DFKI-SLT/copious huggingface dataset:
April 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. THE TIMBER TREES OP CEYLON. 405 Kleinhovia hospita, Linn. — A very handsome flowering tree growing in Colombo, but not indigenous to Ceylon. Some young trees about eight to ten inches in diameter cut down, produced a light-coloured wood apparently of no great value, but in Java the old wood is said to be highly prized for handles of kreeses, &c. Pterospernum Indicum, said to produce the ornamental wood known in commerce as " kyabooka." This wood is obtained from the knotty excrescences or burrs. It is sawn off in slabs two to four feet long and two to eight inches thick. It resembles the hue of the yew, and is very hard and full of curls, the colour being reddish brown varying to orange. It is very ornamental, and much esteemed in China, India, and England, where it is used for making small boxes, writing desks, and other fancy ornamental work. The wood is brought to Singapore by Eastern traders, and is sold by weight. I do not think that a tree having this botanic name exists. It is most likely the wood of the Pterocarpus Indicus, a handsome tree introduced from the Eastern Islands, which is deservedly becoming a popular road-side tree here. (See under LEGUMINOSAE.) DlPTEROCARPEAE. Dipterocarpus Zeylanicus, Th. " Hora-gaha," S. — This is a gigantic forest tree, producing one of the most common, and perhaps most despised woods in the island ; but if harder and more durable woods become too scarce for railway purposes, wood of this tree, and of others like it of great and large growth, may well take its place if it is found that kyanizing or creosotiug must be resorted to. Some trunks of this and following species measured three to four feet in diameter by fifty to sixty feet in length. Abundant up to an elevation of 3,000 feet. D. hispidus, Th. " Boo-hora-gas," S. Saffragam. D. glandulosus, Th. " Dorana gas," S. Putlam, Saffragam, and Ambegamoa districts. A balsamic oil called " Dorona-tel," is obtained from this tree. Wood likely to resemble that of the common " Hora " noticed above. Doona Zeylanica, Th. " Doon-gas," S. Abundant and most excellent timber tree. Several varieties or species as regards the colour or value of the timber are known in Hewahette. The wood ot the Doon is now much used for shingles for covering the roofs of buildings on new coffee estates. It is sawn into junks of the required length, and they easily split up by axes made for such purposes. D. trapezifolia, Th. " Tukahalu-gas," S. — Common forest tree in Central and Southern Provinces up to an elevation of 1,500 feet. D. congestiflora, Th. " Tinneya-gas," S. — "Western and Southern Provinces. D. cordifolia, Th. Caryolobis indica, Gartner fr. " Beraliya," S. — Pipe fruits roasted or fried are eaten by Singhalese. These three species like the above may produce resin, oil, or valuable timber. Shorea oblongifolia, Th. and S. stipularis, both in the south-west of the Island, are likely to produce good timber, as do their congeners in India.
52 ACCOUNT OF A TRIP UP THE PAHANG, AND OTHER RIVERS. At one spot, among other plants, a new wild plantain was collected, with the flower bracts of a bright yellow instead of either violet or brown as in the two common Peninsular species. The entrance to the Tahan River is marked by dense jungle coming down to the water's edge, and the flora here is very different to that of the Tembeling and Pahang Rivers, though some characteristic plants of this region had found their way down the former river for some way. The greater number of novelties found during the expedition were collected in the Tahan valley, among the more interesting of which were a very fine new species of Dipterocarpus (D. pulcherrimus) a big tree with hard red timber. At the time of our visit it was covered with its pink two-winged fruits. The flowers, which like those of most Dipterocarpi are large and creamy pink with a delicious fragrancy, were also collected. The well-known "Champedak," (Artocarpus polyphemia) is truly wild in these woods. "Pulawan," (Tristania Whitiana), with corymbs of evil-smelling white flowers was another abundant tree. Oaks and nutmegs were comparatively rare. Of palms, "Ebol" Orania macrocladiis Bl.), "Langkap" ( Arenga obtusiloba Miq.), Caryota mitis Lour, and "Bayas" (Oncosperma horrida) were common, and the grand "Daun Payoh" (Teysmannia altifrons Miq.) was met with in several places. The paddle-shaped blades of the leaf of this palm were over six feet long, and