THE RIGHT HONORABLE JOHN LORD ELPHINSTONE,

GOVERNOR OF THE PRESIDENCY

FORT ST. GEORGE

THIS AW? !

TO EXTEND AND IMPROVE,

BY MEANS OF COLOURED FIGURES

BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS,

THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OF INDIA,

ESPEC IALLY OF THOSE TERRITORIES

ENTRUSTED TO HIS LORDSHIP’S GOVERNMENT,

18 MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY HIS LORDSHIP'S OBLIGED AND

OBEDIENT HUMELE SERVANT.

ROBERTWIGHT.

I L L U S T R A T I O N S

I N D I A N B O T A N Y

FIGURES ILLUSTRATIVE OF EACH

OF THE

NATURAL OR DER S OF IND IAN PLANTS,

DESCRIBED in THE AUTHOR 'S

PRODROMUS FLORZE PENINSULZE INDIE ORIENTALIS

WITH OBSERVATIONS, ON THEIR BOTANICAL RELATIONS, ECONOMICAL US",

AND NI DICINAL PROPERTIES INCLUDING DE CRIPTIONS OF RECENTLY

DISCOVERED OE II PBRI ECTLY KNOWN PLANTS.

R O B E R T WI GH T, M . D & c.

NEMBER OF THE IMP. ACAD . NATURE CURIOSORUM,

SWGM " OWmm:m m M EW

VOL. I.

M A D R A S

FOR THE AUTHOR

I N COR

P R E F A C E .

I N the Preface to the Prodromus Florae Peninsula India Orientalis, will be.

found a briefhistorical sketch of the rise, progress and present s tate of Indian Botany. From that sketch

it will be perceived tha t until the publication of that volume, every work s ince the time of

L innmus , with the exception of DeCandolle’

s Systema Veg etabilium and P rodromus Systematic,

treating of Indian plants, was arranged according to the L innaean sexual or artificial system . I t

has naturally followed that nearly all thosewho had devoted their leisure to the investigation of

Indian plants have adopted that sys tem , and fi nd the s tudy of them according to their natural

affi nities often exceedingly diflicult if not actually irksome, even though the'

advantages of

the latter over the former m ethod so greatly preponderate as scarcely to adm it of any com

parison being instituted between the two. Instigated, therefore, partly by a long cherishedwishto promote the extension of Botanical pursuits by diffusing a knowledge of species, partly bythe des ire of lessening to others the diffi culties wh ich beset my own path when passing fromthe one m ethod of study to the other ; but principally in the hope of being able to show that

for the atta inment of a correct and comprehens ive knowledge of the properties and uses of

plants , whether as food, medicine, or in the arts , a much more direct and certa in m ethod is,

through an enlarged and philosophical acquaintance with their natural afi nities than by the

most laborious , but empirical, search for individual propertieswhen entered uponwithout any suchguide as the knowledge of aflinities supplies to our researches . To elucidate these affi nitiesand at the same time to furnish the Indian Botanist wi th the means of identifying species thiswork and its Companion, the Figures of Indian Plants” were undertaken, and even at theirpresent early stage the author has reason to believe with much advantage towards the aecom

plishment of this des ign .

According to the natural arrangement, allplants ,whether of a province, a kingdom , or of the

whole world, ag reeing in certain ascertained peculiarities of structure, taken not from one set of

organs only, but from every part of the plant comm encing with the root and ascending to theperfect seed, are grouped together as one order or fam ily under a name derived either from a

prom inent genus of the g roup or from some striking peculiarity of the order (Ranunculaceaefrom Ranunculus : Cruciferae from their cruciate flowers : Leg uminosae from the legum inousfruit, Such groups if correctly associated according to their affinities , that is organ icstructure and phys iolog ical peculiarities, would, it was presumed, be found to participate in the

kind and qualities of secreted products wh ich result from the Operations of organic life .

In this anticipation the philosophical investigator of nature has not been disappointed, for,so constantly does the fact agree with the theory that it is nowknown, except in rare instances,

PREFACE .

plants referable to different fam ilies v. ill not graft on each other, apparently, because the juiceselaborated in different fam ilies of plants, though growing side by side, in the sam e soil, are sodifferent in their qualities that those of the one are unfi t to nourish a branch taken from the

other :while on the other hand two plants of the sam e natural fam ily, however much the soilsinwhich they respectively growmay differ, can generally, be readily grafted on each other . From

the sam e cause, the action, nam ely, of organization on secretion,we fi nd in a great m any in

stances identical properties common to whole fam ilies of plants . A crimony predom inatesthroughout the Ranunculaceae and Crucg

’

ferae narcotism is the characteristic of Papavera

ceae and Solanaceae : Apocyneae are generally poisonous and some of the species most v irulently so : astringency is common to nearly all the arboreous M imoseae as well as to m any of the

Caesalpz’

neae, it equally predom inates in Terminaliae, and the whole of the genus Q uercus is

pre- em inently m arked by that property. The Cucurbitaceae

,Convolvula ceae and B apkar

biaceae are equally distinguished by properties the very reverse, the action of m any species ofeach of these orders being v iolently drastic. The fruit of Rosaceae and seed of Leg uminosae

on the contrary, are so universally wholesome‘ that it m ay be laid down as a general rule almost

without exceptions, that they may be safely partaken of whenever they .are m et with .

These fewexamples will suffi ce to showhowvastly the study of properties is facilitated byan acquaintance with natural affinities, and will, I trust, at the same time serve to remove an

objectionwhich I have more than once hard urged aga inst this work, that it did not suffi cientlytreat of Medical Botany. This objection could only be raised by those who did not suffi cientlyconsider that its object was to establish principles on a scientific basis, as being the true way toattain the object sought for. There is no royal road to science, and until the medical m anstudies the principles of Botany as a science, he need never expect through an inspection of

plates or specimens ofmedicalplants to become a medical Botanist. Butwith only an elementary

knowledge of Botany, such for example as a perfect knowledge of the structure of the finwer and

fruit, an acquisition not generally of very diffi cult attainment, the case is widely altered. since anyone who had advanced so far in the knowledge of the elements of the science may easily makeh imself mas ter of the characters of a fewspecies of an order, and then he can generally trace its

relations wi th nearly allied orders or even recognize some of them from fam ily likeness alone.

Having ascertained the order of the plant under exam ination the subsequent steps leading to theattainment of a comprehensive knowledge of its name, history and properties, are comparativelyeasy ; andnot ofit only but of thewhole order . It is true, that to acquire a thorough acquaintancewith an order, frequently requires the student to exam ine and carefully compare several, but every

plant so exam ined facilitates subsequent researches and lessens the diffi culty of the next step,

that namely of making out the genus . But even without going so far, having once determ inedthe order of a plant,we are in possession of a fund of information, since, but little further troubleis required to make ourselves acquaintedwith all that is yet recorded respecting that order, and toascertain whether any applications we have learned are still unknown to science. The natural

m ethod in short g ives both precision and extension to any enquiries we m ay undertake respect

ing plants,whether cons idered with reference to organic structure and its modifications , the products of organic life in connection with structure, or the applications of these products to thecomforts and conveniences of life ; and thereby to the advancement of civilization among m en.

Thedifficulties to be surmounted at the outsetofthe study are no doubtoften great, those namely,

PREFACE .

of determ ining the order of a plant when it departs from the normal structure of the order to

which it belongs ; but even then, a futile search is not unattended with advantage, as the ex

am ination puts us in possession of much useful information which willmaterially ass ist our futureresearch should we be necess itated to turn to the artificial system to find its nam e.

Shouldwe on the contrary commence our exam ination with the artificial sexual system the

first step, that ofdeterm ining the class and order of a plant is the eas iest, but that done, it oftenhappens that nothing is learned, for, should the specimen under exam ination have a stam en or

style m ore or less than the regular number , and nothing is more common among tropical plants ,

we look in vain in the class or order where according to our specimen it should be found, and

when found, still that system conveys no collateral information regarding the relations of the

plant or of the nature of the properties with which it m ay be endowed.

In drawing these comparisons it is not mywish unduly to exalt the one at the expense

of the other, for in truth they are so very different that it is imposs ible to compare them ,

they both have their advantages and disadvantages, and in the present s tate of the scienceare both necessary, I certainly think however the preponderance of good is g rea tly in favour

of the natural method. In thus g iv ing the preference to that sys tem which enables the s tuden t,

who has m ade cons iderable progress in its s tudy, to look over a large collection of plants , not

one of which he had ever seen before, and readily refer probably as many as 19 out of every

20 to its proper natural order, from fam ily likeness alone, I am far from as yet wishing to see

the other altogether exploded, s ince by it we are often enabled quickly to determ ine abnormalplants thatwe could not so eas ily have done by the other ; and in such cases, I s till occas ionallyfind the advantage of having formerly become fam iliar with the Linnte an system . Though to

this extent I approve of it, I could not recommend it for general use, as its natural tendency

is to contract our ideas by concentrating our attention too exclusively on one set of organs

and confining our enquiries to the inves tigation of the names of species only, in place of, as is

the case with the other, expanding them with the growth of our knowledge by extending our

researches, from the exam ination of species to the investigation of masses in all their bearings .While for these cogent reasons, we are in the present advanced state of the science gradually perm itting that once celebrated system to drop into oblivion , we must not forget howmuch

Botany is indebted to it for its present advancement. The extent of these obligations can only be

justly appreciated by comparing the Botan ical works ofits g reat authorwith those ofhis immedi

ate predecessors,not one of the plants described by whom can nowbe m ade outfrom their descriptions una ided by some collateral circum stance or by plates and too often, even with these aids,they are still unknown . Immediately on its introduction into practice order supplanted dis

order, arrangem ent and method succeeded and dispersed the previous confus ion and perfiexity

as light disperses the darkness . From this hour m aterials accumulated with unprecedented

rapidity and have continued to do so to such an extent, that the catalogue of known plants

which on the most liberal computation, did not at Linnmus’death exceed is nowbut little

if at all short of species . To this increase the natural m ethod owes m uch of its present

adm irable precis ion, as without such a mass of materials innumerable breaks in the chain of

affi nities must still have existed, m arr ing both its beauty and usefulness . We may thence I

think fairly conclude, that the sexual system of Botany, however defective in scientific precision and comprehensiveness of design, was yet of incalculable benefi t to the science, the im

iv PREFACE .

pulse wh ich its beauty and simplicity communicated, calling thousands of enthusiastic vo ta

ries into the field, by whose joint labours was collected the vast mass of valuable materials o f

which the more philosophical natural method was constructed, leaving altogether out of cou s i

deration,the justly adm ired nomenclature and precision of language appropria ted to the de s

cription of plants introduced by its author, the universally acknowledged father of modern

Botany, L innaeus .

Having I trust satisfactorily shown that the essential difference between the two system s

lies in the tendency of the one to contract our ideas by attaching an undue value to the know"

ledge of species, while that of the other is to elevate and expand the m ind by imparting a

knowledge of and leading to the contemplation of m asses, I believe I have said all tha t can be

required in support of my preference of the natural sys tem and of the propriety of m y firs t

determ ination to publish a fiora of this portion of India arranged according to that method .

The sam e reasoning equally establishes the propriety of my entering on the present work,explanatory of the principles of that system and showing its application to the g rouping in

m asses of the knowledge which has for ages been accumulating as detached observations, butwhich, until thus concentrated was of difiicult access and,when obta ined, only applicable to thespecies to which it orig inally appertained in place of as now, by affording so m any points of

comparison or known quantities, enabling us to deduce useful applications, of hitherto unknown

plants, s imply on the ground of their structural relationship or afiinity in the system of nature

to others, the qualities of which are well known .

That many anomalies nay pos itive contradictions occur in our present groups is undeni

able, but it is equally certain that many of these are disappearing under the mor e rig id scrutinyof structural peculiarities, which have often shown, that the mos t s triking departures from the

general rule,were attributable, not to imperfections of the rule itself, but to erroneous associations of plants , either only remotely or not at all allied, in the sam e groups .

The objects of this work m ay nowbe briefly summed up, they are fi rst to explain the principles of grouping plants according to their natural affi nities and illustrating these by figures of

species appertaining to each group: and secondly, to showby adducing a variety of examples of

the fact, that, in a great majority of instances s im ilarity of structure, or Botani cal relationship,is accompanied with s im ilarity of properties, and lastly, to prove that these prem ises lead to theinference that having ascertained by careful exam ination and comparis on its nearest Botanicalrelatives, the properties of wh ich are known, we are often enabled to infer the properties of an

imperfectly known plant. In addition to these more immediate objects I have endeavoured to

render it a supplement to our Prodromus, by a running commentary on that work, and by the

description of such newspecies as have come into m y possess ion since its publication . To ren

der the information thus embodied in these pages as eas ily access ible as possible, I have added

a very copious index including every name and noting every page where it occurs . By th ism eans any one is enabled wi th little trouble to trace a fam ily through all the relations, whetherbotan ical, econom ical or m edical, inwhich it occurs in these pages .

Howfar I have succeeded in my endeavours to accomplish these objects it is not for me to

determ ine, but I think I may safely assume that if I have failed the failure is attributable towant ofjudgment in the selection of my examples, and not to want of diligence in seeking for appropriate ones or of the application required in comm itting them to paper. My object throughout has

PREFACE .

been to present as complete s history in all their relations, of each group, as the frequentlyinterrupted and unaided labours of an isolated individual, cut off from all immediate intercoursewith the lights of the science, could do. That blunders and imperfections are numerous

,I

cannot doubt, but I trust not. more so than m ight fairly be expected in the unfavourable circum stances under which I write or than will eas ily be forg iven by those who detect them . The

diffi culty of superintending the press where the compos itors and professional readers are ignorantof the languag e, is always great : this is in a great measure the case with the present work, andbeing myself, at the outset but little practised in the duty of reader,

’

I am sorry to observe thatseveral typographical errors have escaped observation while correcting the press . Those apper

taining to the nam es ofplants have been carefully corrected in the index ,and a fewin the errata.

On the pictorial division of the work it is a source of much regret, that I cannot speak in

terms so favourable as my too sanguine anticipations at one time gave me reason to hope— all

that I can say on this subject is , that no pains have been spared by m e to bring the work nearer

to perfection than it has yet atta ined, and my exertions assuredly will not for the future be discontinued. It is however to be borne in m ind that this being the first work of the kind that

ever issued from the Madras press ; an establishm ent had to be form ed expressly for itself that.

colours of the best qualities are not to be had at any cost, and las tly, that until the arrival of a

fresh supply of paper for to the publica tion of the l lth number, our material was much deteriorated by age and even so far damaged as to render the use of superior colours almos t nugatory.

For the future this last source of failure will be avoided and I still hope, the character of the

work will rise with its progress towards its term ination and ensure it a continuation of that sup

port without which, it is imposs ible my contracted m eans . can bring it to a close, the more so,as it has already involved an outlay so much beyond its returns, that but for the liberal aid of

Government in patroniz ing it and its fellowthe ICONES, to the extent of50 copies each, both,must long ago have ceased to exist. In concluding this brief Preface it only remains for me tosay, that in the continuance of the work the same degree of care in preparing the letter-

press

will invariably be bestowed, and no exertion spared towards the improvement of the plates .

MADRAS

3oth December 1839.

I N T R O D U C T I O N.

IT is laiddown as an axiom by some em inent modern Botanists , that nature only creates speciesand knows nothing of a natural system ofBotany.

’This , it is added, is entirely a human contriv

ance, founded on a consideration of the resemblances ex isting between the parts, properties and

qualities ofplants,according towhich their affinities are determ ined, and species having the greatestegres of relationship, in all these particulars , placed next each other, in such a way, that the

qualities or intimate structure of an imperfectly known plant may be inferred from a careful

consideration of the known qualities and structure of those nearest to which its Botanical characters would place it in a sys tem constructed on these principles . Whether or not this theory bejust, I will not step to enquire, for, so long as the object is obtained, I feel quite satisfied thatthe method by which we atta in it, whether a m ere human contrivance or the work of nature

herself, is so infini tely superior in its fi tness for the supply human wants, and for furnishingmatter for philosophical enquiry, to all the artificial ones that have gone before, thatthere can be no hesitation as to the propriety of its instant adoption, whatever may be the

difficulties to be, in the first instance, surmounted in acquiring a knowledge of its principles . These in the present ins tance are not by any m eans so great as they have been represent

ed, for, as Jussieu well observes , whatever trouble is experienced in remembering or applyingthe characters of natural orders is more than compensated for in the facility ofdeterm ining generathe characters of which are simple in proportion as those of orders are diffi cult. The reverse

takes place in arbitrary arrangem ents , where the distinction of classes and sections are simpleand easy to remember while those of the genera are in preportion numerous and complicated.

On this question, therefore, as there can scarcely be two opinions, it nowonly rem a ins for me

very briefly to explain, the principles of the arrangement or distribution of the orders adoptedboth in thiswork and in our Prodromus.

The arrangem ent followed is very nearly that of Jussieu as m odified by DeCandolle andadopted in his System s

,andProdromus . A ccording to this system allplants are fi rstdistributednuder two principal classes CELLULAR andVASCULA R, the former comprehending all the plants destitute of spiral vessels and of Cotyledons

—C aLLULAa ss ; the latter, including all the floweringplants which are furnishedwith both these organs—Vase s LAa ss . The vascular plants, ofwhichonly we have as yet treated, are aga in divided into two classes c o

'r vLsnos s or Exooas ous

plants ; and Monoco'

r vLsoos s or ENDOGENOUS plants . To the former all trees and shrubs

which increase in thickness from the centre towards the circumference by a success ion of coneen

tric layers of wood belong , as well as nearly all those herbaceous annuals , the leaves of which,have reticulated or anas tomos ing vessels . To the latter the various kinds of grasses, Lilies ,Orchidiue, Palms, Plantains,&c. belong , the vessels , of the leaves, ofwhich pass either in straightlines from the base to the apex , or from the m idril to the marg in ,

and the leaves are sheathing inplace of being attached by a joint to the s tem . These distinctions are not without exceptions,but the exceptions are so fewas searcely in practice, to affect:the value of the rule. These primarydivisions though thus based on the most obscure and difficult portions of vegetation to investigate, the m inute s tructure of the seed and organization of the stem , are in fact the easiest, generally speaking , of determ ina tion The s imple circumstance of a plant hav ing a flower provingthat it has Spiral vessels , while the practis ed eye of a Botanist ca n

, almost invariably tell, at a

glance by merely inspecting the distribution of the vessels of leaves and structure of the stem

v iii INTRODUCTION .

whether the seed is mono: or dicotyledonous . Hav ing by this summ ary process decided towhichdiv is ion of the system a plant belongs we proceed with our investigation . Let us suppose the

plant is dicotyledonous and that we still followDeCandolle as our guide.

He divides D icotyledonous or Exog enous plants into 4 sub- classes the characters of whichare taken from the fructification . These four are respectively nam ed Thalamiflorw,

Ca licifloraeCorolliflorae and Monochlamydeae.

I . Thalamiflorae are dis tinguished by havin'

g several dis tinctpetals and stamens inserted on

theThalamus or receptacle of theflower, and not cohering with the calyx .—(flowers hypogynous .)

The petals and stam ens do however occasionally cohere as for exam ple in Ma lvaceae so as

in som e degree to resemble those of the third class Oorollgfflorae, from which however in all suchcases their numerous nearly distinct, carpels distinguish them .

I I . Calycg'

florae have also several petals , either distinct or united to each other, but inserted

along with the s tam ens on the calyx , usually through the medium Of a disk lining its tube or

concave portion .— (flowers pyrigynous or epigynous) .

I II . Corollifi orae have the petals united into one bearing the stamens and inserted on thethalamus, or receptacle (hypogynous) .

IV. Monochlamydeae have either no corolla or the petals if present are united to the

calyx form ing together a s ingle, not double, perigonium or vertical of flower leaves round the

pistil.

Before going further i t may be proper to observe, that th is is a m ere artificial class ificationintended simply to facilitate the arrangem ent of the orders in a linear series , and to aid in ena

bling us to determ ine to what part Of that series we ought to turn to fi nd the order of any plantunder inves tigation . While it pretty well fulfills these objects, it must be acknowledged, that,like all such artificial com binations it is liable on the one hand to produce unnatural associations ,and on the other to separate orders most nearly allied, besides presenting examples Of Mono

chlamydeous and dichlamedyous genera in the same order . These objections, however, applyto the arrangement, only, of the orders , not to the orders them selves , which may, though in

dividually perfectly natural, be most unnaturally placed in rela tion to each other, a defect, to

which all system s yet proposed is more or less liable, andwe may almost assum e , ever will be,when we take into consideration that fam ilies Of plants like prov inces of a kingdom , touch eachother, not by one point only but on all s ides and that we m ight as well expect to arrange the latter in a correct, linear series as the equally irregularly form ed and closely surrounded provinces,that is the natural orders, of the vegetable kingdom . All therefore that can be looked for is wellcons tructed and correctly defined orders or prov inces , the boundaries of which should be as

clearly m arked out as the nature Of the subjects will perm it. The after’

arrangem ent ofthese, in

such a manner as to facilitate reference, or to followout the sim ile Of kingdoms and provinces,to teach under what latitude and long itude we must look first for the prov ince (the natural order)and then for the town (the genus) to which the subject of our enquiry (the species ) belongs .

Various plans have been tried for the a ttainm ent of this des ideratum ,but no one seems yet to

have obta ined such general favour as the one the ground work of which I have sketched, even

though liable to such striking defects as those I have indicated. But to proceed.

I . THA I.AM 1FLOR1E .—Thl8 sub- class includes all the plants orig inably referred by Jussieu to

his 13 th class (Polypetalae hypogene) those nam ely with hypog ynous or infe rior flowers, and

several petals or which has m ore recently rece ived the name of Hypopetalze : that is petalsinferior to the pistil or ovary. This is a large class , presenting many anomalies, but upon thewhole

, generally of sufficiently easy application in practice .

I I. C a r c in om a—This sub - class is more difficult, and often not eas ily distinguishedfrom either the preceding or the succeeding one. I t is divided into six sections .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

INTRODUCTION .

3 . Epistamz'

neae here the ovarium is inferior cohering with the tube of the calyx , stamens,inserted on the limb, or superior. Santalum album , (Sandal-wood) and Aristolochia (Birthwort or snake- root) are well known examples of this section .

4 . D i'

clines Flowers unisexual orwithout a perianth . To this tribe are referred Euplzor

biaceae, Urtz'

aceae, Piperaceae, bes ides the Oak, Alder, Birth,Willow, Pine,Walnut, &c. Judg ingfrom the dissim ilarity of the plants associated under this name, bearing in m ind at the same

time that several other orders in which declinous flowers predom inate are scattered through the

system ,it is to be hoped future researches will tend to break up this class and by the removal

of some of the orders establish a more natural distribution of the remainder som e of those

nowplaced here seemto have been referred to it, as to a lumber room , from not knowing whereto dispose of them to greater advantage.

For the remaining portion of the system Monocotyledons and Acotyledons . I shall referfor the present to the subjoined tables , the first exhibiting a Clovis of the system ofJussieu

, thenext, that system has modified by DeCandolle and adopted in our Prodromus .

I .—COTYLEDONS none. A . DICOTYLEDONES s bw—Exoem s ,DC .

Class I . Acolyledanes.

II .—MONOCOTYLEDONES.

2. Monohypogync , stamens hypogynous

3 . Monopengym , stamens perigynous.

4 . M onocpigym , stamens epigynous.

III .—DICOTYLEDONES.

1. As su me .

5. Epistamz'

nea , stamens epigynous. IV . MONOCHLAMYDEE , DC .

6. Peristamz'

nee , stamens perigynous.

7 . Hypostamz'

nea , stamens hypogynous. C1, 8. Hypostaminea , Jug s,st 2. Monops

'r am z. 9 . Peri stamineae, Jase.

go

gypocwzulf i cor

pll

ia hypogynous. 10. Epistaminere, Jase.

erz'

coro er, coro pengynous . l. A'

o m m.

10. Eglicorolla

efinzarithem , corolla epigynous, eu

11. Drchnes, Jase. $ 2, Gmgepem a .

t ers unit

l l. Epicorollc combauthera , corolla epigynous, eu B . MONOCOTYLEDONES, Juss.—Ennoo snx Pa a

thers free.

s eaoaan a , D C’.

3 . P ar e5 o mCl. 12. Monoepigynee , Jam .

12. Epz'

petale ,stamens epigynous. 13 . Mono ngyun , Jus t .

13 . Pm pctala , stamens perigynous. 14 . Mono ypogynm, Juss

14. H tale tum hM i“3“WM“0 . ACOTYLEDONES, Jase.

51. Ductulosae, Am —Endogene C togamze, DC .

15. Diclines,flowers unisexual, orwithout aperianth. 52. Eductulosae, Ana— Cellulares, C .

s Drea m s .

Of this system I have only further to observe that the three primary divisions Acetyle

dons , Monocotyledons , and Dicotyledons are strictly natural and must always be reta ined inevery Botanical system profess ing to arrange plants according to the ir affin ities . So m uch can

not be said for the classes : they rest with one exception on a s ing le point of s tructure not in

itself invariable, in the respective classes ; the insertion namely, of the stamens and peta ls ,whether hypogynous or perig ynous , points not always de term inable wi thout the aid of analogy .

The secondary div isions according to which the classes are grouped under four sections are still

more artificial and more liable to vary, and thence so much the less to be depended upon . Thoug h

to this extent artificial, this method of arrang ing the almost innumerable forms met with in the

1. THALMIFLORE , DC .—Cl. 1. Hypopetalm, Jim .

11 . CALYCIFLORJE, DC’.

Cl. 2. Peripetalm, Jase.

3 . Epipetale , Jase.

4. Epicorollm corisantherm5. Epicorolle synantherae, Jase.6. Pericorollts , Jase.

III . COROLLIFLORJE,DC .—Cl. 7 . Hypocorollae, Just .

INTRODUCTION . xi

vegetable kingdom is , beyond comparison, superior to all that went before it and though theclasses, in which the orders are grouped, be somewhat arbitrary, they are yet so conven ient

, and

generally so eas ily distinguishable in practice, as to leave little room to doubt that the arrange

m ent as a whole, owes much of its celebrity and its recent almost universal adoption , to that veryblem ish . Various attempts have however been m ade to remove that imperfection from thisjustly adm ired system , but, so far as I am able to judge, all only serve to show, that had Jussieuadopted any such arrangement, in place of his own , in the firs t instance, there is much reason to

believe the sexual system, with all its imperfections, would still have reigned paramount inBotany .

Jussieu orig inally prefixed no names to his classes , and the want of this was muchobjected to. Those which we have g iven have been lately proposed by Antoine L . de Jussieuin the D ictionna ire des Sciences Naturelles and, although not en tirely in unison with the

principles of the G reek language, m ay be adopted as extrem ely useful, each being so framed as

to suggest the structure of the class . Thus the commencement Mono, indicates the Monoco

t ledones . Epistamineae,&c. hav ing in no part any allus ion to a corolla , sugg ests its absence.

ypocorollae, and the others , allude to the c'

orolla being of one piece, and not of distinct petals,which las t is pointed out by names, Epipeta lae, &c. The other parts of the names

, epi (upon) ,peri (a round) , and hypo (under) , need no further explanation .While engaged in the study of plants alone, it is obv iously of little consequence whetherwe beg in, as Jassieu did, by the Acotyledones , or by the Dicotyledones but ifwe viewbotanyas a science that treats of only one of the g reat kingdom s of nature, and wish to introduce itinto a Systema Na turae,we m ust bring those portions of each most closely together which are

most nearly linked. So that ifwe commence by Z oology,we must first describe the Mammalia,

and end by those of a s imple structure , and then take up the most allied of the Acotyledones,and followthe steps of Jussieu . But ifwe describe vegetables in the fi rst place,we must beg inwith the Dicotyledones, and finish with the Acotyledones . When, however, a System veg etabiliam is contemplated without reference to animals , it m ay perhaps smooth the way to the student if it commence by those more obvious, and, though of more complex form ation, yet mores imple to be comprehended. On this account DeCandolle has reversed the arrangement ofJass ian.

”

(Article Botany Encyl. Brit. 7th Ed. by Dr. Arnott.)

I L L U S T R A T I O N S

I N D I A N B O T A N Y .

RANUNCULACEZE.

The species of this Order are nearly all extra - tropical. In India, a fewonly have as yetbeen found on the plains, but there are a cons iderable number natives of the higher hills.

The members of this fam ily are for the most part readily distinguished by their habit, andby the analog of their or nization . The calyx cons ists of several distinct, deciduous sepals,often colour or petaloid?and in the absence of petals perform ing the functions of bothorgans ; in number, varying from 3 to 15, the estivation , generally, imbricating , but some

times valvular, or with the edges folded in, as in Clematis . Corolla ; sometimes wanting , as in most of the species of Clematis and Thalictrum , or composed of from 5 to 15

distinct petals . Stamens ; usually numerous, anthers adnate, opening outwardly, insertedwiththe petals belowthe pistils . Pistils ; usually united in form of a head in the centre of the

flower ; ovaries , each, one celled, with a s ingle ovule, (aechnia) or many seeded and capsular,as in Aconite and some others : style always lateral, sometimes very long and plumose. Seeds

album inous , when solitary, either erect, or pendulous from the apex of the cell. Embryom inute, enclosed in a horny albumen . Plants , usually, herbaceous , with exsti-pulate leaves,sheathing at the base, generally, much divided ; more rarely, scandent shrubs : the hairs, whenpresent, s imple.

Though generally an eas ily recognised order, the Ranunculacea:have stron affinities withsome other orders, which however, differ widely amon themselves . I do not t ink it neces

sary to indicate here their more remote and less stri'

ng aflinities , butwill briefly mentiona fewof their nearest allies .With Dilleniacete and Ma noliacem, they associate in the pos ition, number and structure

of their parts offructification ut from the former, they are as ers ted by thewant of an aril to

the seed, their deciduous cal x, and generally, by their very different habit. This last distinction is however weakene through the twining habit of Tetracera and Delema associat

ing them with the fruticose and scandent genera Clematis and Naravelia, while the herbeceous habit and sheathing leaves of Acrotrema, associate it with the more common herbaceousforms . From Magnoliacem they are readily distinguished by the absence of stipules , difference of sensible qualities, and habit. With Rosaceae, though differing toto ctelo in their sen

2 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

s ible qualities, the Ranunculacezn have many structural aflinities ; their numerous carpels , the

number of their floral .divisions, indefinite stam ens , and the analogous habit observed in manyspecies of both orders, all indicate this relationship; but, they are at once distinguished by the

petals and s tamens in Rosaceae, being inserted on the calyx , or perigynous, while in Ranunculaceaa, they are both inserted under the ovaries

, or, hypogynous .

Many other analog ies m ight be indicated, but enough'

has been sa id to show the absolutenecess ity of a ttending to every point of s tructure in determ ining the order of any plant

'

under

exam ination, for, the order once ascertained, it is in general a comparatively easy task to make

out the genus : one, and not the least of the advantages which the natural method possesses

over the artificial,or sexual, system as in it, a glance often serves to ascertain the class and

order Of a plant, but leaves the difficulty Of determ ining the genus little of all dim in ished,

while in all cases of departure from the regular form , such as the addition or suppress ion of a

stam’

en or pis til, not a very rare occurrence, the Botanist unacquainted with the laws whichg ive rise to, and regulate these m etam orphoses, has no guide to direct him , where else in the

,

system , to look for the plant under investigation . With the view therefore of facilitating thedeterm ination of orders, I shall usually append a summary of the essential characters of eachprom ising , however that these summ aries must be rece ived with cons iderable latitude, as itis often impossible to compress within a fewwords even the leading characters only : but theym ay serve as helps, by directing attention to those points of structure which are considered es,

sential to the order.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER; Flowers polypetaloris,polyandrous, ovaries wholly superior :leaveswithout stipules : see

‘

ds without an aril, with copious fleshy albumen . A few have definitestamens, and Clematis, Thalictrum , and some others, arewithout petals ; but agree in allother respects with the characters indicated.

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUTION. A s already stated, this cons idering its'

great extent,in a remarkable degree an extra - tropical order. A fewonly are found in

'

India with in the25° of North Latitude , and the e,with the exception of

'

8 or 9 species , are confined'

to thetemperate climate of the higher hills, thus afl

‘

ording a striking instance of analogoustion and habit, pervading nearly thewhole of an extensive family of plants, andan instructiveexample of the effect of these in determining the geographical distribution of its Species,showing in another and very favourable point of view, the advantagewe derive from studyingplants according to this method, since, by enabling us to generalize our isolated observations onthe structure, habits, and peculiarities of individual plants , it suggests their extens ion to wholefam ilies, and teaches us howwe may by studying carefully the peculiarities of a s ingle species,learn by analogy those of a whole order, a sort of alebriacal method, if I, may

‘

ao express~my.

self, of studying n

vegetable phys iology, wh ich has within the last fewyears led to many most

importantdiscoveries in that science . T0 showthat this is no hypothetical statement it is onlynecessary to adduce the fact, that the generally received divis ion of the vegetable kingdominto three great classes, Acotyledons, Monocotyledons , and Dicotyledons, has become so sim

plified in its application to practice, that it is no longer necessary in determin ing to what classplant belong s to undertake the often difi cult and delicate operation of dissecting the seed,s ince its structure is generally indicatedby such palpable differences in the formation of the

stem and leaves as render the most cursory inspection of those parts suffi cient to determ inethe class towhich theplantbelongs . It would certainly be going too far out of my way to enter

upon the exam ination ofthese distinctions here, suflice therefore to state, that such is the case,

and that a reference to an of the recently published In troductions toBotany, or'

to the concluding pages of the preface O my Prodromus,

‘ will furnish an exposition of, the Observations on

which the principles are based. But to return from this digress ion . Twelve out of'

fifteen speciesknown to me as indigenous in this pen insula, are only found on the higher hills, the remainingthree,which are all twining shrubs; aremetwith on both hills and plains, but more frequently on

the former than the latter. One ofthem ,C limatis Gourrana,which I frequen tlymetwith in My

sore, appears adm irably suited, from the profusion of its fine clusters of flowers, for theformation of arbours in the manner some of its congenus are employed in Europe. Of the

Prodroinua Flores Penins. Ind. Oriental,

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

herbaceous form s, I formerly remarked (Madras Journal NO. 11) that when found within thetropics they almost invariably occupy the highes t hills , where reduction Of temperature, consequent ou g reat elevation , compensates for low latitude ; that the shrubby forms partakemore of the -tropical character, s ince they are found, sparingly it is true, in most tropical countries . I thence inferred, and have as yet seen no reason to alter my opinion, that wherever wemeet with the form er within the tropiés, we may feel well as sured, we have attained an

elevation sufficient to place us beyond the influence Of what has been called the fever zone’

or range Of jungle fever, so commonly met with in the - belts of jungle , which embrace the

m ore elevated slopes of all our high hills '

a nd that their absence on the Shevaroys , were weotherwise unacquainted with the fact, m ight be adduced as an evidence , that they had not at

tained that degree of elevation ,and ought therefore to have been carefully exam ined, before their

perfect salubritya nd suitableness for a sanatarium was proclaimed .

Paor s ar ras AND Us es . In Europe many species of this order are deservedly held in highes teem as afl

‘

ording some Of the finest ornaments of theflower garden , among which may be mentioned the Rawunculus

'

Asia ticus and Aconitum N apellus the form er, sup sad to be Of Per

sian orig in, and probably Of easy introduction, from its native country, into ndia . Should thisbe attém ted, I m ay here mention , that it requires tO bring to perfection a deep rich moderate

ly humitf’

soil—A s an arbour either the Clema tis Gouria na , or the one here figured m ight beused. The latterwould certainly form an exceed ingly rich and handsome one, from the snowaw‘

hite in terior surfaces of its numerous large flowers contrasting finely with its dark green fo

liage, but it also .will re uire for its successful culture, a very rich and deep vegetable soil, withabundance ofwater .

’Ilhe former may perhaps, prove of easier culture while its more nume

rous, clustered, .flowers m ight compensate for their smaller s ize.

in water, or boiling , dissi ates it, though in the recent state, it is 80 active that many speciesexcite, when applied to e skin, v iolent inflammation, followed by blisters : a purpose forwhich theywere much employed, prev ious to the general introduction of hlies ,sincewhich theyhave been nearly expelled from medical practice as epispastics pwing to the virulence of their Operation, and consequent liability to induce obstinate ulcers . When taken internally in suflicient'

doses, several species Of,Clematis produce all the effects Of. poisoning , but have notwithstand

ing been employed in severaldiseases, and are said to afford valuable remedies, a statement,whichm ay be doubted as nearly the whole tribe, with a few exceptions, has fallen into dIsuse as

medicinal agents ; Hellebore being almost the only one of the‘

e vacuants retained, and that,from the uncerta inty Of its Operation, is seldom used. The roots however, of Hydrastis cana

densis,and Captis trizfoliata (golden thread) are used in North America as tonics , and Dr .Wallich inform s us , that Coptis teeta,Wall. is sim ilarly employed in A ssam . The genus

A con itum appears to be that inwh ich the poisonous properties are most prom inently developed, the roots of Aconitum ferox ,

Wall. or Bish or B ikh of the Nepalese, ranking amongthe mos t virulen t .Of vegetable poisons,while those Of A . Napellus (the common monkshoodof English gardens) are so active, as to have caused numerous accidents toMan, and are em

ployed by the Swiss, m ixed with food, to poison theWolves which so generally.

infest theircountry.

.

Migh t not the Napeul one, which retains in drying its active properties, be sim Ilarly

4 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

employed in this country for the destruction of Tigers, &c.

’ The Goorkahs endeavoured to

protect their country against foreign invas ion by poisoning the wells with it, and at one time

the Konds were supposed to have had recourse to s imilar means to protect their country agains tthe British troops . The plant used b the latter for this purpose, is still unknown, though itappears , from the statement of a M

'

cal Oliicer employed in the first campaign, that theattempt was at first attended with partial success , in as much as several men were suddenlytaken ill,who had partaken of the water Of a well adjoining their camp, in which, on beingdragged, a quantity of an unknown, and supposed porsonous root, cons iderably decayed, was

foun The poisonous plant so employed in that part of the country is still unknown, but Idare say m ight on inquiry be ascerta ined.While thus abounding with acrid and poisonous plants, the order includes a fewof a

different complexion . Several of its species are regarded as simply as tringent : the seeds

of Nigella, are pungent like pepper, and are employed in some parts of Europe as such, under

the name of Allspice (not the true English Allspice, which is derived from a very differentsource) and all the species of Coptis, are s imply bitter and tonic. The Mishme teeta ofA ssam, Coptis teetaWall. is in high repute among the Assamese, the taste of which is described byWallich as intensely and purely bitter, very lasting , and with only a very ,

slightaroma .

”This plant has been introduced into the Calcutta botanic garden, and at the time the

accountwas written, prom ised to surv ive the great change of climate .

To devote more space to an expos ition of the properties of ex tra - indian species of anorder so little known in Southern India

, would, it appears to me, be out of place in a work.

of these reg ions, I shall therefore conclude my remarkss on some of the genera and species,of this portion of India.

OBSERVATIONS . The number of genera yet found in the Southern provinces of India andCeylon, amount, so far as I know, to only seven ; and of these I feel inclined to cons iderAdonis a doubtful native. The number of species with which I am acqua inted now extends ,for both countries, to 16, two newones having been added to Clematis, and one to Ranunculus,since the publication of my Prodromus The former are readilydistinguished from the previouslydescribed, Peninsular, species, by then flowers being fewer and larger sized than those of anyof the preceding ones, while in both, the leaves are teruate and s imple, in place of pinnate asin them . In addition to these I possess specimens of a third form , but not in flower, closelyallied, to C. Wightiana, but so far as my imperfect specimens,

-of both species, enable me

to judge, distinct.

0 Dr.Wallich (Plant Asta Bar) states, on the authorit of Henry Colebrooke, Esq. that the Bikh.

is em‘

ployed in the northern part of Hindoostan for destroying igers, but in a way'

different from that here recom

mended. Arrows oisonedwith that drug are shot from bows fixed near the tracks leading to their watering

places, and it general y appears that the animal is found dead at the latter.

”The following extract from Mr.

oyle’s lllustrations,&c. embraces in a condensed form nearly all the informationwe possess respecting its

properties and uses.In all the native works, the B a

'

IdI is represented as being a deadly poison, even in the smallest doses. TheHindoo works quoted by Dr. Hunter, describe it as being at first sweetish (hence the aflix meet/ta, sweet), andthen followed by a roughness on the tongue, or as it is expressed in one work, seizing the throat.” Dr.Buchanan has informed us, that it is eq

lually fatal when taken into the stomach, andwhen applied towounds

hence used for poisoning arrows andkl ling wild animals. The futility oftheGorkhas attempting to oison thesprings ofwaterwas shown in the last campaign, and Dr. Goran has proved the improbability of eleteriousexhalations from this plantbeing the cause of the unpleasant sensations experienced at g reat elevations, inasmuch as ir is only found much belowwhere these are ex erienced. But as it is a root ofsuch virulent powers,it has no doubt been frequently employed as a oison, an its salewas therefore prohibited by the native powersin India. Notwithstanding this, the Hindoo p ysicians, noted for the employment of powerful dru s such as

arsenic, nux vomica, and croton, do not hesita te to employ this also in medicine. In the Taleef-S terse] it isdirected never to be given alone ; but mixed with several other drugs, it is recommended in a variety of diseases, as cholera, intermittent fever, rheumatism, tooth-ache, and bites of snakes. It is also used as an external application in rheumatism in the north-western provinces. Mr. Pereira

’s experiments have shown that this

root, either in the form of powder, watery extract, or spirituous extract, is a most virulent poison : but of theseforms the last is by far the most powerful. The effects were tried by introducing this extract into the jugular

vein, by placing it in the cavity of the peritoneum, by applying it to the cellular tissue of the back, and byintroducing it into the stomach. In all these cases, except the last, the efl

'

ects were very similar ; namely,difiiculty of breathing,weakness, and subsequently paralysis,which generallv commenced in the posteriorextremities, vertigoes, convulsions,dilatation of the pupil,and death, apparently from asphyxia.

”(0.Wall.

P l. Axial. Raf . lac. cit.)

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6 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

petiol :petals 5, roundish obovate : heads of fruit 6. ll . pinh oles (Poir) . The character given of R .

globose, achenia tumid,minutely dotted ; style straight,Wallc'cl uanus, is nearly applicable to this 3 ecies,with

or slightly hooked at the apex. the exception of the leaves being describe as merelyhair in place of hispidly villous ; a character appa

Ceylon, plum s Qf NW“Eu“W‘hfl“4 rent y of little value in this species, as the clothingpastures varies in degree on both Ceylon and Continental 8 cil am informed by 00101131Walker that he has“18° meus. It is readily distinguished however from

plhe

found it on Horton plains at a considerably greater 1 l'

R .

elevation,where the plan ts’

become smaller, the lobes gmbbihfal

dhgnia.subpmnatss by“3 murciated, not

of the leaves less developed, and altogether more like

R . renifonm'

s.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

let—Rasm cnu csm. 2d.—Ranusccu cssz.

l . Clematis Munrciana, branch, with leaves and l . Ranunculus reniformis, natural size. —2. Recepta

flowers, natural size.—2. Receptacle, with ovaries, cle, showin stamens and ovaries, the sepals andpetals

styles and stamens showing the difl'

erent series of the removed. A detached petal showing the nec tarial

latter magnified—3. Back and front viewof filament scale at the base—4 . Back and front view of the

and anther magnified—4. Receptacle cut vertically. anthem—5. Ovary detached. —6. Carpel cut vertical

5. Ovary,with its attached feathery style, much mag ly. Allmore or less magnified.

nified.

DILLENIACLE .

In this order the calyx is 5 sepaled, hypogynous , and persistent ; three of the sepals extarior and two interior : the corolla 5 petaled, deciduous, the stam ens numerous, usually, all dis

tinct and free, but som etimes monadelphous or polyadelphous , placed either all round the pistilsin the usualway,or confined to one s ide of it : fi laments ,when free ,dilated at either the base orapex anthers adnate 2 celled, eithe

'

r elongated and bursting long itudinally,or shortwith the cellsunited at the tiponly, and placed transversely across the dilated point ofthe filament. Pistils defin ite in number, ovaries , usually,from 3 to 5, but sometimes numerous, rarely solitary,more or less

united, and term inated each by a stra ight s tyle and truncated or toothed stigma ; ovules, fre

quently numerous, sometimes reduced to two, or even one, pendnlous or erect. Fruit composedof as many one -celled carpels as there were ovaries , either altogether distinct, or more or less

cohering . Seeds usually, by abortion, fewor solitary,attached in a double rowto the inner edgeof the carpels , and surrounded by a pulpy arillus ; the teeta hard, embryo m inute,lying at the

base of a fleshy albumen .

Handsom e flowering trees or shrubs, are the most prevalent forms in this order, some

of the former affording excellent timber, the latter usually climbing or prostrate , a fewherbaoecus plants are also met with. The leaves are usually alternate, and exs tipulate, coriacious ,with strong veins runn ing straight from the m idrib to the m arg in ; peduncles solitary, or severalspring ing together from tubercles on the branches, or form ing term inal racemes or panicles .

Flowers often yellow.

A vrm ir iss . The affinity existing betweenDilleniacewand Ramm culacewhas been alreadyadverted to ; they are also nearly akin to Magnoliacew, from which they are distinguished bythe absence of stipules, Wormia excepted) by their pers istent calyx and stamens ,and lastly, bythe quinary arrangement of their parts of fructification, the petals form ing a single,not several,series . They are universally distingu ished by the presence of an aril to the seed, and generallyby the peculiar venation of the leaves ; the ve ins running straight from the m idrib to the marg in, and frequen tly projecting in form of a tooth . The very remarkable one- s ided developm ent of the stam ens , in some of the genera , is peculiar to this order.

From Anonacea:they are separated by nearly the same characters as those which separate

them from Mag noliaceae, namely, the pers istent calyx and quinary arrangement of the floral

envelopes but in both, the leaves are exs tipula te .

ESSENT IAL C nanacr s a . Flowers polypetalous, polyandrous, ovaries wholly superiorcarpels more or less distinct, or solitary : embryo m inute : seeds with an aril, leaves exstipulate .

exceptWormia .

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUTION. This is peculiarly a tropical order, almost as exclusivelyso, as Ranunculacea:is an extra- tropical one, a fewonly extending beyond the 3oth degree oflatitude . The species are natives alike of both hem ispheres , most numerous in the southern .

A us tralia may indeed be sa id to be the head quarters of the order, 50 species , natives of thatcountry, being known and described by DeCandolle,when As ia and Ameri ca could only boas t of2l between them , and Africa of 3 ; several however have since been added to the list, from bothAs ia and America, and one or two from Africa, but probably very many yet remain undiscovered ia so vast a continent as Australia . Dr .Wallich has figured several new ones in hissplendid P lantwAsia ticee Rariores . Blame has described eight in his additions, (Bijdragen) tothe flora of Java, and there are still several undescribed species in Ceylon in addi tion to theone here figured. To the peninsular flora two are added, unknownwhen DeCandollewrote, andit is probable more will be found when the rich fores ts of Malabar and the alpine valleys of theNorthern C ircars have been better investigated, . both of which stations supply us with thesame species .

Pnorsar tss AND Uses . Nearly every thing that is known appertain ing to this order isexpressed in the following

“brief summary . Fine plants, almost exclus ively confined to tropicalcountries . D illenia speciosa a native of India, is a mos t noble tree, with large yellowflowers ,rivalling those of a M ag nolia . Hibbertia volubilis is a green house plant, well known for thebeauty of its blossoms and their powerfully fmtid smell. The medicalproperties ofthis order arescarcely known a decoction of their leaves or bark is astrin ea t and used for gargles and the

fruit of some of the species ofD illem’

a is used in India, mix withwater, as a pleasant beveragein fevers . The foliage of some of the species is extremely scabrous,whence the dried leaves areused for the same purposes as fish skin, and sand pa r in Europe, those of Trachytella aspera

are even employed in China for polishing metal.”

oudon’s Encyclope dia of Plants 1055.

It is certainly, tome, a matter of sur rise, to find plants so fine as all the species of D illem’

a

are, so totall neglected in our ardens an lawns . From the facility of their culture and propaga

tion we m' ht expect them to a of fr uent occurrence, and yet, to the bes t ofmy recollection

I never sawa single species of this fine m ily in cultivation in India. In Englandwhere they aremore attentive to the ornaments ofthe garden,D . speciosa is offrequent occurrence in hothouses,being prized, not less on accountof the magnificence and beauty of its flowers, than for the facilityof its propagation. They thrive best in loamy soil. R ipened cuttings not deprived of their

leaves, strike root freely in a pot of sand,plungedunder a hand-

glass in heat. Good seeds sometimes arrive from India ; placed in a moderate hot-bed frame they will succeed well.

”Such

are the brief and easily followed directions for the culture of these plants, which, I hope are

long , to see acted upon by the Horticultural Society for the diffus ion of these beautiful treesamong us . The species ofWormia , one of which is a na tive of Ceylon, are not less deservingof our attention, on account of the magnificence of their foliage and beauty of their flowers .

Several species of D illenia are large trees , and afford valuable timber on account of its

hardness and durability.

A s stated above, little is known regarding the properties of Dilleniacea: the leaves andbark of several are as tringent, and decoctions of them are used as gargles and as washes forill conditioned sores . The fruit of most of the species of D illenia are acid, and used by the

Natives in their curries ,while the enlarged fleshy calyx of the ripe fruit, sometimes furnishesEuropeans with a tolerably pleasant jelly.

R suaas s or: run G ang es , &c. Roxburgh, as appears from his Flora Indica , was onlyacquainted with nine species of this order, which he referred to two genera Tetracera and

D illenia . These n ine are nowdistributed among four g enera, his Tetracera Sarmentosa beinthe Delima Sa rmentosa of all modern authors , and his D illem

'

a Pentagyna hav ing been raisedto the rank of a dis tinct genus , though, as it appears to m e, on insufficient grounds , under thename of Colbertia Coromandelina . To these four orig inal As iatic genera, several others haverecently been added. Vahl founded Schumacheria on a C eylon plant, DeCandolle Trachytella

on one from Cochin China , Jack d erotrema for a Malayan one, and Blume Capellia for aJavanese one, Lindley Actin idia for one from Nepaul. To these it may be added, thatWormia has been discovered in Ceylon, making up the number of Asiatic genera to 10 out of26, the total number yet discovered.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

Of these 10, four are certa inly natives of the Indian Peninsula, namely, Tetracera , Dillenia ,Colbertia , and Aerotrema Colbertr

'

a however, being only separated from D illenia , by hav ing a

fewof the stamens sterile and longer than the rest,and fewer pistils . This last character is nowofno value, owing to some species recently referred to the genus , on accountof their ster ile stamens ,having as many as 12styles, the remaining distinction, sterile stamens,does not seem suffi cient toauthorize its removal as a separate genus,onwhich account,Dr. Arnott andmyself, following Roxburgh ,reunited it to the older genus, thus leaving only three for the Peninsula. D elima Sarmentosa

quoted byRoxburgh as aPeninsular planton the authority of Rheede’s figure (Hort .Mal. 7 tab.53)

has not. yet been found on the continent of I ndia , Rheede ’s figure representing s iplent not even

referable to the order . The genera Acrotrema and Schumacheria , the ones here figured, requirea

'

somewhat more detailed notice . The former was established by the late Dr. Jack in the

Malayan m iscellanies for a Malay plant fi rs t discovered by him : s ince then two species havebeen discovered in Malabar, and some othem in Ceylon ; Some of the Ceylon ones I have seen ,

and think quite distinct from the Malabar plants, but owing to my not having specimens I donot attempt to characterize them . The genus was thus briefly defined by its discoverer, Calyx

entapbyllus: Corolla 5-

petala,patens . Stamina I5, erecta , fi lamentis brevibus , antherz'

s long is,Iinean bus apice biporis . Ovaria 3, distincts , 2- spora , ovulis angulo interiori aflixis . Stilt

'

3 .

S tigmata simplicia, Capsular un ilocularis— Herba acaulis, pilosa , pedunculis racemosa multi

flon’

s .

”With this character both A . costatum andWig htianum sufi ciently agree,but the speciesnowadded calls for some modifications to adm it of its being received into the genus . Thus in«1 . A rnottianum,

in place of 15there are nearly SOstamens , in place of 2 ovules they are very nu

merous, and in place of one or atmos t two seeds I have observed nearly 20 in one carpal. Theinflorescence also differs ; for in place of a short raceme, on the extrem ity of an erectnaked scapethey are borne on a procumbent sucker - like branch, covered throughout with appressed scale

like bracts, from the axils ofWhich, the long filiform pedicels spring .

The species equall require revision since the addition of J . Jr'

nottianum,but that I feel

averse to attempt until rece ive specimens of the Ceylon species , I shall therefore content myself for the resent by stating that A . costatuinand A .Wig htianum seem , from description,

very‘

nearly allied)

, if indeed distinct, ('

our former character is referable, partly, to two, very dis tinct,owing to our specimens of both, being so very imperfect a s to

‘

prevent their beingrecognized as distinct) while .4. J rnottz

'

anmn is so widely removed from both in every thing but'habit, that it may almos t be cons idered a

'distinct genus . In the former, the flowers are borneon an erect scape, and the carpels seeded ; in the latter, they spring from , apparently, an

a bortive surculus (sucker) and the carpels are many seeded.

The genus Schumacher ia was orig inally“established byVahl, andpublished in a G erman peri

odios l, apparently little known, and s eems tO'have been so imperfectly described, thatDeCandolle

with allhis care and research, seems either to have overlooked it, orwas unable to determ ine its ath'

nities andplace in the system of plants , as it is not taken up in his System Na turals . Springel has

equally overlooked it, and has even publishedanother, and very different genus , under the sam e

name : hence we may conclude the genus was virtually los t until resuscita ted by Dr. Arnott,"who ublished a revised character in Jam eson

’

s New Philosophical Journal for April 1834.

His character, though detailed and accurate, seems s till to have left some pointdoubtful, as Professor Lindley in the second edition of his excellent Natural system ofBotany,

”has .placed it.

at theconclusion of his arranged lis t of genera ofthe order, as if uncertain, either of its properplace br whether it actually belonged to the order . A genus so little known, and which m ay be

found'

to m erit a rent fate, I have thought a suitable subject for this work. In the specific'

name I have followed Dr. Arnott, this being undoubtedly his plant, though it is possible, Vahl’smay be a diflerent one, as I am informed by ColonelWalker, that . he has recently met withseveral other species , all quite distinct from the one here represented, descriptions of which Ihope by and bye to have an opportunity of introducing .

.Acnornn u Herbaceous low plants. L eaves all radical. Psticls short lhefr marg ins diluted into membranact

'

ous

GRNEEIP CHARACTER Stamens l5‘ 3oi erect : fi l‘“somewhat’

sheatht'

ng‘

aurn'

cles . Pedrmcles either erect

,

mea ts anthers adnate , long , linear, opening scapes, bearing a short terminal umbel- lil' e racemeby term rnal OQW‘3‘ 3' adherent 3"the base

or sucker- like, clothed with dry scale- like bracts, from'

only,each terminatedwith a’

style and sim le stigma M, “a, which the long slender onetflowersdevulse fewor many in each. Carpets g, capsular peduncles, spring .

seeds l-20,furnishedwith a membranous aril.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 9

l . A. Am otta’

anum. Leaves sprinkled with rigidhairs : peduncles, procumbent. surculose, many flowered: carpels many seeded. Plate No. 3 .

2. A.Wi’g htc'anum. Leaves sprinkled with rig idhairs, more abundant on the veins :peduncl

e s an

erect scape, terminating in an 8- 12flowered raceme ;carpels, by abortion, one seeded.

Both these species are found on the MalabarCoast, the former I also found a t Courtallum, wherethe accompanying drawing was m ade. They frs

quent moist shady places in woods, in Courtallum,

and under hedges on the banks of wet ditches in Mala

bar, flowering July and August, perhaps also at otherseasons.

Scann acnaau—Vanr. nor Seam an .

S epals 5persistent ; 2 exterior, 3 interior ; estiva

tion imbricative. P etals 5deciduous, hypogynous, alertnating with the sepals, twowith the marg in crispcd, estivation imbricate. S tamens hypogynous. numer

ous,all on one side, in several series,monadelphous, allfertile. F ilaments short, united at the base into a

short somewhat flattened androphore . A uthors linear,elonga ted, 2 celled ; mucronate at the point. Torus

none. Ovaries 3, free, villous, l celled, l styled, l ovuled. Ooute ascending from the base, arilled.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

3d.—Drnnanu crm.

ct tn—Dru m mers .

l . Acrotrema Arnottianum, natural size.—2. Flower l . Flowering branch of Schumacheria cas taneifoliafront view,and opened to showthe stamens .

—3 . Calyx,ovaries,and styles .

—4. Anthers, back and front view.

5.

“Side viewof an ovary cut vertically, and front view

ofa carpel full grown, showin the number and en

dulous direction of the seeds. A seedwith its ari lus.Allmore or less magnified.

natural size.—2. Flower opened and seen from above.

showing calyx, corolla, stamens, and ovaries, all insitu.

- 3 . Stamens removed - 4. Anthers, back andfront view.

—5. Ovary opened, showing the solitaryovule.—6. Seed and arillus.—7. Immature seed, cutvertically, all more or less magnified. The outline belowrepresents a full grown leaf natural size.

MAGNOLIACEfE .

In this order a ternary,quaternary or quinary arrangement of the parts of the flower preva ils ,and both sepals andpetals are coloured or petaloid, so as to be almost indistinguishahle, and all

are equally deciduous , varying in number from 6 to about 30, or more, in several rows, all hypoous . Stamens numerous, distinct, hypogynous, anthers adnate, long , ovaries numerous ,

simple, l - celled, arranged on all s ides of an elongated torus, above the stamens , ovules few, or

numerous , suspended or erect, styles short, stigmas simple. Fruit cons isting of numerous car

pels , but varying in their character, being either dry or succulent, dehiscent or indehiscent, distinct or partially cenate, arranged on an elongated axis, and sometimes term inated by an elonga

ted point or membranous wing . Seeds solitary, or several attached to the inner edge of the

carpel, from which,when ripe, they are often suspended by a long slender umbilical cord, embryom inute, at the base of a fleshy albumen . Trees or shrubs, many of the former of great s ize,leaves alternate, notdotted, coriacious, entire, distinctly articulatedwith the stem ,with deciduousstipules, which, when young , are rolled together enclos ing the leaves like those of Ficus .

Flowers large, solitary, many of them s trongly odoriferous . Scales of the leaf-bud formed of

stipules, e ither placed face to face or rolled up.

A srtm 'r rss . This order is nearly allied to D illeniacece ,from which it is principally distin

guished by the petaloid, deciduous sepals, and the predom inance of the ternary, not quinary

simple, terminal, filit‘

orm, glabrous, during estivationincumbent on the stamens, s tigmas simple.

D i use climbing shrubs, branches g labrous, round,purp ish coloured, the young shoots somewha t fla ttened. L eaves a lternate, cor iacious, g labrous , smooth,

petioled, ezs tipula te, repanda -serrated, the serratures

mucrona te, ~ feather-normed, nerves para lled, s imple.

P etioles channeled, dila ted at the base, half embracingthe stalk. Spikes panicled, termina l, and from theaxils of the extreme leaves, and equalling them in

icng th. F lowers sess ile, secund, btbracteate at theass .

S. Cas taneifolia .- (Vahl :flGrahamu Arnott.) Cey

lon in woods near the banks of rivers. - P late No. 4.

In the species here represented the sepals are

densely clothed on both sideswith appressed shiningsilky hairs.Dr. Arnott distin nishes two varieties of this

plant, a division whic I adopt for the present but notwithout hesitation, as I think it probable, for the rea

sons already s tated that Vahl’s Castaneifolia and Ar

nott’s BGrahamii,will be found different species. It

is to me a sub'

eet of regret, that Dr. Arnott did not

republish Vahi’s character and description along withhis own,as affording an additional means of determining , by com aring other species, known to exist,withboth the 01 and reformed character.

10 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

arrangement of the parts of the flower when few, and by their num ber when the quinary occurs ,also by their spicate, not verticelled ovaries : from anonacere, to which they perhaps even m ore

nearly approach, by their stipules, and solid, not rum inated, album en.

ESSENTIAL Cnaas cr an. Polypetalous ; polyandrous ; ovarywholly superior ; carpels m ore

or less distinct, leaves furnished with stipules :without transparent dots .

’

Gsooas em ca r, D isTR lBUT ION. The species of this order are nearly confined to Amer icaand Asia, two or three only having as yet been found in Australia ; and none in Africa or Europe .

In North America they are most abundant, the woods , swamps, and sides of hills of that country, abou

'

nding in species . In India they have a very wide range ; extending from the southernprovinces of Ceylon and the Peninsula, up to the Himalayas , som e of the larges t species of th e

order being natives of the valley of Nepal and neighbourin m ountains, while others extending eastward towards China and Japan , ascend as high as t e 40° of N . latitude. The speciesand genera however metwith at the extrem ities of this range difl

'

er . M ichelin being almos t:the only genus found to the southward, while Sphenocarpus and Mang lietia are conSpicuous

in the north . There however, several fine species of M ichelia are also found, four of whichhave been figured by Dr.Wallich in his Tentanum Flor. Nepalensis , and one in his Plant. Asiat.

rariores . Of the known species of the order 14 are enumerated inWallich’s list of Indian plants .

Blume has given characters of 11 in his Bijdragen, to these m ay nowbe added one from Mala

bar, one from the Neelgherries, figured by Z enker, the accompanying from the Pulney range

ofmountains, and three others,of which I possess specimens from the more elevated reg ions ofCeylon, m aking up the total number of Asiatic species yet known to about 30, four ofwhich areeither indig enous or naturalized in the Peninsula :two of these , are only m et with on the highesthills ; the third,M . Rheedii equally on hills, and on theplains ofMalabar ; whileM ichelia Chamaca

,a doubtful native , is cultivated on the plains on account of its fragrant flowers . This predi

fiction of the species for the hills is equally observed in mostof the other Indian ones nearly thewhole of those m entioned byWallich being from Nepal and Silbet. This order therefore inits geographical characteristics though nearly confined to the tropics , or,with one or two excep

tions, extending but slightly beyond them , can scarcely be viewed as a tropical order, certainlynot to the extent that the Dilleniacese are, since the finest and larg est of them are natives of

bills enjoying a very moderate range of temperature, so moderate indeed, as undoubtedly tobring them within the temperate range, and such as to induce Mr . Royle (Illustrations of theB otany of the Himalayas) to suggest the expediency of introducing several of them intoEurope, on account of their great size and value as timber trees— a suggestion,well deservingof attention, and which, it is hoped, will be tried both in Britain and on the continent, as it is

one easily made, and considering the unrivalled skill and facilities possessed in Europe forconducting such experiments, very likely to succeed.

Paoraarms AND Uses . Bitter and aromatic properties are common to the order, andhaveled Blum e to remark, that by these properties they are known from D illen iaceaz: their flowersare usually fragrant. The fragrance, according to DeCandolle, is such as to produce a decidedaction on the nerves , that from Mag nolia tripetala inducing sickness and head- ache ; whileBarton states, that that from Mag nolia g laaca is so stimulating as to produce parokysms of fever .

The bark of som e, though intensely bitter, is devoid of tannin and gallic acid ; that of the root of.M. g lauca according to Barton is an important tonic. In this country they seem too little

known, to have found their way into the Materia medics of India, at least none of the orderare m entioned by either Roxburgh or A insley as being employed in m edicine, though Rheede

(Hort. Mal.) in his account of Michelia Champaca, (1 tab. 69) does m ention the bark of the

The orderWinteriacec is only distinguished, essentially,from this by the transparentdots ofits leaves,andbeing so closely relate

d,was formerly combined with Mag noliacec . It is nowsaid, thatwhat allwriters havestated about the aromatic stimulant properties of M oliacee , should be applied toWinteriacear. No species

of the order has yet been found in lndia proper, but llicium Anisatum is a native of China,whence the IndianBazars are largely suppliedwi th its star-like capsules, possessin as the name imports, both the frag rance and

aromatic carminative properties of the true anise seed ; and hie it, furnishin to distillation, an essential oil,

scarcely, it at all distinguishable from that procured from the European herb. he Canella alba orWinters bark

is procured froma plant of this order, (DrymisWinteri) a native of South America. It does not seem proba

ble that if transferred to India the Drymis would succeed, but there is every reason to suppose that the star

Anise (I llicium),mightwith care be introduced, andprove a valuable acquisition to this country.

ILLUSTRATIONS on INDIAN BOTANY . l l

root as possessing deobstruent and emenagogue properties . As a perfume and ornament, theflowers are held in general estimation among the Natives . I have not heard of any of the

southern species of M ichelia being esteemed on account of their tim ber, though several of theNepal ones afford large and valuable timber. Some of these might, I think,with every prospectof success be transferred to our mountain tracts, and would probably prove both useful and

ornamental : in Mysore they m ight be expected to succeed well, though not equal to whatanalogy gives us reason to anticipate in the cooler regions of the Neelgherries and Palnaya.

B ananas ON r anGENERA AND srscms . In this , as in most other very natural orders , the discrimination of both genera and species is always a task of much difliculty, and until Blame

undertook the revision of the g enera , of this order, nothing could be more perplexed . Hisvery valuable and costlywork, the Flora of Java, I have not an opportunity of consulting , therenot being , so far as I am aware, a single copy in Madras, but being very fortunately favoured,through Dr . Arnott,with an abstract of his observations on the order I shall take the liberty ofintroducir

églit,which I do, the more readily, as itwas prepared with reference to the species here

re resentpThe generic characters assigned by DeCandolle for the separation of Mag nolia andAli

chelia ,appearing to me involved and unsatisfactory, I requested Dr. A . to supply me with

what information he ossessed or could procure on the subject : the following is his answer.

[ have look at different books about the difference betweenMag nolia and M ichelin,and find the only man who has really mada himself master of the subject to be Blume in his

Flora Javae. He has remodelled the genera completely,and does not allowa single Mag nolia

in all East India the true ones are all American, and are determined by the anthers ex trorse.

Then as to DeCandolle's second section of Mag noliw, about the fruit ofwhich DeC .was ignorant, Blame shows that it is composed of two or three genera, one part of them belongs toM ichelin, another to Talauma , and one to Mang lietia . He characterizes M ichelia thus . Petals

( i. e. petals and sepals combined) 6- 15, rarely m ore, in a ternary or quinary order. Stam ensnumerous , the anthers anticous . Ovaries numerous , or rarely few, densely spiked but distinctfrom each other, many ovules . Capsules sub-globose, coriacious, half 2 valved, loosely spiked,many seed, or by abortion 1 -2 seeded . To this genus Blume refers all the Asiatic Mag nolia;

with axillary flowers and loosely imbricated fruit,whether the latter containfewor many seeds .

To these belong Mag noliafi tsoata , Mag . excels-aWall. Mag . parviflora DeC . (Michelia purvi

j lora De Lessert ic. tab :85 non DeC . ) and several others . His genus Mang lietia, we havenothing like, but to it belongs Mag nolia insia nisWall. the ovaries contain many ovules andare concrete, while the capsules are combined into an egg - shaped fruit. A third of Blum e

’

s

g enera is A romadendron , having 28- 36petals, in a quaternary order, ovaries closely combined,2 ovuled, &c. but that is truly a Java plant— lastly, is Talauma , which he has ascertained

scarcely to differ from the Am erican 3 ecies forwhich Jussien m ade the genus . Here then are

9 - 15petals (or sepals) in a ternary o er : Stam ens num erous, anthers anticous, ovaries several,united, 2 ovuled—Fruit of one mass, strobiliform , woody, irregularly dehiscent. Seeds 1-2,

pendulous in the pits of the central, cylindrical, elongated, receptacle ; which by the dehiscence

18 left free ; the inflorescence is terminal. To this g enus Blume refers Mag nolia pumila of

Springel (excluding synonyms) Mag nolia pumila Andr . and DeCandolle,Mag nolia Rumphii

Spt . (excl. syn . Linn .) or Rumph . 2 tab . 69 &c. under his Talunmu pumila (or Mag nolia

pumila Andr.) he quotes . (like DeCandolle) Guillimia Indica Rottl which Rottler says he foundin the continent of India . Nowa question here arises, can Rottler’s plant have been cultiva

ted ? or wild ? The only information I can get on that, is that in Curtis ’ Magazine,where, att . 977 , Mag nolia pumila is figured, it is said we have been informed that some botanists inMadras considering this lant a newgenus named it Guillimia, in honor of Lady Gwillim , the

patroness of science in t at presidency.” But there it is said to be from China. Now ifRottler

’

s plant cam e from China, then it may be the true Talauma pumila , but if it came fromthe Peninsula, then I suspect it to be your Mag nolia ,probably the sam e as that g iven by Z enkeras Michelin nilag irica ; and also the same as ColonelWalker and you have from Ceylon .

At all events whatever Rottler’s be, yours, Z enker’s,andWalker’s, have axilla ry inflorescence,and more than two ovules in each ovary, and carpels splitting down the m iddle so as to be half2- valved, and are unquestionably Michelle.

2 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

This exposition of the characters of the genera of this order leaves no room to doubt,that the plant have figured is a true M ichelia .

The genus .Michelia under Blum e’s amended and simplified character, is one of easy recognition , but the determination of the species , owing to the great access ion which has been madeto their number, is nowmost diffi cult, not so much, perhaps , from their not affording adequatediscriminating marks, as from their never having been subjected to a sufficiently comprehensivescrutiny to adm it of their proper characters being elicited, by a careful comparison of one withanother. Nor indeed is this to be wondered at

,when we consider how seldom opportunities

occur of examining them in their native places , and howfewhave yet found their way into cultivation . It is notwithout feelings of regret that I findm yself forced,from the imperfection ofmym aterials, to leave this task to another, or at all events to postpone the exam ination until somefuture opportunity, as the very fewspecies ofwhich I possess specimens, barely enables me to conjecture, what series of organs are m ost likely to furnish either good specific marks or sectionalsubdivisions . For the latter purpose the number of spa thes or bracts enveloping the young flowerbud m ay prove serviceable, namely, whether two or three. For exam Is , in M . Champaca ,there are two, one exterior, and early caducous ,which, (for convenience) call bractial, and one

closely embracing the flower,which (for the sam e reason) I call calycine, while in M . Pulneyensis there are three, one bractial and two calycine. The number of petals will perhaps befound to furnish another set of good characters, though for the present that seem s doubtful ;but the number in each verticel whether 3 , 4, or 5, prom ises to afford excellent sectional characters , since it may be presumed, that that series of numbers will be constant in each species .

These structuraldifferences, aided by variations in the forms and surfaces of the leaves ; whetherrough or smooth, glabrous or clothed ; the colour, kind, and degree of clothing , of the spathes ;the form , size, colour, andwhether smooth or warty, of the carpels ; and lastly, the number ofs eeds in each comparedwith the ovules, ought I think, to present such a combination of easilyrecognizable characters, as should leave but little difficulty in distinguishing a much more extended series of species, than we have any reason to believe appertains to this g enus .

To what extent these hints for the discrimination of species will be found to avail in practice, it is diffi cult to say, but it seems desirable that they should sp

eedily be brought to the testof experience, since there is no genus, of the same extent, in whio it is so difficult to determinethe species . Much attention, and the exam ination of numerous specimens will no doubt berequired towards the determ ination of the value of characters taken from the corolla, but thosetaken from the spathes and fruit,will, I suspect, he more steady, and, by so much, more valuable, at the same time, that they are more easily ascertained .

Adopting the number of spathes as a sectional character in the manner mentioned above,the following distribution of species into two leading sections, will probably be found correct.

lst. Flower buds with one bractial and one calf/cine spa the.

M . Champaca , .M. excelsa , .M. Doltsopa , M . Kisopa , .M. aurantiaca, M . fuscata, .M.

nilag irica .9 and three undescribed species in my betharam from C eylon.

2d. With one bractial and two calycine spathes.

M . Pulneyensis, M . lanug inosa (l) and perhaps som e of the Magnolia: of DeCandolle’s

second section , which are referable to this genus .

The Nepal species with the exception of the last, I have referred to the first section on theauthority of the following passage inWallich’s '

I‘

eutamen Fl. Nepalensis , they (the flowerbuds) are enveloped in two entire m embranous rounded spathes, the outer one much soonercaducous than that within .

” Such is the case with the outer or bractial spathe of M . Pulneyensis, while the two interior ones seem to separate about the sam e tim e . .M. lanug inosa , Ihave doubtfully referred to the second section, owing to two bracts being represented in thefigure as if caducous about the same time while in the others, one only is figured. Should thesectional characters I have proposed be found applicable to all the species I have respectivelyreferred to them , there can be no doubt of my plant being distinct from all, unless it should befound that M . nilag irica is incorrectly described, which I fear is the case, though from neverhaving seen specimens , I do not feel m yself at liberty to offer any opinion on the subject. Imay here observe that the cluster of fruit represented in my figure does not belong to the trueM . Pulneyensis, but to a newand distinct species, (namely, M Rheedii of this work,) and

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14

smallish (3 or 3; inchesas leaves flowers, large intimes the len ih of theas in all the ot er species

I have examined, clothed with whitish hair.7 . M. lauca . Very ramous ; branches rigid,

short, g brous, except the extreme shoots : leaves

gllaucous beneath, obovate,much attenuated towards

t e base, endingin a short blunt acumen : stipules and

spathes whitis silky, petals 6, spreading, obovate :

stamens numerous ; filaments nearly equalling the

short anthers, which together, scarcely exceed the

pedicel ot‘

the column of fructificatiou, and are about

six times shorter than the petals : ovaries numerous,densely congested towards the point of the column

styles recurved at the point only : fruitA native of Cey lon, where itwas found by ColonelWalker, who communicated specimens, but withoutit.th

'l‘

his like the other Ceylon species, judging froms ecimens only, has more the appearance ofa shrub

t an a tree :the leaves rarely exceed an inch and halfin length, and are nearly as much in breadth across thebroadest part, near the point, these are hom e, two orthree together ; on the extremities of numerous shortrigid branches. The most distinctive mark howeverof the species is, the short anthers in pro rtion to thefilaments . Generally the anthers are t ree or fourtimes the leng th of the filaments,but here, they scarcely exceed that standard, and then both barely equal thelength of the elongated pedicel of the ovarial column.

C. P etals in a quaternary order.

8. M. excelsa. Blame. Magnolia excelsaWall.Tent. Fl. Nepal). eaves oblon elliptic, acuminated, glaucous beneath, stipules an s aibes, tomentose,deep rusty brown coloured, petals I in a treble series,(quaternary) stamens numerous, one third the length

0 the tale, filaments very short: ovaries, small,dovule car

‘pelsfi ub-globose, small,warty,one seeded:

seed enclose in redfleshy pulp.

Nepal.—Sheopore hill at an elevation of about 7000

feet above the sea. Flowering in March—fruit ripe inOctober Wall.This magnificent tree attains the hei ht of from 50

to 80 feet, and is most remarkably limite in its stationbeing,Dr .Wallich informs us, confined to a single spoton mount Sheapore. The wood is highly prized bythe natives of Nepal, where it is sold under theof Champ.

i 9. M .Rheedi i. (R.W.) Arborious,glabrous :leaveselliptic, oblong, acuminated, attenua ted at the baseflowers many petaled, (about 20) in a quaternery (P)order, the outer series the largest, obtuse, the interiorones cuspida te ovaries numerous, con ested ; stylescaducous, leaving a smooth,circular, shie d- like scar onthe apex : ovales numerous ( IO- I2) carpels large, approximated, rough,markedwith numerous prominentwarts, about four seeded ; seeds triangular, teeta hard,black, enveloped in red fleshy pulp.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

EXPLANATION or PLATE.

5th . —Maeuou aon t.

l and6. -l. Floweri ng branch of Michelia Pulneycrisis, and 6, spike of i i e fruit of M. Rheedii, naturalsize—2. Flower bud, t e exterior, or bractial spatheremoved, and showing the 2 calycine spathes ready todropcit

- 3. Torus, stamens, and cohmm of fructifica

tion.- 4. Aether,front view. - 5. Ovary, entire, and cut

vertically, to showthe pendulous ovules. - 7. 8. Seeds ,entire, and cut transversely, all more or less magnified.

-9. Seed, natural size, coveredwith pulp, and [0 (bymistake also 9) the same (the pulp removed) somewhatmaguificd to showits triangular form.

Champacam RheedeHort. Mat. 1. tab. 19. M. Chans

paca partlyLin.Willd. DeCandolle, notBlame.

A native of Malabar and the more elevated hills ofthe Peninsula, Putney mountains at an elevation o f

abou t 5000feet. Shevaroy hi lls 4500—01! both of roleicutI athm d ens.

l am enab ed bylineans of cultivated specimens of

the Chant aca,w'

eh correspond in almos t every pa rticular wit Blume

’s character, so far as it goes, to s e

parate this species, though on characters less preciseand satisfactory than I could have wished, owing to

my s cimene not being in flower. The ovaries andcarpe s afi

’

ord, in the present state of our knowledg e ,the best distinctive characters, the polished shield- lik ethe ovaries is v characteristic, while the large prominentwarts of t e carpels are scarcely less so.

P 10. M . nilag irica. (Z enker) Leaves elliptic, g labrous, acuminated, acute at the base stipules ands

pathes silk petals 8 in two verticels:stamens shorter

t an the co umn of fructification : ovaries numerous ,l -ovuled : carpels one seeded,warty.

Neelg herriss in woods . Flowers whiteThis species associates in so many poants with m

plant, that I sus t a more careful examination wiunite them. T e points of difl

‘

erence are, that inM .

n ilag irica, the spathes are described as sire

i

gle in place

of double, the corolla as 8 petaled, rang in quaternery series, «I and 4, in place of $ 9 in ternary order,and la

idy, as

ll

'i‘aving ovaries with solitary ovules, in

in one

52. One bractial and two calycine spathes.

l l. M. Palneyensis . (R.W.) Glabrous, leaves elliptic, or sub-obovate, acuminated, acute at the base : sti

pules and spathes, clothedwith silky appressed hairs zpetals 6-9, ranged in ternary order, exterior ones obovate, interiorwhennine,lauciolate:stamens numerousmucronate, nearly equalling the column of fructification : ovaries numerous, .

4-ovuled: fruitWoode, Pulney mountains at an elevation of 6000feet,flowering in September.A handsome, tall, straight. tree,with ascending scarcely spreading branches . The leaves vary in their form,

being elliptic in some and passing into obovate inothers, coriacious,g labrous.Peduncles shorter than the

petiole, thick, hairy,markedwith two ring s,where thespathes have separated, stamens numerous, caducous,except two,which often remain, long after the others,attached to the middle pedicel, ovaries numerous,ovules, very constantly, four, suspended.

PM. L anu

finosa. (Wall. Tent, Fl, Nepal.) Every

where clothe with greyish woolly ubescence : leavesoval, obtusely acuminated, sli ht y attenuated andacute at the base : stipules an spathes, tomentose

petals about 12 in a ternary (P) order :column of froctification nearly twice the length

of the stamens : ovaries numerous, car

pels sub—glo se,2 or 3 seeded.Woods of N epa flowering in Apr il and May.

This s ecies is readily distinguished by being everywhere c othed with woolly pubescence. As alreadyobserved 1 have referred it doubtfully to this section,on account of its su

pposed double spathe, two being

figured, andmentions in the description.

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .15

ANONACE/E .

Th is large, and truly tropical, order, is composed entirely of trees or shrubs , (no herbaceous m ember has as yet been found apperta ining to it) with alternate, simple , entire, ex - sti

pulate, often fragrant, leaves ; and hermaphrodite, except in Hya lostemma , (Wall.) regular,ax illary flowers . These are usually pale, or dull yellowish g reen, or brown, but sometimes

yellow, and in Uvaria g randfflora are rich crim son, for the most part axillary, solitary, or afewtogether ; but in Gua tterza long g

'

folz'

a they form large clusters ; in A rtabotris, they spring

from curiously hooked grapples , or tendrils , a parently abortive branches .

The calyx is generallydeeply threeparte or rather perhaps, consists of three distinct sepals,partly un ited at the base ; where they are very broad. The corolla cons ists of six etals, in a

double series , three and three, often unequal ; som etimes the exterior, sometimes the interiorseries , being much larger than the others all caducous . The stamens are usually ve numer

ous , sess ile, and closely cover thewhole of the enlarged, somewhat globose torus , rarelyRefinite asin B ocag ea the anthers are two - celled, lateral, open ing outwardly, and surmounted by an elongation of the connective , sometim es pointed, but oftener flattened, and truncated,m ore rarely theyare adnate, as in M iliusa , a peculiarity which,when it occurs,prom ises to afford a useful g enericdistinction . The ovaries are generally numerous, one - celled, congested on the apex of the prominenttorus, either free or united ovules fewor numerous ,variously attached being either numerous andtransverse , spr ing ing in a double rowfrom the inner angle of the cell in Uva ria or solitary, anderect, andfrom the bottom ofthe cell inGua ttéria or pendulous from the topofthe cell in Orophea .

Style usually short orwanting , stigma capitate. The fruit is apparentlym ore variable in its characterthan the other rts ofthe fructification, andhas hitherto been almost entirely looked to for genericdistinctions . n some, it cons ists of numerous, un ited,one- seeded, carpels, enveloped in soft pulp,and form ing together a pulpy fruit, as inAnona (the custard- ap le, sour sop, and bullock

’s heart)

in others, the carpels have one or severalseeds ,and are borne on a ong peduncle,as in Uvaria ,Gua tq

teria ,&c . and sometimes these carpels though otherwise distinct, remain sessile, orwith thepeduncles so short that the carpels form together s globose head :(this variation occurs in some speciesof Uvaria , andMiliusa .) In others, as Unona, the carpels are elongated, conta in ing several seeds,and contracted between them like a necklace of beads . The seeds universally possess the

remarkable character of having rum inated albumen, like those of the nutmeg . A fewhavethem arilled as in that genus, which (aril) when it exists , is supposed to secrete at the base ofthe seeds , a res inous h ighly aromatic matter . This is the case in what is called the Ethiopianpper, {Habzelia Ethiopica) and some others , which, partly on that account, the younger

geCandolle has united to form the genus Habzelia , a genus common to both Africa, and America, but not yet found in A sia.

A rrm rr iss . The affi n ities of Anonacece are so various, as not to be easily indicated in a fewwords , but their closest alliance is certainly with Mag noliacece, from wh ich however, they arereadilydistinguished, by their ex - stipulate leaves , their more distinctly formed, and sub-

pers istentcalyx ,by the form of their anthers , the arrangemen t of their ovar ies , but above allby their rum ius ted albumen . This last character however, combined with the ternary arrangement of theirflowers, the occas ional presence of an ar il, and their aromatic properties, so closely associatesthem with Myrslz

’

cacew, (the nutmeg tr ibe) that Professor Lindley seems to cons ider the latter,as little else than an apetalous form of Anonacew. Thus constituted, it is difi cult to give an

abridged character of the order,but as ,generally speaking , the Indian species present the normalforms, their character may be summed up in the following terms .

Esss s rmn CHARACTER . Polypetalous, polyandrous, ovaries wholly superior : carpels moreor less distinct :very rarely solitary : seeds , usually without an aril, album en aromatic, rum ius ted. Leaves alternate, ex - stipulate. In one Indian genus Hyalostemma) the flowers aredimcious .

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTR IBUTION. This, as already remarked, is strictly s eaking , a tropicalorder, confined to Asia,Africa,andAmerica, nonehaving as yet been found in urope,or Anatra

16 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

lia . and very few beyond the 3oth degree of latitude. In 1832, when Alphonse DeCandolle

published his memoir on this fam ily, be reckoned 204 as the total number of species , of these87 are A s iatic, 95 Am erican , and 22 or 23 African . He thinks, however, that the relative proerlien of the A nonaceaz, to the total vegetation, is nearly the same in all equatorial reg ions .

In 1818, the number of known species amounted to l05, hence in the short interval of 14 years,the number of species was doubled, and several have s ince been added. Dr.Wallich enumerates

about 80 Indian species, to these one or two were added by Mr . Arnott and m yself, and severalother peninsular species , have been recently discovered in the course ofmy excurs ions :doubtless,many yet rem a in in our jungles , especially in those tracts of hilly country, enjoying a moistclimate,with a moderate range of temperature . From this I infer, that when such localitieshave been more carefully exam ined, the Indian list will be found to exceed 100 species ; which Icons ider the more probable, as I observed at Courtallum , where I found the greatest number,that they always occupied the thickes t woods, and being themselves, generally of a very plain,and unostenta tious aspect, with small flowers, are apt to be passed unnoticed. In proof of thecorrectness of this opinion, I believe it is only necessary to add, thatwhen DeCandolle and Dune]wrote, the number of known, Indian species, amounted to only thirteen.

Paors ar ras’

AND Us as . L ike most other tropical orders, the properties and uses ofAnonaceae, are imperfectly known to Europeans ; and in this country at leas t, a very fewhave asyet been adm itted into cultivation, though some of them are suffi ciently ornamental. For theirfruit, three species ofA nona , are cultivated in India, A . squamosa, (custard- apple) A . reticula ta,(bullock

’

s heart) and J . muricata , (sour sop) . Th is last I have not m yself seen in India, butbeing the .d . as ia tica of L innaeus, mus t have been one of the first introduced.

The Gualterio lon folia (or Awe/mm) is commonly cultivated aboutMadras , and some other

places, as an ornaments”

tree a distinction towh ich its elegant form justly entitles it, but itswoodis sa id tobe soft, and of little use. A rtabotris ordoratissima , a diffuse shrub, with exceeding lyfragrant flowers, spring ing from a curious book,or grapple, is occasionally, though too rarely, cultivated as an ornamental shrub,which it well merits . These, to the best of my recollection,are the only members of this order, I have met with in cultivation . Many others both ofIndian ,

'

and Exotic orig in, m ight however be brought, with advantage, into our gardens . TheUvarz

’

a ra ndfflora ,a superb plant, a native both of Sumatra, and Ceylon , which has

succeedefwell in the Calcutta botan ic garden, has large showy bright crimson flowers . Uvarianarum the one represented here, m ight also form a des irable addition to the fewornamentalshrubs , we possess . Guatteria virg ata , (the lancewood of Jama ica ) the wood ofwhich is highlyes teem ed in England, on account of its s treng th, and elas tici ty, m ight form a very useful addition to our stock of woods , suited for the operations of the coachmaker .

Most species of A nonacea.’ are remarkable for their fragrance and for their aromaticpreper.

ties,diffused through every part of the plant. The roots of the Uva ria na rum enjoy these properties ia a high degree ; and are,we are informed by Rlieede,much employed in Malabar, in the cureof a variety of diseases . He states that the infusion of them , is successfully adm inistered in someforms of fever, and hepatic disease ; that bruised in saltwater and rubbed on the skin

, theycure the morbus pedicularis , orig inating in general weakness . This property of destroyingverm in, is equally enjoyed by the seeds of the custardo apple , which, we are informed, by Mr.

Royle, are, in Bengal, powdered and m ixed with flour of Bengal g ram , ( C icer A rielinum)and used to wash the ha ir for the purpose of destroying these unwelcome intruders . Contraryto the usual character of the tribe, the leaves of the cus tard- apple have a heavy disag reeablesm ell. Upon the whole I th ink it may be safely asserted, that rich as India is, in species ofthis order, we as yet know very little of their useful properties , and judg ing from analogy, itm ay with equal safety be asserted, that they should be carefully in

quired into. For example, we

already knowthat mos t of the species ,of Habzelz'

a , natives of both fries , andAm erica , are highlyaromatic, and tha t the seed ofone, or more of them , forms a cons iderable article of commerce,under the name of Ethiopian pepper. In Xylopia , (B itter wood, so called from the tas te of thewood) aWest Indian g enus , the bitter principle so universally prevails , that every part of the

plants possess it. In X . g labra the wood, bark, and berries , have an agreeable bitter taste,not unlike that of the orange seed. The wild pigeons feed much on the latter, and owe thatdelicate bi tterish flavour, so peculiar to them in the season, wholly to this part of their food.

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY . 17

Fresh gathered from the tree, they are agreeable to the palate , and grateful to the stomach .

The bark is also richly impregna ted with this juice , as well as the wood, and both yield a veryagreeable bitter in the mouth while fresh ; but that dim inishes greatly after they are drIed.

The bitter quality of this tree is commun icated with great facility. A handful of the sbav

ings immersed in water, and instantly taken out aga in , will render it of a very bitter taste. Sugar

sent over in hogsheads m ade of this wood , was so bitter that no person would purchase it.

Bedsteads , and presses m ade of it are proofaga ins t cockroaches and other insects .

“A decoc

tion of it is sa id to create appetite, and possess the usual ton ic properties of bitters . These

examples are I presume , sufficient to establish the value of the properties inherent in membersof this fam ily, and go fa r to prove , that among the num erous Indian species belong ing to it, wehave good reason to expect, some, when properly investigated, will be found not less valuable,than the better known Am erican and African ones .

R EMARKS ON rm:G ENERA , &c. Of this order Dr . Roxburgh , in his Flora Indica , g ivescharacters of 27 species , classed under three g enera , nam ely, Anona , Ura rt

’

u, and Unona

Gua tteria , was afterwards added to the catalogue, of Indian g enera . by referring several of

Roxburgh’

s Uvaria’

s to that genus . These genera were distinguished by characters almost

entirely taken from the fruit, without reference to the ovary, or indeed to any other part

A ncna , being dis tinguished by having a number of carpels , united into a s ingle compound fruit

Uva ria , by hav ing its carpels distinct, stipitate , fleshy, m any- celled, and many seeded with the

seeds rang ed in two rows :Unona , by having distinct, but dry, many - seeded, carpels the seeds

ranged in a single row, and often resem bling , by the contraction of the carpal between them , a

necklace :Gua tteria , by having dry, globose, stipitate , one - seeded, carpels . These s imple , and,at fi rs t sight, apparently all- suffi cient characters , were found on more careful exam ination to beexceeding ly incorrect. Uva ria , for example , to which was attributed a m any- celled fruit, andtwo rows of seed, was found to have a one - celled ovary, a nd the rows of ovules , if two, so closeas scarcely to be distinguishable , and in truth form ing a s ingle line attached to the inner angle ;hence the many cells ,

and two rows of seed observed in the ma ture carpel, mus t be produced bymere condensation of the surrounding pulp, and the divergence of the free extrem ities , of theseed ,

s ince they are all attached along the same angle of the seed vessel. In Unona , the s tructure of the ovary is the same,with probably fewer ovules , hence it follows , that the abortion ofa fewovules (by leaving more room for the regular development of the rem ainder) may convert aUva ria

, into aUnona ; and vice versa, an unusual number of ovules , or any hindrance to the usual

course of development of the seed vessel, m ight equally change Unona , into Uva ria the dif¢

ferences between the two genera, thus rest on adventitious , not s tructural, differences . In support

of the justice of this pos ition, it is only necessary to s tate, that a large proportion of the speciesof the latter genus, have , s ince the publication of DeCandolle

’

s systema , been removed to theformer . The propriety therefore, nay, the necessity, of uniting the species of both, and of twoAmerican g enera, havin sim ilar ovaries and fruit, (J aimie and Porcilia ) into one genus , as

ably advocated by M . fiicbard, in some rem arks on the subject in the Flore Seneg ambie,becomes evident. Blume, however, as appears from DeC andolle

’s mem oir, has revised the

character of Uva ria , and still keeps them distinct ; but as I have not his work to consult, I amunable to state with what propriety . Gua tteria , wh ich in like m anner is characterized from themature fruit, without reference to the ovary, m ay be s imulated by species of Uva ria , or Unona ,through the abortion of all the ovules but one, a modification of which my collection presentsspecimens .

Swayed by these facts , M . Richard proposes an am ended character for Uvaria , In whichthe one - celled, many ovuled ovaries , with the ovules attached along the inner angle , form s theessential dis tinction ; a modification which adm its of the association of all the species nowre

ferred, to the four g enera above named. The character of Gua tteria , m ight be sim ilarly m odified with advantage, and would then, perhaps, be found to separate the Am erican, from theIndian, divis ion of the genus . All the Indian ones I have yet exam ined have a s ing le, erect,ovule, attached to the bottom of the ovary. Whether or not the American Species referred tothis g enus, possess thi s structure, I am unable to say, but in the following Indian ones, I have

London’s Encyclopwdia of Plants, Art. Xylopia.

