186 Christmas Island. 



AMAEANTACE^. 



86. Deeringia celosioides, R. Br. 



Every wliere near cliffs. Elowering in August. Elowers red. 

 No. 22. East coast; first inland cliff. ISTo. 114. 

 Distril. — India, Malaya, Australia. 



87. Celosia argentea, L. 



Elying Eisli Cove; introduced. JS'o. 21. Flying Eish Cove; 

 common; December. No. 77. 

 Native name : Buntoot kucliing. 

 Distrih. — Tropical Asia and Africa. 



88. Achyranthes aspera, L. 



Eocky point, shore cliffs; common. Three to four feet high. 

 No. 11. 



Distril. — Tropics. 



PIPERACEiE. 



89. Peperomia laevifolia, Miq. 



Centre of island ; on fallen trees; Eebruary, 1898. No. 145. 

 Distrih. — Java. 



90. P. rossi, Eendle, sp. nov. 



Herba parva, carnosula, repens, glabra, foliis oppositis, breviter 

 petiolatis, ellipticis, obtusis, obscure triplinerviis, frequentissime 

 et minute atro-punctulatis ; spicis terminalibus, crassis, densifloris, 

 folia duplo excedentibus ; bracteolis rotundatis, peltatis ; ovario 

 obtrudente, rotunde-obovoideo, stigmate parvo, punctiformi, sub 

 apice lateraliter inserto ; fructu brunneo, valde exserto, subgloboso, 

 apiculato, pericarpio punctato. 



Shoots 3 to 4 ins. long by about li line greatest thickness ; 

 leaves -I to H iiis. long by 4 to 7 lines broad, on petioles 2 to 3 lines 

 long. Spikes reaching barely 2 ins, long by 1 line thick ; peduncles 

 less than -^in. Bracteoles about i line in diameter, punctulate 

 like the leaves. Emit f line long, pericarp scarcely fleshy, covered 

 with numerous small roundish warts. 



The measurements in the above description are taken from a 

 moistened specimen ; the plants shrink considerably on drying. 



Near the Polynesian P. insularum, Miq., but distinguished by 

 its fleshy habit and elliptical leaves. 



