268 MYRSINACE^. 



Leaves erect, i J^ to 3 inches by M to iH inches, oblan- 

 ceolate-obtuse, narrowed to the short stalk ; upper side 

 dark dull green, underside with translucent dots or 

 narrow streaks (oil glands). Flowers fascicled in the 

 axils of the fallen leaves on pedicels oi % to H inch. 

 Petals 1/12 inch. Ovary 1/16 inch, with a thick stigma, 

 equally long, jointed to it. Fruit % inch globose, occa- 

 sionally fleshy on the outside and then J4 inch : stigma 

 long persistent but at length falling, t. 182. Wight 

 Sp. Nilg. t. 137; let. I2TI. 



Nilgiris : on the plateau ; very common in and near Oota- 

 camund and down to Coonoor. Pulneys : in some of the sholas 

 on the downs above Kodaikanal as very large trees, pedicels 

 of flowers longer. Fyson 212^^ iSgo, ijig. Bourne 4S1. 



Gen. Dist. These hills, Western Ghats, Bababoodons. 



Myrsine capitellata Wall. Cat. 2296 ! with which this is united in 

 F.B.I, as a variety, is a Nepal plant with much larger leaves and nearly 

 sessile flowers. 



The ascending branches and erect leaves, of our plant, are 

 very characteristic, as also are the flowers and small fruits 

 thickly set on the branchlets just below their leafy tips, much 

 as in Eurya japonica (p. 42), from which species however, even 

 in fruit, the toothless leaves, their oil-glands, and the single 

 seed, at once distinguish our plant. 



The fleshy covering to the fruit I have found very perfect on the 

 Ootacamund downs in May. Possibly, as suggested by Wallich this is in 

 the nature of a gall. A similar growth on M. africana L. had been noticed 

 before and appears (as seen by me on a South African specimen) very 

 similar. The 'scales' of Clarke's z^or lepidocarpon (F.B.I. /.<r.) (i^j'j^w 

 2581 ») and the *' emergences " of Mez. {I.e. s. 10) appear to be the dried 

 and decaying remains of this. 



ARDISIA. F.B.I. 88 V. 



Ardisia humilis Vahl; F.B.I. iii 529, V 45. A tree 

 with alternate 6 by 2 inches, entire, leaves ; axillary 3 or 

 4 inches, racemes of pink flowers ; and globular fruit, 

 with a single seed. 



Pulneys: possibly at Kodaikanal. Bourne 610. Common 

 at low levels throughout India. 



