Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/223

Rh dromus, I have I acknowledge, found both wild limes and oranges in the course of my botanizings, but unfortunately did not devote, at the time, that degree of attention to their examination, relative to the solution of the question of species and varieties of this complex genus, which I ought to have done, and my specimens do not now enable me to do so. Mr. Royle is of opinion that Dr. Buchannan Hamilton, whose views we adopted, is wrong in considering all the Indian forms varieties only, of one species. I extract his paragraph on the subject as being the most satisfactory method of stating his opinion. See his Illustrations page 129.

" So great a diversity of opinion being entertained respecting the different plants of the genus Citrus, whether they should constitute species or varieties, it becomes difficult to say what are such, if only seen in a state of cultivation ; but as some are still found wild, an opinion may be formed, at least respecting those, In the tract of forest so frequently alluded to, as well as in the valleys within the Himalaya, I have seen two plants growing apparently wild, one called bijouree, and the other biharee nimboo ; the first having the characteristics of the citron, and the other, called also puharee kaguzee, those of the lemon : both when transferred to gardens retain their peculiar characters. From the Rungpore forests a round kind of lime is obtained : in those of Silliet, and as it is stated also on the sides of the Neelgherries, the orange is found wild. Captain Turner describes the oranges as delicious, and Mr. Saunders, who accompanied him, mentions finding many orange and lime trees at the foot of the hills in approaching Buxedwar (v. Turner's Tioet ; p. 20 and p. 387). Citrus decumanus Shaddock or Pompelmoses, does not appear indigenous to India, as its name, batavi nimboo or Batavia lime, denotes, as remarked by Dr. Roxburgh, its being an exotic ; and as it retains its characteristics even where it does not succeed as a fruit, it may also be reckoned a distinct species. I therefore feel inclined to consider as distinct 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 distinct species."

That both oranges and limes are found in an apparently wild state in our alpine jungles, is most certain, and it is equally certain that in other, not cultivated, genera, less obvious differences than the fruit, of these plants presents would be esteemed conclusive evidence of their being specifically distinct, whence, I have no intention of calling in question the opinion advanced in the above quotation, my only regret now being, that I did not give the subject more of my attion when 1 had better opportunities of determining the point.

The following detailed generic character of Micromelum is taken from Blume's Bijdragen, vol. 1st. page 137.

— Calyx urceolate, entire, persistent, petals 5, linear spreading. Stamens 10, free: filaments subulate, alternately shorter: anthers roundish, didymous. Ovary 5-celled, cells 2 seeded, (superposed) style thick, stigma obtuse, berry dry, lamellated within, with 5 intorted (spirally twisted) papery dissepiments. Testa of the seed, (spermoderniis) membranaceous. Cotyledons, foliaceous, twisted.

A tree with unequally pinnated leaves, alternate, oblique, leaflets, and terminal corymbs.

One species only was known to Blume, namely, M. pubescens having from 7 to 9 ovate, obtuse, acuminate, leaflets, the under side of which with the young shoots and corymbs are clothed with pubescence.

It will appear from this character that the habit of the plant which I have figured, as a doubtful Micromelum, which is a scandent armed shrub with simple leaves and axillary flowers, differs widely from the true one, so much so indeed, that had I then been acquainted with the true Micromelum 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 opportunity of examining a true Micromelum and find it differs from my plant in another and much more important point, to which, when naming it, I did not sufficiently advert in the written character, namely, the intorted or twisted 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 longer hesitate in considering this plant as forming the type of anew genus intermediate between Micromelum and Luvunga: having the quinary flowers and 5-celled ovary of the former, (but wanting its erect arborious habit, and the spiral partitions of its impregnated ovarium and fruit,) and the scandent habit of the latter ; (but wanting its 3-celled ovary and quaternary inflorescence.) My first thought, on discovering that it could not possibly be received as a Micromelum, was to refer it to Luvunga with a modified generic character, The character of Luvunga