largest of the genus, and the form of the petals at once distinguishes it from the other four Peninsular species.
H. Grahamii, (R. W.) Shrubby, twining, glabrous, leaves coriaceous entire, from broadly ovate to suborbicular, acuminated : panicles numerous, large, many flowered, congested towards the summits of the branches, petals linear spathulate, obtuse, carpels obovate, obtuse, slightly emarginate.
H. obtusifolia, Graham's MSS.
Hab.—Bombay.
I am indebted to Mr. J. Graham, of Bombay, for my specimens of this very distinct species, which is at once distinguished from H. obtusifolia, by its obtuse spathulate, not ovate acute petals, and more easily by its long peduncled, contracted many flowered, not diffusely spreading panicles.
SALACIA.
A. Peduncles one flowered, few.
S. reticulata, (R. W.) Shrubby, twining, leaves oval or somewhat obovate, attenuated at the base, ending in a short blunt acumen, coriaceous, serrulate, reticulated (when dry) with numerous prominent veins : peduncles shorter than the petiols : petals ovate, broad at the base, attenuated upwards, exunguiculate, fruit large globose warty?
Ceylon and Malabar? partly communicated by Colonel Walker.
The Malabar plant above alluded to may belong to this species, but is not in flower. The leaves are similar in form but less distinctly reticulated, which may perhaps be attributable to age, if identical, the fruit is as large as a small apple, rough and warty on the surface, and from it I have added, with a doubt, the character of the fruit. This species is very nearly allied to S. prinoides, but is certainly distinct if the fruit I have described belongs to it, should it prove otherwise, it is distinguished by the form of the petals, which in this are broad at the base, tapering to the point and without a claw, in that, from broad ovate very obtuse, to suborbicular and with a claw.
B. Peduncles one flowered, very numerous.
S. verrucosa, (R. W.) Shrubby, bark of the flower-bearing branches everywhere rough, with small warty excrescences : leaves coriaceous, entire, lanceolate, acute at the base, ending above in a short blunt acumen; peduncles 1-flowered, very numerous, arising from prominent axillary tubercles, shorter than the petiols : petals broad at the base, exunguiculate, oblong, obtuse: ovules two, superposed, in each cell: fruit?
Hab.—Mergui. Communicated by Wm. Griffith, Esq.
The bark of the flower-bearing branches in this species are quite rough from the numerous small warty excrescences, the leaves which are very firm and coriaceous are from 4 to 6 inches long, and barely 2 broad at the broadest part; and the flowers, the clusters of which are nearly opposite, are so numerous as to form complete verticels.
S. multiflora, (R. W.) Shrubby, glabrous, leaves broadly ovate, lanceolate, rounded at the base, slightly acuminated and obtuse at the apex, coriaceous, quite entire : peduncles numerous, from axillary tubercles, 1-flowered, longer than the petiols: calyx deeply 5-cleft : petals orbicular, ovules about 8 in each cell of the ovary in two collateral rows : fruit?
Hab.—Mergui. Communicated by Wm. Griffith, Esq.
The leaves of this very handsome species dry of a pale green in place of, as in most others of a dark brownish green: they are from 8 to 10 inches long by about 4 broad, quite entire, and in the dried plant, slightly revolute on the margin. It appears a very distinct species and remarkable for having a double row of ovules as in Hippocratea, with the cells of the anthers placed transversely across the apex of the filament and opening outwardly, hence, when the fruit is known it. may form the type of a new genus.
Peduncles forked, divisions umbellately, many flowered..
S. floribunda, (R.W.) Shrubby, scandent, glabrous: leaves elliptical, obtuse at both ends, sometimes ending in an abrupt blunt acumen, very slightly crenate on the margin: peduncles axillary, solitary, nearly as long as the petiols, once or twice forked at the apex, each division ending in a dense cluster of small longish pedicelled flowers : calyx entire, 5-toothed : petals small, orbicular, reflexed: ovules 2 in each cell, collateral fruit?
Mergui.—Communicated by Wm. Griffith, Esq.
The compound inflorescence of this species gives rise to a suspicion that it might be a Hippocratea, but thtf decidedly 2-celled anthers forbids me entertaining such an opinion, unless supported by the presence of fruit in which my specimens are deficient.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES 46 AND 47.
- 46—1. Hippocratea Arnottiana, R. W. natural size.
- 47—A. 2. An expanded flower of the same.
- 3. An anther, showing it 1 -celled.
- 4. The ovary cut transversely 3-celled, with two ovules in each cell.
- 5. A mature capsule burst, showing the contained seed.
- 6. A seed removed, showing the downward direction of the wing.
- 7. A seed cut transversely.
- 8. The seed removed and divided longitudinally, to show the inferior radicle and embryo — all more or less magnified.
- 47—B. I. Salacia oblonga — an expanded flower.
- 2. The same, the sepals forcibly opened and the petals, removed to show the superior ovary and the disk-like expansion of the filaments.
- 3. Stamens showing the anthers 2-celled;
- 4. A diagram of the flower.
- 5. The ovary cut transversely.
- 6. A full grown fruit, natural size.
- 7. The same cut transversely, natural size.
- 8. A seed, the adhering pulp removed.
- 9. The same cut transversely — with the exceptions-mentioned, all more or less magnified..
