

ON A COCHlN-CnitfESE SPECIES OF BESTIACEJ3. 343 



This is a small tree, much branched, the alternate branchlets bear- 

 ing three pairs of opposite leaflets, without a terminal one, upon 

 a long petiole bare at its base for half of its length, having above 

 its insertion upon the branchlet three short spines. The flowers 

 are not known ; but there is an axillary shortish raceme of about 

 six rather approximate pedicellate fruits. The fruit is an oval 

 drupe | inch long, \ inch broad, rounded below, pointed above, of 

 a yellowish colour, indehiscent, the pericarp smooth, somewhat 

 thick, softish, mucilaginous, and extremely acid ; it contains three 

 trigonous, nuciform seeds, of which two are generally abortive : 

 the seed contains a green embryo, which is edible, having the 

 flavour of fresh green peas ; the seed is oblong, pointed, 8 lines 

 long, 3 lines broad, having two plano-convex cotyledons. 



This organization does not accord with the Sapindacea, as 

 above remarked. To me the affinity of Bacaria seems to point 

 to the Meliac&e, especially to those genera with indehiscent non- 

 capsular fruits, viz. Melia, Aglaia, Maltea, Milnea, Lansium, 

 Sandoricum, and JEkebergia. 



The fruit of Bacaria is yellowish, indehiscent, as in Melia ; its 

 pericarp, in like manner, smooth, and lined with fleshy soft 

 sarcocarp; its endocarp is 3-celled instead of being 5-locular; 

 of its 3 pyrena only one is perfected, as in Melia ; the embryo 

 is green, as in some Meliacece, and edible, as in Milnea edulis. 



Upon the whole, therefore, Bacaria appears to belong to the 

 Meliacece. 



Note on the Occurrence of a E^stiaceous Plant in Cochin China. 



Maxwell T. Masters. M 



[Read 



Some short time since my attention was kindly drawn, by Mr. N. 



rt Bestiaceo 



M. Godefroy-Lebceuf. As the 

 T annlied to M. Bureau : the 



_ _ _ : XT * * * 



Keeper at the Ilerbarium at the Jardin des Plantes, and through 

 his kindness I received more complete specimens, which enabled 

 toe to ascertain that the plant in question was a species of Lepto- 

 oarpus. The interest attaching to the discovery of a true Restiacea 



