NEW OK BABE MALAYAN PLANTS. 45 



2 celled, with numerous angular seeds on an axile pla- 

 centa. Seeds reticulate dotted brown angular. 



Loc. Selangor at Klang Gates, a quartzite dyke alt. 

 600 feet, flowering August 15, 1908 (Bidley Xo. 13414). 



The genus Xanthophytum is based on a plant dis- 

 covered in Java by Keinwardt and is allied, if in- 

 deed it can be considered distinct to Lerchea also a Java- 

 nese plant. There are two or three species of the genu3 

 recorded, one or two from Java, one from Borneo and one 

 from the Society islands. I have seen none of these 

 species, hut this plant is evidently (from description) 

 allied to X. fruticulosum, Miq. of Java. Its most 

 important difference lies in the position of the stamens, 

 which are not adnate to the base of the corolla, but in 

 the mouth of the corolla. In this it most resembles 

 Lerchea. But the whole habit of the plant is different 

 from that genus and more resemble.- that of Xantho- 

 phytum. 



The locality in which I found this curious little 

 plant is of some interest. It consists of a large dyke of 

 quartzite attaining a height of over 1000 feet above sea 

 level. This altitude the short time at my disposal did not 

 permit me to ascend, and the plant was actually gathered 

 on a lower part of the ridge at about 600 feet above sea 

 level. The ridge is of no great width at this point, and 

 is precipitous on both sides. The soil is somewhat peaty 

 and scanty, the rocks projecting bare in many parts. In 

 the crevices of the rock the plant was growing. The 

 whole ridge is very dry. and was exceptionally so at my 

 visit as rain had not fallen for more than a week. Many 

 of the trees and shrubs were out of flower, but the Xan- 

 thophytum was in good bloom. The lower part of the 

 upper ridge was covered with bracken, Pterin aquilina. 

 Above where the soil was more scanty was abundance of 

 the grass Eriachue Chinensis very characteristic of dry 

 spots. I saw no other grass there. Boeclia frutescens in 

 flower, as a low shrub, was abundant. This is common at 

 high altitudes in dry spots all over the Peninsula, USUal- 

 it. A. Soo, No. 54. 1909. 



