Rottlera.] euphorbiace^. 307 



covered with subulate plumose processes forming woolly masses of 1^ in. 

 diameter. 



Hongkong, Hance, Wright. Also on the adjacent continent, but not known out of S. China. 



2. R. paniculata, A. Juss. ; Hook, and Am. Bot. Beech. 212. A tree. 

 Leaves on long stalks, broadly ovate rhomboidal, long-acuminate, 3 or 4 or 

 rarely 5 in. long, entire or 3-lobed, stiffer than in the last, and always cuneate 

 at the base, glabrous above, white-cottony or slightly ferruginous underneath. 

 Racemes usually paniculate or the females rarely simple, 3 to 5 in. long. 

 Styles short, very plumose. Capsule brown-tomentose, with stiff subulate 

 processes, varying in number, but never so densely crowded as in R. chinensis. 



Common in ravines, Champion and others. In the Malayan Peninsula, the Archipelago, 

 the Philippines and S. China. 



3. R. tinctoria, Roxb. FL Ind. iii. 827; PL Carom, t. 168. A tree. 

 Leaves shortly stalked, from oblong to ovate-lanceolate or even ovate, obtuse or 

 acuminate, 3 to 4 in. long, entire, usually rounded at the base, more coriaceous 

 than in the two last, glabrous above, minutely hoary-tomentose underneath. 

 Spikes rather dense, about 2 in. long, in short terminal panicles or the females 

 simple. Flowers small. Anthers usually tipped with a red gland. Styles 

 shortly united, with plumose recurved branches. Capsule 3-celled, not muri- 

 cate, covered with a red glandular tomentum. — R. aurantiaca, Hook, and Am. 

 Bot. Beech. 270. 



Common in ravines, Champion and others. Widely spread over the hilly districts of India, 

 from Ceylon and the Peninsula to the Himalaya, Silhet, and Assam, in S. China and the 

 Philippines, and northward to Loochoo ; but not received from the Malayan Peninsula or 

 the Archipelago. 



4. R. ? cordifolia, Benth., n. sp. Branches slender, glabrous. Leaves 

 cordiform, shortly and obtusely acuminate, about 2 in. long, entire or slightly 

 sinuate, green and glabrous on both sides, but sprinkled with glandular dots. 

 Male raceme 2 in. long, slightly tomentose. Pedicels about 2 lines long. 

 Calyx globular, 1^ line diameter, 5 -cleft. Stamens entirely those of the 

 genus. 



Hongkong, Wright. I have seen only a single male specimen, which I refer to Rottlera, 

 from its evident affinity to the R. dicocca, Roxb. It is, however, much more glabrous, and 

 the leaves are distinctly cordate and not in the least peltate at the base. 



10. RICINUS, Linn. 



Flowers monoecious, in terminal raceme-like panicles ; the upper ones female, 

 the lower male. Calyx 3- to 5 -cleft, valvate in the bud, without petals or 

 glands. Male flowers \ Stamens very numerous ; anthers crowded on branched 

 filaments ; the cells distinct, globular. Female flowers : Ovary 3-celled, with 

 1 ovule in each cell. Styles deeply 2 -cleft and plumose. Capsule mostly 

 echinate, dividing into 2-valved cocci. — Trees or tall herbs. Leaves alter- 

 nate, peltate, palmately divided. 



A tropical genus, of which the 6 or 7 published species may perhaps be varieties of a 

 single one. 



1. R. communis, Linn.; Willd. Spec. iv. 564 ; Bot. Mag. t. 2209. A 

 glaucous, glabrous, erect plant • an annual of 4 to 6 ft. in cold countries ; 

 a tree of 20 ft. or more in hotter climates. Leaves large, with 7 or rarely 



x 2 



