240 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



widely ovate and acuminate, and the calyx shortly toothed, the whole spike 

 being densely pubescent. This is our n. 486, Schweinfurth's n. 361. 



The plant as it occurs on the hills is, however, a loosely slightly-branched 

 one, always densely hairy and having large conspicuous leaves. The bracts 

 arc gradually tapered, the calyx more longly toothed, and the spike is less 

 densely pubescent, rather more pilose. This is the form of the plant described 

 by Bentham. B.C.S. n. 507. Schweinf. n. 657. 



We have another set of specimens from high altitudes, in leaf only, showing 

 a form possessing very large and hairy leaves, often two and a half inches long, 

 and one inch broad. B.C.S. n. 689. 



5. MICROMERIA. 



Micromeria, Benth. iti Bot. Beg. sub. t. 1282 ; Benth. efc Hook. Gen. PI. ii. 1188. 



A large genus of wide range in the tropics of both old and new worlds, 

 sometimes extratropical. 



M. microphylla, Benth. Lab. 377, and in DC. Prod. xii. 219 ; Boiss. Flor. 

 Orient, iv. 572. 



M. Forbesii, Benth. loc. cit. 



M. ovata, Benth. loc. cit. ; Ach. Bich. Tent. Flor. Abyss, ii. 189. 



M. spliaciotica, Boiss. and Heldr.; Boiss. Diagn. ser. i. 12, 48 ; Benth. loc. cit. 



M. Tcneriffce, Benth. loc. cit. 



M. tcrebintliinacca, Webb et Berthel. Phyt. Canar. iii. 80, t. 164. 



M. filiformis, Benth. loc. cit. 



M. punctata, Benth. loc. cit. ; Ach. Rich. loc. oil. 



M. biflora, Benth. loc. cit. 



For the older synonymy, see Bentham loc. cit. 



Nom. Veen. Theijeijah (Schweinf). 



Socotra. Abundant. B.C.S. nn. 213, 613, 631. Schweinf. nn. 529, 

 600. 



Distrib. A widely dispersed and variable species occurring in the Canary 

 and Cape de Verde islands, south Europe, north-east Africa, and through Arabia 

 to northern India. 



We have from Socotra an extensive series of specimens, which, differing 

 from one another in minor characters, yet all naturally come within one specific 

 limitation, and on comparing them with the specimens of Micromeria in Kew 

 Herbarium and with Bentham's descriptions, I an convinced that the many 

 allied plants from different regions which he doubtfully maintained as separate 

 species are better regarded as so many forms, perhaps geographical, of one 

 widely-dispersed species. I have therefore brought together above such of 

 them as I take to be conspecific, adapting for the specific name that which has 

 been most frequently used, although another of the synonyms antedates it. 



