URTICACE.E 



499 



Ficus bengalensis, L. (fig. G48). 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, minutely pubescent, or papillose, pale 

 green, 3-4 mm. above the soil. 



Cotyledons broadly ovate, obtuse, emarginate, petiolate, glabrous, 

 deep green above, paler beneath, with an indistinct midrib and one 

 to two nerves on each side ; lamina 3'5-4 mm. long, 2'75-3 mm. 

 wide ; petiole flattened above, dilated and slightly connate at the 

 base, 1-1*25 mm. long. 



Stem erect, terete, minutely pubescent or papillose, pale green, 

 ultimately woody; 1st internode -5-2-5 mm. long; 2nd '5-1-5 mm. 



Leaves simple, cau- 

 line, alternate (first two 

 opposite), stipulate, peti- 

 olate, alternately or some- 

 times, especially at the 

 base, oppositely incurvi- 

 nerved, glabrous, some- 

 what shining on both sur- 

 faces, deep green above, 

 paler beneath, evergreen, 

 ultimately coriaceous ; 

 stipules erect, small, sub- 

 ulate, acute, pale green; 

 petioles semiterete, channelled above, slightly tapering upwards, gla- 

 brous or minutely papillose on the upper edges, at least when young. 



Nos. 1 and 2. Opposite, ovate, obtuse, slightly cuneate at the base, 

 obsoletely crenate or almost entire. 



Nos. 3 and 4. Alternate, ovate, obtuse, shallowly cordate at the 

 base, very shallowly crenate. 



Tubeuf (1. c. p. 53) describes fruit and seed of Moms alba (the Mul- 

 berry), and (p. 114) also figures and describes the seedling. The 

 embryo lies curved in the albuminous seed. The cotyledons re- 

 main in the testa till they have absorbed the endosperm ; they are 

 8-9 mm. long, dark green above, lighter beneath, taper gradually into 

 the short petiole, and have a faint venation consisting of a midrib 

 with a few side nerves. The first leaves are irregularly dentate, 

 have a midrib with lateral nerves, and including the petiole are 

 slightly hairy. 



Conocephalus niveus, Wight (fig. G49). 



Hypocotyl 1 cm. long, 1-5 mm. thick, terete, herbaceous, pale 

 green, pubescent. 



FIG. 6-18. Ficus bengalensis, x 2. 



