CRYPTOCARYA WIGHTIANA. (Nat. order Laurineee.) 



CryPTOCARYA, E, Br.— GEN. CHAR. Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments or calyx-lobes 6, equal or nearly so. Stamens of 

 the outer series 6, all perfect with introrse anthers, of the inner series 3 with extrorse authers, alternating with 3 short staminodia, glands 6 at the base 

 of the inner perfect stamens or almost as near to the outer ones opposed to them. Anthers all 2-celled. Ovary immersed in the perianth-tube which 

 afte r flowering closes over the ovary, and finally becomes more or less fleshy or succulent, completely enclosing and usually consolidated with the fruit, 

 the limb of the perianth deciduous leaving a small scar at the apex, or rarely persistent. Trees or tall shrubs. Flowera small, in cymes arranged in 

 axillary racemes or panicles, the upper ones often formiug an apparently terminal panicle with the subtending leaves very small or deficient. Fruiting- 

 perianths globular ovoid or oblong, having the appearance of inferior fruits. — Caryodaphne, Blume ; — Benth. Fl. Aust. v. p. 294. 



CftYPTOCABYA "VVlGHTIANA. (Thw.) A very large tree, young rarnuli and leaves minutely puberulous, leaves 

 rigidly coriaceous elliptic and oblong acuminate or acute at the apex, obtuse or acute at the base aud often unequal, glabrous and 

 shining above the costa sunken, veins obsolete, very glaucous beneath the costa andjveins prominent, the veinlets much reticulated, 2-6 

 inches long by 1-2| inches broad, petioles 3-9 lines long, panicles compound many-flowered covered with minute golden tomentum, 

 l|-4 inches long, fruit ovate-oblong or subspherical I an inch long shining black. Thw. En. PI. Zey. p. 254. C. floribunda, Wight 

 Icones t. 1829. (not flees). 



This fine tree is not uncommon in the moist forests of oitr Western Ghauts and in Ceglon at elevations from 2000 up to 5000 feet. 1 

 have specimens from the Tinnevelly and Travancore Ghauts, Malabar and South Canara. In Ceylon it is called Galu-mora, audits timber is 

 con sidered valuable for building purposes. 



Analysis. 



1. A flower bud. 



2. A flower. 



3. A flower opened, calyx or perianth 6-parted, stamens 9 fertile, the 6 exterior with 2-celled introrae anthers, the 3 interior 



with 2-celled extrorse anthers and furnished with 2 glands at the base, staminodes 3. 



4. One of the alternate outer introrse stamens with the inner extrorse one opposite it. 



5. The same with the inner stamen removed. 



6. The inner stamen, outside view. 



7. One of the alternate outer introrse stamens with the staminode opposite it. 



8. A staminode. 



9. Ovary, style and stigma. 



1 0. Ovary cut vertically. 



11. A fruit berry quite enclosed in the enlarged persistent tube of the calyx. 



12. The same cut vertically. (All drawn from living specimens.) 



299 



