390 XLiii. AMPELiDE^ (baker). IFitis. 



xxxvi. part 1. p. 591, a Sierra Leone plant, but tlie description is much too imperfect to 

 enable us to decide with confidence. 



2. V. Barteri, Baker. Stem wide-trailing, herbaceous, deeply striated, 

 not at all hairy. Petioles 1 in. or less long, weak, naked. Tendrils long, 

 slender, not branched. Leaves ovate, 4-5 in. long, 2 in. or more broad, 

 rounded or slightly cordate at the base ; the point acuminate ; the edge very 

 slightly denticulate ; texture membranous or scarcely fleshy, both sides gla- 

 brous and smooth. Flowers in lateral slightly compound cymes. Pedicels 

 ^ in. long, naked. Calyx subcyathiform, 1 line broad, not lobed. Ovary 

 subglobose. Corolla yellowish. Style subulate. 



Upper Gkiinea. Fernando Po, -B^r^^r / Mann! 



In habit of growth and the texture of its stem and leaves, this agrees with V. pallida and 

 the Cape Y.fragilis, but in both the leaves 'are quite different in shape. It climbs to a 

 height of 15 ft. We have not seen the fruit. 



4. V. comifolia. Baker. Shoots firm, woody, suberect, densely clothed 

 when young with ferruginous tomentum. Petioles \-\ in. long, tomentose 

 when young, naked when mature. Tendrils none on any of our specimens. 

 Leaves ovate, 3-4 in. long, 1^-2 in. broad, rounded at the base; the point 

 acute ; the edge very faintly and distantly toothed ; texture firm, under 

 surface finely hairy when young, both sides quite glabrous when mature; 

 the veins not prominent. Flowers in lateral compound cymes or terminal 

 panicles, with cymose branches. Primary peduncles strong, 1-3 in. long. 

 Clusters 6-10-flowered; the pedicels \-{ in. long, more or less villose. 

 Calyx cyathiform, f line broad, entire. Petals 4, 1 line deep, connivent. 

 Stamens 4. Fruit obovoid, \ in. long, \ in. bro;id, black, 2-celled, tipped 

 with the persistent style. 



Upper Guinea, 'ii ape, Barter ! 



Nile Iiand. Madi, Speke and Grant ! Nubia, Petherick ! 



A low suberect shrub, flowering in November, with eatable fruit, with leaves very like 

 those of Cornus sanguinea. 



5. V. dififusiflora^ Baker. Stem wide-climbing, zigzag, slender, but 

 firm ; the nodes of the npper part about an inch long, densely clothed with 

 short rusty-brown tomentum. Petioles scarcely any. Tendrils none on our 

 specimens. Leaves ovate-oblong, narrowed gradually below to a slightly 

 rounded base, 3-4 in. long by li in. broad ; the point acuminate ; the edge 

 distantly ciliato-denticulate ; texture thickly membranous or subcoriaceous ; 

 upper surface glabrous, lower rusty-tomentose on the nerves when young ; 

 the veins not prominent. Flowers in simple or 1-forked, 5-7-flowered cymes, 

 opposite each of the leaves. Peduncles \-^ in. long, firm, villose. Pedicels 

 i in. long, curved when the plant is in fruit. Calyx reddish-brown, cyathi- 

 form, not lobed, 1 line across. Petals 4, red, a line long, connivent. Sta- 

 mens 4. Style subulate. Fruit turbinate, \ in. long, 2-celled. 



Upper Guinea. Fernando Po, Mann ! 



A wide-climbing shrub, with shoots 20 ft. long, flowermg in November. 



6. V. Smithiana^ Baker. Stem woody, wide-climbing, slender, terete. 



