PHANEROGAMS — PROFESSOR BAYLEY BALFOUR. 113 



var. nana, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xiii. (1883). 



Nana ramis validioribus et ramulis brevibus prostratis ; foliis plerumque minoribus paucioribus 

 et solum 2-5 in quoque fasciculo distincte obovatis crassiusculis. 



Socotra. On the plains. B.C.S. n. 86. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



A form of this species with quite a different appearance from the type, but 

 which cannot be separated as a species. The plant branches with no long rigid 

 twigs, and the smaller leaves few in each cluster, are very characteristic. 



3. HEDYOTIS. 



Hedyotis, Linn. Gen. n. 118 ; Bentb. et Hook. Gen. PI. ii. 56. 



A large genus of the warmer regions of the globe. The three Socotran 

 species are endemic, and present some curious features. One of them is very 

 nearly an Oldenlandia, as that genus is distinguished from Hedyotis. 



1. H. pulvinata, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xiii. (1883). 



Herba pulvinata congesta ; foliis parvis anguste acinaciformibus crassis triquetris imbrieatis ; 

 stipulis connatis fimbriatis ; floribus sessilibus axillaribus solitariis ; stylo bifido. 



Herba caespitosa depressa pulvinata dense ramosa ramis congestis internodiis contractis. Folia 

 opposita arete imbricata 1 poll, nonnunquam \ poll, longa £ poll, lata erassa anguste acinaci- 

 formia a basi sursum gradatim triquetro-dilatata apice acuta v. obtusa supra subcanalicul- 

 ata margine obscure papillosa paginis tessalatim subtuberculatis basi abrupte in stipulas 

 connatas membranaceas flexuose et multo-fimbriatas contracta. Flores dilute violacei in 

 axillis foliorum superiorum sessiles. Calycis tubus membranaceus brevis extus sparse strigul- 

 osus, limbus alte 4-fidus tubo dimidio longior, lobis \ poll, longis longe acutis nervo medio 

 viridi supra papillulatis margine membranaceo fimbriato. Corollce tubus ^ poll, longus 

 infra cylindricus sursum anguste ampliatus fauce villoso dilatato, limbi lobi 4 lanceolati 

 i- poll, longi acuti intus villosi. Stamina 4 subsessilia angulis limbi loborum inserta ; 

 antberae oblongas ^ poll, longae. Ovarium inferum apice vix bilobatum biloculare, loculis 

 multiovulatis ; stylus tubo corollas aequilongus filiformis bifidus segmentis pilosis y 1 ^ poll 

 longis. Fructus globosus in carpella 2 septicide fissens. Scmina in quoque loculo 4 glabra 

 angulata. 



'a 



Socotra. Very common on the plains about Galonsir. B.C.S. nn. 15, 

 719. Schweinf. n. 716. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



A very distinct species, having no near resemblance with any other species. 

 Perhaps its nearest likeness is to be found in the csespitose forms of //. 

 pinifolia, Wall. (Cat. 850 ; Hook. fil. Flor. Brit. Ind. iii. 60), a plant of eastern 

 Asia. But from all species its foliage is quite diagnostic as well as its habit. 

 A very congested form is the commonest on the island — our n. 15. On it 

 the leaves are very small and form sets of rosettes. But we have (n. 719) a more 

 laxly branched and spreading form with tufts of much longer leaves. 



TRANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN. VOL. XXXI. P 



