288 xxiv. sterculiace^e. [Byttnefia. 
The leaves vary very much in size, shape and length of petioles in different 
specimens; those specimens taken from ends of branches are much smaller 
in these parts than on the lower part of stem. 
(5) B. elliptica Masters, l.c. 377; King, lx. 91. 
Softly hairy climbing shrub. Leaves sub-membranous, oblong 
shortly blunt-acuminate, base blunt truncate, broad, 3-nerved; 
lateral nerves 3 pairs with numerous smaller parallel ones all 
inarching within margin, reticulations elevate conspicuous, above 
sparsely {midrib densely) hairy, edges and nerves beneath hairy, 
4'5 to 5*5 in. long, 2'5 in. wide; petioles densely hairy, 1*5 in. 
long. Cymes umbellate numerous, pubescent, 1 in. long; pedicels 
•3 in. long. Flowers -12 in. across. Bracts small, linear. Sepals 
lanceolate, hairy. Petals shorter. Hab. Malacca (Maingay); very 
rare. 
A very distinct plant with thin 3-nerved broad-based leaves. 
(6) B. elegans Ridl. Journ. Roy. As. Soc. S. Br. 57, p. 25. 
Long slender climber. Young parts pubescent. Leaves ovate- 
cordate bluntly acuminate, above glabrous, beneath hairy on the 
nerves, 4 in. long, 3 in. wide or less; petioles pubescent, 4 in. long. 
Panicles solitary or in pairs; peduncles slender, '5 to 1 in. long. 
Flowers small numerous, red and yellow in numerous small pubes¬ 
cent cymes. Bracts lanceolate pubescent. Sepals lanceolate acute, 
pubescent on both sides. Petals shorter, linear, tip 3-lobed, lateral 
lobes incurved rounded, midlobe rounded with 4 small teeth ; 
appendage linear obtuse, curved. Capsule globose, *75 in. through, 
spines -5 in. long. Hab. Climbing on bushes in islands and on 
banks of rivers. Pahang, Kwala Tembeling; Perak, Kwala Kener- 
ing and Temengo (Ridley). 
15. COMMERSONIA, Forsk. 
Trees (or shrubs). Leaves simple, oblique. Inflorescence 
cymose, terminal, axillary or leaf-opposed. Calyx 5-cleft. Petals 
5, concave at the base, with a long strap-shaped appendage at the 
tip. Fertile stamens 5, opposite the petals; anthers sub-globose, 
2-celled. Staminodes 5, opposite sepals, lanceolate. Carpels 5, 
connate opposite sepals. Styles connate; ovules 2 to 6. Capsule 
loculicidally 5-valved, densely covered with bristly hairs. Seeds 
ascending, strophiolate, albuminous. About 8 species, Malaya, 
Australia. 
(1) C. platyphylla Andr. Bot. Rep. t. 603 {note ); Masters, 
lx. i. 378; King, 'lx. 93. C. echinata Bl. Bijdr. 86; Andr. Bot. 
Rep. t. 519 { not of Forster). 
Tree about 20 ft. tall. Branchlets tomentose. Leaves mem¬ 
branous, ovate acuminate dentate-serrate, base cordate, above 
stellate hairy, beneath softly hoary tomentose, 5 to 8 in. long, 
3 to 4*5 in. wide; petioles *2 to *3 in. long. Stipules scarious 
