of the Keeling Islands. 343 



and fleshy, modifications of ovate and repand. The flowers 

 in small heads, which themselves are arranged in dense um- 

 bels, with long axillary peduncles alternately disposed among 

 the uppermost parts of the branches. 



Var. a. Stoutest in habit, and with the largest leaves, the 

 lowermost of which have their limb an inch long, with pe- 

 duncles of half an inch ; all are pedunculate, ovato-rotund, 

 often slightly sub-cordate, much paler beneath. Stamens 2 — 3 ; 

 young fruit ob-clavato-fusiform. 



Var. ft. Branches more than three feet long. Leaves rather 

 smaller and darker on each side, generally more acute, the 

 uppermost nearly or quite sessile. Seems to be B. diandra of 

 Bur. Fl. Ind., tab. 1. fig. 1. Stamens 2 — 4, alternate with 

 the segments of the calyx ; anther with two globose cells, 

 which, with the filaments, are pilose. Ovary oval, but in the 

 young fruit becomes fusiform and angular, with glandular 

 hairs. Stigma peltate. A toothed annulus round the calyx 

 was noticed in one specimen. Three or four bracts. 



ee Grows upright and untidy, and is the commonest weed, 

 growing everywhere." — C. Darwin. 



Var. 7. Branches a foot and a half long. More stunted, 

 with fewer, smaller, and more fleshy leaves. Stamens 2 — 3. 



e< Grows close to the ground, and is abundant on one spot 

 within ten or twelve yards of the sea, where it was pointed out 

 to me as possessing an esculent root, and considered to be 

 quite distinct from var. ft." — C. Darwin. 



A specimen of the root was preserved, and consists of long 

 wiry branches, which do not appear to have been ever very 

 succulent. 



10. Sccevola Kcenigii. — The leaves are seven inches long and 

 three broad, quite glabrous ; the apex slightly retuse and the 

 margin somewhat repand. Segments of the calyx subulate 

 and glabrous. Corolla with the base of the tube slightly vil- 

 lose within, the segments of the limb lanceolate and glabrous. 

 Cupula of the stigma very pilose within. This specimen ap- 

 pears to be more glabrous than usual, whilst S. sericea (of 

 which I have specimens from Macao in China) differs from 

 the more usual state of S. Kcenigii chiefly in being more de- 

 cidedly pubescent. 