.t8 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

ascertained it to exis t. Gua tteria long if‘

olia , Korinti, cerasoides , and suberosa . By this addition to the character

,all Anonacewmith s ingle seeded carpels , but hav ing more than one ovule,or

even with one ovule pendulous, or attached to the inner angle , and placed transversely across

the cell Of the ovary, will be excluded. In combination with this structure of the ovary, Ihave in all the above instances, found the petals nearly e ual, and the connectivum of the sta

m ens truncated, that is, prolong ed beyond the anthers , andending in a broad shield- like apex .

Four other genera have m ore recently been added, to the peninsular flora . A rtobotris,Brown

,M iliusa, A lph . DeCandolle, Loboca rpus,Wight and A rnott, and Oropliea , Blame.

The first of these is well known : the second is described, and figured, by the younger DeCandolle, in a m emoir in the G eneva , Natural H istory Society

’s , Mem oirs , but apparently from very

imperfect specimens , s ince his character differs in some essential points , from num erous specim ens , I have collected s ince m y return to India , and most of them from the same station, fromwhich his was procured, nam ely,Courtallum . DeCandolle ass igns to his, 3 sepals , and 3 petals ,un ited half their leng th, and form ing a bell- shaped corolla, at the base, that is two series ofverticels . In m ine, there are invariably three verticals , the two outer ones much sm aller, bothhairy, and sepaloid, in aspect, g iving it the appearance of hav ing 6, in place of 3 sepals, and a

3 -

petaled corolla :while the stamens are represented by DeCandolle as only I2 in num ber, and

placed in a s ingle series, round the elevated torus on which the ovaries are borne,whi1e in m ine, Ihave always found them , as in mostof the other members of the order , numerous , closely coveringthe whole of the torus, and nearly sess ile , in place Of being furnishedwith a distinct long ish filam ent. I think I have nowtwo species of this genus,one ofwhich , in spite of these discrepancies,I consider the sam e as DeCandolle

'

s . Loboca r us,I have not aga in m et with, and have nothing

to add, to what is contained in myflora . Grop ea ,which I lately found at C ourtallam , in densethickets , is a handsome shrub, but with small inconspicuous flowers . It is readily distinguishedby hav ing the inner, series of petals, much larger than the outer, and attenuated at

the base, into a distinct clawor un uis . The stamens are in a double ? series about 15, andhave the appearance of being 4- celle from a depress ion along the line of dehiscence . Ovaries

with 2 pendulous ovules , and furn ished with a large style. Some other, perhaps newgeneraand species , of which I have specimens, rem ain to be added, but as I have not yet been able to

ascerta in, whether or not they are already named, I forbear for the present, characteriz ing them ,

as it is m y intention, so soon as leisure perm its , to re - exam ine the whole series , and figure, anddescribe all those that are new, or but imperfectly known. One however, of these genera, ofwh ich I possess two species , both from Ceylon, distinguished by some unusual peculiarities, istoo in teresting to be passed over in s ilence on the present occas ion .

In the form of the corolla and torus . this genus associates with Cwlocline, but differs sowidely in the character of its ovaries and fruit, as leaves me no room to doubt its being newand perfectly distinct. The most remarkable peculiarities observed in the course ofmy, perhaps

too hurried, exam ination ,were— lst. The calyx is pers istent, the sepals un ited to near the apex,enlarg ing with, and enclos ing , the fruit.—2d. The torus is concave,prolonged beyond the ovaries,bearing the stamens exteriorly, and the ovarieswithin.

—3d. The ovaries are indefinite, few(oneovuled,with the ovules attached near the apex , and pendulous .

—4th . The s tyles are long , subulate,ending in a simple acute stigma .

—5th . The carpels are one - seeded, un ited into a single fruit, enclosedwithin the enlarged calyx , and ranged in a single row,

round the central ax is, with thesoli tary compressed seeds, pendulous from the apex . The fru it, in my specimens , is not quitem ature, but Is sufl

‘iciently advanced to enable me to ascertain these points . This genus maytherefore be thus characterized.

PATONIA, R .W.Sepals 3, united at the base, persistent, enlargingwith the fruit. Petals, in a double series, distinct.

Stamens numerous, distinct, truncated at the apex.

Torus concave, bearing stamens externally, and

ovaries within. Ovaries free : ovules.

solitary, (P)

pendulous from the apex. Style long ish, subulate.

S tigma acute. Carpels numerous, ( lO- 15) all uni ted,

enclosed within the enlarged tubular calyx. Seeds

solitary, compressed, pendulous from the apex of the

carpel. Trees or shrubs : leaves oblong, lauciolate,acuminated, labrous : flowers axillar solitary, or

several toget er, from a short pedunc e, or abortivebranch : corolla slender ; petals tapering towards thepoint, pubescent : fruit, concealed within the tube ofthe greatly enlarged, 3- lobed calyx.

This g enus is dedicated to M iss Paton, nowMrs.

ColonelWalker. The nameWalker-ia being pre-occu

pied, prevents me dedicating it to my highly esteemedandamiable friend, under the name bywhich only she isknown to science, as the diligent and acute investiga

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

tor, and, not less gra hic than persevering, delineator,of the plants of Ley on.

I . P.Walkem (R .W.) Leaves glabrous, oblonglauciola te, acum inated lobes of the calyx, acute inflower, obtuse in fruit corolla somewhat ventricose.

Hob. Ceylon, in woods communica ted by ColonelWa lker .

The leaves are about 6 inches long , by 2 broad,witha long acumen, shortly a ttenuated at the base, glabrouson both s ides . The corolla is somewhat ventricose

in the m iddle, contractedwithin the calyx, and towardsthe point ; lobes of the calyx very acute, and reach

ing to the dilated portion of the corolla, as the fruit

2. P. wifolia (R .W.) Leaves lauciolate, acuminated, g ahrons :lobes of the calyx broad, very obtuse,ha ir corolla g ibbous at the base, attenuated upwar 8, tomentose : fruit

Hob. Ceylon, communicated by ColonelWalker.A shrubwith labrous, lauciolate, acuminated, leaves ;

from I; to 2 inc es long , and about I broad. Corollavery g ibbous, or sub-globose, at the base, and thencea ttenuated to a oint. Calyx lobes, broad, obtuse,shorter than the ils ted portion of the corolla Thefruit of this species is s till unknown, hence It maypossibly prove a species of Ce locliac.

advances, becoming broad, obtuse, and refiexed at the

potnt.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 6.

5, 6. Back and front viewof the stamens.—7. Ovarydetached—8, 9. The same cut transversely, and lontudinally, showing thep

osition of the ovaries.—10,fl .A carpel cut transverse and longitudinally, showingthe position of the seeds, and the spurious cells of thefruit. - l2. A seed - 13. The same cut vertically, toshowthe ruminated albumen allmore cr less mag ni

fi cd.

l . Flowering branch of Uvar ia N afl lm.—4 . Pedun

cle, and cluster of full-grown, stalked, carpels.N alural size.

2. Sepals, stamens, and ovaries.

3 . Flower, cut vertically, showing the ovaries andstamens on the prominent torus.

V .—MENISPERMACE1E .

This is a small tropical order, consisting for the most partof twining shrubs,with alternate, usually entire , ex - stipulate, leaves ; and numerous, small, flowers . The flowers are

unsexual, and usually diaecious , consisting of one or several rows of sepals, (Lindley) or ofsepals andpetals , according to other authors , each row, having from three to four parts . The sta

mens are either distinct, each oppos ite a petal, as in Cocculus, or they are fewand united, form ing ,in Cissampelos and Clypea , a small antheriferous disk in the centre of the flower, or they are

numerous, and united, form ing in A namirta , (the cocculus indicus of commerce) a round head.

Anthers , either erect, proceeding from the point of the filament, or aduate, and attached transversely across it, as in Cissampelos . Ovaries , usually several, free, or but slightly united at thebase, one- celled,with a solitary,pendulous, ovule, attached, by the m iddle, to the angle of the cell.

Drupes , usually berried, one - seeded, oblique, compressed ; the seed of the same shape as the

fruit. Em bryo curved in the direction of the circumference. A lbum en thin and fleshy, rarelynone . Radical superior, but its pos ition sometimes obscured by the curvature of the seedLindle

Sevyeral, perhaps all the species , Of the genus Cocculus are so remarkably tenacious

Of life, that if even a large branch be broken , at a cons iderable distance from the ground, theupper portion , imm ediately throws out a slender fi liform root, which speedily re -es tablishes theconnex ion with the soil, and preserves the plant. I have seen such a root eight feet long , andnot thicker throughout than a common pack thread.

A FFIN IT IES . It is difficult in the present state of the science to state the aflinities of thisorder . H itherto they have been supposedn early allied to .dnonacea:and B erberidece, and are

placed in nearly all modern system s of Botany between these orders , a view in which Dr.

Lindley, and as it appears to me, with good reason, cannot coincide . The following extract

will expla in his grounds of dissen t, at the sam e time that it exhibits, while canvass ing them ,

the ideas of those who take a different view.

It is usual to refer the species of this alliance to Polypetalae, because the calyx has its

segments in two series and it cannot be denied that, if paper characters are alone to be con

sulted, this ought to be the proper course. But if we compare Cocculales with the orders with

h

t

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

wh ich they are thus associated, we cannot find one other important circumstance of agreement.It is usual to station them near B erberacewor Anonacce but what their affinity really is wi thsuch orders it is difficult to conceive, even if we adm it the ir relationship to Schizandreae. But

if we look at them with an unpre'

udieed eye, we cannot fa il to be s truck with their general resemblance to Smilaccce among ndogens , difi

'

ering in little except their D icotyledonous, m ore

highly developed, embryo , and exogenous s tem . In the nex t place, the ir floral envelopes ,although in two rows , and therefore technically composed of both calyx - and corolla , agree

altogether with the biseriate calyx of some Polyg onacece , such as Rumex . Thirdly, the absenceof zones from the wood ass im ilates them to Columnosae. In short, look at these plants in whatway we will, their relation seems to be in all important particulars with Impeifeclae. I , there

fore, station them here at the peril of Offending all the prejudices that have been graduallygrowing up since the appearance of the Genera planta rum Of Juss ieu in

The following extract from the same work, (Lindley’

s Natural System of Botany) explains

also changes of pos ition which the seed undergoes, in its progress from the ovule, to the m ature

uit

According to Aug . de St. H ilaire, the ovule of C issampelos is attached to the m iddle of

the s ide of a straight ovary, which after fecundation gradually incurves its apex until the styletouches the base of the pericarp, when the two surfaces being thus brought into contact un ite,and a drupe is formed, the seed of which is curved like a horse - shoe, and the cav ity Of which isdiv ided by a spurious incomplete dissepiment, consisting Of two plates the attachm ent of theseed is at the top of the false dissepiment, on each s ide of wh ich it extends equally.

Pl. Usuelles, No . 35. The whole order requires careful rev is ion by means of living plants, andis wellworth the especialattention of some Indian botan ist.”

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUTION. As already stated, this is m ainly a tropical order, thespecies of which are, with a few exceptions , natives of Am erica , and As ia . Only five are

known from Africa , and S iberia has one. Mr . Hoyle mentions som e species as extending upto the foot of the H imalayas , and states that, Cocculus laurg

'

folius is only found at elevations ,on these mounta ins , Of from to feet. Of the num ber of species referable to thisorder, it seems at present imposs ible to do more than make a guess , owing to the uncerta intywhich prevails in regard to them : m any hav ing been described under two or three differentnames , or v ice versa, two or three under one. Dr . Lindley estim ates them under 100, Box

burgh describes 19 , Blum e g ives characters of 16 from Java , exclus ive of allied genera . Dr .

A rnott and myself, after reducing some species enumerated in Botanical works , ass igned I Ias the number referable to the Peninsular flora : one or two I have s ince added , but even withthese additions , I doubt whether the continen tal flora , so far as yet known , contains more than

25 species . Dr.Wallich, in his list of Indian plants , enum era tes 3 1, but not all continental,and as some Of them have , on more careful exam ina tion than he had time to bestow,

been founduntenable, I believe, m y estim ate though moderate, will be found rather to exceed than fall

short of the actual number, on excluding Stauntonia, which Mr . R . Brown does not cons idera member of this order,

P ROPERTIES AND Uses . This order though of lim ited ex tent, and hav ing nothing attrae

tive in its appearance, yet cla im s for itself, much cons ideration, on accoun t of the valuable pro

perties many of its species is known to contain . To it we are indebted for the deservedlyes teemed Colombo root, the produce of Cocculus pa lm /us

,so valuable on accoun t of its tonic,

and antiseptic properties the Pa reim bravo , which was at one time es teemed so powerful aIithon triptic, that it was expected to render useless the operation of Lithotomy, and is still considered in Baz il, its native country, as a m ost useful rem edy in all affections of the urinary

passages . To this order also , we are indebted for the Cocculus indicus, so well known in com

merce, but for purposes of such doubtful propr iety, that its employm ent by the brewer to adul

terate Ale or Beer , is prohibite dunder no less a penalty than£200 and£500, upon the seller. TheGuluncha , Of th is countr so strong ly recommended as a febrifuge, (see Calcutta MedicalTransact ions ,) is equally derived from this fam ily. B itter and tonic properties , in short, seem

to pervade every m ember of the order . The Cocculus (menispermum ) pa lmalus was formerlysuccessfully cultivated in Madras, but being confined to a male plant, was soon lost, it is how

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22 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

g enera, the first species , C . ha rnandifolia , be ing a true species of Clypea ,while C . B urma nn i ,m ay form the type of an intermediate genus, but more nearly approaching C issampelos , thanClypea and for which Dr . A rnott proposes the nam e of Cycles dis tinguish ing i t from bo th ,

by the male calyx being of one piece , ca inpanulate , 4 - lobed ; and collaterally by the absence o fthe foliacious bracts at the bas e of the female pedicels . To each of these genera , an additionalspecies has recently been added. That to Clypea ,which Dr. A . has des ig nated C .Wig /i tii, a species I found at Courtallam , is at once distingu ished from C . ha rna ndifolia , by the male flowersbeing all collected into a s ingle capitulum , in place of form ing an umbel of 5or 6 long peduncledcapitula . I hope soon to publish outline figures, of these species, as well as of all those,ascertained to be endowed with useful properties .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 7.

l . Flowering shoot of Cocculus macrocarpus, male 6. The same, one-half of the teeta removed to showplants. the seed.

2. Panicle of ripe fruit, natural size. 7 . The seed in s itu, cut longitudinally, to showthe3. Male flowers, showing the sepals, and anthers, form of the cotyledons.

one with the sepals, slightly 3- lobed at the apex, the 8. The same removed from the tests , the pointed orother a smaller flowered variety, with the sepals superior extremely, the radical—a ll more or lecs magenti re. ngfied.

4 . A detached stamen,with its adjoininglpetal. Oassavar iou.

—The cotyledons are enclosed in a

5. A dried mature carpel, as seen in the erbarium. thin coating of albumen, not shown in the plate.

VI .-BERBER IDE}E .

A small extra - tropical order , cons isting for the most part, of small trees and shrubs, rarelyherbs, with scattered, petioled, s imple or pinnate, leaves the m arg ines furnished with spinousteeth . The flowers are regular, hermaphrodite, racemose or solitary ; yellow, white, or reddish,being the preva iling colours .

The calyx is inferior, free, of 3—4—6— early diciduous sepals , which are Often coloured or

petaloid and surrounded by several bractioles , are ranged in a double series, with the marg ines

overlapping each other, previous to the opening of the flower, (per (E stivationem alternatimimbricatis ) . Petals , equalling the number of se ale, and placed oppos ite to them within, Oftenfurn ished with scales or g lands at. the base. he stam ens are free, equal to the number of

petals , and are placed Oppos ite them ; the fi laments short, occas ionally so irritable, that on

eing slightly touched on the inner surface near the base , they spring forward with elas ticforce, and strike the anther aga inst the stigma . Anthers two - celled, the cells bursting withelasticity by recurved valves’ from the base to the apex , and not according to the more usual

form , by pores or a long itudinal slit. Ovary superior, one - celled,with several ovules , usuallyspring ing from the base, erect : style short stigma thick, orbiculate . Frui t 8 fleshy berry, or

indihescent, capsule, with few,exar illate, erect, albumenous, seed ; albumen fleshy, or horny,

with the straight embryo in the ax is .

A FF IN IT IES . The affi nities of this order, like those of Menispermaceae seem as yet doubtful, and uncerta in, m uch divers ity of opinion preva iling , regarding them , among Botanists .

Generally they are considered very closely allied to Men ispermaceae, on account of their ternaryarrangem ent of the parts of the flower, and the stamens being oppos ite the petals . In both

orders there is a double verticel of sepals , and in both, the petals are opposite the stamens :

but the habit, unisexual flowers , and structure of the ovary of the latter, is different,Dr . Lindley thinks them more nearly allied to the g rossularew, (the current and gooseberrytribe) a viewin which he is well supported by the sim ilarity of habit of the two orders as

however the question is one of little consequence to Indian Botanists , where but one genus of

In preparing the figure, this curious piece of structure was overlooked by the draugh tsman, owing to h ismagnified ti ure ot

'

the anther, being made from a young stamen taken from an unexpanded flower bud, inplace of a In grown flower.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 23

the order , Berberi'

s,exists it would be a fruitless labour to pursue the inquiry. In the singular

structure of the anthers, there is a striking analogy with Lauriaw and other orders, not other

wise akin to B erberidew.

ESSENTIAL Cnanacr s a . Polypetalous, dicotyledons with fewer than 20 stamens, anthers

with recurved valves ovary wholly superior carpels solitary leaves furnished with stipules .

G sooa arnican DisTniaUTION. Of this order I doubt whether there is one species thattruly deserves to be cons idered tropical. In so far as India is concerned,

I believe, this is strictlycorrect ; all the species yet found in this country, being from high hills , where the reducedtemperature amply compensates for lowlatitude. De Candolle (Syst. Veg .) g ives a brief summary of their distr ibution over the globe in nearly the following words Natives of mountain

ous places in the temperate parts of the northern hem isphere, and of South America as far as

the stra ights ofMajellan, none in Africa, Australia, nor in the South Sea Islands .

”In India

I have found them on the Neilgherries , Pulney mountains, and on the more elevated reg ionsof Ceylon ; but none under feet of elevation above the sea. Mr. Royle has several speciesfrom the H imalayas .

Paor iia 'r iss AND Uses —Under this head I have but a fewwords to offer . The plants

compos ing the genus Berberis, are in their native places, very ornamental, but l greatllyh

fear,willnot prove such on the plains of India, couldwe even succeed in introducing them . e berriesare acid and astringent, very agreeable to the taste, and in Europe, are employed to makecooling and refreshing drinks for patients affected with bowel complaints accompaniedwith hea tof skin , thirs t, and other febrile symptoms in Nepal those of Berberis crista ta , are driedby the hill people and sent down as raisins to the plains . The wood and bark are stronglyastringent, and are employed medicinally on account Of these properties , either in tincture, orinfus ion . In the Upper provinces ofIndia,we learn from Mr. Royle, that an extract,prepared bydigesting in water sliced pieces of the root, stem and branches , of any of the Species of Barberry, in an iron vessel, boiling for some time, straining , and then evaporating to a proper

consistence is much employed in Indian medicine, and every where known under the name ofR usot. This extract, he considers the Lyceum of Dioscorides . He adds The meat is muchused by native practitioners, as an external application, both in the incipient and advanced stageof Ophthalm ia ; it is freq

uently also employed by Euro an practitioners, either alone, or withequal parts OfOpium an alum rubbed up in water, an

applied round the eye. I have seen it

particularly useful when the acute symptoms have subsid and the eye is so much swollen as to

prevent the effectual aplication of any other remedy. By one surgeon of rank and experience,it was found particularly useful in the ophthalm ia with which the European soldiers wereafllicted on their return from Egypt ; and Mr . Playfair, the translator of the Taleef-Shureef,says, it is perhaps the best application in Ophthalm ia, ever used .

”

So far as I have been able to learn this medicine is quite unknown in Southern India, Iwould therefore suggest, on the strength of the above very respectable authorities, that some of

this extract should be prepared from the species found on the Neilgherries, which are the same

as those found on the H imalayas , and subjected to experiment.In a commercial point of viewthe species represented is not undeserving of notice, one of

the firstEuropean chem ists (Vauquelin) having ascertained it tobe inferior to fewwoods for dying ayellowcolour, a fact, the value ofwhich is enhanced, not less by the facilities Of exportation tothe coas t, by the recently formed roads

,than by the extent to which it may be supplied the

species having a wide range of location along the western range of mountains . Mr . Drury inhis report on the commercial products of the Coimbatore district mentions this shrub, addingthat, from experiments which have been made, the root of the tree yields the finest dye.

He subm its some samples of cloth dyed from the wood, the colours of which I have attemptedto im itate on the three squares in the accompanying plate, whether these will be found permanent, technically fast colours

”remains to be ascertained, much of that property depending on

the mordants used for fixing them .

Rsns axs ON Gam ma AND Srsciss . As only one genus of Berberideaehas yet been met

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

with in India, it afl‘

ords no room for remark, I may however observe, that, I think there is a

newspecies Of Berberis on the Pulney mountains , referable to the section Mahonea ,with pinus ted leaves . I speak doubtfully , because I did not find flowers or fruit, and judge from habit

alone : the Pulney plant being a diffuse shrub,with long , somewhat scandent branches , and theNeilgherry one an erect, sparingly branched tree . In all other respects , so far as I wasenabled to judge, they are much alike , with this exception , that the Pulney one is met with a t

an elevation Of about feet, the Neilgherry one, to the best of my recollection, not underfeet of elevation.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 8.

l ,2. Branches of the Berberis tinctoria, one in 9. The same cut vertically, to showthe seeds—allflower, the other in fruit, but not yet mature—natural store or less mag nified.size. The square figures in the corner represent three3. Bracts, se ale and ovary. samples of cloth, dyed of similar colours, from the4. Petals an stamens, petals, each with two glands wood of this shrub.

at the base. OBSERVATION.—The detached stamen was taken

5. A detached petal. from a young,dried,flower bud, and did not present the6. Back and front views of the stamens. characteristic valvular dehiscence of the order ; a de

7. Ovary cut vertically, showing the erect ovules, feet, unfortunately, overlooked, until the impressionsu

pported on a short pedicel. had been printed ofl

'

.

A mature fruit.

VII —NYMPHcEACEAi .

A small order of a natic, herbaceous , floating plants ; with peltate, or cordate, fleshyleaves ; widely distribut over the northern, but very rare in the southern hem isphere ; more

able for the beauty of their flowers, and peculiarities of structure of their seed, whichhas g iven rise to much discuss ion among Botanists as to their afi nities and station in thesystem of vegetables, than for their useful properties .

The flowers are distinguished, b their numerous imbricated sepals, and petals , passinggradually into each other, but finally istinguished, by the former being pers is tent, while thelatter separate like those of other flowers . The petals, and stamens, are inserted into a large

disk which surrounds, and more or less covers , the pistil, and pass imperce tibly into each

other. The stamens are numerous, and inserted into the disk above the pets the filaments

are petaloid, the anthers aduate, bursting inwards by a double lon itudinal cleft. Ovary supe

rior, polysporous, many celled,with num erous stigmas, radiating m a common centre, form

ing a sort of cup. The fruit is many celled, indehiscent, with numerous albumenous seeds,attached to its spongy partitions , and enveloped in a gelatinous aril. Albumen farinacious .

Embryo small, on the outside Of the base of the albumen, enclosed in a membranous bag .

Cotyledons foliacious .

A vriNiTins . I have alreadyobserved, thatmuch divers ity of opinion exists among Botan istsas to the affinities of this order, these, have been carefully exam ined by Dr . Lindley, and are

ably stated by him in his Natural System Of Botany, from which I shall introduce a rather

long extract, explanatory of his views of their structure, the principal question being to determ ine, whether they are Mono—or Dicotyledons .

There exists a great diversity of Opinion among Botanists as to the real structure of this

order, and, consequently, as to its affi nities. This has arisen chiefly from the anomalous nature

of the embryo, which is not naked, as in most plants , but enclosed in a membranous sac orbag . By some, among whom was the late L . C . Richard, this sac or bag was cons idered a

Cotyledon, analogous to that of grasses , and enveloping the plumule ; and hence the order wasreferred to Endogens , or Monocotyledons, and placed in the vicinity of Hydrocha racece. Byothers, at the head ofwhom are Messrs . M irbel and DeCandolle, the sac is considered a mem

brane of a peculiar kind ; and what Richard and his followers denom inate plumule, is for them

a 2- lobed embryo,wherefore they place the order in ExOgens, or Dicotyledons . I do not thinkitworth citing all the arguments that have been adduced on each side the ques tion, as Botanists

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

seem nowto be generally agreed upon referring Nymphwaeec to Dicotyledons . I observemoreover, that VOn Marties,who once adhered to the Opinion, that Nymphwacece are Monoco

tyledonous, and nearly related to Hydrocharaceae, (see Hortus Regine Monacensis , p. 25

2new

places the order in its true position near Ru wnculaceae (see Conspectus , NO. hosewho are curious to inves tigate the subject are referred to DeCandolle

’

s Memoir, in the first

volume of the Transactions of the Physical and Natural H istory , Society of Geneva . In thislace it will be sufficient to advert briefly to theproof, that is supposed to exist of Nymphwaceae,being Dicotyledons . In the first place, the structure of the stem is essentially that of Exogens,

according to Mirbel’s exam ination of the anatomy ofNupha r luteum, in the AnnaleeduMuseum,

vol. 16, p. 20 ; and of Nelumbiwn, the close aflinity of which, with Nymphwacear, no one can

poss ibly doubt, in the same work, vol. 13, t. 34. In both these plants the bundles of fibresare described as being placed in concentric circles , the oungest of which are outermost ; butthey all lie among a great quantity of cellular tissue etween each of these circles is intersed a number of air- cells , just as is found in Myriopliyllum and Hippuris, both undoubtedgicotyledons in the opin ion of every body, except Link,who refers the latter to Endogens,(see Gewachsk, 6, p. Secondly, the leaves are those of Dicotyledons , and so is theirconvolute vernation,which is not known in Monocotyledons, and their insertion and distinctarticulation with the stem. Thirdly, the flowers of Nymphwacem have so great an analoggenerally with Dicotyledons, and particularly with those of Magnoliaceai, and their fruit withPapaceracee , that it is difficult to doubt their belong ing to the same group. Fourthly, thereasons which have been offered for cons idering the embryo Monocotyledonous, however plausible they may have appeared,while we were unac

'q‘ua inted with the true structure of the ovule

of other plants , have no longer the importance at they were formerly supposed to possess .

The sac, to which I have already alluded, to wh ich so much unnecessary value has been attached, and which was m istaken for a cotydelon by R ichard, is no doubt analogous to the sacof Saururus and Piper, and is nothing more than the remains of the innermost of the membrancas coats of the ovule, usually indeed absorbed, but in this and s im ilar cases remaininand covering over the embryo. Brown (appendix to King

’s voyage) considers it the remains o

the membrane of the Amnios. DeCandolle assigns a further reason for cons idering NymIiaiaceat Dicotyledons , that they are lactescent, a property not known in Monocotyledons .

gut in this he is m istaken L imnocharis, a genus belong ing to B utomaceae, is lactescent. Itmust moreover be observed, that the arrangement of the woody matter of N ap/tar luteum, isfar less obviously exogenous than would be supposed from the manner inwhich it is describedby Mirbel.

” See Lindley’s Natural System of Botany, 2d Ed. page I I .

This order in addition to the peculiarities above cited, affords one Of the best examples ofthe gradual trans ition of sepals into petals, and petals into stamens, there bein intermediaterows of both, that belong neither to the one set, nor the other. In some as ymphwa , thedisk is so remarkably developed, that it elevates itself as h igh as the top of the ovary, to thesurface of which it adheres, and the stamens being carr ied up along with it, appear to proceedfrom the top of the ovary ; and in the genus B arclaya , the petals also are carried upwith thestamens, on the outs ide of which, they even wh ere into a tube, so that in this genus we havethe s ingular instance, of an inferior calyx, and superior corolla , in the same plant.

”Lindley.

As the affi nities of this order have been so repeatedly and carefully examined by the ablestBotan ists of the age ; I shall in preference to attempting to state them in my own words ; againhave recourse to Dr. Lindley

’

s assistance, and introduce another extract from his excellentwork.

Supposing this order to be exogenous, and.

Dicotyledonous , a fact about whichappears to me to be no doubt, its immediate aflinity will be with Papaveracew, with some

genera of which it agrees in the very compound nature of the fruit, from the apex of whichthe sess ile stigmas radiate, in the presence of narcotic principles and a m ilky secretion, and inthe great breadth of the placenta . Nympharacece are also akin to Mag noliacece , with whichthey agree in the imbricated nature of the petals , sepals , and stam ens to Nelumbiacece , theirclose resemblance is evident ; with Ranunculaceae, they are connected through the tribe ofPaeonies, with which they agree in the dilated state of the disk,which, in Paeam

'

a papave.

races and Moutau, frequently rises as high as the top of the ovaries, and in the indefin itenumber i f their hypogynous stamens ; but in Rans aculaceae, the placenta only occupy the

26 ILLUSTRATIONS OF'

INDIAN BOTANY .

edge of each of the carpels, of which the fruit is made up ; so that in Nigella , in which the

carpels wh en in the centre, the seeds are attached to the axis ,while in Nymphwacm e, the

placenta; occupy the whole surface of each side of the individual car ls, of which the fruit iscomposed. But if such are the undoubted immediate aflinities of ymphasaeeae, it is certain

that some strong analogies ex ist between them and Hydrocha raceae, to the vicinity of whichthey are referred by those who believe them to be Monocotyledonous . Taking Nelumbiare ae

for a transition order, they have some relation to A lismacese, the only Monocotyledonous order,in which there is an indefinite number of carpels in each flower, and to Hydrocharaceae,withwhich they agree in the structure, though not the vernation , of their leaves , and their habit.An analogy of a s im ilar nature with this last may be also traced between them, and the mono

petalous sub-order, Menyantheae.

G sooaarmcu DISTRIBUTION. It is commonly remarked respecting a uatic plants gene

rally, that the same species are found in the most distant reg ions . The ymphoeaceae form

an exception to this law, each species being confined to a comparatively lim ited range of terri

tory. Four, according to De Candolle, (System Veget. ) are natives of Europe ; 2 of Egypt

2 of Siberia ; 9 of the warmer parts of As ia and Japan : 9 of North America and l of the

C ape,with the exception of which, they are almos t unknown in the southern hemisphere . Mr .

Reylewell remarks , that India may be considered their head quarters, as species of all the

here , exec t Nupha r, (the English yellowwater lily) are found in it namely, Nymphwa,uryale, an B are laya , and of Nymphaea a grea ter number than in any other country . Of

this last genus the same Species, with the exception of the red varieties of N. rubra, are

found in everypart of India,from the extreme south to the most northern confines .

Paorea'rms AND Uses . These beautiful aquatics have justly been the admiration of man

kind iu all countries where they grow, from the earliest ages while their habitation in the

m ids t of cool and placidwaters , combined with the chaste whiteness of their flowers, havetended to clothe them, in their estim ation, with imag inary properties for from what othersource could have sprung the belief, that plants, whose sens ible properties are es sentially tonic,shouldbe endowedwith sedative, cooling , and anti - aphrodis iacpowers ofsuch intens ity,as to causetotal indifference to sexual intercourse, or even absolute sterility. That such an opinion is purelyimag inary, may I think be safely inferred, from the estimation inwhich both the roots and seeds ofnearlyall the species ,natives of this and the adjoining countries, areheld, as affording a wholesomeand nourishing food. In this country the capsules and seed together are prepared in various

ways , sometimes ickled, sometimes stewed or made into curry, and sometimes , the seed are

ground and m ix with meal to make cakes . The underground stems, or roots , as they are

commonly called, are composed in great part of fecula, better known, perhaps, under the

names of Starch, and Arrow root, and are used both as aliment and medicine. In Africa welearn from the Flora Senegambiaa that the fruit is equally sought after by the inhabitants , andby the wild animals of the jungles . The Authors remark, it is surprising to see, at the

season of their maturity, the numbers of women and children returning towards evening , tothe village, laden with these fruits, which they lay in the sun until they dry and open naturally.

’

The seed are prepared for use by simply boiling , and then quickly terrifying them ,by which theyacquire a very reeable tas te. The farinacious roots are equally used for food, being firstroas ted among t e cinders ,when they acquire a taste resembling potatoes .

Dr. A inslie, in his Materia Indica (Vol. 2, page 234) suggests, in oppos ition to the

Opinion of the late Dr. Rattler, that the Neda! Kalung , meaning , nedel root, is not a species

of Nymphcea , but of Menyanthes, M indicts, a con'

ecture, to which he is led by the name

of the last mentioned plant being according to Rh e, Nodal-umbel.”I have endeavoured to

ascertain howfar this conjecture is correct, and find reason to believe that he is partly right, asnedel is a name bywhich the Menyonthes is known here:ambel, on the other hand, is appliedto a very different plant, namely, the Damasonium indicum , equally an aquatic, but difl

'

ering in

every other respect, and having no one point of aflinity beyond growing in water : a strikinginstance of the little faith to be reposed in native names, s ince Dr. Rottler

’a proverbial accuracy,

and extensive knowledge of Indian plants , scarcely leaves room to doubt, that the plant shownto him as the Nedelwas truly a Nymphwa .

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 27

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 10.

l, 2. Leaf and flower of Nymphcea rubra- « aatm'

al Oassavsr ious.—This plate, though correct so far as

s ize. it goes, does not carry the analysis of the order quite3 . Side viewof the stamens . far enou h, a dissection of the seed is required to com4 . Front view, the stamens laid back to show the plate it.

31,

is defect arose from its bein overlooked a tstigmas . 5. Stamen detached. 6. Ovary cut verti the time ofmaking the drawing, severafyears ago, andca lly, showing the numerous cells, and the ovules, my inability to get sumciently ripe fruit, when preattached to the broad placentary surface, covering the paring the figure for the press.whole surface of the partitions .

VIII . —NELUMBIACE1E .

This order is so closely allied in most respects to the former, that a very brief notice, afterthe very deta iled one g iven of Nymphwacece will suffi ce to expla in its culiarities which solelyapperta in to the fruit. In place of the many- celled and many

- seeded”

cells placed in a circleround the central axis of Nympha acee , these, have an excess ively enlarged fleshy disk, enclosing in hollows of its substance, the ovar ies ,which are numerous, separate, monspermous , with as imple style and stigma the mature nuts are half buried in its substance, from wh ich theyfinally become loose and se to. They further differ in having exalbum inous seed. The em

bryo is large, with two flee y cotyledons, and a highly developed plumule enclosed in its propermembrane. In habit they agree with Nymphaaaceas.

In their A rr rm r i es , G eoe aa rm cs a D ISTRIBUTION, AND Paops ar rss, these two orders

are so intimately united, that to go over these with reference to N elumbiaceae, would be merelyto repeat much that has been already sa id respecting Nymphceacew, suffice it therefore to say,that they are distributed widel

yover the northern hem isphere ,

.N'

elumbium speciosum occupyingthe stillwaters of the old, whi a JV. luteum occu ies those of the newworld. In this countryand China , both the creeping root- like stems an nuts, are used as food.

The leaf and flower stalks of this plant abound in spiral tubes more loosely combined, and

perhaps stronger, than the same vessels in most other vascular plants . These in the southern

provinces are extracted with g reat care by gently breaking the stems , and slowly drawing apart

the ends . Long pieces of the spiral filament, compos ing the tube, are thus uncoiled.With thesefi laments are prepared those wicks which on eat and solemn relig ious occas ions are burntin the lamps of the H indoos placed before the s rines of their gods .

”— A inslie . S im ilar wicksare prepared from the spiral tubes of som e of the Nymphcnas but are not thought so sacred .

In sowing the seed of this plant it is customary to enclose them in a ball of clay beforethrowing them into the water.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 9.

l, 2. Nelumbium speciosum, (white variety) flower, 6. Over removed. 7. The same cut vertically,and part, (little more than one-fourth ) of a leaf showing t e pendulous ovule—both mag nified.

na tura l size. 8. A mature fruit, the carpels half enclosed, and be3. S tamens, and greatly enlarged, fleshy disk,with com ing loose - nalura l size.

the ovaries in aim—natural s ize . 9. A nut. 10, l l. The same cut transversely and4 . S tamens mag nified, back and front view. vertically.

5. Disk cut vertically, showing the hollows in its 12. Embryo enclosed in its proper sac.

substance, and enclosed ovariea - somewhat magnifi ed. I3 . The same removed from the sec, and somewhatunfoldedo—all more or less mag nified.

IX .—PAPAVERACE1E .

A small, but very important order of herbaceous, or sufl‘

ruticose, m ilky plants with alter

nate leaves , and long one-flowered peduncles , but so strictly extra - tropical, that, but for the perfect naturalization among us of A rg emone Mez icana ,an American member ofthe order, I should

not have been able to have g iven a representation of the fam ily, taken from a growing specimen .

28 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

The calyx in this order cons ists of only two sepals , and these so caducous, that for the most

part, they drop nearly as soon as expanded. The carolla is composed Of 4 petals , or of twiceor three tim es that number, but always Of som e m ultiple of four ; the stamens in like manner,

though generally numerous, are always some m ultiple Of four, rarely only eight, form ing fourbundles, one inserted at the base Of each petal ; the anthers are two -celled, erect, opening within.

Ovary solitary, stigmas sess ile, or with a short style, two, or m any, and in the latter case, s tellate on the flat apex Of the ovarium . Fruit one- celled, with parietal placentas, equalling thenumber of the stigmas album en between fleshy and oily, at the base Of wh ich, is a m inutestraight em bryo, with plano convex cotyledons .

A smm rms . The nearest aflinity of this order is with Ranunculacece , from which, insome extreme cases , it is scarcely to be distinguished except by the difference of the juices,which in this is m ilky, yellow, or whi te, and narcotic, in that aqueous and acrid.

ESSENTIAL C HARACTER . Polypetalous , polyandrous , anthers inate ovary wholly superiorcarpels combined into a eolid frui t, with more placentas than one. Juice m ilky, leaves alternateexstipulate.

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUT ION . This , as alread remarked is sO completely an extra - tro

pical order that, with the exception of A rg emone lex icana a naturalized plant, not one isfound on the pla ins Of India . Europe is their principal seat, being there found in all directions,and containing nearly two - thirds of the whole order.

Paors ar tss AND Usss . The narcotic is the predom inating principle of this order. The

seeds however of A roemone Mes icana are sa id to possess emetic properties, and are used inSouth America and t aWest Indies as subs titutes for Ipecacuana . Other accounts howeverstate that they are powerfully narcotic, especially when smoked with tobacco. Whether theseopposite s tatements are founded on carefully ascerta ined facts , and can be reconciled, remains tobe proved. The juice of this plant is employed in this country as a rem edy for cutaniousdiseases , and is sa id to be a very effectual one . I confess I have never either prescribed therem edy myself, nor seen it employed by others . The native doctors also employ it as a remedyfor ophthalm ia ; applied, according to m y inform ation , over the tarsus and eyelids, but accordingto Dr . A inslie’s s tatement, dropped into the eye . The Oil, extracted from the seed, is , like thejuice, considered a useful application in cutanious diseases, but probably merely acts as an

emolient application like any other sweet Oil.The m edicinal properties Of the juice of the poppy are too well known to require notice

here, but a fewrem arks may be made respecting this subs tance in a commercial point of v iew.

The Opium Poppy, though not a native Of India, is nowso very extens ively cultivated insome Of her prov inces, those namely Of Bahar, Benares , and Malwa , that nearly three m illions of

pounds of Opium are annually ra ised in these districts, producing a return to the country Ofabove two and a half m illions s terling . This kind of cultiva tion would, I believe, he m ade tooccupy a much wider range Of country were the Operations of the agriculturist unres tricted.

I t has already been tried on the Neilgherries , to a sm all extent it is true, but suffi cient toascertain the fi tness Of the soil and clim ate for the production Of Opium Of a marketable

quality. Many parts Of Mysore m ight equally be appropriated to its cultivation, were the

extension of the production Of this drug e ither des irable or necessary . Neither the one or theother however is the case ; the more so, now, that the China m arket is shut aga inst its introduction a prohibition, likely to inflict ruin and des truction on thousands of persons engagedin the g rowth and traffic Of this much coveted drug , Of which there is now, a surplus in handsufficient to supply the wants of the country for years to come.

This is not the place to discuss the ques tion Of its effects on the human constitution,but I m ay Observe in passing , that in th is as in many other disputed points , the truth seem s

to lie between the contending parties . Those who v iewOpium as the most deleterious Of

intoxicating substances , Of course form their Opinion from looking to extrem e cases only, butwhich, if compared with the extreme effects aris ing from the unrestrained indulgence in the

use Of spirits, show but too clearly, that the one is nearly as bad as the other, though

the letter, from being somuch more common among us, and its effects better understood, is less

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30 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY.

provinces, and that a Ver

ydoubtful native as there ap ears to be no Tamul or Telogoo name

or it. I have however t ought it right to introduce it ere, as form ing a link in the chain of

aflinities , which it is des irable should rem ain as much unbroken as the Flora will perm it. The

only species yet known , in this part of India, is found in corn fields on the Neilgherries, whereit was probably brought, with corn seed, either from Bengal or Europe .

The Fuma riaceware glabrous, herbacious, tender plants withwatery juice ; either annualor perenn ial ; occas ionally with tuberous roots , and alternate, generally, much div ided, ex

- sti

pulate leaves ; often furnishedwith tendrils and irregular, herm aphrodite, spiked, bractiolateflowers .

The calyx consists of 2 small sepals : the corolla of 4 petals cruciately placed, one or both

of the outer ones saccate at the base, the inner ones callous belowand coloured at the apex,where the cohere and inclose the anthers and stigma . The stamens are united in two parcels ,and place opposite the outer petals , each parcel composed of a centre perfect, two- celled anther,and 2 one - celled , imperfect or half, anthers very rarely all separate . Ovary superior one - celled,ovules horizontal. Style filiform , S tigma with two or more points . Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent, either a one or two- seeded nut, or a succulent, many- seeded, pod . Seeds horizontal

shin ing , cristed. A lbumen fleshy. Embryo, nearly straight, out of the axis .

A FF IN IT IES . Most Botanists consider Fizmariaceae as very nearly allied to Papaveracece

on account of their two - leaved deciduous calyx , the structure of the fruit of the deh iscentspecies and their fleshy albumen ; but differing in their watery juice, their irregular petals, andtheir diadel hous stamens, with indifl’erently one or two - celled anthers . Dr . Lindley howeverproposes a liferent and very ing en ious expos ition of their structure, which I shall quote in hisown words , and which will be eas ily understood on comparing his description with the magn ifiedfigures in the plate . After referring to the above expos ition of their structure, be proceeds .

I am , however, inclined to suspect that the floral envelopes of Fuma riacew are not rightlydescribed. I am by no m eans sure that it would not be more consonant to analogy to cons iderthe parts of theirflower divided upon a binary plan thus unders tanding the outer series of thesupposed petals as calyx , and the inner only as petals while the parts now called sepals are

perhaps more analogous to bracts an idea which their arrangement, and the constant tendencyof the outer series to become saccate at the base, which is not uncommon in the calyx ofC ruciacece ,

but never happens, as far as I know, in their petals, would seem to confirm . Ofthis , some further evidence may be found in the stamens . Those organs are combined in twoparcels , one of which is oppos ite each of the divisions of the outer series , and cons ists of one

perfect two- celled anther in the m iddle, and two lateralone - celled ones now, supposing the lateralone- celled anthers of each parcel to belong to a common s tamen, the filament of which is split bythe separation of the two parcels, an hypothesis to wh ich I do not think any objection can be entertained,we shall find that the number of stam ens of Fumariaceae is 4, one ofwhich is before eachof the div is ions of the flower ; an arrangement wh ich is precisely what we should expect to findin a normal flower, consisting of 2 sepals and 2 petals , and the reverse of what ought to occur,

if the divis ions of the flower were really all petals , as has been hitherto believed.

”

The following extract also from Dr. L indley’s work

, exhibiting a beautiful instance ofdes ign, observable in all theworks of naturewhen properly studied, is too interesting to be passedover .

The economy of the sexualorgans'

of Fuma riacece is remarkable. The stamens are in twoparcels , the anthers of which are a little higher than the stigma ; the two m iddle ones of theseanthers are turned outwards, and do not appear to be capable of communicating their pollen tothe stigma ; the four lateral ones are also naturally turned outwards ; but by a twist of theirfi lament their face is presented to the st igma . They are all held firmly together b the cohesion of the tips of the flower, which, never unclos ing , offer no apparent m eans 0 the pollenbeing disturbed, so as to shed upon the stigmatic surface. To remedy this inconvenience, thestigma is furnished with two blunt horns , one of which is inserted between and under the cellsof the anthers of each parcel, so that without any alteration of pos ition on the part of eitherorgan, the mere contraction of the valves of the anthers is suflicient to shed the pollen uponthat spot, where it. is required to perform the office of fecundation.

”

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

By the contemplation of such beautiful, though almost imperceptibly minute, arrangements oftheDiv ine Artist,we are more surely led to form a

'

ust estimate ofHis infinite power,wisdom ,and

foresight, than even by the contemplation of theboundless vault of heaven, illum inated with thelight reflected from its thousands of stars because in the one case, the immeasurable distanceand magnitude of the objects v iewed, are too great for the limited powers of the human m indproperly to comprehend them , and is but too apt to lead man into the error of under- estimat

ing his own importance in the eye of his Creator . The apparent insi nificance of the other is

calculated to produce the very opposite effect, while it is equally suite to display the Creator’s

unerring wisdom and power, by teaching him ,that the same power, that filled the uni

verse with thousands of worlds, and made and endowed him with a reflecting m ind, equallym ade the humble fumatory, and so nicely adjusted the arrangement of its m inute organs, as to

prevent the loss of even a gra in of pollen, thus certa inly ensuring its due fecundation, and with.that, the equally certain preservation of the species . If then, so much care is bestowed on the

formation and preservation of the most m inute objects of the creation, howmuch more, havewe not a right to infer, is appropriated to the preservation of the Being , formed in his ownlikeness , g ifted with reason, and endowed with an immortal soul ?

G room smen . D ISTRIBUTION. The Fumarz’

acece are scarcely known within the tropics

their principal range is in the temperate latitudes of the northern hem isphere, several are foundon the Himalayas , and among them some of the handsomest of the order. Two are found at

the Cape of Good Hope.

Paor sar tss AND Uses . Some of these plants are prized in more genial climes, as ornaments of the garden, but are generally too tender for this country. B itter and tonic propertiesare those which predominate in the order . Dr. A inslie informs us that the Hukims cons iderthe species here figured, which he calls F. ofi cinalis, diuretic, and useful in maniacal cases. A

decoction of the recent plant is used in Europe in scorbutic affections , and chronic eruptions ,and is considered in some countries very eflicacious, in restoring the tone of the stomach

during convalescence from fever.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE l l ."I

A . 1. Plant of Fumaria parviflora. 2. Detached

dower na tural size.

3. The same much magnified. 4. The same opened,showing the petals, stamens ovary, style, and stigma.

5. Stamens detached. 6. Ovary , style,and stigma, de

tached. 7. The ovary cut vertically, showing the

ovule,with its lateral attachment—all much mag nified.8. Young fruit

—natural size.

9. The same—mag nified.

8 . Flower ofa species Corydalis, similarly analyzed—l . Flower natural size. 2. The same magnified. 3 .

Opened to showthe difi'

erent parts. 4. Stamens. 5.

Pollen . 6. Ovary, style, and stigma. 7. Ovary cut

long itudinally.

X I.

The large assemblage of plants ranged under this order, form ing one of the most natural

fam ilies of the vegetable kingdom , have but fewrepresentatives within the tropics scarcely 20

indigenous species, out of upwards of 1000 belong ing to the order , being found within thetropical reg ions of India ; and even these, being principally confined to alpine districts . The

plants composing this order are for the m ost part herbaceous , rarely sufl'

ruticose ,with wateryjuices and round , or irregularly angled, stem s. The leaves are s imple and entire,or variouslydivided, rarely truly compound. The flowers hermaphrodite, regular, racemose, or rarelysolitary and axillary.

0. 1. Flower of a species of Dielytra—aatural size.2. Magnified. 3 . Partially opened. 4. Stamens and

ovary detached from the corolla. 5. The same, onehalf the stamens removed. 6. Ovary cut transversely.

7. A portion of the ovary opened longitudinally,showing the situation of the ovules .

Os ssavs r tos s.—These drawings having all beenmade from dried specimens, may not, when compared

with recent ones he found quite correct, nor so full

and explanatory as might he wished ; the minuteness of the parts, and the delicacy of the structure of

the flowers of this order, renderin their examinationfrom preserved specimens extreme y diffi cult.

32 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

Sepals 4, deciduous , cruciate, the lateral ones g ibbous , or spurred at the base. Corollahypogynous, cruciform , petals 4, alternatewith the sepals ,deciduous , stamens 6, the two, op itsthe lateral sepals, shorter, and occas ionally toothed, 4, in pairs, oppos ite the anterior and

ms

terior sepals, longer : anthers bilocular, introrse . Torus with several glands between the petalsand the stamens , and the ovarium . Ovary usually bilocular with parietal placenta , generally,meeting in the m iddle , and forming a spurious partition, stigmas two oppos ite the placenta .

Fruit a s iliqua or silicule, rarely one - celled and indehiscent, usually opening by two valves sepa

rating from the placenta . Seeds attached in a s ingle row, by a funiculus, to each side of thelacentae, generally pendulous . Albumen none, embryo with the radical folded up on the cotylhdons if on the edge they are said to be accumbent, if on the back incum bent, sometimes the

cotyledons are folded, they are then said to be conduplicate incumbent,&c. (In Nas turtiumthey are accumbent, in Lepidium incumbent, the cotyledons in the latter 3 - lobed.)

A FFINITIEB. The nearest affinities of this order are with Cappa rideae, agreeing in the qua .

ternary number of the divisions of the flower : in the fruit havmg two placenta , and a sim ilarmode ofdehiscence ; and in the stamens of some species ofthe Capparidew, agreeing in number.

They have also some affinities with Fuma rz'

acece as already shewn under that order, but arekept distinct by the different structure of the seed.

ESSENTIAL Ca aaac'rsa . Flowers polypetalous, stamens tetradynamous . Ovary whollysuperior, the carpels combined into a solitary pistillum : seeds without albumen . Leaves alternate, destitute of stipules.

GEOGRAPHICAL DlSTRlBU'I’lON. I have remarked above that the species of this order are

very rare within the tropics . Europe indeed may be es teemed the head quarters of Cruczfercebut they are abundant all over the temperate zone of the northern bem is here, and comparatively rare in the southern : upwards of 600 apperta ining to the one , an scarcely 100 to theother. But to enter into m inute details of the geographical distribution of an almost extra

Indian order in a work on Indian Botany, can be of but little avail ; I may however observe,that many are cultivated both for use and ornament in this country, and it seems not improbable, that the number m ight be increased, at least during the cool season, owing tomost of thembeing annual, and requiring in this country but a fewmonths to attain maturity. Whetherattemps for their naturalization will ever so far succeed on the pla ins as to render us independent of more temperate climates for our supplies of seed, is a question still to be solved, butone, the solution which, when we cons ider their value to mankind, ought not to be readilyrelinquished, even though the chances against success , appear to preponderate . If this desirable object is ever to be accomplished, it must undoubtedly be through gradual extension fromthe more elevated and cooler reg ions, to the lower and warmer ones . One source of disappointment, viz . the oily nature of their seed, is not eas ily guarded against, as oily seeds

generally soon deteriorate, and I presume more rapidly in a warm climate :while, owing to thelong interval that intervenes between their arrival at maturity, and the period for sowing , theyare exposed somuch the more to this source of deterioration.

Paors ar tss AND Uses. Acrimony, more or less combined with bitterness, forms thepredom inant quality of the Cruczferaz, in proof ofwhich it is only necessary to mention, Horseradish, Mustard, Cress, the common Radish, andWater- cress , all ofwhich possess th is propertyin an em inent degree, and even the cabbage, nowso much used when ameliorated by cultivation, as aliment, possesses in its wild state much of the acrid properties inherent in the fam ily.

The rinciple onwhich their acrimony depends is of a volatile nature, and is greatly dim inished

pby drying . Formerly itwas attributed to the presence of volatile alkali, but careful

chemical analysis proved the erroneousness of this opinion, by showing the total absence ofammonia, in the recent state of these plants , or in their expressed juices , though, during the

process of putrefaction, it is exhaled in cons iderable quantity : hence it must be generateduring decompos ition, and is attributable to nitrogen,which enters largely into their composition . The more prevalent opinion nowis , that their acrimony owes its existence to the presence of volatile oil, an opinion resting on a better foundation, though reasoning from analogy,

I LLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

I strongly suspect not without some exceptions , as we do not in all the instances cited, find itcombined with aromatic properties , any more than in Ranunculaceas. It is said however , toex ist not only in all the Crucfferoe, but in all parts of these vegetables , varying only in intansity. To this active, but very volatile principle, of whatever nature it be, they owe their medicinal v irtues, which are stimulant and antiscorbutic, butwhich , requires, them to be used fresh,

s ince it is lost by drying . The seed fortunately retain their properties for a greater leng th oftime, and those of white mustard have been long celebrated for their tonic and stomatic vir

tues . The Tamul doctors attribute s im ilar virtues to their Aliverie or Salivarie, the A rabischinensis of Bottler and A inslie, but.which, I have ascerta ined to be merely the EnglishGardencress, Lepidium sativum, as may be seen from the accompanying plate, taken from a specim en

raised in my garden from bazar seed.

Our cabbages , turnips , radishes , knolkoles ,&c. which belong to this fam ily , are all toowellknown to require notice here ; they owe their fitness for food to their acrid properties beingdiluted b an abundance of mucilage. Several species , such as the rape and mustard, are cultivated in urope on account of the oilwhich their seeds contain, but could never be profitablyraised in this country for that purpose.

Under this head I shall only further observe, that one of the species here figured,which isnot a native,was introduced for the purpose of determ ining towhat genus , the so- calledAliverie

actually belonged, and to assign to the proper plant, the merit which is its due. The other

figure was made from a native specimen. Two species of the genus Ca rdamine are found trulynative on both the Neilgherries and Pulney mounta ins, the Capsella (Sheepherd purse) is alsofound in abundance on the former of these ranges, but I suspect introducedwith corn seed.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES P2 and 13.

l2.—l . Plant of Lepidium Sativum—natural size. l3.—l. Plant of Nasturtium Madagascariense

2. Flower opened, to showthe calyx, petals, sta natural size.

mens, and over 2. Flower opened to showthe different parts.3. Portion o a racime,with fruit. 3. The same, seps is and petals removed.

4. Capsule before dehiscence. 5. The same burst, 4. Stamens back and front view.

showing the seed in st'

lu. 5. Capsule. 6. The same cut transversely.

6. A seed cut transversely, showing the radical in 7. Placenta after the valves of the Capsule have

cumbent on the three 3-lobed cotyle ons. 7. A seed separated, showin the position of the seeds.

cut longitudinally, showing the situation of the radical 8. A seed. 9. be same cut transversely, showingand cotyledons. the accumbent radical.S and 9. Different views of the radical and cotyle lO. Embryo removed from the tests, showing the

dons removed from the tests, and partially opened cotyledons and radical—allmore or less mag nified.

out—allmore or less magnifi ed.

X II .—CAPPARIDE1E .

The Capparideware chiefly a tropical fam ily of herbaceous or fruticose plants, many of

the latter climbing extens ively, but not twining , having alternate, simple, and stipulate leaves,or compound and ex - stipulate ones, the stipules when present spinous . The flowers are pedi

celled, either solitary or racemose, hermaphrodite, or rarely, by abortion, unisexual.Calyx 4 - sepaled, either partially united at the base, and 4 - lobed, as in Niebuhrz

'

a , or

altogether free and imbrica ted in cestivation . The torus often occupies a conspicuous place inthis order ; sometimes , though rarely, it is even with the bottom of the calyx , more frequentlyit is free and elongated, together with thecaphore, elevating the ovary far above the calyx,on a filiform stalk or pedicel ; or it is lateral, tubular, funnel- shaped, and netariferous , (form ingthe nectary of authors) bearing the thecaphore at its base : as in Cadaba . Petals 4, alternate

with the lobes of the calyx, oftenwith a long claw,as in Cadaba , deciduous. The stamens vary

much in number and s ituation ; sometimes there are only 4, as Cadaba oftener very numerous ,sometimes appearing to spring from the m iddle of the stalk of the ovary , as in Gynandropsis ,oftener springing from the bottom of the calyx, and either altogether free, or united for a shortdistance round the torus. Ovaryusually Sh iked, l-eelledwith parietal placenta , style filiform

3 1 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

or wanting . Fruit pod- shaped, or baccate, l - cellerl, with numerous , rarely few, seeds : seeds

generally reniform,exalbum inous, with a thickened testa, foliacious cotyledons, a nd a curved

embryo.

A FFIN ITIES . The herbaceous forms of Cappa ridew, are allied to Crucg'

ferwby habit, bytheir quaternary sepals and petals , and some of them by their hexandrous stamens ,which however are never truly tetradynamous ; more generally the stamens are indefinite , and the seedsreniform , which form the principal marks of distinction between Cruciferwand the herbaceoussection of Cappa ridece . The fruticose section is less likely to be confounded, the difference ofhabit form ing of itself a good distinction. The stipitate ovary, so common in this order, isalso m et with in Passe/20mm, combined with indehiscent fruit and parietal polyspermousplacentaa, but readily distinguished by other marks . The structure of the fruit and indefin itestamens associate them with Flacourtianew, from which, however, they are distinguished bytheir exalbum inous seed and different habit. With Resedacew they agree in having parietal

placentee , and reniform exalbum inous seed, but are separated by the diflerent arrangement oftheir flowers .

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER . Polypetalous , polyandrous, dicotyledons , with versatile anthers ,the ovary wholly superior, and the carpels combined into a solid fruit, with more placentaesthan one . Leaves alternate, ex - stipulate, or with spines in their place. Cadaba has 4 ; Cleomeand Gynandropsis 6 stamens.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTR IBUTION. This large order is nearly confined to the tropics , abounding in As ia, Africa, and America . They are more sparingly met with in NewHolland, andtwo or three species are natives of Europe among the latter, ranks the best known one of theorder, the caper

- bush, (Capparis spinos ia) much cultivated in the south of Europe, on accountof its flower - buds which, when pickled, become the much esteemed caper of commerce. Someof the herbaceous forms , are verywidelydistributed over the world, being found in As ia, Africa,and America . The shruby forms are more lim ited in their range, the species being usually confined to one of these countries . Some however, are, I believe, common to As ia and Africa. InIndia the Capparidew are numerous , not only with reference to the number of species, butstill more so with regard to individuals. Some of the herbaceous ones are our most common

weeds , met with in every field, others occur in every piece of waste ground or neglected spot.

Some of those belong ing to the shruby subdiv ision of the order, are nearly equally common,such is the casewith Capparis horrida , the rather handsome flowers ofwhich, are at this seasonto be seen decorating almost every hedge . Oudaba Indica is very generally met with amongrubbish, and almost every dilapidated Pagoda in the country, is more or less overgrown withthis plant. It is also frequent in villages about ruinous mud walls . Of Cappa ris sepiaria andincanescens , I have seen whole jungles , and these of the most impenetrable kind, when thick,owing to their num erous sharp replexed thorns . In some s ituations the species of Cram-"a

,

are nearly equally abundant, and when in flower, infinitely more ornam ental, each branchterm inating in large clusters of showy flowers . I have only however seen it attaining thisdegree of perfection near tanks or water courses, where the soil was rich and moist. They are

however handsome plants in all situations .

Paors ar tss AND Uses . The many points of aflinity in structure between this order andCruciferce , have been already adverted to . In their properties they are equally allied, havinglike them an acrid volatile principle, highly stimulating and irritating when applied to the skin .

The roots of the caper bush are stimulating and diuretic, like those of so many of theCruciferce, and the flower buds of Cappa ris spinosa (capers) are much esteemed in the southof Europe, where they grow, as an antiscorbutic. Some species of Cleome have an ,

acrid taste,which has been compared, by many, to mus tard. The leaves and succulent stems of Polanesia

( cleome) icosandra , applied to the skin, excite inflammation , and are sometimes employed as

a s inapism in this country, the seed are adm inistered as a carm inative and verm ifuge. Theleaves of Gynandropsis ( cleomej pentaphylla bruised, and applied to the skin , act as a rubefacient, and produce very abundant serous exudation, affording in many cases the relief derived

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

from a blister, without its inconveniences . This freedom from inconvenience is not howeveralways experienced. I once saw extens ive ves ication produced by the application of the leavesof this plant, as a discutient, to an incipient boil. The previously ex isting inflammation of theskin probably gave rise to this excess ive action . The root of Cra taeva g ynandra , a Jamaicaplant, is said to blister like Cantharides. Dr . A inslie in his Materia Medica , mentions sixspecies of this order, as being employed in medical practice, but upon thewhole g ives very littleinformation regarding them .

ReuAaxs ON Gs aA AND Srscms . Roxburgh was acquainted with but a small numberof the Indian species of this order, amounting in all to only 13 , and these be distributed underthree genera, viz . Cleome, Strcemia , and Capparis . The two first, most unaccountably, placedrespectively in tetradynamea, and pentandria digynia :whether through errors of his Editors ,or by his own arrangement l am unable to say. Dr.Wallich, (List of Indian plants ) has greatlyaugmented the catalogue, which nowextends to 42 species . DeCandolle, in his Prodromus ,revised the genera, and by adopting the views of those who had prev iously subdivided the old

genus Cleome, into three distinct genera , rendered the determ ination of species much eas ier, bym aking the genera themselves more natural. Of those hav ing long pedicelled ovaries ,with6 long s tamens, apparently spring ing from above the m iddle of the pedicel, he formed the

g enus Gyna ndropsis . Those having numerous stamens, and a nearly sess ile ovary, nowformthe genus Pola nesia : while all those having 6 stamens and a subsessile ovary, are reta ined toform the present genus Cleome. The Peninsular flora, presents examples of each of theseforms . Cadaba as being an older name was substituted by DeCandolle for Strcemia . Thespecies of the genus Capparis, (of Roxburgh

’e Fl. Ind.) are also distributed among three

distinct genera, viz . Capparis, Cratceva , and M ebuhi ia . Capparis and Cratceva are bothL innaean genera, more readily distinguished by habit, and foliage, than by characters takenfrom the inflores cence. In Cram-ea the petals are furnished with a slender claw, expandingabove into a broad limb, and the leaves are 3 foliolate : while in Capparis , the petals are sess ile,and the leaves simple, often with spinous stipules . .N

'

iebuhrt'

a is distinguished from both, bythe sepals being united at the base, the petals wanting or shorter than the calyx , and by the

elongated, irregularly torulosefruit, caused by the seed bulg ing out the sides of the berry, on eithers ide of a rigid centralplacenta . Judg ing from the figures, as well as the description g iven of the

genus Maema in the Flora Senigambiaa, it appears, that M ebuhria is identical with that genus ,and hence e ua

, being the older name of the two,must necessarily be adapted,on the groundof priority. Since my return to India in 1834, the following species have been added toCa an s .PP

CAPPARIS.

l C .floribanda. (R .W.) Shrubby unarmed: leaves with short reflexed stipulary thorns : leaves oval, or aoval oblong , obtuse at both ends, glabrous :flowersnumerous, umbelled ; umbels axillary, numerous near

the ends of the branches, and forming , through the

abortion of the leaves, large terminal panicles ; pedi

cels g labrous calyx and petals ciliate on the margins

stamens eight,much longer than the petals and pedi

cel of the ovary ovules several,pendulous,berry few,(1-3 ) seeded.

Apparently a beautiful shrub, which, however, Ihave not myself seen, the drawing from which the

figure is taken, having been made by the draughts

man in the course of an excursion he made unaccom

panied by me. The figure is defective, in so far as not

distinctly showing the pedicelled ovaries in the flowersgenerally.

C. Mass if. Shrubby,difl‘

use, scandent,armed

little broader below, mncronate at the apex, racemes

terminal, leafless, corymbiform, pedicels l-flowcredflowers very large.

C. g randis .9 Moon. Cat. Ceylon Plants.

This species I found in Ceylon usuall among clumpsof jungle, in moist or even marshy soii:In such situ

ations its large purewhite flowers render it a very con

spicuous object, and are seen from a great distance.

I t seems very nearly allied to C. Ros burg it’

, but judging from the description, and still more from speci

mens of what I consider his plant, is I think distinct.The leaves in this are nearly an exact oval, with an

abrupt somewhat retuse mucro. The flowers whicharewhite, nearly six inches across the filaments ofthestamens, alone sometimes exceeding three inches in

length. The fruit 1 have not seen.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 14.

l . Flowering branch of Capparis floribunda.2. Flower detached, showing the sepals, petals, sta

mens and ovary.

3 . Ovary laid open, showing the pendulous ovules.4. Anther—all mag nifi ed. 5. Fruit.

size.

cut vertically, showing the large embryo.

6. Cut transversely, showing a single seed—natural

7. Seed removed—natural sit e. 8. the same,

9. Embryo removed, showing its curved form and

radical pointing to the hilum.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

X l ll.—RESEDACE/E .

A small, extra tropical, order of herbaceous or suffruticose plants , with alternate, s imple ,entire, or pinnatifid, exstipulate, leaves hermaphrodite flowers, arranged in term inalracemes , having their pedicels furnished with bractoles .

Calyx 4 to 6parted, persistent, sli htly imbrica ted in (estivation . Petals usually equalingthe number of sepals, hypogenous,deciduous , unequal, the larger ones behind, lacerated, with a

broad claw. Stamens 10 to 20; free, not covered during (estiva tion . Torus short or resemblinga

’

stipes , usually bearing under the stamens , an obtuse nectariferous scale, Carpels 3 to 6, eachwith 1 style, distinct, or united into a single l - celled ovarium , open at the apex placentasseveral, parietal, nerve- like, many-ovuled : ovules pendulous . Fruit either consisting of severalfollicles dehiscing internally, or of a unilocular polyspermous capsule, dehiscing at the apex .

Seeds pendulous , testa crustacious :albumen thin embryo curved, tera te, radicle superior, cotyledons fleshy sem i -cylindrical.

A FFINITIES . The nearest afi nity of this order is to Capparideee,with which it has m any

points of agreement, such as the par ietal placenta , reniform seed, tapering curved embryo, &c.

Also the 1 arge disk from which the stamens arise.

G sooas rm eu . D isrniaurmN . This-order is almost entirely confined to Europe . The

specimen from which the accompanying figurewas taken,was however gathered on the Neilgher

ries, and under circumstances that seemed to indicate its being a native, but I greatly fear thatit is an introduced plant.

Pearce-ri se AND Uses . One species of Resida , ( R . lutiola) is much cultivated in some

parts of France, for the sake of a yellowdye which its roots produce ; it is also used in med icine as a vermifuge, though not much esteemed as such, while there are so many far superior

to be had. Reside odorata, the M ig nionette, is among the most fragrant of plants , and on

that account, in spite of its very unpretending flowers ,has received in France, the distinguishedname of Herb d

’amour. Some gardeners, by the application of heat to the pots , in which it is

growing , during the winter, and lopping the primary branches, change its annual character

and convert it into a pretty little shrub, in which form , it is much admired in France.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I5.

1. Flowering branch of reseda cilia—natura l siz e. into a tube at the base, and concealing the pedicel of2. Flower opened to show the relative position of the ovary.

the sepals, petals, and stamens. 6. The same laid open to showthe pedicel.3. A detached petal. 4. Anthers back and front 7. Ovary laid 0 en, showing the parietal placenta ,

view. and pendulous cv es.

5. Stamens and ovary, showing the filaments united

XlV.-FLACOURTIANEE .

A small order, consisting of trees and shrubs ,with alternate, exstipulate, simple, coriaceousentire or serrated leaves and axillary, solitary, or racemose, hermaphrodite or unisexual

flowers.

Sepals from 4 to 7 , cohering slightly at the base. Petals equalling them in number, and

alternate with the sepals, sometimes wanting . Stamens inferior, either equalling the sepals, or

some multiple of them , often very numerous , and occas ionally changed into nectariferous scales .

Ovary roundish, distinct, more or less stalked ; style eitherwanting or filiform stigm as several,

more or less distinct, and spreading star- like on the apex of the ovary. Fruit l - celled baccateand indihiscent, or capsular, and 4 or 5-valved, filled with thin pulp ; seeds irregularly attachedto branched placentas, spread over the surface of the pericarp,often enveloped in a pellicle of drywithered pulp. A lbumen fleshy, somewhat oily. Embryo straight in the axis,with the radicleurned towards the hilum cotyledons flat foliacious.

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38 i s'raA

'rroNs or INDIAN BOTANY .

Loarirowhich seemed to have been very imperfectly known, previous to the publication of our

Prodromus , is nowreferred here, butnot, it would appear,without leav ing some grounds to doub tthe correctness of this determ ination, s ince Dr . Lindleyhas placed it doubtfully at the end of the

list ofgenera belong ing to the order, which appears the more remarkable, as Dr .Wallich referredevery one of our species to the genus Flacourtia ,

from which however it is well distinguishedby its hermaphrodite flowers , and the curious prolongation of the connectivum beyond the cells

of the anther. The genus Oncoba , an African genus which seems very closely allied to

P boberos in a number of particulars, has been, by Dr . Lindley, placed among the B iz inece ,whence I infer it is the near affinity ex isting between these two genera , that has induced himto v iewP boberos as a doubtful member of this order . Of the genus Roumia , Col.Walker hasfound a species in Ceylon ,which however I refrain from des ignating as I have considerabledoubtsof the stability of the genus , and have not at present the means of clearing them up. Of the

g enus Phoberos C eylon produces one or two species, and at Courtallem , I met with one whichattains the size of a pretty large tree . I am still uncertain whether to consider this one as distinct from R .Wig /atianus , a Neilgherry plant, as the difference of station may perhaps have

caused the difference in appearance existing between them .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 16.

l . Flowering branch of Hyduocarpus inebrians 10. Ovary cut transversely, showing in that iafemale—na lural size. stance three placentas, they vary in number, and I have2. Maleflower, showing sepals, petals, scales and seen as many as 6 in one ovary, they correspondwith

stamens. the number of lobes of the s tigma .

3 , 4, 5. Petal, scale, and stamen detached. l l . A small but full grown fruit, cut transversely to6. Female or fertile flower, showing the sepals, sta showthe seeds which are surroundedwith thin viscid

mens, ovary and stigma . The stamens in this figure pulp.

.a re placed alternate, in place of opposite the sepals, 12. Seed cut transversely.

which is an error of the draughtsman overlooked at 13. A seedwhich had begun to vegetate, showingthe time ofmaking the drawing . the young radicle.

7, 8. Petal and scale detached. 14. Embryo removed, showing the foliacioas coty9. Stamen of the female flower, the anthers are ledons and radicle.

empty of Pollen.

XV .

—BIX INE1E .

A small order, of tropical plants, consisting of trees and shrubs, with alternate, simple,entire, petioled, leaves ; often with pellucid dots deciduous stipules and axillary, solitary, or

congested, hermaphrodite flowers . Calyx, 4 to 7 - sepaled, Petals 5hypogynous . Stamens indefinite, distinct ; anthers 2- celled, opening by pores at the apex , inserted on a diskoid torus .

Ovary super ior, sessile , l - celled,with the ovules attached to, from 2 to 7 parietal placentas,surmounted by a single 2 to 4- cleft style . The fruit is either capsular or baccate, containingnumerous seeds , enveloped in pulp, which in B ixa is farinaceous and coloured. The seeds

are albuminous the albumen either fleshy or very thin, enclos ing the straight or curvedembryo : cotyledons leafy, radicle pointing to the hilum.

A FFINITIES . The extent and affinities of this order seem as yet imperfectly known ;Botanists being much divided in opinion both as to the genera that ought to be referred to it,and as to whether it ought to be retained as a distinct order. Kunth first established the

order, and has been followed by DeCandolle, Lindley, and others . Don , proposes to adopt thename Pro/redeem for it, and remove Ris e and one or two others from it to be formed, as I

understand, into a distinct order . R ichard in the Flora Senegambia , proposes the junction of

B iz inewand Flacourtianew, Lindley still keeps them distinct, but remarks of Oncoba, the

genus which led to M . Richards remark, that it connects the order with Flacourtianece, and

seems equally allied to both, it also joins both that, and this present order to Passi/lorewbythegenus Smeatlimanm

'

a ,with which it accords in habit.” Mr . Don’

s proposal seems so far just,as the genus B ixa wants the pellucid dots in the leaves,which form an important item in the chareeterof the order ; somuch so indeed, that it has been remarked Ofthem.that they are so te

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

markable among all the neighbouring orders . that theywould alone sufi ce to characterize this iftheywere constant. Dr. Lindley refers Oncoba to B ixinece and Phoberos doubtfully to Flacourtianece, though these genera, are so closely allied , that their principaldifference seems to be inthe presence of petals in the former, and their absence in the latter. In both the stamens are at

teched to an expanded torus, in both the anthers are apiculate from the prolongation of the con

nectivum , in both the flowers are hermaphrodite, the style long , with a capitate stigma, and inboth the ovary is 1- celled. The two genera agree bes ides in their arborions habit, and the cha

racter of their foliage To whichever order, the r efore the one belongs, the other I conceive must

of necess ity be referred. If therefore the genus B is a and Gasaba can be correctly associated in”

the same order,which I doubt, I confess myself unable to perceive onwhat grounds ,witbout takingP hoberoswith it, Oncoba can be severed from the Flacourtianece . The small number of Indianspecies referable to B iwinew, as it nowstands, not perm itting me to enter m ore m inutely intoan exam ination of the characteristics of the order, I must of necess ity leave it as I find it, butwould suggest to those who have better opportunities , a more careful exam ination of the

various genera respectively referred to it and Flacourtianece, than they seem yet to have beensubjected to,with a viewto a more exact determination of their lim its .

G sooaara rcac DISTRIBUTION. B ixa is a native of America, but has long been natu

relized in India , and so completely on the Malabar Coast, that it is now believed to be orig inally a native of that part of country, it is equally found in the islands of the Eastern Archi

pelago. Echinocarpus and Tricbospermum are natives of Java, and of the former, one species,believe a newone, has been found in the v icinity of Bombay. Oncoba is a native of Africa,

nearly all the others are natives of the warmer parts of America and the Mauritius .

Paorsar tss AND Usss . The medicinal properties of the order, if they possess any, are oflittle note, annotto or arnotto, (the pulp surrounding the seeds of B ir a orellana) is sometimesadm inistered as a gentle laxative, and stomachic, but is much more extens ively employed as a

dye . It is prepared by macerating the pods in boiling water, extracting the seeds , and leav

ing the pulp to subs ide ; the fluid being subsequently drawn off, the res iduum ,with which oil

is sometimes m ixed up, is placed in shallow vessels and gradually dried in the shade. It is of

two sorts , viz . flag or cake, and roll annotto. The first, which is by far the most importantarticle in a commercial point of view, is furn ished almost wholly by Cayenne, and comes to us

principally byway of the United States . It is imported in square cakes, weighing 2 or 3 lbs.

each, wrapped in banana leaves . When well made , it ou ht to be of a bright yellow colour,soft to the touch, and of a good consistence . It im arts a deep but not durable orange colour

to s ilk and cotton, and is used for that purpose y the dyers . Roll annotto is principallybrought from Brazil. The rolls are small, not exceeding 2 or 3 oz . in weight it is hard, dry,and compact, brownish on the outs ide, and of a beautiful red colour within . The latter is the

best of all ingredients for the colouring of cheese and butter ; and is nowexclusively used for

that purpose in all the British and in some of the continental da iries . In Gloucestershire, it isthe practice to allow an ounce of annotto to a cwt. of cheese ; in Ches hire, 8 dwts . are

reckoned suflicient for a cheese of 60 lbs . When genuine, it neither affects the taste nor the

smell of cheese or butter. The Spanish Americans m ix annotto with their chocolate, towhichit g ives a beautiful tint.”

At an average of the three years ending with 183 1, the annotto entered for home con

sumption amounted to l,28,528 lbs . 9. year. Previously to 1832, the duty on flag annotto was183 . 8d. a cwt., and on other sorts £5 l2a. but the duty is nowreduced to Is . a cwt. on theform er, and to 48. on the latter. This judicious and liberal reduction will, we have no doubt,be followed by a cons iderable increase of consumption . The price of flag annotto varies inthe market from 6d. to ls. per lh., and of roll from Is. to Is. 6d.

” MoCulloc/z’s D ictionary

of Commerce, pag e 41.Mr. Huxham a talented and enterprising merchant on the Malabar Coast, attempted the

preparation of Annotto for exportation, but found the lowprice atwhich it can be produced inAmerica, set competition from this country at defiance, though the shrub grows freely, produces fruit abundantly, and pulp of good quality. It is employed in this country as in Europe,to tinge butter, and a good deal as a dye, for the production of a pale rose colour. The cloth is

40 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY.

pre ed by being first soaked in strong alum water, the colour is then suspended in butterm il into which the cloth is dipped and charged with colour. The colour so imparted s oon

fades, and requires to be renewed from time to tim e, by a repetition of the above simple

XVI . VIOLARIEIE.

A large andwidely distributed order, its species being found in almost every part of the

world, but most abundantly in Am erica . A fewonly have as yet been found in tropical A s ia .

Those of India, like the European ones , are all dim inutive herbs or sufl‘ruticose plants , but theAmerican ones attain the s ize of cons iderable shrubs or even small trees . The leaves are

usually alternate, stipulate, simple : the flowers erect, or spreading peduncled : the pedunclessolitary, or several together, l

-flowered,with two bractioles . The calyx consists of 5pers is tent sepals, imbricated in a stivation : the Corolla of5 inferior petals, sometimes unequal, usuallywithering and obliquely convolute in a stivation : the Stamens 5, alternate with, rarely oppos ite,the petals, inserted on an inferior disk, often une us], with the anthers sometimes cc -hering ,lying close on the ovary, 2

- celled, opening inwar y, and tipped with membrane ; two of thefi laments in the irregular flowered ones , furnished with an appendage or gland at the base : theOvary l - celled, usually many seeded,with 3 parietal placenta , oppos ite the three outer sepalsStyle s ing le, declinate ,with an oblique hooded stigma : Capsule, 3 - valved loculicidal, bearingthe placenta on the m iddle of the valves : seed often carunculate at the base, having a straight,erect, embryo in the axis of a fleshy albumen.

Arrm rr tss . Polygalewand Droseracea , are considered by DeCandolle and others theorders most nearly allied to this, which however can only be with reference to the extreme

forms,which are not met with in India . The Indian genera can scarcely be confounded withthem ,

the Violariea being all furnished with a 3 - valved capsule, bearing the placenta , andnumerous seed on the m iddle of the valves . While in Polyg alea , except Xanthophyllum,

which has an indehiscent fruit, the capsule is 2- celled,with a s ingle ndulous seed in each cell,and the Droseracea have several styles . cercinate vernation, and

pe

ex - stipulate leaves . Them ost nearly allied orders so far as the Indian flora is concerned,being thus easilydistingu ished,it is unnecessary to enter further on their distinctive marks, with reference to those of othercountries .

EsssNr tAt. CHARACTER. Polypetalous : stamens fewer than 20: ovary superior of severalcarpels, combined into a single capsule,with more placentas than one. Leaves dotless, straightwhen young , furnishedwith stipules.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. As already observed the species of this order are met

with in every part of the world, but certa inly predom inate in America, and there they atta intheir greatest development ; large shrubs and even moderate sized trees being found among theAmerican representatives of the order. In Europe, as in India, the forms of Violarieae are

either herbs or small shrubs , the latter however, with much smaller flowers than is usual in theformer. Ofthe whole number of known species of the order, the Indian flora , taking,

Wallich’slist as the standard, contains about l - lOth. These are referable to three genera , viz . iola , Ioni

diam,and Pentaloba , the latter genus as yet unobserved in the Peninsula. Of these , the species

of Viola always occupy alpine s ituations, while the two 8 ice of Ionidium, are both natives ofthe plains . Pentaloba is found in B and in Cochin hina species of Viola and Ionidiumare also found in Java.

Paossar tss AND Uses . Under this headwe possess little information derived from Indianexperience, two species only being met with on the plains , and these sm all plants, but. littleregarded. They are however m embers of a genus ( Ionidium) remarkable for the number of

its species, endowed with rather stron emetic properties, so much so indeed is the case withsome of them, that it was long suppos the tree Ipecacuana was derived from one of them,

IIJLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANYA

which hence got the name of Viola ( Ionidium) Ipecacuana . and in Brazil they are said tobe in common use as emetics . Those of this country are not stated by Ainslie to have anysuch properties, but he speaks of the leaves and young shoots as being demulcent, and adds,that formed into a liniment wi th oil, the na tives esteem them a cooling application to the headafter exposure to the sun, and I am informed that the leaves and young shoots are eat as a

cure for ardor urina and gonorrhe a . On the continent of Europe, decoctions of the sweetsmelling and pansy v iolets , are extens ively employed for the cure of cutaneous affections, particularly of children whether our alpine violets , of which our hills produce several species,will be found suited for such purposes rema ins to be determ ined.

M . Boullay ( Jour . de Pharm . X , 23 discovered in the Viola odorata an alcaloide, soanalogous to emetine, that he called it emetine dc violette, or v rocm s . He cons iders it not as

identical with that procured from Ipecacuana, but as a species of the same genus . He obtainedit in two states ; Ist. Impure violins , combined with malic acid, in form of yellowish browndeliquescent scales,very soluble in alcohol. Of this a pound of v iolet roots treated with alcohol,furn ished about 4 drachms . 2d. Pure violins . The taste is bitter, very acrid, and disagreeable ; it is in form of a white powder ; little soluble in water, but more so than emetine, lesssoluble on the contrary than it in cold alcohol, insoluble in a ther, and in the fixed and volatileoils . It combines with acids but does not form well characterized salts. It possesses strongemetic and purgative properties, butwas found when tried, very uncertain in its operation , and

was never adm itted into practice : but the fact of one of the least active of the order beingendowedwith such properties , afl

'

ords strong grounds for inferring that most of the others possess them in a greater or less degree.

R suaaas on Gas saA ANn SPECIES. As there are only two genera of this order found inSouthern India, a species of each of which is here figured to showtheir distinctive characters,it appears unnecessary to advert here to their generic characters . Specific characters howeverare not so eas ily made out, owing to their disposition to vary, under this conviction, I was at

fi rst led to conclude that the species here figured, was one of the numerous varieties of ViolaP atrinii,and it was not until I had exam ined,with much care, a great number of s cimene,procured from different localities, I became sensible of my error, by observing that, owever muchthey varied in other respects , they all agreed in having winged- leaf stalks . The absence of thatcharacter, combined with the whole under surface of the leaves of this one, being covered

with short hairs, (in V. Patrinii they are confined to the veins only,) aided by its remote lace

of growth (Ceylon) induced me to take a different view, and consider it a newspecies. iola

P atrinii except in the characters above alluded to is most variable. In some of m y specimensthe petiole are shorter, others longer than the lim it of the leaf, and the leaves in place of beingalways truncated are occas ionally cordate at the base, in others the petiole are nearly a foot long ,surmounted by triangular leaves , not above an inch and s helf in their largestdimension ,while ina third form the leaves more nearly approach to lanceolate, that is, they taper at the base ;but still the winged petici is invariably present. These various forms are derived from the

Neilgherries, Pulney mounta ins, and Shevaroy h ills—the very large ones are from the last

named station . The relative length of leaves and peduncles do not afford good distinctivem arks , the one being sometimes longer , som etimes shorter, than the other. To the species herefi gured may probably be referred the Viola hasta ta of Moon (Cal. Ceylon plants) . Thespecies variously named Viola serpens , V. aspera, V. crenata , V.Wig htiana , and V. palma ris,are I suspect only varieties of one species , and feel almost certain, that my collection pre

sents representatives of each . though I am unable to distinguish two well marked speciesamong the whole,without however wishing for the present to do more than call attention tothe subject, I may observe, that characters taken from the comparative lengths of petiols and

peduncles , are scarcely fi t to determ ine specimens of the same plant for they vary in thei frelative proportions on different parts of the same specimen, neither do I think, are goodcharacters to be obtained from the stipules or bractioles , which appear to be nearly the same

through the whole series . The degree of hairiness is equally variable even on the same plant,apparently depending on different degrees of luxuriance , the early leaves , expanded under

’

the influence of a moist soil and atmosphere, be ing som etimes nearly glabrous, while others

developed at a letter period, probably during dry weather, are decidedly hairy. Again they

42 ILLUSTRATIONS on INDIAN BOTANY .

all agree in their sarmentose habit and cordate leaves , but the form of the leaves did'

ar, forsometimes they are broadly reniform cordate at the base, and obtuse at the apex ; others ares imply cordate,with a tendency to accumiuation at the a

pex,while in others they are distinctly

accuminated and very sharppointed : some specimens ave acutely serrated leaves , otherscrenated,while in others again they are almost entire on the margine . The series of specimensupon which these observations are made were derived from the Neilgherries , Pulney mountains,Shevaroy hills, Shevagherry hills, and Ceylon, to which I may add, that Mr. Royle

’s figure of

the Himalayan form , perfectly corresponds with my native s

pacimens derived from the above

localities . The following characters will, I hope, sufi ciently tinguish the new species fromV. Patrim

'

i.

ViolaWalkcm . (R.W.) Stemless, leaves oblong, Viola Patriau (D. C.) Stemless, leaves truncatedcordate at the base, crenate, petiole short,wingless at the base, from oblong, to nearly triangular, some

peduncles much longer than the leaves, stigma mar times longer (but usually much shorter) than the

gined. petiol, petiole winged.I have dedicated this species to Col.Walker from Neilg herries, &c. The peduncles being eitherwhom I first received specimens, and from one of longer or shorter than the leaves, l have not referred towhich the accompanying figure was taken. them in the character.

XvIl .—DROSERACE1E—THE SUN-DEWTRIBE.

A small order of herbaceous, annual, or perennial, rarely sufl'

rutescent plants ,with simple,rarely pinnatifed or toothed, alternate, leaves, often congested at the base, for the most partfurnished with scattered glandular hairs , especially on the margins , and with circiuate verna

tion, the leaves being rolled inwards from the apex towards the base like ferns, stipules wanting , but in their place often furnished with stipulary hairs at the base of the petiols . Theirflowers are hermaphrodite, re ular, either solitary, or more frequently racemose, pedicelled, allranged on one side of the st (secund) the stalk circiuatety revolute before the expansion oftheflowers . The calyx free, persistent, consistin of 5 equal imbricating sepals : the corolla

of 5hypogynous equal petals,which continue to here and wither on the stalk after bloom ing ,(marcesceut. ) The stamens usually equal the petals, and alternate with them, but are some

times double or treble the number, with term inal, erect, 2-celled, anthers ; bursting longitudinally, or rarely, by term inal pores . The ovary is sessile, l - celled, with parietal many seededplacenta , s tyles 3 -5distinct, or cc -heriug at the base, with bifid or branched stigmas . Fruitcapsular, l - celled, 3 -5 valved, dehiscence loculicidal, that is the valves bearing the placenta) ,and seeds on their m iddle. Seeds numerous,m inute, albumen fleshy or cartilagenous , enclosingthe straight Embryo,with its radical pointing towards the hilum : cotyledons thick, becom ingfoliacious in germ ination.

A rn m '

r i ss . This order is nearly allied to Viola riem, from which however it is distinguished by its circinate vernation , ex

- stipulate leaves, and numerous styles . Dr. Lindley cou

siders them also related to Saxifrag ew, from which they are principally distinguished by theirvernation . He however refers Pa rna ssia to that order, though it agrees with Drosera in itsvernation,,

and in so far did'ora from Saxifrag eae, this therefore, as an intermediate genus,apperta in ing more to the one in its reproductive organs and to the other in habit, establishes aclose relationship between the two.

ESSENT IAL Caxaacrs a. Polypetalous : stamens fewer than 20 : ovary wholly superior ;of several combined carpelswith more than one placentas : leaveswith stipulary fringes, circinatewhen young, dotless .

GEOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUTION. The whole order,with I believe only one exception, are

natives ofwet and marshy soil,and are found in every part of the worldwhere hogs and marshesoccur. In this country we find the D rosera B urmanni occupying a range of elevation, varyingfrom that of the level of the sea, to 8000 feet. I have gathered it on the banks of the Adyarin Madras, and in the marshes of Ootacamund on the Neilgherries Droscra Indica has nearly

ILLUSTRATlONS OF’

INDIAN BOTANY'.

as wide a range : D . pclala I have only found on the higher hills, but on these, both on thecontinent and in Ceylon : B . intermedia is a European plant, but the specimen figured in theaccompar

l

i

‘

ying plate was procured from an Indian herbar ium, but whether a native specimen or

not is un nown.

Paors arrss AND Uses . These plants were formerly es teemed by alchymists, on account

Of the drops of pellucid dew,which they support on the glandular points of their hairs , to

which they gave the name of Ros solis ,whence the name Sun-dewwhich they nowbear . Theyare inodorous , but somewhat acid and acrid. Bruised with salt and applied to the skin, theyare said to blister it : m ixed with m ilk they curdle it ; probably through their acidity : cattlerefuse them , hence they are, apparently with much justice, supposed to be poisonous or otherwise injurious to them . Drosera peltata , which becom es nearly black in drying , tinges the

paper in which it is kept a beautiful pink colour, and m ight probably as Mr. Royle suggests,afford a valuable dye. The whole of these plants are remarkable for their property Of contracting on such insects, as happen to light on their leaves, but none of them to the same

extent as those of D inners muscipula, Venus’fly trap) which on some hairs in the m iddle Of

the lobes of the leaf being touched, immediately contract with g reat rapidity on whateverObject may have excited them , but so long as these hairs are avoided, the surface of the leafmay be freely touched without exciting contraction .

Sub- 0rd. PARNASSIEZE.

The place the genus Parnassia ought to occup in the natural arrangement of plants, haslong been a subject of doubt among Botanists . ass ieu placed it along with Drosera andResida , at the end of the Capparidete as allied genera, being princi ally influenced in thisdecision by the parietal placentation . Since then both Dresera and esida

‘

have been madethe types Of distinct orders, but the place Of Parnassia still rema ins undetermined. DeCan

dolle refers it with doubt to D roseraceae, Dr. Lindley to Saxifrag eae, notwiths tandingits circinate vernation, cons idering the nectarial scales as a peculiar development Of an hypo

fiyuous disk,which assumes the form of 5 fringed scales alternate with the stamens, and ofighly curious structure.

”Bat tling Ordinus Naturalis Plantarum) thinks it more appro

priately placed among the Tamariscinece , wh ile Dr . Arnott, in my opinion , with greaterjustice, cons iders it a sub -order of D roseraceae, and here accordingly I have kept it for the

present, though it differs from both orders , in the want of albumen in the seeds, and fromD roseracece in the want Of glandular pairs on the leaves . The following character Of the

sub-order was drawn up by Mr. Arnot and published in our Prodromus .

Sub-order . Pum as-view(Arm ) Sepals 5 (e stivatiou imbricative . Petals 5, alternatewiththe sepals , hypogynous . Stamens hypogynous, 10

—20, some of them often sterile :anthers bilocular, bursting long itudinally. Ovary solitary, unilocular style none, and four sessile stigmas

Oppos ite the placentas ; or one with a lobed stigma . Fruit a capsule, l - celled, 4-5, valved

and loculicide or indehiscent, and then the placenta is only at the base. Seeds numerous .

A lbumen 0. Embryo erect, or the radical pointing to the hilum . Bog plants . Leaves nearlyall radical,without glandular hairs .

GEOGRAPHICAL DIsr aIsur ION. The species of this genus are widely distributed, beingmet with in every country Of Europe, North America, and on the higher hills Of both thenorth and south of India always in boggy marshy places . The three species figured here arerespectively from the Pulue mounta ins, ( P . mysorensisj , the Neilgherries, ( P .Wightiana) ,and from the Himalayas, ( l

y’. nubicolaj .

Paors arms AND Uses . Of the properties of this order little is known, the P . palustris,when fresh, is somewhat bitter,which it loses by drying , the infus ion is also said to be rough

and as tringent to the taste, and strikes a deep red colour on being m ixed with sulphate of iron.

