THE

JOURNAL

OF

THE EINMEAN SOCIETY.

BOTANY.

YOL. X.Q

BOTANIC A GARDEN.

L ON DON:

SOLD AT THE SOCIETY’S APARTMENTS, BURLINGTON HOUSE;

AND BY

LONGMANS, GREEN, READER, AND DYER,

AND

WILLIAMS AND NORGATE.

1869.

LIST OF PAPERS.

Aitchison, J. E. T., M.D., F.R.C.S.E., F.L.S.

Lahul, its Flora aud Vegetable Products See. From communica¬ tions received from the Rev. Heinrich Jaeschke, of the Moravian Mission . 69

Barber, Mrs. M. E.

On the Structure and Fertilization of Liparis Bowkeri . . . 455

Be nth am, George, Esq., P.L.S.

Notes on Myrtaceae . 101

Note on the Stigmatic Apparatus of Goodenoviese . 203

Berkeley, Rev. M. J., M.A., F.L.S.

On a Collection of Fungi from Cuba. Part II., including those belonging to the Families Gasteromycetes, Coniomycetes, Hypliomycetes, Physomycetes, and Ascomycetes . 341

Berkeley, Rev. M. J., M.A., F.L.S., and Dr. M. A. Curtis.

Fungi Cubenses ( Hymenomycetes ) . 280

Buchanan, J., Esq.

Notes on the Botany of Mount Egmont and Neighbourhood,

New Zealand, made in February 1867 . 57

Notes on the Botany of the Province of Marlborough, made during a visit there in the months of November, December, and January, 1866-67 . 63

Collingwood, Dr. C., F.L.S.

On Nutmeg- and other Cultivation in Singapore . . . 45

Extract from a Letter from, on a Luminous Fungus from Bomeo . 469

IV

Darwin, Charles, M.A., F.R. & L.S.

On the Character and Hybrid-like Nature of the Offspring from the Illegitimate Unions of Dimorphic and Trimorphic Plants. 393

On the Specific Difference between Primula veris, Brit. FI. (var. officinalis of Linn.), P. vulgaris, Brit. FI. (var. acaulis, Linn.), and P. elatior, Jacq. : and on the Hybrid Nature of the Common Oxlip. With Supplementary Remarks on naturally- produced Hybrids in the Genus Verbascum . 437

Dickie, George, A.M., M.D., F.L.S.

Note on the Characters of the Genus Canna . 54

Notes on Mosses &c. collected by Mr. James Taylor on the shores of Davis Straits . 461

IIance, H. F., Ph.D.

On the Fagus Castanea of Loureiro’s ‘ Flora Cochinchinensis ; ’ with descriptions of two new Chinese Corylacece . 199

On the Silkworm- Oaks of Northern China . 482

Henslow, Rev. George, M.A., F.L.S.

Note on the Structure of Genista tinctoria, as apparently afford¬ ing facilities for the intercrossing of distinct flowers . 468

Hooker, Joseph Dalton, M.D., F.R.S., D.C.L., LL.D.

On the true Fuchsia coccinea of Aiton . 458

Howard, John Eliot, Esq., F.L.S.

On the Cultivation of Cinchona in the East Indies . 15

Leighton, Rev. W. A., B.A., F.L.S.

Additions to the Lichens of New Zealand. (Plate IV.) . 30

On a new species of Umbilicaria. (Plate IV.) . . 33

Mac Owan, P., Esq., B.A.

Notulse Capenses . 480

Masters, M. T., M.D., F.L.S.

On some points in the Morphology of the Malvales, together with a description of a new genus of Buettneriece. (Plates II. & III. ) . 18

Synopsis of the South-African Bestiacece. (Plates VII. & VIII.) . 209

On the Structure of the Flower in the Genus Napoleona & c. . . 492

Mello, Joaquim Correa de, and Richard Spruce.

Notes on Papayaceie. (Plate I.) . 1

V

P«K"

Mitten, William, Esq., A.L.S.

A List of the Musci collected by the Rev. Thomas Powell in the Samoa or Navigator’s Islands. (Plates V. & VI.) . 100

Oliver, Professor, F.R. & L.S.

Description of Three New Genera from West Tropical Africa, belonging to the Natural Orders Guttifenr, Olatineoe , and CelastracecB . 42

Parish, Rev. C.

Dimorphism of Flowers of Cymbidimn tiyrinum . 505

Scott, John, Esq.

Note on the Iso'etes capmlaris, Roxb . 200

We ale, J. P. M ansel, Esq., B.A.

Notes on the Structure and Fertilization of the Genus Bonatea, with a special Description of a Species found at Bedford, South Africa . 470

Windsor, John, Esq., F.L.S., F.R.C.S.

Observations on Thlaspi alpestre, L . 100

Wright, Charles, Esq.

Note on Jussicea . 470

Wright, E. Perceval, M.D., F.L.S.

Note on Cocoa-nuts in the Seychelles Islands . 45.5

Woolls, W., Esq., F.L.S.

Notes on Introduced Plants occurring in the Neighbourhood of Svdnev. In a letter to the President . 35

THE JOURNAL

OF

THE LINNEAN SOCIETY.

Notes on Papayace®. By Joaquih Correa de Mello and Kichard Spruce. Communicated by Daniel Hanbtjrt, F.L.S.

(Plate I.)

[Bead February 7, 1867.]

The principal object of this paper is to put on record certain observations made by Senhor Mello on living plants of the com¬ mon Papaw, and of the prickly-stemmed species known in South. Brazil as Jaracatid , comprising some important additions to our knowledge of a tribe which, from the unwieldy size of the foliage and the succulent, perishable nature of the fruits, cannot be ade¬ quately represented in our herbaria *.

Living specimens of one or two species in our conservatories have rendered us familiar with the aspect of the Papayace®. They may be shortly described as erect-growing Gourds, the twining stem of the latter being what chiefly distinguishes them ; and there is considerable affinity to Passion-flowers, not only in structure, but in the occasional presence in Passion-flowers of a milky juice, which is never wanting to the Papaws.

The essential characters of Papayace® are chiefly the follow¬ ing (those included in brackets having been added or amended from the observations of Senhor Mello) : —

Trees, usuaHy of humble growth and of brief existence, with a turbid milky juice like that of Fumitories. Trunk erect, from 4 to 40 feet high, in some species scarcely thicker than the finger, in others as thick as a man’s body, ringed with the leaf- scars ; bark very thin, greenish, sometimes aculeate ; wood a mere

* Senhor Mello’s observations were communicated in a letter to Mr. Han- bury, and were accompanied by illustrative specimens and drawings.

LINN. PROC. — BOTANY, VOL. X. B

2 M. .T. C. DE MELLO AND MB. B. SPBTTCE ON PAPAYACEiE.

fibrous shell, not exceeding 2 or 3 inches in thickness even in the stoutest species, filled with a dense firm pith. Branches usually 0, from the secondary axes being -annual, i. e. floriferous peduncles, or else reduced to floriferous axillary nodes ; but sometimes the peduncles are replaced by long wand-like branches.

Leaves crowded towards apex of stem, alternate, -large, pal- mately (rarely pinnately) nerved, usually deeply and sometimes compoundly lobed, rarely subentire, but in Jaracatia distinctly digitate ; petioles elongate, sometimes reaching 3 to 4 feet ; stipules 0.

Flowers in axillary racemes or panicles [whereon the secondary peduncles are cymuliferous, the axial flower being more preco¬ cious than the rest, and often diverse in structure], usually unisexual and dioicous [but sometimes polygamous, with the flowers all $ on some plants, all <5 on others, and on others bisexual and <5 ].

Calyx free, very minute, 5-lobed. Corolla of 5 (rarely of only 4) ligulate petals, more or less united into a monopetalous corolla, rarely (in some $ flowers) free to the very base, either imbricated and subcontorted in aestivation, or inflexo-valvate. c? stamens 10, in two rows, fixed on the throat of the corolla by very short filaments ; anthers erect, splitting lengthwise, often partly imperfect. $ ovary free, 1-celled, with 5 parietal pla¬ centae [which sometimes project so far inwards as to meet below, and render the ovary half 5-celled] ; ovules 00, anatropous ; styles almost 0; stigmata 5, continuous with the carpels, alternating with the petals. [Bisexual: see the description given below.]

Fruit succulent, 1-celled, or spuriously 5-celled [by the further intromission of the placentae after fertilization, until they meet in the axis of the fruit]. Seeds 00, ovoid, subcompressed, usually rugose or echinate, and with a viscous envelope which is of the nature of an aril. Frnbryo in the axis of fleshy albumen, with flat cotyledons and a taper radicle next the hilum.

I proceed to quote from Senhor Mello’s notes his description of three forms under which the common Papaw ( Carica pa¬ paya, L —Fapaya vulgaris, DC.) occurs at Campinas, in the Pro¬ vince of Sao Paulo, Brazil (latitude about 24° S.) — premising that the Brazilians call the plant Mamoeiro, and the fruit Mamdo (plural Mamoes).

Fobm I. $ = Mamoeiro femea Brasiliensium. — Inflorescence axillary ; peduncles solitary, 1-2 in. long, bearing 2 to 4 shortly

M. J. 0. DE MELLO AND MR. R. SPRUCE ON PAPAYACEJ5. 3

pedicellate flowers, whereof the terminal one is developed much earlier than the rest, and constantly produces a fruit , whereas the others fall away Unfertilized. Corolla of 5 dis¬ tinct petals, lineari-lanceolate (10-12x11-2 lines), erect at the base, then reflexed and spirally twisted towards the right. Stamens or staminodia altogether absent. Ovary 4^-6 X 3-4| lines, ellipsoid or subobovoid subacuminate, 1-celled, with 5 parietal nearly flat placentae occupying almost the whole interior surface, OO-ovulate ; style continuous with the ovary, very short ; stigmata 5, linear, fleshy, flattened, ra¬ diating, dilated and subpalmately laciniated at the apex (much after the same fashion as the leaves), stigmatose on the whole upper surface. Fruit pendulous on a short pe¬ duncle of 1 to 2 inches, 1-celled, 00-seeded.

Form II. bisexual and S — Mamoeiro macho vel de cor del Bra- siliensium. — Peduncles axillary, trifid at the base, the lateral branches 2-8 inches long, 1- or few-flowered; the medial branch 12-24 inches long, bearing above the middle two or three partial peduncles, which are subdivided into several 4- or 5-flowered pedicels. — Bisexual or fertile flowers from one to four on each panicle, viz. one (or 0) at the apex of each partial peduncle. Corolla gamopetalous, tubuloso-campanulate (10- 12 x 2|-3 lines), 5-lobed, lobes ereeto-patent or subreflexed. Stamens 10, inserted in the throat of the corolla in two series. Ovary obovoideo-oblong, almost club-shaped, obtuse, 9-10 lin. long, 2-2^ lin. broad at the base, 4-4£ lin. in the upper part ; placentae more salient (intromissee) than in the 2 plant ; stigmata cut in the same way, but smaller. Fruits pendulous on long peduncles (of 8-30 in.), nearly always asymmetrical or gibbous, from the absence or malformation of one or more of the stigmata and the consequent abortion of the placentae pertaining thereto. — 6 or sterile floicers : Corolla gamopetalous hypocrateriform 5-lobed ; stamens as in the bisexual flowers ; pistil rudimentary, 2 x | lin., tapering upwards, estigmatose.

Form III. 6 (called also Mamoeiro macho). This differs from

b 2

4

M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MR. R. SPRTJCE ON PAPAYACEJE.

the last solely in the flowers being all c? , or merely stami- niferous, the terminal bisexual flower being either absent or uniformly abortive. All the three forms are exactly alike in external appearance, and in the size and form of the leaves.

Besides the observations on C. papaya, Senhor Mello has been able to make others, which follow, on the Jaraeatia {G. dodeca- phylla, Yell. = Jaraeatia dodecaphylla, A. DC.).

Trees (growing wild in the forests around Campinas) 20—30 feet high, erect, branched at the apex. Leaves digitate of 5-11 leaflets. I have not yet been able to verify my supposition that G. 12-phylla is polygamous, like C. papaya ; for the only cJ plant I had within reach was destroyed before it burst into flower ; but among the buds that I opened, some had the style beginning to be divided at the point, which leads me to conclude that their ovaries would have been fertile. The style of the ? flower bears five suberect subterete stigmata (not cloven at the apex as in C. papaya) ; and the whole surface (except the dorsal furrow) is stigmatose. A trans¬ verse section of the ripe fruit, made at whatever height, shows always five distinct and complete cells, formed by five fleshy septa (the axes of the placenta) ; but the young ovary is 5- celled below, while above the middle there is only one cell, with five very prominent placenta, the ovules being attached to the faces of the placenta, and not to the angle between them and the wall of the ovary. Hence it appears that the septa of this fruit are in reality the placenta, which grow inwards as the fruit ripens, and finally meet in the centre, forming a spuriously 5-celled fruit *.

These observations of Senhor Mello show Canca papaya to be trioicous or trimorphous, and render it probable that all the other species occur also under three forms. The second

* Senhor Mello supposes that the four species of Jaraeatia described in the * Prodromus,’ are really reducible to two, J. spinosa and 12-phylla being forms of but one species, and J. 7-phylla and Mexicana of another species. He adds that he has never found more than eleven leaflets (5—11) in 12-phylla, or more than five (3-5) in 7-phylla. Further observation is certainly needed to prove that even J. 7-phylla is distinct from J. spinosa.

M. J. C. DE MELLO AND ME. E. SPBUCE ON PAPAYACE^. 5

form is analogous to Siphonia (among Euphorbiacese) which has panicled racemes, each raceme terminated by a solitary fertile flower, while the rest of the flowers are males. Even in the $ plant of C. papaya it is only the terminal flower of each pe¬ duncle that is fertile, the rest having sterile ovaries * ; so that, add anthers to these ovaries (sterile and fertile) and augment the number of flowers, and Form I. becomes Form II. ; let the ovary of even the terminal flowers be sterile, and Form II. be¬ comes Form III. It is almost certain that the terminal flower, even when bisexual, is not fertilized by its own pollen, but by that of the d flowers ; but we have no evidence on this head from Senhor Mello.

In the monograph of Papayacese in the ‘ Prodromus ’ (vol. xv. part i.) the author, M. Alph. DeCandolle (making, no doubt, the best use he could of his very incomplete materials) divides the genus Carica of Linnaeus into three genera, whereof the first ( Papaya ) has a dextrorse aestivation and a 1-celled fruit, and the second ( Yasconcellea , St. Hil.) is supposed to have a sinis- trorse or else a straightly-valvate aestivation in conjunction with a 5-celled fruit. Out of the fifteen species referred to Vascon- cellea only three are put in the section with a contorted aesti¬ vation ; and of one of them ( Carica cauliflora , Jacq.), it is said “ aestivatio ignota.” Now, as regards the first pair of dif¬ ferences, I had a distinct recollection of having seen in a living plant flowers twisted in opposite directions on the same peduncle ; and I have verified it by an examination of Senhor Mello’s spe¬ cimens of C papaya. The real facts are these : the petals imbri¬ cate each other for about one-third of their width ; in some flowers it is the right margin of each petal {e centro floris visa) which is imbricated by the adjacent petal ; and the aestivation is “dextrorsum contorta;” in others, the left margin is similarly imbricated, and the aestivation is “ sinistrorsum contorta.” I examined three peduucles of the bisexual <5 form. On No. 1 nearly all the flowers had a straight aestivation ( suhrecte imbricata ) ; some were very slightly twisted to the left, and the solitary expanded flower was twisted to the right. On No. 2, no appreciable twist¬ ing of any of the flowers ; but all had the right margin of the petals imbricated. On No. 3, the petals were either straight or

* Compare this with certain myrtles which have few- (say 5-) flowered pe¬ duncles — viz. two decussate pairs of stalked flowers, and a solitary terminal flower, which is always more precocious than the rest, and is the only one that produces a berry, although all are equally bisexual.

6 M. J. C. DE MEELO AND MB. B. SPBUCE ON PAPAYACEJ3.

with a very slight twisting to the right ; and an expanded fer¬ tilized flower had the petals quite straight and suberect.

The cf peduncles, however, had usually the left side of each petal imbricated by the adjacent one, and the estivation sinistrorse. In a very few (chiefly but not uniformly axial) flowers it was dextrorse ; and sometimes the two forms occurred on the same peduncle *.

The character on which St. Hilaire relied in founding the genus Vasconcellea, viz. the 5-celled ovary and fruit, appears, from Mello’s observations, to arise from the placentas being more prominent in some species than in others, — so much so in some as to meet in the axis of the fully-formed fruit — precisely the same thing as occurs in many Cucurbitacese ; and it is certainly not a constant concomitant of a sinistrorse or even of a valvate aestivation — a foregone conclusion of M. DeCandolle, to support which he is led to belie his authorities. Thus, of Vasconcellea cauliflora he says, “ fructus unilocularis, ex Jacquin, sed non credo f and the Bame of V. microcarpa ; and he throws doubt on Poppig’s saying that the fruit of F. heterophylla is 1-celled, with five pa¬ rietal placentas. Moreover the habit is the same in all, and a quasi-5-celled fruit is the same externally as a 1-celled fruit.

The third genus, however (Jaracatia), will probably maintain its rank — the aculeate stem, the digitate leaves with distinct stipel- late leaflets, and the union of the filaments into a short tube free from the corolla, appearing quite sufficient to substantiate it f.

Our materials are still far from sufficient to justify any one in undertaking to work up the order anew; and being myself unable

* I need scarcely mention that in the flowers of Apocynes, and in most others with a twisted sestivation, when the twisting is to the right, it is the right margin of each petal which imbricates (not is imbricated by) the adjacent petal ; and similarly when it is to the left ; but such is not the case in the Papaws.

t I do not see by what right modern authors have quashed the Linnsean name Carica, founded on the similarity of the foliage and fruit to those of the common Fig. Indeed, as we shall presently see, the early Spanish colonists called the trees “ Fig-trees,” and the fruit “ Figs.” The name “ Papaya ” is ap¬ plied in Spanish America to only one (or two) species ; and in Brazil it is not used for any ; while throughout the Andes the larger species are called “ Chamburu,” and the smaller ones “ Col del Monte” (Wood-cabbage).

If the difference in the sestivation be still deemed of generic importance, then the genera would stand as follows : —

Carica, L. (=I*aj>aya) DC., et Vasconcellea, § Hemipayaya, A. DC.): icstivatione imbricata, leviter contorta v. fere recta.

Vasconcellea, St. Hil. (= Vasconcellea, § Euvasconcellea, A. DC.): cesti- vatione inflexo-valvari.

