260 Mr. J. Miers on the Menispermacez. 
lasma form branching erect trees. Gardner says of the typical 
plant that it is “a small tree ;” and all the other specimens of 
the genus that I have seen bear the aspect of an erect habit. 
In every instance seen by me the leaves are perfectly glabrous, 
and by their nervation and general aspect resemblé those of 
Cinnamomum ; they never approach an orbicular, and rarely an 
oval form, but are usually long and narrow, very thick and 
ecriaceous, both sides being subpolished, owing to the immer- 
sion of the nerves and more especially of the veins ; they present 
a peculiar appearance from the manner in which their long and 
strong petioles (much thickened at their apex and articulated at 
the base) are inserted at an oblique angle on the plane of the 
leaf. The male inflorescence consists of several extremely slen- 
der branching panicles, fasciculated and issuing from a point 
above the insertion of the petioles, the rachis and its short 
branches being almost capillary, black, and glabrous: these 
branches are also charged, at regular intervals, with 3-4 fasci- 
culated ramifications, that again bear several pedicellated minute 
flowers, which are glabrous and black when dried. This is very 
different from Adbuta. The male inflorescence is shorter, seldom 
exceeding the length of the petiole, and consists of one or two 
simple racemes, with a single flower upon each lengthened and 
() 
spreading pedicel, bracteated at its origin, all quite glabrous. 
ANELASMA, nob.— Flores dioici. Masc. Sepala 6 vel 9, in ordine 
ternario alterna, oblonga, carnosa, glabra, 3 interiora majora, 
obovata, concava, intus striis 2 notata, sestivatione subimbricata, 
Petala nulla. Stamina 6, sepalis opposita, subseriata, erecta, 
conniventia, 3 interiora paulo longiora et latiora: filamenta 
carnosa, subincurva, surstm incrassata ; anthere subglobose, 
apicales, filamento subintrorsum semi-immerse, rima transver- 
sali obliqua 2-valvatim hiantes, ssepius septo valvis parallelo et 
rarius e septulo cruciformi, 3—4-locellatee.— Mam. Sepala ma- 
rium. Stamina sterilia 6, rewa, circa gyneecium hypogyna, 
compressa, carnosa, apice 2-glandulosa. Ovaria 3, libera, 
gibboso-globosa, gynzecio brevi centrali insita, glabra, lucida, 
carnosa, 1-locularia, l-ovulata: stylus brevissimus 3 stigma 
acute et breviter bifidum aut obsoletum. Drupe 3, vel abortu 
2-1, sicce, oblong, subgibbee, glaberrime, subnitide, imo 
excentrice stipitatie, styli vestigio a basi haud distante notatee ; 
puiamen et semen iis Abute conformia. 
Frutices vel arbusculee Americe intertropice, erecte, ramose 3 
ramuli substrict?, glabri; folia alterna, oblonga, crasso-coriaced, 
ulrinque glaberrima, nitida, 3-5-nervia (haud penninervia), 
nervis venisque transversis sepius tmmersis, hine interdum fere 
evenia; petiolo summo basique valde tumido: panicule g race- 
