282 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



Nom. Vern. Tuk (Wellst.). Teke (Schweinf.). 



Socotra. Abundant. B.C.S. n. 283. Schweinf. n. 414. 



Distkib. Endemic. 



A large tree, one of the largest on the island, affording a very grateful shade. 

 It is a distinct species, though not far removed from Ficus platyphylla, Cailliaud 

 (Cent. d. PI. d'Afr. 62), {Urostigma platyphyllum, Kotschy Aufz. Phaner. u. 

 Gefasskrypt. d. Nil. Lander 291, nom. sol.), a tree of Nubia. But that species 

 has amongst other diagnostic characters longly peduncled hypanthodia. In the 

 same alliance may also be mentioned Urostigma catalpcv folium, Miq. (in Hook. 

 Lond. Journ. vi. 551), a tropical African tree, and the Indian Urostigma 

 Dalhousice, Miq. (loc. cit. 571). But there is no likelihood of their being con- 

 founded with our plant. 



2. F. (Urostigma) salicifolia, Vahl Symb. i. 82. t. 23 (non Miq.). 



F. indica, Forsk. Fl. iEgypt. Arab. 179. 



Urostigma salicifolium, Miq. iu Hook. Lond. Journ. vi. 556. 



Nom. Vern. Etheb. 



Socotra. Spread over the island. B.C.S. nn. 354, 410, 448, 476, 646, 647. 

 Schweinf. nn. 339, 473. 



Distrib. Considerable range in tropical Africa and in Arabia ; also found 

 in south Africa. 



This species varies to a considerable extent, and the specimens we obtained 

 at different parts of the island show a fair amount of variation. 



n. 410 may be taken as the typical tropical African form, with downy 

 shoots and small oblong lanceolate leaves somewhat cordate at the base, 

 and with small fruits about the size of a pea, which are pubescent and have a 

 few red-capped glandular hairs on them. n. 354 is a form nearly typical, only 

 having leaves slightly larger and less cordate at base. Schweinfurth's n. 339 is 

 very nearly this ; but the leaves are larger and are not so cordate at the base, 

 the flowering shoots being glabrous, the nonflowering downy. 



In Schweinfurth's n. 473 we have again a small-leaved form, but the leaves 

 are somewhat elliptic with a distinct acumen — the twigs are usually pubescent. 

 An exaggerated form of this we have in our n. 646, and here, too, the fruits 

 are considerably larger and more densely tomentose. 



In nn. 476 and 647 we have the extremes of variation as exhibited in 

 Socotra. The twigs are here long, sparsely leaved, and glabrous, and the 

 leaves themselves are much elongated, often attaining a foot in length, but 

 remaining narrow and having an apical acumen. The stipules, too, are some- 

 what smaller. The larger bracteoles at the mouth of the hypanthodium are 

 in these specimens nearly orbicular, and show no keeling, whilst in all the 

 other forms these have a keel, and are more oblong. I do not, however, find 



