470 MR. G. BENTHAM ON AFRICAN ANONACE^. 



PoLYALTHiA, Bliime ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PL 25. 

 An Asiatic genus, in which we include the Asiatic Guatterias as limited in Hooker 

 and Thomson's ' Flora Indica,' and prohahly, as far as hitherto known, unrepresented in 

 Africa. I only mention it here because in the Hookerian herbarium there is a specimen 

 of P. {Guatteria) Korinti, with the label " Guatteria lucida, Boj. ex ins. Mombase oris 

 Africse orientalis, Bojer." There has been, however, probably some misplacement of 

 labels— perhaps in the Mauritius Garden ; for the Kew herbarium has another specimen, 

 derived from the late Dr. Graham's collection, also as from Bojer, with a similar label, 

 which is the Tlvaria lucida described above. 



5. PoPOWiA, Endl. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. 25. 

 A small genus, not yet sufficiently well known to be accurately characterized, con- 

 taining two African, two Asiatic, and one Australian species ; differing from PolyaltUa 

 in the more connivent petals, from Melodorum in the small flowers rather more open, 

 and in the carpels with one or two ovules erect from the base of the cavity, not ventral, 

 and from Clathrosjjermtmi in the more numerous stamens with the cells lateral, below 

 the summit of the connectivum, not bordering the top of the connectivum. In the P. 

 caffm, however, the anthers are not so closely packed, nor the cells so much concealed 

 by the flattened top, as in the Asiatic and Australian species. 



1. P. CAPFRA, Hook. f. et Thoms. ; foliis breviter petiolatis oblongis obtusis acuminatis 



acutisve basi obtusis membranaceis subtus pilosulis, costis petiolis ramulisque 

 ferrugineo-pubescentibus, pedimculis lateralibus bifidis plurifloris, baccis stipitatis 

 globosis subovoideisve glabris. — Rami graciles. Polia 2-4-pollicaria. Flores parvi, 

 depresso-subglobosi, tomentelli. Sepala lata, alte connata. Petala exteriora calyce 

 duplo longiora, lata, crassiuscula, concava, valvata, in floribus suppetentibus arete 

 conniventia, sed forte demum subpatentia ; interiora similia, pauUo minora. Stamina 

 vix ultra 20, brevia, connectivo crasso apice parum dilatato loculos oblongos 

 laterales verticales vix occultante. Torus convexus, puberulus. Gynsecii carpella 

 glabra, 1-ovulata, stylo breviter oblongo. 



Guatteria caffra, Sond. in Harv. et Sond. Fl. Cap. i. 9. 

 AVoods at Omsamwubo and Port Natal {Drege, Guienzius). 



2. P. ? KiRKii, sp. n. ; glabra, foliis breviter petiolatis anguste v. obovato-oblongis utrin- 



que obtusis membranaceis, pedunculis lateralibus brevibus paucifloris, baccis stipitatis 

 oblongis glabris. — Habitu P. caffrce similis sed ex omni parte glaberrima. Bamuli 

 tenues. Folia superiora cujusve ramuli 2-2^ poll, longa, ^-f poll, lata, inferiora 

 breviora et sgepius latiora, omnia penninervia, nervis tenuibus arcuatim anasto- 

 mosantibus, petiolo 1-2-lineari. Flores nobis desunt. Pedicelli fructiferi ad ramulos 

 breves foliates brevissimi, uniflori, v. in pedunculo communi sen ramulo brevi 

 aphyllo plures. Baccaj 2-6, stipite 2-3 lin. lougo fultse, ^-f poll, longse, obtu- 

 sissimse v. vix mucronulatse, monospermss. 

 On the Zambesi at the foot of Moramballa and opposite Senna {Kirk, who reports the fruit to be pleasant 

 eating) 



