24 D. Praia — An undescribed Araliaceous Genus, [No. 1, 1904.] 



iterum nervos 8-10 utrinque emittente. Inflorescentia simplex um- 

 bellata ; pedunculis axillaribus, pendulis, dense rufo-velutinis aculeisque 

 recurvis gracilioribus irregulariter obsitis, 60 cm. longis, 1*5 cm. crassis; 

 umbellis ultra 50-floris. Mores longe pedicellati ; pedicellis 6-10 

 cm. longis, apice cum flore continuis ibique 5 cm. crassis, tomento 

 simplici dense contexto prorsus velutinis ; bracteolis lanceolatis 2-3*5 

 cm. longis, basi 5 mm. latis, supra glabrescentibus, subtus dense 

 velutinis. Calyx turbinatus 1*25 cm. longus, 1 cm. latus dense rufo- 

 velutinus ; dentibus 7-10 lanceolatis sequilongis, 2'5 cm. longis, basi 

 4 mm. latis, minute sed dense velutinis. Petala 5, induplicato-valvata, 

 apice subspatbulata rotuiidata, extus puberula intus glabra, 1 cm. 

 longa, 3'5 mm. lata. Stamina 5, filamentis gracilibus, antheris oblongis 

 versatilibus. Ovarium 8-13-loculai'e ; stylis in columnam cylindri- 

 cam centralem glabram 1*5 cm. longam connatis, stigmatibus apicalibus 

 minutis sursum spectantibus ; ovulis in loculis singulis solitariis ab apice 

 loculorum pendulis. FructuSf hand maturus, subdrupaceus. 



Burma : Kachin ; inter Sadon et Myitkyina, alt. 4500', Shaik 

 Muqim ! 



This very striking plant has the habit, appearance and much the 

 foliage of Trevesia palmata and Brassaiopsis palmata. The simple 

 umbels are, however, very unusual in the order Araliacaas and equally 

 unusual are the very large flowers, the only genus inviting comparison 

 in this respect being the widely different genus Tupidanthus. The 

 absence of ripe seeds is unfortunate since it prevents us from definitely 

 deciding whether the genus should be referred to the Panacese or the 

 Eederese ; the probability, however, is that it belongs to the former 

 series. 



The genus is dedicated to the memory of our lamented former 

 President, H.H. Sir John Woodburn, K.C.S.I. 



Explanation of Plate I. 



Woodburnia penduliflora Prain, 



1, Single lobe of leaf, with portion of interpetiolular wings, x i; 2, an inflores- 

 cence, X ^ ; 3, a single flower, nat. size ; 4, flower, dissected, showing etellate 

 cftlyx-lobes, petals and stamens (removed), disc, and style, nat. size; 5, transverse 

 section of top of ovary ; 6, vertical section of ovary ; 7, half of ovary in transverse 

 section, showing attachment of ovules, enlarged ; 8, ovule, x 4. 



