480 lviii. lythraceje (hiern). [Ammannia. 



short. Capsule 1 -celled, dehiscing 1 transversely near apex and also by 

 short longitudinal fissures beneath, equalling or exceeding the calyx ; 

 placenta compressed. 



Lower Guinea. Angola, Mossamedes, fl. July, fr. August, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



9. A. Loandensis, Welrv. mss. Annual, of a deep green colour, 

 prostrate with several stems from the crown of the root 3-7 in. long ; 

 branches opposite, spreading, ascending, tetragonal. Leaves oval- 

 oblong, subsessile, usually lanceolate, acute at apex and cordate or wide 

 near base, J-l in. long by a third the width, slightly rough, subglau- 

 cescent below, margins thickened, recurved, whitish, sublepidote. 

 Flowers in sessile many-flowered cymes with slender unequal pedicels 

 which do not or scarcely exceed the calyx in length. Bracteoles 2 or 

 more, linear- subulate at base of pedicels. Calyx campanulate-oblong 

 in bud with conical base, 8-striate, with 4 shortly deltoid lobes, and 

 4 longer cornua, -ciliate at apex or papillose. Petals very rare, not 

 minute when present. Stamens 4, equalling the calyx. Style distinct. 

 Capsule dehiscing transversely near the top and with short slits be- 

 neath ; placenta compressed. — Near A. cordata, Wight, Prod. Pen. Ind. 

 Or. 304 (1834). 



Lower Guinea. Angola, Loanda, fl. July, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



10. A, asp era, Guill. et Perr. Fl. Seneg. i. 304. Erect or ascend- 

 ing, branched near the base, 3-6 in. high, subglaucous, slightly rough 

 or asperulous ; branches tetragonal, at base subterete and reddish, the 

 lower ones procumbent. Leaves lanceolate, widely cuneate or subcor- 

 date at the base, suddenly attenuate into a very short petiole, ^-1 in. long 

 by 1-3 lines wide, rather rigid, spreading ; margins thickish, recurved, 

 whitish, faintly denticulate. Inflorescence cymose, trichotomous, many 

 flowered. Common peduncle usually t V~t m - l° n g> w ^ tn tne l ea *" 

 stalk adnate to its base and often with 2 leaf- like bracts at top ; brac- 

 teoles unequal at base of pedicels ; pedicels distinct. Calyx with 4 

 short deltoid lobes and as many conspicuous cornua, 8-ribbed. Petals 

 wanting. Stamens 4, equalling the calyx, opposite the calyx-lobes (or 

 according to Guill. et Perr. I.e., opposite the cornua). Ovary sessile, 

 4-lobed, 2-celledj style rather short. Capsule reddish, rather ex- 

 ceeding the calyx, 1 -celled, dehiscing by a short transverse lid and by 

 short slits beneath. Seeds concave on one side convex on the other, 

 dark. 



Upper Guinea. Senegal, Kounoun, Cape Verd, fl. March, Perrottet! 

 Lower Guinea. Angola, Mossamedes, fl. and fr. August, Dr. Wtlwitsch I 



11. A. passerinoides, Welrv. mss. Annual or biennial, woody at 

 base, 2-4 ft. high, with pilose pubescence ; stem erect, slender, at base 

 terete reddish simple and leafless, above with erect or ascending 

 branches, tetragonal, hoary and leafy. Leaves opposite alternate or in 

 whorls of 3 or 4, hastate, sessile, lanceolate, apiculate, hoary -pilose, 

 on barren lateral branches broader and shorter , margins recurved con- 



