148 THALAMlftOKJE. 



racemes densely spiked simple, peduncles and pedicels 

 ferrugineo-tomentose. 



Tilise affinis laurifolia, arbuti floribus albis racemosis odoratis-, 

 fructu pentagono, Sloane, II. 20. t. 163. f. 1. ? Malpighia 

 arborea, Browne, 230 ? M. arborea, foliis subrotundis, Browne, 

 231. M. coriacea, Sicarlz, Fl. 2nd. Occ. 854. 



HAB. Common on the South- side of the Island. Port-Royal 

 Mountains. 



FL. June August. 



A tree, 20-30 feet in height : branches terete, glabrous, 

 except towards the extremities of the branchlets, where they 

 are ferrugineo-sericeo-tomentose. Leaves opposite, petiolate, 

 6-8 inches long and 2^ broad, lanceolato-ovate or oblongo-ovate, 

 acuminate with the apex bluntish ; the young leaves sericeo- 

 tomentose (resembling in colour the under surface of those of 

 the star-apple tree) : the adult leaves smooth shining above, 

 partially ferrugineo-tomentose at the base of the mid-nerve on 

 the under surface: petiole terete, ferrugineo-tomentose. Racemes 

 terminal, erect, simple, somewhat longer than the leaves. 

 Flowers numerous, crowded, yellow, with an orange tinge, 

 inodorous. Common peduncle angulose, ferrugineo-tomentose : 

 pedicels J an inch in length, ferrugineo-tomentose, one-flowered, 

 2-3 together, furnished at their insertion with small subulate 

 bracteas. Calyx 5-partite : divisions ovate, obtuse, erect, each 

 furnished at the base with a pair of rather large glandules. 

 Petals on a long channelled claw, roundish, concave, plicato- 

 corrugated. Stamens 1 : anthers opening by 2 longitudinal 

 slits. Ovary villous : styles 3, subulate : stigmata acute. Fruit 

 size of a small cherry, yellow : nut single. 



The above description differs in several respects from those 

 of former Botanists. The leaves are not acute, nor is the 

 ealyx 10-crenated as stated by Swartz : nor are the flowers 

 white and odorous as described by Sloane. 



This is a common but a very beautiful tree, graceful in its 

 port, and, when in flower, conspicuous for its profuse golden- 

 coloured flowers. The fruit is very palatable, and deserving of a 

 place at the dessert. It has received, I presume, the name of 

 Lotus berry, from its resembling in taste, that of ZIZIPHUS 

 LOTUS. 



III. BUNCHOSIA. 



Calyx 5-partite, externally 8-10 glandulose at the 

 base. Petals clawed. Stamens 10, monadelphous at 

 the base. Style 1, simple or 2-3-cleft at the apex. 

 Drupe with 2, rarely 3, nuts. 



Racemes axillary, loosely spiked or subpanicled. 



