Anisophyllea.] liv. rhizophorace,e (oliver). 413 



as fleshy and edible. — Trees or shrubs, glabrous, or young- shoots 

 pubescent or pilose. Leaves alternate, simple, often 3-5-plinerved, 

 entire, exstipulate, frequently with alternating- reduced stipuliform 

 leaves. Flowers in axillary or supra-axillary spikes, ebracteolate or 

 bracteoles minute. 



A small genus, occurring also in Madagascar, the Malayan region, and Ceylon. The 

 Ceylon plant is very nearly allied to the following. 



The fruit of A. laurina is said in shape and size to resemble a pigeon's egg. It is 

 sold at Sierra Leone in April and May. It is the " Monkey Apple " of Sabine. 



1. A. laurina, R. Br. in Sabine, Fruits of S. Leone , Trans. Hort. Soc. 

 v. 446. A small tree ; extremities terete, pilose-pubescent, thinly 

 silky-puberulous or g-labrate. Leaves obliquely ovate-oblong- or ovate- 

 lanceolate, gradually acuminate, base unequal, the upper or sometimes 

 both margins rounded, or base on luxuriant shoots sub-semicordate or 

 very distinctly cordate, 3-5-nerved, early glabrous, thinly coriaceous ; 

 2|— 6 in. long, 1-2 or even on luxuriant shoots 2f in. broad, frequently 

 with stipuliform ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate leaves alternating with 

 or near the base of the ordinary leaves. Petiole 1-2 lines. Flowers 

 small, puberulous or tomentose, sessile on axillary or supra-axillary 

 solitary or geminate slender spikes 1-3 in. long. Bracteoles very 

 minute, ovate or lanceolate or obsolete. Calyx-lobes ovate. Petals 

 narrowed below, deeply laciniate above with gland-tipped segments. — 

 Anisophylluvi laurinum, Don; Benth. in Fl. Nigrit. 342. 



We have in the Kew herbarium three forms embraced by the above description, 

 •which may possiby prove to be specifically distinct. All are from — 



Upper Guinea. They are severally characterized thus : — 



Gaboon river, Mann! Leaves 4-6 in., base rounded, sometimes subcordate. Stipuliform 

 leaves ^-f in. long. Petioles 1 line or less. Spikes (at least sometimes) from axils of 

 reduced or stipuliform leaves. Bracteoles obsolete. Flowers papillose-puberulous." 



Sierra d. Crystal, Mann! Leaves as above, but less rounded at base Petioles 2 lines 

 or more. Stipuliform leaves minute or 0. Spikes slightly supra-axillary. Bracteoles 

 squamiform. Flowers tomentose. A flowerless plant from Mr. Barter, labelled as 

 " common everywhere round Free Town, Sierra Leone," agrees with this form so far as 

 it goes. 



Senegambia, Leprieur! A flowering specimen, with immature elliptic-lanceolate 

 leaves, li-24 in. long as yet. Flowers apparently all male. Bracteoles obsolete. 

 Calyx sparsely puberulous, deeply 4-fid, base truncate. Petals but slightly exceeding 

 the calyx, 3-fid, with a slender median segment, and the lateral segments bifid. .Rudi- 

 ment of ovary hairy. 



Order LV. COMBRETACE^. (By Prof. Lawson.) 



Flowers generally hermaphrodite. Tube of the calyx adnate to the 

 ovary, constricted above it, or continuous with the limb and then elon- 

 gate-tubular ; limb 4-5-partite (rarely 6-8) generally campanulate ; 

 lobes valvate. Petals or 4-5, often small, imbricate or valvate. Sta- 

 mens 4-5 (or 8-10 in two rows) ; filaments subulate or filiform, erect, 

 inflexed in aestivation, naked at the base (in Gyrocarpus enlarged by 

 glands, or with alternating staminodes) : anthers versatile, dehiscing 

 longitudinally, or adnate and dehiscing by valves. Disk epigynous or 



