Ob3. In our Prodromus it is remarked that Para-
iropia appears a natural genus, having the leaves
digitate and umbels of flowers arranged in racemes
forming thyrses, &c., being now impressed with conviction
that, so far as characters derived from the
fructification are concerned, no generic difference exits
between Hedera and Paratropia, I have referred
all these species to the former, but have retained the
latter as a very natural and characteristic subgenus,
on account of their digitate leaves and thrysoid inflorescence
; these, in the absence of structural difference
of the reproductive organs, not being held of
sufficient weight to entitle them to generic value*
1016. V is c u m o r b ic u la tum (R. W.) monoicous,
branches foursided, angled : leaves opposite, orbicular,
much waved on the margin, slightly 3-5 nerved:
flowers sessile, axillary, aggtegated, male and female
mixed: anthers sessile on the lobes of the calyx, flat,
composed of numerous little cells, berries oval, oblong,
obtuse at both ends.
A very rare shrub; the plants from which the
drawing was made being the only ones I have seen j
they were growing on the branches of A g a p e t e s ar-
borea. The Draftsman has not correctly represented
the anthers, the other parts of the figure are unexceptionable.
1017. Viscum RAM08ISSIMUM (Wall:) entirely or
almost leafless, much branched : stem and branches
terete, verti'ciliate or opposite, youoger branches
usually long and slender : leaves (when present)
narrow, oblong, 3-nerved : flowers usually3 together,
axillary, sessile or nearly so : berries almost globose.
—W. and A. Prod', p. 380.
This'like the preceding is monoicous, and is frequently
met with in all parts of the country.
1018. Viscum moniliforme (Blume) leafless:
stems terete at the base; branches opposite or
fascicled, compressed : articulations obovate-oblong,
taperiug at the base, 3-4 times longer than broad,
costate along the middle but not striated: flowers
sessile at the apex of the joints, opposite or in opposite
fascicles of 3 together, sometimes nearly verticil-
iate.— W- and A. Prod., p. 380.
This is, like the preceding, a widely distributed
plant and is found on all kinds of trees, the specimen
here given, grew on the Rhododendron arboreutn
a portion of which accompanies.
1019. Viscum moniijiforme /3 coraloides(R. W.)
This variety occurs in the most profuse abundance
on the hills, frequenting nearly all kinds
of trees and shrubs, but is probably most frequent
on a species of Ilix. The specimen from which the
drawing was taken grew on a species of agapstes
on the banks of the Pycarah River. This variety
seems quite dioecious; but I have never met with a
male plant among hundreds that I have examined.
Judging from the specimen figured, it might well be
considered a distinct species, but extended examination
of the plant in all its forms scarcely warrants
its separation from the preceding.
1020. Loranthus Neilgherrensis, (W. & A .:)
glabrous: branches terete, young ones obscurely and
bluntly angled ; leaves alternate, elliptic-oblong,
shortly petioled, thick and somewhat fleshy, ultimate
one of the branch (always ?) orbicular ovate :
peduncles axillary, aggregated, very short, about the
length of the petiole, bearing an umbel of 3 7, very
shortly pedicelledflowers; bractea solitary under the
ovary and close to it, lateral, ovate: margin of ths
calyx obscurely repand-toothed : corolla glabrous,
ventricosely gibbous at the base, equally 5-cleft to
beyond the middle ; segments cunecate-linear, recurved.—
FP. jnd A. Prod,,1 p. 382.
This is a fine species of great size, and when in
perfection, most conspicuous from its numerous deep
red, almost crimson coloured flowers, which completely
cover the branches, while the young leave*
on the new shoots are also often deep red.
1021. Viburnum acuminatum, (Wall.:) young
branches, petioles, and peduncles dotted with
small rusty-coloured scales : leaves elliptical, acuminated
at both ends, coriaceous, quile entire with
the margin slightly recurved, glabrous: upper side
shining, under covered with minute shining rusty-
coloured dots: corymb terminal, large, trichotoinous,
often larger than the leaves : stigmas sessile: berry
oval-oblong.— JV. and A . Prod., p. 388.
A common and widely distributed species, but
rarely, if ever, met with at the elevation of Ootaca-
mund, at Conoor, and for two or three miles below
that place, it is very common and when in flower, a
very handsome shrub. I have specimens from
several other alpine stations, but have never seen
it under three or four thousand feet of elevation.
In some situations it may almost be called a small
tree generally it is a large ramous shrub.
102*2. Viburnum capitellatum, (W. & A .:)
free from scales, quite glabrous except in the axils
of the nerves : leaves oval-lanceolate, with a few
distant wavy teeth, attenuated at the apex into a
rather fine point, under side with the axils of the
nerves woolly : cymes compound, somewhat umbelshaped,
3 -6-partite; flowers umbellate, several together,
nearly sessile at the extremity of the ultimate
divisions : flower-buds viscous and shining : stigmas
sessile : berries oval-oblong.— W. and A. Prod.,
p. 388.
The specimens from which the accompanying
drawing was made were found in the neighbourhood
of Kotergherry. I have other specimens from the
Pulny range, found at a nearly similar elevation:
but I do not recollect having observed it about Ooia-
camund. It is a handsome shrub, very nearly allied
to the next, but evidently distinct. Flowers during
the autumnal months.
1023. Viburnum hebanthum, (W. & A .:)
branches, petioles, and general peduncles glabrous :
leaves elliptical or obovate,shortly acuminated,obtuse
or acute at the base, slightly sinuate-toothed on the
lower half, coarsely so toward the apex, woolly .in
the axils of the nerves on the under side, other wJse
glabrous: partial peduncles of the corymb pubescent:
corolla tubular campanalate, softly pubescent, limb
very small, nearly erect, 4-5 times shorter than the
tube: style very short and thick.—IP. and A. Prod.,
p. 388.
A very common shrub or small tree all over the
higher ranges of the hills. The specimen from
which the figure is taken does not convey a favourable
impression of the inflorescence, but can searcely be
said to be unfavourable, as in that respect it is certainly
the least striking of the Neilgherry species.
It begins to show its flowers in February, but is not
in perfection until March and April.
( i s )