290 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



any. Since the publication of the Flora Australiensis, a species has been discovered in 

 Queensland, and described by Mueller (Fragm. Phytogr. Austr., v. p. 29) under the name 

 of Brackenridgea australiana. 



MELIACE^E. 



Carapa moluccensis, Lam. 



New Guinea drift. 



A maritime tree growing on dry sea-beaches, not in swamps, according to Seemann 

 (Fl. Vit, p. 38), who says that Carapa obovata, Blume, which is regarded by some 

 botanists as a variety of Carapa moluccensis, has a very different aspect, and invariably 

 inhabits mangrove swamps. Miquel also retains them as distinct species, but from the 

 Museum and Herbarium specimens we are unable to decide whether there be more than 

 one species from this region. The seed-vessel varies very much in size, the larger ones 

 equalling in size a child's head ; and the angular, irregularly shaped seeds vary more than 

 one' half in size in the same capsule, the larger ones being as much as four or five inches 

 across in the widest part. These seeds are very light, a great part of their bulk consisting 

 of a dense, fibrous, spongy testa enclosing the large embryo. Carapa is also represented 

 in the New World. 



AMPELIDEiE. 



Leea sambucina, WUld. '( 



New Guinea drift. 



One fruit only, which certainly belongs to this order, and almost certainly to this 

 genus and species, which is exceedingly common throughout the region. The seed appears 

 quite sound, and a cross section of the fruit so closely agrees with the species in question 

 as to be indistinguishable. It has the characteristic hard testa of the order. 



ANACARDIACE^E. 

 Dracontomelon ? d 

 New Guinea drift. 



Dracontomelon is a small genus restricted to Tropical Asia and Polynesia. The fruit 

 has a fleshy mesocarp enclosing a hard, woody 2-5-celled stone or endocarp. Nothing 

 remains of the fruit except tbe woody part, and the seed-cells are empty. 



Among the indeterminable fruits in the drift collection are several which may belong 

 to this order, but they are too much decayed or insufficiently developed for determination. 



