Sida.] XXV. malvace^ (masters). 181 



reticulate, with 2 short awns, aiul bursting irregularly toward tlic l)ase. — 

 S. scabra, Schum. et Thonn. PI. Guin. 305. S. alba, Linn. Sp. 960. S. ulni 

 folia y Linn. Sp. 960. 



Upper Guinea, Thonning. 



Nile Ijand. Nubia, Kotschy ! ^Vhite Nile, Pethenck ! Abyssinia, ^^rlnmnjurlh 

 Unyoro, Speke and Grant ! 



Lo^rer Guinea. Congo, Smith ! 



Mozamb. Didtr. Seiiiiar, Dr. Kirk ! 



A common tropical weed much resembling some of the fdrms of S. rhombifolia, bu 

 distinguishable by the smaller number of carpels. The hooked s'linc from which the plan 

 derives its uame is not always present. 



8. S. cordifolia, Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 461. Perennial with an ereci 

 cylindrical stem, 4-5 ft. high, dividing into a few obliquely ascending 

 branches. Leaves stalked, oblong-obtuse, very downy on both sides, crenate 

 at the margins, 1^-2 in. long, 1-1 j in. broad. Petiole equal to the blade. 

 Stipules minute, linear, hairy, half the length of the petiole. Flowers small, 

 yellow, the lower ones on long axillary stalks, the upper ones nearly sessile 

 and aggregated together at the end of the stem and branches so as to form 

 a dense panicle. Calyx globose, 10-ribbed, 5-cleft ; segments triangular, 

 downy. Petals yellow, twice the length of the sepals. Carpels 10 in a 

 whorl, each three-sided ; back furrow^ed, sides with a raised network of 

 veins ; apex prolonged into long erect awns covered with reflected hairs and 

 projecting beyond the persistent calyx. — S. altha-ifolia^ Swartz, Guill. et Perr. 

 Fl. Seneg. i. 73. S. africana, Beauv. Fl. Owar. ii, 87. S. decagyna, Schum. 

 et Thonn. PI. Guin. 307. 



Upper Guinea. Niger, Barter! W . Africa, Don ! Senegambia, Perrottct .' I'ogel ! 

 Cape Coast, T. Vogel ! 



Nile Ijand. White Nile, Petherick ! Nubia, Kotschy ! Speke and Grant ! 



Iio^rer Guinea. Congo, Burton ! 



Mozamb. Distr. Shamo, Dr. Kirk ! Lower Shire Valley, Dr. Meller ! Zanzibar, 

 Bouton ! Mozambique, Forbes ! 



A common tropical weed found also at the Cape, in Natal, and Mauritius. It has had a 

 separate name at the hands of almost, every collector or botanist. Only those referring 

 to Africa are above cited. 



9. S. rhombifolia, Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 462. A much-branched 

 rarely glabrous perennial, varying much in stature and form of leaf. Leaf- 

 stalks short. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, usually cuneate at the base, some- 

 times rounded, slightly serrated, smooth above, more or less downy beneath. 

 Flowers solitary, on long, axillary, jointed stalks or clustered at the ends of 

 the branches. Calyx 10-ribbed, 5-cleft; segments deltoid or acuminate. 

 Carpels 9-10, smooth or slightly reticulate, shortly bi-aristate, rarely muli- 

 cous, opening by a small chink at the top. — S. riparia, Ilochst. PI. Sehimp, 

 Abyss. S. ostryrefolia, Webb, Frag. Fl. /Ethiop. 49. 



Upper Guinea. St. Thomas, Don ! Niger, Barter ! Vogel ! Senegambia, Jleud^/ot ! 

 Perrottet ! 



Nile Land. White Nile, Petherick ! Unyoro, Speke and Grant ' 



IiOTi^er Guinea. Congo, Smith ! 



A very variable plant, widely diffused throughout the tropics. Webb. 1. c, deacribes hi* 

 plant as having one-awned indehisccnt carpels ; probably merely an accidental ocrurrcuce, a» 