form excellent roofs for huts. Of the smaller plants there were a number of Pinangas of all sizes, Licualas, and Iguanuras, two or three Zalaccas, and a number of kinds of rattans. Along the banks of the river many of the herbs and shrubs growing nearest to the water were noticed to have peculiarly long and narrow leaves; among these were a Calophyllum (new), an Ixora, an Antidesma, a small fig, ( Ficus pyrifolia), a little purple flowered Hygrophila, and a curious new genus of Asclepiads, a Podochilus and some aroids. These all grew on the rocks close to the water's edge, and must have been subjected to constant rushes of water when the river, as it often does, suddenly rises. In such a case as this, the broader leaved plants would suffer heavily, as the rush of the stream would tear their
80 A CATALOGUE OF THE FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS, &C. Gordonia excelsa, Bl. ; tall tree ; flowers large yellow. Government Hill, rare. (C. 834). Gordonia sp. ; tree 20-30 feet. Top of Government Hill. (C. 2281). Gordonia anomala, Spring, is a doubtful Penang plant stated to have been sent to Calcutta from Penang. It is a native of China. Archytaea Vahlii, Choisy ; shrub 6-10 feet; flowers pink. Batu Feringgi, not seen elsewhere. (C. 1069). DIPTEROCARPEAE. Dipterocarpus grandiflorus, Blanco; "Kayu minyak" ; a large tree which yields an useful oil. (C. 424). Dipterocarpus cornutus, Dyer; large tree 70-80 feet high. Waterfall, not common. (C. 1402). Dipterocarpus fagineus, Vesque ; '' Kruen" ; a large tall tree yields oil ; moderately common on Government Hill up to 1,000 feet. (C. 1401 ). Dipterocarpus sp. ; much resembling the preceding and scarcely distinguishable when not in fruit. Government Hill. (C. 1560). Dipterocarpus Kerrii, King ; a large tall tree closely resembling the species named after Dr. Kerr, but in the absence of flowers there is some doubt. Waterfall, not common. (C. 1653). Typical D. Kerrii was collected on Gunong Tunggal in the Dindings and the local name is " Kruen chaia." (C. 1561). Dipterocarpus Skinnerii, King ; an exceedingly rare species named in honour of the Resident Councillor of Penang. A tree about 70 feet high, bark rough, warty. West Hill 1,500 feet, only one tree seen. (C. 1403). Ancistrocladus extensus, Wall. var. pinangianus ; a large woody climber, abundant in places. (C. 774). Anisoptera Curtisii, Dyer. " Rengkon" ; large tree, pretty common on Government Hill up to 2,000 feet.(C. 428). Vatica pallida, Dyer ; small tree, branches slender, drooping. Common on the lower slopes of the hills and one of the few Dipterocarps that flowers annually. (C. 117).
A CATALOGUE OF THE FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS, &C. 8 [ Vatica Curtisii, King : medium-sized tree, fruit in young state brick red. Waterfall, not common. (C. 1579). Vatica nitens King ; middling-sized tree, not common. Telok Bahang. (C. 1404). Vatica Wallichii, Dyer, " Ressak " small tree, bark smooth grey. Abundant. (C. 1218 1161 1391). Shorea glatica, King, "Damar laut daun besar" ; large tree wood hard and durable, one of the best forms of timber that are locally known as "Damar laut." (C. 372). Shorea sericea, Dyer, "' Seraya " ; large tree, wood easily worked and used for a variety of purposes. Not common in Penang. (C. 431). Shorea Curtisii, Dyer ; " Meranti tai " ; tree 60-80 feet high, leaves silvery grey, wood soft but much used for indoor work. More or less common all over the island. (C. 427-1394-Shorea ciliata, King ; medium-sized tree, wood hard, durable. Government Hill, rare. (C. 1578). Shorea utilis, King, "Damar laut No. satu " ; large tree, wood hard and close grained. Undoubtedly the best timber in the island. Waterfall and Muka Head, too much in demand to be common. (C. 423). Shorea puaciflora, King; medium-sized tree. Government Hill. (C. 1527). Shorea parvifolia, Dyer, '' Meranti daun kechil " ; tall straight tree, bark rough deeply grooved. Abundant. (C. 201). Shorea, sp. near parvifolia but with smaller fruit and probably a distinct species. West Hill 2,000 feet. (C 437). Shorea costata. King, " Damar laut " ; large tree. Government Hill, rare. (199). Shorea bracteata, Dyer, '' Semah " tall straight tree. Waterfall, not common, (C. 1405). Shorea macroptera, Dyer, tree 50-60 feet high. Government Hill, (C. 1392). Hopea intermedia, King. " Jankang " ; medium-sized tree, not uncommon. (C. 425-1397). Hopea micrantha, Hook fil. ; medium-sized rather tall tree much like the preceding. Government Hill. (C. 266).
