DR. B. SEEMANN ON THE CRESCENTIACE^. 7 



the oldest name ( Tripinna) would seem forced upon me ; but in yielding to tMs I should 

 be obliged to disturb a whole series of well-established names ; and that I cannot bring 

 myself to do as long as no specimens of Loureiro's doubtful plant have been examined. 

 There is another reason which prompts me to pause. The habit of all Coleas with opposite 

 leaves and terminal flowers is very different from that of the Coleas with verticillate 

 leaves and flowers growing out of the old wood, rendering it probable that these differ- 

 ences may be accompanied by important generic distinctions, which, when the flowers 

 and fruit of all the species shall have become better known, may justify a breaking up of 

 Colea into at least two distinct genera. Loiu'eiro's Tripinna might then be restored, and 

 the name of Colea be restricted to Colea Mauritiana and its allies. Even now it will aid us 

 in the classification, if we divide the genus sectionally into Colece gemiince and Tripinna. 

 I have added four new species, three of which were discovered by recent travellers, whilst 

 one (C. JBojeri) had been misplaced under Bignonia. This will in some measure com- 

 pensate for the reduction of species it has been necessary to make. Colea ramijlora, 

 DeCand. and C. ohhisifolia, DeCand. have been united with C. Ilauritiana, Boj., there 

 being no specific distinction between them. C.floribunda, Boj., like all Coleas established 

 by Bojer, proves a good species, of which C. canlijlora, DeOand. and C. ? Commersonu 

 are undoubtedly synonyms. C. purpu7^ascens. Seem, seems a very distinct species : I must, 

 however, own that I entertain doubts whether it may not fall, together with C. Bojeri 

 {Bignonia Bojeri, DeCand.), of which I have seen no specimens, and which is btit imper- 

 fectly described. C. Seychellarum, Seem, and C. Mspidissima, Seem, are founded upon 

 very distinctive characters, and will probably stand. C. telragona, DeCand. is also a 

 good species, the branches of which are, however, apt to have more than four sides. 

 C. decora is perhaps the most variable species, the leaves being simple, trifoliated, and 

 imparipinnate, whilst the flowers (normally placed in simple racemes) are often quite 

 isolated on a bracteate rachis. Owing to this extreme variation, the species has seldom 

 been recognized, and a host (jf synonyms has been the consequence. Colea nitida, 

 DeCand., C. Chapelieri, DeCand., Bignonia racemosa, Lam., and B. compressa, Lam., 

 are the names iinder which it appears in our systematic works. C. Telfairice, Boj. and 

 C. involucrata, Boj. are also good species, to the latter of which Bignonia bracteosa, 

 DeCand. must be added as a synonym. 



§ I. Folia verticillata. Flores e trunco ramisque orii (Colese genuine). 



1. Colea FLOMBTTNDA ; arbuscula; ramis obtuse angulatis glabris, foliis 4-5-no-verticil- 

 latis 5-8-jugis cum imparl, foliolis petiolulatis elliptico-oblongis vel oblongo-lanceo- 

 latis acuminatis, utrinque glabris, racemis e caule ramisque ortis, calyce glabro, 

 corolla (lutea) extus velutino-scabrida, intus villosa, staminibus ovario stylo fructuqu.e 

 elongato cylindraceo subtoruloso glabris. (v. v. cult, et sp. s.) 



Colea floribunda, Bojer, Hort. Maurit. p. 220 (1837) ; Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1841, t. 19; DeCand. Prodr. ix. 



p. 241, n. 3 (1845). 

 Colea} Commersonii, DeCand. Prodr. ix. p. 242, n. 11 (1845). 

 Colea cauliflora, DeCand. Prodr. ix. p. 241, n. 3 (1845). 

 Bignonia cauliflora, Sie.b. Fl. Maurit. exsic. ii. n. 284. 

 Nomen vernaculum Madagascariense : " Rei-rei," 



