MeUianta.] xxvi. sterculface^: .masters). 231 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper ! 



4 M. ferruginea, Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 76. An erect, much- 

 branched undershrub, 2-3 ft. in height, covered in all parts with a more or 

 less dense covering of grey down and stelliform hair. Stipules setaceous, 

 persistent, \-\ in. long. Leafstalks 1-1 § in. long, shorter than the blades, 

 which are subcordate oval-oblong, obtuse or slightly acute, serrate, velvety 

 on both surfaces, palmately 3-5-costate ; nerves covered below with rufous 

 tomentum. Peduncles longer than the leafstalks, solitary, axillary, clustered 

 at the ends of the branches, simple or di-trichotomous. 'Epicalyx one-sided, 

 of 3 broadly ovate, acuminate segments, rather shorter than the calyx. 

 Sepals 5, lanceolate, acuminate, erect, £ in. long. Petals convolute. Fruit 

 ovoid, pointed, villose, 5-celled, shorter than the calyx. Seeds 10 in each 

 cell, subquadrate, cuneate, tuberculate. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper! Madi, Speke and Qrant 1 



5. M. acuminata, Mast. Suffruticose, erect, 2-3 ft. in height, 

 branched, covered in the herbaceous portions with greyish stelliform to- 

 mentum. Petiole \-% in. long. Stipules linear-subulate, persistent, scarcely 

 shorter than the petioles. Leaves oblong acute or oval, serrate, palmately 2- 

 3-costate, 2-4 in. long, two or three times longer than the stalks. Peduncles 

 solitary, axillary, nearly as long as or longer than the adjacent leaves, remote or 

 crowded at the ends of the branches, bearing near the summit a trichotomous 

 cyme. Pedicels short. Epicalyx of 3 cordate, abruptly acuminate bracts 

 shorter than the calyx, acumen very long. Flowers of moderate size. Sepals 

 lanceolate, exceeding the ovoid, pointed, villose capsule. Seeds rugose. 



Mozamb. Distr. Senna, Dr. Kirk! 



6. M. Forbesii, Planch, mss. in Herb. Kew. Stem suffruticose, erect, 

 2 ft. high, slightly branched, smooth below, thickly covered with ferruginous 

 down on all the herbaceous portions. Petioles about an inch long, downy. 

 Stipules setaceous, nearly as long as the petioles; blades 3-4 in. long, 2 in. 

 broad, oblong, obtuse, serrate, palmately 3-costate ; nerves covered with rust- 

 coloured down especially on the lower surface. Peduncles axillary, lower 

 ones remote, 2-3 in. long, dividing above into 3 branches, upper ones shorter, 

 crowded at the end of the branches. Epicalyx of 3 broadly ovate, acute, 

 scarcely acuminate segments, as long as the downy lanceolate sepals. Petals 

 deep yellow, convolute. Capsule oblong, obtuse, villose, shorter than the 

 calyx. Seeds rugose or subglabrous. 



Mozamb. Distr. Shupanga, Dr. Kirk ! Mozambique, Hutton ! 

 The same species occurs in Madagascar, Natal, etc. It resembles M '. ferruginea in habit, 

 but has longer, more branched peduncles, less acuminated bracts, and smoother seeds. 



7. M. abyssinica, Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 76. t. 18. Stock woody, tor- 

 tuous, dividing above into a number of crowded, subcaspitose, erect branches, 

 the latter covered with greyish down. Leafstalks less than an inch long, 

 shorter than the subcordate, oval, obtuse, crenate-dentate leaves, which are 

 unicostate, downy ou both surfaces, paler beneath. Stipules linear, hair-like. 



