Tas. 7481. 
EPISCIA venga. 
Native of Demerara. 
Nat. Ord. Gesneracem.—Tribe CyrtTanDRE. 
Genus Eriscia, Mart.; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 1006.) 
Episcra (Centrosolenia) densa; caule robusto brevi puberulo atque petiolis 
foliis subtus sepalis extus sanguineo-rubris, foliis longe petiolatis ovato- 
oblongis subacutis crenato-serrulatis basi rotundatis v. subcordatis, supra 
laete viridibus pilosulis subtus glabris costa nervisque validis, petiolo semi- 
_eylindrico, floribus tn racemulis axillaribus congestis, pedunculis pedicellis- 
que brevibus, bracteis parvis, calycis urceolaris segmentis oblongis obtusis 
ciliolatis intus viridibus postico parvo libero ceteris connatis, corolla fere 2- 
pollicari subcylindracea hirsuta straminea basi dorsa gibba dein paullo 
inflata, lobis 5 brevibus patentibus planis rotundatis intus primulinis, 
staminibus inclusis, filamentis glaberrimis, antheris didymis per paria apices 
versus cohaerentibus, ovario hirsuto, stigmate capitellato 2-lobo, disci 
glandula solitaria postica. 
E. densa, 0. H. Wright in Kew Bulletin (1895) p. 17. 
E. densa belongs to the Centrosolenia section of the very 
considerable genus Hpiscia, characterized by the short 
stem, crowded flowers, narrow calyx-segments, and by the 
gibbously saccate base of the tube of the corolla. Amongst 
those figured Mr. Wright considers its nearest ally to be 
E. erythropus, Hook. f., Tab. 6219 of New Grenada. 
It is curious that though the upper or exposed surface 
of the leaves are green, and the under crimson, the cor- 
responding surfaces of the sepals are, the outer red and 
inner green. Hpiscia densa was received in 1895 from M. 
Jenman, F.L.S8., Govt. Botanist and Superintendent of the 
Botanical Gardens of Georgetown, Demerara, who dis- 
covered it on the banks of the river Masouria. It flowered 
in a stove at Kew in October of the same year. 
Descr.—Stem short, as thick as the middle finger, 
cylindric, puberulous, dull purplish-crimson. Leaves few, 
crowded, six to ten inches long, ovate-oblong, subacute, 
crenate-serrulate, base cuneate, rounded, or subcordate, 
above bright green slightly pubescent, beneath bright 
JUNE Ist, 1896. 
