237 



Croton sparsiflorm grows to a height of about two feet or some- 

 times to three feet. Its stems are woody and rather wiry, a single 

 stem arises from the root, and at a height of about six inches bran- 

 ches into three or four, which again branch repeatedly candelabra- 

 wise. The root system is not extensive; and the plant is easily 

 dislodged. Its leaves are 1-2^^ inches long, lanceolate, rounded 

 below, with small blunt serrations, dark green, with stellate white 

 hairs below. The smell of the plant is rather unpleasant. 



The flowers are formed on upright open racemes, the females 

 below, and the males above and much more numerous. The axis carries 

 stellate hairs. The female flowers are 2-6 in number with five sepals 

 and small orange-red glands within them, and a tri-carpellary ovary 

 as is characteristic of its order— the Euphorbiaceae. The male 

 flowers are along the axis in clusters of 3-4 or fewer, on short 

 pedicels ; they have five sepals, five small white petals, five glands 

 and a bunch of about fifteen stamens rather conspicuous by reason 

 of their white anthers. The seeds are about one sixth of an inch 

 long, coloured and shaped rather like the seeds of the castor oil 

 plant, with a white caruncle and a surface that is only microscopi- 

 cally rough. 



I. H. BURKILL. 



KENARI SEEDS. 



The following Correspondence is printed here for record : — 



Imperial Institute, London, S.W.. 

 I6th October, 1913. 

 Sir, 



The Imperial Institute has received a request from a firm of con- 

 fectionery manufacturers in the United Kingdom for a sample of the 

 fruits or kernels of Canarium commune, L., which are stated to be 

 suitable for use as a substitute for almonds. 



This tree is said to be grown in the Moluccas for the sake of its 

 fruits, which are also stated to be commonly eaten in Java. It is 

 possible that supplies of the fruits or kernels are obtainable in the 

 Straits Settlements, and if so I shall be very much obliged if you will 

 send me a sample of a few pounds. 



I shall also be grateful if you can let me know whether any firm 

 in the Straits Settlements can undertake to export the kernels or 

 fruits, and if so at about what price the product would be quoted. 



I am. Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 

 (Signed) Wyndham R. Dunstan. 



The Director of Gardens, Singapore. 



