83 
VI. On Sycopsis. By Daniel Oliver, Esq., F.L.S. 
Read March 15, 1860. 
Sycopsis. Genus novum Hamamelidearum 
Char. ess. Flores abortu uni-sexuales [an etiam nonnunquam polygami?]. 
Fl. $ , Calyx brevissimus, irregulariter v. oblique dentatus lobatusve. Corolla 0. Stamina 8, calyci 
tubo inserta; filamenta brevia, in connectivum continua; antherae basifixae, biloculares, oblongae, 
apice breviter productae. Gynoecium rudimentum bifidum. 
FL ? . Calyx semisuperus, tubo ovarium arete cingente, limbo deciduo. Corolla 0. Ovarium bilo- 
culare ; styli duo, distineti, subulati, intus canaliculati, minute papilloso-stigmatosi ; ovula in loculis 
solitaria, pendula. 
S. Griffithiana, species unica. 
Frutex verisimiliter (v. arbor parva), ramosissimus. 
Hamuli cortice cinerascente, vix lam, glabro v. ultimorum minute puberulo. Folia numerosa, alterna, minute 
stipulata, petiolata, integra, ovali-lanceolata, lanceolata v. obovato-lanceolata, acute acuminata, coriacea 
(perennia?), discolora, glabra v. primum pilis stellatis conspersa; cost& (in spp. exsicc.) supra de- 
pressa, subter valde prominente, venularum reti inconspicuo. Stipula lanceolatae, minutae, cito 
caducas. Inflorescentia axillaris, e glomerulis paucifloris vel racemis abbreviatis petiolum subaa- 
quantibus composita. Flores 3 et ? intermixti (an semper ?), primum sessiles v. subsessiles, ante 
_.„ in axillis bractearum nidulantes, omnes plus minusve pubescentia minuta stellata 
obsiti. Calyx, S brevissimus, triangulari-dentatus v. oblique lobatus, in ? ad faucem, stylorum 
florescentiam 
curvi 
decidui. 
fertilia 
nantia) filamentis brevibus, glabris, crassiusculis, calycem excedentibus, antheris (biloculanbus, 
dehiscentia ?) pro ratione magnis, ovato-oblongis, apice brev iter et vix acute apiculati. ; stamma 
sterilia parva. Ovarium semi-inferum, stellato-pilosum, usque ad basin stylorum calycis tubo crasso 
arcU cinctum. Styli a basi distincti, divergentes, infra stellatim pdosi. 
Folia laminS 1| ad 3£ poll. (sajpius circa 2^ poll.), petiolo 2-5 lin. longis. 
Further information is needed as to (1) whether the flowers are ever really hermaphro- 
dite, (2) if hoth <? and ? are alike protected singly in the axils of the early caducous 
hracts or scales of the inflorescence (these hracts are mostly ovate or rotundate, the outer 
one sometimes produced above), (3) the mode of dehiscence of the anthers (4) the ripe 
fruit. It is doubtful how far the lobation and degree of obliquity of the calyx-limb may 
be constant ; I have therefore omitted, in the foregoing diagnosis, to describe the forms 
observed in the comparatively few good flowers which I have had an opportunity of exa- 
mining.. The young subobovate fruits, narrowed and (from drying ?) more or less sulcate 
below, together with the general appearance of the plant, recall some of the narrower-leaved 
sometimes 
« is prooabie tnat tne amo 01 tne caiyx, uutu w $ «"~ * • 
Wobate),— one or more lobes in the ? , being linear-lanceolate, subtriangular at the base. 
2 
