348 FLORA OF BRAZIL. 
lata. Petioli 4-lin. longi. Flores albi, tetrameri. Calycis 
lacinie ovate, ciliate, obtuse, subpersistentes. Petala sub- 
fimbriata. Stamina 8. Anthere connectivo brevi in calcar 
longiusculum bifidum producto. Ovarium ad apicem setosum. 
Capsula 4-loeularis. Semina cochleata. 
With the habit of Pleroma, this plant somewhat ap- 
proaches 4rthrostemma in the structure of its flowers. Having 
asked Mr. Bentham’s opinion as to which of these genera it 
ought to be placed in, he replied as follows: —“ Your Me- 
lastomacea (398) being tetramerous, comes, certainly, within 
the technical character of Arthrostemma, though it has not 
the habit of any section of that genus I am acquainted with. 
Notwithstanding it is tetramerous, I think it is allied to 
Lasiandra Martialis, Cham. The genera stand thus :— 
Pentamerous, limb of calyx deciduous . PLEROMA. 
» » persistent . CH&TOGASTRA. 
Tetramerous, » $» ARTHROSTEMMA. 
Now Martius neglects the number of parts, and unites Ar- 
throstemma with Chetogastra, and this I am ‘persuaded must 
be done, dividing the combined genera on other principles ; 
and if so, your plant would go into Pleroma, on account of 
the deciduous limb of the calyx and the habit (supposing the 
stamens to agree, and you will observe they need not be 
hairy) notwithstanding its tetramerous flowers." Acting on 
these views, I place the plant in Pleroma. The stamens 
only differ from those of the normal species of that genus in 
having the spur of the connective much longer, and more 
deeply bifid. 
399. Chenopleura parviflora, (sp. n.); ramis junioribus 
. foliisque subtus pube stellata subtilissima sublepidotis, 
foliis petiolatis oblongo-lanceolatis Jong? acuminatis basi 
acutis integerrimis supra glabris 3-nerviis, panicula magna 
terminali, ealyeis latè campanulati limbo 5-dentato deciduo, 
lobis obtusis. 
Has. In woods. FI. Feb. 
Arbor 12-16 pedalis. Folia 41-6 poll. longa, 15-18 lin. 
