Contributions towards a Flora of Ceylon* 451 



ERYTHROSPERMUM, Lam. 



1. Erythrospermum phytolaccoides, Gardn. 



E. arborea, foliis sparsis petiolatis oblongo-lanceolatis acu- 

 minatis basi acutis utrinque glaberrimis integris vel obscure 

 subserratis, racemis paniculatis axillaribus terminalibusque 

 folio subaequantibus, sepalis ovatis obtusis concavis, petalis 

 ovato-oblongis ciliatis, staminibus 5, antheris sagittatis. 



Hab. — Woods between Balangoda and Palmadulla, in the 

 Saffragam district, February 1846. 



Descr. — A tree 20-30 feet high. Branches round, glabrous, the 

 younger ones greenish, warted. Leaves alternate, petiolate, from 

 ovate- oblong to oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, acute at the base, 

 entire or obscurely subserrated, glabrous, pennivenous, veins some* 

 what prominent beneath, intervenium widely reticulated, dark green 

 and shining above, yellowish green beneath, 4^-6 inches long, 18-27 

 lines broad : petiole 6-8 lines long, convex on the under surface, 

 channelled above, thickened both at the base and apex. Stipules small, 

 lanceolate, acute, deciduous, of a reddish colour. Racemes paniculate, 

 axillary, bluntly angled, glabrous, many flowered, of a whitish 

 colour, and about as long as the leaves. Pedicels about 2 lines long, 

 with three minute, acute, glandularly serrated bracteoles at the base. 

 Calyx free ; sepals 5, ovate, obtuse, concave, of a yellowish white 

 colour, tinged occasionally with red, about 2 lines long. Petals 5, 

 hypogynous, ovate- oblong, obtuse, ciliated, of the same length as 

 the sepals, white. Stamens 5, alternate with the petals : filaments 

 very short flattened : anthers sagittate, about 1J- lines long, 2- cell- 

 ed, cells marginal, opening longitudinally, widely separated by a 

 broad thin fleshy connective. Ovary free, ovate, glabrous, 1 -celled, 

 with numerous ovules attached to 3-parietal placentae. Style short, 

 of a reddish colour : stigma 3-lobed, lobes linear, obtuse. Fruit 

 unknown. 