In the northern parts of Europe and Siberia, the decoction is a popular remedy for retentionsof urine and calculus disorders.

44 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

The following Synops is of the East Indian species Drosera and Parnassia , drawn up byDr . G . A .Walker A rnott, and published in the Companion to the Botanical Magazine, I republish entire, that work being but little known in India .

SYNOPSIS OF THE EAST INDIAN SPECIES OF DROSERA AND PARNASSIA.

BY G. A.WALKER ARNOTT.

B acsan . L inn.

5I. D C'.

I . D. m bellata acaulis, folIIs ovalibusIonge petiolatis, scapo apice umbellato 5-floro. Lear.Cock. (ed.Willd. ) 1. p. 232. D C. Prod. I . p. 3 17. Don

in Mill. D icl. 1. p. 344.

Has . In China.This l have not seen, nor am I aware of its exist

ence in any Herbarium . Loureiro himself had neverfound either the recent flowers or the fruit, and Is

somewhat doubtful about the genus, although the ap

pearance was that of a Drorera.2. D. B urmanni (Vahl) ; acaulis, folus cuneato

obovatis sessilibus reticulatc- venosis, scapo paucifloro

erecto capillari calyce

qt

ae glabris, seminibus exarilla

tis. Vahl, Symb. 3 . p. D C . P rod. I. p. 318. Dan

in Mill. Dicl. 1. p. 344 . Roxb. F l. 1nd. 2. p. 113.

M oon, Cal . Ccyl. P l. 23. Wig ht cl A rn . Prod. F l.P en. 1nd. Or. 1. p. Wall. Cal. n. 1242. Wig htCut. n. 120.

—B um . Th. c l. l. 94. f. 2.Has . In Ceylon. Hermann, Burmann, Moon,

M acros,Walker. Peninsula of India. Roxburg h,H eyne, Klein,Wig ht, Gflfi tlt. Bengal and Silbet.

game/t, Hamilton, De S i lva. Cochmchina ? F inson.

3. D. Loureira (Hook. etArm ) ; acaulis, fOlIIs oblongo- spa thula tis a

fetiolum subteque longum pilosum

a ttenuatis, scape a scendente elongate plurifloro foliamulto superante versus apicem calyceque glandulosoubesceutibus, pedicellis calycem mquantibus, seminibus exarilla tis .—H, at A , in B ot. Beech. Voy . 167.

lab. 3 1. - D. rotundifolia. Lour . Cock. (ed. illd. )I . p. 233 Burmanni. D C . Prod. 1. p. 3 18

(quoad plantam Chinensem ).Has . Cochinchina. L oureiro.

Messrs. L and Collie.

4. D. ndica (Liam) ; caule ramoso, folns spars isanguste linearibus apice a ttenuatis glanduloso

-

pilosis,

pilis limbi latitudine long ioribus rig idiusculis, petiolorevi g labro vel minute puberulo latitudine limbumfolli subequante, racemopaucifloro calyceque copioseatentim g landuloso

-pubescentibus, seminibus exaril

atis.-L inn. Sp. p. 403. D C. Prod. l . p. 3 19. Don

in M ill. D icl. I. 346. R 026. F l. I nd. 2. p.“3 .

M oon, Cat. Ce l. Pl. p . 23.Wi Inat A rn. P rod. F l.P en. I nd. Or. I p. 34. Wall. ‘

a l . n . 1244. Wi In,n

iI I9.—t eed. H . Mal. 10. l. 20. Burn . c l.

4.

as . Ceylon. Hermann, B armann, Moon, Ma.

cras ,Walker. Peninsula of India. Roe-burg h,Klein,Heyne,Wi ht, Campbell . Tavoy. Gomez.

5. D. inlaysoni (Walk) ; caule ramoso, fOlIIssparsis anguste linearibus longe subulato-a tteuuatis

supra marg ineque breviter articulatO-pilosis, petiolo

sube quivlato brevi, racemis elongatis multifloris minu

BOCBLLA.

Canton, China.

tissime parceque glanduloso-puberulis, seminibus

ovoideis scrobiculatO- puncta Wall. Cat. 11 . 3752.Has .

'

I‘

urowBay, Cochinchina. F inlay:

This is much larger than the preceding, and pre

sents a considerable difl‘

erence in habit, but approaches

too closely in character. I have only seen one speci

men, and that an imperfect one.

D C.

6. D. lunata caule erecto labro, folns

radicalibus rotundato—reniform ibus, cau inis sparsis

petiolatis peltatis lunato- triangularibus, angulis duo

bus acuminatis tertio rotundato, sepalis lacero-dentatis

ciliatisve ce teroquin glabris, sem inibus exarilla tis.

Hans. in D C. Prod. 1. p. 3 19. Don Prod. Fl. Nap.

p. 212. G. Door. in M ill. Duct. 1. p. 346. Moon, Cal.

Ccyl. Fl. 23. Wall. Ca l. n. l243 .—D. Peltata.Wight st rn. Prod. FLP en. I nd. Or. 1. p. 34.Wig/u,

Cat. n . 117.Has . Ceylon. Moon,Wall-er . Peninsula of India.Wig ht. Nepal. Hamilton,Wallich. Himalayah.

Gera rd. Silbet. B ruce.Although I have here kept D . Innate distinct from

D . cllala, I do so with much hesitation ; and the

den ts, expressed by Dr.Wight and myself in the

Prodromus Fl. Penins., are somewhat confirmed byspecimens from Van Diemeu

’s Land, agreeing entirely

with the above character. The only difl‘

erence I can

point out between the two species is, that in our plant

the calyx is glabrous ; the marg in is usually slight

cut or toothed, although sometimes cilia ted. In

sltata the calyx is all over covered with adpressed

Ihng ish hairs, and the sepals are broader and shorter

than in D. lunala. If they be really distinct species,it is not eas to say towhich Smith

’s andLabillardiere

’s

synonyms along .

52. as cens ion .

Panas sem, Linn.

This genus may be conveniently divided in to four

grou 18, two of which belong to Europe,N . America,and Iberia ; the other two to East IndIa. I shall here

g ive the definitions of each, with an enumeration of

all the species I possess .

s 1. S tamina sler ilia in solar g raciles apicc g lan

dultfera r des incntia pelala ma rg ins m legerr ima.

P. Caroliniana. M ich—P. palus trls. L i ra—P.

arviflora . D C ., Hook. Fl B ar . Am. 1. t. 27.—P.

Olzebuei, Ch. ct. Schl.

52. Stamina sterilia in solar ualidas apicc g lan

dulifcras dcsinenlia ; pelala basin versus j in brtalolaces-a.

1. P. Wig htiana (Walk) ; foli ra late cordato-ovatis

subreniformibus, sinu subrotuudato, bractea foliis simi

li amplectente, petalis Obova to-Oblongis marg ins infra

medium in segments simplicia vel sImpliciter furcatatennis ciliate-lacerie,ungue brevi late cuneato, statute:

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ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY.

The calyx is composed of 5 sepals, 3 exterior smaller ; 2 interior and lateral much longer,and petaloid in appearance, the win The corolla of5petals, but generally two of these arenot developed, leaving only three,w ich often adhere at the base the anterior one larger thanthe others and somewhat boat- shaped ( the keelj the other two are alternate with the

upper lateral sepals. Sometimes the whole number is complete, and then the two additionalpetals which are usually smaller, are placed between the keel and lateral petals , or between theanterior, and large lateral sepals, showing that it is the m iddle pair, or those alternating withthe large petaloid sepals or wings, that are in the ordinary state of the flower suppressed. The

heel is sometimes entire,and then, usuallywith a crest, sometimes 3 - lobed, andwithout a crest,

whence the crest is supposed to be the altered m iddle lobe of a 3 - lobed keel. The stamens

beloware usually eight, ascending , combined into a tube adhering to the base of the petals ; som etimes 4 and distinct ; when combined the tube is split opposite the upper sepal. Anthers elevate,erect, l - celled

, open ing by a term inalpore, rarely, by a longitudinal slit. Disk sometimes largeand form ing a cup round the base of the ovary . Ovary free, compressed, form ed of two unitedcarpels , one anterior, and one posterior, usually 2- celled, with the placenta in the axis, butoccas ionally, l - eelled, from the suppress ion of one of the cells, and still more rarely, I - celled,as in Xantlwphyllam,with two oppos ite parietalplacentas. Ovulus solitary, or very rarely,from2 to 6 in each cell, style simple curved. Fruit loculicidal, sometimes indehiscent. Seeds with a

crustacious outer integument, furnished with a carunculus at the base, or an arillus : albumen,

usually copious and fleshy ; sometimes reduced to a'

thin plate, orwanting as in XanthophyliamEmbryo straight, radical next the hilum , cotyledgns usuall foliacious . The following furtherexplanation of the nature of the irregularity of the flowers Iextract from Dr. Lindley

’s Natural

System of Botany, 2d edition.

The calyx apparently cons ists ofbut three pieces ,which are usually green, and like sepalsin their common state ; but their real num ber is 5, the two coloured lateral petal- like bodies ,sometimes lying within the apparent sepals , being in reality part of the series of the calyx.

The corolla is mostly monopetalous , and, if carefully exam ined, formed of 3 pieces namely,the keel and two etals, all soldered together. We have, therefore, an abortion of two petals,according to the awe of alternation but this is not all there is not on] an abortion of two

petals, but of these two which would, if present be found right and le t of the keel. The

m onopetalous corolla is, therefore, formed by the cohes ion of the two posterior and the one

anterior petal of a pentapetalous corolla, of which the two lateral petals are suppressed . The

keel has an appendage of an anomalous character, called technically a’

crest, and often consistingof one or even two rows of fringes or divisions, orig inating not from the marg in but from

within it, and sometimes cohering in a common membrane at their base . Aug . de St. Hilairehas shewn that this crest is nothing more than the deeply- lobed m iddle segment of a keel,with these lobes in such a state of cohesion that the central lobe is pushed outwards, while thelateral ones cohere by their own marg ins and with its back. The stamens are only 8, twotherefore are suppressed : or in krameria 4, one being suppressed. I may remark, in addition,that the relative pos ition of the fifth sepal and petal respectively, was first indicated byBrown .

” D enham 3 1.

Arr-'m rr tss . The opinions of Botanists , have alWays’ been much divided in regard to the

afi nities of this order, and the place it ought to occupy in the natural arrangement of plants

Jussieu first placed Polyg ala among the illonopetalous orders , placing it at the head of his

order Pedicula res, but afterwards sawreason to change its place, and then ranged it among the

Polypetalce . D eCandolle considering it more allied to Viola rieae and D roseraceae, placed it

after these orders . Bartling has placed it in his class Rhoeadeae”along with Residacece,

Fumariaceae, Papaveraceae Cruciferae, and Capparideae. Lindley prefers placing it in hisalliance .dcerales

”along with Aceraceae (Sycamore

’s) Sapendaceae, (soap- nuts ) and di scu

lacece, (horse chesnuts) . The following expos ition of the afliuities of this order, is extracted

from his work.

Polyg alacew are stationed by DeCandolle between D roseraceaz and Tremandracce ,

and in the immediate vicinity of Violaceas . With the latter they are related on account of

their hypogynous stamens, irregular flowers, and cucullate stigma ; and with Tremandracew

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 47

on account of the caruncula of their seed. To Fumariewthey approach in the general aspectof their flowers ; but if my theory of the structure of that order be adm itted, their resemblance would not be so great as it appears to be. Laguminosce are, notwithstanding theirperigynous stamens , an order with which Polyg alacew have great affinity : the irregularityof corolla is of a s im ilar nature in both there is in Laguminosce a tendency to suppress theupper lateral petals in Erythrina , as in Polyg ala ; the ascending direction of the s tyle and a

cohes ion of stam ens are characters common to both orders . Many additional observations are

made by St. Hilaire and Moquin—Tandon to the same effect. These authors , moreover,compare this order with Rutacew; but they appear to have finally decided upon the v icinityof Sapindacewbeing its true pos ition ; remarking that the calyx of Sapindacew is unequalthe corolla very irregular, and the ovary of Schmidelia is usually 2- celled and 2- seeded likethat of Polyg ala . Moreover, the greater part of the genera of that order have, with a calyxof five divisions, a corolla with four petals , and the place of the fifth is m an ifestly vacant.

This suppress ion is not exactly the same as what is observed in the corolla of Polyg ala ,wherethere is only 3 petals with 5 sepals ; but the suppress ion has more analogy with what concernsthe stamens, since with a quinary number in the calyx each order has eight antheriferousfilaments .

”

G sooaarmou . D isr amur ron . As already observed, this is most general, every part ofthe world being able to boast of some species , peculiarly its own . The genus Polyg ala isfound in all climates , from the equinox to the lar circles , and in every variety of soil, from theburning sands and pla ins of Coromandel, to£2Peat bogs of the northern mounta ins, and no

where metwith in greater beauty, than on the dry chalk hills of Kent. The other genera are

m ore lim ited in their range. Salomom'

a has as yet only been met with in As ia , but extendsfrom China to the Malabar Coast, being more or less m et with in all the intermediate countries .

Soulamia is as yet only known to exist in the Moluccas . Xanthophyllum has a range nearlyas wide as Salomom'

a , extending from Java, (whence Blume has three species which he hadublished under the generic name of Jackia ) through S ilbet, Ceylon, and Coromandel, to Mala

bar, but has not yet been met with out of Asia . Most of the other genera are American, butMuraltia is confined to the Cape of Good Hope.

Paor sarms AND Uses . Were the properties of the species of Poly ala in accordancewith v irtues expressed in the name, (Poly g ala Much m ilk,’ in allusion to their supposedpowerof augmenting the flowof that secretion) truly valuablewould they be in many s ituations , but wehave no proof of their possessing such powers . Generally speaking , bitterness, com bined in agreater or less degreewith catharticproperties , have been found in those species which have beensubjected to trial, especially Polyg ala ama ra , on which account, it is esteemed in chronicbowel complaints after active inflamm atory symptom s have subs ided. But the diseases for thecure of which they have atta ined their greatest repute, are those of the chest, requiring ex

pectorants , on account of their action on the mucous membrane of the bronchi . In such cases,

if inflammatory symptoms exist, they must in the first instance be reduced by bleeding . Theseneg a , or snake- root ofAmerica, Polygala senega} is the specieswh ich has attained the highestrepute for its medical pro erties , and especially as a remedy in diseases of the chest,but notwithstanding it has been high y extolled in such cases , and no doubt in m any instances deservedly,there is still much uncertainty as to its real merits . Among the aborig ines of America, itis adm inistered in cases of snake bite, and it was from observing its effects in relieving oppress ion of breathing in such cases, that analogy led Dr . Tennant to recommend its employment indeseases of the chest. A species met with on the H imalaya mountains P . crotala rioides isused by the inhabitants of these hills as a remedy in snake bite in like m anner as P . seneg a ,i s by the Americans . Such being the case, it appears somewhat remarkable, that of all thelong list of Indian species , about 20 in number, that not one of them , with that exception,is mentioned as being employed in native practice, and yet, I cannot help thinking , that some

at least of the Indian species, enjoy properties analogous to those found in both the Europeanand American ones .

A peculiar vegetable principle, called Senegen has been discovered by one chem ist,(Gehlen) and a different one by another, (Reschier) which he has called Polyg aline, but it isstill uncertain whether they are not the same. A third (M. Folchi) has procured a sub

48 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

stance, which he calls Polygaline,'

under the form of brilliant pale coloured scales, at - fi rstins ipid, afterwards acrid and burning to the taste, insoluble in distilled water, and but Spar .

ingly soluble in alcohol. M . Dulong on the contrary, procured one, deliquescent and v ery

soluble in water and alcohol. M . Peachier states that he obtained from 6 ounces of the root

100 grains of an alcaline substance, united with a newacid,which he has called acids P oly

galinique. The Krameria or Ratany root rem arkable for its astringent, properties and for

i ts extens ive employment by preparers of Port wms in Britian, is derived from another gen us

of this or a nearly allied fam ily. The species of Xantlwplzyllum are trees that furnish tim

ber of cons iderable s ize, and being besides handsome flowering plants, deserve a place in the

garden, as does Polyg ala arilla te a very handsome flowering shrub, not uncommon on the

higher hills of this country. The properties of both Xanthophyllum and P . arillata if they

possess any, are unknown . It seems to me.

desi rable to remove the latter from the genus Po

lygala , from most of the species of which it differs very widely in habit and in the arilluswhich covers the whole of the seed.

R EMARKS os G amma AND Srscms . Three genera only, of this order, have as yet beenfound in the Indian Pen insula, viz . Polygala, Xanthophyllum, and Salomom

'

a . The first of

these, is a very old genus , has been long known as a native of India, but of which it appearsDr. Roxburgh knewonly 2 pen insular species , these have now been increased to 14, and Dr.Wallich and Mr . Royle mention several others, not met with in th is part of India . Xantho

phyllum is a genus orig inally established by Roxburgh for two S ilbet trees, but is nowfound toextend nearly to the southern extrem i ty of the peninsula, as I have several species from

Courtallum , and one from Ceylon . It is also found in Java, whence Blume has 3 species towhich he has g iven the name of Jackie , not knowing , that the genus had been prev iouslynamed by Roxburgh. The genus Salomom

'

a, orig inally established by Loureiro to receive

a small Chinese plant, has recently had cons iderable additions made to it. Two have beenfound in Nepaul, three in Ceylon, and one in Malabar. The last, having been discoveredfor the first time in 1835, the genus has not yet found its way into our cata

logue of peninsular plants, on which account I have ava iled myself of the present op

portunity of making it known . The species of Polyg

ala here represented, was selected on

account of its being new to the peninsular flora , an under the suppos ition that it is a newSpecies . On this last point however I have still some doubts, not but that my plant appears

more distinct from P. persecariagfolia as figured byWallich (Plant. rar . tab . 184) than manyof the other allied species of the genus which are kept distinct, but because, I find they have

a strong tendency to vary in their forms . I was particularly struck with this dispos itionwhile exam ining a very large series of specimens of P . Javana , presenting almost eve

ry form of vegetation and outline of foliage, but all agreeing in two points , the large wingsof the calyx, and in having a curious 2 lobed membranous appendage, or arillus pendant fromthe carunculus . In like manner P . Heyneana has three, smaller, but in other respects s im ilar,appendages hang

ing like flaps, nearly the whole length of the seed, from its carunculus, bywhich a number of sufficiently dis tinct looking specimens were with certainty associated.

None of the other species possessed an equally certain guide by which to bring varying formstogether, but from what I have observed in these two, I feel but little hes itation in concluding,that in some instances mere varieties are raised to the rank of species .

The genus Salomonia is distinguished from Polyg ala by the absence of the large wing - likeinterior sepals its 5 sepals being all nearly equal, by having four, not eight, stamens with thefilaments united their whole leng th ; and lastly, by the capsule being furnished on the margins

with long tooth - like bristles , in place of being naked, or ciliated. Two species are introducedinto the accompanying plate, one from Ceylon, recently discovered, and the other from Malabar.

The genus Xanthophyllum differs fromthe rest of the order in having symmetrical flowers ,except the stamens, and exalbum inous seed. Here in place of three petals firmly united at the

base into one, there are 5 petals, corresponding in number, and alternate with the lobes of the

calyx ,but the stamens retain the unsymmetrical character of the order. Itdiffers further from the

character of the order in having the placentas parietal in place of in the ax is of the ovary. The

species of Xanthophyllum here figured I at first doubted,whether to cons ider a narrow- leaved

variety of one of Roxburgh’

e species , or distinct from both ; the latter I now think the more

correct view; partly on account of thedifference of appearance of this plant, but much more

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 49

on account of the difference of structure which its ovary presents . In X .fi avescens , Roxburghdescribes and figures the ovary as hav ing two tubercles rising from the base , each bearing twoerect ovules, and in his X . virens, he represents the placentae as form ing two projections ,one from each s ide of the ovary extending its whole length , and each hearing from 4 to 6ovules .

In my plant, I find only 4 ovules . as in.flavescens, but differently s ituated, one namely from

each extrem ity of each placenta, one ascending the other pendulous . On this account it approaches more nearly to X . s irens , but in that species each placenta beers from 4 to 6 ovules intwo rows . I may here observe that in our Prodromus we have fallen into an error in adopt

ingthe nameflavescens, for the only species it contains . It is most true that in its generalaspect, our plant corresponds with Roxburgh

’eflamescens, even to the colour of the leaves,

but it differs in the s tructure of the ovary, the principal point of difference between Roxburgh’s

two species . From X . s irens , both the present species andflavescens of'

the Prodromus differin the absence of a glandular enlarg ement of the veins on the lower surface of the leaves , andin chang ing to yellowin drying . The very distant stations of the two plants , tend, still further,to confirm the opinion that they are distinct. On this point however, I refrain from offeringany decided opinion , as l have not seen a specimen of the orig inal X . s irens. Among myspecimens from Courtallum and Ceylon, there are fi ve distinct forms, which may be thus distinguished and named— lat, the one here figured, X . angustifolium . 2d, one with subsecundspicate racem es , elliptic, shortly acum inated, green, leaves ; ovary with four ovules, 2 erect and2 pendulous , X . Roxburg ianum. 3d, onewith hard coriacious reticulated,glabrous, acum inatedleaves , undulated on the marg in ovary with four transverse ovules , X . undula tmn .

4th, the form described in our Prodromus under the nam e of X . flacescens, but whichI now cons ider quite dis tinct from Roxburgh

’e plant, X . A rnottianum: and lastly, one from

C eylon,with oval leaves, ending in an abrupt, rather long pointed, acumen ; the ovary 4 - ovuled,the ovules attached to the base, ascending ; probably the true X . j lavescens ofRoxb :the figureof which it greatly resembles.

POLYGALA. Stamens 4, filaments united their whole length, andadhering near the base to the tube of the corolla.

P .Wallicht'ana. Glabrous, erect, ramous :

leaves narrow, lanceolate, obtuse : racemes axillary,or from the forks of the branches, many flowered :wings from broadly ovate to orbicular, longer than thecapsules : capsule marg ined, glabrous : seeds black,dense] covered with white hairs, carunculus whiteedentu ate.

P . pers icar iae olia.Wall. List 4 i85, c.

A native of A pine districts, frequent on the Pulneyhills,where the plant atta ins a much larger size than

the one here represented, bearing fewer but longerracemes .

This differs from the plant figured byWallich, inbeing perfectly glabrous, diffusely, ramous in havingthe racemes invariably springing from the branches, in

place of terminal as in his plant, sometimes they are

axillary, sometimes supra- axillary, and not unire

quently from the forks of the branches. The flowersappear much smaller than in his. It difl

‘

ers fromDeCandolle

’s plant in being glabrous, not pubescent,

and in having glabrous, not ciliate capsules . FromDons, P . Buchanani, it differs in its ramous habit, andin being every where glabrous. The plant here figur.

ed is, I find, equally a native of the Himalayas, and ofthe southern mountains, as I have a specimen fromSimla, procured from a very extensive and beautifullyreserved collection of plants formed,while there, byady Dalhousie.

SALOMONIA.

Calyx 5-sepaled, se als about e

gos]. Petals 3,united

below into a tube, c eft longitu inally on one side.

Anthers 4. Capsule compressed, bristle- toothed on themargin, 2

- lobed, 2-celled, with a sing le pendulousseed in each cell. Seed compressed, glabrous, sublenticular black, tests. crus tacious, brittle. Embryolarge, straight, enclosed in albumen. Cotyledonsfoliacious, radicle pointing to the hilum.

Smallherbaceous plants ; leaves alternate racemesterm inal ; flowers m inute, purplish, each furnishedwith a bractea.

Mr. Don characterizes this genus as exalbuminous,andwith an inverse embryo, in both ofwhich points ,It appears to me he is mistaken ; the albumen beingrather copious in S . obovata, and the embryo erectWith respect to the seed, though inverse with referenceto the ilea l.l . obovata . (R.W.) Erect, ramous : leaves

sub- sessile, glabrous, obovate obtuse, or spathulatebelow above, from sub-orbicular to cordate : spikeselongated : capsules bristle- toothed on the margins .

Malabar Coast and Ceylon.

My specimens from Malabar scarcely exceed threeinches in height,but are very ramous, some that I havefrom Ceylon of apparently the same plant, are muchlarger, but less branched ; in all other respects theycorrespond. Perhaps the species is too nearly a lliedto S . oblong ifoh

'

a D.C. which however seems distinct.2. S alomom

'

a cordate. (Arnott) Ramona, leaves sessile, cordate, ovate, glabrous on the sides, ciliate on themargin ; spikes elongated:capsules crestato-

pectinate.Arnott.Sea Coast Ceylon.

All the species from southern India are coastplants.Mr. Arnott inadvertently quotes the mounta ins of

50

Ceylon as the station of the two ies seen by him,

but I am informed by ColonelWal er,who communi

os ted the specimens, that that is an error, as he got

them both in the neighbourhood of Colombo.

XANTHOPHYLLUM. mm .)

I. X . ang ustifolium. (R .W.) Leaves narrowlanceolate, obtuse, glabrous, long er than the axillaryand terminal racemes : ovary l

-celled, 4-ovuled, twoascendia from the base, and two pendulous from the

apix of t e cell :Fruit.

Courta llum in thickets. The leaves of this species

which are hard and coriacious do not turn yellow indrying but are ofa pale brownish colour.2. X . undulatum. (R .W.) Leaves elliptic, oh

long , acuminated, undulated on the margin, coriaci

ous :Ovary l-celled, 4-avaled, ovules transverse.

Courtallum. This species agrees so much in the

texture and colour of the leaves as well as in the

character of the ovary, with the preceding that I

rather doubt the propriet of separating them,but

the undulated margin, the ong pointed acumen , and

the much larger size, in all its parts, of the one thanthe other, fully warrant me, 1 think in doing so.3. .X . Roz barg ianum. (R.W.) Leaves broad

lyelliptical, acuminated : racemes axillary and termin

shorter than the leaves, subsecund : Ovary l-celled,4-0vuled, two ascending, and two pendulous Fruit.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF

while unac uainted with the original 8

INDIAN BOTANY.

Courtallum and Skecag erry lli lls in woods andthickets.This species which difi

‘

ers very widely from the

preceding in appearance, seems, judg in from thes ecimens alone, to be a difl

'

use or scan ent shhe leaves retain their green colour in drying .

4. X . Am ouiaa um. (R.W.) leaves elliptic ohlong , with a short blunt acumination under side withtwo pores at the base : racemes axillary and terminalOvules 8—l2 ; attached by pairs to two latera l pla~cente : fruit globose, one seeded.X .flavescensW. and A. P rod. not Rowbargh.Woods about Courtallum and elsewhere.

.

5. X . flavesceas .’ Roxb. Leaves elliptic oblong ,

wuth a long ish fine pointed acumination numerousdores scattered over the under surface racemesaxillary and terminal, shorter than the leaves : Ovules4, erect, attached near the base of the ovary. Cey lon~ Commanicaled by ColonelWalker.

This is a handsome species, and is perhaps distinctfrom Roxburgh

’eflavescens though corresponding with

it, in the character of the ovary and ovules ; buties, I feel

averse to a d to the difliculties of a eu ciently dithcult genus, by adding doubtful species. The ores on

the under surface of the leaves are peculiar, rom thecircumstance of their being scatteredall over them andnotas usual confined to the base.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES 22 and 23.

22.—POLYGALA.

A . l . P.Wallichiana natural size. 2. Flower opened, showing the calyx and corolla. 3. The same, the

corolla dmwn back to shewthe stamens, ovary and

style. 4. A stamen. 5. Style and stigma. 6. Capsule.

7. The same splitverticall showing the seeds in rim.

8. Seed. 9. Embt o. 10. esd of Polyg ala Heyaeana,showin the pen ulous lobes of the carunculus . l l,12. Bar: and front views of P . Javana, showing thetwo larg e lobes of its carunculus—all more or less

in aired.c

g. Salomonia obovata—nalural size. 2. Calyx

and corolla . 3. The same, the petals and stamens

separated, showing the ovary, style and stigma. 4.

Capsule. 5. The same opened, showing the seed. 6.

A seed—all more or less mag n ified.C . l. Salomonia cordatau -aatural size. 2. A leaf

magnified. 3. Flower opened, and the petals and stamens removed to show the ovary

, s tyle and stigma .

4. Capsule. 5. Capsule opened. Seed. 7. The samecut transversely. 8. Embryo removed—allmore or less

23.- XANTHOPHYLLUM.

I . X . angustifoliumm natural size. 2. Flower. 3.

Petals removed, showing the stamens. 4. Stamenseparated. 5. Ovary. 6. Ovary opened, showing the

position of the ovules- all more or less mag nified. 7 .

oung fruit—natural s ize. 8. The same opened showing that all the ovules but one have aborted mag nified. 9. Ovary of X . Arnoltianum laid open, showingone placenta with its attached ovules. IO. Ovary ofX . flavescens ? showing the four erect ovules- 490thmagnified.

X IX .

This is a small order, composed of very ramous shrubs, or small'

trees ; with cit - stipulate,scattered, s imple, entire, sessile, m inute leaves ; sometimes , in Taman x, scale- like, closely em

bracing the stem ,and lapping over each other, like tiles (imbricating ) The flowers are regu

lar, hermaphrodite, generally ranged in term inal racemes or spikes ; pedicels furnished with a

small bractea .

The calyx is free or slightly adherent at the base,The torus is either obsolete, or expanded into a small disk, glanduliferous on the

The petals equal the number of the sepals , and are alternate with them , inferior,(estivation .

m arg in .

persistent, of 5 sepals, imbricated in

sometimes adherent at the base, and marcescent, orwithering without falling off. The stamens

are hypogynous, equalling , or double, the number of the petals , rarely, by abortion, fewer thanin this proportion, (this I have observed in Tricham'

us ericoides,) occas ionally monadelphousat the base; the anthers 2-celled, opening long itudinally. The ovary is sessile, l -celled, usually

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

with three, many- ovuled, placenta , either attached to the base, or extending some distancealong the valves ; in the latter case they are occas ionally dilated, so as to form a 3 - celled fruit.S tigmas usually three, either sess ile or supported on a style, simple, dilated, or plumose. Caps ule 3 - valved, l - celled, seed numerous , oblong , beaked,with a tuft of down at the apex, sometimes v illous all over. Albumen wanting , or according to Bat tling sometimes present,and thenth in fleshy or mealy. Embryo straight, the radicle pointing to the hilum .

A s sm rr lss . The place that this order should occupy in the natural system has long beena subject of dispute among Botan ists , some, among whom Jussieuset the example, placing itam ong the orders with perigynous stamens, that is , having the filam ents inserted into the calyx,in this arrangement he has been followed by DeCandolle and others . More recently a difi

'

erent

v iewof their structure has been taken, and is now generally adopted, according to which, thestamens are cons idered hypogynous, that is inserted into the torus or receptacle, but the true

place of the petals, whether hypogynous or perigynous, seem s stilldoubtful. This trans itionthough in itselfoflittle moment, has the efl

'

ect ofmaterially altering the place of the order in thelinear series ofJussieu’s arrang ement by transferring it from a class with perigynous to one withhypogynous, stamens . This part of the natural method being constructed on artificial principles , that is , simply according to the insertion of the s tamens , whether into the torus or intothe calyx, (a distinction in such cases as the present more eas ily made upon paper than foundin nature

!has the efi

'

ect of occas ionally widely separating orders in other respects very nearlyallied. y assignin a perigynous in place of a hypogynous, insertion to the stamens ofTamariscinece woul have the effect of bringing them among a different set of orders

and in place of stand ing between Polygalew and Ela n'

new in the Peninsular flora ,as they nowdo, they should, on the suppos ition of the stamens being perigynous, have beenplaced near Paronychiacew and Portulacece . Dr. Lindley, sensible that associations based on niceties of structure so little appreciable by the senses as that upon which theseclasses are made to rest are almost useless in practice, has availed himself of habit andsome other peculiarities of structure to ass ist in fixing their proper place in the vegetable s s

tem, and owing to the sim ilarity of foliation, considers it more advisable to keep this or er

near Illecebreae, with which it accords in its unilocular syncarpous often 3 - valved fruit, andscale-e leaves .

”Am idst these conflicting views I confess , though comparatively slightly

acquainted with the natural system , I prefer leaving it in its present place,not on account ofits

hypogynous stamens and petals , s ince these seem not so easily made out, but on account of

its parietalplacentation ,loculicidal dehiscence, and exalbum inous seed (in which respect it quiteaccords with the orders between which it is placed) these points of s tructure, affording marksof distinction most eas ily made out under all circumstances , and not liable to be m istaken inany. According to this view, the order would have been better placed, it appears to me in Dr.

Lindley’

s 3 group ( Parietosaej of Polypetalw, in his Alliances of plants”than in the one

( Syncarposaej in which it nowstands .

EssENTIAL Cau s e-r an. Polypetalous : stamens fewer than 20 : ovary wholly superior ;

carpels of the ovary combined into a solid pistil : sepals imbricated, more than 2 : stamens

hypogynous : seeds comose (furnished with a tuft of down) leaves without stipules .

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. The fewspecies of this order are exclusively confined to

the northern hem isphere of the old world, but are widely distributed over it. Their mos t ftcquent station is on the sea coast and on the banks of rivers . In India they seem to prefer

banks in the sandy beds of streams, which are dry the greater part of the year, in such

situations I have repeatedly found them . They seem however to have metwith but little atten

tion ax

inong

h

the natives ofthis partof the country as I have not been able to discover any Tamulname or t em .

Paorsa'rms AND Uses . The bark of some of the species is slightly bitter and astringent,

and probably tonic. Rhazes assigns to it diuretic, aperient, and cooling properties . In Den .

mark the branches are used in place of yeast for making beer, and the decoction of the leaves

and young shoots is prescribed as a substitute for guaiac. The ashes of Tamariz g allica and

Afi‘icana growing near the sea are remarkable for containing a quantity of an!phat e of soda !

52 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

and cannot be used as a lay for washing , as they coagulate the soap, while those growing insweet soil in the interior are free from it. From a species or poss ibly a variety of T. Gallica,which grows about Mount Sinai, there exudes a kind of manna, (from the punctures of an in

sect which perforates its bark) which has received the nam e of Manna of Mount Sinai,”and has by some travellers, fancifully enough been supposed the Manna of the Scriptures .

Some of the species produce abundance of ga lls . ln Egypt the Tama riz Orientalis producesthem of a deep red colour, and aremuch us ed in dyeing . All the species of this country are

said by Mr . Royle to produce galls , having the properties of oak galls , but I have not been able

to discover whether they are ever gathered in this part of India . It seems probable from an

observation of Mr . Royle, that the galls imported into India from Mooltan, are chiefly of theTamariz , not Oak g alls, and that it is with them our bazars are principally supplied, onwhichaccount we would do well to exam ine the tam arix jungles,which often extend along the bedsofour rivers for m iles together, to ascerta in to what extent they could supply our wants .

Rs uanxs on G am ma AND Srscms . Three ofthe four genera referredto this order are foundin India, the fourth, B ronm

’

a) which seems but a doubtful member,is from America . It hasbeen referred by Kunth to Portulacece , but is laced in this order by Dr. Lindley. The genusTrishaurus is certa inly very nearly allied to amarix, but sufficiently distinguished by its de.

candrous flowers , its cup- shaped torus bearing the stamens on its marg in, and by the differentform of the styles and stigmas . The beak of the seeds ,which seems to form so excellent adistinguishing mark between it and Tamarix , appears to differ rather in degree than in kind,when exam ined under a high magn ifier, s ince both showthe beak, but in Trickaurus it is veryconspicuous under the most ordinary m agn ifier, and even to the naked eye, while the otherrequires one of high powers to bring it out as represented in the figure. The dissected flowerof Triclzaurus is not perhaps the most suitable that m ight have been selected, s ince it seemsevidently defective, in so far as having only 8 in place of IO stamens , which last in the absence ofpos itive evidence to the contrary, must on account of the pentasepalous calyx and 5-

petaled co.

rolla, be looked upon as the normal number. But that this is merely an irregularity, perhapsof a single flower, is rendered further probable by the circumstance of there being only 2 in

place of 3 styles , three being the normal number of the order.

This figure as exhibiting a departure from the usual and regular form is not without itsuse, s ince it explains the cause of one of the greatest obstacles to the perfecting of the Linneansexual system , depending as it does on a s ingle set of organs, the tendency namely, of differentflowers, even on the same stalk, to vary in the number of stamens and pistils , and thereby, toindicate very different places in the system for the plant towhich they may belong . When our

distinctive marks are taken from the relative position and number of all the difl'

etent parts ofthe flower to each other, the formation of the ovary, and pos ition of the ovules , added to the

general habit of the plants,we have so many points of comparison, that the chances of our beingm isled through variations or imperfections in any one set of organs, are greatly dim inished.

Doubtless suffi cient uncertainties still exist in the natural method to lead different Botan ists toform different opinions both as to the s ituation orders on ht to occupy in the series, and sometimes , ia nearly allied orders as to the genera that shou d be respectively referred to them

but yet, in spite of these drawbacks, its advantages over any artificial arrangement, and theL innean is certainly the best, are such, as to ensure its general adoption by all who woulds tudybotany as a science, and not as a mere means of discovering the name of a plant, as

he would the meaning of a word in a dictionary. But even this , in tropical botany, is often a

verydiflicult operation when attempted with no other assistance than that afforded by the SexualSystem , because among tropical plants, the sexual organs are so very liable to vary in numberfrom unions among themselves, or from suppress ions and additions ofparts, iving rise to innumerable instances of irregular form s, among plants usually ranged in c asses with regularflowers even the Papaw, one of the most constant of dioecious plants I have seen with re

gular bi- sexual flowers.

But to return from this digress ion, it appears that the genus Trio/mum s is amply distin,guished from Tamaris b having double the number ofstamens that it has sepals , and by has .

i

pg

h

the li

gaments attache toa distincthypogynous disk, independent of the more distinct beak

o t 0 see

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

54 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDI AN BOTANY .

tioned, and in this country the Borg ia ammannoides has, in Tamul, received that ofNeer -mel

nerIpoo, or water-fire, a curious coincidence of names in countries so remote.

B anan as ON r ns Gs nA . Dr. Arnott and m self following B elile, referred the g enus

B erg za to Elatine whether judiciously or not may be oubted, nowthat I find the dehiscence OfB erg ia is septicidalwhile that of Elatine, as appears from the statements of those who haveexam ined it with care, is loculicidal. This dis tinction combined with the difference Of habit, ofthe two sets ofplants , m ight I thinkwith propriety be employed as a distinction to keep themgenerically se rate, notw1thstanding the sim ilarity Of their flowers , on which account, I, in thiswork, retain t e Oldname ofB erg ia for the Elatine verticellata and E . ammonioides of our Pro

dromos, to which work however, I refer for the distinguishing characters. The accompanyingplate represents a species of each genus .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 25.

A . 1. Plantof Bergia ammannoides. Natural size.2. Portion of a branch slightly magnified to showthe stipules and aggre ated axillary flowers. 3. Flowers opened, showing e sepals,petals,stamens, ovary,and stigmas. 4. Stamens separate, back and frontviews. 5. Mature fruit. 6. The same after dehiscence,the persistent calyx removed. 7. Capsule cut trans

versely. 8. A seed. 9. The same cut transversely.

A llmore or less am bled;These figures s howthe strong tendency that exists in

this species, to variatiou in the number of the parts

of the verticels of the flower, and 5 pieces occur

ring indiscriminately in difl'

ercnt flowers, picked fromthe same s talk.

B . l . Elatine ambigua. Natural size.

2. A plant removed from the soil and slightlymag;nificd, showing its repent habit. 3 . Portion ofa mac

more magnified. 4. Flower Opened. 5. Capsule. 6.

The same after dehiscence. 7. A seed. A ll store or

less mag nified.

XXL—CARYOPHYLLAOEE .

Since the .publication pf'

DeCandolle’s Prodromus, in which this rather complex order

occupies a llargespace, considerable changes have been made on it by different writers . These

riucipally consist in rais ing his sub -orders to the rank of distinct orders , the removal of

latineoe, and referring some Of the genera included by him to other allied, though in the

linear series remotely situated, orders . This being for the most part an extra tropical order,these changes so far as they affect the fewIndian genera can be eas ily pointed out without thenecess ity of changing the name Ofthe order adopted,after DeCandolle, in our Prodromus . Fol

lowing Dr. Lindle’

s arrangement, it being the most recent and perhaps the best, thePeninsulargenera ranked un er Caryoplq lacece by us are thus distributed . Gypsophila and Silene are

referred to Silenaceac Stellaria, Cerastium, and A rena ria , to Alsinaceae andMollu

go to

I lleccbreae the Paronychiaccwofour Prodromus . These three orders , along with Portu noses

and Tamariscineae are combined into one Alliance” Silenales, distinguished by having theEmb O rolled round mealy albumen or if this is not the case, herbaceous plants with the

'

Oints O the stem tum id, or with scales replacing the leaves upon rod- like branches almost all

erbaceous, or small shrubs .

”The clause with scales replacing the leaves

”of this character

refers to Tamariscineae. The orders are thus summarily distinguished—Portulaca“has two sepals S ilenaceae four or five united into a tube Alsinaceae four or five distinctTama riscineoe the dehiscence ofthe fruit loculicidal, seed hairy and Illecebreae have leaves withstipules. In this last the dehiscence is also loculicidal. Silenaceae and Alsinaceae are repro

sente

tdin the accompanying plate, and Portulaccae and Illecebreaewill be in a subsequent

num er.

The CaryOphyllaceae, are distinguished by having a calyx Of 4-5 sepals either united or

free. Petals four orfive, sometimes unguiculate, sometimes wantin Stamens equal to, or doublethe number ofpetals when equal alternate with them . A singIe ovar of 2-5 un ited carpels

either sessile or sti tate,with 2-5 filiform stigmas . Capsule 2-5 valv one_celled or imper

fectly 2-5 celled, t e valves usually partially splitting at the apex, forming twice as many

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 55

teeth as there are valves or stigmas placenta in the axis . Seeds indefinite,albumen mealy,withthe embryo curved round it.

This character includes Silenaceae and A lsinaceae, but excludes 1”01121é0 , which has a 3 .

5 celled capsule, with distinctly loculicide] dehiscence, which, for these reasons, I think m ore

justly referable to Paronychiaceaz.

A FF INIT IES . These are very various . The curved embryo rolled round a mass of far inaciousalbumen, intimately connects them with a whole ser ies Of orders , all presenting the same pecu

liarities , but separated in the present artificial dispos ition of the natural orders , by the s true

ture Of the flowers, some having hypogynous, some perigynous stamens, and several beingapetalous .

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUTION. After excluding Mollug o this may be considered a strictlyextra tropical order, not more than three or four g enera, having tropical representatives ,and these for the most part confined to the highest bills, or if m etwith on the pla ins , onlyduring the cool season. In the temperate zones they are very abundant, and remarkable for

presenting in the Pinks and SweetWilliam s som e Of the most beautiful ornaments Of the flowergarden, and in the Chickweeds its most ins ignificant weeds .

PROPERTIES AND Uses . Generally the Ca ryophillaceae may be characterized as un iformlyinsipid. The petals of the clove jelly flower are employed in medicine, but more on account of

their fragrance and the fine colour they impart to infusions, syrups, &c. than for any valuablemedicinalproperties they possess .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 26.

I st.—l . Cerastium Indicum. N atural s ize. seed. A llmore or less magm’

ed.

2. A flower, sepals and petals drawn back to show 2d.—l . Silene intrusa. atural size.

the stamens, ovary, and s tyles. Petals cleft at the 2. A flower opened showing the tubular calyx, and

apex. 3. Stamens back and front view. 4. St Ice and unguiculate lobed petals, IO stamens, and s tipitate

stigmas. 5. Ca sule cut vertically, showing t e con ovary . 3 . Anther back and front views. 4. Ovary cut

tained seeds, an lobed dehiscence of the apex. 6. A vertically,

XX II .—MALVACE1E .

A large and important natural order of plants, consisting of trees , shrubs , and herbaceousannuals , with round. spreading branches, alternate , simple, entire, or lobed leaves ; generallycrenated or toothed ; furnished with stipules, and usually clothed with s tellate ha irs . The

flowers are hermaphrodite, or occas ionally unisexual, generally regular, solitary or aggregated,in ax illary, solitary, or fascicled, peduncles .

The calyx is pers istent, composed of 5 sepals, sometimes free, som etimes more or lesscohering , valvate (the edges not overlapping) in (e stivation, and occas ionally as in Abelmoschus ,splitting only along one s ide (spathacious) Often furnished with an involucrum of a proximated

bracteaa, resembling an exterior calyx , and so called by Linne us . The torus is ils ted disklike. The corolla is 5-

petaled, inserted into the edge Of the torus, alternate with the sepals,equal, unguiculate, cohering at the base amon them selves and with the stam ina] tube, andspirally twisted in mstivation . Stamens usua y indefin ite, inserted between the petals and

ovary ; filam ents more or less completely un ited into a tube, sometimes the union, as in Sida ,is confined to the base, while at others, as Gossypium, &c. it extends nearl to the apex, andbeing of unequal leng ths , they present the appearance of a column coveredthroughout withanthers , with the stigmas projecting and form ing the apex Of the pillar. The anthers are

l - celled ! ren iform , opening by a transverse clift, g iv ing passage to the globose hispid ! grainsof pollen. The ovary is composed of several carpels , either definite (about 5) or indefinite,from 20 to 30 ranged round a central axis,with one or many ovules . Fruit capsular, many

56 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

celled, cells either rema ining completely un ited , or becom ing more or less distinct, and s epa

rating with the seed enclosed, dehiscence in the former case loculicidal. Seeds somewha t ren iform attached to the internal angle Of the carpels , glabrous or enveloped in a covering of ha irsalbum en none or very sparing . Em bryo large , the cotyledons foliacious, variously doubled andtwisted, often cordate, radicle pointing to the h ilum .

A PPIN ITI ES . Th is large and, as it may appear from the preceding description, com plex

order is yet one Of easy determ ination, even among the orders with which it was orig inallycomb ined by Jussieu, now form ing the class Columnt

'

ferce, of Bartling (all remarkable forhaving the e s tivation Of the calyx valvate by its l - celled reniform anthers . Dr . Lindleyg ives the following brief exposition of its a uities , prem ising as an anomaly in the order that

In Ma lope the carpels are num erous, and distinct, not arranged in a s ingle rowas in the res t

of the order .

”The relation ofMalvaceae with Sterculiaceae, Tiliaceae, and Elwoca rpacea e, is

clearly indicated by their general accordance in structure, and especially by the valvate (estivation Of their calyx . With other orders they also agree in num erous

Ipo

in ts ; as ,with Ram m.

culaceae, in the indefinite stam ens and distinct ag egete carpels of alope ; with Ternstraemiaceae in their monadelphous stamens ; with C lenaceae in the presence Of an involucrebelowthe flower, and monadelphous stamens with L inaceae in their mucilag inous pro rties ,definite seeds , m any- celled fruit, and ungu iculate petals and through the medium Of t is lastorderwith

EssENTIAL C HARACTER . Polypetalous dicotyledons . Calyx with valrate ce stivation. Stam ens numerous, m onadelphous A nthem one- celled. Ovary wholly superior of several carpelscombined into a solid pistil, with more placentas than one. Leaves furnishedwith stipules .

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUT ION. This, although some species extend nearly to the polarlim its of the temperate zone, may be looked upon as principally a tropical family, the greaterpart Of them being found either within the tropics , or in thewarmer latitudes on their immediateconfines and within that range are very abundant both as to species and individuals . Three or

four only are found in Eng land, but the number is considerable in the south Of Europe,while inthe north they altogether disappear. The Indian peninsula presents a catalogue of about 62 or

about 337 Of the whole phenogamous flora (estimated to amount to 4000 species ) which is a

cons iderably smaller proportion than that of the equinoxial reg ions Of America , in which theyare said to amount to fi th or who th Of the flowering plants . This difference may poss ibly resultfrom m y hav ing used too high an estim ate for the whole flora as according to Brown, the pro

portion for tropical India is as high as this again may be owing to his hav ing includedB yttneriaceae and B ombaceae in his calculation which I have excluded from m ine

, but whichwhen included still leaves the proportion belowMr . Brown’

s ratio. With the addition Of theseorders , the ratio ma lvales bear to the rest of the flora, estimated as above at 4000, is {Uth whichI believe may be considered a very near approximation to Mr . Brown ’

s estimate , now thatthe proportions have been altered, by the recent discovery Of many alpine plants altogether un

known to Roxburgh, from whose m aterials Mr. Brown’

s estimate is deduced.

PROPERTIES AND USES . Mankind are largely beholden to th is order, more so perhaps thanto any other, as supplying them with food ,m edicine , shelter and clothing .

The uniform character ofMa lvacea e is to abound in mucilage and to be totally destitute ofunwholesom e properties . Such being the case, it is to be expected that many of them are em

ployed as food among these m ay be enumerated our H ibiscus (Abelmoschus ) esculentus themucilag inous fruit Of which is our well- known Bdndikai [ l ibiscus Cannabinus , the leaves Ofwhich are eat as spinach, while the fibres of the bark is twisted into a kind of cordage theIfibis cus Subda rifi

'

a or rozelle from the fleshy acid calyx of which, excellent jelly, and tart fruit,are prepared and many others.

In m edicine nearly the whole tribe are employed, as affording m edicines possessing demulcent, and emollient properties . The m arsh m allow, and m any other allied species are indiscrim inately used as such in Europe, and several species of Abutilon (S ida) , such as A . indicam andA sia ticum are s imilarly employed in this country. The yellowjuice, as well as strong infus ions of

IL LUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . .57

the bark Of Thespesia (Hibiscus) populace (Portia tree) are employed by native practitionersfor the cure Of cutaneous diseases . A n infus ion of the roots of Formula odora ta is prescribedas a diet-dr ink in fevers . O ther species of this order are, and nearly all from their mucilag inousproperties , m ay be, s im ilarly employed. The petals ofH ibiscus Rosa S incer

'

a (Shoe -flower orChina - rose) comm unicate, when rubbed on paper, a bluish purple tintwhich forms a very ex

cellent subs ti tute for L itmus paper as a chym ical test. It has been already remarkedthat the fibres of the bark of H ibiscus Cannabinus are employed in the forma tion of course

cordage, those of most of the larger kinds m ight be thus used, as in all they are very s trong .

The heart wood of Thespesia (H ibiscus) populnea is dark coloured and very hard, somewhat resembling that of the chesnut, and like it, adapted for the formation Of gun stocks and s im ilarpurposes requiring a hard close g rained,bu t not heavy or large s ized, timber, which this rarelybecomes , owing to the white outs ide portion being like that procured from all the other arborions form s occurring in the order, soft and of little value.

This last named species enjoys in a remarkable deg ree, a peculiar tenacity Of life, largeb ranches , after being severed from the trunk, surviv ing long enough to adm it of their takingroot, when planted as cuttings, like slender slips , and in a fewmonths presenting the appearanceOf very respectable s ized trees . I t is worthy Of rem ark however, that the trees so produced,rarely produce seed though they flower freely, and what is perhaps not less deserving Of no

t ice, they all decay in the centre, hence it is nowrare among them to meetwith either the m ature

fruit, or a sound timber tree, the practice of thus propagating them by cutting s, in place of byseed, for so long a tim e, having at leng th apparently destroyed their reproductivepower, anddeteriorated the quality Of their vegeta tion .

But it is in their las t mentioned capacity, that of affording clothing , that the Mal

voceas become the g reatest benefactors of m ankind, Cotton being the produce of a genus

of plants apperta ining to this order . The genus Gossypium from which it is derived,embraces but few species , and these of difiicult discrim ination , owing to long culture hav ingcaused them to run into every variety of form . So great indeed is their tendency to run intovariations that some Botanists have even doubtedwhether there are more than two distinct, andperm anently disting

uishable species , among the whole host Of form s that have by different auo

thors been suppose entitled to rank as such .

To som e it may appear a ques tion of little m oment whether we cons ider all theseforms as species or varieties so long as they continue permanent. Th is is partly true,but at the sam e time it is desirable to ascertain what are species and what varieties , sincethe term species implies permanency, while variety conveys exactly the oppos ite idea, or

that of liability to change under any variation of the circum s tances under which they maybe produced, hence their aptitude for culture unchanged in some favoured s ituations and theirdispos ition to change in others to all appearance equally favourable. My own Observations certainly lead me to adopt the conclusion , that the species have been unnecessarily m ultiplied by some

,

and reduced too lowby others . Thus DeCandolle enumerates 13 species , and Mr . Royle eight,both these catalogues will pr Ibably be found in excess . Dr . Lush and Jacquemont reduce themto two. These Botan ists probably err in the oppos ite extreme, but yet, as their opportunitiesof Observation were great, their statements must be received with deference. They seem to

attach no value to characters taken either from the colour or quality of thewool on the seed,or the absence or presence Of a coating Of short hair or down, with which the seed Of som e

sorts are clothed ; neither to the form s of the foliage or native country, or clothing , or hebit, Of the plants , whether glabrous or hairy, arborions or annual. According to this viewthevarious Indian forms in which a somewhat palmate form of the foliage preva ils and is most

constant, and the Am erican ones figured here under the specific name of G . barbadense, in

which a lobed and angled foliage is equally permanent are all mere var ieties of the sam e plant,while the form named G . acumina tum is, on account ofits adherent seed alone, looked upon as a

distinct species . With this v iewI confess I feel disposed to coincide to a great ex tent, though

not to go the whole leng th , s ince I cannot yet bring m yself to acknowledge the specific identityof the constantly palm ated leaved and hispid Indian form s , and the equally perm anently lobed

and angled leaved and glabrous Am erican forms . The more so, as these forms reta in their peculiarities of foliage in all the varied s ituations and circumstances in which they have been made

.to growin all the four quarters ofthe world. Under this view, l acknowledge three species as cer

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

ta in,viz . the old Gossypium herbaceum,with palmately lobed leaves ,whether an annual or a tree

of indefin ite duration , secondly, the American form with s imply lobed or angled leaves , equallyleav ing duration out of the question, G . barbadense and thirdly, the form §with the seed adherentin form of a cone, G . acuminatum , comprehending the various form s known under the nam es of

Pernambuco, Peruvian,Bahia and Ava cotton . I prefer Roxburgh’

s name to the older G'. pe ru

vianum, as it expresses the prevailing form of the lobes of the leaves rather than the na tivecountry of a plant so widely distributed . Under the first of these leading form s may be rang ed:G . indicum Lam G . m icranthum Ca v. G . a rboreum ? L inn . G . vitifolium Lam. G . hir

sutum L inn .G . eg landulosum Cav . G . relig iosum L? ) L inn . and G . obtusifolium, Roxb . U nder

the second all the American form s with distinct seed and under the third, all those hav ingthem coherent ; whether downy or smooth , or with 3 or 4 - valved capsules . Dr . B . H am ilton , following Van Rohr employs the seed to furn ish his specific characters , and accordin

a s they are black or white, reduces all the form s to one or other of two s ecies, disting uishedby that mark. Our country Cotton, and all its varieties, form his G . a bum the Am er icanones with black seed, his G . nig rum , among which G . acuminatum is included. The charac

ters on which this divis ion is established I cons ider of no value in themselves, but the d ivi~s ion itself, excluding G . acumina tum from his G . n ig rum , I think correct.

In three instances in the above enumeration I have added marks of doubt, indicating thereby, that I em still uncerta in whether or not they ought to be cons idered distinct species . Judging from Mr . Reyle

’s description, G . vitifolium seems to be either a hybrid or cross , between

the Indian and American form s , or G . acumina tum , but as l have not exam ined the plant Iforbear to offer any opin ion . The other two, G . arboreum and G . relig iosum are , I believe thesame plant, though poss ibly distinct, but I rather think not, s ince the difference of the

colour of the flower only, (the one purple the other yellow), g ives probability to that suppo

s ition, and such a distinction , would scarcely be adm itted in any other genus . With the v iewhowever of enabling all those who take an interest in this branch of the enquiry to judge forthem selves , I shall copy and reprint in outline, in m y forthcom ing Iconss , along with the obtuse

lobed variety, Mr . Royle’s figures, both as showing the grounds on which his opin ion is formed,

and the difference of forms of the As iatic and American species . In so far as I have yet gone,m y remarks have all been directed to the botanical peculiarities of this genus, it is nowincumbent on m e, in a work wh ich has for its object to g ive some account of the history and the uses

of the more valuable plants which fall to be noticed in its progress , to cons ider briefly the econom ical applications of the produce of this g enus,which, when v iewed in all its relations , must

Kithplut any exception, be ranked as the most valuable to mankind of the whole vegetable

mg om .

During the year 1835, there was imported into England pounds of cleancotton . As however the imports that year were very high , let us suppose that 350 m illions ofpounds is the quantity imported into England annually, and as a general average, that one acre

produces 100 lbs . of clean cotton , then square acres of surface or about 5469 s uare

m iles, are requ ired to supply the English market with that one commodity : to cultivatewhich,at the rate of 100 persons per square m ile persons are employed ; and to convey the

produce to England l ,56,250 tons of shipping , or about 157 ships of 500 tons are required g iving employm ent to upwards of 6000 persons to nav igate them : add to these, the number of

people employed in packing , conveying the article to the coast, embarking , relanding , &c. andWe may perhaps fairly assume as a very lowestimate, that not fewer than a m illion persons areengage

d in supplying England with the rawm aterial only, of her cotton manufactures .

he numbers employed in the construction of the machinery, and in the fabrication of the

article into the thousands of shapes it is made to assume, it is quite imposs ible to say, but mayperhaps , at a moderate estimate be s tated at ten times that amount,when to that we add, that

probably not one - twentieth of what is produced finds its way to England, we m ay well say, thatcotton is the most valuable product of the vegetable kingdom .

The production of an article conferring so great commercial advantages on any countryenjoying a soil and climate su ited for the growth of the plant, becom es an object of the firstim portance, and has, m ore especially of late years, attracted much attention in India, in thehope of enabling her, by improving the quality and increas ing the quantity of cotton grownfor exportation, to compete, in supplying the English market,with America, though the latter

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

is a country, apparently enjoying every advantage for its successful culture, one from which byfar the best cotton has hitherto been derived, and which, contributes nearly 8- tenths of the

quantity imported into England : realizing there , for her most ordinary kinds , from 20 to 30 per

cent. more than the average prices of all those sorts, of Eas t Indian extraction, technicallyknown under the name of Surats . Is it probable that we shall ever be able to accomplish thisobject ? and if so, by what means are we most likely to succeed in so far improving the staple

ofour cottons , as to place them on a par with those ofAmerica ? These are importantquestionsto this , as a productive country, and as such, ought, especially the first, to be well cons ideredbefore an answer is g iven , s ince, if in the negative, it m ight have the effect of discouragingenterprise, and thereby, very materially tending to establish its own correctness, while, on the

other hand, if answered confidently in the aflirmative, m ight have the efi'

ect of leading to veryinjurious expenditure in a hopeless speculation.

The plan and lim i ts of this work, not less than the short time allowed by the rapidlyrevolv ing mouths to devote to the elaboration of a comprehens ive article on the subject, prevents me taking it up in all its bearings, I shall, however, endeavour to present a summary of

what has been ascerta ined, and thence proceed to deduce such conclus ions as will, I trust, provea safe guide to future cultivators .

I stated above that in the English market even the cheapest sorts of American cotton,

usually sell, from 20 to 30 per cent. hi her than the East Indian sorts or Surats’

as theyare techn ically denominated in the Price Currents . Under these circum stances it became des irable that measures should be adopted to improve the Indian staples,with the v iewof placingthem upon a more equal footing with the American, and the most obvious means of doing so

appeared to be, to import seed and cultivate the American plant in India. It was , however,objected to this plan that as the Indian cloths , were more lasting or wore better than those

fabricated from American cotton , that the Indian cotton was in reality better than the American, and that if more pains were bes towed on its cultivation, so as to render it a moremarket

able article, that it would from its own intrinsic merits supercede the latter. This objection was however readily answered by assum ing , which is probably the fact, that the superiority of Indian cloth was not so much attributable to the quality of the cotton, as to its beingused in a more favourable condition, and still more, by its not being injured by the applicationof acids,&c. in the bleaching .

On these grounds, and on the suppos ition that it m ight be eas ier to improve the cultivation by inculcating a little additional care in the management of a newand higher priced arti

cle, than by attempting to introduce any alteration in the management ofone,which had been cultivated from time immemorial, and though not according to the most approved system , yet wellenough to answer every useful purpose. Under this last viewofthe case,which to the best ofmyknowledge is strictly correct, it seems des irable to introduce as far as poss ible, the cultivation of

some of the foreign sorts , were it for no other purpose than to establish improved modes of

culture and preparation of the indigenous kinds , the quality of which, when well prepared, iscons idered but little inferior, if not, indeed, fully equal to Upland Georg ian. To promote thisobject the Court ofDirectorswith the concurrence and advice ofthe Board ofControl, resolved in

1829 , to establish experimental cotton farms under the Bombay pres idency for the introductionof foreign sorts , especially the Upland Georg ian and NewOrleans , both belonging to the kindcalled short s taples

”

(from the shortness of the fibres of their wool,) and believing that it owedits superiority, partly, to the mode of cleaning , sent also American machines to separate the

cotton from the seed.

The better to g ive these experiments every chance of success by diffusion, large quantitiesof American seed, accompanied by a copy of Capta in Hall

’s ins tructions for its cultivation and

the method of cleaning the produce as practised in America , was sent out in the course of that

and the succeeding years to Bengal and Madras , and the Governments of these Pres idenciesinstructed to distribute it among each of their Collectorates for experimental cultivation.

The seed thus received was accordingly distributed, but owing to accidents and delays toocommonly attendant on first attempts , the greater part spoiled and failed to vegetate, and

of that which did grow much was afterwards lost, some owing to improper soils havingbeen selected, but by far the greater portion owing to the season, so far at least as the Madras

Pres idency was concerned, proving one of the most unfavourable that could be imag ined forsuch an experiment. Extreme drought and famine prevailing generally throughout the country,

60 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY.

cotton, and ev thing else was neglected by the starving cultivators, who were intent only,on procuring f enough to maintain life.

80 general a failure in the first experiment has proved most unfortunate, as it has tended to

dampenterprise and destroy thathope of better success in after trialswhich would have resultedfrom success, however partial, in the first attempt, and seems to have put an almost entire 3 to

the further prosecution of these experiments , in which, by the way, the natives never seem to

take much interest, tlyperhaps through apathy,butmoreprobably,because theywere frigh tened at the anticipa additional trouble and expensewithout seeing any very certain prospect ofadequate remuneration. This was more to be regretted, as success can scarcely be anticipa ted

where the parties engaged in rather expensive and troublesome experiments have no direct interest in the result. The civil establishment couldhave none,and though theywere,from their bet~ter knowledge of the advantages likely to accrue to the country from success , most willing and

anxious to promote the introduction of the newkinds, yetbeing hampered by the strictness oftheregulations of the service, were prevented aidi and stimulating to the extent that m ight havebeen required,aative efforts for its attainment, ed to which, was the uncertainty existing , onthe part of the growers in the interior, of finding a ready market for an article less esteemed bythe native manufacturer than their own short stapled but. strong cotton, in the manufacture of

which, long practice had conferred perfect facility. lmpediments such as these are not to beovercome unless by persons who are really interested in the result,who can devote much of theirtime to the euperintendence of the cultivation,can at all times command a read market for their

produce, and lastly,who have a cons iderable amount of capital to invest in t e business .

The mere distribution of seed to ryots will not accomplish these ends in their esent state ofignorance, povert and depression, for they at once say, the cost of ploughing an preparing the

ground is so much, suppose this newseed is bad, or the plants do not thrive, or I do notknowtheproper reasons to sow, and gather in the harvest,who is to pay me for my lost time and labour,or to provide that proportion of support, for myselfend family, that I would have derived from a

crap of our own, less valuable it may be, but yetwell known cotton,which I knowhowto cul

tivate, andwhich long experience informs me will not disappointmy expectation. This [ cannot

say for years , since I never sawit growing, and as I am a poor man with a large family, I darenot engage in speculative experiments .

That such is the true source of aversion on the part of the natives to engage in these newkinds of cultivation, and neither apathy nor indifi

'

erence to their own interests , ofwhich theyhave a keen perception, is rendered evident by the fact, that in these districts , Salem, Tinnevel

ly, and Coimbatoor ,where the cultivation ofBourbon cotton has taken firm root under the super

intendence of European Merchants , the natives cultivatej t of their own accord, as readily ornearly so, as the indigenous country cotton, well knowing , that the crops of it are as certain as

those of the other, and the demand for it equal if not greater. The American, short stapled

cottons can be cultivated as easily andwith e ual certainty of success in these districts, but areactually discouraged, though they succeedwe as being more troublesome and expensive to clean ,

and much less valuable, both as an article of expert commerce, and for domestic consumption

among themselves , than the Bourbon cotton.

These instances, though the only ones I know, of unquestionable success on a large scale,

prove indubitably the existence, in the Southern provinces of the Peninsula of India, of a soil

and climate favourable for the production of these, in Europe,more esteem ed varieties , and go

far I think to showthat if they have not succeeded elsewhere, that it is mainlyfor want of theproper encouragement being held out to the only persons qualified to cultivate them at a cheaprate, the native cultivators which, on this side ofIndia , maybe fairly attributed to the want ofEuropean speculators , possessed of sufiicient capitaland enterprise to give the necessary impulseas it is through European enterprise alone, that success has been attained to the exten t here

stated. In this conv iction I am further confirmed, from the result of experiments I have had inprogress during the last twelve months, on too small a scale, it is true, to adm it ofany very cer

ta in conclusions being deduced, but still, such as to convince me , that with no other care than

they receive in field cultivation, that both the Bourbon ard short stapled American cottons maybe successfully cultivated in our common alluvial soils,but more profitably in the red ones ,whichare largely charged with the red oxide of iron. The long stapled or sea island cotton has not

succeeded with me, not because the plants themselves have been more delicate or less adapted to

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62 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

To me it appears that much m ight be done towards the attainment of this object.According to the system usually pursued in native husbandry, the soil is rarely, if ever ,

manured, is but indifl'

erently ploughed, the seed are never changed, but that from thesame stock constantly resown, and that too broad cast usually, so thick that the plants choakeach other in their g rowth, the young shoots are never topped, in short nothing is done having a tendency to improve the quality or increase the quantity of the produce by invigorating theplant while the land is still farther exhausted and the plants stillmore choaked, by crops ofother

grain being taken off, while the cotton is advancing to maturity, and when the crop is at leng thready to gather, no care is taken in the gathering to keep it clean and free from dry and brokenleaves , andwhat is much worse,when a great demand for the article exists, the ryots have even

been known to gather the green pods and ripen them in the sun, in place of allowing them to

r ipen and open on the stalk,much to the injury of the good name ofIndian cotton, more especially of that ofTinnevelly, which used to be in high esteem , but has, I am told, recently fallen intodisrepute owing to that cheat having being practised in 1833 - 4 . Oughtwe not then to endeavour, to the utmost, to elevate the culture ofthe indigenous cotton, and by ascertain ing its intrinsic value and cost of production, determ ine by comparative returns the respective value tothe country of the two kinds for it m

aybe found that our cottons make a better return to the

country at 6d, than the American ones 0 at 8d. per pound, owing to the much smaller cos tofproduction and larger amount ofproduce from the same extent of land.

These however are pointswhich I am certa in will never be ascertainedwhile the culture isleft entirely in the hands of natives, as they have not the means ofsecuring a regular success ionof newseed,or of bes towing extra expense on the cultivation, andgathering in of the crop, nei.

that have they the intelligence or means of going in search of better markets, suppos ing them to

have bestowed the requis ite care to improve the produce, but must sell it on the spot, poss iblyat a rate but little higher than their neighbours get for an article of very inferior value, thusincurring a loss inplace of a gain for the extra labour and care devoted to its production .

In thus urg ing greater attention to our native produce, I am far from wishing to discouragethe cultivation of the exotic kinds . On the contrary, I feel quite convinced that the countrywould derive immense advantage from their more general culture, on the simple principle oftheir enabling us to bring extensive tracks of country under cultivation, that are now either

waste, or of comparatively little value, s ince, on such the American cottons can be cultivated,while the Indian would altogether fail, it requiring a soil both rich and retentive ofmoisture forthe attainment of its highes t degree of perfection. Another, and in native practice not theleast important, recommendation of the American short stapled cottons is the rapiditywithwhichthey mature their first crop,(the time required being even shorter, than that for our native cot

ton) and their larger produce ofwool in proportion to the quantity of seed but then, the seed

are cons idered less wholesome for feeding cattle, which, should such he found to be the case,will prove a very heavy drawback if not an almost insurmountable obstacle to its general iatroduction as an article of native agriculture,

I shallconclude this article with a fewremarks appertaining to the history ofthe species, andvarieties figured in the accompanying plates . Gossypium B a rbadense is one of the oldest speciesof the genus, having been established by Linnaeus on the authority of a figure ofPlucknet (TAB .

188, FIG. l,) published 169 1—Mr. Royle remarks of i t, but this figure may answer equally wellfor some other species a remark, in which I do not concur, for,with the exception of the leaves

being a little narrower, than we usually find them in the plant as cultivated in this country, theyare most characteristic,and the figure altogether a very passable one, ofour Bourbon cotton plant.This species we are informed by Swartz is most extens ively cultivated in theWest Indies, andthence, according to Roxburgh, it was brought to the Islands of Bourbon and the Mauritius,whence again, it was introduced into India under the name by which it is known here, Bour

bon cotton . On its first introduction into these Islands the plant seem s to have found a soil andclimate in every respect suitable, and rapidly became an article of great commercial importance,both on account of the fine quality and of itswool, and of i ts extreme productxveness ; in both ofwhich respects , however, it has recently fallen off so much, that the lands which were formerlyappropriated almost entirely to its culture, are nowmore profitably employed in the culture of

sugar . This deterioration may be owing to two causes , first neglecting to renewthe stock fromtime to time by fresh importations of seed, and secondly to the soil itself, having been injured

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 63

by a too constant repetition of the same kind of crop. A sim ilar deterioration formerly tookplace i n theWest Indies , and to so g reat an ex tent, as to lead to the almost total discon tinuance of the cultiva tion of cotton , wh ich, as in the ins tance of the African islands, was suc

ceeded by sugar, much to the profit of the cultivators . It seems probable, that if the cultivation of

.

cotton was resumed in theWest Indies from seed carried either from this country or theMauritius , that those islands in which the produce of the sugar cane is beg inning , from longculture, to deteriorate, m ight be m uch more profi tably devoted to the cultivation of cotton . InMalta, Spain and S icily, in all of which places cotton is cultivated to a cons iderable ex tentm uch attention is g iven to frequent chang es of seed, each supplying itself from one or other, ofthe other two. If s im ilar attention was bestowed in India to such interchange of seed betweenremote districts , there can scarcely be a doubt, it appears to me, that all would benefi t. Thecultivators of Bourbon and Am erican cottons will do well to bear in m ind the examples of theWest Indies and the Mauritius, and not only attend to the occas ional renewal of their stock ofseed from the orig inal source , but also to refresh the lands under cultivation every fewyears,by taking not one, but a success ion of crops of different kinds off those tracts which have beenlong under cotton cultivation with only short intervals of res t. The other two varieties ofG . B a rbadense here fi gured, the long and short stapled kinds, or Sea Islands

”and Up

lands,

"as they are called, are derived from the same s tock as the Bourbon, andwere with much

diffi culty introduced into North America owing to the shortness of the summer season . Theformer indeed could not. be established until the fortuna te occurrence of a very m ild winterperm itted the roots to live through it, and produce an early crop of fresh shoots in the spring .

These bore and ripened a crop, the seed of which was found suffi ciently hardy to res ist the coldof spring , and m atured a crop of excellent cotton in the course of the succeeding autumn .

The produce was a variety intermediate between the Pernambuco and Barbadoes, or Bourbon, cottons hav ing the long staple, smooth black seed, and 5- lobed leaves of the former, withthe free or detached seed of the latter. The peculiar and very superior qualities of this kind,are attributed to its growing in a soil highly calcarious , and s trongly impregnated withsalt, a ided by the influence of a saline atmosphere .

”To this last, though much dwelt upon

by American writers , I feel disposed to attribute m uch less importance than to the character ofthe soil inwhich it g rows . All attempts , so far as I have yet been able to learn

,to introduce

this kind into India have failed, the pods are sa id to be blighted in the bud, and the few thata ttain m aturity are generally more or less injured by the attacks of caterpillars, such I haveinvariably found to be the case in all m y attempts to raise it. The Egyptian cotton which inthat coun try partakes larg ely of the valuable properties of this kind,

is supposed to have beenderived from the Sea Island stock however, judg ing from some that [ had sown in m garden, ithas either g ot m ixed with the short stapled sort, or is in course of trans ition into it. he latter Irather suspect to be the case, but whether or not, it is m ost certa in that, from a quantity ofEgyptian seed sown in Madras both kinds were produced, and hav ing the distinctive characters

ofeach strongly m arked ; that produced from smooth seeds according in every particular with theproduce of Sea Island seed received direct from Am erica , even to its liability to attacks of in

sects and consequent blight of the young pods ; while that from rough downy seed equally cor

respondedwith the green seed, or Uplands”g rowing on the same plot of ground. The fact

here stated is an interesting one, and one wh ich it is m y inten tion still further to inves tigateso soon as I can procure a fresh supply of seed direct from Egypt, for that from which m yplants were raised was not such, but saved in Madras, from plants however, ra ised fromseed received direct from that country .

Respecting the orig in of the Uplands variety, and the period of its introduction intoNorth Am erica , I am not so well informed, but I have no hesitation in cons idering it another

variety of G . B a rbadense, from which in fact it scarcely differs except in the m uch greater

s ize of the pods, the shorter and strong er staple of its wool, the usually 5- lobed leaves, and the

seeds more or less clothed wi th down. This las t is a m ark ofvery m inor importance, as it is nowknown, a s ingle generation m ay change the character of the seed from smooth to downy : thoseof the Bourbon cotton , are generally described as black and smooth, yet I have scarcely ever

met with one that was not more or less downy, and often not less so, than the Americangreen seed. This (Uplands) variety thrives well in India , producing abundance of verylarge pods , so large indeed that of a number I weighed, the contents rarely fell short

of 70 grains, and some, picked ones, even exceeded 100, while those from the indigenous

64 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

cotton, growing on the same price of ground, barely weighed 25, and large pods of Bourbon under 50 gra ins . The proportion of wool to seed in the Am erican was about 30 percent., in the others from

'20 to 25— to which may be added, as a further recommendation, thatthe former produced ripe pods in less than three months from the time of sewing !

The most advantageous time for sowing this kind is , I believe, towards the end of therains in December, or with the fi rst of those in April and May,when they happen to fall freely .

Should the following dry season he protracted, of course watering would g reatly augment thecrop. My Egyptian (Uplands) cotton was not sown until late in the season, it grewwell andproduced a very abundant crop, the pods being by far the largest I had seen, but nearly thewhole was lost owing to the setting in of the heavy October ra ins before they were quite ripe .

A second, and abundant, but in all other respects much inferior crop was subsequently produced, the bushes being apparently m uch injured by the strong blighting north winds ofJanuary and February, from which they never recovered. I have s ince cut them down nearlyto the ground and manured them, in the expectation of res toring them to vigour, but owing tothe hot dry weather, and artificial watering being purposely withheld, hitherto with but partialsuccess, a few only of the bushes having grown s trongly, the others continue puny ; thosehowever that have shot vigorously prom ise a very abundant crop, the seed from which will ofcourse be subjected to farther trials .

The Gossypium acuminatum as observed above seems to be very extens ively distributed,

s ince it is brought to India under the various names of Pernam buco, Peruvian, and Bahea cotton,

and is spoken of in the Agri- I—lorticultural Society

’

s transactions under the name of Avacotton, and lastly is by Dr. Roxburgh, said to be a native of the mountains to the north andwestward of Bengal,

” but he adds I do not find this species is ever cultivated.

”From

this last remark we may infer it is not a native of India, but has accidentally found its wayhere, and up to the time that Roxburgh wrote, had not become sufiiciently known, for its valueto be justly appreciated. However as Roxburgh

’e information regarding its native country

m ay be correct, and as his name is express ive of a Botanical character rather than of a nativecountry to which the species is not lim ited, I have preferred adopting it. This is a

very strong g rowing plant, and as it bears a parently without injury the high temperatureof this coast, it is probable, it merits , an will receive, more attention than has hithertobeen extended to it. In the light sandy soils of the coast it seems to thrive remarkably welland is very productive.

Respecting the indigenous species , G'. herbaceumj it is unnecessary to dilate, that one

being already so well known in India, and indeed over all the warmer portions of the old worldfrom the south of Europe, the northern lim it of its cultiva tion , through the whole of the torridzone, and as being the species first and bes t known to mankind generally.

R sn s aas on G sns aa AND Srncnns . In this as in most very natural orders considerabledifficulty is experienced in finding good generic characters, by which to distinguish g roupsof species which ev idently ought to be kept distinct from each other, but the difficulty ofdiscrim inating among the species and varieties is often much g reater, and has been productive of the usual result, that of caus ing an excessive multiplication of species, by inducingBotanists, working with imperfect materials, in numerous instances, to ra ise mere varietiesto the rank of species . Gossypium affords a striking example of this fact in a culti:y ated genus those of Side and A butilon are scarcely less remarkable among theuncultivated ones . Some species of each are common to the tropical reg ions of both theold and newworld, and have in nearly all such cases received distinct names according as theyhappen to com e from the one or other. Did the multiplication stop there, we would have littleto complain of, as the geographical character would of itself, in the absence of botan ical ones

serve to distinguish them , and prevent any serious confus ion, but unfortunately it does,

not ; our Abutilon indicum for example has in India, in my opinion, on most inadeuate grounds, been split into two, viz . A . indicum and A . asia licum, and has bes ides atdifferent times received a variety of other names , such as Sida populi/

‘

olia , Side EtcromisclwsS ide B eloere, &c. but under howmany more names it figures in tropical America andher islands is not. easy to discover .

In the discrim ination of the genera of Malvacew,reference is principally had to the

involucrum and fruit, and generally these, combinedwith habit, afford very permanent generic

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 65

characters by the involucrum for example Malva ands/faked are principally distinguished.

The principal distinguishing characters between H ibiscus and Abelmoschus appertain to

the calyx, in the former its segments are distinct, while in the latter they continue to

adhere , presenting the form usually called spathaceous, that is , splitting along one s ideonly, like a spathe. The carpels being many or few seeded, afford subs idiary characters ,but that taken from the calyx is essentially the distinguishing one, as many species of

Hibiscus have carpels with a plurality of seeds, but few, if any, have the spathaceous calyx .

Upon the whole however, I think there is reason to doubt the propriety of breaking down even

very large genera on such grounds . Abutilon and Side , which want the involucrum and wereformerly united, have on somewhat s im ilar, but much better grounds , been separated. In

Abutilon the carpels are membranacious or bladdery, and contain several seeds : in S ide theyare l - seeded, usually coriacious, and furnished at the apex with a double beak. Tbespesia

is separated from H ibiscus on account of its truncated undivided calyx, resembling the cupof

an acorn, and Pe ritium on account of its imperfectly lo- celled capsule, caused by the bendinginwards of the marg ins of the valves .

It. seems questionable whether it is judicious to take leading generic characters from the

involucrum , L innaeus objected to the principle, and la id it down as a rule, that they ought

always to be taken from the fructification only, by which he m eant the calyx and organs

embraced by it ; but in the case of the Illalvecew, nearly all of which are referable to his class

and order M onadelphia polyandria , and also in Umbellzferae, he found it convenient to departfrom his own rule, and got over the diffi culty by calling the involucrum an external calyx .

Dr . Z enker has, (Plantar Indiana) in his genus Hymenocalyx, our Abelmoschus ang ulosus,carried this departure from the Linnean rule to excess, by founding a genus on the circumstance of the involucrum as well as the calyx occas ionally splitting spathaceously, for with thatexception, which I have since ascerta ined is not constant, there is absolutely no differencebetween that genus and Abelmoschus, and ought not in my opinion, to be reta ined.

The s athaceous involucrum of that species wh ich completely conceals the calyx , led Mr.

A rnott an myself into a curious error, by inducing the belief that it was the calyx, and that

the involucrum was so early caducous that we had no opportunity of describing it.The genus Dyctioca rpus which associates with Side in wanting the involucrum ,

and in hav ing l - seeded carpels, I ventured to separate on account of its definite stamens,

which had previously caused it to be removed from the order and referred to Byttneriecew.

The curiously reticulated tests of its seed affords another good character, as being one which Iam not aware of ex isting in any other species of the order. The genus Decaschistia is re

m arkable for its lo- ceiled and lO- valved, capsule,with a solitary seed in each cell. For furtherillustrations of the several genera of this rather large and complex order, I must refer to myIcones, with the aid of which, I hope to be able to afford most ample illustrations of the generaof all the larger andmore important orders to be treated of in the course of this work.

The following additions have been recently made to the order.

Urena repanda—Of this little known species I

have at leng th got specimens, from Goomsoor (unfortunately rather imperfect,) through the kindness ofW. G. Davidson,Esq. I find itdoes not correspond veryaccurately with the genericcharacter ofUrena neither

does the specimen agreewellwith the character ofthespecies, but as the species of this genus are a t to varyconsiderably in their forms 1 have no doubt 0 its beingthe same plant, as it agrees in one or two important

points. These peculiarities lead to the suspicion that it

ought to be removed from the genus, though in habit

it associates very closely. The most prominent fea

tures of distinction between this and the other species

of thegenus consists in its having both the involucel

and ca yx campanulate,5-cleft, or rather toothed at the

apex. and completely enclosing the carpels, which,in lace of being globose and armed all over withboohed prickles, as in the rest of the genus, are

only slightly convex exteriorly, and nearly trian

gular. The very distinct form and large size, as com

paredwith the rest of the genus, of the involucel andcalyx, added to the different shape, and g labrous exterior ofthe carpels, lead to the en position that itoughtto form a separate genus. The liabit however,and thepeculiar reticulation of the leaves, which coincide ex

actly with some other species of Urena, induce me forthe present to leave it as a doubtful member of that

genus, the more so as my specimens are in fruitonly. The leaves in them are nearly round, slightlyacuminated at the point, cordate at the base, repandlydentate on the margin. and ubescent on both sideswith a sing le land beneath t eflowers numerous, thepeduncles axi lary several flowered, andfrom the abortion of the leaves, racemose towards the ends ofthe branches .Though in specimens are imperfect, yet as this

plant is.

very ittle known, I shall endeavour to have itfigured in my Icones.

66

H ibiscus trimaran—This species I found in consider

able abundance in very dry g ravelly soil near Cudda

pah, in 1834.

other locality.

A belmoschus ang ulosasW. and A.

Hym nocelyz va riabila'

s, Z enker’s Neelgherry plants.

Had not th is plant been previous] named angu losus

Dr. Z enker’s specific name would ave been mos t ap

propriete, as I find from numerous specimens collected

on the Pulney mountains that it is a variable plant.There it g rows to the height of several feet, the lead

ing branches terminating in long dense spikes of large

flowers. The fruit as represented in Z enker’s figure

seems to me much too long and tapering , and in that

respect difi'

ers so much from my specimens that Ishould almost have been induced to consider them dis

tinct species did they not ag ree well in . every other

respect.A buti

‘

lon Neelg errem e (Munro’s —Sufi

'

ruti

cose, sub-g labrous : leaves roundish, deeply eltato

corda te, acuminated, unequally crenato entate,

whitish beneath : peduncles about the leng th of the

petiole, several flowered, (2-8o l0 Munro) corolla

spreading, petals obovate, united below into a short

tube, hair at the orifice, tube of the stamens labrous,carpels about 9, truncated, nearly twice the eng th ofthe lanceolate, acuminated, villous sepals.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

N eelg herr ics not unfrequsat—Specimens of th is finespecies were commun ica ted by Lieut. Munro, who

I have not si nce met wi th it in any found them in several loca lities .

In the g rea t s ize and form of its leaves it is closelyallied to A . polya ndrum, from which howeve r, it isreadily disting uished by its umbella te flowers , andmore numerous carpels b this las t mark it is eq uallydistinguished from A . ida D . C . ) umbellatem andA . (Sida) L eschenaulta

’

ana, which have umbe lla teflowers and 5- carpelled fruit.

This appears a very handsome species, the larg erleaves exceedin in their smaller or transverse diameter 7} inches. he fruit altogether resembles those ofA . indicum, except in the carpels being fewer and lesshairy the flowers too, nearly correspond except tha t inthis, the petals are hairy at the base where their unionceases, and the tube of the stamens is g labrous,whereas in that, the filam ents are very hairy and the corolla

g labrous .

In addition to the preceding I have received a specimen of wha t appears a newg enus,but unhappily tooim erfect to adm it ofmy attempting to characterise it.I t as the involucrum of Pavonia, with the fruit ofAbelmoschus . Itwas sent alon with several other

plants from Goomsoor, byW. Davidson, Esq. butunfortunately so much inj ured in the drying as to beunfit for more minute examination and description.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 27.

l. Branch of Gossypium acuminatum, showing theflower and full g rown ca sule.

2. Stamina] column, ormed by the union of the

filaments into a tube embracing the style.

3 . Proper calyx, (enclosing the ovary) style, andstigma ; the involucel leaves and corolla being re

moved to bring these parts into view.

4. Ovary cut vertically.

5. Mature pod open.

6. Seed and cotton .

7. Column of firmly adherent seeds.

All natural size except the cut ovary,which is a little magnified.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 28—a. b. and c.

l. Gossy ium Barbadense—aalural size.

2. Two e tached stamens showing the one- celled

anthers - mag nifi ed.

3 . Ovary, style, and stigma, the calyx partly re

moved to showthe ovary—natural size.

4 . Ovary cut transversely—mag nifi ed.

5. B i e capsule as it appears on first bursting , and

before 1 e valves have fully opened.

Plate 28 6. Sea Island cotton. Same as the preceding , except

- 9. The cotyledons removed and unrolled, radical inferior, and seen in the plate pointingtowards the figure 9.

Plate 28 c. Upland Georgian cotton, the same asthe preceding, except

- 8. A seed cut transverselymagnified.

XX III .

This is a small order cons isting almost entirely of tropical trees and shrubs, but remarkablefor embracing among the number the largest tree yet known, namely, the Adenson ia dig ila ta .

The prom inent distinctive features between this and the neighbouring orders , Malvacewand

B yttneriacew, is found in their anfractuose anthers and in the calyx , which in this , is campa

nulate or tubular from the union of the sepals, in these polysepalous from the sepals rema in ingaltogether distinct, or only adherent at the base . In other respects they are so m uch alike, thatBartling ( ordines natura les &c.) proposes to reunite the B ombacea.’ with Malvacece, as a sectiononly of the latter order, while Dr. Lindley on the other hand, following Endlicher , thinks themmore just! referable to Byttneriacece, of which , in his arrangement, they accordingly form a

rtion. Between such authorities I presum e not to decide , and shall therefore follow the

bZaten track by continuing to adopt the arrangement of our Prodromus , according to which theB ombaceae form a distinct order intermediate between these two, leav ing to future and abler

Botanists, the task of determ iningwhich is right. In habit they are mostly arborions or shrubby,

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 67

the leaves are alternate . having stipules, and the pubescence on the young and herbaceous portions, stellate as in ill alcacece .

The following is the character of the order as g iven by DeCandolle and others .

Sepals 5, cohering in a campanulate or cylindrical tube,which is either truncate, or wi th5 div is ions : at the base of this , on the outs ide , are sometimes a few m inute bractea . Petals

5, regular ; or sometimes none, but in that case the inside of the calyx is coloured. Stam ens

5, l0, I5, or more filam ents cohering at the base into a tube, which is soldered to the tube ofthe petals , div ided at the apex into 5 parcels , each of which bears one or m ore anthers , amongwhich are sometimes some barren threads ; anthers l ~ celled,

linear , reniform or anfractuose.

Ovarium cons isting of 5 carpelle, rarely of 10, either partly distinct or cohering s trictly, anddehiscing in various ways ; styles as m any as the carpelle , ei ther distinct or m ore or less co

herent ; ovula 9 or m any. Fruit variable, capsular, or indehiscent, usually with 5 valves , septiferous in the m iddle . Seeds often enveloped in wool or pulp ; som etimes album inous , with flatcotyledons ; sometim es exalbum inous , with shrivelled or convolute cotyledons . Trees or shrubs .Leaves alternate, with stipules . Pubescence of the herbaceous parts stellate .

A PFtNtr tss . The plants referred to this order are said to be dis tinguished from M al

vacewon the one s ide by their Polyadelphous stamens and habit ; and from B ytmeriacere or

S terculiaceas on the other , by their l - celled anthers and from both , by their gamosepalous

(sepals united into one) calyx . Such are the dis tinctions which induced Kunth in his dissertation on the .Wa lvacece , to propose their separation as an independent order. The opinions of

some able Botan is ts , as has been already observed, are unfavourable to this separation , though

approved by m ost, one recomm ending their being retained as a section of Ma lvacee ,

while others prefer arrang ing them among the Bytmeriaceas, thus affording a pretty convincingproof that the orig inal distribution of Jass ieu was nearly correct, and that B otan ists will pro .

bably do well to revert to it, or at all events to reduce B ombaceae, by referring one sectionH elicterewto Byttneriacece , and the other, Bombacece to M alvaceas. To m e it appears certa inthat the order as constituted by Professor Kunth can scarcely be m aintained, s ince Helicleres,with the s ing le exception of the gam osepalous calyx, differs so widely from Bombazc the type of

the order . In this g enus the fi laments are united throughout into a tube bearing on the apex

ten dis tinct, imperfectly 2- celled anthers , (the divis ion is transverse and rather indistinct) whilein B omber , they, being all united at the base only, and broken into irregular parcels withl - celled or anfractuose anthers , seem rather to place it, as Bartling has done, am ong Ma lvacewon th is point however, I refrain from offering any decided opinion , as I am not aware of them odifications , that mos t accom plished Botanist, Professor Endlicher of Vienna , proposes to introduce into the character , bywhich to uni te both under his order Sterculiaccce , and at the sam e timeexclude them from Malvacew. Whatever they m ay be, it is certain that these orders must al

ways rem ain m ore nearly un ited to each other, than to any others , and s tand as a warning againstlightly departing from Jussieu

’s orig inal dis tribution of the natural orders . Mr . Brown ,while

he departs from the letter continues to adopt the spirit ofJuss ieu'

s arrangement, in so far as, that

he looks upon his order M a lva ceae, towh ich be (Mr . Brown) adds Tiliaceae, as form ing a large

class an idea ,in which he has been followed by Bartling , Lindley and Martins , who combine the

whole under their clas s Columniferae, the form er however, splitting the order Byttneriacewinto as m any dis tinct orders as other Botan ists m ake sections , denom inating them respectivelyS terculiacece ,

B yttneriacw, Hermanniacece,and D ombeyaccce, ass igning the following abbre

viated or synaptical characters to the class and orders .

C LASS . Columniferae.- Segments of the calyx valvate in (estivation ! Petals hypogy

nous twisted, rarely by abortion wanting . Ovaries several free or combined. Leaves alternate,stipulate .

Oans a .—Tiliaceae calyx deciduous . A nthers 2- celled. Filaments free. Albumen fleshy.

Embryo erect.

Searculiaccac calyx deciduous . Corolla wanting . Anthers 2- celledextrorse. Embryoerect in the axis .

68 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY.

Byttneriaceae calyx persistent. Petals with the claws concavely vaulted, ( conca ve

fom icatisj sometim es aborting . A nthers 2- celled. Seeds often album inous .

Hermanniacsae calyx pers istent. Stamens 5. Anthers 2c celled extrorse . A lbum en

between farinacious and fleshy. Em bryo curved.

Dombeyaceae calyx pers istent. Petals flat. Stamens monadelphous, some de fi n ite

multiple of the number of the petals . Anthers adnate, 2- celled extrorse . A lbum en fles h y .

Malvaccac. Calyx pers istent. S tamens monadelphous . Anthers l - eelled. U nder

this last the Bombaceae are arranged on account of their l - celled anthers .

