108 BOTANY OF CONGO. 



In Sapindaceae there is not the same constancy in the 

 insertion of the ovulum and consequent direction of 

 embryo, as in the two preceding orders. For although, 

 in the far greater part of this family, the ovulum is erect 

 and the radicle of the embryo inferior, yet it includes more 

 than one genus in which both the seeds and the embryo 

 are inverted. With this fact it would seem M. de Jussieu 

 is unacquainted ;^ and he is surely not aware that in his 

 late Memoir on Melicocca^ he has referred plants to that 

 genus differing from each other in this important point of 

 structure. 



TILIACE_/E. It is remarkable that of only nine 

 428] species belonging to this family in Professor Smith's 

 herbarium, three should form genera hitherto unnoticed. 



^Y)l\q first of these new genera is a shrub, in several of its 

 characters related to Sparmannia, like which, it has the 

 greater part of its outer stamina destitute of antherse ; in 

 the structure of its fruit, however, it approaches more nearly 

 to Corchorus. 



The second genus also agrees with Corchorus in its fruit ; 

 but differs from it sufficiently in the form and dehiscence 

 of the antherse ; as well as in the short pedicelluS;, like that 

 of Grewia, elevating its stamina and pistillum. 



The third, of w^hich the specimens are in fruit only, for- 

 tunately, however, accompanied by the persistent flower, is 

 remarkable in having a calyx of three lobes, while its co- 

 rolla consists of five petals ; the stamina are in indefinite num- 

 ber ; and the fruit is composed of five single-seeded capsules, 

 connected only at the base. In the want of symmetry or 

 proportion between the divisions of its calyx and corolla 

 it resembles the ChlenacecB of M. Du Petit Thouars,^ as well 

 as Oncoba of Forskael and Ventenatia of M. de Beauvois.^ 

 The existence of this new genus decidedly belonging to 

 Tiliacese, and having a considerable resemblance to Vente- 



' Amial. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 18, p. 476. 

 2 Mem. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 3, p. 179. 

 ^ Hist, des Veget. des Isles de f Afrique, p. 46. 

 ^ Flore d'Oware, \, p. 29, t. 17. 



