NEVV AFRICAN PLANTS. 127 



N. molle Desv. Below Laram Pass, 4000 ft., Gatacre. 



Poly podium Pher/opteris L. Mirga, 9500 it., Hatriss, 



P. Robertianum Hoffm. Mirga, 7500 ft., Gatacre. 



Tjytjodium microphylhiin E. Br. Zit'irat Valley, 5000 ft., Gatacre. 



NEW AFRICAN PLANTS. 



By a. B. Rendle, M.A., F.L.S. 



The types of the following species will be found in the British 

 Museum : — 



Pentas quadrangularis, sp. nov. Herba glabra caule quad- 

 rangular!, foliis parvis lanceolatis sessilibus uninerviis ; floribus 

 4-meris in folioruua axillis saepissime solitariis, subsessilibus ; 

 calycis segmentis triangulari-subulatis plus minus fequalibus, 

 basi dente brevi glanduliforme utrinque instructis ; corollas tubo 

 elongato, apice infundibuliforme, lobis subsequalibus patentibus 

 lanceolatis vel ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis ; antheris ore corollse 

 piloso sessilibus, cuneato-oblongis, glabris ; stylo filiforme, exserto, 

 stigmatibus binis linearibus ; fructu late ovato 8-costato a disco 

 conico coronato ; seminibus numerosis glabris trilateralibus in 

 placentis magnis semi-submeisis. 



Hab. Near Lake Stephanie, June 27th, 1895, Donaldson Stnith. 



The markedly four-angled stems are about 1 line thick ; the 

 opposite leaves, which reach about 1 in. in length by I in breadth, 

 are united by a narrow stipular band bearing short setae. The 

 flowers are solitary, rarely more than one, on very short pedicels, 

 in the leaf-axils. The narrow calyx-segments vary in length from 

 1^ to 2^ lines ; all four may be of different lengths, or three may 

 be equal and one slightly shorter, &c. The slender corolla-tube is 

 3 J in., of uniform length, the slightly enlarging funnel being 4 lines 

 long, and the lobes 6-7 lines long by 2^-3 lines broad. The 

 aestivation of the lobes is induplicate-valvate. The anthers are 

 2,^ lines long, and become gradually broader from the base upwards ; 

 they are attached dorsally to the corolla-tube a little above their 

 base. The ovary is crowned by a shallowly rounded disc, from 

 the centre of which springs the long style. The numerous small 

 3-sided seeds are light brown in colour, and half-embedded in the 

 large greenish placentas which are attached to the septum above 

 the base of the fruit. The fruit is about 4 lines long by 2J broad, 

 is greenish and smooth, except for the eight longitudinal ribs. Five 

 calyx-segments persist for some time, but finally disappear, leaving 

 one only. 



Is apparently near P. lowjituba K. Sch. (e descript. in Pfianz. 

 Ost-Afrik,), but differs in having lanceolate, not oblong leaves, and 

 a much shorter corolla-tube, the latter measuring 16 cm. in P. 

 longituba, which is also more or less hairy, the leaves being described 

 as subtomentose. 



