By Mr. John Lindley. 



271 



considered specifically identified with that before us. Among 

 the octandrous genera of Loureiro, with four styles, there 

 is, however, a genus named by him Pythagorea, with his 

 account of which this agrees in so many respects, that I 

 think there can be little doubt of its being the species he has 

 named Cochinchinensis ; and I do not hesitate to entertain 

 this opinion, notwithstanding the capsule of Pythagorea 

 being described as consisting of four cells, because there is 

 sufficient evidence of this plant belonging to Homalineae, 

 which makes a four- celled capsule improbable ; and because 

 he may have been misled by the capsule dividing into four 

 valves, which happens in Blackwellia, and may therefore be 

 expected in the present plant. When in blossom this is an 

 object of much interest, not only on account of its pendulous 

 racemes of white flowers, which burst forth from the axillae 

 of every leaf, and fill the air with their perfume, but also for 

 the sake of its beautiful starry floral envelope, which, with its 

 delicate fringe of shining white hairs, exhibits one of the most 

 elegantly symmetrical combinations in nature. It is nearly 

 a hardy plant, flowering in May, and appears, from dried wild 

 specimens in the possession of the Society, to be not uncom- 

 mon on the Lapa Hills, near Macao.* 



XIV. Eurya Chinensis. Abel. 

 This plant has been imported from China, by the Society, 

 by means of Mr. Parks, and flowered in February of the 



* Since this Report was written, the second part of M. De Candolle's Pro- 

 dromus, containing Homalinecc, has been received. There is not any species 

 described in that work with which the present can be confounded ; nor indeed is 

 there any reference to Loureiro's Pythagorea. 



