28 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



diffuse inflorescences with long peduncles. I have named the 

 species in deference to Dr. Stapf who has been unsparing with his 

 assistance in my examination of the Apocynaceae. 



An interesting member of the collection is a species of Stapf's 

 genus Cyclocotyla (Kew. Bull. 1908, p. 259) allied to Crasiyido- 

 spermum, of which there is ample material, including three or four 

 mature flowers. The genus was based on a plant collected by 

 Pynaert in the Congo Free State, and named C. congolensis. I 

 have examined the type in the Kew Herbarium ; this bears no 

 open flowers. The leaves with their close transverse venation 

 and the curiously cylindrical corolla-tubes are strikingly similar 

 in C. congolensis and in Talbot's plant. On dissection, however, 

 I find that each of the two ovary-chambers contains but two 

 ovules placed one above the other — not five or six in two rows as 

 in the Congo species. Further, in Talbot's plant, the disc is very 

 deeply lobed, and the " calyx-cup " to which the genus owes its 

 name {vide Stapf, loc. cit. 260) is not noticeable ; and finally the 

 inflorescences are axillary as well as terminal. The expanded 

 corolla-limb is extremely small, and after the fall of the corolla 

 the calyx closes rapidly over the top of the ovary. The ripe 

 fruits would be interesting, but unfortunately none are available. 



The characters just named led me at first to conclude that 

 Talbot's plant should be referred to a new genus allied to 

 Cyclocotyla. But the principal differences between the two may be 

 due merely to immaturity in the specimens of G. congolensis. So 

 that in the absence of further material it will be well, perhaps, to 

 regard our plant as a second species of Cyclocotyla for the present, 

 differing from the prior species in the closer leaf -venation, the 

 axillary inflorescences, the shape of the disc, and the number and 

 arrangement of the ovules. 



Cyclocotyla oligosperma Wernham, sp. nov. Frutex scan- 

 dens glaberrimus, ramulis gracilibus ; foliis oppositis pergamaceis 

 ellipticis v. oblongis breviter acuminatis obtusis basi acutis petiolo 

 gracili longiusculo, venis secundariis plurimis approximatis trans- 

 versis ; cymis paucifloris laxiusculis alaribus v. terminalibus, 

 pedunculatis. Pedicellis calycem multo excedentibus. Calycis 

 tubo lobos subaequante. Corollce tubo validiusculo limbum angus- 

 tum multo superante, lobis subrotundis brevibus. Ovarii integri 

 quoque in loculo ovula 2. 



Kwa Ibo E. No. 3052. Fl. through the dry season. 



Leaves about 10 cm. x 4 cm., petiole about 1"3 cm. ; lateral 

 nerves, thirty pairs or more. Peduncle up to 2 cm., or longer; 

 pedicel to 5 mm. Calyx 3-5 mm. deep, about half occupied each 

 by lobes and tube. C'oroZ/a-tube 8-5 mm. long ; limb 5'75 mm. in 

 diameter. AntJiers nearly 5 mm. long, sessile at about 2 mm. 

 above the base of the corolla tube. Style about 1 mm. long, of 

 which about one-third or more is occupied by the stigma. 



" Calyx and peduncles palest green. Corolla-tube cream, limb 

 white with primrose centre. Stem and petioles shaded bronze ; 

 leaves very dark green " (Mrs. Talbot). 



