Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/219

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

103 many flowered, dichotomous cymes, and small greenish yellow flowers, numerous on the male, few on the female plant.

The peninsular species so far as T have yet seen, have glabrous flowers, the Silhet one, from which Lindley's character is taken, has hairy petals : in mine, as in his, each petal is terminated by an inflexed bristle-like point, which during aestivation hooks in between the anthers. My specimens are derived from the alpine jungles of the southern provinces, and from Ceylon. Dr. Wallich in his list names two species, and refers to others as probably included among his species of Olax. To these last it seems probable some of mine are referable. Respecting the two named G. axillaris and G. penangiana, Dr. Arnott observes, in an article in the Annales des Sciences Naturelle, that they are not truly congeners. The grounds on which this opinion is formed are not stated, but I presume he must have seen both plants before he hazarded such a statement.

. — Delile — Calyx of 5 sepals, villous, caducous. Corolla 5 petals, a little longer than the calyx ; petals lanceolate, attenuated at the base. Stamens 10, filaments subulate. Anthers 2-celled, attached by the back. Ovary, surrounded by a plaited glandular disk, oblong, very villous, 5-celled, 5-ovuled. Style erect, filiform ; stigma capitate. Drupe ovoid, acute, by abortion, 1-celled, 1-seeded, ^ith a woody 5-angled nut. Seed pendulous; testa fibrous, the endoplura thickened round the radicle. Embryo straight ; radicle superior ; cotyledons semi-ovate, plumula diphyllous.

A tree 20-30 feet high, leaves alternate, bifoliolate, spines axillary, pedicels 1 -flowered, aggregated flowers, small, whitish.

The Indian plant differs from the African, in having nearly globose, very obtuse fruit, in place of ovoid and acute as described above, whence it may perhaps prove a distinct species.

The determination of the species of this genus appears most difficult, one not knowing whether to consider the very various and well marked forms, species or varieties. Among my specimens there are no fewer than five very distinct forms, which would, I have no doubt, and perhaps justly, be considered by many Botanists 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 varieties of one, but will indicate each form, by a distinct name and character, expressive of the form of its foliage; leaving to others to determine whether they are species or varieties

G. polymorpha R. W. dioicous, glabrous, leaves short petioied, acuminated, membranacious : cymes axillary, solitary or in pairs, about the length of the petiol, male many, female few (2-5) flowered: calyx entire, minutely 4-5 toothed : Petals 4-5, united below into a tubular corolla, glabrous : stamens projecting; anthers crested with a minute tuft of hair : fruit ovoid.

Courtallum and Ceylon in thick jungles.

a. acuminata, leaves oval, very broad in the middle, attenuated at both ends, and terminating in a longish linear acumen.

B. oblongifolia, leaves linear oblong, obtuse at both ends, ending in a short abrupt, usually blunt, acumen, (4-5 inches long and about 2 broad).

Y. angustifolia, leaves narrow, linear, lanceolate, acute at the base, acuminated above, (3-4 inches long, scarcely 1 broad, flowers often pentandrous).

B. longifolia, leaves linear, rounded at the base, acuminated at the apex, about 3 times as long as broad, (5-7 inches long 1½-2 broad).

e. ovalifolia, leaves oval, obtuse at both ends, or shortly and obtusely acuminated at the point, (2½-3 inches long by 1½ broad).

G. coriacea, dioicous, male cymes axillary, few flowered; female flowers, solitary, or 2 or 3 racemose : fruit oblong, cylindrical, leaves coriaceous from oval, attenuated at both ends, to obovate cuneate; flowers tetrandrous.

Pulneys — a very distinct species, but the written characters, do not so clearly indicate the differences between this and the preceding, as the eye.

1. Opilia amentacea — natural size.

2. A scale of the amentum with its enclosed flower-buds.

3. The same outside view.

4. A flower showing the petals, stamens, glands and ovary —5. Detached stamens.

6. The ovary cut vertically, showing the solitary pendulous ovule,

7. A full grown fruit.

8. The same cut transversely, showing the central cylindrical embryo.

9. The same cut lengthwise to shew the whole length of the embryo. This last figure through injudicious shading does not give a correct idea of the object represented.