106 BOTANY OF CONGO. 



Smeathman's specimens, by Cavanilles/ who has added 

 the fruit of a very different plant to his figure, and quotes 

 the herbarium of M. de Jussieu as authority for this species 

 being lilvewise a native of America, which is, I believe^ 

 equally a mistake. 



The two remaining plants of Malpighiacese, in the col- 

 lection, with some additional species from different parts of 

 the coast, form a new genus, having the fruit of Banisteria, 

 but with sufficient distinguishing characters in the parts of 

 the flower, and remarkable in having alternate leaves. 

 Prom tbis disposition of leaves, in which the genus hero 

 noticed differs from all others decidedly belonging to the 

 order, an additional argument is afforded, for referring 

 Vitmamiia to Malpighiacese, as proposed by M. du Petit 

 Thouars -^ and the approximation, though perhaps not the 

 absolute union of Erythroxylon to the same family is con- 

 firmed. 



It may not be improper here to notice a very remarkable 

 deviation from the usual structure of leaves in Malpi- 

 ghiacese, which is supposed to occur in a plant of equi- 

 noctial Africa, namely Flahellaria pinnata of Cavanilles 

 (the Hircea pinnata of Willdenow). It is certain, however, 

 that the figure given by Cavanilles of this species is made 

 up from two very different genera ; the pinnated leaf 

 belonging to an unpublished Pterocarpus ; the fructifica- 

 tion to a species of Hirsea, having simple opposite leaves. 

 The evidence respecting this blunder, which was detected 

 by Mr. Dryander, is to be found in the herbarium of Sir 

 Joseph Banks. 



In Malpighiacese the insertion of the ovulum is towards 

 its apex, or considerably above its middle; and the radicle 

 of the embryo is uniformly superior. In these points 

 Banisteria presents no exception to the general structure, 

 though Gsertner has described its radicle as inferior, and 

 M. de Jussieu does not appear to have satisfied himself 

 respecting the fact.^ It appears, however, that M. Richard 



1 Dissert. 4-24., t. 247. 



' In Nov. gen. Mudagasc. n. 46 (Bipoveia). 



2 Annul, du Mits. d Ilist. Kal. 18, p. 480. 



