LAUKACEAE 159 



elongation of new shoots. Fruit a globular or nearly globular fleshy- 

 berry, usually less than 1.2 cm. in diameter, occasionally up to 2.5 cm. 

 in diameter. 



This genus much resembles Cinnamomum and differs chiefly in 

 having the perianth segments persisting with the berry and in the end of 

 the pedicel beneath it not being dilated or thickened. 



About 15 species known, all natives of tropical or subtropical Asia 

 and Malay Archipelago, the species most abundant in India. 



Machilus ichangensis Render and Wilson. 



Tree to 15 m. tall, usually smaller. Branches slender, dull red, 

 rarely dark gray, with few lenticels, glabrous. Leaves alternate, papery, 

 oblong-lanceolate, or lanceolate, long acuminate, gradually narrowed 

 toward the base, rarely broadly cuneate, glabrous, bright yellow-green 

 above, glaucescent, glabrous or rarely slightly silky pubescent beneath, 

 finally glabrous, with 12-17 pairs of lateral veins, the ultimate veins 

 reticulated; petiole slender, channelled above, about 1.5 cm. long, rarely 

 longer. Panicles from the axils of caducous bracts on slender peduncles, 

 3.5-5 cm. long; flowers white, the perianth almost divided to the base, 

 the segments 5-6 mm. long, silky pubescent outside, glabrous, except 

 toward the tips on the inside; stamens 9, shorter than the perianth lobes, 

 unequal in length; anthers oblong-obtuse; ovary subglobose, glabrous; 

 style enlarged at the base. Drupe subglobose, minutely pointed at the 

 apex, 6-7 mm. across, glabrous and shiny black, subtended at the base 

 by the persistent, thickened perianth lobes; pedicel scarcely thickened. 



This tree is locally known as Hsiao Nanmu or Little Nanmu. It 

 was formerly confused with Machilus thunbergii Siebold and Zuccarini of 

 Japan, but now considered distinct from that species. 



Fukien, Hupeh, Kwangtung. 



Machilus bournei Hemsley. 



A tall, densely leafy tree from 15-30 m. in height and 1-1.5 m. in 

 diameter. Mature leaves coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, long acuminate, 

 tapering to a cuneate base; usually from 5-10 cm. long and from 1.2-4 

 cm. wide. Young shoots and leaves distinctly tomentose or puberulent 