82 A CATALOGUE OF THE FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS, &C. Hopea Curtissii, King-; large straight tree 60-80 feet high ; immature fruit greenish yellow. Waterfall. (C. 1562). Balanocarpus pinangianus, King. "Damar itam " ; large tree. Government Hill, &c., common. (C. I, 429, 1393). Balanocarpus Curtissii, King ; small tree 15-30 feet high, bark smooth, polished. Waterfall, abundant in two places. rC. 1406). MALVACEAE. Sida carpinifolia, L. "Katombe." A shrub 1-2 feet high flowers yellow. Common. (C. 946, 1894). Sida rhombcefolia, L. Not uncommon. (C.j. Urenia lohata, L. "Pulut"; very common. (C. 3). Abutilon indicum, G. Don ; dwarf shrub. Open places near the coast. (C. 127). Hibiscus surattensis, L. climber. Not common. (C. 70). Hibiscus abelmoschus, L. ; undershrub with large yellow conspicuous flowers. Open places not common. (C. 1925). Hibiscus macropyhllus, Rox. Recorded from Penang with no collector's name in Fl. Brit. Ind. probably an error. Not collected by me. Hibiscus tiliaceus, L. ; littoral tree, 30-40 feet high. Common. (C. 274). Thespesia populnea, Corr. "Baru" ; a tree 20-30 feet. Not common. (C. 171 5). Eriodendron anfractuosum, D.C. A tall tree found in many native gardens, but not truly wild in Penang. (C.) Durio zibethinus, L. "Durian" ; cultivated, and often found in a half wild state on abandoned land. (C). Dtirio testudinarum var. penangianus, Beccari ; a tall straight tree ; flowers and fruit from the stem, generally within a few inches of the grourd. Fruit round, the size of a large orange. West Hill 2,500 feet. (C. 293). Boschia Griffithii, Mast. ; a tree 30-40 feet ; fruit bright red. Telok Bahang. (C. 381). Neesia synandra, Mast. Penang, Maingay. Not. since collected here. ....
32 THE FLOEA OF SINGAPORE. is not rare however to find certain plants of Pigeon orchid which do not flower on the regular day, but have a distinct day which they appear to keep to with equal regularity. A curious fact is that another species of Dendrobium (D. criniferum) invariably flowers in Singapore on the day preceding that of D. crwiienatuw, whenever that happens to be. It might be thought that the weather in the district in which the plant was growing was the influencing agent, but this appears to have but little effect on the orchids. On one occasion (Dec. 5, 1893) the pigeon orchids developed their flowers so far that they were obviously ready to open them on that day, but an extraordinarily heavy rain retarded them, and the flowers opened the next day, but except in cases like this the weather previous to the flowering does not seem to make any difference to the date of flowering. Some few plants have a regular annual flowering season, such are Calanthe curculugoides in September, and Grammatophyllum, July and August. A certain number of trees flower only every fifth year, notably the Dipterocarpeae, Every fifth year there appears to be an average higher temperature, and a period of greater dryness in May or June than in other years, and then and only then is it possible to obtain flowers of these trees. Such trees are most of the Dipterocarpeae, Xanthophyllum Kunstleri, Careya sp. In this case also all the plants in a given district flower simultaneously. It can easily be understood that it is very important to a plant that all should flower on the same day in order that tbey may be cross-fertilized by the insects that visit them, and this is especially the case in plants in which the flowers last but a single day, as in the case of the Pigeon orchid, but it is difficult to see how this is brought about. A good many trees seem to flower even less often than this and there are not a few which though apparently full grown healthy trees have not given flowers once in ten years. Colors oj flowers. As is well known the colors of flowers depend to a large extent on the kind of insect fertilizer for which they are destined to prove attractive. The most abundant insects in the thick jungle are the flies (Diptera) and these appear often in enormous abundance when certain trees are in bloom. The Oaks and
V Notes on Dipterocarps. 1. The Seedling of Anisoptera costata, Korth By I. H. Burkill. Pig. 1. Flower seen from below, x 2 1/4. It is proposed to clear the way for a general review of the Malayan Dipterocarps by a series of short papers, of which this is the first. It deals with the seedling of Anisoptera costata, Korthals. Anisoptera costata is a tall forest tree wild in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, where two individuals flowered freely at the commencement of April, 1916, producing with new foliage, panicles of pendent white flowers from the ends of the branches. The shape of the flower is given above (fig. 1) : the corolla does not fall. The seeds from this flowering ripened about the end of June : and when they fell, a leaf-fall occurred, followed by a more abundant production of new leaves than had been the case when the flowers appeared. The seeds germinated at once, lying on the ground. In germination the radicle is extruded, curves earthwards, and anchors itself; then the cotyledons are pulled out of the capsule by the straightening of the hypocotyl. The process is seen in progress in Figs. 2 and 5 below. Jour. Straits Branch R. A. Soc, No. 75, 1917.
