348 - XXXIX. 0LACJNEJ5 (OLIVER). [Ptyckopdahm. 



pedicels shorter than the flowers, subtended by a lanceolate cytnbiform cadu- 

 cous bract. Calyx obsolete. Petals 5, very narrow-linear, more or less 

 barbate within. ' Stamens 8 (or thereabout), opposite and adnate to the 

 petals, 6 in pairs, 1 of each pair being longer and free above. Ovary oval- 

 oblong, slightly silicate, gradually narrowed into the style. Fruit ellipsoidal 

 or globose-obovoid, \~\ in. long ; pericarp coriaceous. — Jlhesiandra anceps, 

 Miers, mss. and Anisundra nigresceiis, Planch, mss. in Herb. Kew. 



Upper Guinea. Var. a. Leaves sessile, slightly cordate at the hase. Grand Bassa, T- 

 Vogel ! Var. (8. Leaves sessile or subsessile, more or less rounded or subcuneate at base. 

 Bagroo river, Mann ! 



It is quite probable the two forms distinguished above as varieties may be specifically dis- 

 tinct, but our material is too slight to settle the question. Unfortunately there is but J 

 single attached fruit and one already opened (belonging to var. )8, the flowers of whic 

 alone I have dissected), that I cannot satisfy myself as to the position of the embryo. 



4. OLAX, Linn. ; Beuth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 347. 



Calyx cupuliform, entire or nearly so, accrescent and enclosing the VKt 

 fruit or unchanged. Petals 5 or 6, valvate in aestivation, free or slightly co- 

 herent or connected by alternating filaments. Stamens usually 8 (or 9). 

 (in tropical African species) of which either 5 are ananthcroiis and oppoeiw 

 to the petals, and 3 antheriferous alternate with them, or 5 antherifeious op- 

 posite to the petals, and 3 auautherous and alternate. Filaments more oi 

 less adnate to the petals. Ovary free, more or less distinctly 3-cellcd at the 

 base, sometimes distinctly 1 -celled above, narrowed into the style ; stigiji' 

 obtuse or capitate, sometimes 3-lobed ; ovules 1 in each division of the 

 ovary. Fruit drupaceous, 1-seeded, or pericarp coriaceous, naked or enclose' 

 within the accrescent calyculus. Seed albuminous with a minute, apica . 

 oblong embryo (in the only tropical African species examined with ripe frui I- 

 — Glabrous shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, entire or nearly so, 

 often with decurrent lines from the petiole. Flowers small, in short racemes, 

 or the common peduncle nearly obsolete, rarely solitary. 



A considerable genus of the tropics of the Old World with a few Australian outlier^ 

 The African species appear to be endemic, unless one prove identical with a Madagasca 

 species. 



Antheriferous stamens 3, alternate with the petals; stamiuodia 5, 



opposite. 

 Leaves 3-6 in., oblong-elliptical acute or acuminate. Flowers in 



very short racemes (common peduncle T L-J. in.) ; pedicels 



i-1 line, much exceeding the bracts 1. 0. Manntt- 



Leaves 3-4 in., elliptical, rather obtuse. Flowers in distichous 



racemes of £ in. ; bracts equalling very short pedicels . . . 2. 0. virida- 



Leaves sessile, ovate-laneeolate, acuminate 3. 0. gambecota- 



Leaves 6-7 in., oblong-elliptical, prominently 3-nerved to beyond 



the middle. Racemes short 4. 0. triplinervto- 



Antheriferous stamens 5-6, opposite to the petals ; staminodia 3, 



alternate. 

 Leaves oval-oblong, acute, 2|-3i in. Flowers in 1-sided or dis- . . „ 



tichous racemes of £-f in. Pedicels 1 line or less .... 5. 0. siibscorpOiW- 

 Leaves lanceolate, 1-1$ in. Flowers solitary, miliary (or in short 



racemes). Pedicels j in 6. 0. dissii\fl° ra - 



