Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 335 



Mangium Caryophylloides, Rumph : Amb: III. p. 119. 

 t. 78. 



Found at Singapore and Pulo Pinang. 



This is a much smaller shrub than the common Mangrove, 

 and does not divide its roots so much. It is generally found 

 in shallow sandy salt marshes, rising with a tolerably erect 

 stem and branched nearer to the base than the common 

 species. Leaves opposite, petiolate, about four inches long, 

 oval or ovate-lanceolate, acute at both ends, sometimes 

 slightly inequilateral, very entire, very smooth, coriaceous ; 

 the lower surface appearing under the lens dotted with minute 

 white points. Petioles round, furrowed above, smooth. 

 Stipules long, enveloping the corniculate buds in the manner 

 of the Ficus, very deciduous. Peduncles axillary, solitary, 

 three-flowered, shorter than the petioles ; sometimes they 

 are dichotomously five-flowered, having a flower in the bi- 

 furcation. Calyx semi-inferior, surrounding the ovary, ovate, 

 limb eight-parted, spreading, lacinise linear, acute, thick, 

 rather incurved at their points. Corolla white, eight-petal- 

 led, petals nearly erect, alternate with the lacinias of the 

 calyx, conduplicate, inclosing the stamina by pairs, bifid, 

 furnished with a few threads or filaments at the point, ciliat- 

 ed on the margin. Stamina double, the number of the petals 

 inserted on the calyx in a double series, the inner ones 

 shorter, erect, not so long as the petals, enfolded by them 

 until the period of complete expansion, when they burst 

 from their recesses with an elastic force, and disperse their 

 pollen. Anthers linear, acute, two-celled. Ovarium contained 

 within the calyx, two-celled, tetrasporous ; ovula subrotund, 

 affixed near the top of the cells. Style filiform, as long as 

 the stamina. Stigma bifid with acute laciniae. Fruit contain- 

 ed in the persistent calyx, one-seeded, the other three ovula 

 proving abortive. The seed is at first ovate or roundish, 

 with conform albumen, the embryo inverse, in the upper part 

 of the seed. As the fruit advances, the radicle is elongated 



