BOTANY OF FERNANDO NOBONHA. 51 



also occurred on the east hills. In the woods it climbed over 

 the shrub3, and formed almost impenetrable barriers. The 

 stem at the base was often strong and thick, and covered with a 

 corky bark. The leaves are very variable in shape, usually 

 glabous ; but in seedlings the margins are often edged with fine 

 white hairs. The flowers form large pendent masses, and are of 

 a fine violet colour, with a paler stripe in the centre of each 

 petal ; they never seem to open wide. The berries are about the 

 size of those of Solanum Dulcamara, but globose and of a 

 bright scarlet. 



The plant is allied closely to *S'. Seaforthiw, Andr. 



SCEOPHULARIACE^. 



ScoPAETA DTJLCis, L. Sp. PI. ed. 1, p. 116 ; DC. Prod/: x. p. 431 ; 

 J. A. Schmidt in Mart. Fl. Bras. viii. 3. p. 261. 



Common on the main island, especially between the village 

 and Fort San Antonio. Also very abundant on Eat Island. It 

 is called here " Vassorinha," aud reputed as a medicine for 

 consumption. 



Distribution. All the tropical world. 



S. PUfiPUEEA, n. sp. 



Herba erecta, radice crassa liguosa, ramis erectis. Folia sub- 

 verticillata, juniora angusta lanceolata Integra, adulta cuneata 

 runcinata basi angustata, dentibus acutis. Mores parvi 2-3 in 

 axillis, pedicellis decurvis .... Calyx 4-fidus, sepala lanceolata 

 acuta. Petala 4, ovata subobtusa vel lanceolata acuta, roseo- 

 purpurea, pilis perpaucis. Stamina 4, filamenta glabra. An- 

 therse ellipticse oblongaj, loculis basi disjunctis. Ovarium coni- 

 cum; stylus cyliudricus ; stigma capitatum. Capsula globosa 

 sepala vix superaus. Semina miuuta oblonga, atro-brunnea 

 reticulata. 



Eat Island ; on the north side by the sea-shore, a few plants. 



The colour of the flowers, pale rose, and almost complete 

 absence of hairs from the base of the petals, so conspicuous in 

 S. dulcis, distinguish this species from that ; the habit is more 

 erect and stiff", and the leaves larger and more toothed. 



E 2 



