972. T urpinia nepalensis (Wall.:) leaflets 3-5,
oblong lanceolate, acuminated, coriaceous : branches
of the panicle opposite : styles almost quite distinct:
ovules 3, or occasionally 2, in each cell: berry
(immature) scarcely fleshy, marked on the outside
above the middle with 3 small distant points (the reams
of the styles), about 3-seeded : seeds pendulous :
radicle superior.— W. and A. Prod .p. 156.
A very common tree on the Hills, and to be found,
more or less perfectly in flower at all seasons, b,ut in
greatest perfection in May and June. It seldom
attains a considerable height; but its branches when
it has room to spread, extend on-,all sides forming
a fine head.
973. E uonymus crenulatus (Wall.:) leaves elliptical,
obtuse, short petioled, crenulate-serrated towards
the apex, coriaceous, convex and bullate above : peduncles
solitary, shorter than the leaves, once or
twice dichotomous, few-flowered : petals 5 (or occasionally
6) orbicular : stamens very sh o rt; anthers
opening transversely: margin of the torus free :
style very short i stigma blunt, somewhat umbilica-
ted : capsules turbinate, 5-ceUed, lobed at the apex .
seed solitary in each cell; hilura truncate, without an
arillus.—IF. and A. Prod. p. 161.
This plant often attains the size of a considerable
tree ; but more commonly it occurs as a large and often
very handsome shrub, on account of its numerous
ascending branches covered with abundance of bright
shining foliage. The flowers, as seen on the growing
plaut, are but little conspicuous being small and hid
by the profusion of leaves. They are of a dull purple
colour, and not generally so numerous as on the
specimen selected for representation. In the above
character of the species, the seed are said to be without
an arillus. This is not quite correct. The
arillus is present but much smaller than usual in the
genus. One of the ovules only in each cell usually
matures, the remains of the other is shown in figures
8 and 9, sometimes, however, they both ripen.
The plant represented No. 214, under this name, I
now find, if not actually, a distinct species, is at least
a variety, departing in appearance, so widely from the
true plant, that it becomes necessary to devote a
plate to the illustration of the more usual and regular
form. The above gives a very good idea of the plaut,
but differs from the character in having entire not
crenulate leaves. This is a frequent variation occurring
even in different leaves of the same specimen.
My*first thought on comparing the twodrawingsas was
to consider them distinct species and give the older
figure a new name. On minutely comparing, however
a number of specimens, I do not find the actual
as differences so great of the drawings would lead one
to suppose, depending as they do, mainly, on the
inflorescence ; in the one the cymes are contracted,
few flowered, in the other lax and many flowered.
Had I the fruit of 214 I might be able to determine,
beyond all doubt, whether I ought to consider them
species or varieties, but not without ; I therefore in
the meantime feel that I must consider the plants
represented in these two drawings as extreme forms
of the same species. The leaves of 214, and being
serrated, while those of 973 are quite entire : the
more usual form is between the two. The greater
size of the leaves of 214 is partly the fault of the
artist. The great difference in the inflorescence is
not however so easily accounted for, but still it is only,
so far as yet, known a solitary character, fo ri do not
know the tree, except from specimens. In my present
state of ignorance therefore I call 973. JEr. crenulatus
and 214 E. crenulatus vur laxiflora.
974. see below, 978 Us,
975. Microtropis microcarpa (R. W.) an erect
shrub : leaves opposite ovate, mucronate, entire, glabrous,
shining above, glaucous beneath : petals obovate
cuniate broad at the apex, cymes axillary, dichotomous
shorter than the leaves, capsule subcylindncal,
slightly attenuated at the base, pointed: testa of the
seed of a rusty brown colour. _ i ,
Kottergherry, in dry jungles, flowering July and
August, at the same time bearing clusters of ripe seed.
The shrubs from which the specimens were taken
were 8 or 10 feet high, branches, ascending, leaves
ovate from 12 to 15 lines long, 4 to 6 broad. The
flowers had not quite opened at that time and the
open flower, figure 2 was opened artificially. No. 1
shows the unopened corolla after the removal of the
calyx.
976. Microtropis ovalifolia (R. W.) a large
somewhat diffusely ramous shrub : leaves oval, rounded
at both ends : cymes axillary, trichotomous shorter
than the leaves : petals orbicular, fruit oblong oval,
obtuse: testa of the seed crimson.
Ootacamund, frequent in moist woods, flowering in
February and March, but may generally be found m
flower at other seasons.
In their outline the leaves are very constant,
but are often much larger than those represented,
being sometimes nearly 2j inches long by broa .
These two are yerj nearly allied species but, I think,
quite distinct.
977. Microtropis ramiflorA (R. W ) a moderate
sized tree: leaves subsessile, slightly cordate at the
base obovate obtuse or slightly emarginate, reflexed,
very coriaceous: flower subsessile, aggregated in
dense clusters along the naked branches: petals somewhat
obovate : fruit oblong obtuse : testa of a redish
orange colour. . . , , .
Ootacamund in thick jungles. This is the largest
species I have yet met with, being quite arborious.
The leaves are from two to three inches long by about
2 broad, exceedingly hard and coriaceous. When in
full flower, all the younger branches are as densely
covered with flowers as in the specimen figured.
There are three or four other species found on the
hills, two referrible to the ramiflorous division, and
another, or perhaps, two, to the cymose.
978. R hamNus hirSctA. (W. & A.:) young bran-
ches pubescent, spinescent; older ones glabrous with
a white cuticle : leavesjopposite or alternate, ovate, or
oblong lanceolate, with a short sudden acumination,
serrulated, membranaceous, nearly glabrous above
beneath hairy, particularly on the nerves and veins;
pedicels from the base of the young' shoots, 3-b together,
pubescent, as long as the petiole : calyx 4-
cleft: petals obovate, obtuse, entire, fl.it: ovary
2-3 celled : styles 2-3, connected to the middle, then
diverging ; the upper part jointed with and deciduous
from the persistent lower half: fruit 2-cell ed :
seeds plano-convex, with a deep furrow at the base
on the outer convex side.— W. and A . Prod. p. 165.
A considerable shrub rather extensively distributed
on the Hills, but not so common on the higher ranges
as lower down. The specimen delineated supplies a
somewhat flattering likeness as it usually presents a
rather scraggy.appearance. It is to be met with in a
flower at almost all seasons, but is not so free as the
other in bearing fruit.