II. On the Genus Crescentia

[ 159 ]

11. O n the Genzis Crescentia. B y JOHN MIERS, Esq., F.R.S. 9 L.S., Commend. Ord. Inap. Bras. Rosa.

(Plates VII., VIII., IX.)

Read May Znd, 18F7.

T H E genus Cmsceiztia was considercd by DeCandolle to belong to a group of plants (the Crescentiea) forming a second tribe of the Biglzoniacecz. This he again divided into two subtribes, Tcinuecieci? and Cresceiztiecq-the former being distinguished by its sili- quzform fruit with two or more cells, and opposite leaves, the latter by a unilocular fruit and alternate leaves. This arrangement was founded upon niuch misconception, as it will be presently shown that scarcely any of the genera coniprised in these groups bear any relation to Crescentict.

Dr. Seemann, in 1852 f-, gave a new outline of the entire group, and a somewhat different arrangement of DeCandolles genera. He there adopted Gardners view- of niaking them a distinct natural order, the Crescelztiacea, and raised the subtribes of DeCandolle to the rank of tribes, the Funaeciea being distinguished by having a regular, persistent, 5-fid clayx, and the Crescentiea by having an irregular, spathaceous or 2-partite, deciduous calyx. I n the Linnean Transactions, xxiii. p. 3, he gave a more extended diagnosis of the order within the boundaries he ascribed to it, comprising in his tribe Tunueciea the genera Coleu, Phyllartlaron, and Tccnueciacm (including in the latter the Schlegelia of Niquel), and placing in the Crescelztiea the genera Purnzentiem, Crescentia, and Kigeliu, giving at the same time the character not only of each genus, but of each species.

I n 1861 $, I published some Observations on the Bignoniaceze, in which I pointed out the normal structure of the ovary, fruit, and seed of the various groups of the family ; and (in p. 255) I commented on the CrescenLiea especially, and on its several genera, showing from my own investigations, and from the recorded observations of others, that a11 the genera of the Tunaeciea and nearly all those of the Crescmfiea should be exelrtded from the true Cresce&ie@, on account of their 2-locular ovary. In the Annals of the same year (vol. viii. p. 113), I gave a detailed account of the structure of the flower, fruit, and seed of Tanaecium, showing it to be a true genus of the Bignoniece, closely allied to Adenocalynana, and that the Tulzaeciwn pumsiticum, Sw., and T. lilucinzcna, Seem., belong to the #chlegelicc of Miquel, a genus certainly distinct from Tanuecium on account of its seeds enveloped in pulp, and which, from its apparently 2-locular fruit, with seeds fixed upon the middle of the dissepiment, seems to belong to the same group that includes Platycurpwm, Hemriquexicc, Oxycladus, and Montteu. I showed also that all the genera of the Bigno&@ and Cutalpea have a 2-celled ovary and fruit, with the exception of Jacurunda, Calampelis, and Eccremocarpiis, which I proposed to unite into a distinct

* Prodromus, ix. 240. $ Ann. Nat. Hist. 3rd ser. vii. 153.

-j- Botany of the Herald, p. 181, and in Proceedings of the Linnean Society, ii. 268.

VOL. XXVI. Z

160 MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA.

tribe (Jucarundea), differing from the rest of the family in having a unilocular ovary and fruit, with parietal placentation: in that respect they offer some analogy with the Crescentiea, from which they differ in their dry capsular fruit splitting into two valves, containing winged seeds imbricately attached to a parietal median line of placentation on each valve. I n the structure of the flower and the ovary, there is little that can distinguish the Jacarandee from the Cmwentiece ; but subsequently a notable difference arises, in the growth of the fruit, the former producing the development just described, while in the Crescentiea we find a hard indehiscent 1-locular fruit, with numerous apterous seeds imbedded in pulp. The Crescentiea? have, therefore, scarcely higher claims than the Jacarundea to be separated from the Bigihoniacea?, unless it could be proved that the pulpy matter is formed by an arillus surrounding each seed, in which case there would be more valid ground for the maintenance of Crescentiucea? as a distinct order.

Finally (in 1864) M. Bureau published his valuable monograph of the BigizoniaceE, in which he suggests a new arrangement of the family, and where he constitutes the Crescentiece the third tribe of the order. He follows the views of preceding botanists in classing in this tribe Colea, Phyllarthron, Parmentiera, and Kigelia, with Crescentia, under the persuasion that Crescentia, like all the others, has a 2-locular orary (1. c. p. 56); but he confesses that he had not seen the ovary of any other species than C. macrophylla, where it is unquestionably 2-locular ; and hence he naturally inferred that it was a mistake to regard the ovary of Crescelztia as being 1-locular : it will, however, presently be shown that the species in question does not belong to that genus.

The learned DeCandolle, in his Prodromus, was evidently doubtful in regard to this point of structure ; but his son, the present eminent Professor in Geneva, stated (in a note) that the ovary is manifestly 1-locular in C. cujete, as Gardner had shown it to be in C. czcnei$oZia. Dr. Seemann, in his monograph of the Crescentiacee, did not dispute this fact, but considered it of such little importance that he classified indiscriminately with Crewentia six other genera, all with 2-locular ovaries. I examined with great care the ovary of Cpescentia, from specimens preserved in spirits, in different stages of growth, and found it to be most decidedly 1-celled, without the slightest trace of any dissepiment ; and the generality of this structure was again confirmed in the fruits of several species which I have since observed. I n support of the same conclusion, Mr. Bentham has added his valuable testimony.

But there still remains another important desideratum, which is to ascertain the real structure of the fruit of Crescelztia; for this has not yet been determined with any approach to accuracy. With this dew, I procured from Brazil ripe fruits, which I was able to examine within a month after they were gathered. This fruit, which I had often seen growing in Rio de Janeiro, but to which I then paid little attention, considering it to belong to the well-known type of the genus described by Linnaeus, pertains, however, t o a species hitherto undescribed. It is nearly the size of that of the last-mentioned type, being regularly oval, 7+ inches long, 6 inches in diameter, supported upon a thickened peduncle 1+ inch long, 4 lines thick; the outer shell is rather thin in substance, of a texture between coriaceous and osseous, of the uniform thickness of 1 line, externally polished, yellowish green, without any removeable epidermis, marked by four equidistant,

MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA. 161

longitudinal, almost obsoletely grooved lines, and punctured over its whole surfaee jrrith numerous small immersed hollow dots ; it is quite indchis~ent. Internally it is filled with a fleshy uniform mass, without the appearance of any division ; this pulpy mass adheres to the inner surface by means of several soft layers that run parallel with it, so that, on dividing the shell transversely, the upper moiety is easily detached from it, when it is seen to be quite smooth inside, without any projection or cicatrix to indicatc the presence of any parietal placentation. The pulpy mass is not so easily scpamtcd from the lower half of the shell by the same method ; for I found that it adhered firmly to the bottom ; but, within the membranous layers that serve to attach the pulpy mass to the shell, a number of' strong lengitudiiial cords were seen proceeding fi-om the base, tapering upwards into fine threads, which scarcely reach the apex, apparently in a single series and about thirty or forty in number. When these cords are torn away from the pulpy mass, the latter is soon detached ; and we then perceive that the cords all emanate from a prominent central knob in the base of the cell, over the point of insertion of the peduncle, radiating in all directions in about four superposed series, each cord being 1 or 1; line broad at its origin, tapering upwards into a thread, and consisting of a solid bundle of woody fibres sending out in all directions branches containing nourishing vessels ; these soon anastomose everywhere, becoming imbedded in the innumerable fleshy laminae radiating from the cords, all closely interwoven and agglutinated together, so as to form one uniform fleshy mass, without the trace of any division, as we find upon cutting the mass into sections. I n the substance of these laminze some hundreds of seeds are imbedded, each in a corresponding cell, polished inside, formed simply by the se- paration of the meiabranes ; each seed is quite free from the cell, except at its minute liilnr point, where it is connected with a thread of spiral vessels emanating from thevascular network diffused throughout the fleshy membranes: the seeds do not appear to lie in any determinate direction. From these facts it is evident that the fruit is completely unilocular, without the vestige of a dissepiment, and that the internal pulpy mass consists of innumerable agglutinated fleshy emanations from the placentary cords that spring from the base: it is also manifest that there is no trace of' an arillus around the seeds.

The seed is obcordate, 4 lines long, nearly 3 lines broad, much flattened, with a thickened margin, marked on one face by the prominent line of the raphe, which runs from the apical sinus to a small hilum in its pointed basal extremity : the outer coat, or testa, is hard, coriaceous, finely rugose in radiating lines, is of a brown colour, and closely invests an inner membranaceous integument, which is of a smoky-white colour, having a small chalaza in the sinus of its cordate summit, and at the base is prolonged into a funicle-like thread, which terminates in the hilurn. The embryo filling its cavity is without albumen, and consists of two white fleshy flattened cotyledons, which are transversely oval, with a shallow cordate sinus in the summit, and are deeply notched at the lower rounded extremity, where they are connected together by a small flattened quadratc radicle pointing towards the hilum, that fills the notch but does not project beyond it. Thus it is seen that in the texture of the integuments of the seed of Crescentia, and in the form of its exalbuminous embryo, there is much resemblance to the seeds of many of the Bignoniacece.