NOTES ON DIPTEROCARPS. 167 Fig. 17 Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17. Abnormal seedlings of Shores macroptera. The period from flowering to seed fall in the Shoreas, all except S. bracteolata being wild in the Botanic gardens, is about ten weeks in the case of S. leprosula, S. rigida, S. macroptera and S. pauciflora) about nine weeks in the case of S. bracteolata and 8. gibbosa. S. gratissima, Dyer, which in addition to those just named also occurs wild in the Botanic gardens, flowered in 1915 in three trees, at some little distance from each other, one being in area N. (No. 1239) the second in area U (No. 1237), and the third in area V (No. 1238) ; and it did not flower along with all the other species in 1916. But apparently it has flowered on earlier occasions at the same time as other species, and probably the conditions which lead to the flowering of all are very similar. One tree of S. leprosula which had not flowered in 1916, a young tree, flowered in 1917: clearing had been done round it in 1916 and it had received some injury during the work. There was consequently in its case a change of conditions which might account for the flowering. In the case of all the species, such records as exist in the Singapore herbarium suggest that flowering occurs in the first suitable season after three years have elapsed from the last heavy seed-crop. In India S. robusta flowers in almost every year, but on the average one year in three only is a year of good seed. R. A. Sac, No, 76. 1917.
NOTES ON DIPTEROCARPS. No. 4. On the Embryo, Seedling and Position of the Flowers in various Species. By I. H. Burkill. This note deals, with the shape of the mature embryo, and with the characters of the seedling in a small number of species of the order Dipterocarpaceae : it deals also in a lesser measure with the position which the flowers assume when open. The observations were made and are recorded because it is believed that by a full knowledge of the morphology of the young plant, light will be cast upon the tangle which the genera of the order now present. In a lesser measure the position of the flower may possibly assist; and at any rate information concerning it is worth collecting. Most of the facts in this note were go£ together by visits to Penang in the months of July, October and December, 1918: such as were not, are enumerated in the footnote* below. It happened that the year, 1918, was unusually favourable to the Dipterocarps in Penang, where almost every local species flowered : and there Mr. Mohamed Haniff, of the Waterfall Gardens, observed and. collected for me between my visits. To him for very much assistance, I tender my best thanks. I tender my best thanks, also, to Dr. F. W. Foxworthy, Mr. W. E. Kinsey and other Forest Officers for supplies of fresh seed from several parts of the Peninsula, which seed was put into cultivation in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. No cultivation, however returned the equivalent of days spent in the forests when the seeds were falling and germinating under natural conditions ; for the seedling is so exacting in its demands that without experimenting on a very large scale cultivation often fails to supply adequate material. The forest is undoubtedly the place in which to study the Dipterocarps. The earlier investigators were not able to realise that fully, not even collectively, and have left much to be done. The first of the workers worked, perforce, in European institutions remote from tropical nature, with material preserved by drying and chiefly collected by others. They constructed such classifi-The following list gives the names of the plants which were not studied in Penang, but in Singapore : Shorea gratissima Dyer, S. leprosula Miq. Balanocarpus Zcilanjbus Thw., and Pachynocarpus Wallichii, King species wild or long established in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. Hopea Mengarawan, Miq., wild in Singapore, island. Dipterocarpus cornutus, and Dyer, Hopea Curtisii, King, seeds grown from Penang Dipterocarpus crinitus, Dyer, D. grandiflorus, Blanco, D. Kerrii, King and Dryobalanops aromatica, Gaertn.f., seeds grown from Negri Sembilan, Dipterocarpus Scorteohinii, King, and D. ep. seeds grown »from Selangor., Jour. Straits Branch R. A. Soc. No. 81, 1920.
