XV, 3 Merrill: Notes on the Kwangtung Flora 253 



further that it is identical with Strychnos paniculata Champ., 

 a species strongly characterized by its 4-merous flowers and the 

 only representative of the genus known from the vicinity of 

 Canton. 



LIGUSTRUM Linnaeus 

 LIGUSTRUM GROFFIAE sp. nov. 



Frutex circiter 2 m altus, subtus foliis et ramulis et inflores- 

 centiis perspicue molliterque f errugineo-villosis ; foliis oblongo- 

 ovatis, usque ad 7 cm longis, acuminatis, basi acutis, supra 

 olivaceis, nitidis, leviter pubescentibus, subtus pallidioribus, 

 nervis utrinque circiter 6, tenuibus; inflorescentiis axillaribus, 

 paniculatis, 5 ad 6 cm longis, ramis inferioribus usque ad 3 cm 

 longis; floribus numerosis, corolla 4 mm longa, glabra, tubo 2 

 mm longo. 



A shrub about 2 m high, the leaves on the lower surface and 

 especially the branchlets and inflorescences densely and softly 

 ferruginous-villous with spreading hairs. Branches terete, those 

 up to 5 mm in diameter more or less pubescent, the ultimate 

 branchlets about 2 mm in diameter. Leaves chartaceous, oblong- 

 ovate, 5 to 7 cm long, 2.5 to 3 cm wide, apex acuminate, base 

 acute, the upper surface olivaceous, shining, somewhat pubescent, 

 the midrib and nerves impressed, the lower surface paler, softly 

 villous ; lateral nerves about 6 on each side of the midrib, slender; 

 petioles 4 to 5 mm long, ferruginous-villous. Panicles axillary, 

 5 to 6 cm long, many-flowered, the branches usually spreading, 

 the lower ones up to 3 cm in length. Flowers white, fragrant, 

 their pedicels 1 to 2 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles oblong- 

 lanceolate, somewhat acuminate, about 1 mm long. Calyx some- 

 what cup-shaped, glabrous, 1 to 1.2 mm long, shallowly 4-toothed. 

 Corolla 4 mm long, the tube 2 mm long, the lobes somewhat 

 elliptic, obtuse. Stamens exserted. 



Kwangtung Province, Shiuchow region. Tan Ha Shan, To Kang 

 P'eng 2820, April 24, 1919, Vv^ith the local name mo ch'ung shit. 

 Possibly referable to this species is No. 2795 of the same col- 

 lection from the same locality with the local name sha yeuk shu; 

 this specimen, however, has much smaller leaves and much-fewer 

 flowered inflorescences than the type. 



This species is well characterized by its dense ferruginous- 

 villous indumentum. It is dedicated to Miss Elizabeth H. Groff, 

 through whose interest it was possible to have collections made 

 in the Shiuchow region. 



167148 3 



