8] 



WEINMANNIA VENOSA. 



(Vein-leaved Weinmannia.') 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



OCTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 3 AXIFRAGA CE/E. (Z)e Cand.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Weinmannia (Lin.) ■ Calyx regularis 4-partitus persistens. Pelala 4 regularia sessilia fundo 

 calycis nascentia, et ejus lobis alterna. Stamina 8 inter discum et petala nascentia, sepalis 

 petalisque opposita. Antheris intus dehiscentibus. Ovarium sessile liberum biloculare, ad 

 basin disco urceolato cinctum. Styli 2 distincti. Dissepimentum utrinque placentiferum. 

 Ovula paUca (3-8) in quoque loculo biseriata. Semina elliptico-subreniformia, minima, ssepis- 

 sime pilis obsita. Radicula hilum spectans. Arbores vel fratices, ramis oppositis. Folia 

 opposita simplicia vel composita. Stipulce interpetiolares. Rami axillares solitarii. Flores parvi 

 in spicis, capitulisque dispositi, interdum 5-partiti decandri. — De Candolle Prod. vol. iv. p. 8. 



Calyx regular, 4-parted, not falling off. Petals 4, regular, sessile, arising from the base of 

 the calyx and alternate with the lobes. Stamens 8, arising between the disc and the petals and 

 opposite to the sepals and petals. Anthers bursting inwardly. Ovarium sessile free, bi-locular, 

 surrounded at the base by an urceolate disc. Styles two, separate ; dissepiments bearing placentae 

 on both sides. Ovules few, 3-8, two-rowed in each cell, seeds elliptical, somewhat kidney- 

 shaped, small, very often clothed with hairs. Radicle pointing to the hilum. Trees, or shrubs, 

 branches opposite. Leaves opposite, simple or compound. Stipules amongst the petioles. 

 Branches axillary, solitary. Flowers small, deposited in spikes, or heads, sometimes 5-parted, 

 and decandrous. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



W. venosa ; foliis coriaceis sessilibus decussatis oblongo-ovatis irregulariter inciso-dentatis 

 venosis ; floribus verticillato-spicatis ; petalis glabris lmearibus pallide roseis ; bracteis sepalisque 

 pubescentibus ; capsulis hirsutis. Floribus decandris. 



Leaves leathery, sessile, crosswise, opposite, oblong, ovate, irregularly incisely-toothed, 

 veined ; flowers in whorled spikes ; petals smooth, linear, pale rose colour ; bracts and sepals 

 pubescent ; capsules hairy. Flowers containing ten stamens. 



Descr. — Stem and the whole, plant rigid, and of a reddish colour. Leaves leathery, sessile, 

 oblong, ovate, alternately crossing each other, smooth on the upper side, and of a dark green 

 colour, the under paler, somewhat pubescent, and strongly veined with red-coloured veins; 

 margins deeply and irregularly toothed. Flowers in long dense whorled spikes, at the base of 

 which are about eight irregular involucral leaves, hairy, toothed, and strongly veined ; each 

 whorl is divided into three parts, supported by a common peduncle, which is hairy, and from 

 which issue about nine hairy pedicels, three times the length of the peduncle, each bearing a 

 solitary flower ; at the base of the pedicels are two or more linear-lanceolate somewhat toothed 

 bracts, and veined in a similar manner to the involucral leaves. Sepals five (not four), hairy, 



VOL. II. NO. XVIII. AUGUST, 1838. M 



