PODADENIA THWAITESII. (Nat. order Euphorbiaoero.) 



PODADENIA. Thw. — QEN.CHAR.Mafo Calyx 3-4-parted valvate in bud, petals 0, disk 0, stamens numerous (about 30), filaments free central and 

 seated on a hemispherical receptacle and mixed with numerous glands, anthers globoso-obloag dehiscing longitudinally down the outer edge, attached to the 

 filaments at the centre of the back, connective bluntly apiculate beyond the cells, rudiment of ovary 0. Female, cilyx 5-4-parted imbricate in the bud, petals 

 0, disk 0, staminodia linear subulate 1-5 sometimes present, alternating with the calycine-segments or altogether absent, ovary 3-celled, cells 1 ovuled, 

 ovules pendulous. Styles 3 simple long very papillose except at the recurved apiculate apex, fruit fleshy indehiscent 3-or by abortion 1-2 seeded, seed 

 covered with an entire thick fleshy aril, ecarunculate. A large tree, leaves alternate petioled entire penniveined without glands, flowers small in terminal 

 panicles which are densely furnished with glandular hairs. Thw. En. PL Zey. f. 273; — DC. Prod. xv. p. 791. 



-t ODADENIA J- HWAITBSII. (Baillon.) A very large tree, young parts fulvo-or rufo-tomentose, leaves obovate very 

 shortly and abruptly acuminate, without glands, in age glabrous above except the costa and primary veins, pilose beneath, 5-10 

 inches long by 2-£-5 inches broad, petioles cylindrie tomentose f-2 inches long, panicles tomentose and with the calyx, &c. densely 

 furnished with stipitate glands or rather gland-tipped hairs ; flowers reddish, the male densely fascicled in heads along the branch- 

 lets each head being furnished with an ovate acute bract, pedicels 2-3 lines long, flower bud acuminate ; female flowers solitary or 

 subsolitary with bracts as in the male, ovary and styles glandular, stigmas spirally twisted and apiculate and glabrous at the apex, 

 fruit subspherical 1£ inches in diameter reddish, densely echinate with large stipitate glands, seed oblong 8-9 lines long 4-5 lines 

 broad, testa bony brown, aril white. — Eottlera (Stylanthus) Thwaitesii, Baillon Etude, des Euphorb. p. 426. Podadenia sapida, 

 Thw. En. PI. Zey. p. 273. 



Ceylon, Ambagamwa and near Ralnapoora 1000-2000 feet elevation ; this fine tree is, as far as we know, confined to Ceylon ; the fleshy 

 aril has an agreeable flavor. Nothing is known of the timber or uses of the tree. 



A nalysis. 



1. Branch with male inflorescence (life size.) 



2. Magnified portion of a branch of the panicle- 



3. Flower bud, calyx valvate. 



4. The same opening. 



5. Full flower, stamens 30. 



6. Stamens and the intermixed glands. 



7. Anther, front view- 

 S. Anther, back view. 



9. Branch with female inflorescence. 



10. A female flower showing the presence of 1 staminode. 



11. The imbricate 5-parted calyx. 



12. A staminode much magnified. 



13. The glandular ovary and styles. 



14. Highly magnified view of a stigma. 



15. Ovary cut vertically, pendulous ovules. 



16. Ovary cut transversely 3-celled, cells 1 ovuled. (Drawn from dried specimens,) 



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