THE BOTANY OF CHHISTMaS ISLAND. 203 



inch long lobes linear -J inch long narrow white fragrant. 

 Fruit 1-J inch long fleshy of two yellow cones connate 

 by the base divaricate above. 



Common on the lower terraces and also accuring on 

 the plateau. 



Distrib Banka. 



Seed probably sea-borne as most of the Ochrosias are. 



OlEACEtE. 



Jusminum Sambac Ait. The bushy jasmine so commonly culti- 

 vated by the Chinese is recorded in the Monograph of 

 Christmas Island as if wild. It is only planted round 

 Ross's old house in Flying Fish Cove and at the Water- 

 fall and has not even spread a dozen yards from where 

 it was evidently planted. It is a large flowered single 

 form. I saw no fruit on it nor indeed have I ever seen 

 any on any plant of it. 



Apocynace^e. 



Cerbera Odollam Gacrtn, forma. 



Was obtained at Rocky point by Andrews. I 

 sought it in vain. Much of this ground has been 

 cleared since for cooly lines, and the hospital, and the 

 woods near by form the handiest place for the coolies 

 firewood supply, so that the tree has probably been 

 exterminated. The Cerberas the fruit of which is well 

 adopted for dispersal by sea require tidal mud usually 

 for their growth, and there is no suitable spot for them 

 in the island, Judging by the note as to the form of the 

 leaves in the Monograph I should suggest that the plant- 

 collected by Andrews might be C. lactaria. 



Distribution India, China, Malay Peninsula and 

 Archipelago, Australia and Polynesia. Seed found in 

 sea-drift at Christmas Island by Mr. Chapman. 



E. A, Soc, No. 45, 1905 



