indeed the composition of the involucre in all the three
genera. In Symphorema and Spenodesme it is composed
of 2 opposite bracts, each furnished with two somewhat
smaller bracteoles: each leaflet bearing a sessile, axillary
flower at the base, and a single flower in the centre,
without a fulcrum. In Congea one of the bracteoles of
each bract aborts, while the opposite, contiguous pair
often unite, reducing the four parts to three, giving the
appearance of a 3-phyllous involucre..
In the numerous specimens o f both Symphorema and
Sphenodesme, I have examined, I have always found the
involucre 6-phyllous, and only once (No. 1478), with
fewer than 7 flowers and never more. In Congea, the
involucre is four- or, by the union of the 2 bracteoles,
reduced to 3-phyllous, with from 5 to 7 flowers; that is,
a flower to each leaflet, and a central odd one unsupported,
or two to each bract, one to each bracteole and
the odd one. Both Roxburgh and Schauer describe the
glomerulus of Congea as 6-9-flowered. I have not yet
met with more than 7, nor fewer than 5 in any glomerulus,
of either of the three species I have examined,
thence infer that the statement has originated rather in
loose generalization, than actual and careful counting to
determine the point.
Does the composition of this involucrum throw any
light on the vexed question of leaves and stipules of
Gaiiacea, or in any way tend to clear up the difficulty
there experienced in determining what are leaves and
what stipules ?
The umbellate inflorescence and characteristic involucre,
seem of themselves to constitute this, at least,
a peculiar tribe, if not a separate order; but when to
these are added the semi-one-celled ovary and remarkable
placentation, approaching that of Myrsineacea, and
the farctuose seed, nothing seems wanting to justify its
elevation to the dignity of a tribe: it is my impression
even an order, amply distinct from true Verbenacece.
As a tribe, the structure of the ovary and placentation
place it between Viticete and Avicennece, as it corresponds
with that of the latter, viz., “Ovula in loculo
gemina, ex apice axeos pendula amphitropa,” and to
that extent is more nearly allied to the latter, than to
the former, in which Schauer places it as a subtribe.
The following abbreviated essential characters o f the
genera I had prepared before Schauer’s Monograph
reached me, and as they differ slightly from his, I introduce
them. To complete the Illustrations of the tribe,
I have given the analysis of Symphorema polyandrum,
in No. 1474.
SA iphorema. Involucre 6-phyllous, 7-flowered. Corolla
regular, many-cleft; segments inflexed in astiva-
tion. Stamens equaling the number of lobes of the
corolla, alternate with them.
S phenodesrie. Involucre 6-phyllous, 7- rarely 3-flow-
ered. Corolla sub-irregular, 5-lobed, imbricate in asti-
vation. Stamens 5, inserted on the throat of the corolla,
alternate with its lobes, shortly exserted.
C ongea. Involucre 4- or, by union of the lateral
pair, 3-phyllous, 5-7-flowered. Corolla bilabiate, upper
lip much produced, 2-parted, imbricate in astivation.
Stamens 4, didynamous, long, exserted.
Congea. (Roxb.) '
When naming the subject of 1472. I had not seen
Schauer’s Monograph. He, I find, reduces C. villosa,
Roxb., and C. azurea, Wall., referring both to C. tomen-
tosa, Roxb. I am unable to say how far he is correct
in considering C. villosa and azurea identical, not having
an authentic specimen of the former, but I certainly
cannot coincide with him in combining C. azurea and
tomentosa, which I consider quite distinct, and therefore
presume he has fallen into error through the imperfection
of his materials. To prevent, as far as I am able,
the extension of the confusion likely to arise from this
accidental error, I have determined to give a figure of
C. tomentosa for comparison with Wallich’s C. azurea,
the drawing of which is taken from an authentic specimen.
To these I add one of what I now consider a
new species. The plants from which the drawings are
made may be thus briefly distinguished:
C. azurea (Wall.), leaves elliptic, acute, or sub-mucro-
nate at the apex, slightly hispid above, softly velutino-
pubescent beneath: leaflets of the involucrum obovate,
oblong, sub-cuneate towards the base, softly velutino-
pubescent on both sides: umbels 5-7-flowered: calyx
teeth narrow, lanceolate, acute.
C. tomentosa (Roxb.), leaves ovate, slighly cordate,
acute, or sub-acuminate; hispid above, tomentose
beneath: leaflets of the involucre oval, obtuse at both
ends, tomentose above, softly pubescent beneath: umbels
7-flowered, calyx teeth short, blunt.
C. velutina (R. W.), leaves ovate, acuminate, glabrous
on both sides, coriaceous, leaflets of the involucre obo-
vate, spathulate, dilated and cohering at the base, forming
a cup in which the flowers are seated, velvety on
both sides; umbels 5-flowered: calyx teeth very short,
obtuse.
In all these I find indications of the compound nature
of the third leaflet of the involucre, but in one specimen
of the last, there are several instances of the bracteoles
remaining permanently distinct, as shown in Fig. 2. B.
Plate 1479, thus clearly explaining what might otherwise
have remained a conjectural inference.
Avicennia. (Linn.)
This genus associates with Symphoremeae in the
character of its placentation, but differs in the seed.
Much uncertainty seems to exist among Botanists as
to the limits of its species. Walpers has 2 species, but
assigns to one of these no fewer than 7 distinguishable
varieties; Asia, Africa, America, Australia and the
Philippine Islands, each contributing to the list. The
two plants here figured are considered by him identical,
not even varieties. Blume has not given figures of
his plants, hence I presume their supposed identity.
Schauer in his Monograph describes 4 species, distributed
under two sections, v iz .:
1. “Donaiia, stylus manifesto, post corollae lapsum
e calyce exsertus.
2. “Upata, stylus sub-nullus, stigmata in vertice, ovarii
fere sessilia.”
jM f like Walpers, refers both to the same species,
which he calls A. officinalis, and places it in the 2d
section along with A. tomentosa, which name he restricts
to the American plant. On the correctness or otherf
s j
III
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