To this class Von Martins adds D epterocarpeae, and Lindley Lylhrariew, In so larg e

an assemblage presenting so few and so slight modifications of structure, it is not to be wondered at that Botanis ts should have found it difficult to determ ine the lim its of each of its

subdivis ions , s ince in truth the peculiarities of the above orders are scarcely greater than

we m eet with in sections of other orders, and yet, the varieties of habit met with in each a re

such as renders it in every way des irable that they should be distinguished ; while the num ber

of species referable to each subdiv is ion, m akes it preferable to distinguish them under a s epa

rate name rather than to unite the whole under a s ingle denom ination. This has successfullyaccomplished, by class ing them under one common name, and distributing the m inor groupsunder so many others .

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUTION . The B ombaccae properly so called constitute but a smallorder . They are all tropical plants , for the most part large trees , and most. abound in Americathose of As ia being lim ited to a fewgenera, with rarely more than two species to each—threeor four only are found in Africa, among which however, is that mos t extraordinary of trees, theColossus of the vegetable kingdom , the Ada nsom

'

a dig itata, a tree,which has been estimatedto live thousands of years, and the trunk of which is said sometimes to attain the astonishingcircumference of 80 or 90 feet, and to afford in its hollow, when decayed by age or disease ,accommodation for several fam ilies . The cotton trees of this country afford the most genuineexamples of the order . Helz

‘

cteres lsora , a very common shrub in India, readily distinguishedby its curiously twisted fruit, I look upon, as above remarked, as less mer iting a place here,though generally referred to the order . The Duriau so celebrated on account of its fine flavoured but excessively fmtid frui t, is a representative of the order peculiar to the eas tern

shores of the Bay of Bengal, but totally unknown on the western, though our genera are allfound on the other coas t, and more or less copiously scattered all over India.

Paors ar tss AND Us es . Musilagenous and emollient properties are common to the wholeof the Columng

'

ferae. The'

uice of the roots of B omber ceiba , an American tree, is said to beaperient, while the bark of t e tree is emetic . Blume (medical plants of Java) states that thebark of the root of B . Ma laba r-ice is emetic, and is employed as such in Java . The E rlodendron anfractuosum or B omber penta ndrum, produces a guru which is esteemed for its medicinalproperties in this country,but being usually adm inistered in combination with aromatics, itis probably indebted to them for much of its supposed virtue. The woolly cotton which enve

lopes the seed of both these species is remarkable for its softness , and is much and deservedlyesteemed for making cush ions and bedding , owing to its freedom from any tendency to becomelumpy and uneven by getting impacted into hard knots . Various attempts have been made tofabricate it into cloth, but hi ther to without success, except a sort of very loose texture,whichthe comm ittee of the Society of A rts , towhom some specimenswere cent.,pronouncedonly fi t forquilting Lady

’s muffs and boas , but thought, that for such purposes it was superior to woollen

or common cotton s tuffs, the looseness of its texture rendering it an excellent non - conductor,while its extreme lightness supplied the other des iderata required in an article employed forsuch a purpose.

The Adansonia dig itata is in high esteem among the Afr icans—all its parts abound with a

thick mucila'

nous juice,which they drawby tapping , and use in various ways . The wild bees

perforate an form cav ities in its young wood, which is very soft ,

and tender, for the purpose ofedg ing their honey, which is much sought after . The young leaves dried and powdered con

stitute the A la of the negroes , which they use as a condiment, and suppose that it moderatesexcess ive perspiration . The fruit, which somewhat resembles a citron in shape, is fi lledwi th a redish spongy pulp, of a sweetish acid taste, enveloping the seed, of which ag reeableand refreshing acidulous drinks are prepared, and employed as a cooling beverage in the fevers

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70 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

The roots, again, are of a most extraordinary leng th, having num erous ram ifications . I n a

tree, whose trunk was only ten or twelve feet high, with a trunk seventy- seven feet in circumference, Adanson has determ ined the m a in branch, or tap- root, to be one hundred and ten fe e t

long . A figure of the whole tree m ay be seen in a beautiful v ignette, at p. 14 1, of Lord Macar t

ney’

s Embassy to China, drawn from a fi ne specim en in S t. Jago , one of the C ape de Verd

islands . The foliage there, indeed, is not so abundant as to conceal the vas t proportion of the

trunk but it often happens, that the leaves are so numerous , and the branches spread ou t,

drooping a t the extrem ities , to such a degree , that the trunk is almost entirely concealed, and

the whole form s a nearly hem ispherical m ass of verdure, from one hundred and forty to one

hundred and fifty feet in diam eter , and sixty or seventy feet high .

The wood is pale coloured, light, and soft, so tha t, in Abyss inia, the wild bees perforate it,for the purpose of lodg ing their honey in the holes , which honey is reckoned the best in the

country. I knownot that the wood itself is applied to any particular purpose, but the Neg roeson the eas tern coas t of A frica employ the trunks in a certa in state to a very ex traordinary purpose .

'

I‘

he tree is subject to a particular disease, owing to the attack of a species of Fungus ,which vegetates in the woody part, and which , without chang ing its colour or appearance ,destroys life, and renders the part so attacked, as soft as the pith of trees in general. Such

trunks are then hollowed into chambers , and wi thin them are suspended the dead bodies of

those who are refused the honor of burial. There they become m umm ies , perfectly dry and

well preserved,without any further preparation or embalmm ent, and are known by the name of

uiriots .gThis plant, like all of the neighbouring order of M anv s c szn , is emollient and mucilag inous

in all its parts . The lea ves dried and reduced to powder cons titute ta le , a favourite ar ticle withthe natives , and which they m ix da ily with their food , for the purpose of dim inishing the execs

s ive perspiration to which they are subject in those clim ates , and even the Europeans find it

serviceable in cases ofdiarrhaea, fevers , and other m aladies .

The fruit is , perhaps , the m ost useful part of the tree . Its pulp is slightly acid and agree

able, and frequently eaten while the juice is expressed from it, m ixed with sugar, and constituts s a drink which is valued as a specific in putrid and pestilential fevers . Owing to thesecircumstances , the fruit form s an article of comm erce .

‘ The Mandingos convey it to the

eastern and m ore southern dis tricts of Africa, and through the m edium of the A rabs, it reaches

Morocco and even Egypt. If the fruit be decayed or injured, it is burned : the leys are boiledwith rancid oil ofpalm , and the negroes use it instead of soap.

”

I shall now conclude these, I fear, ra ther too extended remarks on Adansonia , which theinterest of the subject has led me into, by extracting from the Flora Senegambia , a short

account of its mode ofg rowth . I t is surpris ing that in a country so hot and dry as the western coas t of Africa, the Boabab can acquire such enormous dimens ions . Individuals are often

found in Senegal and G ambia hav ing a circumference of even 60 or 80 feet, without howeveratta ining a he ight in proportion to such thickness . These dim ens ions dim inish in proportion as

they recede from the sea coas t. This singular vegetable seem s to increase in diam eter withoutour being able to attribute this effect solely to the influence of the leaves, s ince it is deprived of

them during nearly two - thirds of the year . The herbaceous envelope , of a shining green colour,by which the shapeless m ass of its trunk is covered is very thin but full of life . From the

slightestwound we can make in it, there bursts forth an abundant s tream of liquid, a kind of

nutritive sap, com ing from the herbacious envelope which answers the same purpose as leaves ,and which , so to speak, has been the principal focus of vegetable life . In a word the Baobab

has a vegetation analogous to that of certa in C acti, which draw their nourishment not from the

soil but from the air by their whole surface .

”

The Duriau so m uch esteemed to the eastward is said by Rumphius , to be of a very heat

ing quality ; and liable to excite inflamma tory derangements of the system . Whether these

sta tements are in accordance with the results ofm odern experience is more than I can tell, butI rather suspect not, as allwho have been able to reconcile them selves to the odour of the fruit

In Bowdich’s account of Banjole,it is mentioned that this fruit possesses an a reeably acid flavour, and, being very abun

dant, it fo rms a principal article of food amon the natives,who season.

many of t eir dishes with it, especia lly a kind of g uuel

made of corn, and calledRooy . Mr. Bowdici furtherobserves, that thi s tree loses its leaves before the periodical rains come on.

I LLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

speak of it in the highest terms , and seem to think it not less wholesome than grateful to the

palate. It is rem arkable that it has never been introduced on this s ide of the Bay, as it cer

tainly seems a most desirable plant to have among us .

‘

R EMARKS on THE G em-3m . Three indigenous genera only of this order are found in theIndian Peninsula, and are described in our Prodromus under the names of Helicteres, Bombax,and E riodendron . These nam es Professor Endlicher of Vienna, in the course of a revis ion of

the order has seen reason to change . The species , which orig inally formed the types of thesegenera are all of American orig in, and on being carefully compared with the Indianspecies which have been associated with them , were found to differ so much, as to render

necessary the separation of the As iatic from the American forms . Under such circumstances, it was incumbent on him in separating the former as newgenera, to retain the oldnames with the A merican form s , to which they had been orig inally ass igned, and g ive newnamesto the Indian ones . Whether the new genera recommended by him will be adopted by otherBotanists is still uncerta in , but that the readers of these remarks may have an opportunity ofjudg ing for them selves of the propriety of the changes, I append, for comparison, the genericcharacters of both the American and Indian genera, but without for the present, offering anyopinion ofmy own on the propriety or otherwise of the change, as I have not yet had an opper

tunity of satisfy ing myself on that point by a comparison of the plants themselves, andwritten characters do not always convey, to the m ind, a very clear or satisfactory idea of the

difl'

er

scr

l

rces which may actually ex ist, and be very apparent to the eye, though not eas ily deserib

In addition to the species here figured there is another, or a very distinct variety found atCourtallum ,

approaching in some respects toWallich’s B . insig ne, in the large s ize of its

flowers . It differs , I think, specifically from B . Malaba rica , in having the petals linear, nearlytwice the leng th of the stamens the stamens many times more numerous, the filaments

much more slender and filiform , and the anthers small in proportion . The flowers being fullytwice as large as those here represented, and the relative proportion in the size of the parts

being changed, added to the capsule being hard and woody, leaves scarcely a doubt on

my m ind of its being distinct, but notwithstanding , I refrain for the present from namingit as such, owing to my specimens being imperfect, and not sufficient to adm it ofmy adequatelycharacterizing the species from them .

Henrcr s nss L. Calyx tubulosus bilabiatim 5 fidus . Petala ligulata, ungue appendiculata,bilabiatim dispos ita . Staminum tubus carpophoro connatus , longe exsertus . Filamenta fertilia5~ IO ; sterilis 5 petaloidea , paribus fertilium staminum opposite . Ovarium longe stipitatume carpellis 5 (cum staminibus sterilibus alternantibus) . S tyli contorti . Stigmata obsolete.

Fructus e carpellis 5 distinctis , spiratim contortis l . rectis, polyspermus . Sem ina angulata,album inosa . Cotyledones convolutaa.

— Frutices prascipue American tropicss, foliis latecordatiscrenato-dentatis dense tomentosis , floribus cymosis terminalibus, albis vel rubro- fuscis .

Isoaa . Calyx clavato- campanulatus subinflatus 5 fide bilabiatus, labio superiors producto.

Petala ligulata bilabiatim disposita , 3 inferiora exappendiculata, superiors 2 appendiculo unila

terali max imo. Stam inum tubus carpophoro connatus, longe - exsertus in urceolum ovariumciugentem ampliatus, filameutis sterilibus 5 liguliformibus m inutia capsule 5 in spiremarcte contortaa. Species indicts . Is . corylr

'

folia (H01. Isora 18. g rewiaefolia (Hel.

grewiaefolia

Entonsnnaon DC . Calyx irregulariter sub 5 fidus . Petala erecta . Tubus stamineus

medio ampliatus spice in 5 crura diviene, antherosomata bilocularis lougitudinaliter adna ta

recta gerentia . Stigmata connexe unicum capituliforme mentientia. Capsula lignosa 5 locu

Since the above was written I have learned from General Bisho that there are two trees growing in Trichinopoly and one

of them has twice borne a single fruit, but on neither.

occas ion brong t It to maturity the fi rst blighted on the tree, the secondwas blown down after it had attained a considerable su e.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

laris, 5 valvis. Semina lana pericarpn obducta.- Americanaa folns digitato- compositis , fi oribns

magnis albis .

E . lciantherum D C .

Gossaurm us . Calyx irregulariter 5 fidus . Petala erecta . Tubus stamineu s bas i am plis tus , apice in crura 5 divisus , antherosoma ta lunata fiexuosa 2— 3 distincta gerentia . S tig m ata

connexa in s tigma capitate - subrotundum . Capsula 5locula ris , 5valvis, cortice crasso duro rug oso,basi dehiscens . Semina lanaa immersa .

— Indica foliis dig itato- compositis, floribus minoribus

flaventibus .

G . Rump/m (Bombax pentandm m orientale

SALMALIA . Calyx subtruncatus irregulariter ad bas in usque rumpens . Petala tandemrevoluto- recurva . Tubus stamineus plurisertalis , in phalanges poly- l . monostemones plures

divisas, cruribus (phalang is div isiones ult imae) simplicibus . Antherm extrorsum affixes reni

formes , interiorum staminum geminataa m ajor-se, exteriorum simplices m inores . Stigma ta inlobos 5 radiatim -

pos ita. C etera Ericdendrn—Indicte folus dig itato - compositis, floribusspeciosis coccineis .

S . insig nia (Bombax ins igne 8. ma laba rica (Bombax heptaphyllum

BOMBAX . Calyx irregulariter 3—5 fidus extus eglandnlosus . Petala 5 patentia v . reflexa.

Tubus stamineus in phalanges polystemones 5—v . plures divisus , cruribus 2 fidis . Anthem

erectaa oblongze , loculis confluentibus m arg inalibus l loculares . Stigmata in capitulum 5 sulca~'tnm coadunata . Capsula 5 locularis, 5 valvis, placentia incrassatis . Sem ina lana pa

'

ricarpica’

obducta —Americanae, folii’s digitatis, floribus spica tis, albidis .

B . Ceiba L . B . Munguba Mart. etc.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 29.

l .'

BombaxMalabaricum—nararal“size. 4and5. Anthers.

’2. A flower, the m afi a removed to showthe calyx 6. Ova ry style and stigma.and stamens. 7. Ovary ea t transve rsely—all m m or has som e3. Portion of the same removed from the calyx, fled.

showing the short tube formed by the union of the 8. Full g rown capsule before bursting .

base of the filaments round the ovary.

'9 . Mpture capsule burs

’t.

X ‘CIV .-BYTTNERIA'CEE .

A large and very complex order, cons isting almost entirely of tropical plants, and present

ing every variety of form of vegetation, from the slender creeping herb up to the most statelytrees .

In their fructification difl‘erent groops present so great variations in form that some Botanistshave proposeddividing them into four or five distinct orders ,but generally, as they allagree in having a valvate (es tiva tion, 2- celled anthers , and s imilarity of sensible properties , it seems preferableto keep them together as a s ingle order, dis tributed into sections , such as S ierculieae, B yttm

rim e, Hermannieae, Dombeyaceae, &c . To the sections propos ed by DeCandolle, Endlicher, asalready stated, adds two, referred by most other Botan ists to the last order, namely Helictereae

and Bambaceae. Under Bombaceae I have already presented a summary of Bartling’

s arrange

ment, and will here in preference to attempting to give a general v iewof the whole order pre

sent the characters firs t of Endlicher’

s three sections , and subsections so far as they refer tothe Indian flora, and then complete the viewby adding from other sources those which are left,as yet, untouched by Endlicher, merely prem ising , that the whole are essentially characterized,by having a wholly superior ovarium of several carpels combined into a solid pistil with the

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 73

placentas in the ax is :valvate e stivation of the calyx monadelphous s tamens ; 2- celled anthersand alternate stipulate leaves . A ll indian plants hav ing the above com bination of characters

,

oug ht to find a place in one or other of the following sections . Tiliaceae and Elteocarpeaa twovery nearly allied orders are dis tinguished, the former by its dis tinct stamens, the latter by itslacerated petals .

Tribe I—Helictereae. Flowers bisexual. Calyx irregular. Corolla irregular. Filamentseither united into a tube longer than the ovary, or embracing the carpophore (pedicel of thefruit,) and free at the apex ; anthers 2

- celled, with an obsolete transverse septum . Ovary sess ileor s tipitate . Fruit with the carpels either distinct, or cohering , one or many seeded. Seedsalbum inous . Leaves s imple .

Eupilectereae Tube of the stamens elongated, embracing the stipe of the ovary. Filaments free at the point, each bearing a s ingle anther.

-

'

l‘

o this subsection our Helicteres isora(Isora corylifolia End. ) belongs .

Tribe II— Sterculz'eae. Flowers by abortion unisexual, calyx having the sepals unitedregularly . Corolla none. Filaments united into a tube adhering to the carpophoreanthers imperfectly one or two celled, oblong - curved, s ituated at the base of the perfect or imperfect ovary. Fruit pod- shaped of several verticelled carpels , opening along theinterior sature . Seed sometimes covered with an arillus , album inous . Trees with s imple ordig itately compound leaves , with the peticl tum id at the a ex .

To this section our genera Sterculia and Heritiera along . The former, as left by Roxburgh and DeCandolle, is completely broken down and now affords the ty es of no fewer thannine distinct genera, seven of wh ich appertain to the Indian flora, the characters of these Ishall add at the conclus ion of this article.

Tribe lI I—Bombaceae. Flowers bisexual. Calyx 5- cleft, often irregularly divided, thee stivation then obscure. Corolla regular or none . Filaments united into a tube, covering theovary. Anthers solitary or several cohering , cells indistinct or co nfluent, often anfractuose .

O vary sessile . Fruit capsular composed of cohering carpels . Seeds album in ous or exalbuminous , often enveloped inwool or even in pulp—To this section the g enera quoted under theformer order belong .

Tribe IV B yfmerieee. Flowers bisexual. Calyx 5-partite or 5- sepaled, without an involucel. Petals frequently concave and vaulted at the base, expanded at the .apex into a strap.

shaped appendage . Stam ens 10—30, or more ; the five that are oppos ite to the sepals ste rilea nd strap- shaped ; the others , oppos ite to the petals , either solitary or pentadelphous , the bundles rarely bearing only one anther . Ovarium sessile, 5 celled ; cells usually 2- ovuled. Seedssometimes exalbum inose with thick cotyledons ; som etimes album inose with foliaceous , plane,or convolute cotyledons . Trees , shrubs , or very rarely herbaceous plants . Leaves alternate,entire, or sometimes cut. Stipules twin Peduncles axillary, oppos ite to the leaves , and ter!m inal, one or manyflowered .

To this section the Cocoa twee, (Theobroma) and the bastard cedar tree (Guazuma) andseveral other Indian genera belong .

Tribe V—Hermanniece. Flowers bisexual. C alyx 5- lobed, pers istent, either naked or

with an involucel. Petals 5, spirally twisted in (estivation. Samens 5, monadelphous, allfertile, opposite to the petals . Carpels united into a sing le fruit. A lbumen between fleshyand mealy. Embryo included: radical inferior, ovate : cotyledons flat, leafy, entire. Shrubs

or herbaceous plants . Leaves alternate , simple, or variously cut. Stipules 2, adhering to thepetioles . Peduncles ax illary, or oppos ite to the leaves, or terminal,with l, 3, or many flowers,which are usually in umbels .

To this tribe Riedleia andWaltheria belong . The former as left by DeCandolle a veryconfused genus , demanding a careful revision, as it certainly includes within itself the types of

several. None of those referred to it from India are genu ine species . R iedleia truncata I

have removed to Malvacea', and of our three other species, which I think, should be reduced toone,Dr. Arnott has formed a newgenus under the name of Loo/tennis .

74 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

Tribe VI—Dombeyacece. Calyx usually with an involucel, 5-partite or rarely 5- lobed .

Petals 5, flat, rather large, unequal- s ided, convolute in (estivation . Stamens some multiple ofthe number of petals , in a s ingle row, monadelphous, sometimes all fertile, but usually 5 ofthem sterile and filiform or strap

- shaped . Styles 2, 3 , 5, or 10, distinct, or un ited together .

Ovules 2, placed side by side, or several, in two rows in each cell of the ovarium . Em bryo

itraight, usually in the axis of a fleshy albumen . Cotyledons leafy, often bifid, crumpled or

at.

To th is tribe Pentapetes, Melhania , Pterospermum and Kydia belong . The two former

genera are for the most part composed of small herbaceous or suffruticose plants, the latter of

handsome flowering trees . They are all widely distributed over the Pen insula . Dombeya ,which is a fine flowering shrub and a favourite in gardens, is a doubtful native of Southern India.

Tribe VlI—Er iochlaenece Am .WallicheaeD.C . Calyx 4-5 partite or lobed,with a 3 -5

leaved involucel. Petals 45 flat. Stamens num erous in a multiple series, the outer ones

shorter , all united into one con ical column as in Malvaceae : sterile filaments none, anthers

2- celled erect.—To this tribe one or perba s two Indian genera belong . The one Microcldcena,which is abundant on the slopes of both the Pulney and on the Shevaroy hills, is a smallstunted looking tree with rough cracked bark.

A smm 'r rss . A slight examination of the peculiarities of the preceding tribes will show

how diffi cult it must be to drawup any character suited to include the whole order withoutintroducing so many contradictions as to render such a one almost useless in practice, and yet,it is generally easy to distinguish the members of the order. They are nearly allied to Mal

vaceae and Tiliacece, from the former of which they are separated by their 2- celled anthers,

and from the latter by their monadelphous stamens .

G soe aapmcs t Drsraracr ton. This as already observed is mainly a tropical order, beinnearly confined to the tropics , but widely distributed over those reg ions of both the old an

newworld. Of the tribes above enumerated. it may be mentioned that Sterculiece are principally of Indian and African orig in ; a sm all pro ortion only being found in America .

Roxburgh in his Flora Indica descr ibes 12 species of terculia—Blume has seven from Java,Wallich in his list of Indian plants increases the number to twenty- two for all India, whileHumboldt has not one from America, of the whole order, excluding B ombacece, Java hasaccording to Blame 22, the Indian peninsula 33 , and Equinoctial America from Hum

boldt’s collections 27 . The D ambcyacece are all either A s iatic or African, but I believe predo

m inate in the former. Of Hermannieae, a small proportion only are found in ludia, and a

cons iderably reater number in Africa , especially about the Cape . Those found in Senegal

are pronouncedby the authors of the Flora Senegambiaa to be identical with the Indian ones .

B ytmerieae are principally from South America and theWest Indies, and there the most

important plant of the order , the Cacoa tree, is indigenous . Erica/dined? are fewin number,and with one or two exceptions of Indian orig in . Suppos ing Helicterea:and Bombaccwto

belong to this order, India can boast of but few of either tribe, while they are numerous in

America .

Paoraa 'r tss m o Uses . The plants of this order, in common with those of the whole of

the class Columniferm, abound in mucilage, and possess in a pre- em inent degree emollient pro.

perties . One of the African species of Slerculia affords a guru, known as the gum Trag acantlz

of S ierra Leone, whence called S . trag acantha by Dr. Lindley. The seeds of another species8 . acumina ta , affords the hole of the Africans, which, when chewed, has the curious propertyof making bad and half putrid water, that may be afterwards drank, taste sweet and agreeable.

'

l‘

he pod of S/erculia fwtida , a common Indian tree, is , according to Horsfield, employed

in Java as a remedy against gonorrhcea , and an American species ofWalt/acrid is used in Brazilfor s im ilar purposes , for which it is fi tted by its mucilag inous properties ; the Indian species ,W. India , enjoying analogous properties m ight be rendered available here, for the same ob

'

ect,

if prepared as a diet drink . In Martinique, the mucilag inous bark of Guazuma ulmifo ia, atree very common in India, is employed to clarify sugar . It m ight along with some others

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 75

especially the fruit ofM icrochlccna , which is highly mucilag inous , be converted here to a s im ilaruseful purpose, and affect a great sav ing in the process adopted in India for that object. Theinner bark of som e species , which in all is very tough and pliable, is employed for makingcordage, that of Sterculia g azza ta , M icrochlaena spectabilis, and flbroma augusta , are particularly specified by Mr . Royle as being so employed, of the latter it is sa id, it abounds withs trong white fibres which make a good substitute for hemp, and as the plant succeeds well ine very part of India , grows quickly, and yields annually two, three, or even four, crops of cuttingsfi t for peeling it is particularly recomm ended by Dr. Roxburgh for cultivation .

”The seed of

s everal species of Sterculia are roasted and eat by the natives of this country but by far them os t important plant of the order, at leas t in a dietetic point of v iew

, is the Cacca tree . Thisis a native of America , and has been introduced into India . Hitherto our attempts a t culture

have not been very successful, but I saw several very thriv ing young trees at Courtallum , andthere is one at Palamcottah which annually bears a crop of fruit, and g ives prom ise tha t itm ight be increased. I attempted to take g rafts from that tree , and also to propagate it. by s lipsand gooties , but failed in both attempts . It seems very des irable to extend the cultiva tion ofthis tree in‘ India , not only on account of the comm ercial advantages that m ight accrue from its

produce , but for the benefi t we m ight ourselves derive from it. In the former point of v iewitm ay he mentioned, that upwards of twenty m illion of pounds are annually consumed in Europe .

The elevated table - land ofMex ico being the native country of the Cacoa, where it enjoys a cooland hum id climate, I presume the m ost probable tracts of country in India for commencing itscultivation, on a considerable scale,would be the high and cool table - land ofMysore , in plantations well sheltered, and still further kept cool and dampby being made in only partially clearedforests . Wherever such localities are to be found, the Cacoa m ay be expected to thrive,and m ight be introduced with effect and a t little charge, On the Malabar coast too, whereforest lands abound, the hum id and insular- like climate would, as in theWest Indies where it isvery extens ively cultivated, counteract the injurious effect of excessive heat, and render the chancesof sdccess , fully equal to those of Mysore . The only drawback to its extended cultivation isthe slowness of its g rowth in the first instance,which however is well compensated for, by itsafter duration and productiveness . The fresh v irg in soil, the shade, and hum id atmosphere, offorests recently cleared of their brushwood only, are all dwelt upon by Humboldt as peculiarlyfavourable for Cacoa plantations , and in such of course they ought to be tried in the first iastance, until we get the tree acclimated.

R amanxa or:GENERA . The genus Sterculia ,as m entioned above, has been completely brokendown , and no fewer than nine genera formed from the apparently heterogeneous materialswhich were formerly combined under that name . The characters of these as g iven by Professor Endlicher, will be given below, and figures of several published in the early numbers ofm y Icones . [ Isrireria is a genus nearly allied to Sterculia—of which one species is foundin Malabar, and another in Ava . Guazuma is said to have been introduced from

America , whether correctly m ay be difficult to ascertain, but whether or not it is cer

tainly very widely diffused over India now, and affords a proof, if introduced, that it hasfound a most congen ial clima te, and holds out the prospect of equal success attending theintroduction of the Cacoa tree . The wood which is generally known under the English name

of bastard cedar , though a light and rather loose gra ined timber, is much employed in makingfurniture . Ranking next this large umbragious tree is Byttneria , a humble herb, only foundin dry gravelly soil, usually seeking the support and shelter afforded by the fewstuntedbushes growing in such s ituations . The Abrom a I have never met with, but as above stated,it m erits being better known on account of the valuable purposes to which its bark may beapplied. Waltheria is a very common herbaceous plant, but of a most variable description, inso far as exte rnal appearance goes , being sometim es glabrous, at others hairy, and a t othersagain covered with a thick coat of whitish down or shag , thus appearing as if there wereseveral species . This genus is remarkable in the order for having a one - seeded coccus .

Pentapctes another of the fewherbaceous genera of this order are principally m arsh plants .

P . pha micia ,which is met with in marshy grounds all over India during the cool season, is also

found in the Tenaserim provinces, and I may here mention as an instance of howlittlethings common about our own doors, however beautiful, attract attention, that I once had spe

76 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

cimens of this plant, raised wi th m uch care from seed brought from Rangoon ,sent several hun

dred m ile s a s one of the g reate st bem ty an I rari ty, bu t which, had never been seen by the cul

tiva tor in In lia . though he m us t ha ve pa s sed it hundreds of times . The plan t is rea lly a bean

tiful one an drichly m erited all the a tten tion be s towed on that occas ion , but would equally ha ve

m e ri ted it if brought from the neig hbouring m arsh , in place of from a fore ig n country.

M el/wa it: is not very common , thoug h a idely diffused, but like som e o ther m embers of the

order is very variable . The J". inca na when g rowing in a fertile so il, chang es so m uch in

appearance from what it is in a more arid one , that it no long er seem s to be the same plant,and indeed I g rea tly doubt whether the two form s can belong to the sam e species , I have

s ince the publication o f our Prodromus m et wi th a new species hav ing much the appearance of

an Abutilon , hence ca lled C . nbu/ilmdes . It grows in rocky ravines among the Ballagaut hills,and a tta ins the s ize of a small shrub.

The determ ina tion of the species of the genus Plera vpermum. is an undertaking of cons i

derable difficulty. owing to the grea t variations in the form of the foliage in different specimensof the same species . In m y recent excurs ions I have added a new species to this genus , andhave reason to suspect that there are several, yet unknown to us , to be m et with in our a lpinejung les . I had no t the good fortune to fi nd fructification of some that I cons ider new, and can .

not in consequence des cribe them ,but the ir trailing arborions habit, leave little reason to doubt

their being difl'

erent from all those already described.

Kydz’

a , a genus es tablished by Dr. Roxburg h, and so called in honor of the late ColonelK yd, the founder of the C alcutta B otanic G arden, cons ists of fine shrubs , bea ring the ir nu

m eroua flowers in large clus ters on the ends of the branches . Of this genus there is one

spec ies m et with in the Pulicat jungles towards the foot of the hills , and one very fine newspecies in Ceylon , to which Dr .

~’trnott has g iven the name of K. ang us tg'

folia , a peculiarity bywhich it is well distinguished from the continental form s which have the leaves nearly round.

O ther two genera are characterize l in our Prodromus as belong ing to the order , namely,Eriochlama and M icrochlcena . A t the time ofpublication we expressed a doubt of the s tabilityof both these genera , conce iving tha t the characte rs ass igned by DeCandolle were insufficientto keep them distinct . Of the jus tice of these doubts further observa tion ha s not only sa tisfiedme ,

but have even led me to doubt, whether two plants described in our Pro dromus under thesenames form more than one species , indeed I feel almost certa in tha t the y do not, and ought

to be uni ted. These g enera are m ade to rest on the circum stance of one hav ing a quinary theother a quaternary series of parts , a difference of every day occurrence in different specimenstaken from the same tree , and of course more likely to occur when taken from differen t trees,though of the same species . The following are the new genera of S tercadiew proposed byProfessor Endlicher in his Meletemata Bo tanica.

Tri ous . Sr s eouu sx . Flores abortu diclines . Calyx e sepalis regulariter connatis ,Corolla nulla . Filam enta in tubum carpophoro connexum connata . A nthem ; s ubuni l . bilocu lares curvato - oblongaa. ad ovarii perfecti I , imperfecti basin . Fructus e carpellis legumini

form ibus verticillatis , sutura interiore dehiscentibus . Sem ina interdum arillo obducta, albumi

nosa . Arbores. Folia simplicia— l . dig itato - compos ita, petiolo apice tum ido.

Pr aevoor a . Calyx campanulatus 5 partibus cam osus , apice refiexus . Tubus stam ineusm asculus cylindricus elonga tus ca lyce inclusus . apice in urceolum expensa s , antheris sess ilibus

in 5 fas ciculos coacervatis onustus . fasciculis s ingulia superpos ite - s nbpen tandris . Tubus stam inum fem ineus vix nllus, anthems imperfectae in 5 t

'

asciculos superpos ite coacerva tae, fasciculis

carpellorum s inubus oppositis . Ovaria subdistincta multiovula ta . S tyli subsejuncti. S tigmatadilata ta radiatim posi ta . Fructus carpelle subglobosa long e s tipitella ta polysperm a . Sem ina

ala longa cultriform i (spong ios a ) term ina ta .— Indiworientalis incola, foliis cordatis integ errim is,

racem is axillaribus I. a laribus , floribus m ajusculis rubro tinctis.P t. Roxburg hii (Sterculia alata

Sr aaccma L . Calyx profunde 5 parti tas patens . Tubus stam ineus maris ac femininelongatus cylindricus , apice in urceolum 5 lohum expansus , lobis 3 dentatis , 3 antheriferis .

Styli connexi abrupte recarvi. Stigmata Fructus carpella follicularia subsessilia polya

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78 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

tent: calyx segments tapering to a fine point, nearly covered with mealy wh itish pubescence, re ticulated

twice the leng th of the involucel, but shorter than the with prom inent veins : sepals linear, corolla denselyoblong obtuse petals : stamens and s terile filaments covered externally with white s tella te pub escence:

united at the base : capsule tomentose. capsules ova te, very obtuse or roundish a t th e apex,

M . Rupeslr t'

ccWig /It’s MSS . covered with dense rusty coloured furfuracious tomentum ; seeds about 4 in each cell.

Hab. Talapoodatoor among rugged broken rocks in

th e bed of a mountain stream.

This is a very rare species,which I have never metwith since I first gathered it in 1834. It is evident

Habo Courtallum in dense forests .

This species comes nearest P. relicula lum, but the

leaves are so totally distinct, that I cannot th ink of

ly very closely allied toWallichs M . Hamiltoniana a uniting them . [ only found it in fruit, the de sc r iption

na tive of Pegu but differs sufliciently to entitle it of the flowers is made from some old ones, m o re per

to be looked upon as a new species.

A rnott’a name in preference to my own, thoug h mine

was fi rst g iven , partly as being characteris tic of the

plant in place of the locality in which it g rows, artly,and principally, because I believe the other is a ready

published. Dr. A .

’s specimens were gathered at the

same time and place by Lieut. C ampbell of the 5oth

Regt. N. I . who accompanied me on that excursion.

I adopt Dr.

P lercspermum obtusifolium RW. Arborious zleaves

cunia te a t the base, very broad trunca ted a t the apex

sometimes irregularly‘2 lobed, or somewhat obcordate,

the lobes coarsely toothed glabrous above, under side

sistent than the generality, and is therefore im pe rfect,the involucel I have not seen.

In the same jung les I found P. g labrescens , P .

Heyneanum and P . rubig inosum. The la tter, except

in the very peculiar fo rm of its leaves , wh ich are

quite characteristic, m uch resembles P . subenfoliuatespecially in its unexpanded flower buds . I ha ve not

yet seen either full blown flowers or capsules. P .

g labrescens differs from all the other species l have

seen in having its ovary supported on a long s lender

stypa or gynophore, and the sepals, which a re linear,upwards of 5 inches long and only about 1 ofan inchbroad,peculiarities well represented inRheede

's fig ure.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 30.

l. Sterculia Balanghas flowering branch. Naturals ize.

2. A flower, showing the divisions of the calyx

united a t the apex. 3. Male flower Opened. 4. Stam inal column separated from the calyx. 5. A fertileflower, showin the ovary with the sterile anthersat the base an the lobed stigma at the apex .

6. Ovary cut transversely showing the 5 carpelswith 2 rows of seeds in each.

7. A seed cut transversely,8. The same cut vertica lly showing the erect folia

cicua cotyledons of the embryo. A ll more or less stagsti/led.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 31.

l. Guazuma tomentosa flowering branch natural

size. 2. A flower full blown , shewing the vaulted

petals with their strap shaped appendages . 3. Thesame, the petals removed to shew the tube of the sta

mens and the alternate, sterile and antheriferous

fi lamenti. 4 . A petal removed. 5. Antheriferous fila

ments removed, each composed of a bundle of united

filaments free a t the apex, and bearing a single 2-celled

anther. 6. Ovary, style, and stigma, apex of the

samewith the style broken into its component parts,sho

l

wing that it is composed of 5 slightly adherent

sty es .

7. Ovary cut vertically .

8. Cut transversely, showing its 5carpels .

9. Mature fruit.—N atura l sizc. IO. A capsula cut

transversely. l l. Seed one cut transversely, all more

or less mag n ifi ed,

XXV.—HUGONIACE1E . Am ,

Th is is a very sm all order, cons isting of a s ingle genus , and so far as I am aware of as yet

only four species . Dr . A rnott was the first to propose the separation of this genus as the type

of a dis tinct order , and published it as such in our prodromus . Dr . Lindley has since pdoptedthe order in his natural system of Botany, whence we m ay infer , that he considers it justlysepara ted from those with which it had been previously associated, and indeed there can

scarcely be any doubt on the subject, s ince, for the reasons stated by Dr . A rnott, it could not. be

sociated either with Malvacece nor Chlenaceae.

I republish from the Prodromus Dr . A rnott’a character and remarks, the correctness of

which I have verified by again carefully comparing them with the plant.

Calyx without an involucel, pers is tent, 5- sepaled sepals distinct, acute, unequal the twoexterior la nceolate, densely pubescent on the back another dim idiate- ovate, the straight s idepubescent, the rounded side testaceous and shining ; the two inner ones roundish ovate and

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN norm . 79’

suddenly pointed, testaceous and shining except the short pubescent point motivation imbricated, quincuncial. Petals hypogynous , 5, alternate with the sepals, shortly unguiculatemativation twisted. Stamens hypogynous , 10, allfertile : filaments united at the base into an

urceolus , free and filiform above :anthers cordate-ovate, erect, 2-celled, opening by two longitudinal clefts . Torus slightly elevated, sup orting the staminal urceolus and the ovary . Ova

rium roundish, coriaceous , glabrous , 5- cell ovules 2 in each cell, pendulous, collateral. Styles

5, distinct stigmas slightly dilated and lobed. Fruit ( a nuculanium} with a fleshy epicarp,enclos ing 5distinct, bony, l - seeded carpels. Seeds pendulous. Embryo in the axis of fleshyalbumen :cotyledons flat, foliaceous : radicle short, superior, pointing to the hilum .

—Shrubs .

Leaves alternate, or sometimes crowded and opposite near the flowers . Stipules 2, subulate.Peduncles axillary l-flowered, often by abortion transformed into circinnate spines .

A rr INI 'r Iss. The only genus referable here has been placed by De Candolle with doubt inChlaenacete, to which we cannot agree that order having the calyx and nmcium in a ternary,while the corolla and androacium followthe quinary arrangement. Kunt hesitatingly places itin Byttneriacem and the tribe Dombeyaceaa, and there is no doubt that the atlinity is very great ;it is now separated on account of the imbricate (not valvate) calyx, the ovules pendulous (noterect or ascending) , and the radicle superior (not inferior) , rather than invalidate the characterof the order by its insertion. In many points it agrees with the character (but not the habit) of

gxalidete, forming another link between the groupof Malvaceous orders, and the Geraniacea .

an .

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Of the four known species of the genus Hugonis , one is

found in continental India , one in Ceylon , and two in the Mauritius . H . ferruginea though des

cribed by us as an Indian plant, l have never seen growing except in Ceylon, and there it appearsas a trailing shrub, seeking support from the surrounding jungle.

Paorsar tas AND Uses . Of these nothing certain is known. Rheede who fi

gures H.

mistax, and as usual, gives what information regarding its properties and uses he coul collect,informs us that the bruised root is employed to cure inflammation, and against the bites of sernts , that it is also used as a febrifuge, and verm ifuge, and that the bark is good against poisons.

These statements ,which arederivedfromnative information, have not been confirmed by modernexperience, at least so far as I have been able to learn.

I have in the course of this work repeatedly alluded to the tendencywhich some plants haveof augmenting or reducing the number of pieces in the floral verticel, and thereby pass ing frompne class to another of the Linnaaan system . The accompanying plate presents an example ofthis change. The quinary order is the normal form of this anus, that is 5 sepals , 5petals, a5- celled ovary, and 5 styles and stigmas : but

‘

it will be remar ed in the fruit cut transversely,that ithas only 4 seminiferoup cells

'

in lace of 5 the regular number. It is probable that eachseries of floral organs , the calyx, corol a, and stamens was, in that instance, deficient in a similarproportion, namely, one

-fifth part.

No additions have been made to this order since the publication of our Prodromus.

EXPLANATION or m in:32.

l. A branch of Begonia mistax, showing the leaves, 3. Sepals, ovary, style, and stigmas.

flowers and fruit- na tura l size. 4. A ruit cut transversely, showing four seminifer2. L owerfig ure—Sepals and petals removed, show onecells, and four empty ones alternating. The uncu

ing the filaments united at the base into e shot t tube, Ianum consists of 4 or 5 partial] united, I -celledupper one

—the stamens removed to showthe extent to car els, or nuta z'

the alternating cc s in this figure arewhich the filaments are united, and that they are alter in t e lines of separation, and are owing to a depreem tely longer and shorter. sion on the sides of the nuts.

XXVI .—TILIACE1E .

This order which takes its name from Tilia, the Linden or Lime tree, a northern genus,

to yet principally”

of tropical orig in, several large genera being found in India, and many

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

more in e

gaiaoctial America. They, like the other members of the class Columniferae, are char

acterized y the valvate mstivation of their calyx, combined wi th a polypetalous inferior corolla,and inferior stamens,with 2- celled anthers the leaves are alternate, stipulate, and more or less

clothedwith stellate pubescence.

In this order trees and shrubs are the predom inating forms, but herbaceous plants are also

metwith, two out of five Indian genera referable to the order being such. The leaves are alter

nate, s imple, petioled, feather- nerved, entire, crenated, toothed or serrated, with two, usuallydeciduous, stipules . The flowers are bisexual, regular, racemose, or corymbose, occas ronallysolitary and axillary .

The calyx is 3—5 sepaled, valvate in (estivation, deciduous ; the torus often more or less

stipitate : the petals inferior, alternate with the segments of the calyx, and equal to them in

number, occas ionally supported on a short claw, furnished with a gland or nectarial.pit,

and imbricated in mstivation, rarely wanting . The stamens are numerous, inferior, som etim es

inserted on the apex of the torus, the filaments cohering at the base . The anthers are oval or

roundish, 2- celled, opening interiorly by a long itudinal slit. The ovary is usually stipi tate,several celled, that is, composed of several united carpels the styles are also united into one,

but with as many free stigmas as there are ca

ePels in the ovary. The fruit is either capsular

or drupacious, several celled, with many or ewseeds : the seeds are attached to the central

angle, sometimes furnishedwith an arillus . The albumen is fleshy, the embryo erect, the cotyledons foliaceous, and the radicle inferior or rarely superior.

A FFINITIEB. The affinities of this order are the same as the preceding , agreeing with themin their valvate mstivation of the calyx, but distinguished by their free stamens, glandular

disk, and appendages at the base of the etals ; the great difl'

erence however between the capsular and many seeded pericarps of Core orus

,and the drupacious ones of Grewz

’

a, a nd some

others, seem to indicate a want of uniform ity of character in an important organ ,unfavourable

to this being received as a well constituted order. With this order Kunth and Bat tling uni te

Elwocarpeae, a course wh ich has not been followed by other writers , though they are

very nearly related,differing principally in the latter, having its petals lacerated or fimbriated on

the marg ins, and the anthers opening by pores .

G room smen DISTRIBUTION. The species of this order are very widely distributed,extending from the cold and inclement reg ions of the north, through every degree of latitude,and modification of climate to the extreme south, but the majority are foundwithin the tropics .

India according toWallich’s list has 50 species , and several have since been added. Blume

describes 21 from Java—and the authors of the Flora Senegambiee l5 from that portion of

A frica. It is remarkable that though both enera and species are frequent in America, Hum

boldt seems only to have found 16, at least t at is all that is characterized in his synopsis .

.

The

Indian Peninsula according to our list has 32 species,one ofwhich Berria Ammonilla is adm i ttedas doubtful, I have never met with it on the continent, though it abounds in Ceylon.

Among the Senegambiam species it is interesting to observe the numerous coincidences ex ist

ing between them and the Indian forms : four out of 5 species of corchorus, enumerated esnatives of that country, are identicalwith our Indian ones , and the fifth C . brachycarpus const

dered by the authors a newspecies , I suspect from the character and description to be the sameas our 0 .fascicularis . They certainly agree in the peculiarities from which both nam es are

taken, the fascicled flowers and short pods, while the other points of distinction seem too unim

portant to adm it of much value being attached to them, except that derived from the number ofstamens, being [0 in the one, and about 5 in the other, the qualification about however, shoutin

gthat they are not constantly 5 in the Indian form leads to the inference that they may be foun

equally liable to variation in the African , if many specimens were exam ined, and by so muchreduces the value of a character, otherwise decisive of their diss im ilarity. Should actual com

parison of specimens prove them distinct, it must at the same time establish their very close

a nity.

The genus Triumfetta has also its aflinitim in these very remote countries . T. trilocularzsis common to both : T. pentandra scarcely differs in general appearance from some of our varieties of T. ang ulata , though it does in more important particulars , namely, in the number of i ts

stamens, the cells of its ovary, and the form of its capsules. Triumfetta cordzfoha has a con

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82 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 34.

.

l . Flowering branch of Berria Ammonilla- aataral 7. The same cut transversely.”28. 8. A full g rown fruit.2. Aflower closed showing the relative size of the 9. The same cut transversely, showing by the pre

sepals and petals, and that the former are partly united sence of the full number ofwings, that in this instance,at the base. one of the cells of the ovary has aborted in the course

3. The same forcibly expanded. of its progress towards maturity.

4. Ovary and sepals partially removed, showing the 10. One of the valves of the capsule removed,relative situation of all the parts of the flower. showin by the artition in the centre between the5. An anther. seeds, t at the de iscence is loculicidal.6. The ovary cut vertically, showing ovules pendu I I. A seed.

Ions in the cells. 12. The same cut vertically.

XXVII .—EL}EOCARPE1E .

A small order of plants and principally of Indian origin, 10 out of about 20 describedspecies, being natives of this country . The species are either handsome trees, or shrubs , withalternate, stipulate leaves, the stipules usually early deciduous, racemose flowers, and dividedfimbriated petals .

Sepals 4 or 5without an involucrum , the e stivation valvate. Petals 4 or 5hypogynous,rarely wanting , lobed or fringed at the point, mativation imperfectly imbricated or some timesvalvate. D isk glandular, somewhat projecting . Stamens hypogynous or rarely perigynous , some

multiple of the sepals, (8—80) filaments short, distinct, or slightly united at the base, an thers

long , opening at the apex by a double pore. Ovary with two or more cells : style solitary,simple, or sometimes trifid, rarely several : stigmas either free, e nallin the cells of the ovary,or united. Fruit variable, indehiscent, dry, drupacious, or valvular an loculicidal sometimes

by abortion l - celled. Seeds one or two in each cell. Albumen fleshy. Embryo inverted.

Cotyledons flat, foliaceous, radicle superior.

Ars'INIr Ias. As this order only differs from Tiliacear in its fringed petals, and the elonga

ted anthers opening at the apex by pores , in place of the cells splitting their whole length, itis of course more nearly allied to that order than any other, and has been, apparentlynot unjustly, referred to it by Knuth , no mean authority, whose opinion has been adoptedby Bat tling . Such being the case, whatever may be the afi nities of the one order are equallythose of the other, and therefore, I refer to Tiliacewfor any further information that may he

wanted on this head.

Gxooas rm cs n D isratsur ION . India and her islands seem to be the head quarters of

this order, the species ofwhich we find very generally distributed over the sub- alpine regions

of the country, though not confined to them. Dr.Wallich in his list of Indian plants enume

rates no fewer than 28 species , not however all continental. Dr. Roxburgh g ives descriptionsof 9 species . and Blume in his flora of Java of I I . These last however are not all distinct fromthose named byWallich. Only five or six species have yet, so far as I am aware, been found inthe Peninsula and Ceylon. In addition to these Indian ones, a feware found in Australia

and South America, whence itwould appear, that in proportion to the number of species, feworders are spread over a more extensive surface than the ElazocarpeQ .

Paorsar tss AND Uses . Respecting these, if they possess any, little is known, Dr. Hors

field mentions that the bark of one species is very bitter, and is used in Java as an anthel

minthic. The olive- like fruitof El. serratus is dried by the natives and used in curries, and also

pickled, Dr . Roxburgh tried in vain to extract oil from the seeds . The nuts of'

I'Ilonocera , as

wellas those of some of the Elwoca rpi. are polished and set in gold as beads ; inwhich state threiyare esteemed sacred by some casts of the H indoos . They are of a dark brown colour, very ha

tuberculated on the surface, and are readily known by their splitting into_

two or three pieces,the number of carpels namely, that unite to form the perfect fruit.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 83

R EMARKS ON O s sA AND SPEC IES . The characters , of both the genera and species of thisorder, seem involved in m uch doubt and uncertainty, and with my imperfect materials , I fear,I shall not be able to throwm uch light on the subject, or to supply what is wanting to place

e ither on a better footing than that on which they nowstand. The uncertainty appertaining to thegenera , seems in part to have arisen from DeCandolle having taken his character of Elwocaryms,from a species which did not belong to the genus, as defined by Linnaeus, and then characterizinga genuine Elwoca rpus under a newnam e ,

Acera tum, s till reta in ing however several true Elmo

carpi, congeners ofhis Aceratum , under his modified Elmocarpus, though a quite distinct genus .

From the confus ion thus introduced Dr . Jack’s genus Monocera has happily relieved us . The

leading peculiarities of Linnaeus’ Elceoca rpus consists in its having 5 sepals, 5fimbriated petals,

num erous stam ens,the anthers 2- valved at the apex , not owned, to u hichwas afterwards added

a 3 - celled ovary. Of this series of distinctive marks, the only ones not common to Monocera

are,— the truncated 2- valved anthers, and the 3 - celled ovaries—these therefore form the

essential characters ofthe genuswhich may be thus defined, stamens numerous . anthers 2-valved

at the apex , valves equal, m uticous , som etimes bearded , ovary 3 - celled.

’ Monocera on the other

hand has the anthers term inating in a bristle or awn , and a 2- celled ovary. Elwoca rpus g am'

trus

having a 5- celled ovary, and anthers without bristles, has been made the type of a newgenusunder the name Of Ganitrus . Blam e proposes as a fourth genus A cronodia distinguished byhav ing unisexual flowers , quaternary sepals and petals, and 8— 12 stamens , destitute Of term inalbristles . Adopting these generic distinctions Roxburgh

’

e 9 species qf Elwocm '

pus may be thus

distributed.

Ganitrus—Anthers muticous , ovary 5-celled.

G . Rozburg ii—Elaeocarpus Ganitrus— R .

Elwocarpus . Anthers muticous , Often bearded at the apex, ovary 3 - celled.

E. serratus . E . robustus . E . lancwfolius . E . frutcscens .

Mas ca ra—Anthers furnished with a bristle, ovary 2~celled.

M . tuberculata . E . tuberculatus . R .—M . rugosa . E . rugosus . R .

—.M. Roxburg u(R .W.)

E. aristatus . R .—'I

‘

o these may be added a species , I think new,from Mergui, collected by Mr .

G rifiith:M . G rzfi tlm R .W. one from Ceylon, M . g landulg’

fera R .W. and one from Coorg . M2Muroii . R .W.

Species not sufi ciently known.

Elwoca rpus lucidus—Roxb .

Of the 22 species enumerated in Dr.Wallich’s list I can give no account, aswe have namesonly : neither can I refer any of Blume

’

s species to other genera than the one he has assigned,

as be neither g ives a generic character, nor once m entions , in his specific ones , (which are all

taken from the forms of the foliage, relative leng th of the racemes and leaves , and form of the

fruit) the stamens or ovaries . The whole of his species therefore, 1 1 in number, require to bere - exam ined. The newZ ealand genus D icera is only distinguished from Monocera by the

anthers hav ing two, in place of .one bris tle, whence the name, a species of which is said to be a

native of Cochin - China, but is v ery imperfectly known .

Thus s implified in their eneric distribution and greatly reduced in number, the species ofElwocarpus, hitherto most ifi cult to define, may hen ceforth be more eas ily distinguished, anOperation which willbe still further facilitated by subdiv iding what remains into two sections , onewith, the other without, bearded anthers . To the first of these sections belong— Roxburgh

’s E .

serrame,E . robaslus, E . lanai/bling , and E .fruticosus, and lastly, one from Q uilon,E . cuniatus,

R .W. To the other E . Oblong us, E . coriaceus Hooker, E . serratus ? Moon, and one from

Mergui, E . ang ustz’

folius ? Blam e .

A s my materials do not extend to the other genera of the order I can offer no rem arks

regarding them ; but the following characters will, I hope, prove sufi cient to distinguish thenewspecies named above.

ELE OCARPUS.

Sect. 1. Anthers bearded. Th'

is speci s is nearly allied to E . oblong as except

E . cum‘

atas, R .W. Leaves cuneate obovate, termi in having bearded anthers and an elevated torus, in

Dating in a short obtuse acumen, tapering below into place of being beardless,with the ovary sess ile and

the petiol:Stamens numerous, bearded, hairs at leng th surrounded by a number of glands, the more usual

refiexed Ovary 3-celled, elevated on a prominent torus, structure of the genus .

andwith it, thickly clothedwith appressedwhite hairs. Sect. 2. Anthers beardless.

Malabar Coast about Quilon, also in Ceylon. E . corim as (Hooker in Herb.Walker). Leaves

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86 ILLUSTRATIONS op INDIAN BOTANY .

very like, is found in Mysore . Two or three species are found in Goom soor form ing extens ive forests , and affording to the inhabitants Incense, Dammer , andWood oil. The imperfect descriptions of Dr Maxwell and Captain Mcpherson, (Madras Journal of Science Nos . 18 and 19 ) towhom we are Indebted for this information, does not enab

‘

e m e to determ ine the species . nor

w1th certa inty the genera , but judg ing from imperfect specimens collected by the former of theseg entlemen, one of them belongs to Roxburgh

’

e genus Shorea, apparently his 3 . robusta , whatthe others m ay be, I am unable to form even a conjecture .

Both the authors m ention Cldoroz ylon Dupadu as being one of them , but this I thinkm ust be a m istake, orig inating in a sta tem ent of Dr . A inslie, that that is the botan ical name

g iven to the Indian Dammer tree by Dr. Buchanan ,but which , was an error of his , arising from

his not being aware that several trees produce Dammer and that his Chloroxylon D upadu wasalready described by Linnae us under the generic name of Vateria . The specimens sent nuquestionably do not, belong to that genus , but as the inflorescence is in a very young s tate and thereIs no h uh , I do venture to say what they are, though I suspect them to be Roxburgh

’

e Sltorearobusla . From Ceylon the on] ones I have seen are a species of Dipteroca rpus D . ta r

bznatus} and a newspecies of ateria .

Paor s ar i s s AND Us es . These are various and important. Almost every species of theorder abounds in balsam ic res inous juice, in very generaluse in every part of India, and well knownto Europeans under the common Eng lish nam es ofDammer, andWood oil, according as ithardens or rem ains fluid on exposure to the air. That drawn fromthe Shoreas or Va ticas andVa terz

’

as hardens and forms Dammer, and Piney, that from Dipteroca rpi retains its fluidity, and istheWood oil, of the bazaars . Some ofthe species produce a fragrant res in,which is burnt in thetemples as lncense. Dammer is used in India for most .of the purposes towhich pitch and rosenare applied in Europe . Wood oil either alone, or thickened with dammer, supplies a com

mon , but useful, varnish for wood, possessing the valuable property of, for a long time, repellingthe attacks ofwhite ants, as well as ofres isting the influence of the climate . The Camphor tree of

Sumatra is a species of Va tica , (Shorea camp/zortfera , Roxb .) and produces the finest camphor .

A variety of other trees are said to afford this curious subs tance, but none equal to this , eitherin quality or quantity. The Va leria Indira (Caloroa

'

ylon Dupada , Buchanan and Ainslie, andPiano marum of theHindoos) produces a resin, resembling Copal,much finer than thatprocuredfrom the other species natives ofIndia , the finer specim ens ofwhich are as transparent as amber,and nearly colorless . It is procured by the very simple process ofcutting a notch in the tree, sloping inwards and downwards . This is soon fi lled with the juice,which in a short time hardens byexposure to the air. When used as a varnish the usual practice is to apply the balsam before it

has becom e hard but when that is not procurable the res in melted by a slowheat and m ixedwith boiling Linseed ojl forms a varnish which answers equally well for mos t purposes .

A s this varnish is of the finest description the following formula for its preparation may

prove useful to some who are unacquainted with the process . Into a new and perfectlyclean earthen vessel (a chatty) put one part of the Piney dammer, in coarse powdercover .

closely, and ap y a very g entle heat until the whole is m elted then add abouttwo parts of linseed oi nearly boiling hot, and m ix well with a wooden spathula . Should the

varnish prove too thick it can at any time be reduced by the addition of more oil, or if requited may be made thicker in the fi rst instance.

It is essential to the success of the process that the Piney be melted in a covered vessel over

a very slowfi re, and thewhole of it reduced to a fluid before the addition of the oil,which must,to ensure an equal m ixture, be nearly boiling hot. This varnish is used for carriag es and other

fin

fi

e furr

l

iiture requiring to have their paint well protected or to which it is des irable to impar ta ne g 099 .

A spirit varnish is prepared by reducing to powder about six parts of Piney and one of

Camphor , and then adding hot '

alcohol sufficient to dissolve the m ixed powder . Alcohol does

not dissolve Piney without the aid of the Camphor, but once dissolved will retain it in solution .

The varnish thus prepared is employed for varnishing pictures , &c . , but before being used

requires to be gently heated to evaporate the Camphor , which otherwise will produce by its

after evaporation a roughness and inequality on the surface of the picture, and spoil its ap

pearance .

In addition to these more common applications of Piney, it is, on the Malabar coast, made

into candles . These did’uss, in burning , an agreeable frag rance, g ive a fine clear light,wi th

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 87

little smoke . and consum e the wick so as not to require snuffing . For making them the fluidres in m ay e i ther be run into m oulds , or when yet soft and pliable in course of hardening , be

rolled into the required shape . Some of these candles that were sent home, were highly prized,and sold for very high prices , but the protective duties on m ade candles , imported into Britain,

is so high , as to amount to a prohibition , and put a stop to this trade . The crude Piney is

however still sent for the purpose of being m anufactured at home .

The m edicinal properties of Camphor are too well known to require notice here, and thoseof Dammer are as yet but little known . The late Dr . Herklots directed attention to a nativeremedy for Berriberri Chloroxylon, black or Linim ent the basis of which is Dammer, and gave

a formula for its preparation, which has been published by Mr. Malcolm son page 328 Of his es

say ou Berriberri . Both these gentlemen recommend it as a useful auxiliary in the treatment

Of this most fatal disease . Of its m erits , I am unable to speak from personal knowledge,as Ihave never seen it used, nor indeed have ever seen the m edicine, but Mr . Malcolm son seem s to

think it preferable to the liniments in general use, among us, for most cases requiring that kindof stimulus .

A s nearly all the plants belong ing to this order are trees , among the most majestic of the

forest, they are es teem ed for their timber , as well as for their resinous juice, and the well- knownSaul, Shared robusra Roxb . is cons idered by that em inent naturalist as only second toTeak, form os t purposes requiring a s trong durable wood. A s ornamental trees they merit much atten

tion , not only on account of their m ajestic s ize and handsom e form s , but equally for the beauty oftheir clus tered flowers , and the richly colored wings of their curious fruit. Both the Hopea ,and Va tica Tumbug ia (see Icones) are found in the v icin ity ofMadras, and m ight, I presume, beeasily introduced into our gardens , where I have no doubt they would be much adm ired .Whether the Piney from Malabar would equally succeed is doubtful, but it is well deserving Of

a trial, s ince it is scarcely exceeded in beauty by any other tree.

REMARKS ON THE G ENERA AND Srscrss . The genera of this order are fewin number, andg enerally ag ree so nearly in their distinctive characters that one is almost led to doubtwhether theyought all to be retained. Dr . Lindley enumerates five, four of which are Indian . These m aybe thus distinguished. In Vateria, all the sepals m ore or less enlargewith the fruit, but do not

form membranous wing - like appendages . In Hopea and D iplerocm'

pus , two of the sepals

enlarge, and become dry scariose wings : the former is further distinguished by hav ing 10compressed fi laments adhering to the base of the corolla and 15 short anthers , each alternate

fi lament bearing two authors , to which m ay be added as supplementary characters , the nearlysess ile secund small flowers , greatly twis ted fe stivation , and union , at the base, of the petalsthe latter, by having fewer and larger flowers , slightly twi s ted ezstivation, and numerous

fi laments ,each bearing a s ingle elongated anther. In Va tica Lin . (Shorea Of Roxb . and

others) all the sepals, more or less enlarge, and become wing - shaped the stamens vary m uch

in number, but are generally numerous . Dr. Arnott and I remark (W. and A . Prod. )that Va leria lanceaofolia Roxb . ought perhaps to form a dis tinct genus, s ince then I have

received specimens of a very nearly allied species V. Roxburg z'

i R .W. Icones , NO. 26)a native of the Peninsula . From an exam ination of this plant I still feel disposed to adopt the

opinion then expressed, as there are points of difference, I think, Of sufficientweight to separate

them , but on the other hand a slight modifica tion of the generic character suffices to keep them

together. and as they essentially ag ree in the character of the calyx, both when in flower and infruit, and that being the organ from which the generic distinctions of the order are principalllyderived,

I prefer leav ing them in the genus , but form ing for their more easy accommodation a

subgenus ; a plan , in which I was happy to findmyself anticipated lby Dr Arnott, from whom , I

received while this was pass ing through the press , a synops is of the genus so arranged. V.

ceylan ira which I have added is exactly interm ediate between his two subgenera, having theelongated s tyle and acute stigm a Of the one , and the s tam ens and axillary inflorescence of the

other .

'

I he fruit I have not seen , and the flowers not being full blown in the only specimen Ihave exam ined, it is too Imperfect to enable me to determ ine the point, but ] think it probablethe Species will,when better known form the type of a. third subgenus .

[ m entioned above that Va lerza indica was probably a native of Mysore . This opinionrests on some well executed drawing s and specimens commun icated by Mr. Apothecary Bertie"

I am indebted to Bertie for several verywell executed drawings ofplants and trust that my expectations of receiving manymore will not be disappointed. An accomplishment so rare among the members of his branch of the service merits pubhc contmendation .

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

under the nam e of Dhupada Mara . The specimens are not in .flower, and the representationof the flowers is not accompanied with such deta ils and analys is as to enable m e to say, withcertainty,whether the Mysore and Malabar trees are the same or distinct species , there are dif

ferences in the form of the leaves that g ive rise to a suspicion that they are different, but theseI do not think suffi cient to es tablish the point. This I presume is the true Chloroz ylon d upadu

of Buchanan, a really good figure ofwhich it is most des irable should be publi shed, e ven at

the risk of republishing in outline,what has been already published as a coloured plate. Underthis impression, l trust the same liberal hand which has enabled me so far to verify the tree

m eant by Buchanan (afterward Ham ilton ) as the Damm er tree of India ,will enable me to

do the rest by finally determ ining the species . This seems much wanted, s ince, in the presentimperfect state of our knowledge, every plant of this part of India from which a concrete

res inous juice is procured, and these are many, is at once des ignated Chlorozylon dupadu fromthat circumstance alone.

My suspicions of the Mysore species being different from the Malabar one, are strength

ened by the circumstance of a species , quite distinct from V. indica , bu t ve closelyresembling , in general appearance, the Mysore form, being found in Ceylon. T e d ifference between the Ceylon and Malabar plants lies in the stamens , and cannot be seen wi thoutcareful exam ination, those Of the Ceylon species V. Ceyla nica , R .W.) being few, (15 sess ile,tomentose,with a very short almost imperceptible prolongation of the point :while in indica,they are very numerous, supported on a distinct fi lam ent, glabrous , and terminating in a longslender bristle point. There are bes ides differences in the leaves, but these I consider of lessvalue as a specific distinctions than the peculiarities of the flowers .

Among a collection of plants from Mergui , for which I am indebted to my friendMr. G rif

fi th, I observe specimens of some newspecies of this order, butwhich I do not consider m yselfat liberty to name or describe, as I presume it is his intention to publish descriptions of thewhole of his nowvast collections , amounting , I understand, to between 7000 and 8000 species .

The species of Hapea are as yet few, but will, I think, he found more numerous when the characters are better understood, at least my specimens ,which are numerous, present such variationsof form , as renders it probable , there are more than one species , but as yet, I am unable to disentangle them . The dissected flower of the accompanying figure, if correct, seems to indicatethat the plant figured is distinct from all those in m y collection, in having only 10 anthers in

place of 15, the usual number namely, 5 simple filaments,with single anthers, and 5 cleft ones,

each bearing two anthers . There is a species in Mysore which Dr . Buchanan Ham ilton hasnamed H . decandra

, but of which he has g iven no description this may be that plant, but Irather think the deficiency is referable to an error or oversight of the artist, and which was not

detected in time to prevent its being printed. In addition to the Peninsular ones there are twofrom Mergui, but none have yet reached me from Ceylon.

VATERIA. about three times the leng th of the calyx. StamensI5, anther cells oblong . Style short. S tigma clavate

Subgenus I. EUN‘

I‘

aau (A rm) Segments of the 3—6 toothed. P anicles axilla ry shorter than the leaves .

calyx scarcely enlarg ing when in fruit, obtuse. Petals 2. V. lancemfolia . Roxb. Leaves lanceola te, acuteoval, scarcely longer than the calyx. Stamens 40—50 at the base.

anther cells linear. Style elongated, stigma acute. 3 . V. Roxburghiana R.W. Leaves ovate, oblong,P ant

'

cle larg e termina l. retuse, or obtuse at the base.

I . V. I ndica . Lin. P 4. V. Ceylam'

ca R.W. Leaves obovate, very ohSubgenus l l. Ist s (Arm) Segments ofthe calyx tuse, retuse a t the point, narrowat the base :anthers

enlarging when in fruit, ovate, acute. Petals falcate hairy, stigma acute.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 36.

.

l . Flowering branch of Vateria Indies—natural 4. A branch of the panicle in fruitu se. 5. A fruit cut transversely, showing the irregular2. Calyx, corolla and anthers. form of the cotyledons—all more or less magmfi ed.

3. Ovary, style, and stigma,with two stamens left toshowtheir hypogynous insertion.

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90 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

of Carpodontos, a genus which , with the foliage of the latter order, has the fruit of the form er ;

and also of certa in plants of Hypericaceaa

,which, according to Cambessedes , have a definite

number of seeds . With Marcgraaviaceas they agree through Norantea , which has the s tam ens

slightly adherent to the base of the petals , and fixed anthers ; but that order is entirely d ifferentin habit, and is well m arked by its s ingular cuculla te bracts

,its fruit, and itsWing less exalbu

m inous seeds . Many genera of Terns trom iacem, such as Kielmeyera and others . have thehabit of T iliaceae, while the fruit of Laplaceas is s trtking ly like that of Luhea ; but the aeS Iiva

tion of the calyx and many other characters distinguish them .

”

GEOGRAPHICAL D ISTR IBUTION . The species of this order are for the most part tropicalplants , some however, nearly confin ing them selves to the more elevated and cooler reg ions .

The Gordonias and Cleyeras of the Peninsula and Ceylon are with one exception, so far we yetknow, from the highest hills , that one is from Courtallum . The Neilgherries , the Pulney m oun

ta ins , the elevated reg ions of Nuera Ellia in Ceylon , all produce species of one or both of these

g enera , while the on the lower hills I have only once seen or heard of either . Eurya andGeoblos

permum on the other hand, both descend to the plains . Ternstraam ia is found at Courtallum inthe shady jung les covering its hills . Cam ellia has not yet, so far as I have heard, been foundeither in the Peninsula or in Ceylon .

Of the whole order 40 Species are enumerated as Indian in Dr.Wallich’s list of Indianplants , whether all these will stand the test of further and m ore m inute exam ination than , in

the circumstances under which that list was prepared it was possible to g ive , appears

doubtful, but whether or not, it seems certain that the amount of Indian species brought to

light of late years is very cons iderable, s ince, at the date of the publication of the firs t volum e of

DeCandolle’s Prodromus of s ixty- two species known, for the whole world, only 19

were of As iatic orig in, nearly all the restwere from theWest Indies and continent of Am erica.

Dr. Lindley states that between 60 and 70, all beautiful trees or shrubs are found in SouthAmerica, while a fewonly are known from the northern divis ion of that continent. ”

The geographicaldistribution of the order in India, both generally and indiv idually, as regardsparticular genera and species , has recently attracted much attention with reference to the ex

tension of the cultivation of the tea plant, it having hitherto been supposed, that it would not

thrive, at least to such a degree as to render its culture an object of commercial importance,beyond the lim its of those districts in China whence the produce has been so long and so largelyexported.

PROPERTIES AND Uses . These are but little known , and probably with the exception of

Tea, are of but secondary importance . As ornamental objects , several species are largely cultivated, but above all the Camellia japonica, the pride of gardeners . The seeds of C . olezferaafford an excellent table oil and I dare say a s im ilar is extracted from the seeds of the tea plantin those districts were it abounds, as they are known to conta in so much oil, that it is diffi cultto keep them in a s tate fi t for veg itation for even a fewweeks . I do not however find it anywhere m entioned that the seeds are. so applied. Some species are employed in Am erica form edicinal purposes , and in som e parts of this country the gum of C

'

oc/Ilospermum Gossypium

(the yellowflowered cotton tree) is used as a substitute for gum Trag aca nth. None of the

species of the order are mentioned by A inslie, in his Materia Medica , whence it would appear,they are but little if at all known to the native practitioners of India. On the properties of tea

itwould be out of place to dilate, Since almost every one can g ive som e account of them from

personal experience, but on the capabilities of this country for its production a few remarks

m ight be offered as the subject is one, at the present tim e, engross ing much a ttention .

The very elaborate dissertations of Messrs . Royle ,McClelland, ,andGriffith, have put us in

possess ion ofmuch, and mos t. valuable information,bearing on nearly every branch of the inquiry.

M essrs . Royle and Griffith discuss in great detail the various points relating to the vegs

table s ta tistics of the plant, m ore especially those apperta imng to its clima tic habits, andthe veg itation with which it is associated in its native country, in the hope of discovering from these data whether the climate it prefers , partakes m ore of the tropical or

temperate character that is , whether the tea plant, indigenous as it is to the tropics and theirimmediate confines, yet seeks the cool climate of high bills, or is contented to subm it to the

e s'mm '

IOIvs or 1m m BOTANY .

fl armth of the '

plains :a nd las tly °

to ascertain whether, in a ttempting to extend its cultivation“to our Indian possessions , we should locate it on a dry rather poor soil, with an open exposureon the -hills , -or. in low, moist , shady.places, on the .plains .

Mr. McClelland exam ines with equal care and success , the peculiarities of the soil inregard to its geolog ical relations, and chem ical qualities : the character of the climate withreferenee 'to i ts hum idity and heat : the quantity of ra in that falls, the degree to which thecountry

' is overcast with c louds and m ist, and the effect of these last on the distribution of the

plant over the valley of Assam .

To attempt -a detailed recapitulation of the facts and '

arguments adduced on all sides , bearingon the questions discussed in these papers,would take m uch more time and space than I can nowdevote to the subject , but as I think I ha ve succeeded in making m yself mas ter of the leadingfeatures of the inquiry I shall endeavour to place before the reader s summary of the results .

Mr. Royle, ia -a very elabora te ' article on the subject, in his Illus trat ions of the Botany ofthe H imalayan mountains , comes to the -conclusion , that, the Tea plant is v irtually a -native of atemperate clim ate, and tha t the slopes of these mounta ins afford the most proper climate andsoil for the growth and culture of this plant, the former, as partaking of the character of thetropics during one half of the year. and of the temperate zone the remainder ; the latter asbeing formed from the detritus of prim itive rocks . In arriving at this conclus ion , which isnearly in accordance with the opinion advanced by Dr. Abel,whom he seems to consider beyondallcomparison the best authority,Mr. Roylehas evidently been m isled, by repos ing too great cou‘fi dence in his guide,rsince, strange to say, the inference is at variancewi th nearly the whole oft heev idence adduced byhimselfin support of it. Were the case really such as he puts it, the southofEuropewould affordnearly every requisiteefor the successful cultivation of tea, but I greatlyfear. if ever put to the test of experiment, that some of the principal requis ites will be foundwanting . His views are however sowell supported, and the contradictory evidence on which theyare made to rest, so ingeniously expla ined away, thatrmuch difficultymusthave been experiencedin detecting his errors, hadnot actual and carefulexam ination ofthe circumstances underwhich theplant is produced in its native country, enabled the deputation of the Tea comm ittee whowentto exam ine them , topoint out the very erroneous n ature of the opinions advocated byDr. Abel,whichMr. Royle had adopted, and supported with such a fru itless expenditure of ingeniousreasoning .

From the investigations of the deputationdt appears , that so far from being a plant seekingthe cool climate, clear sky, and dry soil afforded by the combined operation of elevation, free ex

poente to light, and the rapid drainage of alpine slopes , that the veryop ite of all these, are the

circumstances in which, in its native country, it seems to delight. There it was found on

mounds but. little elevated a bove inundation, but in a porous absorbent soil, under the shade

of trees so dense that the rays of the sun could scarcely penetrate, and what is still more re

markable , was confined to one side of the valley of A ssam , so subject to be covered with thickm ists and fogs during the cool season, shat itwas estimated to -enjoy less sunshine by 2hours dailythan the other,where the plantwas never seen, though in ~the enjoyment ofa clear sky,bright sun

shine, and a temperature greatly reduced by the v icinity of snow- capped hills . The climate ofA ssam all accounts agree in representing as very hum id with a moderate range of temperature,ra inywetweather prevailing . through the greater parto f the year, and often dark and foggy in

the intervals . Thus Mr. Grimth observes Hort . Trans . vol. 5 page 145.With regard. to hum idity Assam may be cons idered as enjoying the maximum . The

rains are of long continuance they commence in March and las t till about the m iddle of

October. Durinn ay. June , July, August and September, the fall is steady but n ot verysevere. During March and April the fall is irregular, often accompanied by v iolent squalls

from the S.W. November and January are the only months throughout the year on whichtolerable reliance can be placed for .a continuance of .fine weather, as rain always falls aboutthe m iddle ofDecember.

The following seem to be the points meritiag n ost a ttention in respect to the peculiaritiesof soil, climate, and exposure favourable to the growth of the tea plant, as observed in its nativejungles in Assam , and which of course ought

-to be, as much as poss ible, sought after In

a ttempt ing its cultivation elsewhere . They are extracted from the reports of Messrs . Griffi th

and McClelland published in the 4th and 5th volumes of the transactions of the HorticulturalSocie ty of alndia.

92 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

SO IL. The following extract from Mr . McClelland’

s report descriptive of the first tocolony the deputation v is ited near Cuju will explain both the appearance of the spot and thecha

i

r

gcter of the soil. On entering the forest in which the plants were growing he Observes

p.

The first remarkable thing that presented itself here,was the peculiar irregularity Of thesurface ; which in places was excavated into natural trenches , and in other s ituations raisedinto rounded accumulations at the roots , and trunks Of trees . and clumps of bamboos , as in

the annexed figure. The excavations seemed as if they had been formed artificially, and werefrom two, to three, and even four feet deep, of very irregular shapes , and seldonr commun icatingwith each other. After many conjectures , I found the size of the excavations bear exact proportion to the s ize and height of the nearest adjoining trees , and that they never appeared im

m ediately under the shade of large branches . The cause then appeared to be the collection of

rain on the foliage of lofty trees from which the water so collected is precipitated in heavyvolumes on the loose and light soil . excavating it in the manner described.

The trenches are from one yard'

to ten in leng th, and generally a yard, or two yards wideand their general figures correspond to the form of the interstices between the branches above.The tea plants are most numerous along the margins of these natural excavations , as well onthe accumulations of dry soil raised around the roots of bamboos . The soil is perfectly loose,and

’

s inks under the feet with a certa in deg ree of elasticity, derived from dense meshes of

succulent fibres , prolong ed in every direction from various roots . Ifts colour is lig ht grey,

perfectly dry and dusty, although the surrounding country was stilf wet, from the effects of

rain that had fallen for several days immediately prior to our vis it.Even the trenches were dry, and from their not commun icating with each other, it seemed

finite evident, that the soil and substratum mus t be highly porous, and different in this respect

cm the structure of the surrounding surface of the coun try.

Extending exam inations fur ther , I found the peculiar character of the soil in regard to!

colour, consistency, and inequality of surface (i sappear, with the tea plant itself, beyond the

extent of a circular space of about 300 yards in diameter

Aga in he says (p. of another colony at Nigroo, surrounded by tea plantarwe ascend

ed the mound, the soil of which is light, fine, and of a yellowcolour, having no sandy charac

ter We then traced the plants along the summ it of the mound for about 50‘

yards whenthey disappeared where the soil became dark. Now descending to the foot of the mound I

found the tea plant disappear where the soil instead of being sandy or clayey became r ich,and stiff. Again (p. at Noadwar. H’aving entered' the sliirts of a fores t whichthough not under water, was wet and slippery , and in some cases deeply covered withmud ; we suddenly ascended from the dry bed of an occasional water course, and at first

s ight discovered a total change of soil and vegetation . From fl’

oundering in mud we;

now stood on a light, red, dry, and dusty soil, notwithstanding the rain to which itwas .

exposed in common with every part of the country at the time .

” Still speaking Of the soil atNoadwar, he continues the colour of the surface is dark yellowish brown, but on being Openedit appears much brighter, and ou ' sinking to the depth of three feet, it changes progress ively toa deep, pure, orange coloured sand, quite distinct from any of the other soils , or subsoils in thispart of the district ; and in this remarkable s ituation the tea plants are so numerous that theyconstitute a third part, probably, of the entire vegetation of the spot . The red soil disappearsgraduallywithin the limit occupied by the tea plants . 1 Observed the level of the waters in thewells in this neighbourhood, to be about ten feet belowthe surface of the ground .

From these examples it will'

be Observed that a light, porous , yelloworr edish'

soil, is the kind

which this plan t naturally prefers, but s ituated in the m idst of water and inundation on slightlyelevated mounds , supposed by Mr . McC lelland to be themselves sometimes inundated. It will'

further be observed that the sites,always of sma ll extent, occupied by the tea plant were inva

riably ia forests under the shade of trees ,both ofwhich circumstances ought to be well attendedito in any attempts made to extend its cultivation .

C LIMATE AND Exposuaa . Under this head I find it most difficult to elicit preciseinformation from the authorities before me, owing to the contradictory nature of the

deta ils, orig ina ting , not in the want of care on the part of the writers for they haveexamined the subject with much attention, but owing to the vast extent of surface

over which the tea plant is produced, and, the remote situations of the countries in which!

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94 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

TABLE FOR SADIYA .

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr . May June Ju ly Aug . Sep. Oct. Nov: Dec.

6! 69 73 -5 78- 5 83 -5 83 -5 84 85 80 0

47 -5 52-5 56 66- 5 70 76-5 76 69 -5 64 -5

54 56- 7 62-5 70 74 - 2 80 79 - 7 80 5 80-5 74- 7 70- 7

Mean a nnual temperature 67—2.

Taking the mean s of the tables of Mr. Reeves and of Mr. Davis , the mean annual tem

perature of Canton will be very nearly 70 : the mean of the «four hottes t months in the year

82- 2, and of the four coldes t months 54.

The m ean annual heat of Sadiya, in upper Assam , will be 67 -2.

The mean temperature of .the four .hottest month s will be 80, and of the four coldest

m onths 57- 8.

C anton . Sads'

ya .

Mean annual temperature, 70 67-2

Mean tempera ture of 4 hottest months, 82-2 80

coldest months , 54 57 -8

T he g reatest degree Of cold which, so far as‘I know,

“has occurred at Sadiya , was in

January, 1837 , when MajorWhite observed it on one occas ion at 6A , M . to be so low as

another occas ion it fell to 37 42° is not uncommon . The highes t range during the hot

m onths was in l836, It is s ingular that Capta in Jenkins had never observed it so high as

this at Gowahatti, (90 being its highest range at that place) although cons idering its latitand s ituation , the con trarywould be supposed to take place . In upper Assam , January is the

coldest mon th of the year ; August and September the hottest and mos t oppressive .

”Were we to assume the climate Of Assam as the most suitable for rearing this shrub, wem ight find it difficult indeed to find a parallel one in sou thern India , but this cannot ben ecessary as it is n ext to impossible that s imilar climates can be common to the various and

widely separated countri es where it ~is cult ivated to so vas t an extent.

Mr. CcC lelland describes Assam as an extens ive delnvial valley surrounded on all sides byvast mountains ; those on the north extending backwards to 'the H im alayas which in this

portion of the range are covered with almost perpetual snow and travesed its whole leng thy a vast river, fed by 5 or 6others , the least of which nearly equals the largest river inEngland . A

'

valley so situated h as its climatem odified in n very remarkable degree by localcauses—Thus owing to the prox im ity of the snowymountains a cool

'

current of air blows fromthe north - eas t at all seasons . That meeting the south -west winds from the plains of Bengalin the months of March

, April and May, is productive Of frequent showers bywhich the air iskept cool andmoist during the season of heat anddraught, again

Throughout the cold season,dense vapours arise from the Bramapnta

‘

a aboutday- light, andcontinue to increase until 8 A . M . when they beg in slowly to ascend. They are then driftedbefore theN . E . wind, which from the dim in ished heat of the valley nowam ounts only to a gentle

movem ent, the d irection ofwhich is modified by the action of the sun’s rays on theupper stratum

of m ist, caus ing a more or less powerful diss ipation, and exciting a movement in the general

mass towards the s ide on which this action is taking place. The whole of the vapours are thus

attracted towards the south, where unless entirely dispersed by noon,their broken masses linger

on the northern face of the Naga mountains,receiving daily fresh accumulations, until theyare precipitated in heavy ra in

,seldom .however before they have served as an impenetrable

canopy to this s ide Of the valley for several weeks .

This tendency of the m ists to occupy the south side of the valley, is an interes ting point ifcons idered with reference to what I have already stated regarding the absence Of the tea plant

on the northern s ide.

”

-These m ists are attributed to the inequality of temperature existing between the river andsurrounding air ; that of the former amounting to about 15° higher than the latter , hence the

vapour ris ing from it, becomes partially condensed and has the effect of raising and equalizing

ILLUSTRATIONS OF IND IAN BOTANY .

the temperature, while it preserves a constantly moist atm osphere. The striking effect of these

causes on vegetation is proved,by the fact, of the tea plant being confined to the south s ide of

the valley, or that protected by the m is ts from the cold wind blowing from the snowy m ounta ins .

The fact here s tated is s trongly corroborative of the v iewabove taken, that this is truly a.tropical plant, delighting in a m ild hum id climate with a m oderate range of temperature, and

not one suited for bearing exposure to fros t and snowduring one part of the year, and a hightropical heat at another, and in so far, that the eleva ted of slopes the Himalayas, recommended

on that very account by Mr. Royle as a suitable locality for its cultivation, are in truth most un

su itable . The deep and sheltered valleys however of these mountains m ay, and probablywill be found, to present a combination of circum stances most suitable for its introduction .

The only parts of the Indian Peninsula , so far as I am aware ,which seem in any degree

fi tted for the profi table culture of this shrub are some portions of Mysore and Malabar, espe

cially the mountain valleys of the latter , which partake of the proverbial hum idity ofits climate,

combined with such an abundance of forests , as would at once suffi ce by their dens ity to afi'

ord

shade aga inst too much light, shelter aga inst cold blighting winds, and finally preserve an equal

and humid atmosphere over the plants at all seasons of the year . Whether such a un ion of

favourable circum stances can be found in combination with the peculiar light porous soil whichthis shrub afl'ects in its nativecountry, is not easy to say, but in a country enjoying a rang e oftem

parature rarely, if ever exceeding 85°or falling below60° ,withextreme hum idity,‘ and abundance

After this pagewas in type !was kindly favored by Mr . Caldecott, A stronomer to h is Highness the Rajah ofTravancore, with the fol.

lowin o Meteorolo icalTables , extracted from the Records of the Trivandrum Observator ati‘

ording for the time the occupy, the most

compfbte se ries ofiibservatiom that h a s perha 3 ever been made in india or elsewhere. t is however to be observed, 1:at, as the re istera

are for'

l‘

rivandrum in the extreme South , 9

3require to be slightly m odifi ed for more northern stations , especially as regards fife fall

of rain ,which in that partof the coast betwe en ochm and Tellicherry exceeds that for Trivandrum by from 20 to 30 inches a nnually. A

humid climate has been spoken of as th e one best suited for the culture of the Tea plant, that, a comparison of the register of theWetand dr Bulb. Thermometer.will show, to exi st in Malabar where, so loaded with mois ture is the air, even atTrivandrum . the driest station

on the coast, that at. almost every seas on of the year. the de ress ion of a fewdegrees oftemperaturc produces a depos ition ofdew, and the

mean M inimum heat for any month never exceeds thatofthe ow pom t by above 4 deg r ees , and the M in imum temperature of each month

falls belowthat of the dewpoint. ‘

The t‘l9 \ at10n of temperature certainly exceeds what 1 have stated as the extreme, but that varies withlocal circumstances , and the s ituation of the Tri vandrum Observatory i s of a very difl

'

erent character from those I suggested as the most

suitable for the culture of th is shrub .

R eg ister of the M i'mometer as observed at Trioandrum .

July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan .

The Max . Temp. ofesch Month 89 . a $3 8 as . s 90. 3 85 5 87 . s 87 . 8

M inimum Temperature70. 3 2 70. 8 7 1 . 1 68 . 8 65. 5 66. 0

Extreme range of each 19. 0 19. 6 17 . 5 19. 2 l 16. 7 22. 3 21 . 8

MeanMaximum of do. .8507 84 94

Mean M inimum of 73 21 73 36

Mean range of do. 10 46

Mean hour ofMax. Temp. ofeach Month . 2h1 Noon 1 1 2

m .

Mean hour ofMinimum 5 5 30 6 5 6

The Maximum Temperature occurred on May 13The Minimum do . do . Dec.

HOURLY REGISTER—WET BULB THERMOMETER—1837 - 8.

HOURLY REG ISTER—WET BULB THERMOMETER—lB-‘fl-S.

M E M O R A N D U M .

The quantitywhich fell in April andMay 1837was not registered, but it must have been full 20 inches.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

of forest to supply shade from the sun and shel ter from thewinds . there seems somany chancesof success , tha t I would strong ly urge the propriety of having the a ttempt m ade . Mr. Huxham,

a not less active and enterpris ing than skilful planter on that coast, would, I think I m ay safelyadd though I have had no communica tion with him on the subject, gladly undertake the con

ducting of such an experiment if supplied wi th plants . If my conjectures as to his willingness to undertake the culture prove correct, I should recomm end his being supplied

with plants for that purpose, and if procurable , would adv ise them to be brought from

China , which , from having already been long subjected to artificial culture , are likely,m ore readily to accommodate them selves to new circums tances than those derived from the

wild stock . Once acclimated on the coast, which seems the most suitable locality for commencingthe experim ent, itWill probably prove an easy matter to extend the culture to Mysore . On the

east coast, success can scarcely be expected on account of the extreme heat and dryness of theclimate.

REMARKS ON THE G suaaa AND S eacms . On th is divis ion of the subject I m ust of neces

s ity be brief from want of m aterials to enter fully into its cons ideration . Mr . G riffi th in his

report enumerates 9 genera na tives of India , after reducing one by uniting Camellia and Tbav.

Of these 9, the Peninsula presents species of5, nam ely, Coc/z/ospermum ,Ternstrcemia Cleyera,

E urya ,'

and Ga rdenia , of the rem aining four , representatives have not yetbeen found . Tot heseB lum e has added four from Java , one ofhis however, Gearia, is , if notwholly, c erta inly in partidenticalwith the Indian Eurya .

Professor DeC andolle in his account of this order keeps it. distinct from Camelliacece , and

div ides it into s ix sections or tribes . S ince the publication of his Prodromus these two orders

have , by the almost unanimous decis ion of Botanis ts, been united, the las t being reduced to asection of the first.

Of each of these tribes or sections the Indian flora presents representa tives , I shall therefore ,with the v iewofg iv ing a clearer idea of the whole transcribe the characters assigned to each

tr ibe, as g iven in Don’

s Edition ofM illar’s Gardener 8 Dictionary.

Tribe lst. - Taausr amm s 1a .— Calyx with 2 bracteas at the base . Petals connected to

gether at the base, opposite the sepals . A nthers adnate . S tyle crowned by a s imple stigma.

A lbum en fleshy.

”

Of this tribe only one genus is known , namely, Ternstroemia . Th is is principally an American genus , but Dr.Wallich enum erates in his list of Indian plants , 7 species , though not all from

the continent. Dr . Jack describes two m ore in the Malayan Miscellan ies . Whether these are all

genuine species of the genus may be doubted, with one only , T. cram/la taWall. 1 am acqua inted, and with that imperfectly, as m y specim ens are all in fruit, but the seed departs from the

character ofthe genus in having flattened foliaceous orbicular cotyledons , in place of linear terateones ; the radicle however points towards the hilum , and the whole embryo is inclosed in fleshy,Should a correspondiug difference be found in the flower , this species will justly form the type of

a distinct genus, to which several, if not all of the Indian species m ay perhaps be referable.

Tribe 2d.—EURYEZE .

— Calyx furnished with 2 bracteas at the base , of5 sepals or 5lobes .

Corolla 5-

parted, oppos ite the sepals . An thers adnate . S tyle crowned by 3 -5 distinct stigmas .

”

To this tribe three genera are referred ,all of A s ia tic orig in,

flnneslea ,Wall. Geer ia,Blume, and Eu rya Thunb . Of the first, only one species is known ,

.4 . frag ra ns from Moulmeinof the second G eeria , Blume has defined four species , but as already rem arked, part, if not the

whole,‘

are referable to the nex t g enus . Blume him self suspects two g enera m ay be combinedunder his character , though it seem s more probable , they a re all species of Eurya as he informsus that Geeria only differs from Eurya , in having diuecious in place of polygamous flowers

surely .a very inadequate generic distinction . Eurya , of this genus IVallich

’

s list contains 7species to which one has since been added from the Peninsula .

Tribe 3d.—Faaz1s asm .

—Calyx furnished with 2 bracteas at the base. Petals free, alternating with the sepals . An thers adnate . S tyle crowned by 2-5 distinct stigmas . Seeds

Wingless . Albumen fleshy. Embryo rather curved.

”

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

the preceding sections of DeCandolle were untenable , not only keeps these genera distinct, butplaces seven g enera between in his a rrangement. The mem oir itself I have not seen and cannot

s tate his reasons for placing them so far apart, but it appears , from a rem ark ofG riffith, that hewas not acqua inted with the fruit of Camellia ,

which may in som e deg ree account for thisunnatural separation . No species of has yet been found in the Peninsula of India .

After this article was written , and partly prin ted,I received Professor Meisner

’s G enera

Plantarum ‘ in which he g ives in a tabular form , generic characters of all the genera of each

natural order . From this work I have becom e acquain ted with Cambes sedes’

characters of

Camellia and Thea which , with a viewto the fuller elucidation of the subject, I shall transcribe.

Departing from the dis tribution adopted by Cambessedes he (Meisner) places them nearly s ideby s ide in the sam e section , under the following sectional character .

Sectiona l Clia racter . Petals 5 more or less united at the base— Styles 3 -5 cleft or parted,

(that is composed of 35 styles united at the base or beyond the m iddle but not their wholeleng th up to the stigmas )

”

CAMELLIA .— Calyx of5

-9 sepals, often in 3 series , the interior ones larger . Petals 5-9 . Styles

more or less deeply 3- 5 cleft. Ovary 3

- 5 celle d. Cells 5 or m any ovuled ovules pendulous,

partitions thick, capsules woody, ovate, loculicidal, 3 - 4 valved.

Tn sA .—Calyx 5 parted, segments equal. Petals 5-9 . Styles 3 cleft above them iddle . Ova

ry 3 celled. Cells 4 ovuled, the two Superior ovules erect the two inferior ones pendulous . Capsule 3 celled (often by abortion 2- l celled) cells open ing at the apex, one, rarely 2, seeded . Seeds

wingless exalbum inous .

From a comparison of these characters it will be at once observed that the only point ofstructure not common to both is confined to the ovules , and the dehiscence of the capsules , which,in Camellia are sa idto be 5 or many and all pendulous , with loculicidaldehiscence, u hile in Theathey are described as lim ited to 4, nam ely, 2 ascending and 2 pendulous , and the cells open ingat the apex . Mr . Griflith having ascerta ined that the dehiscence is the same in both, has rem oved one of the marks , and that the other can alone be adm itted as a good generic distinotion, I am far from think ing , though I confess . that in m any instances even small genera are

broken down on equally trivial grounds . But I cons ider the practice a bad one, and thereforefully agree with Mr. Griffi th in thinking these two should be united.

