107 



the base expanded and concave : the outer minutely rufous-tnmentose 

 on the external surface, paler and pubescent on the internal, '5 to '8 in, 

 long, concave for their whole length : the inner one-third shorter with a 

 glabrous concavity at the base only, the rest triquetrous, and pubem- 

 lous. Stamens numerous ; apical process of connective large, broader 

 tlian the anther-cells, sub-globular. Ovaries about 12, oblong, golden- 

 silky : with 4 to 6-ovules in 2 rows : stigma large sub-capitate ; style 

 short. Uipe carpels globose or ovoid- globose, tubercled, puberulous or 

 glabrescent, 1 in. long ; stalks about the same length, striate. Seeds 

 about 4 or 5, oval, compressed, smooth, brown, shining. 



Perak : Scortechini, King's Collector. 



This plant agrees fairly well with the only specimens of Melodorum 

 hypoglaucum, Miq. which I have been able to consult. It also agrees 

 fairly with Miquel's description of that species. But its petals and 

 stamens, and its ovaries externally are rather those of Xylopia than of Melo- 

 dorum ; although its habit, its torus and carpels are emphatically those of 

 the latter genus In the number of ovules it agrees with the majority 

 of the species of Melodorum. It thus forms a connecting link between 

 the two genera. 



7. Melodorum parviflorum, Scheffer in Nat. Tijdsch. Ned. Tnd. 

 XXXI, 344. A powerful climber ; young shoots minutely rusty-tomen- 

 tose, the bark dark-coloured. Leaves coriaceous, more or less broadly 

 elliptic, abruptly acute ; the base broad, rounded : upper surface pale 

 yellowish -green when dry, when young minutely stellate-pubescent, 

 when old glabrescent or quite glabrous, the midrib always tomentose ; 

 under surface softly rufous-pubeseent, the nervation and venation very 

 prominent ; main nerves 13 to 15 pairs, oblique, curving, inter-arching 

 close to the edge ; length 3 to 6 in., breadth 225 to 32 in., petiole "4 in. 

 Flowers '5 in. long, in lax axillary or terminal rusty racemes often more 

 than half as long as the leaves : pedicels '4 to "6 in. long with 1 or 2 

 small bracteoles. Sepals triangular, spreading, connate at the base, 

 rusty-toraentose outside, glabrescent inside like the petals, "1 in. long. 

 Petals thick, leathery, oblong-lanceolate with broad bases ; the outer 

 '5 in. long ; the inner smaller, concave at the base, triquetrous in the 

 upper half. Stamens numerous, the connective with compressed sub- 

 quadrate apical appendage. Ovaries narrow, elongate, densely sericeous, 

 6- to 8-ovuled. Ripe carpels globular, sometimes very slightly apiculate, 

 densely but minutely dark-brown tomentose, '8 in. diam. ; stalks rather 

 longer, slender, tomentose, 



Perak : King's Collector. — Distrib. : Bangka. 



A species closely allied to M. sphaerocarp^lm, Blume, The leaves 

 of this are, however, larger, the upper surface is stellate-tomentosa 



356 



