MR. BENTHAM ON TROPICAL LEGUMINOSÆ. 303 
The genus thus named in honour of the distinguished traveller on the Amazons, H. W. 
Bates, Esq., is founded on a lofty tree discovered by Mr. Spruce in the forests bordering 
the Rio Uaupés in North Brazil, and referred doubtfully, in the distribution of his plants, 
to Tachigalia. It differs, however, from that genus in the unequally pinnate leaves and 
in the stipes of the ovary being entirely free from, the calyx-tube (which remove it from 
the subtribe Amherstiee to the Sclerolobiee)—as well as in the pod, which is peculiar in 
its dehiscence. I am only acquainted with a single species :— 
B. FLORIBUNDA, Spruce, MS. (Plate XXXVIL.) 
Arbor fide Sprucei 100-pedalis coma patula, ramulis inflorescentia petiolis foliolorumque pagina 
inferiore tenuiter rufo-tomentellis. Folia 1-2-pedalia ; foliola sæpius 11, petiolulata, ovali-elliptica v. 
oblonga, acuminata, basi obtusa, 4-6-pollicaria, supra glabra nitidaque, subtus elevate pennivenia et 
transverse reticulato-venulosa. Petiolus communis angulatus, nonnunquam inter foliola ultima glan- 
dulas iis Inge subsimiles gerens. Flores aurei, odorati, in paniculas amplas floribundas terminales dis- 
positi, secus ramulos ultimos racemosi. Bracteas non vidi; bracteolæ lineares, breves, caducissimæ. 
Calycis segmenta 3 lin. longa. Petala paullo longiora, anguste ovata, extus minute tomentella. 
Stamina petalis breviora, antheris ovatis. Legumen brevissime stipitatum, 1-13 poll. longum, fere 
i poll. crassum. Semina nitide coccinea. 
Hab. Tropical America. Forests of the Rio Uaupés, in North Brazil (R. Spruce, n. 2780); distributed under 
the name of Tachigalia ? erythrosperma. 
VIII. DICYMBE, Spruce, in Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. 564. 
(Tribe SczeroLogieæ. Tropical America.) 
Cuar. Gun. Calycis tubus diseifer turbinatus, crassus; segmenta 4, ovali-oblonga, imbricata, summo 
sæpe bifido. Petala 5, ovata, parum inæqualia, imbricata, summo intimo. Stamina 10, libera, fila- 
mentis inflexis basi pilosis; antheræ lineares, uniformes, loculis longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. 
Ovarium breviter stipitatum, in fundo calycis liberum, oc-ovulatum ; stylus elongatus, sestivatione 
involutus, stigmate peltato. Legumen . . . . —Arbor. Folia abrupte v. subimparipinnata. Flores 
corymboso-paniculati. Bracteæ crassæ, cochleatæ, caducissimæ. Bracteolæ 2, crasso-coriaceæ, 
sibimet valvatim applicitæ et ante anthesin globum constituentes alabastrum includentem, per 
anthesin apertæ, persistentes. 
I had long hesitated whether or not to adopt this genus as distinct from Thylacanthus, 
Tul, the affinities with which were recognized by Mr. Spruce. Neither he nor myself 
have seen any specimen of Tulasne’s plant ; but, from the detailed description given by 
that author, the calyx divided to the base into 5 petal-like segments, the stamens united 
at the base, the short anthers, and the bracteoles united into a 2-lobed involucre are 
all incompatible with Spruce’s plant, establishing differences analogous to those which 
Separate Brownea, Amherstia, and their allies from each other. It is not impossible, 
however, that, when better known, it may be found advisable to reunite Dicymbe with 
Thylacanthus. It is said by Mr. Spruce to be a small but handsome tree, the large, 
thick, ivory-like bracteoles giving the inflorescence a remarkable aspect. 
The following is the detailed description of the only species known :— 
D. corymosa, Spruce, MS. (Plate XXXVIII.) _ 
Arbor, fide Sprucei parva, raro altitudine 30 pedes attingens, 
excepta glabra, ramulis crassis. Folia sepius abrupte pmn 
plerumque 10-15-pedalis, inflorescentia 
ata, 2-juga, hinc inde l- v. 8-foliolata ; 
