FLORA VITIENSIS. 309 
Orpo C. SMILACEZE. 
The genus Rhipogonum may perhaps occur in Norfolk Island, a sterile specimen being referred to it 
by Endlicher under the provisional name of R. dubium. 
I. Smilax, Tournef. Inst. t. 481; Linn. Gen. n. 1120; Endl. Gen. n. 1184. Perigonium 
eorollinum, 6-phyllum, patens, deciduum, foliolis exterioribus latioribus, sstivatione imbricatis. 
Stamina 6, perigonii foliolis basi inserta; filamenta filiformia v. 0, libera; anthers lineares, basifixze. 
Ovarium 3-loculare. Ovula in loculis 1, apici anguli affixa, orthotropa. Stylus brevissimus; stig- 
mata 3, crassiuscula, patentia. Bacca 1-3-locularis, 1-3-sperma. Semina globosa, testa membra- 
nacea, albida, eum nucleo conferruminata, umbilico basilari magno colorato. Embryo antitropus, 
minimus, in extremitate albuminis cornei umbilico opposita inclusus, extremitate radiculari cen- 
trifuga.—Suffrutices sempervirentes, scandentes; radicibus tuberosis v. fibrosis; caule szpissime 
aculeato; foliis alternis petiolatis, cordatis v. hastatis, nervosis, reticulato-venosis; stipulis intra- 
petiolaribus, cirrhiferis, seepius acutis; floribus supra receptaculum globosum v. cylindricum sessili- 
bus, subcapitatis v. pedicellatis, umbellatis, pedicellis haud articulatis, umbellulis pedunculatis, ax- 
illaribus, racemosis corymbosisve, rarius solitariis v. geminatis. 
Besides the species enumerated below, we have in tropical Polynesia 1, S. purpurata, Forst. Prodr. 
n. 373, Labill. Austr. Caled. t. 22, from New Caledonia (Forster! Anderson! Vieillard! n. 1379 et 1383, 
Deplanche !) and Isle of Pines (Sir E. Home! Milne! Maegillivray !) ; 2, S. orbiculata, Labill. Austr. 
Caled. t. 23, from New Caledonia; and 3, S. Hawaiensis, (sp. nov.) Seem. in Herb. Mus. Brit.; inermis, 
glabra, caule teretiusculo, foliis cordato-ovatis acuminatis 5-nerviis, umbellis fl. ¢ axillaribus 2, pedunculis 
primariis bracteatis, secundariis ebracteatis, petalis spathulato-linearibus, antheris linearibus, fl. 9 fructi- 
busque ignotis.— Hawaiian Islands (Menzies! in Herb. Mus. Brit.). The inflorescence of the male flowers 
is exactly that of S. Zeylanica, as figured by Wight (Icon. t. 2057) ; there is a common forked peduncle, 
each branch bearing an umbel; the petiole is as long as the common peduncle. 
1. S. (9) trifurcata, (sp. nov.) Seem. ; inermis, glabra; caule teretiusculo ; foliis ovatis, acumi- 
natis, J-nerviis; pedunculis axillaribus solitariis compressis, apice 3-furcatis; receptaculis cylindricis 
bracteolatis; fl. ign.—Island of Ovalau (Seemann! n. 631, ex parte in Mus. Brit.). 
This species was inadvertently mixed with Pleiosmilax Vitiensis, from which it may be at once dis- 
tinguished by the triforked peduncles and singular cylindrical receptacles. None of the specimens have 
any flowers, so that the genus is doubtful; the habit is quite that of Smilax and Pleiosmilax.  Petiole 
12 lines long, with 2 tendrils at base; blade of leaf 4—5 inches long, and 23-3 inches broad. There are 3 
very prominent ribs, and 2 very obscure marginal ones. The peduncle is somewhat compressed and as long 
as the petiole, being divided into 3 cylindrical receptacles, which are about 5 lines long, and densely 
covered with minute bracts. 
II. Pleiosmilax, (gen. nov. Seem. Journ. of Bot. 1868. p. 193. t. 81. Flores diclini. 
Fl.d: Perigonium corollinum, 6-phyllum, patens, foliolis zequalibus, sestivatione imbricatis. - Sta- 
mina duplo v. triplo perig. foliolorum numero ; filamenta filiformia, libera; antheræ ovate v. ob- 
longs, basifixe. Fl. 9: Perigonium maris, Stamina 6 sterilia (v. ssepius 0 ?). Ovarium 3-loculare. 
Ovula in loculis 1. Stigmata 3. Bacca 3-locularis, 3-sperma. Semina elliptica.—Frutices semper- 
virentes, scandentes; radicibus tuberosis v. fibrosis; caule inermi v. aculeato ; foliis alternis petio- 
latis, cordatis v. ovatis, nervosis, reticulato-venosis; stipulis intrapetiolaribus cirrhiferis; floribus 
umbellatis, umbellis axillaribus, d' racemosis, 9 solitariis; baccis nigris.—Smilacis sp. Auct. 
This genus differs from Smilax principally in having twice or thrice as many stamens as perigonal leaves. 
Three species are at present known, viz. 1, P. Vitiensis, Seem. |. e.; 2, P. Sandwichensis, Seem. |. c. (Smilax 
Sandwichensis, Kunth, Enum. Plant. vol. v. p. 253; S. pseudochina, Hook. et Arn. Bot. Beech. ?; nomen 
[PUBLISHED OCTOBER 1, 1868.] 28 
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