Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/31

Rh In the genus Ranunculus, the examination of Ceylon specimens of what appears to be the true R. pinnntus of Poir, has, since the publication of our Prodromus, led both Dr. Arnott and myself to the conclusion, that our R. Wallichianus can scarcely be kept distinct from that species. In addition to R. pinnatus, Ceylon possesses one so closely allied to R. reniformis, that it is only distinguishable by the member of its petals, that in the former being usually 5, while in the latter it is from 10 to 15, unless in those instances where they appear fewer from the union, among themselves, of petals; several instances of which I have observed. The petals of the Ceylon plant, are however much larger than those of the continental one, hence we might almost infer the smaller number, which is the only good distinguishing mark between them, originates in the one case, from the constant union of adjoining pairs of petals similar to what I have observed to occur partially in the other, a view, which, is supported by the fact, that the continental plant has sometimes, though rarely, the number of its petals augmented from 10 to 15, or in the proportion of three to each sepal; perhaps, the normal form, thus showing in the frequent diminution of the number of its petals to 10, a similar tendency to union. Should further acquaintance with these plants show a similar tendency to multiplication of petals, in the Ceylon one, and a still further disposition in ours to reduction, these two must ultimately be united, though for the present, it is my intention to keep them distinct.

1. C. Munroiana (R.W.) Climbing: glabrous, except the calyx: leaves ternate, long petioled; leaflets broadly ovate, acuminated, rounded, or slightly cordate at the base, 5 to 7 nerved, quite entire: peduncles shorter than the leaves, 3, rarely 1, flowered, from the axils of simple, ovate, or ovate-lanciolate, floral leaves, and bearing two lanciolate bracts below the middle: sepals lanciolate, expanding, or revolute ; stamens equalling the sepals: styles long plumose.

Moist woods, Neelgherries, and Pulney mountains, flowering in September.

I have much pleasure in dedicating this very fine species to Lieutenant Munro, H. M. 39th Foot, the talented Secretary to the Mysore Horticultural Society, an enthusiastic and promising botanist, who found it on the Neelgherries about the same time that I did on the Pulney mountains.—Plate No. 1.

An extensively climbing shrub, every where glabrous, except the exterior surfaces of the sepals, which are clothed with brownish hairs. Leaves long petioled, 3 foliolate, pedicels of the leaflets long, and cirriform; leaflets, broadly ovate, oblong, rounded, or sub-cordate at the base, acute, or somewhat acuminated at the point, usually 7, rarely 5, nerved at the base, quite entire; floral leaves, in every respect like the leaflets, except, that they are smaller and short petioled. Peduncles solitary, from the axils of, and longer than these foliacious bracts, 3 flowered, and furnished below the middle with two opposite, lanciolate bracts. Flowers large, white; flower buds, ovate, oblong. Sepals 4, lanciolate, spreading or revolute, about an inch long, white within, clothed, externally, with rusty brown shag. Stamens numerous in several series, the exterior filaments compressed, equalling the sepals; anthers small, pointed. Pistils numerous, ovary hairy; styles long, feathery; stigma pointed. Fruit not seen.

2. C. affinis (R. W.) Climbing : glabrous, except the sepals: leaves 3 foliolate, leaflets acutely toothed, ovate, serrated, acuminated, 7 nerved; peduncles one flowered, from the axils of simple foliaceous bracts: flowers drooping, sepals ovate, acuminated, twice the length of the stamens.

Shevagerry mountains in woods, flowering in August.

This species is I fear too nearly allied to the former, from which I have been induced to separate it, on account of its serrated leaves, constantly one flowered peduncles, its much smaller flowers, (about half the size) and lastly, on account of the great disproportion between the relative length of its stamens and pistils, and sepals.

The third form alluded to above as so nearly allied to C. Wightiana differs in the following respects. In C. Wightiana the leaves are pinnate, consisting of one pair of leaflets, and an odd one, in this there are two pairs; in that, each leaflet is deeply 3 parted, or divided into three distinct, short pedicelled, secondary leaflets; in this, they are all entire, or but slightly 3 lobed: but in both, they are coarsely serrated, cordate at the base, and very villous on both sides : the flowers I have not seen, and suspect the differences noted depend on variations in the form of the leaves on different parts of the same plant, a point, which I hope some of the residents on the Neelgherries, where I believe it grows, will enable me to clear up.

3. T. glyphocarpum (W. and A.) This species originally from the Neelgherries, is now ascertained to be a native of the higher parts of Ceylon, where it has been found by both Colonel Walker and myself.

4. R. reniformis (Wall.) Erect, hairy: radical leaves roundish ovate, reniform, or reniform cordate at the base, coarsely serrated; lowest scape leaf oblong, toothed, narrowed at the base into a petiol; upper ones nearly linear: petals numerous, 10—13, twice as long as the patulous calyx: heads of fruit globose: achenia oblong, tumid, minutely dotted: style nearly straight.

Neelgherries and Pulney mountains, flourishing in September and October.

I have modified, a little, the character of this species to bring in the form here figured.—Plate No. 2.

5. R. hastatus (Walker's MSS.) Erect, glabrous, except the petiols of the radical leaves: radical leaves, reniform cordate, or deeply reniform hastate at the base, lobes broad, roundish, coarsely serrated; scape leaves, lanciolate, toothed, attenuated at the base into a broad