Mr. J. Miers on the genm Brachistus. 



263 



1. Brachistus stramonifolius. Witheringia stramonifoliaj H.B.K. 

 Nov. Gen. iii. 13; — arboreus, ramulis angulatis^pubescentibus; 

 foliis ovatis, acuminatis, insequalitcr cordatis et dentato-angu- 

 latis, hirtellis, geminis, altero dimidio breviore ; floribus fasci- 

 culato-congestis, birtellis, pedunculis nutantibus, 5-meris, sta- 

 minibus margine pilosis, inclusis ; bacca pisiformi, calycis per- 

 sistentis duplo diametro. — Mexico. 



The leaves are said to be 4-5 inches long, 2-3 inches broad, on 

 a petiole 1-1^ inch : the flowers (fifteen to twenty) are aggregated 

 in each extra-axillary fascicle, the peduncles varying from 6 to 

 20 lines in length ; the corolla, the size of that of Capsicum fru- 

 tescens, has an expanded 5 -partite border, the mouth of the short 

 tube being pilose, the filaments are hairy on the margins. The 

 berries are red, globular, 3 lines in diameter, and are supported 

 by their small persistent calyx on slender deflexed peduncles. 



2. Brachistus macrophyllus. Witheringia macrophylla, H, B. K, 

 loc. cit. 14; — fruticosus, ramulis subangulatis,tenuissimepube- 

 rulis ; foliis ovato-ellipticis, subacuminatis, subrepandis, glabri- 

 usculis, superioribus geminis, altero minore ; floribus plurimis, 

 fasciculato-congestis, petiolo dimidio brevioribus, 4-meris, gla- 

 bris, pedunculis filiformibus cernuis ; corollse tubo brevi, limbo 

 4-partito, patente, filamentis margine villosis ; bacca minima, 

 calyce parvulo suffulta. — Nova Granada. 



The leaves are stated to be 8 inches long and about 4 inches 

 broad, somewhat smooth, but slightly woolly on the primary 

 nervures, and supported on a petiole 14-15 lines long, which is 

 slender, caniculate and pubescent. The flowers are numerous in 

 each fascicle upon slender, smooth peduncles 4-5 lines long. The 

 calyx is small, almost entire or obsoletely 4-toothed, and quite 

 smooth. The corolla, not larger than that of Solanum nigrum , is 

 of a greenish hue, with a very short tube, a rotate border with 

 four pointed lobes, the included filaments being very short, flat- 

 tened and ciliate on the margins ; the anther lobes are adnate, 

 lanceolate, pointed, erect, and bursting on the margins. The 

 ovarium is small, rounded, smooth, and seated on a glandular 

 disc. The berry is red, not larger than a peppercorn, and sup- 

 ported upon its small calyx. 



3. Brachistus ciliatus. Witheringia ciliata, H.B. K. loc. cit. 15. 

 — fruticosus, ramis teretibus, glabris; foliis oblongis, acutis, 

 basi angustatis, integerrimis, ciliatis, geminis, altero duplo mi- 

 nore ; floribus 5-meris, parvis, paucis (1-2), extra-axillaribus, 

 pedunculis capillaceis pubescentibus ; calyce urceolato obsolete 

 dentato, dentibus linearibus pubescente ; corolla glabra, tubo 

 brevi, limbo angulato sub-5-lobo patente, lobis acutis ; bacca 