2 2


The circumstances att,endant on the growth of the ovary, and the maiincr in which the fruit is developed, form,a subject of much interest. As the ovary increases in size, the placentae, which at an early stage appear solid and fleshy, gradually enlarge and become divided by numerous minute fissures, thus forming as many salient points along their surface, which as they expand become subdivided into Tery fine larnine, between which the attached ovules by degrees become immersed, and which with the accom- panying network of nourishiiig-vessels, are spread in all directions ; and this process of subdivision and agglutination of the membranes into a solid pulp, continues nearly up to the period of the full-growth of the fruit. The main vessels, which at an early period served for the nourishment of the placentz, remain almost in their original position, and finally become converted into the ligneous cords mentioned in a previous page. The same process of development takes place in fruits of a smaller size ; but the cords just alluded to, being much finer, do not separate from the membranes which line the shell of the fruit.

One of the most remarkable features in the species whose fruit is above described, and which I have named Cimescentia plectantha, is the singular deep transverse downward duplicature upon the ventral side of the corolla, a little below its middle. This character occurs in a less conspicuous degree in a few other species of the genus ; it is very different from the upward ringent constriction below the lower lip in the tube of C. obovata, C. cucurbitina, and C. coricccea, and also from the circumambient throttling of the tube on the level of the insertion of the stamens, as shown in the drawings of Jacquin and Hooker.

Another characteristic feature observed in this species, and which may be supposed to be usual in Crescentia, is the mode of aestivation of the corolla, which, before expansion, is crumpled up into the smallest possible compass ; t'he longitudinal corrugated plica- tures of the tube, continued along the lobes, are, at that period, closely folded together, while the lobes themselves are suddenly bent inwards and downwards into the centre of of the tube, the crispate margins fitting into one another, with the superior lobe upper- most. This mode of estivation, hitherto undescribed, is different from anything I have seen in the Bignomicccele ; that of Kigelia comes nearest to it ; but there the lobes of the border are quincuncially imbricated, at the same time that the lobes, as well as the tube, are tortuously and deeply corrugated ; they are not plicated longitudinally as in C'rescentia, The mode of aestivation of Kigelicc as shown in Delessert's ' Icones,' therefore, conveys an imperfect idea of its real aspect.

Much intermingling of the species, owing to their imperfect descriptions, has everywhere existed, so that the character given of the type by different authors will scarcely enable us to recognize it. Five species were first indicated under Marcgraf's common name of CGjetk, by Plumier (in 1703), who, in his ' Genera,' p. 23, gave in a few words their d8erentinl characters, by which they may still be identified, though they have all since been confounded together. Sloane (in 1727) described two very distinct plants under the name of Cuczcrbiti$eru, which have been referred to other species of Cjqescentia. LinnEus (in 1753) in his first edition of his ' Species Plantarum,' named and indicated the genus C'rescentia and its typical species. P. Browne (in 1756) in his ' Hist. Jam.' p. 265, described six species, four of which may be discriminated as belonging to the


genus. Burmann (in 1751) collectcd and edited the posthumous notes and drawings of Plumier, among which we find a valid but neglected species, C. Zutifoliu, dcscribed and figured in tab. 109. Jacquin (in 1763) in his Stirp. Amer. 175, tab. 111, published a drawing, accompanied by the niost copious details on record, of Linnzuss typical species ; and Linnzus in the same year repeated the short character of his type, in which he placed together, as its varieties, most of the previously recorded forms, at the same time expressing his doubt whether they might not prove to be specifically distinct. Swartz (in 1791) described fully his Cmscentia czccurllitim, a plant which corresponds with Lin- nx?uss var. 8, and with Brownes Cresceiztia No. 4. Kunth (in 1818) established his species C. uluta and C. ucurnimda. De Candolle (in 1845) enumerated seven species of the genus in his Prodromus, from which two have since been excluded ; he there repeated the errors in his references into which all other botanists had fallen. Mr. Bentham (in 1844) described and figured his C. obovatu. Dr. Seemann (in 2354) gave the details of his C, nzucroplzylla, which was figured in the Botanical Magazine, and which will presently be seen not to belong to Ciqescentiu. Dr. Seemann has written several memoirs on the Crescepztiacece, the last being a monograph of the family upon the basis he had proposed, which was communicated to the Linnean Society (in 1859) and published in its Transactions; he there reduced the number of species of Crescentiu t o two (if we exclude his C. macmphyllu and C. alata, H. B. K.) ; he justified this reduction solely upon the shape of the leaves, altogether ignoring the more discriminating characters furnished by the structure of the flowers and by the form and size of the fruit, characters which had been sufficiently well described by preceding botanists ; in this nianner he made C. cuneiJolia, Gardn., and C. acwrnilzata, H. B. K., identical with C. cujete, and he declared C. obovutu, Benth., and C. Zut$olin, Plum., to be the same as C. czcntrbitim, Linn. I will, however, presentlv denote the differential features which give validity to all these several species.

In regard to Crescemh macropl@c, Seem., already alluded to, the valuable observations of M. Bureau upon its living flowers, confirmed by those of M. Baillon, show (Monogr. Bign. p. 11s) that its ovary is decidedly 2-locularY with the ovules arranged longitudinally in four or six series in each cell, two or three being on the left, and the same number on the right-hand side of the dissepinieiit, as in KigeZia, Colea, &c. M. Bureau kindly sent me these analyses, which prove categorically, according to my view, that the plant in question does not belong to Cresceztia, but will form the type of a distinct genus, to which the name Amphitectza may be given, and which will class in the same tribe as Colea, Phyllarthron, and some others.

M. Bureau has also favoured me with his analyses of Colea involucmta, Boj., C.Jlori- bulzdu, Boj., PhyZZurthi*on Bojeriana, all from Madagascar, and P. Cornoreme from Mauritius : in all of these the ovary is manifestly 2-locularY with ovules arranged upon the dissepiment, in the same manner as in Anqhitec?za and Eigelia,-a structure quite incompatible with that of Crescentia.

The genus Schlegelia, erroneously confounded with Tuizuecizcm by Dr. Seemann, and included in his family of the Crescentiucece, offers many very peculiar characters. M. Bureau has examined the ovary of Xchlegeliaparusitica in the living state, which he

Gardner (in 1840) described his C. cuneifoliu.


finds to be unilocular, with two large placentae in the centre almost touching, but not united, supported on two opposite longitudinal semidissepiments, so that in dried specimens the ovary appears 2-locular, as it does also in the ripe fruit. This struct,ure is analogous to that seen in the baccate species of Cyrtanclrcc ; but it is attended by a very anomalous circumstance ; for not unfrequently the ovary presents three similar semidissepiments, with as many placentz almost meeting in the centre, but not unitcd ; and in such case, the style is always trifid. Swartz, in a remark upon the same species (31. Ind. Occ. p. 1054), though he figures the fruit as being completely 2-locular, says that he has often seen it to be 3-locular. This structure is quite unparalleled in the Bignoniacea and all its subfamilies, and points to a different affinity ; for the normal development of its corn- ponent carpels, according to the views suggested in my Observations on the Bigno- niucee, must be different from that in the other cases.

In Kigelia I had fancied that the ovary is 1-locular, or rendered sub-2-locular by the approximation of two opposite parietal placenh, as described by Bojer, who had frequent opportunities for examining the living plant. M. Bureau has, however, shown me his analyses, where it is distinctly 2-locularY with the ovules congregated in three or four series on the margins, as in the true Bignoniucee, not in the middle of the dissepiment ; and 1 have since clearly verified this structure in a specimen in the British Museum. The genus will therefore class with Amphiteenu, CoZeu, and several others, distinguished by their fleshy subindehiscent fruit-among which Pni~zentiera will probably find its place.

It appears clear, therefore, that we know no genus that can class with Crescentiu, which consequentfly will constitute a tribe near the Jucurundea and the Cyrtulzdrcccea, as they also have I-Iocular ovaries. The former differ in their dry, 2-valvate, dehiscent capsules with winged seeds : the latter disagree in their free revolute placed= attached to semidissepiments, the cell filled with hyaline mucilage, and numerous very minute foveated seeds suspended by a long funicle, and the embryo enclosed in very sparse albumen.

We may distinguish two very different forms of Crescelztia : in one section the leaves are always fasciculated, out of a number of scale-like woody pseudostipules which fringe .the axillary nodes, and which, upon the older branches, form a warty excrescence ; the fruit is not umbonated at the summit ; the pericarp is hard and very firm, even when it is very thin ; the contained pulp, when much shrunk in drying, always retains, even after a period of fifty years, its soft subviscid consistence, and is composed of innumerable h e laminar membranes agglutinated together, containing spiral nourishing-vessels, and leaving numerous hollow dry cells polished inside, each provided with a seed ; the seeds are + or Q of the size of those of the following section, are very compressed, flat on the opposite faces, cordate at the summit, cuneate to the base, where by a minute hilum they are attached to the cell: the outer integument is hard and coriaceous, with a peculiar surface ; the inner integument is very membranaceous, cordate at the summit, and suddenly contracted at the base into a long thread-like tube ; the embryo is greatly flattened, is white and waxy, never becomes black in drying ; the short radicle fills the sinus, and is not concealed by the auricular lobes of the cotyledons. In the other section (Bmdlugma), which may probably resolve itself into a distinct genus when the plants are better known, the leaves are always alternate, single, petiolated, articulated in the axil,


and exstipulate ; the fruit is umbonated at the summit, the pericarp being generally very fragile; the pulpy matter, which I have seen only in the dried state, is of a different, somewhat pithy consistence, and, when moistened, seems composed of extremely elongated cells, apparently solid, flexible, and almost fibrous, intermixed with a few spiral nourishing- vessels, and not formed into distinct cells around the seeds. The seeds are many times as large, suborbicular, and but little compressed, with very convex faces deeply grooved along the middle, thus rendering them almost 2-lobedY and closely invested by two dark membranaceous integuments, the inner one in no degree contracted at the base: the hilum is not basal, but is seen upon one face above the lower sinus; the embryo is very thick and fleshy, very convex on both faces, deeply grooved down the middle, becomes very black in drying, the short radicle being entirely hidden by the auricular lobes of the cotyledons.

