96 
NOTE ON TFE EAST HIMALAYAN 
other fore&t trees and at a distance might be taken for a tree such as a 
Styrax, for instance. There is no mistaking A. begonia folium. 
Two distinct types of growth with differentiated leaves occur in the 
lower but not in the upper species. The inflorescence is a very good 
character, being short and stout, much branched and many flowered in 
the lower, and long, lax, semi-pendent and very few flowered in the 
higher plant. The base of the stamen is a noticeable character, and one 
of importance tin the genus. However in A. Alpinum, while in some 
cases the stamens lare glabrous, in other specimens dissected there is a 
distinctly hairy base, but not comparable to what obtains in the stamens 
of the other species. The fruit is (after the habit of the tree) the most 
marked point of difference? 
It must, however, be recognised that the foregoing description of 
A. begoniaf olium applies only to the East Himalayan form of that 
species where the angularity of the leaves and the peculiar f set ’ of the 
leafy lower branches are always prominent. Pronounced angularity of 
leaf occurs more rarely in the ‘ general* species — integerrima vel rarius 
apicem versus leviter lobata (Wangerin, Alang, p. 20). Thus the shape 
of the leaf, its hairiness and the paucity of flowers in the inflorescence 
are not in themselves sufficient to discriminate A . alpinum ; cf 
description of A . begoniafolium , Wangerin, 1. c. p. 20 — 21 passim. But 
the shape and size of the fruit and the almost glabrous stamens are addi- 
tional characters and the sum of these seems to us sufficient justification 
for the separation of the alpine plant as a distinct species. The 
differences are not such as can be attributed merely to the effect of 
altitude ; no intermediates between the two species were observed nor 
do their habitats in the East Himalaya overlap. The zone of cultivation 
in this region may however be a factor influencing the distribution. 
[ A diagnosis of A. alpinum is given below. Our thanks are due to 
J. S. Gamble, Esq., C.I.E., E.R.S., for the loan of his herbarium material 
of Alangium and to Major A. T. Gage, I.M.S., Director of the Botanical 
Survey, who has seen the paper through the press.] 
Alangium alpinum (Clarke pro var, sub Marlea) Smith et Cave. 
Comb. nov. et descript, ampl. 
Species affinis Alangio begoniaefolio (Itoxb.) Baill. sed arboris habitu, 
foliis minoribus, minus angulatis, inflorescentiis laxioribus longioribus 
paucifloris, staminum filamentis fere glabris, fructu majore, multum 
compresso, semine solitario, differt. 
Arbor erecta, ad 12 m. alta, decidua, ramis ascendentibus, paulo intey 
nodes angulatis. Folia petiolata ; lamina suborbieularis vel ovata vel 
oblongo-ovata, apicei acuminata, basi rotundata vol subtrunoata ve. 