M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MR. R. SPRUCE ON PAPAS'ACEjE. 7

to sit up to a table to examine specimens, I must be content to supplement this memoir with a short sketch of the ascertained distribution of the Papayacese, and of their history and proper¬ ties, and with indicating what remains to be done before they can be monographed satisfactorily.

The .33 (or 35) species of which I have any knowledge, are thus distributed in tropical and subtropical America * : —

West Indies : 2 species — one still undescribed (an C. citriformis, Hook, non Jacq. ?).

Coast-range of Terrafirma: 2 species ( caulifiora , Jacq., and microcar pa, Poir.).

Mexico : 4 species f .

Andes of New Granada and Ecuador : 5 or 6 species.

Andes of Peru (chiefly eastern slope): 7 or 8 species.

Andes of Bolivia and Chili : 2 species.

Pacific coast ( or coast valleys) : 3 species.

SouthBrazil ( chiefly near the Tropic of Capricorn) : 4 (?) species.

Atlantic coast ( and Amazon ): 1 or 2 species ( spinosa , Aubl., and digitata, Aubl.).

Cultivated — native country uncertain : 2 species ( citriformis , Jacq., and citriformis, Hook. ?).

Here we see the Papayacese occupying a sort of ring around Guayana and Brazil — abounding towards the northern and southern tropics, along the Andes from Mexico to Chili, and on the Atlantic sea-board, but almost wanting to the immense included area. Un¬ discovered species may still lurk in the mountainous region of central Brazil; but in Amazonia and Spanish Guayana I never met with a single truly wild species, either in the plains or on the hills. Whether the two prickly- stemmed species (or forms of one species) be truly wild in French Guayana, I know not. I never fell in with either of them, although C. spinosa is certainly sometimes planted near the towns on the Amazon, and Poppig saw what he supposed to be C. digitata at Ega ; but we know, from the testimony of Martius, Mello, and others, that those species, or others scarcely distinguishable from them, are cer¬ tainly indigenous in Southern Brazil.

* In this enumeration are included, besides the twenty-five species described in the ‘ Prodromus,’ eleven species seen (and most of them gathered) by my¬ self in the Andes and on the Pacific coast.

f C. nana , Senth. PI. Hartw., a Mexican plant, whose entire height is said to be only inches, and without leaves, is probably a shoot from an old stock, such as I have seen in C. papaya.

8 M. J. C. DE MELLO AND ME. E. SPEUCE ON PAP AY ACE JE.

I suppose the West-India Islands to be the true native country of the common Papaw ; for it was found there abundantly at the time of the discovery of America. Thence it had spread south¬ ward across the continent, along with the tide of emigration that seems to have continually surged in that direction from the earliest ages ; for I have reason to believe that it grows nowhere wild on the mainland *. The earliest trustworthy account of it is in Oviedo’s ‘ Historia General y Natural de las Indias ’ (lib. viii. cap. 33), which I have translated and condensed as follows f : —

“ Of the tree which in this island, Hispaniola, they call Pa¬ paya, and in Terra-firm a PLigos del Jblastuergo, and in the province of Nicaragua, Olocoton.

“ In the western part of Terra-firma, in Veragua, and in islands adjacent to the coast, there are certain Pig-trees, tall, straight, and with a single unbranched trunk, whicli sends out at the top stout leaves, much broader than those of the Pig-trees of Cas- tille, on stalks half a fathom or more long. The figs, which are as big as melons, are stuck on the upper part of the trunk in great numbers ; they have a thin skin, and inside that a thick flesh, like that of a melon, only not so firm ; it is well-tasted, and is cut into slices like a melon. In the middle are the seeds, in a mass the size of a hen’s egg ; they are small and black, and are enveloped in a sort of humour like that of the seeds of quinces, but more viscid. They are wholesome to eat, and have exactly the taste of Mastuergo ( Tropceolum majus)', while the fig without the seed is sweet ; whence the Christians of Terra-firma call these fruits ‘ Higos del Mastuergo ’ [which is, as we might say in Eng-

glish, “ Nasturtium Figs ”] . Here [in Hispaniola] they are

called ‘ Papaya,’ and in the Government of Nicaragua ‘ Olocoton.’ There is, even, a province, between the province of Nogrando and that of Honduras, which is called Olocoton, where there are many of these Pig-trees. They have a trunk as thick as a man’s body, straight, and without a single branch ; this is the common form ; but there are others of the very same fruit which, when the trunk

* In the Eastern Peruvian Andes, near Tarapoto, at the height of 2000 feet, I have seen plants of C. papaya come up in a continuous growth covering some acres, upon a deserted clearing in the forest. It looked, when young, like a vast bed of hollyhocks ; and when the plants had reached 10 feet high, they began to flower. \et, although the seed had obviously fallen on a con¬ genial soil, no truly wild plant was to be seen anywhere in that region.

+ The first edition bears date 1535.

M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MB. B. SPBUCE ON PAPAYACEJE. 9

has reached the height of a man, put forth from one to as many as six branches — not spreading nor bent back, but straight and nearly as long as a lance, or sometimes twice that length.

“ . These straight shoots or branches bear at the top

several stout leaves of a pleasant green, two spans or more broad, on stalks three or even six spans long. The trees bear fruit until they are five or six years old ; but it grows smaller every year, and in the sixth year it is worthless. The figs ripen on the tree, not all at a time, but one by one ; so that when the lowest is ripe and yellow like wax, the others are still green and hard.” He concludes his account by saying that there are two kinds of these Fig-trees, one of which has long, and the other, round fruit, although in the taste and everything else they are exactly alike.

What is this other kind “ with round fruit,” barely mentioned by Oviedo, but described by Rochefort (‘ Histoire Naturelle des lies Antilles,’ 2e ed. Rotterdam, 1665), and figured by him at p. 66, as a tree as stout as G. papaya, but with much smaller leaves “ divisees en trois pointes ” not unlike those of the Rig, and with roundish fruits, which, he says, are the size of a pear ? On p. 67 is a figure of C. papaya, with its characteristic large deeply palmatifid thin ineiso-pinnatifid leaves, and elongate-ob- ovoid fruit, “ de la grosseur d’un melon, et de la figure d’une mammelle, d’ou vient que les Portugais l’ont nomme Mamao,” looking very distinct from the former, and said to be a much finer fruit. It is singular that our modern works contain no description which can be safely referred to this strongly marked trifid-leaved species from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and other of the Antilles; and I commend it for investigation to travellers and residents in those islands.

The ease with which the Papaw is cultivated, and the beauty and singularity of its aspect, have conduced — more perhaps than its large, luscious, but unsubstantial fruit — to render it a denizen of every warm country in the world. The fruit, although lightly esteemed by those who are new to it, is one of the most whole¬ some of tropical fruits. In South America it is eaten less as a dessert fruit than as a “ fresco,” or grateful “ cooler,” in the heat of the day, like water-melons and chirimoyas. It varies in flavour in different localities, being very insipid in some, but in others very sweet, as in the coast-valleys of Northern Peru. At Gua¬ yaquil the perfectly ripe fruit is still so milky that, after having been sliced and the seeds cleared out, it is usually put in water

10 M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MR. R. SPRUCE 01* PAPAYACEJE.

a short while to allow the milk to be drawn away, which would otherwise scorch the lips like wild pine-apples. Not that this acrid and slightly bitter milk is unwholesome ; on the contrary, its well- known anthelmintic property is perhaps the cause why eating the papaw-fruit is not known to produce ascarides, as indulgence in many other tropical fruits, such as mangos, is apt to do. Roche¬ fort says it fortifies the stomach and aids digestion. He adds that a sort of marmalade was prepared from it, with sugar and spices, as it it is to this day *.

The fully grown but not ripe fruit is an excellent vegetable, cooked in the same way as vegetable-marrow, which it much re¬ sembles in flavour. Meat boiled along with it is thereby ren¬ dered tender — an effect probably owing also to the milk, which, according the analysis of Vauquelin, is a highly animalized sub¬ stance, much resembling animal albumen. The same effect is said to follow from even hanging freshly-killed meat in the Papaw tree. This I have not seen tried; but I know that a tough parrot or macaw grows tender when wrapped for some time in the leaves, either before cooking or whilst being cooked. %

The leaves have, besides, slight detergent properties, and are used in the place of or along with soap. In Venezuela a decoc¬ tion of them is used to expel worms, in preference to the milk of the green fruit or of the trunk.

Fowls are very fond of the male flowers. I have seen them watch the day through under a tree from which every puff of wind brought down a shower of flowers, and fight for their pos¬ session.

Where Papayaceae most abound is on the wooded slopes of the Andes, both on the eastern and western sides, up to 8000 feet

* The acridity of the milky juice is said to be excessive in some of the acu¬ leate species, i. e. in the Jaracatice. What Bpecies is that spoken of by Poppig under the name “ Chamburu,” which (he says) is looked on by the inhabitants of Maynas with as much dread as the Upas tree of Java, that the juice which spirted over him when he cut the tree caused itching on the face and blistered the hands, that the flowers smell of human excrement, and that the fruit is not touched by any animal but a sort of ant? There is probably here a little of that exaggeration wherof we travellers are not unjustly accused. I lived in Maynas for two whole years, and gathered there four species of Carica , but I never saw or heard of any possessing those deleterious properties. Pop- pig supposes his plant to be the Carica digitata of Aublet, which Martins enumerates among those whose “ fructus crudus assatus et coctus comeditur” (Syn. Mat. Med. Veg. Bras. p. 23).

M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MB. E. SPBTJCE ON PAP AYACEiE . 11

elevation ; and it is there that travellers and sedentary botanists may confidently expect to find not only materials for the more perfect elucidation of the species already partially known, but also many new species, which doubtless still remain hidden in the savage recesses of the oriental Andes. They delight to grow on stony springy hill-sides, and on little plateaux, under the shade of loftier trees. They can scarcely be considered common plants ; and it is not often that many individuals of one kind grow near each other ; but on the south-western side of the volcano Tun- guragua, at the foot of the cascade Guandisagua, and near where its waters join the river Puela (at 7000-7500 feet), there are perfect groves of Chamburu — the common Carica of the Equa¬ torial Andes, where it is cultivated up to 9000 feet for the sake of its edible fruit. When I visited the spot, in February 1858, the ground was strewed with its ripened and rotting fruits (smaller and sweeter than those of the cultivated plant), which are said to be a favourite food of the bears that infest the forests of Tun- guragua. This Chamburu has a trunk as stout as that of the com¬ mon Papaw ; and the leaves are even still larger. The fruits are 8 or 9 inches long, and sometimes nearly as broad ; the flesh is whitish (not yellow, as in the Papaw), soft, and with a pleasant flavour — in cool sites sometimes very acid. Velasco says (* His- toria Natural de Quito,’ p. 58), with a little exaggeration, “ Es de las frutas de mayor y suavisima fragancia, bastantemente dulce, de bellisimo gusto.” Even this comparatively common species I cannot identify with any described one.

On the northern side of Tunguragua, towards the head of the tepid stream Baccun, I came upon four distinct species of Carica , growing together with Tree Ferns, two or three kinds of Citrosma, Higginsict latifolia, and other shrubby plants, under the shade of tall Laurels, Wieinmannia glabra , L. f., Turpinia venosa, sp. n., Dragon’s Blood (a lofty tree, with a stout buttressed trunk, ap¬ parently an undescribed Croton), a handsome Bubiaceous tree (Joosice sp., hb. 5195), and other forest-trees ; while the course of the Baccun was marked by red patches among the trees, arising from the rigid ferrugineo-tomentose foliage of Freziera lanata, B. et P. Three of the Caricce rose to trees, one them 40 feet high ; the other two barely exceeded half the height ; and the fourth (on which I saw only decayed remnants of fruits) was no thicker than a walking-stick, and barely 6 feet high. When I came upon them, I and my attendant were already laden with spe¬ cimens ; so that I had to content myself with a very few spe-

12 M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MB. B. SPRUCE ON PAPAYACEJE.

cimens of each Carica-, and when, some weeks afterwards, I found time to revisit the spot, a deluge of rain compelled me to limit my gatherings to ferns and mosses *.

The Carica that I have met with elsewhere in the Andes grew much more dispersedly. They are all small arbuscles, but often have ample foliage, which the natives boil and eat under the name of “ Cabbage ” (Col del Monte) ; and their fruit is a small scarlet or yellowish berry about an inch in diameter — in some species 5-celled, in others 1-celled ; but all these species have a valvate aestivation. Three of them grew in the Andes of Eastern Peru ( i . e. Maynas), and two others in the Chinchona forests of Chimborazo. I add at the foot extracts from my scanty notes on two of these plants, which may assist in identifying them +.

The handsomest species I have seen is one which I have dis¬ tributed under the name of Carica ( Vasconcellea) paniculata, sp. n., no. 6460. It grows at the level of the sea, in latitude 1|° S., in hollows on the desert coast of Chanduy, along with a few other

* Specimens of the leaves and flowers of three of these Carices are deposited at Kew. The fruits I was unable to preserve ; but I made a note of their cha¬ racters, which I here subjoin, to aid in determining the species : —

No. 5190, ? . Arbor trunco simplice, tenui, flexuoso, 20-pedali .

Fructus diametro vix biunciali, globoso-turbinatus, apiculo brevi, obscure penta¬ gons, augulis a basi ad medium usque depressis, a medio ad apicem elevatis, 5-locularis, pericarpio carnoso, 3 lin. crasso. Semina pauca, dissepimentis prse- cipue angulis parietalibus affixa, 4 Un. longa, anguste ovalia, muricibus ma- jusculis sub-6-seriatis obsessa.

No. 5191, $ . Arbor 25-pedalis, diametro 9 unc., subramosa .

Fructus (vix maturus) 23 x 15 unc. ovato-fusiformis pentagonus, angulis

latis obtusis, faciebus depresso-planis . Semina ut in priore, crebrius

muricata.

No. 5192. This species grew to a tree of 40 feet, branched upwards ; and the one I cut down was a male. All three species are very distinct in their foliage.

t No. 4345, £ . Carica heterophylla , Pcepp. (sec. cl. Bentham). — Sab. Andes Peruvianas, in sylvis montis Campana. Suffrutex 4-pedalis, basi sola ramosus. Folia 6-8-uncialia, pallide viridia, venis albis, basi cordata, alia in- tegra, alia basi 1-lobulata, aha pinnatim 5-partita. Flores pallide virides, 5- meri, in dymos axillares longissime pedunculatos dispositi. Corolla hypo* craterimorpha, tubo elongato tenui, limbo e laciniis angustis valvatis.

No. 4387, ? • Sab. Cum pr. etiam in M. Guayrapurina. Arbuscula mollis, simplex, supra medium foliosa. Folia magna, 5-partita, laciniis profunde lo* bat is, lobis oblongis cuspidatis acutis ; petiolo suceulento, 12-15-unciali. Racemi axillares, pauciflori. Flores luteo-virides, 5-meri. Calyx minimus. Petala li*

nearia, valvata, basi ipsa coalita. Stigmata elongata subteretia . Bacca

luteola, succulents, globosa, diametro unciah. Semina plurima, albuminosa ; embryone majusculo, cotyledonibus foliaceis.

M. J. C. DE MELLO AND ME. B. SPBUCE ON PAPAYACE.®. 13

shrubs that withstand the long drought ; and its naked wand-like stems, 9 feet high, stand up like dead sticks, until the rains (which are not usually more than one or two showers in the whole year ; and there have been years without any rain) revivify them, and they become clad at the growing apex with large deeply-cut leaves, whose veins and long petioles are usually crim¬ soned over, and from whose axils spring the pretty red flowers, which, in the male plant, are disposed in corymbose panicles.

To sum up. Scarcely any of the Papayacese can be called “ well known.” Of very few of them do our herbaria contain speci¬ mens of more than one sex ; and the inflorescence of even the commonest species has not been traced through its various phases until recently by Senhor Mello, who, it is to hoped, will con¬ tinue his interesting investigations, not only on the Papaws, but on all the plants within his reach which, from their bulk or their perishable nature, cannot be thoroughly studied from dried spe¬ cimens.

If, in the preceding remarks, I have presumed to comment on the labours of so eminent a botanist as M. de Candolle, I will allow him ( en revanche') to exclaim against those travellers (myself amongst the number) who have furnished him with such incomplete ma¬ terials. If he will take the trouble to refer to the accounts of the sufferings of Gonzalo Pizarro and his followers, and those of Madame Godin des Odonnais, in the terrible forest- deserts of the “ Land of Cinnamon ” (i. e. of the eastern side of the Equa¬ torial Andes), he will comprehend how often the traveller, whose energies are severely tasked to barely keep alive, is com¬ pelled to pass with a sigh the fine things he is unable to gather, much less to preserve, and how the few specimens he does con¬ trive to dry, amidst perpetual rains and privations of every kind, however incomplete they must often be, are very precious in his eyes, although the botanist who writes about them cannot and ought not to estimate them at more than their real worth. One word more. If the high priests of our science would be content to wait until they obtain complete specimens of the plants they describe, and not be so eager to baptize in their own name every discoloured fragment that disfigures their herbaria, their writings would gain in precision and completeness, and ensure their claim to the honour and gratitude of all posterity.

E. S.

January 3, 1867.

14 M. J. C. DE MELLO AND MR. R. SPRUCE ON PAPAYACEiE.

Note. — Mr. Hanbury has pointed out to me that the second or monoieous form of Carica papaya is plainly indicated by Piso (Hist. Nat. et Medic., Amstelaedami, 1658) in the 23rd chapter of his 4th Book, headed “ Pinoguagu mas et foemina, et Java- catia ,” the native names of Papaw being, as the author after¬ wards explains, Pinoguagu and Papay, although the Portuguese have called it Mamoeiro. According to Piso, if a male tree be transplanted about its third year, it generally brings forth a few fruits ; and his figure (p. 160) represents such a fruit-bearing male, the fruits being pendulous therefrom on long peduncles, precisely as described by Senhor Mello ; and he makes the fol¬ lowing comment on the fact : — “ Hence it is false that the males do not bear fruit, as also that the females do not bear fruit ex¬ cept by communication with the male ; for repeated experience has shown the contrary ; but the fruit of the male, when it is produced, hangs downwards on a long stalk.” (“ Falsum porro mares non ferre fructum, uti et foeminam non ferre fructum nisi mas adstet; contrarium enim multiplex experientia docuit ; fructus vero maris quando nascitur pendiculo illo longo pendulus est deor- sum versus, &c.,” Piso, l. c.) The fruit (he adds) is smaller and slenderer than in the female plant ; and the flesh is paler and not quite so palatable.

