PHANEROGAMS — PROFESSOR BAYLEY BALFOUR. 233 



P. abyssinica, Jaub. et Spach loc. cit. tfc. 453, 454 ; Boiss. Flor. Orient, iv. 533 ; Franch. Sert. 



Somal. in Miss. ReVoil 50. 

 Streptium asperum, Roxb. PI. Corom. ii. 25, t. 146 ; Wight in Hook. Journ. Bot. i. (1834), 230' 



t. 130. 



Socotra. On the hill slopes. B.C.S. n. 542. 



Distrib. Indian Peninsula, tropical Africa, Cape of Good Hope. 



A species varying considerably in the sculpturing of its fruit, and its forms 

 have consequently been described as distinct species. 



Abyssinian specimens show a dorsal armature of four rows, arranged in pairs, 

 of long hooked spines radiating from the fruit, and separated mesially by a 

 shallow transversely striated groove. Laterally there is no armature, but a few 

 striae run ribwise to the commissure. The fruit is distinctly puberulous, often 

 fuscous. This is the type of P. abyssinica. 



Cape specimens show but two rows of hooked spines which project at right 

 angles to the side of the fruit, and are usually somewhat shorter. The back of 

 the fruit has a mesial groove with transverse bars passing from it, and has a 

 more regular surface than in the last, The sides are faintly ribbed. The fruit 

 is puberulous, usually whitish. This is the type of P. dentata. 



Indian specimens show a general raised network spreading over the back 

 of the fruit, from the angles of which uncinate spines arise and radiate in all 

 directions, not falling distinctly into lines. The reticulation extends down on 

 the side of the fruit to near the commissure. The fruits, too, are usually nearly 

 glabrous and shining. 



The Socotran plants show fruits very small, much smaller than in any other 

 specimens I have examined, and the back of the fruit is tuberculate muricate or 

 often only warted, rather than spiny. It is but faintly puberulous. 



Although there are such differences, and some of them are beautifully 

 figured by Jaubert and Spach loc. cit., yet the forms so run one into the other 

 it is impossible to make out specific differences. 



3. CCELOCARPUS. 



Gcelocarpus, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Ediu. xii. (1883), 90. 



Calyx tubuloso-campanulatns, membranaceus, 6-costatus costis in mucroues productis, frnctifer 

 patens cupularis drupaqne brevior. Corollas tubus cylindraceus, aequalis ; limbus patens, 

 5-fidus, lobis oblongis obovatis obtusis parum inaequalibus, 2 posticis minoribus. Stamina 

 4, didynama, supra medium tubum affixa, inclusa, filamentis brevibus ; antherae cordiformes, 

 inappendiculatte, loculis divergentibus. Ovarium integrum, 4-loculare, loculis 1-ovulatis ; 

 stylus inclusus apice brevissime bifidus, lobo autico majore stigmatoso, postico erecto levi. 

 Drupa succosa calyci patenti imposita, endocarpio osseo, pyrenis 2 bilocularibus lacuna 

 intermedia separatis. Semina exalbuminosa. — Frutex pubescens, inermis. Folia opposita 

 elliptica, crenata, venulis subtus prominentibus. Racemi terminales, breves. Flores parvuli 

 in axillis bractearum minutarum breviter pedicellati, ebracteolati, secus rbachin alterui v. 

 suboppositi approximati. 

 TRANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN. VOL. XXXI. 2 G 



