KYDIA. Roxburgh.
Roxburgh in establishing this genus assigned two species
to it, K. calycina and K. fraterna but with characters
so loosely constructed that, but for his figures, there would
have been some difficulty in distinguishing them. Having
got specimens of three different forms it became necessary
to determine their species. This I found more difficult
than 1 had anticipated. Had I only possessed the plant
here figured No 879 l should have had no hesitation in
considering it Kfraterna, with which it sufficiently accords
in the form, size and number of the segments of the invo-
lucrum, also in form of the stamens and in the stigmas not
projecting from the staminal tube. But on the other
hand, I could find no mark by which to separate it from
another, herbarium specimen I had, marked K. calycina,
covered with fruit.
This Tfed me to examine the only flower left on the
fertile specimen which proved its identity with Roxburghs
K. calycina. The circumstance of every flower of the one
having passed into fruit while all those of the other were
sterile at once solved the difficulty by showing that the
tree is occasionally polygamous, that is, sometimes fertile
sometimes sterile. Roxburgh’s K. calycina is the fertile
form, as indicated in the flower by the largely developed
styles and stigmas projecting beyond the staminal tube, and
his K. fraterna is the sterile one, in which the female
organs are comparatively rudimentary and not seen until
brought to light by dissection. For these reasons I unite
his two species, under the older name of calycina, which I
have further endeavoured to illustrate by contrasting the
analysis of his two species with a similar series prepared
from my sterile form and fruit taken from the fertile specimen.
To the difference of appearance between my
figures and his I attach no importance, depending as they do
on the flowers of my specimen having faded somewhat, before
they reached the artist. After uniting the fertile
and sterile forms, I had still a third to dispose of, that I
have considered a distinct species, and have dedicated it
to the ever-to-be respected founder of the genus.
The preceding observations will explain the cause of
Roxburgh’s never having seen the ripe seed vessel of
K. fruterna though the “ structure and contents of the
germen promise the same parts as that of the other species.”
879. ■ Kydia calycina’ (R. W. K. calycina and
fraterna Roxb.) arboreous, polygamous : fertile flowers:
involuoels usually four leaved, longer than the calyx, spa-
thulate, enlarging with the fruit: filaments united their
whole length into a tube : style elongated, stigmas projecting
: male ; involucel 4-6 leaved shorter than the calyx,
lanceolate, blunt: filaments united about half their length,
free above : petals in both emarginate, ciliate. Flowers,
white or pale yellowish. The figure is of the male plant
corresponding with IC. fraterna Roxb.
In the valleys of the Circar mountains Roxb. on the
northern or Mysore slopes of the Neilgherries flowering
time the cool season : August, iu Mysore.
880. A. Kydja calycina, dissections from the Neil-
gherry plants.
1 an expanded flower seen from above—2 seen from below—
3 corolla and stamens detached—4 calyx detached,
5—involucel and rudimentary ovary—6 anthers—7 style
and stigmas shorter than the staminal tube—8 ovary cut
vertically—9 cut transversely —10 & 11 front and back
views of immature fruit taken from a fertile specimen.
B. Kydia fraterna (Roxb.) (By mistake marked
K. calycina) showing the short contracted staminal tube
and lengthened filaments of the preceding form. Copied
from Roxburgh’s figure.
C. K ydia calycina. (Roxb.) (also marked wrong)
showing the short tube of the filaments and anthers sessile
on the apex with the tops of the long styles and stigmas
projecting beyond. Copied from Roxburgh’s figure.
881. Kydia Roxburghiana. (R.W.) arboreous, polygamous
? fertile flowers : involucel 4-5 leaved ; leaves at
first obovate obtuse, about the length of the calyx, afterwards
enlarging, becoming narrow spathulate : filaments
short, united at the base, free above ; style exceeding the
stamens, stigmas large dilated. Flowers small, tube purple,
limb pale rose colour.
Hamilton has a species which he named R. pvlverulenta
but it is not described and may be either this or the other.
Dissections the same as above.
882. Microchxcena quinquelocularis. (W. & A.)
involucel leaves minute, caducous, 3-5-lobed : ovarium
5-celled : stigma 5-lobed. W. $ A. Prod. p. 71.
Slopes of the Neilgherries frequent. A moderate tree
flowering in July and August, maturing its fruit during
the cool season. This, which is the only species of the
genus ought, I think, to have been united to Eriochleena
DC. from which it assuredly does not differ iu any essential
point.
1 flowering branch—-'2 flowers—3 petals back and front
veins—4stamens—5 anthers—6 calyx and ovary—7 stigma
—8 ovary cut transversely—9 cut vertically—10 a fruit
about half grown—11 cut vertically showing several supre-
posed seed—12 a seed—13 flower bud and involucel—14
& 15 upper and under surfaces of a leaf all magnified.
883. Impatiens, oppositifolia. (Linn.) W. & A.:
branches diffuse, filiform, flaccid : leaves opposite, from
narrow linear-lanceolate at the top of the stem to board
obovate-lanceolate near the base, acute, membranaceous,
slightly serrated, serratures bristly : pedicels axillary or
in pairs, not half the length of the leaves, very slender :
lower sepal cucullate, with a very short conical nearly
straight spur : anterior lobe of the petals elongated,
tapering much towards the base : stigmas united: capsule
glabrous, narrow, tapering at both ends, with about 2
seeds towards the middle and a constriction between
them. W. fy A. Prod. p. 139.
Malabar flowering in July. This I found in great
abundance near Walliar in moist jungles, during the prevalence
of the South West mousoon, and at the same time
and place the following.
884. Impatiens Kleinii. (W. & A.) W. & A. s
erect, with spreading diffuse branches : leaves opposite,
from obovate and obtuse to lanceolate and acute, with a
large gland on each side near the petiole ; upper side
hairy on the veins and near the margin ; under glaucous:
pedicels solitary or in pairs filiform, longer than the obovate
leaves, shorter thau the lanceolate ones, in fruit reflexed
: lateral sepals linear, equal to the column j posterior
one hairy, concave, larger than the posterior lobe of
the petals, much smaller than the elongated obovate anterior
lobe; lower one with slender spur, nearly twice the
length of the flower : capsule narrow-oblong, tapering at
both ends, few seeded. W. Sf A. Prod.p. 140.
885. Crotallana rubiginosa. ("Willd. W. & A.)
low, shrubby, branched, diffuse, slender, densely pubescent:
stipules triangular at the apex, decurrent: leaves
simple, from elliptic-oblong to routidiug, mucronate,
slightly tomentos eand glaucous beneath racemes lateral:
legume sessile, about twice the length of the calyx. W.
A. Prod. p. 181.
This low diffuse growing plant is of frequent occurrence
in alpine districts. The specimen from which this figure
was taken was gathered on the Neilgherries.
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