THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 235 



Common on the plateau and occasionally descending 

 to the lower reefs, in forest. Flowers fragrant. 



The genus Corymbis includes about six or seven 

 species ranging from tropical Africa to Australia. 

 All it is true are closely allied, and the differences are 

 so slight in many that one would be almost inclined 

 to consider them as forming one species only. There 

 are few forms however as distinct specifically as the 

 Christmas Island plant. In habit it is slender and 

 weak, very different from the tall stout C. veratrifolia 

 Bl. with which it has been confused by Rendle, but this 

 might have been due to the peculiarly dry locality in 

 which it grows. The flowers are smaller, and the ex- 

 tremely narrow petals and sepals, long narrow claw to 

 the lip, the limb of which is more ovate and much 

 smaller, and the different form of the clinandrium 

 which has thin elevated wings on either side, and of 

 the small narrow rostellum and broader stigma, make 

 it quite distinct from the Javanese and Malayan 

 species. 



Didymoplexis pallenS) Griff. 



A small terrestrial orchid. Stem slender 4 inches long 

 in flower becoming stouter and growing to 8 inches 

 tall in fruit. Leaves T x ¥ inch long ovate. Flowers 2 or 

 3, shortly pedicelled flesh-colored. Sepals oblong 

 obtuse. Petals ovate obtuse. Lip entire with 3 nerves 

 not elevated, numerous scattered papillae and a raised 

 mass at the tip of crowded papillae, apex broad crisped 

 denticulate. Column broad, anther rounded flat papil 

 lose. Wings obscure. Stigma transversely elliptic. 

 Pedicels lengthening in fruit to 6 inches long. Capsule 

 globose, with slender ribs \ inch long. 



Woods in the centre of the island towards Murray Hill. 

 This plant is always difficult to find. I got 3 specimens 

 in flower and one in fruit, growing among a carpet of 

 Acrostichums. 



R. A. Soc, No 45, 1905. 



