42 CAOUTCHOUCS OR INDIA RUBBERS (Castilloa). 
Markhamiana Markham (not Collins). Recent research 
seems to show that this form cannot be specifically separated 
from G. elastica, bat at the same time it is not improbable 
that the latter occurs in several different varieties. Koschny 
describes three in Costa Rica, the white, black, and red (Ule 
bianco, negro, Colorado), recognized chiefly by the colour of 
the bark. As this is partly due to lichens, these colours are 
probably not reliable tests out of Costa Rica. The white 
form is described as the best, the others giving a poor yield 
and being easily injured by tapping. 
A considerable number of plants were distributed from the 
gardens, and the tree is now common in Ceylon, especially 
in the Matale District. In recent years some seed has been 
imported direct from, Mexico and elsewhere, and may prove 
to be different from the originally imported form. 
When young the tree grows rapidly upwards, and forms a 
number of short lateral branches, which after a time drop 
off, being detached from the trunk by a peculiar joint, whose 
surface resembles a piece of coral. The bark is rather soft 
and thick. The leaves are large and oblong. The flowers 
are borne when the tree has reached some considerable size 
(in the fifth year or later) and has begun to form permanent 
branches. They are monoecious, male and female on the 
same branch, enclosed or embedded in a top-like common 
receptacle, which is covered externally with small leaves. 
This subsequently forms a somewhat fleshy fruit, containing 
numerous small seeds about £ inch in diameter, with white 
papery seed-coats. About 800-1,000 seeds weigh a pound. 
They do not keep well, and should be sown as soon as possible. 
Cultivation. —The seeds are sown an inch deep, and about 
8 inches apart, in a well prepared nursery and lightly 
covered with a little vegetable mould. They are kept lightly 
shaded, and watered when the surface of the ground is dry. 
They germinate in about three weeks. In ten or twelve 
months the young plants are 2 feet high and ready for plant¬ 
ing out. 
