VO REVISION OF THE AFEIOAN SPECIES OF ERIOSEMA, 



ERIOSEMA DC. Prod. ii. 388 (sect. Rhynchosm) ; Desv. in 

 Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. 1, ix. 421 (errore Euriosina) ; Reichenbacb, 

 Cuuspectns, 150; Hooker's Niger Fhrra, 313; Bentliam in i'^. BrasU. 

 XV. pt. i. 206 ; Harvey & Souder, Fl. Capensis, ii. 258 ; Klotzsch, in 

 Peters' Mossamb. t. 6 ; Genera Plantantvi, i. 543 ; Baker in Fl, 

 Trop. Afr. ii. 223 ; Baillon, Histoire des Plantes, ii. 2G1 ; Engler, 

 Hoc/uiebirf/sjiora, 272. Radix simplex vel crassa et lignosa vel 

 napiformis vel fusiformis. Herbaj vel suffrutices, erectae, i)rostratfe 

 vel volubiles. Folia pinnatini 3-foliolata rarius simplicia, subtus 

 punctis resinosis, qiiam in PJiynchosia minus conspicuis conspersa. 

 Stipulae ovatae vel lanceolat<Te, liberie vel in unam oppositifoliam 

 connatae. Flores flavi rarissime coerulei vel rabri, vexillo iuterdum 

 purpureo vel violaceo et stepe rufo vel griseo-villoso, in raeemis 

 axillaribus vel terminalibus vel in capitulis axillaribus dispositi, 

 rarius ad axillas subsolitarii. Calycis lobi omnes distinct! vel 2 

 superiores rarius breviter connati ; tubo breviores vel aequilongi vel 

 longiores. Vexillum obovatum vel oblongum, basi auriculis inflexis 

 appendiculatum, aire angiistae, carina apice leviter incurva obtusa. 

 Stamen vexillare liberum, cjBtera connata, antlierae uniformes. 

 Ovarium 2-ovulatum. Legumen rectum compressum, oblique 

 orbiculatum rhombeum vel late oblongum, 2-valve intus con- 

 tinuum 2 rarius 1 spermum. Semina compres-sa, fimiculo ad 

 extremitatem liili linearis affixa estropliiolata. 



Eriosema generally differs from Rlujnchuda in habit ; in the 

 former the stem is usually more or less virgate and erect, while 

 the latter are more often twining herbs or shrubs, but this is by no 

 means always the case. The best cbaracter for distinguishing the 

 two genera lies in the seed, which in Erlnsema has the funiculus at 

 the end of the hilum, while in PJit/iichusia the funiculus is centric 

 or subcentric on the hilum. 



Flemimjia may be distinguished by its turgid pod, the seeds 

 having the funiculus centric on the hilum, and the leaves being 

 digitately trifoliolate or rarely simple. In the Flora of Tropical 

 Africa there are three species of Flentinfjia. F. rhoducarpa Baker 

 has been described and figured by Giinther Beck in PaulitschUe's 

 Harar as Friosema erythrocarpun. The ovules are centrally attached 

 as figured, and I think the plant must therefore be kept in Fleminyia. 

 In the Index Kewensis it has been reduced to F. conyesta Roxb. The 

 simple-leaved F. oblonyifulia, on the other hand, has, if I mistake 

 not, the ovule attached at the end of a linear hilum, and must 

 either be considered an anomalous species of Fleminyia or trans- 

 ferred to Eriosema. 



A. Caulis erectus herbaceus vel sublignosus. Folia simplicia. 

 Inflorescentia racemosa. Calyx brevis. 

 'I' Folia lanceolata. 

 1. E. Afzelii Baker in Fl. Trop. Afr. ii. 225. Rhynchosia 

 Afzelii R. Br. in Herb. Mus. Brit. I 

 Hab. Sierra Leone, Afzelius ! 



A very distinct species, of which I have only seen a single 

 specimen. The stem is erect, herbaceous, 1^-2 ft. higli, or possibly 



