334 



two valves. Tliey consist of a pericarp, which is about 1 mm. 



much 



(fig, i). This encloses the seed, the testa of which is made up of 



may 



some 01 the seeds, but m the ma 



disappeared. The second layer is brown like the pericarp, firm 

 and rugose in a somewhat radial manner, as shown in fig, 2; 

 finally there is a thin brown skin (which is often decomposed to 

 a resinous mass) covering the greenish-white endosperm, and in 

 section the characteristic ramifications of this innermost layer of 

 the testa into the endosperm may be seen (fig. 3). It has been 

 stated above that the fat is white, and this may be attributed to 

 the fact that these ingrowths are few in number, and therefore do 

 not discolour the fat brown or black on extraction, as in the case 

 of Scyphocephalium OcJiocoay or dark yellow as in several other 

 species of Myristicay though in all these cases the endosperm itself 

 is white. The aril, usually present in members of this family, is 

 stated by Warburg to be complete or entire and not laciniate, but 

 as no trace of it can be found in the present seeds, it is probable 

 that it disintegrates early. 



The specimens received from Liverpool had already been 

 decorticated, that is the outer shell (pericarp) had been removed, 

 while the remaining inner shell (middle testa) was found to be 

 present in the same proportion as the kernel. In this connection 

 it is important to note that this inner shell, though firm, is brittle, 

 and would present little or no difficulty in crushing and separating. 



It is not possible to say at present the quantity in which these 

 seeds may be available for commercial purposes. 



LXII.-DIAGNOSES AFRICANAE: LXL 



1521. Lonchocarpus brachybotrys, Dunn [Legumlnosae 



Dalbergieae] ; L. eriocalyci, Harms, affinis, sed florum Daniculii 

 cum foliis fasciculatis et foliolis minoribus distinctus. 



Arhor mediocris (5-10 m,), ramis patentibus primo dense 

 velutinis tandem glabris rugosis. Folia 3 4-jnga, 5-10 cm. 

 longa, petiolo 3-4-plo longiora, rachi breviter velutina ; stipulae 

 persistentes, lineares, 3-5 mm. longae, tomentosae; foliola 

 superiora lateralia oblanceolata, acuta, apiculata, 3-4 cm. longa, 

 subcoriacea, ^ supra tandem glabra, nitentia, subtus tomentosa, 

 venis margin! appropinquantibus 6-7-paribus liaud promi- 

 uentibus; petioluli 1-2 mm. longi; stipellae setaceae, 2-3 mm. 

 longae. FZore5 in racemis brevibus rel paniculis pauciramosis 

 cum fohis lateraliter fasciculatis ; bracteae bracteolaeque lineares, 

 mmutae. Calyx 5-6 mm. longus, dense breviter lanatus ; denies 

 aequales, triangulares, obtusi, tubo paullo breviores. Petala non 

 visa. Stamina diadelpta. Legumen lineari-oblongum, utrinque 

 rotundatum vel basi cuneatum, ad 7 cm. longum, 2 cm. latum, 

 molliter pubescens; valvae inter semina cohaerentes, papyraceae. 



Tropical Africa. French Congo: Shari basin; Senoussi 

 I ountry, banks of Boro Eiver, Chevalier 7771 ; 7772. 



