Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/231

Rh These were formerly believed to be of the most valuable description, but modern experience does not confirm the ancient belief. One species, Hypericum androsaemum once enjoyed so prominent a reputation on account of its supposed sanative properties as to receive the name of All heal, and hence the English name Tutsan from Toute-saine, on the supposition that it cured all diseases and wounds, but, notwithstanding, has now fallen into total neglect. Many species when rubbed between the fingers exhale an aromatic resinous odour which is communicated by infusion to alcohol and oil, imparting to th«m a reddish colour; and appears referable to a resinous principle which they contain. They also contain a gummy matter in greater or less abundance. Some of the American species abound in a yellow juice, possessing more energetic properties "that obtained from Vismia guineensis, a Mexican and Surinam tree is known in commerce, and called American Gummi gutta (or gamboge )" Royle's Illustrations. So far as the Indian species are concerned nothing is known of their properties.

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 large and very complex genus Hypericum. To give a complete view of this order as it now stands, would require more space than can be here devoted to the subject, I shall therefore content myself for the present with giving some of his sectional characters, and the generic characters of a few of the genera which we either already know, or may expect to find, in India. Species of both the Peninsular genera I have now figured, viz. Norysca mysorensis, Icones No. 53, and Brathys Wightiana, No. 43 of this work under the old name Hypericum.

M. Spach divides the order into two principal tribes under the names of and, which are again subdivided into sections. Of the first tribe, as only a few species seem referable to the Asiatic Flora and none of these strictly speaking Indian, being natives of the eastern islands or China, I shall only give the character with one of its sections, and one genus, which I have had an opportunity of examining, and pass on to the second, which, as being of more importance to the Indian Botanist will be more fully explained.

Tribe 1st.—.—Petals equal sided, within, above the base, very often furnished with a little pit or appendage. Stamens triadelphous or pentadelphous, the androphore (united portion of the filaments) longer than the filaments, or very rarely shorter : each alternating with a gland or hypogynous scale. Pericarp often fleshy or drupacious. Seeds usually compressed or winged, the radicle sometimes replicate.

Section 2.——Stamens persistent, 3 adelphous; androphores polyandrous, 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, (the central axis wanting or slender) often loculicidal ! Seeds cylindrical, broadly winged above; Embryo straight. Trees or shrubs, corolla often white or reddish.

—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 few seeded, partitions cartilaginous, placentiferous at the base. Seeds oblong, smoothish : wings reticulated, margined with a nerve ; cotyledons as long as the radicle, hooked at the apex. Peduncles, axillary and terminal, 1-5 flowered.

Of this genus I have had an opportunity of examining one species from Mergui, for which I am indebted to W. Griffith, Esq. It is not improbable that it may prove new, but as I am unacquainted with the rest of the genus I refrain from naming it.

The plant is a tree or shrub with slender terminal 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 broad, those having flowers in their axils scarcely half the size. Flowers axillary, solitary, short petioled. Sepals and petals rounded and obtuse above, the petals slightly oblique at the base. The stamens very numerous, densely covering the back of the ligulate androphores, filaments short, slender, anthers minute. Hypogynous scales, cuniafce, saccate at the apex, from the contraction of their reflexed margins.