244 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



branches often withering at the ends ; in other places it lias long curved wide- 

 spreading somewhat decumbent branches, or there may be long ascending rigid 

 twigs. In these latter forms the leaves are much larger than in the first 

 mentioned. It is quite a distinct species in the Ortholeucas section of the genus, 

 marked by its habit, small leaves, and the small flower clusters. 



7. LASIOCARYS. 



Lasiocarys, Benth. Lab. Gen. et Sp. 600 ; Benth. et Hook. Gen. PL ii. 1213. 



A small genus of five species, one being south African, two Abyssinian, 

 and two are endemic in Socotra. Both the Socotran forms differ from all 

 others in their prickly habit and in inflorescence. 



1. L. spiculifolia, Balf. fil. in Proc. Koy. Soc. Edin. xii. (1883), 92. Tab. 

 LXXXI, A. 



Suffruticosa nana; foliis spiculil'ormibus v. triaculeatis ; tloribus solitariis axillaribus. 



Suffrutex huroilis spiculosus caulibus s?epe prostratis cortice crasso rugoso profunde sulcato 

 rnulto intricatoque ramosis, raraulis ultimis tenuibus adscendentibus puberulis albidis ad 

 nodos tumidis et axillares contractos ramulos gerentibus. Folia parva ^-\ poll, longa v. 

 minora rigida sessilia opposita oblanceolata et spiculiformia ad extremitates anibos 

 attenuata apiceque longe pungentia v. in parte superiore triaculeata hastata spiculo medio 

 maximo inferneque gradatim attenuata spiculis plerumque lateraliter patentibus 

 obscure glandulosa puberula viridia venulis striata supra subconcava. Flores in axillis 

 superioribus solitarii brevissime pedicellati foliis plerumque breviores ; bracteae minuke 

 subulato-pungentes pedicellis longiores. Calyx ^ poll, longus glaber rigidus tubuloso- 

 campanulatus parum obliquus 10-costatus 5-fidus, segmentis acuminatis pungentibuo 

 patentibus suba^qualibus. Corolla fere ^ poll, longa, tubo incluso intus piloso-anuulato 

 extus basi glabro superne pilis deflexis vestito, limbi lobo postico coucavo emargiuato dense 

 pilis longis hirto, antico extus villoso et glanduloso trilobato lobo medio majore obovato 

 emarginato lateralibus ovatis obtusis. Stylus inclusus. Nuculas glabra; oblongoe \ poll, longa-. 



Socotra. A scrub plant of the plains. B.C.S. n. 216. 



Disteib. Endemic. 



A species clearly marked out by its spicular leaves and solitary axillary 

 flowers from all others in the genus. The very thick corky bark on the stems 

 is another very interesting feature. 



This is one of the jilants which makes progress over many parts of the plains 

 unpleasant on account of its dart-like and often triaculeate leaves. The 

 mimicry in foliage between this species and the Acantliaceous Blepharis spiculi- 

 folia is worthy of note. 



2. L. flagellifera, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xii. (1883), 92. Tab. 

 LXXXI, B. 



Flagellifera ; foliis spatbulatis v. cocldeariformibus cum deutibus 5-7 pungentibus ; floribus 



solitariis axillaribus. 

 Perennis flagellifera flagellis longe repentibus ramos laterales contractos ad nodos gerentibus 





