232 Ochnacec^. \Ochna. 



S. maritima, L. Sp. PI. 284 (1753). 

 Trim, in Journ. Bot. 1889, 162. 

 Fl. B. Ind. i. 522. Lam. 111. t. 389. 



A low shrub, 2-4 ft. high, very much branched, soft with 

 silky hair throughout, especially on the young shoots ; 

 1. numerous, sessile, densely crowded, erect, overlapping, 

 small, about i in., spathulate-linear, acute, much tapering to 

 base, entire, silky-pubescent, thick, readily disarticulating ; 

 fl. I in., on slender ped., 3 or 4 together in short, axillary 

 racemes slightly exceeding 1., bracts linear, longer than ped. ; 

 sep. ovate, acuminate, pubescent, persistent ; pet. rather shorter 

 than Sep., oval, rounded; stam. usually 5, short; ripe carp, 

 surrounded by persistent sep., roundish, hairy. 



Sea-shore ; very rare. Foul Point, Trincomalie, first collected in 

 1885 by W. Ferguson ; small island opposite Jafifna, 1890. Fl. Dec, 

 Jan. ; yellow. 



Almost universally on the sea-shore throughout the Tropics. 



It is remarkable that this common Tropical shore plant should never 

 have been found on our coasts till so recently, especially as it is known 

 to occur on those of the Andaman, Nicobar, and Laccadive Is., and 

 perhaps also on the Maldives, and is readily carried by currents. 



Resembles Pemphis in habit, but readily known by its conspicuous 

 bright yellow fls. 



XXXI.— OCHNACE.^. 



Small trees or shrubs ; 1. alternate, simple, with stip. ; fl. 

 regular, bisexual; sep. 5, distinct, imbricate, persistent; pet. 5, 

 distinct, imbricate; stam. indef. or 10, distinct; ov. of 3-10 

 distinct carp, on a swollen gynophore, with a solitary ovule in 

 each ; styles basal, connate ; ripe carp. 3-8, quite distinct, 

 indehiscent, i -seeded ; seed with or without endosperm. 



Anth. indef., opening longitudinally i. Ochna. 



Anth. 10, opening by terminal pores 2. GOjMPHIA. 



All the four species are low-country plants. 



I. OCHNA, L. 



Small trees or shrubs ; fl. in racemes or panicles from ends 

 of short woody branches ; sep. 5, imbricate, persistent ; pet, 5, 

 imbricate ; stam. indef, anth, dehiscing longitudinally, de- 

 ciduous ; ov. of 3-10 distinct carp., on a swollen gynophore, 



