Pleiocraterium Genus novum Rubiacearum Hedyotidearum

Among the most remarkable finds made by Dr. van Steenis in the higher parts of the mountains of North Sumatra are a number of cushion plants. Two of these he recognized as Rubiaceae nearly related to Hedyotis verticillaris W. et A., a species occurring in similar habitats in the Nilgiri Hills, India, and in Ceylon. Hesitating, however, to express a definite opinion on their taxonomic position, he sent the material to me for further investigation. As I had occupied myself already for some time with the genus Hedyotis L. and its allies, this investigation offered me a Wellcome opportunity to test some of the principles which I had laid down for the subdivision of this group. Apart from the characters of the fruit I lay stress on the position of the inflorescence and on the form of the stipules. The name Hedyotis itself I wish to restrict to H. fruticosa L. and its nearest allies, i.e. to those species that are provided with terminal inflorescences, an ovary not distinctly produced beyond the insertion of the calyx, and fairly large drupes with apically and ventrally dehiscent pyrenes: to a group, therefore, which roughly agrees with Hedyotis section Diplophragma W. et A. 1