EURYA .

The species of this genus are of difficult discrimina

tion, and I begin now to doubt whether E .Wz'glztianaand E . trist a , are really dis tinct. The specimens from

which the c aracters were taken certainly look dilferent,but they were fewin number. Considerable additions

to m stock have, by sup lying interm ediate forms, ren

dere it robable that ey are but varieties differingprincipal y in luxuriance. I mention this with the viewof directing attention to the subject. A ssuming thatthey are distinct, I have now, from Ce lon, an intermediate form differing from both, in the eaves having the

thick coriaceous texture of the one, and the large size

of the other, while it differs from both in having hairybranches : this, on the supposition that the others are

distinct,must form a species. I therefore call itE . Ceylam

'

ca, R .W. extreme branches and costa oftheleaves, hairy, leaves coriaceous , oval, acute at the base,

Plantarum Vasculariumdlgesta.

” I ma here observewth reference to the B la ncanera, con mqne characters et afi n itates, Tabalis Di

rpece as arranged in th is mos t valuable work,

retuse, and somewhat acum inated at the point, serratedand revolute on the mar

’

n, glabrous :flowers fasciculed

fruit small, crownedwit the short persistent s tyle and3 stigmas .

Ceylon.—ColonelWalker.

agnosticis exposita, et sem udun ordines naturaleswhich I shall very often have occa

ai n to quote, t at Professor Meisne r reduces the order to a section of,'l‘ihacess and adopts DeCandolle

’s Acera lium and E lm mus

l retainin his characters. Thealready stat I cannot

out oquo ed Ge rtner'

s late, No. 188, for Diploma: wtnotoncementioned

pby us, whence I infer, hehei

-

In

dl

genus Monocera is also retained,with most of the species 1 have indicated referred to it.roewith the able au

'hor in retaining all the th ree nera - Gmu‘

trus is not taken u as a d'

t'

ment. One errotginto which he has inadvertently fallen , I have met 51th and shall here notice.

p is tact g enus m thisarran

(WE:and A rnott) have in our Prodromus, referred t e genus Lqplu'

ra to Dip

For the reas ons

Dr. Meisner observes that weThis is a m istake. originating in our havin

gin Lopi a'

ra which is ti urad in the same late. but the us I .‘

mat consulted t e platewhenwriting his

gcommentary .

p gen (PM

My specimens are in fruit, and I have not seen theflowers . The leaves are from 1 ; to 2 inches long , andabout half the breadth in the broadest part : very hardand coriaceous in their texture, labrous on both sides,except the rominent m idrib, andfinely serrated on themargin. e hairybranches seem to afford the bestdistinctive mark.

E . an ustifolz'

a which I have not found since my return to dis, but ofwhich I have received specimens,through the kindness of Mr. Griffith, from Mergui, appears certainly distinct.

100 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

XXX—OLAC INEAEI.

A small order, nearly confined to the tropics , consis ting for the most part of shrubs or

small trees , often climbing or diffuse ,m ore rarely erect, and arm ed with spines . The leaves

are exs tipulate , alternate,s imple , petioled,

undivided and entire : m ore rarely as in B alam'

tes,

bifoliola te . The flowers are bisexual, or occasionally, by abortion, polygamous , or dioicous ,sm all, a xillary, racemose .

C alyx sm all, either en tire and slightly toothed,or 5 sepaled , often , when entire, becoming

enlarged with the fruit. Petals 3 - 5-6,either separate or adhering in pairs ; azstivation valvate .

S tam ens 3 to, either all fertile, or with alterna te s terile ones , hypogynous , often variously unitedwith the petals, either opposite to them when the flowers are symm etrical

, or wholly or partiallyalterna te, when unsymme trical : filam ents compressed : anthers oblong , bursting lono itudi

nally . Ovary l—5 celled,with pendulous ovules . Fruit drupacious indehiscent, occasional y sur

rounded by the enlarg ed calyx , lo- celled, l - seeded. Seed usually pendulous . A lbumen copious,fleshy . Em bryo with the radicle next the hilum .

In 01am,the fertile stam ens alternate with the petals and unite them by pairs ; in X imenia ,

and also OpII'

r'

a,they are opposite the petals , not the sepals in the la tter, as s tated, through an

oversight of the authors , in the Flora Seneg ambia , who seem to have overlooked the m inute

calyx of that genus . In G omphandraWall. (lis t No . 37 l8) which seems nearly allied to S le

monoous , B lum e, the s tam ens equal the petals, and alternate with them , while the flowers are

usually unisexual by abortion .

A FFIN ITIES . These are very uncertain, m ost authors however agree in adopting DeCan

dolle’

s arrangement, and place them near flura nliacece,with which they unquestionably have

many points of atiinity. Bu t on the other hand , the character of the seed of Olacinece is so

totally at variance with wha t we find in A uran l iaccaz, that it is not easy to reconcile one’s self to

viewthat as a natural arrangement, which places plants differirig so widely, in so essential an

organ as the seed , side by side . Mr. Brown takes a very different viewof their s tructure . He con

siders them apetalous , viewing the organs ca lled petals by other authors as sepals , and

their sepals as an involucrum . According to this view of its structure, the order should

occupy a place near Santa la cewand Thy/malem, with which it agrees in the character of its

seed. In opposition to this view, it m ay be stated on the one side, tha t:B a lan iles u lnch is nowreferred to this order has distinct sepals and petals , and on the other, tha t Ternstra emiaceae,and especially the g enus Ternstra

bm ia has the embryo in the m idst of a copious albumen som e

what similar to what we find in Opilia , and Ila/unites . For these reasons,added to the sim ila

rity in various points between the flowers of X imen ia and B a la nz'

tes,to those of the fluran liaccw

,

I do not see that, in the present s ta te of our knowledge of the order,we can assig n it a m ore

suitable place than that. which it now occupies , between these two orders, the relationship of

which seem s generally adm itted.

G EOGRAPHICA L D isrm s ur ron . A s already remarked, the order consists almost entirely of

tropical shrubs or sm all trees . Though fewin number they have a wide range, being m et withwith in,

or on the confines of the tropics in A s ia , A frica, America, and Aus tralia .

In continental India 5 genera a re found, and one more from Java, altogether 6 of the I2

g enera referred to the order . The continental ones are Olax ,Gompa ndra ,

Opilia ,X im en ia ,

and Ba lan iles . is also found on the banks of the Congo,while the three las t are found in

Senegal, and apparently the sam e species . X imen ia flmericana is common to three quar

ters of the globe . B a lam’

tes is equally a na tive of India and of Africa , and has been well described by Roxburgh under the nam e of X imenia Of this genus I possess speci

m ens and drawing s , the latter of which will shortly be published in m y Icones . The genus

Ola f extends from Ceylon northwards to the Himalayas , and from Malabar eas twards to Java,

while Spermar y rum,a g enus scarcely distinct, repres en ts i t in NewHolland . Vi uh this almost.

unlimited range ,

‘ in respect'

to long itude in its distribution over the torrid zone , this order

can scarcely boast of more than 30 known species, about 20 of which are natives of India and

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-102 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

the first from his not knowing any thing of the genus , the last owing to his supposing the flowers apetalous, which is not the case, Gomphaud ra is not in his lis t. I subjoin generic charac .

ters of Opilia ,Sk monum s , Gomphandra , and Balanites , which have not yet been introduced

into our Prodrom us , though I nowpossess peninsular specimens of all except S temonurus, and

of that I think I have Peninsular specimens, but do not fee l quite certain .

0 P1L1A .-Roxburgh , Grontea Flor. Sonegam . ) Ca lyx very short, truncated , concretedwith

the torus , and not afterwards enlarging . Petals 5 inserted into the margin of the calyx , oblong ,linear, at first s lightly cohering at the base by their margins , afterwards distinct and revolute .

S tamens 5, opposite the petals , insertedwith ,but dis tinct from them . G lands 5, a lternate with

the s tamens . thick and fleshy, truncated, about as long as the ovary. Ovary oblong , solid below, l - cel led in its upper part. Ovule solitary, pendulous from the apex of a cen tra l placentathat rises from the bottom of the cell . Style none, s tigma of 3 blunt points , fruit drupacious"(at first fleshy afterwc ds coriaceous , becom ing when dry crustacious ) one seeded . A lbumen amigdaloidal. Embryo cylindrica l , slender in the axis of the album en, and nearly of thesame length . Cotyledons sem i- terate long conferrumiuate radicle short, obtuse , superior.

S '

alall trees ,with s lender branches , alternate short petioled, quite entire, or slightly serrated,

g labrous , shining , leaves , the pe tiols jointed at the base. Racemes ax illary, at first closely imbricated with small peltate roundish flowered caducous sca les . Flowers sma l l

, greenishw.yahoo . flmenfacea Roxb . Cor . Plants and Flora Indica .

Ximenia Olacioz’

des ,W. and A . Prod. page 89 . Found in hilly tracts of country. Rox

burgh found it in the Circars , and I have recently received profusion of specimens from the

hil ls in the neighbourhood of Madras . I also have it from the Pulneys , but howm uch further

south it extends I am unable to say. With the aid of these recent acquisitions which are both

in flower and fruit I have ascertained that our Ximenia olaciocdes is this plant, on which se

count I have extraeted from that work the character of the fruit, to complete the g eneric char

acter . I t seems probable, judg ing from Roxburgh’

e figure of the fruit, that there are 2 species,bu t I refrain from characterizing them until I have seen specimens from the C ircars .

Sr smonuaus .4 m m e—fl owem bisexual or occas ionally by abortion unisexua l . Calyx

tihort, entire , br obsoletely toothed. Petals 4- 5 or rarely 6, cohering below. Stamens hypo

gynous, equallin the number of petals and alternate with them ; fi laments compressed, the

apex and~back ofthe a nthers furni shedwith tufis of m a tted hairs . A nthers 2- celled in trorse.

Ovary; oblong , l -oelled, with 2 pendulous ovules . Stigma sessile obtuse. Fruit a baccate

drape, umbilicate . Nut one seeded. Embryo small, inverse, immersed in the apex of the

qlbumen._Trees or shrubs with a lternate entire leaves, and small flowers in axil lary spikes or

c mes .yThis character

‘whieh is copied from Blume’s Plora ol Java, I have been induced to intro

duce, under the conviction that ecies'

of the genus exist in the Peninsula , and that I actual lySpecimens , th

'

ough I am th e present enab le to find th em . The genus appears verynearly al lied to Go’mphaitdra, perhaps too much s

"

o,but s till they are so far dis tinct , that I do

1.not, in the present state of my information feel myself justified in uniting them . The fol lowing character of Gompfiandrc is taken partly from the

“imperfect one g iven by Dr . Lindley in

his Natural System of Botany, page 439, but mainly from the examina tion of m y cum speci

GOMPHANDRA .—Wall.—Flowers by abortion anisem al. Calyx 4 -5 toothed Corolla 4 -5

petaled, inappendiculate. indexed at. the apex, glabrous , or clothed with elevate hairs . Stamens

4 -5 somewhat elevate ; filaments com

pressed free , or s lightly united, forming a tube round the

ovary. Mate flowers , anthers 2-cefie cells contiguous parallel,partly immersed in the a ex , ofthe fi lament, the back, and under the cells created with m atted or elevate hairs , ovary ru

'

mentary. Female flowers , calyx ,

core lla, and fi laments as in the male, anthers empty of pollen.

O vary larg e, (squalh g the, petals) l- celled,with 2 oblong pendulous elevate ovules suspended

from the apex. S tigmaf s

'

essile, large, wavering the whole .apex of the ovary. Fruit, a drycoriaceous drape, seeded. Shrubs or small trees, with simple, alternate leaves, axil lary,

ILLUSTRA TIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 103

many flowered, dichotomous cymes, and small greenish yel lowflowers, numerous on the male,fewon the female plant.

The peninsu lar species so far as I have yet seen, have glabrous flowers , the Silhet one,fromwhich Lindley

’

s character is taken, has hairy petals in m ine, as in his, each peta l is term inated by ah indexed bristle - like point, which during zestivation hooks in between the anthers .

My specimens are derived from the a lpine jung les of the southern provinces , and from Ceylon .

D r.Wa llich in his list names two species , and refers to others as probably included amonghis species of 0 1am. To these las t it seem s probable some ofm ine are referable . Respectingthe two named G . ax illa ris and G . penang z

'

ana , Dr . A rnott observes , in an article in the A nnales des Sciences JVatw-

elle, that they are not truly congeners . The grounds on which thisopinion is formed are not stated but I presum e he m ust have seen both plants before hehazarded such a statement.

B ALaN lr as .—Delile— Calyx of5 sepals, vil lous, caducous . Corolla 5petals, a little longer

than the ca lyx ; petals lanceolate, attenuated at the base . Stamens IO, fi laments subu late.

A nthers 2- cel led, attached by the back . Ovary, surrounded by a plaited g landular disk, oblong ,very vil lous , 5- cel led, 5- ovuled. Style erect, fi liform stigma capitate. Drupe ovoid, acute, byabortion, l - ce l led, l ~ seeded, with a woody 5- ang led nut. Seed pendulous ; tests fibrous , theendoplura thickened round the radicle . Embryo straight ; radicle superior ; cotyledons semi

ovate, plumula diphyllous .

A tree 20- 30 feet high , leaves a lternate, bifoliolate, spines axillary, pedicels l - dowered,aggregated flowers , sm a l l ,whitish.

The Indian plant differs from the African , in having nearly g lobose, very obtuse fruit, in

place of ovoid and acute as described above,whence it m ay perhaps prove a distinct Species .

GOMPHANDRA .

The determination of the species of this genus ap

pears most diffi cult, one not knowing whether to cousi

der the very various and well marked forms, species

or varieties . Among my specimens there are no fewerthan five very distinct forms , which would, I have nodoubt, and perhaps justly, be considered by many Bota

nists so many distinct species . For myself, having an

objection to the multiplication of species unless on very

good grounds, I prefer the inflorescence being the

same and the fruit unknown in all, viewing them as va

rieties of one, butwill indicate each form ,b a distinct

nameand character, expressive of the form 0 its foliage ;leaving to others to determine whether they are species

or varieties

G . polymorpha R .W. dioicous, glabrous, leaves short

petioled, acum inated, membranacious : cymes axillary,solitary or in airs , about the length of the petiol, male

many, female ew(2-5) flowered : calyx entire, minutely4-5 toothed : Petals 4 -5, united below into a tubular

corolla, glabrous : stamens rojectinfig anthers crested

with aminute tuft of hair'

t ovci

Courtallum and Ceylon in thickj ung les .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 40.

l . Opilia amentacea natural size. 7. A full grown fruit.2. A scale of the amentum with its enclosed dower 8. The same cut transversely, showmg the central

buds .cylindrical embryo.

3. The same outside view. 9. The same cut len thwise to shewthewholelength4 . A flower showing the petals, stamens, glands and of the embryo. This set figure throu h inj udici ous

ovary .—5. Detached stamens. shading does not g ive a correct idea 0 the Obj ect xc

6. The ovary cut vertically, showing the solitary presented.

pendulous ovule.

a . acuminata , leaves oval, very broad in the middle,attenuated at both ends, and temiinating in a longishlinear acumen.

B. oblonn oh'

a , leaves linear oblong , obtuse at bothends , ending in a short abrupt, usually blun t, acumen,

(4-5 inches lon and about 2 broad) .fr. ang ustfi

ia , leaves narrow, linear, lanceolate,acute at the e, acuminated above, (3 - 4 inches long,scarcely l broad, flowers often pentandrous) .8. long afolia, leaves linear, rounded at the base , acu

wins ted at the apex , about 3 times as long as broad, (5- 7inches long l i

- 2 broad) .e. ovalzfolia , leaves oval, obtuse at both ends, or

shortly and obtusely acum inated at the point,inches long by l } broad) .G’. cormcea , dioicous, male cymes axillary, few

flowered ; female flowers, solitary, or 2 or 3 racemose :

fruit oblong, cylindrical, leaves coriaceous from oval, at

tenuated at both ends , to obovate cuneate ; flowers tetrandrous .

Pulneys—a very distinct s cies, but the written

characters, do not so clearly in icate the differences between this and the preceding , as the eye.

104 ILLUS TRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

XXX I —AURANTIACE}E .

This very beautifu l , and on account of its fragrantflowers and delicious fruit,much adm iredorder . of which the orang e with its numerous varieties of lemons, lim es , citrons , pumplem oses

&c . form the type , is genera l ly wel l known in India (to which country indeed it a lmos t exc lu:s ively belong s ) even to the most casua l observers of plants . But though so genera l ly known ini

smore perfect forms, it is not a lways easy to recognize those m ore remote from the type of

t e fam ily .

The order general ly is composed of handsome flowering ever-

g reen trees and shrubs, occa

s ionally arm ed with s trong spines , abounding in g lands fi lled with vola tile oil, usua l ly very con

spicuous in the leaves when held between the eye and the light, and exha ling a frag ran t odour.

Their leaves are a lterna te, s imple , or compound. In the form er as in the latter ins tance the petiolsare jointed, indicating a tendency to become compound. So cons tantly is this the cas e

,that

s imple leaves with such petiols are som etim es described as pinnate reduced to the term ina l leaflet.

”The petiols are often dilated or winged . The flowers are bisexua l , for the m os t partwhite

various ly arranged in solitary and axillary flowers , or in racem es , panic les , corym bs , &c .

The ca lyx is short, m ore or less urceolate, or campanu la te at the base, 3 lobed, withering .

Peta ls equa l ling the num ber of the lobes of the ca lyx and alternate with them , inserted ou ts ideof the torus , broad a t the base , distinct, or som etim es cohering , deciduous , imbrica ted in te s tivation . S tam ens equa l or double the number of the peta ls , or m ore rarely, are very nu

m erna s and indefinite , inserted in a sing le series into the torus : fi laments compressed, eithera ltogether free or united into a tube , or various ly polyadelphous , subu late , and fl ee a t the

point. Anthers 2- ce l led, a ttached by the base, or the m iddle of the back, dehis ing long itudinally, introrse . Ovary free, 2

- 3 - 5 or m any celled, with one or several ovules in each . S tyle

cylindrica l, or rarely wanting . Stigma large , som ewhat lobed, or flat and spread over the apexof the ovary.

n Fru it (an orange) consisting of severa l (or I by abortion) m em branaciouscarpels , with or without an internal pulp, and surrounded by a thickish indehiscent rindabounding in vesicles fu l l of volatile oil. Seeds attached to the inner ang le of the carpe

ls,

solitary, or num erous , usual ly pendulous raphe and cha laza usua l ly very conspicuous A lbum eIinone. Embryo straight, radicle next the hilum , partly concea led within the cotyledons . Cotyledons large, thick and amygda line.

”

A FF INIT IES . The plants of this order are m ost readily known by the number of oily teceptacles , which are dispersed all over them ; the leaves , sepals , peta ls , and fruit equa lly partaking of them by their deciduous peta ls , and compound leaves , and frequently winged petiols .

By these pecu liarities they are nearly related to .rImyre'

dewand Z anthoxy lacew,from neither of

which is it a lways easy to distinguish them , except by the fruit. Severa l species referred byRoxburgh to his genus flmyris, actual ly belong to this order . Front the former they are distinguished by the numerous , not solitary, cel ls of the ovary, and by their bacca te, not drupacious , or samaroid, or legum e - like fruit : from the la tter their bi, not usua l ly unisexualflowersand their indehiscent pulpy fruit, not 2- valved dehiscent capsules seated on a gynophore, with tisolitary

-shining black seed.

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTR I BUT ION . Tropical A s ia and her is lands seem to be the nativecountry of the order, a fewonly having been found indigenous elsewhere , of these two or threeare from Madagascar, an is land in which m any other associates of the Indian Flora are found.

DeCandolle in his Prodromus , excluding Ag laea , enumerates 43 species for the whole orderG . Don , who published some years later, raises the number to 60, but m any of these doubtfulB lume found 21 in Java :Wallich ’

s list has 37 : and 24 are described in our Prodromus as

natives of the Indian Peninsula : one or two have been since added to the Peninsular lIst andI have several species from Ceylon, and some from Mergui. One species on ly. is found to withstand exposure to frost and snow, the L imam

'

u lauriola,Wal lich (Pl. A s . rar,) which is found

flilthe tops of cold and lofty mountains, where it is for some months of the year buried undere snow.

PROPERTIES AND Uses . The properties of the orange in all its protean forms of lemon,

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106 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

R suaaxs on G s s s aa AND Seacms . The genera of this order are few, but requir e muchnicety, and attention to m inute organs , for their accurate discrimination ; the structure of the

ovary,which in most is very small, and the number and position of the ovules in its cells, afl'

ordingthe marks on which the greates t dependence can be placed, according ly form the bas is of our

characters . The fol lowing synoptica l table which I extract from our Prodromus wil l place thisin a clear point of view. It contains an ana lysis of all those having stamina twice numer

ous as the peta ls and a definite number of ovules in each cel l of the ovary.

Ovules solitary , or 2-collateral in each cell. L lMO-NEE .

Ovary cells as many as the petals

Filaments combined A lataati'

a .

Filaments distinct.Tr iphan

'

a.

Stam ens 84 0.

Style elongated (ovules L2 in each

St

yle short, scarcely distinguishable : (ovules solita ry .)

Ovary ce ls fewer than the petals :S tyle short, scarcely distinguishable ; ovules 1-2 pen

dulona from the apex of the cells. 5. Scleroxtyh'

s.

Style elongated ; ovules solitary,peritropal, attached to

the middle of the axis 6. B erg era .

Ovules in pairs, one above the other. C t anss s sar.Filaments distinct

Ovary cells fewer than the petals.

Ova ry cells as many as the petals ;Ovary hir sute ; berry full of liquid dower-buds angled 8. Cookia .

Ovary glabrous ; berry dryish ; flower-buds not angled ;Stamens 8, dilated part of fi laments concave ; petals

oval 9. Cla usena .

Stamens IO, filaments flat ; petals linear M icromelum.

Filaments (8) combined to the m iddle : (anthers linea rovarium 2-3- celled : style long : berry 2

- 3 celled witha resinous pulp : calyx tubular : petals L uvung a .

Of each of these g enera , except the two last, detailed characters are g iven in thework ofthem no Peninsular species have, so far as I am aware, been yet found. The plant whichI have here, I nowfind erroneous ly, referred to M icromelum, differs widely in habit, thoughin structure it associates in many points , as may be seen by comparing the figure , withthe character g iven in the table of the ovary and flowers of that genus ,

— but I shalladd to this account of the order the detailed generic charac ter of M icromelum as g iven byB lume. Though I have not yet found L avang a l wil l also, to facilita te its recognition should itbe m et with, extract Roxburgh

’

s description of the flowers of his L imonia scandens . which isreferred to this genus . Of the

'

genus S clerostyles, ofwhich it was remarked when we wrote,that Dr . Berry was the only personwho had found it in the Peninsu la , I have nowspecimens re

ceived from Ma labar, Courta l lam,Ceylon, and the C ircars . Whence it wou ld appear that so

far from being so rare a genus as we then supposed, it is on the contrary but little if at all lessfrequent than A talantia towhich it bears so close a resemblance , that it is quite impossible todistinguish them with certainty otherwise than by an exam ination of the ovary or fruit, the 2

or 4 cel ls ofwhich im mediately marks the difference. (See [cones No. 7 l,) Of the genus G lycosmz

'

s I now possess one or two species in addition to those described in our Prodrom us, but

for which I find it diflicult to assign characters suited to distinguish them from the precedingones . This

,of all the genera of the order, next perhaps to Citrus , is the most diffi cu lt to dis

tinguish by written characters . To the genus A talantz'

a I nowadd one species and take awayanother our A ta la ntia racemosa being in truth a Sclerostylis . The new species is distin

guished from the old, by wanting the style and having the broad stigma adherent to the

apex of the ovary ; in all other respects it resembles the other . In his Pug illus Plan taruinIndiae Orientalis” Dr. Arnott has g iven the character of a newgenus ofAuram incece under the

name of Rissoa . This genus , judg ing from the characters only:[ fear I cannot adopt, as I see no

suffi cientm ark by which to distinguish it from Sclerostylis . uvung a differs from both in hav

ing superposed not collateral ovu les, but in other respects the characters are very nearly alike.

Respecting the genus Citrus I have nothing to add, towhat we have already said in the Pro

ILTUSTRATIONS OF IND IAN BOTANY . 107

dromus , I have I acknowledge, found both wild limes and oranges in the course of my botunia

ings, but unfortunately did not devote , at the tim e,that degree of a ttention to their exam ina

tion,relative to the solution of the ques tion of species and varieties of this com plex genus ,

which I ought to have done, and my specimens do not now enable m e to do so . Mr . Royle isof opinion thatDr . Buchannan Ham ilton,whose views we adopted, is wrong in considering all the

Indian form s varieties on ly , of one species . I extract his paragraph on the subject as being them ost satisfactory m ethod of s tating his opinion . See his I llus tra tions page l29 .

So g reat a divers ity of opinion being enterta ined respecting the differen t plan ts of the

g enus Citrus , whether they should cons titute species or varieties , it becom es diflicult to saywhat are such , if on ly seen in a s tate of cultivation ; but as some are still found wild, an opinion

m ay be formed, at least respecting those . In the tract of fores t so frequently a l luded to, as

well as in the valleys within the Him a laya , I have seen two plants g rowing apparently wild, onecalled bij ou ree, and the other bilia ree n imboo the firs t hav ing the characteristics of the citron,

and the other, called a lso pul mree leag uzee, those of the lemon : both when transferred to

g ardens retain their pecu liar characters . From the R ungpore fores ts a round kind of lime is

obtained in those of Silbet, and as it is stated a lso on the s ides of the Neelgherries, the orange

is found wild. Captain Turner describes the oranges as de licious , and Mr . Saunders , whoaccom panied him ,

m entions finding m any orange and lime trees at the foot of the hil ls in ap

proaching Buxedwar (v . Turner’

s Tibet ; p. 20 and p. Citrus decuma nus Shaddock or

Pompelmoses , does not appear indig enous to India, as its name,ba tavz

'

n imboo or Ba tav i'

a lime,

denotes , as remarked by Dr . Roxburgh , its being an exotic ; and as it retains its characteris tics

even where it does not succeed as a fruit,it m ay a lso be reckoned a dis tinct species . I there

fore feel inclined to consider as dis tinct species, the orange, lemon , lime, citron, and shaddock,

without being able to say whether the sweet kinds should be considered varieties of the acid, or

ranked as dis tinct species .

”

Tha t both oranges and limes are found in an apparentlyWild state in our alpine jung les, ism ost certain , and it is equally certain that in other

,not cultivated, genera, less obvious differencesthan the fruit, of these plan ts presents would be es teemed conclusive evidence of their beingspecifically distinct, whence , I have no intention of cal ling in ques tion the opinion advanced inthe above quotation , my on ly reg ret now being , that I did not g ive the subject more of my at

tion when I had better opportunities of determ ining the point.

The fol lowing detailed generic character of .Mz'

cromelum is taken from Blume’

s B ijdragen,vol. l st. page 137 .

M i caomswu B t.un s .—Ca lyx urceolate, entire, persistent, peta ls 5, linear spreading . S ta .

m ens IO, free : fi lam ents subu late, a lternately shorter anthers roundish, didym ous . Ovary5- ce lled,

cel ls 2 seeded, (superposed) s tyle thick , stigma obtuse, berrydry, lam e llated within ,

with 5 intorted (spira lly twisted) papery d issepim ents . Tests of the seed, (spermodermis)membranaceous . C otyledons , foliaceous , twisted.

A tree with unequa lly pinnated leaves , a lternate, oblique, leaflets , and term inal corymbs .

One species on ly was known to Blum e, nam ely ,.M. pubs -scans having from 7 to 9 ovate ,

obtuse, acum inate, leaflets, the under side of which with the young shoots and corymbs are

clothed with pubescence .

It wil l appear from this character that the habit of the plant which I have figured, as a

doubtful M ic i omelum , which is a scandent armed shrub with s im ple leaves and axil lary flowers

,differs widely from the true one , so m uch so indeed,

tha t had I then been acquaint

ed with the true M icromelum I should never have thought of referring it to that genus ,even under the protection of a doubt. Since the figure was printed, I have had an oppor

tunity of exam ining a true Micromelum and find it differs from m y plant in another andm uch m ore important point, to which, when nam ing it, [ did not suffi ciently advert inthe written character . namely, the intorted or twis ted partitions of the fruit, and even of the

ovary when but little advanced . Thus differing in structure , and so widely in habit I can no

long er hesita te in considering this plant. as form ing the type of a newgenus intermediate betweenM icrometum and Luvung a having the quinary flowers and 5- celled ovary of the former, (butwanting its erect arborions habit, and the spira l partitions of its impregnated ovarium and

fruit,) and the scandent habit of the latter (but wanting its 3 - cel led ovary and qua ternary in

florcseence . ) My first thought, on discovering that lt could notpos sibly be received as a M icromelum

, was to refer it to Luvung awith a modified generic character . The character of Lum mga

108 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

is to have quaternary sepals and petals , 8 stam ens, and a 3 - cel led ovary, with 2 superposedovules in each . To adm it m y plant it would require to stand thus— Calyx 4 -5 lobed,peta ls 4 -5. Stamens 8- 10, free or united at the base . Ovary 3 or 5- ce l led, with 2 s uper .

posed ovules in each. Scandent armed shrubs , with ternate, or simple leaves , and a x il larysolitary, or racemose , pretty large, white, fragrant flowers” (Roxb . ) Such a union is howeververy objectionable as combining two plants, one with the number of peta ls and cells of theovaryequal , and the other with them unequal . I therefore pursue wha t I consider the m ore

j udicious course, that of form ing a genus for the reception of this plant.

LUVUNGA .- Ham ilton .

—The following is Roxburgh’

s description of the fructification ofhis L imom

’

a scandens, nowLuvung a , Flora Indica , 2 pag e 380. Calyx l - leaved, cy l indricwith the mouth cut into four short, truncate divisions . Peta ls 4 , linear oblong , fleshy, recurved.

Filaments 8 ; the lower half united into a firm , fleshy tube . An thers linear, incumben t. G erm

conical , elevated on a fleshy receptacle, 3 - cel led with 2 vertica l ovula in each , a ttached to the

ax is . S tyle cylindric. Stigma entire , roundish. Berry oblong , somewhat 3 - lobed, size of a

pigeon’

s egg , pretty smooth, pu lp of a resinous nature, and odoriferous , 3 - celled . Seed so litary,ova l , somewhat pointed a t the apex, covered with a sing le g reenish - veined integum en t.

Perisperm none . Embryo conform to the seed, inverse . Cotyledons oblong , green, fleshy.

Plumula 2- lobed. Radicle ovate, superior.

”

Two species of this genus are named inWallich ’

s list, namely, L . scandens and L . Tavoyana— Roxburgh thus characterizes the former, his Limom

’

a scandens Shrubby , scandent,armed, leaves ternate, leaflets lanceolar, entire : [flowers berries 3 - seeded

”Roxb.

The fol lowing character wil l ] think distinguish my new genus from all the othersof the order.

Paaam cnva R .W.- Calyx urceolate , obtusely 5- lobed at the apex . Petals 5, lanceolate.

Stamens 10, free : fi laments compressed, subula te at the point : anthers oblong , obtuse , a ttach

ed by the back. Torus fleshy, cup- shaped, lobed at the apex embracing the base of the ovary.

Ovary obtuse.5- cel led, partitions fleshy, not twisted . Ovules 2, superposed,in each ce ll , at

teched near the m iddle of the axis . S tyle thick , leng th of the stamens . Stigma capitate,obtuse, somewhat lobed at the apex . Fruitpomacious ! endorcarp5- ang led, between coriaceous

and fleshy, surrounded by cel lular pulp and rind, one (always cel led by the rupture and ab

sorption of the partitions . Seed — Scandent, arm ed shrubs ; spines axil lary reflexed. Leaves

simple, ovate , lanceolate , acum inated, g labrous . Flowers axil lary, solitary, or rarely 3 or 4

together, rather large , white ,very fragrant. The fruit ovate , obtusely 5- ang led and furrowed

between, clothed with short m atted pubescence , the seed I have not seen .

The scandent habit, associates this genus with Luvung a , from which it is removed by the

symmetrica l peta ls and cel ls of the ovary, the predom inance of the quinary not quaternarynumber ofparts , and the free not united fi lam ents, but above all, by the distinct endocarp of thefruit. I first found it in the jung les about C ourtallum its long decumbent branches , spreadingin all directions among the surrounding bushes , form ing a nea rly impenetrable brush -wood ; I

afterwards received fine specim ens through the kindness of ColonelWa lker from Ceylon, andvery recently one in fruit, but in a bad s tate for exam ination, from Mr. Nimmo, of Bombay.

Th is las t is the only fruit I have seen .

On ly one species is yet known ,the one here figured— It varies however in having larger,

and more decidedly ovate leaves, and smal ler thorns , differences depending I apprehend on

luxuriance on ly.

The species of M icromelum the exam ination of which enabled me to determ ine, that theabove was rea l ly a distinct genus, is a native of Ceylon, and does not seem to differ from B lume’sM . pubescens .

ATALANTIA. The habit and general appearance of both plants are

The following brief characters will sufliciently disthe same.

tinguish my two spec ies of Atomistic. GLYCOSMIS.

A ’

-

la DeC . Style as long as the stamens, I mentioned above tha t I had metwith what I constigma eu epi late, l°b°d‘

sider a new species.

of this genus. The followingA . pla tgsflg um . R .W. Style wanting, stigma large, character m y perhaps saflice to distinguish it from the

flat, oppressed to the apex of the ovary. preceding species.

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1 10 ILLUSTRATIONS OF IND IAN BOTANY .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 42.

I . Param ignya monophylla, R .W. (Micromelum ? mo 5. The 5-eelled ovary cut tr ansversely .

nophyllum)— na iural SW“ 6. The same cut vertically, showing the ovules super2. An expanded flower.

posed.

3 . The same, the calyx partiall

yseparated and the 7. A portion ofa leaf magnified, to showthe pellucid

petals and s tamens removed, to s ow the cup- shaped dots.

plaited torus, ovary, style, and stigma.

4 . Stam ens and anthers, filament compressed, subulateat the apex .

XXXII .—HYPERIC INE/E .

In proportion to the extent of its distribution over the surface of the earth th is is a sma llorder, about 160 or 170 species being all that is yet known , though found in every quarter ofthe g lobe . Its forms are about as varied as its distribution, consisting of herbs, shrubs , andtrees . The juice is usua l ly resinous , often yel low, resem bling tha t of the Gang/eras : th e

s tem in m os t, and the branches in nearly all, have swollen articu la tions , and are 4 - sided in the

interva ls between the join ts . The leaves are opposite , s imple , entire , or crenula ted ; with m ar

g inal g lands ; sessile , or a ttenuated into the petiols ,for the mos t part perfora ted with pel lucid

g landular po ints , the m arg ins som etim es m arked with black opaque dots . The flowers are

regular, bisexua l, often form ing term ina l dichotom ous cym es,and usua l ly yel low.

Ca lyx pers isten t of 4 -5 sepa ls imbricated in ms tiva tion . Peta ls hypogynous , twisted inaestivation, obliquely veined,

as m any as the sepals , a lterna te with them , usua l ly withering ,

becom ing , after anthesis (blowing ) various ly twis ted or involute on the m arg in in different

species . S tamens indefinite 3 - 5 adelphous , rarely monadelphous , or quite dis tinct. A nthers

versatile , dehiscing long itudinally . Ovary solitary, cons is ting of 3 -5 united carpe ls , 3 - 5 cel led,cel lswith num erous ovules . S tyles as m any as the carpels , distinct or connate . S tigmas simple or

capitate. Fruit baccate, or capsular with severa l va lves , and a septicida l dehiscence, usua l lysevera l celled with the placenta in the axis , sometim es l - celled ' with the placenta , parieta l .Seeds m inute, indefinite, or few, in each cel l, a lbum en none. Embryo straight, radicle next thehilum .

A r rm lrms . The relationship existing between this order and Guttiferwseem s to be uni

versally adm itted, as in all sys tems of Botany they are placed near each other , but yet the dif

ferences seem so m anifest, that it appears next to impossible to confound them . This I am

disposed to attribute to the circum s tance of their m ost s triking p oints of affi nity appertainingrather to the products of vegeta tion and properties than to their botanical characters , 5. e . the

s tructure and arrangement of the parts of fructifica tion :which are sufficiently dis tinct in the

two orders . The capsular, fewcel led polyspermous fruit, of Hypericinece , can scarcely be m istaken for the baccate indehiscen t fewseeded pulpy orang e

- like fruit of the G umferce—exclus ive of which the quinary, not dinary or quaternary dispos ition of the flowers , form another verym arked dis tinction : in a word, considered with reference to the structure of their inflorescence

only, the m arked affinity found to exis t between the two orders is only perceptible in extreme

cases , while the differences observed in the character of the fruit of different g enera, renders it

difficu lt to say to howm any other orders they approach .

G sooaar u tcu DISTRI BUT ION . Feworders of the same extent have an equa l l y genera ldistribution over the surface of the g lobe ; every quar ter partaking m ore or less ex tensively.

India, and the adjoining islands , judg ing fromWallich’s lis t participating ,with the exception of

North Am erica,more largely than l

any other , 3 1 Indian ones being there, e num erated . while 4 lis the num ber set down for the whole of North Am erica , and 19 for Europe . The Peninsu larFlora however, so far as is yet known ,

boasts of very few,four or fi ve species on ly having

been discovered, and all from the more elevated reg ions . These according to a recent expos iti.

on of the order by M . Spach, flnnales des Sciences Jl’a turelles) are referred

,and on good

g rounds , to two distinct genera , .N'

orysc'z and B ra tbys , the form er including our Hyper

-team

mysurense andHookerianum , the latter H . j apon icum andWig htia num,which for the futurewill

respectively be ca l led Norycca mysurensts and Hookeria na , and B ratliy

’

s j aponica andWightiana . The characters of these genera wil l be afterwards given .

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 1 1 1

Paorsar ias AND Usss . Thesewere formerly believed tobe of themost valuable description,butmodern experience does not confi rm the ancient belief. One species,Hypericum androsas

mum once enjoyed so prom inent a reputation on account .of its supposed sanative properties as to

receive the name of A ll hea l, and hence the English nam e Tutsan from Touts - saine, on the

supposition that it cured all diseases andwounds , but,notwithstanding ,has nowfallen into totalneglect. Many species when rubbed between the fingers exhale an arom atic resinous odour

which is communicated by infusion to alcohol and oil, imparting to them a reddish colour andappears referable to a resinous principle which they contain . They also contain a gummy m at.

ter in greater or less abundance . Some of the Am erican species abound in a yellowjuice, possessing m ore energetic properties that obtained from Vism ia g uineensis , a Mexican and

Surinam tree is known in comm erce,and called Am erican Gummi g utta (or gamboge)

”B oyle

’

s

I llustrations . So far as the Indian species are concerned nothing is known of their properties .

REMARKS on G ENERA AND Sescms . Previous to the investigations of M. Spach the number

of genera referred to this order amounted to 12 only. These under his scrutiny have been

augmented to 27 : species of 23 of which were formerly united under the larg e and very com

plex genus Hypericum . To g ive a complete viewof this order as it nowstands , would require

more space than can be here devoted to the subject, [ shall therefore contentm yself for the presentwith giving some of his sectional characters, and the generic characters of a fewof the genera

which we either already know, or may expect to find, in India. Species of both the Peninsular

g enera I have nowfigured, viz . Norysca mysorensis, Icones No. 56, and B ra tbysWig /itiana ,No. 43 of this work under the old name Hypericum .

M . Spach divides the order into two principal tribes under the names of Dssuosr amonsm

and Hvesalcszn, which are again subdivided into sections . Of the first tribe, as only a fewspecies

'

seem referable to the Asiatic Flora and none of these strictly speaking Indian , beingnatives of the eastern islands or China, I shall only give the character with one of its sections,and one genus, which I have h ad an opportunity of exam ining , and pass on to the second,which, as being of more importance to the Indian Botanist will be more fully explained.

Tribe lst.—Dssuosr suonsm .

—Petals equal sided, within. above the base, very often fur

nished with a little pit or appendage . S tamens triadelphous or pentadelphous, the androphore

(united portion of the filaments ) longer than the fi laments , or very rarely shorter : each alter

nating with a gland or hypogynous scale. Pericarp often fleshy or drupacious. Seeds usuallycompressed or winged, the radicle sometimes replicate.

Section 2.—Tmnrsmm sm S in—Stamens persistent, 3 adelphous androphores polyan

drona, longer than the filaments, with a coriaceous scale alternating . Ovary 3 - celled, 3 - styled,with the ovules definite, or indefinite in number, ascending , winged ! Pericarp capsular, (thecentral axis wanting or slender) often loculicidal ! Seeds cylindrical, broadly winged above ;Embryo straight. Trees or shrubs, corolla often white or reddish .

A NC ISTROLOBUS Sr .— Sepals erect, persistent. Petals subpersistent, inappendiculate.

Hypogynous scales convolute. Androphores strap- shaped, filamentiferous , nearly from the

base ; anthers reniform , eglandular . Ovary, cells with 5-6 ovules ; ovules attached to the base

of the cells . Style, thicker above . Stigmas capitate, papillose. Capsules coriaceous , oblong ,

roundish : cells fewseeded, partitions cartilag inous, placentiferous at the base. Seeds oblong ,smoothish :wing s reticulated, m arg ined with a nerve ; cotyledons as long as the radicle, booked

at the apex . Peduncles, axillary and term inal, 1 -5flowered .

Of this genus I have had an opportunity of examining one species from Mergui, for whichI am indebted toW. Griflith, Esq. It is not improbable that it m ay prove new, but as I amunacquainted with the rest of the genus I refrain from naming it.

The plant is a tree or shrub with slender term inal branches . glabrous, the leaves oblong ,elliptical, obtuse at the apex , slightly attenuated at the base, gradually tapering into the petiol,the larger ones from 3 to 4 inches long and about I} broad, those having flowers in their axilsscarcely half the size . Flowers axillary, solitary, short petioled. Sepals and petals rounded

and obtuse above, the petals slightly oblique at the base. The stam ens very numerous, denselycovering the back of the ligulate androphores, filaments short, slender , anthers m inute . Hypo

gynous scales, cuniate, saccate at the apex, from the contraction of their reflexed marg ins .

112 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

C ells of the ovary with about six winged ovules, the mature fruit I have not seen—v . s . s . ex.

Herb. Griflith, No. 1104.

Tribe 2d.—Hvrs arcma .

—This tribe is characterized by having petals unequal, or rarely,nearly equal sided, (without pits or appendag es at the base) and usually contorted in mstivation.

Stamens either altogether free, or monadelphous , or 3 -5 adelphous at the base. Hypogynousscales or glands, some times wanting . Pericarp (very rarely indehiscent) a septicidal capsule,or sometimes composed of three deciduous indehiscent cocci. ( vel rare dieresilis’ tricocca}Seeds terete, wingless, often somewhat curved : radicle terete, elongated, obtuse, never rephcate ; cotyledons somewhat foliaceous, very short.

This tribe is divided into five sections, the characters of each of which I shall introduce .

Section l .- DaosANrum ss; .—Calyx, 5- cleft or parted. . Petals equal, or nearly equal

sided, unguiculate, marcescent (withering in the flower without falling off) twisted after ex

pansion, (anthesis) . Ovary 3 - celled, 3- coccus , 3 - styled. Ovules horizontal or ascending ,definite or indefinite in number, (6- 12 in each cell) the mature cells 1 - 3 seeded, at leng th deciduous, along with the central placenta .

- To this section twogenera belong , neither of which

however, has yet been found in India, all the species hitherto iscovered, being from Persia or

Asia Minor.

Section 2.-Hr rs am ss:. - Calyx, 5-parted or cleft, (very rarely, five distinct sepals in a

double series) . Petals marcescent, unequal sided, convolute, or contorted after anthesis

(blowing) . Stamens 3 adelphous , persistent. Ovary 3 - celled, many ovuled, 3 - styled. Capsules septicidal: central placenta undivided, and with the valves persistent. - Three genera are

referred to this section, but only one of them so far as I know, has representatives in India .

To this section belongs the greater part of the European species of the order.

Section 3 .—Annaoscnm uaz .

—Sepals 5, most frequently in a distinct double series, andvery unequal. Petals withering or deciduous, unequal sided, after anthesis contorted, or them argins convolute. Stamens pentadelphous, (very rarely, 4 -6 or 8 adelphous , or monadelphous,a t the extreme base) withering , or deciduous . Ovary, 3 -5 (rarely 6-8) celled, many ava led.

Styles e ualling the number of the cells, often united towards the base, or even nearly to the

apex . Capsules septicidal, very rarely baccate, or indehiscent —To this section seven generabelong , all separated from the old genus Hypericwn, one of these is Norysoa .

Section 4.—B s arnvmnsn Sin—Sepals 5, (very rarely 4) petals deciduous or withering ,

and afler anthesis, involute from the apex to near the m iddle, unequa l sided. Stamens eitheraltogether free and deciduous, or monadelphous at the base and then withering . Ovary, one or

3 - celled, 3 (rarely 2) styled, sometimes the styles altogether concreted as if one styled, ovulesnumerous . Capsules 2- 3 valved.

This section includes four genera, one of which is Bratbys .

Section 5.- Ascvam sn Ssh—Sepals 4 , distinct in a double series, cruciate ; the two ex

terior large, (one above the other below), during flowering , and after anthesis valvate : two interior (lateral) very small (sometimes scarcely conspicuous) included. Petals 4, cruciate une

ual, and unequal sided. Stamens persistent, somewhat monadelphous at the base, ovary(

ll- celled, 2-4 styled.

To this section only one genus A ssyrian is referred.

The following genera are known to exist in India, on which account I shall introduceSpach

’s generic characters .

Hvrs alcnm.—Scction Hyperinece . Calyx 4-5 parted, sepals equal or unequal, after

anthesis , erect , very rarely reflexed. Petals marcescent, scarcely unguiculate, spreading horizon

tally during flowering . Androphores hearing from 5to 30 stamens . Ovules in each cell, in two

I am uncertain about the exactmeaning attached to this word, but presume the authorwishes to ex rose a fruit analogousto that of Ger-unicu m. That consists of a series of indehiscent carpels, which separate entire, with

'

r seed inclosed at the

period of maturity, leaving the central axis or gynobase towhich theywere articulated in its place.

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1 14 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

XXX II I .—GUTTIFER1E .

This is a small, strictly tropical, order, fewbeing found to extend even a very fewdeg reesbeyond the tropics . For the mos t part it consists of trees , m any of considerable dimensions,abounding in yellowresinous juice, that of some of the species , forming the well known G am

boge of commerce. The leaves are opposite, coriaceous, usually short petioled, simple, en tire,l - nerved, with numerous transverse parallel veins, andwithout s tipules . The flowers are either

hermaphrodite or unisexual, either axillary, solitary, or racemose, or in terminal panicles occa

sionally in lateral fascicles .

Calyx free,often persistent,2-4 -6or 8 sepaled,the sepals often coloured, resembling petals , imbricated by alternate pairs, the exterior ones often larger. Petals hypogynous, as m any as the

sepals, and alternate with them , or occasionally there are 4 in a 2- sepaled calyx , the outer pair

passing insensibly into sepals . Stam ens numerous , filaments either distinct, or combined into one,or four parcels , rarely definite ; when unisexual, more numerous in the m ale flowers . Anthersadnate, one, two or 4 - celled, bursting either lengthwise, transversely across the apex ,

cum sissile, sometimes, they open by a pore . Disk none, or prolonged in form of a rudimentaryovary in Mangostana . Ovarium solitary, superior, one or several celled, ovules solitary , or

several, erect, or attached by the m iddle to a central placenta . Style none, or short. Stigma

peltate, entire, or radiate and lobed. Fruit, either dry or succulent, one or several celled,with one rarely several seed in each cell. Seeds , frequently nes tling in pulp, their coat thin

and membranous apterous, frequently with an arillus . A lbumen none. Embryo straight, cotyledons thick, inseparable : radicle either turned to or from the hilum.

A smmrrss . These have been already indicated under Ternstrwmiaceae and Hypericinew,the orders most nearly related to this , and the distinguishing marks pointed out : to these

therefore I beg nowto refer m erely observing , that hitherto, so far as m y Opportunities of ex

am ining the Indian representatives of these orders extend, I have found no diffi culty in discrim inating between them . I do not mean by this to assert that difficulties are not found in dis tin

g uishing between these orders as nowdefined, but simply, that the Indian species seem mostlyto appertain to the more marked, and least equivocal form s of each. Some further observations

bearing on this subjectwill be found under the head of Remarks on genera and species’below.

G socas rmcs t Drsrmsor rou. This, as remarked above is strictly a tropical order, veryfewspecies extending beyond that lim it, Xantboclzymus piotorius being m entioned by Mr .

Royle as a remarkable exception, and my CaloplzyllumWalkerii may perhaps be adduced as a

second example, for although s us tive of Ceylon, yet it is found only on the highest parts of

the island at an elevation of about 7000 feet. These however can at best be considered as

doubtful exceptions to the g eneral rule, that they are confined to lowmoist localities partaking ofa warm and hum id climate, since neither can be viewed as genuine members of the order. This

prediliction for warmth and moisture satisfactorily accounts for their predominance on the westcoast of the Peninsula,where some species greatly abound, as compared with the eastwhere veryfewspecies are found, and these very rare, bein nearly confined towarm sheltered alpine valleys,enjoying a more humid climate than the plains . he southern provinces of Ceylon, Silbet, the Te

nasserim coast, and eastern Archipelago, each partake largely of this order wherever in short

there is high temperature combinedwith much moisture there they are found. In tropical Ame

rica they are said to be more numerous than in Asia, this however may be doubted, as it appearsfromWallich’s list of Indian plants , that including Xanthochymns he had no fewer than 40

Indian species ; whileMr. Don’s system ofplants, the lastworkpublished g iving a complete cata

logue of the order, has but 79, and these do not include several Javanese species published byB lume, to which it m ay be added, we have every reason to believe there are very many yet nu

discovered ia India and her islands, the Botany of every part of which has been less perfectlyinvestigated than that of many parts of tropical America, though in truth, there is s till a rich

harvest for the enterprising Botanist in both countries . In continental Africa the order is

nearly unknown, but several species are natives of Madagascar and the Mauritius .

Pnorsa '

rms AND Us ss . DeCandolle remarks that without doubt the Guttiferae wouldprove of great value, both for medicine and the arts,were they not exclusively confined to the

warmest climates. As ornamental trees they are certainly not surpassed by any in the vegetable

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

kingdom , and ifwe m ay judge of others from what is known of the Pinney tree ( Calopkyllam} the timber of some at least mus t be very valuable, but little s eems yet known reg ardingit. Roxburgh generally so attentive to the uses and applications of the plants he des

cribes is altogether silent on this head respecting Gu lf/era} . con tenting himself with the men

tion of several, the fruit of which is eatable , such as the well known Mangosteen ( Ga rcim’

a

Mang os tana j the Ga rcinia cowa , of Silbet and Malabar, the fruit ofwhich is eatable, though

not palatable the G . Kydiana , the fruit of which is an exceedingly sharp but pleasant acid,

and the aril or pulp, by far the most palatable part,”and lastly, the Ga rcinz

‘

a peduncula la“the

fleshy part of the fruit,which covers the seed, and their proper juicy envelope or aril is in large

quantity, of a firm texture , and of a very sharp pleasan t acid tas te . It is used by the natives

in their curries and for acidula ting water. A s it retains its qualities when cut into slices and

dried, he suggests , that it m ight be advantageously employed on long voyages as a subs titute

for lemons or limes . The pulp of the fruit of Ga r-cin ia pafl icula ta he thinks more like that of

the Mangosteen, than any thing else he can compare it to. The parched clim a te of this portion

of India renders it unlikely tha t we shall ever succeed in introducing m a ny of them here :

Roxburgh tried in vain for 35 years to make the Mangos teen growand be fruitful in C alcutta .

The a ttempts made in the gardens of Courtallum have been more successful,for there two or threetrees annually ripen their fruit, fewin number it is true , but the trees are s till young . Plants

raised from seed saved from these trees were , I learned some time ago. thriving in Mr . Hux

ham’s plantations in Malabar. From this source therefore, it seem s not improbable, the tree

will extend along that coast the clim ate of which appears congenial to the plant .

Of those producing G amboge, Roxburgh particularly m entions two kinds , namely, X antho

chymus pictorius and Ga rcinia pictoria . The juice of the former differs so very widely in its qualities from goo dGamboge, that it can never be expected to prove valuable as a pigment, until

its chem ical constitution is better known than itwas to Roxburgh, and measures can be adopted

to render it more manageable in the hands of the artis t. This result the imperfect analysis

of Dr . Christison seem s to indicate,is most unlikely, since however well known , it does

not possess the elements of G amboge a further confirmation of the opinion , expressed above ,that it is not a genuine Gut/ifera . That of the la tter is described as affording a bright

coloured superior Gamboge when recent, but the colour liable soon to fade . The tree or trees ,

however, which produce the Siam or Chinese G amboge of commerce is not yet known, though

the result of late enquiries on the subject in C eylon,leave scarcely a doubt, as to it or them

being members of this fam ily—neither is the kind of preparation known, which the finer kinds

undergo to fit them for the European market. The account g iven of the course of this

article to the European market is , that it is produced in Siam and carried thence to Singapore,whence it is imported into England by the China ships .

The best account we yet possess , so far as I am aware, of the qualities and composition of

Gamboge is given in a paper by Professor Chris tison of Edinburgh ,On the sources and com

position of Gamboge , with an exam ination of som e analogous concrete juices” published in thesecond volume of Hooker

’

s Companion to the Botanical Magazine , the whole of which article

I should, had space permitted,have transferred to these pages, as being so much more

generally read in this country than the work in which it orig inally appeared. Some extracts

from this m asterly m emoir I shall however introduce, in the hope that they may lead to still

further enquiry both in this country and in the eastern Archipelago,where the tree producing it,is mos t probably indigenous, and prove the m eans of putting us in possession of floweringspecim ens of the plant thereby enabling us to set at rest this long ag itated question , viz . ,

what is the tree that affords the Gamboge of commerce —one Ceylon tree, the one here figured

under the name of Hebradendron Cambog eoides , has been ascertained to produce a Gamboge,agreeing in nearly all respects with the best Siam Gam boge, whence it is presum ed, and on

good g rounds , that a nearly allied, if not the iden tical, species is the one that produces the Gam

boge of commerce, which it would appear from the enquiries of Dr . Christison is altogether

deri

ied from the eastward, none having as yet been exported from Ceylon for the English

m ar et.

Of the Ceylon tree, Dr . G raham , Professor of Botany in Edinburgh, has g iven a veryteresting account in the same volume of the Companion to the Botanical Magazine, and showntha t it is totally different from the Sta lagmitis Cambog ioides of Murray, the tree hitherto sup

posed, on most insufficient grounds, to be the source of this very valuable substance.

1 16 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY

The following are the extracts , prom ised above, from Dr. Christison’

s paper, and whichthough copious , afford but a very imperfect idea of the m ass of information embodied in thislucid and scientific m em oir .

The source of G amboge has long been a subject of doubt and controversy among Pharmacolog is ts and m edical Bo tanis ts ; nor are the opinions and information

, even of the most

recent authors , by any means sa tisfactory . In order to unders tand this enquiry thoroughly, itis necessary to be in the first instance distinctly aware, what are the articles to which the name

of Gam boge is usually g iven , and whence they are obtained.

In point of fact, a considerable number of kinds of Gamboge , differing more or less fromone another in quality, and even in nature, as well as in their place of orig in , are known incommerce . The m ost important and finest qualities are g enerally considered to com e from the

kingdom of Siam , and are imported into England from China by way of S ingapore . Am ongthese the wholesale drugg ist dis tinguishes by nam e at least two, and g enerally three varieties

pipe gamboge , cake or lump gam boge, and coarse gamboge . Pipe gamboge , which is invariablythe fines t, has sold in the London m arket during the las t eight years , at prices varying from

two shilling s and ten- pence to fi ve shilling s a pound, exclusive of duty .

‘ C ake or lump gam

boge is sometimes very nearly equal in quality to the las t, but is more commonly somewha t iaferior, and therefore sells for a t least three -

pence a pound less . The two qualities are some

times m ixed in the same packages ; som etim es each package contains but one ; and frequently,on the other hand, the cases contain not merely pipe and cake gamboge , but likewise ,

m ore or

less of a very inferior sort,by the presence of which the price is materially affected. This ia

ferior sort again,of which there are probably m any varieties confounded tog ether in the rude

nom enclature of the English drug -m arket under the name of coarse g amboge, and which willbe seen presently to be nothing else than a cake g amboge of low quality, often cons titutes the

entire contents of the package . In its crude state this is quite unfit for the purposes of the

painter, and is equally rejected for m edicinal use and consequently it bears so con temptible a

character in the market, as to bring scarcely ten - pence a pound, when the other sorts are worththree or four times as m uch . For this statement I am indebted to Mr. Stead, an extensive

and experienced wholesale druggist in London .

”

l .- Pipe gamboge is so term ed in the nomenclature of the drug -market, from its pecu

liar form . It occurs chiefly in cylindrical m asses , from three quarters of an inch to nearly three

inches in diam eter, commonly hollow, and often doubled upon themselves, and cohering . Not

unfrequently several of these pipes or cylinders are firmly accreted into irregularly - shaped cakes

or balls , two or three pounds in weight ; in which, however, the remains of the cavities m ay be

traced, though much flattened. The surface of the unaccreted cylinders is dirty g reenish yel

low, and striated, eviden tly from the impression of the reed moulds into wh ich it is run whensoft. Where several cylinders have been joined together , and squeezed in to a cake or ball, the

mass is usually wrapped in large leaves , which appear to belong to a m alvaceous or bombaceous

plant. Pipe gam boge ih very brittle, and presents a somewhat conchoidal fracture, the surface

of which is smooth , brownish yellow in tint, and glimmering in lustre . It becomes bright

Gamboge - yellow wherever it is frayed or rubbed, and very readily forms an emulsion , or pas te

of the sam e hue, when rubbed with thewet fi nger. It has scarcely any taste but after a short

time produces a sensation of acridi ty, especially in the back of the throat. Neither has it anysmell ; yet the fine dust, raised in pulverizing it, quickly irritates the nostrils , even in quanti

ties inconceivably m inute, exciting a profuse flowof mucous, and some sneezing , but without

am .pThis variety of Gamboge is fam iliarly known to be an excellent and powerful purgative,

which in the dose of three, five , and seldom more than seven g rains , produces profuse waterydischarges ; nor has there ever appeared to m e any reason for dreading its effects , as our pre

decessors did ; for its action is seldom or never accompanied with m uch pain or other uneasi

ness , if it is thoroughly pulverized with some other finely pulverizable substance . such as cream

of tartar. Yet on the other hand, it is a dangerous poison in large doses ; one drachm has

proved fa tal ; and the cause of death is violent inflamm a tion of the bowels . I believe that the

occasionally fatal effects of a nostrum much in vogue in the present day, under the name of

Morison’s Pills, have been satisfactorily traced to an over -dose of Gamboge .

”

Martin's History of the British Colonies, i. 224. table.

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1 18 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

flame and odour of burning wood, and with a m ere trace Of earthy residue, and therefore ap

parently woody fibre, or lignin . The analysis of two samples ga ve results nearly concordant,as follows . One hundred grains were used , and all visible fragments of wood were excluded.

First. Second.

Resin, dried in Oil- bath at 400°

A rabin, dried at

Fecnla , dried at

Lignin , dried at 212°

Total . 99 6

The proportion between the gum and the resin is here identically the average proportion

already m entioned as existing in Pipe gamboge ; so that, on simply abstracting the fecula and

woody fibre , an article is constituted of precisely the sam e chem ical composition . This cir

cum s tance, coupled with the presence of the particular principle fecula , and the vesicular s truc

ture of the cakes , renders it extremely probable , if not certain, that cake gamboge is not simplya natural production , but rather a manufactured substance— eu adultera tion . For in the first

place , it is the pure exudation plus so much impurity ; secondly, fecnla is not known to be produced from the trunks , branches , or leaves of plants belonging to tha t part of the botanical

system in which the true G amboge tree undoubtedly will be found to be properly placed, and itis therefore almost imposs ible that its presence depends on some .m ere variety in the period of

collection or other circum s tance in vegeta tion and thirdly, the vesicular texture , so different

from the com pact, uniform texture of Pipe gamboge, is exactly what m ight be expected from.

the process of wetting the exuded juice , heating it upwith other pulverulent subs tances , and

then drying it. It m ight be objected that eleven per cent. of foreign matter is a sm all additionfor an adulteration . But this am ount m ay, after all, be quite equivalent to the g rower

’

s profit

from the pure article ; and it will presently be seen ,tha t a larger proportion of adulteration,

m ay so dilute the yellowtint of the mixture as to render it almost unmarketable.

”

CHEM ICA L COMPOS IT ION OF coa as s G annon-

s .

Firs t. Second.

Resin, dried in the oil- bath at 380° 61 4

A rabin , dried at

Lignin , dried at

Mois ture disengag ed at

Total .CHEM ICA L COMPOSITION OF

‘ C EYLON G an eoo a .

The following results were obtained from three analysis of Mrs . ColonelWalker’s spes imens, evidently different in purity. The quantity used was one hundred g rains .

First. Second. Third.

Res in , heated a t

A rabin , dried a t

Fibre of wood and bark, at

Moisture not ascertained.

Total .

Moisture not reckoned .

Here it is evident that the proportion Of gum and resin to one another is as nearly as pos

sible the same, with their proportion in some Specim ens of fine Pipe gamboge .

”

.N'

ovember 28£h.—TO the observations made above, on the external characters and com

position of the differen t kinds of G amboge , it m ay be well here to annex a brief notice of the

g ambog ioid juices obta ined from two trees , which have been a t different tim es supposed bysome to yield the genuine drug , namely, the Ga rcinia cambog ia, and Xant/zoc/zymus pictorius .

ILLUSTRATIONS oi? INDIAN BOTANY . 1 19

I am here again indebted to Mrs . ColonelWalker for my subjects of analysis, having verylately received splendid Specimens of the barks Of both trees, with their exudations concretedon them .

The exudation of Ga rcin ia cambog ia , as I am informed by Mrs .Walker, concretes slowlyand imperfectly, so as to rem ain long viscid in the climate Of Ceylon . The specimens sent to

me, on arriving here , still continued soft enough to receive the impression of the fingers whensqueezed between them . The exudation was chiefly in the form of long slender tears , of aclear lemon -

yellowtint, without odour or taste , Of a distinct resinous appearance, both ex ter

nally and in their fracture , and wholly incapable of forming an emulsion when rubbed with thewet finger . These properties are alone sufficient to establish it as a substance altogether distinct from true G amboge ; and this distinction is still further shown by its chem ical compo

sitiou .

Suspecting that its softness was owing to the presence of volatile oil, I distilled 50 grainsof it with water in an apparatus , in which it was easy to measure any fluid g iven off, to the

fourth part Of a grain and after repeated cohobation , there were Obtained six grains of a lively

yellowvolatile Oil, posses s ing a faint turpentine Odour . From another portion, weighing 20grains , the resin and volatile oil were removed conjunctly by sulphuric ether ; and then coldwater took up a principle agreeing entirely with Arabin in its characters ; after which there wasonly left a little dark, brittle fibrous matter, evidently from particles of the bark. The analysis

gave the following results

a s s e s s o s s s s o s s e e s o o o o o s o t o i c o o o o s n o o s e

- O C O O O Q 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0

It is not a little remarkable that this exudation , evidently a true gum - resin, and contain

ing , too, a considerable proportion of gum , is nevertheless not emulsive . The resin differsessentially from that of true G am boge, being som ewhat less soluble in ether or rectified spirit,and possessing a colour somewhat different both in tint and in intensity . Its colour is not

orange , but rather lemon -

yellow; and its solution is so m uch less intense in tint than that of

the resin of Siam or true Ceylon G amboge, that the last two present an equal depth of shade

when dissolved in ten times as much spirit as the other .

”

Mr . Royle having expressed an opinion in his Illustrations of the Botany Of the Hima .

layah mountains , tha t a kind of Gamboge may also be produced by another species of the natu

ra l fam ily Gang/“eras, namely, the Xanthochymus pictorius,

’ it seemed to m e desirable to deter

m ine that point also by an analysis Of its resinous exudation, which Mrs .Walker’s specimens ,have put it in my power to accomplish .

The exudation on the bark Of this species is even more different in appearance from true

G amboge , than that of the Ga rcinia cambog ia . It forms small tears of a pale greyish -

g reen

colour, sometimes also pale yellowish -

green ; and it is translucent like a resin . It does not

form an emulsion at allwhen rubbed with the wet finger . It is pretty hard, and in cold weatherpulverizable .

From the facility with which it softens when heated, it probably contains some volatile Oil

but my specimen could not afford m e enough for ascertaining that point with care . For the

same reason I could not attempt an exact quantitative analysis Of its other component parts .

But it is evidently a true gum resin , containing , however, less gum than that of the Hebraden

dron . Sulphuric ether removes a pale greenish- yellowresin , leaving an opaque glutinous m ass ,

which is broken up and partially dissolved by cold water . The watery solution froths on ag ita

tion , and when evaporated leaves a viscous matter , evidently Arabin , or soluble gum . A small

quantity of fibrous impurities and fleecy particles remains unattacked by the ether and coldwater . One grain and seven - tenths of the gum resin yielded of resin , of g um , and

Of fibre, that is, and per cent. This result seems to indicate the absence Of

Illustrations, &c. p. 132, part iv. -1834.

120 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

volatile Oil ; but it cannot be relied on absolutely, on account of the small scale of the analysis.

The result , however , is s ufficiently accurate to Show, when taken along with the sensible quali

ties Of the gum resin , tha t the X a n llioc/Iymus pictorius does not yield an exuda tion res em bhugin any ma terial property the true G amboge of the IIebradendron .

”

REMA RKS ON G ENERA AND SPEC IES . Dr . Lindley remarks that European Botan is ts are

much in want of good observa tions upon the liv ing plants of Gurtg'

fera ’

, and tha t the re is no

order that is more in need Of elucidation from some skilful Indian Botanis t than this .

”That

such is a desideratum in Botany there can be no questIon, but Iwould ,with m uch deference, s ug gest

thatEuropean Botanists,who enjoy infinitely greater advantages for entering on the task of eluci

dation than Indian ones , should Showtheway, by thoroughly inves tigating the characters of the

genera and species so far as that can be done from preserved specim ens . It m ay appear pa radox

ical to s tate that European Botanists enjoy greater advantages for this work than Indian on es, but

it is nevertheless true . Indian Botanists are few, and very remote from each other,with bu t littleintercourse, and generally having other duties to engage their attention

,whence Botany, in placeof a profess ional pursuit becomes with them a m ere recrea tion . So s ituated, few enj oy the

opportunities required for the successful elucidation of a dIfficult natural order , even when well

qualified for the work ; each , only becom ing acquainted with the species , within his own lim itedcircle , g enerally too fewto adm it of his attempting from them any thing like a comprehens ive

exam ination of a complex order . He therefore , in place of a ttempting the nearly hopeless task

here assigned to him , m ore frequently when possessed of a scientific friend in Europe, sends

specimens there to have them exam ined and named, and but too frequently is disappoin ted in

his expectations . In this way large collections of all kinds of plants , from all parts of India,have g radually found their way to Europe and been brought together in the large European

collections . Let these in the fi rs t ins tance be well inves tigated by a scientific Botanis t, the

genera and species clearlydefined, their present confused synonymy unravelled, and such descriptions as can be m ade from dried specimens drawn upand published, to put the less qualified IndianBotanist in possess ion of the inform ation thence attainable, and then hewill have a fi rm founda tionon which to build his Observations m ade on g rowing plants . I t is true that equally perfect des

criptions cannot be made from dried specimens , as from g rowing plants , but I feel assured,from my own experience, that even with this most disheartening order, much more m ight have

been done than has been yet effected. Having thus pointed out the disadvantages under wh ich,in this country, we labour from want of materials to work upon , I trust due allowance will bem ade for such errors anddefects as may appear in the following attempt at elucidation, taken nearlyentirely from the exam ination Of dried specimens, some Of which doubtless would have beenavoided had m y series of specimens been more complete .

I believe I may with perfect safety set out with the proposition, that the order itself as it

nowstands is very badly constructed, being composed of the most heterogeneous materials .

One section Clusz'

eae, has an ovary with many cells , with many ovules in each , a dehiscent capsular m any valved fruit, and (except when the symmetry is disturbed by abortions) a quinaryproportion of the parts of the flower— almost the very characters of Hypericineae, and conse

quently, much more nearly allied to Hypericinew than to Garciniew whence it is nowonder,Botanists who form such groups , should find it difficult to drawthe line of distinction betweenthem and their nearest allies . The Clusiewappear in short to be rather a section ofHypericinewthan of Guttifera , and their removal would certainly render the latter g roup more natural.

The next tribe Ga rcim’

ew, the true Guttgfferw, has binary or quaternaryflowers, many celled

ovarieswith solitary or very rarely severalovules , and an orange - like indehiscent fruit. This tribe

therefore is more nearly allied to the Aurantz’

acear, but is readily distinguished by their quaternarynotquinary proportion . Profes sorMartins proposes uniting these two sections to form the order

Ga rcinew, excluding the next tribe Calophylleae . The separation of the section Calophg lleae

is certainly an improvem ent, but still leaves the anomalous combination of two sets of plants

differing so essentially in the same order ; the one, having a quinary proportion of parts and

capsular dehiscent fruit, while the other has a quaternary proportion ofparts and an indehiscentfleshy one, m erely on account of some sim ilarity of habit.

The third tribe combined to form this order is the Ca loplzylleae, trees associating in habitand in the binary arrangem ent of their floral envelopes , but having a drupacious 1 - 2 celled ovary,with one or severalovules, and a l or several seeded fruit, and differing so much in other respects

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122 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

have been considered a convenient receptacle for allmanner of refractory plants, having Oppo

site entire polished leaves, and square branches, however much they may depart from the char

acters of the order in the form and structure of the organs of re - production .

According to the arrangement I have proposed the Asiatic portion of the order, all that l

undertake to investigate, m ight be thus distributed.

GUTTIFERE . Floral envelopes ranged in a binary order, (two and its m ultiples) .

Suborder lst. Garcinieae— Ovary 4 -6- 8 ormore celled cells , usually,with one, rarely several, ovules attached to the inner ang le of the cell nex t the axis of the fruit. Style short or wanting.

Stigm a spreading , lobed ; lobes corresponding in number with the cells of the ovary . Flowersaxillary, solitary, or fascicled, peduncles l

-flowered, very rarely more . Ga rcim’

a, Gynotrockes.

Suborder 2d.- Calophylleae

— Ovary 1 -2 celled : ovules solitary, or several; a ttached to

the base, ascending . Style elongated. Stigma radiato-

peltate. Peduncles axillary, l-flowered,

or racemose, or form ing term inal panicles .

This suborder may again be divided into two sections, or m ight perhaps be advantageouslyremoved altogether to form a distinct order , on account of the difference Observed in the ovaryand fruit, but for the present I , in accordance with all former practice, Professor Martins ex

cepted, allowit to remain as a section of the order.

lst.—Mesueae—Ovary 2- celled : ovules several in each cell. Peduncles axillary, l -flowered—Mesua .

2d.—Ca lophylleae—Ovary l - celled : ovules solitary or several, erect. Flowers racemose,

or panicled—Calopbyllum,

Apoterz'

um,Kayea .

The genus Xanthochymus I exclude from the order on account Of the quinary arrange

m ent of its flowers, and for the present refer it to Hypericineae, as being the order m ost nearlyakin, in which that structure prevails . It may be Ob

'

ected to this proposal, that m any Of the

Hypei icineae have quaternary flowers, but then, t e ternary or quinary fascicles of stamens,and the 3 or 5- celled ovaries Show, that that is not their normal s tructure, but the effect of

abortion of parts . Taking number therefore as the basis of our classification ,we can no longer

experience the difficultywhich has hitherto been felt in distinguishing the species referable to

one or other of these orders, and however closely allied in all other respects, this character

alone , preserves a clear and well marked line of demarcation between them .

If the precedent established by Dr. Graham in the formation of his genus Hebrudas

dron be followed, we m ay, I fear, soon expect to see the off- sets from Ga rcinia about as

numerous as its species now are, since that genus is separated on account of a variation in a

single point of structure, and without reference to analogous form s met with in other species.

The only point in which it differs from Garcinia , as defined in our Prodromus is—ia havingI - celled circum cissile anthers—while the more usual form in that genus is to have them twocelled, with introse long itudinal dehiscence . Should this be considered a satisfactory reason

for its removal, then G . Kydiana Roxb.which has a four- sided connectivum with a polliniferous

cell in each face, m ust equally be separated from the genus , as well as another species of

which I possess specimens from Mergui, the anthers of which are l - celled, dehising trans

versely across the apex . Another variation of structure which has been long observed In a fewspecies of the genus will equally demand separation , as being of a t least equal g eneric value, I

allude to those in which the stamens of the male flower are united into four thick fleshy andro

phores,with a highly developed sterile pistil in the centre . Here then , assum ing that we arejustified in assigning generic value to such variations of structure, lim ited as they are to .

the

m ale organization , are four distinct genera, and all, so far as such artificial characters can make

them , equally stable. I confess that I have an objection to this kind of excessive sub -division,

in as much as , whatever rule holds good with respect to genera must equally apply to orders ,

and must inevitably lead to the elevation of half our present species to the rank of genera , and

an equal proportion of genera to natural orders ; both Of which might be avoided by a slight

extension of our characters , and s till better by a careful and comprehensive inves tigation Of

g roups of allied species and genera, before attempting their disunion in the form ation Of new

genera and orders . In support of these views I think I may safely cite the recorded Opinion of

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

5 I I .

I I I . Ant/ters sessile, depressed, flattened above, l o celled, dehiscing circula rly , ( circumsciss ile}. Cambogia .

—L in .

In the following synOpsis of the genus I shall distribute all the known species according to

the above arrangement, prem ising however, that I have seldom encountered one, whose species

are more diffi cult to unravel, and that I entertain but faint hopes of succeeding in m y endea

vour to render clear, that which seem s to have been very obscure to m os t of m y predecessors .

Of these , Roxburgh is the one on whom I have reposed mos t confidence . his descriptions , witha few exceptions extending to every part of the plant, and being generally made from recent

specim ens , are the m os t correct and perfect.

A sim ilar plan has been pursued with respect to the other genera of the order Mesua ,

Gynotroches , Ca lophyllum , Kayea , and Calysaccion, (flpoterium I consider a section , only, of

Calophyllum) and thus will be placed before the Indian Botanis t the most complete account

of the A siatic division of this diffi cult and hitherto ill unders tood order any where published .

That both errors and om issions will be found, is mos t probable , since such seem almost una

voidable even under circumstances most favourable to the attainment of accuracy, and such I

cannot flatter m yself are those under which I write, lim ited as I am in the time requisite for

the elaboration of such a monograph , and equally so in the space I feel myself at liberty to

appropriate to it in this work. The whole order however required elucidation , and the means

of doing so to a considerable extent having been placed at m y disposal, I feel, that I shouldnot have done justice to those who kindly contributed the m aterials, did I not do my utmostto render them available to the objects of science by their publication .

Anthers 2- cslled, oblong , dehiscing long itudinally, introrse.

SYNOPSIS OF THE INDIAN GUTTIFERE .

SUB -Canna—Garciniew.

GARCINIA—Lin.Willd. &c.

Cambog ia , Lin.—Mangostana ,Ge rt

—B rindom'

a , Pet.

Thour l—a carpusL ouL—S tal Iitis,MurI-

ay,partlyCambess . partly.

—Hebradendron, ham .

Flowers pol gamous , dioecious . Sepals 4, pers istent.

Petals 4, deci nous . Male—Stamens numerous, 4 adel

phous, or monadelphous, with or without an imperfect

istillum . Anthers 1-2-4 celled, dehiscence various .

emule—Stamens few or numerous , usnall 4 adel

phons, the fascicles opposite the sepals—ant ers gene

rall

yim erfect. Ovary 4

- 10, celled : Ovules solitary in

eac cel Style very short or wanting . Stigma pel

tate, lobed ; lobes corres onding in number with thecells . Fruit fleshy, inde iscent, 4

- 10 celled, crownedwith the permanent sti a, g lobose, or slightly elon

ted, sometimes furrowe Seeds , solitary in each cell:Trees ,with o posits ,coriaceous,shining ,g labrous leaves

the extremebranches usually somewhat 4 - sided.

Subg enus MANGOs'r ANA—Gmrt. Male—Stamens very

numerous , tetradelphous : androph ores , thickandfleshy,covered on all s ides with anthers—Ovary rudimenta ry,supporting a large globose sterile stigma .

5I . Anthers oblong , 2- celled, dehiscing longitudinally.

1 . G. Mang ostana , (Lin.) Leaves somewhat rhom

hoidal, obtuse ; male—flowers fascicled ; female—soli

tary. terminal : fruit globose, 6- 10 celled, (about the

size of an orange) .2. G . cornea , (Lin.) Leaves oval, oblong, acute at

both ends :flowers terminal, male aggrega ted ; female

politary : fruit g lobose, 4- celled, (about the s ize of a

ime) .3 . G. speciosa

— (Wall. Pl. As. Bar. 3, page 37-258.

Leaves elliptic, oblong, acute, male flowers gregat

in the terminal axils , stamens 4 adel hous , an rophores ,closely covered with anthers, steri e stigma flat, 4

-nu

gled: female ?

The male plant only of this species is known, theflowers seem larger than those of any of the other spe

~

cies of the genus .

4 . G. Celebica (Choisy ) . Leaves ovate, lanceolate,acute : flowers axillary, solitary , near the ends of thebranches : male— stamens 4 adelphous, androphores ,thickly covered with anthers : female— stigma entire,concave, furrowed within, fruit lobose.

The description of Rumph, erb. Amb . I, page 134,of the stamens of the male flower, is so precise as not

to leave a doubt that this species, belongs to this sec

tion.

5II . Anthers l - celled, depressed—flattened above, de~

hiscing transversely .

5. G. Merg uens is—R .W. Male—flowers axillary,

fascicled : ex terior pair of sepals minute, the interior

ones large in proportion—female.

Mar a im—Communicated byWm. Grifi th, Esq, (No.

97, in I-Ierb.

Arborions, or shrubby, very ramous, leaves lanceolate,

acuminated at the point: flowers numerous, small, fascicled in the axis of the leaves, fascicles 3

-5flowered,sepals 4, the exterior pair minute, bracteas

- form, the

interior ir large, and before anthesis completely en

clos ing t e res t of the flower. Stamens very numerous,filaments united into four thick fleshy andro hores , com

pletely coveredwith sessile, flattened, l -cc ed.

anthers,dehiscing transversely across the apex

. Abortive, pistil

lobose, ca ita te, glabrous, longer than the stamens.

e female have not seen.

Subg enus Oxr caarub—In ur. Male—Stamens numer

ous, monadelphous, filaments united into a short, fleshy,

4- sided, sub-capitate androphore, coveredwith antherswith orwithout a minute, rudimentary pistil.

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

o

pposita. Flores ve'tticillati sessiles. Itis in tmth the only

ant of the genus in Ceylon, having sess ile verticelled

Bowers . In hi s generic characterhedescribes the anthers,anthem ! subrotundee, the pistil germen subrotandum stria

tum, stylus, nulus . Sti a quadrifldum .persistem , and

finally, the pericarp. omum subrotundum aetios s idea

tum octolocula re—showing clearly that the characteroftheflower andovary is taken from one species,andof the fruit

from a different, owing to the imperfection of his specimens andhis not being aware that the lobes of the stigmaafi

’

ord a sure indication of the numberof cells of the fruit.

His Combo ia, however, baring this error is certa inly theGambo p antof Ceylon,which is further established, asDr. Grfsfam informs us ,by the exam ination of the s eci

men inHerman’s Herbarum, which may be cons i ered

the type ofLinne ns’ Camb ia yutta

”- If therefore, that

plant is to be elevated to t e rank of a genus I should

say his name ought unquestionably to be reta inedwith

an amended character, and Botany relieved from the

unseem ly allus ion conveyed under the new one. If

M urray'

s Stalagmitis is on account ofpriority to supplant

Roxburgh’e Xantlioch mus . much more must L innteus

’

Cambogia supplantGra am’sHebradendron ,partly for the

same reason, priority,butprinci s llv, becauseDr.Graham

knewwhen he gave the name, t athis plantwas identicalwith that of Linnteus , while it was almost imposs ible

that Roxbur h could ever recognize his Xanthochymus

inMurray’s c aracterofStalagmitis,made upas it is, from

two genera (Garcinia and Xanthochymus) so distinct asnot to be referable even to the same natural order. In myo

pinion S la lagmitis ought to be suppressed, and Xan

t ochymus reta ined.

In my collection there are specimens of I think,though notwithout some doubt, a third species referableto this section, (fruit sulcated) the fruit is 4 - celled,withfourdeepabrupt furrows , and ofan oblong conical sha e.

14. G . conicarpa Fruit conical, 4- seeded,4 ar

rowed, furrows angular: leaves sub- spathulate, veryobtuse, longish petioled : flowers sub- sess ile in the ter

m inal ax ils : male—stamens few, 8- 12, filaments

united into a slender column, equalling the sepals .

Hab. Female— Shevag lierry hills in deep mountain

va lleys—Male : Ceylon . I have introduced a mark of

doubt before the character of the male, from feeling un

certa in,on account of the very different stations,whetheror not it appertains to the same species . In the form of

the leaves and position of the flowers they agree.

II I . Anlhers sessile, depressed-fla ttened above, l - cel

led.dehiscing circu larly, ( circum cis sile) . Cambogia-L in.

15. G. utta Flowers sessile, aggregated in theax ils of t e leaves, apparently verticelled round thea rticulations of the branches where the leaves have

fillen, fruit g lobose, about the size ofa cherry, 4—seeded,

leaves from broad lanceolate, to rhomboidal, obtuselyattenuated at both ends.

Ceylon ftc uent, not uncommon about Colombo, and

generally on t e south -west coast of the island.

Cambna ia g ulta Lin.Hebradendron Cambog ioide-S‘

,Gra

ham ,Hofiter’s Comp. Bot.Mag .with allhis synonym s , in

cluding the above of Linne us. Lind :Flor.Med. R .W.

111:Ind. Bot. tab. 44.

16. G . Flowers axilla solitary, an

thers of t e male flower peltate"of t e female 2

lobed and seem ingly fertile” fruit, very slightly furrow

ed between the seeds ; seeds four.

Hab. - i’

l{alabar andWynand, j ung les.

Though I consider this a distinct species I am unable

from an exam ination of Roxburgh’

s drawing and des

criptica , to assi

the anthers of t e female flowers afford the best mark,

which in the former are like the male pelta te, in this2- lobed and 2- celled, (the ordinary struc ture) and ofcourse reducing the value of that character as a genericdis tinction .

17. G. elliptica (Wall.) Leaves large ,coriaceous ,elliptic, obtuse , abruptly and shortly acumina ted femaleflowei'

s sessile, axillary, ovary 4o celled, anthers circum

sciss i e.

My specimens of this plant were com m unicated byMr. Griflith, they are the female only and somewhatpas t flower. I was however enabled to refer it to this

section, b the exam ination of some anthers which werestill attac ed, and also by the habit, espec ial ly the sessile flowers . The leaves are longish petioled, and at

least three times the size of those of the C eylon plant,ofan oval shape, and very little attenua ted at either

bas e or a ex . I refer it doubtfully toWallich '

s elliptica, on 1 te authority of Dr. Graham , who s ta tes that itG . ellipticaWall. agrees in the character of the antherswith his Ceylon specimens .

Do the following belong to this section a nd a re theydistinct species

?

18 G. la teriflora. (Blume, Bijd. 1 , page Ramuliroundish, leaves elliptic oblong , obtusely acuminated,acute at the base, coriaceous : flowers conges ted, lateral,ses s ile— (Calyx 4 sepals , peta ls 4, s tamens monadel

phons , in a single series ; ovary.4-celled ; sti sessile,

multifid:berry g lobose, 4- celled— a tree 40-50 feethigh.)

Obs .—The female flowe . only of this seem s to be

known whence he infers the species is herm aphrodite,and on that account distinct from .

19. G . j avanica , (Blame, l. c.) Ramuli roundish , leavesoval, acute at both ends. blunt pointed, coriaceous

flowers congested, sessile, agg rega ted, (allied to G.

dioica) - a tree 30 feet h igh, flowers dioicous, yellowish,ova sli htly furrowed, 4 - celled.

0 s . he sessile aggregated flowers and 4-celled

fruit of both these plants, leads me to suspect that theyboth belong to this section, and that they are but varie

ties of the same species .

Species imperfectly known.

20. G .

gums, Roxb. Hort. Deng . ‘Vall. listN. 4866

21. G. oobicowa,Roxb . l. c.

22. G . bhumicowa ,“’all. 1. 4858.

23 . G . fascicula ris ,Wall. 1. 4853.

24. G . a uis.Wall. 1. 4854.

25. G . ieterandm ,Wall. 1. 4856.

G . corymbosa ,Wa ll. 1. 4859.

27. G . nmbilifera . Roxb. l. c . andWall. 1. 4864.

28. G . lolmlosa ,Wall. 1. 4868.

elliptica,Wall. 1. 4869.

30. G . Cltoieyarza ,Wall. 1. 4870.

3 1 . G. aemnma la ,Wall. l.32. G. eug inifolia ,Wall. 1. 4873.

Species emoluded.

G. malabarica , (Desrous) Lam . dict.Dyospyros species

G . elliptica , (Choisy) . Stamens pentadelphous—Xan'

thorhymus spe cies

G. lom ri'

folia , (Blume) . Stigmate, sub. 5—radiatoe

De

Xanthoehymas species

Blume, Bud, 1-218.

Calyx . 4 -

parted, pers istent. Peta ls 4, flmbriated.

Disk. hypogynous, bearing the stamens on its margin

Stamens 8. Ovary, 6- 8 celled ; cells . 8- ovuled. St la,

fi liform . Stigma , pelta to—mdiate. Berrv g

lobose, pulpy.better characters . The ditference of 4 -6 ce

'

led. Seeds compressed, solitary by abortion, fixed

to the ax is.

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130

dently forms the type of a newgenus, and. so far as canbe made out from male flowers only, clearly referable to

this suborder.The most striking peculiarity I have observed in th is

is the e stivation of its calyx, which seems valvate,and not imbricateda s in all the other genera of the order,and is the only point that

'

ves rise to the slightest

doubt as to the order to w ich it belong s . But this

anomaly may be explained, I think, on the en pos itionthat two of the four sepals, usually present in t c order,abort, and that the rema ining two, as happens with the

exterior sepals of Kayea , have a valvate ezstivation . An

other circumstance that strikes me as peculiar,is, that the

union between the sepals is so very intimate, as not

to present any indication of the place where it occurshence the corolla and stamens before anthes is have theappearance of bein g inclosed in a bag, the more so, as

the calyx,which is thinandmembranacrousds a henmoistened, as pliable as wet bladder. During an thesis, it

splits into two equa l halves, displaying 4 petals and nu

merous stamens, but in the ma le flowers , no trace of a

pistil— the genus may be thus designated and defined.

Cau saccto a, R .“7.Flowers unisexual. Ma le— Sepals (2 intimately

united (form ing a closed sac ) in mstivation. Peta ls 4, im

bricating . Stamens very numerous, sub-monadelphous at

the base, filaments short, slender : anthers oblong, 2

lLLUSTRA'

l‘

lONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

celled : cells a proximated parallel,opening lenoths ise.connectivum s ightly prolonged and trunca t at theapex. Pistil altogether wantingA rborions, young shoots terete or s li htly 4- sided,

leaves glabrous , opposite, short petiole linear lanoeclate, obtuse, thick, hard and coriaceous , markedwith a prominent cos ts, but without trans ve rse parallelveins . Flowers numerous, congested on la teral tubercles , spring ing from the axils of fallen lea ves (abortivebranches ) forming dense lateral capitulae, pedunclesshort, l-flon cred.

C. long ifolium, R .W.

Malabar nea r Bombay .

I am indebted to J. Graham , Esq. of Bombay, formys ecimens of this plant, which he thought, m ight bet e Calopltyllum long ifola

’

um ofWallich’s lis t m entionedabove as cerle non huj us g eneric.

” As this conjectureseems not improbable, I have adopted that specific name.The genus so far as its aflinities can be made out fromthe male flower only, is most nearly allied to Karyn , butwants the inner pa ir of sepals, and the oute r coss are

very diti'

erent in texture, which, added to the ditl'

ereucc

of the anthers, and habit, throwalmost ins u r mountabledifficulties in the way of its being a dm itted into that.family, and fully hear me out in considering it a newanddistinct genus .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 44 .

Hebradendron Cambog r’

oides, (Graham ) Garcim'

a

tta, (R.W.) page 126.guA. F lowering branch, (female)—B. The same in

fruit—m a tural 8328.

1. Female flower.—2. Stigma removed.—3. Male

flower front view.—4 . Side viewof the same, the petals

removed to show the stamina! column—5. Back vieuI

of the same.—6. Column of stamens taken from a flow

er- bud.—7. An anther before dehiscence—a ll more or

magnified Full grown fruit cut transverselvand vertically—na tural size.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 45.

Ca lophyllumWat/tern , (R.W.) natura l size—2. A

detached flower—natural rica —3 . The same dissected,showing each piece

— 4 . An anther.—5. Grains of pol

len.—6. A diag ra m of the e stivation.

—7. Ovary, style,

and s ti a, the ovary cut transve rsely — Q . The samecut vertically .

- 9. A fruit— na tura l s ize—a ll will; the

excepti ons mentioned, more or less mag n ifi ed.

P . S .— After this article was completed and the greater part of it printed, I received

Lindley ’s Flora Medica” a newwork jus t issued from the press , and l ike all the other worksof the accomplished author form ing a most va luable contribu tion to Botan ica l sc ience ;on this occas ion in connection wi th m edicine . In th is work I fi nd Dr. Lindley has added the

weight of his authority , to that of those who adopt Murray ’s Sta lagm itis in preference to Roxburgh

’s Xanthochymus. This he does for the reasons adduced by Dr. G raham

, name ly, that Mr.

B rown had exam ined Murray ’s specim en and ascerta ined that it cons is ts of two plants , probablyof two genera , one of wh ich, in flower, is a Xantlzochymus, the other, no t in flower , supposed to beG raham ’

s Hebradendron . Hav ing expressed my belief tha t Xa nthoc/tym us does no t be long toth is natura l order, and hav ing no newspecies to add, nor other informa tion to communica te res

pecting it, I did not intend to have noticed that g enus in this place . But as I have sa id abovethat in my opin ion S talagmitis ought to be suppressed and Xant/cocbymus established in its room,

I feel nowca l led upon to state m ore fully my reasons for think ing so— l shal l commence by extracting from the“Botanical Magaz ine C ompanion

”the passage of Mr . Brown ’

s letter,quoted by Dr.G raham as his authority, for say ing that the generic nam e Xant/coclzymus must be dropped in favour of Sta lagmitis . The plant sent pasted by Kiinig to Sir Joseph Banks , as one

specimen , I have ascerta ined to be made up of two plants , and very probably of two genera .

The union was concealed by seal ing wax . The portion in flower, and wh ich agrees in s tructurewith Murray’s account, is, I have no doubt, the Xamlwchymus ovalifoliua of Roxburgh.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 13 l

Stalagmz'

tis and Xanthochymus are therefore one genus , as Cambessides has already observed,g iving the preference to the earlier name of Murray . This, however, forms but a small part ofthe whole specimen, the larger portion being , I am inclined to think, the same with your plant,of which I have seen , and I believe still possess , the specimen you sent to Don.

’ The strue.

ture, however, of this greater portion cannot be ascertained from the fewvery young flower - budsbelong ing to it. It approaches also very closely, in its leaves especially, to that specimen inHermann ’

s herbarium , which may be cons idered as the type of L innaeus’Cambog ia g utta . A

loose fruit, pas ted on the sheet with Konig’s plant, probably belongs to the larger portion, a nd

resembles Gaartner’

s Morella.

