PHANEROGAMS — PROFESSOR BAYLEY BALFOUR. 261 



fauce uuda, lobis £ poll, longis oblongo-obtusis. Stamina 10, 5 lobis calycis opposita, 

 fauci inserta, 5 lobis calycis alternantia medio tubi affixa. Ovarium sessile curvatum ; 

 stylus tubo calycis dinridio brevior sursum dilatatus, stigraate fimbriate 



Nom. Vern. Legief (Schweinf.). 



Soeotra. A not uncommon shrub. B.C.S. n. 518. Schweinf. n. 567. 

 Hunter nn. 7, 12. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



Quite a distinct species in this genus, and interesting because of its variation 

 from the generic type. The presence or absence of scales on the throat of the 

 perianth is a character in this family which readily enables us to arrange many 

 of the genera in groups. Lasiosiphon belongs to the group in which scales are 

 commonly present, and in all hitherto described species these are developed. 

 But in our Socotran plant there are none. At first their absence led me to 

 regard the plant as probably an Arthrosolen; but its features are thoroughly 

 those of Lasiosiphon, its position in the genus being in the vicinity of L. glaucus, 

 Fresen. (in Flora 1838, 603 ; Meisn. in DC. Prod. xiv. 593), a tropical African 

 species, and of the Mascarene L. Bojerianus, Dene, (in Jacquem. Voy. Bot. 149; 

 Meisn. loc. cit. 597). 



In Kew Herbarium I find two specimens collected in east Africa by 

 Hildebrandt. They are undescribed. One, n. 2838, is labelled "Kitui in 

 Ukamba, frutex 2 ,n alt.," the other is n. 2369, and has the label " Wildness 

 zwischen Duruma u. Teita (u. i. Ndara), frutex 2 m alt. ram. striat., fl. aurant." 

 These are of the same species, and it is unquestionably nearly allied to the 

 Socotran plant, in fact is its nearest ally, distinguished, however, by the slightly 

 pilose leaves and the oblong silky involucral bracts. It is noteworthy that in 

 the flowers of this species, the scales of the perianth are absent as in the 

 Socotran plant, 



Order LXVII. LORANTHACE^. 



A small order of commonly parasitic plants widely dispersed in tropical 

 regions, rarer in extratropical countries. 



LORANTHUS. 



Loranthus, Lion. Geu. u. 443 ; Bentb. et Hook. Gen. PL iii. 207. 



A large genus constituting the major part of the order, widely dispersed over 

 the globe, and most abundant in the tropics. 



Loranthus sp. 



We have twigs of a species of Loranthus but no flowers, and the specimens 

 are not sufficient for identification or complete determination. The plant 

 jesembles somewhat L. oblongifolius , E. Mey. (in herb. Schimp. Abyss, sect. ii. 



