MENISPERMACE^E. 37 



in length ; the secondary rays several, a quarter of an inch long, each 

 terminated by a close capitate cluster of staminate flowers. These 

 have six or more frequently eight sepals (oblanceolate-oblong and 

 obtuse), and three, or more frequently four petals. The latter are 

 broadly cuneate, cucullate, thickish, distinct, shorter than the sepals. 

 Filament or column at length longer than the sepals, supporting a 

 peltate disk, which is edged with a perfectly continuous, horizontally 

 dehiscent, annular anther, just as figured by Decaisne in Stephania 

 (Clypea, Decaisne) glaucescens. Fertile flowers not seen; but the 

 fructiferous peduncle shows them to have been capitate at the apex of 

 the (simple ?) rays of the umbel. Drupe with a bony annular puta- 

 rnen, which is strongly muricate with transverse processes, the sides 

 hollowed. Embryo slender, terete, curved almost into a ring. Albu- 

 men scarcely any. — The sterile specimen from Tongatabu has rounder 

 leaves ; but is likely to belong to the same species. 



The floral envelopes vary from trimerous to tetramerous in diffe- 

 rent flowers of the same individual, in this, and, I believe, also in 

 other species : the presence or absence of an outer row of sepals 

 (which perhaps are rather to be regarded as bractlets), in the male 

 flowers, is scarcely of generic importance : and the number of cells 

 which enter into the composition of the annular anther cannot be 

 ascertained in such species as this and Stephania glaucescens, although 

 it is probable there are only two. The genus Glypea, as newly pro- 

 posed by Mr. Miers, is therefore not likely to be maintained. Hence 

 I refer all our species to the older genus. 



2. Stephania Gaudichaudii, Sp. Nov. 



S. folvis peltatis late ovatis subacuminatis basi truncatis seu ovato-sub- 

 cordatis subtus ramulisque junioribus molliter pubescentibus ; capitulis 

 um bellatis / sepalis petalisque fl. fcem . 3-4 . 



Hab. Near Sydney, New South Wales. Also, Puen Buen : foliage 

 only, of a smoother form. 



This is doubtless the plant mentioned by Decaisne (Herb. Timor. 



p. 95) as a species of Glypea, collected by Gaudichaud at Port Jack- 



10 