It is worthy of Senhor Mello’ s further inquiry whether the male plants which he has found bearing fruit have acquired that pro¬ perty by transplantation, or by some other accident of growth, which, by arresting the lateral development of the peduncles, has concentrated the nutriment in the axial flowers, thereby render¬ ing their otherwise abortive ovary capable of being fecundated.

The name Pino-guagu, i. e. Great Nettle, has probably been applied by the Brazilians to this plant from the similarity of its leaves to the large deeply -jagged foliage of some tro¬ pical Nettles. I have not myself heard it used. The name Papaya originated with the Caribs of the Isles ; and I have heard it variously pronounced by their descendants on the Orinoce and elsewhere, Papaya , Mapaya , and Mamaya. Humboldt supposes it derived from the Maypure (and Carib) word for “ honey,” viz. Mapa ; for the sweet taste of the fruit may be likened (he thinks) to that of honey.

E. S.

MR. J. E. HOWARD ON CINCHONA IN THE EAST INDIES. 15

DESCRIPTION OP PLATE I.

Flowering peduncle of a polygamous plant.

Bisexual flower of the same.

Ovary of a bisexual flower.

Ovary of a $ flower, from a female plant.

A $ flower, from a male plant, having the petals imbricating towards the right, hut twisted towards the left.

Another $ flower, from the same peduncle, having the petals imbri¬ cating towards the left, but twisted towards the right.

On the Cultivation of Cinchona in the East Indies.

By John Eliot Howard, F.L.S.

[Read Feb. 21, 1867.]

The examination of a recent remittance of the harks of different Cinchonce grown in the Government plantations at Ootacamund has afforded several results of botanical interest, as well as those feelings of satisfaction with which the progress of a great national experiment conducive to the welfare of mankind must ever be re¬ garded. The specimens of bark were removed from the trees in September and October 1866 by Mr. MTvor, under whose care they were grown. I beg the Society’s acceptance of a copy of the report of a chemical examination of these, which I have made to the Indian Government, and which indicates a very cheering progress in the cultivation.

The important deduction which appears to be legitimately de¬ rived from the above examination is the necessity of carefully dis¬ tinguishing between the different forms of allied plants which it is intended to cultivate. Whether these forms be looked upon as species or varieties, it will be seen that it is of vital importance to the success of the experiment that only those plants should be multiplied which are capable of giving a good result in their yield of alkaloid, and that those sorts should be rejected which are un¬ susceptible of improvement.

The Cinchona officinalis and its varieties offer the first confirma¬ tion of the above. The Linnean term was most correctly (in my opinion) restored by Dr. Hooker to the species described and figured by M. la Condamine, the bark of which also corresponds with that examined by Linnaeus as received from the collection of M. Seba, his friend. A specimen of the bark of this species is now before the Society. It was received by myself in 1859, from

Fig. l. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

16

MB. J. E. HOWABD ON THE CULTIVATION OF

Don T. Riofrio, liimself a native of Loja, together with flowering branches and capsules full of seeds of the same plant, from the mountains of Uritusinga, whence the Spanish botanist, Pavon, derived his name for the species. These seeds, having vegetated under my care, I was enabled to present a plant to the Indian Government, from which, up to February of last year, 8219 plants had been derived.

This is the C. officinalis of Dr. Hooker. In India, according to a “ Memorandum ” in the return (ordered to be printed 18th of June, 1866), it is called C. officinalis, var. Condaminea ; and the other sorts there grown are to be named var. Bonplandiana and var. crispa. +

It seems to me that if any designation is supplemented to the simple C. officinalis, it should be that of Pavon (locally descrip¬ tive), var. TJritusinga. This would be generally understood, as the name is still in constant use.

In the next place, the species is certainly not either of the forms figured in the * Plantes Equinoctiales and therefore the designation var. Condaminea is incorrect and tends to confusion, a confusion which already begins to be evident in India ; for in several of the returns all the varieties of Loja-bark are called “ Condaminea and its varieties,” all being classed together. Now, some of these are proved to be suited to peculiar climates, and should therefore be discriminated. The C. officinalis seems spe¬ cially suited to the climate of the sub-Himalayan aspects (as Darjeeling), as also to Ceylon. The var. crispa is specially suited to the summit of the Neilgherries, but seems to abound rather in colouring matters than in the alkaloids peculiar to these Barks.

The “Memorandum” states correctly that the C. Chahuarguera of Pavon is the plant represented in the unshaded branch with capsules in plate x. of the ‘ Plantes Equinoctiales,’ and therefore provides that it shall bear the name of Bonpland, and be the variety Bonplandiana.

But the above plant, the C. CJiahuarguera of Pavon, is not known at present in India. It is the original source of the “ Busty Crown Barks ” of English commerce. I should then call this C. CJiahuarguera of Pavon the var. /3. Condaminea.

The plant to which the “ Memorandum ” attaches the name is the var. colorada del Bey of the C. Chahuarguera, according to Pavon ; and if it is represented, as I think, by the bark which I examined, it is a great success, and must be carefully distinguished by the cultivator. It is represented by an original specimen of a

CINCHONA IN THE EAST INHLES.

17

flowering branch brought by Mr. R. Cross with the seeds which he collected for India. This is now before the Society. I should call this the var. JBonplandiana, adding the descriptive term colo- rata or lutea, according as we have to do with the form called colorada del Bey , or the amarilla del Bey , which last is not, I think, known in India.

The var. crispa may retain its name, which is descriptive. It is singular that the distinctive properties of the bark should so permanently outlive the change of soil and climate, and also that whilst the colorada del Bey has so greatly improved, this is the case in small degree with the var. crispa. The nomenclature would thus be "free from contradiction, which it is not at present ; and the names both of La Condamine and of Bonpland might be retained with complete consistency.

The remarkable plan of successful cultivation by renewal of the bark, in reference both to the C. succirubra and C. officinalis , var. Bonplandiana , has long been practised at Loja, as will be found by the details given to me by Don T. Riofrio, and recorded in my ‘ Illustrations of the Nueva Quinologia ’ under the head C. uritu- singa ; but Mr. M!Ivor was the first, so far as I am aware, to save the plant itself from the injurious results of the process. A drawing under the microscope, by Burgess, will show the anomalous formation of the bark in these Cascarillas resacadas.

As regards the bark of Cinchona Bah udiana, the results are new and striking. It appears, as I have said elsewhere, to indicate a sort of mean between the extreme depreciation in which it has been held by some parties and the commendation lavished on it by others. I lay before the Society specimens showing, as I ap¬ prehend, the entire distinctness of the plant from the C. Carabay- ensis of "Weddell, and its derivation from the C. crespilla chica of Hasskarl, by whom it was introduced into Java. It appears to be rather superior in point of produce of alkaloid to the fine bark of Loja (C. crispa or Quinajina) as grown in India.

The variety frutecc of the Calisaya, as grown in India, does not, I think, deserve to be cultivated. I have expressed myself so fully on this point, in a communication to the Botanical Congress of 1866, that I need not add much here. I have great hopes ol the produce of the seed recently introduced from the best pro¬ vince of Bolivia as vielding one or more sorts of Calisaya rich in quinine, and repaying to the cultivator. The var. frutex seems rather to deteriorate than to improve in India.

In conclusion I cannot avoid expressing my gratification at the 1-INN. PEOC. - BOTANT, VOE. X. C

18 "DR. M. T. MASTERS ON THE MORPHOLOGY OP THE MA'L VALES .

success which appears to he resting on this great and arduous national undertaking, and my desire that the cultivator should not rest on any one species exclusively, but that a wise selection should be made of those which have been proved to be most ad¬ vantageous, and that all the remaining species which promise well should by degrees be added to those now under cultivation.

On some points in the Morphology of the Malvales, together with a description of a new genus of Buettneriece. By M. T. Masters, M.D., F.L.S. &c.

(Plates II. and III.)

[Read Dec. 20, 1866.]

Having, through the kindness of Dr. Hooker and Prof. Oliver, been entrusted with the task of working up the Malvaceae and allied Orders of tropical Africa, I have necessarily had to examine the structure of the flowers in a large number of the genera of these Orders. The floral arrangements are so peculiar, that they have attracted great attention on the part of morphologists, and they are so distinctive that there has been very little difference of opinion among systematists as to the intimate relationship existing between the various members of the group. AVhile some botanists have classified the plants in question under the heads of several families, e. g. Malvaceae, Bombacece, Sterculiacece, Buettneriaceae, &c., others have combined them into fewer and larger groups, as has been done by Bentham and Hooker (£ Gren. Plant.’ i. p. ix*), who, under the head of their “ Cohors VI. Malvales,” include three orders, viz. Malvaceae , Sterculiacece, and Tiliacece, a group corre¬ sponding to Lindley’s Malval alliance, but improved by the removal of Tropaeolacece and Vivianaceae.

Although, for convenience’ sake, it may be desirable to retain the Order Sterculiacece as distinct from Malvaceae, yet the two groups are so intimately connected in their morphological construction, that it is hardly possible to comprehend the peculiar structural arrangements of the one, without comparing them with the cor¬ responding parts in the other.

Moreover the one-celled anthers of Mallows-proper really afford

* See also Bentham in Journ. of Linn. Soc. 1862, vol. vi. p. 97 ; and Boc- !quillon, ‘ Sur le Groupe dea Tiliacees,’ p. 46 (Adansonia, vol. vii. p. 17).

DR. M. T. MASTERS ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MALY ALES. 10

no intrinsic distinction from tliose of Sterculiacece, the anthers of the Mallows being, in the first instance, truly bilocular.

I propose, in this communication, to allude to some of the more salient features in the structure of the Malvacece and Stercidiacece, omitting for the present the Tiliacece, and proceeding from the most simple cases ivp to the most complex. I hope to be able to show how all these forms may be linked together, and in what manner their peculiarities may be referred to the ordinary type.

Of the calyx and epicalyx it is not necessary to say much, as their modifications are few, and, for purposes of mere classification, comparatively unimportant. In order to arrive at a correct under¬ standing of the corolla, it is necessary to consider it in connexion with the androecium. Taking, then, the petals with the stamens, we find in the Malvales that these organs are of the gi’eatest im¬ portance for classifieatory purposes. Not only does the connexion of the stamens furnish one of the best characters of the entire group, but even in the discrimination of smaller subdivisions (such as the genera) the appearances presented by the “ column ” are of the greatest value, as the characters thence derived exceed in number, in constancy, and in relative importance those obtained from the other parts of the flower.

A glance at the characters of the genera will suffice to show the truth of this assertion. The main points to which I in¬ tend to refer in this communication are the following : — the oc¬ casional total absence of the corolla, as in Sterculia, in which genus it often happens, as if by compensation, that the calyx is brightly coloured ; the imbricated and twisted aestivation of the petals, except in Buettneriece, where they are valvate or induplicate, their very general adhesion to the stamens, the generally large number of the latter organs, their cohesion in various degrees, and their superposition to the petals.

The presence or absence of staminodes is also a feature of con¬ siderable importance.

By attention to these points (which by no means constitute the whole of the peculiarities of this remarkable group) it is possible, I think, to arrive at a satisfactory explanation of the morphological construction of the corolla and androecium. And first as to the ab¬ sence of the corolla, as in Sterculia, Cheirostemon, Fremontia , &c.

In Sterculia the number of stamens and their arrangement is such that, in the fully developed flower at least, it is not possible to make out accurately their exact position with reference to the lobes of the calyx ; but in Fremontia the stamens alternate with

c 2

20 1)R. M. T. MASTERS ON TIIE MORPHOLOGY OP THE MALYALES.

the sepals, as they seem to do also in Cheirostemon. In the latter plant the anthers are all turned to one side, in the same way as the petals of a ligulate corolla. Considering, from a recent exa¬ mination of living specimens, that the androecium of Fremontia and Cheirostemon is really pentandrous, an opinion now enter¬ tained by Dr. Hooker (see Bot. Mag. 1866, tab. 5591), and not decandrous as formerly supposed, the arrangement of the sepals and stamens, in the plants just named, may be expressed as follows : — •

s s s s s

st st st st st

In Waltheria there are five petals and a column of five united stamens, which latter are clearly antipetalous.

This arrangement may be symbolized in the following man¬ ner : —

s s s s s

p p p p p

st st st st st

s s, representing the sepals ; p p, the petals ; st st, the stamens placed in front of the petals.

In Bombax, Friodendron, &c. the stamens, instead of being simple, are compound, the five antipetalous bundles representing, not so many groups of distinct stamens, but five originally simple stamens each split up into many subdivisions. This may be re¬ presented as follows : —

s s s s s

p p p p p

sts sts sts sts sts

In Sidalcea the stamens are in two rows, and show a tendency to become united into phalanges ; or, more properly speaking, there are ten compound stamens in two rows, five outer antipetalous groups alternating with five inner sets. The formula for this would be —

s s s s s

p p p p p

sts sts sts sts sts

sts sts sts sts sts

In Hibiscus and some other genera the staminal column is ter¬ minated by five teeth or staminodes, which represent probably the inner staminal whorl of Sidalcea. This arrangement is shown by the following symbol, X X denoting the staminodes : —

DB. M. T. MASTEKS 0>T THE MOKPUOLOOT OF THE MALYALES. 21

S S 8 S S

P P P P P

sts sts sts sts sts

X X X X X

In Bavonia, oh the other hand, according to Payer, the sterile teeth of the column are antipetalous.

In Dombeyece, and in some other tribes, well-defined staminodes occur, these staminodes being usually five in number and anti- sepalous; even in Melhania, where a staminode and a stamen appear to be placed in front of each petal, it has been well remarked by Bentham that they are not placed in the centre of the petal (Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. vi. p. 119). This arrangement occurs in Rulingia and other genera, and may be represented thus : — s s s s s

p p p p p

X st x st X st X st X st

In Dombeya and Pterosp erm um Ac. there are fifteen stamens in five antipetalous groups, there being between each group of three stamens one staminode, thus —

s s s s s

p p p p p

X 3 sts X 3 sts x 3 sts x 3 sts X 3 sts

In Kleinhovia , Buettneria, Theobronia, and some other genera, including Scaphopetalum, a new genus from West Equatorial Africa, a description of which is hereto appended, there are likewise three antipetalous stamens, partially concealed within the concavity of each of the petals, and alternating with staminodia of various forms, but which are always five in number and almost invariably antisepalous in position. In the tribe Buettneriece especially, and in some other genera, the petals are not only concave but marked with very prominent nerves, as are also to a less extent the sepals. In the new genus to which I have referred, the cellular tissue between the nerves is relatively so abundant that it is thrown into folds forming longitudinal furrows between the ridge-like nerves. The same peculiarity exists to some extent in the sepals of these plants.

In Glossostemon the arrangement is yet more singular. In this plant there are five sepals, five petals, five staminodes, and thirty stamens, the position of which is variously described by different authors. Endlielier (Gen. Plant, p. 1003. no. 5350) describes ten of them as adnate to the base of the staminodes, “ decern filament is

22 DE. M. T. HASTEES ON THE MOKEHOLOGY OF THE MALY ALES.

sterilibus contiguct, iisdem usque ad medium adnata .” Bentham (Benth. et Hook. Gen. Plant, p. 224, no. 2G) describes them as “ Stamina * * * pluriseriatim connata, 5 intima ananihera ( sta - minodia) anguste petaloidea acuminata cum petalis alternantia, an- therifera go, interiora staminodiis basi adnata , cetera sub 4<-natim cum staminodiis alternantia ,” &c.

Neither of these descriptions appears to me to be strictly cor¬ rect ; but not having examined living specimens in various stages, I would wish to express myself with diffidence upon this point. It appears to me, from the dissection of dried flower-buds, that in this plant there are five staminodes placed opposite to the sepals (antisepalous as usual), and that on each side of the sta- minode there are three perfect stamens, not adnate to it but really forming part of it. I consider, then, that in this plant there are five compound stamens, the central lobe of each of which is petaloid and traversed by a central prominent midrib, while the three (sometimes four) lobes on each side of the cen¬ tral one are filamentous, and surmounted each by a perfect an¬ ther*. According to the view taken by the authors I have cited, there would be two rows of stamens- — an outer wholly fertile, an inner partly sterile, partly fertile. But so far as I am able to judge, there is but one row of stamens, the apparent existence of two rows being accounted for by the revolution of the margins of the compound stamina! leaf, which thus is somewhat concave, the concavity being turned outwards, so that the anthers are thrust into the concavity of the petals. Even supposing there were two rows of stamens, the law of alternation would still be interfered with in this case, as the staminode is unquestion¬ ably antisepalous.

Whether in Glossostemon there are two rows of stamens, or, as I believe, only one, is a point that can only be definitely decided when the organogeny of the flower shall have been studied; but as¬ suming the correctness of my interpretation of its structure, the question arises whether or not in some other of the Malvales where there are apparently two or more rows of stamens, that appear¬ ance is or is not fallacious. In Sidalcea it can hardly be so ; in

* Mr. Bentham himself seems at one time to have arrived at the same conclu¬ sions as to the structure of this plant (see Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. vi. p. 119) ; but in the ‘ Genera Plantarum,’ as already stated, the androecium is differently described. In the Tiliaceous genus Leptonychia a somewhat similar arrange¬ ment prevails. In this plant on either side of the staminodes which are super¬ posed to the sepals are two stamens — one fertile, the other destitute of an anther.

DR. H. T. MASTERS OJT THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MALVALES. 23

that genus, and probably in others, there are really two or more rows of stamens ; and I may here remark that, in Malope, the sta¬ mens, after the shedding of the pollen, arrange themselves in vertical ranks, a pair of which alternate with the petals and present an arrangement precisely similar to that of the stamens in the bud of Glossostemon, where opposite each sepal, and therefore between two petals, the stamens may be seen arranged in two vertical ranks, each rank consisting of three stamens one above the other, so as to give an impression at first sight as if there were three rows of stamens : the arrangement in Glossostemon may be repre-

sented as follows : s	s	s	s	s
st st	p p p st st st st	p st st	st st
st st	st st	st st	st st	st st
st st	st st	st st	st st	st st
X	X	X	X	X

From this it will be seen that the three anthers on each side of the petal belong to two different groups ; and, after macerating the flower of Glossostemon, the staminode may be readily sepa¬ rated with the three fertile stamens on each side of it ; and owing to the revolution of the margins, as before stated, the anther¬ bearing filaments, or some of them, appear to be on a plane external to that of the staminode. It may here further be re¬ marked that the nervation of the staminode with the stamens attached to, or rather branching from it, and that of the petals is identical ; in both instances there is a prominent midrib with three smaller ribs on each side of it ; in the petal these six lateral ribs converge towards the acuminate end, and are connected together by intervening cellular tissue, while in the stamen the central rib alone is covered with cellular tissue, forming the staminode, the six lateral ribs being free, divergent, and surmounted by anthers. The carpels of Glossostemon are five in number, so that the entire floral arrangement may be represented by the following for¬ mula, c denoting the carpels : —

s s s s s

p p p p p

3stsx3sts 3stsx3sts 3stsx3sts 3stsx3sts 3stsx3sts c c c c c

The illustrations given will apply to most of the modifications

presented by the petals and stamens in the group Malvales ; and in order to explain them, it is desirable to have recourse not only

24 DR. M. T. MASTERS OX' THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MALVALES.

to analogy, as has been done by Asa Gray, Bentbam, and others, but also to organogeny, as studied by Payer, Duchartre, Baillou and A. Dickson. Unfortunately the latter writers are not in accord¬ ance one with another on all points. Duchartre # considers that the petals and stamens of Mallows are identical in their origin, being developed from five papillae, alternate with the sepals ; and that each papilla in process of time divides so as to give origin to a petal and a cluster of stamens, the union of the five clusters forming the column. This view receives the support of Asa Gray +, who cites in its favour the case of Sidalcea, before mentioned.

