I83S.] 



On a new Genus of Asclepiadece, 



143 



the usual way, then their alternate position, with reference to the coronal 

 leaflets, equally distinguishes the genus from all others; Xismalobium 

 being the only one in which an approach to that arrangement is observ- 

 ed, and theie, the crown is iO-parted, with 5 of the divisions alternate, 

 and 5 opposite the anthers, which is not the case here. 



Odontanthera. — R. W. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla tubular, 5-cleft; throat crowned with a 

 5-cleft membranous border ; divisions M-toothed. Staminal crown 

 5-leaved ; leaflets lanceolate, acute, longer than the column. Anthers 

 deeply 2-cleft, divisions united by pairs to near the apex, hence, 

 apparently, alternate with the leaflets of the crown. Pollen masses 

 attached by the apex, pendulous. .Stigma, obtuse. Follicles. 



Small sub-erect, or perhaps in favourable soil, twining shrubs, with 

 opposite, broadish, somewhat coriaceous, leaves ; umbels interpetiolar, 

 many flowered ; flowers, from the dry specimen, brownish purple. 



Odontanthera reniformis. — R. W. 



Habitat — Shores of the Red Sea — Communicated by J. Nimmo, Esq* 

 of Bombay. 



A smnll suffruticose, sub-erect, villous, plant, about four inches high. 

 Leaves long petioled, reniform, terminatmg in a short abrupt acumen, 

 villous above, tomentose beneath. Peduncles interpetiolar, equalling the 

 petioles, terminated by an umbel of 10 or 121ongish pedicelled flowers. 

 Calyx 5-parted, segments linear lanceolate, acute, villous, shorter than 

 the tube of the corolla. Corolla 5-cleft, segments linear, acute, about 

 as long as the tube ; tube enclosing the column of fructification, throat 

 crowned with a 5-cleft membranous border, segments 3-toothed. 

 Crown of the stamens 5-leaved, opposite, but apparently alternate with 

 the anther, leaves, lanceolate, acute, incurved (in drying ?). Anthers 

 2-parted ; each division united to near the apex with that of the adjoin- 

 ing anther, and resting on the corpuscule of the stigma, hence re- 

 sembling simple anthers, but alternate with the leaves of the crown. 

 Corpuscules large in proportion to the size of the stigma. Pollen 

 masses, ovoid, pendulous from rather long curved processes. Ovaries 

 2, ovules numerous ; styles slender approximated j stigma obtuse. — 

 Fruit 1 have not seen. 



