THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 209 



broader pubescent leaves more dentate and rather larger 

 fruit, which occurred on dry hot places near the sea, at 

 the Waterfall ; and a more woody prostrate plant 

 densely viscid pubescent with many small round fruits, 

 leaves small and crowded. This grows on very hot rocks 

 above the sea at Smith point. 



The plant which is common on waste ground and 

 sandy sea shores in the Tropics of the Old World, is 

 probably disseminated by birds, as also accidentally by 

 man. It was first collected by Lister in Christmas 

 Island. 



Datura alba, L. 



The white Datura is abundant along the coast line 

 from Smith point to the Cemetery road. Also at the 

 Waterfall. I did not see this except in the neighbour- 

 hood of cultivated ground. Andrews records it on all 

 coasts, and as it was found in the island by Lister 

 it must be classed as a native plant. It is a large 

 flowered single white form. 



Distribution Tropical Africa, India, Malay islands. 



The Daturas probably originating in South America 

 seem to have wandered far over Asia, and I believe 

 from the curious way they have of turning up spon- 

 taneously in waste ground the seeds are dispersed by 

 birds in spite of their poisonous nature. I have never 

 seen any really wild in the Malay Peninsula, but 

 D. fastuosa is commonly grown in medicinal gardens 

 and is accidentally spread. 



ACANTHACEAE. 



Asystasia alba, n. sp. 



An erect herb about a foot tall and little branched. 

 Leaves opposite in distant pairs 1^ to 1 inch apart 

 blade lanceolate or ovate lanceolate acuminate at the 

 tip, and cuneate at the base, thin light green sprinkled 



B. A. Soc, No. 45, 1905. 



