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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. Ill, April, 1949 
tinct species, A. costata and A. vitiensis . Be- 
tween them there is a long series of closely 
intergrading polymorphic forms weakly grouped 
around vague foci. These form-groups are 
hardly definable except as overall tendencies to- 
ward either the long- tailed seeded A. vitiensis 
or the short-tailed seeded A. costata; they appear 
to be best associated with ecological-geographi- 
cal factors. Insular distribution here seems to 
have a marked influence on morphological 
modifications of the species. Except for seed 
structure, in which moderate trust may be 
placed, no single morphological character is 
dependable. Flowers of the different species or 
varieties are essentially uniform, variations be- 
ing more of an individual nature rather than 
diagnostic; vegetative features are inconstant 
and serve merely to describe typical specimens. 
For convenience, four species and two varieties 
are here recognized; there are frequent exam- 
ples of doubtful intermediates. The extreme 
polymorphy in the species of the costata-plu- 
mosa series recalls the similar phenomenon ob- 
served in the "obovata-group” of Planchonella. 
See the interesting discussion of Planchonella 
and P. sandwicensis by H. J. Lam (1942: 3, 
16). The variations in flower dimensions, length 
of corolla tube, and length and width of corolla 
lobes, and variations in degree of pubescence 
within the corolla lobes are profound and dis- 
concerting. Extensive field and statistical studies 
accompanied by vast series of specimens are 
necessary for their proper evaluation. 
25. Alstonia constricta F. MuelL, Fragm. 1: 
57. 1858. 
A. mollis Benth., FL Austral. 4: 315. 1869. 
A. constricta var. mollis F. M. Bailey, Synopsis 
Queensl. 308. 1883. 
A. constricta var. montmariensis F. M. Bailey, 
in Queensl. FI. Agr. Jour. 26: 198. t. 19, 
fig. 3. 1911. 
Petioles 2-4 cm. long; leaf blades very vari- 
able in shape, width, and pubescence, narrowly 
lanceolate to broadly elliptic, often falcate, 9— 
15 cm. long, (0.5-) 1-6 cm. broad, acuminate 
or narrowed and usually acute at apex, varying 
from velvety-villose on both sides to entirely 
glabrous, the lateral nerves 13-16 pairs, 5-7 
mm. apart, strongly arcuate and ascending. In- 
florescence velvety-villose to glabrous, flowers 
rather crowded, pedicels very short (2 mm. 
long or less); calyx lobes ciliate; corolla tube 
23-3.6 mm. long, densely papillose at throat 
inside; corolla lobes ligulate, 7-9 mm. long, 
sparsely pubescent above the bearded base with- 
in, sparsely ciliate. Follicles 6-20 cm. long; 
seeds lanceolate, 7-12 mm. long and 2-3 mm. 
broad, narrowed at both ends, hardly caudate, 
usually with a shallow sinus at one or both ends, 
the cilia short, up to about 2 mm. long, light 
brown. 
Cotypes.— "Prope montem Pluto. Thom. 
Mitchell t Eques. In pratis basalticis inter flu- 
mina Burdekin et Burnett/’ 
LECTOTYPE.— ' T. L Mitchell 261 , Queens- 
land, Mt. Pluto. 
Illustrations. — Queensl. Agr. Jour. 
(1911) 26 (4) : t. 19; also Bailey, Compr. Cat. 
Queensl. PL (1913) 323 (leafy br. and infl., 
fr.) ; loc. cit. (as var. mollis / leafy br. and infl., 
fl. analysis); loc. cit. (as var. montmariensis; 
leafy br. and infl.); Agr. Gaz. N. S. Wales 
( 1908) 19: 106 (photo of entire tree showing 
habit). 
Distribution. — Australia, frequent in 
Queensland and New South Wales. Reported 
from monsoon forests, sandy country, scrub, 
secondary growth, and roadsides; said to be 
somewhat of a pest in cultivated grounds. 
Queensland.— F. M. Bailey (Warrego; Bri), 
(type coll. var. montmariensis ; fl.; Bri, K); 
Bancroft (Eidsvold; 1910; Bri); Bick (Roma; 
Bri); Blake 14791 (Port Curtis; Bri), 15299 
( Sellheim; Bri), 15358 (Biloela; Bri); Bow- 
man (Nerkool Creek; fr.; K); Brass and White 
25 (Warrengo; A); M. S. Clemens (Charle- 
ville; Bri); Everist 796 (Maranoa; A), 2156 
(Blackall; A); Eitzalan (Natal Downs; K); 
W . D. Francis (Bingegong; Jericho; Bri); 
Grove 138 (Nanango; Bri); Helms 1243 (A); 
Jensen (Dividing Range; Bri); Keys 725 (Mt. 
Perry; Bri); Longmm (Forest Gate; K); Mac- 
Gillivray 1017 (Charleville; Bri), 2187 (Bar- 
