Lettsomia. pentandria monogynia. 495 



ally shorter than the petioles, three-flowered, though fre- 

 quently one of the three, or even two of them, are abortive. 

 Flowers short-pedicelled, large, pure white, expanding at 

 sun-set, and perfuming the air to a considerable distance with 

 a fragrance resembling that of the finest cloves. In fact it is 

 the Prince of the Convolvnlacece. Bractes sub-lanceolate, 

 three to each of the lateral flowers. Calycine leaflets ovate- 

 cordate, obtuse, a little hairy. Corol; tube cylindric ; bor- 

 der ample and nearly entire. Filaments woolly at the base. 

 Germ surrounded with a yellow nectarial ring, ovate, four- 

 celled, with one ovulum in each cell, attached to its lower, 

 inner, angle. Stigma composed of two distinct, cylindric, 

 glandular lobes. Berry dry, smooth, shining brown, ovate- 

 oblono- in our cultivated plants ; somewhat pointed, size of a 

 filbert, one-celled. Seeds from one to four ; in our gardens 

 one is by far the most common number; enveloped in a soft, 

 white, spongy substance, which in drying separates from the 

 inside of the pericarpium and adheres to the seed, which is 

 of an oval shape, and about the size of a small pea. Integu- 

 ments two. besides the exterior spongy lamina ; the exterior 

 one hard and tough ; the interior one membranaceous, and 

 entering* the folds of the cotyledons. Embryo as in the other 

 convolvulacece. 



Obs. The trivial name bona-nox is well applied here on ac- 

 count of the charming* appearance, and delightful fragrance 

 of its flowers from the time they first expand, about sun-set, 

 until sun-rise, when they wither. But I doubt if it is the species 

 to which Linnaeus gave this name ; I rather think it was that 

 which I now call Ipomoea grandiflora, (Munda valii of 

 Van Rheede.J 



11. L. uni flora. R. 



Perennial, twining, hoary. Leaves reniform-cordate, acute. 

 Peduncles one-flowered. Berry dry, spherical. 

 Ipomoea candicans. Rottler. Mss. 

 1'eling. Boordi-t/ga. 



