Byrsanthus.] lx. samydace2e (masters). 499 



connivent or spreading, inflexed at the margins. Stamens 15, spring- 

 ing from the top of the flower-tube, intermingled with glands, and in 

 two rows, the outer series so arranged that two stamens are placed one 

 on each side of each petal, with a gland between them (i.e. opposite the 

 centre of the petal) ; the inner series so disposed that one fertile stamen 

 is placed in front of the centre of each petal, on the inner side of the 

 eland in that situation, and itself flanked on either side by a gland , 

 filaments thread-like; anthers didymous. Ovary partly adherent, 

 1-celled; styles 5, more or less connate below. Ovules numerous, 

 attached to five parietal placentas. Capsule 1-celled, 1 -seeded by 

 abortion. Seed ovoid ; albumen fleshy ; cotyledons sub-reniform, folia- 

 ceous; radicle terete, thick. — Shrubs with alternate petiolate coria- 

 ceous exstipulate leaves. Flowers ash-coloured, in spikes or racemes. 

 — Anetia, Endl. Gen. 923. 



This genus was established by Guillemin, in Delessert's Iconee, upon a plant disco- 

 vered at the Gambia by Heudelot, and considered to be the same as one referred to, 

 but not named, by R. Brown, in Tuckey's Congo. There seems to be no doubt that the 

 plant of Guillemin is congeneric with that of Brown, but not specifically identical. 

 The thick fleshy hooded petals of the same size or nearly so as the sepals and the double 

 series of glands, are the main distinctive features between this genus and Homalium, 

 to which, perhaps, when more ample evidence is obtained, it may be referred as a 

 section. 



Petals connivent. Ovary adherent at the base only , . 1. B. Brownii. 



Petals spreading. Ovary completely adherent 2. B. epigynus. 



1. B. Brownii, Guill, in JDelessertj Ic. iii. 30, t. 52. A shrub with 

 tortuous rugose branches. Leaves on very short stalks, leathery, gla- 

 brous on both surfaces, oval-oblong, feather- veined, undulate at the 

 margin. Flowers in spikes at the end of the branches and in the axils 

 of the leaves, small, ash-coloured, puberulous. Flower-stalks thick 

 terete, rugose, transversely wrinkled. Bracts minute, ovate, acute. 

 Tube obconical adherent to the base of the ovary. Sepals 5, leathery, 

 greyish, puberulous, about 4 lines long, lanceolate, reflexed. Petals 

 similar to the sepals, but erect and with infolded margins. Filaments 

 equalling the petals ; anthers roundish, dehiscing at the sides by a 

 longitudinal chink. Styles 5, connate below into a fusiform tube, free 

 above. Placentas lining the upper half of the ovary, the lower half 

 destitute of ovules. Funicle slender, curved, dilated at the extremity. 

 Fruit capsular, surrounded by the remains of the flower, one-seeded 

 by abortion. Seed ovate, hanging from the apex of the ovarian cavity, 

 and filling it ; radicle erect. 



Upper Guinea. Gambia, Heudelot. 



This is the plant described by Guillemin, and considered by him to be identical with 

 the one mentioned in Brown's Congo, but which belongs to the following species. The 

 above description is coudensed from that of Guillemin, as I have seen no specimen. 



2. B. epigynus. Mast, in Journ. Linn. Soc. ined. A shrub or tree, 

 with brown bark, thickly lenticellate. Leaves coriaceous, 4 in. long, 

 1J-2J in. wide, glabrous, oblong, obtuse, smooth on both surfaces, 

 entire or nearly so. Petioles J in. long. Inflorescence axillary, ra- 



