In sand and in creviccs of rocks, in the diy beds of streams along the base of tho
Himalaya from Delira Dhoon to Bhotan; in similar situations in the Khasi Ilills; and in
Assam and Bm-mah.
There is a little variability as to pubescence in this spocies, the loaves of some specimens
being nearly glabrous evon on tho lower surface, while others are hispid-pubescent
everywhere on both surfaces. This species approaches F. hispida, Linn. iil. It is fo\md
nowhere except in the bods of streams, and is in all likelihood a form of hispida modified
with reference to such situations. I have little doubt this is tho plant intended to be
described by Roxburgh as F. squamosa and by Hardwicke as F. iaminosa ; bnt the descriptions
of boih authors are too meagre for exact identification, and neither authentic specimens
nor drawings are now extant.
PLATE 152. —F. scemojarpa, Miq. 1, leaf-twig with young axillary receptacles ; 2, branch
bearing ripe receptacles; 3, apex of a receptacle; 4, vertical section of a receptacle—o/
mtiiral size; 5 male flower; 6, gall flower ; 7, fertile female flower (from aSikliim specimen) ;
8, fertile female flower (from a IChasia specimen) : all enlarged.
140. FiCUS OBPYEAJIIDATA, nOV. SpeC.
A small tree; the young shoots covered with deciduous brown tomentum. Leaves
petiolate, sub-coriaceous, ovate-elliptic, sometimes sub-obovate-elliptic; the apex acute, sub'
entire, minutely undulate; base rounded or slightly cordate, 7-nerved (2 of the nerves
minute); primary lateral nerves about 6 pairs, like the midrib rather prominent below; the
lower surface dark-coloured, pubescent, especially on the midi-ib and nerves; the reticulations
minute and rather distinct; upper surface shortly adpressed-hispid; length of blade
6 to 7 in.; petiole -5 to 1 in., tomentose; stipules ovate-lanceolate, pilose externally,
•7 in. long. Receptacles in small fascicles from shortened, leafless branches from the
stem, pedunculate, inversely pyramidal, about 1 in. across at the apex; the sides with
many vertical ridges, verrucose, puberulous; the umbilicus depressed ; basal bracts 3, minute.
Male and gall flowers unknown. Fertile female flowers with the perianth reduced to a
ring which sm-rounds the base of the pedicel of the ovary; achene ovoid, minutely tubercled,
viscid; the style long, sub-terminal; stigma cyclindi-ic or sub-clavate.
At Laroot, in the Province of VaioXi,—Kunstler, No. 1849. A tree, from 25 to 30 ft.
high.
PLATE 153,—-F. olpyramidata, King. 1, apex of leafy branch; 2, fascicle of mature
receptacles from the stem; 3, apes of matine receptacle; 4, base of same; 5, stipules —
all of natural size; 6, fertile female flower: enlarged.
Ficus HispiDA, Linn. fil. Sappl. 442; Bl. Bijd. 469 {cum syn. Bhcede);
Benth. II. Flong Kong, 329; Fl. Austr. vi. 176; Bcdd. M. Sylv. 224;
Brandis F. F'ora, 423; Kurs Fl. B. Burmah ii. 460; Miq. in Ann. Mm.
Lugd. Bat. iü. 282, ¿96. —F. oppositifolia, "Willd. Spec. iv. 1151; Roxb.
Corom. PL t. 124; Fl. Ind. iii. 561; Wight's Icon 638; GrifE. Ic.
PI. As. t. 563 CovelUa); Gasp. Rieh. 85; Dalz. and Gibs. FI.
Bombay 243.—seuhra, Jacq. Hort Schoenbr. iii. t. 315.-1'. mollisi,
Willd. Hort. Berol. 1798. 103. t. Ö.—F. prominens, Wall. Cat. 4637,
Miq. in Ann. Mus. Lngd, Bat. iii 291,—dcemonuvi, Koenig in Roxb
F1. Ind. ii. 562; Wight's Icon Q>il.—Cov. dccmonum, Dak. & Gibs.
