.SI 2 cxxxiv. sciTAMiNEiE (baker). [Benealmia. 



root fibres. Leafy stems in all the African species but one distinct from 

 the flowering stems. Inflorescence a narrow thyrsoid panicle ; bracts 

 membranous, often enclosing the bracts. 

 Sjjecies 15-20, all the others Tropical American. 



Panicle distinct from the leafy stem. 

 Panicle 2-3 in. long. 



Pedicels as long as the ovary . . . . 1. S. afncana. 



Pedicels very short . . . . . . 2. E. Mannii. 



Panicle 1 ft. long. 



Panicle very narrow . . . . . . 3. iZ. ciurinuata. 



Panicle 4 in. broad . . . . . . 4. JS. grandiflora. 



Panicle terminal on the leafy stem . . . . 5. jB. hattenhergiana. 



1. R. africana, Benth. ex Ilook.f. in Hook. Ic. t. 1430. Rootstock 

 as thick as a man's finger, fleshy, wide-creeping, sending out cylindrical 

 fibres. Leafy stem 4-5 ft. long. Leaves oblanceolate-obloDg, 1 ft. or 

 more long, 2-4 in. broad, acute, narrowed gradually to the base, mode- 

 rately firm, glabrous on both sides ; petiole 1-2 in. long. Flowering 

 stems many from the rootstocks, distinct from the leafy stem ; panicle 

 lax, thyrsoid, slightly compound, 3-4 in. long ; peduncle 4-6 in. long, 

 with many scariose sheaths ; bracts oblong, obtuse, pale red, \-\ in. 

 long ; lower flowers about o to a branch, on short erecto-patent pedicels. 

 Calyx funnel-shaped, J-J in. long, finally bright orange-yellow, shortly 

 toothed at the apex, Corolla-tube not exserted from the calyx ; lobes 

 oblong, \ in. long, the upper spoon-shaped. Lip ovate-cuneate, flat, 

 4 in. long, under \ in. broad, with a narrow claw as long as the blade, 

 with a tooth on each side representing a lateral staminode ; fertile 

 stamen shorter than the corolla-lobes. Fruit small, oblong, dull cinna- 

 mon-coloured. Seeds deliciously aromatic, covered with the red fila- 

 ments of the aril. — Ridley in Journ. Bot. 1887, 132. 



Upper Guinea. Canieroons : upper mountain slopes, in fojest, 5000 ft., 

 Johnston, 106 ! Efulen, in forest, Bates, 301 ! 408 ! Fernando Po, Mann, 323 ! 



liower Guinea. Corisco Bay, Mann, 1905 ! Gaboon ; Mfoa, Bates, 543 ! Angola : 

 Golungo Alto ; in woods at Sobato de Quiiombo, Quiacatubia, and Mata de Quisculo, 

 Wehcitsch, 6442 ! 



2. R. Mannii, Ilook.f. m Hook. Ic. sub 1. 1430. Rootstock short, 

 stout, fleshy, sending out many cylindrical fibres. Leafy stem short. 

 Leaves few, oblong, cuspidate, cuneate at the base, 0-9 in. long, 

 2|-3 in. broad at the middle, moderately firm, glabrous on both sides ; 

 petiole 2-3 in. long. Raceme moderately dense, 2-3 in. long, shortly 

 peduncled ; lower nodes 2-3-flowered ; pedicels very short ; bracts 

 orbicular, persistent, finally pale and chartaceous, wrapped quite round 

 the ovary and calyx, the lower ^ in. long and broad. Calyx finally 

 almost campanulate, \ in. long, obscurely toothed. Corolla and stamens 

 not seen. 



Upper Guinea. Fernando Po, Mann, 1172 ! 



3. R. cincinnata. Baker. Rootstock not seen. Leaves few, erect 

 jiear the top of a short slender stem, lanceolate, acuminate, narrowed 