NOTES OX DIPTEROCARPS. 59 As figure 49 shows, the seedling bears a pair of leaves, followed by closely approximated alternate leaves, much after the manner of Dryobalanops aromatica, only that they are distinctly alternate. In its wiriness it is also similar. The seedling develops a small amount of red pigment. Hopea mengarawan, Miq. from Singapore island, but little distinct from the last, is represented in figure 54, and a section through its embryo in figure 55. This section shows that the cotyledons are rather thin and that the outer goes far towards enveloping the inner. The name " H. mengarawan " is used as MR. Ridley has used it: MiqueL's type has not been compared. Figure 54, a fruit of Hopea mengarawan. 1/2 nat. size. Figure 55, the embryo of Hopea mengarawan in section. The reader will observe that the similarity of the Hopeas of the section Dryobalanoides to the genus Dryobalanops as seen in the mature foliage, is repeated in certain characters of. the seedling. Balanocarpus (excluding Richetia). Balanocarpus Curtisii, King, will be described next. It is a common small tree of some parts of Penang island. As in the genus Dipt ero carpus, the flowers face earthwards; but they are small, and illustrate the statement that greater size and downward direction in anthesis do not accompany each other through the order. They are claret in colour, with petals but little twisted. Figure 56. a flower of Balanocarpus Curtisii in vertical section, x 4. Figure 57, a flower seen from below, x 4. Figure 58, a young fruit in vertical section, x 4. From the nearly globose fruit a. wiry seedling arises, with a pair of leaves and with alternate leaves following them approximat-R. A. Soc, No. 81, 1920.
NOTES ON DIPTEROCARPS. 73 The next Shorea to be illustrated is Shorea sericea, Dyer. Like Shorea rigida, Brandis, from which as a species it is doubtfully distinct, it has nearly equal cotyledons, the outer only just the larger, of the same shape, as those of Shorea rigida (vide this Journal No. 76, 1917, p. 164), One case of a seedling with three nearly equal cotyledons was found in Penang. Figure 186, the fruit of Shorea sericea germinating, 1/2 nat, size ; figure 187 seedling with its ootyledons in the position that they assume, slightly reduced Figure 188, an embryo of Shorea sericea seen with the radicle away from the observer ; figure 189, the outer cotyledon seen from the outer side; and figure 190, the inner cotyledon seen from the side away from the outer cotyledon. Figures 189 and 190, 1/2 nat. size. Shorea sericea flowered in 1918 in Penang a couple of months later than the other Shoreas associated with it. The last of the seedling Shoreas to be illustrated here is S. bracteolata, Dyer. Other species illustrated above have thick cotyledons: they have been arranged into a series commencing with those having cotyledons markedly unequal, and ending with those having cotyledons equal. 8. oracteolata does not fit into the series, but like S. leprosula has flat cotyledons. Attention was called to them in this Journal No. 76, 1917, p. 164, where the cotyledons of S. leprosula were described. Unlike S. leprosula it has a large flower directed earthwards. R. A. Soc, No. 81, 1920.
NOTES OX DIPTEROCARPS. 75 Figures 202 and 203, seedlings of Shorea bracteolata in which the cotyledons had been packed twisted into the shape of an S. 204. Figure 204, inflorescence of Shorea leprosula to show the horizontal aspect of the flower, nat. size ; figure 205, a branchlet slightly enlarged. All the Shoreas kere described except S. bracteolata develop red pigment in tkeir seedlings. S. macroptera and S. Curtisii possess it also in the leaves which follow while they are quite young. Pachynocarpus. In many points the genus P achy no car pus is unlike the other Dipterocarps here under discussion, and in none more so than that the fruits appear fitted for distribution by water. They, in Pachynocarpus Wallichii, are nearly globose, and the calyx is no larger than it was in the flower. The flower is drawn in figures 204: and 205 and the fruit just germinating in figure 206. Thirty-four fruits of the species were collected in the Botanic Garden, Singapore, in November, 1918 and kept in water with the intention of ascertaining how long they would float. The first to sink had floated only five days, the second ten days, but the rest floated various periods from ten to forty-six days ; and the average of the thirty-four was twenty-two days. They germinated as they sank, the stalks of R. A. Soc. No. 81, 1920.