2 ICOKES PLANTAEUM. 



Plate 1291. 



ACALYPHA SPINESCENS, Benth. 



EuPHOKBTACEJE, Tribe Crotone-j:. 



A. spinescens, JBentJi.^ sp. w., fruticosa, divancato-ramosa, spinis 

 axillaribus armata, foliis subsessilibus ovatis grosse crenatis penmveniis, 

 spicis unisexualibus, masculis brevibus tenuibus, foemineis 1-brac- 

 teatis V. dissite 2-bracteatis, bracteis foemineis orbiculato-cordatis 

 grosse pluri-crenatis sublobatis. 



Hab. Malayan Arcblpelago, Gorontalo in I^ortb Celebes, Uiedel. 



Frutex ut yidetur divaricato-ramosissimus, ramis rigidnlis Isevibus 

 albis. Spince axillares v. interdum folio abortiente laterales (pedun- 

 culi V. ramuli abortienfces ?) nunc nudi |-l-pollicares, nunc pauUo 

 longiores infra apicem folium v. spicam ferentes* Folia 1-2-pollicaria. 

 Spicoe masculce va. speciniine plerseque infra apicem spina? solitarise, 

 sessilesj tenellse, 4-8 lin. longse. Floras minimi secns rbacbin glome- 

 rulati, glomerulis approximatis bractea vix conspicua subtensis* Calyx 

 alte 4-fidus. Stamina 8. Spicce fceminece ad axillas foliorum v. inter- 

 dum spinas solitariss, rliacH filiformi. Bractea interdum unica, ter- 

 minalis, sed ssepius additur altera supra medium rliaebeos sessilis 

 per anthesin 1 lin., demum 3 lin. diametro, crenaturis 7-13, Flos 

 intra bracteam solitarius sessilis. Sepala 3, minuta. Ovarium dense 

 hirsutum. Styli laciniati uti antherae generis. 



Fig. 1. Portion of male spike. 2. Male perianth in bud. 3, The same, open. 

 4. Anther. 5. Female flower and bract. 



The habit and numerous strong spines of this species give it a very different aspect 

 from the remainder of this extensive genus, the only approach to it being in the 

 Australian A. eremorum^ Muell, Arg., and A. capillipes, F, Muell., both of which are 

 however, abundantly distinct in foliage and inflorescence. — G. Ben' 



Plates 1292, 1293 



MELANOCHYLA TOMENTOSA. 



AnacaroiaceJ!, Tribe Akaoarbje^. 

 M. tomentosa, BooK /. Fl. Brit. Ind. ii. 38; ramulis petiolis 



inflorescentia et costa foliorum snbtug velutino-tomentosis, foliis 

 oblongis V. obovato-oblongis acuminatis basi rotundatis v. subcordatis 

 nervis subtus prominentibus. 