”

So far all appears clearly in favour of Stalagmz'

tis,and had Murray in drawing uphis char

acter rig idly confi ned him self to the description of the flowers before him ,I should at once have

adopted his nam e in preference to Roxburgh’

s . But on turning to his character, as g iven inSchreber’a genera plantaram ,

we find a 4 - leaved calyx , a 4 -

petaled corolla, and a 4 - lobed s tigma,

combined with pentadelphous stamens , 3 - seeded berries, the stigmas som etimes trifid : stam inanot always polyadelphous ! &c. From this very unusual combination of quinary and quaternary forms I am led to infer that the character is only partly derived from the Specimen, and

partly, if not principally from notes communicated by Kon ig , who, it appears , from the fact ofhis having combined, on the supposition that they were the same plant, two distinct species ,was not aware of the difference, and m isled Murray by comm unicating written characters of aGa rcinia , and flowers of another plant, and between the two, there has resulted a set of characters not likely to he often found combined in the same species and s tillless frequently in one smallspecimen . Roxburgh on the other hand briefly and clearly defines a genus of plants wellknown to him ,

and extens ively dis tributed over India, about which he has scarcely left roomfor a m istake . If further proof he wanted in support of the opinion I have advanced that thisis a hybrid genus , l adduce C ambessides , whose authority is quoted for the identi ty of Sta lagmitis and Xamlmc/zymus . He has s trictly followed Murray , adopted all the contradictions ofhis character and cons ti tuted a genus embodying , first, Roxburgh

’

e g enus Xanthochymus,next

,l’etit Thours ’ B rindonia ,

evidently identical with Ga rcim'

a , then Loureiro’s Or g/ca rpi“,

also Ga rcinia,and las tly, (if [ am not m isled by Mr. George Don , whom I am obliged for

want of Cambessides ’ own memoir to follow) nearly the whole of Roxburgh’

e species of Gar

cim’

a, as if Roxburgh was so bad a Botanist as not to be able,with g rowing plants before him,

to dis tinguish between two genera so very distinct as Ga rcinia and his own Xanthochymus .

In a paper which I published in the Madra s Journa l of Science for October 1836, I showedfrom the in ternal ev idence afforded by the two sets of characters that Murray

’

s Sla lagm itis and

Roxburgh’

s Xanthochymm were partly identical, and attributed the discrepancies to defects ofMurray

’s solitary specimen , a v iew

,which Mr. Brown has shown to be only partly right by

proving that they in some m easure orig inated in the imperfect observation of Konig , who sup

plied Murray with the materials for his genus .

Hav ing now adduced what I esteem conclusive evidence in support of the opinion I advanced above, thatMurray

’

s genus is spurious , and that of Cambessides founded on it, is most un

natural, as associating species that never can combine generically :while Roxburgh’

s , is a strictlynatural genus including several nearly allied species , and m oreover. probably referable to a na

tural order different from m ore than half of the species referred to it under the name of Sta

lagmz‘

l is by Cambessides , I cons ider m yself fully jus tified in continuing to adopt the genericname Xa u lhoclzymw (even though oppos ed by the h ig he s t Botanical authorities ) until carefulexam ina tionof the orig inal specimen , with reference to the elucidation of the discrepancies Ihave indicated, shall have proved, that such actually exist in tha t specimen . If they do ex ist,then the fault is not Murray

’

s and his name must of right be adopted with an amended charac

ter, excluding the numerous species of Ga rciu z'

a broug ht under it by Cambessndes : if they do

not, Roxburgh’

s genus,which as it nowstands is strictly natural, claims the preference.

One of those received from Mrs.Walker.

ILLUSTRAT IONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

XXX IV.—I—l IPPOCRATEACEIE .

A small order of tropical arborescent or climbing shrubs,with oppos ite, s imple, undiv ided,

toothed , or entire , somewhat coriaceous leaves , and sm all deciduous s tipules . The flowers aresmall, bisexua l, regular, arranged in racemes , corymbs , or axillary fascicles .

The calyx cons is ts of five, or very rarely four or six , smallpers istent imbricating sepals . The

corolla is composed of fi ve , equal, inferior petals , alternate wi th the sepa ls , slightly imbricated infestiva tion . There are only three s tamens , by some the fi lam ents are described as distinct, byothers they are said to be free above , butdilated and usually cohering a t the base .form ing a cupordisk- like covering to the ovary. Anthers term inal, one or 2- celled, in the former case openingtransversely across the apex , in the latter long i tudinally . Ovary superior , hid under the diskof the fi laments , 3 -celled, with several superposed ovules in each, either ranged in a s ing le or

double row, and attached to the axis : s tyles 3 cohering into 1 stigmas 3 un ited, or distinct.Fruit either baccate with one or several seeds , or composed of three samaroid fill - valved carpels .

Seeds exalbum inous, embryo straight, radicle pointing to the base, sometimes winged, cotyledons fla t, elliptical, oblong , somewhat fleshy.

AFFINIT IES . These are uncertain, some Botanists cons idering this order more nearly alliedto Acerinece and Malpig hiacewmhile others a t the head of whom is the celebrated Brown , andDr. Lindley assert they are scarcely to be distinguished from Cela strinea’ the latter Botanist evenreduces this to a suborder of Celastrinew. Bartling places these two orders nex t each other,wh ileM eisner on the otherhandretains this order inhis classMa lpig /zincc in the v icin ityofzlla lpig hiacece,and E ry tlzroxylece . To m e it appears that in a strictly natural distribution of the orders it should

rank near Celastrinece, if not, as Dr. Lindley has done, form a section of that order, but so longas the orders themselves , are dis tributed according to an artificial arrangement depending on

the insertions of the petals and stam ens , whether hypogynous or perigynous , I fear it must be

reta ined in its present place . In itself, the order does‘

not seem well consti tuted,as resting on

a peculiarity of structure which I cannot help v iewing as of secondary importance, the un

symmetrical (ternary ) stamens and dilated cohering fi lam ents , while the fruit, which generallyaffords more valuable characters,difl

'

ers mostwidely in the different genera . The characters however derived from the rela tive number of s tam ens and sepals , added to the very unusual developm ent of the fi lam ents are so very singular, as well to entitle them to a deg ree of importancenot usually accorded to them , and even to raise them superior , in this particular instance , tothose taken from the peculiarities of the fruit and structure of the seed, and, for the sam e reason

that they uni te Salacia with a baccate fruit and Hippocra tea with three sam aroid carpels ,exclude Celastrinece , though in both orders the insertion of the ovules is either towards the

base , or is central, and the direction of the radicle is always inferior”

as observed by Mr.

Brown .

G EOGRAPHIC AL D ls'rmeu

'

r tort . This order is altogether of tropical orig in, the larger

portion apperta in ing to America . Some species of Hippocra tea and Sa lacia are found inAfrica , and several more of both in India . Hitherto, these two genera only, ha ve been m et within India , but are very generally diffused over it, and so abundant, that species of one or otherare to be found in almost every jung le.

Paorsar i ss AND Us ss . I am not aware of any use to which any of the Indian species ofth is order has been applied. The fruit of one African species Salacz

'

a py riform is is eatable, its

flavour is said to be rich and sweet. The seeds of Hippocratea comose, aWest Indian plant,

are oily and sweet.

R sm axs ON G am ma AND Spscms . The Indian flora as already rem arked only furnishesspecies of two genera, Hippocratea and Salacz

’

a . They are easily distinguished when infruit by the 2- valved capsular carpels of the one , and the pulpy baccate fruit of the other .

In flower they are not quite so readily distinguished, but m ay be by the anthers which are

l - celled, bursting across the apex in the former, and 2- celled open ing leng thwise in the latter,and generally still more easily by the inflorescence which is panicled in Hippocratea, while

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF

largest of the genus, and the form of the petals at once

distinguishes it from the other four Peninsular species .

H . Graham'

s} (R .W.) Shrubby, twining , glabrous,leaves coriaceous entire, from broadly ovate to subor

bicular, acuminated: panicles numerous , lar e, manyflowered, conges ted towards the summits of the ranches,

petals linear spathulate, obtuse,carpels obovate, obtuse,slightly emarginate.

H . obtusifoh'

a, Graham’s MSS.

Hab.- B ombay .

I am indebted to Mr. J. Graham , of Bombay, for myspecimens of this very distinct species ,which is at oncedistinguished from H . obtu

éz

z‘

olia , by its obtuse spa

thulate, not ova te acute pe s , and more easily by its

long eduncled, contracted many flowered, not diffuselysprea ing panicles.

SALACIA.

A . P eduncles oneflowered, few.

S . reticulum, (R .W.) Shrubby, twining , leaves oval

or somewhat obovate, attenuated at the base, ending in

a short blunt acumen, coriaceous, serrulate, reticulated

(when dry) with numerous prominent veins : peduncles

shorter than the petiols : petals ovate, broad at the base,attenuated upwards, exunguiculate, fruit large globosewartyCeylon andMalabar .

9partlycommunicatedbyColonelWalker.

The Malabar plant above alluded to may belong tothis species, but is not in flower. The leaves are sim ilar

in form but less distinctly reticulated,which mayperhaps be attributable to age, if identical, the fruit i s as

lar e as a small apple, rough and warty on the surface,andfrom it I have added,with a doubt, the character ofthe fruit. This species is very nearly allied to S. pri

noides, but is certa inly dis tinct if the fruit ] have des

cribed belongs to it, should it prove otherwise, it is distinguished by the form of the peta ls, which in this are

broad at the base, tapering to the point and without aclaw, in that, from broad ovate very obtuse, to subor

bicular and with a claw.

B . Peduncles oneflowered, very numerous .

S . ver rucosa , (R .W.) Shrubby, bark of the flowerbearing branches everywhere rough,with smallwartyexcrescences :leaves coriaceous, entire, lanceolate, acute

at the base, ending above in a short blunt acumen ;

INDIAN BOTANY .

EXPLANATION OF PLATES 46 AND 47.

46—1. Hip ocratea Arnottiana, R .W. na tural size.

47—A . 2. n expanded flower of the same.

3 . A n anther, showing it l - celled.

4 . The ovary cut transversely 3- celled, with twoovules in each cell.5. A mature capsule burst, showing the contained

6. A seed removed, showing the downward directionof the wing .

7 . A seed cut transversely .

8. The seed removed and divided longitudinally, toshow the inferior radicle and embryo—allmore or lessmagnifi erd.

peduncles l -flowered, very numerous, arising from

prominent axillary tubercles, shorter than the petiols :

petals broad at the exun

gpiculate, oblong, obtuse

ovules two, superposed, in eac cell: fruit ?

Heb —Merg ui. Communica ted byWm . Griffith, Esq.

The bark of the dower-bearing branches in this spe

cies are quite rough from the numerous small warty ex

crescences, the leaves which are very firm and coriaceous

are from 4 to fi inches long, and barely 2 broad at the

broades t part ; and the flowers , the clusters ofwhich arenearly opposite, are so numerous as to form complete

verticels .

S . multifiora , (R.W.) Shrubby, labrous, leaves

broadly ovate, lanceolate, rounded at t e base, slightlyacuminated and obtuse at the apex , coriaceous, quite en

tire : peduncles numerous, from axillary tubercles,l -flowered, longer than the. petiols : calyx dee y5- cleft: petals orbicular, ovules about 8 in each cel of

the ovary in two colla teral rows : fruit ?

Hab.—Mergui. Communicated byWm. Griffi th, Esq.

The leaves of this very handsome species dry of a

pale green in place of, as in most others of a dark

townish green : they are from 8 to 10 inches lon byabout 4 broad, quite entire, and in the dried p ant,slightly revolute on the. m argin. It appears a very dis

tinct species and remarkable for huvin a double rowofovules as in Hippocratca,Wi th the cel s of the anthers

placed tran sversely across the. apex of the filament and

opening outwardly, hence, when the fruit is known itmay form the ty pe of a newg enus.

Pedunclesfor/red, diuisions umbella tely ,manyflowered.

S .floribanda , (R .W. ) Shrubby, scandent, g labrous :

leaves elliptical, obtuse at both en ds, sometimes endingin an abrupt blunt acumen, very slightly crenate on the

marg in :peduncles ax illary, solitary, nearly as long as

the patio s , once or twice forked at the apex, each division ending in a dense cluster of small longish pedi

celled flowers : calyx eutire, 5- toothed : petals small,orbicular, reflexed : ovules 2 in each cell, collateral

fruit ?

M ergui.—Communica ted byWm . Griffi th, Esq.

The compound inflorescence of this species g ives rise

to a suspicion that it m ight be a Hippocratea , but thedecidedly 2- celled anthers forbids me entertainin such

an opinion, unless supported by the presence of ruit in

which my specimens are deficient.

47—B . l . Salacia oblon - eu expanded flower.2. The same, the sepals orcibly opened and the stale

removed to show the superior ovary and the dis dike

expansion of the filaments .

3 . S tamens showing the anthers 2-celled.

4 . A diag ram of the flower.5. The ova ry cut transversely.

6. A full grown fruit, na tural size.

7. The same cut transversely, natural size.8. A seed, the adhering pulp removed.

9. The same cut transversely—with the“ceptim

mentioned, all more or less magnifi ed.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

XXXV.—ERYTHROXYLEzE .

This is one of the smallest orders of the Indian flora, being at the time we publishedthe Prodrom us lim ited to one Pen insular species , the one here figured, one or two others haves ince been found on the continent, and one in Ceylon . The species are g enerally shrubs or

sm all trees , with ascending branches , the young shoots of which are often compressed andcovered wi th acute imbricated scales . The leaves are alterna te or rarely oppos ite, g labrous ,with ax illary s tipules . The flowers are small, axillary, solitary, or several tog ether, whitish or

greenish , the peduncles furnished with bracts at the base.

C alyx free, persistent, 5-

parted: torus inconspicuous : petals 5, hypogynous, equal, alternate with the lobes of the calyx, broad a t the base, and furnished with a pla ited scale within

,

stamens 10, hypog ynous , filaments united at the base : an thers erect, 2 celled, cells open inglong i tudinally by a la teral slit. Ovary 3

- celled, two often imperfect or empty, with a solitarypendulous ovule in each : s tyles 3 , distinct, or rarely cohering : s tigmas capitate . Fruit drupacious , l - seeded, albumen horny. Embryo linear, s traight: radicle superior round, s tra ight.Cotyledons linear, foliaceous,

A FF IN ITIES . This order was separated from Ma lpig lziacece by Kunth, on account of theappendag es of the petals , the presence of album en in the seed, the fruit being often l - celledby abortion , and the peculiar habit. These however in the estim ation of Dr . Lindley do not

appear peculiari ties enough to constitute it more than a subdiv is ion of Ma lpz'

g hiaceas, on whichaccount he has res tored it to that fam ily as a suborder . In the propriety of this dis tribution Iam inclined to coincide, though my lim ited acquaintance with this order, precludes my adopt

ing it.

G EOGRAPHIC AL D ISTRIBUT ION . TheWest Indies and South America appear to be thehead quarters of this order , but some species are found in the Mauritius and Madagascar, anda few(6or 8) in India . The only species I have m et with in Southern India are, the one here

figured, and two from Courtallum , l have bes ides specimens of another from Ceylon, which Inamed Sethic acuminata

, on account of the long acumen which term inates its elliptic oblongleaves .

Paoesar rs s awn Uses . The only notice I find under this head refers to a s ingle SouthAmerican species , the Erythroxylon coca

,ofwhich there is a very deta iled account in Hooker’s

Companion to the Botan ical Mag az ine . According to the writer of that paper, its effects are

fully as deleterious as those of opium . The following extract from Lindley’

s Flora Medics , g ivesan abbrevia ted summary of its effects .

A powerful stimulant of the nervous system , afl'

ecting it in a m anner analogous to opium .

Less v iolen t in its efl'

ects than that drug , but more permanent in its action . The Peruvianschewthe leaves with finely powdered chalk, and the government of Potosi alone, derived a

revenue of as m uch as peso duros in the year 1583 , from their consumption .

”

R EM ARKS on G am ma AND Sn ows . Two genera only are referred to this order, E rythroxylon and Set/tin, and of the last only 3 or 4 Species are known . Three are natives of

southern India , and one from Ceylon. The continental ones may be thus briefly characterized.

S . indi ca , leaves obovate, cuneate , styles un ited to the apex— S . lanceola ta , leaves lanceo

late, cuneate towards the base, styles united two- thirds of their leng th—S . erythroxyloides,leaves lanceola te , styles free to near the base , short. Dr. Lindley in the second edition of his

natural sys tem of Botany ,with great propriety, in my opin ion , reduces the last of these as beingseparated on too triv ial grounds , the union of the s tyles , a m ark, wh ich I cannot consider ofg eneric value, though, for the sake of preventing unnecessary dis turbance of established names,I have here reta ined it. Mr . Arnott g ives the following character of the Ceylon one in his

Pug illus Plantarum Ind :Orientalis .

Sethia acumina ta , (Arm) Leaves alternate, elliptic ered, calyx 5- cleft, segments ovate, acute, the stylesoblong , acute at the base, suddenly acuminated at the cohering almost to the apex, stigmas globose.

point, penninerved, paler beneath, pedicels axillary,bout a half longer than the petiols, solitary, l

-flow Ham—Ceylon.

136

My specimens, to which I had previously given thesame specific name,accurately correspondwith this character.

S etl u‘

a lanceola ta , (R.W.) Leaves lanceolate, obtuse,short petioled, peduncles axillary, solitary, about thricethe length of the petiols, styles longer than the stamens ,united about two- thirds of their leng th, free, and re

curved at the apex , stigmas g lobose.

Var . B. obtus ifolia . Leaves from elliptical taperingslightly towards the base to obovate, cuneate.

Han—Courtallum in tbiclcj ungles .These two varieties are probably distinct species, but

as the form of the style and stigmas is the same in both,I prefer kee ing them together, though they look different. In t e first the leaves are long and narrowin

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

roportion to their length, that is, from 2} to 3 inchesorig, by about 3 of an inch in breadth :while in theother they are about 1 ; inch in length, and g to 1 inchin breadth, and the s tipules which sheath the ends ofthe young shoots are larger.

Setl u'

a erythro laid“, (R.W.) Leaves oblon lanceolate, coriaceous,:

3iightly' retuse at the apex, sti sessilepeduncles axillary, solitary, three orfour times the lengthof the petiols : styles shorter than the stamens, free,nearly to the base ; stigmas recurved, clavate.

B ah —Courtallum in thickj ung les .

This species is very closely allied to the former, butthe marked difl

'

erence iii the styles and stigmas forbidtheir being united.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 48.

l . Sethis indica, natural size.

2. An expandedflower.3 . The same, partially dissected with a detached

petal, showing the scale at the base.

4 . The stamens removed to showthe union of thefilaments .

7. The same cut vertically, showing the pendulousovary.

8. A mature fruit, natural size.

9 . Cut transversely, two of the cells empty.

10. Cut vertically, showing the form of the seed.

Obs—Owing to an oversight the numbers were not

5. Detached stamens back and front views . added in this late, those heregiven are what ought to

6. The ovary cut transversely, the upper halfwith the have been, may be yet supp iadWi th pen and ink.

style and stigmas attached.

Xxxvl .—MALPIGHIACE1E .

A rather large order of tropical plants but principally confined to America, a very fewbeingfound in India , and these not of common occurrence . The greater number of Indian spe cies

are scandent shrubs , with jointed branches and oppos ite simple entire leaves ,without dots , andm inute stipules , some species of the order are clothed with appressed sting ing bristles , otherswith s ilky pubescence . The flowers are for the most part bisexual, regular; racem ose , or

corym bose, rarely solitary, the pedicels often jointed in the middle and furnishedWith braco

tiols .

Calyx 5- sepaled, free or slightly united, persistent, imbricated in

.

(e stivation, and furnished

with a defin ite num ber of conspicuous glands . Petals 5 unguiculate , i nserted on a discp id torus,sometimes unequal, seldom wanting . Stamens lo, rarely fewer, fi laments either di stinct pr

partly united at the base, anthers roundish, 2- celled, open ing by long i tudinal lateral sli ts , iatrorse. Ovary usually 3 - celled, occas ionally more or less dis tinct, ovules soli tary, pendulous ,s tyles 3 distinct, or cohering into one. Fruit berried or dry, 3 - celled, or by abortion , 2 or

l - celled and l - seeded, often with the m iddle of the back expanded into a wing , seeds pendulous , attached to the central axis of the carpel, exarillate, albumen none . Embryo curved or

straight :radicle superior, short. Cotyledons foliaceous, or fleshy.

A FFINITIES . The affi nities of this order do not seem to be very clearly defined, a t leas t I

do not find them so in any work I can refer to. The are distinguished from flcerinece by theirunguiculate petals , glandular calyx, and symm etries flowers : but in Erythrozr ylece .Which .

.

fls

stated above, are cons idered a m ere section ofMalpighiacew, the petals are sess ile, and in H ip.

tag s , the clawis so short as scarcely to deserve notice . Here however the pos ition.

of the ovules

assists to distinguish them ,being pendulous in this, erect in Acerm eae. lt is said tha t those

g enera of Hippocrateacea? which have samaroid fruit have sessfle petals , this 13 not e good ( lis

tinction, s ince in H . A rnottiana , the claws of the petals are, in proportion to their srze , fully as

long as those of Hiprage, the direction of the radicle, however, is different, being in this supe

rior , in that inferior ; from which it would appear, that Ma lpig hiaceware only dis tinguishablefrom Hippocra teacece and other allied orders by the radicle of the embryo being uniform lysuperior,

” wh ile in them it is inferior. Meisner in his Pla nta rum Vascula r-turnGenera combinesinto his class Malpig li inae the following orders , Hippocasta rieae, Sapm daceae, Mer

ing

Ii iaceae, Acerineae, Erythrozyleae, Hippocratiaceae, and? Corearzeae, the characters of w ich

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138 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

it belongs to the order. Pla tynema and Hiptag e, both certainly Indian plants , belong to the2d tribe, and Hiram equally so to the third. As these three are all old andwell known genera , itis unnecessary further to notice them here . .Ma lpig hz

'

a is also well known but not in thisquarter, on which account I have been induced to g ive a figure illus trative of the tribe , if not

of the genus ; for in truth I rather think this plant will be found to consti tute the type of a

newgenus , when exam ined by Botanis ts conversantwith the tribe , which I am not, and there

fore abstain from g iv ing what may prove a needless generic name . It differs from Ma lpz'

g l n'

a in

its unequal fi laments and anthers, as well as in its very unequal s tyles , but associates in thecharacters of its sepals , petals , and fruit ; on which account I refer it to that genus . The peca

liarities of the s tam ens and styles sufficiently distinguish the species .

flncz’

slrocladus , as already remarked, is an extens ively distributed genus, and when the

species referred here, rather from s im ilarity of habit than Botanical scrutiny, have been care

fully exam ined, will probably be found to embrace more than one g enus , and form the type of a

neworder intermediate between D ipteroca rpeaz and Malpig hz'

aceae, but removed from both bythe subinferior l - celled ovary, with a solitary erect ovule . Vahl describes the spec ies he saw(from Ceylon) as pentandrous . The Courtallum one has 10 stam ens, one I have from Mergui,has 10 stamens, but united at the base by pa irs like those of Hopea . This last associates inhabit and in the form of its flowers , but differs in the ovary, which seem s rudimentary. In all

I have seen in fruit the sepals enlarge and become wing - like as in the D ipteroca rpeae, not the

carpels themselves as in some Malpig li iaceae. Whether these different form s will ultim atelybe considered to form types of so m any genera , and the whole a new order, future experiencemust determ ine, but in the mean time I do not think it can with propriety be referred to this

order without m uch v iolence to existing affi nities .With D ipterocarpeae it is a ssociated on the one hand, by the wing - like expans ion of its

sepals , when in fruit, by a more or less perfect union of its petals and fi laments towards the

base, by its twisted aestivation ,and finally by its exalbum inous seed and thick fleshy exceed

ingly crumpled cotyledons : while on the other, it is removed by the ovary being infer ior, notsuperior ; one, not 3 - celled, and with one erect, not several, pendulous ovules ; and finally , byits scandent habit. The erect solitary ovule and scandent habit are the only points by whichit approaches Malpig lziaceae, while it is removed by the insertion of the petals being peri

gynous, by their being exunguiculate and occas ionally cohering at the base, by their aes tivationbeing twisted, not imbricative, and las tly, by the crumpled cotyledons . Much exam inationhowever is still required for the satisfactory elucidation of this v ery curious genus, but enoughhas been ascertained to shewthat it is m ore nearly allied to D ipteroca ipeae than to Malpighiaceac.

MALPIGHIA.

M . Item-anthem , (R.W.) Shrubby, ramous, leaves

roundish, armed with spiny teeth, glabrous : peduncles

axillary, jointed, furnished with two bracteal scales

petals unequal, fimbriated on the margin stamens

monadelphous at the base, two of them much larger :

styles three, all distinct, two larger much bent, the

other straightish and smaller : fruit composed of three

unequal sized drupes .

Hab.—Uncertain, but supposed to have been brought

to Madras from China.

This, as it appears in the Horticultural garden growing in a flower pot, is a small, very ramous, erect, leafyshrub, the leaves armed with sharp spiny teeth, like the

Holly. The petals are plaited, unequal sized, timbriated

on the margin, usually pure white, but occasionally witha light rosy tin The fruit rarely arrives at maturity,but when it oes seems to consist of three berries,scarcely adherent except at the base, one usually much

larger than the other two, and that the one which borethe smallest style.

HIBE A .

The two species of this genus established by Rox

burgh and adopted in our Prodromus, unless distin

guishable by the fruit alone, seem either but varieties

of the same plant, or the one we had before us as

H . indica is incorrectly described, as having the leaves

glabrous on both sides . This I have ascertained through

a number of newly preserved specimens recently receiv

ed, the under surface of the leaves of which are covered

witn soft downy pubescent-

e . The same I observe must

have been the case with my original specimens whenfirst collected, as there are still some remains of it v isi

ble. These two 8 ecies, it would ap ear from this, can

only be distinguis ed by the form of)

the wings of the

carpels, that is whether they are oblongb

or elliptic.

This may be a good specific character, a t not the

clothing . I have specimens of a third species , from

Mergui, with carpels nearly answering to Roxburgh’s

description of II . muons , though not exactly, as they are

orbicular in place of elliptic ; the leaves are nearly oval,acute at both ends , and glabrous,which marks, a hen added to the diffuse fewfloweredpanicles form a combina tion

of characterswhich leaves no doubt ofthis one being distinct from all the Indian forms . These three species

then may be thus distinguished by their fruit.

H . indica , carpels each surrounded with an oblonglinear entirewing .

H . nutans, carpels surrounded with a large entire

reticulate scarious ellipticalwing .”(Roxb .)

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY . 139

H . Merg nienses, carpels surrounded with an orbicular The fruit of our H . indica is also unknown, and as itthin transparent scarious reticulatedwing . differs from Roxburgh

’s plant in having the under s ur

In the two first the panicles are described as large,face of the leaves ra ther thickly clothed with soft ap

compound and clothed with appressed hairs , in the las t pressed PUbeSCGB CP, not glabrous , it may, when the fruit

they are diffuse, g labrous,with fewflowers, on long veryi? found l“0 f “the" Roxburgh’e H nutans , 0 1

“a dis

slender jointed pedicels .tmct specres, but for the present must remain undeter

H . cordate, appears quite distinct from all these,butm ined.

the fruit is as yet unknown.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 49.

l . Malpighia Pheteranthera, (R .W.) natural r ise. 7 . The ovary cut transversely near the apex .

2. A pa rtially dissected flower showing the glands of 8. A mature fruit, na tural size.

the sepals, a petal with its claw, and the unequal s ta 9. The same, one of the carpels cut transversely .

mens and styles . lO. A seed removed and freed from its pulp, to show3 . The sam e forcib ly opened to showthe union of the the rou

gh reticulated testa .

filaments, and more clearly the ovary, styles and l l .’

l he same opened to show the position of the

stigm as . seed.

4 . Back and front views of a small anther. 12. Foliaceous cotyledons and the radicle.

5. The same of a large one . 13. A leaf—all,with the exceptions mentioned,more or6. The ovary l - cell opened, to showthe pendulous less mag nifi ed.

incurved solitary ovule.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 50.

l . Hiptage Madablota, (Geert.) natural s ize. 6. Style and stigma detached, and more highly mag2. An expanded flower, the petals removed to show nifi ed.

the relative pos ition of the other parts. 7 . Ovary cut vertically.

3 . The peta ls . 8. Cut transversely, 3- celled.

4 . An thers back and front views. 9. A full grown fruit, na tural s ize.

5. Ovary, style and stigma. 10. Cut tmnsversely—wz

’

th the exceptions mentioned,all more or less mag n ifi ed.

XXXVII . SAPINDACEfE .

This is a large and complex order presenting among its m embers slender climbing herbs,small shrubs , and large umbrageous trees . The leaves are alternate , s imple, or compound ; in

the la tter case, eith er ternate, or biternate, m ore frequently abruptly pinnate . The flowersequally vary, being e ither uni or bi - sexual, or frequently presenting both forms on the same

tree , polygam ous , The inflorescence is either racemose or panicled, the flowers usually sm all,som e tim es nearly inconspicuous , generally white, or pale g reen ish white, more rarely purplishcoloured.

C alyx free of 4 -5 distinct or slightly cohering sepals , imbricated in ae stivation . Petals

usually as many as the sepals , alternating with them , som etim es fewer by the abortion of one,

or a ltoge ther wanting , either naked, hairy, g landular, or furnished with a petaloid scale within ,

and also imbricated in fe s tivation. Torus usually a hypogynous disk, occupying the bottom of

the calyx ,expanded between the petals and s tam ens . S tam ens 8- 10 in a s ing le series , inserted

on the disk or receptacle between the g lands and ovary ; fi laments free, anthers incumben t,2- celled, bursting long itudinally, introrse, when polygamous , the pistil of the m ale flower ise ither rudim entary , or wanting . In the fem ale the ovary is usually 3 ,

rarely 2, or 4 - celled,u sually with a s ing le erect or ascending ovule in each , rarely with two superposed ovules , and

then one is ascending , the other pendulous ; som etim es they are num erous . S tyle undivided or

3 - cleft, more rarely, bifid. Fruit fleshy and indehiscent, or ves icular, or capsular , and 2- 3

v alved, some of the cells occasionally abortive . Seeds usually arillate , album en none . Em bryo

usually curved, or spirally co nvolute, rarely s traight ; radicle pointing towards the hilum . C otyledons som etim es conferrum inate .

A rr tm '

rms . The rela tionship of this with the three preceding orders will be evident froma reference to the Conspectus , pag e 137 , where it is in troduced as a m em ber of the class alla l

pig /l illm, other aflinities are indicated by Botan ical writers , but as these appear som ewhatrem ote I shall not m yself a ttempt to detail them , but rather ex tract from Dr. Lindley

’

s

Natural System of Botany the paragraph in which they are explained.

140 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

From .4ceraceee these scarcely difl’er, except in their alternate leaves and petals, which

have almost always an appendage on their surface . In som e respects near Melia ceee, whichagree in habit and in their pinna ted leaves

,but which are known by their m onadelphous sta

m ens and symm etrical flowers . To Polyg a la ceaa they are no doubt akin In the s ingular combination of 8 stam ens with 5 unequal sepals , and an uncerta in number of petals ; and also in theiraril

,which may be compared to the caruncula Of Polyg a lacew, although som ewhat different in

its orig in . The dried leaves resemble, as DeCandolle remarks , those of Corm a raceae. Theirclimbing habit and tendency to produce tendrils indicate a relation to Vitacece , which, however,is not very near. Brown rem arks , that although in the far greater part of this fam ily the ovule

is erect, and the radicle of the embryo inferior, yet it includes more than pne genus, in whichboth the seeds and embryo are inverted .

”

To m e it is m atter of surprise that there is no allusion in any work I have had an oppor

tunity of consulting to any aflinity ex is ting between this order and Euphorbiaceae, though

som e of the genera of each order seem so closely allied that it is difficult to say to which order

they ought to be referred .

G EOGRAPHIC AL D ISTRIBUTION . This large order is nearly confined to the tropics , or extends but a short way beyond,

being still lim ited to the warmer latitudes on either s ide . The

g reater number of species are na tives of Equinoctial Am erica , and India ; A frica also has manyof them

, but they are unknown as natives in Europe and the United S tates of America , whilethe g enus D odonwa alone represents them in NewHolland . We have not the sam e data for

estima ting the number of Indian species as in most of the other orders yet gone through, as

they are not included inWallich’s list of Indian plants . The number of Peninsular ones

known to us amounted however to only 14, and these have not s ince been augmented.

This I should suppose falls greatly short of the actual number as Blume in his B ij dr : Flore

Javae,has no fewer than 23 species , and in Ceylon there are several that have not yet been met

with on the continent, though it seems to m e they are such as m ight be expected. Those met

with on the continent occupy very differen t stations . Thus Ca rdiospermum Halicacabum is

commonly m et with in hedges and corn fields, while 0 . canescens is rarely m et with except in

dry jungles , where it appears as a very ex tens ive climber, and when in full flower, wh ich it isthe greater part of the year, is really a pretty plant. The Sapindus emu r ina tus is generallym etwith as a cultivated plant, but is not rare in subalpine jungles in a wil s tate. The same

remark applies to Schleiehera try u a . Nephelium Long anum on the other hand, a speciesvery closely as sociated with L itcl u

'

,have only seen in jung les , and usually at a cons iderable

elevation . The Schmidelias which are shrubby very ramous plants, sometimes becom ing sm all

trees , and bear a sm all red berry, are always so far as I have seen ,jung le plants . Our only

Species of Cupania , C . canescens, is never I believe met with in cultivation, but is a common

plant in subalpine jungles and has a wide distribution over India .

PROPERTIES AND Uses . This fam ily is remarkable on account of the leaves and bark,and even the fruit of some of its species being possessed Of active medicinal or even decidedlypcisonous properties, wh ile the fruit of others, is highly esteem ed for the dessert . Am ongthése last are the L ite/i i, the Rambutan, the Long a n, and a variety of others . The root of

Ca rdiospermum Halicacabum is aperient. The succulent capsule of Sapendus ema rg ina tus,the comm on Soapnut, is cons idered by the native practitioners an excellent expectorant, an

opinion which Dr . A inslie thinks correct, it is also, as the English name implies , a useful

detergent, and much used as such . The root Schmidelia serrara (Ornithrophe Roxb. ) is according to Roxburgh a m ild astringent, and prescribed by the natives in cases of diarrhaea ,while the small red subacid berries are eaten by the na tives . So also is the subacid aril of the

seed of Schleiclzera trij ug a , a large and handsome tree, not uncommon in our jungles ; andfrom the seed themselves a lamp oil is expressed in Malabar .

REMARKS ON GENERA AND Srscrss. The discrim ination of the genera of this order is

Often most diffi cult, unless the specimens under exam ination are very complete . When furnished with both flowers and fruit the characters are more easily m ade out, but wi thout fruitthe reverse is often the case, as for example, between som e of the species of Cupania and

Sapindus . With these exceptions the Sapindaceee of the Indian Peninsula are for the most

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142 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

7. The ovary cut transversely, 3 - celled. 1 1 . A portion ofa leaf mag nified to showthe pubes8.

'

I he same cut vertically, ovules erect. cence—with the exceptions mentioned, all more or la:9 . A small but ma ture fruit, natura l size. magnifi ed.

10. The same cut transversely .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 52.

l . Dodonaea Burmanniana, (D. C .) na tural size. 9 . Cut vertically, showing the ovules double and

.

2. A bisexua l flower, but with the male organization superposed, the one ascending the descending .

highly developed. 10. De tached ovules, showmg their larg e curunculoid3 . Stamens removed to showthe ovary . funeculus .

4 . The ovary cut transversely. 1 1 . A different viewof the same.

5. The sam e cut vertically, showing in this instance 12. A mature fruit showing its winged carpels, natusolitary ovules . ral size.

'

6. A bisexual flower, the female organization predo I3 . The same cut transversely, na tural s ize.

minating . 14. A mature seed—with the exceptzbns mentioned, all7 . Stamens . more or less magnified.

8. The ovary cut transversely.

XXXVIII . - M ILLINGTONIACEE .

This is a sma ll Indian order lim ited as yet to a s ing le genus of arbor ions plants,dis tinguished by their a lternate exstipu la te leaves , wh ich are either s imple or pinna te, and inthe latter case are rendered s ti l l m ore remarkable by their be ing e ither abruptly or unequallypinnated . The inflorescence is pan ic led,

the pan icles be ing e i ther term ina l or ax i l la ry near thesumm i ts of the branches . The flowers are sm a ll som etim es a lm os t inconspicuous , n early sess i le

,on s hort latera l peduncles of a pa le g reen ish yel low and very num erous .

S epa ls 5, pers is ten t, unequa l , som ewhat in a double series : & s tiva tion imbrica tive . Petals

5, inser ted on the marg in of the receptacle , deciduous , a l ternating wi th the sepa ls of two k inds ;three outer ones orbicu lar, entire . wi th an im br icative ass tiva tion ; two in terior sm a l ler

,acutely

b ifid,resem bl ing sca les . S tam ens 5, oppos ite to the peta ls , and s l ightly un ited to them at the

v ery base ; three ex terior ster i le , oppos ite to the larger peta ls ; two inter io r fertile , oppos ite tothe bit-id peta ls ; fi lamen ts of the ferti le stamens flat : anther , cel ls g lobose , dehis cing transversely, placed s ide by s ide on the inner s ide of the saucer - shaped connectivum . D isk , flat,thin

,hypog ynous , free, except a t its point of a ttachment with the ovary and receptacle . Ovary

ovate , 2- ce l led ; ovu les '

2 in each cel l , superposed. S tyle s imple, short, and th ick . S tigma

slightly 2 lobed. I‘ ruit a l - cel led, l seeded drupe ; the dissepiment evanescent above, hard

ened and pers is tent a t the base . Seed with a sm a l l cav i ty on one s ide , near the base . A lbum en none or extremel y thin . Embryo curved : cotyledons thin , fo l iaceous , folded : radiclecurved

, pointing to the hilum . Trees . Leaves a lterna te, without s tipules , entire,or ra rely

pinnated . Inflorescence in panicles , term ina l , or ax i l lary near the ex trem i ty of the branches.

F lowers smal l , inconspicuous , nearly sess i le, on very short peduncles that are arrang ed alongthe horizontal branches of the pan icles . (W. and A . Prod. )

A FFINITIES . The affi n ities of th is order are v iewed in very different lights by differentauthors . Mr . A rnott. and m yself aided by a suggestion of Dr . Hooker placed it be tweenSapindaceae and Meliacece . Dr . Lind ley looks upon the order as form ing but a section or sub

order of Sapindacew, whi le Meisner for reasons which do not appear refers it to B erberedece, adistribu tion in which I cannot co incide . In confirm a tion of Dr . Lindley ’s v iew it m ay be

s ta ted that m y .Milling tonia . A rnoltia na is actua l ly the plant we have described as Sapindas

m icroca rpus , which may be cons idered a conv incing proof of the c lose relationship ex isting between them ,

if not a sa tisfactory indica tion that we were prema ture in separa ting th is g enus as

the type of a distinct order . However, bring ing ana log y to.

bear on the ques tion,-we have

a lready seen Hippocra tiacece es tabl ished on its unsymm etrical flowers , and E rythromylewsepara ted from Ma lpig hiacea? on account of the appendages of its petals , hence, if such reasonsare applicable to one set of instances they ought to be equa lly so to another, and as the difl

'

er

ences of the arrangemen t of the flowers between Sapiadaceae and M illing toneaceae are cer

tainly equa l in am ount to those of the other, it m ust be adm i tted that if they are to be adopted

in the one set they ought equa l ly to be so in the other. In urg ing this VleWI do not advoca teits adoption, but think with L indley that the sooner we can retrace a fa lse step the better, and

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

therefore hope our error should it prove one will be speedily corrected, and at the same timethe other to which I have a l luded. That the circumstances which induced us to constitute thisgenus the type of a distinct order m ay be fairly s tated, I sha l l reprin t here, from Jameson’

s

Phi losophica l Journa l, our introductory observations, and a lso Lindley’s remarks explanatory of

his v iews .

The s imple generic character of M illing tonia g iven by Roxburgh, in his Flora Ind. vol.

i . p. lO2. , although suffi cientl y exact for the Linnean class ifica tion , in wh ich those parts onl y area ccounted stamens that have pollen, conveys l i ttle information as to the rea l structure of parts .

The nectar ial bodies oppos ite the peta ls , are of a very s ingular shape . The apex (which Roxburgh erroneous ly represents free ) is incurved, and attached in front, s im i lar to the peta ls of

s ome umbell iferous plants , leaving two large hollows , one on each s ide , as if for the reception of

the cel ls of an anther. Indeed, their whole appearance is that of abortive s tamens , in whichlight we feel disposed to v iew them . The bifid scales , at the back of the fertile stamens , are

of a very different texture, and these , we be l ieve, are abortive peta ls . Thus , we have both s ta

mens and peta ls heteromorphous ; the imperfect form s of the one set of organs opposite to the

perfect ones of the other. The ca lyx we have a lways found to cons is t of two interior sepals , andthree exterior , one of which, and sometimes , but rarely all, are s im i lar in s ize to the inter ior, anda lternating with them : there are in some species in addition, sma ll close - pressed bracteolae .

The mode inwhich the calyx is placed iswel l figured by De Candolle (Organ. Veg . t. 37 . f. 12. p. )We have , then, a calyx, a corol la , and andrmcium , each of fi ve parts , placed apparently in a

double series ; the one diss im ilar to the other, and a l ternate with it ; thus analog ica l]y shewing ,that the hypog y

'

nous disk must be v iewed as an outer series of the gymntecium , the bidentatea ngles a lterna ting with the two cel ls of the ovary . A t fi rst, also, it would appear that the twoouter parts of each organ a lternate with the inner of the next, but this is onl y in appearance ;for, if that were the case, the ang les of the hypog ynous sca le would be oppos ite to the threelarger pe tals ,

whereas they a lternate with them . The rea l disposition of parts, therefore, wi llbe better understood. ifwe suppose each organ to be of on ly one series, and of five parts ; thepetals alternating with the calyx ,

the stam ens oppos ite to the peta ls , and the pistilla a l ternatingwith both stamens and peta ls . That this is the true explanation, is confi rmed by the fact, that,in no known plant,where any organ cons ists of a double series of parts , do the component partsof one series differ in number from those of the other . The aestivation wi l l thus be imbricatea nd quincuncial and in such , two or three (as may happen) parts of the same organ are interior.I t is , however, remarkable to find them of so very different a structure as occurs in this genus .

The Aflinities ofM illin tom’

a have not, so far as we know, been pointed out. The habit ismuch that of Semeca rpus , ang i/

‘

era , and B ucha nan ia , and, l ike the Terebintliaceae, the

embryo is campul itropa l . The genus Sabin , a lso ,has the stamens oppos ite the peta ls, the

ovarium bi locular, two ovu les in each cel l , the one placed above the other ; but the petals arelikewise oppos ite to the sepa ls , and the habit is different : m oreover, it is by no means certa intha t Sabin ought to be referred to the Terebm t/tacea e ; and the characters of all the otherg ene

ra of the order present l ittle in common wi th Milling tonia . Our friend Dr . Hooker hassuggested an affi nity with Sapindaceae and wi th different genera of that order, it has severa lpo ints in comm on ,

—as the fleshy disk , the two superposed ovules in each cell, the indehiscentfruit, with part of it abortive ; the absence of album en, and the curved embryo ; but that orderhas usua l ly stamens twice as numerous as the peta ls , and, in addition , scales or tufts of hair atthe base of the peta ls so that if, as in M illing tonia , these scales were to be v iewed as abortives tamens , the whole number of s tamens wou ld m uch exceed that of the peta ls . In Sapindaceae,too, the hypog ynous disk is fleshy, and is , we bel ieve , the torus : here it is quite free from the

receptacle, except at the po int of attachment, and appears to be formed by the union ofian outerseries of styles . A lthough, therefore, we cannot ag ree to place it. among the true Sapindaceae,we can see but. l i ttle objection to its form ing the type of a neworder next them .

”

The fol lowing remarks on the Aflinities of th is order are extracted from Dr. Lindley’s Natura l System of Botany. The plants belong ing to this assemblage are looked upon byWight andA rnott as form ing a fam i l y distinct from , but close ly related to, Sapindaceae. The principa l differences po inted out by those authors are . that in the latter the stamens are usuall y twice as numerous as the petals , which have scales or tufts of hair at their base ; and the hypogynous diskis fleshy . Other points are, indeed, adverted to, but they are either un important, or not clearlyexplained. These authors do not take the same viewof the structure of the genus as Roxburgh,

144 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

hut agree with Jack in considering the number ofpetals 5, of which three only are -peta loid, andthe other two bifid and adnate to the base of the two fertile s tamens . It appears to m e , however

,that in reality, in M . simplicffclza a t least, there is very great irregu larity in the propor.

tion of the parts of the flower ; in the ca lyx I find six pieces , two very m inute and externa l, twolarger , but unequal. next the firs t, and two more, a lso unequa l , in the inside ; peta ls I see on ly 3 ,on the face of the largest of which is a distinct trace of a rudimentary sca le ; the stamens are 5,three of them being deformed, lobed, and opposite to the three peta ls , the other two fertile

,

a l terna ting with two of the peta ls , with a membranous tooth on each side at the base (not theapex ,

as Roxburgh has it), and a remarkable saucer- like connective , on the upper face ofwhich

growtwo anther- ce lls , the va lves of which are extrem e ly unequa l . I do not, therefore , perce ive

howthe genus differs from Sapindaceae, except in the pis til being com posed of two carpels tu

stead of three . But a lthough the number three is wha t usual ly preva ils in Sapindaceae, yet

there are instances of two in Schmidelia , I rina , &c . and of four in Ta li-via and D odonaea .

”

G EOGRA PHICAL D ISTR I BUT ION . The genus Al illing ton ia has a wide range though as yet

lim ited to fewspecies . Roxburgh received his specim ens from S ilbet, of the on ly two Species

he knew, since theu , l have received specimens from various parts of the Peninsu la,C eylon and

Maulmain . Dr.Wallich has also found two dis tinct from Roxburgh ’

s, one ofwhich

,ill . pung ens,

is found in the Peninsu la , .M. A rnottz‘

a na rs a na tive of the more elevated reg ions of both C ev

lon and the Peninsu la , my continenta l specimens are from the Neilgherries . The leaves in thisspecies are unequa l ly pinnated, which at once dis tinguishes it from Roxburgh

’

s AI . pinnata ,which has abruptly pinnated leaves .

Paor aar tas AND Uses . Nothing is known on this head except that the timber of some of

the species is used for various purposes by the natives of the districts where they grow.

R amanxs ON G ENERA AND Sr acms . Of this order only one genus is yet known , that from

which it takes its nam e . Of the species now5 in number, Roxburgh knew only two,Jll . s im

plicg'

folia and M . pinnula , to these Dr .Wal lich has added M . dillen ig'

folia and M . pung ens,the las t M . Am ouiana is nowfor the first time published under that g eneric nam e

, and is a

native of both the Peninsula and of C eylon . The characters of two species are already published in our Prodromus , those of the remaining three I sha l l introduce here with the viewof

m aking them better known to Indian Botanists .

M ILLINGTONIA.

M . dillenizfolia , (Wall.) Leaves simple, elliptic, oh

long , a ttenuated at the base, pubescent beneath ; the

secondary nerves parallel, straight, extending beyond

the margin in rickle - like teeth, panicles slender, lax,

pubescent ; rac is angled ; flowers somewhat remote on

the extrem e branches , calvx ebractiate, sepals 5, nearlyequal, ciliate on the marg in, exterior etals roundish,concave, the interior ones cleft near y to the base, or

half shorter than the petals .

M . pinna ta, (Roxb .) Leaves abruptly pinnate, pinnre6- 12 pairs ; leaflets elliptico

- Ianceolate, g labrous on both

sides ,denticulatc, serrated, the teeth incurved, with thesecondary nerves incurved within the margin, confluent ;

panicles lax, puberulous, rachis angled, sepals unequal,

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 53.

l . Flowering branch of Millingtonia Arnottiana—na 5. Back and front views of the s tamens and anthers.

tural size . 6. A diagram of the flower.2. A flower partially open. 7 . The ovary cut vertically, showing the ovule s

3 . The same dissected. superpossd.

4. The same, the petals removed, showing the s ta 8. The same cut transversely.

mens, ovary, &c. in situ .

two of them bracteiform ; the exterior petals roundish.the interior ones cleft to near the middle equa lling theetals .pIll . A rnottiana . Leaves unequally pinnate, pinnae5- 7

pairs : leaflets ovate, acuminate . coriaceous , glabrousabove, pubescent beneath , qu ite entire, panicles axillary,large lax and like the petiols of the leaves thicklyclothedwith short rus ty coloured hairs, rachis terete,sepals somewhat uue ual, exterior petals roundish,pointed, interior ones c eft nearly half their leng th, the

points reflexed, fi laments furnished with two scale sbelowthe middle.

Sapendus microcarpus,W. and A . Prod. l. p. 1 12.

R ah—Neilgherries and Ceylon.

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

cies from Java a lone, showing howmuch they augment near the equator . The Peninsularflorawhen we wrote only presented a lis t of 13 species, a fewhave since been added .

Paors a'

rms AND Us as . These are of a high order and very varied character :herewefi nd some pleasant fruits , valuable m edicines , and usefu l tim ber . The fruit of h andoricum,Of som e species of La ns ium and Of M ila ca cdulis , are ea table,having a watery cooling pleasantpulp ; but genera l ly, bitter , astringent, tonic qua lities are the properties of th is order. Some

species however, are ofa very different descrIption , the juice Of the bark being purgative andviolently emetic . The bark Of the Margosa or Neem tree (A zadirachta indica ) has been benefi cially employed in this country as a substitute for Peruvian bark . The leaves are everywhereesteem ed, on account of their sam tary qua lities , rea l or supposed, as an externa l application inall kinds of superficia l ailments, whethe r the resu lt of violence , as a bruise, cutaneous croptions , or rheumatic pain . On the dec line Of sm a l l - pox it is almost invaria b ly the practice,among the na tives of this part of India, to cover the body with these leaves . From the fruits

very bitter oil is expressed. This like the olive Oil is procured from the pulp of the fruit, notthe kernel of the seed, and combines the bitter tonic properties Of the plant, hence it is esteemed

a useful anthelm intic, and is considered an excel lent external application in rheumatic cases,

and in some cutaneous diseases .

In the arts , the tim ber of the Neem tree,which is hard and durable, is found fi t for shipbuilding , and that of some species of Malia , which a ttain a larg e size, there is reason to believe

is equa lly valuable, though on this point my information is imperfect.

REMARKS ON G amm a AND S exton-rs .

'

l'

he genera Of this order, which are v ery numerous

in proportion to the number Of Species , are ranged under two tribes M elisa? and Trio/zilieo.

The former is distinguished by having the embryo enclosed within a thin fleshy a lbumen, foliaceous cotyledons , and the radicle protruded. To this division Na reg am ia ,

Mun ron ia , Malia,Azadirac/zta and Mateo of the Peninsular flora belong . To the la tter, dis tinguished by havingexa lbum inous seed, thick cotyledons . a short radicle, common ly concea led between the coty

ledons , and alternate s imply pinnated leaves , with entire leaflets : M ila ca , Amoora ,Wolsurd.Sandorz

'

cum, Heynea and Xylocorpus are referable . With one exception Mun rom'

a ) all these

are Old es tablished genera ,and do not requtre further notice . Mum

-

cum fi rs t es tablished IIIthis work, has on ly three known species , one from Silhet, M .Wallichii, ( Turrwa pinna te ,Wall.)one from Ceylon ,

M . pumila , R .W. [cones Pl. Ind. Or. NO . 9 l, pum ila , Moon) and

M . N eilg herica , from the Neilgherries and Coorg .

In habit this genus nearly resembles our genus Na reg amia , so much so indeed, that I at

fi rst supposed M . pumila a newspecies of that genus , and itwas not until after very carcfnl

exam ination and comparison tha t I ascertained they were distinct : the principal dis tinguishingm arks are the peta ls being united to the base of the s tamina l tube, not free, the 5 not 3- celledo vary, the superposed, not collateral ovules, and by having a membranous tube sheathing the

ovary and base Of the style.

Jussieu and Meisner adopt Blume’s genus Aphanam ix is in preference to Roxburg

hs

flmoora , a much older name . The former does not seem to be aware of the existence of Ror

burgh’s name, the latter is , and puts the question A n tamen Amoora , (Roxb .) exclusis 0mm

bus spec . prwter A . Rol u'

tultam, (W. and A . p. serva nda , in m y opinion a very“099'

cessary question, since unless we are to depart from the old established rule of priority,whichm ust lead to incalculahle confusion, Roxburgh

’e name, as being the older, whatever he the

number of species described under it, m ust be adopted in preference to a more recent Ope

Of this genus , under the name Aphanamix is, Jnasica enumerates three species not includingeither of the Indian ones, of which there are two described by Roxburgh , Fl. Ind. under the

nam e Of fladersom’

a one of these was afterwards figured in the Coromande l Plants under the

name of Amoora , the former name, having been in the m ean time occupied by Mr . R . Brown.for a newHol land genus . Of this genus I have nowthree Peninsular species , nam ely,A. ous}!

lata Roxb. A . Robituka ,W. and A . and one apparently a new species, with subsessile In“,spring ing direct from the branch like figs A .fi ci/

‘

ormis . Th is last I have not seen in flat

but the form of the fruit, leaves no doubt of the genus , and the absence of a peduncle either "1

form of panicle or spike at once distinguishes it from the other two.

These are the only additions to the order I have met with on the continent, but from

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

C ey'

lon I have specimens of a plant apparently belonging to it, and most probably a species of

Xyloca rpus, but which, for want of fruit 1 am unable with certainty to determ ine . The ca lyxis cup

- shaped, obtuse ly 4- lobed, the peta ls 4 , stamens 8, the fi laments forked at the apex, withthe anther in the division, the ovary 4 - cel led

,with two col lateral pendulous ovules in each,

s tigma truncate . Shou ld it prove a species of that genus it is probably new. The genus

.Munronia , l have dedicated to my friend Lieut. Munro, the late Secretary to the Mysore Agricultura l and Horticu ltura l Society, and a most persevering investigator of the

portion of India .

plants ofthat

I extract the fol lowing generic character from my Icones Plantarum Indine

Orientalis, No. 9 1,where a second species is figured.

MUNRONIA , R .W.Calyx 5, rarely 4- cleft. Petals 5, cohering at the

base,with the s taminal tube. Anthers 10, attached to

the apex of a slender funnel- shaped tube,alternatewithits teeth, exserted. A tube sheathing the ovary and

base of the style. Ovary 5

- celled, cells 2- ovuled, ranged

round a thic central placenta. Ovules superposed.

St la filiform,stigma discoid—capitate. Ca

psule 5

valved, valves septi ferous, loculicidal. Seeds y abor

tion about 5, attached to a large y ramidal persistent

placenta. Embryo enclosed in a t in fleshy albumen .

Cotyledons foliaceous, radicle pointed remote from the

hilum, projecting . Small erect shrubs,with the leavescongrega ted near the summ it. Leaves pinnate ; leaflets

one or several pairs Oppos ite, glabrous . Peduncles axil

lary, one or several flowered, flowers white, sometimesfra rant.

This genus which I have named in honor of r

in

gzealous and enterprising friend, Lieut. Munro, H.

3 9 th Foot, is most nearly allied to N aregam ia, but

abundantly distinct and readily distin uisbed b its 5,not 3 -celled ovary, and its superpose not co lateral

ovules.

M . pumr’

la , (R .W. Icones plant. Ind. Or. No.

L eaves trifoliolate, the terminal one much larger thanthe lateral leaflets .

Malia pumila, Moon ! Catalogue of Ceylon plants,

p . 35.

Heb—Ceylon .

Moon's specimens I had an o

pportunity of examining,

and I have specimens collected y ColonelWalker.M . Neilgherrica , (R.W.) Shrubby, leaves congested

towards the summit, une ually pinna te , about 3 -

paired,leaflets ova te, acute, gla _

rous : cymes several, axillaryand terminal, lobes of the calyx foliaceous, hairy.

Hat —Neilgherries and Coorg .—Munro.

A charming lowshrub,with pure white very fragrantflowers .

M .Wallr'chu , (R .W.) Shrubby, leaves unequallyinnate, leaflets about 3 pairs , obliquely cordate at thee, tapering towards the point.

Turraea pinnate ,Wall. P l. as . rar. 2. tab. [ 19.

Heb—Silbet.

This species I only know fromWallich’s plate and

description, which , though defective in the analysis,agrees sowell in habit as scarcely to leave a doubt of itsbeing a s ecies of this genus . Jussion in his memoir

remarks, t at this plant does not belong to the genusTurraea, and doubts whether it belongs to the tribeMelieee, but thinks there can be no doubt it belongs tothe Trz

'

cht'

liece, thou h he is uncertain to which g enus

it on ht to be referre He adds that it seems to approac most nearly to Ha rtighsea , by the union of its

etals with the base of the staminal tube, and by theittle fleshy tube which embraces the ovary and base ofthe st ls . Dr.Wallich however, supposes that theovary as 5 cells,with 5 erect ovules, but these characters he g ives with marks of doubt, and does not knowthe fruit or seed.

” In all the points here sta ted, exceptthe solita ry erect ovules, a point not very eas ily sacer

tained, the plant a rees with my genus and affords additional evidence 0 its being a species of it and not ofHarliyhsea , which has a 3, rarely 4

- celled ovary. Onthis supposition, I have taken the liberty of referring ithere and changing the specific name as all the specieshave pinnate leaves.

AMOORA .

A .fi c{formis, (R .W.) Leaves pinnate, leaflets ovate,obli na at the base, fruit ficiform , axillary, solita ry, subsessi e

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 54.

I . Munronia Neilgherrica, natural s ize.2. A detached flower, calyx 5- sepaled.

3 . Another flower, dissected, the stam inal tube splitopen, showing the sheath of the ovary, style and stigma,ca lyx in this ins tance 4-sepaled.

4 . Back and front views of anthers.

5. Ovary cut transversely, showing its 5 cells placedround a thick fleshy axis .

6. Ovary cut vertically, showing the ovules super

posed .

7 . A full grown capsule—natural size.

8. The same dehiscing, dehiscence loculicidal.9. A s ingle valve detached.

10. A seed, not quite mature—na tural size.I I . The same, the teeta removed, showing the large

as yet soft albumen.

12. The same divided, showing the embryowith theradicle next the hilum

—with the exceptions mentioned,a ll more or less ma (fled.

The drawing 0 the plant is made from a preservedspecimen

—that of the fruit from a fresh capsule, bothcommunicated by Lieut. Munro.

Hab.—I nWoods .

—0n the Shevagherry mountainsnear Courtallum.

My specimens are too imperfect, being in fruit only,to adm it of my giving a more detailed character. Fromthe same loca lity l have a specimen of a species, also infruit, with panicled inflorescence, in so far agreeingwith Roxburgh

’s A . cucullata,which species I presume

it is, and now add it also to the Peninsular flora. Thethree species may be thus briefly distinguished.

A . cucullata, Roxb. female flowers panicled.

A . Hakim/ca , female flowers spiked.

A .fi ciformis, female flowers axillary, solitary,or frfim

the scars of fallen leaves, subsessile on the branches.

148 ILLUSTRAT IONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 55.

l .Walsura piscidia, natural size. 8. A fruit full grown—natural size.

2. A detached flower. 9. The same cut transversely.

3 . The same, the petals removed to showthe deeply 10. The same opened, showmg the arillus wi th i ts

cleft staminal tube .enclosed seed.

4. Detached stamens, back and front views . l l . A seed detached—natural size.

5. Stamens removed, showing the annular disk with 12. Cut transversely—natural size.

immersed ovary, the short style and large 2- cleft 13 . A seed lobe, the radicle next the hilum—amt]; thest: ma.

exceptions mentioned, all more or lessmagnifi ed.

The ovary cut vertically .Eaa s '

rvu .

7 . The same cut transversely, 2- celled,with two col ForWaisara frtscidea on the plate read plscldla,

lateral ovules in each.

X L .—CEDRELACE}E .

This small order, long united with the preceding , and even nowconsidered by some em i

nent Botanists as at most a sub- order, ranks among its species some of the most magnificent

trees of the forest, not less famed for their size , than for the beauty of their timber ; not the

least remarkable of which, in both these respects , is the M ahogany of America , and in the

latter, the Satin wood of this country . It is principally distinguished from the preceding by its

flattened, winged, exalbum inous seed. Adr. de Jussieu g ives the following character of the

order.

Calyx 4-5, cleft. Petals 4 -5, longer. Stamens 8- 10, either united into a tube (Swieteniew)or distinct (Cedrelece) and inserted into an hypog ynous disk. Style and stigma simple, cells

of the ovary equal to the number of petals or fewer (3) with 4 , or often more, ovules , imbri~

cated in two rows, fruit capsular, with the valves separable from the dissepiments with which

they alternate, (or, in Chloroxylon, adherent, with loculicidal dehiscence) . Seeds flat winged,album en thin or none .

Trees , usually with hard fragrant, and beautifully coloured wood, alternate, exstipulate,

pinnated leaves . Panicles terminal or subterm inal, large, rarely axillary. Flower imperfectlybisexual, that is , the ovaries of some becom ing depauperated and sterile with polleniferous stam ens, while in others the pollen is wanting and the ovary is perfect and fertile.

A FF IN IT IES . These are the same as Meliaceae, from which they are chiefly distinguished

by their winged and indefinite seeds . The pellucid dots in the leaves of Chlorozylon establish

another link of affinity between these orders and A urantiaceae.

G sos aaentcs a Dts 'rm s u

'n on . Like Meliaceae these are natives of the tropics , or the

warm countries bordering on them , but have as yet principally been found in Am erica and

A sia , only one has been met with in Africa or the adjoining islands . When Jassieu published

his m emoir in 1830, I4 species only were known to him , and I am not aware of the lis t hav ingsince then been augm ented by the publication of additional species . I have however recentlyreceived from Mr . Nimmo ; of Bombay, specimens of a Chickrass ia

,which he thinks new, and

which so far as I am enabled to determ ine from a somewhat imperfect specim en is distinct

from C . tubula ris . Mr. Graham of that place has named this species C . M mmon iif i t is

described as a very large tree. and differs from m y specimens of C . tubula ris in having thick

coriaceous leaves , softly v illous on the under surface, in place of membranous and perfectly

g labrous on both sides . The specimen not being in flower I am unable to carry the comparison

further , but I think itwill prove a good species . I am not at present aware of any other addi

tion to the order .

Paor sn'

n ss AND Us es . Nearly all the species of this order are remarkable for some use

ful property . The Swieten ia M ahogom'

affords the beautiful and highly prized Mahog any wood.

The bark of the Soymida (Swietenia ) febrifug a of Roxburgh is said to possess antiseptic andfebrifugal properties , bu t little inferior to the C inchona bark it is also employed by the na tives for

dying ,while the timber is but little inferior in hardness and durability to teak, and acquires a verylarge size. The Chickrassia tubularis supplies thewellknown Chittagong wood somuch used in

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF IsmAN BOTANY .

A rms rrms . These appear to be very imperfectly understood at least if we may judge fromthe different positions in which different authors place the order, which however is not a good

criterion . Jussieu placed it between Meliaceae and Geran iaceae—DeCandolle retains it in thesam e situation, Bat tling (0 rd . Naturalis) forms a class of this and Meliaceae, but still retains

it beside Geran iaceae, Lindley in the fi rst edition of his Introduct ion places it between Mal

pig hiaceae and Meliaceae, but far removed from Geran iaceae and Pit/osporeae, and still fur

ther from B erberideae, while in the second edition it is placed between B erberideae on the one

side and Pittospomae on the other, but still far from Geram’

aceae. Meisner retains it nearlyin the old place between Meliaceae and his class M a lpig hiane , (see page 137 ) which las t is followed by his class Gera a iodeac. To decide between such authorities is m ore than I dare at

tempt, but upon the whole feel disposed to adopt in preference the Jussieuian arrangement ,though it places the order in a situation

,

where, so far as I can see, it has no very close relation

shipwith those ou either side, nor indeed do I think its affi nities well m ade out. any where . In

the artificial arrangement of the orders adopted by Jussieu it is very conveniently placed at the

end of a series of orders , having som e well marked aflinities , and separates another set, form ingthe Gynobasious group of Lindley, at the head of which the Geraniodeae may be,and is bymos tauthors , placed ; though in Lindley

’s arrangem ent, they form the second of the four Alliances

into which he divides that group. A s a strictly natural arrangem ent Lindley’s perhaps

approaches the nearest to perfection, but with this evident disadvantage that the

group in

which he places the order (Albumenosae) is distinguished by a character not always easi y m ade

out, and subject to some striking exceptions , such as excluding m any g enera in which albumen

abounds , and including at least one order (N elumbiaceae) in which it is wanting . One half of

M eliaceae and of Cedrelaceae, have each, with m any others , albuminous seed, but in smaller

proportion, yet do not find a place in this group. From this , and innumerable sim ilar instances

which may be cited of irregularities in this part ofthe structure ofseed I do not see, even taking pro

portion into consideration , howany arrangem ent m ade to dependon it, can be good in practice, as

applied to orders until a higher value is assigned to it, though perhaps itmay occasionally be em

ployed as a usefulgeneric character, though even that is doubtful. The g enus Cassia ,for example, as

nowconstituted has at least two species C .fi stula and C'

. Roz burg ii,having very copious albumen

while m ost of the others are exalbum inous . In such cases the presence of albumen m ay be

advantageously employed to aid in removing badly associated species from an otherwise natural

g enus, and in this instance confi rms the judgment of those who had previously separated the

g enus Ca lha rtoca rpus, on account of the irregular s tructure of its legum es . But while wem eet with similar irregularities of structure , in so far as this organ is concerned, in almost

every family, it is surely a questionable arrangement which brings together a series of upwardsof twenty orders, m any of them , so far as I can see

, having scarcely any other mark of relation

ship,m erely because they agree g enerally, but not universally, in having seed with a copious

albumen and sm all embryo. For these reasons I am not yet prepared to adopt Dr. Lindley’s

arrangem ent in thatparticular group, though far from thinking that we ought to lose sight of the

idea which led to its form ation, since, if thoroughly investigated some important relations maybe found to exist between album inous seed and vegetable structure generally, which has not yetbeen discovered, but which may ultimately tend to m odify our whole system , much in the same

way as the discovery of Exogenous and Endogynous s tructure, being connected with the strueture of the seed, has given stability to the classifica tion of the whole vegetable kingdom accord

ing to that structure. Upon the whole then I think we m ay safely conclude that our knowledgeof vegetable structure is not yet sufi ciently advanced to adm it of our constructing a system on

such principles, and tha t therefore, for the present the safe course to pursue is to arrange our

natural orders according to some convenient artificial system suited to fa cilitate the investiga

tion of new plants, though we ought never to forget for a moment, that such is not the objectof our studies , but the discovery of a truly natural system throughout. Here I leave the sub

jcet m erely observing that A raliaceae is the order to which this seems m ost nearly to approxi

m ate, though abundantly distinct, and in the structure of the seed, even to R ubiaceae.

G EOGRAPHICAL Drsraraur ros . Principally confined to the tropics and warmer countries

of the temperate zones , very numerous in India , less so in America and Africa but found in

both . According toWallich’

s list there are 53 Species of Vitis including Cissus, in India ,whilein the Peninsula we enumerate 26. He again has 13 species of Leea ,while we have only three.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 151

DeCandolle has of these genera 107 for the whole world. Howfar these numbers will require

to be modified by future experience it is not easy to say, but I suspect when all the species

are well exam ined, andwith sufficient specimens ,m anywill be reduced, and leave the numbers,when m any new ones are added, nearly the same as they nowstand . This I think will provethe ca se because the leaves , from which specific characters are usually taken, of no set of

plants I ha ve ever examined, afford specific characters less to be depended upon than those ofthe genus Vilis, unless perhaps B ryonia the forms of the leaves of some of the species of whichare to the full as variable .

0

Java according to Blume has 34 species of the order, and 5 genera . India has 4 genera including C issus and Ampelopsis . The form er of these however only differing from Vitis in havinga quaternary in place of a quinary order of parts ,with some difference of habit, and the latter

being sim ilarly s ituated, agreeing with Vitis in having a quinary order, but with the habit ofC issus, cannot be kept dis tinct.

Paoes ar tas AND USES . The properties of the G rape whether recent or dried, not less

than the products of its fermen ted juices , the various kinds of wine, are too well known to

require to be dwelt upon here . The leaves of som e, or perhaps InOa t, of the species are acid,and some as tring en t, while the fruit of several are intensely acrid. The berries of the Cissus

quadra ng ula ris, the young shoots and leaves of which are used by the native as a pot herb, are

so exceedingly acrid, that it is sufficient to taste one, to cause in a short time the m ost insuf

ferable sense of burning all over the m outh and fences of several hours duration . Howmanym ore produce sim ilar effects I confess I have not had the courage to try, having suffered so

severely in that ins tance . Generally speaking, however, I believe it may be safely assumed,that with the exception of the G rape

- vine, none of the species possess valuable properties . I

have heard tha t the fruit of one or m ore species is used in this country for m aking vinegar , butas this product of fermentation can be procured from so many vegetable juices this application

can scarcely be viewed an exception to the general rule.

R esum es ON G ENERA AND Sesema. The genera of this order,which are fewin number,

divide them selves as already observed into two tribes or sub- orders , the Leeaceae and Ving'

ferae.

Of the form er Leea is the type, and indeed only certain genus , two others being placed here with adoubt, but neither na tives of India ; the latter is represented byVitis including Cis sus and flmpe.

lops is ,which are undis tinguishable by any set of m arks on which even good sectional differences

in any other order would be es tablished. These therefore, Mr. Brown has very justly pro.

posed to unite, though in this , he has not been followed by the generality of writers . Cissus

has a 4 - lobed calyx , with 4 petals, 4 s tamens , and a 4 - angled disk. Vitis and .4mpelops is have

each 5 petals and stamens , with some slight differences of habit which may enable a person

conversan t with either to dis ting uish the other, but a Jissus with pentandrous flowers wouldat once become an Ampelopsis or Vitis according as it retained the habit of Cissus, or ap

proached tha t of Vil is , and a tetrandrous specimen of either of the others , would become a

Cis sus . Characters so entirely dependent on number not being adm itted in other families,neither ought they to be in this . The only other genus therefore referable to this section is

B lume’s P te risantl ms , a Java plan t, with quaternary flowers , but otherwise well dis ting uished

by a foliaceous lobately wing ed involucrum ,with which they are furnished. Blume considers it

interm edia te between C iss us and Ampelops i s which it may be , if both are retained.

The discrim ina tion of the species of this order is unques tionably difficult, and if the char

acters by which this is a ttempted . be taken from the foliage, the species so formed will rarely

prove pe rm anent, as there is no end to the variations of form to be m et with in the same spe

cies ; nor is it easy to say which set of org ans afford better characters , hence, to succeed, all

must be laid under contribution as much so as in defining a genus in any other order . On this

principle the specific chara c ters of our Prodrom us were cons tructed, and are I believe the mos t

perfect so far as they extend (the Peninsular species ) yet extant, but even with these, the dis

crim ina tion of Species from varieties is no t alwa vs attainable . Subsequent experience, since

prepa ring that Mranag raph of the Peninsular Vitices , has not enabled m e to add either newspecies or newm arks for their more certain determ ination , on which account, I beg to refer to

that work for all the inform ation I m yself possess respecting the species of this order appar

taining to the Flora of southern India . The plates exhibit a species of each section. This

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

was necessary as the Leeaceae are by som e very em inent Botanists viewed as a totally distinct

order from Viniferae, and it mus t he confessed notwithout good reason , or a t all even ts as good,or better than those for separating .Ma lvaceae from B ombaceac or By tmerz

'

aceae,and £31a

ca rpeae from Tiliaceae, and many others . Between Viniferae and Leeaceae there is difference

of habit, great difference in the structure of the flowers , especially as regards the stamens , and

in the number of cells and ovules of the ovary . There are no doubt affinities sufficientlym arked to render their union desirable but on the same principles , so should the others be

separa ted by sectional divisions only. I have alluded above to the difficulties of distinguishingthe species of Vttz

'

s,with respect to Leea , these are not m uch dim inished, and as in the form er

case , I beg again to refer to the Prodromus for characters , since I have not been able, after

m uch consideration ,to improve those g iven in that work, though I have exam ined many speci

m ens of every form .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 57.

1 . Vitis tomentosa, na tural s ize. 7. Back and front views of the seed—natural size.

2. An expanded flower, petals not adherent at the 8 The same magnified.

apex. 9 - 9. Seed and truit cut transversely, showing the

3 . The same, the petals removed, showing the cup la rge conferrum ina te a lbumen.

shaped tom s and ovary. 10. A seed cut vertically, to showthe embryo at the4 . Stamens back and front views . base of the albumen, but not well represented.

5. Ovary cut transverselv, 3- celled,with 5 ovules . 1 1. The embryo removed— a ll with the exception:

6. The same cut vertically, showing the ovules erect. mentioned more or less magnifi ed.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 58.

l . Leea Staphylea, natural size. 8. A full grown fruit.2. An expanded flower, with the stamen tube in situ. 9. The same cut transversely, in this instance G- celled,3 . The stamen tube removed and split open, to show with one seed in each .

the position of the anthers . 10. A seed.

4. Front and side views of the anthers . l l . The same cut transversely, showing the large

5. Calyx and ovary, with the style and stigma . albumen .

6. Ovary cut vertically. I2 Another cut vertically, showing the position of

7. The same cut transversely, in this instance 4- celled, the embryo and its relative size to the albumen .

with one ovule in each. 13. The embryo removed.

XLII . —GERANIACE/E .

This order m ay be viewed as almost entirely of extra - tropical origin, for though a fewspe

cies are indigenous within the tropics , these are almost invariably found on the higher hills

where temperature is reduced by elevation . The Indian Peninsula seems generally unfavour

able to the production of plants of this order, since, so far as yet known only one species has

been found native even on the highest hills , and in Ceylon the same species only occurs . It

consists of herbaceous or sufl'

ruticose plan ts , with the s tem s usually join ted, the leaves opposite

below, and frequently alternate above, palm ately nerved and cleft, or pinnatifid,and furnished

with two foliaceous s tipules . The flowers are m ore or less irregular, bisexual, paired, or

umbelled, seldom solitary, on axillary, or occas ionally , leaf opposed peduncles .

Sepals 5. persistent, imbricated in mstivation . som etimes produced a t the base into a spur,connate with the pedicel. Petals 5, som etimes 4 , or wanting , by abortion, unguicula te , equal

and hypogynous . or unequal, and either connected at the base or inserted on the ca lyx fes tiva

tion twisted. Stam ens usually monadelphous at the base, hypogynous , or perigynous , rarelyfree, twice or thrice as m any as the petals . Ovarium 5- celled, with two ovules in each, s tyles

5, cohering round a central elongated axis or torus (gynobase) . Fruit, of 5 membranous

l - celled,indehiscent carpels , which are at first close pressed to the g ynobase, each ending in

its style, which is closely adnate to the angles of the axis , but afterwards twists variously from

the base to the apex , and carries the pericarp with its enclosed solitary seed along with it.Seed peritropal, album en none . Em bryo curved, radicle superior, butwith its point bea t downtowards the hilum. Cotyledons foliaceous .

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

Sepals 4 5, persistent, aestivation imbricated. Peta ls 4 -5, hypogynous unguiculate, caducous , twis ted in aes tivation . S tam ens equal in number to the peta ls and a l terna te with them ,

united at the base to a hypogynous ring or torus , from which proceed little teeth opposite th

petals , indicating abortive stam ens . A nthers ovate , erect, introrse . Ovary with about as m anycel ls as sepa ls , se ldom fewer, styles as m any as the cel ls . S tigm as capitate , capsule , genera l lypointed with the hardened base of the s tyle, several ce l led, each ce ll partia lly divided into twoby an imperfect spurious dissepim ent

,and opening by two va lves at the apex . Seeds sing le in

each cell, compressed, inverted, a lbum en usually present. Embryo s traight, fleshy, with theradicle pointing to the hilum . Cotyledons flat.

A FF lN l I‘ IES . These are stil l subzy'

udice, one set of Botanists viewing the order as more

nearly allied to Ca ryop/zylloceae and i ll alvaceae, while another considers it as little else tha n a

section of Gera n iaceae . The objection to this las t arrangement, advanced by Dr . Lindley, thewant namely of the gynobase, s eem s to m e a very strong one , and in the absence of tha t I can

not see any other very evident relationship, by which the order approaches nearer the one set of

orders than the other, and look upon DeCandolle’

s opinion , that it is an order interm ediate

between and having affi nities with C‘a ryoplzyllaceae,Molvaceae, and Geran iaceae, between the

two fi rst of which he places it, as well founded.

Dr . Lindley places L ineae in his C alycose group between Elatineae and Hug oneaceae,to both of which they are obvious ly al lied.

G EOGRAPH ICAL D ISTR I BUTION. Species of the genus L inum are found in all the four

quarters of the g lobe , but mos t abundant in Europe and the northern parts of A frica . Three

are m et'

with in the Peninsu la of India , but perhaps one of these , L . usita liss imum, introduced.

though tha t is uncertain now. Mr . Royle mentions som e others which he found at the foot ofthe Hima layas , and at m odera te elevations on them . The whole number enum erated byDeCandolle in his Prodromus is 54 , Don in his edition has extended them to 77 , but whetherthese are all good Species may be doubted.

Paor s ar i ns AND Uses . Flax the produce of the bark of the L inum usita tissimum, has

been known and highly va lued from a very remote period, on account of the beautiful cloth ofwhich it for u s the bases . In modern times

,though less extensively employed nowthat the

cheaper and more pleasant, but less durable , cotton clo ths have com e in to genera l use , it s tillho lds its place on account the s treng th and delicacy of the numerous and beautifu l fabrics intowhich it is converted , among which m ay be m en tioned the various k inds of Linen ,

C ambrics,Lace, &c . The preparation of the flax to procure it of the bes t qua lity is one requiring m uch

care , and what seem s rem arkable has but. recently a ttracted the a ttention and a ttained that

deg ree of perfection which its comm ercia l im portance m erits .

'

I'

he s teeping or watering of

fla x , a process which injures its quality is stil l in g enera l use . A m odern improvem ent is , to

s teep the plant, whether green and fresh from the fie ld , or a fter it has been dried and s tackedfor months , for a fewhours in hot wa ter and soft soap, which is sa id to separa te the fibre from

the woody m atters better, than m any days s teeping in the usua l way, and without rotting or

de teriorating its qua lity . G reat improvem ents have a lso been m ade in the m achinery for

c leaning flax ,by which the process is grea tly expedited, and a fi ner m a teria l produced, a s wil l be

seen in the fol lowing extract from London’

s Encyclopedia of Agriculture, g iving some account

of the m ethod.

Lees"method of breaking flax a nd hemp, wil/tout dew- retring ,was inven ted in 1810,

and was the fi rs t step towards a g reat improvement, brought nearer perfection by the new

patent m achines of Messrs . Hil l and Bondy .

Hill and Bundy’s m achines are portable, and m ay be worked in barns or any ki nd of out

house, they a re also wel l ca lcula ted for parish workhouses and charitable ins titu tions , a great

part of the work being so light that it m ay be done by children and infi rm persons , and such is

the construction and s implicity of the m achines , that no previous ins truction or practi ce is re

quired,the ir introduction, therefore, into those asylum s would be the m eans of effecting a con

s iderable reduction of the poor’

s rate. The woody part is removed by a very S imple m achine,

and, by passing through a m achine equally simple , the flex m ay be brought to any deg ree.

of

fi neness , equa l to the best used in France and the Netherlands , fo r the fi nes t lace and cambric.

The original length of the fibre, as well as its streng th, remains unimpaired, and the difference

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY . 155

of the produce is immense, being nearly two thirds, one ton of flex being produced from fourtons of stem . The expense of working each ton obtained by this method is only five pounds .

The g lutinous matter m ay be removed by soap and water on ly,which wil l bring the flax to suchperfect whiteness , that no further bleaching is necessary, even after the linen is woven, and thewhole process of preparing flax may be completed in six days .

This extract I introduce not in the hope that the plan can be rendered applicable to thisportion of India , for the dressing of flax , though I think it m ay be to a very large exten t in

the upper provinces of Benga l where so much flax is cultivated for its seed on ly, but, underthe impression that if the m ethod here m entioned was adopted for the preparation of the flex

like fibres of the very numerous plants, natives of this part of India, producing them , theym ight be the m eans of furnishing us , from among them , with some very va luable articles forthe fabrica tion of cordage and cloth in im itation of linen,

or the Chinese grass cloth . Themethod of separating the fibres by steeping the plant for severa l days in water certainly impairstheir streng th and durability, an effect which the application of a weak alka line solution doesnot, it would appear, produce, while it, through a chem ica l action, effectua l ly removes the vega

table extractive and other mattersWi thwhich they are combined in the plant, and so rapidly, asnot to a l lowtime for the partial decomposition of the fibres which results from the protractedimmersion required for their separation, when that is accomplished by the simple process ofsteeping in wa ter.

I shall conclude this too brief notice of an important subject, by another extract fromLondon

’s Encyclope dia of Agriculture , detailing a method of preparing flax to resemble Cotton

in whiteness and softness . the principle of which may perhaps be found applicable to some one

of the flax - like products of India .

A method of preparing [tax in such a manner as to resemble cotton in whiteness a ndsoftness , as wel l as in coherence, is g iven in The Swedish Transactions for the year 1747 . Forthis purpose a little sea -water is to be put into an iron pot or an untinned copper kettle—and a

m ixture of equa l parts of birch - ashes and quick lime strewed upon it ; a smal l bundle of flex isto be opened and spread upon the surface , and covered with more of the m ixture , and the stra .

tification continued til l the vessel is sufliciently fi lled. The whole is then to be boiled withsea -water for ten hours , fresh quantities of water being occasiona l ly supplied in proportion tothe evapora tion, that the m atter may never become dry . The boiled flax is to be immedia telywashed in the sea by a little at a time, in a basket, with a smooth stick a t first, while hot, andwhen grown cold enough to be borne by the hands , it mus t be wel l rubbed,washed with soap,laid to bleach, and turned and watered every day. Repetitions of the washing with soap expedite the bleaching ; after which the flex is to be beat, and again wel l washed, when dry , it is tobe worked and corded in the sam e manner as common cotton, and pressed betwixt two boardsfor forty- eight hours . It is nowfu lly prepared and fi t for use . It loses in this process near lyhalf its weight, which, however, is abundantly compensated by the improvement made in itsunlitq

Ifonly remains for me to add that the quantity of flex imported into Great Britain is aboutcwts . annually,worth about 25m illions sterling and principa l ly derived from the con

tinent of Europe . At this rate it seem s to be a subject deserving the attention of those inBenga l who cul tivate the plant for the seed alone , to ascertain whether flax , fi t for the Eng lishmarket could a lso be profi tably prepared from it, in place of the whole plant, except the seed,being rejected as useless . [ certainly think, that this would be found to be the case, as a.

climate suited to bring the seed to perfection there is reason to believe m ight prove equal lysuitable for maturing the fi bre , provided it can be removed and dressed uninjured by the operation . This may be doubted if the method of steeping is employed, but not so if the more seientific plan of dissolving the ex tractive m atter in an alka li and then washing it away is pursued.

Linseed for the production of which , the cultivation of this plant is annua l ly extending inB engal , affords by compression a va luable drying oil, m uch used by painters The remaining oil cake, is used for fa ttening cattle . From the seed a jelly is a lso prepared by slowly boiling it for about two hours , which is sim ilarly employed by cattle feeders . In m edicine,the infusion of the bruised seed form s an excel lent

.

demulcent, in various complaints requiringm edicines of that description , the decoction affords a usefu l emolient enema in some cases ofbowel complaint :while the m eal, s imply m ixed with boiling water forms an excel lent poulticeof easy preparation. Linum catharticum is bitter and powerful ly,but,“it seems not danger

156 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

ously cathartic“K A drachm of the dried plant is a convenient purgative, or we m ay employinfusion of a handful of the recent plant. Pereira

”—Lind. Fl. Med.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 60.

l . Linum Mysorense, natural s ize. 9. The sam e cut vertically—but very erroneously re

2. A flower. presenting the seed erect in place of atta ched above the

3 . The same, the peta ls removed to showthe sepals, middle and pendulous : a point however very diffi cult tostamens, torus and ovary. make out from the dried specimen.

4 . Anthers back and front views. IO. A capsule cut transversely, showing it 5- celled,5. Ovary and stamens . with two seed in each cell.

6. A stigma. l l. A seed—with the exceptions mentioned, all more

7 . A capsule—na tura l size. or less magnifi ed.

8. The same magnified.

XLIV.—BALSAMINE/E .

A small order of tender herbaceous succulent plants with round branches ; alternate, or

opposite, exs tipu late, serrated, simple leaves : usua l ly confined to marshy grounds , or to m oist

shaded situations, and of mos t frequent occurrence in warm hum id climates within the tropics .

The flowers are bisexual, irregular, axil lary, solitary or fascicled, or racemose, pedicelled ;white, red, or yellow.

Sepals 5, or by abortion 3 , irregular, deciduous ,with an imbricated testivation ; the twoexterior opposite, lateral, somewhat unsymmetrical, with a valvate aestivation , bu t giving wayfor the projection of the spur of the odd sepal ; the odd sepal spurred, symmetrical, with an

equitant e stivation in the bud, looking towards the axis of the axillary racemose or umbellateinflorescence, containing honey ; the two inner sepals very small, sometimes scale - shaped,sometimes unsymmetrica l, larger,orbicular, always co loured, appearing a t the side of the flower ,which is opposite to the spurred sepal, and a t the base of the odd peta l ; (usua l ly a ltogetherabortive in Balsamina). Peta ls either dis tinct or a little adhering , 5, combined into 3 , irre

gular, deciduous, a lternate with the sepals ; the odd petal regu lar, placed between the inner

scale- like sepals , in front of the bract, wrapping up a grea t part of the remainder of the flowerin aestivation the four remaining peta ls unsymm etrica l, united more or less on each side of

the flower in pairs ; their two larger lobes next the spur, their sma ller next the odd petal ;aestivation convolute. Stamens 5, symmetrica l , a lternate with the petals ; those a lternate withthe odd peta l longer than the others . Carpels 5, a lternate with the stamens consolidated into

a 5- celled ovary . (Roper abridged) . Stigma sessile, more or less divided in 5, cells 5, two, orm any seeded. Fruit capsular, with 5 e lastic va lves , and 5 cel ls formed by membranous projections of the placenta,which occupies the axis of the fruit, and is connected with the apex by 5slender threads ; sometimes succulent and indehiscent. Seeds so litary, or numerous , suspended ;albumen none, embryo straight,with a superior radicle and plano- convex cotyledons .

”

This character is copied from Dr. Lindley’

s Natura l System of Botany, and explains theviews of Professor R6per, of Ba le, of the structure of the flowers of this fam ily which differsfrom that of Professor Kunth adopted in our Prodromus . These eminent Botanis ts take verydifferent views of the construction of the flowers of this order of plants . Their differences maybe thus explained—Knuth proceeds from a full grown flower, the spur of which is pendulousand appears on the same line with the bractea , tha t is , remote from the axis of the plant, (a linedrawn through the stem ,) hence, as the flower hangs on the sta lk the spur is the lowestpart, andif so placed that the axis of the flower, or a line drawn through its centre, is vertical will looktowards the horizon in place of towards the axis of the plant.

Roper on the other hand commences his exam ina tion with the flower-bud, in the earlystages of its growth, the spur in place of being the lower part of the flower next the bractea

and remote from the axis is then on the upper part, and next the axis , showing clearly, that,in the prog ress of the flower towards maturity, the pedicel acquires a twist which changes ,withrespect to the axis, the relative position of all its parts . For the correctness of this last viewthe analogy of Orchideae may be adduced, in nearly the whole of which fam ily, the pedicel

becomes similarly twisted placing the lip of the flower, which in the bud is above , on the lowerpart. According to Kunth

’

s view, the spur is the lower or odd sepal , the large upper segment

of the flower two sepals united, and the two smal l green ones on either side are the lateral

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158 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

that his collection contains several not inWallich’s list, and Mr. Arnott writes me that he hasrecently described sixteen newones from Ceylon. To these last, my excursions on the C our

tallum and Shevagerry bills have added about as many more . Of the Courtallam ones, thoseon ly of which drawings were made, are introduced into this paper ; not having , either speci

mens or sufliciently perfect notes, to enable me to define the rest.

It is a curious , and to me an inexplicable fact, that a genus so striking ly Indian, and asso

ciating such a host of species, should have been so little known to Roxburgh . He on ly describas three in his Flora , though I am sure I speak within bounds , when I assert that the countries , whence he derived the materia ls for his work wil l be found to present an assemblage of

not fewer than one hundred species . It is no doubt an eminently a lpine genus , delighting in a

cool and moist climate ; hence it is unknown on the plains of C orom ande l, though not unfre

quent in Mysore, but, so far as I have seen,only abounding , in the Peninsu la,on the higher hil ls

participating in the wes tern monsoon, which enjoy, during the ho t months , a moderate range oftemperature, with a very hum id atmosphere . Some, (howmany is not yet known,) are foundduring the monsoon on the Ma labar coas t, little elevated above the level of the see, but, exceptin

'

I‘

anjore, I have not seen one of the order on the plains eas tward of the ghauts , beyond theinfluence of that m onsoon : and the only one found there, is Hydrocera trfflora , which g rows ,but is not common, in its ditches and swampy grounds, during the cool season, and is the onlyplace where I have yet seen it.

This peculiarity of dis tribution may account for his not having met with Peninsular species , as he was but little in the southern provinces , and perhaps they are not found in the eas t

ern range of the northern ghauts : but, twenty - two of the forty - seven species nam ed byWa l lich,are from S ilhet, Pundooa and Nepaul, from all of which places Roxburgh procured plants , andone of the three he describes is from Silbet. A moist climate and m oderate temperature are

the circumstances most favourable , if not indispensable, to their production ; hence we findtwenty - two, of the remaining twenty- five species named byWa l lich, natives of the Peninsu la ,but confined to the ghauts and Mysore where these contingencies m ee t. This fact was first.noticed by Mr . Royle, who, after remarking the nearly equal division of the forty- seven species

between the frontier mountains of Benga l and the Peninsula , adds , a singu lar equality ofnumbers , seeing that we have hitherto found Peninsular and South of India genera confined tothe base of the mountains , and if found existing on them , genera l ly only as sing le species ; but

here we have them in equa l numbers , some of them extending to an elevation of seven thousandfeet

This anomaly can only be explained, and a stronger fact cannot be adduced in its confi rmation , than that the mois ture and m oderate tempera ture of the rainy season in the bills(for it is a t this season only that they are found) is as favourable to their g rowth as the heat andm oisture of the Peninsula . I have never m et with any in the plains of India ; but have heardfrom trave llers that they are abundant in C entra l India , whence we may expect some newspecies, as wel l as from the Neilgherries .

The facts which I have mentioned regarding the distribution of the Peninsular species , goto prove , tha t heat and m oisture are not the circumstances most favourable to their productionhere , but moisture combined with a moderate but equal temperature . At Courtallum for ex

ample , whence I have eleven or twelve species , they most abound in shady places on the tops ofthe hil ls , with a mean temperature during the season of their greatest perfection, not exceeding

if so much . A t Shevag erry, about fifty m iles north of Courtallum , 1 found fi ve , out ofseven species , on the highest tops of the mountains ; none of the five under feet, andthree of them above feet of e levation ; the m ean tempera ture, as deduced from twentyobservations , continued through four days , at an elevation of feet, being 65

°of Fahren

heit’

s scale . The two found at a lower elevation, were bo th either g rowing in the gravelly bedsof stream s , or immediately on their banks ; the temperature of which was ascertained to be

while that of the air a t noon was only about a temperature , I presume , but little abovethat in which they delight on the Bengal frontiers . There is one other point, respecting the

effect of cl im ate on plants of this genus , towhich I wish to cal l attention , as it may u ltimatelyprove useful to any one who m ay aga in attempt to subdivide it, and is , in the mean time, in a

physiological point of view, exceeding ly curious . It is , that most of the species from the colderreg ions of the Hima laya mountains , correspond with the European I . noli tangere, in the form

and dehiscence of their capsule, that is, they split from the base, rolling the segments towards

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

the apex,while those of the warmer reg ions split from the apex and rol l their segments towardsthe. ba se . This difference of habit between those of India proper and the Hima laya n form s

,is

we ll worthy of no tice , as it shows , that the aflinity which exis ts between the flora of the la tterand tha t of Europe, is s tronger than between it and the Indian, and extends to even this most

purely tropica l genus .

