BY J. H. MAIDEN. 131 



Lord Howe Island. I am endeavoui'ing to procure additional 

 botanical material, in order that its position may be settled. I 

 have given a figure of the. fruit. 



The fruit is an indehiscent drupe, the fleshy husk or testa 

 being thinner than in the common walnut, and of a bluish or 

 glaucous cast (hence the vernacular name). Like the walnut, 

 this encloses a hard-shelled two-valved nut. I have collected 

 them 3 inches long and 1^ broad. In spite of the nut being 

 narrower in proportion to its length, and of its possessing well- 

 marked longitudinal ribs, there is no doubt it resembles that 

 of the walnut a good deal, and it is the only nut on the island, 

 as far as I know, which possesses such a resemblance to Juglans 

 reyia. Unfortunately it is not edible. 



It extends from the coast high into the mountain, and is very 

 abundant. Its fruit was frequently to be seen on the ground. 

 It is often washed into the sea-water, and the ribbed, bony inner 

 layer of the pericarp forms a readily noticeable object when 

 washed back on to the beach. It would preserve its characters 

 after prolonged immersion in sea- water, and I suggest that collec- 

 tions of drift-fruits be examined for it. 



Wilkinson [Wils. Rep., p. 22) refers to Blue Plum, which he 

 (or rather Duff) erroneously attributes to ElcBodendron, and this 

 is the only record I can find of the name, which is, nevertheless, 

 in common use by the islanders. 



JASMINE.^. 



Olea paniculata, ^.5r. — "Maulwood." Found all over the 

 island, and up to a thousand feet elevation. Attains a diameter 

 of 4 feet. Used for fencing, firewood and all purposes. 



AP0CYNE5;. 



Alyxia ruscifolia, R.Br. — Very plentiful and known as 

 "Holly" and "Christmas Bush," the former on account of its 

 shining rigid foliage, the latter on account of its bright red fruits. 



OcHROSiA ELLIPTICA, LahUl. — Known as " Mangrove," and the 

 fruits are believed by the islanders to be poisonous. 



