XC. EUPIJORBIACEJE 453 
nerves many, radiating and projecting in a long, marginal fringe. 
Capsule glabrous. 
Valleys below Simla, Subathoo ; July-October. — Throughout India, ascend- 
ing to 6000 ft. — Arabia, Africa. 
11. MALLOTUS. From the Greek mallotos, woolly ; referring 
to the tomentose leaves and branches of mam^ species. — Tropical 
regions of the Old World. 
Mallotus philippinensis, Muell. Arg . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 442. A small 
tree ; young branches and inflorescence rusty-pubescent. Leaves 
alternate, long-stalked, variable in form, usually ovate or ovate- 
lanceolate, 3-6 in., entire or sinuate, upper surface glabrous, lower 
rusty- tomentose, minutely scarlet-dotted. Flowers small, in 
panicled racemes or spikes, the male and female on different trees. 
Male flowers yellow, shortly stalked, usually 3 together, in slender, 
drooping racemes 3-6 in. long : sepals 3-4, reflexed ; stamens 
numerous, filaments free. Female flowers sessile, solitary, in stiff, 
nearly erect spikes 2-3 in. long : sepals usually 2, half -enclosing 
the scarlet, 3-celled ovary ; styles 3, free, J in. long, green, spread- 
ing. Capsule globose, J in. diam., 3-lobed, covered with a bright 
red powder ; seeds 3, black, smooth. 
Sutlej and Giri valleys ; October-January. — Throughout India, ascending 
to 4500 ft. — China, Australia. 
The powder on the ripe fruit is collected in some parts of India for export ; 
it is used for dyeing silk and in medicine. 
12. SAPIUM. From the Latin sapo, soap, referring to the 
milky juice, containing caoutchouc, in which the trees of this 
genus abound. — Tropical regions. 
Sapium insigne, Benth. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 471. A glabrous shrub 
or small tree ; branches thick, soft, leafy towards the end. Leaves 
alternate, bright green, toothed, ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 6-12 
in. ; stalks 1-2 in. bearing two large glands near the top. Flowers 
appearing before the leaves, small, yellow-green, on thick, erect, 
terminal, solitary spikes 3-10 in. long, male and female on the 
same plant but on different spikes. Male flowers in circular 
clusters J in. diam., central ones soon falling off and leaving their 
short stalks, outer ones sessile : calyx membranous, deeply 
2 -lipped, segments concave, rounded ; stamens 2, filaments very 
short, free, anthers scarlet. Female flowers solitary, shortly stalked : 
spike much thickened in fruit ; sepals 2-3, ovate, long-pointed ; 
ovary globose, 3-celled ; styles 3, free, short, recurved. Capsule 
J in. long, obscurely 3-lobed, fleshy when young : seeds 3. 
Valleys below Simla ; Januarv-March. — Subtropical Himalaya, up to 6000 
ft. — Burmah. 
In the hot valleys of the outer hills this species is a tree 50 ft. high with a 
trunk 3 ft. in girth. Near Simla it rarely exceeds 10 or 12 ft., and is often 
killed by the frost. 
