CHAMPAC. 125 
The genus is common in Java and the islands of the Eastern 
Archipelago. 
The Michelia Champacais generally cultivated, but is found wild 
in the forests of the temperate Himalaya, from Nipal and Kumaon 
eastward in the forests of Pegu and Tenasserim ; in the temperate 
regions of the Nilghiris, Courtalam, and Travancore, at altitudes 
of 3000 to 5000 feet, and has been distributed in the forests of 
Java, where it is cultivated; also the Philippine Islands and many 
localities throughout the tropics. By cultivation the perfume of 
its flowers is greatly developed. 
It forms a large tree. The branchlets are pubescent. The 
leaves are 8 to 10 inches long by 23 to 4 inches wide; the upper 
surface shining, the ribs of the lower surface rather pubescent or 
silky and paler in colour, the petiole being 1 to 14 inch in length. 
The flowers are pale yellow to orange-coloured, on short, axillary, 
1-flowered, silky peduncles. The buds are silky. The sepals are 
oblong and acute, the petals linear. The carpels congested and 
subsessile. The flowers are not unlike a double Narcissus. 
This tree is celebrated for the exquisite perfume of its flowers, 
though some Europeans find it somewhat too powerful, and at 
night it becomes rather rank. The native women adorn their 
heads with the flowers for the sake of the perfume and for the 
elegant contrast of the rich orange colour with their black hair. 
The tree is highly venerated by the Hindus, who have given one 
of its names, “‘ Tulasi,” to a sacred grove of their Parnassus on the 
banks of the Yamuna. It is also dedicated by them to their god 
Vishnu. 
The most fragrant of the other species of Michelia are :— 
M. montana*.—A forest-tree of 60 feet in height; native of 
Java. Flowers pale yellow ; buds, peduncles, and spathes almost 
naked ; petals 9, lanceolate and acute. 
M. pubinervia +.—A tree of 50 to 60 feet; native of Java. 
Flowers pale copper-coloured. The veins beneath the spathes are 
clothed with rufous villi; the outer petals spatulate and obtuse. 
M. parviflora {.—A native of Java and Ternata. Flowers small, 
of a livid flesh-colour or cream-coloured. Leaves elliptical, a little 
* Blume, Flor. Jav. fase. 19, p. 15, t. 5. 
+ Blume, Flor. Jay. fase. 19, t. 4. 
t$ Rumph. Amb. ii. p. 109; DeC. Syst. i. p. 449; Blume, Flor. Jay. fase. 19, 
p. 18. 
