A R A L I A G E M. noi 



transversim rhomboideo-dilatatis latioribus quam longis subito acumi- 

 nate integerrimls, margins incrassato ; umbellulis luxe cymoso-panicu- 

 latis; stigmatibus cum ovarii localis 2 ?-5. 



Panax? platyphyllum, Hook. & Arn. Bot. Beech. Voy. p. 84. 



Hab. Oahu ; on the mountains behind Honolulu, at the elevation 

 of 2,000 feet. (Also gathered by Gaudichaud, in the Voyage of the 

 Bonite.) 



A shrub, glabrous throughout, unarmed. Leaves opposite in all the 

 specimens, on slender petioles of 3 or 4 inches in length, exstipulate, 

 digitately trifoliolate. Leaflets transversely dilated, somewhat rhom- 

 boidal, from an inch to 2 inches long, but li to nearly 3 inches wide, 

 abruptly acuminate or apiculate, rarely emarginate or retuse, entire, 

 the margin thickened, chartaceous or slightly coriaceous in texture, 

 somewhat lucid, of the same hue both sides, copiously feather- veined ; 

 the veins slender, parallel and straight, connected by minute reticu- 

 lated veinlets : the partial footstalks very long, about 2 inches in 

 length. Umbels few-flowered, in a simple or trichotomous and loose 

 cymose panicle, which is shorter than the leaves. Pedicels one or 2 

 lines long, bearing a small calyculus at the articulation with the 

 flower. Flowers nearly 3 lines long ; those of the specimens herma- 

 phrodite. Calyx-tube obconical; the short limb repand-truncate, 

 denticulate. Petals 5, triangular-ovate, valvate in aestivation, a line 

 and a half long, expanding in anthesis, early deciduous. Stamens 5, 

 as in the preceding species. Ovary five-celled, or sometimes four- 

 celled, in our specimens. Styles none. Stigmas sessile on a short 

 stylopodium, 2, according to Hooker & Arnott, but in our specimens 

 always 4 or 5. Ovule with the rhaphe internal, as in the family. 



Fruit not seen. 



* 



Plate 91. — Hedera platyphylla: a branch, in flower, of the 

 natural size. Fig. 1. An unexpanded flower, with its small calyculus. 

 2. A vertical section of an opening flower. 3, 4. Stamens. 5. An 

 ovule. 6. Transverse section of a four-celled ovary. 7. Similar 

 transverse section of a five-celled ovary.— The details variously mag- 

 nified. 



181 



