210 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



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



Dense pubescens, foliis obtusis subrotundis. 



Socotra. B.C.S. n. 579. Schweinf. n. 614. 

 Distrib. Nile Land. 



A third set of specimens are distinguished from those mentioned, and from 

 iill other forms of the species, by their stunted habit, hoary covering, and by 

 the small size of the flowers and fruits. The corolla is not more than a half- 

 inch, and the fruit is only a quarter-inch long. The leaves and other parts are 

 small in proportion. We may describe this also as a variety, thus : — 



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



Nana canescens ; foliis floribusque parvulis ; corolla vix £ poll, longa ; f ructu £ poll, longo ; 

 semiuibus £ poll. diam. 



Socotra. B.C.S. nn. 270, 728. 

 Distrib. Endemic. 



2. R insignis, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xii. (1883), 85. Tab. LXIV. 



Fructicosa ; foliis petiolatis ellipticis v. subrhomboideis obtusis, lamina glabra supra papulosa 

 cystolithifera ; floribus axillaribus solitariis ; bracteolis calyce viscido brevioribus 

 viscidis ; corolla magna ; capsula 4-sperma. 



Frutex 6-10-pedalis multo breviterque ramosus cortice griseo plus minusve verrucoso ramulis 

 ultiinis quadrangulatis puberulis. Folia petiolata elliptica v. subrhomboidea rarius 

 subrotundata plerumque versus extremitates angustata obtusa 1|-2J poll, longa £-1 poll, 

 lata saepius minora margine undulata crenulata coriacea lamina glabra supra papilloma et 

 cystolithis notata siccitate nigricante infra pallidiore, petiolo J-f poll, longo striguloso. 

 Florcs in axillis foliorum superiorum solitarii pedicellati ; pedicelli petiolo bractea; 

 subasquilongi ^ poll, longi quadrangulati pubescentes. Bractcolce oblongre v. oblanceolata: 

 \r poll, longse J poll, latse calyce breviores pilis viscidis glandulis capitatis dense vestitse, 

 in axillis villosre. Calyx § poll, longus profunde 5-partitus, segmentis linearibus apice 

 angustatis pilosis et pilis glandulis capitatis viscidis vestitis. Corolla lilacina magna 

 infundibularis, tubo \\ poll, longo inferne cylindraceo superne ventricoso intus glabro 

 extus sparsim piloso, limbi lobis rotundatis I poll, longis. Stamina stylo breviora inclusa; 

 antherre J- poll, longa: 1 . Ovarium glabrum ; stylus 1 poll, longus puberulus sursum 

 complanatus. Capsula glabra nitida clavato-pyriformis |- poll, longa calyce longior apice 

 punctata, stipite J poll, longo. Semina 4 orbiculata fusco-tomentosa. 



Nom. Vern. Ojehit (B.C.S.). Sizhin (Schweinf.). 



Socotra. Common on the Haghicr hills. B.C.S. n. 376. Schweinf. n. 490. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



A very distinct species, differing in foliage from all old world forms, and, in- 

 deed, from all other species in the genus. 



It is one of the largest-flowered plants on the island, and one of the most 

 beautiful. Unfortunately, none of the seeds we brought home have germinated, 

 and Messrs Haage and Schmidt inform me they have failed to raise it from 

 the seed sent by Schweinfurth. 



