Croton. MONOFXIA MONADELPIIIA. 679 



Cotliceiim medium chrysostictou. Rumph, Amh. iv. t. 25, 

 and 20./ 2. 



Phyllaurea Ccdiooum. Lour. Cochin Ch. 705. 



This elegant, highly ornamental shrub, so far as I have 

 been able to learn, is indigenous only on the Moluccas, and 

 from thence was introduced into the Botanic garden together 

 with the two varieties of the same species, hereafter to be men- 

 tioned, where they blossom about the beginning of the rains 

 in June. 



Trunk erect and short. Bark ash-coloured. Branches 

 sub-erect; general height of the whole plant from three to 

 six or eight feet. Leaves alternate, petioled, lanceolate, en- 

 tire, polished on both sides, generally variegated with Avhite 

 or yellow; about six inches long, by one and a half broad. 

 Petioles round, smooth, about an inch long. Racemes axil- 

 lary, about as long as the leaves, and so far as I have yet 

 seen, male on one raceme, and female on another. Male 

 FLOWERS collected in fascicles in pretty long, slender pedi- 

 cels. Calyx five-parted ; divisions sub-rotund. Petals five, 

 somewhat triangular, variously notched, or ragged, shorter 

 by half than the divisions of the calyx. JS'^ectarial glands 

 five, round the stamina, and alternate with the petals. Fila- 

 vients from twenty to thirty, distinct, clavate. Anthers seven. 

 Female flowers sub-sessile, solitary. Calyx urceolate, 

 five-toothed. Carol none. Nectary a coloured glandular 

 ring, round the base of the germ. Germ conical. Styles three, 

 undivided, recurved. Besides the plain green-leaved plant, 

 viz. Codiceum medium chrysostictou, we have also from the 

 Moluccas Rumphius's Codiceum crispum, t. 26. y*. 2. and his 

 fifth variety, Codiceum chrysoticton latijolium, sometimes 

 the variegation partakes of yellow, but red predominates. In 

 this variety the leaves are larger, and tend to be wedge-shap- 

 ed. The female flowers are short-peduncled, and have the 

 style much shorter than in the first variety. It is a most ele- 

 gant plant, and delights in the shades of large trees, where 

 the colours are more varied, and brighter. All the varieties 



