CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
61 
described by Mr. Bentham in the ‘ Linn. Trans.’ xviii. p. 680. 
It resembles his Pogopetalum in having its petals clothed inside 
mth long silky hairs, and bears some analogy with Rhaphiostylis 
and Pennantia in exhibiting two erect processes about the base 
of the style, which in all these instances may be considered as 
additional and rudimentary styles, corresponding with as many 
abortive cells of the ovarium : this hypothesis is rendered the 
more probable by the fact, that in making a transverse section of 
the ovarium, these abortive cells may be distinctly traced in the 
fleshy covering, upon the side correlative with the stylar appen- 
dages. As in the other genera last mentioned, the suspension 
of the two somewhat collateral ovules is from a point below 
the apex, towards the side of the abortive cells, and they are 
here attached to a thick fleshy bell-shaped podosperm with a con- 
spicuously crenated margin. The ovarium is densely covered 
with long adpressed erect hairs, which as well as those of the 
petals are thickly spotted with prominent, oval, transparent 
glands, arranged in closely spiral lines all over their surface. I 
did not meet mth its fruit, nor have I found it in any herba- 
rium, so that I cannot ofier any particulars of its seminal struc- 
ture ; but in the figure of the ‘ Flora Fluminensis,’ above referred 
to, this is represented as a large fleshy drupe, about 1^ inch in 
diameter, and therefore one of the largest known in this family. 
The Emmotum fagifolium of Desvaux, from Guiana, has been re- 
ferred here by Endhcher ; but, notwithstanding the scantiness of 
the details given of it, little doubt can exist that it is identical 
with the Pogopetalum acutum, Bth., also from Guiana. 
Leretia, Velloz. — Flores perfecti, interdum polygami. Calyx 
brertter campanulatus, acute 5-dentatus, persistens. Petala 5, 
sequalia, hypogyna, oblonga, carnosula, extus pubescentia, 
intus dense sericea, sestivatione valvata, sub anthesi reflexa. 
Stamina 5, cum petahs disco inserta, iisdem alterna ; filamenta 
carnosula, basi dilatata, apice subulata et breviter induplicata ; 
antherce oblongse, apice mucronatse, imo breviter bifidae, 2-lob0e, 
connective tenui dorso infra medium sinu affixse, lobis bilo- 
cellatis, membranaceis, demum septicidis et longitudinaliter 
evolutim dehiscentibus. Pollen ovale, longitudinaliter 3-sul- 
catum. Ovarium conico-oblongum, subgibbum, sericeo-hir- 
sutum, disco parvulo obsolete 5-lobo breviter stipitatmn, 
1-loculare; ovula 2 juxta apicem loculi collateraliter super- 
posita, podospermio crasso crenato suspensa. Stylus erectus, 
filiformis, apice inflexus, basi processubus 2 brevibus erectis 
comitatus, in flore sterili valde brevdor, hirsutus et obtusus. 
Stigma obliquum, sulcatum. Drupa majuscula, globosa, mo- 
nosperma; ccetera ignota. Arbuscula Brasiliensis in sylvis 
