Symplocos.l StyracecB. 105 



A tree, much branched, bark furrowed, branchlets stout, 

 young parts glabrous ; 1. small, 2-3^ in., oval- or obovate- 

 oblong, usually narrowed at base, rounded at apex, more or 

 less glandular-denticulate or serrate (especially when young), 

 often recurved at margin, glabrous, stiffly coriaceous, venation 

 pellucid, conspicuous beneath, petiole \ in. ; fl. rather large, 

 sessile (pedicellate at base of infl.), bracts caducous, spikes 

 very stout, peduncled, 2-3 in., often from axils of fallen 1., 

 glabrous; cal.-segm. rounded, ciliate ; cor. | in. diam.; stam. 

 very numerous; drupe \ in., oblong-ovoid, capped with con- 

 spicuous cal.-rim, stone usually 3-seeded. 

 Var. j8, major, Thw. C. P. 1820. 



L. larger, 4-5 in., oblong, shortly acuminate; fl. smaller. 

 Var. 7, obovata, Thw. C. P. 18 19. 



L. smaller, \-\\ in., broadly obovate or suborbicular, very 

 coriaceous; fl. usually solitary in axils. 



Var. J, cucuUata, Thw. C. P. 2835. 



L. crowded, 3-5 in., extremely thick and leathery, obtuse 

 at both ends, very much revolute, petiole very thick and 

 short, purple. 



Upper montane zone, common, especially var. /3. FL March, April, 

 September ; white, sweet-scented. 



Also in mountains of S. India. 



The young leaves are purple. The bracts sometimes become leaves 

 and the infl. is converted into a branch. The lobes of the cor. are often 

 6, 7, or 8. Var. y looks very different, and is perhaps distinct as a species. 



It has been observed that the stumps or roots left in the ground after 

 forest-land has been cleared are very harmful to the tea-plants afterwards 

 planted in their vicinity. 



3. S. laeta, Thw. Enum. 184 (i860). 



C. P. 165. 



Fl. B. Ind. iii. 584. 



A small tree, twigs numerous, slender, young parts glabrous ; 

 1, small, 1^-3! in., lanceolate or oval-lanceolate, acute at base, 

 acuminate, acute, very faintly crenate-serrate or slightly un- 

 dulate, glabrous, coriaceous, petiole \ in., slender; fl. sessile or 

 pedicellate, each with an oblong glabrous quickly deciduous 

 bract ; spikes numerous, lax, 2-3 in. ; cal. glabrous, segm. 

 ovate, obtuse or subacute ; cor. about \ in. diam., lobes ovate- 

 oblong ; drupe \ in., fusiform-oblong, smooth. 



Montane zone, 4000-7000 ft., rather common. N. Eliya; Adam's 

 Peak; Knuckles Mountains; Rangala; Nanu-oya. Fl. March, April; 

 white. 



Endemic. 



The \zx.pedicellata, Thw. MS. in Hb. Perad., can scarcely be main- 

 tained ; the flowers are stalked and sessile in the same inflorescence. 



