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TWO NEW TROPICAL AFRICAN ASCLEPIADEjE. 

 By A. B. Rendle, M.A., F.L.S. 

 (Plate 344.) 



Odontostelma, gen. nov. Calyx 5-partitus, intus 5-glandu- 

 losus, segmentis lanceolatis acuminatis. Corolla campanulata, 

 5-partita, lobis sub-spathulatis contortis dextrorsum obtegentibus. 

 Coronae squamae 5, parvaa, basi connatse, corollas et tubo stamineo 

 adnatae, carnosae, planae, erectas, apice rotundataa, dorso dentibus 

 binis inaequalibus lateralibus vel linea transversa instructaa. 

 Stamina basi corollas affixa, filamentis in tubum brevem con- 

 natis; antherae membrana byalina ovata ineurvata terminates. 

 Pollinia in quoque loeulo solitaria, pyriformi-oblonga, compressa, 

 pendula ; caudiculae breves inappendiculatae. Stigma vertice eras- 

 sum peltatum, 5-crenatum cum fovea centrali. Folliculi . . . 



Caulis brevis, e caudice tuberiformi suberectus, tenuis. Folia 

 opposita linearia. Cymae umbelliformes, terminales et in una 

 axilla cujusque foliorum paris pedunculatas. Flores mediocres 

 viridescentes. 



A new genus of tbe tribe Cynanchea, with the habit of the 

 narrow-leaved Xysmalobia, X. involucrata Dene., and A'. Hnluhii 

 Elliot, but separated from Xysmalobium by the markedly connate 

 corona-scales, which at the base, where joined to the corolla-tube, 

 form a complete ring; the corolla moreover shows a strongly 



O. Welwitschii, sp. unica. Herba semipedalis, basi persistens 

 cum tubere fusiformi pollicari ; caule suberecto simpliei vel parum 

 ramoso, fiexuoso, glabro, superne vix scabridulo; foliis oppositis, 

 linearibus, glabris, cymis multo longioribus, apice cuspidatis, 

 margine revolutis ; cymis saepe 6-floris, pedunculis subscabridulis, 

 pedicellis brevibus ; floribus generis. 



Hab. HuiUa; Angola, Welwitsch, No. 4172. Hb. Mus. Brit. 

 In pascuis parce dumetosis pr. Lopollo. Dec. et Jan. 1860. 



A small herb with a thin flexuous green stem, £ ft. long from a 

 short persistent woody base, bearing a spindle-shaped tuber about 

 1 in. long. In the lower part of the stem the leaves are reduced 

 to scales, but become longer as we ascend, and narrow linear, 

 upwardly spreading and glabrous, reaching 2|-8 in. in length, with 

 a cuspidate apex and revolute margins. The umbelliform cymes 

 are terminal and lateral on peduncles £-£ in. long, generally 

 6 flowered; the flowers borne on thin pedicels, about $ in. long, 

 are greenish and of medium size, measuring when open about 

 4 lines across. The calyx-tube is very short line), and the 

 lanceolate-acuminate segments are 1£ line long. The shortly 

 campanulate corolla is divided to a little above £ line from its base; 

 the lobes are 3& lines long by 2 broad above, and spathulate in 

 shape, but relatively broad below; the aestivation is markedly 

 imbricate, the left margin of each lobe being well covered; the 

 coronal scales are connate at the base and adnate to the corolla, 

 J oubnaXi of Botany.— Vol. 32. [June, 1894.] m 



