216 THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



P. excelsa, Bl. A fairly big tree with deep green shin- 

 ing elliptic obtuse or acute leaves narrowed and 

 often inaequilateral at the base 8 inches long 3 inches 

 across, petiole 1 inch long, glabrous except for the base 

 and axillary buds which are tomentose. The leaves 

 are often whorled. Panicle terminal of a few umbelled 

 branches, 1-2 inches across, on a pubescent peduncle 2 

 inches long. Flowers green \ inch long on pedicels g- 

 inch long all pubescent. Perianth tube elongate conic, 

 with very short rounded recurved blunt lobes. Sta- 

 mens 8 filaments barely exsert, anthers small. Style as 

 long stigma peltate. Fruit over 1 inch long, \ inch 

 through, linear 4 angled, glabrous green exuding a 

 very sticky gum, 1 celled. 



Common on the Plateau, and the lower terraces. 

 Flying Fish Cove etc. Not however a sea shore tree 

 like the last. 



Distribution Andaman Islands, Malay Peninsula, and 

 islands. 



This is not a very large tree, much more slender than 

 the preceding species, the long slender fruits when ripe 

 split and exude a very sticky substance which adheres 

 firmly to cloth etc., and doubtless to bird's feathers. 



The occurrence of this plant in the Malay Peninsula 

 is curious as it occurs only so far as I know at Kuala 

 Dipang in Perak, on the limestone rocks, a long way 

 inland, but there is a native tradition that within 

 historical times the sea came up to these limestone cliffs. 



The flowers which are fewer and longer than those 

 of P. grandis do not seem to have e7er been previously 

 described. 



Amarantace^e. 



Deeringia celosioides, R. Rr. 



A half shrubby plant usually scandent about 12 or 

 14 feet long leaves alternate light green ovate or ovate 



Jour. Straits Branch 



