Ancistrocladus.] xxiv. dipterocarpee (oliver). 176 



The genus A ficislrocladus does not appear to ine to have any affinity with Dip/crocarpctr, 

 though the analogy, in respect of the accrescent calyx and intiorescence, is curious. If 

 Qyrocarpece be rightly included in Combretacea, perhaps Ancistrocladus might be appended 

 to that family as aiu)thcr anomalous ally. 



1. A. guineensiSy Ollv. A climbing shrub attaiiiinj^ 10-15 ft. Leaves 

 crowded at the extremities, broadly-obiauceolate, obtuse, narrowed to the 

 petiole, repand-denticuhite or entire, 4-9 in. lonj?, l^-S in. broad ; petiole 

 deeply channelled or narrowly win-^ed, varying up to \ in., exstipulate. 

 Flowers small, in broadly spreading dichotomous terminal panicles exceeding 

 the leaves. Sepals ovate, obtuse, 3 inner rather larger. Petals patent, re- 

 curved, twice as long as the sepals, broadly ol)ovate-elliptical. Fiiameiits 

 glabrous, thickened below, very shortly connate and adnate to the base of 

 the petals though easily separable, subulate and recurved above ; anthers 

 small, broad, muticous. Styles 3, distinct, articulated on the apex of a short, 

 raised, columnar, fleshy, epigynous disk, caducous ; stigmas subrenifurm-ca- 

 pitate. Fruit not seen. 



Upper Guinea. Old Calabar, Mann ! 



There is a specimen of the leafy extremity of a branch of an Ancistrocladus in the Kew 

 Herbarium, fi-om the Niger {Barter), perhaps distinct from the above. It bears a strongly 

 curved hook and the leaves are larger and more acute. 



Ordee XXV. MALVACEiE (by Dr. Maxwell T. Masters). 



Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Sepals 5, conjoined below, valvate in 

 aestivation. Petals 5, hypogynous, adnate to the base of the column, twisted 

 in the bud. Stamens numerous, monadelphous. Column either trun- 

 cate, or toothed at the apex, or at other times dividing into numerous fila- 

 ments. Anthers oblong globose or reniform, spuriously 1-celled, bursting 

 longitudinally. Thalamus (columella) more or less prolonged between the 

 carpels. Ovary 2- or usually many-celled, entire or lobed. Carpels ver- 

 ticillate. Style simple below, divided above, rarely entirely undivided ; 

 stigmas capitate linear or grooved ; ovules l-oo, attached to the inner angle 

 of the carpels, curved, ascending or horizontal. Fruit dry, rarely soniewh.-it 

 fleshy, of few or many indehiscent or more or less 2-valved carpels, which 

 separate when ripe from the columella or form a true, many-celled, loculicidal 

 capsule. Seeds reniform or subglobose, smooth, tubercled, downy, or pro- 

 vided with cottony hairs. Albumen generally scanty, sometimes abundant. 

 Embryo more or less curved. Cotyledons flat or folded, often wrapping 

 round the radicle. — Herbs or soft-wooded trees or shrubs, their surface often 

 covered with soft stelliform pubescence. Leaves alternate, rarely sessile, 

 usually palminerved, entire or more or less deeply lobed. Stipules free, de- 

 ciduous or persistent. Inflorescence definite. Flowers usually stalked, 

 rarely sessile ; flower-stalks axillary solitary or fasciculate, often arranged in 

 terminal leafy or ultimately leafless clusters. Bractlets wanting or 2-3, 

 or more, free or adnate to the calyx, distinct from each other or connate form- 

 ing an epicalyx or involucel. 



A large and important Natural Order wliose mc:nibcrs are found throughntit the world ex- 

 cept in the Arctic regions. The monadelphous stamens, onc-cclled anthers, and valvato 



