S P E C I E S OE PEDICULAEIS
INDIAN EMPIRE AND ITS FRONTIERS.
CHAPTER I.—HISTORICAL.
T H E Scrophulariaeeous genus PEDICULABIS, which Toumefort' had ah-eady (in 1700)
almost exactly limited, was defined by Linnsus^ in 1737. In 1753 Linnjeus' described U
species, and in 1767* two more. Willdenow' in 1800 recognised 34 species, and Steven
-who • prepared a monograph of the genus in 1823, diagnosed 49. Bunge^ in 1846
enumerated 99 species; m the same year Bentham' distinguished 109. Beutham and
Hooker' found in 1876 that the total had exceeded 120, while Maximowiez"' in 1881
brought the total up to 153. But in 1888 Maximowicz" has had to account for 250
species, and the total has DOW reached 261. Moreover, when the area still to be
I is considered, it is certain that many separable forms are yet unreported.
M. Franchet'- indeed has already intimated the existence of some of these.
The arrangement of Linnieus was foHowed by Willdenow, but Steven, finding it
altogether inadequate, elaborated a system the value of which is best appreciated from
the fact that although the number of species now known is five times what it was in
1823, subsequent monographers have been able to follow iu its author's footsteps. Tho
best systems, those of Bentham and of Maximowicz, are certainly very difEerent from
that of Steven, bat the modifications are more due to development than to reconstruc
tion. Tiie principle underlying this development has been the recognition and definition
of subordinate sections or series consisting of naturally allied forms. Initiated by
Bentham, who recognised 18 of these, it has been extended by Maximowicz who
separated 20 such series in 1877 and 28 in 1888. And this principle, as the m-esent
synopsis shows, appears capable of still further extension.
' I'isi. Bei Serbar, p. 171, t. 77.
^ Gen. Plantar, a, 746.
' Speeles Planiar. 607.
^ Mantissa Piantar. 86.
^ Speries Piantar, iii, 203.
' Ucm. Soc. Mose. Ti, 55.
' Bull. Phys. Math. Ac. Petersb. i, 369.
^ DO. Prodr. s, 560.
» Genera Plantantm ii, 879.
Mei. Bìol. X, 80, aod xi, 278.
" Mei. Biol. sii, 919.
" Bull. See. Boi. de France TolTTtvi.Sev. Bihliogr^ph.
66. in footnote {«) ; ìee also below, footnote ('), p. 68.
ANN. Eor . BOT. GAUD. CALCUTTA, VOL. III.