BYTTNERIACEA:. 103 



1 . Riedleia inflata. Hop-fruited Riedleia. 



Leaves ovate acuminate obsoletely cordate dupli- 

 cato-serrated villous above hoary and stellato-pilose 

 along the nerves beneath, peduncle axillary 3-4-fid 

 many-flowered shorter than the petiole. 



Melochia lupulina, Swartz, Fl. Ind. Oec.ll. 1141 Mon- 



geotia inflata, H. B. et Kunth. V. 330. t. 484. 



HAB. Moist thickets. 



FL. January. 



Suffrutescent, about 3 feet high, terete, piloso-subtomentose 

 towards the end of the branches. Leaves alternate, petiolate, 

 about 4 inches long and 3 broad, ovate, acuminate, cordate, 

 duplicato-serrated, pubescent above, hoary and stellato-pubes- 

 cent along the nerves and veins beneath. Peduncles axillary, 3-4 

 together, shorter than the petiole, bearing several white pedi- 

 celled flowers in an umbellule. Calyx 5-sided, 5-partite, pu- 

 bescent, slightly inflated, persistent. Petals oval, shortly clawed, 

 white with a yellow spot in the centre. Filaments united at 

 the base, shorter than the petals : anthers didymous. Styles 5, 

 subulate, twice the length of the filaments. Carpels 5, one- 

 seeded, situated within the enlarged inflated withered calyx. 



2. Riedleia nodiflora. Purple-stemmed Riedleia. 



Leaves ovate acuminate serrated subglabrous (when 

 young minutely appressed puberulous especially be- 

 neath,) flowers axillary crowded sessile. 



Abutilon fruticosum, floribus albis ad alas foliorum congloba- 

 tis, Sloane, I. 219. t. 135. f. 2. Melochia nodiflora, Swartz, FL 

 Ind. Occ. II. 1139. Mongeotia nodiflora, H. B. et Kunth, 

 nov. gen. Am. V. 330. Riedleia nodiflora, De Cand. I. 491. 



HAB. Common in fences. 



FL. After rains, throughout the year. 



A shrub, 2-3 feet in height, erect: branches alternate, 

 sub-distichal and gradually shorter towards the end of the 

 stem, subdivided, terete, purpurascent, minutely puberulous 

 towards their extremities. Leaves alternate, petiolate, ovate, 

 rounded at the base, acuminate, serrated, penni-nerved, rugu- 

 lose, minutely appresso-puberulous especially along the nerves 

 beneath : petiole \ an inch in length. Stipules lanceolate, 

 marescent, puberulous, deciduous. Flowers axillary, crowd- 

 ed, subsessile, small, reddish-white : pedicels about a line in 

 length, furnished with lanceolate marescent bracteas at the 

 base. Calyx 5-fid, divisions minutely ciliated, veined, persis- 

 tent. Petals 5, oblong. Filaments monadelphous : anthers 5, 

 bilocular. Styles 5. Carpels 5, externally puberulous, united 



