254 XXXVI. CELASTEINE^. [Celastni,^. 



The genus extends chiefly over tropical and eastern extratropical Asia, with 1 Mascarene and 

 a few N. American species. The Australian species are all endemic, although one is nearly 

 allied to a common Indian one. — Benth, 



Tall climber. Panicles terminal. Ovary 3-celled 1. C. australis. 



Trees or tall shrubs. Baoemes or pedicels lateral or axillary. Ovary 

 2-eelled. 

 Leaves ovate or elliptical. 

 Leaves quite entire, much narrowed into a long petiole. Flowers 4- 



merous 2. C dispermus. 



Leaves entire or toothed, petiole short. Flowers 5-merous .... 3. C. hilocularii. 

 Leaves linear or' narrow-lanceolate, entire 4. (7. Gunninghamii, 



1. C. australis (Australian) , ilart). awrf MweM. i« Trans. PJiil. Soc. Vict. i. 

 41 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 398. A tall, woody, glabrous climber. Leaves from 

 ovate-lanceolate to oblong-elliptical or lanceolate, acuminate, 2 to 4in. long, 

 entire or minutely and usually remotely serrate, narrowed into a petiole of 1 to 3 

 lines. Panicles terminal, or rarely in -the upper axils, narrow, loose, 

 rarely above 2in. long. Flowers white. Calyx-lobes broad, rounded, ciliate. 

 Petals twice as long, attaining a little more than 1 line, broadly ovate or orbicular. 

 Disk almost free from the calyx. Ovary 3-celled ; style short, with 3 spreading 

 stigmatic lobes. Capsule nearly globular, rarely exceeding 3 lines diameter. 

 Seeds enveloped in a fleshy arillus. — Reisseb, in Linnsea, xxix. 265 ; F. v. M. 

 Fragm. iii. 94. 



Hab.: Many parts of southern Queensland. 



The species differs slightly from the E. Indian C paniculatus, Willd., in the narrower and 

 ■ more acuminate, not obovate leaves, usually more coriaceous, and in the rather smaller flowers 

 and fruits. — Benth. 



2. C. dispermus (two-seeded), F. v. M., in Trans. Phil. Inst. Vict. iii. 81, 

 and Fragm. vi. 203 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 399. A small glabrous tree. Leaves 

 elliptical, obovate-oblong, or ^rarely broadly lanceolate, obtuse or slightly 

 acuminate, 2 to Sin. long, quite entire, much narrowed into a rather long petiole. 

 Eacemes axillary or lateral, not seen in flower, when in fruit 1 to l^in. long, the 

 pedicels 1 to 2 lines. Flowers polygamous. Calyx lobes 4, deltoid, semi-orbicular, 

 ■I line long. Petals 4, glabrous, membranous, ovate, truncate at the base, a little 

 exceeding 1 line long. Stamens 4. Filaments in the male flowers twice, rarely 

 three times, as long as ,the anthers, in the female flowers the same or a little 

 longer. Anthers ^ line long, yellow, cordate, obtuse, dorsifixed. Style very 

 short. Ovary free above. Capsule obovoid or obcordate, slightly compressed, 3 

 to 4 lines long, 2-celled and 2-valved, with usually 2 seeds, covered at the base, 

 according to F. v. Mueller, with a thick arillus, but I find no remains of it on 

 our specimens ; very rarely the capsule is 8-angled and 8-celled. — Benth. 



Hab.: Araucarla forests near Moreton Bay, F. v. Mueller ; Port Denison, Fitzalan; Eookingham 

 Bay and Mackay. 



Wood of a light colour, close-grained, and prettily marked. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods No. 75a. 



3. C. bilocularis (two-celled), F. v. M. in Trans. Phil. Imt. Vict. iii. 31 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 399. A small much-branched glabrous tree. Leaves ovate, 

 oblong, or broadly lanceolate, obtuse or slightly acuminate, 1^ to 2^ or very 

 rarely Sin. long, entire sinuate or bordered by acute teeth, rounded or ouneate 4t 

 the base, on a short petiole. Racemes axillary or lateral, rarely lin. long. 

 Pedicels 1 to 2 lines. Calyx-lobes 5, broad and short. Petals 5, ovate, about 

 1 line long. Ovary 2-06lled ; style exceedingly short, with 2 broad short spread- 

 ing stigmatic lobes. Capsule 2-valved, coriaceous, pear-shaped or nearly globular, 

 under 8 lines diameter. Seeds enclosed in a thin arillus. 



Hab.: Dawson and Burnett Rivers, if. MaeHc)- ; Brisbane and Logan Elvers, J^rose?- (all with 

 entire or slightly toothed leaves) ; Warwick, Bechler (with sharply toothed leaves).— Bentft. 



Wood of a light-grey, close in grain, hard and ioxx^,— Bailey' s Cat. Ql. Woods No, 75, 



