C 359 ] 
XXXV. Chloranthus, a new Genus of Plants , defcribedby Olof 
Swartz, M. D. Communicated by Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart . 
P. R. S. 
Read June 21, 1787. 
A MONG the numberlefs vegetable productions that have 
^ appeared in the Royal Garden at Kew, is the prefent. 
It is already long fince this curious plant has been introduced 
there as a native of China, where, we are told, the fame is cul- 
tivated in the Chinefe gardens, though it feems not to have 
any qualities either palatable or odoriferous, nor a beautiful 
appearance. 
At the firft fight of the plant, there is fome likenefs of Vif- 
cum or Loranthus ; and confidering the inflorefcentia, and the 
infertion of the anthers, we find no lefs analogy ; though on a 
nearer examination it is greatly different, and of a very intricate 
conftruCtion. 
The pains I have taken to enucleate the family relation of 
this hitherto unknown vegetable, have induced me, for the 
fake of its lingularity, to prefent it as a new genus, of which 
I think the following natural character may be the moft proper: 
Calyx null us ; fed 
Squama ovata, acuta, concava, cui germen infidens. 
Corolla monopetala, dimidiata, vel 
Fetalum unicum, fubrotundum, trilobum, convexum, 
lateri exteriori germinis infertum, ftaminiferum, deci- 
duum. 
Vol. LXXVII. 
F f f 
Lobu3 
