p,04 Lxxxv. ASCLEPiADEiE (brown). [XysmaloMum. 



Wkyte ! Purves, 58 ! Rhodesia : between Umtali and Salisbury, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn 

 Cecil 51 ! between Enkeldoorn and Rocky Spruit, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Cecil, 135 ! 



This is closely allied to X. heudelotianum, and may be only an eastern variety of 

 that species, but its leaves are not widely spreading, are more prominently veined 

 beneath, there are fewer flowers in an umbel, and the eoronal-lobcs arise close to the 

 corolla, instead of a little above the base of the staminal-column as in X. hendelotia- 

 nnm. The coronal-lobes seem to be variable ; they w.?re not correctly described in my 

 ori"^inal description, as the type specimen is a very poor one and the coronal-lobes of 

 the" only flower tlien examined had been pressed out of sliape, but the ample and 

 better material subsequently received, and an examination of another flower from the 

 type demonstrate that the real form of the coronal-lobes is as above described. 

 According to Purves, the flowers are white, but this probably refers to the corona and 

 staminal-column, as the corolla appears to be greenish in the dried state, and is noted 

 as green by the Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Cecil. 



5. X. heudelotianum, Decne. in DC. Prod. viii. 520. Stem 

 1-3 ft. high, pubescent, with two narrow glabrous lines alternating in 

 position at the nodes. Leaves widely spreading; petiole |-1 lin. long ; 

 blade 2-3 in. long, 4-8 lin. broad, narrowly oblong, with nearly parallel 

 thickened or very narrowly revolute margins, the narrower leaves 

 acute, the broader ones abruptly subacute or obtuse, subapiculate, vary- 

 ing from cuneate to broadly and obtusely rounded at the base, glabrous 

 on both sides ; veins reticulate, rather conspicuous and prominent 

 beneath. Umbels lateral between the bases of the leaves, all sessile or 

 one or two of the lowest pedunculate, 10-12-flowered ; peduncles 0-1 in. 

 long, pubescent down the inner side ; bracts 2-2J- lin. long, subulate ; 

 pedicels 4J-G lin. long, pubescent with minute curved hairs. Sepals 

 reflexed, 1^ lin. long, lanceolate, with the margins incurved towards the 

 apex, glabrous. Corolla 5-lobed nearly to the base ; lobes strongly reflexed, 

 2-24 lin. long, f lin. broad, lanceolate-oblong, subacute, with undulate 

 margins, glabrous on both sides, apparently greenish in colour. Coronal- 

 lobes 1 lin. long, with horizontally spreading stalks \ lin. long, arising 

 I lin. above the base of the staminal-column ; apical part fleshy, ovoid- 

 conical or subglobose, abruptly tapering into a very acuminate or fine 

 subulate erect point, subtruncate at the base ; in side view they some- 

 what resemble the head and beak of a bird, and reach to a little above 

 the middle of the conical obtuse l|-2 lin. long staminal-column. Anther- 

 appendages ovate, acute, inflexed over the truncate apex of the style. 

 Follicles solitary (always ? ), 5-5i in. long, J in. thick at the middle, 

 thence gradually and equally tapering to the base and apex, glabrous 

 and smooth. Seeds flat, ovate, with winged margins, both faces covered 

 with small linear crests or tubercles. — K. Schum. in Engl, ct Prantl, 

 Pflanzenfam. iv. ii. 232. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia : Komba, Heudelot ! Niger Territory : Borgu, 

 Barter, 712! Nupe, Barter, 1323 ! 



Owing to the kindness of Dr. J. Miiller, I have been enabled *^o examine 

 Decaisne's type specimen of this species, collected by Heudelot. 



6. X. membraniferum, N'. E. Br. in Kew Bulletin. 1895, 251. 

 Stems 12-18 in. high, with two hairy lines, purplish. Leaves spreading; 



