248 Mr. J. Miers on the genus Solandra. 



This species has the colouring of Elaps bivirgatus, Miiller, and 

 has most probably been mistaken for that species ; but it is of a 

 much larger size, and easily known by the large size of the ver- 

 tebral scales. 



In the young specimen the spot on the back and sides forms a 

 nearly continued stripe, and the outer edge of the ventral shield 

 is clouded with black. 



British Museum, August 21, 1849. 



XXVIII. — Contributions to the Botany of South America. 

 By John Miers, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. 



[Continued from p. 193.] 



Solandra. 



I NOTICE this genus, in order to confirm what has been already 

 advanced respecting it in the preceding volume of the ' Annals,' 

 p. 176, when I endeavoured to show that its relation is decidedly 

 with Juanulloa, Marchea and Sarcophysa, constituting with these 

 genera a distinct tribe of the Atropacece or Atropinece, and in no 

 degree related to Datura, with which it has been classed by all 

 botanists heretofore. It will be seen to approach Juanulloa in 

 its large tubular calyx, which splits generally on one side, in 

 consequence of the growth of its large fleshy berry, in the struc- 

 ture of which there exists a considerable resemblance in both ge- 

 nera, but it differs from that genus, in its much larger and more 

 campanular corolla. It bears also great analogy with Brunsfelsia, 

 in its large, yellow, fleshy border, with five rounded lobes, greatly 

 fimbriated on their margins, and deeply imbricated in aestivation, 

 and also in its large berry filled with pulp ; but it differs from this 

 last-mentioned genus, in its general habit and in the structure of 

 its stamens. It will serve to connect the Solandrecs with the 

 Brunsfelsiea, and in the linear arrangement shown in the tabular 

 view, p. 176, as above quoted, it should have been placed below 

 Ectozoma, and immediately preceding Brunsfelsia. I have not 

 been able to examine its seeds or to find any analysis of its struc- 

 ture, any farther than that the embryo is said to be arcuate ; in 

 this respect it will probably resemble Juanulloa, Marchea and 

 Franciscea, where it is terete, nearly straight or only slightly 

 bent, with short, ovate cotyledons. The following is offered as 

 an amended generic character : — 



Solandra, Swartz. (Char, emend.) — Calyx 5-sepalus, per- 

 sistens ; sepala lanceolata, acuta, marginibus in tubum longum, 

 cylindraceum, 5-angulatum, inj^qualiter et breviter 2-3-par- 

 titum, demum hinc fissum, valvatim connivcntia. Corolla 



