230 XXVI. STERCULIACE^ (MASTERS). [MeUiania. 



Leaves roundish. 



Pedicels 1-flowered, not much longer than the petiole .... 2. TV/. cychphi/Jla. 

 Pedicels 2-3-flowered, nearly double the length of the petiole . 3. M. rotundata. 

 Leaves obloog. 



Bracts abruptly acuminate. 



Peduncle half as long as the adjacent leaf. Sepals villose . . A. M.ferruginea. 



Peduncle nearly as long as the leaf. Sepals not villose . . . 5. J/, acuminata. 

 Bracts tapering, acute. 



Bracts broad &. M. Forbesii. 



Bracts linear 7. 3/. ovata. 



1. M. Denhamiy R. Br. in Benh. et Clapp. Voy. Jpp^ 233. Stock woody, 

 dividing into a large number of crowded, spreading, downy, somewhat com- 

 pressed branches. Leafstalks 1 in. long, about the length of the leaves, 

 which are ovate- oblong obtuse or acute, crenate-serrate, velvety on both sur- 

 faces. Peduncle longer than the leaf to which it is axillary, dividing above 

 into 2, rarely 3 short pedicels. Epicalyx of 3 broad, reniform, accrescent, 

 ultimately membranous bracts, concealing the calyx, whose sepals are ovate, 

 acute. Corolla red. Capsule about the size of the calyx, subglobose, villose, 

 5-celled, with 1 or 2 smooth seeds in each cell. — Brotera bracteosa, Guill. et 

 Perr. Fl. Seneg. i. 80. t. 17. Melhania Kotschyi, Hochst. PL Nub. Kotschy. 

 Cardiostegia Kotschyi, Presl, Epimel. Bot. 249. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Ferrottetl 



Nile Iiand. Kordofan, Kotschy ! 



Mozamb. Distr. Senna, Peters. 



A singular species having much the appearance of Senra incana. The same species occurs 

 in Arabia, Scinde, etc. It varies in the size of its parts and also in the number of seeds in 

 each cell of the capsule. 



2. M. cyclophylla, Hochst. PI. ScJiimp. Abyss. Stock thick, woody, 

 dividing above into a number of subcaespitose erect or spreading branches, 

 sparsely covered with stelliform tomentum. Stipules setaceous, brown, de- 

 ciduous. Leafstalks 1 in. long, rather shorter than the roundish crenate- 

 dentate leaves, which are palmately 3-5-costate and slightly downy on both 

 surfaces. Peduncles solitary, axillary, 1-flowered, as long as the adjacent 

 leafstalks. Epicalyx of 3 lanceolate bracts, shorter than the lanceolate, acu- 

 minate sepals. Corolla when expanded an inch across. Capsule villose, 

 shorter than the calyx. Seeds smooth. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper ! 



3. M. rotundata, Hochst. PI. Schhnp. Abyss. Suff'ruticose, erect, the 

 older portions sparingly covered with stelliform pubescence, the younger parts 

 more densely so. Branches somewhat compressed above. Leafstalks 

 flattish, 1-2 in. long, as long as or longer than the blades, which are cordate, 

 roundish or ovate, coarsely crenate-dentate, palmately 3-5-costate, tomentose 

 on both surfaces. Peduncles longer than the leafstalks, solitary, axillary, 

 dividing near the top into a 3-furcate cyme. Epicalyx of 3 lanceolate, very 

 acute, often reflexed segments, f in. long, as long as the sepals, which are 

 erect, lanceolate, with very long points, unicostate. Capsule cylindrical, 

 oblong, villose, shorter than the calyx. Seeds tuberculate. 



