CONTRIBUTION TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF PAPUAN FLORA. 4/ 



the midrib and main lateral nerves raised and densely fer- 

 ruginous-pubescent ; petiole pubescent about 1 in. (2'5 cm.). 

 Flowers not seen. Fruit deep reddish purple, obovoid, about 

 7 in. (175 cm.) long and 3 in. (7'5 cm.) broad ; pericarp fibrous 

 with interlacing fibres, endocarp ossified, very nigose ; seed 

 narrowly ellipsoid, about 3 in. (7"5 cm.) long and J in. (2 cm.) 

 broad ; testa thin, dark brown. 



Bisiatabu (type) ; Sogeri (common) ; [Boku, Mrs. H. P. 

 Sclileticker]. 



A large tree ; the seed, known in Papua as the " Okari nut," is a 

 favourite with natives and Europeans a'ike ; by the latter the nuts are 

 often eaten " devilled " in the same way as almonds. It is probably one 

 of the finest of tropical nuts. 



Combretum Goldieanum F. Muell. Pap. PI., i (iv), 66. Port 

 Mor^sbv ; Yule Island. 



This rambling scandent shrub is very common about Port 

 Moresby and with its brilliant red flowers is quite a con- 

 spicuous feature in the vegetation. The fruits are " shortly 

 stipitate, nearly 1 in. (25 cm.) long, and prominently M'inged 

 with 5 dry more or less membranous wings." 



Gyrocaxpus americanus Jacq. F. Muell. Pap. PI., ii (vi), 

 7 ; Vic. Nat. Feb. 1885. Port Moresby. 



Family MYRTACE.^. 

 Rhodamnia cinerea Jack. Bisiatabu. 



The specimens are in leaf only but I have little hesitation in referring 

 them to the above species. I cannot follow King {" Mater'als for a Flora 

 ■of the Malayan Peninsula") and others in uniting so many species under 

 E. trinervia. 



Decaspermum neurophyllum Laut. & K. 8ch. Deva Deva. 

 A large shrub or small tree ; flower-buds pink ; in the open 

 flower the petals white or flesh-coloured and stamens pink. 



Melaleuca sp. (afl^. 31. Leucadendron Linn.). Astrolabe 

 Range . 



This tree is common on the range. It has a papery bark and white 

 flowers. For the present 1 do not care to give it a specific name. I 

 cannot class all the various forms allied to M. leucadendron L. as vai'ieties, 

 as done by King (" Materials for a Flora of the Malayan Peninsula "), 

 Cheel (in Ewart & Davies's " Flora of the Xorthern Territory "), and others. 



* Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. Blue Gum of Queensland, 

 Forest Red Gum of N. S. Wales. F. MueU. Pap. PI., ii (ix), 59 ; 



* For the identification of the Eucalypts I am indebted to Mr, 

 J. H. Maiden, I.S.O., F.R.S., Govt. Botanist, Sydney. 



