ON SOUTH-AMERICAN APOCYNACEX. 229 
MESECHITES. 
This is a valid genus, when restricted within the uniform limits indicated by the 
several species here described. It was established in 1860 by Müller, who unfortunately 
figured as its type the Echites Mansoana of De Candolle, from Matto Grosso, a plant 
before enumerated (supra, p. 201); with this he confounded, as a mere variety, the 
Echites sulphurea from Rio de Janeiro, well figured by Velloz, a very different plant 
(Echites Vauthieri, DO.). Mesechites, however, is well figured by Jacquin in the plates 
27 and 28 of his ‘Stirpium Americanarum.’ 
The following is a reformed diagnosis of the genus. 
Mzsscnrres, Müll. (in parte): char. emend. Sepala parva, equalia, acuta aut obtusa, intus squamula 
acuta singulatim munita. Corolla hypocrateriformis ; tubus cylindricus, infra medium tenuiter an- 
gustatus, superne paullo latior; segmenta 5, dolabriformia, tubi dimidia longitudine, rotatim ex- 
pansa, dextrorsum convoluta. Stamina ad medium tubi inserta, inclusa ; filamenta brevia ; anthere 
subcohzrentes, oblong, membrana acuta apiculate, imo in furcas 2 obtusas divise. Discus e lobis 
D liberis, aut basi brevissime nexis; ovaria 2, disco longiora; stylus gracilis, stamina attingens ; 
clavuncula incrassata, conice oblonga, subpentagona, imo membrana lacerata munita; stigmata 2, 
linearia, terminalia. Folliculi 2, lineares, seepius torosi, erecti. Semina acute vel obtuse linearia, 
coma sericea coronata. 
Herbe repentes, vel suffrutices humiles Americe calidioris ; folia opposita, sepe cordata; racemi 
sepius axillares, pauciflori; flores subparvi, sepius rubescentes. 
l. MEsEcHITEs REPENS, nob.: Echites repens, Jacq. Amer. p. 33, tab. 28; Lam. Dict. ii. p. 340; A. DC. 
Prodr. viii. p. 449 (excl. syn.); Schlecht. Linn. xxvi. p. 666; Griseb. Fl. Br. W. Ind. p. 414. In 
Antillis: non vidi. 
A species notable for its narrow-lanceolate leaves and bifid peduncle, with small red 
flowers. It is a procumbent plant, with slender glabrous branches, incrassate at the 
axils, which are 1-2 in. apart, and which often throw out suckers that take root; leaves 
lanceolate, subcordate at the base, acute, 11 in. long, 3 lines broad, on petioles 13 line 
long; raceme axillary, as long as the leaves; peduncle 1 in. long, divided at its summit 
into 2 branches, each bearing 2-3 flowers on pedicels 1 line long, all bracteolate; sepals 
slender, 1 line long; corolla red, its narrow cylindrical tube swelling above, 7 lines long; 
segments dolabriform, 4 lines long and broad ; disk of 5 rounded lobes, distinct, half as 
long as the ovaries ; follicles linear, torulose, 6 in. long. 
2. Mesecurres ronULOsA, nob.: Echites torulosa, Linn. Sp. Pl. (in parte), p. 307 ; Lam. Dict. ii. p. 339 
(excl. syn. et tab. 174) ; Sw. Obs. p. 105; Griseb. Fl. Brit. W. Ind. p. 414: Echites torosa, Jacq. 
Amer. p. 33, tab. 27; A. DC. L c. p. 449; Griseb. l. c. p. 414: Amblyanthera torosa, Müll. in 
Linn. xxx. p. 446. In Antilis: v. s. in herb. meo, in flore, J amaica (Heward) : in herb. Mus. Brit. 
Campéche (Schott 673 in flore). : 
The above plants agree well with the drawing of Jacquin above cited. Linnæus sup- 
pressed the name /orosa, substituting for it that of torulosa, although he quoted the 
more copious description and drawing of Jacquin to explain his own laconic character. 
