204 MTnsrNACE.E, {Masa.. 



Eacemes usually more slender than in ttat species, the pedicels rather longer, 

 and the sepals rather less obtuse. 



It ia -with some doubt that I refer one of Champion's specimens to this species, which has 

 a wide range over the southern districts of India, and over the Indian Archipelago. 



' 3. M. montana, A. DO. Frod. viii. 79. An erect glabrous shrub, 

 usually more or less dioecious. Leaves oblong or elliptical, 3 or 4 in. long, 

 shortly acuminate, more or less toothed, on a petiole of 4 to 6 lines long, be- 

 coming coriaceous when old. Eacemes and flowers in the male plant like 

 those of M. indica and M. sinensis,. hvX quite glabrous, the ovary small, and 

 the calyx-lobes. very obtuse. In the female plant the racemes are more dense, 

 the pedicels shorter,, the calyx-tube with the ovary nearly globular, with very- 

 short calyx-lobes, the corolla much smaller, with abortive stamens. Beny 

 white, succulent, full 3 lines diameter. 



Common in ravines. Champion and others. Widely spread over the hilly districts of India 

 Slid the Archipelago. It is possible that this and the two preceding species may prove to be 

 varieties of a single one. The toothing of the leaves chiefly relied on by De Candolle is 

 evidently variable, so also is in some instances the pubescence, and the more or less succulence 

 of the ripe fruit cannot be appreciated in our dried specimens. 



4. M. coriacea, Chanvp. in Kew Joum. iv. 300. A perfectly glabrous 

 shrub. Leaves elliptical or oblong, 3 to 5 in. long, and very variable in 

 breadth, obtuse or acuminate, on a short stout petiole, more coriaceous than 

 in the preceding species, and either quite entire, or with a few small remote 

 teeth. Eacemes either simple and clustered, or branched at the base, and 

 seldom above an inch long. Pedicels short. Calyx-lobes and bracts very 

 obtuse. CoroUa different in shape from that of any other Meesa known to me, 

 fuU 1^ lines long, with a broad tube twice as long as the calyx-lobes, and 

 considerably shorter, broad, slightly spreading lobes. Berries globular, about 

 2 lines diameter. 



Common in the island, Champion and others. Not received as yet from elsewhere. 



Var. gracilis. Leaves narrower, almost lanceolate, racemes and pedicels more slender and 

 longer, and corolla rather smaller. 



•Hongkong, Wilfordj and some of Champion's early specimens in young bud appear to 

 be referable to this form. 



AH the above Masas are liable to a peculiar monstrosity, in which the racemes are con- 

 verted into dense panicles, every floWer being also replaced by a dense spikelet of closely im- 

 bricate bracts. 



2. EMBELIA, Burm. 



Calyx ii-ee, deeply 5- (rarely 4-) lobed. Petals 5, rarely 4, distinct, spread- 

 ing.- Stamens as many, inserted at the base of the petals, not longer than 

 them, with filiform filaments and short anthers. Ovary superior. Style short. 

 —Shrubs or woody climbers. Mowers small, in simple or branched slender 

 racemes, either axillary, or forming a terminal panicle. 



A small genus, limited to tropical Asia or eastern Africa. 



1. E. Ribes, Burm. ; DO. Frod. viii. 85 ; Wight, Ic. i. 1307. A pretty 

 bush of 3 or 4 ft., with weak slender glabrous branches, sometimes lengthened 

 out and climbing. Leaves ovate or oblong, shoiily and obtusely acuminate 

 2 to 3 m. long, on petioles of 2 or 3 Hnes, quite entii-e, coriaceous, and gla- 

 brous, usuaQy glaucous underneath. Flowers very small, white in elegant 



