406 CX1X. LORANTHACEZ (SPRAGUE). [ Viscum. 
branches of trees. Branches and branchlets conspicuously flattened, 
ribbed in a dried state; internodes varying from obovate-oblong to 
eblanceolate-linear, tape-like, broadest in the upper part, abruptly con- 
tracted at the apex, tapering into the base, 3-3} in. long, 2-63 lin. 
broad, those of the main branches thickened along the middle. Flowers 
dicecious, tetramerous. Male inflorescences consisting of 1 or 3 3-flowered 
cymules, each of which is borne by a bracteal cup. Bracteal cup shortly 
peduncled, broadly trough-shaped, 14 lin. long, 3 lin. broad; lobes 
spreading, rounded, 3-8 lin. long; solid base of flower 4} lin. long. 
Receptacular tube 3-4 lin. long. Petals deltoid-ovate, 3-% lin. long. 
Anthers broadly ovate or elliptic in outline, 4-3 lin. long, 3-3 lin. broad. 
Female inflorescences composed of 1 or 2 flowers, each of which is borne 
. by a bracteal cup. Bracteal cup conspicuously 2-lobed, g-1 lin, high 
including the peduncle; lobes ascending, 3-4 lin. long, greatly exceeded 
by the receptacle at the time of expansion of the flower. Receptacle and 
pedicel together 14-1} lin. long, tapering to the base. Petals yellow or 
greenish, deltoid-ovate, obtuse or rounded, 3-% lin. long, 3-3 lin. broad. 
Style about } lin. long; stigma projecting 4-3 lin. above the insertion of 
the petals. Berry pedicelled, oblong-ellipsoid or oblong-ovoid, 3-34 lin. 
long, slightly warted ; pedicel 2 lin. long.—V. dichotomum, var. elegans, 
Engl. in Engl. Jahrb. xx. 183; Pf. Ost-Afr. C. 167, t. 19, figs. A-G. 
V. elegans, Engl. in Engl. & Prantl, Pflanzenfam. Nachtr. i. 140 ; Engl. 
in Engl. Jahrb. xxviii. 385, 
Mozamb. Distr. German East Africa: Usambara; Sakare, 4300 ft., Engler, 
9474! Wilbelmsthal, 5000 ft., on <Albizzia sp., Uhlig, 1503! Busse, 353! Silat, 
Holst, 2300! Lutindi, Holst, 3293! Muohu, on Acacia sp., Buchwald, 32! Usagara 
Mountains, Kirk ! Uhehe; Mufindi, 6000 ft., on Euphorbia sp., Goetze, 757! 
17. V. shirense, Sprague. A much-branched shrub. Stem terete, 
about 24 lin, in diam. 14 ft. below the apex of the branchlets. Branches 
und branchlets conspicuously flattened, ribbed in a dried state ; inter- 
nodes broadly linear or oblanceolate-linear, more rarely oblong, tape 
like, broadest in their upper part, little or not at all contracted at the 
apex, more or less tapering into the base, 4-14 in. long, 1-2} lin. broad, 
those of the main branches much thickened along the middle. Flowers 
dicecious, tetramerous. Male inflorescence: Flowers solitary, sessile. 
Bud ellipsoid, 1} lin. long, solid base } lin. long. Receptacular tube 
3-3 lin. long. Petals deltoid-ovate, 4-2 lin. long. Anthers obtusely 
trigonous, elliptic in outline, 3-3 lin. long, 3 lin. broad. Female 1D- 
florescences consisting of 1 or 3 flowers, which are usually unprovided 
with bracteal cups. Bracteal cup, when present, embracing only the 
base of the receptacle at the time of expansion of the flower, sessile, 
bilobed, 3- lin. high, $ lin. long; lobes ascending, very obtuse, § lin. 
long. Receptacle and pedicel together obovoid-oblong, {-1 lin. long, 
§ lin. broad. Petals yellowish-green, oblong-ovate, 3—} lin. long, 33 
lin, broad, deciduous. Style distinct, short, thick, compressed-quad- 
rangular; stigma projecting 3-4 lin. above the insertion of the petals. 
Young berry pedicelled, orange-red, ovoid.—V. anceps, Engl. in Engl. 
Jahrb, xxx. 305, not of E. Meyer. 
