334 ROBINSON. 



In the Philippines, it occurs as ■ shrub or small tree, attaining a height of 8 m, 

 in mangrove swamps or along the beach. The only local names recorded are from 

 Pitogo and Ragay, at both of which places it is known as TawaUs; at the former 

 place it is used for posts, these lasting ten years or more. 



Distribution: North Australia and Queensland; not yet reported from islands 

 lying between there and the Philippines. Herbarium specimens are liable to be 

 confused with those of Lutnnitzcra racemosa Willd. 



2. MEARNSIA Merr. 



Mearnsia halconensis Merr. in Philip. Journ. Sci. 2 (1907) Bot. 284. 



Minimum), Mount Halt-on, Merrill $79$. 



A monotypic endemic genus, those most closely allied being chiefly Australasian 

 and Polynesian, but with outliers from New Guinea to Java (farther in cultiva- 

 tion), and in South Africa. Its affinities seem clearly to be with Metrosideros, 

 shown beside the characters mentioned in the original description by the structure 

 of the embryo. From that genus, it is distinguished by its tetramerous (lowers 

 and two celled ovary. 



3. XANTHOSTEMON P. Muell. 



Xanthostemon verdugonionus Naves in Blanco PI. Filip. ed. 3 (1877?) 

 pi. 300; ex F.-Vill. Noviss. App. (1830) 82. 



X. speciosKS Merr. in Bur. Govt. Lab. Publ. (Philip.) 6 (1004) 10. 



X. merrillii Pampanini in Nouv. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 12 (1905) 688. 



Culio.x, Halsey Harbor, Merrill 682. Tinago, Ahem J,28. Dinacat, For. Bur. 

 757/6', 13575 Hutchinson. Mindanao, Province of Surigao, Placer, Long 44>' 

 Surigao, Bolster 279, Moore s. n. Leyte, Babatungon, For. Bur. 12896 Rosenbluth. 



Known most usually throughout its range as Mancono or Magcono, or as 

 Palo tie hierro, rarely as Kamulauan. It is probably the tree called BiuTgan on 

 Busuanga. The wood is extremely hard, and commercially important. 



Xanthostemon speciosus was distinguished from the typical form by its wider 

 and much shorter calyx-tube; in later collections the line of separation breaks 

 down, For. Bur. 12373 having flowers which approach both extremes. It is not 

 certain that all came from the same tree. 



The genus is most widely developed in New Caledonia, extending into northern 

 Australia, reported also from Celebes: the endemic Philippine species marking 

 its farthest northern and western extension. 



Endemic. 



4. TRISTAN I A R. Br. 



Tristan ia decorticata Merr. in Bur. Govt. Lab. Publ. (Philip.) 3 5 (l!)()(i) 51. 



Luzon, Province of oagayan, Caua Volcano, R. N. Clark s. n.; Missiones River, 

 Far. Bur. 1718', Curran : Province of Bataan, Mount Mariveles, Whitford 1324, 

 For. Bur. 6261 Curran: Province of Rizal, Bosoboso, Bur. Sci. 2682 Ramos: 

 Province of Tayabas, (Infanta), Tinuan River, Whitford 787: Province of Cama- 

 rines, Lagonoy, For. Bur. 1061,9, 10652 Curran; Paracale, For. Bur. 11523 Whit- 

 ford. 



Borneo, Sarawak, Mount Poe (Rumput), Foxworthy 378, a shrub growing on 

 the mountain top at an elevation of 1,700 m: otherwise not known except 

 Philippine. 



Most frequently known under the name of Malabayabas. also in Camarines as 

 Tiga, and in Cagayan as Adios and Baguitulay-bayaboj. Known to the Dyaks as 

 Bindang. Used for rice pestles, and for various other purposes. 



