FROSTIGMA. 



61 



and rounded or very slightly apiculate, base more or less slightly narrowed or (in var. niMi) 

 ovate or rhomboid-elliptic, with a slightly acute apex ; or with an abrupt, short, blunt cuspis, 

 the base much narrowed to the petiole ; bases of leaves 3-nerved ; lateral primary nerves 

 5 or 6 pairs, not much more prominent than the secondary nerves ; length of blade 2 to 4 

 in., of petiole '25 to -5 in. ; stipules lanceolate, about -4 in. long; rec ptacles small, sessile, 

 in pairs from the axils of the leaves or of the scars of the fallen leaves ; depressed -globose, 

 smooth, yellowish or reddish when ripe ; about *3 in across, with 3 broadly ovate, blunt, spread- 

 ing, persistent basal bracts ; male flowers numerous, scattered, sessile, or shortly pedicillatc, 

 the perianth of 3 sub-spathulate pieces ; stamen single, the anther cordate-apiculate, on a 

 filament as long as itself ; gall flowers sessile or pedicillate, the perianth of 3 broadly 

 spathulate pieces, ovary smooth; fertile female flowers sessile or pedicillate, the aclnne 

 ovoid or obovoid, the perianth much smaller than in the gall ; styles of both short, 

 stigma cylindric or clavate. 



Tropical forests of the Western Ghats of Peninsular India, and at the b:i o of the 

 Eastern Himalaya, Khasi Hills, Assam, Burmah, and the Malayan Peninsula and islands, 

 Philippines, South China, and New Caledonia. 



A widely distributed plant, and therefore presenting a variety of forma, many of 

 which have, as in similar cases, received specific names. The forms, however, divide 



themselves into two groups, viz. 



a. — Typical form : those which correspond with F. retusa as originally described, with 

 leaves inclining to rotund, very slightly apiculate, and with slightly narrowed bases. 

 This form occurs in Peninsular India,, which was the source of the specimen fro n which 



the description in the Mantissa was written. This form is also found in Penang and 

 the islands of Ternate, Aru, and Boeroe, and on specimens from the latter two localities 

 Miquel founded his species dilatata. It also occurs in Australia. In this variety female 



flowers are mostly sessile or sub- sessile. 



£.__ -Variety nitida : those which correspond with the F. nitida as described by 

 Thunberg, with ovate to rhomboid- elliptic, shortly apiculate leaves, which are narrowed at the 

 base. This is the form found at the base of the Eastern Himalaya, in A am, and the 

 Khasi Hills, Burmah, and most of the Malayan countries. In this variety all the flowers 



are often pedicillate. 



Miquel reduces to his Urost. ovoideum the F. ovoidea of Jack ; but from Jack's original 



description it is absolutely certain that he had one of the forms of F. dmrsifoUa, Bl 

 before his mind when he wrote it ; and this apparently was Wallich's view, for the 

 plant he issued as F. ovoidea, Jack (Cat. 4526) is unmistakeably a form of F. diversifolia, Bl. 



Plate 61.— Fruiting-branch of F. retusa, Linn. 1, apex of receptacle; 2, base of ditto 



3, stipules : all of natural size. 



Plate 84 p .— 4, male flower ; 5, gall ; 6, fertile female : all enlarged. 



Plate 62 . —Fruiting-branch of F. retusa, Linn., var. nitida. Smaller figures of base and 

 apex of receptacle and of a stipule : all of natural size. 



Plate 84*.— 7, male flower ; 8, gall ; 9, fertile female : all enlarged. 



60. Ficus talbott, nov. spec 



A large tree, all parts glabrous ; leaves petiolate, thinly coriaceous, shining on upper 

 surface, ovate or elliptic, apex shortly caudate-acuminate, margin ent re base narrowed^ 

 to 5-nerved ; primary lateral nerves 6 to 9 pairs, rather prominent on both surfaces . length 



