72 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



Socotra. Abundant on the hills at a high altitude. B.C.S. nn. 400, 491. 

 Schweinf. n. 555. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



A very attractive species, on account of its slightly fleshy character, its pale 

 yellow-green foliage, and brilliant yellow flowers. It is essentially a plant of 

 the higher regions of the island, and like many other Socotran plants it is 

 somewhat diverse-leaved, at times showing almost orbicular forms, in other 

 instances the shape is lanceolate or pointed. 



3. L. (Ononidium) mollis, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xi. (1882), 

 509. Tab. XVII, A. 



Diffusus canus dense strigosus ; foliis sessilibus, foliolis oblanceolatis v. obcuneatis exstipulatis ; 

 floribus sessilibus v. subsessilibus ; calycis lobis subsequalibus ; corolla longe exserta ; stig- 

 Hiate capitato ; legumine lineari glabro 8-spermo. 



Perennis depressus albidus mollis ramosissimus caule hypogaeo lignoso, per totum albis pilis 

 sericeis adpressis dense vestitus. Rami diffusi late depresso-decumbentes elongati 

 pedales angulati saepe internodiis brevibus. Folia trifoliolata sessilia saepe conferta ; 

 foliola £— £ poll, louga -fe-\ poll, lata oblanceolata v. obcuneata obtusa v. subacuta mollis- 

 sirna. Stipidcc nullse. Flores sessiles v. subsessiles axillares solitarii versus apicem ramu- 

 lorum singillatim evoluti. Calyx £ poll, longus, lobis linearibus tubum aequantibus margine 

 ciliatis extus dense sericeo-strigosis. Corolla aurea longe exserta ; vexillum late obovatum 

 emarginatum fere -fa poll, longum ; alae oblongae ; carina obliqua subrostrata apice pur- 

 purea. Stamina diadelphia vagina extus scabrida filamentis alternis sursum dilatatis ; 

 antherae alternaj versatiles alternae paullo longiores et basifixse. Ovarium breviter stipi- 

 tatum; stylus \ poll, longus ovario aequilongus, stigmate capitato. Legumen *-| poll, 

 longum -^2 poll, latum calycem multo superans lineare subtorulosum glabrum. Semina 

 circa 8 globularia levia. 



Socotra. On the limestone cliffs south-west from Galonsir, at an 

 altitude over 1300 feet. B.C.S. n. 670. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



A very characteristic plant of the lofty limestone plateau at the north-west 

 end of the island. Easily distinguished from the preceding species by its soft 

 leaves covered with silky white hairs. 



7. PSORALEA. 



Psoralca, Linn. Gen. n. 894 ; Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. i. 491. 



A large genus, distributed over the whole world, but most abundant in south 

 Africa and North America. 



P. corylifolia, Linn. Sp. 1075 ; DC. Prod. ii. 218 ; Baker in Hook. Flor. 

 Brit. Ind. i. 103 ; Bot. Mag. t. 665. 



Socotra. About dwellings. B.C.S. n. 671. 

 Distrib. India and Ceylon, and in Arabia. 



