Xysmalobiwm. | LXXXV. ASCLEPIADEE (BROWN). 307 
10, X. dispar, V. L. Br. Stem moderately stout, tomentose, at 
least in the upper part, as well as the peduncles, pedicels and bracts. 
Leaves numerous, ascending ; petiole 1—5 lin, long; blade 5-9 in. long, 
}-1} in. broad, lanceolate, gradually tapering from a little above the 
more or less truncate base to an acute mucronate point, margins 
narrowly revolute, scabrous, both surfaces minutely scabrid-pubescent, 
or the lower surface minutely tomentose when young, the pubescence 
becoming more scattered and more or less deciduous on the older leaves. 
Umbels several, pedunculate, lateral at the nodes along the upper part 
of the stem which is sometimes leafless in the apical part; peduncles 
}-1} in. long; bracts 2-5 lin. long, linear or subulate, acute; pedicels 
6-11 lin.long. Sepals 4-6 lin. long, ? lin. broad, equalling or shorter 
than the corolla, flat, lanceolate-attenuate, spreading, softly pubescent. 
Corolla lobed almost to the base, campanulate, or rotate-campanulate (?), 
apparently white ; lobes 4—5 lin. long, 2 lin. broad, oblong, acute, con- 
cave, glabrous outside, tomentose with white hairs at the recurving 
apex and the margins within. Coronal-lobes arising from the widened 
base of the staminal column, spreading, very shortly adnate to the 
bottom of the corolla at the base, then erect and scarcely reaching to 
the base of the anthers, 1} lin. long and as much in breadth, broadly 
ovate or rhomboid-ovate, apparently slightly reflexed at the sides, 
obtusely pointed, with a thick obtuse keel down the face, which forms an 
obtuse incurved point at the apex. Staminal-column 3 lin. long, with 
well marked furrows at the junction of the filaments, which do not 
appear to be quite free as in X. barbigerum, anther appendages 
broadly ovate, or orbicular, obtuse, inflexed over the truncate apex of 
the style which is not exserted beyond them. Follicles large “furrowed 
at the apex ” (Holub), 44-5 in. long, 14-1} in. thick, pubescent and be- 
set with soft flexuose hairy bristles $—# in. long.—Xysmalobium lapathi- 
folium, K.Schum. in Engl. Pfl. Ost-Afr. C. 321, not of Decne. 
Mozamb. Dist. German East Africa: Usseri, ex K. Schumann. British 
Central Africa: Rhodesia; Leshumo Valley, Holub, 669! 816! Nyasaland; near 
Sochi Hill, 3000 ft., Kirk! Namasi, Cameron, 4! 
This species is closely allied to X. ensifolium, Burch., and X. undulatum, R. Br. 
From the former it differs in having the coronal-lobes at the base of the staminal- 
column and scarcely reaching to the base of the anther-wings; from the latter it 
differs in its narrower leaves, narrower and longer sepals, narrower, more acute and 
‘pparently thinner petals, which are less densely bearded at the tips with shorter 
hairs than in X, undulatum. It also resembles X. angolense, Scott-Elliot, but the 
4pex of the style is not exserted beyond the anther-appendages and the filamental 
part of the staminal-column is quite half its entire length, whilst in-¥. rangolense 
tis not more than } of the entire length of the column. ne 
41. x. barbigerum, V. L. Br. Stem probably tall, rather 
robust, tomentose. Leaves opposite, ascending or incurved-ascending ; 
petiole 4-1 in. long, tomentose or densely pubescent ; blade 3-54 in. 
long, 6-10 lin. broad at the base or larger (?), long and narrow, gradually 
Pering from the base to the acute apex, subtruncate or obtuse at the 
» longitudinally folded, pubescent on both sides. Umbels lateral . 
© nodes, racemosely arranged along the upper part of the stem 10-16- 
