Tas. 7398. 
APHAIREMA spicata. 
Native of South Brazil. 
Nat. Ord. Samypacez.—Tribe ABATIE. 
Genus ApHarema, Miers. ; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 799.) 
APHEREMA spicata; herbacea, erecta, fere glaberrima, caule terete, foliis 
oppositis breviter petiolatis ovato-cordatis acuminatis serratis exstipu- 
latis, floribus parvis in racemum spiciformem multiflorum terminalem 
erectum puberulum dispositis aureis breviter pedicellatis, bracteis subu- 
latis, alabastris globosis, petalis 0, sepalis 4 ovatis valvatis persistentibus, 
staminibus 8-16 subperigynis filamentis filiformibus antheris didymis, 
loculis reniformibus, connectivo dilatato, ovario conico-ovoideo, placertis 
3-4 parietalibus multiovulatis, stylo perbrevi, stigmate obscure 3—4-lobo, 
serene parva depresso globosa loculicide 3—4 valvi polysperma, seminibus 
_ oblongis. 
A. spicata, Miers. in Proc. R. Hort. Soc. vol. iii. (1863), p- 294. 
Aphzrema is a monotypic genus, founded on a plant 
discovered in South Brazil in the province of 8. Paulo in 
1861-2 by Mr. J. Weir, when collecting for the Royal 
Horticultural Society. It was described from Herbarium 
specimens by the late excellent botanist, J. Miers, F.R.S., 
in the Proceedings of the said Society. Since that period 
it has been collected, in so far as I am aware, by only one 
other botanist, Dr. Fritz Miiller, who found it in the 
Province of Sta. Catherina, which adjoins 8. Paulo on the 
south. 
The specimen here figured agrees closely with Miers’ 
characters, except in respect of the stamens being more 
than eight and up to sixteen, and the capsule being some- 
times 4-valved, with as many placentes. The genus is 
very closely allied to Raleighia, of Gardner, if, indeed, it 
is not referable to it. The principal difference between 
them appeared to consist in Raleighia being stipulate, 
whilst Apherema is exstipulate ; for the more important 
character of the former genus, that of the stamens being 
very numerous and in several series, whilst Aphzerema 
was supposed to have only eight, is invalidated by the 
Fesrvary 1st, 1895. 
