179 



TWO NEW TROPICAL AFRICAN EBENACEiE. 

 By W. p. Hiern, M.A., F.L.S. 



There appear to be only two species of this family represented 

 in the collections made by Mr. Scott Elliot in the Ruwenzori 

 expedition : both were obtained in the Shire region of the Mozam- 

 bique district from September to December, 1894. Though closely 

 allied to previously known species, they are, I think, sufficiently 

 difierent to require new names. 



Euclea urijiensis Hiern, sp. n. E. subglabra, ramulis fusco- 

 cinereis alternis oppositis vel verticillato-approximatis, foliis sfepius 

 oblanceolatis firmiter coriaceis apice rotundatis basin versus cuneatis 

 margine anguste revoluto, (in siccoj undulatis breviter petiolatis, 

 tioribus masculis tetrameris in racemis axillaribus pollicaribus dis- 

 positis, calycis brevis lobis e basi lata apiculatis, corolla ^-ellipsoidea 

 quadrifidcl, staminibus 12-14, ovario 0. 



Apparently a shrub, dioecious, nearly glabrous, but with a few 

 whitish hairs scattered over the brauchlets, the young leaves, and 

 the inflorescence ; the branches are of a dark ashy colour, alternate, 

 opposite, or crowded 3 or 4 together in irregular whorls; the leaves 

 are oblanceolate or occasionally rather obovate, firmly coriaceous, 

 glabrescent, rather pale green and with slender reticulation in relief 

 on both surfaces, glossy at least on the upper surface, rounded at 

 the apex, gradually tapering to the base, 2-3|- in. long by xV~f o i"* 

 wide, with the margin narrowly revolute, and in the dry state wavy 

 with small undulations ; the petiole is i-i in. long. On the male 

 plant the flowers, which are tetramerous and half-ellipsoidal 

 and measure ^ in. in length and ^ in. in diameter, are arranged 

 about 8-14 together in axillary rather slender and lax racemes of 

 f-1 in. ; the bracteoles are narrow, shorter than the pedicels, and 

 caducous ; the pedicels measure i-i in. in length, are slender, and 

 mostly spread rather widely ; the calyx is short and cleft into 

 4 lobes, broad at the base and pointed at the apex ; the corolla 

 much exceeds the calyx and is divided nearly half-way down into 

 4 rounded lobes ; the 12-14 stamens are inserted by the short and 

 unequal filaments at or near the base of the tube of the corolla or 

 on the receptacle ; the anthers are apiculate, and not absolutely 

 glabrous, though nearly so ; the ovary is deficient. Female plant 

 not seen. 



Uriji Valleys, Karagwe, 4000-5000 ft. alt., Sept. 1894, No. 8180. 



This species is nearly related to E. vdcrucarpa Gurke, from 

 Kilimanjaro, but is larger in most parts, and not so glabrous. 



Diospyros shirensis Hiern, sp. n. D. foliis alternis obovatis 

 vel ovali-obovatis apice obtusis rotundatis vel interdum obtuse sub- 

 acuminatis basi obtuse angustatis pergameno-chartaceis ciliolatis 

 planis, supra griseo-viridibus paulum pubescentibus, infra pallide 

 flavescenti-viridibus sparsim pubescentibus, breviter petiolatis ; flori- 

 bus masculis ternis in cymis axillaribus brevibus pubescentibus 

 dispositis, calyce tubuloso-ovoideo brevissime lobato extus pubes- 

 cente, corolla fere glabra quadrifida, staminibus 15 glabris, ovario 0, 



N 2 



