ALBERT

Description: The genus Praravinia was created by KORTHALS (in TEMMINCK, Verhand. Nat. Gesch. Ned. Overz. Bezitt., Bot., p. 189, tab. 41, 1839-1842) for a plant which he had collected in the south-eastern part of Borneo. He described it as similar in habit and doubtless nearly related to Urophyllum WALL. His diagnosis of the genus, however, does not substantiate this point of view, for it contains two statements which seem to exclude the possibility of a near affinity: the aestivation of the corolla lobes is described as imbricate, whereas in Urophyllum and its allies it is always valvate, and the number of corolla lobes is said to be half as large as that of the stamens, a condition unknown not only in Urophyllum but in the whole family. As in the description of the species the aestivation is correctly set down as valvate, the first statement need not trouble us: the word “imbricate” in the generic diagnosis is obviously a slip of the pen. The other statement, however, is repeated in the description of the species, but it strikes one as anomalous that immediately afterwards the 8—12 stamens are said to alternate with the corolla lobes, as this of course would be impossible when the latter were but half as numerous as the first. The discrepancy between the number of the corolla lobes and of the stamens led MIQUEL in his “Flora Indiae Batavae II, p. 225 (1857)” to consider Praravinia as a quite singular genus, rather out of place in the family Rubiaceae: it reminded him, he says, of the Samydeae (Flacourtiaceae). When he wrote this, he knew the genus merely from the description given by KORTHALS, but afterwards he found an opportunity to study the latter’s material. In his “De quibusdam Rubiaceis, Apocyneis et Asclepiadeis” (Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. IV, p. 136, 1869) he proposes, as a result of this investigation, to exclude the genus from the Rubiaceae, and to raise it to family rank. The new family, for which he introduces the name Metrocladeaceae, should be regarded, however, as nearly related to the Rubiaceae. The description of the genus given by MIQUEL is much more detailed than the original one, but it unfortunately repeats its principal errors: the corolla is described as 4- to 6-merous, and its aestivation as imbricate. The male flower dissected by him is preserved in the Utrecht Herbarium; it is a fairly young bud, opened by a longitudinal slit. The corolla lobes had apparently been separated by a slight pressure, but I at once got the impression that it had been insufficient to effect a complete separation, and that the lobes were still cohering in pairs. I have boiled the flower therefore once more, and by exercising in my turn a slight pressure I succeeded in setting all the lobes free. Since then I have seen mature flowers of this and other species in which the isomery of corolla and androecium was unmistakable. MIQUEL’s speculations on the taxonomic position of the genus were based therefore on a false supposition, and need no further consideration; the analysis carried out below will show that KORTHALS was quite right when he placed Praravinia in the neighbourhood of Urophyllum.

Description: The name Pleiocarpidia was coined by K. SCHUMANN (ENGLER und PRANTL, Natürliche Pflanzenfamilien, Nachträge I, p. 314, 1897) for a genus described in 1873 by HOOKER f. (BENTHAM et HOOKER, Genera Plantarum II (1), p. 71) as Aulacodiscus: HOOKER’S genus had to be rebaptized, because the name Aulacodiscus had been used already in 1844 by EHRENBERG for a genus belonging to the Diatomeae. A proposal made by O. KUNTZE(POST et KUNTZE, Lexicon, 1904) to change the spelling of the name introduced by SCHUMANN in Pliocarpidia can not be accepted, as there is no rule prescribing the transcription of the Greek diphthong in the manner advocated by the proposer. The plant on which HOOKER’S genus was founded, a small tree not uncommon in the Malay Peninsula, had been described already several years before by WIGHT (Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. VII, p. 144, 1847) under the name Axanthes enneandra. The specific epithet points to the presence of nine stamens in the flower, but this is exceptional: in the flowers investigated by me the ordinary number proved to be seven. The genus Axanthes Bl., to which the species had been referred by WIGHT, was reduced shortly afterwards by BENTHAM and HOOKER f. (Niger Flora,p. 396,1849) and independently by KORTHALS (Ned. Kruidk. Arch. II, 2, p. 194,1851) to Urophyllum Wall. Later HOOKER made an exception for Axanthes enneandra Wight. The flowers of this plant were described by him as 8- to 16-merous, and on account of this character and of the presence of a “peltate stigma” he referred it to a new genus. Afterwards a second species from the same region was described by KING and GAMBLE under the name Aulacodiscus Maingayi, but this proved identical with the first (cf. RIDLEY, Flora of the Malay Peninsula II, p. 64, 1923). A really new species, however, was found in Mindanao: it was described by Merrill as Pleiocarpidia lanaensis.

