96 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



super-positis inferioribus axim versus, superioribus parietem versus, ovuliferis; stylus 

 liexuosus v. rectus filiformis v. valid us, stigmate spongioso ; ovula placentis multiseriatim 

 conferta. Bacca infera, sphaerica, calycis limbo coronata, cortice crasse coriaceo, rnultilocu- 

 laris, loculis nunc verticellatis nunc irregulariter superpositis co-sperrnis, septis tenuibus. 

 Semina majuscula angulata, testa coriacea pulpa aquosa induta; cotyledones foliaceae, 

 spiraliter convolutse, basi 2-auriculatse; radicula brevissiina. — Arbuscula ramosa ramulis 

 teretiusculis saepe spinesceutibus. Folia opposita subopposita et in ramulos brevissimos 

 fasciculata, oblonga v. obovata, obtusa, integerrima. Flores breviter pedicellati, axillares, 

 solitarii v. subfasciculati, ampli, coccinei. Pedicelli validi bibracteolati. 

 Species 2, altera in oriente et in India boreali-occidentali indigena, late per regiones subtropicas 

 culta, altera insulae Socotrae incola. 



P. protopunica, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xi. (1882), 512. 

 Tab. XXV. 



Arbuscula 10-pedalis glabra. Folia petiolata elliptica v. oblonga v. obovata 1£-1£ poll, longa 

 |-1 poll, lata v. angustiora saepe £ poll, lata nonnunquam fere orbicularia et 2 poll, diani. 

 obtusa subemarginata coriacea ; petiolus \ poll, longus. Pedicelli ^-^ poll, longi ; bracte- 

 olae rotundatae sub floribus late insertae. Calycis lobi 5-7, \ poll, longi. Petala 5-7 obcord- 

 ata v. obovata apice rotundata v. truncata emarginata basi acuta ^ poll, longa \ poll, 

 lata. Antherw ellipticae. Ovarium superum v. seminiferum 5-7-loculare, loculis 1 seriatis ; 

 stylus rectus validus basi paullum incrassatus ; ovula cujusque loculi fundum dense 

 vestentia. Bacca 5-7-locularis 1 poll. diam. glabra nitida rubescens superne calycis limbo 

 coronata apiceque umbilicata. Semina loculorum fundum lateraque obtegentia. 



Nom Vern. Rehina (B.C.S.). Eehane (Schweinf.). 



Socotra. A common tree on the higher parts of the Haghier range. 

 B.C.S. nn. 263, 505. Schweinf. n. 506. Hunter. 



Distmb. Endemic. 



This is a very distinct and interesting species. Its phylogenetic and 

 morphological importance has been referred to above, under the genus, and in 

 the Appendix will be found an extended account of its morphologically 

 interesting features. 



A small tree, it grows in abundance over the plateaux sloping southwards 

 from the Haghier peaks. In general habit it is not unlike the pomegranate, 

 but its leaves are larger and coarser, and it wants the delicate character of the 

 foliage of that species. The flowers, too, are somewhat smaller, and their 

 turbinate base is more angular. The fruit is very much less in size. 



We may, I think, with much probability, expect that this species will be 

 found on the adjacent mainland of Asia. 



Order XXIX. ONAGRARIE^E. 



A considerable order, chiefly of temperate regions of the globe, more rarely 

 found in the tropics. 



