Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/188

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

coriaceous, glabrous, very obtuse above, somewhat cuniate downwards, slightly serrated on the margin, occasionally somewhat cordate at the base; glands in the axils of the veins : racemes axillary; flowers drooping; sepals lanceolate, tomentose : anthers beardless: ovary surrounded by glands : fruit globose.

E. obovatus, Arnott not Den.

Neuera Ellia, Ceylon—Colonel Walker.

This species which I have only seen from Ceylon was found by Colonel Walker in the most elevated parts of the island, and named by Sir W. J. Hooker, from specimens sent to him. It was also named and described by Dr. Arnott in his Pugillus Plantarum &c, but as his name was pre-occupied I have adopted the manuscript name of Sir W. J. Hooker.

E. angustifolius? Blume. Leaves long petioled, oval-oblong, acuminated, remotely crenato, serrated, without glands on the under surface : racemes axillary, about twice the length of the petiols : flowers rather small, glabrous : anthers beardless : ovary, surrounded at the base by 10 globose hairy glands.

Mergui—communicated by W. Griffith, Esq.

This species, which corresponds with BluMe's character so far as it goes, but differs as to the native country, is very like our E. oblongus, and is I suspect but a variety of that species. It is much to be regretted that Blume's characters are so brief, and that he does not make use of marks derived from the parts of the flower in his specific characters, as I have always found these most to be depended upon.

In addition to the preceding, I have a species referable to this section, but the specimen being somewhat imperfect, prevents me determining with certainty whether or not it is described, neither do I know its native country. The flowers correspond so exactly in appearance with Monocera tuberculata that for a long time I believed it that plant. Should it prove new I would propose the name Monoceroides.

E. monoceroides, leaves elliptic, glabrous, racemes lax few flowered, flowers drooping; Stamens numerous, glabrous, anthers somewhat pointed, beardless shorter than the style.

MONOCERA.

M . glandulifera. (Hooker MSS. in Herb. Walker.) Leaves ovate, lanceolate, or somewhat undulated on the margin, crenately serrated, glabrous, with numerous saccate glands in the axils of the veins on the under surface : racemes axillary, shorter than the leaves : flowers numerous, short pediceled, drooping : petals pubescent; anthers hairy : fruit oval.

Ceylon.—This seems a very distinct species, though nearly allied to the next from the same country.

M. Walkerii R. W. Glabrous, except the petals, leaves broadly ovate, acuminate, entire, or very slightly crenated and revolute on the margin, glaucous beneath, not furnished with glands : racemes axillary, equalling the leaves : flowers long pedicelled drooping, petals obtuse, cuniate, sparingly fimbriated, densely clothed on the back with appressed white hair; a ring of glands surrounding the base of the ovary.

Ceylon.—Colonel Walker.

The only specimen I have seen is in Col. Walker's herbarium, marked, "Elaeocarpus pubescens Hooker," but as it is every where glabrous except the petals, and as all the species partake more or less of that character, I fear some mistake in the naming; the more so, as there is a Ceylon species of Elaeoearpus with pubescent leaves. On these grounds i have ventured to change the name. It seems closely allied to M. Ceylanica, Arnott, but in his plant the racemes spring from below the leaves "racemis infra folia hornotina ortis" while in this they are above, in his the petals are sparingly pubescent on the back, in this they are very thickly clothed with appressed hairs.

M. Griffithii (R. W.) Arborious, glabrous, branches smooth, leaves ovate, lanceolate, acuminate, shining above, pale beneath ; racemes axillary, longer than the leaves, many flowered: pedicels equalling the petiols : petals lanceolate acute, slightly 3-toothed at the apex, involute on the margin, hence aestivation valvate, hairy on both sides : Stamens numerous; anthers hairy, bristle reflex hooked : Ovary, with 5 small, somewhat 2-lobed, glands at the base, 2-celled : fruit.

Mergui.—Griffith.

My specimens of this very distinct species were kindly communicated by W. Griffith, Esq. along with a large collection of plants from that as yet little explored coast, among which I have, in the course of a slight examination, observed numerous very interesting and little known species, of which I trust Mr. G. will ere long find leisure to give some account.

M. Munroii.—R. W. Glabrous, leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, slightlv crenated on the margin without glands on the under surface : racemes about the length of the leaves, many flowered; flowers drooping : sepals lanceolate acute : petals not involute on the margins : anthers glabrous, bristles at length reflexed : ovary elevated on the torus, very hairy, fruit about the size of an olive.

Coorg.—Lieutenant Munro.

Mr. Munro remarks in a note which accompanied the specimens " This is a large tree common in Coorg. The fruit is eaten by the Natives.

This species is most nearly allied to M. glandulifera, but differs in the leaves being totally destitute of glands.