214 THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



Corolla not twice as long, white upper lip white pubes- 

 cent, lower one glabrous. 



Flying Fish Cove, Cemetery road. 



Distribution Malay Islands, India. 



First collected by myself in 1890. 



Apetal^e. 



Nyctaginte.e. 



Bcerkaavia repens var diffusa. 



A branched prostrate herb branches 2 feet long 

 pubescent. Leaves fleshy obovate rounded lower ones 

 an inch long ^ inch across entire with 3 pairs of strong 

 nerves on the back upper leaves much smaller, all 

 pubescent on the edges. Flowers very small pink 

 crowded in terminal very lax panicles with few slender 

 short branches pubescent. Perianth pubescent. Fruit 

 ^ inch long and 4 lobed aciniform viscid pubescents 

 stamens 2 anthers very broad. 



Flying Fish Cove on the beach, and along Cemetery 

 road, and high upon bare rocks above the Cove. 



Distribution all the Tropics. 



This form is more robust and with thicker foliage 

 than the Singapore seashore form, but it appears to be 

 a very variable plant. With the typical form grew one 

 with very condensed leafy branches, the panicle bran- 

 ches very short and flowers a little larger. It seems 

 to be a monstrosity due to some insect attack. 



B. repanda "VVilld is recorded by Hemsley from the 

 summit. This species has not since been seen, and 

 perhaps was an error for B. repens. 



B. ccespitosa, n. sp. 



Whole plant forming a big tuft with a prostrate mass 

 of branches two or more feet long, tips obscurely pubes- 



Jour. Straits Branch 



