Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/242

120 volatile oil ; but it cannot be relied on absolutely, on account of the small scale of the analysis. The result, however, is sufficiently accurate to show, when taken along with the sensible qualities of the gum resin, that the Xanthochymus pictorius does not yield an exudation resembling in any material property the true Gamboge of the Hebradendron."

Remarks on Genera and Species. Dr. Lindley remarks " that European Botanists are much in want of good observations upon the living plants of Guttiferœ, and that there is no order that is more in need of elucidation from some skilful Indian Botanist than this." That such is a desideratum in Botany there can be no question, but I would, with much deference, suggest that European Botanists, who enjoy infinitely greater advantages for entering on the task of elucidation than Indian ones, should show the way, by thoroughly investigating the characters of the genera and species, so far as that can be done from preserve t specimens. It may appear paradoxical to state that European Botanists enjoy greater advantages for this work than Indian ones, but it is nevertheless true. Indian Botanists are few, and very remote from each other, with but little intercourse, and generally having other duties to engage their attention, whence Botany, in place of a professional pursuit becomes with them a mere recreation. So situated, few enjoy the opportunities required for the successful elucidation of a difficult natural order, even when well qualified for the work; each, only becoming acquainted with the species, within his own limited circle, generally too few to admit of his attempting from them any thing like a comprehensive examination of a complex order. He therefore, in place of attempting the nearly hopeless task here assigned to him, more frequently when possessed of a scientific friend in Europe, sends specimens there to have them examined and named, and but too frequently is disappointed in his expectations. In this way large collections of all kinds of plants, from all parts of India, have gradually found their way to Europe and been brought together in the large European collections. Let these in the first instance be well investigated by a scientific Botanist, the genera and species clearly defined, their present confused synonymy unravelled, and such descriptions as can be made from dried specimens drawn up and published, to put the less qualified Indian Botanist in possession of the information thence attainable, and then he will have a firm foundation on which to build his observations made on growing plants. It is true that equally perfect descriptions cannot be made from dried specimens, as from growing plants, but I feel assured, from my own experience, that even with this most disheartening order, much more might have been done than has been yet effected. Having thus pointed out the disadvantages under which, in this country, we labour from want of materials to work upon, I trust due allowance will be made for such errors and defects as may appear in the following attempt at elucidation, taken nearly entirely from the examination of dried specimens, some of which doubtless would have been avoided had my series of specimens been more complete.

I believe I may with perfect safety set out with the proposition, that the order itself as it now stands is very badly constructed, being composed of the most heterogeneous materials. One section Clusieœ, has an ovary with many cells, with many ovules in each, a dehiscent capsular many valved fruit, and (except when the symmetry is disturbed by abortions) a quinary proportion of the parts of the flower — almost the very characters of Hypericineœ, and consequently, much more nearly allied to Hypericineœ than to Garcinieœ : whence it is no wonder, Botanists who form such groups, should find it difficult to draw the line of distinction between them and their nearest allies. The Clusiece appear in short to be rather a section of Hypericinece than of Guttiferœ, and their removal would certainly render the latter group more natural.

The next tribe Garcinieœ, the true Guttiferœ, has binary or quaternary flowers, many celled ovaries with solitary or very rarely several ovules, and an orange-like indehiscent fruit. This tribe therefore is more nearly allied to the Aurantiaceœ, but is readily distinguished by their quaternary not quinary proportion. Professor Martius proposes uniting these two sections to form the order Garcineœ, excluding the next tribe Calophylleae. The separation of the section Calophylleae is certainly an improvemeKt, 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 of parts and an indehiscent fleshy one, merely on account of some similarity of habit.

The third tribe, combined to form this order is the Calophylleae, trees associating in habit and in the binary arrangement of their floral envelopes, but having a drupacious 1-2 celled ovary, with one or several ovules, and a 1 or several seeded fruit, and differing so much in other respects