Commelina.] cxLiii. commelinace^ (clarke). 43 



times perfecting f) seeds ; dorsal cell indehiscent or dehiscing very late ; 

 seeds larger than those of C- henghalensis, wrinkled, obscurely reticulate; 

 otherwise as C. henyhalensis. — Durand k Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 

 428. C- latifolia, Hochst. in Schimper, Exsicc. 22G0. 



Xrile Itand. Abyssinia : Agow Countn- ; mountains near Gageros, 4000 ft., 

 Sehimper, 2269 ! Gursarfa, Schimper, 1499 ! 



The affinity of this species with C. henghalensis is so close that it might be treated 

 as a variety of it. 



17. C. congesta, C. B. Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. KiO. 

 Robust, nearly glabrous. Leaves 4 J by 1^ in., lanceolate, acuminate 

 to an acute tip. Spathes several close together near the end of the 

 branches, more than | in. long, glabrate ; peduncles less than J in. long. 

 Capsules generally 3-seeded, the two lower ovules of the ventral cells 

 not producing seeds. Seeds ellipsoid, smooth, dusky. Flowers white 

 (Soyaux). — Durand & Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 424. C. Heudelotii, 

 C. B. Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. 184 ; Durand & Schinz, Con- 

 spect. Fl. Afr. V. 425. 



"Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Heiidelot, 788 ! 



Iioneer Guinea. Loango : near Chinchocho, Soyaux, 47 ! 



Soyaux, 47, is the type above described. The example of Heudelot, which is 

 iiuperfect, shows the spathes less approximate, the lower peduncled, and may not be 

 the same plant. But the capsule and seeds are the same. 



18. C. condensata, C. B. Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. 190. 

 Branches seen in. long, undivided except at the tip, glabrate ; internodes 

 1-2 in. long. Leaves 3 by 1-1^ in., elliptic-lanceolate, acute, when mature 

 inconspicuously hairy on both surfaces, at the base broadly cuneate, 

 unequal, sessile ; leaf-sheaths with long loose hairs. Spathes in a 

 terminal head, ^ in. long, obliquely funnel-shaped, nearly glabrous. 

 Capsule exceeding \ in. long ; each ventral cell with one seed in the 

 upper part; the dorsal cell with one seed, dehiscent. Seeds of the 

 ventral cells ^jj in. long, ellipsoid, smooth, brown. — Durand t Schinz^ 

 Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 424. 



Upper Guinea. Fernando Po, Mann, 91 partly ! 



The capsule has only 3 seeds, but I believe it was 5-ovuled ; I have therefore 

 altered its place. It is so near C. congesta that it may prove to be only a variety 

 of it. 



19. C. zaxubesica, C. B. Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. iii. IGK 

 Robust, more or less hairy. Leaves T)! by 1^ in., narrowly elhptic, 

 lanceolate, and acute at the tip, narrowed at the base. Peduncles 

 solitary, mostly longer than the leaf-sheaths ; uppermost leaves gene- 

 rally reduced, the uppermost sheath frequently without a blade. Spathes 

 J-1 in. long, very broadly ovate, scarcely acuminate, hispid, not striated 

 by coloured nerves ; the margins connate at the base for J-| in. Petals 

 blue. Capsule rather more than | in. long; normally r)-seeded ; ventral 

 face appears quadrate with 4 knobs ; seeds subglobose, obscurely tetra- 

 hedral, nearly smooth. — Durand k Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 42!>. 



