322 ON COINOCni-AMYS, 



utriiKiuo precipue ad nervos hirsuta, J-1 unc. long., vix ^ 

 unc. lat , membranacea. Pedunculus ^ une. lonp:., l)irsutiis. 

 Involucri bractoa) ovata?, acuta^, ^ unc. long., ^ unc. Int., 

 pilis strigosis sparse munita>. Corolla ^ unc. long., extus 

 obscure puborula ; limbo ^ unc. lat. Stamina 4, didynama 

 (fide Eth.). Rcli(]ui characteres videre non potuimus. 



Ilah. — Ad lluv.Bagroo, Afric, Occid. coll. Mann (no. 81 1). 

 Specimen unicum in Herb. Kew conservatum. 

 !2. C ANGOLANA, sp. 710V. — Caulis tenuis, teres, cortice nitido 

 glabrescente raunitus ; ramuli juniores villosi. Folia ovata, 

 acuta, cuspidata, vel niucronulata, 1-2} unc. long., ^-H unc. 

 lat., pilia strigosis sparse obtectis. Pedunculus ^ unc. long., 

 glabrescens. Involucri bractcre ovato-rotundata?, acutac, g 

 unc. long., ^unc. Int., piloso-hirsutai. Flores (juoque in in 

 volucro 5, singillatim cvolutas. Calyx 5-partitus, segmcntis 

 lanceolatis, sparse ciliatis, ina^qualibus, duobus majoribus \ 

 unc. long., duobus alteris ^ unc. long., uno minore \^ unc. 

 long., glabrescente. Corolla J unc. long., limbo circiter \ 

 unc. lat., extus et intus puberula. Stamina in nostro 

 cxamplario 5, subaiqualia ; filamenta crassa, superne ara- 

 pliata, prope ^ unc. long. Ovarium obturbiuatum, leviter 

 comprcssum, glabrum ; stylus filamenta tcquans, superne 

 puberulus, segmentis stigmatiferis parum insequalibus ; 

 ovula basalia, campylotropa, retinaculo comrauni ^suft'ulta. 

 Capsulje involucro marcescente cinctjc, rotundatae,-^ unc. lat., 

 \ unc. long., a latere com])i<.ssoe, bispidje. Semina quoque in 

 loculo 1 vel 2, plano-convexa, appresse sericeo-pubesoentia. 

 Hah. — In regione Angolana coll. Soyaux (no. 15G). 



The genus is readily distinguished from other Acintliacea) by its 

 possession of alternate branches and an involucre investing several 

 flowers which open in succession. It remains to be t^een whether the 

 pentandry of C. angolana is a constant character; but it may be re- 

 marked that in abnormal flowers of at least two genera, Strohilanthes 

 and Barleria, 5 stamens are occasionally met with. The singleness of 

 the ovular retinaculum is worthy of notice, and the stigma, more like 

 that of a Cordia than of an Acanthad, is unique in the Order, and 

 seems much better adapted for receiving pollen than is an ordinary 

 stigma of this family. With regard to affinities, there seems no reason 

 to doubt its close connection with Barleria and the nionotypic Mala- 

 gash genus Perihlema. From both of these it is distinguislied by its 

 alternate branches, single retinaculum, and stigma ; further, its involu- 

 crate flowers and absence of bractcolcs separate it from Barleria, wliile 

 the many-flowered involucre affords anotlier character by which to 

 separate it from the solitary-flowered Perihlema. 



When the highly specialised inflorescence of this genus is taken 

 into consideration, it can scarcely be doubted, seeing that the involucra 

 crown the branches, that it has descended from a form which had an 

 elongated floral axis, on which the flowers were borne, from analogy 

 with Barleria, probably in spikes. Specialisation apparently com- 

 menced by the pair of leaves at the base of the inflorescence — whether 

 foliage leaves or bracts cannot at present be determined — taking on 



