482 LVIII. LYTHRACE-E (HIERN). [PcmphtS. 



7. PEMPHIS, Forst. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 780. 



Calyx coriaceous, glabrous inside, with a 12-ribbed campanulate or 

 infundibuliform tube and 6 small deltoid erect apical lobes and as many 

 small patent cornua. Petals 6, obovate, patent, corrugated in bud, in- 

 serted near the top of the calyx-tube opposite the cornua, as long as 

 the calyx, deciduous. Stamens 12, in two series, included in the 

 calyx-tube, 6 opposite the calyx-lobes half as long again as the 6 

 opposite the cornua and inserted at rather a higher level ; 6 opposite 

 the cornua about half the length of the calyx -tube, inserted about J 

 above the base of the calyx-tube; filaments filiform; anthers widely 

 oblong. Ovary free, glabrous, sessile or shortly stipitate, subglobose, 

 included in the calyx-tube, 3-celled at the base, many-ovuled ; style 

 straight; stigma capitate. Placenta with a turbinate fleshy and shortly- 

 stalked base and membranous wings above. Capsule 1 -celled by obli- 

 teration of the septa, slightly exceeding the calyx-tube and bursting 

 transversely near the apex. Seeds numerous, large, triangularly pyra- 

 midal, curved, glabrous, with thick testa. — A tree or shrub, with oppo- 

 site leaves which with the calyx and young parts are covered with a 

 grey silky pubescence. Flowers solitary, stalked, axillary; bracts 

 narrow, opposite, fugacious. 



A genus of but one species, scattered along the coasts and islands of the Indian and 

 Pacific oceans. 



1. P. acidula, Forst. ; DC. Prod. iii. 89. A tree, sometimes attaining 

 35 ft. in height. Stem terete ; branches opposite, somewhat angular 

 towards the extremities by the very narrow decurrence of the petioles. 

 Leaves coriaceous, narrowly elliptic, more or less cuneate at the 

 base, crowded near the ends of the branches, J-1J in. long; petioles 

 -jiy-yL in. long ; lateral veins inconspicuous ; pubescence appressecL • 

 Peduncles articulated to the branches, covered with patent pubescence, 

 about equalling the calyx. Calyx ^-\ in. long, thickened within 

 below the insertion of the stamens ; ribs depressed, converging in 6 pairs 

 to the apices of the lobes. Petals varying from white to deep pink. 

 Ovary flattish on the top but suddenly contracted at the apex into the 

 style which exceeds the stamens. Capsule glabrous, with thin pe- 

 ricarp. 



Mozamb. Distr. Zanzibar, Dr. Kirk! Peters! 



8. LAWSONIA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 782. 



Calyx with short campanulate tube, 4 diverging ovate acute or 

 mucronate lobes and a callous ring at top of tube into which petals 

 and stamens are inserted ; without cornua. Petals 4, widely obovate, 

 subcordate, corrugated in bud. Stamens 4-8, equal, opposite and 

 longer than the lobes of the calyx, alternating singly or in occasional 

 pairs with the petals; filaments tapering; anthers widely oblong. 

 Style as long as the stamens, persistent ; stigma punctiforra ; ovary 



