2.98 THE VOYAGE OF a M.S. CHALLENGER. 



bulk of the seed of Gnetum rumphianvm consists of very hard, almost horny albumen, with 

 a small axile embryo. According to Bower the embryo of Gnetum, or at least of Gnetum 

 gnemon, is not formed until after the seed falls from the parent, but is a development of 

 the seed immediately preceding active germination. In Gnetum gnemon there is a lateral 

 outgrowth of the hypocotyledonary part of the embryo growing in such a manner that the 

 rest of the embryo is pushed out from the cavity of the albumen in which it is formed, 

 and develops in the ordinary way, being nourished by the albumen conveyed to it 

 through the lateral outgrowth or "feeder," as it is called. In Gnetum rumphianum, 

 judging from the more or less mutilated specimens before us, a cluster of rootlets is given 

 off close to the point at which the protruded part of the embryo emerges ; this may 

 have been caused through injury to the primary rootlet, or it may be normal. There is 

 also what we take to be a long, relatively stout hypocotyledonary stem, at the apex 

 of which are the scars of the two cotyledons. 



Whether these seeds were washed ashore, or produced by plants growing in the island , 

 is uncertain, but the fact remains that they were picked up on the beach in a germinating 

 condition. Dr Beccari, loc. cit., states that it is apparently common in New Guinea, 

 occurring also in the Arrou Islands, and that he had found the fruit of it in .the Celebes. 

 This species, which has been confused with Gnetum scandens and others, is easily dis- 

 tinguished from its congeners by the intermediate coat of the seed being ribbed. 



Gnetum sp. 



Sea-beach, Arrou Islands. 



A single seed undoubtedly of this genus, but we are unable to determine the species. 

 It has a smooth secondary envelope. 



SEEDS STRANDED AT PALISADOES PLANTATION, JAMAICA. 



GUTTIFERiE. 



Calophyllum calaba, Linn. 



Ccdophyllum calaba, Linn. ; Jacq., Sel. Stirp. Amer., p. 269, t. 165 ; Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. Ind., p. 108 ; 

 Descourt., FL Antill., ii. p. 30, t. 74. 



Sea-shore, Palisadoes Plantation, Jamaica. Seeds apparently quite sound. 



Grisebach states that this tree is common in mountain woods in the West Indies, while 

 Descourtilz says that it inhabits sandy sea-shores, which is more probable, though it may, 

 like Calophyllum brasiliense, grow far inland as well as on the sea-shore. Grisebach 

 gives the range of Calophyllum calaba as " Cuba to Brazil ; " but we have only seen West 

 Indian specimens. It is, however, generally spread there from Cuba to Trinidad. There 

 is a specimen in the Kew Herbarium from the Bahamas, collected by Mr Brace, who notes 

 that it was introduced. It is also planted in the Bermudas. 



