OSMELIA GAKDNEHI. (Nat. order Samydacese.) 



OSMELIA. Thw.— GEN. CHAR. Calyx-tube very short, lobes 4-5 imbricate, petals none, stamens 8-10, 5 alternate with as many deeply 

 2-lobed densely villous staminodes, 5 inserted into the sinuses of the staminodes, filaments elongate subequal, styles 3 short incurved, stig mas capitellate, 

 ovules few, placentas 3 parietal, capsule subglobose subcoriaceous 3-valved few seeded, seed subglobose, aril fleshy red, testa membranceous, cotyledons 

 orbicular foliaceous, radicle short. Trees, leaves alternate, petiolate, ovato or oblongo-lanceolate, not dotted, stipules minute deciduous, flowers small 

 furnished with a small involucel, in terminal racemose panicles. — Stachycrater, Turcs in Bull. Mosc. 1858, 464, 



OSMELIA CrARDNEEI. (Thw.) A middling sized tree with a smooth bark, branches terete, young ones pilose, leaves 

 ovato-lanceolate acuminate glabrous penniveined, 2^-4 inches long by l-l£ inches broad, petiole sulcata above 2-3 lines long, stipules 

 minute deciduous, racemes terminal paniculate (from the abortion of the leaves) many flowered pubescent, flowers small white more or 

 less tinted with red, very shortly pedicellate, involucel small cup shaped ; calyx lobes rounded externally pilose, ovary oblong densely 

 pilose, placentas 2-3 ovuled, capsule 1-4 seeded. Thw. En. PI. Zey. p. 20. Casearia paniculata, Gardn. MSS. 



This tree has only been observed in Ceylon in the central provinces at about 3000 feet elevation ; it is not common ; nothing is known of 

 its timber or uses. Two other species of the genus inhabit the Philippines. The dissections in the plate were communicated by Dr. Thioaites. 



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