XIV, 4 Merrill: Noteworthy Philippine Plants, XV 447 



leaves, which are much narrowed below, and by its much more 

 numerous nerves. The characteristic indumentum of the genus 

 is entirely wanting except on the growing tips of the branch- 

 lets and on parts of the flowers. The fruits with the specimens 

 are globose or ovoid, about 2.5 cm in diameter, but are abnormal 

 in that when young some insect has deposited its eggs in them 

 and the developing larvae have destroyed the seeds, the entire 

 fruit, except the parts destroyed by the larvae, being filled with 

 a dense, rather brittle, somewhat woody substance. 



SYMPLOCACEAE 



SYMPLOCOS Jacquin 

 SYMPLOCOS BRACHYBOTRYS sp. nov. 



Arbor parva, glaberrima; foliis coriaceis, integris, oblan- 

 ceolatis, 5 ad 8 cm longis, obtuse acuminatis, deorsum angustatis, 

 basi cuneatis, nervis utrinque 15 ad 18, tenuibus; racemis 

 axillaribus, 1 ad 1.5 cm longis; floribus brevissime pedicellatis, 

 circiter 8 mm diametro, calycis tubo circiter 1 mm longo, lobis 

 orbiculari-ovatis, quam tubo brevioribus; fructibus cylindraceis, 

 oblongis, circiter 1 cm longis. 



An entirely glabrous tree, about 5 m high. Leaves coriaceous, 

 entire, oblanceolate, 5 to 8 cm long, 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide, blunt- 

 acuminate, much narrowed below to the cuneate base, suboliva- 

 ceous, shining; lateral nerves slender, 15 to 18 on each side 

 of the midrib, anastomosing, the reticulations lax, distinct; 

 petioles 1 cm long or less. Racemes axillary, few-flowered, 

 black when dry, 1 to 1.5 cm long. Flowers about 8 mm in 

 diameter, pedicels 1 mm long or less, the subtending bracteoles 

 elliptic-ovate, deciduous, about 1 mm^ long. Calyx-tube some- 

 what narrowed below, cylindric, 1 mm long, the lobes 5, some- 

 what spreading, orbicular-ovate, rounded, about 0.8 mm long, 

 the inner ones slightly smaller than the outer three. Petals 

 oblong to oblong-elliptic, obtuse, about 4 mm long. Stamens 

 numerous, free, as long as the petals. Fruit oblong, nearly 

 terete, about 1 cm long and 5 mm in diameter. 



Luzon, Ilocos Norte Province, Mount Palimlim, Bur. Sci. 

 33277 Ramos, August 22, 1918, on forested slopes, altitude 

 about 900 meters. 



This species closely resembles Symplocos purpurascens Brand 

 and is apparently closely allied to that species. It is, however, 

 very easily distinguished by its very short inflorescences and 

 its much more numerous lateral nerves. 



