Phyllanthus EUPHORBIACEiE 261 



branches of P. ejpi'phyllanthus and P. montanus are per- 

 manent branches, growing on from the scaly apex at the 

 next growing season ; in other Jamaican species the 

 penultimate branches are deciduous and the normal 

 branches alone have the scaly apex continuing the growth. 

 Normal leaves almost invariably wanting, but represented 

 by scales, accompanied by stipules, at apex of branches, 

 on edges of very young flowering branches, and at base of 

 flowering and penultimate branches, both scale-leaves and 

 stipules very deciduous. 



a. Flowering branches spirally scattered ; penultimate 



branches normal, persistent. 



14. P. eplphyllanthus L. Sp. PI. 981 (1753) ; Muell. Ary. in 

 DC. Prodr. xv.pt. 2, 428; Urh. Symh. Ant. iv. 339. P. falcatus 

 Siv. Fl. Ind. Occ. 1115 (1800); Griseh. Fl. Br. W. Ind. 35 ; Pluh 

 Phyt. t. 247, /. 4. Phylanthos americana tfec. Conimel. Amst. i. 

 199, t. 102 ; Catesh. Carol, ii. t. 26. Xylophylla falcata Sw. 

 Prodr. 28 (1788) ; Bot. Beg. t. 373. X. epiphyllanthus Britton 

 in Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. ii. 42 (1915). (Fig. 85.) Specimen 

 named by Swartz in Herb. Mus. Brit. There are specimens of 

 this species in Plukenet's Herbarium in Herb. Sloane without 

 definite localities; see xcvii. 100, ci. 106, ccxxxii. 27. 



Seaside Laurel, Rock Bush, Soap Plant, Sword Bush. 



Purdie !— Bahamas, West Indies. 



Shrtih 2-15 ft. high, glabrous. Scaly cone at apex of branches and 

 penultimate branches scarcely broader than branch. Scale-leaves 1*5- 

 2-5(-4) mm. 1., very broadly to narrowly triangular, more or less persistent 

 ab base of flowering branches ; stipules rudimentary. Flowering branches 

 generally strap-shaped or linear, sword-shaped to sickle-shaped, sometimes 

 more or less lanceolate or oblanceolate, 6-14 cm. 1., 10-16 (2-23) mm. br., 

 striate with veins close together, 7-11-notched on each side, notches 

 truncate. Male flowers : Pedicels slender, 1-3 mm. 1. Sepals blood-red, 

 1-1-5 mm. 1., outer oblong-elliptical, smaller than the broadly elliptical 

 inner. Disk of 6 glands. Staminal column with 3 very short branches at 

 apex. Anthers opening horizontally. Female floioers : Pedicels thick, 

 1-2 mm. 1. Sepals like the male. Disk saucer-shaped. Styles united 

 below, free parts flattened, much divided and recurved at apex. Capsule 

 depressed-globular, 3-furrowed, 4*5-5 mm. in diam. 



Soap is sometimes made from the ashes of the plant. A decoction is 

 used as a gargle for sore throat. A poultice made from the plant is applied 

 successfully to open sores and foul ulcers. 



b. Flowering branches in 2 vertical rows ; penultimate 



branches slightly modified, persistent. 



15. P. montanus Sw. Fl. Ind. Occ. 1117 (1800); staminal 

 column entire ; styles 3, recurved, closely adpressed, 2-3-branched 

 or lobed. — Muell. Arg. torn. cit. 429 ; Griseb. loc. cit. Xylophylla 

 montana Sw. Prodr. 28 (1788) (k Ic. ined. t. 35. X. latifolia 



