193 
ON TWO NEW GENERA OF SMILACINEA. 
Bx BERTHOLD SEEMANN, Pn.D., F.L.S. 
(Pirates LXXXI. AND LXXXIII) 
An examination of the large genus Smilax has convinced me of the 
necessity of establishing two new genera, which I shall name respec- 
tively Pleiosmilax and Oligosmilaz. 
LEIOSMILAX, Seem. (gen. nov.) Flores diclines. Perigonium co- 
rollinum, 6-phyllum, patens, foliolis equalibus. Fl. d: Stamina duple 
foliolorum numero ; filamenta filiformia, libera ; anthere ovate v. ob- 
long, basifixe. Fl. 9: Stamina 10, sterilia (v. 0?). Ovarium 3-locu- 
lare. Ovula in loculis l. Stigmata 3. Bacca 3-locularis, 3-sperma. 
Semina elliptica. — Frutices sempervirentes, scandentes ; radicibus 
tuberosis v. fibrosis; caule inermi v. aculeato ; foliis alternis petio- 
latis, cordatis v. ovatis, nervosis, reticulato-venosis ; stipulis intrapetio- 
laribus cirrhiferis; floribus umbellatis, umbellis axillaribus, d race- 
mosis, 9 solitariis ; baccis nigris.—Smilacis sp. auct. 
This genus differs from Smilax principally in having twice as many 
stamens as perigonal leaves. Three species are at present known, 
yz. :— 
l. P. Vitiensis, Seem. ; inermis, glabra ; caule terete ; foliis sub- 
cordatis v. ovato-oblongis, acuminatis, 3-5-nerviis, coriaceis ; pedun- 
culis g 2-8-fidis, perigonii foliolis 6 ovato-oblongis acuminatis 1- 
nerviis, antheris ovatis; peduneulis 9 simplicibus ; baecis globosis 
(nigris) 3-spermis. — Nomina vernac. Vitiensia, * Kadragi" “Wa 
rusi,” et “ Na kau wa."—Islands of Ovalau, Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, 
and Kadavu (Seemann ! n. 631, ex parte). 
This is closely allied to P. Sandwichensis, but the leaves are some- 
what differently shaped and have fewer ribs, and the anthers are diffe- 
rent in shape and size. The leaves of the lower part of the stem are 
very large, often measuring a foot in length and nine inches across. 
The male umbels are arranged on short forked peduncles, the middle 
 umbel being always the largest, and longer than the petiole; whilst 
the female umbels are on simple peduncles, which are shorter than the 
petiole. Female flower is unknown. The berry is round and black, and 
contains three seeds. 
2. P. Sandwichensis, Seem. (Smilax Sandwichensis, Kunth, Enum. 
VOL. vi. [JULY 1, 1808.] o 