Payer J dissents from the conclusions of Duchartre, and asserts that the petals originate earlier than, and distinct from, the sta¬ mens, and moreover that the latter organs are developed centrifu- gally, i. e. from the centre to the circumference, and not from the circumference to the centre, as stated by Duchartre. The appear¬ ances in the young bud of Glossostemon conform with the views of Payer, as the staminode is in advance of the stamens in its development, and of the stamens that are attached to it the uppermost are evidently developed first ; so that, assuming the staminode, with the stamens, to be the analogue of a digitate leaf, the central lobe or staminode is developed first, the lateral lobes or fertile stamens subsequently, and in regular order, from above downwards, as appears to be the general rule in the case of compound stamens. All observers seem to be agreed that the fertile stamens originate in front of the petals, and not alternately with them ; so that there is really or appa¬ rently an exception to the law of alternation. There are seve¬ ral ways by means of which this anomaly may be explained ; but as they are for the most part of a hypothetical nature, I shall merely indicate them briefly.

In the first place, then, the opposition of the stamens to the petals may be accounted for on the supposition that an outer row of stamens is suppressed ; but, in the majority of instances, the existence of this outer row is purely hypothetical, while in those cases (such as Glossostemon) where a second row is con¬ sidered by some to exist, the law of alternation is still interfered with, as the inner row (the staminodes) is placed opposite to the sepals, and not opposite to the petals, as it ought to be. In the next place, it is possible to arrive at an explanation of the

* Ann. Sc. Nat. 3rd ser. vol. iv. p. 123. f Gen. Flor. Am. vol. ii. p.

| ‘ Traite d’Organogenie Coniparee de la Fleur ’ (1857), p. 29, tab. 6, 7, & See also Baillon, ‘ Adansonia,’ vol. ii. p. 166.

DK. M. T. MASTERS ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MALY ALES. 25

structure in question by considering the petals to constitute a portion of the androecium, and not a true corolla, just in the same way as the petals of Bosacece are considered by Dr. Alexander Dickson to belong to the staminal whorl * ; and this notion is in¬ directly supported by the frequent absence of the corolla in Sterculia, or its minuteness, as in Guichenotia &c. But this view is not borne out by organogeny, it being pretty clearly ascertained that the petals and stamens are distinct in their origin, and that the former precede the latter in their develop¬ ment. This original separation of the two whorls also precludes the acceptance of a third hypothesis, that the stamens are pro¬ duced from the petals by ehorisis or dtdoublement.

The hypothesis which appears to me to have the greatest amount of support from comparative morphology or analogy, is one accord¬ ing to which the key to the whole structure would be afforded by the presence and relative position of the staminodes. These are generally live in number, and almost invariably opposite to the sepals, thus occupying the normal position of the stamens. Payer, indeed, states that, in Bavonia, the sterile teeth of the column are antipetalous, an assertion of the truth of which I have not been able hitherto to convince myself, though in some Tiliacece the staminodes are superposed to the petals. But even if it be so, the probable existence of more than one row of stamens in this genus would still leave my hypothesis unaffected. I consider that the central lobe of the staminal leaf is placed almost inva¬ riably, if not always opposite to a sepal, that sometimes this cen¬ tral lobe is fertile, i. e. antheriferous, and then it does not differ from the ordinary stamens ; at other times it is sterile and peta- loid, always traversed by a central rib, and then receives the name of staminode. Such a case as Waltheria, where there is a single stamen in front of a single petal, may be explained by the partial suppression of the central and of one of the lateral lobes of the stamen, one lateral filament alone being developed. Traces of the suppressed organs may, indeed, be seen in young flower-buds at the very base of the flower ; and it is probable that they would be more clearly seen in fresh flowers ; at any rate it is easy to see that the stamen is not exactly central. Moreover, al¬ though, as a general rule, where the staminode is immediately in front of a sepal and has on each side of it one, two, or more sta¬ mens it may be considered to represent the terminal or central lobe of a digitate leaf, yet in other cases it may be that the * fcSeemaiin’s Journal of Botany, rol. iii. p. 216.

2G DR. M. T. MASTERS OJf THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MALYALES.

staminode represents one of the lateral rather than the terminal lobe. This notion derives support from the exceptions to the rule. Thus in Sparmannia and Ilonckenya, Tiliaceous genera, the anan- therous filaments are external, corresponding to the lateral lobes of a leaf, and as such they may be and are indefinite as to num¬ ber, while in those cases where the staminodes are internal they are always definite in number.

Such an instance as Dombeya, where there are fifteen stamens placed in groups of three between each staminode, presents a diffi¬ culty that I can only explain by what is a mere assumption, but still one that is, I believe, quite legitimate, viz. that only a portion of each staminal leaf is developed, and that there should be three more stamens on one side of the staminode, so as to render it like that of Glossostemon before referred to. If the twisted and very oblique petals of Dombeya be borne in mind, there will be no difficulty in supposing that a similar inequality of growth may have taken place in the stamens. The explanation here offered corresponds closely with that given by Mr. Bentham, in his “Notes on Malvaceae and Sterculiacece ,” to which I have often referred in this communication, and is, I believe, in greater conformity with the facts recorded by morphologists and organogenists than any other. That it is open to some objections is obvious ; and many of these cannot be removed till the organogeny of the group is known. I may here add that the view I have taken serves to explain the structure of some double flowers in this order, other¬ wise very puzzling. In some double Hollyhocks, Althcea , Hi¬ biscus, &c., there is an appearance as if tufts of petals originated from the column, the face of one petal being placed opposite to the face of another petal, the two being separated by a crowded mass of smaller petals, so that the appearance of the whole is very much as if a series of axillary buds had been formed within the primary petals, — against which view, however, it may be stated that there is no calyx and no pistil in these apparent buds ; moreover in some semi-double flowers the nature of the case becomes obvious, and it may be seen that some of the petals of the tuft correspond to the staminodes of Dombeya etc., others in the same tuft to the fertile stamens, and others to the petals. In truth, a diagrammatic section of the flower of some of these semi-double Ilibisci is identical with that of Dombeya, with the exception that the fertile divisions of the stamens are, in the case of the semi-double flower, replaced by petaloid expansions *.

* The staminodes would seem in some cases to have not merely a morpholo-

DK. M. T. MASTERS OK A NEW GENUS OF B U ETTNE KIEJ3 . 27

As to the pistil, it is subject to many modifications. As examples may be mentioned the unilocular (by abortion) pistil of Waltheria, the verticillate pluriearpellary arrangement of Malva,Ab utilon, while inMalopetmd other genera the carpels are arranged in convex heads, very different in outward appearance from the capsular-fruited ge¬ nera, such as Hibiscus, the indehiscent pods of Adansonia, or the suc¬ culent-fruited Malvaviscus. Generally the number of styles corre¬ sponds to the cavities of the ovary; but inPavonia there are twice as many styles as loculi. In those instances where the carpels equal the sepals in number, they are sometimes placed opposite to the sepals, as in Melhania, Hermannia, Dombeyct, Cheirostemon, Senra ; but more generally they alternate with the sepals, e.g. Melochia, TJrena , &c.

The variation in number of the carpels may be accounted for, as Dr. A. Dickson has suggested, by considering the carpels to be compound, like the stamens ; and the diversity in rela¬ tive position may be satisfactorily explained by supposing that the antipetalous carpels are developed in some cases, the anti- sepalous ones in others, Pavonia affording an illustration of an intermediate condition in which the perfect carpels are some¬ times antisepalous, and the abortive ones (represented by the styles only) are antipetalous ; at other times, in other species of the genus, the converse arrangement occurs*.

On Scaphopetalum, a new Genus of Buettnerieae.

Among the many interesting plants collected by Mann in Western Equatorial Africa (lat. 1° N.) are representatives of three species, constituting, as I believe, a new genus of Buettneriece, closely allied to Theobroma, but distinguished from it and other neighbouring genera by the absence of an appendage to the petals. The late Mr. Allan Black had noted in the Kewr herbarium that two of the species now to be described belonged to a new genus “ near Myrodia but he does not appear to have affixed a name to the genus, or to have published any notes concerning it. As considerable interest attaches to the plants, botli in a morpho¬ logical point of view and also with reference to geographical dis¬ tribution, I avail myself of the present opportunity, with the

gical interest, but to be of physiological importance, if I may judge from what takes place in a species of Dombeya (D. Mastersii, Hook. B. M. tab. 5639), where the staminodes appear to wipe out the pollen from the anthers and convey it to the stigmas. See Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1867, p. 14 (sub I). angulata).

* Dickson, Trans. Bot. Soc. Ed. vol. viii. p. 229.

28 DR. H. T. MASTERS ON A NEW GENUS OE BUETTNERIE2E.

permission of Professor Oliver, of giving the characters of the genus in question.

SOAPHOPETALUM, U. g.

Calyx 5-sepalus, sepalis fere liberis vel cohaerentibus, denique rumpentibus calycem. bivalvem efformantibus. Petala 5, dorso convesa, apice cucullata, exappendiculata, 5-nervosa. JIrceoli staminei lobi 5 anantheri, rotundati, revoluti, petalis alterni ; antherce in seriebus 3, loeulis basi divaricatis. Ova¬ rium sessile, 5-loculare, loeulis OO-ovulatis. Styli connati. Stigma obsolete 5-lobum. Eructus * * *. Arbores v. arbus- culce. Folia petiolata, simplicia,oblonga, unicostata,retinervia. StipulcB nervoso-striatse. Pedunculi e trunco vel ramis vetus- tioribus nascentes, elongati vel fasciculati. Corolla flava.

S. longe pedunculatum. Foliis breviter petiolatis, oblongo-lanceo- latis, acuminatis, glabris; pedunculo elongato, pendulo (v. supra terrain repente?), filiformi, versus apice m in pedicellos breves cymosos diviso ; sepalis lanceolatis, distinctis vel ima basi vix connatis; petalis obtusis, calceolatis, obscure striatis; urceolo stamineo 5-angulato, campanulato, antherarum loeulis basi divergentibus.

Loc. “ Mount John, Kongui River,” Mann, in herb. Hook. n. 1836 !

Frutex 3-pedalis. Ramuli tortuosi. Petioli 3-4 lin. longi. Stipules subulatse, obscure striata;, petiolos sequantes. Folia oblongo-lanceolata, integra, acuminata, glabra, unicostata, reticulata, 4-6 unc. longa, 1-3 unc. lata. Pedunculus flagelliformis, pendulus (v. repens?), 18 poll, longus, apice cymam multifloram gerens. Pedicelli pollicares et ultra. Bracteolce minutae, subulatse. Alabastra ovato-acuta. Sepala ovato- acuta, extus tomentosa, intus prope basin carinata, longitudine vix pollicaria. Petala, sepalis diiuidio breviora, obtusa, cucullata, leviter nervoso-striata. Urceolus stamineus membranaceus, campanulatus, 5-angulatus, superne decemfidus, lobis quinque anautheris rotundatis, demum reflexis, sepalis oppositis, totidem fertilibus petalis opposit’ antheras tres, intra petali cucullum reconditas, gerentibus. Antherarum loculi, ob connectivum latum, basi divergentes. Ovarium oblongum, 5- lobum, 5-loculare. Ovula c c, amphitropa, placentse axili biseriatim af* fixa. Stylus intra tubum stamineum inclusus. Stigma terminale, obscure 5-lobum.

A plant remarkable for its long, pendulous, or creeping, whip¬ like inflorescence, recalling, as was pointed out to me by Pro¬ fessor Oliver, that of some species of Gomphia. From the sides of the peduncle proceed here and there minute branching thread¬ like bodies, like adventitious roots, but which may possibly be abortive pedicels. The petals are not so strongly striate as m the two following species ; and the calyx consists of five distinct

DE. M. T. MASTEES ON A NEW GENUS OF BUETTNEEIEA:. 29

(or nearly so) sepals, longer than the petals. Whether these arc points of greater than specific value cannot be determined till better materials are accessible ; but in the meantime I consider the agreement in all other points to be so great that it is better to place them all in one genus.

S. Blackii. Foliis breviter petiolatis, oblongis, acuminatis ; floribus fasciculatis, pedicellis brevibus, calyce clauso, subcoriaceo, demum bivalvi, valvis cymbiformibus ; petalis eucullatis, obtusis, nervoso-stri- atis, plicatis sulcatisque; tubo stamineo 5-angulari, infundibulifortni.

Loc. “ Mount John, Kongui River,” Mann. n. 1838, in herb. Hookl

Frutex 4-5-pedalis. Ramuli virgati, puberuli. Petioli 3-4 lin. longi. Stipula subulato-lanceolatm, nervoso-striatae, petiolos sequantes. Folia 5-8 poll, longa, 2-4 poll', lata, oblonga, integra, acuminata, glabra, subcoriacea, venatione reticulata. Pedicelli breves (4-5 lin.), fascicu- lati, erecti, e ramis nascentes. Bracteola minutae, subulatae. Ala- bastra subglobosa. Calyx subcoriaceus, purpureus, clausus, demum irregulariter rumpens, bivalvis, valvis cymbiformibus, patentibus, intus pilis parvis appressis munitus. Petala calceiformia, obtusa, eucullata, 5-striata, plieata, sulcata, glabra, sepalis paullo breviora. Tubus stamineus petaloideus, infundibuliformis, 5-angularis, apice 10-lobatus; lobis sterilibus 5, reflexis; lobis fertilibus totidem, an- theras biloculares tres, in petalorum cucullis reconditas, gerentibus. Ovarium oblongum, 5-lobum, 5-loculare, tubo stamineo dimidio bre- vius. Stylus inclusus, stigma obscure 5-lobum. Ovula in quovis loculo 00, amphitropa, placentae axili biseriatim affixa. Fructus - .

This plant differs from the preceding in its inflorescence, and especially in the calyx. I have dedicated it to the late Mr. A. Black, who indicated as new the genus to which it belongs.

S. Mannii. Foliis breviter petiolatis, subcordatis, basi dilatatis, supra basin parum angustatis, oblongo-lanceolatis, acuminatis ; stipulis lan- ceolatis, nervoso-striatis ; floribus fasciculatis, calyce gamosepalo, demum bivalvi, valvis cymbiformibus, patentibus ; petalis oblongis, obtusis, eucullatis, nervoso-striatis, plicatis, sepala superantibus ; tubo stamineo membranaceo, infundibuliformi, 5-angulari.

Loc. “ Mount John, Kongui River,” Mann, in herb. Hook. n. 1837 !

Frutex 3-4-pedalis. Ramuli tortuosi, rugosi. Petioli 3-4 lin. longi. Stipwtepersistentes, lanceolatae, nervoso-striatae, petiolos subaequantes. Folia subcordata, supra basin angustata, oblongo-lanceolata, acumi¬ nata, venatione reticulata, glabra, subcoriacea, 8-9 poll, long., I-I5 lat. Pedicelli 1-flori, fasciculati, unciales, basi bracteolatae, e ramis laterali- ter nascentes. Alabastra ovato-oblonga. Calyx purpureus, coriaceus, 5-sepalus (sepalis connatis), demum bivalvis, valvis cymbiformibus horizontaliter patentibus, 5-6 lin. long. Petala flava, oblonga, obtusa, apice eucullata, nervoso-striata, calvcem superantia. Tubus stamineus

30 REV. W. A. LEIOIITON ON NEW NEW-ZEALAND LICHENS.

membranaceus, infundibuliformis, 5-angulatus, 10-costatus, margine superne 10-fidus ; lobis anantheris 5, cum petalis alternantibus, re- flexis ; lobis fertilibus antheras 3, biloculares (loculis divaricatis), in cucullis petalorum reconditas gerentibus. Ovarium oblongum, vil- losum, subquinquelobatum, 5-loculare. Ovula 00, amphitropa, pla¬ centae axili biseriatim affixa. Stylus inclusus. Stigma minutum, ob¬ scure 5-lobum.

The peculiar form of the leaves, and the larger flowers, serve to distinguish this from the preceding.

I am indebted to Mr. Fitch for the drawings that accompany this communication.

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

Plate II.

Scaphopetalum longe peduncidatum.

1, leaf; 2, inflorescence ; 3, flower, showing calyx and corolla; 4, corolla opened to show the staminal tube. In older flowers the margin of the tube is reflected ; 5, outer surface of petal ; 6, ovary ; 7, transverse section of ovary.

Plate III.

Scaphopetalum Mannii.

1, leaf; 2, inflorescence ; 3, calyx opened; 4, corolla and staminal tube ; 5, portion of staminal tube ; 6, ovary ; 7, cross section of ovary.

Scaphopetalum Blackii.

8, leaf with inflorescence; 9, flower; 10, back of a petal; 11, front of a petal ; 12, portion of the staminal tube ; 13, ovary ; 14, cross section of ovary.

The drawings have been taken from flower-buds, and not from fully developed flowers, in which the staminal tube is larger in proportion than is shown in the figures.

Additions to the Lichens of New Zealand. By Rev. W. A. Leighton, B.A., F.L.S.

(Plate IY.)

[Read February 21, 1867.]

By the courtesy of Dr. Hooker, the learned Director at Kew, I have lately enjoyed the opportunity of examining a portion of the unarranged lichens in the Hookerian herbarium, and have de¬ tected the following amongst the collections made in New Zea¬ land by William Colenso, Esq., F.L.S. , in the year 1865-1S66> which are undescribed and new.

