ALSEODAPHNE SEMIOARPIFOLIA. (Nat. order Laurineae.) 



ALSEODAPHNE, Nees. — GEN. CHAR. Flowers hermathrodite, calyx deeply 6-parted, lobes subequal deciduous from the base, fertila 

 stamens 9, filaments filiform or dilated, the 3 inner furnished with 2 subsessile glands near the base ; anthers ovato-oblong 4-eelled, those of the 6 outer 

 stamens introrse, those of the 3 inner extrorse. Staminodes 3 stipitate cordate or sagittate at the apex. Style filiform, stigma discoid or obtusely 

 subtrigonal, berry seated on the entire smooth base of the calyx, the pedicels thickened. Trees, leaves alternate coriaceous penniveiued, inflorescence 

 of Cinnamomum, outer segments of calyx usually shorter than the inner ones. 



ALSEODAPHNE SEMIOARPIFOLIA. (Nees.) A large tree, glabrous except the very young shoots, leaves obovate 

 oval or ovate obtuse narrowed at the base, rounded at the apex, coriaceous glabrous and somewhat shining above, glaucous beneath, 

 finely reticulated on both sides, 3-9 inches long by 1| to 4 inches broad, petiole 3-9 lines long, panicles axillary or from the old axils 

 2|-10 inches long corymbosely branched towards the apex, calyx l|-2 lines long, lobes equal, fruit oblong 4-S lines long by 3-5 lines 

 broad, pedicel thickened 3-10 lines long. Fees ;—DC. Prod. xv. p. 28 ;— Wight Icones PI 1826 27. 



This tree is not uncommon on the Western Ghats of this presidency, from Canara down to Cape Comorin. up to 500 1 feet elevation, and 

 it also occurs in Ceylon. There are 2 different forms or varieties, one with the leaves 3-4 inches long, and the other with the haves 6-9 inches long, 

 1 have not observed that the 2 forms run one into the other, and I have only met with the smaller leaved variety at the higher altitudes, so suspect 

 that the difference is due to elevation. This tree is known m Ceylon under the names Weewarana, Raane fgrainwoodj, and Yavcrne, and is there 

 known as a valuable timber ; the wood is procurable of very large size, and is of a light yellow color, and is said not to warp ; it is used for building 

 and other purposes, and as it resists the attacks of the teredo, is much in use in the construction of boats ; it is exported from Triacomallee. 



Analysis. 



The figure represents the smaller leaved form. 



1. A flower bud. 



2. A flower. 



3. The same open, calyx 6-parted ; fertile stamens 9, the 6 exterior without glands 4-ceiled introrse, the 3 interior with 



glands 4-ce!led extrorse. Staminodes 3, opposite alternate outer stamens. 



4. One outer and 1 inner stamen, the former introrse, the latter extrorse and with 2 glands. 



5. The alternate outer stamen with the staniinode in front of it. 



6. Ovary, style and stigma. 



7. Ovary cut vertically. 



8. Fruit-panicle of the larger leaved form, the berr y seated on the thickened pedicel and base of the calyx. (All drawn from 



dried specimens.) 



297 



