MICROTROPIS.
Calyx 5 parted imbricated. Corolla 5-petaled perigy-
bous inserted into the outer edge of an annular disk,
aestivation imbricated. Stamens alternate with the petals
rising from the edge of the disk. Anthers introrse, dehiscing
longitudinally, sometimes alternating with short
epipelatous scales (squamulse 5, breves, epipetalae sta-
minibus alternates. Am.) Ovary semi-superior 2-celled
with 2 dependent collateral ovules in each : style short,
conical: stigma obtuse, obscurely four-lobed. Capsule
superior 1-celled, two-valved, but usually dehiscing on
one side only. Seed solitary, rarely paired, erect: testa
thin, succulent, coloured. Embryo erect, enclosed in
a copious firm tenacious albumen. Cotyledons foliace-
ous. Radicle cylindrical.
Shrubs or trees, leaves entire opposite, exstipulate,
glabrous, shining, coriaceous. Cymes axillary or from
the scars of fallen leaves, either furnished with longish
peduncles or subsessile, forming dense capital® on the
older branches. Flowers small white, sepals and petals
orbicular concave, very coriaceous. Fruit capsular, oval
oblong pointed with the persistent base of the style;
capsule corticose, (resembling bark in colour and texture)
testa thin, friable, somewhat resembling semi-in-
durated pulp, and, in all species I have seen, deeply
coloured : albumen tenacious, translucent, easily sec-
tile : cotyledons, when fresh, green.
This genus was named by Dr. Wallich, but without
a character,- in his List of Indian plants. Lindley
adopted it in his Natural System but without defining
it. Drs. Meisner and Arnott having got specimens, both
published characters quite independent of each other.
Their generic characters are both good so far as their
imperfect materials enabled them to go, but both admit
of alterations. The materials in my hands being more
perfect than those they had, has induced me to endeavour
to render more perfect their characters. The part
1 have described as the testa of the seed, Roxburgh has
called an arillus (“ Semina solitaria arillo tenui succu-
lento involuta ” Arnott from Roxb.) I do so from
finding no other part corresponding to that organ, from
its completely investing the seed, without any opening,
which a true arillus must have, and from its being distinctly
vascular, showing that it cannot be merely indurated
pulp. I have not observed in any of the Hill
species the epipetalous scales mentioned by Arnott. In
Arnott’s character the ovules are said to be ascending,
in all the Neilgherry species the ovules are pendulous,
the seed erect, and the radicle inferior. How this change
of position is brought about still remains for investigation.
When Dr. Arnott published his remarks on this genus,
he doubted whether it belonged to this order, a point on
which there cannot, I think, be any longer a doubt,
even supposing the corolla gamopetalous. This it certainly
is not, but polypetalous, the petals attached to a
disk. This structure is most easily made out in the
unopened flower bud.
1052. Microtropis densiflora (R. W.) leaves
short petioled broad oval obtuse, somewhat attenuated
towards the base, coriaceous, glabrous: cymes axillary,
erect, compact, many flowered ; much shorter than the
leaves : capsule slender cyclindrical, pointed, 2 valved :
seed like the capsule, testa crimson coloured.
On the western slopes of the Neilgherries below Sis—
parah in dense jungles, flowering and bearing ripe fruit
in February.
This seems a very distinct species from any of those
previously figured, it forms a large straggling shrub or
small tree. The dense almost capitate clusters of flowers
combined with the long slender fruit, are very
characteristic and the outline of the leaves is besides
very different from that of all the others.
1053. E uonymus angulatus (R. W.) arboreous,
ramuli prominently 4 angled and furrowed between :
leaves ovate lanceolate, acuminate, quite entire, glabrous:
cymes axillary, dichotamous, lax: flowers long pedicel-
led : calyx fimbricated on the margin, petals orbicular:
cupsules turbinate 5 celled : cells by abortion 1 seeded,
seed partially enclosed in an arillus accompanied by the
remains of the aborted ovule.
Slopes of the Neilgherries below Sisparah on the
banks of streams. The flowers, owing to the size of the
cymes, are more conspicuous than in any of the others
I have seen. They are of a dull purple colour, the
specimens were gathered in February and as they were
accompanied by ripe fruit, the tree is probably in flower
most part of the year.
1054. Edwardsia Madraspatana (R. W.) leaflets
about 25, glabrous, from elliptic to^sub-ovate obtuse,
mucronate, or frequently retuse at the apex : racemes
axillary or terminal, very slightly pubescent, many flowered
: calyx cup shaped, slightly oblique, 5 toothed:
legumes villous.
Balaghaut mountains near Madras.
My collectors brought me seed of this plant some
years ago, which were transmitted to the Calcutta Botanic
Garden and there vegitated. From these plants the
specimen represented was taken. Owing to some error
whether of the Draftsman or Lithographer or both, (I
have not the original drawing by me to ascertain the
point,) the petioles and flower bearing branches are represented
densely hairy, while the specimens are so
slightly purbescent that a magnifier is required to detect
its presence. 1 suspect the error is principally attributable
to the transferer, but be that as it may it is an
error as the plant might without much impropriety be
described as glabrous. I am indebted to the kindness
of Dr. Wallich for the drawing from which the figure is
taken, as my specimens were not in flower.
I possess a somewhat imperfect specimen of what
appears to be a new species from China,it is not in fruit,
but the calyx and flower are unquestionably those of an
Edwardsia it may be thus defined.
E. paruifolia (R.W.) every where glabrous; leaflets
about 7 from ovate attenuated towards the apex, to
elliptic, mucronate : racemes axillary, congregated towards
the extremities of the branches, many flowered :
flowers secund : calyx cupshaped obtusely 5 toothed,
glabrous ; filaments about the length of the corolla free
to the base, ovary slender glabrous, ovules about ten.
The flowers so far as I can judge from indifferently
dried specimen are well represented in the accompanying
drawing of E. Madraspatana. I am indebted for
the specimen to Asst. Surgeon Dorward of the Madras
Establishment, who during a short residence collected
a considerable number of plants which he kindly communicated.
1055. Taverniera cuneifolia (Am.) leaves petioled
1-foliolate, from the almost constant abortion of
the lateral pair; leaflet from orbicular to obovate-
cuneate, recurvedly mucronate, thickish, glabrous or
pubescent: peduncles short, from the exils of leafless
stipules bearing, towards the apex, from 1 to 4 shortly
pedicellate flowers : legumes with the inferior joint
abortive stipitiform, the superior one unequally, obo-
vate, echinate, with rigid hooked bristles.—Am. pvgil-
lus. 14.
The drawing, for which I am indebted to Dr. Wal