102 



THALAMIFLOR^. 



minore purpureo. Slomte, 1. t. 138. f. 2. 3.— Melocliia frutes- 

 cens, Browne, 276. — M. tomentosa, Swartz, Obs. 256.~H, B. 

 et Kimth, V. 3:?3 ? 



II AB. Dry situations. 



FL. After rains, about Autumn. 



A shrub about 5 feet in height: branches terete, slender, 

 of a ferruginous colour, at their extremities tomentose. Leaves 

 alternate, shortly petiolated, ovato-oblong (or ovato-lanceolate), 

 rounded and subcordate at the base, obtuse, crenato-serrated, 

 hoary- tomentose with stellated hairs especially beneath. Sti- 

 pules setaceo-subulate. Peduncle axillary shorter than the 

 petiole, or subterminal, solitary, bearing about 4 shortly pedi- 

 celled showy purple flowers in umbel. Calyx 5-partite ; divi- 

 sions linear, acute. Petals 5. Filaments cohering for more 

 than half their length : anthers oblong, didymous, yellow. 

 Styles 5. Capsule angular. 



It is probable that our Jamaica plant may be different from 

 that of the continent, as the specific character of De Candolle 

 does not apply in every respect to that before us. When in 

 flower, it is a very beautiful shrub, and deserving of a place in 

 our gardens. 



2. * Melochia pyramidata. Pijramidal-capsuled 



Melochia. 



Leaves ovato-lanceolate toothed glabrous, pedun- 

 cles 5-6-flovvered longer than the petiole, branches 

 and petioles puberulous, pubescence generally ar- 

 ranged in lines decurrent from the leaves. 



Abutilpn herbaceum procumbens betonicee folio, Sloane, I. 

 220. t. 139. f. 1. — Melochia herbaceatenuissima ramosa, Broivne, 

 276. — M. pyramidata, Sivartz, Obs. 2.^)5. 



HAB. Road from Spanish-Town to St John's. — Sloane. 



FL. ? 



Suffrutescent, about 2 feet long. Flowers purple. Capsule 

 pyramidal, 5-sided, with the angles raucronate : cells 1 -seeded. 



VI. RiEDLEIA. 



Calyx 5-fid, naked or calyculated with 1-3 bracteas. 

 Petals 5, patent. Stamens 5, monadelphous at the 

 base. Styles 5. Carpels 5 subconcrete into a 5- 

 celled 5-valved subglobose capsule, at last distinct, 

 opening by a longitudinal slit, cocciform, 1-2-seeded, 

 with the central axis free. — De Cand. 



Flowers yellow or white. 