We have yet much to learn concerning the structure and growth of the ovary in this genus, especially in the species belonging to the section Bnallugma, the fruit of which has not yet been examined in the living state. I believe, from all I have seen, that in Xu- crescmtia the ovary is invariably 1-locular, with four parietal seed-producing pla,centze. I n all the fruits I have examined, belonging to both sections, they constantly show four adnate parietal nervures, of which perhaps only two are sometimes placentiferous and seed- producing in Enallugma ; but whether this be a constant or only a fleeting character, I have not the means of ascertaining. The only fact on record regarding the structure of the ovary in this latter section is that in Crescentia oboaata, as described and figured by Mr. Bentham, it is 1-locular, with two slightly prominent parietal lines of ovuligerous placentation, but there are at the same time two other alternate prominent lines without ovules. In a very young ovary of a flower in bud of the same species, from Jamaica, I found it most decidedly 2-locular, with ovules attached to each side of the dissepiment. May it not be suspected from these observations that tfhe ovary is at first 2-celled in the very young bud, but becomes unilocular by the time of the fall of the corolla ? In support of this supposition I may add that iii another ovary, examined after the fall of the flower (of C. czcs@Zatcc, from St. Vincent), I found it unilocular, with two opposite parietal ovuligerous placentz, as figured by Mr. Bentham. It may also here be noticed that in a longitudinal section of a fruit,, not quite matured, of Cpaescemtia elongata, only half of which is glued to the paper, it is clearly shown thatfour distinct longitudinal cruciately disposed nervures exist, three of which remain, one having been removed with the other half of the fruit ; of these, the two lateral ones are barren, but the intermediate broader line produces seeds imbedded in laminar expansions that emanate from it on both sides, which expansions are quite free from the lining of the shell at all parts except along that particular line of nervure. These are all the observations that the materials at my command have enabled me to make, owing to all the specimens examined being glued to the paper. I state them, however, with the view of inducing others to follow up an investigation worthy of further inquiry ; the facts, though inconclusive, are certainly important, and require confirmation before we can attempt to draw any general inferences from them.

It would tend much to advance our knowledge of this interesting group of plants, if


correspondents abroad could be induced to send to Europe fruits accompanied by speci mens of the plants, together with buds and flowers in different stages of growth preserved in spirits. This mode of inquiry would lead to more certain results, because the flowers in dried specimens become black and very brittle in drying, so that it is difficult to ascertain their characters with accuracy.

The species are certainly more numerous than are here enumerated, as shown by the fruits I have examined; for instance, in the British Museum there are two, collected in Peru by Ruiz and Pavon, to which they assigned the name of Crescentiu cujete. One is quite pyriform, 44 inches long, 3 inches broad ; the other is oblong, equally round at both extremities, 4$ inches long, 22 inches in diameter, with seeds imbedded in pulp, and internally organized as I have described in Cresceiztiuplectuntha; in the one the seeds are rounded, in the other deeply emarginated at the apex. In the same museum are other, globular fruits of the genus, some with an extremely thick periearp, and which cannot be assigned to any known species.

In the following enumeration I have excluded from the genus the Cresceiatia ulutu of Kunth, convinced that both it and C. uczcleata belong to Purmentiera. Dr. Seemann came to the same conclusion with regard to the latter, but retained the former species in Cres- celztia. I have lately made a careful examination of the plants belonging to this group. I n the Hookerian herbarium there is a specimen referred to C. uczcleata of Kunth, which was collected in Mexico by Schiede (under his no. 1207) ; this is very different, from one of another collection made by Schiede, now existing in the British Museum, which well agrees with C. ucuZeccta, as well as with one from Ziinapan (Coulter, 1007). I propose to distinguish Schiede's no. 1209 by the name of Pcwrnentiera &foZiolosu ; it closely approaches the Crescentia alatu of' Kunth in its alternate cupular nodes quite void of spines, with several 3-foliate leaves growing out of each axil ; in the last-mentioned plant, which should now be called Purmentiera aZata, we find generally in each axil one, sometimes two principal 3-foliate leaves, accompanied by two lateral simple leaves : in P. foliolosu we see three, sometimes four fasciculated 3-foliate leaves, generally without any simple leaves ; they differ from the former in their smaller size: their submembranaceous leaflets, cuneately ovate, or obovate, upon a very narrowly winged petiole of nearly equal length, while in P.uZata the leaflets are spathulately oblong, almost linear, coriaceous, upon a broadly winged petiole of twice their length : both species are without spines ; and it is evident that to whatever group the former is assigned, t,he latter must accom- pany it. Now in P.foZioZoscc the flowers quite conform to those of P. acdecctu; its calyx is pale, less fleshy than in Crescentiu, and moreover, when closed in the bud, is terminated by a long slender rostrated apex as in P. cerzferu, but it splits into three unequal divisions ; the corolla, as in the other species of Punnentiercc, is gradually cam. panulate, with a border of five subequal lobes, whose margins are crenately sinuated or crispate. I f we examine P. aculeata attentively, we find that its axils are rarely quite opposite, and that in almost every cupular node formed by the spine, and which has a horny margin, there are always two 3-foliate leaves, often with a third, simple, smaller leaf, and that when the horny node is not spinescent at its outer extremity, as sometimes happens, it is cup-shaped and embraces the petiole of a 3-foliate leaf, and


ddheres to it along the side of the hollow cup ; from which we may infer that it is a true spine, not a prickle as Kunth defines it. I n P. uczcleuta the niouth of the corolla is more oblique, more distinctly 2-lippedY the stamens further exserted, the anther-cells, pendent from an excurrent connective, are free, almost linear, somewhat divaricated, the style being of equal length ; according to Kunth, thc fruit is terete, narrowing at the summit ; and Schiede says that it is oblong and costate". Purmeqztiem edalis, DC., differs in its (single ?) 3-foliate leaves with 0s-ate-oblong leaflets, acute at each extremity, upon a somewhat shorter and wingless petiole ; its spathaceous calyx, as in P. cer$era, splits on one side only ; its fruit is terete, sulcatc, roundly costate, and 3 inches long. Thc Cres- centicc edulis of Desvaux appears to form another species of Parmentiera, to which the name of P. lanceolata may be given, and is distinguished by its simple (not 3-foliate) leaves, approximated, without any basal spines ; it has a cylindrical, tuberculated fruit, 10 inches long, 2 inches in diameter, with very minute seeds and a firm fleshy pulp (or with a flcshy dissepiment as in P. ceryera?). In the last-named species the axils, as in P. acwleatcc, are not quite opposite, but they are spineless, each having always two, sometimes three, trifoliate leaves, with a very narrowly winged petiole ; the calyx is elongated, spathaceous, with a long rostrated apex, and splits by a single fissure as in P. edulis; the corolla has five equal lobes, stamens hardly exserted, the fruit of the extraordinary length of 2 to 4 feet, scarcely an inch in diameter, and quite smooth. We thus find five very distinct species of Parmemtiera, viz. P. edulis, P. aculeata, P. foliolosa, P. alata, and P. lanceolatu.

1. Zacrescentia. Folia fasciculata.

1. CRESCENTIA CUJETE, Linn. Sp. P1. (1" edit. 1753) p. 626; Jacq. Amer. (1763) p. 175, tab. 111, Fragm. 30. tab. 33. f, 5 ; Linn. Sp. P1. (2' edit. 1763) p. 872 (in parte); DC. Prodr. ix. 246 (in parte); Hook. kot. Mag. tab. 3430; Seem. Linn. Trans. xxiii. 20 (in parte) : 3-orgyalisY ramis crassis, longissimis, patentibus ; foliis 5-6, fasciculatis, ob diversam aetatem inaequilongis, ex axillis nodosis pseudostipulatis alternis enatis, lanceolatis, imo longe cuneatis, apice gradatim acuminatis vel saepe acumine brevi subito constrictis, sessilibus, utrinque glaberrimis : flore solitario, axillari, vel e ramis aphyllis enato, pedunculo loreviusculo ; calyce ovato, 2-fiss0, lzevi ; corolla campanulata, tubo imo breviter angustato, mox latiore, et plica transversali introflexo, dein superne ampliato, gibbo, incurvo, longitudinaliter plicato-sulcato, fauce fere regulari, limbo 5-lob0, lobis inaequalibus, acutis, subexpansis, marginibus undulatis et inciso-laciniatis ; staminibus paulo exsertis ; stylo aequilongo ; stigmate 2-lamellato ; fructu maximo, ovato, pericarpio duro, intus pulpos0.-In Antillis et Brasilia : v. s. in hb. Mus. Brit. inss. Santa Lucia, Jamaica &c. ; Brasilia (Blamchet, 295) : in. hb. Book. St. Domingo (Schombu?*glc, A.D. 1857).

