Basananthe.] lxiii. passiflorejs (masters). 509 



erect, linear-oblong-, sagittate, 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally. Gyno- 

 phore very short, distinct from the filaments. Ovary 1 -celled with three 

 parietal placentas, each of which bears about its centre a single ascend- 

 ing" or suspended anatropal ovule ; funicle geniculate ; styles terminal, 

 distinct nearly to the base or more or less consolidated ; stigmas capi- 

 tate. Capsule ellipsoid, 1 -celled, 3-valved ; valves membranous, bear- 

 ing a nerve-like placenta in the centre. Seeds 3, or fewer by abor- 

 tion, oval compressed, enclosed within a pulpy aril ; testa crustaceous, 

 pitted ; albumen fleshy. Cotyledons flat, thick. — Herbaceous peren- 

 nials with woody stocks. Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, simple. 

 Peduncles axillary, branched, 1 branch sterile, the other bearing a soli- 

 tary bell-shaped flower. Bracts 3, linear- subulate, at some little dis- 

 tance from the flower. 



A curious genus, consisting so far as at present known, of two species only, and 

 probably not distinct as a genus from Tryphostemma. 



The corona has been otherwise described by Drs. Hooker and Peyritsch ; but it is 

 believed that the account here given is more accurate. It is, however, difficult to make 

 out the real arrangement from dried specimens. 



Leaves roundish. Peduncles reflexed 1. B. nummularia. 



Leaves oblong-lanceolate. Peduncles straight 2. B. littoralis. 



1. B. nummularia, Welw. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxvii. 28, t. ix. An 

 herbaceous perennial with a thick woody erect stock giving off at the 

 top numerous slender spreading or erect branched divisions, 5-8 in. 

 long\ Branches slender, angular, greyish, smooth or sulcate-striate. 

 Leaves about an inch long, conduplicate, reflexed, membranous, gla- 

 brous, roundish, cordate, obtuse or divided into two shallow rounded 

 lobes with an intermediate mucro at the apex, serrated on the margin, 

 1-nerved, feather-veined. Petioles shorter than the blades, channelled 

 on the upper surface, without glands. Stipules linear-subulate, half 

 the length of the petiole. Peduncles axillary, slender, as long as the 

 leaves, dividing into branches, one sterile, the other floriferous, re- 

 curved. Bracts 3, linear-awl-shaped, remote from the flower. Flower- 

 tube very short. Calyx-lobes 4-6 lines long, oblong, obtuse, glabrous, 

 many-nerved, greenish outside, whitish within. Petals membranous, 

 whitish, many-nerved. Intermediate row of corona a shallow fleshy 

 ring ; filaments ribbon-like. Ovary ovoid, glabrous ; styles 3, long, 

 slender. Capsule almost sessile, nodding, J in. long, obtuse at both 

 ends', smooth. Seeds 2 lines long, ovoid or reniform, compressed, in- 

 cluded within a pulpy aril ; testa brown, hard, pitted ; albumen fleshy. 

 Cotyledons flat, fleshy. 



Lower Guinea. BenguelavHuilla, Dr. Welwitsch! Alt. 3800-5500 ft. 

 A singular little species, having much the aspect of a species of Viola, and in the 

 foliage of some Alchemilla. 



2. B. littoralis, Peyr. in Wawra et Peyr. Sert. Benguel. 29. An her- 

 baceous perennial with numerous decumbent or erect, much-branched 

 stems. Branches cylindrical or slightly angular, slightly longitudi- 

 nally sulcate, smooth, purplish, hollow. Leaves alternate, petiolate. 



