130 Philippine Journal of Science 1919 



second species of the genus described by Loureiro, is one of doubt- 

 ful status, but in all probability is not congeneric with Melo- 

 dorum fruticosum Lour. It is described as a large tree growing 

 in forests, the leaves tomentose beneath, the calyx and corolla 

 as in Melodoriim fruticosum Lour. The indicated floral char- 

 acters can be considered as no more than approximate. Hooker 

 f. and Thomson have suggested that this may prove to be a 

 Mitrephora and, from the description and the various species 

 of Mitrephora now known from Indo-China, I strongly suspect 

 that Loureiro's species is the same as Mitrephora thorelii Pierre. 

 It is perfectly evident that whatever disposition be made of 

 Melodorum as originally described by Loureiro, whether it be 

 considered as a valid genus allied to Popowia, or whether it be 

 considered as synonymous with Popowia, or with Polyalthia, it 

 can no longer be retained in the sense in which it is currently 

 used ; that is, as erroneously interpreted by Hooker f . and Thom- 

 son. The genera proposed by other authors currently considered 

 as synonyms of Melodorum Hook. f. & Th., are Fissistigma 

 Griff. (1854), Mitrella Miq. (1865), and Pijramidanthe Miq. 

 (1865). Of these Fissistigma Griff, is an exact synonym of 

 Melodorum as interpreted by Hooker f. and Thomson and ante- 

 dates Melodorum as used by the latter authors by one year. It 

 is typified by Fissistigma scandens Griff.^^ I accordingly pro- 

 pose to adopt Griffith's generic name for the numerous species 

 currently but erroneously known as Melodorum-. Boerlage '- 

 retains Kentia Miq. and Pyramidanthe Miq. as valid genera 

 allied to Melodorum Hook. f. & Th., that is, Fissistigma Griff.; 

 but in this consideration of the case I have followed current 

 usage and have reduced both to Fissistigma. 



FISSISTIGMA Griffith 

 (Melodorum auct. plur., non Lour.) 

 FISSISTIGMA AFRICANUM (Benth.). 



Melodorum africanum Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 23 (1862) 477. 



Africa. 



FISSISTIGMA BALANSAE (Aug. DC). 



Melodorum balansae Aug. DC. in Bull. Herb. Boiss. II 4 (1904) 1070; 

 Finet & Gagnep. in Lecomte Fl. Gen. Indo-Chine 1 (1907) 104. 



Indo-China. 



•'Notul. 4 (1854) 706. 



"Ic. Bogor. 1 (1899) 129, 130. 



