Floscopa. | CXLIII. COMMELINACEE (CLARKE). 85 
panicle with minute or no bracts (in F. avillaris the panicles are mainly 
axillary) ; ultimate branches of the panicle bearing 2 rows of very short- 
pedicelled flowers, are defined by Bentham as “ 1-sided, not scorpioid 
cymes” ; bracts at the base of the pedicels minute or 0. Corolla from 
purple to rose-colour except in /. flavida; colour unknown in F. 
Schweinfurthit and F. tuberculata, which are allied to F. flavida. 
Species 15, very closely allied, found in the hotter parts of Africa, Asia, and 
America. 
Stems 1-2 ft. long, rather stout (except in F. axillaris 
and #, Mannii), decumbent and often rooting at 
the base, scarcely ever branched. 
Leaves quasi-petioled, i.e., much contracted above the 
sheath. 
Leaves oblong-lanceolate . - , : . 1. F. africana. 
Leaves elliptic, with triangular tip : : . 2. #. Mannii. 
Leaves sessile on the leaf-sheaths, 
Leaves 1-4 in. long. 
Seeds with ribs radiating from the embryostega 3. F. rivularis. 
Seeds smooth, without ribs . F. glomerata. 
Leaves 3 in. long : : - ; . 5. #. axillaris. 
Stems 3-10 in. long, erect, annzal, often branched (except 
F, tuberculata). 
ore 
Leaves elliptic : “ : : : . 6. F. Schweinfurthit. 
Leaves oblong. : : : é : . 7. #. tuberculata. 
Leaves narrowly lanceolate . : : : . 8. FF. flavida. 
1. PF. africana, (. B. Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. 267. 
Sparingly hairy, except the inflorescence. Stem 8-24 in. long, scarcely 
divided (except the inflorescence), decumbent at the base, rooting from 
the nodes. Leaves up to 34 by 2 in., lanceolate, acuminate, tapering 
at the base into a pseudo-petiole often + in. long. Panicle terminal, 
oblong (often 4-6 by } in.) with numerous flowers (but see var. /); 
upper part without leaves or bracts; viscid-pubescent not very hairy ; 
ultimate cymes often 4-3 in. long. Capsule about ;, in. long; seeds 
with radiating ribs.—Durand & Schinz, Conspect. F). Afr. v. 435, and 
Etudes FI. Congo i. 271; Durand & De Wild. in Comptes-rendus Soe, 
bot. Belg, xxxvi. 87; Hua in Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Par. i. 122. 
Aneilema africanum, Beauv. Fl. Owar. ii. 57, t. 93, fig. 1. Commelina 
Chantransia, Roem. & Schultes, Mant. i. Addend. i. 376. 
Upper Guinea. Sierra Leone: in mud, near Regent, Scott-Elliot, 3918! 
Lomaburn, near the River Scarcies, Scott-Elliot, 5030! Lagos: by streams at 
Agagee, Millen, 2! 95! by water, Koboro, Millen, 154! Benin, Beauvois! Came- 
Yoons ; Batanga, near the River Lobe, Bates, 183! Bipinde, Zenker, 1219! Yaunde, 
2750 ft., Zenker & Staudt, 143! 
Lower Guinea. (iaboon: Gaboon River, Mann, 1022! Munda; Sibange 
Farm, Soyaux, 357! French Congo: Ogowe River, Thollon, 240, 276; Lower 
Congo : Lispa, 1000 ft., Hens, C., 168! Bingila, Dupuis ! 
Var. 8 majuseula, B. C. Clarke. Stems stouter ; leaves attaining 4-6 in. long ; 
panicle 5-6 by 4 in., ovoid, ultimate cymes often 2 in. long ; capsules rather larger. 
Upper Guinea. Lagos, Millen, 97! Punch! Cameroons: Yaunde, 2600 ft. 
Zenker & Staudt, 143! 
This does not match the typical F. africana, but the points of difference are trivial. 
