obovate obtuse, finely serrulate : filaments hairy: capsule
about the length of the calyx. D. C. Prod.
Neilgherries, in corn fields and other cultivated
lands : flowers blue. Duby asks if this is a genuine
species ? The question is not easily answered but so far
as my slender acquaintance with A. arvensis enables
me to judge, I confess 1 feel disposed to answer in
the negative, though, on slightly comparing my
Neilgherry specimens with European ones of A.
arvinsis there does appear some difference. This
more nearly approaches the variety A. ccenilea if indeed
it is not that very plant, of which however I
have not a good specimen to compare. The Indian
plant is much more luxuriant than the European.
1206. Mcesa Indica (Alph. D. C .): leaves ovatoelliptic
acuminate, coarsely dentate, membranaceous,
subrivolute on the margin : racemes axillary and
terminal, simple or ramous at the base, glabrous, twice
the length of the petiole: bracts lanceolate acuminate,
shorter than the pedicel, bractioles ovate acute: lobes
of the calyx ovate subciliate : corolla 5 cleft, 3 times
the size of the calyx, lobes obovate subciliate spreading
: ovary semisuperior stigma capitate sublobate.—
D . C. Prod. 8. 80.
Alpine jungles in various parts of the peninsula,
on the Eastern slopes of the Neilgherry rather frequent.
Between this and M. Perrotettiana I can
discover no satisfactory difference. This may indeed
be that plant as it grew on the Neilgherries, but I
have numerous specimens from other localities
which seem all, with but slight variations, to correspond
with it. I have therefore adopted the older
name though I suspect the newer might have been
safely given. The genus indeed seems a very difficult
one, different specimens varying in appearance
but scarcely affording specific marks of distinction.
1207. Embelia glandulifera (R. W. By
an error E . Ribes on the plate) : glabrous : leaves
ovate, lanceolate, obtusely acuminate, entire, furnished
with numerous glands on either side of the mid rib :
flowers polygamous, and hermaphrodite, small, pani-
cled or racemose : panicles axillary, sparingly branched
or sometimes reduced to a simple raceme: lobes
of the calyx ovate, acute: petals elliptical, puberulous,
tomentose on the margin, fruit small globose.
Neilgherries &c.
This species is so nea'ly allied to E- Ribes that
when naming the figure I supposed it that species.
On subsequent more careful comparison however
with good specimens of the Ceylon plant I have 6een
reason to change my mind and view the continental
plant as distinct, from the insular species. The
axillary sparingly branched inflorescence forms a distinguishing
mark of some, but I think only secondary
importance, the presence of glands along the mid
rib I consider the essential character, as I find it
constant in specimens from the Neilgherries, Bel-
gaura, and Mahablishwar Hills, but absent in all my
Ceylon specimens as well as in others received from
Mergui and Malacca. They are not always so numerous
as they are represented in the drawing, neither
does the inflorescence usually partake so largely of
the racemose character, but still I believe the figure
true for the specimen represented. Mcesa missionis
D. C. is referable to this species, if a specimen in
my herbarium, so called, is correctly named. But of
that I am uncertain. The flowers of both this species
and E. Ribes are polygamous but I am uncertain
whether there are male and bisexual plants, or
that the same plant produces both kinds of flower»
according to the season at which they blossom. I
suspect the latter however to be the case.
1208. Embelia gardneriana (R.W.): young
branches and petioles ferrugeneo-hirsate: leave»
ovate, rounded at the base, crenulato-serrated, coriaceous,
glabrous, except the sparingly hairy costa, reti-
culately veined : peduncles axillary short, ferrugineo-
tomentose: racemes capitulate: pedicels about as
long as the peduncles, glabrous : calyx much shorter
than the glabrous corolla : petals obovate obtuse
longer than the stamens, sprinkled with purplish coloured
spots.
Sisparh on the western slopes of the Neilgherries in
clumps of jungle, rare. Flowering February and
' March.
A diffuse shrub, remarkable in the genus for the
venation of the leaves which, when dry, form a quite
a net work of white lines. In habit it associates with
Choripetalum but its quinary flowers seems to keep it
distinct. I have dedicated this very distinct specie»
to Mr. Gardner of Ceylon, who accompanied me when
it was found and gathered the first flowering specimens.
Thro* an oversight of the draftsman the
branches are represented glabrous in place of clothed
with short hairs.
1209. Embelia Tsjeriam-cottam (Alph. D.C.)
glabrous : leaves ovate, entire (scarcely) coriaceous,
short petioled : racemes axillary solitary, shorter than
the leaves : flowers subsessile crowded, polygamous ;
petals ovate-lanceolate spreading, villous within : anthers
pointed.
Hab. Malabar? I am uncertain regarding the
station as the specimens were collected and the drawing
made while I was in England, but I believe in
Malabar. The few specimens I have corresponding
with the figure are all male flowered, which will I think
account for the differences between my figure and
Rheede’s. In these specimens the leaves are not
coriaceous, but that may perhaps be owing to their
being still young, scarcely full grown. In some other
specimens which I doubtfully refer to E. Basaal,
and in one, which is I suspect the fertile plant of this
species, they are somewhat coriaceous.
These two species seem too nearly allied, the only
difference I can see being in the shape of the leaves
which in this are more distinctly ovate, in that
somewhat elliptico-lanceolate sub-acuminate.
The specimen figured seems an intermediate form
which might serve to unite them, in which case I
should propose to dedicate the united species to the
original discourser.
They are also very nearly allied to E . villosa, of
which I possess a specimen frem the Himalayas, this
being glabrous that pubiscent is the only differencs I
can see.
1210. Choripetalum aurantiacum (Alph.
D. C.) leaves ovate-lanceolate, subacute at both ends,
entire,coriaceous, long petioled : racemes much shorter
than the leaves, longer than the petiols, bracts acuminate
as long as the pedicels, petals linear lanceolate
reflexed : filaments longer than the petals, much
longer than the anthers.—D. C. Prod.
Neilgherries also Malabar, flowering during the dry
season. When in full flower the branches are quite
covered with the numerous racemes of bright orange
coloured flowers. The leaves vary considerably in