OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 279 



the accuracy of whicli, either as to the number or length of 

 stamina, it is difficult to believe, especially when we find 

 it also representing the petals inserted by pairs on the two 

 upper sinuses of the calyx. 



The genus Crateva agrees, as I have already stated, in 

 the remarkable aestivation of its flower with Cleome Gym- 

 nogonia, by which character, along with that of its fruit, 

 it is readily distinguished from every other genus of the 

 order. Although this character of its aestivation has never 

 before been remarked, yet all the species referred to Crateva 

 by M. De Candolle really belong to it, except C fragrans, 

 which, with some other plants from the same continent, 

 forms a very distinct genus, which I shall name Ritchiea, 

 in memory of the African traveller, whose botanical merits 

 have been already noticed. 



Capparis sodada noh. Sodada decidua, ForsJc. Arab, 

 p. 81. Delile, Flore d'Egypte,p. 74, tab. 26. Be Cand. 

 Prodr. \,p. 245. 



The specimen in the herbarium is marked by Dr. Oudney 

 as belonging to a tree common on the boundaries of Bornou. 

 It is probably the Snag, mentioned in his journal, observed 

 first at Aghedem, and said to be " a tetrandrous plant, having 

 a small drupa, which is in great request in Bornou and 

 Soudan, for removing sterility in females : it is sweetish and 

 hot to the taste, approaching Sisymbrium Nasturtium;" 

 and that " in passing the plant a heavy narcotic smell is al- 

 ways perceived." 



I have here united Sodada with Capparis, not being 

 able to find differences sufficient to authorise its separation 

 even from the first section of that genus, as given by De 

 Candolle. 



Forskal describes his plant as octandrous, and M. De 

 Candolle has adopted this number in his generic character. 

 M. Delile(op. c«V.), however, admits that the stamina vary from 

 eight to fifteen ; and, in the specimen which I received pse 

 from M. Jomard, I have found from fourteen to sixteen. 

 But were the number of stamina even constantly eight, 

 this alone would not justify its separation from Capparis, 



