1891.] D. Prain — Little Andaman and the Nicdbars. 167 



STERCULIACiE. 



10. Sterculu rubiginosa Vent., var, glabrescens King. {S. mollis Kurz, 

 not of Wallich.) 



Car Nicobar and Batti Malv. 



Melochia velutina Bedd. 



Car Nicobar. 



RUTACE^. 



Glycosmis pentaphylla Corr. 

 Car Nicobar. 



Triphasia trifoliolata do. 

 Car Nicobar. 



AMPELIDE^. 



VlTIS PEDATA Yabl. 

 Batti Malv. 

 16. Leea sambucina Willd. 

 Car Nicobar. 

 Leea grandifolia Kurz. 

 Batti Malv, very common. 



SAPINDACE^. 



Lepidopetalum Jackianum Radlk. (Gupania Jackiana Hiern.) 

 Car Nicobar, flowering specimens ; Batfci Malv ; fruiting specimens. 

 TKere is now no doubt that this species is correctly referred to Lepido- 

 petalum by Prof. Radlkofer. The flower-buds are oval, pointed ; the 4 

 green, lanceolate calyx-segments alternate with 4 extremely small, white 

 cordate-acute petals attached to the face of each of which is a single 

 large scale, connate by its margins with the edges of the corresponding 

 petal and forming along with it a small, peltate-infundibuliform pouch ; 

 the stamens are 8 in number with glabrous, slender, shorfc filaments and 

 oblong, pilose anthers ; the ovary is 2-celIed ; the fruit, reddish-brown 

 externally, is bright scarlet within, usually the seed of one of the two cells 

 is abortive; the ripe seeds are black, covered with a mucilaginous substance 

 and embrace^, as to their lower third, in a pink, cup-shaped, thick, fleshy 

 arillus. It is one of the favourite fruits with Galcenas nicoharica and the 

 other frugivorous pigeons. Even if, with Bentham and Hooker, (Gen. 

 Plantar, i, 399), generic rank is not accorded to Lepidopetalum^ Hiern's 

 location of the species in Gupania {Flor. Brit. Lid. i, 678) is not valid, 

 since, as these authors show, Lepidopetalum is more nearly related to 

 Batoniaf as understood by them, than to Gupania. 



