a new Genus of Plants. 157 



of Triuris, also, which I possess, as well as the figures given by Mr. Miers, 

 bear all the impress of the specimens having been broken from an under- 

 ground rhizoma. 



I shall now proceed to characterize this little plant more particularly, be- 

 fore making any remarks upon the affinities of it and Triuris. I have named 

 it Peltophyllum, from the nature of its leaves. 



Peltophyllum. 



Char. Gen. Flores dioici. Masc. ignoti. Fam, Perigonium 6-partitum, coloratum, pa- 

 tens, persistens ; laciniis ovatis longe acuminatis ; acumine piano. Ovaria plurima, in 

 tori apice sessilia, adpressa, libera. Styli ad apicem incrassati, oblique truncati. Fruc- 

 tus ignotus. 



Herba parvula Brasitiensis. Folia a scapo distantia, longe petiolata, peltata, valde reticulata. 

 Radix tuberosa, fibrosa. Scapus subramosus, basi squamosus ; pedunculis basi bractea- 

 tis, unifloris ; floribus luteis. 



1. Peltophyllum luteum, Gardn. Herb. Bras., n, 3570. Tab. XV. 



Hab. In arenosis umbrosis humidis Provincias Goyazanae, Brasiliae. Martio florebat. 



Descr. Herba dioica, subbipoUicaris. Folia a scapo distantia, e tubere parvulo fibroso 

 erumpentia, petiolata, peltata, orbiculata, mucronata, integerrima, glabra, peltivenia; 

 venis primariis raarginem versus arcuatis ; 8 lin. circiter lata. Petioli subbipoUicares, 

 teretes, pellucidi, glabri, vaginis 3 membranaceis, acuminatis, glabris, 8-10 lin. longis, 

 ad basin cincti. Scapi fceminei solitarii, subramosi, basi squamosi, subbipollicares. Pe- 

 dunculi uniflori, 4 lin. longi, basi bracteati ; bracteis ovatis, acutis, lineam longis. Peri- 

 gonium 6-partitum, luteum, patens, persistens ; laciniis ovatis longe acuminatis, aesti- 

 vatione basi valvatis, acumine piano, ante anthesin gyrato incluso. Ovaria plurima, in 

 tori apice sessilia, adpressa, libera. Styli sublaterales, ad apicem incrassati, oblique 

 truncati. Fructus ignotus. 



I have already contrasted the female flowers of this plant with those of 

 Triuris ; my not having found male ones prevents me from doing the same 

 with them. It would be interesting to know the nature of the stamens; but 

 from the great similarity of the two genera in other respects, we may con- 

 clude that they are not very different, so far as regards structure. What their 

 number may be admits of greater doubts. In Triuris the segments of the 

 perigonium are three; and we find the anthers to be three also, placed opposite 

 the segments, although at first sight they appear to be alternate with them, 



