642 xcrv. apoctnace^. (J. D. Hooker.) [_Alstonia. 



Sect. I. Pala. Leaves with close parallel nervation, usually oljtuse. 

 Corolla-lobes overlapping to the left. 



1. A, scholaris, Brown in Mem. TVei-n. Soc. i. 75; leaves 4r-7 in a 

 whorl obovate or elliptic-oblong white beneath, base acute, tip obtuse rounded 

 or obtusely acuminate, cymes peduncled or sessilfe capitate, flowers pubescent, 

 follicles very long and slender. A. DC. Prodr. viii. 408 ; Wight Ic. t. 422 ; 

 Qrah. Cat. Bomb. PI. 115 ; Dalz. ^ Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 145 ; Brand. For. Fl. 325 ; 

 Kurz For. Fl. ii. 183 ; Beddome For. Fl. 325, t. 242 ; Wall. Cat 1644. 

 Echites scholaiis, Zinn. Mant. 55. E. Pala, Ham. ex Spreng. Syst. i. 633 ; 

 A. DC. I. c. m.—Rheede Sort. Mai i. t. 45. 



Drier forests of India; in the tropical region of the Western Himaxata 

 from the Jumna eastwards to Assam, and southwards to Cetlon, Singapore and 

 Penang. — DiSTBiB. Malay Archipelago, tropical Australia and Africa. 



An evergreen tree 40-60 ft., "at times 80-90" {Brandis); trunk tall, base often 

 buttressed; branches whorled; juice milky bitter. Leaves 4-8 by 1-2^ in., very 

 coriaceous, -whitish beneath ; nerves 30-60 pairs, horizontal, joining an intramarginal 

 one ; petiole stout, J-J in. Cymes umbellately branched ; peduncle 1-3 in., rarely 0, 

 very stout ; branches numerous, stout ; flowers subcapitate, greenish-white. Corolla 

 \-^ in. diam., throat villous, lobes rounded. Disc 0. Ovary hirsute. Follicles 1-2 

 ft., pendulous in clusters, only ^ in. diam., terete. Seeds ^ in. long, slender. 



2. A . spathulata, Blume Bijd. 1037 ; quite glabrous, leaves 3-5 in a 

 whorl obovate-cuneate tip rounded concolorous beneath, cymes peduncled and 

 pedicelled flowers quite glabrous. — A. DC. Prodr. viii. 410 ; Miquel Fl. Ind. 

 Bat. ii. 437. A. cuneata. Wall. Cat. 1645 (liabitat wrong). 



Malacca; in marshes, Griffith, Maingay (Kew Distrib. 1068). — ^Distrib. Java, 

 Borneo. 



Leaves 1^-4 in., very coriaceous, brown on both surfaces when dry, shining above, 

 opaque beneath ; nerves 20-30 pairs, horizontal ; petiole very short. Cymes small, 

 umbellately branched ; bracts short. CaZj'x-Wes orbicular. Corolla-tube \ in., \6bea 

 elliptic, throat villous. Disc small. Ovary glabrous. Follicles 5 .7 in. long, slender. 



Sect. n. Blaberopus. Leaves with close parallel nerves, membranous, 

 acute or acuminate. Corolla-lobes overlapping to the left. Disc of 2 ligulate 

 glands alternating with the carpels. Follicles 3-6 in., broadest in the middle. 



3. A. venenatms, Brovm in Mem. Wern. Soc. i. 75 ; quite glabrous, 

 leaves 4-6 in a whorl narrowly lanceolate finely acuminate, follicles stipitate and 

 long-beaked. Wall. Cat. 1647; Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 186; Wight Lc. t. 436; 

 Dalz. 8r Oibs. Bomb. Fl. Suppl. 52 ; Beddome For. Fl. Anal. Gen. 160. ^laber- 

 opus venenatus, A. DC. Prodr. viii. 411. Echites venenata, Poxb. Lc. 



Deccan Peninsula, Nilghekey Hills ; alt. 3-4500 ft., CourtaUum, Dindygul on 

 high hills. 



A shrub 6-8 ft. Leaves 4-8 by ^-i.\ in., narrowed into a slender short petiole, 

 midrib stout, nerves very slender and close. Cymes subumbellate, the flowers often 

 racemose on the branches. Calyx very small, lobes triangular-ovate, acute. Corolla- 

 tube 1 in., very slender, swollen at the top, limb f-1 in. diam. ; lobes oblong, obtuse. 

 Ovary ovoid; style slender, top barrel-shaped, stigma 2-fid. Follicles 4-5 by j in., 

 sword- shaped, coriaceous, smooth, narrowed into a stalk \-l in. long, and into a 

 straight beak as long. Seeds more than J in. long, linear-oblong, flat, hairs short. — 

 Fig. 6 of Wight's plate represents the pod of A. neriifolia. 



4. A. neriifolia, Don Prodr. 131 ; branchlets and leaves beneath pube- 

 scent, leaves opposite or 3-4 in a whorl narrowly lanceolate finely acuminate, 

 follicles sessile beaked. Wall. Cat. 1646. Bkberopus neriifolius, A. DC. 

 Prodr. viii. 411. B. Sebusii, Van LLuerck ^ Muell. Arg. in Plant. Nov. LLerb: 

 Van LLeurch, fasc, ii. 188, 



