ТО THE FLORA ОЕ FIJI. 3L 
longa, 2:5 mm. lata. Stamina co , indistincte pentadelpha. Ovarium semi- 
inferum ; stylus usque ad 1:5 mm. longus. Fructus immaturatus ovoideo- 
ellipsoideus, superne contractus, calyce persistente coronatus, glaber.— 
S. Stawelu, F. Muell., var. leptophylla, Brand in Engler, Pflanzenreich, iv., 
242, р. 37. S. spicata, Seem. in Fl. Vit. p. 153, non Roxb. 
Fiji (Kandavu), Seemann, 294. 
Forma compacta, Turrill, forma nova, а planta typica inflorescentiis 
compactis ditfert. 
Nandarivatu, in flower March 30ih, 1906, im Thurn, 225. 
A tree with white flowers. 
The genus Symplocos is exceedingly difficult from a taxonomic point of 
view, and our knowledge of many of the species is still very imperfect in 
spite of Brand’s recent monograph in Engler’s Pflanzenreich. This applies 
especially to the Polynesian species, the Kew material of which the 
monographer had not seen, and it is therefore not surprising that a careful 
examination of it has shown the necessity of making certain alterations in 
the nomenclature and status of the Fiji plants accepted by Brand. 
Seemann was the first to name Fiji material 5. spicata, Roxb. This 
species, originally described from Indian plants, differs from S. leptophylla 
in its nearly globose fruits and generally longer, more branched intlorescences. 
Brand (l. с.) recognized that the Fiji plants were distinct from 8. spicata, 
Roxb., and referred part of Seemann’s specimens to a new variety (?) lepto- 
phylla of 5. Stawelli, F. Muell. This latter is, however, a distinct species, 
not yet found in Fiji, and easily distinguished from Seemann’s plants by its 
elliptic-oblanceolate leaves. The specitie diagnosis of 5. leptophylla has been 
drawn up entirely from Seemann, 294, i. e. from the co-type of S. Stawellii, 
Е. Muell., var. leptophylla, Brand. Most of the remaining Fiji specimens 
which have been generally referred to ©. spicata, Roxb., are merely forms of 
S. leptophylla, though extremes might seem io warrant varietal or even 
specifie rank were it not for the existence of intermediates. One of the 
most striking forms is that represented by im Thurn, 225. This has broader 
and more coriaceous leaves than the type and compact inflorescences. 
APOCYNACEJE. 
*MELODINUS GLABER, Turrill, sp. n. M. vitiensi, Rolfe, affinis, sed 
inflorescentia et axillari et terminali omnino glabra distinguenda. 
Frutex scandens (ex im Thurn), ramis teretibus glabris. Folia ovato- vel 
oblongo-lanceolata, apice obtusa, basi acuta, circiter 7 em. longa, 2°5-3°5 em. 
lata, membranacea, glaberrima, integra, costa supra impressa infra promi- 
nente, nervis lateralibus numerosis pagina utraque prominulis ad marginem 
anastomosantibus, nervis transversis uti reticulatione subconspicuis ; petioli 
5-7 mm. longi, glabri. Jnflorescentia et terminalis et axillaris, 10-25-Нога, 
