4 NE'^' SOMALILAND POLYPETAL^E. 



Melhania Phillipsiae, sp.n. Saffmtex erectus,^ caule dense 

 flavescenti-tomentoso, foliis ellipticis vel ovatis modice petiolatis 

 utrinqne tomentosis mollibus, margine serratis, basi subcordatis, apice 

 obtusis, stipiilis subulatis qiiam petiolis subtriplobrevioribus, pedun- 

 culis axillaribus saepissime 3-tloris, pedicellis quam pedimculis 

 brevioribus, bracteis reniformibus acutis vel breviter acuminatis, 

 post anthesin accrescentibus et scariosis reticulato-venosis, sepalis 

 anguste ovato-lanceolatis concavis quam capsula loDgioribus, petalis 

 in statu sicco flavis, capsula globosa 5-loculari exterue stellato- 

 hirsuta, loculis 2-3-spermis, seminibus angulatis pubescentibus. 



Hab. Somaliland. Soksoda and Wagga Mts., Mrs. E. Lort 

 Phillips. 



This plant is suffruticose erect, stem covered with a velvety- 

 flavescent tomentum. Leaves elliptical or oval, margin irregularly 

 serrate, base subcordate, both sides tomentose, under side lighter- 

 coloured, lamina 1|-2| in. long, 1^-2 in. broad, petiole f to rather 

 over 1 in. long. Stipules linear, often about 4 lines long. Peduncles 

 axillary, |— f in. long, generally 3-flowered, pedicels shorter than 

 peduncles, ^ to nearly | in. long, both peduncles and pedicels hairy. 

 Bracts reniform, acute or shortly acuminate, tomentose when young, 

 enlarging much in fruiting stage, becoming scarious, reticulate- 

 veined. Sepals 5, lanceolate, concave, externally covered with 

 white hairs, longer than capsule. Petals yellow when dried, about 

 6 lines long. Capsule globose, stellately hairy externally, about 

 4 lines high, not pointed. Loculi 2-3-seeded; seeds angular, 

 pubescent. 



Allied to M. Forhesii Planchon. 



It seems advisable to give a list of the Tropical African species 

 of Melhania, much having been added since the publication of the 

 Flora of Tropical Africa, especially in regard to Somaliland, which 

 was at that time comparatively unexplored. 



Tropical African Species of Melhania. 



A. Bracts reniform. Loculi 1-2-seeded. Stem and leaves covered 

 with a close cinereous tomentum (in M. Venhami R. Br. var. 

 grandibracteata K. Schum. it is very soft). 



1. M. Denhami R. Br. in Denh. Clapp. Trav. App. 233. 



Hab. Senegambia ; Kordofan ; Mozambique District ; Somali- 

 land {fide K. Schum.) ; also occurs in Arabia and Scinde. 



Var. grandibracteata K. Schum. in Ann. 1st. Roma, vii. 34. 



Hab. Somaliland, near Menehan ; Riva, Nos. 440, 441 (jide 

 K. Schum.). 



2. M. MURicATA Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xi. (1882), 

 503, tab. vii. A. 



Hab. Somaliland. Wagga Mts., Mrs. E. Lort Phillips. 

 Originally described from Socotra. 



B. Bracts reniform. Loculi 2-3-seeded. Leaves clothed with a 

 soft velvety more or less flavescent tomentum. 



3. M. Phillipsi^ Bak. fil. 



