XCY, VERBENACEE. 
1175 
Callicarpa.] 
A few years ago I was informed by Dr. T. G. White that the Japanese living in the Johnstone 
River district used of the bark of this shrub as a substitute for the Betel-leaf, whf-n 
chewing the Areca-nut with lime. The Cingalese are said to use the bark of C. lanata also for 
the same purpose. 
Wood straw-coloured, close grained. — Bailey's Cat. Ql ll'oods, No. 297b. 
12. PREMNA, Linn. 
(From premnon , a stump of a tree, some species being dwarf.) 
Calyx truncate or sinuately toothed. Corolla-tube short, the limb of 3, 4 or 
rarely 5 short teeth or lobes, nearly equal or slightly 2-lipped. Stamens 4, 
shorter than the corolla or rarely exserted. Ovary 4-celled with 1 ovule in each 
cell laterally attached at or above the middle. Style filiform, with 2 short acute 
stigmatic lobes. Fruit a small succulent drupe, with a hard 4-celled undivided 
kernel. Seeds solitary in each cell, without albumen. — Shrubs or trees. Leaves 
opposite, undivided. Flowers small, in terminal, trichotomous panicles, or in 
opposite cymes or clusters forming a terminal spike-like thyrsus. 
A considerable genus, limited to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. 
Although some, especially among the Asiatic species, are very well marked, there are a number 
of forms including the P. integrifolia and P. serratifolia of Linnaeus which seem to pass into 
each other by numerous intermediates, and it would require a much more detailed study of 
good specimens from different localities than can now be devoted to them, to determine wheiher 
or not they can be classed into tolerably distinct races. To these would belong the first two 
of the following Australian forms here regarded as species, the next three are rather more distinct 
and apparently endemic ; the sixth, also endemic, is a much more marked one. 
Calyx very shortly and obtusely 3-!obed or obscurely 2-lipped. 
Leaves very obtuse. Corolla-tube scarcely exceeding the calyx .... 1. P. obtusifolia. 
Leaves shortly acuminate. Corolla-tube nearly twice as long as the 
calyx 2. P. integrifolia. 
Calyx with a somewhat expanded obscurely toothed margin. 
Leaves acuminate, thin, glabrous, the petiole short 3. P. limbata. 
Calyx 5-toothed, the margin not dilated. 
Leaves ovate, acuminate, on rather short petioles. “Yel” Morehcad 
River, Both. Wood used for making fire-sticks, Both, l.c 4. P. Dallaclnjana. 
Leaves broad, lanceolate. Petioles rather long. Fruit verrucose when 
dry 5 . P. Tateana. 
Leaves deltoid, much acuminate (Poplar-like), on long petioles .... 6. P. acuminata. 
1. P. obtusifolia (leaves obtuse), Ii. Br. Prod. 512 ; Bentli. FI. Austr. v. 
58. “ Ngalki ” Tully River, “ Mo-odo ” Batavia River, Roth. A 
shrub of 3 to G feet, glabrous in the typical form except a minute 
pubescence on the inflorescence and sometimes a row of hairs along the principal 
veins on the underside of the leaves. Leaves broadly ovate obovate or almost 
orbicular, usually broadly obtuse, very rarely with a short obtuse point, cordate 
or very obtuse at the base, mostly 3 to Gin. long and sometimes nearly as broad, 
the petiole varying from a J to lin. in length. Flowers white or greenish, often 
very numerous, in terminal trichotomous corymbose panicles, sometimes shorter 
than the leaves, sometimes G to 8in. diameter. Bracts very small and narrow. 
Calyx rarely above 1 line long and usually rather shorter, obscurely and 
irregularly 2-lipped, or rather very shortly and broadly 3-lobed, the upper lobe 
broader than the others and entire or obscurely 3-toothed, the two lower lobes 
entire, the whole calyx spreading open under the fruit but not otherwise enlarged. 
Corolla-tube about as long as the calyx, very hairy inside at the throat, the limb 
as long as the tube, 4-lobed, the upper inner lobe rather larger and less spreading 
than the others. Stamens inserted in the throat and nearly as long as the lobes. 
Style with very short stigmatic lobes. Drupe 2 to 2j lines diameter. — Schau. in 
DC. Prod. xi. 637 ; P. ylycycocca, F. v. M. Fragm. iii. 36. 
Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria and shores of the mainland, B. Brown, Henne, 
Hulse; Rockingham Bay, Dallachy ; Islands off the coast from Cape York to Cape Flattery, 
F. v. Mueller, IV. Hill, Henne. 
Part IV- L 
