OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 279

the accuracy of wliicli, cither as to the number or length of stamina, it is difficult to believe, especially Avhen we lind it also representing the petals inserted by pairs on the two nppcr sinuses of the calyx.

The genus Crate va agrees, as I have already stated, in the remarkable aestivation of its flower with Cleome Gym- nogonia, by which character, along Avitli that of its fruit, it is readily distinguished from every other genus of the order. Although this character of its aestivation has never before been remarked, yet all the species referred to Crateva by M. De Candolle really belong to it, except C.frafjrans, Avhich, with some other plants from the same continent, forms a very distinct genus, which I shall name Ritcuiea, in memory of the African traveller, whose botanical merits have been already noticed.

Capparis sodada noh. Sodada decidua, ForsJv. Arab, p. 81. Belile, Flore cVErjypte.p. 74, tah. 2G. De Camh Proclr. \,p. 245.

The specimen in the herbarium is marked by Dr. Oudney as belonc^ino; to a tree common on the boundaries of Eornou, It is probably the Suat/, mentioned in his journal, observed first at Aghedem, and said to be '^ a tetrandrous plant, having a small drupa, which is in great request in Bornou and Soudan, for removing sterility in females : it is swxetish and hot to the taste, approaching Sisymlnium Nastiu'tium ;" and that *' in passing the plant a heavy narcotic smell is al- w\ays perceived.

I have here united Sodada with Capparis, not being able to find differences sufficient to authorise its separation even from the first section of that genus, as given by De Candolle.

Forskal describes his plant as octandrous, and I\[. De Candolle has adopted this number in his generic character. M. Delile((9/?. c//.), however, admits that the stamina vary from eight to fifteen ; and, in the specimen which I received [-^sc from M. Jomard, I have found from fourteen to sixteen. But were the number of stamina even constantly eight, this alone would not justify its separation from Capparis,

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