264 



filiform catkins : bracteoles 2 : stamens 2 — 8 : filaments fili- 

 form, shortj often unequal, free or coimate at the base into a 

 short stalk : anthers extrorse, 2-celledi fixed by th0 base, cells 

 sub-opposite, dehiscent: female flowers in cylindric orovate 

 catkins : hypogynous scales 2 — 6, peltate or increased within 

 at the base by a fleshy gland : ovary 1, lenticular-compressed 

 or sub-globose, connate at the base with the hypogynous 

 scales, 1 celled: ovule 1, erect: style very short: stigmas 2, 

 elongated, subulate or lanceolate, papillose, spreading : fruit 

 dry, iadehiscent, drupaceous, 1 -seeded : seed erect, basilar : 

 testa very thinly membranaceous : albumen none : cotyledons 

 plano-convex, fleshy : radicle slightly tapering, short, superior. 



GENUS. MTESCA. 

 Tetrandpia Dii^ynia. Sex: St/st: 



Beriv. From Myrio, to flow: the plants are found near the 

 banks of rivers. 



GtES. Chab. Flowers mono-dicEcious. Male. Aments filiform : 

 bracts 1 -flowered, bibracteolate : stamens 2 — 8 : fllaments free, 

 or connate at the base : anthers 2-oelled : Fern, Aments ovate 

 or cylindric : bracts 1 -flowered, bibracteolate : hypogynous scales 

 concrescent with the base of the ovary: ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled, 

 style very short with 2 elongated stigmas : drupe 1 -seeded : seed 

 erect. — Eiesinous shrubs ca small trees : leaves alternate, entire, 

 serrated or laoiniated, or sometimes pinnatifid cut. 



(1) M. JNIEGEIPOLIA. {Roxb^ 



Ident. Eoxb. flor. Ind. III. p. 765. 



Engram. "Wight's Icon. t. 764 — 5. 



Spec. Chab. Shrubby : leaves lanceolate, entire, smooth : male 

 aments solitary, smaller ones densely approximated, very short, 

 condensed, few flowered : bract of the male flower ciliated : 

 scales of the female ament reniform-cordate, 1 — 2-flowered : drupe 

 oval, granulated: stamens four, almost equalling the bract: 

 bracteoles of female flower 2. 



Khasia hLUs, flowering in December and January. 



(2) M. SAPiDA. {Wan>) 



Ident. Wall. tent. flor. nep. p. 59. t. 45. 



Spec. Char. Tree : leaves lanceolate, acuminate or obtuse at the 

 apex, quite entire, glabrous, coriaceous or stiff : aments cylindric, 