I have already mentioned the care I have taken to identify this species and, by giving it a more definite character, t o extricate it from the confusion in which it has been

* Kunth, who never saw the fruit of P. alata, stated, upon the authority of Bonpland, that i t was globular, and 4 to 6 inches in diameter : this was no doubt a mistake of Bonpland's, whose testimony is often d o u b t f d

VOL. XX.VI. 2 A


involved. It forins an umbrageous tree, 20 feet high, with long, divided bimiclies, which extend horizontally. The fasciculated leaves are of different lengths in each tuft, varying from 4+ to 24 inches in length, or even sometimes less than an inch, and from 8 to 15 lines in breadth ; they are glabrous, sometimes shining, bright grecn, gradually decreasing in breadth towards the base, where their entire margins are decurrent along the slcnder midrib to the point of its origin. The solitary flower springs out of the a d s , or often from the trunk, at uncertain intervals, sometimes at a distance of only 3 inches from the ground. Thc tube of the corolla is I$ inch long, 4 lines in diameter at the base, thcnce suddenly enlarges, with a transverse duplicature 7 lines above the base, as shown in Schomlburgks specimen, not a circumambient constriction, such as appears in Jacquins figures ; it is 8 lines in diameter at the mouth ; the lobes of the border are 5-8 lines long, 6-7 lines broad, acute at the summit, with the margins obtusely sinuato-crenate. The fruit is oval, often a foot in length. Schomburglis specimen fully agrees with Jacquins drawing of this species, and explains the real character of the constriction shown in the corolla, which in that drawing is doubtful and ill-defined ; the specimens in the British Museum equally accord with that drawing, but the flowers, unfortunately, are all much eaten away or broken.

Jacquin, however, subsequently published the drawing of the flower of a plant cultivated in the Garden of Schonbrunn, which he doubtfully referred to this species. The flower is much larger, the calycine segments I@ lines long and much spread ; the tube of the corolla, beautifully marked with reddish longitudinal stripes, is 18 inch long, more than twice the breadth at its base of that in the typical drawing, is 1 inch broad in the mouth ; the lobes of the border are broader, more deeply and more acutely laciniated. Sir W. Hooker subsequently figured a plant grown at Kew, the flowers of which singu- larly resemble that of Jacquins last drawing ; the only difference is that the peduncle is shorter and stouter. There is no specimen of it in the Hookerian herbarium; but I noticed two loose flowers of it, which by mistake have been glued upon the same sheets as the specimens of C. ZatzjXia from Jamaica, and of C. cuczcr6itinu from Cuba. These flowers are probably those cultivated at Kew by Sir W. Hooker, and perhaps represent another species closely allied to C. cujete, but different from it.

2. CRESCENTIA CUNEIFOLIA, Gardn. in Hook. Jo. Bot. ii. 422; DC. Prodr. is. 246 : C. cujete, Seem. (non Linn.), in parte (Zoc. cit. 20) : Crescemtia no l , Browne, Jam. p. 255 : cortice cinereo, suberoso, rimoso, foveolato-punctato ; ramis adscendentibus, ramulis patentim divaricatis ; foliis e nodis majusculis compressis 2-8, fasciculatis, obovatis, apice abrupte breviter acuminatis, imo longe caneatis, sessilibus, virentibus, supra nitentibus, glabris, subtus opace pallidioribus, prmertim in costa nervisque subpu- berulis : floribus solitariis, rarius geminis, pedunculo medio 3-bracteolato ; calyce ovato, in segmenta 2-3 subaequalia fere ad basin rupto ; corolla campanulata, tubo extus glandulis minutis pellucidis punctato, ventre circa medium plica transversali signato, limbo B-lobo, lobis valde acuminatis, marginibus irregulariter laciniatis, subbilabiato, labio superiore bilobo, lobis subplanis, inferiore trilobo, longitudinaliter plicato, lob0 intermedio latiore ; staminibus inclusis ; stylo zequilongo ;

The peduncle is slender, 8 to 14 lines long. The calyx is 8-9 lines long.

MR. J O H N MIERS ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA. 169

stigmate late 2-lamellato ; ov-ario 1-loculari, placentis 4 parietalibus cruciatim dispositis ; fructu magno, valde g1oboso.-In Brasilia : o. s. in hb. 2Ioolc. Natividade, in prov. Goyaz (Gardner, 3342).

This species, though well described by Gardner, is considered identical with C. czGete by Dr. Seemanii ; but the only accordant feature that I can perceive is the laciniation of the border of the corolla, a character found in some other species ; in all other respects there exists much discrepancy. It differs in the size and shape of its leaves, which arc pubescent beneath on the midrih and nerves, in its more ovate calyx, in its included stamens and style, and in the globular shape of its fruit. The tree grows to the height of about 18 feet; the leaves are 4 to 7: inches long, 14 to 29 inches broad ; the peduncle is about 7 lines long, the bracts sinall and acute; the calyx, at first closed and 9 lines long, splits into two or three unequal divisions ; the corolla is greenish yellow, the lobes of the border nerved and reticulated with purplish lines ; the fruit is perfectly globose, 6 t o 8 inches in diameter. I n Gardiicrs typical specimen, the transverse duplicature of the corolla which he mentions is iiot visible ; but that, no doubt, is owing to the flower being glued to the paper on that side.

I have considered the species described by Browne to be the same as this, because it agrees with it in the form of its lea,ves and in the size and shape of its fruit.

3. CRESCENTIA ACUMINATA, H. B. K. iii. 157 ; DC. Prodr. ix. 246 : Crescentia cajete, Seem. (non Jacq.) in parte, Linn. Trans. xxiii. 20 : Crescentia cujete, var. p, myasti- folk, Linn. Sp. P1. 873 : Crescelztia no 2, Browne, Jam. 266 : Cajete no 4, Plum. Gen. 23 : ramis elongatis, 3exuosis, ramulis angulatis, lzevibus, glabris, subalbidis ; foliis 3, fasciculatis, lanceolato-oblongis, apice acuminatis, imo longe spathulatis, cunea,tis, sessilibus, integris, membranaceis, utrinque glabris, nervis divaricatis et remotiusculis, supra nitidis, reticulatis, subtus pallidioribus, costa prominente : floribus e trunco solitariis ; pedunculo breviusculo ; calyce coriaceo, glabro, 2-fisso, segmentis tequalibus, ovatis, obtusis, concavis ; corolla subcampanulata, extus glandulis crystalhis scabrido-punctulata, tubo brevi, ventre infra medium plica transversali introflexo, fauce magna, subobliqua, limbo inaqualiter 5-fid0, erecto ; staminibus inclusis ; stigmate Z-lamellato ; fructu globoso, sub-4-pollicari.-In Antillis et Guiana : v. s. in hb. Hook. Karaoung, Guiana Gall. (~Yayot, 451) ; sine

This species, which is also amalgamated with the typical plant by Dr. Seemann, is well distinguished from it by its more membranaceous, narrower, longer leaves, and by its much smaller and globose fruit ; Kunth makes no mention of the deep incisions in the border of the corolla, which is a marked feature in the two preceding species, but which I cannot trace in Sagots specimen. The leaves are 2-6 inches long, 1-2& inches broad ; the peduncle is 7-8 lines long ; the tube of the corolla is 4 lines broad at its base, 14 inch broad across its mouth, 1* inch long, with a transverse plicature 6 lines above the base ; the upper lip is erect, 4 inch long, divided into acute lobes, the margins of which appear very crispate. I n the British Museum Collection there is a fruit, supposed to be from Jamaica, which corresponds with that described by Kunth: it is perfectly

loco (Eolcn.).

2 A 2


spherical, 4 inches in diameter, supported by the persistent disk, is obsoletely ~!-gPoovcd towards the apex ; the pericarp, half a line thick, is hard, smooth exteriially and closely pitted with concave semiimmersed glands, is lined inside with an adherent membranous plate formed of very thin laminae, in which four thin equidistant flattened nervures rising from the base to the summit are imbedded; it is filled with a solid pulp, much shrunk in drying, but still soft, and composed of numerous laminae agglutinated together, interspersed with numerous cells polished inside, twice the length and breadth of the seeds ; the seeds are cuneately oblong, heart-shaped, greatly flattened, 3 lines long, 2+ lines broad, with a firm rugose testa, a much shorter cordately orbicular tegmen suddenly narrowed below into a thread-like tube which terminates in the liilum ; the cotyledons are white and of wax-like texture.

4. CRESCENTIA CONFERTIFOLIA, nob. : arbor cucurbitzyera Americana, Sloane, Jam. ii. 172: Czcjete no 5, Plum. Gen. 23 : trunco levi, albidulo, valde ramoso; axillis nodosis, subapproximatis, prominulis ; foliis in nodis 7-8, fasciculatis, cuneato- oblongis, obtusis, fusco-viridibus, nitentibus : flore solitario ; calyce 2-fisso ; corolla campanulata, limbo valde laciniato ; fructu mole mediocri, sphaerico, seminibus cuneato-cordiformibus, valde compressis.-In Jamaica.

According to Sloane, this is a tree 20 to 25 feet high, with a trunk 6 or 7 inches in diameter, having a whitish smooth bark. It differs from the preceding in its much smaller leaves, which are comparatively broader and rounder at the apex. Seven or eight tufted leaves spring out of each node, these being 1 inch apart ; they are dark green, smooth, and shining, 3 inches long, 16 lines broad ; the peduncle is 1 inch long ; the corolla is 14 inch long, of a dirty greenish colour, with a much laciniated border, speckled with brownish streaks : the fruit is spherical or somewhat oval, 4+ inches in diameter ; the seeds, like those of the foregoing species, are 3Q lines long and 3 lines broad.

