32 ME. H. N". RIDLEY ON THE 



high, Tvath a spreading head of branches, which, as it was in flower 

 at our visit, bore then only a few leaves on the extremity of the 

 branches. The bark in younger plants is dark green, and covered 

 with strong blackthorn ; but in the lower part of the older tree it 

 was brown and bare of the thorns. It is quite smooth, and not 

 cut up into cracks, as is the case in Erythrina Mulungw. The 

 full-sized leaves are glabrous and of a greyish green, the younger 

 ones covered with a mealy pubescence which becomes rufous. The 

 flowers are borne on short racemes, of about a dozen, on the ends 

 of tlie branches. They somewhat resemble at first sight those of 

 E. glauca, Willd., but are a good deal smaller. The standard 

 is broad and reflexed, of a dull orange-colour, with greenish veins. 

 The alae and keel are polished green with red edges, and the 

 bright crimson androecium contrasts beautifully with the orange 

 standard. The buds are covered with a reddish tomeutum like 

 the young branches. We were unable to obtain fruits at the 

 time of our visit ; but by the kindness of the Director of the 

 island we received a good series of both fruits aud seeds. The 

 pods contaia one or two seeds, entirely black, except for a red 

 band round the hilum ; they are oblong, smooth, and polished. 

 With the specimens came notes, saying that " it is said that 

 three or four unbarked Mulungu-seeds, being ground and mixed 

 with food, will kill any dog or cat that eats it ; and consequently 

 these seeds are never found eaten by mice. It is propagated 

 by cuttings. And a warm infusion of the inner part of tlie bark 

 is used in toothache." 



Erttheina, sp. 



Among the fruits and seeds sent after our return to England 

 by the Director of the island were fruits and seeds of another 

 species of ErytJirina from Leao, with a note that this species 

 very closely resembled the preceding in foliage and habit, but 

 that the seeds were different. The pod is rather longer and 

 broader, and less abruptly dilated where the seeds occur. The 

 seeds are a little longer and more pointed, i. e. less oblong with 

 uo distinct keel, and entirely red except the hilum. This is 

 the rosy Mulungu, " Mulungu vermelho " of the inhabitants. 

 The material received is insufficient for determination as to 

 species. 