FI. Bomb. 244; Wall Cat. 'i^ZS A. io'^. — Coveliia oppositifolit, dcemomm,
scMosa, Couriallensis, Wighiiuna, Assamiea, and dasycarpa, Miq. in Lond.
Jom-n. Bot. vii. 461 to 564.—Cot^. Uqnda, Miq. in Lond. Joiu-n Eot. ].c.
and Fl. Ind. Bat. i. pt. 2. 323.
A shrub or small tree; all the parts more or less hispid-pubescent; the branches
and, in Malayan specimens, the upper sm-faces of the leaves sometimes glabrescent when
old. Leaves usually opposite, petiolate, membranous, ovate, ovate-oblong or elliptic to
Rub-obovate-elliptic, opiculate or shortly and abruptly acuminate; edges dentate or entire
in old leaves; base rounded, emarginate, slightly cordate or narrowed and sub-euneate;
3- to 6-nerved; primary lateral nerves 3 to 5 paii-s; secondary nerves rather strai"-lit;
reticulations fine; the lower sm-face Irispid-pubescent, the upper hispid-scabrid; length
4 to 9 in. (in young shoots as much as 12 in.); petioles from -5 to 1-5 in. long
(in yomig shoots often 3 to 3-5 in.); densely hispid-pubescent; stipules 2 to each
leaf, ovate-lanceolate, pubescent extcraally, glabrous internally, about -5 in, long, often in
whorls of fom- on the receptacle-bearing, leafless branches. Receptacles shortly pedunculate,
tm-binate, obvoid, or sub-pyiiform, slightly umbonate, hispid, and sometimes -wit]-! bracts
.scattered along their sides; yellowish when ripe, and from -5 to 1 in. acrossumbilicus
rather lai-go; basal bracts 3, borne on peduncles -2 to -6 in. long; in pairs from
the axils of the leaves, or in fascicles from shortened tuberculate branches from the old
wood, or in pairs or fascicles on elongate, stipular, braetcate, sometimes leafy branches
issuing from tlie larger branches or stem, and often reaching to, or even penetrating,
the soil. JJale flowers rather numerous near the apex of the receptacles containing the
galls; the perianth of 3 concave hyaline pieces; stamen 1; the anther broad, filament
short. Gall flowers pedicellate, with no obvious perianth; the ovary smooth, globular;
style short, sub-terminal; stigma dilated. Fertile female flowers like the galls as regards
perianth; the achene ovoid; the style long, lateral, hairy; the stigma cylindric tubular.
Common over the whole of India np to elevations of about 3,500 ft.; Malayan
Peninsula and Ai-cliipelago, Hongkong, Australia.
This species, being so widely distributed, presents considerable variety in form. In
the majority of plants the leaves are quite opposite : in others they are distant and scattered,
with no tendency to become opposite: in some the receptacles are axHlary, in others they
are entirely borne on the branches issuing from the stem near the root, while in others they
occupy both situations. Roxburgh says that on the sandy beaches of the Coromande!
Coast the receptacles are often h^-pogojal, and to this hj-pogo^al form he gave the specific
name da^nonum; but in no other respect does this Coromandel form present any peculiarities.
In JIalayan specimens of this species the upper s^u-face of the leaves is almost glabrous
Ihe male flowers m this, as in most species of Covellia, are few compared to the females.
ILATE 1 5 4 . — i ^ ' . L i n n . fil. 1, apex of branch of opposite-leaved form, with 2
axillary receptacles; 2, 2, 2, fig-bearing leafless branch, with whorls of stipules and immature
receptacles ; 3, vertical section of immature of natural size; 4, abortive male
llower; 5 &6, three perfect female flowers: enlarged. {Nos. 4 and 5 ar^ from ihe same
receptacle.)
PLATE 155—-P. Un^,^ apex of leaf-branch of alternate-leaved foi-m; 7,
T „ leafless branch; 8, vertical section of a receptacle containing perfect male
n gall ilowers-o/ natural sise; 9, male flower; 1 0, gall flower from the same receptacle: