CONVOLVULACE.E (A. B. Eeuclle) 73 



A distinct species characterised by its small urceolate flowers 

 densely crowded towards the top of the short axillary peduncles. 



Merremia pes-draeonis Hallier f. var. nigeriea var. nov. 

 A typo dift'ert foJlis magis evolutis, calyce breviore glabro et 

 corolla minore. 



River Benue ; n. 832. 



Leaf-sfalAs -5 to 3 cm. long (3 mm. in the species); blades to 

 9 • 5 cm. long (6 cm. in the species) ; deeply palmately-pinnately 

 7-lobed (5-lobed in the species). Calyx glabrous, 2 cm. long (the 

 outer sepals are hairy and 12 mm. long in the species). Corolla 

 2 cm. long (2- 7 mm. in the species). 



M. pes-draconis is represented only by a specimen " en etat 

 plutot mauvais " in the Brussels Herbarium, collected by Descamps 

 in the Congo Free State (Kasai district). Dr. De Wildeman has kindly 

 compared a Nigerian specimen with the type ; he says, " It is certainly 

 near M. pes-draconis, but is distinguished by longer-stalked leaves, 

 with a more developed limb, more numerous lobes and a more hairy 

 lower surface, by a more glabrous and shorter calyx and a relatively 

 reduced corolla." The Nigerian plant may represent a distinct but 

 closely allied species, but in view of the u7asatisfactory character of 

 the material of M. pes-draconis I prefer to regard the differences at 

 present as merely of varietal value. 



PEDALINE^. 



Sesamum Talbotii Wernham sp. nov. Herba suffrutescens 

 erecta pubescens caule tereti striate interne glabrescente ; foUis 

 simplicibus inferioribus ellipticis pro genere latis basi angustatis 

 apice acuminate vel rotundate margine subintegro utrinque sparsi- 

 uscule pilosis, petiolis pre rata longis, superioribus angustioribus 

 lineari-oblongis distincte tamen petielatis apice acute utrinque 

 pilosis margine minute et irregulariter serratis ; floribus majusculis ; 

 cahjcis lobis lineari-lanceelatis ; capsula majuscula rostrata late 

 oblenga pilosa. 



Oban ; n. 1036. 



Loiuer leaves 6-9 cm. long x 2-2 '4 cm. broad; petiole 2-2 '5 cm. 

 long ; iLpper leaves about 4 cm. long x 8 mm. broad. Calyx 6-7 mm. 

 long. Corolla-tuhe 3 cm. long, largest lobe 1 cm. long and I'o cm. 

 broad. Fruit 3-3 '5 cm. long, and 8-9 mm. broad. Seeds 2*8 

 mm. long, 2*1 mm. in broadest part, with radiating wrinkles. 



Notable for the broad leaves and large capsules. 



ACANTHACE^ by Mr. S. Meere. 



A few genera ef Acanthacese, such sls Dischistocalyx, Whitfieldia, 

 Pliysacanthus, Lankesteria and Thomandersia, are exclusively er 

 largely West African. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot's discovery of a new 

 genus {Talhotia) is therefore ne matter for surprise. 



