MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA. 175 



figured by Gaertner ; they are nearly orbicular, somewhat compressed, emarginated at 

 top and bottom, with a deep groove along each face, are 7 lines long, 8 linos broad, 

 covered by two integuments, both equally membranaceous, which closely invest the 

 embryo : the latter, which grows black in drying, consists of two fleshy cotyledons of the 

 shape and size just described, the bottom emargination being formed by two auricular 

 lobes, beneath which the included short radicle lies quite concealed. 



When Gaertner stated that the fruit is sometimes a foot long, this was not from his 

 own knowledge, but from the account of authors who have confounded the species to- 

 gether. Swartz does not allude to this excessive magnitude, but, on the contrary, quotes 

 as his only synonym Browne's short diagnosis, in which he describes it "fructu minori." 

 Dr. Seemann amalgamates with this species C. latifolla and C. obovata, which are certainly 

 distinct; he also quotes as synonyms C. toxicaria and C. lethifera, both figured by Tus- 

 sac in his " Flore des Antilles ;" but I have not been able to procure a sight of that work, 

 to enable me to form an opinion upon these plants : the latter would seem to be a dis- 

 tinct species, or probably referable to another genus, on account of its trigonous fruit ; and 

 both are reputed to possess poisonous qualities, which are not ascribed to C. cueurbitlna. 



11. Crescentia obovata, Bentham, Yoy. Sulph. 130, pi. 46 : C. cucitrbitina, Seem. 



(in parte), I. c. p. 19 (non Linn.) : ramulis crassiusculis, striatis, subangulatis, ad 

 originem squamulis numerosis brevibus acutis persistentibus instructis ; cortice 

 suberoso, laxo : foliis alternis, obovatis, apice acumine obtusulo brevi subito con- 

 strictis, imo cuneatis, breviter petiolatis, crasso-coriaceis, supra nitidulis, nervis 

 immersis, subtus glauco-pallidioribus, nervis utrinque 10-12 costaque crassiuscula 

 prominentibus : floribus in apice ramorum solitariis vel 2-3, subnutantibus, pedun- 

 culis longiusculis, validis, rectis, ebracteolatis ; calyce crasso-coriaceo, glandulis 

 minutissimis scabrido-punctulato, imo tubuloso, mox dilatato et oblongo, primum 

 clauso, demum ad medium subaequaliter 2-fisso ; corolla infundibulifornii-campanu- 

 lata, incurva, extus minute scabrido-punctulata, ventre gibboso, infra faucem hinc 

 subito transverse constricto, dorso laevi, fouce ampla, valde obliqua, limbo brevi, 

 expanso, subreflexo, rarius obsolete lobato, margine fimbriato aut denticulato- 

 crenato, reticulato-nervoso ; staminibus inclusis ; filamentis aequalibus, rectis ; an- 

 therarum lobis parvis, oblongis, imo divaricatis ; ovario oblongo, in discum magnum 



pulviniformem insito, 4-sulcato, 1-loculari, placentis 2 longitudinaliter parietalibus ; 

 stylo tubi longitudine, erecto, imo tumidulo ; stigmate ovato, subsolido, apice breviter 

 fisso, intus papilloso. — In Antillis : v. s. in hb. Hook, insula Gorgonia versus Vera- 

 guas, in maritimis {Barclay) ; S a Anna, Jamaica (Fur die). 



This species differs from the preceding in the shape of its corolla, its almost ringent 

 oblique mouth, with a very narrow fringed border, in its stamens, its almost solid 

 stigma, and several other characters. Its ovary has only 2 placenta?. The leaves are 

 4J-7J inches long, 2J-4 inches broad, on a petiole 2-3 lines long : the peduncle 

 is lj-lf inch long ; the calyx, before bursting, is 1^ inch long, 4 \ lines in diameter at 

 its base, 7 lines in its broadest part, the length of the segments being 10 lines ; the tube 

 of the corolla posteriorly is 2 inches long, anteriorly If inch long, 4 lines broad at base, 



VOL. XXVI. 



2b 