RET. W. A. LEIGHTON ON NEW NEW-ZE ALAND LIOTENS. 31

1. B^omyces h^emotropus, Leight., n. sp. Thallus crustaceus, tenuis, pallide fulvo-ochroleucus, glaber, verrucoso-rugosus, excavato- reticulatus ; stipes brevissimus ; apothecium eapituliforme, rotun- datum, depressum, immarginatum, carneo-subfuscura ; sporse ? sph*- riese, incolores, indistincte visse.

Incrustans terrain atque gramma calcata. Northern Island ( Colenso in herb. Hooker.).

The thallus of this interesting lichen is of a pale tawny-nan¬ keen-colour, and closely in crusts the earth and grass over which it grows. The excavato-reticulate appearance is produced by the cicatrices from which the stipites of fructification have fallen, thus leaving minute, shallow, rounded depressions. The plant was in a young state, as I could not clearly distinguish the la¬ mina proligera ; nor am I certain that what I have described as spores are really such. When the hydrate of potasli is applied, the entire lichen (thallus and fructification) becomes of a light yellow hue, which immediately changes to a permanent deep san¬ guineous red. In all other species of Bceomyces which I have examined, the thallus exhibited a permanent yellow reaction, and the fructification an orange-scarlet or brown reaction.

Plate IV. fig. 1. Bceomyces hcemotropus , nat. size ; fig. 2. vertical section of fructification, magnified.

2. Lecidea decedens, Nyl., n. sp. Thallus crustaceus, ochro- leucus, tenuissimus, minute rimosus ; areola; parv* depress* glabra; ; apothecia multo majora areolis, prominentia, sessilia ; discus planus, pruinosus, margine nigro, elevato, tenui, acuto cinctus ; spor* 8, elongato-oblong*, fuse*, biloculares; hypothecium crassum, nigro- brunneum, opacum ; paraphyses valid*, distinct*, apicibus incrassatis.

Ad saxa. New Zealand ; littoral rocks, south side of Wellington Harbour ( Colenso , no. 6543, in herb. Hooker.).

The nuclei of the spores approached more or less near to each other, thus giving an appearance of a wider or narrower septum.

Plate IV. fig. 3, Lecidea decedens , slightly enlarged ; fig. 4, vertical sec¬ tion of apothecium, magn. ; fig- 5, ascus and paraphyses, magn. ; fig. 6, spores, magn. 600.

3. Lecidea airuginosa, Nyl. Chil. Thallus crustaceus, tenuis, ochroleuco-flavidus, rimulosus ; areol* depresso-couvexiuscul*, gla- br* ; apothecia multo majora areolis, prominentia, sessilia, discus nigro-brunneus, convexiusculus, margine corneo, crassiuseulo, pallido, integro, s*pe undulato cinctus ; hypothecium pallidum ; spor* 8, ob¬ long*, simplices, incolores.

Ad saxa. New Zealand; same station as the preceding ( Colenso in herb. Hooker. 6541-6544).

32 REV. W. A. LEIGHTON ON NEW NEW-ZEALAND LICHENS.

Nyl. Addit. Chil. .164, says, “ hypothecium lateribus deni- gratum, apotlieciaque aeruginose pruinosa.” These appearances I have not observed in the specimens before me, in which the hypothecium was pale and, with the lamina proligera, imbedded in a pale brownish horny receptacle, whose upper edge con¬ stituted the margin of the apothecium. The paraphyses were slender and distinct, but closely packed. The aqueous solution of iodine turned the whole lamina proligera of a dark blue ; but on separating the asci and spores, they were found to be turned to a dark-brown colour.

Plate IY. fig 13, section of apotliecium, enlarged ; fig. 14, spores, magn. 600.

4. Lecidea parasitica, Flk. Parasitic on Lecanora par ella. New Zealand ( Colenso in herb. Hooker.).

5. Lecanora leucophsa, Flk.

Ad saxa. New Zealand; dry beaches near Napier ( Colenso , no. 6445, in herb. Hooker.).

6. Lecanora pachypholis, Nyl., n. sp. Thallus crustaceus, cras- sissimus, cinereo-glaucescens, profunde rimosus ; areolae magnae, tur- gidae, depresso-convexae, glabrae, minute verrucoso-crenulato-corru- gatae, distinctissime et abundanter punctatae spermogoniis nigris ; apo- thecia magna, prominentia, areolis insidentia ; discus purpureo- niger, planus, margine crasso turgido incurvato deformi cinctus ; lamina proligera purpurea, minime profunda; paraphyses nullae ; asci ampli, elongato-clavati ; sporae? sphaericae, purpureae, indistincte visae.

Ad saxa, Napier, New Zealand ( Colenso , no. 6350, in herb. Hooker.).

A vertical section of the apothecium shows the lamina pro¬ ligera, of a purplish hue, very shallow, resting on a thick deep hypothecium, pale above, and of a brownish hue at the base, imbedded in the thick turgid margin of the apothecium. The lamina proligera consists of short elongato-clavate asci vertically packed, without any paraphyses, which exhibit on the disk an irregular hexagonal form, sometimes apparently open and empty, at other times closed, and bearing in the centre a spherical glo¬ bule, possibly the spores. The supposed spores were not de¬ tected in situ in the ascus. Spermatia elongated, cylindrical, straight. Hydrate of potash turned the thallus yellow. Dr. Nylander (in litt.) says, “ Pres du L. atra .”

Plate IY. Fig. 6*, Lecanora pachypholis , nat. size ; fig. 7, areola of thal¬ lus, magn. ; fig. 8, apothecia, magn. ; fig. 9, vertical section of apothecium and thallus, magn. ; fig. 10, asci, magn. ; fig. 11, supposed spores, magn. 600 ; fig. 12, spermatia, magn. 600.

REV. W. A. LEIGHTON ON A NEW UMBILICARTA.

33

7. Lecanoua pyreniospora, Nyl. Scand. 151, tab. 1. fig. G; var. paupercula, Nyl. !, ibid. Thallus evanescens; apothecia parva adpressa, fusca vel fusco-nigra, margine thallino tenui pallido inconspicuo cincta; spora; 8, fusca;, magna;, elongato-oblongse, 1-septatae, qua- driloculares, loculis fere spha;roideis ; paraphyses distinctae.

Ad lignum yetustum. New Zealand ( Colenso, no. 6369, in herb. Hooker.).

The pale lamina proligera rests in a pale thalline receptacle filled with gonidia. Solution of iodine turns the gelatina hy- meuea and the entire lamina proligera of a deep blue, but does not affect the spores. The apothecia resemble old dark sub- lecideine ones of lecanora varia ; and the spores, both in size and in their cells, have an approximate resemblance to the spores of Verrucaria nitida, Schrad. The septum was rather indistinct. The New-Zealand plant is identical with the var. paupercula , Nyl. ! Lich. Scand. p. 152, of which I possess, and have examined, a specimen i*eceived from Dr. Nylander himself.

Plate IV. Fig. 15, section of apothecium, magn. ; fig. 1G, spores, magn.

GOO.

On a new Species of Umbilicaria.

By Bev. W. A. Leighton, B.A., F.L.S.

(Plate IV.)

[Read May 2, 1867.]

Amongst a large mass of unarranged lichens belonging to the Hookerian herbarium at Kew, collected by Dr. W. J. Burchell in various parts of the globe, and which, by the courtesy of Dr. Hooker, I have been permitted to examine, I have detected a very remarkable and hitherto undescribed species of Umlihcaria, of a very peculiar citrine or flavo-virescent colour, and with spores unusual in this genus. Some few of the specimens were still attached umbilieately to a compact reddish-coloured granitic (?) rock. Unfortunately, very few' of Dr. Burchell’s specimens had the localities in which they had been collected indicated on their labels or envelopes ; and it has therefore become difficult, if not impossible, to assign them accurately to their proper countries. In place of this they had letters, numbers, and dates attached, which evidently referred to some MS. list or journal kept by Dr.

LINN. PROC. - BOTANY, YOL. X. »

34

REV. W. A. LEIGHTON ON A NEW TJMBTLICARTA.

Burchell in the course of his travels. The paper containing the specimens of the present lichen had written upon on it “ P — 22. 3, 14. — 5098-9. — Lichen liturans — pulchre citrinum, grows only on the perpendicular side of vertical strata, which it paints with large streams of yellow, as if washed down from the top by rain.” The figures “ 5098-9,” no doubt represent the number in the entire collection. By reference to Dr. BurchelTs MS. Journal at Kew this very interesting lichen is entered as collected March 22, 1814, by Dr. Burchell himself at the Cape of Grood Hope, which he left in 1815.

Umbilicaria flavo-virescens, Leight., n. sp. Thallus monophyl- lus, interdum subcomplicatus, umbilicato-adfixus, coriaceo-firmus, crassiusculus, citrinus vel flavo-virescens, opacus, laevis, laciniatus, rotnndo-lobatus, undulatus, subtus fusco-niger, scabridus ; apotheeia arete insidentia, prominula, aggregata, potissime subperipherica ; discus plano-convexus, niger, flavo-pruinosus, margine thallino flavo- virescente cinctus ; sporse 8, rotundato-oblongse, medio constricti- usculse, uniseptatse, fuscse ; paraphyses discretae ; gelatina hymenea iodo cserulescente ; spermogonia arthrosterigmatibus munita, sper- inatia gracilia cylindracea.

Ad saxa granitica, Cape of Good Hope (Dr. Burchell in herb. Hook.).

So far as I know, there is only one other species of Umbili¬ caria which approaches this in its fuscous 1-septate spores, U. haplocarpa , Nyl. (Lich. Exot. 217), a native of Peru, but which is abundantly distinct by its cinerascent thallus, the hirsuties of the under surface, and the number (6) of the spores. To be certain, I forwarded a frustule to Dr. Nvlander ; and he replies (in litt. March 19, 1867) “ Aucun Umbilicaria ne m’a offert rien d’approchant de ce que vous nommez U . flavo-virescens, Leight.’ In a subsequent letter Dr. Nylander expressed his belief that this Umbilicaria was identical with Endocarpon Thunbergi, Ach.

The spermogonia are plentifully scattered over the surface of the thallus as minute black dots ; and the contents are those pecu¬ liar to the genus. A section of the thallus shows a loose yellow epidermis, then a pale brown stratum of minute cells, below which is a broad stratum of larger cells, plentifully interspersed with small-sized gonidia ; then a large mass of interwoven fila¬ ments, with larger gonidia scattered here and there in clusters of two, three, four, or more ; below' this is' a narrow band oi brownish minute cells, covered externally with the verruca* of the under surface. The apotheeia burst through the epidermis* which they in a manner upheave ; and in the young state their

MR. W. WOOLLS ON INTRODUCED PLANTS NEAR STDNET. 35

flat depressed disks appear surrounded with it in an irregular crenulate manner. The verruca: of the under surface are oblong in form, particularly towards the margins of the thallus, and are more or less apically flattened, frequently expanding towards the umbilicus into irregular flattened areolae, with more or less of a furfuraceous appearance.

Plate IV. Fig. 17, U.Jlavo-virescens, nat.size, in profile; fig. 18, under surface of thallus, nat. size, showing umbilicus ; fig. 19, thallus seen from above, nat. size ; fig. 20, portion of the under surface, magn. ; fig. 21, verrucse of under surface, magn. ; fig. 22, apothecia, magn. ; fig. 23, vertical section of thallus and apothecia ; fig. 24, enlarged section of thallus ; fig. 25, ascus, spores, and paraphyses ; fig. 26, spores, magn. 600 ; fig. 27, arthrosterigmata and spermatia attached, magn. ; fig. 28, spermatia detached, magn.

Notes on Introduced Plants' occurring in the Neighbourhood of Sydney. By W. Woolls, F.L.S. In a letter to the Pre¬ sident.

[Read December 20, 1866.]

Mt dear Sir, — Thinking that it may not be uninteresting to you to have a list of the plants introduced accidentally into this neighbourhood, I feel a pleasure in forwarding one. If I had enjoyed the opportunity of visiting other parts of this vast con¬ tinent, I dare say that I should be able to furnish a much larger list ; but occupied as I am in duties which keep me very much at home, my observations have not extended beyond fifty or sixty miles from Parramatta.

Thalamielor*:.

(Papaveraoeae).

Argemone Mexicana.

(Crucifene).

Capsella bursa-past oris.

Senebiera didyma.

Sisymbrium officinale.

Sinapis arvensis.

Itaphanus sativus.

d 2

3G MR. W. WOOLLS ON INTRODUCED PLANTS NEAR SYDNEY.

(Malvaceae).

Malva sylvestris.

M. rotundifolia.

M. crispa.

Sula retusa or rhombifolia *. Cristaria coccinea.

(Caryophylleae). Polycarpon tetraphyllum. Stellaria media.

Cerastium vulgatum.

Silene Gallica.

Speryula arvensis.

Dianthus prolifer.

Agrostemma githago.

(Pumariaceae) . Fumaria officinalis.

(Geraniaceae). Pelargonium graveolens. Erodium moschatum.

(Lineae).

Linum Gallicum.

(Portulaceae).

Portulaca oleracea.

( Phy tolaccaceac) .

Phytolacca octandra.

Calycielor^:.

(Compositae f).

Erigeron canadense.

E. linifolium.

Gnaphalium luteo-album.

G. Indicum ?

Carduus Marianus.

Onopordum acanthium.

* Probably indigenous.

t With respect to some of the Composites which have sprung up in ^lS district, I am not able to decide whether they are really importations fr°® abroad, or simply from other parts of the continent.

ME. W. WOOLLS ON INTRODUCED PLANTS NEAR SIDNEY. 37

Tmacetim vulgare.

Pyrethrum parthenium.

Anthemis cotula.

A. nobilis.

Bidens tripartita ?

Tagetes minuta.

Cichorium intybus.

Sonchus oleraceus.

Taraxacum dens-leonis.

Hypochceris radicata.

H. Jiispida.

Crepis tectorum.

Galinsogea parvifiora ?

Siegesbeckia orientalis r*

Centaurea solstitialis.

Senecio vulgaris.

Chrysanthemum segetum.

Tragopogon porrifolius.

Xanthium spinosum.

(Leguminosae).

Vida sativa.

Melilotus parvifiora.

Goodia polysperma.

Trifolium repens.

Ulex Europaus.

Lespedeza (indigenous).

ATedicago nigra.

M. lupulina.

M. maculata.

(Eupborbiaceae).

Bicinus communis *.

Euphorbia peplus.

E. cliamccsyce (indigenous).

E. helioscopia.

(Onagrea).

Epilobium roseum.

(Enothera biennis.

(E. rosea ?

* The Castor-Oil, in favourable localities, especially to the north, becomes a tree of 20 or 30 feet high.

38 MR. W. WOOLLS ON INTRODUCED PLAINTS NEAR SYDNEY.

(Eosaceae).

Rosa rubiginosa.

(Umbel lifers) .

Slum latifolium (rare).

Fceniculum vulgare.

Caldasia or Oreomyrrhis (rare, native).

CoROLLIFLORjE.

(Asclepiadeae). Gomphocarpus fruticosus.

(Convolvulacese). Cuscuta epithymum *.

(Lamiacese).

Stachys arvensis.

Marrubium vulgare.

(Plantagineae). Plantago lanceolata.

R. major.

(Primulaceae). Anagallis arvensis.

A. ccerulea.

(Scrophularinse). Antirrhinum orontium.

Linaria spuria.

(Solaneae).

Physalis pubescens.

Nicandra pliysaloides.

Datura stramonium.

Solanum nigrum.

(Verbenaceae).

Verbena Bonariensis.

( Monochlamy detc ). Chenopodium murale.

C. ambrosiodes.

Rumex crisp us.

R. sanguineus.

* Probably the Australian plant.

MR. W. WOOLLS OK INTRODUCED PLANTS NEAR SYDNEY. 30

R. acetosella.

JJrtica urens.

U. dioica.

Sisyrinchium micranth urn.

S. anceps.

Cyperus hydra.

Poa annua.

Hordeum marinum.

? Lolium temulentum.

Rolens lanatus.

? Panicum ciliatum.

? Cynodon dactylon (indigenous).

? Lappayo racemosa (indigenous).

