THE FLORA OF SOUTH AMERICA. 355 
where they are subserrulated and ciliate ; the margin is very 
entire and somewhat membranous ; they are about 41 inches 
long, exclusive of the petiole, and 24 inches broad, the twin 
leaf being about an inch shorter: they are quite smooth and 
shining above, their surface being covered with very numerous, 
minute, raised points, which are somewhat pellucid when 
viewed through the light; below they are quite smooth, of a 
pale glaucous green, apparently glabrous, but when examined 
by a lens are seen covered with a very fine pubescence; they 
are somewhat 5-nerved at base, the midrib and nerves being 
slender and prominent. The petiole is channelled above, 
slightly pubescent, and 11 inch long. The racemes of flowers, 
about 3 inches long, generally spring from the stem on one 
side a little above the origin of the pair of leaves, and some- 
times out of the bifurcation of the branches ; the pedicels all 
arising from one side of the peduncle, are alternately arranged 
in two rows, and articulated at a little distance from their 
origin, where the greater number fall off: they are about an 
inch long and glabrous. The calyx is small and fleshy, 
and does not increase in size with the fruit, its segments 
being acute and slightly pubescent. The corolla is of a lurid 
greenish white, fleshy, and about an inch in diameter when 
fully expanded; it has a short campanular tube, which is 
distinctly saccate and obtusely 5-angular at the corners 
opposite the stamens ; the border is cleft into 5 equal, ovate, 
acute segments, having very woolly and slightly inflected 
margins, which in the bud present an induplicate cestivation 
nearly valvate, each segment has externally at its apex, a long 
_ terete spurlike woolly process ; when the flower is fully open, 
the lobes are quite patent: the corolla outside is quite 
glabrous, but it is lined within with a short woolly white 
tomentum, and near the base of the tube, is seen a semi- 
terete fleshy annular staminiferous ring. "The stamens are 
Véry large and conspicuous, quite glabrous, and alternate 
With the lobes of the corolla; the filaments are united at 
their base into a very short tube, which springs from the 
annular ring alluded to; they are dilated and fleshy, quickly 
ps 
