326 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPflORBIACEJ!; 



KL (which may be the original MicroBtacTiySy or Tragia cormculata, 

 Vahl), but the leaves are narrow lanceolate, instead of ovate cordate, 

 and it is remarkable for its small capsules, as well as for the very mi- 

 nute and short male spikes. I should therefore propose it as new, 

 with the following diagnosis :■ — ■ 



AL micraniJia^ sp. n. 5 annua, erecta, pubescens, foliis lanceolatis sub- 

 integemmis, spicis masculis minutis ovatis, capsulis parvis pilosulis 

 parce muricatis. — Caulis pedalis, parce ramosus. Folia brevissime 

 petiolata, vix poUicaria, acutiuscula, basi rotundata, oculo nudo inte- 

 gerrima, sub lente minutissime glanduloso-crenulata, pilis brevibus 

 sparsis utrinque puberula. Spicm masculis breviter pediccUatse, vix 

 semilineam long^e, 3-4"flor0e, Flo?'es solitarii, squama bracteante 

 minuta 3-5-dentata. Sepala 3, late cuneata, trancata, colorata, 

 Stamiua 3, scpala sequantia. Flos fcemineiis in eadem axilla v. ssepius 

 in axilla diversa solitarius, sessilis. Capmla linea paullo longior, 

 coccis apice bimuricatis et ssepe basi aculeis paucis brevibus v. tuber- 

 culis munitis, 



HURA. ^ 



If the three published species of this genus are really distinct, the 

 one gathered by Mr, Sprace, on the south bank of the Amazon, oppo- 

 site Monte Alegre, would, according to the short diagnosis given, belong 

 to the //. Brasiliensis^ Willd., as the leaves are rather truncate at the 

 base, than distinctly cordate, as in the common S'. crepitans. The male 

 amenta are however, in all the specimens of H2(7'a I have seen, oblong, 

 and the leaves can never be said to be "eequaliter serrata," so that it 

 is probable that both this and H, strepens should be re-nnited to H, 

 crepitans. Our plant is called Assacu by the Brazilians, according to 



Mr. Spruce. 



Sapium. 



Mr. Spruce gathered the broad-leaved S, Hippomane, Mey., in the 

 forest at San Gabriel, forming a tree of 70 feet, and the narrow -leaved 

 S. prunifolium, KL (from which 1 cannot distinguish H. serratiim^ Kl.), 

 as a shrub of 12 feet, at Obidos, on the Amazon, There are also leaves 

 only of a small tree, which Mr. Spruce met with occasionally near San- 

 tarem, but never in flower. From the petiolar glands \i would appear 

 to be a Sapium^ and, if so, a new species, with the long narrow leaves 



beautifully fringed with short regular cilia, proceeding from the serra- 

 tures. 



