Commelina. | CXLIII, COMMELINACEX (CLARKE). 53 
42, C. Welwitschii, (. 5. Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. 175. 
Scabrous-pubescent, or nearly glabrous. Stems 4-11 in. long, erect, 
thickened at the base, sometimes into bulbs 4 in. in diam.; roots 
thickened. Leaves linear, 4-8 by }-} in.,, or (in Welwitsch, 6639) ex- 
ceeding 12 in., dilated at the base. Peduncles scattered, exserted 
1-3 in. from the leaf-sheaths, mostly very pubescent. Spathes }—14 in. 
long, ovate, acuminate acute, hairy or nearly glabrate ; margins free. 
Two posticous petals yellow; anticous petal yellow-brown or dull 
violet-green (Welwitsch). Capsule nearly 4 by + in., 4-seeded. Seeds 
much longer than broad, wrinkled or obscurely reticulate —Durand & 
Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 429; Rendle in Cat. Afr. Pl. Welw. 
ii. 78, 
Lower Guinea. Angola: Pungo Andongo, 2400-3800 ft.; on the slopes of 
the volcanic rocks of the Presidium, Welwitsch, 6627! damp rocks of Cabonda, on 
the Presidium, Welwitsch, 6632! 6637! Cazella, Welwitsch, 6638! plentiful 
throughout the district on rocks and in damp pastures, Welwitsch, 6639! Huilla ; 
plentiful in pastures at Humpata, 3800-5500 ft., Welwitsch, 6586 ! 
There may be two species here; in 6627 the spathes are scarcely ? in. long, with 
conspicuous purple striations ; in 6586 they are 14 in. long, green : in both these the 
two postivous petals are yellow, the anticous dull violet-green. The other numbers 
cited come all between these two extremes, nor have I been able to sort the species 
into two varieties. 
43. ©. subcucullata, (. B. Clarke. More or less hairy. Stems 
1 ft. long, suberect at the base; internodes 2-44 in. long. Leaves 
4-5} in. long, linear, but more or less dilated at the base, where they 
are sometimes } in. wide. Peduncles solitary towards the ends of the 
branches, erect, exserted 1-2 in. from the leaf-sheaths. Spathes } in. 
long, ovate-acuminate, acute, more or less hairy, pale brown, with 
purple longitudinal veins ; the margins connate at the base for ;',—§ in. 
Petals (from the dried plant) appear yellow to brown-red. Capsule 
3 in. long, square, 4-seeded. Seeds globose, smooth, brown. 
Mozamb. Dist. British Central Africa: Nyasaland ; Mount Malosa, 4000- 
6000 ft., Whyte! Mount Zomba, 4000-6000 ft., Whyte! Mount Mlanji, Scott- 
Elliot, 8675! 
This may prove only a variety of C. Carsoni. The typical five specimens of 
Whyte, with acuminate highly coloured spathes, having the margins distinctly 
connate at the base; look distinct enough; but Scott-Elliot, 8675, has less acuminate, 
less coloured spathes, with nearly free margins, and looks half-way to C. Carsoni. 
44. ©. neurophylla, (. B. Clarke. Nearly glabrous. Branches 
12-18 in. long ; internodes 2~5 in. long. Leaves 34 by } in. (usually 
narrow), linear-oblong or linear, often dilated at the base ; longitudinal 
nerves 5-7, conspicuous in the dry specimens. Peduncles solitary 
towards the ends of the branches, exserted }—2} in. from the leaf- 
sheath. Spathes #~} in. long, triangular in outline, obliquely funnel- 
shaped, green, with obscure green longitudinal veins ; margins connate, 
often for 1 in. Petals blue. Capsule } in. long, square, 4-seeded. 
Seeds globose, smooth, brown. 