5. CRESCENTIA PLECTANTHA, nob. ; Ci-esentia czcjete, Vell. (non. Jacq.), F1. Flum. 269, vol. vi. tab. 103 : 2-orgyalis, ramulis divaricatis ; foliis 3-7, fasciculatis, e verruca squamosa ortis, lineari-lanceolatis, a medio ad basin spathulato-cuneatis, apice rotundatis, cum acumine subito brevi et obtusulo, sessilibus, submembranaceis, viridibus, supra glabris, subnitentibus, reticulatis, subtus pallidioribus, nervis tenuibus vix prominulis, costa subtenui prominente, obsolete puberula : floribus ex axillis vel e verrucis propriis solitariis, pedunculo circa medium 2-bracteolato ; calyce imo subgloboso, mox latiore, et oblongo, in lobos 2 q u a l e s fere ad basin fisso, vel hinc fissura unica, illinc in lacinias 3 tertia parte breviores irregulariter rupto, coriaceo, nitido, extus glandulis semiimmersis sparsim punctato ; corolla imo coarctata, ultra calycem campanulata, antice et postice paulo compressa, dorso rectiore, ventre inflata, et hinc infra medium plica magna transversali profunde introflexa, longitudinaliter sulcato-corrugata, undique glandulis minutis carnosulis creberrime punctulata, limbo subobliquo, b-lobo, lobis majusculis, fere zqualibus, subreflexis, acute acuminatis, marginibus integris, undulato-crispatis, 2 superioribus Paul0 majoribus et erectioribus, cunctis zstivatione profunde introflexis ; staminibus ultra faucem vix exsertis ; ovario oblongo, in discum magnum semicupularem

MR. J O H N MIERS ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA. 171

insito, 1-loculari, placentis 4, latis, cruciatim parietalibus ; sty lo aquilongo ; stigmate magno, cuneato-oblongo, 2-lamellari ; fructu maximo, oblongo-ovali, apice styli vestigio notato, imo disco indurato suffulto, pericarpio duro, ininutissime imprcsso- punctulato, intus pu1poso.-In Brasilia, prov. Rio de Janeiro.

This plant, hitherto undescribecl, is quite distinct from any other species : it forms a tree about 1 2 feet high, with spreading branches, the trunk having a white coriaccous splitting bark, on which many parasitical plants grow. Velloz states that it is found l)otlt in the inland and maritime districts. I ts most striking feature is the large size of its flowers, thc wide and deep plicsture of the corolla, which seems to be a gcneral fcaturc in all the species of this section. The leaves grow out of a warty excrescence on thc branches, formed of concentrically imbricated woody stipuloicl scales, each fasciclc consisting of from4 t o 7 leaves of different ages, 4 to 8 inches long, 1 to 2 inches broad, thc entire margin diminishing downwards, and decurrent along the midrib to the base. Tho flowers are solitary, most frequently growing from the trunk, out of a smaller nodosc excrescence like that of the leaves : the peduncle is 6 lines long, with two small acutc: bracteoles in the middle. The calyx before expansion is solidly closed, semiglobose at base, then oblong-ovate, polished and punctated, about 14 inch long. The corolla is 3 inches long, cylindrical at its base for the length of 2 lines, where it is 4 lines in diameter ; above this it becomes broadly and campanulately tubular, compressed antically and postically, with an oblique mouth nearly l+ inch broad: on the dorsal side it is nearly straight ; but on the anterior side it is ventricose, and transversely plicated below the middle by the broad and deep downward fold above mentioned : the rather fleshy tubc is smoother on the posterior side, but in other parts, as well as in the segments of the border, is plicato-sulcate lengthwise, all rugosely spotted with semiiminersed glands : the segments of the border, of which the two superior are somewhat larger and more erect, are of thinner texture, striately veined, 1-14- inch long, 8 lines broad at their base, gradually narrowing into a very acuminate point, all with their margins entire, though undulately crispate; there is a reflexed tooth in each sinus between the lobes. Th(b stamens are didynamous, with a very short rudimental fifth between the insertion of tlw posterior pair ; the filaments are straight, thick, fleshy, subterete, and inserted 3 inches above the base in the mouth of the contracted portion of the tube, the posterior pair being 1+ inch, the anterior pair 1Q inch long; the anther-lobes are oblong, pendent, divaricated, attached at their apex, and there fixed on the summit of the filament, they are acute below, compressed, and burst along the outer margin by a thick sutural fissure, and finally become boat-shaped. The ovary is conically oblong, very smooth, 4 lines long, 2 lines broad, is 1-locular, with 4 very distinct longitudinal broad parietal lines of placentation, which project far within the cavity of the cell, and are covered with innumerable black shining minute ovules ; the style is nearly erect, curving a little back- wards, and as long as the staiiiens ; the stigma 2-lamellar, submembranaceous, pointed, 5 lines long, 3 lines broad, papillous within. The fruit has already been described.

6. CRESCEKTIA FASGICULATA, nob. : ramulis subangulatis, cortice pallide brunneo, ruguloso, sulcato ; axillis cupuloso-nodosis, prominentibus, alternis : foliis in fasci-


culo 5-6, sessilibus, oblongis, a medio ad basin gradatim spathulato-cuneatis, apicc obtuse rotundatis, vel sensim acutis, minute mucronatis, glaberrimis, supra lzte viridibus, reticulatis, subtus pallidioribus, crcbre punctatis, nervis subdivaricatis paulo prominulis intra rnarginem arcuatim nexis, rnarginibus revolutis : flore solitario, pedunculo ad medium 2-bracteolato ; calyce usque ad basin 2-fiss0, carno- sulo, impunctato ; corolla canipanulata, imo breviter tubdosa, dein ampliata, infra medium transversiin duplicata, extus undique verruculis minutis scabrido-rugosa, ore valde obliquo, limbo 5-10b0, sub-2-labiat0, lobis inaequalibus, 2 superioribus erectioribus, cunctis profundissime incisis, laciniis longis, linearibus ; antheris vix ultra faucem exsertis ; ovario oblongo, in discum cupuliformem carnosuni margine crenulatum insit0.-In Antillis : 2). s. insula Sancti Thorn=, ad Boboni ( Q h t e d ) .

This species in some respects corresponds with C. czcmeifolicc, but differs in its smaller leaves, and in its corolla, the lobes of which are divided almost to their base into 3 or 4 very long, narrow, linear segments, in which respect it resembles C. ohovatcc; but there the segments are two-thirds shorter and broader. The branch is 2 lines thick, 3 lines broad at the cupular nodes, which are $1 inch apart ; the leaves are 13 inch long, 7-12 lines broad; the peduncle is 6 lines long; the fleshy calyx, 9 lines long, is split t o the base into two nearly equal obtuse segments ; the tube of the corolla is 1 inch long, the basal contracted portion being 3 lines long, and 2+ lines in diameter, and the transverse duplicature 6 lines from the base ; the lobes of the border are 3 lines long and broad, ex- clusive of their segments, which are quite linear, 9 lines long, and + line broad. 7. CRESCENTIA AGGREGATA, nob. : cucu?rnbitifera Rhumk fucie, Sloane, Jam. ii. 175,

tab. 228 : truncis circiter 6 ex ipsa radice sirnul enatis, sesquiorgyalibus, erectis, su- pern e ramosis ; ramis patentibus, copiose foliosis ; ramulis brevibus, cupuloso-nodosis, foliis paucis munitis vel subnudis, hinc pseudospiniformibus ; foliis subparvis, ex axillis nodosis 4-8, fasciculatis, sessilibus, oblongis, imo breviter angustioribus, apice rotundatis vel obtusis, fusco-viridibus, nitentibus, glabris : floribus e trunco vel ex axillis ramoruni, solitariis ; pedunculo folium equante ; calyce 2-fisso ; corolla pedunculo dimidio longiore, striis sordide brunneis signata, limbo guttato, valde laciniato ; fructu g1oboso.-In Jamaica.

This is a species evidently intermediate between the preceding and the following, in regard to the size of the leaves. Sloane describes it as having several trunks springing from the same root, 9 or 10 feet high, and h or 5 inches in diameter, covered with a white smooth bark, with several branches standing out horizontally, with prominent axils 3 to 6 lines apart, each furnished with a tuft of leaves, which are sessile, 1-1+ inch long, 5-7 lines broad, with rounded summits ; the branchlets are very patent, not more than 14 inch long, with few leaves, and, terminating in an obtuse point, are almost like as many spines ; and hence, when there are a number of them close together, the branches appear prickly. The peduncle is 1 inch long, the corolla 16 inch long.

8. CRESCENTIA LINEARIFOLIA, nob. : Cujete no 3, Plum. Gen. 23 : ramulis subangulatis, subsulcatis, cortice pallido, coriaceo, laxiusculo ; axillis alternis, approximatis, cupuloso-nodosis ; foliis in axillis 6-12, fasciculatis, parvulis, linearibus, apice sensim


acuminatis, acute mucronatis, imo cuneatis, sessilibus, subcoriaceis, glaberrimis, supra viridibus, subtus paulo palliclioribus, utriiique nervis venisque rcticulatis prominulis, nervo rriarginali subrevoluto : flore solitario ; pedunculo ad medium 2- bracteolato : fructu parvo, globoso, vix sesquipollicari, apicc obsolete cruciatim sulcato, styli vestigio notato, imo disco indurato sttipitato et calpcc brevi persistente ad basin inaqualiter fisso suffulto ; pericarpio duro, subcoriaceo, fusco, nmis flavidis maculato, minutissinie impresso-punctulato, intus placcntis 4 parietalibus longitu- dinalibus costxformibus cruciatim dispositis adnatis, membrana fusca adhmente nexis.-In Antillis : v. s. ins. S. Thomae, acl Boboni ( Q h t e d ) .

