; FLORA VITIENSIS, 309 
Orvo C. SMILACEA. 
The genus Rhipogonum may perhaps occur in Norfolk Island, a sterile specimen being referred to it 
by Endlicher under the provisional name of R. dubium, 
I. Smilax, Tournef, Inst. t. 481; Linn, Gen. n. 1120; Endl. Gen, n. 1184. Perigonium 
corollinum, 6-phyllum, patens, deciduum, foliolis exterioribus latioribus, sstivatione imbricatis. 
Stamina 6, perigonii foliolis basi inserta ; filamenta filiformia v. 0, libera; anthers lineares, basifixee. 
Ovarium 3-loculare. \ Ovula in loculis 1, apici anguli affixa, orthotropa. Stylus brevissimus ; stig- 
mata 3, crassiuscula, patentia. Bacca 1-3-locularis, 1-3-sperma. Semina globosa, testa membra- 
nacea, albida, cum nucleo conferruminata, umbilico basilari magno colorato. Embryo antitropns, 
minimus, in extremitate albuminis cornci umbilico opposita inclusus, extremitate radiculari cen- 
trifuga.—Suffrutices sempervirentes, scandentes; radicibus tuberosis y. fibrosis; caule seepissime 
aculeato ; foliis alternis petiolatis, cordatis y, hastatis, uervosis, reticulato-venosis ; stipulis intra- 
petiolaribus, cirrhiferis, seepius acutis; floribus supra receptaculum globosum v. cylindricum sessili- 
bus, subcapitatis v. pedicellatis, umbellatis, pedicellis haud articulatis, umbellulis pedunculatis, ax- 
illaribus, racemosis corymbosisve, rarins solitariis vy. geminatis. 
Besides the species enumerated below, we have in tropical Polynesia 1, 8. purpurata, Forst. Prodr. 
n. 873, Labill. Austr. Caled. t. 22, from New Caledonia (Forster! Anderson! Vicillard! n. 1379 et 1383, 
Deplanche !) and Isle of Pines (Sir E. Home! Milne! Maegillivray!); 2, 8. orbiculata, Labill. Austr. 
Caled. t. 25, from New Caledonia; and 3, S. Hawwiensis, (sp. noy.) Seem. in Herb, Mus, Brit.; inermis, 
elabra, eaule teretiuseulo, foliis cordato-ovatis acuminatis 5-nerviis, umbellis fl. ¢ axillaribus 2, pedunculis 
primariis bracteatis, secundariis ebracteatis, petalis spathulato-linearibus, antheris linearibus, fl. 9  frueti- 
busque ignotis—Hawaiian Islands (Menzies! in Herb, Mus. Brit.). The inflorescence of the male flowers 
is exactly that of 8. Zeylanica, as figured by Wight (Teon. t. 2057); there is a common forked pedunele, 
each branch bearing an umbel; the petiole is as long as the common peduncle. 
1. S. (?) trifurcata, (sp. nov.) Seem. ; inermis, glabra; caule teretiusculo; foliis ovatis, acumi- 
natis, 3-nerviis; pedunculis axillaribus solitariis compressis, apice 3-furcatis ; receptaculis eylindricis 
bracteolatis; fl. ign.—lsland of Oyalau (Seemann! n. 631, ex parte in Mus. Brit.). 
This species was inadvertently mixed with Pleiosmilax Vitiensis, from which it may be at once dis- 
tinguished by the triforked peduncles and»singular cylindrical receptacles. _None of the specimens have 
any flowers, so that the genus is deubtful; the habit is quite that of Smilax and Pleiosmilaz. Petiole 
12 lines long, with 2 tendrils at base; blade of leaf 4—5 inches long, and 24-3 inches broad. There are 8 
very prominent ribs, and 2 yery obscure marginal ones. The peduncle is somewhat com pressed and as long 
as the petiole, being divided into 3 cylindrical receptacles, which are abont 5 lines long, and densely 
eovyered with minute bracts. 

II. Pleiosmilax, (gen. nov.) Seem, Journ. of Bot. 1868. p. 198. t. 81. Flores diclini. 
Fl. ¢: Perigonium corollinum, 6-phyllum, patens, folivlis zequalibus, vestivatione imbricatis, Sta- 
mina duplo v. triplo perig, foliolorum numero ; filamenta aliforniis, hberas; antheres ovate yv. ob- 
longi, basifixee, Fl. 9: Perigonium maris. Stamina 6 sterilia (v. cepa Ds Ovarian 3-loculare. 
Ovula inloculis 1. Stigmata 3. Bacca 3-locularis, 3-sperma. Semina ellipticn—Pratices eenapere 
virentes, scandentes; radicibus tuberosis v. fibrosis; caule inerni v. neoledne ; sone altexmis petiv- 
latis, cordatis v. ovatis, neryosis, reticolato-venosis: stipulis ssa ca shlpeatiaipca) ortelitets ; Horibus 
umbellatis, umbellis axillaribus, g' racemosis, ¢ solitariis; baccis nigris—Smilacis sp. Auct. 
This genus differs from Smilax principally in having twice or thrice as many stamens as perigonal leaves, 
Three s ecies are at present known, viz. 1, P. Pitiensis, Seem. |. ¢.; 2, P. Sandwichensis, Seem. |. a (Similac 
Sandwishensis Kunth, Enum. Plant. vol, v. p. 253; 8, psewdochina, Wook. et Arn. Bot, Beech. ?; nomen 
wtb ip ito vin 5 - 
: $ 
[PUBLISHED OCTOBER 1, 1868. | 0 
