170 TEE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



the trees are scanty and small here. Ochrosia, Pongamia and 

 Cryptocarya also give useful words. The Katapang is larger 

 here and with harder wood than I have seen elsewhere. In 

 fact it appears to be too hard for practical purposes. The so 

 called wild coffee, Randia densiflora var. supplies excellent 

 walking sticks and umbrella handles, and as there is often a 

 considerable demand for these they might at some time bean 

 article of export. 



The collection made: 



Considering the time at our disposal and the difficulty of 

 getting to further parts of the island a very complete collection 

 of the flora was made which not only added a very large pro- 

 portion to the plants previously known, but has enabled me 

 to correct a number of misidentifications in previously publish- 

 ed works, of previously unrecorded species ; a certain number, 

 not very large, were plants introduced accidentally after 

 Andrews' visit ; the others were plants obviously overlooked by 

 him. I do not think that even yet we have got a full list of 

 all indigenous species as it is probable that in the at present 

 inaccessible parts of the South and West other plants will be 

 found. I met with three trees and shrubs not previously 

 noticed by other collectors on which no trace of flowers or fruits 

 could be found. They were quite common but I failed to 

 identify them, and doubtless there are others in further parts 

 of the island. A large number of fungi too were collected 

 which had not previously been recorded and others of this 

 group will probably be met with in more suitable time of year. 



The greater part of the flora is however known now. 



The Flora Dicotyledons. 

 Menispermace^e. 

 Limacia nativitatis, n. sp. 



A tall woody climber with slender branches. Leaves 

 (young) elliptic orbicular, (older) lanceolate subacute 

 mucronate 2-3 inches long l-J-2^ inches wide above 

 glabrous dark green beneath pubescent with yellowish 



Jour. Straits Branch 