In the preceding list, I have confined myself to the enumera¬ tion of those plants which have established themselves in cultivated ground. Some few of them, however, find their way into the woods ; but the greater majority prefer gardens and fields. I have seen Capsella bursa-pastor is and Sisymbrium officinale grow¬ ing in the back streets of Parramatta; but the rest of the intro¬ duced Crucifer® sprung up amongst the wheat, barley, and oats. Cristaria coccinea is becoming a troublesome weed to the settlers, and Sida rhombifolia is increasing rapidly ; but the latter is likely to prove useful for its strong fibre. Polycarpon tetraphyllum and Stellaria media are plentiful in gardens ; and, although supposed to be indigenous, the latter differs very much in habit from the same species when growing in shady creeks &c. Erodium mos- cliatum has certainly come here accidentally ; but probably the strong-scented Pelargonium has escaped from a garden. It lias a wonderful tendency, however, to adapt itself to sandy soil near the coast, and has spread very widely through the colony. Por- tulaca oleracea is indigenous in some parts of Australia ; but as it never appears here excepting in cultivated places, I am inclined to regard our variety as an importation. This weed is some¬ times used as a vegetable for eating, and cows are very fond of it. Phytolacca octandra is abundant in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and seems likely to follow the railway into the interior. It is sometimes employed for medicinal purposes ; and if any method can be devised for fixing the colour, the juice of the berries will become a valuable dye. The introduced Composites are com¬ paratively numerous, and some of them are exceedingly trouble¬ some weeds, especially Erigeron canadense, E. linifolius, Cen-

40 MB. W. WOOLLS OX INTUODUOED PLANTS JiEAB SIDNEY. '

taurea solstitialis, and Xanthium spinosum. The last-mentioned is the Bathurst Bur, which does so much injury to the wool in some districts. Car duns Marianus is regarded as a great pest in some places, but it has been found useful for fodder where grass is scarce, especially when it is cut down and suffered to become partially dry. After the last floods, Tagetes and Tragopogon appeared abundantly on the Nepean ; and Cicho- rium, which was originally cultivated, has sprung up sponta¬ neously in the same locality. Chrysanthemum segetim is rare. Goodia polysperma has firmly established itself in this neigh¬ bourhood ; and, until I read your remark respecting it, I was under the impression that it was indigenous. Melilotus par- vljtora has become a great nuisance to the agriculturist, as it grows with the wheat, and imparts a peculiar flavour to the flour. It is known by the name of Scented Trefoil ; and some millers have so much objection to any wheat affected by it, that they refuse to purchase grain from those districts where it is known to prevail. Some species of Medicago have a troublesome bur (though not so injurious as that of Xanthium) ; and the cultivated M. sativa has lately been much infested with Cuscuta epithymum. This has prevailed to such an extent in some parts of the colony that the crops have been most seriously affected by it. We have some species of Cuscuta which are indigenous ; but the parasite in question has been introduced with seeds from Europe, and seems likely to occasion trouble and loss to the farmers. Epi- loibium roseurn has come to Australia amongst grass-seeds, but Oenothera has probably found its way from gardens. Itosa rubi- ginosa springs up so rapidly in fields that it materially retards the growth of the grass ; and it becomes necessary to destroy it where- ever practicable. The Umbelliferae springing up spontaneously are very limited. Slum and Caldasia appear occasionally ; but Fceni- culum vulgare is the only one that returns regularly. Gompho- carpus , or, as it is commonly called, “ Wild Cotton,” has spread very widely throughout the colony, and is regarded as a nuisance by the settlers. The milky juice of it is reported to be highly injurious, and the plants themselves are frequently covered with Aphides. Stachys arvensis is useful in the winter season as food for cows. Many cart-loads of it have been cut down for that purpose in the orange-orchards near Parramatta ; but I am informed that', when the plants are old, they impart an un¬ pleasant flavour to the milk. The uses of Marruhium and l}l<in- t ago are too well known to need any remarks ; and the pretty

MU. W. WOOLLS ON INTRODUCED PLANTS NEAlt SIDNEY. 11

little Anagallis is as plentiful here as in Europe. Physalis , or “ Cape Gooseberry,” has long been known in Australia ; and as the fruit is available for jam, it is not to be regretted that it is so well adapted to our climate. Nicandra physaloides appears in many gardens ; and I am sorry to add that Datura stramonium, though useful in asthmatical complaints, has occasioned the death of several children who, from time to time, have swallowed the seeds. Solanuni nigrum seems to have two varieties here. The one is indigenous ; the other is identical with the European plant, and has probably come here with English seeds. It is remark¬ able that the children eat the berries of S. nigrum with impunity. Rumex acetosella is a troublesome weed in orchards, but not so injurious as Cyperus hydra, which is occasioning much incon¬ venience to gardeners in Sidney. The late Mr. W. S. Macleay, E.L.S., assured me that he had tried every expedient to remove the weed, but without success. I fear that, unless some means of eradicating it can be devised, many gardens will be ruined ; for it seems to outgrow everything else. At first it did not extend beyond the neighbourhood of Sidney, but within the last ten years it has established itself in Parramatta and some of the in¬ land towns. A pretty little Sisyrinchium (S. micranthum) is very plentiful in our fields here in the spring. This has sometimes been mistaken for Brown’s Renealmia pulchella, a plant which I have never yet seen. There is on the Mittagong range a small variety of R. paniculata, which perhaps may be allied to it. I am inclined to think, however, that the true R. pulchella is a New Zealand plant, and not indigenous here. With respect to the introduced grasses I feel some difficulty, because, in the early days of the colony, many European and Indian grasses were sown in this neighbourhood. It seems to me highly probable that Ilordeum marinum, Lolium temulentum and Hole us lanatus, found their way here accidentally ; but whether Panicum ci- liatum and Cynodon dactylon are really indigenous or not I am not certain ; for, although described by Brown, they appear only in cultivated land in this part of the colony.

The various ways in which plants become accidentally accli¬ matized aftord much interest to the observer. In some in¬ stances the causes can be clearly traced, such as (1) the mixture of other seeds with grass, clover, and garden herbs, (2) the use of different weeds, either wholly or in part, in packing-cases, (3) the tenacity with which the seed-vessels of some plants ad¬ here to the manes and tails of horses, (4) the presence of seeds

42

PROF. OLIVER ON THREE NEW GENERA

in some imported manures, and (5) the migrations of birds from one country to another, and the influence of periodical winds and tides. All these causes are in daily operation, and are topics worthy of consideration ; but perhaps it may be equally profit¬ able to notice the extraordinary facility with which some plants adapt themselves at once to the soil and climate, whilst others spring up, languish for a time, and die out. This peculiarity gives an indication of the kind and character of many plants which might be profitably introduced into the colony. It may be regarded, indeed, as a hint furnished by nature for the benefit of the inhabitants.

With much respect, I remain, &e. &c. &e.

William Woolls.

Parramatta, September 20, 1866.

Description of Three New Genera from West Tropical Africa, belonging to the Natural Orders Guttiferce , Olacinece and Celas- tracece , By Professor Ollier, Keeper of the Kew Herbarium.

[Read December 20, 1866.]

Allanblackia *, genus novum Guttiferarum.

Flores dioici : Sepala 5, orbicularia, late imbricata, interiora majora, coriacea, margine scariosa. Petala 5, late obovato- cuneata, sepalis longiora, alabastro imbricata et in globum conniventia. Flores <3 : Stamina 5-adelpha, phalangibus petalis oppositis, crassis, cuneato-spathulatis, apice dilatatis, antheras sessiles sursum et introrsum gerentibus ; anther# libera?, late elliptic® v. rotundat®, longitudinaliter dehis- centes. Discus centralis 5-lobus, lobis plus minus expla- natis, phalangibus andrcecii alternantibus, intus transversiin corrugatis. Flores $ : Discus (andrcecii rudimentum P) bre¬ vis, crassus, lobatus, ovarii basin cingens. Ovarium conicum, erassum, placentis 5 multiovulatis prominulis baud coalitis,

* Dedicated to the memory of my late friend Mr. Allan Black, Associate of the Linnean Society, for several years Curator of the Kew Herbarium. Through his hands nearly all the collections received at Kew from West Tropical Africa passed ; and to his very extensive knowledge of plants and untiring industry we greatly owe the present accessible state of these collections, as well as pre¬ liminary analyses and notes upon many of the more remarkable species.

OF WEST- AFRICAN PLANTS.

43

uniloculare. Stigmasessile, peltatum, crassum, integrum. Ovula cuique placentae biseriatim affixa, sessilia, adscendentia, am- pbitropa, micropyle infera. Fructum maturum non vidi. — Arbor 40-pedalis, glabra, ramis teretibus. Folia opposita, coriacea, penninervia, oblongo-elliptica v. obovato-oblonga, breviter acuminata v. apiculata. Injlorescentia umbellatim racemosa, saepius terminalis. Flores ampliusculi, pedunculati, in axillis approximate foliorum saepius ternati v. geminati.

A. k lori bund a, species unica. Folia 4-6 poll, longa, l%-2% poll, lata; pet. poll, longus. Flores diametro circiter \ \ poll. Stigma fere 3 poll, latum.

Camaroons River, G. Mann !

This very remarkable plant does not well fall into any of the tribes of Gluttiferae as at present circumscribed. From its mul- tiovulate placentae and general facies, I incline to refer it to Clusiece.

Alsodeiopsis, genus novum Olacinearum (§ Icacineoe ).

Flores hermaphroditi, parvi. Calyx quinquepartitus, seg¬ ments lanceolatis v. lanceolato-subulatis, acutis. Petala quinque, infra medium vel basi coalita, lanceolata, apice re- curva, aestivatione valvata (sepalis 3-4-plo longiora). Sta¬ mina quinque, libera, cum petalis alterna; filamenta subu- lata, glabra; antherae filamento longiores v. aequilongae, glabrae, ovato-lanceolatae v. ellipticae, apice connectivo brevissime apiculatae, longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Ovarium liberum, pilosum, uniloculare, in stylum attenuatum. Stylus gracilis vel sursum le viter incrassatus. Stigma terminale, minutum, obtusum. Ovula geminata, ab apice cavitatis pendula. Drupa exsucca, oblonga, teres, monosperma, pericarpio tenuitcr co- riaceo, glabra. Semen pericarpii cavitati conforme, testa tenuissima membranacea arete adhserente, cotyledonibus fere omnino concretis basi lobo obliquo supra radiculam parvam ovoideam superam connivente. — Frutex ramulis te¬ retibus, novellis strigilloso-hirsutis. Folia alterna, integra v. obscure undulata, membranacea vel tenuiter coriacea. Flores parvi, pedicellati, in cymulis brevibus racemosis axillaribus dispositi.

A. Mannii, species unica. Fo/ia oblanceolato-oblonga, acuminata, basi obtusa nonnunquam obliqua, integra, pagina superiore glabrata, in- feriore in nervo medio venulisque secundariis prominulis hispidula

44

PROP. OLIVER ON THREE NEW WEST-AERICAN PLANTS.

vel glabrescentia, 3-9 poll, longa, 1^-2% poll, lata, petiolo strigilloso, 1-2 lin. longo. Injlorescentia strigilloso-hirta, J-I3 poll, longa. Flores circiter lin. longi. Fructus (exsicc.) poll, longus, j-poll. latus.

Mount John, River Kongui (no. 1805), G. Mann !

There are specimens of two forms of this plant in the Kew Herbarium (those with smaller leaves, without locality indicated); I cannot distinguish them specifically. Their general facies is so much that of some species of Alsodeia that Mr. Black had pro¬ visionally referred them to that genus. The structure of the seed appears to me very similar to that of Sarcostigma, in which, moreover, the cotyledons are connate for the greater part of their length.

Campylostemon, Welwitsch MS., genus novum Celastracearum.

Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx 5-partitus, lobis ovato-rotundatis leviter imbricatis. Fetala 5, sessilia, sepalis rnulto longiora, patentia, oblongo-elliptica, eestivatione imbricata. Stamina 5, in disco annulato minuto ovarii basin cingente inserts, incurva, filamentis lineari-subulatis, antheris parvis introrsis, quadrilocellatis, transversim dehiscentibus. Ovarium libe¬ rum, basi latiusculum, glabrum, triloculare ; stigma trifuluin, lobis sessilibus minutis ovoideis ; ovula circiter 8 in utroque loculo, biseriata. Fructum non vidi. — Frutex ( fide sched. Welwitsch.) alte scandens, glaber. Folia opposita, petiolata, membrauacea, oblongo-elliptica vel ovalia, acuminata, remo- tiuscule serrulata. Flores sulphurei, in cymis axillaribus multifloris pedunculatis folio multo brcvioribus dispositi.

C. Angolense. Folia 2-3^ poll, longa, poll, lata, interduffl

ovato-lanceolata ; petiolus gracilis, \ poll, longus. Flores diaiuctrv circiter 2% lin.

Prov. Cazengo, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch !

Campylostemon serves to strengthen the already intimate connexion between Celastrese and Hippocrateae. Its pentan- drous flowers and introrse anthers ally it to the former, while the structure and mode of dehiscence of the anthers, together with the numerous ovules and scandent habit, favour an affind) with the latter.

DR. COLLIN GW00D ON NUTMEG-CULTIVATION TN SINGAPORE. 4f»

On Nutmeg- and other Cultivation in Singapore.

By Dr. C. Colling^ood, F.L.S.

[Read February 7, 1867.]

The cultivation of the soil in Singapore Island has been carried on with great industry and enterprise, and for a while with success ; but, unfortunately, after hundreds of thousands of dol¬ lars have been spent upon it, the planters have learned, too late, that neither the soil nor the climate of Singapore are favourable to the growth of those productions, such as nutmegs, cloves, cotton, sugar, colfee, &c., upon which such vast sums have been expended and ultimately swallowed up, bringing their proprietors in many instances to ruin.

The climate of Singapore is very peculiar, and is marked by an absence of seasonal change, which has an evil influence upon man as well as upon plants. There is no regular recurrence of summer and winter, no distinctly dry season and wet season, but a remarkable equality all the year round ; added to which, the rains, instead of coming at definite periods, are capricious in their fall, and therefore defeat the prognostications of the planters. The temperature does not vary more than 20° or 22° during the whole year, ranging between 70° and 92° as a rule, and therefore is not in excess during the hottest seasons. Bain falls upon half the days of the year, neither so frequently nor so heavily now as it did before the jungle was cleared away from the neighbourhood of the town ; but the whole amount of rain is moderate.

The soil is poor, and will grow nothing without care and plenty of manure. It consists of a fine, compact, reddish clay, in the interior of the island not having much substance, and mixed with sand, which increases in quantity near the sea-beach, the clay predominating inland, and the sand near the coast. The island was, of course, originally covered with jungle ; but there has been a great mania for clearing, and it has been done in an indiscriminate manner ; so that no judicious spots of shelter have been left standing, which would have proved invaluable as pro¬ tection for certain crops, as well as being useful in other ways. The virgin soil, covered with a thin layer of decaying vegetable matter, was rich enough ; but when, after a little time, its material was exhausted, nothing but plenty of manure would induce the growth of remunerative crops.

Foremost among these crops was the Nutmeg — a plant which

4G DR. COT.LTKGWOOD ON" KrTMEG-CUr/riVATIOK IK SIKGAPORE.

once promised a harvest of prosperity to the settlement, but which, after for a few years producing every result that could be desired, was destined to end in utter disappointment, and, in too many cases, in utter ruin to the proprietors. The nutmeg- plantations of Penang preceded those of Singapore, and were for some years in the hands of the East-India Company, who, after expending considerable sums upon them for some years without receiving an adequate return, finally gave them up in disgust, and ordered them to be sold. Taken up by enterprising planters, the Penang spice-plantations for a time yielded ample returns, owing rather to the care which had been spent upon them by the previous possessors. Singapore became a British settlement in 1824 ; and in the infancy of this settlement it was not attempted to vie with Penang in cultivating these expensive plantations : but about 1837 an impetus was given to nutmeg-cultivation in Singapore, with results so promising that everything gave way to the mania for planting this species. Large clearances in the jungle were purchased from Government at considerable distances from town; and expensive bungalows were erected upon such estates, and surrounded by plantations of this valued tree ; and nearer the settlement private gardens wrere turned into nutmeg- nurseries, and the houses were closely surrounded with nutmeg- groves.

The nutmeg-tree is, when in health, a handsome bushy tree, between 20 and 30 feet high, with numerous dark-green shining leaves. It is evergreen, and ever flowering, so that fruit and flower constantly coexist upon the tree — the flowers small, yel¬ lowish, and urceolate, and the fruit needing no description here. Being diclinous, a great inconvenience arises from the fact that a great many male trees are planted and cultivated, being undis- tinguishable from the female trees until the flowers appear. Such trees are of course useless, since they do not bear, — one male tree to about twenty females being sufficient for the pur¬ poses of impregnation and to ensure the swelling of the ovule.

The trees were not allowed to be left to the natural powers of the climate and soil, but were richly manured and forced into yielding heavy crops. To the manner of doing this, and to the extent to which they were forced into luxuriance, may probably be traced the catastrophe which eventually blotted out nutmeg- cultivation from the settlement. Around each tree, and just level with the outer branches, a trench was dug about one foot deep and one foot wide, and this was filled with a manure of cow-

Dl{. COLLTNGWOOD ON NUTMEO-CULTTVATTON IN SINGAPORE. 47

dung. The result of this universal treatment was that the trees for a time grew luxuriantly, and yielded large returns. About six hundred nuts, or 8 lbs. weight, were yielded by a good tree during the year ; and as the crop was yielded all the year round, independently of season, some plantations produced a picul (133 lbs.) per diem on an average — the value of the picul being 70 or 80 dollars — or from 25,000 to 30,000 dollars per annum.

For upwards of twenty years the planting was carried on vigorously. Plantations changed hands at very extravagant prices ; and much money was made during that period. In the year 1860, however, a sudden destruction came upon the trees, from an unknown quarter. To the dismay of the planters, there appeared among the trees (which up to that time had yielded magnificently) a blight whose destructive effects could not be arrested, while the source of it defied all inquiry. In the night a tree would be attacked, and the morning light would show its topmost branches withered ; the leaves fell off ; the disease slowly spread downwards, chiefly on one side of the tree ; and, in spite of every attempt to check it (the lower portion often being for a long time green and bushy), the tree became an unsightly mass of bare and whitened twigs. Most trees were entirely stripped in time, and became mere skeletons. Large outlay was expended in the endeavours to arrest the destruction, but it was all thrown away. No situation was exempt from its ravages ; hills and valleys alike suffered; nor could any principle be traced in its promiscuous attacks. Upon a close examination of diseased parts, it is found that the formative layer inside the bark dries up and turns black ; the leaves then wither and fall off ; and soon the bark is found to be full of small perforations ; but no insect of any kind has ever been discovered in connexion with the change, nor has any fungus been charged with the destruction. Its nature has been a mystery and a puzzle to the planters, who have, for the most part in vain, sought for a cause, either near or remote, and whose efforts to arrest it have proved entirely unavailing.

I have heard various suggestions offered, some of them of the wildest character, to account for the disease. That which my friend M. Jose d’ Almeida proposes is by far the most reasonable, and in fact commends itself to the judgment of the vegetable physiologist. It is that the trees had long been unnaturally forced, by digging trenches too closely around their spongioles, and by too rich and long-continued manuring, by which heavy crops, it is true, were for a time obtained, but which at last

48 DR. COLI/INGWOOD ON NUTMEG-CULTIVATION IN SINGAPORE.

exhausted the tree, so that the premature decay thus brought on by inflexible physiological laws was incapable of being arrested by any after-treatment.

When it was found that, in spite of care and lavish expen¬ diture, the trees surely died, a reaction took place. The planters abandoned the plantations in disgust, in many cases while there were still numerous healthy trees ; and the land reverted to the Government. In other cases, where expensive bungalows had been built upon the estate, they were sold for a small proportion of the sums expended in building them, since they were, as a rule, too far from town to command any competition, and ceased to be conveniently situated. Many planters, both English and Chinese, whose whole estates were invested in nutmeg-plantations, were thus reduced to ruin, and absolutely penniless ; and distress and disappointment everywhere prevailed.

It is a curious fact that many of these abandoned trees, around which has now sprung up a thick jungle undergrowth, have, since they have been thus neglected and left to themselves, recovered, and relieve the generally dismal prospect of bare branches and skeleton trees. I have myself seen these dark-green healthy trees in many situations where they are quite uncared for, even amongst the oldest plantations in the. island; and this fact seems decidedly corroborative of the idea that the disease was one of exhaustion and decay, arising from unnatural forcing. Another fact is significant, viz. that at Penang, where this culti¬ vation, as described, was carried on with the greatest vigour and the greatest expenditure, the destruction has been most complete and marked, while at Malacca, where the people were not so rich, and could not afford to manure the trees so highly, they have not suffered so severely as at Penang and Singapore.

At the present moment there is no such thing as nutmeg- cultivation either at Penang or Singapore ; nor does it seem probable that the experiment will be again tried. Planters are now persuaded that neither the soil nor climate are favourable for their production ; and, as we shall presently see, other crops have fared but little better. The trees which still exist are neglected and abandoned by their owners, though they still yield nutmegs. These are gathered by any Chinese or Malays who take the trouble to do so ; and the few nutmegs, insignificant in quantity, which now find their way into the Singapore market, are obtained in this way, — a clear gain to those who carry them there.

