CONVOLVULACE (A. B. Rendle) 73 
A distinct species characterised by its small urceolate flowers 
densely crowded towards the top of the short axillary peduncles. 
Merremia pes-draconis Hallier f. var. nigeriea var. nov. 
A typo differt foliis magis evolutis, calyce breviore glabro et 
corolla minore. 
River Benue; n. 832. 
Leaf-stalks *5 to 3 em. long (8 mm. in the species); blades to 
9:5 cm. long (6 cm. in the species); deeply palmately-pinnately 
7-lobed (5-lobed in the species). Calyx glabrous, 2 em. long (the 
outer sepals are hairy and 12 mm. long in the species). Corolla 
2 cm. long (2:7 mm. in the species). 
M. pes-draconis is represented only by a specimen “en état 
plutot mauvais" in the Brussels Herbarium, collected by Descamps 
in the Congo Free State (Kasai distriet). Dr. De Wildeman has kindly 
compared a Nigerian specimen with the type; he says, “ It is certainly 
near M. pes-draconis, but is distinguished by longer-stalked leaves, 
with a more developed limb, more numerous lobes and a more hairy 
lower surface, by a more glabrous and shorter calyx and a relatively 
reduced corolla." The Nigerian plant may represent a distinct but 
closely allied species, but in view of the unsatisfactory character of 
the material of M. pes-draconis I prefer to regard the differences at 
present as merely of varietal value. 
PEDALINEE. 
Sesamum Talbotii Wernham sp. nov. Herba suffrutescens 
erecta pubescens caule tereti striato inferne glabrescente ; foliis 
simplicibus inferioribus ellipticis pro genere latis basi angustatis 
apice acuminato vel rotundato margine subintegro utrinque sparsi- 
uscule pilesis, petiolis pro rata longis, superioribus angustioribus 
lineari-oblongis distincte tamen petiolatis apice acuto utrinque 
pilosis margine minute et irregulariter serratis ; floribus majusculis ; 
calycis lobis lineari-lanceolatis ; capsula majuscula rostrata late 
oblonga pilosa. 
; Oban ; n. 1036. 
Lower leaves 6-9 cm. long x 2-2°4 cm. broad; petiole 2-2°5 em. 
long; upper leaves about 4 cm. long x 8 mm. broad. Calyx 6-7 mm. 
long. Corolla-tube 8 cm. long, largest lobe 1 cm. long and 1:3 cm. 
broad. Fruit 8-8:5 cm. long, and 8-9 mm. broad. Seeds 2:8 
mm. long, 2:1 mm. in broadest part, with radiating wrinkles. 
Notable for the broad leaves and large capsules. 
ACANTHACEJ by Mr. S. Moore. 
A few genera of Acanthacex, such as Dischistocalyx, Whitfieldia, 
Physacanthus, Lankesteria and Thomandersia, are exclusively or 
largely West African. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot's discovery of a new 
genus (Talbotia) is therefore no matter for surprise. 
