198 Mv. J. Micts on (he genus Tcssarandra. 



de Janeiro^ for which some years ago I proposed a new genus 

 under the name of Tessarcmdra, from reaaapa, quatuor, avtjp, 

 stamen. Aublet describes his Mayepea as having the calyx and 

 corolla of a Chionanthiis, with four stamens opposite to the petals, 

 an arrangement quite contrary to their usual position, which is 

 alternate with them. In Aublet^s figure the stamens are shown 

 to possess a distinct connective, both longer and bi'oader than 

 the anther-cells, a character at variance with the usual struc- 

 ture of the order. This also partly occurs in Tessarandra, where 

 the filaments temiinate in a fleshy connective exceeding the length 

 of the anthers which are affixed to it on its external face, thus 

 offering another anomaly in their extrorse aspect and dehiscence. 

 It also differs from other Oleaceous genera in its ovarium being 

 seated and partly immersed in a fleshy disc which is adnata upon 

 the torus. In all other essential respects, more particularly in 

 the structure of the ovarium and of the fruit, Tessarandra re- 

 sembles Chionanthiis, so that it belongs evidently to Oleacece, and 

 to the tribe Chionanthece. 



The following is an outline of its generic features : — 



Tessakandra (gen. nov.). — Calyx parvus, urceolatus, 4-fidus, 

 dentibus obtusiusculis, persistens. Petala 4, hypogyna, sequa- 

 lia, liuearia, apice obtusa. Stainina 4, sequalia ; filamenta bre- 

 vissima, dilatata, extus carinata, petalis alterna et iis basi sub- 

 concreta; antJierce extrorsse, 2-locularcs, loculis oblongis, ap- 

 positis, parallelis, ad connectivimi crassiusculum angustiorem 

 filamento continuum et ultra eos pi'oductum dorso affixis, extus 

 longitudinalitcr dehiscentibus. Ovarium oblongum, subco- 

 nicum, toro carnoso imo subimmersum, 2-lociilare, 4-ovu- 

 latum, ovulis gemiuis, coUateralibus, infra apicem dissepiment! 

 utrinque suspensis. Stylus brevis. Stigma 2-lobum, lobis 

 crassis, divaricatis. Drupa baccata, abortu 1-locularis, 1-2- 

 sperma, putamine chartaceo, venoso-striato, endopleura tenui, 

 chalaza apicali incrassata. Scmina solitaria, rarius gemina, 

 loculo conformia, exalbuminosa, cotyledonibus magnis, carnosis, 

 piano- convexis, radicula minima, discoidea, iis immersa, supera. 

 — Arbuscula Brasiliensis, glaherrima : folia opposita, adpressoy 

 sessilia, integerrima, ovata ; paniculaj axillares et Jerre terminales, 

 laxe brachiatte, pedicellis imo bracteatis. 



1. Tessarandra Fluminensis ; — foliis sessilibus, ovatis, subcor- 

 datis, apice obtusis et emarginatis, decussatis, erecto-adpressis, 

 coriaceis, venis prominentibus, subtus glaucis, ad axillas ve- 

 narum barbatis, rachi prominente basi nodoso-incrassato ; ca- 

 lyce extus pubescente, dentibus ciliatis, intus neiTO promi- 

 nente pilosulo ; petalis lutco-viridescentibus ; bacca majuscula, 

 violacea. — Rio de Janeiro, r, v. 