DK. COLLINGWOOD OK NUTMEG-CULTIVATION IN SINGAPOBE. 49

Cotton is another product the cultivation of which has been attempted in Singapore. The cotton-plant always thrives well in private gardens ; and I have seen large pods of good quality on plants in such situations. The only large plantation which has given it a fair trial, however, was that of the late enter¬ prising Mr. d’Almeida, who for two successive years expended considerable sums in the experiment. But cotton-cultivation failed for the same causes as those above referred to — the absence of regular seasonal changes, and the irregularity of the downfalls of rain, which cannot be predicted with any certainty, and there¬ fore cannot be guarded against. The cotton grew magnificently ; the pods were produced and burst open ; and then a downpour of rain would ruin the fibre before it could be gathered. Another cause which led to its abandonment was the appearance of a small red beetle which proved very destructive to the pod.

The same gentleman tried Cfc^e^-planting, and spent and lost many thousands of dollars by the unthankful experiment. It has also been attempted by others without success ; and a com¬ pany formed for that purpose failed. Here, again, the causes of failure are chiefly natural ones, of the same kind as those already alluded to. The coffee-plants require shelter; and the indis¬ criminate cutting down of the jungle had left the country entirely open, and no shade could be obtained. Then the irregularity of the seasons prevented the plants from attaining that perfection which otherwise they might have done, while the uncertain rains were a further source of injury to the crops. The flowers might be in promising profusion, when a heavy shower would suddenly fall upon them and destroy two-thirds at one blow. Another difficulty which interferes with this and other cultivation is the comparatively high price of labour. Anything which requires much manual labour in the preparation is sure to languish at Singapore from the difficulty of persuading the Malays to work for any consideration ; and the Chinese are the only people who can be induced to perform laborious occupations.

This last cause has been mainly influential in preventing the cultivation of Cinnamon. This tree, with very little care, grows beautifully in Singapore, and would doubtless prove a source ot wealth, were it not for the great expense of its manufacture. The various and tedious processes which the bark has to undergo in its removal and preparation cost more than the spice will fetch in the market. In other cinnamon-producing countries, as' in Ceylon, these processes are performed chiefly by children,

LINK. PKOC. — BOTANY, tblSSOITRI E

BOTANICAL

50 Dfi. COLLIN GWOOD ON NUTMEG-CULTIVATION IN SINGAPOBE.

who, of course, are paid at so low a rate as to render the pre¬ paration remunerative ; but in Singapore the population is not large enough for this ; and expensive adult labour only is pro¬ curable, and that with some difficulty.

Sugar, on the other hand, has failed from natural rather than economic causes. The chief obstacle to its cultivation is the poorness of the soil, which can only be remedied by adding plenty of manure ; and when this source of additional expense is added to the high price of labour, considerable margin is sub¬ tracted from the profits. Still, with abundance of manure, the sugar-cane thrives extremely well ; but now another natural cause steps in and neutralizes the result : this is the rain, the uncertainty of which, or rather the constancy of which, is a serious obstacle. The saccharometer, instead of registering 11° in the sweet juice, is sometimes reduced to 7\° after rains, which appear to dilute the sap and deteriorate the produce. In a plantation ready for cutting, perhaps fifty acres may be got down one day and of good quality ; and then a heavy rain comes before the rest can be cut, and this proves to be of considerably inferior quality.

The late Mr. d’ Almeida was the first to call the attention of the public to the substance now so well known as Gutta¬ percha. At that time the Imnandra Gutta was an abundant tree in the forests of Singapore, and was first known to the Malays, who made use of the juice which they obtained by cutting down the trees, and which, when collected, they boiled and purified. Mr. d’ Almeida, unacquainted with England and its institutions, and acting under the advice of a friend, forwarded some of this substance to Somerset House , as it was described to me — but, I believe, more correctly, to the Society of Arts. There it met with no attention, and wras put away uncared for. A year or two afterwards Dr. Montgomery sent specimens to England ; and bringing it under the notice of competent persons, its value was at once acknowledged, and it rapidly became an important commodity. In any case it was introduced from Singapore ; and the sudden and great demand for it soon resulted in the disap¬ pearance of all the gutta-percha trees in Singapore Island. The forests of Johore, however, yield a vast supply — though these must fail in time, when it is borne in mind that to abstract the juice the tree is always cut down, the produce of a single tree averaging II or 12 lbs.

With regard to Gamboge , it has never been regularly cultivated

1>K. COLLINGWOOD ON NUTMEG-CULTIVATION IN SINGAPOEE. 51

in Singapore. The late Mr. d’ Almeida, already referred to, intro¬ duced some trees from Siam, but simply as a matter of curiosity, and for experimental purposes. These trees have not been pro¬ tected in any way, but nevertheless they thrive well ; and the soil evidently is well suited to them. The plantation in which they were placed has changed hands, and no care has been taken of the trees ; but those I saw were green and flourishing, bearing abundance of flower and fruit, and yielding, upon the slightest incision, an abundance of yellow resinous juice. In their imme¬ diate neighbourhood are numerous healthy seedlings springing up uncared for; and I was assured that the seeds carried by birds have been taken to spots at a distance from the trees originally planted; and one of the largest and healthiest trees I saw was pointed out to me as one which had grown there spontaneously, and probably owed its origin to this cause. I have preserved a few specimens of this tree, and of the female flowers in spirits, which I shall forward when I have an oppor¬ tunity of doing so. But, although to all appearance it would do well, the existing trees are quite neglected, no one having taken up the matter of cultivating them. For this reason also I was unable to procure any specimen of the Gamboge produced by them, though I was informed, by the Chinese gardener who showed me the trees, that incisions were made in this bark and small bamboos were applied to the incised spot to receive the juice. Hence the Pipe-gamboge of commerce. I may add that the soil on which this Gamboge appears to thrive so well is a reddish sandy soil, containing a little clay, but a larger proportion of sand.

This brief account of the past cultivation of Singapore would not be complete without some mention of two plants which have been largely cultivated by the natives, though the cultivation of them is now on the decline. These are Gambier ( TJncaria Gam- bir ) and Pepper. With regard to the first of these (Gambier), the mode of its preparation demands a very considerable supply of firewood ; and therefore it has always been planted in clearances made in the jungles of the interior of the island, and distant from the town. Here the planters squatted, and have for a long while successfully cultivated this favourite masticatory. The Gambier plant is a creeping annual, and rises to the height of six or seven feet. In eight months the young plants are fit to be cut ; aud the young leaves and shoots are cropped and boiled ; the extract thus obtained is evaporated to a paste, dried, and cut

52 DR. COLLINGWOOD ON NUTMEG-CULTIVATION IN SINGAPORE.

into small blocks an inch square, and is then ready for the market. The workers in these plantations are exclusively Chinese ; and the proprietors are also of that nation. The Gambier is a plant which very rapidly exhausts the soil ; and the quantity of wood required for boiling the shoots demands the immediate neigh¬ bourhood of an inexhaustible supply. In course of time, there¬ fore, the wood has all been cut down close to the plantation ; and the fact of having to convey it a mile or so is fatal to the successful cultivation of the drug; consequently Gambier-planting is now fast disappearing in Singapore.

It had always been found profitable to combine with Gambier - planting the cultivation of Pepper ; partly because this could be attended to in the intervals of Gambier- cropping, but chiefly because the boiled shoots and leaves of the Gambier, after the astringent was extracted, formed an excellent ready-made manure for the Pepper, free of expense, which no other manure would have paid. As therefore the planting of Gambier declines, that of Pepper must necessarily decline also ; and as the two rose together, so they must also fall together. Considerable quantities of Pepper are still produced in Singapore, but not nearly so much as formerly ; and many of the Gambier and Pepper clearances have reverted to the Government. In the peninsula of Johore, however, there are abundance of Pepper and Gambier plantations.

It may be asked, however, If Singapore has failed in realizing the expectations of planters in so many instances, and so many different crops have one by one proved ruinous to their pro¬ prietors, what will grow remuneratively in the island ? or will anything do so ? The answer to this has been solved of late years. In the first place it is found that all fruit-trees flourish in the soil of Singapore ; and Breadfruit, Jack, Dookoo, Man- gosteen, Pineapple, Plantain, Rambootan, Custard Apple, Mango, Guava, and Durian, with many others, now occupy the planta¬ tions in which Nutmegs were formerly grown. The last-named fruit, so great a favourite with some, and so detested by others, is produced in such quantities that fifty dollars are given for the produce of a single tree.

But the one tree in which is now centred the promise and the hope of the Singapore planters is the Cocoa-nut. It does not appear to be indigenous ; for none are found in the jungle ; but it has long been introduced by the Malays. It is comparatively of late years, however, that European planters have looked upon it as a source of wealth, and foreseen that it may prove in course

BB. COLLINGWOOD ON NUTMEG -CULTIVATION IN SINGAPORE. 53

of time to be the most important production of Singapore. The original Cocoa-nut plantations are yielding golden returns ; and within the last ten years or less, a great impetus has been given to the propagation of a tree to which the sandy and poor soil of Singapore seems admirably adapted. The trees thrive, and the only drawback is that several years must elapse before they attain such a growth as to yield any recompense for the original expenditure. The uses of the tree are numerous ; but it is to the oil that the planter looks for his reward. "With proper machinery for separating this oil, the rapidly extending Cocoa-nut plantations bid fair to place Cocoa-nut oil in an important position among the exports from Singapore. The Cocoa-nuts, however, are not free from their enemies, in the shape of a large Curculio, as big or bigger than the English stag-beetle, which feeds upon the terminal bud of the palm-stem. When thus attacked, the bud dies, and the crown of leaves falls off, leaving the graceful Cocoa- nut tree a mere tall bare pole. Such bare poles I have seen representing all that remains of the Betel-nut Palm ( Areca Catechu), which is subject to the attacks of a similar beetle. In Penang, thousands of cocoa-nuts are destroyed by the ravages of this insect. At the present moment, however, the cultivation of Cocoa-nuts is merely in its infancy ; and the exports are confined to places in the immediate neighbourhood of Singapore.

P.S. In conversation with a gentleman who once cultivated Nutmegs on a large scale, I was assured by him that he could distinguish at least two forms of disease. In one of these it was deep-seated and radical. In many trees which he cut down for the purpose, he found that the central part of the main stem was turning black ; and this gave the first indications of the onset of the disease, which was soon followed by the falling of the leaves and the whitening of the branches.

With regard to the other form of disease, he distinctly traced it to the attacks of what, from his description, must have been a small black aphis, which perforated the branches, and caused them to wither one by one. I find no two accounts to be precisely alike in respect to the manner of falling away of the trees ; but all agree that their destruction was rapid, certain, and irremediable.

The same gentleman is cultivating the Sago-^sXvn on a large scale, about eight miles from Singapore. The plantation (con¬ taining at present 10,000 trees) is still young, and will not begin to yield for about five years ; but the flourishing state of the

51 DR. G. DtCKIE OX THE GENUS CANNA.

trees, with the aid of a certain amount of manure, gives full promise of a successful result. When the trees are ready to cut, he intends to apply machinery to the preparation of the Sago ; for, according to the present primitive modes of the natives, a man (Chinese) and his wife, their adult son and wife, and two children are employed a fortnight in preparing the product of a single tree.

Let me add, too, with regard to labour (which I have spoken of as comparatively dear), a Malay or a Chinese commands a price of 3| to 4 dollars a month ; while in Java 3 rupees is considered good wages ; and, besides being doubly expensive in Singapore, the workman always takes two hours in the middle of the day for rest, and stops work the moment the clock strikes six ; while they are so chary of their labour that it is necessary to have overseers to keep them at it.

Cuthbert Collin gwood.

/

Note on the Characters of the Genus Canna. By G. DickIe, M.D., F.L.S.

[Read May 2, 1867.]

It will be necessary in the outset to state the opinions of dif¬ ferent authorities respecting the characters of Canna , and of the Natural Order to which it is referred. Lindley says* * * §, “ filament petaloid, either entire or two-lobed, one of the lobes bearing the one-celled anther on its edge.” Endlicher’s statement isf, “ fila' ment petaloid, anther one-celled (the others all abortive), ter¬ minal, or adnate to the edge of the filament.” A. Richard + remarks, “ one of the inner petaloid organs bears on one of its edges a free unilocular anther, surmounted by a small petaloid appendage, and prolonged below into a thicker, wider filament. Grisebach § describes the anther as “ one-celled, marginal ou a lateral petaloid filament.” In the latest authority known to me||, the statement is much the same as those already quoted , “ a single one-celled stamen on the edge of a petaloid filament, the other abortive.”

* * Vegetable Kingdom,’ p. 168.

t ‘ Genera Plantarum,’ Canna.

J Diet, des Sc. Nat., Canna.

§ * Flora of West Indies,’ &tnna.

[) Duchartre, ‘ Elements de Botanique ’ (1867), p- 926.

DTE G. DICKIE ON THE GENUS CANNA. 55

In the £ Prodromus PI. Nov. Hollandite,’ Ganna is separated from Scitaminea, because “ a single lobe only of one of the lateral stamina has the appearance of an anther.” Lindley gives as the diagnosis of Zingiberaceoe or Scitaminece, “ one stamen, anther two-celled,” Marantacece or Cannece presenting “ one stamen, having half an anther.” G-risebach, under the Order Scitamineae, admits two tribes : — 1. Zingiberacese, “ anther two-celled, em¬ bracing the style.” 2. Canneae, “anther one-celled.” A sum¬ mary of these opinions respecting Canna appears to be this, “ a single anther having only one cell, "is supported on a petaloid filament, the other cell abortive.”

Examination of the fully expanded flower only, would cer¬ tainly lead to erroneous views respecting the series of parts nearest the style ; the true structure can alone be ascertained by examining the unexpanded flower in different stages ; and after carefully repeated observations I venture to offer the present remarks : —

In the expanded flower a superficial inspection leads to the conclusion that the anther is one-celled, the presence of a petaloid part projecting from it tending to confirm this opi¬ nion; but even in this state, more careful examination will reveal the remains of a longitudinal septum with a shallow groove on each side. In Canna we have one of those cases in which self-fecundation takes place, being, in fact, alone possible, the anther performing its function before the individual flower expands * At early stages, the solitary stamen is much larger than any other parts more internal than the petals ; in a bud of Canna sveciosa, shortly before expansion, and about eight-tenths of an inch in length, the stamen, as yet sessile, was four-tenths of an inch long, perfectly developed, and evidently two-celled ; in early stages it is in all respects similar to the typical organ as usually understood. Fig. 1 represents a transverse section when

Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3.

it has almost reached the functional stage, or, in other words,

* Instances of self-fecundation, as the rule, may be seen in some Goode- niace<p , Selliera, Leschenaultia, and in Lobelia, Streptocarpus. Sfc.

56 DB. O. DICKIE ON TIIE GENUS GANNA.

when the pollen is nearly mature ; and fig. 2 shows the exter¬ nal appearance (front view) about the same period.

At the time of fecundation, the face of the anther and that of the flattened style are in close contact ; and the pollen is shed before the flower opens, and may be seen adhering to the upper part of that organ : it is, in fact, swept out of the anther by the stigma ; the face of the anther and upper part of style and stigma are at first firmly braced together. As already stated, close in¬ spection is necessary in order to see that the shrivelled stamen in the newly-expanded flower retains, though rather indistinctly, the two-celled structure, which is obvious enough at an earlier period *.

The next question has reference to the nature of the petaloid organ to which the stamen adheres. The relation of the two, at an early stage, is seen in fig. 2, from which it is evident that, while the anther is very fully developed, the appendage is rudi¬ mentary. But, further, an important point to be noted is this : the petaloid part adheres by one edge to the back of the anther, along the line which corresponds to the connective; the other margin is free at the upper part, below it is partially adherent to the style, the entire appendage embracing rather more than one-half of the anther and part of the style, its function, ap¬ parently, being to keep those parts in close contact when the pollen is shed ; fig. 3 represents a plan, in transverse section, illustrative of this. There may be several conjectures as to the nature of this petaloid appendage. First, it may be a portion of the anther, some holding the upper part to be the functionless cell, become petaloid, as well as the filament ; its coexistence with two cells in the anther shows that this view must be abandoned: or, secondly, it may be a wing-like appendage of the back of the anther, which is not probable ; thirdly, it may be considered to represent one of the stamens of the same series as the fertile one, adherent to this latter and petaloid. A. Bichard, while he regarded the anther as one-celled, stated, moreover, that the pe¬ taloid filament ought to be held as formed by the “ union of two stamens, one producing pollen, the other abortive, which is re¬ presented by the petaloid lamina, on one of the sides of which the anther is inserted.”

This, undoubtedly, is the correct view, and appears to be indicated by the distribution of the vascular bundles, although,

* In the 1 Botanieal Magazine,’ under Canna lutea, fig. 1085, there are re¬ marks which, in part at least, are near the truth.

ON THE BOTANY OF MOUNT EGMONT, NEW ZEALAND. 57

in this respect, there seems some irregularity, so far as my own observations go.

There appears to have been no doubt in referring the parts in Ganna to the ordinary type of a Monocotyledonous flower. The true perianth consists of two series : one external and shorter, represents the calyx ; another more internal, alternate with the former, is the corolla : then the petaloid organs between the co¬ rolla and the ovary will represent the stamens ; those of the ex¬ ternal series are all petaloid and functionless ; one only of the inner series produces pollen, and, contrary to the usual opinion, is two-celled ; one of the same series is petaloid, and in the mature flower is usually of large size ; these two adhere in the way already described : the other stamen of this series is, in some species, so rudimentary that it may be readily overlooked.

I would, in conclusion, venture to suggest some alteration in the characters of the genus Canna.

Notes on the Botany of Mount Egmont and neighbourhood, New Zealand, February, 1867. By Mr. J. Buchanan. Com¬ municated by J. D. Hooker, M.D., F.R.S., Y.P.L.S.

[Read June 20, 1867.]

Having arrived at New Plymouth on the 9th of February, pre¬ parations were commenced for the ascent of Mount Egmont, or, as the Maories call it, Taranaki ; but, the weather being unfavour¬ able for four days, I examined the neighbourhood of the town. Within a distance of six or seven miles there is nothing of interest, the clearings being mostly under English grasses. At the Sugar- loaves a few well-known shrubs are seen, such as Olearia So- landri, Cassinia leptophylla, Cassinia Vauvilliersii , Coprosma ace- rosa, Corokia Cotoneaster, Pimelea arenaria, — those of the sea¬ shore being the usual plants found there, such as Apium au- strale, Mesembryanthemum australe, and Triglochin triandrum.

