184 THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND* 



from Colubrina asiatica the common Malayan species, 

 being a much bigger and more tree-like plant, with very 

 different leaves as well as. its much longer inflorescence. 

 It appears to shed its leaves almost completely after 

 fruiting. C. asiatica is a sea shore and open sandy 

 country plant. 



AMPELIDEiE. 



Cissus repens Lam. 



A common vine over the bushes in Flying Fish Cove 

 Rocky point. 



Collected first by Andrews on Phosphate Hill. 

 Distribution India, Andaman Islands, Malay Penin- 

 sula, Java. 



Cissies pedata var glabrescens. 



Stems glabrous more or less flexuous obscurely 4 

 angled, internodes 3-4 inches long. Tendrils branched 

 opposite the inflorescence. Leaves when young more or 

 less pubescent adult glabrous, petiole 2 inches long pubes- 

 cent when young, glabrous in old leaves, limb 5 to 7 

 foliolate lobes unequal, central one ovate with a broad 

 base, on apetiolule 1^ inch long, thin crenulate dentate 

 4 inches long 3 inches wide, nerves 8 pairs, sparingly 

 pubescent, lateral lobes oblique inaequilateral narrower, 

 and more distinctly crenate. Cymes small, opposite to 

 the leaves 1^ inch or little more long, peduncle 1 inch 

 long (lengthening in fruit). Flowers green glabrous very 

 small. Calyx shortly 4.1obed. Corolla ovoid in bud, 4 

 petals 4 valvate narrowed upwards from a broad base. 

 Fruit \ inch through pink, seeds 4^- inch long angled in 

 front, smooth rounded polished on the back. 



Smith Point etc., common. 



This is no doubt the plant collected by Andrews and 

 so identified in the monograph of Christmas Island, but 

 it differs from the description by PJanchon in the Mon. 

 Phau. p. 558. in the form of its leaves, and its 



Jour. Straits Branch 



