BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 
61 
145. Eicmus COMMUNIS Linn., Sp. PI. 1007 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii, 
689 ; Hook, f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v., 457. The Castor-oil Plant ; vernac. 
“ undel ” (BoUnson), 
Kiltan; cultivated, Hume, Fleming! Andemt; cultivated, Alcock. Kadammn; 
Fleming! Ameni; cultivated for its oil, BAbinson. Bitrapar ; growing near 
the centre of the island, Fleming! Minikoi; cultivated and a very common 
escape, Fleming! 
A native of Africa, cultivated generally in the tropics for its oil, but 
readily escaping and becoming natm-alised, its presence in the uninhabited island 
of Bitra being an excellent mstauce of the readiness with which it runs wild. It 
is noteworthy that it was not present m Bitra when Mr. Hume visited that 
island in 1875., 
UUTICACEJi:. 
146. Ficus bengalensis Linn., Hort. Chff. 471, n. 4 ; King in Hook, 
f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 499. F. indica Linn., Amoen. Acad. (ed. iii), i, 27, n. 
6; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii, 539. The Banyan. 
Ameni; planted, Hume. Kadamum ; four trees seen in the ueighbomLood 
of some deserted huts, from their arrangement in a row evidently planted, 
Fleming. Minikoi; planted, Fleming. 
Planted generally throughout India, wild on the lower slopes of the Himalayas 
and of the Deccan lulls. 
147. Ficus retusa Liim., Mantiss. 129 ; King in Hook, f., Flor. 
Brit. Ind., v, 511. F. Benjamina Willd., Sp. PI., iv, 1143 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., 
iii, 550 nec Linn. 
VAE. nitida King, Ficus, 50 ; Hook, f., Flor. Brit. Lid., v,. 511.. 
F. nitida Thunbg, Ficus 14. 
Minikoi; Fleming! 
A large tree common throughout Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and 
extending to New Caledonia. Mr. Fleming does not note if the tree be planted 
in Minikoi. It is possible that it may be, but as its figs are a favomite food 
with many of the migratory fruit-pigeons, there is no reason why it should not 
be a “ wild ” bud-introduced species. 
148. Aetocaepus mciSA Forst., PI. Escul. 23 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii, 
527 ; Hook, f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 539 ; Watt, Diet., i, 330. The Bread- 
Fruit Tree. 
Kiltan ; does not thrive well, Bolinson ; not much appreciated, Hume ; 
Alcock. Ameni; grows most luxmiantly, BoUnson, Hume. Anderut; culti¬ 
vated largely, Alcock. Akati; only one tree, in a garden, Fleming ! Minikoi; 
cultivated, Fleming ! 
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