Mr. J. Miers on the genus Cliocarpus. 203 



2. Cliocarpus megaluchiton. Solanuin mcgalochiton, Mart, and 

 Smdtn. FL Bras. vi. 28. tab. 9; DC. Prodr. xiii. 124;— dicho- 

 tome ramosus, ramulis divaricatis, infei-ne glabris, superne hir- 

 suto-tomcntosis ; foliis non raro geininis, altero niulto niinori, 

 ovatis vel ovato-lanceolatis, acuminatis, basi rotundatis, inse- 

 quilateris ct oblique subcordatis, supra fusco-viridibus, velu- 

 tinis et sparse villosulis, subtus griseo-tomentosis et pilis sti- 

 pitato-stellatis densissime tectis, nervis arcuatis venisque su- 

 perne imprcssis, subtus valde prominentibus, petiolo brevi 

 tonientoso ; racerais paucitioris, terminalibus, dein latera- 

 libus et suboppositifoliis, pedicellis pedunculo brevioribus, 

 creberrime secundis, irno articulatis, infcrioribus valde deci- 

 duis, superioribus 3-8 pseudo-uinbellatis, demum in fructu 

 deflexis, quam pnecedcnti multo brevioribus; calyce etiam 

 persimilc sed paullo minori ; corolla intus caerulea ? et glabra, 

 extus stellato-tomentosa, filamentis brevibus, medio auricu- 

 latis, marginibus inliexis ; stylo tenui, staminibus dimidio 

 longiori, apice brevissinie divaricato-2-dentato : bacca nigra, 

 pisi minoris magnitudine. — Brasilia, Prov. Rio de Janeiro. — 

 V. s. in herb. Mus. Brit. [Bowie et Cunningham ud S. Joao 

 Mareos) sub nom. CI. Dunalii " Solanum melanocarpum et 

 Solanum laxum." — m herb. Hook. (Claussen). 



This species appears to have been collected by Dr. von Mar- 

 tius and by Schott in the Corcovado range, by Llotschy in the 

 Organ Mountains, who considered it to be a Physalis on account 

 of its ventricose calyx, and was also found by Sello in other parts 

 of the same province. It is readily distinguished from the former 

 species by its more lax habit, more divaricate branches, and its 

 different inflorescence. Its leaves are from 2 to 3 inches long, 

 1 to li inch broad, on a petiole of 2 lines. The peduncle of the 

 raceme is from 6 to 9 lines long, sometimes even shorter ; its 

 pedicels 4 to 6 lines in length when in flower, and 9 lines in 

 fruit : the flower expanded is about 8 lines in diameter ; the 

 calyx when collapsed in fruit is about 5 lines in diameter, and 

 when its segments are expanded, according to Dr. Sendtner, 12 

 to 15 lines across : the berry when ripe is smooth and black, 

 4 lines in diameter, and contains about sixteen seeds. M. Dunal 

 describes two varieties in the ' Prodromus,' citing as his autho- 

 rity, plants observed by him in the British Museum ; but I find 

 there only a single specimen with two separate tickets attached 

 to it, bearing his autograph names of Solanum melanocarpum and 

 Solanum laxum, from which we may infer that his notes have 

 been taken at different times, and after a lapse of many years 

 concluded to be those of two separate plants*. 



* The floral details of this plant are given in the drawing of the prece- 

 ding species in plate 44, ' lUustr. South Amer. Plants.' 



