178 MR HIERN, ON EBENACE.E. 



Alph. DC. Prodr. vm. p. 227. n. 22 (1844). 



Ebenus melanida, Commers. ex Poir. I. c. 



(?) D. pterocalyx, Boj. Hort. Maurit. p. 200. n. 7 (1837), Alph. DC. 1. c. p. 225. n. 141 



A tree with glabrous stem and branches. Leaves alternate, oval, rounded or obtusely 

 narrowed at either end, glabrous, coriaceous, 1 8 in. long by 3 in. wide, petioles J J 

 in. long; margins slightly recurved, net-veins delicate, often coloured beneath. 



<? . Flowers 1 3 together, sessile, 5 6-merous, \ in. long ; calyx tubular, cup-shaped, 

 $in. long, subentire or 5 6-lobed at apex, subglabrous; corolla 5 6-fid, silky outside, 

 glabrous inside, lobes oval, rounded, spreading and reflexed ; stamens 22 24, glabrous, inserted 

 at the base of the corolla ; ovary rudimentary, hairy. 



5 . Flowers solitary. Fruit sessile, subglobose, as large as a moderate-sized apple, 

 glabrous, shining, 10-celled, surrounded one-third way up by tube of calyx which has 5 6 

 wide reflexed and often undulated lobes. Seeds oblong, albumen not ruminated. 



Mauritius, Bouton ! The following localities are less certain ; Bourbon, Richard!, 

 Boivin!; Round Island, Mauritius, Sir H. Barklyl; Rodriguez, Bouton I 



31. DIOSPYEOS NODOSA, Poir. Encycl. Me*th. V. p. 432 n. 9. (1804). 



D. foliis ovalibus vel oblongis, alternis, utrinque rotundatis vel obtuse angustatis, glabris, 

 coriaceis, petiolatis, mediocriter reticulatis ; floribus masculis 1 3-nis, subsessilibus, scepius 

 5-meris, calyce glabro, apice lobato, staminibus 20 32, glabris ; floribus femineis solitariis, 



subsessilibus, staminodiis 12, ovario hirsute, stylo 5-lobo ; fructibus subglobosis, glabratis, calyce 



fructifero aucto, tubo cyathiformi, lobis erectis. 



Alph. DC. Prodr. vm. p. 226. n. 18 (1844). 



D. angulata, Poir. I.e. p. 434. n. 16, Alph. DC. I.e. p. 226. n. 16. 



D. mauritiana, Alph. DC. I.e. p. 226. n. 15 (1844). 



D. macrocalyx, Alph. DC. I.e. p. 226. n. 17, non Kl. 



(?)Z>. capensis, Alph. DC.! I.e. p. 226. n. 19. 



(i)D. Neraudii, Alph. DC. I.e. p. 227. n. 23. 



(?) D. Boutoniana, Alph. DC. 1. c. p. 236. n. 72. 



A glabrous shrub or tree ; branches especially of the male plants often nodose at 

 the inflorescence. Leaves oval or oblong, alternate, more or less rounded at both ends 

 or occasionally cuneate at base, coriaceous, 1 6 in. long by 1 3 in. wide; petioles \ fin. 

 long. 



<J. Flowers axillary, subsessile, about 1 3 together; calyx glabrous or glabrescent, 

 subtruncate or shortly 4 6- usually 5-lobed at apex, cup-shaped, about J in. long ; corolla 

 about J in. long, sericeous outside, glabrous inside, deeply 4 6- usually 5-lobed ; lobes oval, 

 spreading; stamens 20 32, glabrous, hypogynous or inserted at the base of the corolla, 

 somewhat combined at base; filaments short; ovary rudimentary, hairy. 



9 . Flowers solitary, axillary, subsessile ; bracts imbricated, caducous ; calyx shortly 

 5-lobed, nearly glabrous, cup-shaped; corolla short; staminodes 12, separate, inserted at base 



