248 XXVII. TiLiACE^ (masters). [Gretcia, 



Perluncles axillary or terminal, solitary or twin, about the same length as the 

 leafstalk, and dividing into 3 pedicels. Flower-buds cylindrical, oblong-. 

 Flowers ^ in. in diam. Sepals oblong, obtuse, cinereo-tomentose ; nerves 

 prominent. Petals notched, shorter than the stamens. Ovary pubescent. 

 Drup6*s 1-2-lobed ; lobes globose, the size of a small pea, thinly covered with 

 short bristly hairs, ultimately glabrous and each containing a bony 4-celled 

 nut. Seeds 1 in each cell. — G. bicolor, Juss. Ann. Mus. iv. 90. t. 50. f. 2, 

 G. Rot/iii, DC. Prod. i. 509. G. discolor, Fresen. in Mus. Senok. ii. 159. 

 G. cinerea, Eich. F'l. Abyss, i. 86. G. pallida, Hochst. PI. Schimp. 

 Abyss. 



Widely diffused throughout all districts of tropical Africa, extending also to Abyssinia 

 and Scinde, and subject to considerable variation. 



16. G. mollis, Juss.; DC. Prod. i. 510. A shrub or small tree, with 

 glaucous, purplish, often flattened branches. Leafstalks \-\ in. long, albido- 

 toinentose. Stipules subulate. Leaves 3-5 in. long, 1 in. wide, obliquely 

 subcordate, oblong-lanceolate, serrate, scaberulous above, albido-tomentose 

 below, 3-costate, feather-veined. Peduncles 1-2, axillary, as long as the 

 leafstalks, each dividing into 3 short pedicels. Flower-buds roundish or ob- 

 long. Flower yellow. Sepals linear-oblong, downy externally. Petals ob- 

 long, tapcn'ing and almost glandless at the base. Torus short. Ovary 

 villose ; ovules 1 in each cell. Fruit of 2 purplish globose lobes the size of 

 small peas.— .^ G. africana, Mill, in DC. Prod. i. 512. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Adanson ; Aboh, Nupe, Niger, Barter ! 



Nile Land. Gallabat, Hchweinfurth ! Sennar, Kotschy I M'Komah, Speke and 

 Grant ! 



A very distinct-looking species. The bark is stated by Barter to be used for the sake of 

 its mucilage in soups. It resembles G. venusta, Fresen., but differs in its narrower lower 

 leaves. 



17. G. cyclopetala, Wuwra and PeyrilscJi. Seri. Bemjuel. 19. A shrub, 

 with spreading slightly pilose branches. Leafstalks i in. long. Leaves 

 1-3 in. long, 1-]|- in. wide, leathery, obliquely cordate, oblong, acuminate, 

 denticulate, subglabrous above, albido-tomentose below, 3-costate, ribs rufously 

 hirsute, feather-veined. Peduncles opposite to the leaves, as long as or 

 longer than the leafstalks, dividing into 2 or 3 pedicels, equalling the com- 

 mon stalk. Flowers. . . . Fruit globose, 1-2-lobed ; lobes globular, red, of 

 the size of small peas, 6-celled, 6-seeded. 



Lioveer Guinea. Angola, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



Very like some of the forms of G. bicolor., but may be distinguished by the broader leaves 

 and the feathered venation. It is open to doubt whether Dr. Welwitsch's plant belongs to 

 the above species. Wawra and Peyritsch describe their plant as having leaves with 

 thick margins, scabrid on the upper surface, greyish beneath. The petals are moreover de- 

 scribed as suborbicuUir, emarguiate, smaller than the sepals. 



18. G. asiatica, Linn.; DC. ProdA. 511. A shrub or small tree, 

 covered in all the younger portions with yellowish stelliform tomentum. 

 Leafstalks 1 in. long, dilated at the apex. Stipules subulate-lanceolate, 

 prominently 1 -nerved, half the length of the petiole. Leaves 4-5 in. long, 

 3-4 in. broad, obliquely cordate, roundish or oblong-acuminate, irregu- 

 larly toothed, palmately 5-costate, smaller veins parallel, not arching, softly 



