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IX. Description of some New Genera and eie of Tropical Leguminosæ. 
By GEORGE BENTHAM, P.L.S. 
© (Plates XXXIIL-XLIII.) 
Read May 4th, 1865. 
I. MICROCHARIS, Benth. in Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. 501. 
(Tribe GALEGEE. Tropical Africa.) 
Char. Gex. Calycis parvi patentis lobi subæquales. Vexillum suborbiculatum, patens, lateribus reflexis, 
. in unguem angustatum; ale oblique obovato-oblongæ, carinæ vix adhærentes ; carina obtusa, alis 
brevior. Stamen vexillare ima basi cum ceteris cohærens, a medio liberum, cetera in vaginam con- 
nata; antheræ uniformes. Ovarium sessile, pluriovulatum, in stylum brevem attenuatum, stigmate 
capitato subdiscoideo. Legumen lineare, compressum, membranaceum, 2-valve, intus inter semina 
tenuiter septatum. Semina transverse oblonga v. quadrata, estrophiolata, funiculis brevissimis.— 
Herbz graciles, ramosæ, pilis simplicibus hispid. Folia simplicia, subsessilia. Stipule herbaceæ 
v. subulatæ, persistentes. Flores minimi, rubri, in racemos axillares dispositi. Bracteæ anguste; 
bracteolæ 0. 
The slender annuals with little scarlet flowers which constitute this genus are perhaps 
not uncommon in some parts of Tropical Africa; but being easily overlooked in the 
luxuriant vegetation of the moist regions they inhabit, they have only recently come to the 
knowledge of botanists. The first specimens seen were in the late Dr. Vogel’s collections 
in the first Niger Expedition, and were stated on the ticket to have been gathered by his 
friend and companion, Dr. Roscher. They were, however, imperfect ; and having probably 
been considered insufficient for identifying with any old genus, or describing as a new 
one, they were omitted in Hooker’s ‘ Niger Flora.’ Since then very complete specimens in 
flower and fruit were transmitted by the late Mr. Barter, who found them abundant after 
the rains in crevices of rocks on the Nupe, and also at Jeba on the Quorra ; and a single 
specimen, in flower and young fruit, of what appears to be a second species of the same 
genus, was gathered by Dr. Kirk near Luabo, on the left bank of the Zambesi. 
The general aspect of the genus is nearly that of some of the slender single-leaved 
Indigoferas or Tephrosias ; but neither the inflorescence nor the floral characters agree 
precisely with either of those genera, and, technically, it appears to be more nearly allied 
to the tropical American and West-Indian Craecas. How far the two species here proposed 
may or may not prove to be varieties of one, can only be determined by a more extended 
series of specimens from intermediate stations. 
The following are the specific characters of the two :— 
1.M. TENELLA. (Plate XXXIII. A.) Foliis lanceolatis oblongisve, stipulis setaceis. 
Caules graciles, laxe ramosi, 1-2-pedales, pilis patentibus hirti. Folia (sive foliola solitaria) late v. anguste 
lanceolata, rarius oblonga, acuta v. obtusiuscula, basi rotundata v. angustata, 1-14 poll. longa, mem- 
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