386 LXIII. THYMELACEiE. [Daphne. 



2. D. papyracea, Wall. ; Jacq. Voy. Bot. t. 148. Syn. D. cannabina, 

 Wall. ; D. odora, Don Prodr. Fl. Nep. 68 (not Thunb.) Vern. Niggi, 

 mahadeo ka phul (God's Flower), Pb. ; Set baruwa, satpura, N.W.P. 



A tall shrub, branches often bi- and tri-furcate, youngest branchlets 

 slightly pubescent. Leaves subcoriaceous, approximate near ends of 

 branches, glabrous, lanceolate, 3-5 in. long, narrowed into a short, mar- 

 ginate petiole, midrib prominent, lateral nerves numerous, indistinct. 

 Flowers scented, white yellowish or purple, sessile, in terminal heads of 

 6-12 fl., surrounded by numerous oblong or lanceolate bracts. Perianth- 

 tube \ in. long, pubescent outside, segments ovate, acute, less than half 

 the length of tube. Stamens of the lower series inserted in the middle of 

 the tube. Fruit ovoid, succulent, red or orange when ripe. 



Himalaya between 3000 and 9000 ft., from near the Indus to Bhutan. Kasia 

 hills. Fl. March-April, also in autumn. Attains 7-8 ft., bark ash-coloured, 

 smooth, smells unpleasantly when bruised. In Nepal and Kamaon, paper is 

 made of the inner fibrous bark, which is boiled with wood-ashes, washed, and 

 beaten to pulp on a stone, and spread on frames made of bamboo matting. 

 Daphne paper is very strong and tough, does not crack or break, very durable, 

 is not eaten by insects, and used for important records. There is a tradition in 

 Nepal that the art of making paper was introduced from China about 500-600 

 years ago. Indian Daphne paper much resembles some kinds of Chinese paper. 

 The flowers are offered up in Hindu temples. 



D. odora, Thunb. ; Japan, is similar, but has more coriaceous leaves and a 

 glabrous perianth. 



2. WIKSTROEMIA, Endl. 



Trees or shrubs with opposite or alternate, submembranous, deciduous 

 leaves. Style terminal, short ; stigma capitate. Berry at first included 

 in the perianth, which splits open laterally, and ultimately falls off. 



1. W. virgata, Meisner ; DC. Prodr. xiv. 547. Syn. W. canescens, 

 Meisner; W. salicifolia, D ne - in Jacq. Voy. Bot. t. 149; Daphne sericea, 

 Don Prodr. Fl. Nep. 69 ; D. canescens, Wall. ; D. virgata, Wall. Vern. 

 Bhat niggi, tliilak, Pb. ; Chamlia, Kamaon. 



A small shrub, with slender branches, pubescent with long soft hairs. 

 Leaves subopposite and alternate, lanceolate-oblong, about 2 in. long, on 

 short petioles. Flowers white, subsessile, in many- flowered heads or 

 spikes, which are arranged in terminal panicles. Perianth-tube slender, 

 pubescent outside with soft silky hairs, many times longer than the ovate- 

 oblong, obtuse segments. Ovary hairy. 



Himalaya, in the Panjab to near the Indus, between 5000-7000 ft. Common 

 in Kamaon and Nepal. Kasia hills, Ceylon. Fl. June- Aug. Paper (inferior) 

 and rope are made from the bark in Kamaon. 



Edgeworthia Gardneri, Meisner Syn. Daphne Gardneri, Wall., is a large 

 shrub with herbaceous lanceolate leaves, and large, dense, subglobose flower- 

 heads, 1| in. diam. Ovary with a dense tuft of stiff hairs, style long, fdiform. 

 Nepal, Sikkim. 



