224 THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



not one of which characters fits this plant. There seem 

 however to be indistinct traces of glandular structure 

 covered with hair at the top of the petiole. 



The reddish color noticed by Miquel may be due to 

 some post mortem treatment with corrosive subhinate, 

 for he did not see the plant alive, the bases of the leaves 

 which are distinctly pubescent on the back, are rounded, 

 the spikes are remarkably short, and hairy even in fruit. 

 He gives practically no other characters which are not 

 common to nearly all C]aoxylons, so that having only 

 his description to go on, which after all is more import- 

 ant than a type specimen, I consider it advisable to 

 give the plant, a new name, alluding to the deep blue 

 colour of the withering foliage. 



Macaranga tanarius, L. 



A tall tree, with peltate leaves 6-18 inches long 

 ovate subacute gland-dotted and hairy on the nerves 

 beneath, glabrous above, petiole long glacuous. Flower 

 spikes panicled green. Panicle 6 inches long, male 

 flowers very numerous and small, about 8 or more in a 

 head surrounded by a broad entire cupshaped pubescent 

 viscid bract nearly as long as the flowers. Capsule ^ 

 inch long sub-globose with 4 or 5 tails -| inch long from 

 the upper end ; all covered with sticky viscid glands 

 exuding a yellowish gum. 



Common on the shore terraces Smith-Point, Cemetery, 

 and below Phosphate hill on both sides, Waterfall etc. 



Distribution Andamans, Malay Peninsula and islands. 



The Macarangas in the Malay peninsula are usually 

 bird-dispersed, the small pigeons being very fond of 

 the seed. The stem of this plant is solid, though 

 nearly all the allied species have hollow stems tenanted 

 by ants. 

 Cleidion javanicum, Bl. 



A shrub or small tree, leaves oblanceolate acuminate, 

 narrowed towards the base, usually more or less den- 



Jour. Straits Branch 



