E. Mo 
E. 
ON EIN A NEW GENUS OF ANONACEA, 
ROM CENTRAL AMERICA. 
Bx BERTHOLD Seemann, Pu.D., F.L.S. 
(Prate LIV.) 
During my recent explorations of Nicaragua, one of the republics 
of Central America, I discovered in the western parts of that country, 
between: the cities of Leon and Granada, a middle-sized tree, with 
oval velvety leaves and large bell-shaped flowers. The latter, when 
first opening, are of a very light green, but they gradually change into 
a very dark bluish-black, and then emit a most powerful carrion-like 
odour, quite as disagreeable as a of some Stapelias, Aristolochias, 
and Aroidee. It is in allusion to this peculiarity that, at the sugges- 
tion of Mr. J. J. Bennett, I have given the name of Sapranthus to the 
plant, which proves to be the representative of a new genus, allied to 
Porcelia and Uvaria. It is strange that the carrion-like smell peculiar 
to Sapranthus and the other plants mentioned should always accompany ~ 
a dark brown or dark blue ‘colour, and it would be worth while to as- 
certain the chemical principle here at work. The most singular feature 
of this plant, besides its carrion-like odour and dark-coloured corolla, 
is the very large size of the petals, 4—5 in. long; they are larger in fact 
than those of the African genus Monodora, and Sapranthus i is Eee the 
Anonacea with the largest flower known in the Order. 
SAPRANTHUS, Seem. gen. nov. Anonacearum. (Tab. LIV.) Sepala 3, 
ovata, acuminata, imbricata. Petala 6, biseriatim imbricata, equalia, 
membranacea, explanata. Stamina plurima, cuneata, connectivo ultra 
loculos truncato-dilatato. Torus globosus.  Carpella plurima, stig- 
mate sessili, ovulis ad suturam plurima, 2-serialia. Bacce oblonge 
sessiles. Arbor mediocris, ramulis foliis pedunculisque velutino-pubes- 
centibus; foliis ovalibus utrinque acuminatis integerrimis membra- 
naceis penninerviis; pedunculis axillaribus 1-floris medio 1-bracteatis, 
bractea cordata acuminata; floribus amplis viridibus, demum atro-pur- 
pureis v. subnigricantibus. Species unica :— 
1. S. Nicaraguensis, Seem. (sp. nov.). Tab. nostr. n. LIV. Common 
in the western parts of Nicaragua, between Leon and Granada. 
LI 
LANA pu OF PraTE LIV., (—: cr agape Nicaraguensis, 
Seem. Fig. 1. Pistils and stamens. 8. Stamens. 4. Pistil. 5. Sec. 
tion of do. 6. indt 7. Section of e gem 1-4, Stern 4 and 5, 
n size. 
vou. IV. [DECEMBER 1, 1866.] : 2 B 
