158 XVII. FLACOURTiACEiE. [Flacouftia. 



and more glabrous flowers occurs at Pekan in Pahang, Tapah 

 and Goping in Perak and in Penang, also in Borneo at Sarawak. 



var. domestica Ridl. Unarmed tree. Leaves smaller and 

 pubescent on the branches ; petioles and nerves beneath. Culti- 

 vated and around villages. Malacca and Perak. Distrih. Borneo, 

 etc. This fruits earlier than F. Cataphracta, in September. The 

 fruit is eatable, but not so good as that of F. Cataphracta. 



var. erythrocarpa Ridl. Small tree quite unarmed. Leaves 

 broad, ovate acuminate crenate, 6 in. long, 2 in. wide; petioles 

 and branches softly pubescent. Flowers not seen. Fruit globose 

 about 4 in. through, bright red, sweet ; styles distant 8. In culti- 

 vated ground in Singapore and Penang. 



A very distinct plant in its absolutely unarmed stem and bright red 

 sweet fruit. It cannot be jF. inermis Roxb., as that has the styles all connate 

 into a star, whereas they are separate in this plant. It is probably a distinct 

 species, but I have only seen one or two trees of it and no flowers. 



(2) F. Cataphracta Roxb. in Willd. Sp. PI. iv. 30; PL Corom. 

 iii. 222; Hook. fil. F.B.I, i. 193; King, I.e. 117. 



A spiny tree about 20 ft. tall. Stem armed with strong dense 

 branched spines at the base. Branches unarmed. Leaves mem- 

 branous, glabrous lanceolate acuminate crenulate denticulate or 

 entire, dark green (red when young), 3 to 4 in. long, i'25 in. wide. 

 Flowers unisexual in small axillary tufts. Sepals green ovate, 

 edges hairy. Stamens in males yellow, numerous from a yellow 

 ring-shaped disc. Females as in males, but with a flask-shaped 

 pistil, and a stout cylindric style with 4 recurved arms free 

 only at tip. Fruit globose J in. through (rather smaller than 

 in F. Rtikam) dark brown red, pulp greenish yellow enclosing 4 

 or 5 flat seeds. Hah. Common in all villages. Distrih. Malay 

 Islands. 



This is the true Rukani and the best eating one. When ripe it is of a 

 firm texture and very astringent, but after rubbing in the hands a short 

 time it becomes quite soft and sweet. The tree is usually at least unisexual. 



(3) F. sepiaria Roxh. PI. Corom. i. 48, t. 68 ; Hook. fil. F.B.I. 

 i. 194. 



Shrub often spiny. Leaves obovate rounded crenate at apex, 

 base narrowed ; nerves ascending from base, membranous, glabrous 

 1*5 in. long, "75 in. wide; petioles slender, '5 in. long. Male flowers 

 small. Sepals ovate. Stamens numerous. Female flowers in 

 short racemes, 'i in. long with numerous lanceolate bracts ; pedicels 

 puberulous 'i in. long. Sepals lanceolate acute, ciliate. Style 

 cylindric with 4 to 6 short arms. Fruit '5 in. through. Hah. 

 Open country. Perils at Kanga. Distrih. India. 



