1473. Ci.erodendb.on phlomoides (Linn), ra-
muli terete, and, like the petiols and peduncles,
whitish tomentose: leaves membranaceous, opposite,
petioled, ovate, or ovato-rhomboid, acuminate,
somewhat obtuse, entire at both ends, irregularly
and bluntly serrated in the middle; glabrous above,
puberulous beneath: panicles terminal, large, fasti-
giate, leafy below: cymes trichotomous, lax, bracte-
oles oblong: calyx glabrous, campanulato-ventricose,
half five-cleft, segments sub-ovate, acute: tube of
the corolla sub-glandulose, thrice the length of the
calyx.
A common shrub, to be met with nearly all over
the peninsula, most frequent in hedge-rows, often in
such situations attaining the height of 8 or 10 feet,
when not supported rarely exceeding half that
height. When in full flow it is a handsome shrub,
eacn branch being terminated by a large panicle of
white flowers, the pale almost cream colour of the
calyx and bracts still further contrasting with the
lively green colour of the leaves.
Symphoreme.s:.
This small group of plants, brought together as a
sub-tribe of Vuicea, ought, it appears to me, to constitute
the type of a tribe, or even a separate order,
allied to, but distinct from Verbenacece, differing as
they do from the rest of the order in the inflorescence,
the ovary, the placentation, and the seed.
It is thus defined by Schauer, in D. C.’s Prod.
“Sub-tribe Symphoreme.e , cymes contracted glomerate,
few-flowered; involucrate. Corolla regular
or bilabiate. Stamens 4-5, or indefinite. Capsule
coriaceous, indehiscent, 1-seeded by abortion.—
Flowering shrubs with simple leaves.”
This definition, so far as it. goes, seems correct.
The cymes might, perhaps, with equal or greater
propriety have been called simple umbels, and,
having an involucre, they convey the idea of an
umbel, rather than that of a cyme. The involucre
itself, constitutes a peculiar feature, erroneously described
in the generic character of Sympborema as
“6-8 phyllum,” but correctly in the description of
the species, as being composed of 2 bracts and two
bracteoles to each. Such is indeed the composition
of the involucre in all the three genera. In Sym-
phorema 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 of both Sympborema
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 Galiaceæ, 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
Myrsineacece, 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
Viiicece 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 sub-tribe.
The following abbreviated essential characters of
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 Sympborema
polyandrum, in No. 1474.
Symphorema. Involucre 6-phyllous, 7-flowered.
Corolla regular, many-cleft; segments inflexed in
æstivation. Stamens equalling the number of lobes
of the corolla, alternate with them.
Sphenodesme. Involucre 6-phyllous, 7- rarely 3-
flowered. Corolla sub-irregular, 5-lobed, imbricate
in æstivation. Stamens 5, inserted on the throat of
the corolla, alternate with its lobes, shortly exserted.
Congea. Involucre 4- or, by union of the lateral
pair, 3-phyllous, 5-7-flowered. Corolla bilabiate,
upper lip much produced, 2-parted, imbricate in
æstivation. Stamens 4, didynamous, long, exserted.
When naming the plants represented in the accompanying
figures, I had not seen Schauer’s Monograph.
On comparing my plants w ith his descriptions,
I find he had already named several differently from
mine, hence the following alterations have become
indispensable. No. 1474. S. barbota, (Sch.) 1475.
& Wattichiana, (Sch.) 1476. S. Jackiana, (Sch.)
1477. & Griffithiana, (R. W.)
1474. S phenodesme barbata (Schauer, S. fer-
ruginea, R. W. Icon.), ramuli, nerves of the leaves,
and inflorescence every where clothed with reddish
or rusty coloured hairs : leaves sub-coriaceous, short,
petioled, oblong, usually narrowed a little at the
base, obtusely acuminate, sub-mucronate at the
apex, septupli-multupli-veined ; the younger ones
hairy on both sides, the older ones becoming glabrous
above; glanduloso-punctuate beneath: panicles
simple, racemose, terminal, single or temate : peduncles
filiform, axillary, solitary, longer than the involucre
: leaflets of the involucre six, oblong, obtuse,
attenuated at the base: calyx cup-shaped, 5-cleft;
lobes apiculate, retuse, mucronate on the back.
Malacca. Griffith. I am indebted to Mr. Griffith
for the specimen represented.
The peculiar clothing and inflorescence of this