430 ■ FETCH : 



and the ajsical point of operculum indicates the same species. 

 Tlie operculum agrees with specimens found in commercial 

 samples of Brazil nuts in Ceylon, and also with some of those 

 photographed b}^ Young, though none have yet been observed 

 so markedly conical as that figured by Miers and the similar 

 forms given by Young. Our specimens rather resemble the 

 operculum of excelsa figured by Miers,but they possess the apical 

 point of nobilis. The opercular opening, again, is of an inter- 

 mediate character ; it is contracted externally, and therefore 

 does not permit the operculum to fall out, but otherwise it 

 resembles Miers' figure of excelsa rather than Miers' or 

 Young's figures of nobilis. But the pyxidium is that of nohilis, 

 in having the operculum within the opercular opening, and 

 not projecting as a cylindrical colunm. On the whole, the 

 characters of the pj^^xidium are a combination of those of 

 B. excelsa and B. nohilis, but if the fact that the operculum 

 remains within the pj^xidium is to be regarded as decisive, as 

 it api^arently is by Young, then the Peradeniya specimens 

 must be referred to B. nohilis. 



The characters of the Peradeniya tree may be conveniently 

 summarized as follows : — 



Pj'xidiuin oval, with a strong apical swelUng = excelsa. 

 Bark of pj^xidium smooth, palish, lenticellate = excelsa. 

 Bark thick, cracking = nohilis. 

 Operculum does not project = nohilis. 

 Operculum with an acute apsx nohilis. 

 Ojierculum remains within the pyxidium = nohilis. 

 Opercular ojoening narrowest at the exterior = nohilis. 

 Sides of opercular opening almost straight in the middle = excelsa. 

 Calyx lobes entire or obscurely tridentate = nohilis. 

 Panicle with one to six branches = either, chiefly nohilis. 

 Flow(;rs, 0-1 cm. apart = either. 

 Petioles, 14-28 ram. = excelsa. 

 Leaves dark green = excelsa. 



It will be evident that the Peradeniya tree in many respects 

 combines the characters of the two species. The foliage is 

 that of excelsa, and the shape of the pyxidium is tliat of excelsa. 

 though tlic operculum and the opercular opening are those of 



7lohlli8. 



