Plate 2307. 



CERATOSEPALUM DIGITATUM, Oliv. 



r 



TILIACE.E. 



Ceratosepalum, Oliv. (nov. gen,) Calyx 5-partitus, segmentis ?esti- 

 vatione valvatis, linearibus extus hirsutis apice cauda cornuiforuu 

 hirsuta appendiculatis. Fetala libera, calyce breviora^ obovato-cuneata 

 unguiculata apice emarginata v. etiani eroso- v, crenato-dentata. 

 Stamina indetinita, omnia antlierifera ; filamenta gracillima glabra ; 

 anther?e versatiles, oblongse, didyin^e, loculis linearibus parallelis 

 coroUam leviter superantes. Ovarium depresso-globosum, 5-6-locuIare, 

 dense liirsutum, sessile ; stylus elongatus, filiformis, glaber, apice vix aut 

 lev'iter incrassatus minutissime deuticulatus. Ovitla geminata, adscen- 

 dentia, infra medium affixa. Fructiis , . . Frutex rainis erectiSj 

 vtvf/atts. Folia alterna^ petiolata^ profunde 5-7 -partita^ segmentis 

 oblongo-ovalibus oblanceolatisve, aadis, deyitato-serratisy supra pilis 

 stellatis scabrida, sitbtus stellatira cano-tonientosa, Flores in cymis 

 pauci' V, plurijloris pedunculatis terminalihus et in axillis siiperioribus 

 dispositiy bracteolati ; bracteola^ lineari-sitbulatce, 



Har. Tropical Africa; neighbourhood of Lake Tanganikaj A. 

 Carson (No. 1). 



C. digitatum, Oliv. (sp, unica). Rami floriferi erecti 1^-2-pedales, 

 tomentelli et stellato-hirsuti, basin versus excepti foliiferi. Folia 

 petiolo ^-| poll, longo ; segmentis majoribus basi angustatis 1-1^ poll, 

 longis, 4-5 lin. latis ; in foliis 7-partitis segmentis exterioribus multo 

 minoribus ^| poll, longis ; stipulye obsoletse. Flores ^\ poll, longi. 



i 



I believe the aflSnity of this interesting plant to be with Honchenya 

 and Sparmannia. It differs from both genera in all the stamens being 

 antheriferousj and in its geminate ovules. The leaves are divided so 

 deeply that it is only on close examination one can discern that they 

 are not compound. The withered petals are, in our dried specimen, of 

 a dull yellowish colour. The appendix of tlie sepals is curious, but I 

 believe th^re is indication of similar processes in Honchenya, The name 

 which I have adopted, referring to these appendices, has been applied 

 generically by Oersted to a species of I'assifiora, but by common 

 consent it is regarded as havintr no claim to generic rank. The 



iiame is too applicable to the present plant to be wasted.— D. Oliver. 



Fig. 1. StelUte hairs of iiidumenluni. 2. Sepal, showing apical appendix. 3. Petal. 

 **' Stamen, back and front. 6. Vertical section of ovary. All enlarged. 



