2. Carissa.] 89. APOCYNACE^. 



Monghyr, Ham. ! Occasional in Chota Nagpur ! but the type is from the 

 Nilgherries. 



p. opSiCdL, St apf. L. broadly ovate-elliptic to elliptic-oblong. Branchlets pubescent 

 to tonientose. L. broadly ovate-elliptic to ell. -oblong, 1-5-3-5 cm. by 1-2 rarely 

 2'5 cm. Cor. -tube 7-8 mm., lobes 5-7 mm. 



This is one of the common forms originally usually recognised as C. spivarum. 

 It apparently includes var. hirsuta, of Herbaria (Ind. For., /.c, p. 387), which is 

 sometimes diffuse or sub-erect and often with pubescent leaves when young. This 

 occurs in Hazaribagh, Wood ! and occasionally in other parts of Chota Nagpur. 



■y. gangetica, Stapf. Branchlets glabrous. L. 3-5 cm. by 1*5-3 cm. Cor. -tube 

 about 78 mm., lobes 4-6 mm. 



The commonest form in our area. But the size of the leaves is immensely 

 variable on the same plant, and I do not think it is separable from opaca even as a 

 variety. 



The leaves are used for tanning. The fruit is eaten. 



2. C. spinarum, L. Syn. C. diffusa, Boxb. {Ind. For., loc. cii., figs. 4 



and 5) ; C spinarum, F.B.I, in part only ; Anku-koli, San Karenda, 



Or. 

 A dwarf shrub with very numerous diffuse or sub-erect branches, 

 or scandent. Branches subglabrous or usually piibescent with straight 

 simple or forked divaricate thorns. L. •6-2-5" broadly ovate to 

 broadly oblong Avith sub-cordate or rounded base, very shining, with 

 3-6 sec. n. conspicuous and raised above when dry, spreading and 

 then arched or looped Avell forward and reticulating with several 

 shorter ones from the midrib, apex acute or obtuse and apiculate. 

 Petiole 0--08". Fls. in close terminal or axillary pubescent sessile or 

 shortly peduncled, often many-fld. cymes ; corolla-tube •4--55" thinly 

 pubescent, anther-swelling above middle of tube ; petals •3-"4" or 

 only "2", oblong or oblong-lanceolate, not acuminate. Ovules 2 in 

 each cell. Fruit ovoid or elliptic. 



Orissa, from Balasore southwards, not .far from coast ! Very common in the 

 laterite scrub jungles. 



The two following forms may be distinct species, but are more probably one 

 depending upon locality, whether in the open or with other foj-est growth, and 

 especially upon the prevalence or otherwise of browsing. 



a. diffusa = the type in the Linnean herbarium. D^varf (perhaps 

 from the sarmentose shoots always being browsed). L. nearly all 

 ovate -6-1 "6" only. Cymes congested subsessile. Corolla-tube •4-'55". 

 Berry -S-^". Seeds usually 4. {Ind. For., he. cit., fig. 4.) 



/3. scandens. Widely scandent with long straight thorns 1'' or more 

 on the branches. L. 1-5-2-5" very obtuse or subaciiminate with 

 petiole "l" long. Cor.-tube "o-'G", lobes •3-"4" lanceolate. Berry 

 nearly "5", usually 2-seeded. The pedicels and flowers sometimes 

 pink. {Ind. For., loc. cit., Plate 19, fig. 5.) 



Same localities but in the forests, whereas the first occurs only in scrub. 



3. C. inermis, Vahl. Syn. C. 13alzellii, Bedd. ; C. macrophylla, Wall ; 



C. suavissima, Bedd. ? {Ind. For., loc. cit., figs. 6 and 7) ; Kerenda, 



Or. 



A very stout woody climber with large conical thorns on the trunk 



and nearly straight or usually somewhat curved divaricate thorns 



•5-'7" long on the branches. Twigs glabrous. L. less coriaceous than 



in the other species, lanceolate or broadly or narrowly ovate, 



534 



