XIV, 4 Merrill: Noteworthy Philippine Plants, XV 447 
leaves, which are much narrowed below, and by its much more 
numerous nerves. The characteristic indumentum of the genus 
is entirely wanting except on the growing tips of the branch- 
lets and on parts of the flowers. The fruits with the specimens 
are globose or ovoid, about 2.5 cm in diameter, but are abnormal 
in that when young some insect has deposited its eggs in them 
and the developing larvae have destroyed the seeds, the entire 
fruit, except the parts destroyed by the larvae, being filled with 
a dense, rather brittle, somewhat woody substance. 
SYMPLOCACEAE 
SYMPLOCOS Jacquin 
SYMPLOCOS BRACHYBOTRYS sp. nov. 
Arbor parva, glaberrima;:foliis coriaceis, integris, oblan- 
ceolatis, 5 ad 8 cm longis, obtuse acuminatis, deorsum angustatis, 
basi cuneatis, nervis utrinque 15 ad 18, tenuibus; racemis 
axillaribus, 1 ad 1.5 cm longis; floribus brevissime pedicellatis, 
circiter 8 mm diametro, calycis tubo circiter 1 mm longo, lobis 
orbiculari-ovatis, quam tubo brevioribus; fructibus cylindraceis, 
oblongis, circiter 1 cm longis. 
An entirely glabrous tree, about 5m high. Leaves coriaceous, 
entire, oblanceolate, 5 to 8 cm long, 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide, blunt- 
acuminate, much narrowed below to the cuneate base, suboliva- 
ceous, shining; lateral nerves slender, 15 to 18 on each side 
of the midrib, anastomosing, the reticulations lax, distinct; 
petioles 1 cm long or less. Racemes axillary, few-flowered, 
black when dry, 1 to 1.5 cm long. Flowers about 8 mm in 
diameter, pedicels 1 mm long or less, the subtending bracteoles 
elliptic-ovate, deciduous, about 1 mm long. Calyx-tube some- 
what narrowed below, cylindric, 1 mm long, the lobes 5, some- 
what spreading, orbicular-ovate, rounded, about 0.8 mm long, 
the inner ones slightly smaller than the outer three. Petals 
oblong to oblong-elliptic, obtuse, about 4 mm long. Stamens 
numerous, free, as long as the petals. Fruit oblong, nearly 
terete, about 1 cm long and 5 mm in diameter. 
LUZON, Ilocos Norte Province, Mount Palimlim, Bur. Sci. 
33277 Ramos, August 22, 1918, on forested slopes, altitude 
about 900 meters. 
_ This species closely resembles Symplocos purpurascens Brand 
and is apparently closely allied to that species. It is, however, 
very easily distinguished by its very short inflorescences and 
its much more numerous lateral nerves. 
2 
