244 
The Philippine Journal of Science 
1915 
the ovules are more numerous than in most species of the genus. Diels 
has remarked that the flowers are of the Melodorum type, and that the fruits 
are uvarioid, but made no attempt to place it in any genus other than 
Papualthia. Regarding the propriety of placing it in Papualthia, he states : 
“Auch mit den meisten Papualthia Neuguineas stimmen mehrere Merkmale 
nicht iiberein : so den freien Blumenblatter, deren aussere zuletzt sogar 
klaffen, so die Mehrzahl der Samenanlagen und die wenig asymmetrisehen, 
kleinen Blatter. Immerhin kommen bei gewissen weniger bekannten Pa- 
pualthien Andeutungen dieser Merkmale vor, und so mag die Art so lange 
bei Papualthia bleiben, bis uns die fortschreitende Erforschung Neuguineas 
erlauben wird, die Grenzen dieses Genus scharfer zu bestimmen.” I am 
inclined to consider its proper place as very near Oncodostigma Diels, from 
which it differs essentially in its more numerous carpels, somewhat different 
stigma, and its slightly transversely constricted uvarioid fruits; it may 
not be generically distinct from Oncodostigma, but at any rate it is not 
a Papualthia. 
POLYALTHIA Blume 
POLYALTHIA RAMIFLORA sp. § Monoon. 
Arbor circiter 12 m alta, subglabra; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis 
vel oblongis, nitidis, usque ad 16 cm longis, subcoriaceis, caudato- 
acuminatis, basi acutis, nervis utrinque circiter 12 ; floribus • 
numerosis, fasciculatis, e ramis et axillis defoliatis, petalis 
anguste lanceolatis, glabris, 4.5 cm longis. 
A tree about 12 m high, nearly glabrous. Branches terete, 
light gray, lenticellate, glabrous, the very tips of the growing 
branclilets pubescent. Leaves oblong-lanceolate or oblong, sub- 
coriaceous, shining, when dry the upper surface rather pale, 
the lower a little browner in color, 8 to 16 cm long, 4 to 6 cm 
wide, the base acute or sometimes somewhat rounded, the apex 
slenderly caudate-acuminate, the acumen 1 to 1.5 cm long; 
lateral nerves about 12 on each side of the midrib, prominent 
on the lower surface, the primary reticulations slender, sub- 
parallel; petioles 5 to 7 mm long, glabrous. Flowers greenish, 
numerous, fascicled, the fascicles scattered along the branches 
below the leaves and apparently also in the axils of fallen leaves, 
their pedicels slender, 2 to 2.5 cm long, the small protuberances 
bearing the pedicels ferruginous-pubescent. Sepals broadly 
ovate, acute or obtuse, pubescent, about 2 mm long. Sepals 
subequal, narrowly lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, up to 4.5 
cm long, 4 mm wide, glabrous, narrowed upward to the long- 
acuminate apex. Stamens many, about 1 mm long. Carpels 
narrowly ovoid, glabrous or slightly pubescent, with a single 
basal ovule; style somewhat club-shaped. Fruiting peduncles 
stout, about 2 cm long, the torus about 1 cm in diameter, bearing 
usually about 8 ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid, smooth, glabrous, 
