200 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



Meliosma pendens Rehcler & Wilson, n. sp. 



Frutex 3-5-metralis, ramis gracilibus; ramuli hornotini initio laxe 

 villosi, mox glabrescentes; amiotini purpureo-fusci, lenticellis parvis 

 sparsis notati, vetustiores griseo-brimnei ; gemmae nudae, parvae, 

 ferrugineo-strigoso-tomentosae. Folia membranacea, obovato-ellip- 

 tica V. obovato-oblonga, subito acuminata, basi in petiolum gracilem 

 attenuata, fere ad basin serrata dentibus plerumque ad mucronem 

 ereeto-patentem reductis, 6-12 cm. longa et 3-5.5 cm. lata, supra 

 obscure viridia, sparse, ad costam mediam densius breviter strigoso- 

 pilosa, subtus pallide viridia, ad costam venasque patenti-pilosa, 

 rarius ad costam subaccumbenti-pilosa, saepius etiam ad venulas et 

 in facie sparse pilosa, ebarbata, nervis utrinsecus 12-18 rectis in dentes 

 excurrentibus subtus elevatis, venulis vix elevatis; petioli 1-1.5 cm. 

 longi, graciles, breviter villosi v. glabrescentes. Panicula terminalis, 

 elongato-pyramidalis, pendens, cum pedunculo 2-3 cm. longo 12- 

 18 cm. longa et 9-15 cm. diam., ramulis patentibus et plus minusve 

 refractis, breviter villosa, pedunculo plerumque glabrescente; bracteae 

 minutae, caducae; pedicelli 1.5-3 mm. longi, villosuli, interdum 

 minute bracteolati; flores albi, 4-5 mm. diam.; sepala 5, inaequalia, 

 rotundato-ovata, minute ciliolata; petala exteriora suborbicularia 

 2.5-3 mm. longa et paulo latiora, rarius angustiora quam longa, con- 

 cava, interiora vix dimidium filamentum aequantia, biloba, lobis 

 patentibus acutiusculis, ciliolata; filamenta sterilia irregulariter bicu- 

 cullata, incurva, fertilia 2 nun. longa, filamentis compressis apice 

 cupularibus antheras subglobosas amplectentibus; discus mem- 

 branaceus dimidium ovarium amplectens, breviter et irregulariter 

 5-dentatus; pistillum glabrum, petalis brevius, ovario subgloboso 

 subito in stylum brevem vix 1 mm. longum contract©. Fructus 

 desideratur. 



Western Hupeh: Changlo Hsien, woodlands, alt. 1000 m., July 

 1907 (No. 326% in part, type) ; north and south of Ichang, woodlands, 

 alt. 600-1300 m., July 1907 (No. 326% in part); without locahty, A. 

 Henry (Nos. 5849^ 6000). Kiangsi : Kuling, thickets, alt. 1300 m., 

 July 29, 1907 (No. 1647). 



This species is rather common in western Hupeh and seems most closely related 

 to M. cuneifolia Franchet, which is easily distinguished, however, by the loosely 

 appressed pubescence which covers the lower surface of the leaves and by their 

 conspicuous axillary tufts of hairs; the panicles are upright and broader with 

 spreading or ascending, not reflexed branchlets. In its inflorescence it resembles 

 M. flexuosa Pampanini, but that species has, according to the description, glabrous 

 branchlets and glabrous leaves which are entire toward the base. 



