482 LVIII. LYTHRACEZ (HIERN). [ Pemphis. 
7. PEMPHIS, Forst.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. i. 780. 
Calyx coriaceous, glabrous inside, with a 12-ribbed campanulate or 
infundibuliform tube and 6 small deltoid erect apical lobes and as many 
small patent cornua. Petals 6, obovate, patent, corrugated in bud, in- 
serted near the top of the calyx-tube opposite the cornua, as long as 
the calyx, deciduous. Stamens 12, in two series, included in the 
calyx-tube, 6 opposite the calyx-lobes half as long again as the. 
opposite the cornua and inserted at rather a higher level; 6 opposite 
the cornua about half the length of the calyx-tube, inserted about } 
above the base of the calyx-tube; filaments filiform; anthers widely 
oblong. Ovary free, glabrous, sessile or shortly stipitate, subglobose, 
included in the calyx-tube, 3-celled at the base, many-ovuled ; style 
straight; stigma capitate. Placenta with a turbinate fleshy and shortly- 
stalked base and membranous wings above. Capsule 1-celled by obli- 
teration of the septa, slightly exceeding the calyx-tube and bursting 
transversely near the apex. Seeds numerous, large, triangularly pyra- 
midal, curved, glabrous, with thick testa.—A tree or shrub, with oppo 
site leaves which with the calyx and young parts are covered with a 
erey silky pubescence. Flowers solitary, stalked, axillary; bracts 
narrow, opposite, fugacious. 
A genus of but one species, scattered along the coasts and islands of the Indian and 
Pacific oceans. 
1. P.acidula, Forst.; DC. Prod.iii.89. A tree, sometimes attaining 
35 ft. in height. Stem terete; branches opposite, somewhat angular 
towards the extremities by the very narrow decurrence of the petioles. 
Leaves coriaceous, narrowly elliptic, more or less cuneate at the 
base, crowded near the ends of the branches, $—1} in. long; petioles 
voto in. long; lateral veins inconspicuous ; “pubescence appressed. 
Peduncles articulated to the branches, covered with patent pubescence, 
about equalling the calyx. . Calyx 1—} in. long, thickened within 
below the insertion of the stamens ; ribs depressed, converging in 6 pairs 
to the apices of the lobes. Petals varying from white to deep p!2* 
Ovary flattish on the top but suddenly contracted at the apex into the 
style which exceeds the stamens. Capsule glabrous, with thin pe- 
ricarp. 
Mozamb. Distr. Zanzibar, Dr. Kirk! Peters! 
8. LAWSONTA, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. i. 782. 
Calyx with short campanulate tube, 4 diverging ovate acute oF 
mucronate lobes and a callous ring at top of tube into which petas 
and stamens are inserted; without cornua. Petals 4, widely obovate, 
subcordate, corrugated in bud. Stamens 4-8, equal, opposite 2? 
longer than the lobes of the calyx, alternating singly or in occasion 
pairs with the petals; filaments tapering; anthers widely oblo 
Style as long as the stamens, persistent; stigma punctiform ; oy 
ng: 
ary 
