lu sand and ia crevices of rocks, in the diy bods of streams along the base of the
Himalaya from Debi-a Dhoon to Bhotau; in siirdlar situations in the Khasi Hills; and in
Assam and Burmah.
There is a little variability as to pubescence in this species, the leaves of some specimens
bein<^ nearly glabrous even on the lower surfaco, while others are liispid-pubescent
everywhere on both surfaces. This species approaches F. hispida, Linn. fil. It is found
nowhere except in the beds of streams, and is in all likelihood a form of hispida modified
with reference to such situations. I have little doubt this is the plant intended to be
described by Roxbm-gh as F. squamosa and by Hardwieke as F. laminosa ; but the descriptions
of both authors are too meagre for exact identification, and neither authentic specimens
nor drawings are now extant.
PLATE 153. —F. scemocarpa, Miq. 1, leaf-twig with yo'img axillary receptacles ; 2, branch
bcai-ing ripe receptacles; 3, apex of a receptacle; 4, vortical section of a receptacle—o/
mturalsizc; ámale flower; 6, gall flower; 7, fertile female flower (from a Sikhim specimen);
8, fertile female flower (from a Khasia specimen): all enlarged.
14Q. Ficus OBPTEAMINATA, 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'
entix-e, minutely undulate; base rounded or slightly cordate, 7-nerved (2 of the nerves
minute); primary lateral nerves about 6 pairs, like the midi-ib rather prominent below; the
lower surface dai'k-colom-ed, pubescent, especially on the midrib and nerves; the reticulations
minute and rather distinct; upper surface shortly adpressed-liispid; 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 'Perok,—Kunstler, No. 1849. A tree, from 25 to 30 ft.
high.
PLATE 153.—F. ohpjjramidata, King. 1, apex of leafy branch; 2, fascicle of mature
receptacles from the stem; 3, apex of mature receptacle; 4, base of same; 5, stipules —
all of nalurul size; 6, fertile female flower: enlarged.
Ficus HISPIDA, Linn, fil Suppl. 442; Bl. Bijd. 469 {cum stjn. Bheede);
Benth. Fl. Hong Kong, 329; Fl. Austr. vi. 176; Bedd. M. Sylv. 224;
Brandts F. F'ora, 423; Kurz Fl. B. Burmah ii. 460; Miq. in Ann. Mus.
Lvgd. Bat. iii. ¿96.—/". oppositifolia-, "Willd. Spec. iv. 1151; Roxb.
Corom. PI. t. 124; Fl. Ind. iii. 561; Wight's Icon 638; Griff. Ic.
PL As. t. 563 {sub Covellia)] Gasp. Rich. 85; Dab. and Gibs. Fl.
Bombay 243.—^. seahra, Jacq. Hort Schoenbr. iii. t. 315.-1'. mollis,
Willd. Hort. Berol. 1798. 103. t. 5.—P. prominens, Wall. Cat. 4537,
Miq. in Ann. JIus. Lngd, Bat. iii 291,—i?. dcemonum, Koenig in Roxb
COVELLIA.
Fl. Ind. ii. 562; Wight's Icon 641.— Cov. dmnonum, Dalz. & Gibs.
Fl. Bomb. 244; Wall Cat. k. to'S. — Covellia oppositifolia, dwmonum,
setulosa, Courtallensis, Wightima, Assamica, and dasycarpa, Miq. in Lond.
Jom-n. Bot, vii. 461 to 564.—Cov. hispida, Miq. in Lond. Journ Bot. I.e.
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 surfaces of the leaves sometimes glabrescent when
old. Leaves usually opposite, petiolate, membranous, ovate, ovate-oblong or elliptic to
sub-obovate-elliptic, apiculatc or shortly and abruptly acuminate ; edges dentate or entii-e
in old leaves; base rounded, emarginate, slightly cordate or narrowed and sub-cuneatc;
3- to 5-nei-ved; primary lateral nerves 3 to 5 paii-s; secondary nerves rather straight;
reticulations fine; the lower surface liispid-pubescent, the upper hispid-scabrid ; length
4 to 9 in. (in yoimg shoots as much as 12 in.) ; petioles from -5 to 1-5 in, long
(in young shoots often 3 to 3-5 in.); densely hispid-pubescent; stipules 2 to each
leaf, ovate-lanceolate, pubescent externally, glabrous internally, about -5 in. long, often in
whorls of four on the receptacle-bearing, leafless branches. Receptacles shortly pedunculate,
tm-binate, obvoid, or sub-pyriform, slightly nmbonate, hispid, and sometimes -with bracts
scattered along theii- sides ; yellowish when ripe, and from -5 to 1 in. across ;
umbilicus rather large; basal bracts 3, borne on peduncle.? -2 to '6 in. long; in paii-s from
the axils of the leaves, or in fascicles from shortened tuberculate branches from the old
wood, or in paij-s or fascicles on elongate, stipular, bracteate, sometimes leafy branches
issuing from the laa-ger branches or stem, and often reaching to, or even penetrating,
the soil. Male flowers rather numerous near the apex of the receptacles containing tìie
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 st^de long, lateral, haiiy ; the stigma cylindi-ic tubular.
Common over the whole of India up to elevations of about 3,500 ft.; Malayan
Penmsula and Archipelago, Hongkong, Australia.
This species, being so widely distributed, presents considerable vai-iety in form. In
the majority of plants the leaves are quite opposite : in others they are distant and scattei-ed,
•with no tendency to become opposite : in some tlie receptacles are axillary, in others they
are entirely borne on the branches issuing fiom the stem near the root, while in others they
occupy both situations. Roxburgh says that on the sandy beaches of the Coromandel
Coast the receptacles are often hypogccal, and to this hj'pogceal form he gave the specific
name dismonum ; but in no other respect does this Coromandel form present any peculiarities.
In Malayan specimens of this species the upper surface of the leaves is almost glabrous.
The male flowers in this, as in most species of Covellia, are few compared to the females.
PLATK 154.—J', hispida, Linn. fil. 1, apex of branch of opposite-leaved form, witli 2
axillary receptacles ; 2, 2, 2, fig-bearing leafless branch, with whorls of stipules and immature
receptacles; 3, vertical section of immature v(ìCQ.-^ÌQ.dQ~all of natural size ; 4, abortive male
flower ; 5 & 6, three perfect female flowers : enlarged. {Nos. 4 and 5 are from the same
receptacle.')
PLATE hispida, Linn. fil. 6, apex of Icaf-branch of alternate-lcavcd foi-m ; 1,
stem with fig-beaxing, leafless branch ; 8, vertical section of a receptacle containing perfect male
and gall flows—o/ natural size ; ^, male flower; 1 0, gall flower from the same receptacle :