89. APOCYNACE^. [10. Alstonia. 



collateral in each carpel. Ripe carpels drupaceovxs, distinct or con- 

 nate, usually 1-seeded. Seeds ovoid, albumen fleshy, cotyledons flat. 



Glabrovi8, Leaves mostly over 4" 1. serpentina,. 



Pubescent. Leaves mostly under 4" 2. ccmescens, 



1. R. serpentina, Bentli. Chandra, Beng.; Patalgarur, Or. 



A pretty glabrous imdershrub 1-2 ft. high with bright green 

 shining opposite and 3-4-nately Avhorled oblong or obovate rather 

 membranous leaves 3-7" long, and small white floAvers with pink 

 tubes in terminal peduncled bright red cymes. Drupes polished 

 green and finally black ^o-'o" diam. 



In o-rassy usually clamp places. Singbhum rare ! Puri ! Angul, Chaffarjee. 

 Fl. May-July. Fr. July-Sept. Sometimes also seen in gardens in flower and fruit 

 at other times. 



Leaves acute or acuminate with 8-12 slender sec. n., paler beneath, petiole •25-'7" 

 long. Peduncle 2-3" long. Pedicels bright scarlet. Bracts minute subulate. 

 Corolla-tube slender "T-'O" long, often curved, petals about '2". Anthers a little 

 above the middle of the tube. Endocarp slightly rugose. 



A reputed cure for snake-bite. 



2. R. canescens, L. 



A spreading 2-chotomously branched shrub with pubescent branches, 

 3-4-nately whorled leaves, very small white flowers and pretty red 

 berries. 



Orissa, near Cuttack, etc., apparently an escape from cultivation ! Fl., Fr. 

 April-June. Native of West Indies. 



L. usually in two unequal pairs in a whorl, larger 2"o-3-5", smaller about 1", 

 ell. -oblong or ell. -obovate, softly pubescent, not shining, acute, sec. n, about 12, 

 very fine spreading, petiole ■l-'25" with subulate glands. Fls. in 3-4-nate cymes, 

 at first terminal, peduncles '2-1" long usually 3-5-tid. Calyx urceolate pubescent. 

 Cor. -tube pubescent '2" long, lobes rounded, one-fourth the tube. Ovary entire 

 slightly 2-lobed, cells 2-ovuled. Fruit "25" diam. globose, containing 2, 1-seeded 

 stones, seated on the spreading somewhat enlarged calyx. 



10. ALSTONIA, R. Br. 



Trees or shrubs with 3-4-nately whoi'led leaves and mod. -sized 

 flowers in subterminal corymbose cymes. Calyx short. Corolla 

 salver- shaped, throat naked, annulate, or with reflexed hairs. Stamens 

 near the top of the tube, included, anthers subacute. Disc sometimes 



0. Carpels distinct, style with ovoid or oblong top and minute or 2- 

 toothed stigma. Ovules many, and many-sei-iate. Follicles 2, linear, 

 slender, distinct. Seeds oblong or linear, flattened, peltately attached, 

 often ciliate, albumen scanty, cotyledons oblong, flat. 



A. Leaves with close parallel secondary nerves. Petals ovei'- 



lappiiig to left : — 



Tree. L. obtuse or obtusely acuminate 1. seholaris. 



Shrub. Leaves finely acuminate 2. venenatus. 



B. Leaves with distant nerves. A tree, cultivated only . . .3. >nacrophylla. 



1, A. seholaris. Brown. Kunumung, K.; Chatni, S.; Chatawan, If. ; 



Chatina, Or. ; Chhatanda, Gond (? Angul). 

 A large usually straight handsome tree with the branches and 

 leaves whorled, leaves 3-7 usually 6 in a whorl, 4-S" long, Avhitish 

 beneath. Flowers greenish- white in umbellately branched cymose 

 panicles. Fruit of two slender pendulous follicles 1-2 ft. long. 



In the damper districts throughout the province, never very common. Purneah ! 

 Chota Nagpur, in valleys, not common! S.P., in valleys! Puri! Angul! 



539 