The inna te power which plan ts enjoy of selecting the soil and climate in different countries ,however rem ote, mos t suitable to their perfec t deve lopm ent, and which the preceding remarkshave shown to be so em inently possessed by those of this order, may , when the subject hasbeen m ore s tudied and is better unders tood, prove of immense benefit to the scientific cultivator .

Taking for an example the genus Impatiens, we may at once infer, that herbaceous plantsg rowing where its species abounds , and arriving at maturity about the same time, may be trans

ferred to any other loca lity, where they are equa lly preva lent. Thus the associates of I . noli

ra ng ers , ins ig n is, racemosa and bicolor , m ight be mu tua l ly interchanged ; while the neighbours

of I . reticulum, puberrcla , &c . m ight be m ade to change places with those of I .fascicula ta ,

g randés , and m any more ,with every prospect of success . The lim its to which this ru le may beextended are as yet tota l ly unknown, and cannot be es timated, until plants are studied not as

insula ted individuals , bu t in connexion with the soil, climate, aspect, exposure, &c. in whichthey are observed to arrive a t the g reates t perfection . This is a s tudy which the scientific

B ota nist pursues in its re lations to the physiolog ica l peculiarities of plants , but to the cu l tivator, it becom es one of much deeper and m ore eng rossing interes t, as the success or failure of

vast speculations may depend on his acquaintance with, or ignorance of, the ex terna l agents

which act on the objects of his culture—whether for their benefi t or their injury.

Pao rs a '

rms AND Us es . Under this head there is little room for remark . One species,Impatiens noli tan g ere, which derives its name Noli lang ere

”from its acrimony, is said to

he so powerfully diuretic that it is capable of producing a diabetem m k may be

doubted. Applied as a ca taplasm on the hypogastrjum ,it equa l ly acts on the kidneys . Neither

this nor,I believe , any other species of the genus is nowused in medicine . A s however species

g rea tly abound in India the s ubject, of their m edica l properties ,seem s not undeserving of enquiry

am ong those favourably s itua ted for conducting such inves tigations .

R om ans on G as s a s AND S eacuss . The genera of this order are few,amounting as yet,

I believe, to on ly two, viz . Impa liegsmnd Hydrocera —the former dis tinguished by the irre .

g ula rity, caused by s uppress ion andunion of parts of its flowers , the la tter, by having them

quite regular with a drupacious 5- celled fruit —The species on the o ther hand, are num erous ,

a nd when characterized from dry specim ens the m ost difficu l t to dis ting uish, though withrecent ones less so than those of m any other g enera . This arises from the tender succu lent.n a ture of the plan ts caus ing the flowers

,the part from which the bes t characters are derived,

to become so ma tted together in drying , tha t it is quite imposs ible to separate them afterwardsin such a m anner as to showtheir form s .

The genus Impatiens affords sass tal excel lent m arks for the distribution of its species

into sectiona l g roups for example , in some the va lves of the capsu le rol l from the base to the

open; in others figom the apex to the bas e this character may serve to divide them into twos ubgenera

— lmpa /iens and Balsamina . Of B a lsamina some species have a lterna te, others

opposite leaves : these differences form the firs t subdivis ion of them . Of the a l ternate leavedsection again , so m any have a xillary, solitary, one -flowered pedicels while others have m anyflowered peduncles . O f the la tter or oppos ite leaved division , the flowers are either solita ryin the . axils , or they are fascicled. To these leading divis ions severa l other easily observeds ubdivis ions can be m ade, which, so vas tly facil i tate the discrim ination of the species , tha t

those of .this , genera lly s upposed most difficult genus , becom e among the easiest to dis tinguish

of those'

em hracing so large a number .

The ful les t advantage has been taken these -sectiona l characters , in our account of the

g enus in the Prodromus as well as in the respective contributions towards the elucida tion of

i ts species by both Dr. Arnott and m yself, published in Hacker’

s Compa nion to the Botan ica l

M ag azine, vol. Isl, and in the Madras Journal of Science. To these sources I am under the

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

necessity of referring , having a lready exceeded my space here . The Species figured, is a C eylon

plant, firs t discovered and nam ed by Mr. Moon : C olonel and Mrs .Wa lker afterwards found it,and for the figure, I am indebted to the kindness of that accomplished lady .

IMPATIENS.

L eaves a lterna te, pedicels ax illary, solitary , or

agg reg ated, oneflowared.

I . repens , (Moon’s Cata l.) diffuse, procumbent, leaves

alterna te, suborbicular-cordate,hairy, pedicels a xillary,longer than the leaves, flowers la rge, (yellow) upper

sepa ls orbicular, lower cucula te ending in a th ick short

spur, tum id a t the apex, la teral peta ls deeply 2~ lobed,

lobes irregula r, the upper ones larger, ovary ha iry.

I n shady veg etable soil, Four Korles . Moon .

I . M um -

onii, (R .W. ) Erect, sparingly ramous , leavescrowded towa rds the summ it, ovate, s lig h tly serrated,acut e, ha iry on both sides, pedicels axilla ry , solita ry,one (a lways flowered, furnished near the base witha bractea, longer than the leaves : la teral sepals ova te,toothed a t the apex, pos terior ones concave, helmet

shaped, and furnished with a foliaceous crest, lowerone conical, term inati ng in a long hooked spur, lowerlobes of the petals twice the s ize of the upper ones .

N eilgherries on moist rocks by the road side near S is

para . Munro and Gough.

The affi nities of this species are clearly with myI . aur iculata and I . viridg

'

flora, but it certainly difi'

ers

from both . The bractea nea r the base of the peticl

seems to indicate that the peduncles are occasiona lly

and perhaps often 2-flowered,when exposed to muchmoisture and g rowing luxu riantly .

5. L eaves alternate, peduncles manyflowered.

I . Gong/i ii, (R .W.) Erect, ramous , e very whereg labrous , leaves ova te, serra ted, short pe tioled, agg re

g a ted towards the summ i t of the branches , pedunclesfi liform , axillary , umbella tely, 4-6fl' wered, often threeor four times the leng th of the lea f, Viscid, flowerssmall, la teral sepals m inute, subulate, superior ones

broad, obcordate mucronate, lower,much shorter thanthe peta ls, acute, spur s horter than the flowers, cun ical, s lig htly incurved— anterior lobes of the petals

much larger than the posterior, capsules g labrous .

N eilgherr ies on damp rocks by P ekarra river . Gough .

The present species is evidently intermediate be

tween I . uncina ta and I . campanula ta, having a shorter

spur than the former, and long er than the la tter, but

judg ing from the spec imens is m uch smaller than

either. Th is however is a marh of no value, as the

same species in some situations m ay be quite diminative,while in others it a ttains a g rea t size .

I have dedica ted these the only new species yet re

ceived from the H i lls to the two y o ung Botan is ts who,in company, explored much of them tha t had not pre

viously been examined.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 6L

1 . Upper sepal front and s ide v iews.Anterior sepalwith its spur.

3-3 -3. Petals different views.

4 . Ovary and stamens.

5. S tamens removed.

6. Ovary and style.

XLV.—OX ALIDE1E .

This is the last of the Indian group of fam ilies which appertain to the class Geranioidece ,a group the m embers of which

,when superficia lly v iewed, seem to be m os t heterogynious and

ill assorted, but which, when m ore close ly scrutinized are found connected in so m any im port

ant points and to g lide into each other by such insensible gradations , tha t it becomes diffi cu l t tofi nd good ordina l characters by which to keep them dis tinct. The whole are m arked by the

predom inance of the quinary proportion of pa rts , 5 sepa ls and peta ls 5- l0 rarely 15, usuallymonadelphous, stam ens 5 s tyles , and 5 cells to the ovary, with usua l ly fewsuperposed ovu les5 m embranaceous 2- va lved carpels , cohering round a centra l persis tent colum n ; exarilla te, and

with the exception of Oxalidea '

, exalbum inous seed . Thus intima tely united. the ordina l characters are taken from pecul iarities of less importance , but yet of so obvious a character that it

seem s wel l to preserve the distinctions which have been introduced and found useful in practice .

This order though abounding in species has but few (3 ) g enera , and these , with the exception of Oxalis have exceedingly few specie s ,“54, out of 158 enum era ted by DeCandolle in

the order, be longing to that g enus Som e additions have s ince been m ade but I believe veryfew. They m ost abound in America and the C ape of G ood Hope . In India the species are

few,but present a great contrast in their form s

— two out of about 6 or 8 Indian species beingconsiderable trees ,while all the rest are sm a l l herbaceous plan ts , m ere weeds .

Sepa ls 5, equal , som etimes cohering a t the base , persis tent ; aes tivation imbricative .

Peta ls 5, hypogynous , equal , ung uicu late : ms tivation twis ted. S tamens 10, hypogynous , m ore

or less m onadelphous : those opposite the'

peta ls long er than the others an thers erect, hilo

cular . Ovarium 5- ang led , 5- ce l led : ovu les sol itary, or '

several in each ce ll : s tyles 5, fi liform

stigmas capita te, or s lightly bifid. Placen ta! in the axis . Fruit rare ly ba'

cca te : usua lly capsular, m embranous, 5- ce lled, and 5- 10 valved. Seeds 1, or several in each cel l : tests fleshy,

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162 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

Of the proliferous divis ion , the forms are m ore numerous and le ss eas ily distinguished, butm ay perhaps be reduced to thre e , dis tinguished by the form and rela tive number of leaflets— lst.

B . (Oxalis) prolfferum leaves and leaflets sm all, 8 I4 pair-s. rachi s (m i d rib of the wholeleaf) about I inch or ll; inch in leng th in woods— 2d. B . inte rmetlimn (R .W.) leaflets much larger , 14

- 20 pairs : rachis from 2 to 4 inches long — Ceylon a vd Courta llum,shady

woods . The leaflets of this are as la rge as those of B . Ca ndolianum —3d. B . pnlyphyllum

(Mun MSS . ) leaflets from 30 to 40 pairs , m inute, a ttenua ted towards the apex , bristle pointed,(tab. 62, fi g . 10 ) rachis from 25to 3 inches in leng th .

—Neilg herr ies—Mes srs . Munro and

Gough . There is yet a fourth form of this divis ion , which m ay be ca lled B . verticella fum, in

which the tufts of leaves in place of term inating the branches form verticels round the verydiffuse slender s tems — Courta llum in very dense thickets . The folia ge of this form is interm ediate between B . polypbyllum and intermedium ,

hav ing the sm all obliquely pointed ha iryleaflets of the form er, and the sm aller number of pairs , 20 to 30, of the la tter .

Of these different form s I shall m ake it my endeavour to publish fig ures in my Icones ,leav ing the question whether they are species or varieties still undecided for future observersto investigate.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 62.

l . B y ophitum Candolianum, (R .W.) natural s ize. 6. Ov ary divided vertically.

2. Calyx, ova ry, s ty les a nd stam ens . 7 . transversely, 5- celled.

3 . Corolla, the pe ta ls partia lly cohering . 8. Leaflets of B . Candolianum .

4 . Shorter s tamens, back and front Views . 9 . B . sens i tivum .

5. One of the long er stamens with its attached scale. 10. B. polyphyllum .

XLVI .—CONNARACEE .

Much difference of opinion seem s to exist among Botan ists as to the place in the series oforders this one ought to occupy. Ja ss ian placed the genus Cannon/s among the Terebin

thacew, DeCandolle re ta ins it and the other genera composing order in the same fam ily, forming of them his tribe Conna racece . Brown firs t proposed its separation as a distinct fam ily, inwhich he has been followed by most modern writers , who generally retain it ameng the perigynous orders placing it between Terebinthacece and Leg um inoseae, to some of the extrem e

forms of the latter of which orders , the character of its frutt nearly allies it. Dr . Brown however states it as his belief, in which I perfectly coincide, that the insertion of the flora l appen

dages is hypogynous and not perigynousThis opinion of the highes t liv ing Botan ical authority, further confirm ed by personal exa

m ination, induced Dr. Arnott. contrary to the general practice, to bring it here . The proprietyof this arrang ement there seem s

,a t fi rst sight, som e reason to ques tion , but it derives so much

support from the hypogynous insertion of the s tam ens , and the 5- celled ovaries , on a g ynobase,of Rouria and Cnestis, in both of which respects they so closely approach Z anthoxylacece, as

carcely to leave a doubt of the propriety of the change, notwiths tanding the l - celled ovary ofannoras .

The following am ended character was drawn up by Dr. Arnott for our Prodrom us .

Flowers bi (rarely uni) sexual. C alyx 5-

partite, regular, pers is tent, mstivation imbricate or valvular . Petals 5, equal, inserted into the base of the calyx . S tam ens twice as m anyas the petals , rarely with half of them s terile , hypogynous : fi laments usually com bined a t their

base into a glandular ring . Ovaria s imple and solita ry, or several and dis tinct : ovules in pairs ,colla teral, ascending : styles term inal, continuous wi th the central angle of the carpels s tigmasobtuse, usually dila ted. Capsules l

-5, dehiscing long itudinally a t the ventral su ture . Seeds

solitary, erect, som etimes with an arillus . A lbum en none, or fleshy. Radicle superior , a t the

oppos ite extrem i ty from the hilum : cotyledons thick when there is no albumen , foliaceous in

those with it. —Trees or shrubs without res inous juices . Leaves compound, alternate, not

dotted, exstipulate .

”

Am r tas . The affinities have been indicated above so far as they are known, but stillthere is some room to doubt whether they are yet well understood—ou which account I will notoccupy further space in the discussion of this question.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 163

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTRIBUT ION . The members of this order are all natives of the trOpics,and are m etwith in A s ia , Africa a nd Am erica , but no where numerous . In India they have a

wide rang e, extending from the sou thern extrem ity of Ceylon and the Pen insula, up to S ilbet.In Malabar , towards the ex treme south two or three species are very abundant. In other

parts of the continent, I have v is ited, they are comparatively unknown .

Paoraar tas AND Us es . l am not aware of any uses to which these plants have been

applied, some of them form handsome flowering shrubs and are not less interesting in appear

ance when in frui t than hen in flower, the num erous bright- red capsules contra sting favourablywith the deep g reen of the leaves long after the flowers have disappeared. Under cultivation,they m ight succeed here, andwould form a showy addition to the ornamental shrubbery.

R emnants on G sns as AND Species . The Peninsular flora only presents us with two generaOf this order, Conna rus and Rouria . These are m ost easily distinguished by the ovary,wbichin the former is solitary, and l - celled while in the latter , there are 4 or 5, each having its owns tyle and stigm a . In the character of the flowers Rouria and Cnestis are very closely allied,each having five ovaries , but the latter has album inous seed, which is wanting in the former.

Adopting these simple distinctions the perplex i ty ex isting among the genera and species of thisorder is at once removed, by the reduction of the heteromorphous genus Omphalobium, at pre

sent m ade up of species taken from each of these , and the restoration of Aublet’

s prior genus ,

The certa in genera of this order then amount to three, Connarus , Rouria , and Cnestis, species

of each of which are found in India .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 63.

1. Connarus h umus—natural size. 7. A mature capsule.

2. A flower s on ing the sepals and petals. 8. The same opened to showthe seed in site:

3. The same, the sepals and peta ls removed to show 9. The seed divided long itudinally, showmg thethe ovary and s tamens . radicle superior or at the opposite end of the seed4. Anthers bat

-k and front views. from the hi lum.

5. Ovary cut vertically, showing the lateral insertion i t) . 'A seed cut transversely.

of the ovules. l l . A seed tobe, the teeta removed.

6. transversely, showing the ovules paired

and collateral.

X LVII .—Z YOPHYLLE/E .

This is a small order of tropical plants of which the Indian peninsula only presents twospecies , but referable to differen t genera , both m ere weeds . In America however, some of the

species, among which is the Guac’

ncum or L ig num vitae, atta in a great s ize and afford very fine

close -

g rained timber . The absence or presence of album en in the seed seem s in this order tobe of sm all account, s ince in our two g enera one ( Fag om

'

a ) has it, and the other Tribulus )is without.

Flowers bisexual, regular. Calyx 4 -5 div ided. Petals ungu iculate, alternate with thesepals : fe stivation usually convolute. S tam ens twice as many as the petals , hypogynous : fi la

meri ts distinct, dilated at the base , and usually aris ing each from the back of a scale : anthers

2- celled, opening long itudinally . Ovarium s imple, more or less 4 -5 furrowed, 4 -5 celled :ovules

in pairs or more , pendulous , or rarely erect s tyle simple, often furrowed stigma s imple, or4 -5 lobed. Fruit capsular, or rarely fleshy, with 4 -5 angles or wing s , valved and loculicidal, or indehiscent : endocarp and sarcocarp combined. Seeds usually fewer than the ovules .

A lbumen between fleshy and horny, rarely 0. Embryo g reen : radicle superior : cotyledonsfoliaceous . Leaves oppos ite, stipuled, not dotted, rarely s imple.

A FFINITI RS . Most Botanis ts agree in considering them nearly allied to R ufus-em, from

which however they are readily distinguished by the want of pellucid do ts in the leaves,whichare always present in the other . They are a lso allied to Oxahdeae between which orders

DeCandolle places them , separating them from the latter by their s ingle not several s tyles , bytheir stipulate Opposite leaves, and by their seed not having an arillus . This last mark is ofless

164 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

value as it does not seem constant in Oxa lidew. From the former, in addition to the absenceof pellucid dots, theydifl

‘

er in wanting the elas tic structure of the carpels so remarkable in thetrue Rutaceee.

G EOGRAPHICAL Dtsr ataur ION. Species of this fam ily are found in every quarter of the

globe Europe, Africa, A sia , America , and New Holland. Fag om’

a and Tribulus are bothfound in the south of Europe as well as in India . The former abounds in the Ceded D istrictsand also in Mysore. but I have never seen it in the Carnatic, the latter, Tribulus, is one of the

most common weeds allover India, and a very troublesome one, owing to the thorns with whichits carpels are armed.

Paoesnr tss AND Uses . The roots and leaves Of Tributes are said by native practitionersto be diuretic, the latter are used by the natives as a pot herb and are esteemed very cooling inparticular states of the system . Of the Am erican species the Gua iac is the most importantand is s till much used in medicine . The Z ygophyllum Fabag o is occasionally used as an

anthelm intic.

Rena axs ON G ENERA AND Seamus . In so far as Indian Botany is concerned there is but

little room for remark on this head. I may however observe that the numerous varieties whichthe Indian plants present seem to afi

'

ord strong ground for doubting whether all the speciesreferred to each of the two genera are tenable . Our Tribulus for example has the leaves withfrom 3 to 8 pa irs Of leaflets , the carpels with two or four spines Often on the same plant, and

every degree Of clothing from nearly g labrous to densely tomentose, I thence infer that bothT. terrestris and T. lanugenosa are identical, and probably several others may be reduced to

that species . Fagom'

a Mysorensis is characterized as having s imple not trifolialate leaves . The

accompanying figure will showhow erroneous that is , and I doubt not the samewill be foundin several of the others and prove that they all form but one species .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 64.

1 . Fa onia mysorensis—natural size. 7. A fruit—natural size.

2. A ower. 8. The same cut transversely.

3 . The same, tals removed and sepals forcibly 9. A seed.

opened to show t e insertions of the stamens and the 10. Divided lengthwise, to show the embryo seated

ovary in situ. in the base of the large albumen.

4. Stamens back and front views. l l. Embryo removed—with the exceptions mentioned,5. Ovary cut vertically, ovules erect. all more or less magnffi ed.

6 transversely, 5-celled, each cell or carpel

attached to a central gynophore.

XLVI II .—RUTACE1E .

In Indian Botany this is a very unimportant order, three species only having as yet beenfound in the Peninsula, and one at leas t of these, Rum angustzfolia , a doubtful native. Of

the section D iosmeee , by for the larger of the two into whtch it is divided, only one speciesD ictamnws Hima layanus, has been found in all India and that confined to the Him alayas .

Cyminosma is the only genus of Rutaceae which I have found unequivocally native, and it is a

very abundant tree in subalpine jungles all over the country.

Flowers bisexual, regular. C alyx 4 -5 divided. Petals alterna te with the sepals

mstivation between twisted and convolute, rarely valvular. Stam ens twice or rarely thrice as

many as the petals , inserted round the base of the torus : anthers 2- celled, Opening longitudinally. Torus various, discoid, or elevated, or cup-shaped. Ovary usually more or less deeply3 -5 partite, 3 -5 celled : ovules in each cell 24 , or 6 [2, or numerous , pendulous , or partly pen

dulous , or adnate to the placentas s tyles combined, or in the deeply lobed ovaries distinct atthe base and combined upwards : s tigma 3 -5 ang led or furrowed. Capsule u sually 4 -5 lobed,the lobes Opening internally at the apex : rarely 3 -valved and loculicide, or a 4 - celled drupe

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166 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

with perfect stamens and the rudiments only Of an ovary, or with a perfect ovary and imperfectstamens . A ilantbeae are usually united with these as a m ere tribe , Dr . A rnott in my Opinionm ore judiciously forms of them a suborder, an arrangem ent

, which I adopt here, but for thepurpose of exhibiting both v iews I subjoin in his own words Meisner

’

s characters of these tribes"asg iven in aureo Cl. Meisneri libro cui titular : P lanta rum Vascula rium Genera tabulis diagnosticis exposita

”a work well m eriting the brief but forcible encom ium thus bestowed by the

celebrated DeCandolle, him self, the author of the noblest Botanical work that has yet issuedfrom the press , a monument of the most un tiring indus try, and m ost profound research .

Flowers by abortion un isexual, regular . Calyx 3 - 4 -5divided. Petals equal in number

(rarely more) to the sepals : aestivation usually twisted, convolute . Stamens as m any, or twiceas many, as the petals , inserted round the base Of the torus . Torus elevated and form ing a

gynophore or short thick s talk to the pistillum , which, in the male flowers , is rudim entary or

rarely entirely absent. C arpels usually as m any as the petals , sometim es fewer , seated on the

g ynophore , som etimes com bined into one ovary, som etimes en tirely or partially distinct : ovules

2, or rarely 4 , in each carpel : s tyles in the s ingle ovaries combined ,In the distinct ovaries

either distinct or combined upu ards , som etim es none : stigma 2-5 lobed in the un ited s tyles ,s imple in the dis tinct styles . Fruit sometimes single, bacca te or m embranaceous , 2-5 celled

sometimes of L5 distinct drupes or 2- valved capsules, of which the sarcocarp is ei ther entirelycombined with, or only partially separable from , the endocarp. Seeds solitary or in pairs , pen

dulous . Embryo lying within a fleshy album en radicle superior : cotyledons oval, flat.

Leaves exstipulate, alternate or Oppos ite, with pellucid dots or rarely without them .

”

A FFINITIES . These are so complex that I absta in from attempting to elucidate them myself, and therefore have course to the far a bler exposition g iven by the younger Jussieu ,

and reprinted in Lindley’s Natural System of Botany, merely Observing , that I am not disposed

to lay so much stress on characters taken from the absence or presence of albumen in the seed,s ince every day

’s observation tends to convince m e that characters taken from it require

to be usedwith caution, as I think our knowledge of vegetable structure, in connection with the

absence or presence of this substance in the seed is not sufficiently advanced to enable us to

Tribus I . X ANrnov e ts— ARN.

Genuinm flor ib-diclinib. (rarissime hermaphrod. cfr Picrasma) .A . D iscus elevatue, gynophorum breve crussum formant . Ovaria in ii. 3 rudimentaria, rarissime 0 , in it. 9

plus m inus inter se coalite, rarius distincts rariss tme (v. B larkburnia) unicum , singula 2-m rius 4 - ovulata. Stig

mata distincts simplicia, aut in unicum 2-5- lohum connata . Carpelle 1-5 dis tincta uut coalita, nunc indehiscentia

drupacea, nunc capsularia 2- va lvia . Albumen carnosum . Embryo seepius curvatus . (Folia nonnunquam Oppo

sita, plerumque pellucido-

puncta ta.)Tribus II. A ILANTIIEE—ARN.

D iscus depressant ant cupuleformis, 4 lobus . Ovaria plum, dis tincta, l - ovulata. Stigm . distincta. Carpelle 3-5,

distincts , indehisc., drupacea aut samaroidea. Albumen P tenue, carnosum, sem ints integumento adhe rens .

Embryo rectus . (Folia alterna, impunctata. Flor. saepe polygam i.)

X ANTHOXYLL‘M . (L.) Krn .

l Ovula juxtaposita . Cal. 4 -5-

part. Pet. 4-5, rarissime O . 9 : Stem . sterilis squam iform ia, ananthera aut

anth . efl'

oetas gerentia, aut O . Ovaria 5- l. S tyli ltberi ant; apice conna ti, interdum subnulli. Stigmata libera

capitata, ant inter se cohe rentia demum solubilia, aut (s icut s tyli) in unit um 4 -5 lobum connata . Ca

ps . 5- l, sessil.

V. s tipita tas, distincta , rarius intus connatm, 2- l- spermte . (Arb . V. frut., suape aculeat. Fol simp V. compos.,

pell.-

punct. lnflor. varia. - Patria extra Europ. difusa ,pre cipice inlra trap.

0 F lores apetali, partium numero quinario. Sepals petaloidea (ex Kunth interdum6- 9) Styli stigmate clava to conjuncti , basi distiueti

- Completi.

A .—P artiam numerus tem arius. Cal. 3 -dent. Pet. 3 . Germ . 3-

part. Styli 3,fi li

form . Carpelle 3, l- spenna.

—(lns . Antill. )

iXanlhowylon. Golden.

iTobinia Dew.

quaternar ius.l) Ovaria 2M Pterola. P . B rown .

2) 4. St li 4, sti malihCapitellatis inte!se cohgrentes . iAubem a . Bar-y . S ' Vane.

quinar ius. Cal. 5-part. Pet. 5. Stem . 5l) Ovaria 3-5 Ochrorg/lum . Schreb.

2) l L anyadorfi a. Leased,

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

drawuseful characters from it. Of the genus Z anthoz ylon for example, in all the species I haveexam ined, 4 in number, the cotyledons are large with the albumen , if indeed such it be, reducedto a mere m embranous covering . In Taddalz

'

a bilocula ria it is altogether wanting . Truethese m ay, and perhaps ought to be removed from the genera to which they are referred on

that very account, but the fact of its absence in som e and presence in others,shows howvalue

less it is an ordinal character in this tribe, and is s till fur ther shown by what is observed inR utece and D iosmew, which , though so nearly related, are yet distinguished by the one tribehaving albumen, the other being exalbum inous . Having prem ised these fewremarks on thispoint of structure, I shall proceed with the ex tract.

This is one of the fam ilies which comprehend genera with both distinct and concrete

carpelle ; the latter are often entirely distinct, even in the ovarium , but more frequently there isa union , or at least a cohes ion, of the s tyles, by which their tendency to concretion may berecognized. In a fewinstances the carpelle are absolutely solitary .

The place orig inally ass igned, and for a long tim e preserved, for most of the genera ofZ a nthoxyleae, proves sufliciently how near the afliuity is between them and Terebinfltaceae.

If,with Messrs . Brown and Knuth, the latter are divided into several orders,Z a nt/zoz yleae

will be m ost immediately allied to B ursaraceae and Cor ma raceae, agreeing with the form er inthe genera with a simple fruit, and with the latter in those with a componnd one . Notwithstanding the distance which usually intervenes in classifications between A urantiaceae andTe; ebin thaceae, there are nevertheless m any points of resemblance between them ; Correa has

pointed out a passage from one to the other through Coo/rid , Kunth, in new-modelling the genusAmyris and in cons idering it the type of a distinct order, suspects its near affinity withA ura nuaceae we cannot therefore, be surprised at the exis tence also of relations between thelatter and Z a nthoxyleae. A m ixture of bitter and aromatic principles . the presence of receptacles of oil that are scattered over every part, which g ive a pellucid dotted appearance to theleaves , and which cover the rind of the fru itwith Opaque spaces ,

— all these characters g ive thetwo fam ilies a cons iderable degree of analogy. This has already been indicated by M . deJussieu in speaking of Toddalia , and in his remarks upon the fam ilies of A a rantiaceae andTerebim lzaceae ; and it is confirmed by the continual m ixture, in all large herbaria, of unexamined plants of Terebintltaceae, Z antltoxyleae, and Aurantiaceae. The fruit of the latter is,however, extremely different ; their seeds resembling , as they do, Terebin thaceae, are on thatvery account at variance with Z anthoxyleae, but at the same time establish a further point ofaffi nity between them and some Rulaceous plants which are destitute of albumen . Unisexualflowers , fruit separating into dis tinct cocci , seeds solitary or twin in these cocci

,ent

-losing a

usually smooth and blackish integum ent, which is even som etimes hollowed out on its inneredge, a fleshy albumen surrounding an embryo the radicle of which is superior, are all points ofanalogy between Z ant/wz yleae and Euphorbiaceae, particularly between those which have intheir m ale flowers from 4 to 8 stamens inserted round the rudiment of a pistil, and in the

female flowers cells with 2 suspended, usually collateral, ovules . Finally, several Z an llzoa'yleousplants have in their habit, and especially in their foliage , a marked resemblance to the ash.

The die cious flowers of Fraz imus , its ovarium , the two cells of which are compressed, hav inga s ingle style, 2 ovules in the inside, and scales on the outside, and which finally changes into asamara which is l - celled and l - seeded by abortion, all establish certain points of contactbetween Ptelea and Fraximus .

” Adds Juss.

G soeaarmcu . DISTRIBUT ION. The greatest number of the plants of this order are found

in tropical Am erica, a few are na tives of Africa : two of which, Z ant/toazylon Senegalense andZ . Lepr ieurii resembling our Z Bharsa , are from Seneg ambia . On continental India the number hitherto discovered is not g reat : they appear more num erous in the Islands to the eastward.

Blume,including Rutea ,

has from Java [4 species, while Roxburgh has for India only‘

seven,Wallich’s list has about 28 for all India . The Peninsular flora at the time of our publicationonly presented a catalogue of 10 species for the whole order Rutacece , but for Z anthozylewexcluding Ruled? and A ilanthew only 5, one ofwhich is s ince excluded, and the g enus of

another s till doubtful. In addition to the species described in the Prodromus , I have s incefound Z amlzozylon (Fagara, Roxb.) triplzyllum and two newspecies referable to the subgenusLang sdmfi a , also Toddatiafloribunda ,Wallich, thus adding four species to our listwhich nowexceeds Roxburgh

’e.

168 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

Paoraar ts s AND Uses . B itter stim ulating and aromatic properties pervade in greater orless intensity, almost every species of the order , at least so far as our acquaintance with them

yet extends . Some species are rem arkable for their ton ic properties , others are powerfulsudorifics, and when applied to the gum s or even taken internally act as powerful s ialogogues .

These properties point them out as su itable rem edies for Rheumatism , in which complaintthey have been found very useful. Z . a la tum of Roxburgh, a Nepaul plant, is aromatic and

pungent, and the seeds are used m edicinally by the na tives . Another species , Z . pipert'

tum,

a native of Japan , but now cultivated in India, is a powerful aromatic and used in its nativecountry in place of pepper. It is also used as rubifacient and discutient by the natives , beingapplied in form of a poultice to the neighbourhood of inflamed parts . The seeds of Z . B udrunga ,

(Roxb.) have the fragrance of Lemon peel, and being of a warm spicy nature are used medicinallyby the natives of Silbet,where it is indigenous . The unripe capsules Z . Rhetsa are like small

berries and are gra tefully arom atic, tas ting like the peel of a fresh orange. The ripe seed

tas te exactly like black pepper but weaker, from this circum stance l conce ive this may be

F. perperita , yet I have always found the leaflets entire” (Roxb.) The inner lam ina of thebark is also acrid and bitter . Of Toddalia aculeata , a very common plant in this country,

R oxburgh remarks Fl. Ind. l page 617 Every part of this shrub has a strong pungent taste .

The roots when fresh cut sm ell particularly so. The fresh leaves are eaten rawfor pa ins in the

bowels ; the ripe berries are fully as pungent as black pepper , and with nearly the sam e kind of

pungency ; they are pickled by the na tives , and a mos t excellent one they m ake.

The fresh bark of the root is adm inistered by the Telinga physicians for the cure of thatsort of rem ittent, commonly called the hill fever. [ conceive every part of this plant to bepossessed of strong , stimulating powers, and have no doubt but under proper management it

m ight prove a valuable medicine where stimulants are required.

”

B ananas on G anena AND Svscms . The number of genera of this suborder is not considerable, amounting in all, according to Lindley, to 15, including Atlantlzew. Of these Z an

thor ylon seems to have been the most troublesome to Botanists, there being no fewer than

seven generic names ranged under it as synonyms—whether all these ought to be reduced I

am not prepared to say, but, judg ing from what I have seen in exam ining the fewspecies in mycollection, I suspect some at least of these will be restored, or if they are not, then, on the

same principle, I think many genera wh ich nowencumber the Botanical system m ight,be s im ilarly reduced.

For the purpose of facilitating the investigation of this polymorphous genus I have addedto the proceeding extract from Meissner’s work the characters of the subge nera of Z anthoxylon . Comprehens ive however as the character of this genus is our Z . cannarioides must be

removed. In it there are 5 sepals , 5 petals , 10 stamens, alternately longer and shorter, the

fi laments united. form ing a tube, hairy within, enclosing the style, and large stigm a, inserted,with the petals , outs ide of a large cup- shaped disk in which the 2- celled ovary is imm ersed,seed exalbum inous , with the radicle next the hilum . These peculiarities of the flower com

bined with the exalbum inous seed afl'

ord ample reasons for its separation , not only from the

genus but from the order : in a word, it is a species of B eyneu . Our Toddalia bilocularia

must also, I fear, be equally removed from that genus, a t least, if the absence of album en,or its

presence in a very unusual form ,can be received as a character of suflicient weight, when aided

by the difference of structure of the seed itself. The flowers however are still unknown , and

unless they assisted in distinguishing this as a distinct genus , I should hes itate in removingit from the place it now occupies on account the peculiarities of the fruit only. Besideswanting albumen , the seed are remarkable for the extreme inequality of their cotyledons,the one, being three or four times larger than the other, I have not yet found flowers but judging from the seed, I should suppose it more nearly allied to A urg ntiacece than Z anthozylacece,and certainly forms an additional link between these in many other respects allied orders .

Between Evodz'

a,Blume, and Fag a ra , Roxburgh, there appears to be no difference, and indeed

between Evodz’

a ,Juss . and Z amlzoxylon, (subgenus A ubertia ) the only difference seems to

be in the declinous flowers of the latter . This dis tinction can scarcely be considered a goodone, though on such only does the essential distinction between R uled; and Z anthoz ylece rest,

because, the rudiments of all the organs of perfect flowers constantly exist in both sexes, and

only require a slight change of circumstances to render them perfect : on this account, I ans

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170 ILLUSTRATIONS op INDIAN BOTANY .

roid, I - celled, l - seeded. Albumen ? a thin fleshy plate, closely adhering to the integument of

the seed,and resembling an inner coat. Embryo straight : radicle superior, short : cotyledons

fleshy.—Trees or shrubs . Leaves alternate, exstipulate, equally or unequally pinnated, without

pellucid dots .

A FF INITIES . The affin ities of this tribe have been already sufficiently expla ined.

G sooaarmoan D ISTR IBUTION . All the species of A ilanthus are of Asiatic origin, twoare natives of India , one of the Moluccas and one of China . Of B rucea the orig inal specieswas found by Bruce in Africa , to whom the genus is dedicated. one is a native of India , and

one of Sumatra and the Malayan peninsula , of which I have also specimens from C eylon , but

according to Moon introduced. Eurycoma , a genus doubtfully referred here, is a Malayan

plant.

Paoeaarms AND Usas . The bark of A ilanthus excelsa has a pleasant and slightlybitter taste, and is prescribed by the native practitioners in decoction in cases of Dyspepsia

”

A inslie. In confirmation of that statement I m ay add that some time ago specimens of thisplant were sent me, as those of a tree, the bark of which is prescribed in the Circars as a powerful febrifuge, and tonic in diseases of debility. The wood of this species is white and soft,that of A . g landulosa, the Chinese species, is hard, heavy, glossy, like Satin, and is susceptible of a fine polish . The tree grows rapidly in England and forms a very ornamental one .

'

I he bark of both B races antidysenterica and Samatrdna is intensely bitter. The form er is

considered in flbyssinia a sovereig n remedy in dysentery and diarrhoea , and Roxburgh was inhopes that the Malayan one would, from the s im ilarity of its sens ible properties, be foundequally useful in the cure of these complaints . The salt called B racine

, erroneously supposedto be derived from B .

'

antidysenterica , a m ost acrid and powerful poison is nowascertained tohave been obtained from the bark of N ew vomica or Stryclmos, all the statements therefore

that have been m ade concerning the danger ofusing B rucea and B rueske, belong to Stryclmos,and have nothing to dowith B rucea itself. —Lindley.

R EMARKS on G anana AND Seaoias . In our Prodromus we expressed doubts as towhetherA ila ntlms malaba ricus was really distinct from A . excelsa . Spec imens of leaves and flowersof the latter tree. communicated by the late Mr. Graham , of Bombay, corresponding withRhwde’s figure enable m e to testify to that extent, the correctness of his representa tion. Thema ture fruit I have not seen but the ovary difl

'

ers som ewhat from the generic character . Ithas three compressed dis tinct very obtuse carpels free from the base to the orig in of the styles

that is about two - thirds of their leng th : the styles are united throughout from the base to theapex and end in a large 3 - lobed spreading stigma . It hence appears , that s ince the ovaries

are distinct that the mature Sama ra can scarcely be united. In the earliest stages however,they are linear and rounded at the apex as in the plate. The specific character may be im

proved by the insertion of the words ovaries 3, distinct, to the orig in of the styles, roundedat the apex ; style 1, short, thick, triangular, term inating in a broad spreading 3 - lobed stigma,leaflets glabrous on both s ides, glaucous beneath.

”

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 67.

l . Ailanthus excelsa, male—flowering branch, nearly 5. The same magnified but notwell represented.natural s ize. 6. C luster of carpels

—natural size.2. A male flower seen from above. 7. A carpel cut transversely, showing the solitary3. Anthers back and front views. seed.

4. An ovary—natural size.

L'

.-SIMARUBE1E .

.

This is a small tropical order ofwhich two or three species onlyhave been found on thecontinent of India the remainder being from America, continental Afr ica, and Madagascar.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 17 1

They are most readily distinguished from the preceding orders, by the insertion of their stamens

which in S imarubeae arise from the back of hypogynous scales like those of Z yg ophylleae, fromwhich however they are distinguished by their dis tinct, not united, ovaries , and from Xanthozrylaccae by the absence of a lbumen in their seed. They are principal ly trees .

Flowers usua lly bisexua l , som etimes unisexual , regular . Calyx 4 -5, divided. Petals asm any as the sepals and a lternate with them , hypogynous , spreading or connivent into a kind of

tube : aestivation twisted. Stam ens twice as m any as the petals : each fi lament arising from

the back of a hypogynous scale : anthers opening long itudinally. Torus a gynophore, bearingthe stamens round its base, and the varies on its summ it. Ovaries 5: ovule solitary in each

cell , suspended from the inner ang le near the apex : styles distinct at ' the bas e, but above ituniting into one : stigmas distinct, or combined. Fruit of 4 -5 indehiscent drupes , arranged

round the summ it of the gynophore. Seeds pendulous testa m embranaceous . Albumen

none . Radicle superior, short, partly concea led within the thick cotyledons .- Shrubs or trees.

Leaves alternate, exstipulate,without dots , simple or compound.

A rnm 'r lss . They are allied to Rutaceae and its suborders as wel l as to Conna raceae and

Oclmaceae, by their distinct ovaries and gynobase, but are distinguished from the form er bythe insertions of their stamens , and from the latter by their pendulous, not erect. ovules , andanthers, not opening by term ina l pores, to which however they approach through their exalbu

m inous seed—Adr. de Jussieu remarks , they are known from all Rutaceous plants by the

cc - existence of these characters ; nam ely, ovaries with but one ovule, indehiscent drupes, exal

bum inous seeds , a membranous integument of the embryo, and by the radicle being retracted

within thick cotyledons .

G soeaapmcu . Disrmeur ron . The similarity of the Floras of the western coasts of the

Indian peninsula of Ceylon and of the Malayan peninsu la, is in many cases very remarkable,and in no case more so than in this : the only two Indian species of the order being found in

these localities . Samadera indica is a native of Malabar and Ceylon, while S . lucida is from

Martaban . There is one, most probably the latter, cultivated in the gardens about Batavia in

Java . A third plant doubtful ly referred to this order is found on the Himalayas, but form s adistinct genus .

0

Paoraar rss AND Uses . Of this order thewell known Q uassia so remarkable for its pureand intense bitter is a member, and in that property all the other species partake in a g reater or

less degree. One species a native of Brazil, is said to be so intensely bitter that no insects

wil l attack it. The Himalayan plant referred to pos sesses the peculiar bitterness of the familyin an eminent degree, as does both the seed and the bark of the plant here figured.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 68.

l . Samadera indica, flowering branch—natural size. 5. Ovaries cut transversely, showing the gynophore2. A flower partially dissected to show the inset towhich they are attached in the centre.

tions of the stamens and the ovary. 6. An ovary removed and cut vertically,to showthe3 . A detached stamenwith its attached scale. attachment of the ovule.

4 . S tamens and petals removed, showing the ele 7 . A cluster of full g rown fruit.vated gynobase and the ovaries.

8. One of them cut transversely.

9. A seed removed from the capsule.

LI .

This like the preceding is a smal l order of tropical plants, for the most part under shrubs.

Their most striking feature appertains to the fruit, one unfortunate ly not sowel l brought out asit ought and would to have been in the accempanying plate, had it been possible to procurethem in a more advanced stage when preparing the drawing . In this order they are seated on

a broad fleshy gynobase at first close to each other, but becoming quite distinct, like so m anynine -

pin s, as they advance towards maturity, owing to the gynobase enlarging with their

g rowt

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

Sepals 5, persistent : mstivation imbricated. Petals hypogynous, equal to or rarelym ore num erous than the sepa ls . deciduous, spreading : & stiva tion imbricated“S tam ens 5,

alternate with the peta ls , or 10, or indefinite, inserted on the hypogynous disk fi laments per~

sis tent : anthers 2- cel led, erect, opening by pores . Ovaries as m any as peta ls , dis tinct or

rarely com bined, seated upon the en larged tum id torus : ovu les solitary, erect : styles combinedinto one, which springs directly from the torus : from between the bases of the ovaries .

Fruit (a sarcobase ) of severa l indehiscent drupacious carpel le, articulated with the torus .

Seeds solitary. A lbumen none. Embryo straigh t : radicle short, inferior : cotyledons thick .

G labrous trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, stipulate. Pedicels joined in the m iddle.

A FFlNlT lES . In Dr. Lindley’

s recent arrangement, this order is placed at the head of his

alliance Ruta les of the group Gynobaseosce, and we l l it m ight, as the gynobas ic structure is

m ore dis tinctly m arked in this than in any of the other m ember of the g roup. It is readilydistinguished from all the other by the dehiscence of its anthers which open by pores at the

apex in place by a long itudinal s lit, by its sing le style and erect so litary ova les , and from all

those with divided styles , by the absence of pel lucid dots in its leaves . In the characters of its

fruit that exce l lent Botanist justly remarks it is to polypeta lous plants what Labiatae and

B orag inece are to Monopetalws .

”

G soeaavmcan Disrmaur iON . Tropica l India, Africa , and America , are the native coun.

tries of the plants of this fam ily, but they are by far the mos t num erous in America , scarcelyone -fifth of the whole number being found in India . Our flora only extends to 5 species of

about 50 described by authors of these Roxburgh seem s only to have been acquainted withone, the plant here figured, and quotes as a synonym a figure of Burmanfs (Thesaur Z eylan .

tab. 56) which belongs to the a l lied genus Gomphia ..Wa l lich in his list enumerates 12 species

for all India and the Is lands . The number so far as I am aware has not"been augmented.

Paorsar i es AND Uses . Gompl u'

a ung ue/ifolia has we are told by Rheede, a bitter root

and leaves, and is employed in Malabar as a tonic. The flowers of .Oclma .squa rrosa areL

frag rant, but no part of the plant appears to be‘

applied to any useful purpose. 3I

R EMARKS ON G ENERA AND Svscms . On this head there is li e scope for remark ,GohadWig lztiana ,

however, it m ay be here rem arked, differs somewha from the character of the

g enus in having the styles deeply divided at the apex into as m any parts as there are carpelsto the ovary, each furnished with a capitate stigma : in place of having them united to the apex

and having a s ing le stigm a .

'

l‘

he anthers too are shorter than the fi laments . These differenceshowever scarcely adm it of this species being separated to form the type of genus .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 69.

l . Ochna squarrosa— natural size. 7 . A seed approaching maturely cut transversely.

2. A flower, the petals rems ved to showthe stamens. 8. A carpel cut vertically, showing the pos ition of3 . S tamens back and front views . the seed.

4 . The gynobase and ovaries with the style and 9. A seed removed and deprived of the testa.

stigma . 10. A seed lobe, but through an error of the artist5. Ovaries cut \ ertically, showing their attachment inverted and showing the radicle superior in place of

to the base of the s tyle, and their solitary erect ovules. inferior.

6. A detached ovary.

LIL—PITTOSPOREE .

A smal l order of plants, widely dis tributed, but principal ly confined to the tropics or thewarm er portions of the temperate zones bordering on them , cons isting of trees or shrubs witha lternate, simple, entire, petioled, exstipulate leaves, and axil lary and term ina l , solitary, aggre

gated or racemose flowers .

Sepa ls 5, deciduous , distinct, or partial ly cohering : mstivation imbrica ted. Petals 5,hypogynous, sometim es s lightly cohering : aestivation imbricated. S tam ens hypogynous , 5,

dis tinct, a lterna te with the peta ls . Torus not discoid, but often form ing a s talk to the ovary of

about the same thickness . Ovary solitary, usua lly imperfectly 2-5 cel led ; the dissepiments not

uniting at the axis, and therefore apparently l - cel led : style 1 : stigma 2-5 lobed, the lobes

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174 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

DIV : II .—CALIC IFLORJE , D.C .

The families we have been hitherto describing are all referred by DeCandolle to his first

division Thalamg’

fiorae : distinguished by the inferior (hypogynous ) insertion of the parts of

the flower with reference to the ovary, in other words, by the inse rtion of the peta ls and sta

m ens into the receptacle, the Torus being usua l ly very narrow and unattached to the calyx.

This division or class, owing to the constantly inferior insertion of the petals and stamens, has

received from Jassieu the nam e of Hvroesr ALsI .

In the division, on the consideration of which we are now about to enter, the Torus is

broad, and lines the bottom of the calyx, hence, the peta ls and stamens springing from its

dilated and adnate part are commonly said to be inserted into the calyx . The petals in

division are either distinct or united together :and, the ovary is either free superior or em

braced by and united with the tube of the calyx by the torus , ( inferior.

This division is sub- divided into the fol lowing five classes—Peripelalae—EpipetalEpicorollae Corisantherae—(anthers distinct) Epecorollae Synantherae—(anthers united) andP ericorollae. The characters of these classes will be g iven at the head of each.

CLASS PERIPETAL/E .

Torus between the ovary and tube of the calyx, but not forming a disk on the summit of

the ovary. Peta ls distinct, and stamens perigynous .

To this class is referable all those orders having a superior or free ovary.

CELASTRINEE .

This is a large fam ily of plants partly tropical, but the greater number of them natives of

the warmer regions bordering on the tropics . They are all trees or shrubs, with round or

square branches, alternate or opposite, simple, or rarely compound, entire or dentate, petiola te,leaves : small deciduous stipules : and regular hermaphrodite small flowers, the bottom of

which is l ined with a large flat disk.

Sepals 4 -5, united at the base ; e stivation imbricated. Peta ls as m any as the sepalsand alternating with them with a broad base, inserted under the m arg in of the torus ; veryrarely wanting :mstivation imbricated. Stam ens a lternate with the petals , and as many, in

serted on the marg in or disk of the torus : anthers 2- cel led, dehiscing on the inner side. Torus

a large thickfleshy flat disk, covering the bottom of the ca lyx . Ovary more or less immersedin and adhering to the torus, 2-5- cel led, or rarely from abortion l - celled : ovules usua l ly two

(sometimes only one, sometim es several) in each cell, attached to the axis , and usua l ly at itsbase, at first ascending (sometimes afterwards by the elongation of the axis peritropal, or at

last resupinately pendulous ) : styles 2-5, usual ly combined into one, som etim es distinct : stigm as combined or dis tinct. Fruit free from the ca lyx , 2-5-cel led (often partly abortive) either

indehiscent, drupacious, or baccate, or samaroid or m embranaceous and fol licular or capsa

lar, 3 -4 - valved, and loculicida l . Seeds one or several in each cell, som etimes aril late. A lbum en usuallyfleshy, sometimes very thin or wanting . Embryo straight : radicle short, pointingto the hilum : cotyledons usually thick —Shrubs or trees . Leaves alternate or opposite.

”

A rrINm es.—Jussieu original ly confounded this order with Rhamneae, from which it was

afterwards separated by Brown on account of its imbricated aestivation, the stam ens beinga lternate with, not opposed to, the petals as in that order, and its ovary always quite free . It

is also nearly al lied to Hippocra tiaceae (which sea

l)}and to Euphorbiaceae, near which, in his

a l liance Euphorbia les Lindley places the order. artling takes a similar viewand refers the

order to his class Tricoccae, the type of which is the Euphorbiaceae. Brogniart, who has soably il lustrated the Rbamneae, states it as his conviction that Celastrineae have more relation

to some orders with hypogynous stamens, especially Malpig ltiaceae, than to any with peri

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 175

gynous ones . Achil le R ichard places it between Rbamneae and Euphorbiaceae : B lume however con tinues to fol lowJussieu in uniting them to Rhamneae. A s all these eminent Botanistsseem agreed on the one point, that this order form s the transition from the hypogynous to the

perigynous divisions of DeCandolle’

s arrangement, the one adopted in this work, it seems evident, that it is most judicious ly placed in its present situa tion as the connecting link betweenthe two.

G aooaa rmcar. D lsrmanr ioN. This is a very wide ly distributed order , species being metwith in the warmer regions of every quarter of the g lobe, but m uch more abundantly beyondthan within the tropics . The Spindle tree, Euonemus Europaeus is a native of the north of

Europe , and has severa l congeners in the Him a layas, and also in the alpine districts of thisPeninsula . I have two species from the hills about Courtallum , and excluding one or two,which Iam as yet unable to determ ine, two from the Neilgherries . Celastrus in like m anner has a widerange in India . extending from the southern extrem ity of Ceylon up to the Himalayas , severalspecies occurring at either end of these dis tant lim its . Species of bo th of these g enera are

found in Java and China , as wel l as in America , and of the latter, in Africa . Cela strus corea .

ceus of Senegambia , seems indeed a lmost identical with our C . montana . Elaeodendron has

fewer species and a m ore limited range, being confined to the East andWest Indies , and hasone species in Norfolk Is land. The tribe Ilicineae of which the Holly is the type has recentlybeen removed from this , and placed as a separate order among the m onopeta lous orders ,whereit ranks near the Ebony

’

s and O lives . Dr .Wallich’s genus Kurrz’mia is found in Silbet andC eylon, from the last of which s tations I have two species . According toWallich’s list thereare about 70 species, natives of India, referable to this order.

Paor s ar i ss AND Usss . But little is'

known of these . The berries of Euonemus Euro

paeus are said to he violen tly emetic, and to prove poisonous to sheep. Of the Indian species,not one is mentioned by A ins lie as being used in medicine . The researches however of the

late Dr. Herklots brought one to light wel l known to the natives as posses sed of very peculiarpowers , the seed namely of Cela strus nuta ns (Malkungnee of the natives from which beextracted, by a rather rude process an Emperuma tic oil. This be administered with great success in Berriberri. In other bands it has not proved quite so successful. A s however the subjcet is as yet imperfectly known a nd seem s to merit further inquiry, I presume I need offer no

apolog y for introducing a ra ther long extract from Mr. Malcolm son’

s essay on Berriberri, givingsome account of its introduction into medica l practice , and of its active cons tituents , as ascer

tained by chem ica l ana lysis , in the hope , that the very simple and easily made experiments of

M r. M . m ay induce others to extend the enquiry to the seed of other species , and thence per

haps , add another not less powerful remedia l agent from a family which has not hitherto been

suffi ciently investigated.

OLEUM N IGRUM, (Herklots) . It remains to communicate such observations as I have made,regarding another native rem edy of g reat va lue , styled by Dr. Herklots , to whom we owe its firs tintroduction to the notice of Europeans , the oleum nigrum . I t is prepared in the fol lowingm anner . Into an earthen pot whose bottom is perforated by a number of sma l l holes are put,m alkung nee seeds rbijss , benzoin , cloves . nutmeg s , m ace, of each Sss ; the mouth is closed and

the pot placed over another and luted to it. They are then placed in a pit three feet deep and

nea rly as wide, and surrounded by cakes of dry cow-dung which are set on fire, and when theyare consumed about six ounces of the oil is found in the under vessel ready for use. I t shou ldbe kept in well closed bottles . AsWe would expect from the nature of the process , the appear

ance and sens ible qual ities of the product resem ble thos e of an emphreumatic oil, possess ingthe peculiar powers of the principa l ing redient, the m alkungnee seeds .

'

l'

hese do not appear to

be the produce of the C ircars ,or as far as I can learn , of the Deccan, but Mr. Royle has in

cluded them in a lis t of Indian m ateria m edica, and states tha t the plant is the Celastrus

muons)“It is s ta ted by Hakeem Mahom ed Hussein Khan, to be a na tive of Hindoostan, and

the seeds are imported from Calcutta or brought to the C ircars from Hyderabad, and are onlyfound in the principal towns, where they are kept in bags containing the seeds, seed vessels and

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

stalks , from which the genus can be ascertained, as was done by Dr.Wight some years beforethe publication of Mr. Royle

’s cata logue . The nam e used in Hindoostan has been in troduced

into Arabic, Persian, Teloogoo, and Tam u l . A tree ca l led by the Mahrattas malkanee,”the

seeds of which afl’ord an oil, grows in the forest of Dongatal, north of Nagpore, but I did not

see the tree nor am I sure that it is the same .

151 '

1 he seeds differ in qua lity, som etimes from

age, but I have seen very fresh ones of inferior quality, apparently from their being pul led toosoon . When new, the seeds are partial ly surrounded by a yel lowunctuous tasteless farina, and.when they are reduced to powder they form a paste from which a yellowoil

,having in some

degree the qualities of the seeds , may be expressed . These have a bot biting taste, permanent

in the pala te, and if many of them are mastica ted, a sense of g iddiness and a peculiar slight

sensation extending over the face and brow are fel t. A very s light taste and no acrimony is

g iven to water dis til led from them , and the oil on the surface of the res iduum is bland. The

seeds retain their taste . I twas evident from this , that their virtues did not reside either in a

fi xed or volatile oil. Som e of the seeds were coarsely powdered, and alcohol rubbed upwiththem and afterwards fi ltered ; it had acquired a light yel low tinge . On this being dropped into

water, an immediate separation of the resin it held in solution took place, in a white flake,

which had a s trong biting acrid taste exactly like that of the seeds , but much more powerfu l,and in which it appears the virtues of the plant reside . The a lcohol ic solution evaporated,leaves a beautiful yel low resinous paste which a lso possesses the qua lities of the seeds . The

black oil itself is a thick deep brown fluid, burning with a white flam e and not acted on byacids . Its specific g ravity is, at ninety, which is higher than any of the fi xed oils ; itstas te is rough, bitterish and acrid, its smel l empyreuma tic and peculiar . Water distilled fromit is limpid, but has a good deal of the taste of the seeds , and the oil floating on the water inthe retort is tasteless . The oil when rubbed upwith a lcohol forms a deep olive brown partialsolution, and there is only a thick oily matter left on the fi lter, which has much less taste than

the oil itself or the oily tincture. This last, on being dropped into water, separates into a whiteflake sinking in the water and of the same qua lity as that obtained from the a lcoholic solutionof the seeds , and a fixed black oil having a s light bitter oily taste. On the m ixture of the oil

and alcohol standing for some time, the fixed oil pai'tly se arates from the tincture ; and seems

to pass through the fi lter with, but not dissolved by it. rom these observations it appears,that the resin is combined with the oils existing in the ingredients employed, which are partlyconverted into an empyreumatic compound, and thus acquire the property of partial ly dissolvingthe resin .

”

Reu aaxs ON G am ma AND Seseme. Five genera only of this order had been metwith inthis country at the time we published our Prodromus , since then I have added one (Icones Plant.No. 162) intermediate between Celastrus and Euonymus . Of these I find Meisner proposes

to change the name of one,- subs tituting Schrebera for Ela odendron . Our Elwodendron beingin truth Betz

’

s Schrebera but not Linnaeus’

,I confess I am not prepared to coincide with him in

this a lteration , for so far as I can see , he has not afforded satisfactory reasons for doing so : the

characters of his genera Elwodendron and Schrebera ,with the exception of the seed,being in effectthe same. It appears tome ,he has been induced to change our nam e

,partly by a rem ark of ours to

the effect that if Gaertner be correct in describing the fruit ofEl. orientate, the type of the genus,as a 3 - cel led drupe, the seedswith afleshy a lbumen, and rem arkably thin membranous cotyledons ,then the Indian species must be removed. This pass age is guarded by an zf— and notwithoutreason ,since it does not appear by any means certain,

thatGaertner’s E . indicum,

is identical withJacquant

’s E . orienta le, on the contrary, he (Jacquant) particularly m entions the 2- cel led

nut,which renders their identity very doubtful . With reference to the on ly other distinction

assigned,viz . the seed being exa lbum inous with thick cotyledons in the one and sparing ly fur

h ishedwith a lbum en and having thin foliaceous cotyledons in the other ; I consider it a m ark of

inferior importance, and object to it the more, as being in this instance a very unnecessary refine

m ent,and but little applicable to genera l practice,where we have so often to dis tinguish genera

from flowering specimens only . For these reasons I cannot with my present information adopt

the innovation . A curious blunder of Meisner’

s m ay be here noticed, as it seems not improba

ble it had some influence in leading him to make two genera, where I think one m ight have

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178 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

Dr.Arnott’s characterdoesnotattain,andiusofarweakensboth. I give belowDr. Arnott

’a generic character.

‘

The genus naturally divides itself into two sections,one distinguished by its crested petals and projectinglobes of the disk, the other b the petals being withouta cres t, and having a (ta nglednot fi o lobed disk.

d 1 . Petals crested, disk 5- lobed, lobes adnate to the

bases of thepetals .

1 . L .Wig htt'anum, Arn . Leaves elliptic, oblong ,

sli bily acuminated, quite entire, coriaceous , slightlyvil ous beneath ; crest of the petals a corrug ated mem

brane.

Hab.—Malabar .

The villi on the under surface of the leaves, in this

species is much more sensible to the touch th m evident

to the eye, even when ass isted with a high magnifier.

2. L.fi mbriatum. Leaves ovate, oblong, s ligh tly acu

minated, quite entire, membranous, g labrous on both

sides, cres t of the petals fimbriated.

B ah—Merg ui—Grifi th.

The much thinner and membranous leaves with the

fimbriated crest of the petals at once dis tinguish this

from, the former species . In addition to which the

flowers are scarcely half the size.

s 2. Petals not created, dis/r 5- ang led, not lobed, ou

gles cal/em ote with the petals.

This section ought perhaps to form a dis tinct genus .

3 . L.floribundum. R .W. Leaves linear elliptic, acumi

nated, quite entire, coriaceous, glabrous on both sides ;

panicles large, diffuse, mam -dowered ; flowers small,

young capsu es acutely triang ular, pointed.

Hab.—Merg ut

°

.— Griffi th .

This is a most distinct species, and cannot be con

founded with either of the preceding , but it is still

doubtful to me, whether it ought to remain in the

genus .

EUONYMUS .

E . Goug hn, (R .W.) Shrubby, glabrous, ramuli com

pressed :leaves somewhat tripli nerved shortly petioled,quite entire, oblong ovate, acute at both ends, acumi

na ted: peduncles axillary, short, 13 flowered : ca lyxouellete, 5- lobed : petals 5, orbicular, fi rnbriated on

0 Calyx scutelliformis 4-5- lobus, lobis rolundatis brevibus . Petala 4 -5 sessilis orbiculata patentia, supra circa

basin crtstis lobulisque carnos is instru t' ta vers us marg inem nuda lmvia . Torus discoideus , 4 -5-

g onus c rassus car

nosus calveis cavit i tem omnino implens . Stamina 4—5, s ta lis s ltema, supra discam inserta : fi lamenta pers ist

entia subula ta. Anthems ova te , biloculares, longitudine iter dehisr-entes . Ovarium disco semi- immersum, 3 - 4

locula te. Ovula bisertalia, 8- l2 in quoque loculo adst-endentia . Stylus brevis pers istens . Stigma obtusum .

Capsula 3-4 -augulatis, 3-4- locularis, loculicide deh iscens, loculis sub-dispermis . Semina arillata.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 7 1.

E le odendron Roz burghu— l . Flowering branch—na 6. Ovary cut transversely, showing it 2-celled,with

rura l size. two ovules in each.

2 An expanded flower seen from above. 7. A fruit nearly full grown.

3 . The same,the petals removed to bring more clearly 8. Cut transversely, l- celled, l - seeded, the other

into view the disk and insertion of the s tamens under ovules having aborted.

its edge. 9. The same cut vertically, the seed still immature

4. S tam ens back and front views. and no t y e t filling the cavity of the cell—allmore or

5. Ovary cut vertically, showing the ovules attached less mag nified.to the base, erect.

themargin stamens5, insertedon thedisk, connectivumof the anthers broad, cells placed transvers ely, dehiscing leng thwise,ovary immersed in the disk, 5- celled,with two ovules in each.

Hab.—N ei lg kerries.

—Gough.

This species seems to approach E . wai t as ,

(Wa ll.) in the size of its flowers, but disll'r

ers fifthsquinary not qua ternary number of parts, and in its

petals being fimbria te on the marg in.

2. E . acatan lies . Younger branches and ramuliacutely 4

-angle , glabrous : leaves coriaceous , g labrous,(

Suite entire, ovate, acumina ted: cymes axillary, pedun

c os about half the leng th of the leaves, ta ice or thricedichotomous : capsules conical, broad, truncated above,tapering downwards , 5-celled.

N eilg herries—n h.

For specimens of both these species I am indebted toM r. Gough, who g athered them in the course of hisexcursions on the Hills .

3 . E . revolulus , R .W. Young shoots, obtusely 4-eu

gled, afterwards terate : leaves subsess ile, coriaceous,revolute on the margin, quite entire, from elliptic toobovate - cunniate, with a short blunt acumina tion :

peduncles axillary, paired, slender, l-3 flowered, aboutone- fourth the length ofthe leaves ; when one flowered,furnished with two minute bracts above the m iddlecalyx 5- lubed, lobes rounded: peta ls 5, orbicular ova ryimmersed in the disk, 5- celled,with two ovules in each.

Ham—Ceylon.

E .Wal/rerii, R.W. Branches slender, terate, extreme,shoots ob~carelv 4- sided : leaves subsess ile, ova te, acum inuted at both ends, serra ted towards the apex , quiteentire below, somewhat coriaceous, glabrous :pedunclesaxillary, short, once or twice dichotomous ; flowerssmall, pe

'

als 5, orbicular, s lightly undulated on themarg in, capsule conical, 5ocelled, large, 5-angled, turbinato a t the apex.

Huh— Ceylon .

Flowering specimens of this plantwere first commu

nica ted to me bv ColonelWalker, I afterwards collectedthem in fruit, between the two there are some unimportant differences, the leaves oftheflowering Specimens being la rger, ending in a longer and more pointed acumen

and more acutely serrated. These dtfl'

erences howevercould not be employed as specific characters to separate the two forms .

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 179

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 72.

Celatrus particula te—1 . Flowering branch male plant 7. A raceme of fruit—natural size.

—natural s ize. 8. A seed—na tura l size.

2. An expanded flower seen from above. 9. The same—magnified.

3. The same, the petals removed, but the disk not 10. A seed cut transversely, showing the embryo

clearl shown. surrounded by copious album

4 . gtamens back and front views . 1 1. C ut vertically, showing the embryo in situ.

5. Ovary cut vertically, ovules erect. 1 ° The seed, the testa removed.

6.

htransversely, 3

- celled, with two ovules 13 . The embryo detached, cotyledons foliaceous.

in eac

L l ll .

This like the last is a large order and like it distributed over every part of the world,except perhaps within the Polar circles being found throughoutboth the temperate, and the torridzones . I t consists for the most part of trees and shrubs , sometimes scandent, often erect, manyof them armed with thorns or stipulary prickles . In m ost the leaves are a lternate and in nearlyall the flowers are sma ll and inconspicuous , but with varied inflorescence, being axil lary and

fascicled, or subspicate , racemose or panicled. The fruit is equa lly variable being drupaceousand indehiscent with e very hard several - celled nut, or capsu lar and dehiscent, dividing intothree va lves . They however nearly all agree in hav ing a 4 or 5- cleft ca lyx with va lvate aestiva

tion, smal l scale - like petals , and the stamens opposite the peta ls inserted under the edge of a.

flat disk which fi l ls the whole cavity of the ca lyx, and covers the ovary : occasional ly, as inRhamnus , the flowers are unisexua l , and one or two g enera are said to have the ovary inferior .

Calyx 4 -5- cleft ; aestivation va lvate . Petals distinct, unguicu late, cucul late or convolute,or rarely flat, inserted into the throat of the calyx,

som etim es wanting . Stam ens definite, oppo

site the peta ls . Torus a flat or urceolate disk. Ovarium free or more or less immersed in thedisk, or adhering to the tube of the calyx , 2- 3 -4 - cel led : ovu les so litary, erect. Fruit free or

m ore or less cohering with the ca lyx, fleshy and indehiscent, or dry and separating in three

cocci. Seeds erect. A lbumen fleshy, rarely none . Embryo about as long as the seed: radicleshort, inferior : cotyledons large, flat.—Trees or shrubs, often thorny. Leaves simple, alternate(or rarely opposite), m inutely stipulate.

AFFlNlT IES . These are somewhat complex as they are considered rather nearlyal lied to severalorders far removed from them according to the arrangement fol lowed here such as Euphorbiacew,B yttneriaceae, Rosaceee , &c . , but those with which they seem most nearly to associate are the

Celastrinewand Ilicinece,with which they were long confounded. From the former they were

removed by Brown on account of their va lvu lar, not imbricate, aestivation of the calyx ; theirstam ens opposite,not alterna tewith,

the peta ls their indehiscent not capsular fruit, or when capsu lar septicida l not loculicidal dehiscence . From Ilicinewthey are separated by the va lvatee stiva tion of their calyx and by their discoid polypeta lous, not m onopeta lous diskless , flowers .With Pomacew they agree in the determ inate number of cel ls of the ovary, in their ascendingovules , and a lternate leaves . G eneral ly speaking however they a re easily dis tinguished from all

these by their m inute scale - like peta ls opposite the stamens, such certainly is the case with all

those I have m et with in India .

G EOGRAPH ICAL D ISTR I BUT ION . Of the num erous species referred to this order some are

found suited to a lmost every climate, the Arctic and A ntarctic circles excepted. Rhamnus

cathartieus with som e others being found ex tensively distributed through the more northerlycountries of Europe, while Rhamnus hirsuta andWig htzz are both found in the most southerlyparts of India within a. fewdeg rees of the line m NewHolland : North and South Am erica : the

Cape of Good Hope and Senega l in Africa : the Eastern Islands and China all claim indigenousspecies of this extensively distributed order . In India they abound, every jung le being profusely suppl ied with som e species of Z izyphus , and of about 40 genera referred by Meisner to

the order, 13 or about one - third of the whole are natives of India, showing how largely it partakes of the tropical character.

180 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

PROPERTI ES AND Uses . The wel l known Buck thorn , Rhamnus ca thartic-us, belong s to

this fam ily, and the cathartic properties of its fruit are common to severa l other m em bers of the

g enus . The fruit of Z izyplm s on the other hand are destitute of ca thartic quali ties , and some

of them are even who lesom e and pleasan t to ea t among which the we l l known Bhir fruit,Z izyplws j uj uba , m ay be m entioned. In China the peduncles of Hat’en ia dulces swe l l andbecom e succulent, and are there much es teem ed as a fruit resembling a ripe pear. Sag eretia

Theezans another Chinese plant, a m ember of this order is used there in place of tea by the

poorer classes . Some other species are used m edicinally in Am erica , but upon the whole thisorder cannot boast the possession of any very im portant property, though, those it does enjoy,are of so m ixed a character . The na tives of this country use two or three species m edicina l ly,but apparently place little reliance on them . as they seem to be employed ra ther as vehicles forthe adminis tration of more active ones, than for any useful qua lity they possess .

R smaaxs on G ENERA AND SPEC I ES . The genera of this order have been ably elucidatedby Brogniart in his m em oir on this fam ily, published in the flnnal. des Sciences JVa lurelles

,whohas on this head left almost nothing to be des ired . in our Prodrom us we have adopted his

g enera so far as the Peninsular flora extends , but that is not fa r, as we have on ly seven genera

out of about 32 referred by him to the order , My recen t collections ha ve not added to the

number, though one or two newspecies have been found, one, nam e ly ,of B erchem ia and one of

Colubrina . l have bes ides some variations of forms already described, but which i do not

think can be e levated to the rank of species . The genera are convenien tly divided into twosections , those nam ely,with dehiscent, and those with indehiscent fruit. To the former be longsGoua nia ,

Colubrina and Scutia to the latter B erchemla , Rhamnus, Z izyphus, and Ventilag ofigures of all these except Gonanlu are nowpublished in this work and in the Icones

, and donot require further notice here.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 73 .

Sculz'

a I ndia—1. A branch bearing both flowers and 6. The ovary cut transversely, 2 celled, with a solifruit— natura l size. tary ovule in each.

2. The calyx, petals and stamens removed from the 7 . A fruit nearly full grown.

ovary . 8. cut transversely, 2- seeded, seeds com

3 . Back and front views of the stamens, the latter pressed.

with the petal still a ttached. 9. A seed— natural size.

4. The ovary detached from the flower. 10. The same cut tra nsversely, showing the embryo5. cut vertically, ovules erect. surrounded by albumen -willz the exceptions mention

ed, allmore or less magnifi ed.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 74.

l . Colubrina A siatica— na lural size. 6. The same—magnifi ed.

2. An expanded flower seen from above. 7 . Cut transversely, showing the foliaceous cotyle3 . S tamens back and front v iews . dons enclosed in albumen .

4 . A full g rown fruit cut transversely, 3 - relled, with 8. The embryo detached—will: the exceptions mentlI I ee triang ular a lbum inous seed. tional, a ll more or les s magnifi ed.

5. A seed— natura l size.

L iv — TEREBINTHACEZE .

A s now constituted this is a large order of plants consisting of trees and shrubs , for themost part abounding with Ba lsam ic resinous juices, but differing so much among themselves,both in their properties and Botanica l characters , that it is a lmost impossible to bring themtog ether, as one we ll diges ted order, by any combination of characters not including nearly asm any negative as there are pos itive marks . To avoid this difficulty,which would have appearedmore s triking where there are so few.to be described,

we,in our Prodrom us did not attempt to

g ive a character of the whole order,but only of these sections or suborders appertaining to our

flora . By this m eans , aided by the removal of the tribe Conna racece as a distinct order, and of

Toddalia and flilantlms to Z antlzoa'ylaccce, the Indian branch of the order, as itnowstands in our

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182 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

distributed the order, each of which may, in som e measure , be looked upon as a distinct. order,and is so viewed by both Bat tling and Lindley .

Suborder l . Anaca rdieae (Br. ) Flowers usual ly unisexual . Calyx usually sma l l , 5(sometim es 3 - 4 - 7 cleft ; the fifth segmen t superior. C orol la regular . Petals equa l in num

ber to the divisions of the calyx (som etimes wanting ), perig ynous : testivation imbricative or

rarely va lvular. Stam ens equal in number to the petals and a lternate with them , or twice as

m any or more fi lam ents dis tinct or cohering at the base, perigynous . Torus (in the free ovary)fleshy, usual ly discoid (annular or lobed or cup

o shaped) , or a t first inconspicuous but afterwardsenlarg ed into a gynophore . Ovarium solitary (of L5 carpels , distinct or,

united, but all abortive

except one) free , or rare ly adhering to the calyx , l - cel led (or som etimes with two additiona labortive cells , the rem ains of the imperfect carpels) ovule solitary, attached to a podosperm

which a lways arises from the base of the cel l , but is frequently adnate to one of its sides to

near the apex : styles usua lly 3 (or occas ional ly rarely 5, usua lly distinct, very rarely com

bined : stigmas as many. Fruit l - cel led, indehiscent, .usually drupaceous . Seed ascending , or

more frequently pendulous . A lbum en none . Radicle superior or inferior, next the hilum (veryrarely at the opposite ex trem ity) sometimes curved suddenly back : cotyledons thick and fleshyor leafy. Trees or shrubs , with a resinous, gummy, caustic, or m ilky juice. Leaves a lternate,not dotted,without s tipu les .

”

Suborder 2. Spondieae (Kunth .) Flowers som etimes unisexual . Ca lyx 5- cleft, regular .

Petals 5, equal ; aestivation between va lvate and imbrica te . Stamens 10, perigynous , distinct.

Torus large , discoid. Ovarium superior, sessile, 2-5- ce l led : ovules solitary, pendulous : styles ,5 short : stigmas obtuse . Fruit drupaceous , 2

-5 cel led. Seed solitary in each cell . A lbum en

none. Radicle pointing to the hilum : cotyledons plano- convex .—Trees . Leaves imparipin

nate, a lternate, not dotted, exs tipu late .

Suborder 3 . B ursereae (Kunth . ) Flowers usua l ly bisexual . Ca lyx persistent, somewhatregu lar, 2 5 divided. Peta ls 3 -5, equa l : aestivation usual ly va lvular . S tamens two or four

tim es as many. as petals, distinct, perigynous . Torus orbicular . Ovarium 2-5 cel led, superior,sessile : ovu les in pairs , col lateral , suspended style one or none stigm a simple or lobed. Fruit

rarely a hard capsule ; usua l ly drupaceous, 2-5 cel led, its outer portion or sarcocarp often splitting into valves . Seed solitary. A lbumen none . Radicle straight, superior, next the hilum

cotyledons fleshy, or wrinkled and plaited.— Trees or shrubs abounding in ba lsam , gum , or

resin . Leaves alternate, usua l ly, not dotted, genera l ly with stipules .

A s simr ras . Supposing the order broken up in the m anner proposed by Brown, Lindley,Bartling , and others, then the various orders into which it is divided s tand in a nearly equalrelationship to each other . In addition to these affi nities Spondiaceae associates , according toLindley, with Meliaceae and A urantiaceae in the imbricated te s tivation of the ca lyx and inhaving more than four carpels , but are distinguished by their perigynous stamens while B urseraceae are al lied to Rhamneae in the va lva te mstivation of their calyx and in hav ing fewerthan four carpels . A naca rdiaceae and Amy rideae differ from each other the absence of pellucid or g landu lar dots in the leaves of the former, while they are present in the la tter . Bythis last character flmyrideae associate with flura ntiaceae, R utaceae, and Z anthoxylaceae,with which they are stil l further associated by their hypogynous s tamens .

G EOGRAPHICAL D ISTR I BUT ION . The order in its m os t extended sense m ay be said to be oftropica l orig in, a fewspecies only of Pistacia and Ri ms being found in the south of Europe , in

the warm er parts of North Am erica and the Cape of Good Hope . Within the tropics , and inthe warmer latitudes on either side, they are of frequent occurrence in A sia , Africa , and Am e

rica ; while a very feware m et with in Austra lia. Of the number of genera enum erated byMeisner, excluding Connaraceae, amounting to about 65 (many of which are m arked with a

doubt as to their right to a place in it) the peninsular flora contains about 16 or quarter of the

whole, and probably more will be found when the country is better explored . But of that longlist of genera we have only 23 species , that is, including Peg ia , which we have not in troduced

into our flora . Wallich’s lis t is very imperfect as regards this order, including only about 25species . B lume has 23 for Java, excluding Z ant/zoz ylaceac which he includes in the order .

Paorsar i ss AND Uses. These are abundantly varied but for the most part dependent on

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 183

the Balsam ic or acrid or even poisonous qua lities of the res inous juices with which nearly thewho le abound, and from which the order derives its name . To arrive at a clearer understand

ing of the properties of this extens ive class it seems requisite in considering them , to treat

separately of those of its different divisions .

A nacaao taas . To this suborder belongs Semeca rpus anccardium, the wel l known marking nut of India . The juices of this tree are very acrid and injurious to those who work on the

wood,while that of the nut applied to the skin causes inflammation and blisters . l t is used

as a rem edy ag ains t Rheumatism and sprains . The receptacles of the fruit of fi naca rdium

ocidenta le or cashew- nut, are ea t like apples , and the fruit itself after being freed from the acridshe ll by burning , m akes an moderate ly good subs titute for a lmonds , and is very often used as such.

The Mango a lso belong s to this tribe butdoes not require notice here , being genera l lywell known .

This fruitwhen free ly used is said to excite boils and other inflammatory affections of the skin,

but, sp far as my own experience extends , I am disposed to attribute these ailments to the heatof the season rather than to the fruit, as I have seen hundreds of instances where they occurredduring the hot season before a sing le Mango had been eat, and afterwards disappear whenthey were being larg ely consum ed.

The R i ms or Sumac/z fam ily have been long celebrated for their acrid poisonous properties .

R . tor icodendron and R . venena ta afford striking examples of these qualities . I t is saidthat merely handling the leaves of the former is sufficient to cause a crop of vesicles , and expo

sure to the volntile em anations that take place from both trees has been known to excite in sus

ceptible persons severe indisposition, or they have had their bodies covered with a crop of

pus tules . The two species of R ims , natives of India , are not endowed with these acrid

properties , at leas t I have never experienced any such effects though I have frequentlybeen most freely exposed to and handled both , nor have I ever heard of any one being so

affected by them . Notwithstanding these poisonous properties R . tox icodendron is a gooddea l used in medicine, especial ly in dropsical , and supposed Consumptive cases . Stagmarea a

native of the eas tern Is lands , and Holigarna a native of Ma labar, are said to possess similarproperties, and these of a very acrid poisonous character. The juice of both is employed as avarnish or lacquer, that of the former is very m uch used by the Chinese and Japanese for varh ishing all kinds of wooden articles, the elegance of which causes them to be dispersed to all

parts of the world. The juice of the Holz'garna is used for lacquering shields in Malabar. For

a very full and interes ting account of Stagma rea see Companion to the Botanical Magazine,vol. 1 page 267

- 8. The juice of MelanorrlzaeaWa l lich, so ca lled from the dark coloured juicewhich exhudes from wounds in its bark, is employed for sim i lar purposes in the Tenaserimprovinces, a ful l account ofWhlch is g iven inWallich’s Plant : A siat : Rariores : P istacia thelas t g enus which I sha ll mention, found in Syria and a long the shores of the Mediterranean,aff ords from two of its species , P . terebinthus and P . lentiscus, the wel l known Cyprus turpentine . and s til l be tter and much more extensively used G um Mastich,

’

so famed as a masticatoryfor whitening and preserving the teeth . From this s light enum eration,which does not nearlyembrace the whole, itwil l be seen that this suborder includes a large proportion of interestingand useful trees .

Seonn tacszs . The fruit of Spondias mang z‘

fem is eatable—so is that of som e of theWes t Indian species ,where they have received the name of hog’s plums . From wounds in the

bark of S . mang ifera a larg e quantity of a very pure gum flows, which is , I believe , col lected andcurren tly sold in the Bazaa rs as gum arabic,which it greatly resembles . In this product, this

suborder differs Wide ly from all the others of the order, and combined with its Botanica l pecaliarities goes far to justify its separation as a distinct order . Rheede, in Hortus Malabaricus,a ttributes many va luable properties to this tree which seem to be either imag inary or general lyunknown , as I have never in a sing le instance heard of its being used medicinal ly. Roxburghs tates that the young fruit is m ade into pickles , tarts , &c.

Buas saac sm . The products of this tribe are m uch more highly esteemed than those of

either of the preceding— among those we find Myrrh, Copa iva , Olibanum,

B alm qf G ilead,Frankincense

,&c. The fragrant unirritating balsamic qualities of all these substances, so very

184 ILLUSTRATIONS 0 1? INDIAN BOTANY .

remote from the acrim ony of those, the produce of Ana cardiaceae, mark these tribes as not verycorrectly associated in the same natural order, and go far to confirm the propriety of their

separation not m erely as tribes of one larger order, but as distinct orders . The Peninsular flora

embraces severa l species of this tribe, some of them affording useful products . The resinousjuice of both species of Boswellia is collected,and is used partly as frankincense and partly aspitch . That of Ca na rium commune has properties sim ilar to Copa z

'

z'

a , while the kernels of the

seed, on the other hand,afford by expression 9. bland edible oil. The Ca na rium strictum Roxb .

is known in Ma labar under the name of the black damm er tree,in contradistinction to the

Vateria or white dammer. This tree is rather common in the a lpine forests about (‘

ourtal

lum in the Tinnevelly district, and is there regularly rented for the sake of its damm er . The

damm er is transparent and of a deep brownish yel lowor amber colour when he ld between theeye and the light, butwhen adhering to the tree has a bright shining black appearance . The

flowers of this species I have not seen, the fruit is a very hard, 3 - cel led, oval nut, tapering at

each end.

Of the species of the genus P rotium, of which the Peninsular flora embraces 4 or

5, I have not heard that any are in this country turned to a useful purpose . The three fi rst

in our list, to which the g enus is now res tricted, are all jung le trees , with soft very frag i lewood, but so far as I recol lect, never exhuding resinous juices— the fourth

,B a lsamodendron

(Protium ) G ileadense though a m os t comm on plant in some parts of the country, and con

stantly used for m aking fences, I found to be totally unknown here , as the plant producingthe balm so highly esteemed and cherished, as one of the riches of A rabia .

’

This circum

stance led m e to suspect either, that the ao - cal led plant of India was not the same species as

the Abys sinian and A rabian one bearing the sam e name , or that some other plant produces

the Ba lsam . Which of these was the m ore probable conjecture I was unable to say , but sus

pected the latter, as Heudelotia,an African g enus , (proposed by the authors of the Flora Sene

g ambim) but g enerica lly quite identica l with B alsamodendron , though a common shrub in

Senegal is not m entioned as affording Ba lsam . This question has been at leng th settled byD r. Arnott, who has ascertained that the Indian and Arabian plants are not identica l .Then the ques tion nowpresents itself, is it desirable that we shou ld a ttempt to introduce boththe Myrrh and Balsam of G ilead plants since both are natives of the same tracts of country,and both afford produce of great commercia l value

R su s axs on G snsaa AND SPEC IES . My recent col lections have furnished me with what Iconsider a newspecies of Semeca rpus and one of B ucira nania

, besides specimens of a plant teferable to neither, nor to Holig arna ,

to which last however, in some respects , it appears al lied.

A s I have not seen the flowers , and the fruit of Peg ia is imperfectly described l am unable from

m y specim ens to determ ine whether or not it is a species of that g enus . I t differs from Holi

g am a,to which it approaches in habit, and in having a fleshy, not bony, perecarp fi lled with

m inute cells : in having a superior not inferior fruit, with an erect, not pendu lous seed, and in

the em bryo being situated at the base (nex t the ca lyx) of the fruit, not latera l ly and towards itsapex . From Semeca rpus it differs inwanting the bony perecarp and the enlarg ed torus . Under

the impression tha t it m ay prove a Reg ia I have subjoined the character of that g enus as g iven

by Meisner from Colebrooke,whose paper in the Linnaean transactions I have not an opportu

nity of consulting for m yself.The new species of Semecarpus m ay possibly be the variety S . cung

'

folius , but if so I cerfain ly think it a dis tinct species . The leaves are from 15 to 18 inches long ,tapering nearly twothirds of their leng th towards the base, the remain ing third ending in an acute lanceo late point,hence they m ay be described as c

i

nneato - lanceolate . l’anicles of fruit ( l have on ly seen the

fem ale plant) axillary and term ina l, several congested near the apex of the branch, the lowerhalf of the ha lf grown perecarp embraced by the cup

- shaped ca lyx, whether it afterwards en

larges I am unable to say, the young seed is latera l , pendulous from near the apex . The newspecies of B ucitanam

'

a is at once distinguished by its coriaceous , even, g labrous , lanceola te,acute leaves, so accurately resembling those of the Mango ,

that but for the flowers I shou ldat once have referred it to that genus . The fruit I have not seen . A leaf of the species of

R i ms here figured was long ago represented by Burman (Thesaur . Z eylan . table 45) under thename of FiliwZ eylam

'

cus A rborescens, &c . but had never so far as I am aware been taken upby any author until Dr. Arnott and I described it in our Prodromus. I first found it at Cour~

tallum and since in Ceylon.

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186 ILLpSTBATIONS OF M INE?) BOTANY .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE

Phus decipr'

ens . Pan icle ariddeaf—natural 8328.

‘

7 A y'

oung fruit—na tural size.

‘2. An‘

ei panded floWer‘ seen from above, showing the 8. Somewhat magnified

petals and stamens inserted under the margin of the 9. C ut transversely, one seed aborted or imperfect.disk. IO. A fruit cut vertically .

3. Stamens . I I . A seed— a ll, with the exceptions mentioned, more

4. A detached petal. or less ma mfi ed.

5. The ovary somewhat advanced, cut vertically, This p ate it defective‘

in not showing the characterovules pendulous.

of the embryo—a point I overlooked when sending it

6. Ovary cut transversely, 2- celled. to press.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 76.

l 8:2. Spondi’

as Mangffera. Leaves and paii iclei 6. (fut transversely, showing the five carpels attachednatural size. to a central axis .

3. A dissected flower, petals and stamens srerttoved, 7 . A full grown fruit cut vertically.

showing the disk as it encloses the ovaries. 8. Transversely.

4. Stamens. 9. A seed cut transversely.

5.

"Two ovaries removed and cut vertically, showing 10. A mat re seed.

the pendulous o'

vules . l l . The «me, the testa

[partially removed to

'

Ih~the cotyledons -L t!”more or as mag nifi ed.

4 I -a a.

IJV,I

f q'r r ‘s s

Thii is a'il

small order corisisting of one genii s and about three sqecies, lopg _assoc1ated with

Leg atminosce ougli suffi ciently so peculiar in its relations , that it is notyet deter‘

l

m inted-where should stand in the series 0 qrders ; the str stare,Fof the oy‘agy placing-

tv

am ongthe Parietose group near

"Viola riece, wht e accoiding

’

to the' flowét’s it 18 more justl‘y'

i‘éferable to the tribe Ccesa lpineae of

.Legumiwsqc. I thpfi lp raetars derived from the latter as being

r- belle‘

d, s ynced, iocuii

cide? Seeds nun‘l substance of

L the yaly es . fal lbnm'

en

'

g bhe?

R adicle s traight, sm all : cotyledons fleshy, piano- convex .—Leaves twice or thrice pinnate, with

an odd leaflet. Racem es panicled}:

A FF INlTlES . A s stated above, these are ver obscure owing ‘to the peculiar stgucai

re ofthe ovary, l -bdllefl’

,with threeparietal placentas, the fruit afterwards splitting into

”

three alves .

A rhott (Encyclopedia Britanica r 7 th'

edition) rem arks formerly considered as part’6f tht‘,

Legmrtinos‘da but nowseparated by M r.

“Brown. It 'seem s howdvér to have m ore afli nity Willi

these thhn’ with nor do w’e see in the fru‘it

rvery grave object ions td'

s tlch a su posiO

tion,as

'

the’ floWers bf G leditsdln'

a have occasionally tWO ‘

carpels united in the s'

aine ma n er asthe threti

“of '

t

On the correctness or othet‘wise'of this view'

I can'

offer no opinion, being; altog ether unac

qu'

airtted 'with Gledjts'

ohz'

a ; Lindley'

lhowever holds an opposite opinion ; be

‘ss ys DeC sfn

'i

dol le who—did not ov‘

er'

look its andni alous struc'

ttlré as a leguminous plant, acc'ounted'

for

compound nafltre of its fl'ui‘t hpon'

'tlle'

supposition ,

‘that"though" un ityof carpe ls Is the nortnal

struct'nre of £6 timbtosae, yet the presence of more'

ovaries than'

odti in a féwi‘nstancés iri‘ t‘hatorder explained e constantly trilbcultlr r state of that of“Mor inga . To ‘this however there areriumerous’andwave“objections which" '

carinot fail to strike every B

station’

shoitld he rem ains to be determined”again Decaisne se

'

em s

nity with L'

eg'

um inosue than with"any other order . On these passages it

that it would have b een more satisfactory h'

ad“srllnh'

of the grave hbjectiprisit is quite undeniable, thatMessrs. IJeCsai

‘

c Ilfe,c Arnott

“and

o .f g i 01

t t

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN norm . 187

and yet they do not seem to have been struck by them . While I thus object to such sweepingconclus ions as the above, I confess I cannot help coinciding with Dr . Lindley in thinking , thatthe doctrine he opposes is pushed, in this instance, much too far by these authors, though Iscarcely feel myself sufliciently master of the subject to join issue with them on this, one ofthe most difi cult questions in Botany.

Grooaarmcan Disraiaur iotv. India and Arabia are the native countries of these plants,but they are nowintroduced into theWest Indies where they are cultivated for the sake of the

very pure sweet oilwithwhich the ir seeds abound.

Paors arms AND Usas . Theflroots of M . pterygospetm a are very pungent, and have the

tas te and peculiar flavour of horse radish in so em inent a degree, that any one unacquaintedwith it, would at once declare on testing , that it reallywas that root, and as such, is very generally used by Europeans as a substitute. A little of the juice added to mustard so greatly augments its pungency, as almost to render it too much sofor use andwould, [ should suppose,provea very valuable adjunct to sinapism s in cases

.

where it is desirable to render them unusuallyactive . From wounds in the bark, a large quantity ofgum exudes, agreeing in some of its prorties with gum Tragscanth . Like it, it swells and softens in water, but does not form afluidomogeneous mucilage like gum arabic, and is quite insoluble in alcohol. In this country both theleaves and capsules are used by the natives as pot-herbs, the latter being very generally introduced as an ingredient of their curries , on account of the peculiar flavour they communicate.

The seed contains a large quantity of a very pure fixed oil,which in theWes t Indies is usedas a salad oil. In the arts it is employed for lubricating delicate machinery, and is preferred bywatch -makers to all others for oiling the machinery of clocks and watches, forwhich purpose,its non-liability to freeze at lowtemperatures greatly augments its value.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 77.

t. Moringa pterygosperma- nats ral size. 9. A full grown capsule.

2. A dissec ted flower- natura l sh e. 10. The same cut transversely, to showit: 3 valves3. Stamens and ovary, sepals and petals removed. and winged seed in site.4. Anthers back and front views. 11. A detached seed.5. Petals detached. 12. The same cut transversely.6. Ovary pedicelled. 13. The cotyledons—natural s ize.

7 . cut vertically, showing the parietal attach 14 . One of them sltowi the radicle at the basement of the ovules. with the 00001750 3 ”m ags.allmore or less magnified.8. cut transversely. l

-celled.t

LVI. LEGUMINOSJE.

With the exception of Campos-ita this is the largest, in so far as the number of

species is concerned, of any of the Dicotyledonous orders, and viewed in relation to its cocaom ical applica tions , I believe I may safely say, about the mos t important of the vegetable kingdom . I ts species are found in every region from the Polar zones to the Equinox ,flourish

ing equally am idst the snows of Lapland and Siberia, and exposed to the scorching heatsof the tropics ; floating in water, and on the most and arid plains of Asia and A frica .

