» 1CONES PLANTARUM,. 15 
PLate 1021. 
MELLISSIA BEGONIFOLIA, Hook. / 
SoLaNE&. 
Mellissia, Hook. f. gen. nov.—Calyx subcampanulato-pateriformis, ad 
medium inequaliter 5-lobus vy. 3—4-lobus, lobis 1 v. 2, 2- aad interdum 
2-labiatis, wstivatione apertis, angulis non plicatis. Corolla ampanu- 
lata, subsequaliter 5-loba; lobi a aeons obtusi, indupHento-valvati 
apicibus leviter imbricatis, non plicati. Stamina 5, basi tubi corolle inserta, 
este, subzequilonga, filamentis lifomi-subulti pilosis ; anthere breviter 
n atil Ovarium 
placentis crassiusculis septo adnatis affixa. Bacca parva, fusiformis, stylo 
basi articulato terminata, calyce accrescente patente stipata, 2-locularis, carne 
tenui, polysperma. Semin the Geman leviter compressa, testa crus- 
tacea ulata, albumine carnoso; embryo rdeattens te teres. — Frutex 
graveolens, pubescenti-tomentosus, ramulis tortuosis. Folia petiolata, per paria 
sparsa, ovato-oblonga, obtusa, integerrima, recurva. Flores in azillis inter paria 
foliorum solitarii, pedicellati, nutantes, albi. Corolla extus tomentosa. 
M. begonifolia, Hook. /.—Physalis begonifolia, Roxb. in Beatson’s St. 
fee, Tracts, Appendix, 317; DC. Prod. xiii. 1451. Boxwood of the 
colon 
eae B. St. Helena, rocky hills in the east and south side of the island, 
Roxburgh, 1812-13. By the telegraph on Longrange Point, and Little and 
Great Stone Top Mountains, Burchell (Jan. 1807). 
The first specimens (which were both in flower — fruit) I ever procured 
of this very rare and now probably extinct plant, were given me by Mr. 
Bennett, of St. Helena, on my second visit to that island in 1843 ; and I, at the 
time, wrote on the ticket that it was now extinct, no doubt on Mr. Bennet tt’s 
authority. Fi im ist, however, in the Burchellian collections, 
together with a drawing of the plant, that represents a low scrubby bush, 
growing on rocky p ave na the genus in honour of J. Melli 
Esq., sad! and en of the sony, o has paid much attention to 
ectahpishvent 
The affinities of this interesting plant are not very clear to me in the pre- 
sent condition of the Order; it is, perhaps, nearest to Withania, but the 
very oblique calyx and the corolla are both very differently shaped, and the 
lobes of the = are semi induplicate valvate with slightly imbricating 
tips.—J. D. 
wer. 2. The same laid open. 3and 4. Stamens. 5. Pistil. 6. Transverse 
Fig. 1. Flo 
section of the ovary 
