334 
ROBINSON. 
In the Philippines, it occurs as a shrub or small tree, attaining a height of 8 m, 
in mangrove swamps or along the beach. The only local names recorded are from 
Pitogo and Eagay, at both of which places it is known as Tawalis ; at the former 
place it is used for posts, these lasting ten years or more. 
Distribution : North Australia and Queensland ; not yet reported from islands 
lying between there and the Philippines. Herbarium specimens are liable to be 
confused with those of Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. 
2. MEARNSIA Merr. 
Mearnsia halconensis Merr. in Philip. Journ. Sci. 2 (1907) Bot. 284. 
Mindoro, Mount Halcon, Merrill 5792. 
A nionotypie endemic genus, those most closely allied being chiefly Australasian 
and Polynesian, but with outliers from New Guinea to Java (farther in cultiva- 
tion), and in South Africa. Its affinities seem clearly to be with Melrosideros, 
shown beside the characters mentioned in the original description by the structure 
of the embryo. From that genus, it is distinguished by its tetramerous flowers 
and two-celled ovary. 
3. XANTHOSTEMON F. Muell. 
Xanthostemon verdugon ionus Naves in Blanco FI. Filip, ed. 3 (1877?) 
pi. 300; ex F.-Vill. Noviss. App. (1880) 82. 
X.' speciosus Merr. in Bur. Govt. Lab. Publ. (Philip.) 6 (1904) 10. 
X. merrillii Pampanini in Nouv. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 12 (1905) 688. 
Culion, Halsey Harbor, Merrill 682. Tinago, Ahern 1/28. Dinagat, Fur. Bur. 
757/6, 12373 Hutchinson. Mindanao, Province of Surigao, Placer, Long 1/1/; 
Surigao, Bolster 279, Moore s. n. Leyte, Babatungon, For. Bur. 12896 Rosenbluth. 
Known most usually throughout its range as Mancono or Magcono, or as 
Palo de hierro, rarely as Kamulauan. It is probably the tree called Bungan on 
Busuanga. The wood is extremely hard, and commercially important. 
Xanthostemon speciosus was distinguished from the typical form by its wider 
and much shorter calyx-tube; in later collections the line of separation breaks 
down, For. Bur. 12373 having flowers which approach both extremes. It is not 
certain that all came from the same tree. 
The genus is most widely developed in New Caledonia, extending into northern 
Australia, reported also from Celebes: the endemic Philippine species marking 
its farthest northern and western extension. 
Endemic. 
4. TRISTAN I A E. Br. 
Tristania decorticata Merr. in Bur. Govt. Lab. Publ. (Philip.) 35 (1906) 51. 
Luzon, Province of viagayan, Caua Volcano, R. N. Clark s. n. ; Missiones Eiver, 
For. Bur. 17181/ Curran : Province of Bataan, Mount Mariveles, Whitford 1321/, 
For. Bur. 6261 Curran: Province of Eizal, Bosoboso, Bur. Sci. 2682 Ramos: 
Province of Tayabas, (Infanta), Tinuan Eiver, Whitford 787: Province of Cama- 
rines, Lagonoy, For. Bur. 1061/9, 10652 Curran; Paracale, For. Bur. 11523 Whit- 
ford. 
Borneo, Sarawak, Mount Poe (Eumput), Foxworthy 378, a shrub growing on 
the mountain top at an elevation of 1,700 m: otherwise not known except 
Philippine. 
Most frequently known under the name of Malabayabas, also in Camarines as 
Tiga, and in Cagayan as Adios and Baguitulay-bayaboj. Known to the Dyaks as 
Bindang. Used for rice pestles, and for various other purposes. 
