65 
Descriptive Notes on Papuan Plants. 
petals about Ij inch long-, falcate-lanceolar, towards the middle ^ of 
an inch broad, short-stalked at the outward auricular base; lowest 
petals at the middle scarcely 3 lines broad, gently not suddenly curved ; 
all petals slightly hairy outside towards the base. Nine of the stamens 
to I or more of their length united. Style towards the summit glabrous. 
Stigma minute, capitellate, very finely bearded. Fruit unknown. 
So far as can be judged in the absence of the pods this species 
approaches nearest M, monosperma (Cand. Prodr. ii. 406 ; M. anguina, 
Wall. PI. Asiat. rarior, iii. 19, t. 236), which has however shorter 
peduncles, a more bristly hairiness, the flowers less distinctly racemose 
and the upper part of the carinal petals suddenly ascending. M. macro- 
carpa (Wall. PI. Asiat. rar. 41, t. 47) shows not the dense indument, 
its leaflets are almost glabrous, the flower-clusters are less ramified, the 
free portion of the peduncle is shorter, the calyces are larger on longer 
pedicels, the petals are considerably broader and of a different color, the 
five shorter of the anthers much less bearded. 
M. macrophylla (Miq. Flor. Ind. Bat. i. 213) is quite unknown as far 
as flowers and fruits are concerned. 
I have without result endeavored to trace out in the very much 
scattered recent literature of tropical Asiatic plants any other species, 
closely allied to this one from New Guinea. Dr, Bennett informs me, 
that the distinguished Italian traveller saw a third leguminous climber, 
supposed to belong to this g*enus, on the Fly-River. I have discerned 
only two species in the collection. It is probably the very rare species, 
found in latitude 6° S., bearing blue flowers, which I have not 
before me. M. Bennetti has red petals according to Signor D’ Albertis, 
thus differing from M. pruriens and M. monosperma in this respect; 
therefore this, if I rightly understand, is the one, about which the dis- 
coverer expresses himself in rapture, as it was one of the most gor- 
geous sights there in the whole floral kingdom.” He describes the red 
color of the flowers as similar to that of Methonica or Gloriosa, and 
adds, that the plant grew in the greatest abundance on the banks of 
the Fly-River,” and that to see the pendulous masses of such flowers, 
covering the trees from the base to the summit even of the most lofty 
was one of the most beautiful sights to behold.” M. Albertisi, so I 
learn, has yellow flowers. 
The collection contains also two pliyllodinous Acacice from the Fly- 
River, both distinct from A. Simsii, but neither bearing flowers or fruit 
at the time of gathering. 