In the peculiar shape of its leaves, and in its very approximated nodes, this species bears no resemblance to any other of the genus. The branch is 2+ lines in diameter, with large projecting cupshaped nodes, 2 to 6 lines apart, out of which issue 6 t o 12 fasciculated leaves of various ages and sizes, the older ones being 2 inches long, 2 lines broad, the younger 9 lincs long, 1+ line broad, all more or less divaricated. The fructi- ferous peduncle is 6 lines long, 1 line thick : the fruit is quite globose, scarcely 1i inch in diameter, supported by the indurated disk 3 lines high and 4+ lines in diameter, and surrounded by the ruptured calyx ; the pericarp is 3 line thick, hard, subpolished, closely dotted with minute hollow punctures, and is marked inside by four prominent adnate ribs united at the base and apex and connected together by a dark-coloured adhering laminar coating.

9. CRESCENTIA SPATRULATA, nob. : foliis e nodis cupulosis 5-6, fasciculatis, sessilibus, spathulato-oblongis, apice rotundatis, apiculo brevissime mucronatis, a summo ad basin gradatim cuneatis, lateribus fere rectis, supra viridibus, glabris, subtus pallidioribus, ad costam utroque latere tomentoso-pubescentibus, et in nervis utrinque 20 divaricatis et arcuatim nexis puberulis : flore solitario ; peduneulo brevi, subtenui; calyce subbrevi, in lobos ovatos ere ad basin 2-fisso, glaiidulis sparsis immersis punctat 0 ; corolla campanulata, longitudinaliter striata, glandulis minutis crys- tallinis scabrido-punctulata, tub0 lato, subbrevi, infra medium plica transversali deorsuin profunde introflexo, limbo sub-6-lobo, lobis deltoideis, acutis, marginibus undulato-crispatis, suberectis ; starninibus inc1usis.--In Ecuador : o. s. in 136. Hook. Ecuador (Siinclair) : i r ~ h6. Mus. Brit. sine flore (Linden., an cult. ?).

This species is well marked by the peculiar shape and pubescence of its leaves. The alternate cupular nodes are 1 inch apart, and fringed with several short ligneous stipn- loid scales, generally prevalent in the plants of this section. The leaves on each fascicle vary much in size according to their age, and are remarkable for their very elongated form with rounded apex, and for the unusual number of the puberulous nerves beneath, while the midrib has a narrow band of soft pubescence along each side; they are 6-7 inches long, 1&l+ inch broad, the younger leaves sometimes only 1+ inch in length. The peduncle is 5 lines long ; the calyx 8-9 lines long, with broadly ovate lobes; the corolla is very like that of C. plectuntha, but smaller, the tube being 12-14 inch long, $1 inch broad in the mouth, with a deep transverse downward duplicature on the ventral face 6-8 lines above the base, the lobes of the border being 5-6 lines long and broad.


2. ErZuZZugnza. Folia alterna. An genus distinctum ?

10. CRESCENTIA CUCURBITINA, Linn. Mant. 250; Sw. Obs. 234; DC. Prodr. ix. 246; Seem. Linn. Trans. xxiii. 19 ; Gaertn. Fruct. iii. 230, tab. 223 ; Lunan, Hort. Jam. i. 141: Crescentia no 4, Browne, Jam. 266: Cmweiztia czdete, var. 8, Linn. Sp. p1. 873 : trunco mediocri ; rarnis adscendcntibus (iiec patentibus), strictis, striato- angulosis, cortice laxo, suberoso ; foliis alternis, approximatis vel sparsis, ovato- oblongis, imo subcuneatis, apice breviter acuniinatis, subcoriaceis, glaberrimis, supra subnitidis, pallide viridibus, nervis immersis utrinque circiter 10, reticulatis, subtus glauco-pallidioribus, petiolo brevi, crass0 : floribus terniinalibus, 2-5, segre- gatim solitariis, nutantihus ; peclunculo petiolo longiore, tenui, imo 2-bracteolato ; calyce Iongo, late tubuloso, glabro, virescente, impresso-punctato, fere ad basin 2- fisso, segmentis late ovatis, concavis ; corolla campanulata, scabrido-punctulata, tub0 et fauce albidis, ventre rubicundo, limbo fusco, tubo imo subdilatato, paulo supra basin constricto, dein superne gradatim ampliato, antice ventricoso et infra faucem transversim plicato, limbo obliquo, 2-labiato, labio superiore indiviso, emar- ginato, crenato-undulato, brevi, inferiore longiore, latiore et 3-1ob0, lobis brevissi- mis, angulatis ; staminibus longioribus, faucem attin gentibus ; filamentis teretibus, paulo curvatis ; antheris 2-lobis, lobis oblongis, divaricatis, fuscis ; ovario subrotundo, depress0 ; stylo filiformi, exserto ; stigmate 2-lamellato : fructu corticoso, ovato- oblongo, apice breviter umbonato ; pericarpio sublignoso, vix fragili, intus pulposo. -In dntillis : II. s. i"i~ hb. Nus. Brit. Jamaica ( T r i g h t ) ; in hb. Hook. Cuba Oriental. (Wright , 361) ; Panama (Fendler, 210).

This species does not appear to have been figured, with the exception of its fruit, and seems to have been confounded with C. Zat~oliu; and therefore its characters as given by modern botanists cannot be relied on ; that of Swartz is the only one on which we can depend. Swartz describes it as a tree of middle height, with a smooth trunk, its branches being erect, not spreading horizontally, and straight and angular. It grows in arid stony places, near the seashore, in Jamaica. The leaves, near the summit of the branches, are alternate, 2-3 lines apart, they are 4&7$ inches long, 2-2% inches broad, on a thick petiole 2-3 lines long. The peduncle of the flower is 14 inch, of the fruit 2 inches long; the concave segments of the calyx are 1i inch long, 6, lines broad; the tube of the corolla is 18 inch long, with an oblique mouth 1 inch broad, a little below which it has a transverse ringent upward duplicature on the ventral side ; the upper lip of the border is 9 inch long, extremely broad; the lower lip is 4 inch long, with 3 short broad lobes. The fruit, of which I have seen a specimen in the British Museum, is shaped exactly like that figured by Gaertner, is 3% inches long, 3 inches in diameter, supported by the persistent 11, 'mnified disk, upon a somewhat slender peduncle ; the pericarp is somewhat thinner than is shown in Gaertner's drawing, is hard, and can scarcely be called brittle, pitted externally with numerous very deep dots, internally is lined with a pithy submembranaceous laminar 1,olishecI coating, in which 4 main placentary nerves, cruciately disposed, are imbed&& the illtervening spaces being filled by a reticulated network of branching fibres. The seeds are fewer in number, and much larger, than those in the preceding section, and are well

175 MR. JOHN M I E R S ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA.

figured by Gaertner ; thcy are nearly orbicular, soinemhat compressed, einarginated at top and bottom, with a clcep groove along cach face, are 7 lines long, 8 lines broad, covered by two integuments, both equally inembranaceous, which closcly invest the embryo : the latter, which grows black in drying, consists of two fleshy cotylcdoiis of tlw shape and size just described, the bottom eirzargination being formed by two auricular lobes, beneath which the included short radicle lies quite concealed.

When Gaertner stated that the fruit is sometimes a foot long, this mas not froni his own knowledge, but from the account of authors who have conounded the species together. Swartz does not allude to this excessive magnitude, but, on the contrary, quotes as his only synonyqBrowncs short diagnosis, in which he describes it fructu 1ni11ori.~ Dr. Seewann amalganiates with this species C. Ectt?xoolia and C. obovcdct, which are certain1:- distinct ; he also quotes as synonyms C. toxicctriu and C. ZethiJei*a, both figured by Tus- sac in his ( Flore des Antilles ; but I have not been able to procure a sight of that work, to enable me t o form an opinion upon these plants : the latter would seem to be a distinct spccies, or probably referable to another genus, on account of its ti-igonous fruit ; and both are reputed to possess poisonous qualities, which are not ascribed to C. cziczcrbitinc~.

11. CRESCENTIA OBOVATA, Bentham, Toy. Sulph. 130, pl. 46 : C. czcczcrbitiizcc, Seem. (in parte), 1. c. p. 19 (non Linn.) : ramnlis crassiusculis, striatis, subangulatis, ad originem squainulis numerosis brevibus acutis persistentibus instructis ; cortice suberoso, laxo : foliis alternis, obovatis, apice acumine obtusulo brevi subito constrictis, imo cuneatis, breviter petiola-tis, crasso-coriaceis, supra nitidulis, nervis immersis, subtus glauco-pallidioribus , nervis utrinque 10-12 costaque crassiuscula prominentibus : floribus in apice raworum solitariis vel 2-3, subnutantibus, pedun- culis longiusculis, validis, rectis, ebracteolatis ; calyce crasso-coriaceo, glandulis minutissimis scabrido-punctulato, imo tubuloso, mos dilatato et oblongo, primum clauso, demum ad medium subaequaliter 2-fisso ; corolla infundibuliformi-campanulata, incurva, extus minute scabrido-punctulata, ventre gibboso, infra faucem hinc subito transverse constricto, dorso levi, fauce ampla, valde ohliqus, limbo brevi, expanso, subreflexo, rarius obsolete lobato, margine fimbriato aut denticulato- crenato, reticulato-nervoso ; staminibus inclusis ; filamentis zequalibus, rectis ; an- therarum lobis parvis, oblongis, imo divaricatis ; ovario oblongo, in discurn inagnuni pulviniformem insito, 4-sulcato, 1-loculari, placentis 2 longitudinaliter parietalibus ; stylo tubi longitudine, erecto, imo tumidulo ; stiginate ovato, subsolido, apice breviter fisso, intus papil1oso.-In Antillis : v. s. in hb. Hook. insula Gorgonia versus Vera- guas, in maritirnis (Barclay) ; S Anna, Jamaica (Purdie).

