212 THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLANDj 



upper axils, outer bracts needle-like ^ inch long inner 

 bracts, broadly orbicular stalked ending in a sharp 

 needle-like point, £ inch long green. Calyx very small 

 sepals linear pubescent, corola £ inch long narrow two 

 lipped pink. Capsule very small. 



Very common on the lower terraces, Flying Fish 

 Cove, Waterfall, Cemetery Road etc. Endemic an J first 

 collected by Capt. Maclear. 



When ripe the whole of the fruit including the broad 

 spring bracts breaks off and adheres strongly to cloth 

 etc., by which means the seed included between the 

 bracts is carried about. 



Verbenaceae. 



Callicarpa longiflora, Lam. var glabrescens. 



A shrub about 6 feet tall leaves opposite ovate 

 lanceolate acuminate 7 inches long 3 inches wide edge 

 denticulate glabrous except for some stellate tomentum 

 on the midrib on both surfaces and on some of the 

 main nerves, petiole j inch long tomentose. Panicles 

 about 2 inches long tomentose. Flowers numerous 

 white small. Calyx cup-shaped glabrescent, corolla 

 lobes glabrous. Drupe globose ^ inch long white. 



Common on the Plateau, also the lowest cliffs and 

 near Flying Fish Cove, collected first by Lister. 



Distribution of C. longifolia, Lam. India, Malay 

 Peninsula and Australia. 



The common form of this plant has very tomentose 

 leaves, covered with tufts of woolly hairs arranged stel- 

 lately, its flowers also are pale lavender in color. The 

 Christmas Island plant differs in its nearly glabrous 

 larger and thinner leaves and white flowers. 



The seed is dispersed by birds the small drupes being 

 pulpy and sweet. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



