85 
DescrqHice Notes on Papiuin Plants, 
Tins notable species ap])roacbes in size of the fruit closely to S. 
Jamaicensis (Hook. Icon. C03-G96), thus far excelling any of the 
Sloaneas of the eastern hemisphere, so far as they are known, in the 
magnitude of the fruit. The petioles are much shorter than those of 
S, Jamaicensis, the covering- bristles are finer and of less length, while 
the seeds are more numerous, closely packed along- the whole cavity and 
not of almond-size. 
Bentham and J. Hooker (Gener. Plant, i. 239) ascribe to the genus a 
1-4-seeded capsule 5 but Sir Will. Hooker found already 8 or more 
seeds in S. Jamaicensis, and he figures also a 5-valved fruit. The 
nature of the wood of the Pa|)uan species should be tested, that of the 
Jamaica Sloanea being* so hard as to have given rise to the name Brake- 
Axetree. The seeds of the Papuan plant are probably also of agreeable 
taste. I have given this plant its particular specific name, because it 
cames from the forest-haunts of the birds of Paradise. 
The Rev, Dr. Turner has brought a Corchorus from Port Moresby, 
but the plant is not in fruit for specific determination. 
GTJTTIFERH]:. 
Gaucinia subtilinervis. 
Glabrous ; branchlets quadrangular ; leaves coriaceous, oval-lanceo- 
late, with a short and blunt acumen ; nerves and veins of the leaves 
extremely subtle, almost concealed^ petioles short; sepals four, very 
unequal; stigma undivided, depressed, sessile, orbicular; berry globular, 
eight-celled. 
Ely- River; D’ Albertis. 
Leaves 3-5 inches long, 1-1 J inch broad. Petioles of J- an inch or 
less length. Flowers unknown, except the persistent sepals, the two 
larger of which measuring \ an inch, the two others about half the 
size. Stigma fiat, rough, of about f of an inch diameter. Fruit 
measuring about inch. Seeds brown, much compressed. 
Foliage and fruit are not unlike G. Cowa (Roxh. FI. Indie, ii. G22), 
hut the stigma places the Papuan species near to G. anomala (Planch, 
et Trian. mem. Guttif. 174) and G. Maingayi (.J. Hook. Flor. of British 
Ind, i. 2G7), both of which Lave fewer-celled fruits. Ours has also some 
resemblance to G. multifiora (Champ, in Hook. Ivew Miscell. iii. 310), 
but the leaves are not so conspicuously veined, the sepals are not equal 
in size, and the fruit of the Hongkong plant remained hitherto un- 
known. 
