G3 
iog branches, which vary from I to 8 foet in length, originate from the 
stem near its base, pass into the soil underneath the surface of which 
they run for some distance, and bear on their emerging tips the flowers 
and fruit 
20. Polyalthia oblfqua, Hook. fil. and Thorns. PI. Ind. 138. A 
tree : young branches minutely pubescent, lenticellate. Leaves sub- 
sessile, oblong- lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, the base cuneate, 
minutely and obliquely cordate ; shining and glabrous on both surfaces, 
the lower pale ; main nerves 7 or 8 pairs, slender, curving and forming 
bold arches *15 in. from the margin ; length 4 to 6*5 in., breadth 1'5 to 
2'2 in. ; petiole 1 in., very stout. Flowers 4 to 5*4 in. in diara., soli- 
tary, pedicellate, extra-axillary ; each pedicel rising from a short conical 
woody tubercle, curving, "25 in. long. Sepals coriaceous, broadly tri- 
angular, blunt, less than half as long as the petals, pubescent. Petals 
coriaceous, sub-equal, oblong, obtnse, sericeous outside, Ripe carpels 
pisiform, with stalks "5 in. long, dark brown. Hook. fil. FI. Br. Ind. 
1, 67 ; Miq. Fh Ind. Bat. 1, Pt. 2, p. 44. 
Malacca; Griffith, Maingay, No. 4i (Kew distrib.). Chittagong 
Hill Tracts; Lister. Distrib. Sumatra. 
Lister's plant from the Ohittagong Hill Tracts agrees well with 
Griffith's specimens from Malacca. 
21. Polyalthia abehkans, Maing. ex Hook. fil. Fl. Br. Ind. I, 67. 
A large climber, glabrous except, the flowers and fruit; young branches 
slender, black. Leaves membranous, oblong-lauceolate, acuminate, the 
base slightly cuneate ; both surfaces reticulate, glabrous, the lower 
glaucous ; main nerves 14 to 18 pairs, very faint, the secondary nerves 
quite as well marked : length 3'5 to 5 in,, breadth 1*4 to 18 in., petiole 
•2 to "25 in. Flowers 5 to *75 in. in diam., solitary, axillary ; pedicels 
slender, 1*25 in. long longer in fruit), with one minute bracteole below 
the middlo and another at the base. Sepals ovate-orbicular, sub-acnte, 
quite connate into a 3-angled glabrous cup "25 in. in diam. Petals 
leathery, ovate-orbicular, sub-acute, spreading, concave ; the outer row 
•35 in. long and '3 in. broad, yellowish-pubescent on both surfaces 
except a glabrous patch near the base on the inner : inner petals 
half the size of the outer but more concave, hoary-pubcrulous outside, 
glabrescent inside. Stamens numerous ; apical process of connective 
broad, discoid, depressed in the centre, quite concealing the long linear 
lateral anther-cells. Ovaries narrowly oblong, glabrouR, 1 or 2-ovuled : 
style as long as the ovary, curved : stigma small. Ripe carpels ovoid, 
slightly apiculate, puberulous or glabrescent, *35 in. long and *3 in. 
in diam. ; stalks '7 to '8 in., slender, glabrous. Seeds solitary, rarely 
2, ovoid, shining, smooth. Melodurum ylaw.um, Scortechiui MSS. 
312 
