380 



ON A NEW SPECIES OF ARDISIA FROM NEW SOUTH 



WALES. 



By R. T. Baker, F.L.S., Curator, Technological Museum, 



Sydney. 



(Plate xvi.) 



Ardisia racemosa, sp.nov. 



A handsome, glabrous tree about 20 to 30 feet high, and 6 to 

 9 inches in diameter, with a smooth grey bark. It is found in 

 deep, rich alluvial gullies, generally in groves or clusters similar to 

 Drimys dipetala and D. aromatica. Branchlets terete. Leaves 

 measuring up to 5 inches long and 1 inch wide, ovate-elliptical, 

 acuminate, thin, almost membranous, pale-coloured on the 

 underside, often becoming channelled near the midrib when 

 dried; edges very slightly crenate, and in parts are sometimes 

 undulate. Lateral veins iine, oblique. Oil glands numerous, 

 fairly distinct. Flowers in short, axillary, occasionally lateral 

 loose racemes; pedicels filiform, about 4 lines long. Sepals 5, 

 valvate, about J line long, acuminate, marked (except the edges), 

 with dark purple spots, glabrous, edges scarious. Petals 5, 

 about 1^ lines long, imbricated and contorted in the bud, 

 acuminate, glabrous, spotted similarly to the sepals, edges light- 

 coloured or not marked, the lower half of the inner surface 

 covered with dense ferruginous hairs. Filaments exceedingly 

 short. Stamens opposite the petals. Anthers glabrous, sessile 

 or nearly so, cordate-sagittate, with subulate recurved points; 

 valves opening by longitudinal slits from apex to base. Style 

 longer than the stamens, subulate. Fruits not seen. 



Timber light-coloured, close-grained, moderately hard, but on 

 account of its size could probably only be used for turning, tool 

 handles, &c. 