Description: Culmi robusti, foliati. Folia lata, linearia, trinervia. Inflorescentia corymboso-paniculata, multispiculata. Spiculae (”spicae” multorum auctorum) parvae, multiflorae. Flores hermaphroditi (”spiculae androgynae” auctorum) perianthio utriculiformi, compresso, vix carinato, staminibus (”floribus masculinis monandris” auctorum) tribus, binis lateralibus tertio anteriore, ovario (”flore foemineo terminali nudo” auctorum) rostrato, basi angustato, haud stipitato, styli ramis ternis. Nux tri-costata, rugulosa. Generi Hypolytro L. C. Rich. proxima, a quo differt styli ramis tribus et nuce tri-costata. A Thoracostachyo et Paramapania, quibuscum stigmatum numero convenit, et structura florum et perianthio connato et nucis forma longe diversa, faciliter dignoscenda. Mapaniae potius affinis, sed ab omnibus speciebus huius generis inflorescentia a plerisque etiam perianthio connato discrepat.

Description: The genus Trymatococcus has been published in 1838 by Poeppig and Endlicher in Nova Genera ac Spec. Plant II. p. 30, and the genus was based on the species T. amazonicus. In 1876 Baillon added the species T. africanus to the genus. This gave a peculiar distribution for a genus with two species only: one in the Amazone region and one in West Africa. Later on several new species from Africa were described: three by Engler (T. kamerunianus, dorstenioides, and Conrauanus), one by De Wildeman (T. Gilletii) and one by Pellegrin (T. oligogyna). In 1922 (Archivos do Jardim Botanico Rio de Janeiro vol III. p. 22) Ducke described a second species from Amazonian Brazil (T. paraensis) and said in the notes to this new species that Lanessania turbinata Baill. should be transferred to the genus Trymatococcus and published a new combination (T. turbinatus Ducke). In 1925 (Archives IV. p. I) he emphasized his statements Trymatococcus and published a new combination (T. turbinatus as well as turbinatus and amazonicus have the stamens erect in the bud and not inflexed as was described in the former publications. He also emphasized that the place of Trymatococcus in the system has to be changed and the genus has to take the place taken up to this moment by Lanessania. Among the material of the Moraceae from Surinam which I am studying for the Flora of Surinam, I found also a Trymatococcus species. By the study of this genus I was struck by the peculiar geographic distribution of the genus, which fully supported my observations on the Euphorbiaceae (cf. Lanjouw, The Euphorbiaceae of Surinam pp. 70—84). For the preparation of a map of this distribution I studied the african species and after a careful examination I noted a number of important differences between the african species and the american ones. Part of these differences were never noticed before and no attention has ever been given to these facts. The first error in this case was made by Baillon. Most probably he had not seen T. amazonicus Poepp. et Endl. when he described his T. africanus. This is still more striking as he described in the same paper his genus Lanessania based on L. turbinata, which is a true Trymatococcus species. It is very curious that it was not possible for Baillonto observe his mistake because in his Histoire des Plantes (vol. VI. p. 199) he states „filamentis aestivatione inflexis vel nunc suberectis”. One can not understand why he did not observe that at least one of the species of Trymatococcus is the same as his genus Lanessania. After Baillon’s publication, we could say that we had got two type species, one american (Tr. amazonicus Poepp. et Endl.) and one african (Tr. africanus Baill.). Apparently Engler did not study exactly Tr. amazonicus Poepp. et Endl. when he described his new species though he states (Monogr. Afr. Pfl. fam. I. Morac. p. 28); ”Ein besonders auffallender Unterschied im Bau der Blüte und Frucht is nicht zu constatieren; bei der amerikanischen Art sind die männlichen Blüten dreimännig mit dreiteiliger Blütenhülle, bei den afrikanischen Arten sind sie zweimännig”. Likewise Ducke knew apparently only the american species when he pointed out the new place for this genus in the family. By these reasons only it is explained how confusion has crept into this genus. I have studied many specimens of Trymatococcus from the following herbaria: Berlin-Dahlem, British Museum (Natural History Museum), Kew, Leiden, Paris and Utrecht. I wish to express mv sincere thanks to the directors for their hospitality or fore sending the material on loan.

