[ 87 ]
THE FLOWERING SHRUBS AND TREES
OF HONG KONG.
PART II.
G. A. C. HERKLOTS,
The hillsides and valleys of Hong Kong and the New Territories in the months of May, June, and July are made bright with a great variety of blossoms borne by shrubs and trees belonging to many different families. Of these one might mention in particular. Apocynaceæ, Myrtaceæ, Melastomaccæ, Anonacea, Asclepiadacer, Leguminosea, Malvaccæ and Rosacea. It is impossible to deal with all these families at once so examples from the first two only of these will be described below.
APOCYNACEÆ.
*** Kap, Chuck1 T'o1 For3
This is a very large and important family in the tropics and sub- tropics where it is represented by some 180 genera including nearly 1,500 species. In temperate regions there are very few representatives, the Periwinkle, Vinca minor, being the only British species.
Trees, shrubs, woody climbers, or very rarely herbs, the sap mostly milky. Leaves opposite or whorled, rarely alternate, simple, entire, without stipules. Fowers usually in axillary or terminal cymes or panicles.
Flowers bisexual, regular. Generally sepals 5 rarely 4, free or slightly united at the base, imbricate in the bud. Corolla with 5, rarely 4, lobes contorted in the bud and usually oblique. Stamens as many as lobes of corolla, alternate with them, inserted in the tube and seldom protruding from it. Ovary superior, 2 celled, or rarely 1 celled with 2 parietal placentas, or the 2 carpels are distinct but united at the top by a single style usually thickened or expanded in a ring under the stigma. Ovules usually several in each carpel. Fruit a berry, drupe, or more frequently consisting of 2 follicles opening inwardly. Seeds with endosperm, often winged or ap- pendaged with long silky hairs.-Largely after Bentham (1), p. 216. DISTRIBUTION.—Tropics almost entirely.
HONG KONG GENERA.-13 genera (including 17 species) occur of which the most familiar are:--Melodinus, Rauwolfia, Cerbera, Vinca, Nerium, and Strophanthus.
INTRODUCED GENERA. A number of ornamental flowering shrubs have been introduced into the Colony chicfly from the New World. These include Allamanda species, Vinca rosea, Nerium oleander (the Oleander), Plumiera acutifolia, (the Temple tree or Frangipani), and Beaumontia grandiflora, An attempt is being made to grow species of Tabernæmontana (the Moon- beam), and Voacanga, introduced from the Philippine Islands. ECONOMIC USES.- -The milky white latex of many species can be coagulated to form rubber, this renders them of value commercially. This milky white
May 1932,
103