134 BOTANY or CONGO. 



between these relative numbers of stamina and pistilla, 

 and the singular mode of fecundation in this tribe. But 

 in Potalia and Anthocleista, there is a remarkable increase 

 in the number of stamina and segments of the corolla, 

 and at the same time a reduction in the divisions of the 

 calyx. The pistilUun in Potalia, however, if my account 

 of it be correct, agrees in division with that of Apocineee ; 

 and the deviation from this division in Anthocleista is only 

 apparent ; the ovarium, according to the view I have else- 

 where given of this organ,^ being composed of two united 

 ovaria, again indeed subdivided by processes of the 

 placenta, but each of the subdivisions or partial cells con- 

 taining only one half of an ordinary placenta, and that 

 not originating from its inner angle, as would be the case 

 were the ovarium composed of four confluent organs. 



Of ASCLEPIADEtE there are very few species in the 

 collection, and none of very remarkable structure. The 

 Feriphca of Equinoctial Africa alluded to in my essay on 

 this family,^ was one of the first plants observed by Pro- 

 fessor Smith at the mouth of the river ; and a species of 

 Oxystelma, hardly different from 0. esciilentum of India,^ 

 was found, apparently indigenous, on several parts of its 

 banks. 



The ACANTHACEiE of the collection, consisting of 

 sixteen species, the far greater part of which are new, have 

 a much nearer relation to those of India than to the 

 American portion of the order. Among these there are 

 several species of Nelsonia^ and Hypoestes ;^ a new species 

 of yEtlieilema^ a genus from which perhaps Phaylopsis of 

 Willdenow is not different, though its fruit is described by 

 Wendland'^ as a legumen, and by AVilldenow, with almost 

 equal impropriety, as a siliqua ; a plant belonging to a 



1 Linn. Soc. Transact, li, p. 89. 



^ Wernerian Nat. Hist. Soc. Trans. 1, ;;. 40. 



3 Periploca esculents, Bo^b. Coromand. 1, p. 13, t. 11. 



" Prodr. Flor. Nov. Holl. 1, p, 480. = Op. citat. I, p. 474 



« Prodr. Flor. Nov. Holl. ], ;;. 478. 



" jVEiorantliiis, Wend.Botan. BeohacM, 38, 



