MB. BENTHAAI Otf LOGANIACE/E. 59 



observed, very closely with Manettia, but differs from all Bubiacece 

 and Loganiacece known to me in the bifid lobes of the style. That 

 this character, however, when it does occur, is of not more than 

 generic importance is evidenced by the analogous case of Oleoma 

 among Labiates. One only species, from North America, has hitherto 

 been referred to Gelsemium, but I have no hesitation in adding to 

 it as a second species a plant gathered by the late Major Champion 

 in Hong Kong and by Blume in Sumatra. Gardner, in describing 

 Major Champion's specimens under the name of Medicia elegans, 

 did not fail to observe its affinities with the old Gelsemium, but, 

 not having specimens to compare, thought himself justified in 

 distinguishing it generically, 1st, " by its imbricated not quincuncial 

 aestivation of the corolla," which, however, is decidedly quincuncial 

 in the Chinese as in the American plant; 2nd, by its "inflated 

 capsule," which certainly is more inflated and less coriaceous in 

 the Chinese species than in G. nitidum, but this is a character of 

 degree, which appears rather specific than generic; 3rd, by its 

 " numerous peltate compressed seeds, surrounded on all sides by 

 a broad inciso- dentate membranous wing." I have no seeds of 

 G. nitidum, but Alph. DeCandolle describes them as "erecta, 

 compressa, minutissime muricata, inferne breviter marginato- 

 alata, apice in alam amplam oblique oblongam expansa, hilo laterali 

 paullo inferiore inter alam superiorem et marginem inferiorem." 

 This agrees with the seeds of the Chinese plant, except that in 

 the latter the wing is nearly equal in breadth all round, with a 

 slight interruption near the hilum. These trifling differences do 

 not at all appear to me sufficient to warrant the generic sepa- 

 ration of two species in other respects so similar. The climbing 

 habit, the texture of the leaves, the form of the corolla are the 

 same. In the Chinese plant the leaves are rather broader, the 

 inflorescence looser, more regular and more generally terminal, and 

 the bracts, which are only to be found at the ramifications of the 

 cyme, are smaller. But in G. nitidum, although the peduncles are 

 generally axillary, but little branched with numerous bracts, yet 

 they vary much in all these respects. The real specific distinction 

 lies in the capsules, which are very turgid and blunt in the Chinese 

 plant, more compressed and ending in a prominent point in the 

 American one. The flowers of the former are also smaller, and 

 the fleshy base on which the ovary rests is less prominent. I have 

 only seen the capsules of G. nitidum in two specimens ; in one they 

 are of a hard texture and about 9 lines long ; in the other they 

 are much thinner and barely half that size, but had perhaps dried 



