FLORA VITIENSIS. 253 
has been described by me as A. Zeylanica (Bonpl. vol. x. p. 4, in adnot.*); it is called by the Cingalese 
“ Ritti-gass," and supplies, like A. saccidora, Dalz., materials for sacks. In his Enumeratio Pl. Zeyl. 
p. 263, Thwaites classes it with A. innoxia, Bl., and A. saccidora, Dalz.; but I am by no means certain that 
even A. innoxia and A. saccidora are identical, and feel convinced that A. Zeylanica, Seem., is a very distinct 
species, at once distinguished from A. saccidora, Dalz., of which Wight gives a figure, by its seabrous leaves 
and pear-shaped fruits. A sixth species was found by Welwitsch in Western tropical Africa (A. Africana, 
Seem.), and a seventh is the one which, in honour of its original discoverer, I have named A. Bennettii. 
l. A. Bennettii, (n. sp.) Seem. in Bonpl. vol. ix. (1861) p. 259, et ibid. vol. x. p. 3. t. 7 (1862) 
(Tab. LXXII.) ; Bennett’s ‘Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia,’ p. 403; arbor mediocris ; 
ramulis petiolisque pubescentibus, demum glabris; foliis brevipetiolatis ovato-oblongis acuminatis 
integerrimis, basi inzequali-subcordatis, utrinque subglabris, supra lucidis; fl. 4 fasciculatis (2—4), 
pedunculis velutino-pubescentibus, involucro laciniis ovato-acuminatis perigoniorum longitudine re- 
flexis; fl. ? solitariis; drupa ovato-acuta, dense velutina.—Nomen vernac. Tucopiense, * Mami,” 
teste G. Bennett; Vitiense, “Mavu ni Toga,” teste Seemann.—In Viti Levu, about Namara, and in 
Moturiki (Seemann! n. 449, Harvey !). Also collected in Tucopia, lat. 12? S., long. 169? E. (G. 
Bennett! in Herb. Hook.), and Wallis Island, lat. 16? 30' S., long. 176? W. (Sir E. Home! in Mus. 
Brit.) 
Closely allied to A. macrophylla, R. Br., from the northern parts of New Holland, but at once distin- 
guished by its fruits being thickly covered with velvety hair. It was found in Fiji, first by Prof. Harvey, 
afterwards by me. About thirty years earlier, however, viz. in May, 1830, it had been discovered by Dr. 
George Bennett, of Sydney, New South Wales, on a small island situated north-west of Fiji, in lat. 12? S., 
long. 169? E., and was thus alluded to in his * Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia’ (8vo, London, 
1860, p. 403) :—“ When visiting the Island of Tucopia in May [1830], I observed the Antiaris, or Upas- 
tree, planted in rows near the native huts; but I am not aware that it is indigenous. Itis named * Mami” 
by the natives. It is allied to the celebrated Upas-tree of Java, and accords with A. macrophylla, described 
and figured by the late Dr. Brown in the Appendix to * Flinders's Voyage. The tree at Tucopia is of slender 
growth, with pendulous branches ; it was growing to the height of 8 to 12 feet. The leaves are oblong, 
large, pointed, distinctly-veined, and of a light green colour. The fruit is oval, rather larger than a pigeon's 
egg, rough externally, and of a beautiful crimson colour. Between the husk and kernel there is a quantity 
of white viscid juice. The kernel, of white colour and intensely bitter taste, is enclosed in a thin shell of a 
grey colour. It is planted by the natives either for dyeing or manufacturing the bark into native cloth. 
Specimens in fruit and flower are in the Botanical Collection of the British Museum." Thus far Dr. 
Bennett. : 
The Mavu ni Toga (=Tonga) was formerly planted about heathen temples, and is even now to be 
found in towns and villages. It is a middle-sized tree, with a thick crown of foliage, oblong glossy leaves, 
and a fleshy fruit of the size of an apricot, covered with velvety hair, and of a most beautiful crimson colour. : 
A gum exuding from the stem and branches is used for arrows. The exact nature of its poisonous qualities 
has not yet been ascertained. That they are not equal to those ascribed to the true Upas-tree of Java (4. 
toxicaria, Lesch.) is proved by the manner in which the natives handle it; but it is impossible to say 
whether one of the reasons for its cultivation near temples, and its probable introduction from Tonga, may 
not be found in its yielding a poison, of which the heathen priests may have occasionally made use. Mr. 
Storck inclines to that opinion. Mavu ni Toga literally means the Mavu from the Tongan Islands ; and 
it is not improbable that the tree may have been introduced from there, I have not met with any speci- 
mens from Tonga in our herbaria; but that would not prove that A. Bennettii has originally not been 
derived from Tonga, as that group has been explored only very superficially, and Sir E. Home found it 
east of Fiji, viz. at Wallis Island, in long. 176° W. For the present, Viti must be regarded as the extreme 
southern limit of this species (and also of the genus Antiaris), and Tucopia as the northern. 1t is note- 
worthy-that neither Dr. George Bennett nor I found this species in a truly wild state; for in Viti it looks 
as if originally planted. The beauty of the foliage and the rich colour of the fruit fully entitle it to a place 
* Antiaris Zeylanica, Seem. in Bonpl. vol. x. p. 4, in adnot. ; arbor excelsa; ramulis petiolis pedunculis 
drupisque velutinis; foliis obovato-oblongis acuminatis integerrimis, supra seabris, subtus hirtellis; invo- 
lueri masculi laciniis perigoniorum longitudine reflexis; drupa obovato-obtusa (v. s. sp.).—4. innoxia, 
Thwaites, Enum. Zeyl. p. 263, non Bl, excl. syn. omn.—In Zeylania, ubi, teste el. Thwaites, * Ritti-gass P 
vocatur.—The fruit of A. saccidora, Dalz., is elliptical in shape, as may be seen in the figure of it published 
by Wight, who distinctly states that it represents the Indian, not the Cingalese plant. 
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[PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 28, 1868.] 
