Mr. J. Miers on the genus Brachistus. 263 
1. Brachistus stramonifolius. Witheringia stramonifolia, H.B.K. 
Nov. Gen. iii. 18;—arboreus, ramulis angulatis, pubescentibus ; 
foliis ovatis, acuminatis, inzequaliter cordatis et dentato-angu- 
latis, hirtellis, geminis, altero dimidio breviore ; floribus fasci- 
culato-congestis, hirtellis, pedunculis nutantibus, 5-meris, sta- 
minibus margine pilosis, inclusis ; bacca pisiformi, calycis per- 
sistentis duplo diametro.—Mexico. 
The leaves are said to be 4—5 inches long, 2-3 inches broad, on 
a petiole 1-1} inch: the flowers (fifteen to twenty) are aggregated 
in each extra: axillary fascicle, the peduncles varying from 6 to 
20 lines in length; the corolla, the size of that of Capsicum fru- 
tescens, has an expanded 5-partite border, the mouth of the short 
tube being pilose, the filaments are hairy on the margins. The 
berries are red, globular, 3 lines in diameter, and are supported 
by their small persistent calyx on slender deflexed peduncles. 
2. Brachistus macrophyllus. Witheringia macrophylla, H. B. K. 
loc. cit. 14;—fruticosus, ramulis subangulatis, tenuissime pube- 
rulis ; foliis ovato-ellipticis, subacuminatis, subrepandis, glabri- 
| usculis, superioribus geminis, altero minore ; floribus plurunis, 
fasciculato-congestis, petiolo dimidio brevioribus, 4.-meris, gla- 
bris, pedunculis filiformibus cernuis ; corolle tubo brevi, limbo 
4.-partito, patente, filamentis margine villosis ; bacca minima, 
calyce parvulo suffulta——Nova Granada. 
The leaves are stated to be 8 inches long and about 4 inches 
broad, somewhat smooth, but slightly woolly on the primary 
neryures, and supported on a petiole 14-15 lines long, which is 
slender, caniculate and pubescent. The flowers are numerous in 
each fascicle upon slender, smooth peduncles 4—5 lines long. The 
calyx is small, almost entire or obsoletely 4-toothed, and quite 
smooth. The corolla, not larger than that of Solanum nigrum, 1s 
of a greenish hue, with a very short tube, a rotate border with 
four pointed lobes, the included filaments ‘being very short, flat- 
tened and ciliate on the margins; the anther lobes are adnate, 
lanceolate, pointed, erect, and bursting on the margins. The 
oyarium is small, rounded; smooth, and seated on a glandular 
disc. The berry is red, not larger than a peppercorn, and sup- 
ported upon its small calyx. 
3. Brachistus ciliatus. Witheringia ciliata, H. B. K. loc. cit. 15. 
—fruticosus, ramis teretibus, glabris ; foltis oblongis, acutis, 
basi angustatis, integerrimis, ciliatis, _geminis, altero duplo mi- 
nore ; floribus 5-meris, parvis, paucis (1-2), extra-axillaribus, 
pedunculis capillaceis pubescentibus ; calyce urceolato obsolete 
dentato, dentibus linearibus pubescente ; corolla glabra, tubo 
_ brevi, limbo angulato sub-5-lobo patente, lobis acutis; bacca 
