208 MYRSINACE,E. [JEgiceras. 



1. -ffi. majus, Gartn.; A. DC. Prod. viii. 142; Wight, llluslr. t. 146. 

 A glabrous shrub or small tree. Leaves obovate, very obtuse, 2 to 3 in. long, 

 quite entire, narrowed into a petiole at the base, coriaceous and evergreen. 

 Umbels axillary or terminal, nearly sessile. Pedicels stiff, 3 to 5 lines long. 

 Calyx near 3 lines long, with very obtuse stiff much-imbricated divisions, 

 closely covering the tube of the corolla, which is about their length. Corolla- 

 lobes about the same length, spreading or reflexed, stiff, and very acute. 

 Stamens shortly exserted. Ovary very pointed, growing out into a curved 

 horn-like fruit, about an in. long. 



In salt-water marshes, Champion, Hance. Frequent on the shores of tropical Asia and 

 Australia. 



7. REPTONIA, A. DC. 



(Monotheca, A. DC.) 



Calyx 5-lobed. Corolla with 5 spreading lobes, convolute in the bud, and 

 5 small scales or appendages (or sterile stamens ?) alternating with them, in- 

 serted in the mouth of the short tube. Stamens 5, inserted in the tube oppo- 

 site the lobes. Ovary superior, with 1 to 4 ovules erect from the base, with- 

 out any fleshy placenta. Drupe globular. Seed albuminous. — Shrubs. Leaves 

 evergreen, entire. Flowers small, in axillary clusters or short branching 

 racemes or panicles. 



A genus containing, besides the subjoined species, only one other thorny one from Arabia 

 and Western India. 



1 . R. laurina, Bentk., n.sp. A glabrous unarmed shrub. Leaves narrow- 

 oblong or lanceolate, acuminate, 3 to 5 in. long, narrowed into a petiole, coria- 

 ceous, smooth, with a few raised veins underneath, diverging obliquely from 

 the midrib. Flowers very small, in axillary panicles of near 2 in. long, with 

 small scale-like bracts at the base of the branches, and short pedicels. Calyx- 

 lobes broad, much imbricated, about f line long. Corolla spreading to about 

 2 lines diameter. Anthers almost sessile. Ovary apparently with only 1 

 ovule, erect from the base. Berry ovoid-oblong, about |- in. long, with one 

 seed, not quite ripe in the specimens, but apparently with a thick fleshy 

 albumen. 



Hongkong, Harland. I regret much that the only specimens I have seen of this very in- 

 teresting plant are not in a better state, for although the two flowers I examined appear 

 perfect as to the corolla, stamens, and style, the ovule and most of the growing ovaries were 

 more or less diseased. One only fruit appeared to be in a normal state, but that was not 

 ripe enough to see the embryo. 



Order LXVI. SAPOTACE^l. 



Calyx free, of 4 to 8, usually 5, divisions or teeth. Corolla regular, more 

 or less divided into as many or rarely twice as many lobes. Fertile stamens, 

 either equal in number to the lobes of the corolla and opposite to them, or 

 twice as many, besides which are often sterile stamens, either alternating with 

 the fertile ones or in the form of small scales, alternating with the lobes of the 

 corolla. Ovary superior, 2- or more celled, with one pendulous or erect ovule 



