282 MR. T. F. CHEESEMAN ON 
* APIUM LEPTOPHYLLUM, F. Muell.—Waste places about the native villages, and along 
the sides of roads; probably a recent immigrant. 
Most warm countries. 
ARALIACE&. 
MERYTA PAUCIFLORA, Hemsl., sp. nov. ; ** M. lanceolate, Forst., proxima, differt foliis 
breviter petiolatis obscure lateque crenatis, inflorescentia feminea brevi spiciformi. 
** Arbor 10-15-pedalis, trunco simplice foliorum coma ampla coronato, rarius a basi 
ramoso. Folia breviter sed distincte petiolata, coriacea, glabra, superiora oblanceo- 
lata, 12-15 poll. longa, basi cuneata, apice acuta, margine leviter incrassata seepe 
presertim supra medium obscure remoteque crenata, costa crassa, venis primariis 
lateralibus paucis distantibus, venis ultimis tenuibus minute reticulatis. Spice 
feminez axillares, cum pedunculo brevi, 12-2 poll. longse, pauciflore. Flores 
sessiles, conferti, bracteolis latis suffulti. ` Perianthium simplex, calyciforme, 
carnosum, szepissime 8-lobum; lobi sspe inzequales, dentiformes, ssepe deltoidei, 
persistentes, erecti vel sub stylos oppositos inflexi. Ovarium szepissime 8-loculare, 
stylis brevissimis arcte recurvis persistentibus. Fructus deest." — W. B. Hemsley. 
Native name Kekavatua. Dry slopes towards the interior of the island, not uncommon. 
This is readily distinguished from its nearest allies by the short, spicate female 
inflorescence. 
RUBIACE E. 
OLDENLANDIA FGTIDA, Forst.—Native name Maire. Bare rocky places on the 
mountains, alt. 800-2000 ft., Mangatea, Ikurangi, &c. "This appears to have narrower 
leaves than Forster’s plant, and may prove distinct. 
Tongan Islands, Savage and Palmerston Islands. 
MUSSENDA FRONDOSA, Linn.—Native name Kotuku. A common shrub on dry hills 
all round the island. The native name is from a fancied resemblance of the enlarged 
white calyx-lobe to the white plumes of the “ Kotuku” or Heron (Ardea sacra). 
Throughout the Pacific Islands, and northwards to Malaya, India, and China. 
GARDENIA TAITENSIS, DC.—Native name Tiare. The native women are exceedingly 
fond of adorning their hair with the large white fragrant flowers of this plant, and it is 
universally planted about their houses. ‘The natives consider it to be indigenous, but 1 
did not see it in any situation where it had the appearance of being wild, and suspect 
that it was introduced by them from Tahiti long before the advent of Europeans. 
Stretches across Polynesia, from Fiji to the Marquesas, but often planted. 
GUETTARDA SPECIOSA, Linn.—Native name Ano. Common all round the island, and 
forming a large part of the undergrowth in the forest near the sea, but not ascending 
the hills to any considerable height. 
Shores of most warm countries, and extremely plentiful throughout the Pacific. 
