219 



DESCRIPTION. 



CIVIL E. brachyandra F.v.M. 



In J (mm. Linn. Soc. iii, 97 (1859). 



Following is a translation of the original : — 



A small tree with angular branchlets, leaves alternate or opposite, moderately petiolate, papery, 

 ovate or broadly oblong, obtuse, opaque, slightly penniveined, small veins inconspicuous, imperforate, 

 paler on the under side, peripheral vein somewhat close to the margin, umbels 3-5 flowered, gathered 

 together in a terminal panicle, peduncles angular, pedicels thin, shorter than the calyx or of the same length ; 

 operculum conical-hemispherical, shorter than the tube, filaments very short, anthers didymous, fruits 

 minute, campanulate, cxangular, without ribs, 3-4 celled, concave at the vertex, valves somewhat included, 

 very short, seeds winged. 



Habitat, — In the rocky slopes in the upper parts of the Victoria River. Flowering in the early 

 spring. 



A tree-like shrub, leaves for the most part li-3 inches long, §-li inches broad, obtuse, somewhat 

 acute at the very base. The flower-bearing calyx slightly exceeding I line in length, the fruit-bearing 

 calyx a line and a half long or slightly longer. Stamens at the most 1 line long. The operculum only 

 seen in the young buds. 



The species is remarkable for the smallness of the flowers and fruit. 



Bentliam's description in B.F1. iii, 223, is as follows : — • 



E. brachyandra, F. Muell. in, Journ. Linn. Soc. iii, 97. A tall shrub or small tree. Leaves ovate or 

 oblong, on long petioles, very obtuse, 2 to 4 inches long, thick with numerous parallel very diverging veins, 

 fine but not very close. Flowers not seen. Umbels several together in a short panicle. Calyx after 

 flowering very small, ovoid globose, with a few very short stamens with minute globose anthers remaining 

 about the orifice. 



Fruit urceolate-globose, scarcely more than 1 lino long, the rim thin, the capsule sunk. 



So little is known of this species that the following unpublished notes by Mr. 

 W. V. Fitzgerald will be acceptable : — 



" A tree of 25-30 feet; trunk crooked, often piped, up to 10 feet; diameter to 

 9 inches; bark grey, rough, longitudinally fissured, persistent on trunk and limbs; 

 timber red, hard and tough, filaments white." 



E. brachyandra is a rare tropical species, the morphology of which has not been 

 completely worked out. 



The stamens are in a close double row, the outer row being the longer. 



A small, almost leafy bract can be seen under each umbel when the buds aro 

 in quite a young state. 



Its fruits are small and of a papery texture, with a thin rim, and with the tips 

 of the valves well sunk. 

 C 



