256 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



plant is considerably pubescent, the leaves are more or less lanceolate and 

 narrow at the apex, and the spikes are small with the bracts and perianth 

 segments acuminate. 



But besides this we have specimens which are remarkable for the great 

 amount of their downy vestiture and in which the bracts and perianth segments 

 are less acuminate. The downiness is most developed in some specimens with 

 a very robust habit, more so than in any specimens in Kew Herbarium, and 

 with leaves much larger and thicker and more rounded at the apex than is 

 typical, and spikes more closely set and longer. As varieties are constituted 

 of this species this may well be one, as — 



var. robusta, Balf. fil. in Proc. Eoy. Soc. Edin. xiii. (1883). 

 Dense lanata caulibus robustis ; foliis crassis magnis apice rotundatis ; spicis elongatis. 



Socotra. Near Galonsir, on the plains. B.C.S. n. 517. Schweinf. n. 

 219. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



Another set of Socotran specimens (B.C.S. n. 50) shows smaller leaved and 

 shorter spiked plants, more nearly resembling the type which Ascherson has 

 taken for his variety oblongata. 



JE. floribunda, Wight, appears to be merely a form of this species with long 

 spikes. 



4. 2&. revoluta, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xii. (1883), 92. 



Suffruticosa incana parva ramis erectis complanatis ; foliis obovatis obtusis alternis revolutis 

 subtus incanis supra demum glabrescentibus ; spicis oblcmgis brevibus ad extreruitates 

 ramornni spicatim dispositis ; floribus haud nitidis ; perianthii segmentis uninerviis 

 bracteolis multo longioribus ; staininodiis brevissimis deltoideis. 



Suffrutex parvus basi lignosus a collo ramosus ramis erectis patentibus 1-2-pedalibus 

 angulatis complanatis dense incanis. Folia petiolata 1-1£ poll, longa j^-f P ^- ^ a 

 alternata obovata basi attenuata apice obtusa saspe emarginata margine revoluta sub- 

 crenulata crassiuscula subtus incana nervo medio prominente supra sulcata primuni 

 subtiliter arachnoideo-pubescentia canescentia demum glabrata. Spicai -|- poll, longse I 

 poll, lata: oblonga3 ad extremitates ramorum spicatim singillatim v. 2-4-natim dispositae 

 inflorescentiamque compositam saape subpaniculatam formantes. Flores albescentes haud 

 nitidi. Bracteolcc late ovataj subacutte concavre perianthii segmentis multo breviores. 

 Perianthii segmenta late ovata obscure carinata submucronata basi subincrassata exteriora 

 villosa interiora minora uuinervia. Stamina 5, filamentis basi dilatatis cupula longioribus ; 

 antherae suborbiculares ; stamiuodia brevissima subdeltoidea. Ovarium subglobosum ; 

 stylus apice capitatus obsolete bilobatus. Utriculus globosus. Semen fuscum j 1 ,; poll. 

 diam. 



Nom. Vern. 'Feh (B.C.S.). 



Socotra. On the Haghier range at considerable elevation. B.C.S. n. 

 478. Schweinf. n. 558. 

 Distrib. Endemic. 



