolate. Male fl. : Column slender, cylindrical, as long as or 

 longer than the calyx-lobes. Anthers 10, in a single row at the top of 

 the column ; anther-lobes parallel. Female fl. : Fruiting branches thickened. 

 Fruits of 2-3-5 subsessile, spreading, oblong, obtuse or roundish carpels, 

 each carpel coriaceous (rugose when dry), slightly fleshy in the fresh state, 

 indehiscent, 1-2 inches long, f-1 in. wide. Seeds 4-6 in each carpel, 

 oblong, obtuse, subtetragonal ; testa yellow, cartilaginous ; albumen 0. Coty- 

 ledons 2, flat, brownish, thick ; radicle directed towards the hilum. 



Upper Guinea. Nupe, Barter ! ? Quorra, T. Yogel. 



Apparently a very distinct species, recognizable by its long-stalked undulate leaves, its 

 small flowers aud peculiar fruit and seeds. It is a true Cola. Very like it, if not identical, 

 is a specimen of Vogel's from the Quorra, and labelled by Planchon as " sp. n. C. Vogelii" 



It differs from the plant just described in its much broader nearly glabrous leaves, and in 

 its apparently more woody fruit. The materials are too imperfect to allow of my adopting 

 Plauchon's indications. 



4. C. gabonensis, Mast. A shrub, the younger branches slender, 

 covered with reddish wrinkled branches. Stipules linear-lanceolate, downy, 

 \~\ in. long. Petioles cylindrical, glabrous, 2-4 in. long. Leaves subco- 

 riaceous, elliptical, acuminate, entire, tapering at the base, 1-costate, glabrous, 

 arcuate-venose. Flowers few, on short axillary stalks, %-\ in. long. Flower- 

 buds subglobose, downy. Calyx of male flower funnel-shaped, 5-toothed, 

 teeth connivent, deltoid. Column slender, shorter than the perianth. An- 

 thers 1-seriate, 2-lobed ; lobes parallel, in a ring at the apex of the column. 

 Hermaphrodite fl. : Immature fruit of 4 small, oblong, downy, wrinkled, 

 woody, spreading carpels. Seeds ... 



Upper Guinea. Gaboon river, Mann ! 



Seemingly distinct from any other species, but the materials are as yet very imperfect. 



5. C. clavata, Mast. A tree of considerable size (Kirk), covered with 

 greyish ash-coloured bark. Stipules . . . Petioles slender, cylindrical, 2-3 

 in. long, thickened at the apex. Leaves as long as or longer than the petioles, 

 H-2 in. wide, subcoriaceous, glabrous, oblong obtuse, or elliptical, tapering at 

 the base, entire or undulate at the margins, 1-costate, arcuate-venose. Flowers 



