62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND. 
pedicellis 2-6 nun. longis. Calyx in alabastro calyptriformis, promi- 
nenter apiculatus deinde in sepala 2 fissus. Sepala tenuiter carnosa, 
suborbicularia, 5 mm. longa, 4 mm. diam. Petala textura sepalis similia, 
suborbicularia, 4 mm. longa, 3 mm. diam. Discus crasso-earnosus 
annulari-pulvinatus, 1 mm. altus, indistincte 3-4-lobatus. Stamina 3-4, 
demum recurvata, filamentis ligulatis, apicem versus gradatim angustatis, 
2 mm. longis. Ovarium in disco immersum, stylo pyramidato-conico 1 
mm. alto, stigmatibus obscuris. Fructus globosus 1.2 cm. diam, sed in 
speciminibus nostris immaturus. 
Cook District: Yarrabah, Rev. N. Michael (old flowers and very 
immature fruits) ; Murray River, H. Flecker (ex herb. N.Q. Naturalists’ 
Club No. 7826) ; Etty Bay, rain-forest regrowth, C. T . While 11751 
(immature fruits), Dec. 1941 (climber) ; Boonjee, near Malanda, alt. 
2,400 feet, common in rain forest, S. T. Blake 15188 (type: flowers), 
August 1943 (slender woody twiner, the lateral branches often twining 
tendril-like at base, stem about 2 cm. diam., with grey, nearly smooth 
bark, deep green beneath the surface; wood white; leaves green, paler 
beneath; flowers greenish white, stamens at first erect, then reflexed). 
The present species is extremely interesting as providing a connec- 
tion between Sdlacia L. and Salicicratea Loes. In its early stages the 
calyx is distinctly calyptrate in appearance but later splits into two equal 
orbicular sepals which are persistent for some considerable time even 
after the petals have fallen and the ovary started to fill out. The genus 
Salacia finds its greatest development in tropical America and A. C. 
Smith, in his revision of the American species (Brittonia 4, 424) remarks 
that even as far as the American ones are concerned this genus does 
not form an entirely coherent group, and some of the sections could 
conveniently form distinct genera. In typical Sfiilacicratea the calyx 
forms a calyptra, dehiscing in an irregular line near the base leaving a 
narrow ring of calycine tissue below the petals. Dr. A. C. Smith, to 
whom I submitted a piece of the present plant, thinks it fits into Salaci- 
cratea and remarks ‘ 1 It is unusual for the calyx of this genus to spread 
into two sepals and to remain persistent, but I believe that the genus 
should be expanded to include this species. The true Salacia, in my 
opinion, never has a completely closed calyx in the bud.” 
In the past Salacicratea disepala has been confused with Salacia 
prinqides L. but apart from the calyx the two can be distinguished as 
follows : — 
Inflorescence fasciculate . . . . . . . . . . . . Salacia prinoides. 
Inflorescence cymose . . . . . . . . . . . . Salacicratea disepala. 
Family Sapindaceae. 
Atalaya virens sp. nov. 
Arbor parva vel mediocris ; ramuli glabri sub lente lenticellati. Folia 
plerumque 2-juga rarius 1-juga; petiolus et rhachis 3-7 cm. longa, in 
juventute distincte alata, in statu adulto angulata vel saepe minute 
alata ; foliola lanceolata, basi in petiolum crassum brevem angustata, 
apice acuta, utrinque in sicco prominenter venulosa, viridia sed subtus 
pallidiora, 7-12 cm. longa, 1.5-2 cm. lata. Paniculae multiflorae, 8-12 
cm. longae, 5-10 cm. latae, ramulis angulatis, tenuiter pubescentibus 
vel deinde glabris. Flores albi, pedicellis 2-3 mm. longis. Sepala 
oblonga, glabra, 2 mm. longa. Petala oblonga, 5 mm. longa, extus basi 
densissime hirsuta vel pubescentes partem superiorem versus gradatim 
