Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 34 (1896).djvu/147

 NEW AFRICAN PLANTS. 127 N. molle Desv. Below Laram Pass, 4000 ft., Gatacre. Poly podium Phegopteris L. Mirga, 9500 ft., Harriss. P. Robertianum Hoffm. Mirga, 7500 ft., Gatacre. Lygodium microphylliim E. Br. Ziarat Valley, 5000 ft., Gatacre. ) NEW AFRICAN PLANTS. By a. B. Rendle, M.A., F.L.S. The types of the following species will be found in the British Museum : — Pentas quadrangularis, sp. nov. Herba glabra caule quad- rangular!, foliis parvis lanceolatis sessilibus uninerviis ; floribus 4-meris in foliorum axillis saspissime solitariis, subsessilibus ; calycis segmentis triangulari-subulatis plus minus aequalibus, basi dente brevi glanduliforme utrinque instructis; corollse tubo elongato, apice infundibuliforme, lobis subaequalibus patentibus lanceolatis vel ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis ; antheris ore corollae piloso sessilibus, cuneato-oblongis, glabris ; stylo filiforme, exserto, stigmatibus binis linearibus ; fructu late ovato 8-costato a disco conico coronato ; seminibus numerosis glabris trilateralibus in placentis magnis semi-submeisis. Hab. Near Lake Stephanie, June 27th, 1895, Donaldson Smith. The markedly four-angled stems are about 1 line thick ; the opposite leaves, which reach about 1 in. in length by in breadth, are united by a narrow stipular band bearing short setae. The flowers are solitary, rarely more than one, on very short pedicels, in the leaf-axils. The narrow calyx-segments vary in length from If to 2f lines ; all four may be of different lengths, or three may be equal and one slightly shorter, &c. The slender corolla-tube is 3f in., of uniform length, the slightly enlarging funnel being 4 lines long, and the lobes 6-7 lines long by 2^3 lines broad. The aestivation of the lobes is induplicate-valvate. The anthers are 2f lines long, and become gradually broader from the base upwards ; they are attached dorsally to the corolla-tube a little above their base. The ovary is crowned by a shallowly rounded disc, from the centre of which springs the long style. The numerous small 3-sided seeds are light brown in colour, and half-embedded in the large greenish placentas which are attached to the septum above the base of the fruit. The fruit is about 4 lines long by 2f broad, is greenish and smooth, except for the eight longitudinal ribs. Five calyx-segments persist for some time, but finally disappear, leaving one only. Is apparently near P. longituba K. Sch. (e descript. in Pfianz. Ost-Afrik.), but differs in having lanceolate, not oblong leaves, and a much shorter corolla-tube, the latter measuring 16 cm. in P. longituba, which is also more or less hairy, the leaves being described 9,3 subtomentose.