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MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN [Vol. 8, No. 5 



v 



Petioles long, (2-)3 cm. or more; leaflets larger, mostly 4-6 cm. 

 long, elliptic to oblong or obovate (sometimes leaflets smaller, 

 but then flowering shoots erect). 

 Calyx 5-6 mm. long, teeth triangular, 2-4 mm. long; leaflets mostly 



elliptic to oblong. 7. D. oliganthus. 



Calyx 7-9 mm. long, teeth 4—6 mm. long, quickly narrowed into 

 long subulate-filiform points; leaflets mostly obovate to ob- 

 lanceolate, drying a characteristic greyish tint. 9. D. brevicaulis. 



In the following account the species and varieties not represented in Mr. 

 Brass* collection are enclosed in brackets. 



[la. Dolichos axillaris E. Mey. Comm. PI. Afr. Austr. I: 144 (1835-36) var. 

 axillaris. 



Harms (Bot» Jahrb. 26: 312, 313. 1899) discusses the concept of Dolichos hi- 

 florus at some length, and concludes that D. axillaris E. Mey. is a synonym of D. 

 biflorus — a conclusion since generally accepted, although, I am convinced, 

 incorrect,, 



D. axillaris in its wide sense is the commonest of the African species in the 

 "D. biflorus" complex. It is normally recognisable without difficulty by its large 

 flowers 12 mm. or more long, by its perennial climbing habit, short stipels, 

 shortly acuminate sepals and broad pods 6-8.5 mm. -wide. 



Typical D. axillaris is found in Nigeria (Lely 578), Belgian Congo (Lebrun 

 9743), Eritrea (Pappi 4715, Herb. Florent.), Abyssinia (Cufodontis 568, Herb. 

 Florent.), Uganda (Maitland 109, Chandler 1382, Purseglove 583, 3044), Kenya 

 (Mrs. Brodhurst-Hill 485), Tanganyika Territory (St. C lair-Thompson 746, Gillman 

 510), Angola (Pearson 2238), Natal (Drege s.n., Rudatis 636). It is also found in 

 Madagascar (Lyall 118, Baron 892).] 



lb. Dolichos axillaris E. Mey. var. macranthus Brenan, var. nov. 



A D. axillari typico, cujus caules patentim vel subdeflexe pubescentes prae- 

 bet, floribus majoribus, calyce 7-12 mm. longo, corollis 15-24 mm. longis differt. 



NYASALAND: North Nyasa District: Nyika Plateau, 1830-2130 m., 1896, A. Whyte 

 213 (Herb. Kew.); ibid., between Mpata and the commencement of the Tanganyika Plateau, 

 610-910 m., July 1896, A Whyte s.n. (Herb. Kew.). Blantyre District: Blantyre, trailing 

 in old gardens, flowers green, 1100 m., June 18, 1946, 16362. Kota-kota District: Nchisi 

 Mountain, twining on brushy growth edging rain-forest, vine 1.5 m. high, flowers green, 

 inconspicuous, 1400 m., Aug. 2, 1946, 17108; ibid., twining in shrubberies bordering rain- 

 forest, vine 2 m. high, flowers green, fruit immature, 1400 m., Sept. 11, 1946, 17621. Cholo 

 District: Cholo Mountain, frequent in rain-forest regrowths, shrub 1-2 m. high, flowers 

 green, 1200 m., Sept. 28, 1946, 17856. 



SOUTHERN RHODESIA: Umtali District: Odzani River valley, Manica District, 1914, 

 A. J. Teague 90 (TYPUS varietatis in Herb. Kew.). 



Xhis appears to be merely a large-flowered variant of var. axillaris. 



[lc. Dolichos axillaris E. Mey. var. glaberE. Mey. Comm. PI. Afr. Austr. 1: 144. 

 1835-36. 



Clitoria viridiflora Bout. Hook. Ic. PI. pi 15Z 1837. 



Dolichos uniflorus Lam. var. glaber Thwaites ex Trim. Hand-Book Fl. Ceyl. 2: 76. 

 1894. 



This variety appears to be rather commoner and more widespread than var. 

 axillaris. It varies in indumentum; in the size of the leaflets; in the size of the 

 flowers, which may be as small as in var. axillaris or as large as in var. macran- 

 thus, but whose variation seems quite uncorrelated with geography; and in the 

 pods, which may be hairy or puberulous. 



The var. glaber is found in the Belgian Congo (Lebrun 8545, Ghesauiere 6564), Eritrea 

 (Schweinfurth & Riva 2212, Pappi 373, Herb. Kew., Terraciano & Pappi 510, Fiori 1158, 

 1159, Pappi 5391, 5461, Herb. Florent.), Abyssinia (Schimper 508, Gillett 5273, Herb. 



