270 OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Sciftalia. 



ing on both sides, of a firm texture, and almost veinless, 

 from three to six inches long, and about one broad. Pa- 

 nicles terminal, large, oval, ramous, erect, or ascending, 

 according to the direction of the branch that supports them. 

 Bractes minute. Flowers small, greenish white, smell ra- 

 ther offensive. On some trees they are mostly hermaphro- 

 dite; while on others mostly male, but as far as I have 

 observed never completely so. 



Hermaphrodite. Cahjx spreading, four, rarely five- 

 lobed ; both sides downy. Corol none. Nectary a large, 

 fleshy, crenulate gland, into which the stamens and pis- 

 til are inserted. Filaments from six to eight, short, hairy, 

 spreading. Anthers roundish, two-lobed. Germ superi- 

 or, elevated on a short column, two-lobed, hairy, two- 

 celled, each containing a single ovula, attached to the 

 inner and lower angle of the cell. Style erect, rather 

 short, hairy. Stigma two-cleft ; divisions revolute. Ber- 

 ry generally single, though sometimes double, oval, the 

 size of a pigeon's e^^g, covered with a thin, bright red, 

 murexed bark ; next under it is the pulpy aril, which is 

 of a faint, transparent azure colour, and delicious suba- 

 cid taste. Seed single, oblong, enveloped by the pulpy 

 aril, smooth, brown and affixed by the base. Embryo 

 erect, without perisperm, &c. as described by Gsertner. 



Male flowers mixed with the hermaphrodite. Ca- 

 lyx and nectary as in the former. Corol none. Fila- 

 ments from six to eight, thrice as long as in the herma- 

 phrodite. Germ smaller than in the former and always 

 abortive. Style very short and entire. 



Independently of the well known fruit of this tree, it 

 is highly ornamental, being one of the most permanent 

 ever greens we have in India. 



2. S. Longan. R. 



Leaflets four pair, lanceolate, obtuse, Coro/ five-petall- 

 ed, fertile germ, often three-lobed, fruit round, slightly 

 cabrous. 



