ON SOUTH-AMEEICAJSr APOCYNACILE, 229 



Mbsechites. 



This is a valid genus, when restricted within the uniform limits indicated by the 

 several species here described. It was established in 1860 by Miiller, who unfortunately 

 figured as its type the Echites Mansoana of De CandoUe, from Matto Grosso, a plant 

 before enumerated [supra, p. 201) ; with this he confounded, as a mere variety, the 

 Echites sulphurea from E,io de Janeiro, well figured by Velloz, a very different plant 

 {Echites Vauthieri, DO.). Mesechites, however, is well figured by Jacquin in the plates 

 27 and 28 of his ' Stirpium Americanarum.' 



The following is a reformed diagnosis of the genus. 



Mesechites, Miill. (in parte) : char, emend. Sepala parva, sequalia, acuta aut ottasa, intus squamula 

 acuta singulatim munita. Corolla hypocrateriformis ; tubm cylindricus, infra medium tenuiter an- 

 gustatus, superne pauUo latior; segmenta 5, dolabriformia, tubi dimidia longitudine, rotatim ex- 

 pansa, dextrorsum convoluta. Stamina ad medium tuM inserta, inclusa ; filamenta brevia ; antherie 

 subcohserentes, oblongse, membrana acuta apiculatse, imo in furcas 2 obtusas divisae. Discus e lobis 

 5 liberisj aut basi breyissime nexis ; ovaria 2, disco longiora ; stylus gracilis, stamina attingens ; 

 clavuncula incrassata, conice oblonga, subpentagona, imo membrana lacerata munita ; stigmata 2, 

 linearia, terminalia. Folliculi 2, lineares, ssepius torosi, erecti. Semina acute vel obtuse linearia, 

 coma sericea coronata. 



Herbse repentes, vel sutfrutices humiles America calidioris ; folia opposita, scepe cordata ; racemi 

 scepius asdllares, pauciflori ; flores subparvi, smpius rubescentes. 



1. Mesechites repens, nob. : Echites repens, Jacq. Amer. p. 33, tab. 28; Lam. Diet. ii. p. 340; A. DC. 



Prodr. viii. p. 449 (excl. syn.) ; Schlecht. Linn. xxvi. p. 666 ; Griseb. Fl. Br. W. Ind. p. 414. In 

 Antillis : non vidi. 



A species notable for its narrow-lanceolate leaves and bifid peduncle, with small red 

 flowers. It is a procumbent plant, with slender glabrous branches, incrassate at the 

 axils, which are 1-2 in. apart, and which often throw out suckers that take root ; leaves 

 lanceolate, subcordate at the base, acute, IJ in. long, 3 lines broad, on petioles 1^ line 

 long ; raceme axillary, as long as the leaves ; peduncle 1 in. long, divided at its summit 

 into 2 branches, each bearing 2-3 flowers on pedicels 1 line long, all bracteolate ; sepals 

 slender, 1 line long ; corolla red, its narrow cylindrical tube sweUiag above, 7 lines long ; 

 segments dolabriform, 4 lines long and broad ; disk of 5 rounded lobes, distinct, half as 

 long as the ovaries ; follicles linear, torulose, 6 in. long. 



2. Mesechites torulosa, nob. : Echites torulosa, Linn. Sp. PI. (in parte), p. 307 ; Lam. Diet. ii. p. 339 



(excl. syn. et tab. 174) ; Sw. Obs. p. 105 ; Griseb. Fl. Brit. W. Ind. p. 414 : Echites torosa, Jacq. 

 Amer. p. 33, tab. 27; A. DC. I. c. p. 449 ; Griseb. /. c. p. 414 : Amblyanthera torosa, Miill. in 

 Lian. xxx. p. 446. In Antillis : v, s. in herb, meo, in flore, Jamaica (Heward) : in herb. Mus. Brit. 

 Camp^che (Schott 673 in flore). 



The above plants agree well with the drawing of Jacquin above cited. linnseus sup- 

 pressed the name torosa, substituting for it that of torulosa, although he quoted the 

 more copious description and drawing of Jacquin to explain his own laconic character. 



