938. M. NilAgirca. (Zenker) Leaves elliptic
oblong tapering to a point at both ends, glabrous;
stipules and spathes silky: petals about 9, in three
rows : stamens numerous, shorter than the column of
fructification: ovaries numerous, about 4 ovules in
each : carpels warty, one or two seeded.
A large tree found frequent in the clumps of Jungle
about Ootaoamund. There are several very fine ones
in the thicket immediately adjoining the Church the
branches of one or two of them overhanging the
road.
939. Clypea i-iernandifolta. (W. & A.)—Leaves
ovate, rounded or scarcely truncate at the base, mu-
cronulate j upper side glabrous, under slightly hairy :
panicles about equal to the petioles, umbelliform ;
rays umbelliferous ; pedicels very short : pollenifer-
ous ring 6-celled.— W. Sf A. Prod. p. 14.
Frequent twining among underwood, in the clumps
of jungle about Ootacamund, particularly in low
moist situations—It is equally frequent in similar
situations on the Pulney mountain«, but also occurs
on the plains in moist shady jungles.
940. BeRberir (Mahonia) Leschenaultii (Wall)
■— Leaves pinnate ; leaflets about six pair, ovate,
nearly equal in size, slightly cordate at the base, re-
pand with 6-8, thorny teeth at each side, about 5-
nervedat the base; lower pair of leaflets close to the
stem: racemes elongated, slender; bracteoles at the.
base of the pedicel oblong, obtuse : petals with two
distinct glah'ds : filaments without teeth : berry globose,
crowned with the evident style and stigma.—
W. and A. Pi od. p. 16,
As this is a true congener of Nuttal’s genus Mahonia
I preserve that as a subgeneric or sectional name.
The plant is found in almost every clump of jungle
about Ootacamund, flowering daring the Southwest
monsoon, but may generally be met with in flower at
other seasons though more rarely, the fruit ripens
during the dry season and when fully ripe acquires a
bluish purple colour.
941. CARDAMENBBoRBONiCA(Persoon).—Leaves tri-
foliolate; leaflets hairy on both sides,particularly on the
nerves beneath, petioled, ovate acuminated, uuequal
at the base, irregularly and sharply toothed ; terminal
one sometimes 3 lobed or divided into 3 leaflets similar
to the others : siliqna erect.— W.& A.Prodp. 20.
942. H ydnocarpus alpinus (R. W )—Sepals all
equal reflexed : petals ovate lanceolate glabrous:
scales lanceolate, as long as the petals, ciliated towards
the apex : male, stamens 5, filaments much
shorter than the petals, glabrous ; authers.obtuse:
pistil none : female, calyx, corolla, and stamens,
as in the male, but the anthers without pollen:
style none, stigma peltate 5 parted ; the divisions ob-
cordate spreading, crowning the ovary.
A large ramous tree, 70 to 100 feet high, not unfrequent
in deep moist vallies of the Neilgherry hills,
about Coonoor and Kotergherry, usually growing on
the banks of streams. Flowering in July and August.
Leaves alternate, ovate-acuminate, entire, glabrous ;
from four to six inches long and from 1 to 2 inches
broad,at first red, afterwards deep green : fruit globose,
about the size of an apple, clothed with short brown
tomentum: seeds enclosed inawhite fleshy pulp: testa
dark coloured hard: embryo enclosed in albumen:
cotyledons, foliaceous cordiform ; radicle elongate
pointing to the hilum.
H. inebrians (Vali!) Sepals unequal, the three
inner ones longer : petals broad ovate, fringed with
soft white hairs : scales broad ovate, about half
the length of the petals, densely hairy: stamens as
long as the petals, filaments subulate ; anthers
broad reniform : pistil none : female as in the male,
anthers without pollen.— W A. Prod. p. 30
Wight’s illust. 1 lab. 16.
A tree of moderate size frequent near the coast in
Malabar and Ceylon, flowering at all seasons. Leaves
alternate, ovate, acuminate, glabrous, crenulately
serrated about 5 or 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches
broad : racemes axillary, short, few-flowered : fruit
globose many-seeded.
943. Viola Wightiana (Wall.) stoloniferous,
slightly hairy : leaves cordate-ovate, crenated : sepals
lanceolate : somewhat acute ; spur short, very blunt:
torus flattish : style attenuated downwards, stigma
rostrate, convex but not hooked, neither margined uor
papillose : fruit globose.— W fy A. Prod. p. 32.
A humble plant common on the Neilgherries, flowering
at all seasons. In general appearance as well
as in Botanical characters very nearly allied to V.
odorata but at once, in the growing plant, distinguished
by its being destitute of its sweet scent.
944. Drosera Burmanni (Vahl:) stemless : leaves
all radical, obovate-cuneate, sessile, veins reticulated;
scapes erect, and the calyx glabrous : seed-coat not
arilliform.—W. § A. Prod. p. 34.
A low growing stemless plant, inhabiting swampy
ground. On the.hills it is usually to be met with in
flower at allseasons, but in greatest perfection during
the summer months. The clump of plants represented
were selected to show the manner of its growth, but
unfortunately were unavoidably not taken at the best
season and do not therefore show it to the best advantage,
though it conveys a good idea of its habit as seen
growing.
915. P arnassIa W ightiana (Wall.:) leaves broadly
cordate-ovate or slightly reniform ; sinus slightly
rounded: bractea like the leaves, embracing the
scape ; -petals obovate-oblong, their lower half having
the margin cut into numerous slender linear simple
or forked segments resembling a fringe ; unguis
very short, broad and cuneate : sterile stamens
about as long as the fertile, cleft upwards into 3 5
stout horn-like segments that are glandular at the
point.— W. fy A. Prod. p. 36.
A low growing herbaceous plant abounding in
almost every swamp which, during the rainy season,
they ornament with their numermous rather showy
flowers, in general appearance somewhat resembling
Butter cups, but differing in having the flowers pure,
white in place of yellow, the prevailing colour of
Ranunculus. In Parnassia palustris there are four
stigmas and 4 lines of seed within the ovary in this
there are only three, this,independent of other marks’,
affords a certain and easily observed distinction
between these otherwise very nearly allied species.
946. P olygala arillata (Ham.:) shrubby,
branches pubescent: leaves oblong, acuminated, on
longish petioles, puberuloue beneath : racemes lax,
many-flowered, terminal or opposite to the leaves and
about as long, drooping : bracteoles caducous : alas
obovate, obtuse,- tapering downwards, glabrous : Carina
cristate : capsule reniform, retuse, coriaceous:
seeds globose, smaller than the large carunculus.—
W. 0 A. Prod. p. 39.