Its form s include almost every variety m et with among Dicotyledonous plants, the most

lowly herbs, and most stately trees, with all their intermediate gradations, being alikem embers of it. The foliage is equally variable, the leaves being eitherpartiallywanting ,and theirplace supplied by enlarged stipules , or by dilated foot stalks ; or they are simple, or present

almos t every variety of combination of those called compound, from the most simple combination of 2 leaflets half adhering together as in Bauhinia, up to the complexity of the form designated tripinnate. Turning from the foliage to the flowers we equally find almost every variety,regular and irregular, perfect and imperfect :hi or unisexual, petals absent or present : distinct,or united, regular and equal, or unequaland irregular, form ingwhat is respectively called Rosaciousand Papih

'

onaceaus corollas. The stamens in like manner are fewor many, distinct or unitedinto one or several bundles , the fi laments usually all antheriferous, but sometimes part onlybearing anthers . The female portion of the flower presents fewer irregularities, the ovary,withone or two, very rare exceptions, being l - celled, that is composed of a s ingle carpillary leaf, not

of several as in most other Dicotyledonous plants . The fruit or legume however is m ost variable, and on that account afl

‘

ords excellent generic characters, being either one or many~seeded,

188 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN'

BOTA‘NY .

compressedor inflated ; linear'

or -variously contracted between the seed ; continuous or jointeddehiscent or indehiscent,; membranous or woody longitudinally one or 2- celled

, or divided bytransverse partitions , transverselymany- celled ; with or .without enclosed pulp surrounding theseed. The seed like all other parts exhibit the same want of uniform ity, they are either nakedor imbedded in pulp,or sometimes furnished with an arillus or large carunculus ; the embryo ise ither stra ight or curved along the edge of the cotyledons ; the cotyledons are either thin andfoliaceous or thick andfleshy, usuallywithout, butoccas ionally furnished with a copious albumen

as in Fille d , and the section Ca thartocarpus of Cassia . The only points on which they seem

all to agree is in having the odd segm ents of the calyx anterior or remote from the axis . Thisis the only mark bywhich this order can always be distinguished from Rosacece, the fruit even,not being always legum inous, in one genus , Detarium, it is drupaceous .

If from Botanical, or structural peculiarities , we turn to properties we find s im ilar variations . Among the arboreous form s thewood in some is ofhardest and niostdurable description,witness some of the Dalberg ias and Acac ias, in others the very reverse is the case, as in

Erythrina and Ag a tz'

. Nearly the whole of the tribe Papih'

onacea: afl‘

ord edible nutritiousg rains, (beans, pease, in oneword,pulse of allkinds) while the Cassius or Cwsalpineas are distin:g uished by the possession of both purgative and as tringent properties, the leaves of Senna forexample and the pulp which surrounds the seed of Cassia fi stula being powerful purgatives,while the bark of C . auriculata is in constant use for tanning . Some of the M imosas y ield byboiling a powerfully astringent extract (catchu) while others, abound in the purest of gum ,

endowed with s imply emolient or mucilag inous properties : gum arabic, gum tragacanth,and gum kins , though differing so widely from each other in their properties are all the produce

of this order. From a species of A lhag i a kind of Manna is procured, while the leaves ofAgati are bitter and tonic.

Such are a few of the anomalies and contradictions F eseuted by this order, enough I

presume to show the diffi culty or rather impossibility of defining satisfactorily so polymor

phoue a tribe, and the necess ity that exists, towards attaining a clear understanding of the,

whole, that its parts be considered in success ion as if each formed a distinct order. This isthe m ethod followed by Bat tling ,who, adopting the divis ions first marked out byBrown andextended by DeCandolle, has merely departed from their arrangement, in raising the suborders of these em inent Botanists to the rank oforders, perhaps an unnecessary innovation, butone which I intend partially to follow here, as enabling me to g ive a clearer exposition.of the whole, and in less space, than if I attempted it in the mass . Before however proceeding to characterize iudetail the sabotflers referable to the Indian flora I shall extract fromDeCandolle

’

s Prodromus, a table, (see below) presenting at one view, a clear and comprehen

armaments. rars us .

I . Sor nonxz .

I I. Lorain.

I ll. Haar saa s sz,

IV. Vroi s a .

V. Pns sxou m.

VI . DALBERGIB£LEGUM INOI A . Swa urztu .

Calycts vesiczeformis lohi indistincti. S tamina lu'

pogyns. Corolla 0cut s talls pant ie 1 -2 "If. S tu ntman;

m oses . .

‘

Recr s u am a , Sepals etpetals ante valvate na . . Vlll. Murmu r.nempé vartc

l embryonis radicula IX.

’

Guin ea'

s .

l rec ti .

“i X. Cass iu s . «h ,

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190 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

suborders Mimoseae and Caesalpineae. The former oft hen form a s ingle tribe, Mimoseac thelatter, is divided into three tribes, namely, Geof reae, Cassieae and Dean

-ices . One 8 cies onlyof the first of these tribesn is found in India, (the earth nut A rachis hypogea) an the thirdis altogether unknown here .

After this explanation I presume there can be no diflicnlty in unders tanding the table,whiehI prefer giving in the orig inal Latin, after adding with, reference to the characters of the tribes,that“folia cirrhosa

”alludes to the tendrils with which the leaves of many, the common garden

pea for example, are furnished, and folia primordea”to the first pair of leaves above the seed.

lobes , not to the seed lobes themselves, which m ight sometimes be m istaken for primordealleaves in the Phyllolabeae tribes, as they ascend during germ ination and expand into leaf- likebodies . The cotyledons of Sarcolobeae rarely ascend in germ ination, and then can scarcely be

m istaken for leaves owing to their thickness . It is to this section alone that characters taken from

this organ are required, and even here, v iewed as a means of ass isting in the discrim ination ofgenera, seem to be of little use, though, in a phys iolog ical point of viewthe peculiarity of alter

nate primordial leaves seems curious, as being confined to that tribe having tendril bearing lean s.We nowproceed to cons ider in success ion the several suborders—commencing with the

principal, both as to its extent and importance to mankind, namely.

Suborder—Parinios aosm.

This large suborder,which is scattered in greater or less rofusion over every part of theknown world, is composed of herbaceous plants, shrubs emf

,

trees . The leaves are usuallyalternate, unequally pinnate, or if abruptly pinnate, the rachis frequently terminating in a tendrilin place of the odd leaflet, or they are dig itate, or ternate or simple, from the abortion of the

'

lateral leaflets, and occasionally though rarely, the leaf itself is altogether abortive and changed

into a tendril, the large stipules then performing its functions, as in La thyrus aphaca . Stipuleslateral. Flowers bisexual, or, occasional by abortion, unisexual, racemose, spiked, capitate, orpan icled, pedicels bi-bracteolate. Calyx ee, 5~cleft, lobes usually unequal, the two superior:ones often cohering into an upper lip, the three inferior ones more or less united forming thelower one . Torus ex anded into a lam ina covering the bottom of the calyx . Petals 5, varune nal, alternate,wit lobes of the calyx unguiculate—the upper one, (vzz illum) lar r an

over apping the others in asstivation : the lateral ones {ala s} usually unequal sided, t e twolower ones often cohering nearly their whole length into one boat- shaped petal with a doubleclaw, {ca rina j but sometimes altogether distinct. Stamens inserted with the petals, doubletheir number , rarely all free, often all united into a tube surrounding the ovary, or,with 9

'

cc

hering , and the upper one, that next the axis, free, hence diadelphous (nine and one them ore usual form : but sometimes they are e ually diadelphous rarely tri

- adelphons : the filam ents distinct and subulate at the apex, ant ers erect, 2- celled, sometimes by abortion l - celled,ovary solitary, free, oppos ite the inferior lobe of the calyx, one or m any- ovuled ,

ovules attachedto the posterior suture, style one, stigma s imple . Fruit, a legume, long itudinally 2-valved,

’

l - celled, or spuriously 2- celled, sometim es with con tractions between the seed, orwith trans

verse divisions separating at maturely into so m any l- seeded indehiscent cells, form ing what is

called a lomentum’

(see plate Perecarp usually double, fleshy externally, interiorly membranaceous or parchment- like. Seeds definite or indefinite, superposed, a ttached alternately tothe valves , som etimes with a large carunculus or imperfect arillus , the hilum marg inal some

times elongated. Cotyledons thin and foliaceous, ascending above the soil during germ ination,or thick and fleshy remaining below.

5 I . Com m uters —Radicleof the embryo bent back on the edgeof the cotyledons.

Pun nonos sm Cotyledons foliaceous .

Tribe 1 . Som a lia‘s—Stamens distinct. Legume not jointed , frequently contracted between the seed. Cotyledons foliaceous during germ ination, snflrutieose, or shrubby, rarelytrees : leaves simple, ternate, or pinnate.

The Indian flora presents but few examples of this tribe Sephora , Vr'

gilia, and Ed.wardia, (which I have recently found on the Balaghaut mountains) being the only ones kneanin the Peninsula. I do not find any useful properties assigned to the plants of this tribe.

1LLUsn'ngi

'lzl0 1:15t or INDIAN BOTANY .

Tribe 2. c rass—Stamens either all united, (monadelphous) or nine un ited and one free

(diadelphous) . egume notj om ted , I - celled, or rarely imperfectly 2- celled, from one suture being intro -flexed, somet1mes with transverse septa . Cotyledons ,flattish, foliaceous in germ ination.

This which is a large tribe, is div ided into several subtribes—Genisteae, Trg'

folieae, Clitorieae, Ga legiae and Astraga leae

—species of each of these, except the las t, occur in the Penin

In this tribe we fi nd m any useful plants . In India the bark of some species of Crotala rz'

a,

(0 . return and j uncea ) are employed as hemp in the manufacture of cordage and canvas . The

powdered seed'

of Fenug reclc (Trigonella Fu mam -g recum) is very largely consum ed in nativecookery. The veg etable principle called Coum arin is found abundantly in the flowers ofMeliloms ofi ci nalis, it is that principle to which

‘

the'

l‘

onka bean owes its properties . The

young beans of Cyamopsis pscraliodes (Cott- averaykay Tam) is with reason much prized bythe natives as a culinary pulse, and merits more attention from Europeans, as it is a pleasantand delicate vegetable. Indigqfera tinctoria and unit furnish us with the valuable blue dye(Indigo) of such vas t comm ercial importa nce to India . The roots of Clitoris ternates are

emetic. The roots of Tephram'

a purpurea , a m ost common plant, are bitter, and a decoction ofthem is prescribed by native practitioners in Dyspeptic compla ints—many other species of thislarge Indian genus probably possess s im ilar properties in even a higher deg ree . The leaves bfSesbania .E yptiaca are in constant use among the natives as a poultice to promote supuration,and the w makes excellent charcoal for the m anufacture of gun-powder. The long slender

pods of Agate g mnds'

flora are eaten by the natives and the leaves are also prized by them .

The tree grows rapidly but the wood is very soft and of little use . In addition to these, most

of which are of Indian origin, many other plants of this tribe are in‘

use in other countries,such as the numerous kinds of clover, lucern, &c. for fodder, and liquorice, laburnum , genesta,&c. as med icine and food.

Tribe 3 . Hsnvsaaam—Corolla papilionacious : Stamina either monadelphous or diadelphousor sometimes 5-5) rarely all distinct,often somewhat persistent. Legume transversely divided

n th sereral l -seeded cells or joints , sometimes l - celled, and then always l - seeded,cotyledons

flattish’, during germ ination somewhat foliaceous . The several- seeded genera are usually eas ilydistinguished by their jointed pods separating at the joints into l - seeded indehiscent cells

the one seeded ones, are not so easily distinguished, but they usually have the stamen tuberltbfe or less persistent.

This, as comparedwith the last is a small tribe, containing fewer genera and those of theIndian flora ,with the exception of Desmodium, have but fewspecies, neither are they importantin theireconomical applications . The root of P uera ria tuberosa (which though placed by D.C .

and.

others among L otiee really belongs to this tribe ) peeled and bruised, is employed by the

natives of the'

C ircars as a poultice to reduce swellings of the joints : that of Ormacarpumsennoides is stimulant and tonic. Manna is sa id to be produced by A lhag i M il forum and

sfiveral allied species in Persia and Bockra, but , though the plant is found in Egypt, Arabia ,and India, it does not yield this substance , whence it is inferred, the former countries only are

suited for its production. Fewof the other species are esteemed of m uch value , Saint/b in(Okobrychis sativa ) afl

‘

ords an excellent fodder and is much cultivated in different parts ofEur’dpe on that account.

Swee tness —Cotyledons thick and fleshy.

Tribe 4. V iewer—Corolla papilionacious . Stamens diadelphous (9 and Legumecontinuous not jointed. Cotyledons th ick, farinaceous, unchanged during germ ination and

remaining under ground with in the seed cos t ; radicle inflexed : leaves abruptly pinnated,except C icer and some species of Orobus the common petiol net jointed at the base with thestem; produced at the apex, except in the above instances and one or two others ; into a bristleor dril. Primordial leaves alternate.

his, though in respect of the number of its genera, a very sm all tribe ct contains some

very useful plants. Among the most valuable of these may he mentions the common pea

'fl“J a

‘ 1 I

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

P isum sa livumj the bean ( Faba vulg ar-is ) the tare or horse pea Vicia satiric ) the chick

pea , B engal or Uhinna g ram of this coun try, [ Cicer a rietinum} and the lintel Eevum lens , allof them being extens ively em ployed as food for both man and ca ttle . The seed of some other

species are cons idered poisonous , the seed of the bitter vetch ( B ream ervillia , D.C . ) whenm ixed wi th flour and m ade into bread are sa id to produce weakness of the limbs , and horses

fed on them become almos t paralytic. The ripe seeds of the yellow vetchling La t/lyrics

apbacaj are narcotic, producing intense headache if eaten abundan tly, but when young like

g reen peas , are harmless . The leaves of Cicer a rietinum secrete an acid which the na tives of

India collect by spreading a cloth over- night on the plant and wring ing out the dewin the

m orn ing . They then use it as vinegar, or for form ing a cooling drink.

Tribe 5. Pu ssao eem—Corolla papilionacious . Stamens monadelphous or more usuallydiadelphous (9 and l .) Legume several seeded, dehiscent, con tinuous , often wi th cellular

rarely with coriaceous transverse partitions between the seed, not separa ting into joints . Radicle bent along the edge of the cotyledons . Cotyledons thick, unchanged by germ ina tion .

Leaves usually trifoliolate, very rarely abruptly pinna ted primordia l ones oppos ite .

This is a large tribe abounding in g enera . m any of which are ex tensively used as food, but

more especially Phaseolus, Dolz'

chos and Lablab ( the old Dolichos tablab). Bes ides these manyothers are employ ed ei ther for food or m edicine and a few in the arts . The roots of the Coon

doomunny Abras preca tarias a common plant in this country, the beautiful black tipped brightred seeds of wh ich are so generally adm ired,

are sweet , resembling liquorice , for which they areused as a subs titute , and an infus ion of them prescribed as a diluent drink. The seed are in ge

neral use by native jewellers as a weight, and almost uniform ly weigh exactly one grain troy. The

young legum es as well as the seed ofmany species of Phaseolus or kidney bean are used as culinary vegetables ; among these are the French been, the Haricot, our Duflin bean, ( Phaseolus lunamcj as fodder, those of P . acon itt

'

folius, P . trilobus and radiatus, are cultivated by the

natives : the pease are used by them as food, and also g iven to their C attle as gram , the las t of

these , and I believe P . mang o are indiscrim inately used under the Eng lish name of g reen

g ram several species of D alia/ms are also in use, but the best known of these is the common

horse-

gram or coultie D . unéfloruséso extens ively cultivated in this country.

L ablab vulg a ris or avaraykai cliches labia l) , Lin . and A inslie ) is a very valuable puls e,and very generally m uch es teem ed by all classes of natives who eat it,when young , pod and all as

we do French beans , andwhen more advanced the beans only. In Mysore it is very extens ively cultivated,flelds on fields being seen coveredwith it towards the end ofthe year. The curious ly. winged

pods ofPsophoca rpus (Dolichos) tetrag onolobus or Goa been, (as it is called here) also afford a pass

able vegetable, so does the Sabre bean Canava lia g ladia ta j the pods ofwhich are sometim es l8

inches long . Mucuna pruriens and M . prurita both afford the well known Cowitch formerlynot unfrequently used as an anthelm intic ,

another nearly allied species , the pods of which are

unarmed with the sting ing pickles of the last, and of the genus generally, is cultivated to a

g reat extent in the Mauritius and Van Deman’s land as a table vegetable, and a lso as fodder

for cattle under the name of P012? noire or black bean. The pigeon pea or Doll ( Caj anusindicus or Cytisus caj an) is very generally cultivated as a pulse in this country, and is highlyesteemed by the natives . These are all herbaceous annuals or biennials ; but the beautifulflowered Erythrina indica , so conspicuous on account of its bright scarlet flowers, atta insthe s ize of a large tree, the light and soft wood of which is well known under the name of

Mootchee wood , from being so much used by these toy m akers,it is also generally used for

constructing Catamarans, and the tree itself is employed as a prop for pepper v ines .

Tribe 7 . Dana s ao tsE —Stamens variously combined. Legume one or several seeded,indehiscent. Cotyledons fleshy. Trees or shrubs , often twining . Leaves unequally pinnated,rarely trifoliolate , or reduced to a solitary leaflet.

In its properties this tribe is very different from the preceding . Here we find some of the

largest trees, possessing wood of the hardes t and most durable description , while others

again , of the same genera, are twining shrubs , some of them most ornam ental on account of theendless profusion of their beautiful white flowers, which contrast very favourably with theirdark green foliage : among the most ornamental perhaps of the whole are the splendid Buteas

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194 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

irregular, for the most part racemose, large and handsome ; the pedicels often furnished wi thbracteoles .

Calyx free, generally 5- cleft, imbricated in aestivation. Torus expanded, adnate to the cup

of the calyx, term inating in a perigynous ring . Corolla more or less irregular, sometimes

papilionaceous, more frequently the petals are free, expanding ,or som ewhat rosaceous , occasionally

wanting , aestivation irregularly imbricative . Stamens more or less unequal, always perigynous ;filaments rarely united. Ovary solitary, with several ovules . Legumes l , or several, seed ed,dehiscent, or rarely indehiscent, often transversely divided by cellular partitions , more rarely,

by fi rm chartaceous lam ina Ca tha rtocamus . ) Seed usually compressed, sometim es horizontal, that is ,with the edges not the s ides of the cotyledons opposed to the valves , sometimescovered with pulp. Album en usually wanting , but in Catha rtocarpus copious, enclos ing foliaceous cotyledons . Embryo straight, cotyledons usually larg e, plumule con spicuous .

Though for convenience , I have adopted this as a sub-order ; it seems clear, from the com

plexity of s tructure observable among its genera, that it can scarcely as it nowstands be adm itted as such, s ince the only constant point of difl

'

erence between it and Papilionaceae rests inits straight not curved embryo. The indehiscent cylindrical legumes , fi rm transverse partitions, and album inous seed of the first section of Cassia ( Cathartocarpus) int that out as

a good genus , though it is to he wished it had a more euphon ious name. This sub- order is

div ided into three tribes Geof reae, Cassicus and Detarz'

eae.

Tribe 8. G aor raess—Corolla papilionaceous or nearly so, stamens monadelphous or disdelphous , perigynous .

To this tribe only one Indian genus belongs, namely, A rachis, which,with the exceptionof the stra ight embryo has scarcely any affi nity with it, being more properly referable toVicieae. It is remarkable for maturing its seed under ground. A t fi rst the ovary is supported

on a short s talk which afterwards elongates to several inches , in a downward direction, until it;forces the ovary into the soilwhere it remains and r ipens its seed. The plant is much cultivatedon account of its seed,which, under the name of ground, or pig , nuts are roasted and eat likecashew- nuts which they much resemble in taste. They are bes ides oleagenous a rare occurrence

Cassicus .—Stamens distinct, or rarely monadelphous at the base (and then the corolla

though not papilionaceous is irregular.)To this tribe belong many very handsom e trees and shrubs, some very useful ones , and

many more that can scarcely be said to partake of either character. A few examples must

suflice to illustrate the two first classes—which however I take indiscrim inatelywithout attempting to clas sify them .

Guilandina B onduc or Bonduccella , they are the same plant, is a handsome diffuseshrub armed with numerous prickles , form ing an impenetrable fence. The globular very hard.

Seed are intensely bitter and esteemed a powerful ton ic. The infus ion of them is sa id to be a

very effectual remedy in cases of interm ittent fever, and as such, has been recommended alongwith the extract of Cocculus cordg

'

folius as a substitute for Peruvian bark, and as an excellent

adjuvant in cases where the cinchona does not agree with the stomach. Caesalpinea Sapan,the red wood of commerce, is extensively exported from this country as a dye wood . Haema

toz ylon Campechianum, the logwood of commerce, is employed for s im ilar purposes, and inhabit the two trees are cons iderably alike . Poinciana is a genus much more remarkable for the

splendour and beauty of its flowers than for any useful purpose to which it is turned. The

gaudy princes feather or peacock’

s pride of this country (Poinciana pulcheriena ) is everywherem et with, P . elatior with white flowers is , though less known, a finer plant, the tree itself beinga very handsom e one . SirW. J. Hooker has figured in the Botanical Magazine one from

Madagascar P . reg ia , more remarkable than either for the splendour of its flowers . Ptero

labium lacerans a common jungle shrub of this country is curious on account of its legume,which is l - seeded, ending in a knife- shaped wing . It is a most thorny plan t well adapted forfences , but rather diti

'

use—Pa rkinsonia , Hardwickia, Jenesia , and Humboldtia , are all fine

plants, but principally interesting on account of the celebrated persons whose names they hear.

The Tamarind (Tamarindus indica ) on the other hand, is mos t useful both on account of the

value of its wood and fruit, but on these it is unnecessary to dwell. I may however mention

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 195

what is less generally known, that tamarind stones , reduced to fine powder and made into a thickpas te with water, has the property, when merely smeared on the skin, of rapidly promotingsuppuration in indolent, or what are called blind, boils . The same powder boiled into a paste

with thin glue forms one of the strongestwood cements . Cassia is a very large genus con

ta ining som e m ost useful plants , but generally its species are of little value under any pointof v iew. The section Catha rtocarpus all the species of which are trees and of great beauty,ought in my opin ion to constitute a distinct genus as proposed by bothWilldenowand Persoon

,

but reunited byDeCandolle . Theflowers suffi ciently correspondwith those of the rest ofthe genus,but the cylindrical indehiscent legumes with hard transverse partitions and album inous seed enve

loped in pulp (for such they certa inly are in C . fi stula, C . R oxburg hii, C . bacillus Roxb . also in

C . rhombg'

folia , Roxb . (ifdistinct from C .fi stula) all tend to their separation from the rest of the

g enus, and I cannot help remarking that were genera generally separated from each other byequally sufficient marks,we should have little reason to complain of excess ive multifi ca tion of

them which is not always the case now. The sweet pulpwhich envelopes the seed of C .fi stula isa powerful but m ild aperient, a small quantity producing the effect, it further possesses the

property of colouring the urine of a deep brown colour, a fact, of which patien ts requiring to

use it habitually, ought to be warned, as I have known such refu~e to take it, on the suppos itionthat it had a tendency to heat the system and excite a bilious habit, even when doing them

m uch good. To what extent the other species enjoy this property I am unable to say, in C .

rhombtfolia Roxb. the pulp is bitter. None of the species of true Cassia , have equally pulpylegumes, hence it is not to be expected that they should possess s im ilar v irtues

, but cathartic

properties of great energy are found in the leaves of several, m ore especially of those belong ingto the section Senna, all of which are readily distinguished by their very compressed falcatelegumes . Of these, the Cassia (Senna) lanceolate and C . elong ate are the most important,several m illions of pounds weight of the dried leaves being annually consumed in Europe,exclus ive of what is used in this and their native countries Egypt and Arabia . C . obtusaa procumbent plant common in this country is used by the natives for sim ilar purposes . Dr .

Lindley cons iders the C . lanceolate of Boyle’s Illustrations and of our Prodromus, which are

the same plant, dis tinct from the true C . lanceolata of Forskahl and names it 0 . elong a te .

He remarks of it, the dried leaves form the finest Senna of commerce known by the name

of Tinnevelly Senna”

under C . lanceolata Forek”he describes a Species differing from ours

in hav ing a sess ile gland above the base of the petiol, and pods, linear, v illous, compressed,incurved to this Species he appends the following note.

As this sheet was about to be printed off I was so fortunate as to meet with the C . lan

ceola te of Forskahl,in a collection of Arabian plants (No . 7 1) collected by Dr . S . Fischer, in

palm grounds in the valley of Fatmé, flowering at the end of February. The leaflets are in4 or 5 pa irs , never more oblong , and either acute or obtuse , not at all ova te or lanceolate, and

perfectly free from down iness even when young ; the petiole have constantly a small roundbrown g land a little above the base . The pods are erect

,oblong , tapering to the base, obtuse,

turg id . mucronate , rather falcate, especially when young , a t which time they are sparing lycovered wi th coarse scattered hairs . The species is therefore quite dis tinct from C . elon a a la

,

as I at fi rst supposed ; and consequently, excellent as the Tinnevelly Senna is , a sort of3

stillfiner quality may be expected from India, as soon as this, the true Senna of Mecca shall havebeen Introduced into the Peninsula .

A variety of other species of this genus are recorded as possessing medical or other useful

properties, but of these I shall only m ention C . a uricula fa , the bark of which is constantlyused for tanning and C . sop/tom and C . a lum ,

the latter much cultivated in gardens in thiscoun try as an ornam ental plant, the juice of the leaves of both of which is considered a

sovereign rem edy agains t ringworm and other s im ilar herpetic eruptions,” a virtue which Iam much disposed to doubt. Cassia a lata is eas ily known by its pods being apparently nearlysquare through the valves winged on the back.

I may here mention that the leaves of the Margosa tree Azadirachta indica, which in native practice have

been long used as a remedy against pustular eruptions , have recently been tried to a g reat extent by a medical

offi cer, and found a mos t efficient applica tion. He reduces the leaves to a pulp by beating them in a mortar, theyare then fit for us e. Applied in this form he says they act like a charm in removing the most intractable forms ofFrom and other pustular eruptions.

196 ILLUSTRATIONS OF IND IAN BOTANY .

.

The genus Cynometra affords the fruit known and much esteemed in the eas tern Islandsunder the name of Nam - h am ( C . m ull/Zora} but which is scarcely known in this coun try,where, though described as a native plant, I suspect it is introduced . It is g rowing in the spiceg ardens of Courtallum but I have never m et with it wild.

’

l'

bose I saw are introduced .

ramiflora is certainly a native of Ceylon , from which I have been favoured with fine specim ens by ColonelWalker, it seems equally a native of M alabar as it is figured by Rheede .

The last genus of th is subo rder to which I shall allude is Bauhinia , a g e nus nam ed inhonor of the brothers John and Caspar Bauhin, two celebra ted Botanis ts of the last century,and cons idered by Linnaeus most appropria tely dedica ted to them on account of the two lobedleaves or m ore properly two twin leaflets of a compound leaf, partially united

, g iv ing them the

appearance of a s imple two cleft leaf

This genus abounds in species , m any of them very handsome small trees or large shrubs ,s om e a re scandent. B . malaba rica g rows to sufficient s ize to be used as timber tree in Malabar .

B . racemosa ( pawn/Zora Roxb . ) a rather common shrub or small tree in India , yields a thickbark of which m atchlock - men m ake their matches . It burns long and slowly without the helpof saltpetre or any other combus tible . To prepare the bark it is boiled,

dried and bea t. Ropes

are also'

made of the inner rind which is fibrous , s trong and durable B . Vahlli,W. and

A . ( B . racemosa ,Vahl. and Roxb. not Lam . ) is one of the larg es t species of the genus , the

larges t and m os t extens ive creeper I have ever seen”Roxb .

— a native of alpine dis tricts .

The leaves a re often a foo t each way and in the northern districts of the C ircars are col.

lected in quanti ties great and sold in the bazaars for various purposes , plates . package , &c. The

seeds are eaten raw, when ripe the taste is like that of cashew- nuts . B . ang uina is anotherextensive creeper remarkable for having its s tem and branches compress ed, that is severa l inchesbroad and not half an inch thick, it is believed by the natives of Silbet to be a charm ag ainstsnakes and other venomous reptiles .

Here I conclude my very imperfect sketch of this sub- order remarkable for containingmany both valuable and curious plants .

Sub-order M inosss s .

This is a large sub- order, consisting principally of tropical plants, or, with very fewexceptions , confined to the warmer reg ions on either s ide the tropics .

The species are either trees , shrubs or herbaceous plants , the former often armedwi th Spices

or prickles . The leaves are alternate , abruptly pinnate, or bi or tri- pinnate, the pinnaeand leafletsoppos ite, often remarkably sensitive , shrinking from the slightest touch. l’e tiols often g lan

duliferous , sometimes becom ing dilated and foliaceous on the abortion of the leafle ts ,

Flowers regular or nearly so, often p olygamous , rarely all iii- sexual sepals 4 5, equal, often

combined into a 4 -5 toothed calyx : (es tivation valvular or very rarely im bricative . Petals 4—5,equal, usually hypogynous , rarely inserted into the bottom of the calyx , som etimes dis tinct

,

sometimes all more or less united aestivation valvular or rarely imbricative . S tamens insertedwith the petals , distinct or monadelphous , as many, or several tim es as m any as the petals .

Embryo s traight, the radicle never being bent along the lobes of the cotyledons : cotyledons

usually foliaceous , very rarely enclosed in albumen . Podosperm usually flexnose or twisted.

This sub- order is very distinct -from the two preceding ones , especially in the character of

its flowers , which are here regular, usually approaching to tubular , with valvate ms tivation and

generally hypogynous s tamens . The legum es are very various in their form s , and afford excel

lent g eneric characters . In Entarla and M imosa , they are join ted or separate transversely as in

the Hedysa reae, in Inga and Adenanthera they are long and often rem arkably con torted

towards m aturity, the want of which character, com bined wi th its very thick hard woody valves ,renders questionable the propriety of referring I . Xg/loca rpa to tha t .genus . The legumes of

flcacia are suffi ciently various to afford good specific cha racters , in most they are linear and

m uch compres sed but in A . a rabica ,they are remarkably contracted between the s eed.

-A large

proportion of the species of this order. are,arboreous . but others are m inute herbs

,and one

Indian species (Desmanthus natans ) is almost'

cons tantly found floa ting ,on water, as its name

implies, or growing on the muddy banks of tanks or ditches .

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY . 109

LVII.—ROSACEE .

In extra tropical Botany this is a m ost important order, but within the tropics of verysecondary consideration , owing to the small number and inferior value of its tropical species .

In Europe and the temperate reg ions of A s ia and America they abound, and those of the

form er countries supply us with nearly all our finest fruits . The order is divided into differentsections or sub- orders . To Potentillae belong strawberries and raspberries : roses to Roseaecherries,plum s

, peaches , nectarines ,apricots and almonds to Amygda leae apples , pears ,quinces ,m edls rs, and the fragrant hawthorn ,

in all their endless varieties to Pameue. Th is , the refore,like Legumirrosae, as the preceding enumeration of tribes will show, is a very polymorphous

order, and not eas ily reducible within the lim its of a defi nition, however extended, andlike it, has been div ided by some into tribes , by others into sub -orders with detailed characters,and lastly, by Bat tling and G . Don into several distinct orders . DeCandolle retains them as

one , g ives the following character of the whole order,but I fear that, in doubtful cases , it wouldscarcely enable one wi th certainty to determ ine whether the plant under exam ination reallybelonged to this order : as however such examples are not of frequent occurrence, it beingeas ier to recognize than to define the order I g ive it nearly as he does .

Sepals usually 5, more or less combined into a tube and thence 5- lobed, generally pers isting ,free , or adherent with the ovary . Petals of the same number, rarely wanting ,

inserted uponthe calyx ; e stiva tion im bricated, m ostly regular . Stamens inserted with the petals , usuallyindefinite ; filaments with an incurved mstivation ; anthers 2- celled, opening long itudinally .

Carpels numerous . sometimes reduced and solitary, sometim es united among themselves or withthe tube of the calyx , apparently form ing one ovarium . Ovaries l - celled, s tyle s imple, dilatedupwards into variously formed stigmas, frequently lateral, distinct, or rarely combined. Seeds

one or two, rarely more in each carpel, erect, or inverted,exalbum inous (except in Neilles and

Hirtella ) . Embryo straight. Cotyledons leafy or fleshy—Herbs or trees . Leaves alternate,

simple, or compound,with 2 stipules at the base. Inflorescence various .

To unders tand this character fully som e study is required. Carpels numerous , applies tothe fruit of the raspberry , strawberry, rose &c .

,which is m ade up of a congeries of small carpels ,

each having its own style and stigm a, and each except in the rose becom ing a drupe in m inia

ture, that is , a soft juicy or pulpy fruit, with a s ingle hard stone in the centre . The sloe, and

its numerous cultivated varieties , (plum s of all kinds) the cherry, the almond, the peach, the

apricot &c. , belong to the reduced and solitary form s . To the first of these div is ions , carpels

numerous , belong the tribe D ryadeae or Potentilleae, the seccnd, carpels reduced,applies to

Amygdaleae. The third set, those namely, hav ing the ovaries united among them selves or with

the tube of the calyx embraces the Pomaceae or apple tribe, which has 5 one - celled ovaries , allunited with the fleshy calyx ,

by which they are enclosed, and fi nally becom e a s ingle fleshy suc

culent fruit. In the Rose the carpels are numerous, enclosed within the fleshy tube of the

calyx, which, is contracted at the apex and as it approaches m aturity fi nally becom es nearlya shut sac , and m ay almost be compared to a berry, except tha t the seed are not enveloped in

pulp, as in the gooseberry. The carpels are inserted into the tube of the calyx and the longslender style projects beyond the orifice . Notwithstanding the very rem arkable difl

'

erence

between the fruit of a rose and a strawberry they are yet placed to the same div is ion of the order,namely, Rosaceae proper. This m ay be explained by comparing the calyx of both to a purs e ; in

the rose the seed are a ttached to the bottom inside and enclosed by it while in the s trawberryit is as itwere inverted, pushing the carpels beyond the m outh

,tha t is , the ring of the calyx ,

and allowing them to ripen exposed to the air and light . (See Icones Nos . 38 and 230, Rosa

and B abe s) The fleshy edible part of the apple, pear, quince &c . , is the thickened fleshy tubeof the calyx .

Hav ing prem ised these general explanations of the s tructure of the fruit of the order as awhole, I shall nowtranscribe Dr. Lindley

’

s characters of Rosaceae and the three sub - orders

into which he divides this tribe, namely, Pomaceae, Amygda leae and Sang esorbeae, addingunder each, the properties, appertaining to it.

200 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

RosacsAs . The Rose tribe.

Calyx 4 or 5- lobed, with a disk either linening the tube or surrounding the orifice ; the

fifth lobe next the axis . Petals 5, perigynous, equal. Stamens indefinite, arising from the

calyx,just within the petals, in aestivation curved inwards ; anthers innate, 2- celled, bursting

long itudinally. Ovaries superior, either solitary or several, l - celled, sometimes cohering into a

plurilocular pistil ; ovules 2, or more, suspended, very rarely erect ; styles lateral ; stigmasusually simple, and emarg inate on one s ide. Fruit either l - seeded nuts, or acini, or folliclescontaining several seeds . Seeds suspended, rarely ascending . Embryo straight, with a taper

short radicle pointing to the hilum , and flat cotyledons . A lbumen usually almost obliteratedwhen the seeds are ripe ; if present dashy.

- Herbaceous plants or shrubs . Leaves simple orcompound, alternate, usually with 2 stipules at their base.

”

Under this order Dr. Lindley ranges the rose, the raspberry, bramble, and strawberry,the Dryas and Agrimony, meadow sweet {Spircca j and many others in which numer

ous pistils with lateral styles are observed, the rose itself being to all appearance the most

anomalous of the tribe, owing the extens ion of the tube of the calyx and the contraction of its

orifice enclosing and concealing the carpels, which in most of the others are exposed . The

g enera naturally divide them selves into four groups— lst. Roseae, dis tingu ished as above by itstubular ven tricose calyx enclos ing the ovaries - 2d. Potentilleae, by its numerous ovaries seatedon an elevated fleshy receptacle

— 3d. Spiraew, by its definite ovaries (about 5) each with a ter

m inal style and several ovules follicular fruit,with two rows of suspended seed in each follicleand las tly, Q uilla z

'

eae like Spirazce but trees, having winged seed,with s imple, not lobed leaves,(all Am erican .)

G EOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Principally natives of temperate or cold climates of the

northern hem isphere. The species foundwith in the tropics are natives of high hills , where thetemperature is reduced by elevation . Such is the case with all those found in the Indian peninsula, figures of several of which will be found in the 12th number of my Icones .

Paowarms AND Uses . No rosaceous plants are unwholesome and some of them furnishus with most delicate fruit. In the plant the astringent principle generally predom inates and inthe Tormentilla so intensely that its roots are even used for tanning leather, some of them are

reckoned febrifuge and have been adm inistered as substitutes for Peruvian bark ; B rayera an

Abyssinean plant is said to be one of the most powerful anthelmentics in the world, it beingstated by Brayer its discoverer, that, two or three doses of its infus ion are suffi cient to cure the

most obstinate cases of tapeworm . Rosacea e are however best known for the beauty and frag rance of the type of the fam ily, the Rose, and for their fruit, of which the strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry, are the most esteemed. Some of the Indian species of Rubus even in

their uncultivated state produce very passable fruit, which m ight be g reatly improved byculture and certainly m erit a trial. Judg ing from the great advances which within these fewyears have been made in the culture of the rose in this country, we have strong reason to hope

for most ample success in this attempt. The strawberry is now cultivated to a cons iderableextent about Hyderabad and Bangalore and has even succeeded in producing fruit in Madras,

but as yet our attempts at culture have not been crowned with much success .

Sub- order Pou sas . The Apple tribe .

Calyx superior, 5- toothed ; the odd segment posterior. Petals 5, unguiculate, insertedin the throat of the calyx ; the odd one anterior. Stamens indefinite, inserted in a ring in thethroat of the calyx . D isk thin, clothing the s ides of the tube of the calyx . Ovaries from 1 to

5, adhering more or less to the s ides of the calyx and each other ; ovules usually 2, collateral,ascending , very rarely solitary ; Styles from 1 to 5 ; stigmas simple . Fruit a pome, l to 5

celled, seldom spuriously lO- celled the endocarp either cartilag inous, spongy, or bony.

ascending , solitary. Albumen none ; embryo erect, with flat cotyledons, or convolute ones in

Chamameles , and a short conical radicle. Trees or shrubs . Leaves alternate, stipulate, simple,or compound. Flowers in term inal cymes,white or pink .

”

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202 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

in the southern portions of India, but a feware found on the Himalaras, and two species of

Polyodontia in C eylon, generally they are confined to the colder reg ions of the northern

hem isphere . The peach has been introduced into India and in some places thrives well, pro

ducing fine fruit, but this is the only one of the tribe I have heard of yielding good fruit inthis country. I have seen plum trees but have not seen the fruit. I do not recollect of ever

having m et with a cherry tree or a cherry in India .

Paor s ar i ss AND Uses . To dwell on these here would be out of place since none of the

species are to be had in this country, but it may be mentioned a gain that both the leaves andkernels of some of the species produce Pruss ic acid in such abundance as to becom e poisonous

to cattle that brouse on them , and it m ay equally be m entioned that Pruss ic acid is the m ost

immediately destructive of life of all vegetable poisons ; a few seconds often sutlicing for its

total extinction when the acid has been suffi cien tly concentrated.

Notwiths tanding this intense energy of action it has yet been beneficially employed in medicine for the trea tment of some diseases , g enerally, of an obstinate or nearly incurable character.

More recently it has been tried in a case ofHydrophobia in very large doses and seem ed to have

arres ted the progress of the animal poison, as the pa tient completely recovered the powers ofdeglutition, but finally died of Typhoid symptom s , apparently induced throug h the exhaus tion

caused by the com bined action of two such powerful poisons on the system . Firs t by the deletarions effects of the animal one ,which had never been overcome , until met by this more

energetic vegetable one, and then by the enormous doses of the Prus sic acid which were so

powerfulas at one time nearly to destroy life within a fewm inutes after ad ministration. The case

though it finally term inated feti lly, yet holds out a hope of cure in that hitherto incurablemalady Hydrophobic , since, it goes far to prove the efli nency of the one poison to overcome or

counteract the deleterious effects of the other on the living anim al fi bre . To Pruss ic acidNoyeau owes its peculiar flavour, and tha t fact should m ake people cautions not to use much of

a Liqueur, depending for its excellence on so active and dangerous an ingredient, so activeindeed, that merely smelling the concentrated acid is enough to endanger or even to destroy

Sub-order Sancmsonasu . The Burnet tribe.

Flowers often unisexual. Calyx with a thickened tube and a 3 - 4 or 5 lobed limb, itstube linedwith a disk. Petals none. S lamen s definite, sometimes fewer than the segm ents of

the calyx ,with which they are then alternate, aris ing from the orifice of the calyx ; anthers

2- celled, inna te, bursting long itudinally, occasionally, I - celled, burs ting transverse ly. Ovarysolitary, s imple, with a s tyle proceeding from the apex or the base ; ovule solita ry, alwaysattached to that part of the ovary which is next the base of the s tyle . Stigma com pound or

simple. N at solitary, enclosed in the often indurated tube of the calyx. Seed solita ry, sus

pended or ascending : embryo without albumen ; radicle superior or inferior. Cotyledons large,

plano - convex .—Herbaceous plants or undershrubs, occasionally spiny. Leaves s imple and

lobed, or compound, alternate,wi th stipules . Flowers small, often capitate .

This sub- order is one of very inferior note and may even be doubted whether it ought torema in here. A lchemilla vulg aris or lady

’

s mantle is a native of the higher hills of In tie andCeylon, but so far as I am aware none of the other genera are found in southern India Thisis the only tribe of Rosaceae found at the Cape of G ood Hope . They are very common in

Europe in Open heaths and exposed situations . The celebrated Frederick Hofl'

man s tates that

a decoction of .dlchemilla vulg aris has the effect of restoring the faded beauty of ladies to itsearliest freshness .

I copy this piece of information as I am enabled to add that the plant in question is a nativeof the Neilgherries, and doubtless may be had there in suflicient quantity to admit of the expe

riment being tried, if we can only find fi t subjects among our fair ones on whom to make the

experiment.

REMARKS on G snaaa AND SPEC IES . In an order to which , so far as the Indian flora is

concerned, so fewof both belong, much space need not be devoted to this head. In the Penin

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY . 203

sular flora , 6 genera are enumerated, only two of wh ich are not found in Europe Photiniaand Eryobotria , s ince the publication of our work one (A lchem

'

illa) has been added to the con

tinental flora and two to the Ceylon one, namely, Ag rimonia and Alchemilla , and what isremarkable the species are identical with European ones . To these may be added, I believe,two of the sub -order Amyg da leae from C eylon of which I have specimens , but the fruit tooyoung to enable me with certainty to identify the genus , though , I think it may with cons iderableconfidence be referred to Blum e

’

s genus Polyodoa tia as, in addition to the s im ilarity of theflowers , the leaves have the two g lands on the under surface near the base. In Nepaul thisorder is comparatively abundant. From that. country there several species of Spiraea , many of

P otentilla ,one or two of Geum, several of Cerasus, one or two of P runes, one of Pyras &c.,

and from the sam e tract of country Boyle’s Prinsepia , a genus which Messrs . Royle and Lind

ley refer to Chrysobalanece , butwhich, so far as I can m ake out from his not very perfect figure

and character strictly belongs to Amygdaleae, and but for the baccate fruit m ight pass verywell for a P runusmhence I am disposed to infer that these two.genera are very nearly a llied,andthat Lindley is premature in departing from the generally received Opinion, that Chry sobala neceare but a section of Rosaceae. That P rinsepia does not belong to Chrysobalanem is shown byits style being term inal not arising from the base, and by its pendulous, not erect ovules . It

differs from Cerasus and Prunus by having a baccate, not drupaceous fruit. Dr. L indley pro .

poses to remove the section Sorbifolius from Spirara, and form for them a distinct genus under

the name of Schizonotus . His reasons for this separation are not stated by himself but Meisnerassigns the following brief character. Stam ina disco calyce ubique adnato inserts , ovaria 5

connata stipitate . Cast spira m”one species only I have examined Sp. Schizonotus j L indleana .

9

and find that he (Meisner) has in that definition m issed the only character ofany value, namely,the pos ition of the ovules . In Spira

'a they are superposed, sometim es only two, som etimes seve

ral, but in Schizonotus L indleana there are several 10 or 12 all pendulous from the apex of the

cell of the ovary. This structure added to the very different habit seem s to afford good groundsfor the formation of a newgenus. In it the ovaries are not stipitate.

POLYODONTIA, Blume. of a rusty brown colour beneath, racemes axillary, soli

Calyx inferior, campanulate, 6- toothed, deciduous tar

y; galways about the length of the leaves, covered

petals 6-minute, inserted on the margin of the calyx

Wlt 8 on appressed hairs :flowers small,petals 5reflexstamens numerous, (12- 18) about equal, inserted with ed, externally very hairy round the margin.

the petals : ovary free, l- celled,with 2 pendulous ovules :

style one stigma peltate : drupe reniform,dry, l- seeded

embryo exalbuminous, inverse.

Leaves alternate, entire, exstipulate, usually fi irnished

beneath,with two glands near the base : racemes axil

My specimens were taken from a tree by the roadside,near the highest point of the ascent towards Ncwera

P . .9Wal/tirii, (R .W.) Leaves oblong ovate, sub- acu

lary and lateral, solitary, or several together, tomentose,flowers small, 1 bracteated. Genus bocci vir aliAmygdale difl

'

erre oidetur”Blame.)

P . arborea, (Bl. Leaves alternate, oblong, entire, ex

sti ulate, bi- glan ular, beneath near the base : racemes

a and lateral, solitary, or several ; tomentose

Blume, Bijdr. p. 1 105.

Heb—Alpineforests in Java .

P . .9 Ceylanica, (R.W.) Leaves from elliptic very oh

tuse at both ends, to sub-orbicular, glabrous, when dry,

minated, glabrous above, andwith the oung branches

tomentose beneath,afterwards becoming g brous,racemes

axillary, solitary, petals and rachis densely clothed,withshort rusty coloured tomentum.

Ceylon—Communicated by ColonelWalker.

This species seems nearly alliedwith the Java one, butdiffers in having the ramuli and leaves tomentose. It

certainly appears distinct from the preceding, but as I

have only a solitary specimen I am not abled to give

more perfect distinguishing characters .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 85.

l . Potentilla c im'

aa, a small flowering plant—natural

'2. An expanded flower .

3 . The same partially dissected.4 . Stamens.

5. The ovary cut vertically, showing the attachment

of the carpels to the surface of the receptacle.

6. A detached carpel.

7 . The same cut vertically.

8. Cut transversely.

9- 10. Portions ofa leaf magnified.

204 laws'ma 'rrorvs or INDIAN BOTANY .

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 86.

7 . Ovary cut transversely, 2- celled, and two ovules n

2. An expanded flower, side view.

3. Front view. 8. A fruit nearly mature cut transversely, two of the4 . The same dissected, showing‘

the stamens and the ovules aborted.

ovary forcibly detached from the yx tube. 9. A seed—natural size.

5. Stamens. 10. Magnified.

6. The ovary cut vertically, showing its cohesion with 1 1 . Cut transversely.

the calyx. 12. Cut vertically.

13 . Cotyledons and embryo detached.

LVIII .—SALICARIE1E .

In most modernworks on Botany this order occurs under the name of Lythrariae, owing , Iresume, to the genus Salicaria , having been reduced to the older one Lythrum. We haveowever retained older name Salicarieae in our Pro lromus , and I continue to adopt it from not

seeing adequate grounds for chan ing an already established name ofan order, because the genusonwhich itwas orig inally founde is reduced .

A s comparedwith the three preceding orders this , though abounding in species , is one of verysecondary importance to m ankind, cons is ting , as it does , for the greater part of lowherbaceousplants, mere weeds, and inconsiderable shrubs , the latter, more remarkable for their gaudy flowers than for any value in an econom ical point of viewthat attaches to them . Of the herbaceous

division the stems are for the most part 4 - seeded, often with acute angles , the shrubby ones on

the contrary have round branches , or if at first square, with obtuse angles . The leaves are

opposite, sometimes verticelled, and occasionally, though rarely alternate, sess ile, or taperinginto a short petiol, stipules none. The flowers are bi- sexual, regular, axillary, or aggregated,or cymose, sometimes by the abortion of the floral leaves towards the extrem ities of the

branches , apparently spicate or racemose. I t is divided into two sub- orders Lythrariae andCeratophylliae

Sub-order Lvrnaaaras . Juss .

Calyx tubular or campanulate, lobed, the lobes sometimes with intermediate accessorylobes or teeth : e stivation valvate. Petals alternate with the lobes of the calyx, usually verydeciduous , sometimes wanting . Stamens inserted a little belowthe petals, equal in number to

them , or 2- 3 - 4 - times as many, rarely fewer : anthers introrse , bi- locular, burs ting long itudinally.Ovarium superior, 2-4 - celled ; ovules numerous : s tyle usually fi liform , rarely very short : stigmausually capitate. Placenta in the axis . Capsule m embranous , surrounded by, but not com

bined with the calyx ; usually l - celled by the obliteration of the dissepim ents , bursting long itudinally or irregularly. Seeds numerous, small. A lbumen none. Embryo straight : radiclenext the hilum cotyledons flat and foliaceous .

Arrmrr i ss . This order seems nearly allied in many respects to Onag ra riae, from whichhowever it is separated by its free, not adherent ovary. This circumstance further entitles it torank next Rosaceae in preference to those orders in which the calyx adheres to the ovary . I

copy the following remarks from Lindley’

s Natural System, 2d edition, as exhibiting the bestviewof its affinities I have met with .

In many respects this order resembles Onag ra riae. from which the superior ovary andmany ribbed calyx distinguish it ; also Melastomaceae, from which the superior ovary the veining of the leaves, and the asstivation of the stamens divide it. With Labiatae it has often a

resemblance in habit but this goes no further. .Malvaceae, however , appear to be the plants towhich Lythraceae most nearly approach, as is indicated by Lagerstraemea and Hibiscus, as wellas by Lytlzrum itself and Napaea . Their strictly perigynous stamens place them in a widelydifferent affi nity according to the French school. Their resemblance to Celsstraceae is com

pletely established by the genus Adenaria .

”

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206 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY.

excellent specimens communicated byMr. N immo himself, andfind it truly referable to this order .

The result of this exam ination has led to the conclus ion that, with a slight extension of the cha

rueter, all three genera m ight be reduced to one. Ameletia indica is not apetalous , the petals

are small resembling those of Rhamneae, but they are present and seem to have been m is taken forthe tooth- like processes of most of the other genera of the order, but wh ich in it can scarcely besaid to ex ist its character therefore ought to have been petals 4, m inute, stamens 4, ovary 2- celled,capsule 2

- valved, dehiscence septifragal. N immonia only differs in having larger petals in boththey are marcescent. M ir/coca however differs from both in having a 4 - celled ovary and a

4- valved capsule, but the dehiscence is septifragal as in the other and the petals are equally mar

cescent, hence the only difference rests in the ovary and capsule,which m ight be eas ily adjus tedin the generic character. Having prem ised these explanations I nowsubstitute for the classification in the Icones the following series .

1 . Calyx 3-5 cleft. Petals 3 -5. Stamens 3 -5. Ovary 3 - celled. Capsule 3 -valved, Ros ana.

septifragal Ammamu'

a, partly.

2. Calyx 5- c1eft, the sinuses furnishedwith accessory teeth, petals 4 or 0 (by abor

tion) Stamens 4, ovary 2- celled : capsule opening irregularly transversely, (the Au m u .

upper part falling away)3 . Calyx 4 - cleft, without accessory teeth, petals 4, stamens 4, ovary 2 or 4 - celled. An nm a .

Capsule 2 or 4 - valved, septifragal, (flowers in bracteated spikes, calyx bi- brac M rkooa,W. and A .

tiolate)

4 . Calyx 4 -6- clefl,with accessory teeth in the amuses, petals 4 -6, stamens 8- 12, Nssa-ia .

ovary 3- 4 - celled Ammanm

‘

a, partly.

None of the other genera of the order require notice. To Lag erstraemia I have added

one newspecies L . microca rpa (Icones Pl. In . Or. tab. 109) which we had form erly confoundedwith Roxburgh ’s L . parviflom . Icon . tab . 69. The latter species has a large fruitwhile thatofmy newspecies scarcely exceeds the s ize of a pea .

The sub -order Cera top/zylliae differs so widely in habit and approaches so little in struc

ture,

l

that I cannot help following the footsteps of most modern Botanists in excluding it fromthis ~

p ace.

ROTALA, Linn. (w. and A .)R . verticellarus, (Linn

i?cal 3 -5, lobed,petals and sta

mens 3 - 5:leaves vertice ed. con Pl. Ind. Or. tab. 260.

R . Rozburg ia na , (R.W.) calyx 5- lobed, petals and

stamens 5, leaves opposite—Wight—Icon. Pl. Ind. Or.

tab. 260.—Ammanniapentaadra, xb.D.C . Prod.W. and

A .Prod.

R .fimbrz‘

ata, (R .W.) calyx 5- lobed,_petals and sta

mens 5:petals fimbriated on the margin, leaves oppo

site—Icon. Pl. Ind. Or. tab. 217 .

AMELETIA, D.C .

Ovary 2- celled. Capsule 2- valved.

A . Leaves opposite.

I . A . indica—2. 11. tennis .

B . Leaves alternate.

3 . A .floribunda .

Ovary 4- celled. Capsule 4

- valved.

l . A . indica, Procumbent, leaves obovate,2pposite, spikes axillary :flowers sess ile, solitary, in e

axils of obovate bracteas ; bracteoles subulate, membra

naceous, equalling the tube of the calyx. Stamens

shorter than the calyx.

2. A . team'

s, (R.W.) Shrubs somewhat procumbentat the base, afterwards erect, most slender leaves oppo

site, orbicular, spikes terminal, flowers solitary, longish,edicelled, from the sail of a linear bractea ; bracteoles

e : stamens included ; st ls projecting : stigma large :capsule 2

- valved— Icon. Pl. nd. Or. tab. 258.

3 . A .floribunda, (R.W.) Erect, very ramous, leavesalternate, sessile, cordate at the base, linear, lanceolate

spikes terminal, few-flowered :flowers short, pedicelled,solitary, in the axils of linear lanceolate, bracteas :bracteoles about half the length of the calyx :petals obovatestamens short, included within the tube of the calyx

style long, projecting, capsule ovate, 2- valved.—Icon. Pl

.

Ind. Or. tab . 258. Nimmom’

a floribunda , R.W. inMadras Journal of Science.

4 . A . rolundg‘

folz‘

a, (R.W.) Stems diffuse, procumbent,branches erect: leaves orbicular, opposite, sessile :spikes

congested near the extremities of the branches, flowerssolitary, in the axils of the sessile, sub

- orbicular or broad

ovate, cordate,pointed bracteas ; bracteoles very minute,almost inconspicuous : stamens much longer than the

calyx, capsule 4-valved—Icon. Pl. Ind. Or. tab. 259.

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY . 207

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 87.

l . Lawsonz'

a a lba—natural size. 8. The same cut transversely.

2. An expanded flower seen from above. 9. A seed somewhat winged.

3 . S tamens hack and front views. 10. The same cut transversely.

4. The ovary. l l . Cut ve rtica lly, showm g the embryo in titu5-6. Cut transversely and vertically . 12. Emhrvo de tached—with the exceptions mentioned,7 . The fruit nearly mature

—natural siz e. all more or less magngficd.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 88.

l . Lag er-mama

‘

s indica, flowering branch—natural 9- lo. Horizontal and vertical sections of the sam e.

1 1 . A s eed— natur al size.

2. A dissected flower. 12- 13. The sam e mag nified and opened, to showthe3 -4 . Anthers back and front views. position of the s eed.

5. Sti gma. 14. A de tached Seed.

6- 7 . Ovary cut vertically and transversely, 6-celled, 15. The embryo removed from the testa, cotyledons

with the ovules collateral. foliaceous, convolute—with the exceptions mentioned, all8. A fruit not quite mature. more or less magnified.

L lX .

This is a small, butwidely diffused order, growing on salt swamps and marshes on the sea

coasts of nearly all tropical countries , consti tuting the m ang rove tribe , so noted for the unwholesome clima te which often prevails where it is very abundant, apparently, through the dense mas s

of vegetation which it produces intercepting the sun’s rays , and m a in taining a constant exhala

tion of noxious vapour from about their roots . Like the Banyan Ficus indica ) and the

C aldera , Pandanus odoratissimus ) most of the spec ies send down :roots from the s tem and

branches , by means of which they rapidly spread them s elves to a grea t extent. A nother veryremarkable peculiarity of this fam ily is the unique manner in which its seed germ inates ; heregerm ination takes place not as in other plan ts after the shedding of the s eed, but before it has

left the seed vessel. After the seed has a tta ined maturity its radicle and club- shaped tigillus

gradually elongates until it either enters the Soft m uddy soil in which the tree grows , or ifmore elevated it drops and fi xing itself in the muddy bottom imm ediately strikes root

'

at the

one end while the leaves beg in to develops themselves a t the other. The species are all trees

or shrubs with oppos ite coria ceous s im ple en tire leaves , sometim es , in Ca rallia , denta te,usually tapering towards the petiol and furnished with in terpetiolar convolute caducous stipules .

The flowers are lii- sexual, reg ular, axillary, congreg ated in fewor m any -flowered cym es . Dr.

A rnott in an exce llent memoir on the order published in the Annals of Natural History. Vol. lst,has g iven a detailml character of the Linntean genus Rbizopltora , but which he thinks ought

rather to be cons idered a group or sub - order , of Rhizophoreae, as containing several distinctgenera . The g roupm ay be ca lled Rhizopkorae, he defi nes it as follows .

Calyx 4 - 14 cleft, persis ting : aastiva tnon valvate . Petals ses s ile , 4- 14 , inserted into thecalyx and alternate with its lobes . Stamens 8 or more

,inserted with the peta ls : fi taments dis

tinct, anthers 2- celled, dehiscing within . Disk fles hy between the ovary and calyx , occasionallyform ing a short toothed ring between the stamens and ovary . O vary more or less cohering ,2-4 - celled, cells 2-ovuled, ovules pendulous from the apex of a cen tral axis . S tyle s imple.

S tigm a 2- 4, dentate or s imple . Fruit coriaceous , l - celled,l - seeded, after germ ina tion has

comm enced perforated at the apex ,by the extension of the radicle and tig illus of the embryo

into a long club . Albumen none . C otyledons flat, radicle superior .

”

This character does not include Ca rol/in ,the seed of which do not germ inate in the pere

carp, butwith that exception, the character applies to it also.

AFFINITIEB. This order differs from all others in the remarkable property of its seed

g erm ina ting before they have left the tree. The s truc ture and dehiscence of the anther in

Rhizophora is also very peculiar . In place of as usua l cons is ting of two parallel cells openinge ither by pores a t the apex or by slits , it seem s to cons is t of a s olid central axis , the surface of

which contains numerous fer ioli containing the pollen and covered by a membrane, when mature

208 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

this membrane bursts interiorly or towards the centre of the flower and sheds the pollen, after

which the m embranous valveWithers and almos t disappears , leaving the fleshy body of the anther

in its place apparently as large or even larger than when theflower fi rst expanded. I first had an

opportunity of observ ing the anther of R mucrona ta about 10 years ago, and endeavoured to re

resent it before and after dehiscence . The attempt was not very successful but such as itwas Iave recently published it tab. 238 of my Icones. Since then (in 1835 Mr. G riffi th published

a paper on the Rhyzopltoreac in the transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Cal

cutta , accompan ied with delineations of the anther of this“genus , accompanied by some inge

nious remarks on its formation. This structure, which is confined to the species of this genus ,he very properly cons iders of itselfa sufficient reason for separating them as a genus from the

rest of the order even supposing there was no other, which however is not the case, hence thiscannot but be considered a good genus . Pas s ing over these peculiarities ,which do not extend to

all the Species of the order, its neares t allies seem to be,Memecyleae, Lethra rieae andMyrtaceae,and though the relationship does not appear to be very close, we yet fi nd the sam e plant in one

or two instances referred to different orders , thus we find, according to Arnott, that, Petalosomaof D.C . doubtfully referred by him to Myrtaceae, is not dis tinct from Carallz

'

a : and Olisbia

D .C . placed without a doubt in Rhyzophoreac, referred by Lindley and A rnott under the name

Guildt'

ng ia to Memecyleae.

G soe as rntcs t DtsrnIBUT ION. I mentioned above that plants of this order occupy a widerange, inhabiting salt marshes , especially near the mouths of great rivers , in tropical countries .

The following rather long extract from Dr. Arnott’s paper g ives a more precise account of their

distribution which is my reason for introducing it here .

Martins in his observations on India plants in the ‘.4lg emeine Z eitung

’for January 1834,

and Ann . des Sc. N a t.’n . s . i . p. 250, mentions that there are eleven species of Rhizophoreae

in East India according toWallich’s list : there are however only e ight noticed by Dr.Wallich,but this number m ay be made up of the three species of Ca ra llia described in DeCandolle’sProdromus , of Rhizopltora conj ug ata , g ymnorrhiza and cylindrica of Linnaeus R . ca rgo

phylloides, Jack ; R . comic! and candelaria of DeCandolle, with R . pawl/20m and decandraof Roxburgh, mentioned inWallich ’

s list. While one of these has been unnecessarily spiltdown , others, very distinct, appear to be confused under the same names , and Blume

’

s are alto

gether om itted. I have nowenumerated fifteen species of Rhizophoreae verae from wh ich wemust deduct one from America and another from NewHolland not found in East India. Ofthe remaining thirteen, one from Coch in China is scarcely known ; a second extends throughoutthe Indian ocean, from the Mauritius to the Moluccas or perhaps Timor, and as far north as

A rabia Felix and Bengal ; a third is found in Malabar, Timor, and NewHolland ; three appear

to be confined to the Eastern Islands ; two to Malabar ; one is common to Malabar and the

m outh of the Ganges ; two found at the mouth of the Ganges occur probably also further eas t

and in Penang , and the remaining two seem to have been observed (unless different species are

alluded to by different authors) in C eylon, Malabar , Bengal, Java, and Amboyna . To thesethirteen have to be added, Roxburgh

’e two species of Cara llia with serrated, and the four spe

cies or varieties I have mentioned with entire leaves : so that although Loureiro'

s Rhiz . Item

gona were reduced, the number is about double of that g iven by Martins . This order is thus

concentrated in India or its Islands ; the only known exceptions consist in the two or perhaps

three species of Rhizoplzora and one Carallia that occur further west, and one Ceriops and one

B ruguieria that are found in NewHolland but of these, two are also natives of India .

”

Paorsa 'r tss AND Uses . On this head no very precise information exists , the bark of several

species is astringent and has been used as a febrifuge . In the Antilles the fruit of R izoplzmangle is said to be sweet and edible and the juice is fermented to form a light wine . Whengrowing within lowwater mark the lower branches and stems are som etim es covered withoysters wh ich are esteemed, by those who have an opportunity of procuring them , a great delicacy. Thewood of R . mucronata is said by Roxburgh to be of a dark redish colour, hard anddurable while that of B rug uieria Rheedei is described as being of a yellowish colour, hard and

durable, but is chiefly employed for burning and for postswithwhich the natives construct theirhouses .

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ILLUS TRATIONS os INDIAN BOTANY . 211

CARALLIA. H . Mal. v. t. I3 (inflorescentia ac floribus pessimel . C'. Ceylau

'

ca, (Arm ) : foliis cuneato- obovatts obtu delineatis. )sissimis subre tus is la titudine subdim idio - long ioribus . 3 . C . S inensz

'

s, (Arm):folns cuneato- obovatis breviter

Ant. l. c. Wig ht Cal. 13. 2446—0 . obcordata,Wig ht ac obtuse acuminatis latitudine subduplo long ioribus .Am . I. c. (cum . syn. )

2. C . corymbose, (Wight) : foliis oblongo- obovalibus 4. C . integ en°£ma, folns ovalibus subacum inatig

obtus is vel obsolete ac obtuse acummatxs latitudine la titudme duplo long ioribus .

2—2}plo longioribus .—W£g ltt Cat. 3 . 24 -1 7 .

—Rheed.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 89.

l . Kaudelia Rheeda’

, (W. 8:A.) Flowering branch

2. A dissected flower to showthe relative position of

ts .Pi"3. Stamens .

4. Stigma.

l . Flowering branch of Carallz’

a Ceylam’

cus— natural 4 . A etal detached.5-6 vary out transversely and vertically

—a ll more2. A dissected flower.3 . btamens.

LX .—COMBRETACE1E .

This is one of the most strictly tropical orders we have yet had to exam ine, for, thoughsome species extend beyond these lim its yet none go beyond the warmer latitudes on eithers ide .

The species are all either trees or shrubs , often scandent, sometimes with opposite, sometimes alternate t coriaceous , simple, undivided, exstipulate leaves, rarely with pellucid dots . The

flowers are regular, generally bi- sexual, but sometimes by abortion, un isexual, or polygamous,

arranged in ax illary or term inal spikes or capitulm.

Calyx 4 -5 lobed, lobes deciduous . Petals alternate with the lobes , or wanting . Stamens

twice as many as the lobes, rarely, equal in num ber to them or thrice as many : fi laments distinct, subulate anthers bi- locular, burs ting long itudinally. Ovarium coherent with the tube of

the calyx ,l - celled : ovules 2-5, pendulous from the apex of the cav ity : style I , slender : s tigm a

s imple. Fruit drupaceous , baccate, or nutlike, l - celled, indehiscent, often winged . Seed solitary (by abortion) pendulous . A lbumen none. Radicle superior : cotyledons usually leafy, and

e ither convolute or variously folded, sometimes fleshy and plano- convex.

—Trees or shrubs .

Leaves alternate or oppos ite, exstipulate .

”

A s rm rr tss . These are not eas ily defined according to DeCandolle, the polypetalous

genera approach Myrtaceae while the apetalous ones have a closer affi nity with Santa laceae andElaeogneae, and even with Laurineae through Gyroca rpus . Combretum differs from the rest

of the order in hav ing quaternary flowers with S s tameas , and folded not spirally convolute coty

ledons . From Myrtaceae and Onag ra rieae and Memecyleae, they differ in their l - celled ovary

and pendulous ovules . From Santalaceae and Elaeag neae they are distinguished by the foliaceous convolute or pla ited, not fleshy cotyledons . This las t structure, which separa tes them

from all other orders , allies them with Gy roca rpeae which has spirally convolute cotyledons , but

from which they are eas ily distinguished by the long itudinal, not valvular,dehiscence of the cells

of the anthers . The solitary carpel of which the fruit consists is peculiar to these and to

A langieae, and neatly dis tinguishes those two orders from all others of the m yrtal alliance”L ind. Upon the whole the weight of authority is in favour of the present station as all those

wr iters who have g iven much of their attention to na tural affinities agree in placing Combrela

eeue among the series of orders with which they are here associated.

5-6. Ovary cut transversely and vertically, 3 celled,with two pendulous ovules in each.

7. A fruit at the commencement of germ ination.

8. A fruit after germ ination has considerably advanced nearly a foot i n leng th—natural size.

9 - 10. Sections of the fru i t and tigellus—natural size,with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less magnified.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 90.

212 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

G sooaarmcs n Drsrmaortos . As indicated above this is strictly a tropical order and isfound within the tropics of Asia, Africa , and Am erica , but not in NewHolland . Some of the

Indian species however extend cons iderably beyond the 23° of northern latitude and are even

found as far north as the foot of the H imalayas , several are found in the Malayan peninsula and

in the Eas tern Islands . In the Indian peninsula, though only 9 genera and IQ species are des

cribed, the order m ay be said to abound as most of the Species are of frequent occurrence.

Those of Terminalia and Conoca rpus abound in the alpine tracts , while Combretum and

Getom'

a are equally abundant on the plains in those parts of the countrywhere they do occur .

Combretum, of the two, is m ore generally diffused. Gezaw'

a is principally confined to the westerncoas t and about Courta llum , but not lim ited to these localities .

Paorsar tss AND Usss . Most of the species of Terminalz'

a are strongly astringent andthe bark of several may be used for tann ing . The leaf g alls and fruit of T. chebula are m uch

used by dyers as a m ordant for fixing their colours . as well as for imparting ,with alum , a durable

yellowdye, and with a ferrug inous earth an excellent black— A inslie . The galls are used for

m aking ink, the bark for tann ing , they are also employed in medic ine when astringents arerequired, and in short, on all occas ions whe the r in the arts or m edicine where as tringents are

necessary the bark or fruit or galls of Term ina lia or My aoba lanus m ay be used. Nearly all the

species of Term ina lia and Conoca rpus are large timber trees and som e of them yield very usefultimber, but [ do not find any precise accounts of their respective qualities . Terminalia (Pentaptera) coriacea or perhaps T. g labra has a trunk s traight and lofty ; wood of cons iderablediam eter

, so as to be m ade into solid whee ls for buffa lo carts s trong , hard and heavy”

- Berryin Roxb. Fl. Ind. This tree is not m entioned by A inslie. No useful property is assig ned to

any of the scandent form s but the wood of Lumnitzera rocemosa (Petaloma alternifolia , Roxb .)is said to be remarkably strong and durable . The plan t 18 however rare in this part of Indiaand so far as I am aware does not attain a suffi cient s ize to be of much value. Vas t quantitiesof it are daily carried from the Sunderbunds to C alcutta for fuel.

Rs us ars on Gam ma AND Srscms . This order is div ided into two tribes Terminaliae andCombreteae. The former distinguished by its spirally convolute cotyledons add by the petalsfrequently wanting : in the latter the cotyledons are either thic-k piano - convex or irregularly andlong itudinally plaited, sometimes they are thin and foliaceous or intricately folded. Of the

former of these tribes most of the g enera are essen tially characterized by their flowers , in Terminolt

'

a the calyx is 5. cleft, the limb small, deciduous , petals none : in Getom'

a the limb of thecalyx is large and pers istent. From these Poivrea and Lumm

’

fzera are dis tinguished by havingpetals : the former being separated from the latter by its deciduous , not pers is tent, lim b of the

calyx ; and more readily by its habit,which is twin ing and a native of inland dis tricts while thelatter is erect, arboreous , and a native of salt marshes on the coas t along with the Rhizopltorae.

Conoca rpus is readily dis tinguished from the rest of the order by its capitate apetalous flowers,compressed ovaries and flattened, almos t winged, closely im bricating seed ; somewha t resem

bling a pine cone in m iniature whence the name. The lndian species of this g enus are all trees

natives of alpine districts though rarely found on the highest hills . Poivrea is a twining shrubresembling Combretum , but separated by its quinary flowers and 10 s tam ens , not quaternarywith 8 stamens , the fruit in both is winged. By far the most conspicuous member of the orderon account of the profusion and magnificence of its flowers is the so called Rangoon creeper

Q uisqualis indica ) nowso deservedly a favourite in Madras gardens .

Some recent writers the principal of whom are Lamark and DeCandolle has proposed todiv ide Terminalia into 4 genera, taking the characters from the fruit. Tem inalia is by themrestricted to those species with flattened drupes the marg ins of which are sometimes extendedinto wing s or much attenuated. Those with rounded or obscurely furrowed often fleshy drapeshave received from Lamark the name of Myrabalanus —a third set characterized by having 5- 7,longitudinally, winged fruit, Roxburgh has called Pentaptera : while a fourth with 3 -5 angledfruit the angles extending into unequal s ized wing s have received of the nam e Chuncoa

(Gimbem antia , Ru . Pav .) both of which genera are adopted by DeCandolle, but he unites

{lg/rog

alanus and Terminal“. The Peninsular flora presents species appertaining to each oft ese orms .

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

prefer leaving the question as I find it, and follow the track we orig inally pursued, that ofkeeping them separa te.

G sooaarmcan Disr ataurton . Of the whole orde r only 22 species are described byDeCandolle, about 15 of which are natives of India or of the adjoining Islands, one or two are

from Africa , and to these I believe some have s ince been added : I do not knowhowm any . It.

is clear however from the g reat preponderance of Indian species , that this country m ay bev iewed as the head quarters of the order . Mouriria

,a genus so nearly allied to Memecylon that

it may be questioned whether it can be kept distinct, is of Am erican orig in.

Paorsar tss AND Uses . Of these little is known . The leaves of Memecylon tinctorium

and M . edule, Roxb . are used in dying , and afford under proper management a very delicateyellowlake, but I have not heard whether the colour is permanent. The berries of most of

them are pulpy and have an as tringent sweetish tas te.

R su s axs on G am ma AND Sescras . Only one genus is certainly known to exist in IndiaScutula of Loureiro, from Cochin - china, being perhaps the same as Jllemecylon . Mourz

'

ria as

above remarked, approximates so closely to Memecylon that is doub tful whether there is one

good character by which to dis tinguish them , unless we attach considerable value to its geogm

phical distribution, which in the absence of characters der ived from structure is scarcely adm iss ible .

The species though fewin number are, as they nowstand recorded in Botanicalworks , most:diflicult of discrim ination , so m uch so indeed, tha t with a collection of upwards of lOO speci.

m ens before me embodying almost every form of inflorescence met within the genus , combinedwith almost every modification of ova te, oval, and obova te,petioled and sub- sessile leaves , I amunable to fix the lim its among the following series , though I fi nd representatives of each amongthe collection . I will not on this account, go so far as to say that the whole ought to be reduced to

one or two species . because , my collection , however complete , may still want some of the formswhich are defined as species ; but, m y enumera ting the lis t, of which I think representativesm ay be found in my collection of specim ens , among which I cannot fi nd certain m arks by whichto es tablish only two species , may call attention to the subject and induce persons having oppor.

tunities of making collections to g ive more attention to the subject. Among the series of specim ens above alluded to I find representatives of the plants figured by Burman T/tes : Z eyla ntabs . 30 and 3 1 by Rheede , Hort. Mal. 5 tab . [9 by Lam ark, Illus trations tab . 284 f. l and ofRoxburgh

’

s M edule Cor. pl. l tab. 82.

'

I‘

hese fi ve pla tes have by different authors be en quotedforM . capitellatum, Linn . M . tinctorium, Koen. M . laz t

'

florum , M . ramfflorum , Lam . andM . edule, Roxb . (Roxb. quotes Burm . Thes : t. 30 M . capitellatum, Linn . as a synonym forhis plant) . To these five m ay perhaps be added M spasroca rpum , D.C . and certainly M . ovatum

and M . acuminatum, Sm ith . Among all these I think, I can make out only two species , perhapsthey are m ere varieties . M . ramiflorum and tinctorium (I believe them the same plant) seem s tohave a dry berry and oval obtuse or sub- obova te leaves , while M . edule has a succulent berryand ovate , bluntly acum ina ted leaves . The forms of the inflorescence and foliage pass so gra

dually into each other, that m arks taken from them can scarcely be considered good in solitarySpecimens though in the mass they are useful, and those from the fruit are indifferent herbariumones as both forms are altered in drying . The inner surface of the calyx affords another markwhich I have found pretty constant in the two form s above indicated. In the series corresponding with M . ramiflorum and tine/orium, the calyx is smooth or nearly so wi thin, while in thosecorresponding with M . edule and capitellamm which I think are also one species, there are eightm embranous partitions , form ing so many open cells in which the anthers previous to dehiscencewere lodged . and which rema in after the stam ens have fallen . These are the eight ribsalluded to by Sm ith as occurring in his M . ova lum. The whole of these species howeverdem and further inves tigation for their final determ ination and lim i tation by precise characters,those hitherto ass igned being insufficient for their discrim ination . Th e other Indian spe .

cies are less diflicult. My specimens of M. cordatum ag ree well with both Lamark’

a figureand description of that species . I have also got additional specimens of M . Heyneanumand M . amplez icaule, both of which correspond with the characters assigned to them in our

ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY . 215

Prodromus . In addition to these I have specim ens of what appears to m e two new species .

The one correspo nds Wi th DeC ando lle’s. a" trinerve in hav ing three nerved leaves , but the

branches are quite cylindrical, and the leaves in place of being oval and about two inches longare ovate lanceola te , tapering to a poin t, and from 6 to 8 inches long . This species is a llied toM . amplez icaule and M . Hey/nea nmn , but I think quite dis tinct fro tn both . The la teral nerves

are m arg inal. The other species , which approaches M . m mgflorum in habit, differs in h avinglong narrow linear lanceola te blunt po inted leaves ; abou t six inches long and scarcely half aninch broad . The inflorescence is so like that of III . m ini/forum,

that I doubt whether I oughtto g ive it a different nam e, but the foliage being so very dis tinct, leaves but little room for hes ita tion . Three species have nowtherefore to be added to the Peninsular flora nam ely, M . cor

datum and these two newones .

M emecyhrn cordahmr, (Lam.) Leaves sessile or sub

sess ile, broadly ovate—cordate at the base, very oh

tuse, or rounded at the apex ; peduncles axillary , sub

capitate or corvmhose, branches terete. Lamark Encl.

4 p. 89. Ill. t. f. 2.

Han—M alabar .

The leaves a re as broad at the bas e as they are long ,sometimes quite sessile, sometimes furnished with a

short petiol.

M emecylon j ambost'

oidcs, (R .W.) Branches cylindri

cal, g labrous : leaves ova te, lanceolate, acuminated

3 -nerved: the lateral pair ofnerves sub-marginal,united

with smaller transverse parallel veins : flowers numer

ous . forming axillary capituli short pedicelled.

B ah — Courtallum in sub - alpinejung les.

A ha ndsome species . The leaves are almost entirelythe same as those of Jambosa vulg aris and some of

those,on my specimens , a re upwards of IO inches long .

The flowers, before expansion, form dense nearly ses

They may be des ig nated and characterized as follows .

sile axillary clusters, and the pedicels do not afterwardsm aterially elongate. The fruit is g labrous, polished,

judging from preserved specimens, a dry berry.— Seed

one, exalbuminous, cotyledons foliaceous, exceedinglyconvoluted.

Memecy lon ang ustzfolz'

um , (R .W.) Branches, terateleaves, confined to the extremities, narrow lanceolate,attenua ted below, blunt pointed, one- nerved ; peduncles short from the scars of fallen leaves ; flowers venumerous , umbellate, or sub- capitate, pedicells smalHabitat—Jung les about Courta llam .

Th ts specie s only differs from M . ramiflorwm in theform of the leaves ; in that they are broad in proportionto their leng th say two inches long by one and halfbroad, or half tha t s ize ; while in this, they are fromthree to four int-h es long and scarcely half an inchbroad. tapering to th e petiol below, but blunt pointed.The flowers and inflorescence are the same in both.

EXPLANAT ION OF PLATE 93.

I . M emecyltm ramt'

florum, (Lam .) M tinctorium,

(Koen,W. and A . ) Flowering branch—natural size.

2. A n expanded flower.3 . Stamens, but the anthers very incorrectly repre

sented, oval, dehiscing their whole leng th in place of2- celled above, the base en ding in a membranous pro

longation of the connective.

4. A petal.

5. The ovary shortly after the fall of the petals cutvertica lly , showing the ascending ovules.6- 7. A berry very immature cut transversely, to show

the numerous seed.

LX II .—MELASTOMACE 1E .

A vas t tropical order, containing according to Meisner’s list, 100 genera, excluding four of

Memecyleae,which he considers a tribe only of Mela sromaceae and not a distinct order . Thisunion of these two fam ilies is , it appears to m e

, scarcely authorized by the character of the flowers , and is not supported by the fruit and seed which differ greatly in the two orders . A ccordingto DeCandolle

’s enumeration there are about 800 species ,which number, I believe, has been very

considerably augm ented s ince the publication of his work. Of that number 620 are from Americaleaving a comparatively small number for As ia ,

Africa,and NewHolland.

In our Prodromus 15 species only are described, a number which m y more recent excur

s ions have not materially ex tended, though they have afforded ample ev idence of the difficultyof distinguish ing the species of this order, through their tendency to vary their forms . I find

for example on comparing many very dissim ilar looking specimens , no g ood marks by which todistinguish them as species . A more intim ate acqua intance, however, with growing plants m ay

perhaps furnish us with characters by which to augment the number. In some parts of this

216 ILLUSTRATIONS or INDIAN BOTANY .

country, and also in Ceylon, they are very abundant, and many of them most magnificent andshowy plants .

The species are either trees . shrubs , or herbaceous plants ,with opposite, exstipulate, entireleaves ; usually without pellucid dots and marked by three or more thick long itudinal nerves orribs . The flowers are usually bi- sexual, regular, often panicled, rarely solitary, the pan icles orcymes usually contracted . The mos t remarkable peculiarity of this order is the pos ition of thestamens in mstivation. The fi laments are inserted near the orifice of the calyx, and the anthers

are bent down into its tube, occupying the vacant space between it and the ovary, after the

expansion of the flower they ascend. A somewhat s im ilar arrangement is observable incyleae with this difference , that the ovary is there altogether inferior and the anthers fill the

cup of the calyx. The relative pos ition of the ovary in the two orders generally affords a good

discrim inating mark between them , out is not always to be depended on as some Meta stomaceae

resemble Memec lon in this respect.

Calyx with3 -5 teeth or divis ions ,which are more or less deep, or are sometimes unitedand separated from the tube like a lid. Petals equal to a segment of the calyx, perigynous,twis ted in a ctivation . Stamens either equal in number to the petals and alternate with them ,

or usually twice as many, the alternate ones of a different shape and perhaps never with fertilepollen : filaments in mstivation, bent downwards towards the bottom of the calyx : anthers long ,2- celled, bursting usually by one or two term inal pores , rarely long itudinally. Ovarium withseveral cells , rarely completely combined with the tube of the calyx, very rarely entirely freefrom it, usually cohering with it more or less bymeans of 3 - 10 long itudinal nerves , thus formingas many cases as the anthers which they contain during e stivation ovules indefinite : style Istigma s imple, entire, capitate or reduced to a mere point. Placenta in the axis . Fruit plurilocular : either free and then capsular, valvate and loculicide ; or adherent, baccate (a balausta),and indehiscent. Seeds numerous , m inute. Albumen none . Embryo straight or curvedradicle pointing to the hilum : cotyledons equal or unequal.

—Leaves oppos ite, undivided, not

dotted, 3 -9 - nerved.

”

A s sm rr tss . My acquaintance with this very extensive order being slight, and my meansof extending it very lim ited, I refrain from attempting to offer any opinion of my own on thishead, but that this article may not be, by so much, deficient I shall introduce the whole of the

valuable remarks of Dr. Lindley on the ir affi nities for the benefi t of those of my readers whom ay not have an opportunity of consulting the orig inal.

The fam ily of Melastomoceae”remarks DeCandolle, in an excellent memoir upon the

subject, although composed entirely of exotic plants, and established at a period when but fewspecies were known, is so well characterized, that no one has ever thought of putting any part

of it in any other group, or even introducing into it genera that do not rightly belong to it.”These distinct characters are, the opposite leaves, with several great veins or ribs running fromthe base to the apex, something as in Monocotyledonos plants, and the long beaked anthers ;towhich peculiarities combined there is nothing to be compared in other fam ilies . Permanent,however, as these characters undoubtedly are, yet the cause of no uncerta inty having been yetfound in fixing the lim its of the order, is rather to be attributed to the small number of speciesthat have been exam ined, than to the want of connecting links : thus D iplog enea has traces ofthe dots of Myrtaceae, which were not known to exist in Melastomaceae unti l that genus wasdescribed ; several genera are nowdescribed with a superior ovary, a structure whichwas at onetime supposed not to exist in the order ; and, finally, in the remarkable genus Sonerila, theleaves are sometimes not ribbed.

The greatest affi nity of Melastomaceae is on the one hand with Lytlrraceae, on the other

with Myrtaceae and their allies ; from the former they differ in the aestivation of their calyxnot being valvate, from the latter in having the petals twisted before expans ion and no dots on

the leaves, and from both, and all others to which they can be compared, in their long anthers

bent down parallel to the filam ents in the flower, and lying in niches between the calyx and

ovary'

; with the exception of Memecylaceae, in which, however, the union between the calyx

and ovary is complete, and wh ich have leaves destitute of the la teral ribs that so strongly point

out Melastomaceae. The structure of the seeds of Memecylaceae is also different.

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY .

A s above remarked I have found but fewnewspecies , but have seen great reason tobelievethat those already described are apt to vary so cons iderably, as to lead to the supposition oftheir being distinct when separately exam ined, though when numerous specimens are comparedat the same time, the difl

'

erences , which in extrem e form s m ight appear so considerable as not

to adm it of union ,are yet found g radually to m eet through the medium Of intermediate

form s . Dr . Arnott in a paper on the C eylon Mef'

astomaceae published in the Companion to theBotanical Magazine has defined several newones , the abridg ed differential characters of whichI subjoin, though I do not feel quite certain that they are all distinct.

SONERILA . 3. 0 . ref oh’

a ; branches nearl labrous ll. S . Ceylanica ; branches g labrous, anthers cordate three to

lfilhr lines long , anthers trunycagd.

eaves

ovate, obtuse . Anthers 10, acuminated.

2. S . aflinis ; branches nearly glabrous, anthe rs cor Leaves crowded.

date-Oblong , a ttenuated, e:m filifo rm ,s tigma capitate. 4 . 0 . buufllia ; leaves thick and rigid, closely

3 . S . g laberrz'

ma ; branches and leaves g labrous, an straited.thers lanceolate, acuminated, s tyle thickened in the

middle, s tigma minute.

4. S . hirrulula ; stem herbaceous, bran c hes hirsute,

petals ovate, acuminated, anthers lanceolate subulate.

5. S .Wig htz'ana ; stem he rbaceous, branches hirsute,anthers linear- lanceola te, obtuse, stigma m inute.

6. S . Hookeriana ; s tem somewha t woody, branchesclothed with reddish short wool, anthers corda te—ovate,obtuse, s tigma capitate.

robusta ; s tem somewhatwoody , branches covered with close spreading hairs, petals broadly oval,acute,anthers lanceolate- subulate.

OSBECKIA .

A nthers 8.

l . 0 . Cay/leniea ; annual, anthers subulate.

2. 0 . truncata ; branches hirsute, leaves one inch to

one inch and a quarter long, anthers truncated.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 94 .

l . Sorterz'

la brunones— aatural size. 5. A seed nearly mature.

2. A dissected flower, showing the inferior ovary. 6. A clus ter of capsules—natural size.

3 . The ovary cut vertically, manys eeded. 7. One of them magnified.

4 . Cut transversely, 3 -celled,with a triangular central

placentas and several rows of ovules in each cell.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 95.

I . M elastoma malabatlm'

cum—natural size. 5. Cut transversely,

2. A dissected flower, the tube of the calyx divided 6. A young fruit.and forcibly opened to showthe insertion of the petals 7 . The same cut transversely, the appearance of theand stamens and the free ovary . interior somewhat altered b dry ing . The dissections3 . Stamens, the larger one unfortunately imperfectly havmg been made from drie specimens .

represented as not showing the downward elongation of 8. A seed.

the connectivum, the character by which this genus is 9 . The same cut vertically.

essentially separated from Osbeckia . 10. The cotyledons and radicle removed from the4 . The ovary cut vertically. testa .

Leaves rather distant.5. 0 . rubz

'

cunda ; leaves 0 0 rather long petioles, scalesof the calyx s preading, reddish, style clavate.

6. 0 .Wig htiaaa ; leaves nearly sessile, scales of thecalyx adpressed, yellowish, style clava te .

7 . 0 . virg ata ,’ leaves at length nearlv g labrous on

the upper side, flowers somewhat umbelled, style filiform .

8. 0 . aspera ; branches s trigose, upper side Of theleaves copious ly coveredwith adpressed bris tles , underh irsute on the nerves, and harshly pubescent betweenthem, flowers somewhat racemose. v tyle filit

'

n rm .

9. 0 . Kleimz; branches svabrous or hispid. leavesminutely s trtg ose on both sides, flowers shortly race

mOs e, style fliilorm .

10. 0 . IValker t‘

; branches shortly tomentose, flowersterm ina l, solitary, cal) cine segments elongated ; stylefiliform.

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M A H K C E AE

GO S SYPIUM BA R BA DEN S E /3

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BYT T N E R IA C E E

ST ER CUL IA BA L ANGHAS

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C osswzPIUM BA R BA DENSE 7

lp/a /ut UN I}! r m m ul

l

/son} JWM ’

.CDII(W

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BYTTN ER IA C E /E

G UA Z UMA T OM EN T OS A (H -B -K .

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Stellaria, 54.

Stemonurus,Sterculia,acuminata, 74 .

balanghas, 78.

colorata, 77

comosa, 77

foetida,

gottata, 75.

macrophylla, 77

platanifolia, 77

populifolia, 77scaphigera, 77

tragacantha, 74.

urens, 77 .

Sterculiaceae, ,72.

S terculi¢, 77 .

S terculia , 7

Stre mia, 35,Strawberry, 200.

Strychnos, 170.

Sumach, 183 .

Sumachinee , 181.

Sun- dew, 43 .

Surats, 59.

Swartzieae,Swietenia, 148.

mahogoni, 148.

Swieteniea , 148.

Symphom'

eaz,

Talauma, 1 1 .

pumila, 1 1 .

'

l‘

amarindus .

indica, 194.

Tamarzkcinew,Tamarix, 32.

A fricana, 51 .

gallica,orientalis, 52.

Tare (horse pea), 192.

Taverniera, 197 .

cuniefolia, 197 .

Teltracera,Sarmentosa, 7 .

Tephrosia purpurea, 191 .

suberosa, 198.

Txnenm 'rn ac sz ,

Terminalia, 212.

chebula, 212.

coriacea, 2l2.

glabra, 212.

Tem straamia,crenulata,

I N D E X .

Viola, 40.

aspera, 41 .

crenata, 41 .

hastata, 41 .

ipecacuana, 41 .odorata, 41 .

palmaris, 41 .

patrimu,Tilisia, 144. serpens, 41.

Toddalia, Walkerii, 42.

aculeata, Wightiana, 41 .

bilocularis, Virgilvia aurea, 198.

floribunda, Vismia, 121 .

Tormentilla, 200. Vismia guianensis, 1 11.'

l'

rachytella, 7 . Vitaceae, 140.

aspera , 7 . Vitis, 152.

Tnm munu cnm, 46. Wallicheae, 74.

Tribulus, Walsura, 146.

lanuginosa, 164. Waltheria,terrestris, 164. indica, 74,

'

l‘

richaurus, 52. Winteriacete, 10.

ericoides, 50. Wormia,Tr ichilieae, Xanthochymus,Trichospermum, 39. 13 1 .

Tricocceae, 174 . ovalifolius, 130.

Tridz‘

smz‘

neae, 1 1 1 . pictorius,Trigonella fe num grecum, 191 anthophyllum,Tnfolieae, 191 . angustifolium,

Triphas ia, 106. A rnottianum .

Triumfetta, flaveecens,angulata. Roxburghianum,

cordifolia, 80. undulatum ,

pentandra, 80. virens, 49.

trilocularis, 80. XANTB u XYLACRB ,

Tropeolee , 157 . see zanthoxylacem.

Turrtea, 147 . Xanthoryleae, 166.

pinnata , Xanthoxylum,

Tutsan, 1 1 1 . Ximinia,Umbellifem ,65. americana,Unona, aegyptiaca, 100.

Urena, 65. olacioides,repanda, 65. Xylocarpus,

Uwria, Xylopia, 16.

grandiflora, glabra, 16.

narum, 16. Z AN'rnoe Acm -z,

Vateria,Ceylanica, Z anthoxyleae,indica, Z anthoxylon,lancee folia, d atum, 168.

Roxburghiana, budrunga , 108.

atica, connarioides, 168.

tumbugia, 87 . ovalifolium .

Vayn'

e wood. piperitum, 168.

Vent’

o, 180. rhetza,Vetch bmer, 192. senegalenee, 167 .

Va'

cz'

eae, sepiarium, 167 .

Vicia. tnphyllum,

satin , 192. iziphus,Vim

'

erae, juJuba, 180.

V'

eac, 46. 1 602111 1 33 ,

o u m z ,

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