name, which is in allusion to its not flowering until couraged to make the attempt m the hope that what*
the leaves have attained their full growth, is not cor- ever its imperfections, it may still prove useful to at
i-ect as it flowers simultaneously with their develop- least Indian Botanists until they are furnished with
ment, and sometimes in anticipation of them. a more correct one. And I am not without the expared
with the frmt blanch, will show that such is I elaboration of the wW e order,
the case.
1971. Sponia W ighth (Planchon, 1. c. p. 322),
arboreous, young branches petiols and nerves on the
under surface of the leaves strigosely hairy : leaves
ovate oblong, cuspidate, somewhat unequal-sided,
acute or occasionally cordate and about equal-sided
at the base ; the younger ones silvery-silky white
beneath, the adult ones adpressed, puberulous : cymes
short peduncled, about as long as the'petiols, the
male ones compact, females looser, stigmas about
as long as the immature fruit, clothed with long hairlike
threads (longe filamentosis), the lower threads
often resting on the apex of the berry. Planch.
A small tree, not unfrequent throughout the southern
provinces. I have long confounded this tree with
Celtis orientalis, Linn., Roxb., and others, from which,
however, M. Planchon has separated it, limiting the
Linnajan plant to Ceylon. Comparing, however, the
character of the style and stigma of this _ with his
character, there seems reason to believe, either that
it is variable in that particular, or that there are still
two species confused, or, what seems not improbable,
that this is but a variety of the Ceylon plant, the
two generally agreeing so well with the other. I
make the remark in the hope of directing attention to
the subject, as I can now scarcely hope to profit by
it my seif. The figure, so far as it goes, is good.
URTICACE2E.
At the present time this is a most difficult family
to deal with, not that the species and genera are less
distinguishable than those of other families, or because
the distinguishing marks are less obvious, but because
the old and very complex genus, Urtica, has been split
into many genera, but as yet without any comprehensive
revision and readjustment of the species. What
is wanted is a monograph of the order by a competent
Botanist, having free access to the rich collections
of Europe, so that each, already, named species
might be correctly referred to its new genus and
defined with reference to its fellows. At present this
can scarcely be done even with old and well known
species, and much less so in the case of imperfectly
known ones. Under these circumstances the following
Characters can, at best, be viewed as only provisional
short descriptions of the plants, rather than
specific characters, for, not having other defined species,
appertaining to the same genera, with which to
compare mine and thereby indicate their distinguishing
marks, I can only note their prominent features,
leaving the monographer to select from my descriptions
1972. L aportea tebminalis (R. W.), herbaceous,
dioicous, or rarely monoicous, erect, every where
beset with long sharp stinging bristles: leaves alternate,
those points necessary to distinguish them from
others agreeing with them in their generic relations.
My series of Indian species of the genus Pouzolzia
being more complete than those appertaining to the
other genera, and having access to an imperfect monograph
of the genus, I have ventured on the attempt of
preparing a more perfect one. I t must obviously be
still very imperfect and may possibly be found to
contain many errors, but as such contingencies are
common to all first attempts of the kind, I am en-
long petioled, ovate acuminate, acutely mu-
cronate, serrated, very rough above, smoother and
glabrous except the bristles beneath: inflorescence
panicled, male panicles in the lower axils, compact,
about the length of the petiols; flowers sub-sessile:
calyx 5-parted: stamens 5, with a globose rudimentary
ovary in the centre: female panicles two or
three from the axils of the upper leaves, long peduncled,
loose: flowers pedicelled, pedicels a t length
winged: calyx 4-sepaled, the two lateral ones much
larger, ovate obtuse: style longish; stigma acute:
achenium pedicelled, drooping, ventricose below,
straight above, compressed, somewhat tuberculate:
seed compressed, exalbuminous: cotyledons foliace-
ous, radicle next the apex .of the seed.
Neilgherries, in thick woods, flowering October and
November. Abundant on Elk Hill. I took advantage
of an unusual specimen to show the relative
positions and forms of the male and female panicles.
I t stings severely, and the tingling continues for a
long time, but possesses very little of the intense
virulence of L . crenulata.
1973. P ilea trinervia (R. W.), herbaceous, erect,
every where glabrous, stems very succulent and
ju icy : leaves opposite, longish petioled, ovato-elliptic,
3-nerved, acuminate, deeply and acutely mucronato-
serrated; smooth, shining, deep green above, paler
and dull below; nerves prominent: panicles axillary,
loose, shorter than the leaves, monoicous: male
flowers, calyx 4-parted; stamens 4 : female, calyx
3-lobed: 3 foliaceous abortive stamens: achenium
ovate, erect, obtuse, compressed, smooth. Seed exalbuminous
; radicle pointing to the apex of the seed.
• Neilgherries, very abundant in damp woods. A
very juicy, soft, tender plant, growing most luxuriantly
in every wood about Ootacamund and in full
flower during the rains. I t is destitute of both pubescence
and bristles. This is not the Urtica trinervia
of Roxburgh, which is, I believe, a Boehmeria, neither
is it confined to these hills, for I have specimens from
other alpine stations.
1974. P ilea bamcans (R. W.), herbaceous, procumbent
and rooting at the base, afterwards ascending:
leaves opposite, short petioled, cordato-ovate
acute, deeply serrated, 3-nerved, glabrous and smooth
on both sides, deep green, membranous: panicles
from the axils of the upper leaves, dichotomous, long
peduncled: male flowers 4-androus: female 3-lobed
with three abortive membranous stamens exceeding
the lobes of the ca ly x : style none, achenium ovate,
compressed, smooth.
Neilgherries, in dark moist woods and with the
preceding to be met with in almost every wood on
the higher ranges of the Hills. I have specimens,
however, from other quarters.
c
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