Roxburgh obtained the plants from which his description
was taken from Malacca, but they seem to
correspond so well with mine that I could not venture
to view the 2 plants as distinct species. Figures
8 and 9 of the plate show the two lands of flowers,
as seen after the removal of the involucre.
1864. E uphorbia Rothiana (Spreng., E . lata,
Roth.), leaves oblong lanceolate, tapering towards the
base, glabrous: whorl 3-5-branched with occasionally
several axillary branches below: branches 2 or, in
old plants, 3 times dichotomous, with broad cordate
sub-perfoliate bracts at each fork: flowers solitary
in the fork: ends of the glands of the involucre prolonged,
tooth-like: involucre ciliate on the margin:
stamens furnished at the base with a filiform pubescent
scale, seed glabrous.
A very common alpine plant, found on nearly all
the higher hills that I have visited. I have specimens
from Ma'nablishwar, and Ceylon, and from
numerous intermediate stations. I t seems curious
that a plant so extensively distributed should be so
imperfectly known. I cannot find any description
that accords with this plant, and adopt the present
name because I feel sure that I can quote an authority
for it, but not a satisfactory one, in as much as
Roth describes a rather rare variety; but on the
other hand, Mr. Bentham has, in Wallich’s list, ranged
Heyne’s E . lata, and my E . segetalis (this plant) under
the same number, as being identical. I do not however
expect that when the genus has been thoroughly
revised that the name here given can be retained.
Roxburgh’s E . glauca seems to be this plant, but
I suspect not Willdenow’s, which is from New Zealand.
In characterizing this species, I have avoided
the term umbel, as applied to the terminal whorl of
floriferous branches, on the supposition that it is erroneous,
as shown by the often many similar lateral
branches which spring from the axils of the leaves
below.
1865. Excsecaria crenuiata (R. W.), arboreous,
dioecious or rarely monoecious, leaves opposite,
oblong, lanceolate, crenulate, acuminate, coriaceous,
glabrous: male spikes axillary or from the ends of
the branchlets, solitary: anterior bract entire, coriaceous
on the margin, the small lateral ones and sepals
membranous, fimbriato-serrated: female spikes axillary,
2-3-flowered: bracts and sepals as in the male.
A rather common small tree in alpine jungles. I
have gathered it in many localities, but have rarely
met with it exceeding a foot or 18 inches in circumference
but tall in proportion; from 20 to 30 or even
40 feet in height. The whole plant is very milky and
the milk very acrid. On one occasion, when cutting
down_ a tree, I saw instantaneous and intense ophthalmia
produced by a particle of the milk accidentally
falling on the eye.
It seems curious that this tree should remain still
undescribed, for I have often met with it.
In its relations it stands next to Griffith’s E . oppo-
sitifolia, and is so near, that it seems difficult to define
their limits, though certainly distinct. Griffith in his
remarks on E . oppositifolia observes that “ although
it presents differences, especially in habit, from
Excacaria, I have considered it best to refer it to
that genus.” To show the soundness of this conclusion
I have given analyses (Fig. B. in the plate)
°‘ E. Agallorha, the type of the genus, which will
show how perfectly identical the characters of the
two plants are.
The figures 1,2,3, in the plate, are taken from young
flowers not perfectly opened. Fig 7, exhibits one of
those rare cases showing a tendency to a return to
monoecious habit by the production of a female flower
at the base of the spike. The character of the tree,
if monoecious,' is to have the female flowers on separate
branches.
1866. F alconera Malabarica (R. W.), stamens
somewhat exserted: ovary 3-celled; petiols glandu-
liferous at the apex
Malabar, and Western slopes of the Neilgherries.
We are indebted to Dr. Royle for the genus Falconera,
founded on two NepauL trees. The peninsular
species differs from both his in its 3-carpellary
3-celled ovaries, his having only tw o ; in all other
respects my plant perfectly agrees with his, and approaches
so near F. Wallichiana, of which I have a
male specimen, that I should probably have referred
it to that species but for its 3-celled ovaries, and the
petiols being glanduliferous at the apex, in place of
the base.
Dr. Royle refers the. genus to the order Antidismea,
which somewhat surprises me, as it is evidently Eu-
phorbiaceous, and indeed so near Sapium that I think
it might have been admitted into that genus without
much straining, and I almost suspect will yet be referred
to it. The habit is adverse, and its very decided
dioecious character may probably keep the
two genera distinct, but scarcely the floral structure.
In support of this view, I shall introduce into my
next part illustrations of the genus Sapium.
1867. Gelonium lanceolatum (Willd.), leaves
lanceolar, entire: flowers crowded but distinct: stamens
numerous: capsules tricoccous.
Balaghaut Mountains, near Madras.
Roxburgh, who describes this plant from Bengal
specimens, does not seem to have met with it to the
Southward. Willdenow, however, the authority for.
the species, received his specimens from Dr. Klein,
.whose researches did not extend much beyond Madras.
The leaves are perfectly glabrous, quite entire, somewhat
coriaceous, and in drying become of a pale
greenish-yellow colour. In the plate I find I have
erroneously quoted Roxb., in place of Willdenow, as
the authority for the species.
1868. Adelia neriefolia (Roxb.), shrubby;
leaves alternate, linear lanceolate: spikes axillary,
solitary.
In low moist soil on the banks of streams and canals,
not uncommon. I have often met with it in the
Carnatic. In the Coimbatore district it is frequent in
such localities.
1869. Adelia retusa (T. Graham), a low shrub,
leaves alternate, sessile, obovate cuniate, retuse,
slightly crenate: flowers axillary two or three together,
stamens very numerous.
Banks of the Cavery about Errode, frequent, Deccan
generally, Gibson; Circars, Walter Elliot, Esq.
The drawing is taken from specimens gathered on
the banks of the Cavery, most likely the produce of
seed carried down by the stream from the Deccan.
I have not got the female plant.