Mr. J. Miers on Diclidanthera, 185 



2. Diclidanthera laurifolia, Mart. loc. cit. ; — ramis glabris, sub- 

 scandentibus ; ramulis subpcndulis et puberulis ; foliis ellip- 

 tico- vel lanceolato-oblongis, utrinque subacutis, glaberrimisj 

 valde reticulatis, margine cartilagineo rubello reflexo, supra 

 nitidis, basi superne eglandulosis, subtus costa media rubella, 

 seepe in dichotomia nervorum glandula umbilicata instructis, 

 petiolo tercti, pubescente ; racemis in ramulis novellis termi- 

 nalibus, folio subbrevioribus ; sepalis utrinque puberis; co- 

 rolla subglabra, ochroleuca, sicca purpurascente. — Brasilia, 

 Prov. Rio de Janeiro. — v. v, ad Santa Theresa, in ascensu ad 

 Montem Corcovadensem. 



A tree about 15 feet high, with a habit quite as subscandent 

 as the preceding species, and with its branchlets half-twining, 

 half-pendulous : its leaves are from 3 to 3 inches long, 12 or 

 14 lines broad, upon a petiole 3 lines in length ; they are hardly 

 distinguishable in form and appearance from the former, and in 

 both species they assume a reddish hue in drying ; below they 

 are of a pale green, with a reddish midrib and prominent ana- 

 stomosing nervures. In this species more particularly, small 

 round glands with an umbilicated centre are often, but not con- 

 stantly, found immersed in the forked points of the nervures on 

 the under side only of the leaf, and are never seen upon the 

 upper surface as indicated in the preceding species. In both 

 species the stipules are seen on each side of the insertion of the 

 articulated petiole, linear, acute, erect, and half a line long, each 

 springing out of a gland similar to those seen on the under 

 side of the leaf. The racemes, which grow out of the extremi- 

 ties of the younger branchlets, are generally about \\ inch long, 

 with about eight to ten flowers placed alternately ; the pedicel 

 of each flower is a line in length, and proceeds from a prominent 

 nodule formed of three confluent glands, which bear as many 

 deciduous bracts, similar to those which support the stipules. 

 The sepals are 4 lines long, 1 line broad, and retrorsely pubes- 

 cent on both sides. The corolla is of a yellowish white (not 

 white, as stated), which in drying becomes of a bright red 

 colour : including the portions that form the border, which are 

 3 lines long and barely a line broad, it measures 9 lines. 

 A singular peculiarity is observable in its sestivation : — the free 

 margin of each petal, where the adherent portions form the 

 tube, is turned in the same direction, showing a contorsive im- 

 brication, while the free portions constituting the border are 

 quincuncially imbricated in the bud. The exsuccous rugose 

 drupe is about 8 lines in diameter, and is of a reddish colour 

 when fresh, becoming fuscous brown when dry, and quite coria- 

 ceous, with chartaceous dissepiments. The suspended seeds. 



