BYTTNERIACEJE. 103 



1. Iliedleia inflata. Hop-fruited Miedleia, 



Leaves ovate acuminate obsoletely cordate dupli- 

 cato-serrated villous above hoary and stellato-pilose 

 along the nerves beneath, peduncle axillary 3-4-fid 

 many-flowered shorter than the petiole. 



Melocliia lupulina, Swartz, Fl. Jnd. Occ.W. 1141. — Mon- 

 geotia inflata, H. B. et Ku?ith. V. 330. t. 484. 



HAB. Moist thickets. 



FL. January. 



SuflFrutescent, about 3 feet higli, terete, piloso-subtomentose 

 towards the end of the branches. Leaves alternate, petiolate, 

 about 4 inches long and 3 broad, ovate, acuminate, cordate, 

 duplicato-serrated, pubescent above, hoary and stellato-pubes- 

 cent along the nerves and veins beneath. Peduncles axillary, 3-4 

 together, shorter than the petiole, bearing several white pedi- 

 celled flowers in an umbellule. Calyx 5-sided, 5-partite, pu- 

 bescent, slightly inflated, persistent. Petals oval, shortly clawed, 

 Avhite with a yellow spot in the centre. Filaments united at 

 the base, shorter than the petals : anthers didymous. Styles 5, 

 subulate, twice the length of the filaments. Carpels 5, one- 

 seeded, situated within the enlarged inflated withered calyx. 



2. Riedleia nodiflora. Purple-stemmed Miedleia. 



Leaves ovate acuminate serrated subglabrous (when 

 young minutely appressed puberulous especially be- 

 neath,) flowers axillary crowded sessile. 



Abutilon fruticosum, floribus albis ad alas foliorum congloba- 

 tis, Sloane, I. 219. t. 135. f. 2. — Melochia nodiflora, Swartz, FL 

 Lid. Occ. II. 1189. — Mongeotia nodiflora, H. B. et Kunth, 

 nov. gen. Am. V. 330. — Riedleia nodiflora, De Cand. I. 491. 



HAB. Common in fences. 



FL. After rains, throughout the year. 



A shrub, 2-3 feet in height, erect : branches alternate, 

 sub-distichal and gradually shorter towards the end of the 

 stem, subdivided, tei'ete, purpurascent, minutely puberulous 

 towards their extremities. Leaves alternate, petiolate, ovate, 

 rounded at the base, acuminate, serrated, penni-nerved, rugu- 

 lose, minutely appresso-puberulous especially along the nerves 

 beneath : petiole | an inch in length. Stipules lanceolate, 

 marescent, puberulous, deciduous. Flowers axillary, crowd- 

 ed, subsessile, small, reddish-white : pedicels about a line in 

 length, furnished with lanceolate marescent bracteas at the 

 base. Calyx 5-fid, divisions minutely ciliated, veined, persis- 

 tent. Petals 5, oblong. Filaments monadelphous : anthers 5, 

 bilocular. Styles 5. Carpels 5, externally puberulous, united 



