1898.] from the North-Eastern Frontiers of India. 299 



the complete absence of any trace of prickles whether on leaves or 

 stems, and in the less numerous needle-like hairs on the fruits. 



It is well-known that many forms of S. Melongena under cultivation 

 entirely lose their armature ; it is interesting to find, that the same 

 may apparently happen with a wild species like 8. ferox when growing 

 as a weed in the rich soil that characterises the vicinity of an Indian 

 hill -village. 



GESNERACE^E. 



26. Aeschynanthus grandiflora Spreng. Syst. Veg. iv. 238 var. 

 longiflora Prain ; floribus 2*25 poll, longis, ceterum typi. 



In montibus Kachin, Kingii mercenar. ! 



27. Aeschynanthus micrantha Clarke in Flor. Brit. Ltd. iv. 340 

 var. Pottingeri Prain ; capsulis 10-pollicaribus, ceterum omnino typi. 



In montibus Kachin, Kingii mercenar. ! 



Quite possibly both these Aeschynanthi — of which the first is only 

 reported in flower, the second only in fruit — may prove when fully re- 

 presented to deserve specific rank. 



28. Aeschynanthus pusilla Prain ; rami elongati gracillimi, sparse 

 pilosi, nodibus prorsus radicantes, foliis ternatis parvis ovatis apice 

 acutis, basi cuneatis, *3 poll, longis *2 poll, latis utrinque pilis albidis 

 multicellularibus villosis, nervis obscuris, margine integris petiolis dis- 

 tinctis (15 poll, longis), villosis; floribus paucis terminalibus et in 

 axillis superioribus, ad nodos singulis, pedicellis gracilibus, *2 poll, 

 longis, dense pilosis ; calyce 5-partito, segmentis lanceolatis tuboque 

 anguste campanulato pilis patentibus dense villosis ; corolla extus 

 parce puberula, pallide flava limbum versus viridescente, lobis ipsis 

 intus tantum purpurascentibus, tubo 1 poll, longo dimidio inferiore 

 peranguste cylindrico, dimidio superiore anguste infuudibuliformi, 

 limbo '2 poll, lato; filamentis inclusis filiformibus glabris; capsula adhuc 

 ignota. 



In montibus Kachin nuncupatis ; Kingii mercenar. ! 



This graceful little species may be tentatively referred to the sec- 

 tion Haplotrichium, its general facies indicating that it is probably 

 closely allied to Aeschynathus gracilis ; till fruiting specimens are ob- 

 tained, however, its precise position must remain problemetical. 



29. Didymocarpus elatior Prain ; suffrutescens ; rami juniores 

 pilis divergentibus rufescentes demum glabrati ; folia ovato-lanueolata 

 basi cuneata apice acuminata margine minute serrata, petiolata, petiolis 

 rufo-pubescentibus, laminis supra parce adpresse puberulis subtus prae- 

 sertim nervis pubescentibus: cymae paucitlorae axillares peduneulis 

 gracilibus elongatis puberulis ; bracteae lanceolatae ; pedicelli calyce 



J. ii. 38 



