236 MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE LOASACEZÆ. 
alternis, cordato-orbicularibus, acutis, lobato-incisis, lobis 5-7 subæqualibus æqui- 
longis acutiuseulis serrulato-dentatis, e basi 5-7-nerviis, utrinque asperato- 
hirtis, petiolo limbo subæquilongo; inflorescentia e ramulo novello aut axillari vel 
terminali, pedunculo bifloro, imo 2-bracteato; bracteis oppositis, sessilibus, ovatis, 
acutis, denticulatis ; floribus breviter pedicellatis ; sepalis parvis, denticulatis; stami- 
nibus 5 in quoque petalo majore absconditis; petalis minoribus multo abbreriatis; 
capsula elongata, turbinato-cylindrica, rigide pilosa, valvis 3 spiralibus, seminibus 
plurimis minutis. In Brasilia. ' | 
I have no knowledge of this species beyond the short description of Velloz and his 
drawing of the plant, as above quoted: it evidently belongs to this genus, agreeing in 
the structure of the flower, in the number of its stamens, and in the form of its cap- 
sule. The leaves are 2-24 inches long, 2—22 inches broad, with a basal sinus 3 lines 
deep, the petiole measuring 12-2 inches; the peduncle is 1 inch long, the sessile bracts 
6 lines long and 5 lines broad, the pedicel about 3 lines long ; the sepals 1 line long; 
the larger petals 5 or 6 lines long, the shorter ones 1 or 2 lines in length; the spiral 
capsule is 1} inch long, and 4 lines in diameter; it is unilocular, with numerous seeds 
attached to three helically longitudinal and parietal placentæ. gi 
I may here mention that the Mentzelia urens of Velloz (loc. suprà citat. tab. 97) is kd 
Loasa parviflora of Schreber, and his Loasa urens (loc. cit. tab. 98) is the Blumenbach 
latifolia of St.-Hilaire. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVIII. 
Fig. 1. A portion of a plant of Gripidea scabra in flower and in seed: of the natural size. 
Fig. 2. One of the larger petals and a fascicle of five fertile stamens. tee and two 
Fig. 3. One of the smaller petals shown in three different positions, each with three os 
sterile stamens: all of the natural size. 
Fig. 4. The ovary surmounted by the calyx, pulvinate cap, style and stigma: magnified. vous w 
Fig. 5. The same cut open, showing the three spiral lines of parietal placentation with nume | 
pended ovules: magnified. | 
Fig. 6. One of the ovules: highly magnified. 
Fig. 7. The style and stigma: much magnified. | 
Fig. 8. A capsule, showing its mode of dehiscence: of the natural size. 
Fig. 9. One the spiral placentæ : of the natural size. 
Fig. 10. The same: magnified. 
Fig. 11. A seed: of the natural size. 
Fig. 12. The same: magnified. pane x f the free im 
Fig. 13. The same, with half of the outer integument removed, showing the position 0! 
termediate tunic and its enclosed nucleus. 
Fig. 14. The same tunic and nucleus removed. 
Fig. 15. The inner integument covering the albumen enclosed in the former. 
Fig. 16. A longitudinal section of the albumen with the embryo imbedded in it. 
Fig. 17. The embryo extracted :—all magnified on the same scale. 
