1891 .] 
167 
STERCULIAC^. 
10, Sterculia RUBiGiNOSA Vent., var. glabrbscens King. {8. mollis Kurz, 
not of Wallich.) 
Car Nicobar and Batti Malv. 
Melochia velutina Bedd. 
Car Nicobar. 
RUTACE^. 
Gltcosmis pentaphylla Corr. 
Car Nicobar. 
Triphasia trifoliolata DC. 
Car Nicobar. 
AMPELIDE^. 
VlTIS PBDATA Vabl. 
Batti Malv. 
15. Leea sambucina Willd. 
Car Nicobar. 
Leea grandifolia Kurz. 
Batti Malv, veiy common. 
SAPINDACE^. 
Lepidopetalum Jackianum Radik. ( Gupania JacUana Hiern.) 
Car Nicobar, flowering specimens ; Batti Malv ; fruiting specimens. 
There is now no doubt that this species is correctly referred to Lepido¬ 
petalum by Prof. Radlkofer. The flower-buds are oval, pointed ; the 4 
green, lanceolate calyx-segments alternate with 4 extremely small, white 
cordate-acute petals attached to the face of each of which is a sino-le 
large scale, connate by its margins with the edges of the corresponding 
petal and forming along with it a small, peltate-infundibuliform pouch ; 
the stamens are 8 in number with glabrous, slender, short filaments and 
oblong, pilose anthers ; the ovary is 2-celled ; the fruit, reddish-brown 
externally, is bright scarlet within, usually the seed of one of the two cells 
is abortive; the ripe seeds are black, covered with a mucilaginous substance 
and embraced, as to their lower third, in a pink, cup-shaped, thick, fleshy 
arillus. It is one of the favourite fruits with Oalceuas nioobarioa and the 
other frugivorous pigeons. Even if, with Bentham and Hooker, 
Plantar, i, 399), generic rank is not accorded to Lepidopetalum, Hiern’s 
location of the species in Gupania (Flor. Brit. Ind. i, 678) is not valid 
since, as these authors show, Lepidopetalum is more nearly related to 
Butonia, as understood by them, than to Gupania, 
227 
