452 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1897. 
Order URTICACEA. 
FICUS, Linn. 
F. esmeralda, Bail. (n. sp.) Described by collector as a very attractive 
shrub, with orange-yellow fruit. Branchlets very slightly scabrous, sulcate. 
Leaves nearly or quite glabrous, alternate, oblong or some of the smaller ones 
lanceolate, 1} to 3% in. long, 1 to 14 in. broad, base oblique, rounded or cuneate, 
the apex more or less abruptly terminating in a short or rather long pvint, 
margins entire; primary lateral nerves nearly horizontal, about 9 on either 
side of midrib, the basal pair like the others, all looping near the margin, the 
transverse reticulation often joining and forming an intermediate pseudo nerve. 
Petioles very short, seldom exceeding 2 lines, and rather broad. Stipules 
narrow-acuminate, 5 or 6 lines long, seems to be somewhat tinged with red and 
slightly hairy near the base. Receptacles solitary or in pairs, axillary 
and lateral on peduncles of }-line, globose, about 3 lines diameter, on a stipes 
a little longer than the peduncle, marked in the lower half by 6 ribs; basal 
bracts 2, broad and dark-coloured, inner bracts and perianth-segments from 
ovate to lanceolate, with ciliate margins. Could find no male florets in the 
receptacles examined. Ovary oblong, style erect, clavate, or cuneate. 
Hab. : Mourilyan Harbour, W. Mugford, near Esmeralda Plantation. 
F. mourilyanensis, Bail. (n. sp.) Described by collector as a large 
tree, bearing its fruit in clusters on the principal stems. Branchlets slender, 
angular, sulcate-striate between the angles. Leaves alternate, 4 or 5 in. long, 
membranous on short slender petiole of about 14 lines, lanceolate with long 
points, lateral nerves distant and irregular, the basal pair parallel with and near 
to the margin, joining with the others and forming the looped intermarginal 
nerve; the transverse reticulation very open, the whole underside of leaf 
shown with the aid of a lens to be closely marked with dark dots. Stipules 
lanceolate, about 2 lines, sharply keeled. _ Receptacles on slender peduncles, 
about 9 lines long, each with from 1 to 8 loose distant bracts, in clusters on the 
old wood, starting from a mass of imbricated dark bracts, globose, about 6 lines 
diameter, umbonate, bracts of orifice purple. Florets male, near the orifice, 
segments 6, hyaline, purplish. Stamen 1. Anther large, lunate, 2-celled, some- 
what resembling a grain of wheat. Florets female, segments purplish, as in 
the male but rather larger, enclosing ovary and style. Style shorter than the 
ovary, glabrous, stigma, some oblique, others peltate, concave, and slightly 
hairy. 
Hab. : Mourilyan Harbour, near Esmeralda Plantation, W. Mugford. This species is 
robably nearest to F. fasciculata amongst the Australian species. 
Order AROIDEA. 
RHAPHIDOPHORA, Hassk. 
A few differential characters of the two Australian species— 
Spatha very deciduous, 3 to nearly 4 in. long. Ovary 
conical on the top, stigma linear. Seeds numerous. 1. 2. australasica, 
Spatha not deciduous, 8 or 9 in. long. Ovary flat- 
topped. Stigma linear, sunk in the ovary. ... 2. &. Lovelle. 
R. australasica, Bail. (n. sp.) Stems climbing often to a considerable 
height, angular, not often bearing the fibrous remains of the old leaf-sheaths, 
usually quite naked, cane-like, emitting roots from the underside; internodes 
short, seldom exceeding 1 in. diameter. Leaves near the inflorescence entire, 
10 to 15 in. long, 8 to 5$ in. broad in the centre, Janceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 
costa prominent, lateral nerves numerous. Petiole more or less winged, 7 to 9 in, 
