DR. B. SEEMANN ON THE CRESCENTIACE^. 13 



" Arbor excelsa," teste Bojer. Easily distinguished from the allied species by its vis- 

 cous compressed branches and opposite leaves, as well as by its arboreous habit. Fruit 

 edible, according to Bojer. Branches dichotomous. Racemes simple. Bracts opposite, 

 ovate, acute. CoroUa witli five blunt, vravy segments. Glandular disc 5-tootlied. Flowers 

 in August. According to information kindly furnished by Mr. Duncan in Mauritius, 

 the fruit of this and the following species is whitish, and as long as a little finger. 



3. Phyllartheon Comorexse; fruticosa; ramis acute 3-i-gonis; foliis 3-4-no verticil- 



latis vel oppositis, petiolis articulatis, articulis 3-5 longe cuneatis, superne obcordato- 

 emarginatis, lateraliter prseter nervum medium parce venosis, foliolis nullis, racemis 

 abbreviatis paucifloris, pedunculis teretiusculis, calyce tubuloso 5-nervio acute 5- den- 

 tato lepidoto-punctulato puberulo, corolla (rosea) extus puberula, intus . . . ., staminibus 

 . . . ., ovario styloque . . . ., fructu " Capsici formam a^mulante." (v. sp. s. et v. cult.). 



Phyllarthron Comorense, DeCand. Prodr. ix. p. 224 (1845). 

 Phyllarthron Poivreaniim, DeCand. Prodr. ix. p. 243 (1845). 

 Phyllarthron Bojerianmn, var.? /S elongatuni, DeCand. Prodr. ix. p. 244 (1845). 

 Arthrophyllum Comorense, Bojer, Hort. Maurit. p. 221 (1837). 

 Nomen vernaculuna : " Taumounann," teste DeCand. 



Geogr. Distr. Madagascar {Poivre\ Eowi?i\); Comoro Isles [Bojer\ Boivinl Grey I). Cultivated in 

 Europe. 



This species, according to Boivin " a shrub 6 feet high," has the longest leaves of the 

 whole genus, some of them measuring 12-14 inches, and having petioles normally com- 

 posed of five joints. The width of these joints is very variable, and imparts a different 

 look to different specimens. Hence the many synonyms of this comparatively new plant. 

 P. Poivreamim, DeCand. is one of the broad-jointed forms, but not specifically different 

 from the genuine P. Comorense. JP. Bojerlanum, var. ? elongatum, DeCand. is the same ; 

 for the " beard " sometimes observable at the junction of the petioles is simply a fungus 

 that establishes itself upon some specimens. 



4. Phyllarthron Bernierianum ; fruticosa, ramis compressis glabris, foliis oppositis 



petiolis articulatis, articulis 2-5 anguste linearibus apice obcordato-emarginatis, nervis 

 subparallelis, foliolis nullis, racemis terminalibus vel axillaribus usque ad 12-floris, 

 pedunculis compressis, pedicellis oppositis, calyce glabro acute 5-dentato, corolla 

 (rosea) extus pulverulento-velutina, staminibus . . . ., ovario styloque ........ fructu 



... (v. sp. s.) 



Phyllarthron Bernierianum, Seem, in Bonplandia, vii. p. 224 (1859). 



Geogr. Distr. Madagascar {Bernierl coll. ii. n. 215); Ambongo {Pe)'ville\); Diego Suarez {Bender \). 



According to Bernier, a shrub 6 feet high, with rose-coloured flowers. Leaves narrower 

 than any other known species of JPhyllarthron, 2" broad, and from 4-5 inches long. 



Species cliibia. 



5. Phyllarthron ? Thotjarsiantjm ; fruticosa, ramis subteretibus foliisque nascentibus 



lepidotis demum glabris, foliis (siccitate utrinque cujireis) alternis, petiolo artieulato, 

 articulis 2 oblongo-cuneatis sequalibus, foliolis abrupte bijugis lanceolatis utrinque 

 attenuatis alisque petioli pinnatim venosis, racemis . . . ., fructu . . . (v. sp. s.) 



