50 IV. MENISPERMACE^ (oliver). \_Synclisia. 



pairs, on pedicels of f-l in., witli 3 or 4 minute bracteoles around the 

 calyx. 



Upper Guinea. Gaboon river, Mann ! 

 Lower Guinea. Congo, Smith ! 



11. PEISTTANTHUS, :\Iiers in Ann. Nat. Hist. Ser. 3. xiii. 124. 



A glabrous shrub of 12-15 ft., with rather large, firmly membranous, 

 oblanceolate or narrowly obovate acuminate leaves, 6-11 in. long and 2-4 in. 

 broad above the middle, on petioles 1-2 in. long, thickened at both extremi- 

 ties and curved at the apex. The female flowers are in shortly pedunculate, 

 axillary or slightly e^'tra-axillary umbels. Sepals 6 ; 3 outer smaller. Pe- 

 tals 0. Staminodia 6, each bearing a minute sterile anther. Carpels 3, pu- 

 bescent ; stigmas sessile, obtuse, papillose. Male flowers and fruit unknown. 

 — Upon this material, all referable to one species (P. longifolius, Miers, I.e.), 

 the genus Penianthus is based. 



Upper Guinea. Fernando Po, Mannt 



12. SYRRHONEMA, Miers in Ann. Nat. Hist. Ser. 3. xiii. 124. 



A climbing shrub, with pilose-pubescent leafy branches, about the thick- 

 ness of a quilL Leaves broadly ovate-rotundate, slightly cordate or entire at 

 the base, shortly and acutely acuminate or apiculate, glabrescent and rather 

 rough to the touch above from the almost microscopic reticulation of the 

 veins (when dry), shortly tomentose or pubescent and paler beneath, 2|-3y 

 in. broad; petioles 1^-2 in., curved at the apex. Male flowers in axillary 

 fascicles, on pedicels of 2-4 lines. Sepals about 9, imbricate; the outer 

 smaller. Petals 0. Stamens 3, connate below ; filaments broader above, 

 exserted ; anthers minute, 4-lobed on the apex and inner face of the filament 

 (in one flower stamens 6, two imperfect). Female flower and fruit un- 

 known. We have but a single specimen of a single species (S./asciculatuniy 

 Miers, 1. c). 



Upper Guinea. Fernando Po, Mann I 



Ordee Y. BERBERIDACEJE (by Prof. Oliver). 

 Tribe Berbere^. 



Plowers hermaphrodite. Sepals petaloid, usually 3-6-9, and petals 6 or 

 more, fewer or 0, free, hypogynous, early deciduous, all or the inner imbri- 

 cate in aestivation. Stamens usually 6 or 4, free, hypogynous, opposite to 

 the petals ; anthers erect, 2-celled, usually dehiscing by valves. Pistil of a 

 solitary, free carpel ; ovary 1 -celled ; stigma usually with a peltate, discoid 

 or dilated stigma, sessile or with a short style. Ovules few, basal or several 

 on the ventral suture, anatropous. Fruit an indehiscent drupe in the only 

 African species. — Shrubs or herbs. Leaves alternate fasciculate or radical, 

 simple (unifoliolate) or compound. Flowers racemose paniculate cymose 

 or solitary, usually yellow or white. 



