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5 inclusis, 2 longioribus, filamenfcis linearibus corollae tubo supra 

 basin inserfcis ; stylo filiformi, stigmate capitato didymo. 

 Hab. Lake Nyassa, Simons, 1877. 



Apparently an annual herb, sending long thin and apparently 

 climbing shoots from near the base; the thin and membranous 

 dull green leaves are palmately veined, the veins passing into the 

 large blunt teeth ; they are cordate, with a markedly acuminate 

 apex, and measure from 1 to 2 in. in length and breadth; the 

 narrow petiole is generally shorter than the blade, but varies con- 

 siderably from less than 1 to more than 2 in. The flower-stalk is 

 rather more than half the length of the flower; the broadly spathu- 

 late sepals are 3-3^ lines long, the almost hypocrateriform Vinca- 

 like corolla 10 lines ; the stamens, which are inserted 1 line above 

 the base of the tube, have linear filaments 4-5 lines long, the 

 anther being f line, and the globose pollen echinulate as in the 

 genus. 



A very distinct species, well-characterised by its spathulate 

 calyx and hypocrateriform corolla. 



Merremia spongiosa Eendle, sp. n. Planta glabra prostrata 

 caule petiolis pedunculisque anguste alatis ; foliis breviter petiolatis 

 lanceolatis acuminatis margine crispa, laete viridibus, subtus spongi- 

 osis, pedunculis quam folia brevioribus, cymis 5-10-floris, bracteis 

 membranaceis subulatis ; sepalis subaequalibus, subcoriaceis, ovali- 

 bus; corolla nondum evoluta, alabastro ovoideo obtuso, dense 

 piloso; polline inermi, ellipsoideo plicato; stigmate capitate bilobo; 

 capsula tenui, seminibus breviter tomentosis. 



Hab. Pungo Andongo, Welwitsch, 61966. 



The prostrate narrowly winged stem is more than 4 ft. in 

 length; the lanceolate-acuminate leaves are 3-3£ in. long, in- 

 cluding the petiole (| in.), and 6-7 lines broad, with a somewhat 

 crisped margin and a midrib, and generally two stronger lateral 

 nerves prominent on the under surface, which has a spongy texture 

 when dry. The membranous subulate bracts are l£-5 lines long ; 

 the sepals I in. or a little longer, and brown, with a thinner brittle 

 purplish border ; the sagittate anthers measure £ line ; the thin- 

 walled brittle capsule is about J in. in length. 



Allied to M. umbellata Hallier (= Ipomoea umbellata Mey.), but 

 at once distinguished by its lanceolate-acuminate leaves, the shorter 

 peduncles, and smaller non -umbellate flowers. Hallier 's genus 

 Merremia has been adopted, though in the opinion of some the use 

 of the unarmed plicate pollen as a separating character may be in- 

 advisable, in which case the plant becomes Ipomoea spongiosa. 



Ipomoea uliginosa Welw. MS. ad int. No. 6169, from Pungo 

 Andongo, is apparently a closely allied plant with smaller linear- 

 lanceolate leaves, but, as there is no flower in the specimen, the 

 material is insufficient for description. Welwitsch's note reads as 

 follows : — " Flores albidi habitu roseo plumoso-hirsuti. Hab. in 

 uliginosis de Mutollo socialis cum Scleriis. Jan. 1857." 



