R emarks on G enera and S pecies. The genera of this order are few, but require much
nicety, and attention to minute organs, for their accurate discrimination ; the structure of the
ovary, which in most is very small, and the number and position of the ovules in its cells, affording
the marks on which the greatest dependence can be placed, accordingly form the basis of our
characters. The following synoptical table which I extract from our Prodromus will place this
in a clear point of view. It contains an analysis of all those having stamina twice as numerous
as the petals and a definite- number of ovules in each cell of the ovary.
Ovules solitary, or 2-collateral in each cell. L imo-neas.
Ovary cells as many as the petals:
Filaments combined......................... ...................... ..................... I. Atalantia.
Filaments distinct.
Stamens 6 ; .................................................................................... 2. Triphasia.
Stamens 8-10.
Style elongated ; (ovules 1-2 in each cell).... ■ ..;... 3. L imoni a.
Style short, scarcely distinguishable: (ovules solitary.) 4. Glycosmis.
Ovary cells fewer than the petals:
Style short, scarcely distinguishable; ovules 1-2 pendulous
from the apex of the cells....................... .. b.^Sclerostylis. "
Style elongated; ovules solitary, peritropal, attached to |||_ • •’
the middle of the a x i s . . . . . .............................. -.. 6. Bergera.
O v ules in pairs, one above the other. Cladseke2e.
Filaments distinct:
Ovary cells fewer than the petals............................................... 7. Murraya.
Ovary cells as many as the petals;
Ovary hirsute; berry full of liquid ; flower-buds angled 8. Cookia.
Ovary glabrous; berry dryish ; flower-buds not angled;
Stamens 8, dilated part of .filaments concave; petals
' o v a l............... ................................................................... 9. Clausena.
Stamens 10, filaments fla t; petals linear-lanceolaterr. ^Micromelum.
Filaments (8) combined to the middle: (anthers linear:
ovarium 2-3-celled: style long: berry 2-3-celled with
a resinous pulp : calyx tubular: petahr 4.1........................ Luvunga.
Of each of these genera, except the two fast, detailed characters are given in the work ; of
them no Peninsular species have, so far as l am aware, been yet found. The plant which
I have here, I now find erroneously, referred to Micromelum, differs widely in habit, though
in structure it associates in many points, as may be seen by comparing the figure, with
the character given in the table of the ovary and flowers of that genus,—but I shall
add to this account of the order the detailed generic character of Micromelum as given by
Blume. Though I have not yet found Luvunga I will also, to facilitate its recognition should it
be met with, extract Roxburgh’s description of the flowers of his Limonia. scandens, which is
referred to this genus. Of the genus Sclerostyles, of which it was remarked when we wrote,
that Dr. Berry was the only person who had found it in the Peninsula, I have now specimens received
from Malabar, Courtallum, Ceylon, and the Circars. Whence it would appear that so
far from being so rare a genus as we then supposed, it is on the contrary but little if at all less
frequent than Atalantia ; to which it bears so close a resemblance, that it is quite impossible to
distinguish them with certainty otherwise than by an examination of the ovary or fruit, the 2
or 4 cells of which immediately marks the difference. (See leones No. 71,) Of the genus Glycosmis
I now possess one or two species in addition to those described in our Prodromus, but
for which I find it difficult to assign characters suited to distinguish them from the preceding
ones. This, of all the genera of the order, next perhaps to Citrus, is the most difficult to distinguish
by written characters. To the genus Atalantia I now add one species and take away
another : our Atalantia racemosa being in truth a Sclerostylis. The new species is distinguished
from the old, by wanting the style and having the broad stigma adherent to the
apex of the ovary; in all other respects it resembles the other. In his “ Pugillus Plantaruni
Indice Orientalis” Dr. Arnott has given the character of a new genus of Aurantiacece under the
name of Rissoa. This genus, judging from the characters only, I fear I cannot adopt, as I see no
sufficient mark by which to distinguish it from Sclerostylis. -Luvunga differs from both in having
superposed not collateral ovules, but in other respects the characters are very nearly alike.
Respecting the genus Citrus I have nothing to add, to what we have already said in the Prodromus,
I have I acknowledge, found both wild limes and oranges in the course of my botaniz-
ings, 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 Sillset, 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 at-
tion when I had better opportunities of determining the point.
The following detailed generic character of Micromelum is taken from Blume’s Bijdragen,
vol. 1st. page 137.
Micromelum Blume.—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, (spermodermis)
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 pl,ant 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 a new 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 he received as a Micro-
melum, was to refer it to Luvunga with a modified generic character, The character of Luvunga