82 MB. BENTHAM ON LOGANIACEjE. 



for distinguishing properly ; and I am by no means confident that 

 I have ascribed correct limits to them. So among the small- 

 flowered ones, some species with cirrhi are nevertheless distinctly 

 described by their collectors as erect twiggy shrubs, and the pro- 

 duction of straight spines, as well as of these hooked cirrhi, appears 

 to vary according to situation. I feel persuaded that, however 

 different Blanchet's specimens of S. parvifolia, A. DC, may at first 

 sight look from Sello's of S. brasiliensis, Mart., they are but forms 

 of one species, which Spruce also found in abundance on the 

 Amazon ; the pubescence, the breadth of the leaves, the greater or 

 less prominence of the nerves, vary exceedingly even on the same 

 tree, and specimens with or without thorns and cirrhi differ in no 

 other respect. The stature is generally described as a shrub, or 

 small twiggy tree, of about 15 feet. 



The most important of the American species, such as S. pseudo- 

 cMna, St. Hil., JS. toxifera, Schomb., S. JRouhamon, &c, may now 

 be considered as pretty well known ; but there are others, said to 

 be much used, of which we have only very vague information and 

 imperfect specimens ; such are S. cogens, Schomb., and 8. cware, 

 H. B. K. Much as Schomburgk and Spruce have contributed to 

 the enlargement of this genus, there are still several of their species 

 of which we have not yet seen the flowers ; and of the western 

 ones I have only found a flowerless specimen of S. Darienemis, 

 Seem., in the Hookerian herbarium, and none at all of 8, Pana- 

 mensis, Seem., or of S. braehiata, R. et Pav. Very much therefore 

 remains to be done before a good classification of the genus can 

 be substituted for the artificial arrangement I now propose. 



20. Bbehmia, Harv, 



I have already alluded to the close connexion of this genus (or 

 rather species, for there is but one) with StrycJinos, with which it 

 will probably one day be reunited. It is a Madagascar shrub, 

 widely spread also over South-east Africa. A specimen of Heu- 

 delot's, from Senegambia, is more luxuriant, has no spines, larger 

 leaves, and more flowers ; but these flowers are in every respect 

 so precisely similar to those of B. spmosa, that I have no hesitation 

 in considering the whole as one species, thus stretching, in common 

 with so many other plants, entirely across the African continent. 



21. Labobdea, Gaud. 



This genus is only known from Graudichaud's figure and imperfect 

 description in the Botany of Freycinet's Voyage. It is evidently 



