FLORA NIGRITIANA. 545 
nullis vaginati. — Bracfee ad basin pedunculorum parve, 
membranaceze, acuminate, subcomplicate, caduce. Pedun- 
culi (ex Vog. albi) secus rhachin sparsi, horizontales, breves 
(raro semipollicares) apice circinnatim 2-6-flori. Flores vix 
2 lin. longi, glabri v. parce hirtelli, sepalis ex Vogel pallide, 
petalis intensius, violaceis. Fructus maturum non vidi, 
junior subscariosus videtur. 
I have no doubt this is Beauvois’ plant, notwithstanding the 
discrepancies in the inflorescence and flowers. The remarkable 
habit and most prominent points of structure cannot be mis- 
taken. The bearded sterile stamens are probably what he 
describes as numerous setze inserted amongst the stamens, and 
as to inflorescence and colour, there are so many instances in 
the work in question where, the very bad specimens preserved 
affording no information as to these points, they were supplied 
from recollection or conjecture, that we presume it to have been 
the case with this plant, apparently not uncommon in the 
region. The genus would perhaps come under Aneilema, taken 
in its widest extent, but the habit is very different from that 
of any of the somewhat heterogeneous groups of which that 
Benus is now composed. 
l. Aneilema ovato-oblongum, Pal. Beauv. Fl. Ow. et Ben. 92. p. 
71. 4. 104. f. 1?; scabro-puberulum, foliis brevipetiolatis 
Ovatis v. ovato-lanceolatis, panicula laxa, sepalis glabris, 
petalo impari ceteris minore sessili, staminibus 3 fertilibus 
inequalibus, filamentis 2 longioribus apice barbellatis, $ 
(v. 8 ?) sterilibus, capsulis bilocularibus, loculis dispermis.— 
Cape Palmas, Ansell; on the Nun and in Fernando Po, 
Vogel; Benin. 
. This is quite near enough to Beauvois’ figure to suggest 
its being the same species, especially as it appears to have 
a wide range, and to vary in the form of its leaves, and in 
the presence or absence of long hairs and cilie. The petals, 
according to Vogel, are white; the deep blue colour given 
the flowers of all the Commelynee figured by Beauvois, 18 
evidently à supposition of the artist. 
NN 
