162 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [July, 
Their base becomes more and more deeply concave within, where 
it develops protuberant longitudinal and roughened ridges. Th 
flowers as they open are much frequented by thrips or other 
small vermin, which are attracted to this secretive surface. The 
anthesis is strongly protogynous. The stigmas are effete much 
before any pollen is shed, which, indeed, takes place only when 
the anthers loosen and separate as they begin to decay and fall.” 
I did not notice that the blossoms were “ sweet-scented,” though 
Bartram so describes them. The scent of the flowers in the 
genus is generally unpleasant. 
Notwithstanding Baillon’s view, it seems evident that our 
plants are not congeneric with the Old World Uvarie. Asim- 
ina seems to be well characterized by the dissimilar petals of the 
two series; the outer always larger, much accrescent, thin and 
veiny, and spreading, while the inner are concave and erect, 
mostly of thicker texture, at least at the concave or almost sac- 
cate base, and quite different in shape, although the difference is 
least in A. triloba and A. parviflora. 
I have not seen the Australian Fitzalania of Mueller, which 
known. As to Seemann’s Sapranthus of Nicaragua, of which 
we have flowers collected by the late Charles Wright, by no 
means as large as those figured by Seemann, the homogeneous 
petals, all six alike, plane, thin, veiny, and equally accrescent, 
would seem to indicate a genus as distinct from Porcelia as from 
Asimina. I will conclude these remarks with a synopsis of the 
species of Asimina, as they now appear to stand. But further 
observations are needed on some of them. 
ASIMINA, Apans.* 
* Flowers from the axils of the deciduous leaves of the preceding 
ear; these amvle, acute or acuminate at both ends, thin, the reticulation 
of veinlets inconspicuous: petals moderately accrescent, from green becom- 
ing brown-purple, ovate or roundish; the inner moderately concave and 
nearly even within, not very much smaller: the first a tree or shrub; the 
second a low shrub. 
A. triloba Duna. Pedicels about the length of the middle- 
¥*As to the French-colonial name, Assim 
that it was adopted from the Ojibway Indian 
inier, Mr. Gerard of New York informs me 
name of the fruit of A. triloba. 