Description: Es handelt sich hier um ein grosses, zusammenhängendes Hochmoorgebiet, das sich nord-süd über 20 km, ost-west über 10 km ausdehnt. Im Süden und Westen ist es grösstenteils abgetorft. Die besonders im Zentrum und Osten noch erhaltenen Teile sind durch die intensive Trockenlegung meist verheidet; stellenweise, so in den „Engbertsdijkvenen”, wo grosse Flächen heute wenig entwässert sind, findet sich eine lebende Sphagnumdecke (Taf. III). (Lit. 5). Das Moor liegt auf pleistozänem Untergrunde (Fluvioglazial der Riss-Eiszeit und Niederterrasse der Würmeiszeit); im Osten und Westen stosst es an diluviale Rücken; im Nordwesten bildet die Niederterrasse der Vechte die Grenze. Im Südosten und Osten schliesst sich eine ausgedehnte Versumpfungszone an, während sich im Westen zwischen den Hügeln isolierte, ähnliche Bildungen vorfinden. Es handelt sich hier wahrscheinlich um ein Entwässerungsgebiet des Hochmoores. Ein prae-rissglazialer mit nördlichen Erratica bestreuter Rücken dringt vom Osten her, parallel dem Vechtetal, ungefähr bis in die Mitte, in das Moor vor. Für eine ausführliche Angabe der geologischen Verhältnisse verweisen wir auf die „Geologische Kaart van Nederland” vom „Rijks Geologische Dienst” (Blätter Almeloo I und II; Koevorden III und IV). Wir sammelten eine Anzahl Probenreihen. Die angeführten Analysen beziehen sich auf eine süd-nord gerichtete Profillinie im östlichen Teil des Gebietes (Paterswal 1 u. 2, Engbertsdijk, Bruine Haar) und ein Punktprofil im Nordwesten (Boerendijk), nahe dem Vechtetal.

Description: JEAN BAPTISTE CHRISTOPHE FUSÉE AUBLET est né à Salon (Provence) le 4 nov. 1720 et mort à Paris le 6 mai 1778. Dès son enfance il se passionna pour l’étude des plantes. Il alla étudier la botanique à Montpellier. De Montpellier il se rendit à Lyon, où il fit la connaissance de CHRISTOPHE DE JUSSIEU et il s’engagea dans le service des hôpitaux de l’armée commandée par l’infant DON PHILIPPE. Dégoûté bientôt de la vie des camps, il prit son congé, et vint à Paris. Là il se logea dans la maison du chimiste VANEL, suivait les cours de chimie de ROUELLE, visitait les environs de Paris en naturaliste et consultait BERNARD DE JUSSIEU comme une bibliothèque, pour nous servir de son expression. Ensuite il s’engagea au service de l’état et fut chargé d’établir à l’île-de-France (Mauritius) une pharmacie centrale et un jardin de botanique. Il s’embarqua en décembre 1752 et arriva vers la fin du mois d’août suivant. Il y fit un séjour de neuf ans, pendant lequel il envoya maintes fois des collections de plantes, de minéraux et d’animaux à la patrie. A peine de retour en France, il reçut l’ordre de s’embarquer à Bordeaux pour la Guyane. Il mit à la voile le 20 mai 1762, et mouilla l’ancre le 23 juillet à l’île de Cayenne. Le 24 sept. 1764 AUBLET prit un moment la direction de l’établissement colonial du môle Saint-Nicolas à Saint Domingue; et au commencement de l’année suivante il revint en France. C’est à Paris qu’il profita des conseils de BERNARD DE JUSSIEU pour mettre en ordre ses collections de plantes et pour rédiger l’important ouvrage, qui a pour titre: Histoire des plantes de la Guiane françoise, Londres et Paris, 1775, 4 vol. in 4°, dont deux de planches. Ces notices biographiques ont été empruntées à la Nouvelle Biographie Universelle, vol. III, Paris, 1852 et à l’introduction précédant son livre et écrite par AUBLET lui-même.

