aspect very different from our tree. Though aware
of these differences, when naming my drawing, I
adopted the same specific name, under the conviction
that this is really the plant Roxburgh describes.
In regal’d to the natural order of this genus, Wal-
lich and Royle coincide in referring it to Myricacece.
Endlicher considers it a sub-order, allied to Antidesmece;
while Meisner makes it the type of the Putranjivece
order. I do not clearly understand on what ground
so much discrepancy of opinion prevails as I can see
no reason for considering it other than a purely Eu-
phorbiaceous plant of the tribe Buxece, with which it
accords in every particular of the slightest moment.
I find that I coincide with Lindley in this view, he
placing the genus in the same order and tribe that
I had done, as the result of independent examination.
1877. S arcococca trinervja (R. W .) , leaves
bifarious, 3-ncrved, oblong lanceolate, entire, acuminate
at both ends, glabrous: spikes axillary, dense,
about the length of the petiols, male flower above,
female below.
Neilgherries, Pulney Mountains.
This is a common and very pretty shrub on the
Neilgherries, especially in woods where it appears as
an undershrub. The leaves are a very bright lively
green, somewhat paler beneath, the flowers pale yellowish,
but certainly not conspicuous.
The only other species of this genus is a native of
Nepaul and Ceylon, and differs from this in having
ovate acuminate not 3-nerved leaves. Apart from
the flowers, which have no beauty, this is a rather
pretty evergreen, always covered with lively green
handsome foliage.
Goughia (R. W.).
Ge n . Ch a r . Dioecious, male perianth rudimentary
or wanting, consisting, when present, of a few almost
inconspicuous scales attached to the apex of the
pedicel. Stamens about 8 (sometimes 6 or 7 by
abortion), filaments short; anthers large, oblong, mu-
cronulate, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Female
perianth 4-lobed, often rudimentary. Ovary free, 2-
celled with two pendulous ovules in each; styles
2, short, reflexed, each ending in a flattened papillose
stigma. Fruit sub-baccate, ovoid, crowned with the
persistent styles, one-seeded by abortion. Seed ovoid,
embryo minute in the apex of a large soft fleshy
albumen, radicle superior. A rather small very
ramous free : leaves alternate, elliptic, obtuse, entire,
glabrous, dark green above, glaucous beneath, inflorescence
racemose; racemes axillary on the young
terminal shoots of the season: flowers small, anthers
purplish or brownish-red: female, greenish: fruit
pulpy, purplish when ripe.
This very distinct genus was dedicated, in MS.,
upwards of 10 years ago, to my much esteemed friend
Mr., now the Hon’ble, George Gough, at that time'
engaged, in company with Captain Munro, in exploring
the Neilgherry flora, from whom I then received
specimens. I t affords me much pleasure, at this late
date, to find it still an unpublished genus, and to be
thereby enabled to publish it under the name it has so
long borne in my Herbarium. Had I not felt uncertain
as to'the natural order, regarding which I found
difficulty in satisfying myself, I should have published
it long ago. At one time I thought it referable to
Antidesmece, but not feeling certain I thought it well
to delay its publication until I had leisure to examine
in detail the monochamideous orders. In the course
of that examination I was led to the conclusion that
my first view of its affinities was erroneous, and that
it is a truly Euphovbiaceous plant.
Of this genus I possess two, perhaps three, species,
viz. the present, one from Ceylon, and one from
Malacca. Of the Ceylon one I still feel somewhat uncertain,
as it greatly resembles the Continental plant,
and I have not seen male flowers ; but the Malacca
one departs so widely that I am doubtful whether it
may not furnish the type of a new genus. The following
copy of a note, attached to the specimen,
which I wrote when I first examined it, will explain
this. The specimen was sent by Mi-. Griffith, labelled
simply, “ Goughia ? ? Malacca.” The reply to the
query is, “ I suspect not, the flowers here being régulai’,
viz. sepals 4, stamens 4, opposite the sepals, with
a central elevated hairy receptacle or abortive ovafy.
In this plant, moreover, the pollen is globose and hispid,
in the Neilgherry one, glabrous and angular. The
habit and form of the leaves of the two, however, perfectly
agree, with the exception of the inflorescence
which in the Malacca plant is paniculato-umbellate ;
(each ramulus of the panicle only in simple umbel
of 8 or 10 short pedicelled flowers). The female
flower, when discovered, may reduce the value of these
differences.”
On reconsidering the question now, I attach less
weight to the above differences than I did then, and
think that a slight modification of the generic character
will serve to retain them in the same genus. As
regards habit and family likeness, they are brothers.
The generic character, should the structure of the
female flower admit of their union, might be thus
modified : Dioecious : male-perianth, sepals 4, imbricating,
or rudimentary or wanting. Stamens, in sepal-
ed flowers, 4, opposite the sepals, when the sepals are
wanting, 8 or sometimes fewer (6-7) by abortion:
when 4, inserted round the base of a rudimentary
ovary : anthers, &c.
The specific differences will then be—
1. G. Griffithiana, male flowers 4-sepaled, 4-an-
drous. Leaves petioled, sub-obovate, very obtuse ;
(turning yellow in drying) : inflorescence panicled,
each ramulus of the panicle ending in a small simple
umbel of 8-12 short pedicelled flowers.
2. G. Neilgherrensis, male 8-androus, sepals rudimentary
or wanting.
The Ceylon form, though it looks distinct, does not,
the male-plant being unknown, furnish sufficient specific
marks for its separation from the Neilgherry one.
.. 1878-79. Goughia N eilgherrensis (R. W.).
À small tree common on the Neilgherries, Pulneys,
Ceylon ? flowering during the autumnal months, but
may I believe be met with in flower at all seasons.
The leaves have a tendency to turn yellow in drying
like those of Symplocacece, but after a time become
dark-brown. Those of the Malacca plant are quite
as yellow as a Symploicos.
1880. Mjcroelus Roeperianus (W. and A., Edn.
Phil. Journal, Stylodiscus trifoliatus, Bennett, in Hors-
field’s Java plants, Andrachne trifoliata, Roxb. FI.
Ind.)
This is the only species of the genus and has a
wide range : Java, Bengal, Circar Mountains, and the
Southern Peninsula as far as Courtallum, and I believe
it extends considerably to the south of that.