Mr. J. Miers on the Ehretiacese. 301 



pletely. Upon the branch, after the fall of the leaves, the 

 panicle remains, the pericarp dries and falls off, the carpels 

 separate and are seen hanging from their spreading funicular 

 supports ; and when at length the achenia drop off, the divided 

 column remains, supported by the persistent unequally rup- 

 tured calyx. In the ventral angle of each achenium is an 

 indehiscent, somewhat osseous cell, of half its length, of an 

 oblong shape ; and upon one of its sides there is a longitudinal 

 narrow channel, filled with soft matter and nutrient vessels 

 which penetrate into the cell below its apex, and to which the 

 single terete seed is attached in a manner similar to that de- 

 scribed in Rhabdia. The lateral large open foramen leading 

 into a pseudo-cell, a characteristic feature in Bourreria, is alto- 

 gether wanting in Grematomia — a circumstance that affords a 

 ready distinction between the two genera, which otherwise 

 much resemble one another. This structure of the flower, 

 ovary, and fruit renders Grematomia a valid genus of the 

 Ehretiacem. The achenia, with their pericarpial covering, are 

 well depicted in Richard's drawing of a Cuban plant. 



All the known species of Bourreria are confined within the 

 limit of the West-India Islands ; several belonging to Grema- 

 tomia have a similar origin ; but one-half of its known species 

 extend into the Columbian portion of the continent and into 

 Mexico. 



Crematomia, gen. nov. — Galyx tubulosus, ad medium in 

 dente 5 acutos divisibilis, dentibus intus pilosulis, mar- 

 ginibus dense tomentosis, asstivatione valvatis, primum 

 firme adhserentibus, demum segregatis, aut ssepe in lobis 2-3 

 inasqualibus constans, persistens. Corolla tubulosa, carao- 

 sula, tubo quam calyx longiore, fauce paulo ampliore, Umbo 

 5-partito, laciniis orbicularibus vel ovalibus, imo brevissime 

 unguiculatis et rotundatim cordato-auriculatis, patentibus, 

 sestivatione quincuncialiter imbricatis. Stamina 5 (rarius 6), 

 laciniis alterna, tubo inserta ; Jilamenta imo latiora, hie 

 dense pilosa aut sparse pilosula, superne gradatim filiformia, 

 exserta; antherce 2-lobse, lobis oblongis, fusco-coriaceis, a 

 medio segregatis, superne collateraliter adnatis, in sinu os- 

 cillatorie affixis, lateraliter rima longitudinali alba utrinque 

 dehiscentibus : pollen granosum, globosum, granis pulveri 

 farinoso niveo immersis. Ovarium conico-oblongum, disco 

 brevi suffultum, striatum, glabrum, semiseptis 2 oppositis, 

 parietalibus, utrinque bilamellatim reflexis, marginibus 

 ovulum amplectentibus, hinc pseudo-4-loculare et 4-ovula- 

 tum. Stylus simplex, exsertus, apice fere ad medium 2-fissus, 

 ramis rectiusculis, stigmate subpeltato singulatim munitis. 