Description: Recent study of the copious material of Melastomaceae conserved in the Botanisch Museum en Herbarium at Utrecht has shown the existence of several undescribed species in Surinam and has given new ideas on the taxonomic status of a few other species. These results are presented below, in advance of the treatment of the family in the „Flora of Surinam”. Ernestia Pullei Gleason, sp. nov. Suffruticosa 4 dm. alta. Caulis purpureo-brunneus 4-angulatus dense glanduloso-pubescens, internodiis 10—15 mm. longis. Petioli graciles 5—10 mm. longi glanduloso-villosi. Laminae tenues ovatae usque ad 25 mm. longae 17 mm. latae acutae minutissime serrulatae basi cordulatae 5-nerviae, supra sparse minuteque glanduloso-pilosae, subtus dense cinereo-tomentellae. Paniculae magnae terminales ramosae 8—12 cm. longae multiflorae glanduloso-polisae, bracteis minimis oblongis. Florum 4- merorum non bene conservatorum structura difficiliter et fortasse non rite observanda. Hypanthium tubuloso-campanulatum 8-costatum dense glanduloso-pilosum. Sepala erecta triangularia acuta sparse glandulosa 1.6 mm. longa. Petala non visa. Stamina valde dimorpha. Filamenta glabra erecta gracilia 3-7 mm. longa. Antherae lineari-subulatae, staminum episepalorum horizontales 4.2 mm. longae, connectivo subtereti in semicirculum 1.5 mm. diam. curvato et supra insertionem filamenti in appendices 2 V-forme connatas dilatato, ad angulam externam appendicum inserto; appendicibus in angulo interno ad filamentum affixis, triangulari-subulatis 3.2 mm. longis, infra filamentum attenuatis in calcaria filiformia et interdum calcaribus similibus lateralibus 1 vel 2 ornatis; antherae staminum epipetalorum erectae 3.3 mm. longae, connectivo ad angulam 90° deflexo 1 mm. longo, infra insertionem filamenti calcaria 2 lineari-subulata erecta 1.7 mm. longa gerente. Ovarium superum, teste cl. Pulle in schedis 3-loculare, sed in uno dissecto distinctissime 4-loculare; stylo stigmateque non visis; seminibus cochleatis.

Description: Whilst studying the material of the genus Securidaca for the “Flora of Suriname”, I found it in most cases extremely difficult or even impossible to identify the species. The original descriptions are, as a rule, very short, and they have been based for a good deal on incomplete material: mature fruits, for instance, are often missing. Hence it is not surprising that on quite a number of species the opinions of taxonomists disagree. Accordingly on the one hand we may find in the various collections the most different species lumped together under the same name, while on the other hand one and the same species may appear under several names. A study of the type specimens therefore, was obviously very desirable. I am indebted to the “VAN EEDEN FONDS” for enabling me to visit the Herbarium in Paris, where I could clear up some misunderstandings with regard to the Suriname species. This study includes all the Suriname specimens preserved in the Herbaria of Utrecht, Leiden, Kew, Brussels, Geneva and Berlin, together with the material collected outside Suriname and available in the Utrecht and Paris collections, and the British Guiana plants of the Kew Herbarium. To get an impression of the genus as a whole, several species not occurring in Suriname have been studied, but a thorough investigation was made of the Suriname ones only. The results of this investigation will be given below.

Description: Juniperus macropoda Boiss. Fl. Orient. V (1884) p. 709; Hooker Fl. Br. Ind. V (1890) p. 647. Umlung (Thalam-buti valley) 4200 m, 28 July no. 58. Big shrubs.