Of. these 10, four are certainly natives of the Indian Peninsula, namely, Telracera, Dillenia,
Colbertia, and Acrotrema : Colbertia however, being only separated from Dillenia, by having a
few of the stamens sterile and longer than the rest, and fewer pistils. This last character is now of
no value, owing to some species recently referred to the genus, dn account of their sterile stamens,
having as many as 12 styles, the remaining distinction, sterile stamens, does not seem sufficient to
authorize its removal as a separate genus, on which account, Dr. Arnott and myself, following Roxburgh,
reunited it to the older genus, thus leaving.only three for the Peninsula. Delima Sarmentosa
quoted by Roxburgh as aPeninsular plant on the authority of Rheede’s figure (Hort. Mai. 7 tab. 53)
has not yet been found on the continent of India, Rheede’s figure representing a plant not even
referable to the order. The genera Acrotrema and Scbumac/wria, the ones here figured, require
a somewhat more detailed notice. The former was established by the late Dr. Jack in the
Malayan miscellanies for a Malay plant first discovered by him.: since then two species have
been discovered in Malabar, and some others in Ceylon. Some of the Ceylon ones I have seen,
and think quite distinct from the Malabar plants, but owing to my not having specimens I do
not attempt to characterize them. The genus was thus briefly defined by its discoverer, “ Calyx
pentaphyllus. Corolla 5-petala, patens. Stamina 15, erecta, filamenlis brevibus, antheris longis,
linearibus apice biporis. Ovaria 3, distincta, 2-spora, ovulis angulo interibri affixis. Still 3;
■ Stigmata simplicia. Capsula unilocularis— Herba acaulis, pilosa, pedunculis racemosa multi-
floris.” With this character both A. costatvm and Wightianum sufficiently agre'e, but the species
now. added calls for some modifications to admit of its being received into the genus. Thus in
A . Arnottianum, in place of 15 there are nearly 30 stamens, in place of 2. ovules they are veiy numerous,
and in p lacé of one or at most two seeds I have observed nèarly 20'-in one carpel. The
inflorescence also differs ; for in place of a short raceme, on the extremity of an erect naked scape
they are borne on a procumbent sucker-like branch, covered throughout with appressed scalelike
bracts, from the axils of which, the long filiform pedicels spring. : ■
The species equally require revision since the addition of A. Arnottianum, but that I feel
averse to attempt until I receive specimens of the Ceylon species,. I shall therefore content myself
for the present by stating that A. costatum ami A. Wightianum seem, from description, very
nearly allied, if indeed distinct, (our former character is referable,' partly, to two, very distinct,
species, owing to our specimens of both, being so very imperfect as to prevent their being
recognized as distinct) while A. Arnoitianvm is so widely removed from both in every thing but
habit, that it may almost be considered a distinct genus,: In the former, the flowers are borné
on an erect scape, and the carpels 1 -2 seeded ; in the latter, they spring from, apparently, an
abortive surculus (sucker) and the carpets are many seeded. . ; „
The genus Schumacheria was originally established by Vahl, and published m a German pen-
odical, apparently little known, and seems to have been so imperfectly described, that DeCandoHe’
with all his care and research, seems either to have overlooked it, or was unable to determine its affi-
nities and place in the system of plants,- as it is not taken up in his Systema Naturaie. Springel has
equally overlooked it, and has even published another, and very different genus, under the same
name: hence we may conclude the genus was virtually lost until resuscitated by Dr. Arnott,
who published a revised character in Jameson’s New Philosophical Journal for April 1834.
His character, though detailed and accurate, seems.still to haveleft some point doubtful, as Professor
Lindley in the second edition of his excellent “ Natural system of Botany,” has placed it
at the conclusion of his arranged list- of genera of the order, as if’ uncertain, either of its proper
place or whether it actually belonged to the order. A genus so little known, and which may be
found to merit a different fate, I have thought a suitable subject for this work. In the specific
name I have followed Dr. Arnott, this being undoubtedly his plant, though it is possible, Vahl’s
may be a different one, as I am informed- by Colonel Walker, that he has recently met with
several other species, all quite distinct from the one here represented, descriptions of which I
hope by and bye to have an opportunity of introducing.
Acrotrema.
Generic Character. Stamens 15-30, erect r fila ments
short: anthers adnate, long, linear, opening
by terminal pores., Ovaries 3, adherent at the base
only, each terminated with a style and.simple stigm a :
‘ovules few or many in each. ' Carpels 3, capsular:
seeds 1-20, furnished with a membranous aril*
Herbaceous, low plants. Leaves all radic&l. Pe-
tiols. short, their margins dilated into membranaciousr
somewhat sheathing auricles. Peduncles either erect
scapes, bearing a short terminal umbel-lilte raceme ;
or suclter-like, clothed with dry scale-like bracts, from
the axils o f w h ic h -th e long, slenderone-flowered
peduncles, spring.