2/2 SYMPLOCACE.E. 



central bundle-scar. Leaf-stalks stout, Hhy'% inch, the 

 older often scarred below, obscurely channelled above. 

 Leaves pendant, very thick, glossy like the common 

 Laurel of English gardens, ovate-elliptic, serrate, the 

 teeth extending from the apex where they are 1/16 inch 

 apart, to about two-thirds of the way down, and there % 

 inch apart but barely visible : midrib stout, nerves about 

 seven on each side, very slender. Spikes of flowers 

 axillary and branched near the base, cymosely, into three, 

 with two ovate clasping bracts ; pubescent. Flowers 

 sessile, with a small bract and two equally small brac- 

 teoles. Ovary inferior, covered by a green disc. Calyx- 

 teeth triangular, 1/30 inch. Petals H inch, white, but 

 later tinged with yellow, rounded, united at the base in 

 a very short tube, to which are attached the numerous 

 stamens. Filaments straight, % to '%. inch, white : 

 anthers minute, yellow. Style as long, widening at the 

 tip to the small yellow stigma. Fruit i/s inch, nearly 

 globose, ribbed or smooth with short broad calyx-tube 

 above. Wight 111. t. 150. 



This variety (laurina) has shorter spikes and larger flowers than the 

 type and often smaller leaves. Kotagiri specimens have however large 

 leaves. 



Pulneys : on the downs above Kodaikanal, by streams. 

 Nilgiris : Kotagiri, Coonoor and lower levels down to 3,000 

 feet on the Mysore plateau. Fyson 427, 1121, 1706, 3040. 

 Bourne 172, 1356. 



Gen. Dist. (of the species) from Sikkim through Khasia and Assam 

 to Burma and Malacca, China, Japan, Australia and Polynesia (a variety or 

 possibly another species.) 



The white flowers are at first sight very like those of the Black-thorn, 

 and smelling much the same, might easily be mistaken by any one 

 acquainted with the English flora for one of the family ROSACEA, espe- 

 cially as the tubular part of the corolla is excessively short, and being 

 covered by the stamens does not appear till the corolla is removed. 



Symplocos foliosa Wight ; F.B.I, iii 582, I 39. A tree 

 with smooth grey bark, lumpy foliage, large silky leaf- 

 buds, flowers Vz ox Vz inch, in short axillary spikes; 



