66 Euphorbiacece. {Mallotus. 



3. la. Walkerae, Hk.f.in Fl. B. Ind. v. 437 (1887). 



Rottlera mitricata, Thw. Enum. 273. M. viiiricatus^ Muell. Arg. in 

 DC. 1. c. 972 (in part). C. P. 2108. 

 Fl. B. Ind. V. 437. 



A small tree; young parts glabrous, usually glandular and 

 sticky ; 1. often opp., variable, i-y in., oblong-lanceolate or 

 slightly rhomboid, acute or obtuse at base, more or less 

 acuminate, acute, entire or sinuate or shallowly dentate or 

 serrate, glabrous, thickly sprinkled beneath with minute 

 circular glands; petiole short ; stip. triangular, acute; male fl. 

 in short racemose clusters or spikes, fern, solitary on bracteate 

 pad., or in leaf-opposed racemes; ov. pubescent and with large 

 blunt processes, styles short ; capsule about \ in., strongly 

 3-lobed, slightly puberulous, with long, soft, spinous processes 

 which are deciduous. 



Moist and dry regions, and up to 4000 ft.; rather common. Kalutara; 

 Hewesse; Dambulla; Uma-oya; Hantane; Maturata. Fl. March-May, 

 September ; greenish-white. 



Endemic. 



This is allied to the true M. niuricaius, Bedd. (part), which is S. 

 Indian only, and figured in Wight, Ic. t. 1886 (as Claoxylon vmricatum.) 



4. BI. rhamnifolius, Muell. Arg. in Linn, xx.xiv. 196 (1865). 

 Marai-tium, T. 



Croton reiiculatus, Willd. Sp. PI. iv. 545. Rottlera oppositi/olia, 

 Thw. Enum. 273 (non Bl.). M. zeylanicus, Muell. Arg. in DC. 1. c. 977, 

 and M. micranthus, Muell. Arg. in DC. 1. c. 971. C. P. 196 (2106). 

 Fl. B. Ind. V. 440. 



A shrub or small tree ; bark smooth, yellowish ; j'oung 

 parts slightly fulvous-pubescent; 1. opp. or alt., 3-6 in. (rarely 

 more), oblong-oval, acute or rounded at base, subulate at 

 apex, entire, glabrous, venation prominent beneath, often 

 somewhat 3-nerved at base, with scattered, very minute, 

 yellow, circular scales on lower surface; petiole \-i in., 

 slender ; fl. spikes usually exceeding 1. ; male fl. in clusters, 

 fem. solitary; stam. very numerous, anth -cells distant; ov. 

 stellate-hairy ; fr. \ in., cocci globose, almost distinct, finely 

 stellate-pubescent. 



Var. (.'') /3, ovatifolius, Hk.f. in Fl. B. Ind. v. 440. 



L. smaller, ovate, acuminate, base broader, rounded, veins 

 2-3 from above the basal. 



Low country, up to 3000 ft., chiefly in the moist region ; common. 



Fl. Dec-Mar. ; whitish. Var. /3, Balangoda (Thwaites). 



Also in S. India. 



There are specimens in Rottlers Herb, from ' Cocklai, Jan. 23,' and 

 ' Trincomalie, Jan. 28, 1796,' labelled Croton reticulatum, Willd., which 

 name is thus fixed for the Ceylon plant. 



Very variable in foliage. Var. /i is scarcely worth notice. 



