Mitriostigma.'} lxx. rubiacej: (hiern). Ill 



32. MITRIOSTIGMA, Hochst. ; Benth. et Hook. f. 

 Gen. Plant, ii. p. 90. 



Calyx-tube campannlate ; limb slightly wider, deeply 5-lobed ; 

 lobes subulate, persistent. Corolla campanulate-oblong or nearly 

 salver-shaped, narrowed above the base, much exceeding the calyx ; 

 limb 5-lobed; lobes short, rounded, dextrorsely contorted (as seen from 

 inside). Stamens 5, inserted on the corolla- tube, included or nearly 

 so ; anthers sessile, linear, glabrous, dorsifixed. Disk cushion-like, 

 glabrous. Ovary 2- celled (or, by failure of meeting of the 2 placentas 

 above, 1-celled) ; style filiform, subclavate, exserted, bifid, scarcely 

 mitriform at apex ; ovules several (6-12) in each cell, not immersed in 

 the rather fleshy placentas, subpendulous. Berry coriaceous, turbinate 

 at the base, ellipsoidal, subglobose or subfnsiform, 2-1-celled ; seeds 

 rather large, compressed; testa coriaceous, subfibrous. — Glabrous 

 unarmed shrubs with opposite membranous shortly petiolate leaves, 

 ovate acuminate entire stipules, and rather small or moderate-sized 

 flowers arranged in small axillary bracteolate cymes. 



A genus of three species, one endemic in Natal, the other two as follows : — 

 Leaves 3-5 in. long, nigro-punctate ; lateral veins 4-5 ... 1. M? .subpunctatum. 

 Leaves 4-7 in. long ; lateral veins 6-8 2. M. Barteri. 



The desirability of maintaining this genus seems to me questionable, as the species 

 might be relegated to Oxyanthus and Eandia, unless indeed the partite calyx-limb 

 and the subfibrous texture of the testa be considered good generic characters. 



1. in.? subpunctatum, Hiern. Branches smooth, terete, at 

 the extremities somewhat compressed. Leaves elliptic-oblong, obtusely 

 narrowed or subacuminate at the apex, attenuate at the base, sparingly 

 nigro-punctate above, rather paler beneath, shortly petiolate, 3-5 by 

 1-1|^ in. ; lateral veins about 4-5 pairs, slender ; stipules ^— ^ in., per- 

 sistent, connate at the base, intrapetiolar, rather shorter than the 

 petiole. Bracteoles subulate. Cymes axillary, several- flowered. Fruit 

 solitary, about IJ by -^ in., oval, attenuate at the base into a short 

 stalk, 2-celled ; cells 4-6-seeded ; seeds ^-\ by ^-^ in., impressed on 

 the fleshy placentas ; testa somewhat fibrous. Calyx-segments (in 

 fruit) apparently 5, lanceolate. 



Upper Guinea. Cape Coast, Hb. Mus. Brit. ! 



The flowers being unknown, the genus cannot be satisfactorily determined ; the 

 species may possibly belong to Oxyanthus. 



2. UK. Barter!, Hook. fil. in Benth. et Hooh. Gen. Plant, ii. p. 90. 

 A small shrub, 3 ft. high, with subherbaceous branches. Leaves 

 narrowly elliptical, acuminate at both ends, 4-7 by 1-lJ in., lateral 

 veins about 7-8 pairs ; petiole ^-| in. ; stipules \—^ in. long, appressed, 

 subpersistent. Flowers scarcely \ in. long, shortly pedicellate ; 

 bracteoles subulate, appressed. Calyx scarcely J in. long, glabrous, 

 green. Corolla campanulate-oblong, glabrous on both sides. Anthers 

 \ in. long. Ovary 2-celled. Fruit subfusiform, 1-1^^ by ^--^ in., 

 stipitate at the base, narrowed at the apex. Seeds somewhat angular, 

 \-\ in. diameter, of irregular shape. 



Vpper Guinea. Fernando Po, Barter .', (corolla brown) Mann ! 



