228 xxvi. sterculiacEjE (masteks). [Dombeya. 



■ 



The specimens differ from D. vibnrniflora, Bojer, a native of Comoro, Madagascar, etc., 

 in their smaller leaves and flowers, looser inflorescence, and shorter hroader petals. Possibly 

 it may be merely a form of that species. 



4. D. reticulata, Mast A shrub, the herbaceous portions subglabrous. 

 Leafstalks 1-4 in. long, shorter than the leaves, which latter are 2-8 in. 

 long, 2-6 in. wide, cordate-ovate, acute or obscurely lobed, rough with short 

 stellate toineittum on both surfaces, palmately 5-7-»erved ; veins very pro- 

 minent on the lower surface. Peduncles longer than the adjacent leaves, 

 smooth, dividing at the summit in 2-3- or 4-furcate cymes; ultimate pedicels 

 shorter than the flowers, covered, like the calyx, with stellate tomentuin. 

 Bractlets linear. Flower-buds roundish or ovate acute, downy. Flowers 

 $■ in. across. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, half the length of the corolla. Petals 

 broad. Stamens united near the base. 



Nile Land, Speke and Grant ! 



The prominent nerves render this species easy of discrimination. 



5. D. Burgessiae, Gerr.; Harv. el Sond. Fl. Cap. ii. 590. A much- 

 branched shrub, densely covered in all its herbaceous portions with soft 

 ferruginous or pale velvety hairs. Petioles 3-4 in. long, shorter than the 

 blades. Leaves roundish or angular, deeply cordate, palniately 5-7-lobed ; 

 lobes ovate, acuminate, irregularly toothed. Stipules lanceolate. Cymes 

 much branched, many-flowered, axillary and terminal, erect, larger than the 

 adjacent leaves. Bracts 3, ovate-lanceolate, half the length of the sepals. 

 Flower 1£ in. across ; sepals lanceolate, smooth, scarcely so long as the white, 

 obovate, oblique petals. Stamens united near the base. Capsule ovoid, ob- 

 tuse, densely villose. — Bot. Mag. 5487. 



Mozamb. Distr. Lat. 14-19° S., Dr. Kirk f Manganya hills, Dr. Metier ! 

 This handsome species, originally found in Natal, varies in the amount of its pubescence ; 

 the flowers are white, pencilled with rose. 



6. D. Mastersii, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 5639. A small tree, the herba- 

 ceous portions tomentose and with weak spreading villi. Petioles 1-3 in. 

 long. Leaves cordate-ovate, acute or acuminate, sometimes obscurely lobed, 

 palmately 5-9-nerved. Peduncles axillary and terminal, about the length of 

 the petioles, bearing a many-flowered umbel ; pedicels slender, shorter than 

 the peduncles. Bracts linear-oblong, caducous, nearly as long as the calyx. 

 Flower-buds ovoid, acute. Sepals lanceolate, \ in. long, shorter than the 

 broad, oblique, obovate-cuneate, whitish petals. Stamens united at the base 

 for rather less than half their length. Style pilose at the base, longer than 

 the stamens. Stigmas included. Ovary very downy. 



Upper Guinea. Abbeokuta, Irving ! 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Roth I Chopeh, Grant I 



This plant was erroneously described in the 'Gardeners' Chronicle,' 1867, 14, as D. an- 

 gulata, Cav. It »s much more like D. tomentota, Cav. Diss. iii. t. 39, a species from Mada- 

 gascar, of which, however, there are no authentic specimens at Kew. Cavanilles' figure 

 represents a form with smaller flowers than the present, and with a central, solitary, pedicel- 

 late flower in the fork of the diverging peduncles, an arrangement not found in any specimen 

 of the genus yet examined by me. 