This species differs from the preceding in the shape of its corolla, its almost ringent oblique mouth, with a very narrow fringed border, in its stamens, its almost solid stigma, and several other characters. The leaves are 4 5 7 + inches long, 2&4 inches broad, on a petiole 2-3 lines long: the peduncle is 1514 inch long ; the calyx, before bursting, is 12 inch long, 4$ lines in diameter at its base, 7 lines in its broadest part, the length of the segments being 10 lines ; the tube of the corolla posteriorly is 2 inches long, anteriorly l# inch long, 41ines broad at base,

Its ovary has only 2 placenta

VOL. XXVI. 2 B


1 inch in diameter in the mouth, having, 3 lines below this, a very shallow ringent constriction, or upward induplicature of the tube, on the anterior side only ; the stamens are 8 lines long, one pair being seated 5 lines lower than the upper pair, and 4 lines higher than the sterile stamen, which is fixed 6 lines above the base; the disk is 1 line high, 4 lines in diameter; the ovary is 5 lines long, the style is 15 lines, the stigma la line long.

12. CRESCENTIA LATIPOLIA, ?lumier, Amer. ii. 100, tab. 109; Lam. Diet, i. 558, tab. 547 : Ci*esce?zticc O U C G ~ M , Burm. 31. Ind. 132 : Cijete no 2, Plum. Gen. 23, tab. 16 : Ci-escenticc cucurbitim, DC. in parte (non Linn.), Prodr. ix. 246 ; Seem. in parte (non Linn.), Linn. Trans. xxiii. 19 : trunco crasso, cortice rufo-dinereo ; ramis patentibus, cinereo-glaucis, subangulatis, striolatis, nodis cupulosis margine cartilagineis; foliis alternis, ovatis aut oblongis, apice acumine brevissimo obtusulo constrictis, imo subacutis aut obtuse cuneatis, integris, glaberrimis, valde coriaceis, supra sub- pallidis, opacis, iiervis iminersis, subtus nervis utrinque 10 costaque prominentibus, petiolo brevi, erasso : floribus ramorum apicem versus vel in axillis solitariis vel binis ; pedunculo subtenui ; calyce oblongo, paulo supra basin ampliore, ultra medium aequaliter 2-fisso aut in segmenta 3 inEqualia rupto ; corolla campanulata, tubo longitudinaliter sulcato, antice ventricoso, et hinc medium versus plica transversali profunde introflexo, fauce paulo obliqua, limbo 5-lobo, lobis sub- brevibus inargine inciso-laciniatis, laciniis linearibns, acutis aut obtusis ; staminibus paulo exsertis, antheris irno divaricatis ; stplo multo longiore ; stigrnate ovali, subsolido : fructu majusculo, ovato, apice breviter umbonato, pericarpio sublignoso, fragili, intus pu1poso.-In Antillis : v. s. ins. S. Thomce, ad Borboni ( Q h t e d ) : in hb. +Tool%. Cuba (Otto 357) ; Jamaica (Distin).

This species much resembles in general appearance C. cucurbitima, with which it has been confounded by most botanists, but differs in being a larger tree with a thicker trunk, and with copious wide-spreading (not erect) branches, in its leaves, which are more cuneate at base, its more erect flowers, a Werently shaped corolla, with a deep ventral transverse duplicature (not ringent in the mouth), its broader and 5-lobed border with laciniated margins, a subsolid stigma, and a larger fruit. Plumier describes it as an arbor ingens ;, the trunk often acquires a considerable diameter, and furnishes a pale-coloured, hard wood, with a close, crossgrain, which renders it valuable for many purposes. The leaves are 5-7$ inches long, 2E33 inches broad, on a thick petiole 4 inch long. The peduncle is l-li inch long ; the calyx is broad, 1i inch long ; the tube of the corolla 1% inch long, 1 inch broad in the mouth, and below the plicature in the middle of the tube it is narrowed to a breadth of Q inch ; the two front lobes of the border are 3 lines long and broad, the three superior lobes 6 lines long and broad, the laciniated segments 4 lines long, 1 line broad ; the stamens are 6-8 lines long ; the stigma extends 12-16 lines beyond the mouth. These details are obtained from Plumiers original drawing of the plant, preserved in the British Museum, assisted by the specimens above quoted. The fruit, stated by Plumier to be large and ovate, is shown in that drawing to be 4+ inches long, 33 inches in diameter, surmounted by an obtuse mammillary projection 4 lines

RIR. JOHN MIERS ON THE GENUS CRESCENTIA. 177

long, and supported by the solidified disk 8 lines in diameter, upon a peduncle 2 inches long.

Lamarck, in his Illustrations, tab. 547, to show the structure of Crescentia, made an incorrect copy of Plumiers drawing of this species, omitting the most remarkable feature, the duplicature of the tube of the corolla; and he copied Burmanns (not Plumiers) very incorrect drawing of the fruit and seeds, which belong to some species of Bztcrescei/t.iu.

13. CRESCENTIA CORIACEA, nob. : ramulis teretibus, axillis cupuloso-nodosis ; foliis elongato-oblongis, imo cuneatis, apice truncato-rotundatis, subito brevissiive apicn- latis, subcoriaceis, nervis utrinque 12-14 divaricato-patulis intra ivargineni arcuatim nexis, supra subnitidis, rugulosis, nervis immersis, subtus pallidioribus, glaucis, marginibus valde revolutis, costa nervisque prominentibus, petiolo brevissinio, crass0 : flore solitario, axillari aut terminali ; corolla campanulata, tub0 ad basin hreviter latiore, sursum gradatim infundibuliformi, fauce ampliata, obliqua, hinc antice inflata et transversim sui*sum introflexa, limbo 2-labiato, labio superiore multo majore, indiviso, erecto, crispatim undulato, inferiore brevi, vix lobato, rcflexo, margine dentatim inciso ; staminibus superioribus exsertis : fructu obovato, sub- conico, apiculo tenui superato, imo disco indurato suffulto, pericarpio sublid *noso, tenuissimo, fra,gili, fusco, intus pulposo, nervis 4 parietalibus in membranain la- minarem adhaerentem immersis, pulpa sicca submedullari, seminibus cordiformi- orbicularibus, crassiusculis, majoribus.-In America meridionali et in Antillis : fi. s. in 7zb. Mus. B~i t . Jamaica (P. Browne?) ; Venezuela, ad Boca del Tigre (Moritz 1953) ; in hb. Book. Jamaica (Br. Alexamder Prior).

This is a species very different from any of the preceding, in the shape of the leaves, their nervation, the structure of the corolla, and the form of the fruit. The branch is terete, 2-3 lines thick, with axils 1-1$ inch apart : the leaves are 6+9& inches long, 2%3$ inches broad, on a thick petiole only 3 lines long. The peduncle is 2 inches long. There is some resemblance in the form of the flower to that of C. czcczcrbitiiza, but with this essential difference, that in the latter the upper lip is shortest, while here it is considerably longer, and vice versa in regard to the lower lip. The calyx, like that in C. cucurbitina, is 1&2 inches long; the tube of the corolla is 2 inches lonc~, thc upper lip 1 inch long, the lower incised lip 4 inch broad ; the transverse duplicature, 3 lines below the mouth on the ventral side, gives it a ringent appearance, as in C. obouata. The fruit is 34 inches long, 2 inches in diameter, somewhat tapering upwards above the middle ; the pericarp is only one-third the thickness of that in C. cucurbitina, is very brittle, with an external rugose surface, subpolished, dark, and is lined internally with a pale brown, laminated, membranaceous coating, in which the 4 placentary nervures are imbedded. The seeds are large, thick, and quite like those figured by Gaertner ; the pulp which encloses thcm has a very different texture from that found in the prececliiig section, being of an almost pithy consistence, which does not grow black, and reinairs somewhat viscous in drying: the seeds are of a darkish colour, suborbicular, deeply emarginated at top and bottom, somewhat compressed, with a deep p0~1-e along each face, in one of which is seen the line of the raphe terminating in the hilum a little

2 B 2

178 MR. JOHN MIERS OW THE GENUS CRESCENTIA.

above the base ; the outer integument closely invests the inner tuiiic ; both are m e n h a - naceous ; the embryo is black, G lines long, S lines broad, 3+ lines thick, grooved down each face, with a deep emargination in the summit, and another at the base, formed by 2 short auricular lobes, the short radicle being entirely eonccaled within these lobes,

14. CRESCENTIA CUSPIDATA, nob. : ramulis obtuse angulatis, substriatis ; foliis majusculis, elongate-oblongis, imo cuneatis, spice abrupte acuminatis, supra opacis, scrobiculato- impressis, nervis subimmersis utrinque circiter 16 divaricstis et arcuatim nexis, subtus pallidioribus, nervis paulo prominentibus, nervo marginali prominulo, petiolo crassiusculo, brevissimo : flore solitario, teriiiinali aut axillari, longe pedun- culato ; calyce subcylindrico, longo, fere ad basin bifisso, extus varioloso-punctato ; co~olla infundibuliformi-campanulata, extus scalnrido-puiictulata, tubo striato- nervoso, calyce paulo longiore, ad faciem ventralem infra faucem subito transversim introflexo, limbo sub-Z-labiato, labio superiore longiore, latissimo, crenulatim eroso, labio inferiore breviter 3-lobo, lobis rotundatis, suberectis, inEqualiter inciso-den- tatis ; antheris vix exsertis ; stylo longe protenso : fructu ovato, apice obtuse apiculato vel umbonato, pericarpio duro, crassiusculo, extus irnpresso-punctato, intus pulposo, seminibus majuscu1is.-In Venezuela et Antillis : 9. s. ifi hb. .Hook. Tovar (Fendler, 780) ; Tope prope Caraccas, unde r r COCO de Mono dicitur (Bur- chelE) ; s. Vincente (Gzcilding).

