Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 181 



aiFording the means of tracing more correctly its natural 

 affinities. The principal point is to determine the real nature 

 of what Roxburgh calls the nectarial scales at the base 

 of his petals ; I have no hesitation in considering them 

 as abortive stamina, which the examination of the flower 

 before expansion places, I think, beyond a doubt. In that 

 state the whole of the stamina connive over the pistil, 

 the anther of the fertile ones is turned inwards, so as not to 

 be visible, and there is no considerable difference of ap- 

 pearance between them and the sterile ones. The anther- 

 bearing hollow of the fertile stamina is applied to a corres- 

 ponding hollow on the side of the sterile ones, and at 

 the time of expansion the former separate themselves with a 

 jerk and become erect, while the latter continue in their 

 original position incumbent over the pistil. The petals on 

 which the fertile stamina are inserted are much smaller and 

 narrower than the others, as if exhausted by the greater de- 

 velopment of the parts they nourish. These petals are called 

 by Roxburgh outer laminae of the filaments, which is contrary 

 to all common analogy, while the other explanation might be 

 supported by numerous examples of a similar structure. 

 Thus in place of a diandrous flower with tripetalous appen- 

 diculate corolla and bifid stamina, we obtain five as the 

 primary number of all the parts, only modified by the partial 

 abortion of three of the stamina. 



MILLINGTONIA SUMATRANA. (W.J,) 



Foliis impari-pinnatis, foliolis 3 — 6 jugis ovato lanceolatis, 

 petalis minoribus acutis, fructu ovato. 

 Found on the island of Pulo Nias. 



It is a moderate sized tree with grey bark. Leaves alter- 

 nate, pinnate with an odd one which is rarely wanting ; 

 leaflets from 5 to 13, opposite, ovate lanceolate, acuminate, 

 entire, smooth, 6 — 9 inches long. Common petiole flat above 



