158 xvii. FLAcourtiacE/E. [Flacourtia. 
and more glabrous flowers occurs at Pekan in Pahang, Tapah 
and Goping in Perak and in Penang, also in Borneo at Sarawak. 
var. domestica Ridl. Unarmed tree. Leaves smaller and 
pubescent on the branches; petioles and nerves beneath. Culti¬ 
vated and around villages. Malacca and Perak. Distrib. Borneo, 
etc. This fruits earlier than F. Cataphracta, in September. The 
fruit is eatable, but not so good as that of F. Cataphracta. 
var. erythrocarpa Ridl. Small tree quite unarmed. Leaves 
broad, ovate acuminate crenate, 6 in. long, 2 in. wide; petioles 
and branches softly pubescent. Flowers not seen. Fruit globose 
about ^ in. through, bright red, sweet; styles distant 8. In culti¬ 
vated ground in Singapore and Penang. 
A very distinct plant in its absolutely unarmed stem and bright red 
sweet fruit. It cannot be F. inermis Roxb., as that has the styles all connate 
into a star, whereas they are separate in this plant. It is probably a distinct 
species, but I have only seen one or two trees of it and no flowers. 
{2) F. Cataphracta Roxb. in Willd. Sp. PI. iv. 30; PI. Corom. 
iii. 222 ; Hook. fit. F.B.I. i. 193; King, l.c. 117. 
A spiny tree about 20 ft. tall. Stem armed with strong dense 
branched spines at the base. Branches unarmed. Leaves mem¬ 
branous, glabrous lanceolate acuminate crenulate denticulate or 
entire, dark green (red when young), 3 to 4 in. long, 1*25 in. wide. 
Flowers unisexual in small axillary tufts. Sepals green ovate, 
edges hairy. Stamens in males yellow, numerous from a yellow 
ring-shaped disc. Females as in males, but with a flask-shaped 
pistil, and a stout cylindric style with 4 recurved arms free 
only at tip. Fruit globose | in. through (rather smaller than 
in F. Rukam ) dark brown red, pulp greenish yellow enclosing 4 
or 5 flat seeds. Hob. Common in all villages. Distrib. Malay 
Islands. 
This is the true Rukam and the best eating one. When ripe it is of a 
firm texture and very astringent, but after rubbing in the hands a short 
time it becomes quite soft and sweet. The tree is usually at least unisexual. 
(3) F. sepiaria Roxb. PI. Corom. i. 48, t. 68; Hook. fit. F.B.I. 
i. 194. 
Shrub often spiny. Leaves obovate rounded crenate at apex, 
base narrowed ; nerves ascending from base, membranous, glabrous 
1 ’5 in. long, *75 in. wide; petioles slender, *5 in. long. Male flowers 
small. Sepals ovate. Stamens numerous. Female flowers in 
short racemes, 'i in. long with numerous lanceolate bracts ; pedicels 
puberulous *i in. long. Sepals lanceolate acute, ciliate. Style 
cylindric with 4 to 6 short arms. Fruit '5 in. through. Hab. 
Open country. Perlis at Kanga. Distrib. India. 
