148 
TIIALAMI FLORAE. 
racemes densely spiked simple, peduncles and pedicels 
ferrugineo-tomentose. 
Tilise affinis laurifolia, arbuti floribus albis racemosis odoratis, 
fi’uctu pentagono, Sloane , II. 20. t. 163. f. 1. ? — Malpigbia 
arborea, Browne , 230 ? — M. arborea, foliis subrotundis, Browne, 
231. — M. coriacea, Swartz, FI. Ind. Occ. 854. 
HAB. Common on the South- side of the Island. Port-Royal 
Mountains. 
FL. June — August. 
A tree, 20-30 feet in height : branches terete, glabrous, 
except towards the extremities of the branclilets, where they 
are ferrugineo-sericeo-tomentose. Leaves opposite, petiolate, 
6-8 inches long and 2i broad, lanceolato-ovate or oblongo-ovate, 
acuminate with the apex bluntisli ; the young leaves sericeo- 
tomentose (resembling in colour the under surface of those of 
the star-apple tree) : the adult leaves smooth shining above, 
partially ferrugineo-tomentose at the base of the mid-nerve on 
the undersurface: petiole terete, ferrugineo-tomentose. Racemes 
terminal, erect, simple, somewhat longer than the leaves. 
Flowers numerous, crowded, yellow, with an orange tinge, 
inodorous. Common peduncle angulose, ferrugineo-tomentose : 
pedicels ^ an inch in length, ferrugineo-tomentose, one-flowered, 
2-3 together, furnished at their insertion with small subulate 
bracteas. Calyx 5-partite : divisions ovate, obtuse, erect, each 
furnished at the base with a pair of rather large glandules. 
Petals on a long channelled claw, roundish, concave, plicato- 
corrugated. Stamens 10: anthers opening by 2 longitudinal 
slits. Ovary villous: styles 3, subulate: stigmata acute. Fruit 
size of a small cherry, yellow : nut single. 
The above description differs in several respects from those 
of former Botanists. The leaves are not acute, nor is the 
calyx 10-crenated as stated by Swartz: nor are the flowers 
white and odorous as described by Sloane. 
This is a common but a very beautiful tree, graceful in its 
port, and, when in flower, conspicuous for its profuse golden- 
coloured flowers. The fruit is very palatable, and deserving of a 
place at the dessert. It has received, I presume, the name of 
Lotus berry , from its resembling in taste, that of Ziziphus 
Lotus. 
III. Bunchosia. 
Calyx 5-partite, externally 8-10 glandulose at the 
base. Petals clawed. Stamens 10, monadelphous at 
the base. Style 1, simple or 2-8-cleft at the apex. 
Drupe with 2, rarely 8, nuts. 
Racemes axillary, loosely spiked or subpanicled. 
