258 
SALACIA. Linn. 
This genus seems to require a little elu- 
cidation. It was originally referred to 
Gynandria, the fleshy nectary on which 
the stamina are inserted having been mis- 
taken for the germen, and the real ovary, 
on account of its smallness, having escaped 
the observation of Linneus and Loureiro. 
This circumstance is now, I believe, gene- 
rally admitted; there can therefore be no 
doubt of the identity of Roxburgh’s Johnia 
with Salacia, and his J. salacioides agrees 
so well with S. Chinensis, particularly in 
having entire leaves, that it is questionable 
whether they are not the same, for it is to 
be observed, that in most of the species the 
leaves are only subopposite, and may occa- 
sionally on the same tree be found both 
opposite and alternate. Tonsella prinoides, 
Willd. Act. Acad. Nat. Berol. IV. is also 
without doubt a true species of Salacia ; if 
it be not in fact the same plant as the 
Johnia Coromandeliana, Roxb. Fl. Ind. 
L p.178. Calypso salacioides of Aubert 
du Petit Thouars agrees exactly with these 
in the structure of the flower, but differs 
in having many-seeded berries. Some of 
the species of Tonsella appear likewise to 
have polyspermous fruit; but those which 
have definite seeds are probably true spe- 
cies of Salacia. It may be questioned 
whether the distinction, founded on the 
number of seeds, be really of generic va- 
lue where the agreement is so exact in all 
other respects; especially if it should be 
found that a gradation exists from the one 
to the other in the fruit of the different 
species. This, however, can only be de- 
termined by an accurate examination of 
the ovaries and fruit of the various plants 
at present ranged under Tonsella. In the 
natural arrangement, Salacia undoubtedly 
bears the greatest affinity to Hippocratea, 
it being scarcely possible to distinguish the 
two genera when only in flower. It also 
agrees in many particulars with the Celas- 
trine, but differs in having exalbuminous 
seeds. The union of the Hippocratacee 
and Celastrine has, however, been sug- 
gested by Mr. Brown, in his remarks on 
is. Under the 
DESCRIPTION OF MALAYAN PLANTS. 
above view the genus will be characterized 
as follows.—Calyz inferus, 5-fidus. Corolla 
5-petala. Stamina 3, disco carnosa inserta. 
Ovarium 3-loculare, loculis 1—2-sporis, 
ovulis axi affixis. Bacca 1—3-sperma. 
Frutices vel arbuscule, foliis subopposi- 
tis simplicibus. 
I have met with two species in Sumatra, 
one with anthers sessile on the nectary, 
which agrees very nearly both with S. Chi- 
nensis and Roxburgh's J. salacioides ; the 
other with anthers supported on filaments, 
and nearly related to J. Coromandeliana, 
Roxb. 
W. J. 
Tetrandra, foliis quinatis, foliolis spines- 
centi-serratis subtus incanis, cirrhis op- 
positifoliis racemiferis, racemis composi- 
tis longissimis, baccis dispermis. 
Akar Charicun, or Bayur Akar, Malay. 
Native of Sumatra. 
VITIS RACEMIFERA. 
A large, strong,woody climber. Branches - 
round, villous, Leaves alternate, quinate ; 
leaflets pedicellate, oblong-obovate, acute, 
subspinoso-serrate, the serratures bei 
formed by the spinescent termination of the 
nerves, smooth above, hoary beneath, fre- 
quently with a ferruginous shade. Petioles 
villous. Cirrhi opposed to the leaves, very 
long, simple or bifid; when bifid, one branch 
becomes the peduncle. Racemes very 
long, compound, consisting of numerous 
densely-flowered racemuli, inserted on & 
peduncle formed of the thickened tendril. 
The whole raceme is often a foot and & 
half in length. .Peduncles ferruginously 
villous. Flowers sessile on the partial 
peduncles, small, green. Calyx minute, 
embracing the base of the corolla, quadri- 
dentate. Corolla deeply four-parted. 
mina four; anthers yellow. Ovary sut- 
of the shape of an olive, and nearly as 
large, purple, juicy, two-seeded. ke 
Oss. This would be a species of Cissus, 
according to the Linnean division; but thet 
genus has now been united to Vitis by Mr: 
Brown, as they differ in nothing but the 
number of parts. 
Sta- 