This species differs from the preceding, which it much resembles, in the more prolonged shape of its leaves, suddenly contracted at the apex into a cuspidated acumen ; the form of the corolla is different ; and it has a more oval fruit, having a hard, stout shell with a pallid punctated surface. The leaves are 7+-12 inches long, 2 5 4 inches broad, on a rather stout petiole 3-5 lines long : the peduncle is 2 inches long ; the calyx is 12 inch long; the tube of the corolla 14 inch long, the upper lip 6 lines, the lower lip 3 lines long, the upward sudden introflexion being 3 t o 6 lines beneath it. The fruit is 3-3& inches long, Z-2+ inches broad, seated on the persistent disk upon a pedicel 2 i inches long; the pericarp is 1 line or more in thickness, with 4 adnate parietal nervures cruciately disposed ; the seed is 7 lines long, 9 lines broad.

15. CRESCENTIA ELONGATA, nob. : ramulis cortice suberoso, rugoso-punctato, rimoso, nodis cupuloso-nodosis ; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, imo breviter subcuneatis, apice repente attenuatis, lateribus fere rectis et parallelis, coria,ceis, supra opace viridibus, nervis utrinque circiter 12 immersis, subtus concoloribus, nervis prominulis, petiolo brevi, crassiusculo : floribus solitariis, longe pedunculatis ; calyce magno, oblongo, hinc ad medium fisso, illinc breviter 3-fisso ; corolla infundibuliformi-campanulata, tub0 incurvato, impunctato, fauce aperta, regulari, limbo sub-2-labiato, labio superiore erecto, sub-2-lob0, inferiore subdeclinato, breviter 3-1ob0, lobis margine sinuato- crenatis : fructu ovali, pericarpio tenui, testaceo, intus nervis 4 cruciatim parietalibus, quorum 2 oppositis utrinque placentiferis et late expansis, prolationibus in sicco submembranaceis, seminiferis, a pericarpio liberis, seminibus in illas immersis. -In Antillis : v. s. i.12 hb. Hook. Monte Verde, Cuba orientali (Wright, 361 bis).

MR. JOHN &TIERS ON T H E G E N U S CRESCENTIA. 179

This species is distinct froni any of the foregoing in the form and stmcture of its fruit, in its leaves, which are sorncwhst sinnller and iiarrower, with more distant iierb-es than those of the preceding species ; and the flower is also different. The leaves arc 4i-s inches long (including the rather stout petiolc of 3 lines), and 1$-22 inches 1)roacl : the peduncle is 1Q inch long, and somewhat sleiiclcr ; the calys is 14 inch long, 7 lines in diameter ; the tube of the corolla is 13 inch long, the open oblique nioutli iiearly an iiicl L in diameter ; the upper lip is erect, inch long ; the lower, somewhat clcflecled lil) is 2 inch long. A longitudinal section and moiety of the fruit, evidently not niaturc, is glued upon the same sheet as the plant : it is 2$ inches long, 2 inches broad, and regularly oval ; the pericarp is thin and testaceous, with 4 equidistant longitudinal nervcs imbedded inside : in the moiety exhibitcd, the 2 lateral nerves are barren, the intermediate one, 1 line broad, emits on each side a broad thickened membranaceous plate, quite free from the rest of the shell, in which the immature seeds are imbedded. This feature alone gives a very distinctive character to the species.

DESCRIPTION O F THE PLATES.

PLATE VII. Fig. 1. Crescentiapkctantha : a fascicle of its leaves seated in a warty excrescence formed of imbricated

Fig. 2. A flower of the same in bud, when the solidly closed fleshy calyx only is seen, before it becomes

Fig. 3. The same after the bursting of the calyx, showing the corolla corrugately plicated, with the lobes

Fig. 4. The corolla after its complete expansion, removed from the calyx, showing the downward deep

Fig. 6. The same cut open, to exhibit the position of the stamens in regard to the plicature of the tube. Fig. 6. The calyx, from which the corolla has been removed, showing, at the period of the full expansion

of the flower, the ovary seated in the fleshy disk and surmounted by the style and stigma. Fig. 7. The ovary after the fall of the flower, and then more fully grown, the segments of the calyx

having just fallen off; it is seated within the polished fleshy disk, and is punctated all over with numerous small concave dots, and is besides marked by a few distant glands seen in the bottom of large excavations.

Fig. 8. A vertical section of the same, showing two of the longitudinal parietal placentz covered with very numerous, crowded, black, shining ovules.

Fig. 9. A transverse section of the same, exhibiting the position of the four longitudinal parietal placen- tations in its l-locular cell; upon the surface of the prominent fleshy placentz are seen the salient points upon which the ovules are attached in a crowded state. All of the natural size.

Fig. 10. An ovule, highly magnilfied. Fig. 11. A longitudinal section of the ripe fruit, from which half of the pericarp and the whole of the

seminiferous pulpy mass have been removed: there are now seen remaining the many ligneous cords or nervures which spring from the base of the cell, at which point they are somewhat imbricated ; but they immediately divaricate, rising upwards free from, but close to

ligneous scales upon the older branches.

ruptured by the expansion of the enclosed corolla.

of its border wholly inflected, in the manner of its peculiar mode of aestivation.

plicature of the tube upon the ventral side.

180

Fig. 12. Fig. 13. Fig. 14. Fig. 15.

Fig. 16.

Fig. 17. Fig. 18. Fig. 19.

Fig. 20.

MR. JOHN MIERS ON T H E GENUS CRESCENTIA.

the pericarp, and, becoming thinner, terminate in threads near the summit ; those cords are charged with numerous branching fibres and nourishing-vessels, imbcdded in the numerous laminar membranes which radiate from them in all directions, and which, becoming fleshy and agglutinated together, form the solid pulpy mass enclosing the seeds, and filling the entire capacity of the cell of the fruit. Of the natural size.

A seed, also of the natural size. The same, magnified and seen in face, the hilum being the minute point in its base. The same, seen on its edge. The same, with half of the outer integument removed, showing the position of the chalaza, in the

The inner integument freed from its covering and marked by the chalaza in the sinus of the

The inner integument has been removed to show the embryo which it enclosed; i t is seen in front. The same, seen sidewise. The same, with one of the cotyledons removed, showing the size and relative position of the

The cotyledon which has been removed,-all being magnified on the same scale.

summit of the inner integument, with respect to the hilum.

summit, while the base is prolonged into a narrow thread terminating in the hilum.

radicle.

PLATE VIII . Fig. 1. A portion of a branch of Crescentia fusciculata. Fig. 2. A flower of the same, expanded. Fig. 3. A portion of a branch of Crescentia lineargolia. Fig. 4. An entire fruit of Crescentia lineargolia. Fig. 5. A vertical section of the same, with half of the pericarp and the pulpy mass removed, showing

four parietal nervures imbedded in the laminar membranes which are agglutinated to the inner surface of the pericarp. All of the natural size.

PLATE IX. Fig. 1. A portion of a branch of Crescentia (Enallagma) coriacea, with two ripe fruits attached. Pig. 2. The calyx, from which the flower has fallen off. Fig. 3. The corolla removed, as seen in a dried specimen, in which is seen the short upward duplicature of

the tube on the ventral side, forming a ringent swelling within the mouth : the upper lip is entire, with a crispate margin; the lower lip has the margin cut into acute laciniated teeth.

Fig. 4. The ovary, some time after the fall of the flower. Fig. 5. A transverse section of one of the fruits, showiug its thin brittle pericarp and contained seeds. Fig. 6. A seed from the dried specimen, covered by a pith-like substance, or exsiccated portion of the

Fig. 7. The same, seen edgewise. Fig. 8. A seed with the covering removed, deeply grooved on the two opposite faces, showing the mem-

branaceous testa marked by a cord-like raphe terminating in a somewhat lateral hilum. Fig. 9. The embryo, from which the two integuments have been removed ; in the basal sinus are seen the

two small auricular lobes on each cotyledon, beneath which the very short radicle lies concealed.

Pulp-

Fig. 10. The same, seen on the edge, to show the thickness of the cotyledons. Fig. 11. A cotyledon seen from its inside flat surface, shoming the size and position of the concealed

radicle. All of the natuml size.

Documents

II. On the Genus Crescentia