1036. Grumelia elongata (R. W.) shrubby
elabrous : leaves short petioled, obovate oblong, cue-
nidatety acuminate; penninerved becoming yellowish
in drying: stipules caducous, ovate oblong,broad pom-
ted cymes elongated, panicle-shaped, compact when
in flower, enlarging somewhat in fru it: calyx limb
minutely 5-toothed : tube of the corolla short, throat
closed with hairs : style umbraced at the base by a
thick convex fleshy disk, stigma exserted, dilated 2-
10 in'3woods »bout Ootacamund but rather sparingly.
I also possess specimens from several other stations,
Courtallum, Shevagherry &c. It is unquestionably
very nearly allied to the next, but is, I think, an abundantly
distinct species, as well by character as habit;
the two bushes, even when growing side by side, generally
flowering at different seasons. The flowering
season of this is the autumnal months, of that the
short petioled, oblong, acuminated at both ends,
penninerved becoming yellowish by drying : stipules
broadly triangular, cuspidate, caducous: corymbs
sessile, at first compact and scarcely longer than the
stipules, afterwards larger but also compact or rarely
spreading when in fruit, naked calyx-limb somewhat
bluntly 5° toothed : tube of the corolla short, scarcely
longer than the ©alyx-limb : berry ovoid, not furrowed,—
W. and A. Prod. p. 432,
With the preceding and much resembling it.
1038. P sychotria 6ARMENTOSA ? (Blume) stem
climbing rooting; leaves short petioled lanceolate;
acuminated at both ends, slenderly veined, coriaceous,
glabrous ; stipules connate: corymbs terminal deva-
ricately-trichotomous : tube of the corolla funnel-
shaped : drupes elliptic, globose, furrowed by drying.
—D. 0. Frod. 4-522.
Malabar about Calicut: also in Ceylon. The
drawing is taken from a Malabar specimen, I have
others from Ceylon. Though this plant corresponds
well with De Candolle’s character, so far as it goes,
I am doubtful of its being Blume’s plant.
The tube of the corolla of my plant can scarcely be
said to be funnel-shaped, and no notice is taken
of the very hairy throat; but still these differences
are too slight to justify me in describing it as distinct
while unacquainted with the original species.
1039. P sychotria bIsulcatA (W. & A. :) shrubby,
diffuse, glabrous: leaves with a short petiole
slightly dilated at the base, oblong-lanceolate, tapering
at the base: stipules triangular-acuminated,
caducous: corymb terminal, peduncled, small, few«,
flowered, trichotomous or with the primary rays in
fives, with minute acute bracteas subtending the
ramifications: calyx-limb 5-lobed ; lobes roundish-
ovate : tube of the corolla bearded in the throat,
about twice the length of the ealyx.limb : filaments
exserted ; anthers oblong: stigma nearly included,
short and thick, bipartite : berry ovate, 4 furrowed
by drying : seed and albumen flat on the iuner side,
with two deep dorsal furrows and an intermediate
broad blunt ridge.— W. and A. Prod. p. 434.
In woods about Ootacamund but rather sparingly.
The leaves are of a light lively green, and dry almost
unchanged in colour.
Obs. These two genera Grumelia and Psychotria
ought to be united as they are truly one in every
thing except the ruminated albumen of the former ;
a character, which, however good in a mere carpolo-
gical system, is too limited for a vegetable one (which
requires its generic characters to be taken from
more organs and structures than one) as it can only
be made out from ripe seed ; if both are preserved
then, I believe, i may almost predict that probably
half the present genus Psychotria must ultimately
be transferred to Grumelia and then, without specimens
furnished with ripe fruit no man can telL
whether an unknown species belongs to the one or
other genus. Our P. bractiata I feel certain will,
when the ripe seed is found, prove a Grumelia:
Wallich’s P. truncala I am all but certain is a Gra-
melia, and I think identical with our G. congesta—
Genera in a natural system ought not to rest on a
solitary character,si nee only the most artificial can be
so limited and still less so when that is derived from
the ripe seed which, as distinct from Vsychotria, is
certainly the case with- Grumelia.
1040. Coirs a alpestris (R. W.) shrubby, glabrous:
leaves lanceolate, cuneate towards the base,
pointed, coriaceous : peduncles axillary, confined to
the upper leaves, louger than the petioles, aggregated
forming terminal corymbs: corolla five cleft; divisions
much longer than the tube, lanceolate obtuse:
anthers exserted style gibbous, near the base,
hairy: stigma clavate, glabrous : berry oval 2-seeded.
Ootacamund in woods flowering March and April.
A low very ramous shrub the branches nearly naked,
the rarauli covered with closely approximated coriaceous
sinning leaves : peduncles confined to the
terminal axils, generally about 3 flowered; flowers
white with a hairy throat and line of hairs extending
along the segments of the corolla.
1041. Co fee a Grcmelioides (R. W.) shrubby or
subarboreous glabrous: leaves obovate cuneate,
shortly and bluntly acuminate, coriaceous : peduncles
axillary, confined to the upper axils, about 3 flowered
forming terminal corymbs: corolla o cleft, throat
hairy, divisiens oblong elliptic obtuse; anthers exserted
: style not gibbous: stigma clavate,slightly cleft
at the apex: berry ovoid, crowned with the persistent
calyx.
A large shrub or small tree, in low woods by the
road side going to Pycarah, flowering in February.
This seems to be a rarer species than the preceding
and is confined to a lower range of elevation. Though
in many respects like C. alpestris this is certainly
a distinct species.
1042. G alium R bquieniasom (W. & A .:)
perennial: stems diffuse, ascending, branched, and
the branches 4-angled, clothed with much soft
spreading or deflexed hair, when old more glabrous:
leaves in fours, roundish-obovate, mucronate, 3-
nerved; upper sides sprinkled with hairs; under
more copiously hairy, particularly on the nerves and
margin : peduncles axillary or terminal, few-flowered,
trichotomous, hairy : divisions of the corolla roundish
ovate, slightly hairy on the outside : fruit
roundish, hispid with hooked bristles.— W. and A.
Prod. p. 443.
This is a low growing procumbent plant which,
but for the large patches it forms, would be but
little conspicuous from the grass among which it
grows. I believe it is in flower the greater part of-
the year.
The late Mr. Griffith was of opinion that the
Stellate division of Rubiaceae were misunderstood
and erroneously described in calling the yellow petaloid
part of the flower, a corolla. That he once stated
to me in a letter, he considered merely the coloured
dilated calyx limb. I have since often examined the
flower with reference to that view of its structure, but
have scarcely been able to satisfy myself that there is
not both a calyx and corolla. The Draftsman seems
here to have settled the point in Mr. Griffith’s favour.
He knows nothing of Botanical opinions or theories,
but sets down what he sees, and here he has assuredly
■ given no corolla, and I think he is right; in which
case this section must, as Lindley has done, be elevated
to the rank of an order and will stand in the
same relationship to Spermacoceee that Nyctagini ce
does Plumbaginece.
P. S. subsequent examination has left no doubt on
my mind on this point.