Id consulting with his Honour the Superintendent of Tara¬ naki, who formed one of the party, it was determined to ascend the mountain by the side facing the west, as offering a more varied vegetation. By this route, the ranges trending towards the west are passed over at an altitude of nearly 4000 feet.

On the 13th, the weather having improved, a start was made in company with Mr. Richmond (Superintendent), Mr. Hurst- house, Mr. Henry (Nurseryman), who acted as guide, and a man to carry a load. It may be as well to mention here, in reference

58

MB. J. BUCHANAN ON TIIE BOTANY OF

to the supposed difficulty or danger of ascending Mount Eg- mont, that Mr. Henry and others are frequently up, and that, in fact, it is becoming an everyday trip to the Taranakites. A party of eight went up the day after us, and placed a flag on the top.

Although all who go up do not collect plants, still many do ; and it is probable that no locality in New Zealand has been better searched. Plants have been passing to Britain from there through various channels for many years. All idea, therefore, of finding anything new may be dismissed for good ; and the result of the present expedition has proved this.

Strong hopes were entertained by myself that many of the more minute plants of various genera known as Patch-plants, and which had been overlooked by collectors, were yet to be found ; but, with the exception of Baoulia australis, no Patch-plant was seen on Mount Egmont. The idea that there were any ori¬ ginated in a mistake of the informant, who mistook large patches of a white moss ( Leucobryum candidum) for flowering Patch-plants ; and to a person who paid no attention to the subject, the mis¬ take was very easy, as many small flowering plants, such as Cel- misia glandulosa, Forstera Bidwillii, and Euphrasia cuneata, are often found growing among the moss.

Mr. Richmond says this front route is incomparably more laborious than the back one taken by him and his brothers pre¬ viously ; the only dangers in either ascent are being hemmed in by the creeks rising, and running short of provisions. Dry weather appears to be exceptional in this locality, the mountain being seldom all seen : clouds are found on some part of it every day ; and one party may be at the bottom in miserable wet weather all day, while another may be enjoying beautiful sunshine at the top ; this actually happened with our party and another.

From the town, by the Carrington road, the route lies for twelve miles through clearings in the bush on each side to Code s Hut at the last clearing. Here the horses are left ; and every¬ thing carried on the back to the base of the cone at the head oi the Rocky River, a distance of twenty miles.

From Code’s Hut the track is entirely through bush, rising by a gradual and easy ascent to an elevation of 3500 feet, where the hill emerges from the bush into an open shrubby region. The bush passed through differs in nothing but an absence of the Fagus genera from the bush in AVellington; the Vite* littoralis is found on the lower levels, but it is not likely it goee

MOUNT EGMONT, NEW ZEALAND.

59

much further south ; Metrosideros tomentosa is also found a few miles north of the town ; but this appears to be its southern limit. Both of those trees are further south than they were supposed to be.

The most prominent trees of the bush on this range, are Weinmannia racemosa (the bark of which is stripped for tanning), Metrosideros florida, Podocarpus Totara , Knightia excelsa, Dy- soxylum, spectabile, Dacrydium ferrugineum, Melicytus ramijlorus, Aristotelia racemosa, Drimys axillaris, Schefflera digitata. The ferns also have a Wellington aspect: — Cyathea dealbata, and C. medullaris, Diclcsonia antarctica and D. squarrosa, Nephr odium velutinum and JV. hispidum, Trichomanes reniforme. Two very fine mosses are common, Polytrichum dendroides and Dawsonia superba.

The most prominent plants of the shrubby region, at an alti¬ tude of 3500 feet, are Libocedrus Doniana, which stands a giant amongst the rest, Senecio elceagnifolius, very abundant, Olearia nitida also common, Panax Sinclairi, Coprosma cuneata, Pitto- sporum tenuifoliwm , Coriaria ruscifolia, Cassinia Yauvilliersii, Dra- cophyllum Urvillianum.

On patches of open ground will be found Veronica macrocarpa and Veronica Icevis, Ranunculus nivicola, Ourisia macrophylla, and many small plants, also found on the Cone, to be afterwards mentioned.

From the summit of this range the track descends very steep to the great swamp at the base of Mount Egmont. On this slope begins Cordyline indivisa, a very fine species, often dividing into many branches ; this is a very different plant from the Cordyline indivisa of Dusky Bay.

Crossing the great swamp by one mile of heavy walking, the legs sinking deep in Sphagnum moss, the track passes up the bed of a creek for half a mile. This creek passes over Bell’s Fall, becoming a branch of the Rocky River ; it is subject to heavy floods. Leaving this creek, and crossing the watershed between it and another creek, the track follows down for a few hundred yards to the junction of the first creek from the left, falling from the Cone. It is from this junction that the track starts to rise to the Cone.

Arrangements should always be made to start from this point, to make the top and back again in one day : failing this precau¬ tion, none of our party made the extreme top ; but this was of little consequenee, as vegetation ceases entirely at 6500 feet.

GO

MU. J. BUCHANAN ON THE BOTANY OF

From the junction to an altitude of 5000 feet the vegetation is identical with that of the range passed over. The plants col¬ lected here were Ranunculus nivicola, Ourisia macrophylla, Epi- lobium glabellum and E. n umm ulari ifo Hum, Euphrasia cuneata, Gelmisia glandulosa and C. longifolia, Forstera Bidwillii and F. tenella, Erapetes Eieffen bachii, Wahlenbergia saxicola, Coriaria thymifolia (this is certainly not the C. angustissima of the South), Craspedia alpina, Eracop hy l turn rosmarinifolium, Veronica Icevis, Gnaphalium prostratum, and Coprosma depressa. Poa foliosa is ap¬ parently the only grass, and is the highest plant on the mountain ; Senecio latifolius is very abundant between 2000 and 4000 feet.

The highest vegetation consists of a few scattered plants of Claytonia australasica, Ligusticum aromaticum and L. piliferum, Gnaphalium prostratum, Wahlenbergia saxicola, and Poa foliosa : these six may be found up to 6500 feet altitude.

Dieffenbach seems to have been satisfied that the line of per¬ petual snow on Mount Egmont was 7500 feet ; this is a mistake, as at this season there were only two or three patches in the mouths of old craters a few hundred feet from the top, w hich may disappear before May. The ascent of the cone is very laborious, the gradient being very steep ; that point having been reached which retains the volcanic debris only in temporary rest, quantities move downwards on the slightest occasions. The yielding mass of broken tufas and ashes affords little resistance to the feet in the ascent; and both hands and feet must be often used to prevent a loss of ground instead of a gain. As may be expected, not a trace ot moisture exists, every drop sinking into the ground, and only appearing again at the bottom of the Cone, where the creeks burst suddenly out from the ground in considerable volume.

From the town to the top of the Cone and back again can be done in three days. Our party took four days, having spent a day in visiting Bell’s Fall on the Rocky River.

The following list will give a better idea of the botany of the district : —

Plants collected and noted as being found on Mount Egmont and

neighbourhood,

Clematis indivisa and C. Colen- soi.

Ranunculus nivicola, 4000 to 5000 feet.

Drimys axillaris, two varieties.

Viola Cunninghamii.

February 1867.

Melicytus ramiflorus (lanceolatus), 2000 feet. This plant was also collected to the north of Auck¬ land in 1866.

Pittosporum tenuifolium, crassifo* limn, eugenioides, cornifolim®.

MOUNT EGMONT, NEW ZEALAND.

Gl

Claytonia australasica, 5000 to 6000 feet.

lloheria populnea, vars, lanceolata and angustifolia.

Aristotelia racemosa.

Elaeocarpus dentatus.

Linum monogvnum.

Melicope ternata.

Dysoxylum spectabile.

Pennantia corymbosa.

Discaria Toumatou.

Dodonea viscosa.

Alectryon excelsura.

Corynocarpus laevigata.

Coriaria ruscifolia and tliymifolia. The last species has always flat branches, which the Mount Eg- mont plant is found to have. C. angustissima is not found in this locality : its form is like a bottle¬ brush, with fine line-like leaves.

Sopliora tetraptera, var. grandiflora.

Acaena Sanguisorba.

Carpodetus serratus.

Weinmannia racemosa. The pre¬ vailing tree in Taranaki. Bark used in tanning.

Leptospermum ericoides.

- scoparium.

Metrosideros tomentosa. Found as far south as the Waitari River.

- - florida, lucida, scandens.

Myrtus bullata, obcordata, and pe- dunculata.

Eugenia Maire.

Fuchsia excorticata.

Gunnera (monoica?), 4000 feet.

Ilydrocotyle elongata, muscosa.

Epilobium glabellum, 4000 feet.

- - uummulariifolium.

I’assiflora tetrandra.

Mesembryanthemum australe.

Ligusticum piliferum and aroniati- cum.

Apium australe.

Aciphylla squarrosa.

Panax simplex, Edgerleyi, crassi- folium, arboreum (Sinclairii, 4000 feet).

Scheftlera digitata.

Griselina lucida and littoralis. Corokia Cotoneaster.

Loranthus tetrapetalus and flavi- dus.

Alseuosmia Banksii.

Coprosma acutifolia. Probably the Kermadec plant ; it is described as having a bell flower, like Fuch¬ sia, and an orange berry.

- fcetidissima.

- grandifolia.

- parviflora.

- robusta.

- repens, 4000 feet.

- cuneata, 4000 feet.

- depressa, 4000 feet.

Nertera dichondrsefolia.

Asperula perpusilla.

Olearia nitida (4000 feet), ilicifolia, Cunninghamii, Forsteri, Solan- dri.

Ozothamnus microphyllus, 40(H) feet.

Celmisia glandulosa (5000 feet),lon- gifolia (4000 feet).

Craspedia fimbriata.

Cassinea Vauvilliersii and retorta. Raoulia australis.

Gnaplialium prostration, Keriense. Senecio elaeagnifolius, 4000 feet; latifohus, 2000 feet; glastifolius, 2000 feet.

Brachyglottis repanda.

Forstera Bidwillii, 5000 feet; te- nella, 4000 feet.

Wahlenbergia saxicola, 5000 feet. Gaultheria antipoda, 4000 feet; ru- pestris, 4000 feet. G. oppositi- folia not seen.

Cyathodes acerosa, empetrifolia, 4000 feet.

Leucopogon Frazeri.

62

ON THE BOTANY OF MOUNT EGHONT, NEW ZEALAND.

Pentachondra pumila.

Dracophyllum Urvillei (rosmarini- folium?).

Muhlenbeckia adpressa.

Myrsine salicina, Urvillei.

Samolus littoralis.

Parsonsia albiflora, rosea. Geniostoma ligustrifolium. Exarrbena petiolata.

Solarium aviculare.

Veronica salicifolia, macrocarpa ; lce- vis, 4000 feet.

Ourisia macropbylla, 2000 to 4000 feet.

Euphrasia cuneata, 4000 feet. Rhabdothamnus Solandri.

Vitex littoralis.

Myoporum laetum.

Nesodaphne Tawa.

Atlierosperma Novae Zelaudiae. Hedycarya dentata.

Knightia excelsa.

Pimelea arenaria.

Drapetes Dieffenbacliii.

Euphorbia glauca.

Epicarpurus microphyllus.

Elatostemma rugosum.

Ascarina lueida.

Piper excelsum.

Peperomia Urvilleana.

Libocedrus Doniana.

Podocarpus ferruginea, Totara, spi- cata, daervdioides.

Daerydium cupressinum. Phylloclades trichomanoides. Libertia macrantha.

Typha angustifolia.

Freycinetia Banksii.

Triglochin triandrum .

Rliipogonum seandens.

Callixene parviflora.

Arthropodium cirrhatum. Cordyliue australis, Banksii, and a small stemless species very like young plants of C. Banksii; it has a large head of white, sweet¬ smelling flowers.

Astelia Banksii.

Anthericum Hookeri.

Phormium tenax and Colensoi. Areca sapida.

The following Orchids only could be determined : —

Earina mucronata. Dendrobium Cunningliamii.

- autumnalis. Gastrodia Cunningliamii.

Two Grasses only were collected : —

Poa australis and Poa foliosa, 5000 feet.

And the following Terns : —

Gleichenia Cunninghamii.

Cyathea dealbata, medullaris, Smithii.

Alsophylla Colensoi.

Dicksonia squarrosa, antarctica.

Hymenophyllum tunbridgense, uni- laterale (a rare fern), minimum.

■ - bivalve, rarum, crispatuni,

scabrum, aeruginosum. Trichomanes venosum, reniforme. Davallia Novae Zelandiae.

MR. J. BUCHANAN ON NEW-ZEALAND BOTANY.

03

Notes on the Botany of the Province of Marlborough, made during a visit there in the months of November, December, and January, 1866-67. By Mr. J. Buci^iCnan. Communicated by J. D. Hooker, M.D., P.R.S., V.P.L.S.

[Read June 20, 1867.]

The botany of Marlborough is well defined in its distribution — the greater portion of the country being open pasture, while the bush is confined chiefly to the gullies and lower slopes of the mountains ; if to this is added an alpine region including all above 4000 feet, the three divisions into which the district is naturally divided will be easily understood.

The district may be described as a series of great mountain- ranges, attaining in many places altitudes of from 5000 to 9700 feet, and rising like islands from a sea of low land, terraced and undulating. The pasture varies in quality as certain geological influ¬ ences prevail, the terrace-land being principally gravels and sands, and the lower hills lime and marl. Aridity rules ; and these areas carry but a sparse and little-nutritive pasture of a few species of grass. Repeated burnings of the country are evidently reducing the number of species of plants ; and a country naturally arid from its geological nature will, by this treatment, become more so.

At the junction of the lower hills with the ranges the pasture improves ; there is found a richer soil and more moisture ; and in the numerous mountain- valleys and mountain-slopes up to 3000 feet the pasture is superior.

The bush of this district is almost identical with that of the east coast of Wellington in the North Island. There are still found here Corynocarp us laevigata , Nesodaphne Tawa, Areca sa- pida, Knightia excelsa, and Cyathea medullaris ; these pass into the province of Canterbury on the east coast as far as Banks Penin¬ sula. The prevailing tree in the bush is Fagus Solandri, ascend¬ ing in the gulleys sometimes to 5000 feet. The wood of this tree is perfectly worthless where it is exposed to the weather ; yet it has been used extensively for telegraphic posts, many of which are already rotten.

Before giving a list of the plants of the district, the most of which were collected, it would be as well to describe the vegeta¬ tion of one river-valley as the type of the others, and the ascent at one place of the Kaikoura Mountains. Taking the Clarence River valley, and starting from the sea, sand dunes are passed over with the almost uniform vegetation of such places; Coprosma

64

Mil. J. BUCHANAN ON THE BOTANY

acerosa , Convolvulus Soldanella, Euphorbia glauca, Desmoschoenus spiralis are always present. Swampy ground near sand dunes has a few other plants peculiar there — Gunnera monoiea, Senecio lautus, Samolus littoralis, Cotula coronopifolia, Sellieria radicans, Epilobium alsinoides.

Continuing up the river-flats, the vegetation is grassy, with a strip of shrubs on the banks of the river, and trees and shrubs in the gulleys of the terraces bounding the flats. The grasses col¬ lected in the different valleys were uniformly the same — Poa Co- lensoi, Poa australis, Dichelachne crinita, Triticum scabrum , Tri- setum antarcticum, Agrostis oemula, Eanthonia llaoulia, Eanthonia semiannularis, Kceleria cristata, Agrostis : the most of these grasses are found up to an altitude of 3000 feet.

There are a few shrubs of the river-flats of a very local and limited distribution. Senecio Monroi, a beautiful shrub, was found in flower in December ; the whole plant is fragrant ; it ranges from the sea-level to 4000 feet. Notospartium Carmi- chceliee, with its peculiar wrhipcord-like foliage and masses of pink flowers, is perhaps one of the most showy shrubs of the country. These two are worthy of attention as garden- plants, and no doubt would become favourites. Then, again, the leafless Clematis, with its tendrilled stems twisting on themselves till they form an upright mass of interlaced cords ; the female plant in seed is very showy.

The frequent burnings prevent a great variety of shrubs. Cas- sinia leptophylla, Carmichcclia Jlagelliformis, Leptospermum scopa- rium, and Muhlenbeckia complexa form the principal. There are many small plants generally found in open grass-lands, such as Hypericum gramineum, Carmichcelia nana, Convolvulus erubescens , Prasophyllum Colensoi.

After passing up the valley five miles, the ascent of the Kai- kouras is begun by striking up a transverse spur to the main range. This spur of five miles attains an altitude of 3000 feet as it nears the mountain ; during this distance there are few additional plants found, the country being open and grassy. Celmisia spec- tabilis and Anthericum Hookeri begin, which, further up, occupy nearly the whole ground ; Phormium tenax, Coriaria ruscifolia and Pteris aguilina, the three prevailing plants on scrubby ground in the middle island, are common, with Bubus australis , Arundo conspicua, Discaria Toumatou and Muhlenbeckia complexa , forming patches on the ground, Aciphylla squarrosa also too common.

The maiu range now' reached, called the Looker-on Kaikouras,

OF MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND. 65

is a long sharp ridge, its northern extremity commencing at tiie Clarence River, and, rising in altitude for seven or eight miles, culminates at Kaitaran, its highest point, 8700 feet, thence continuing south at lower elevations. From the junction pf the transverse spur or ridge the distance to the top is between three and four miles ; the track can only be followed with diffi¬ culty along the sharp ridge.

There is little difference in the vegetation up to 5000 feet, Antliericum Ilookeri at 4000 feet covering large patches of ground, and, when in flower, making the mountain-side yellow. Treading among the leaves of this plant produces a disagreeable odour ; it is avoided by all animals as food, and may be called a nuisance.

Between 4000 and 5000 feet there is little else to be seen but Celmisia spectabilis and Celmisia longifolia ; at this elevation the Aciphylla squarrosa has ceased to be troublesome. When climbing steeps, this plant, being hidden among others, is often dangerous for the eyes, if the feet should slip and the traveller fall on his face.

Between 5000 and 6000 feet, the mountain assumes an open and bare appearance ; everything has disappeared but the true alpines Euphrasia, antarctica and E. Monroi, Myosotis capitata and M. Traversii, Veronica Hector i, V. epacridea, V. tetratheca, and V. pirnelioides, Aciphylla Monroi, Ranunculus pinguis, Cya- thodes empetrifolia, Ligusticum aromaticum, Swainsonia Novce Ze- landice, Ozothamnus microphyllus, Erapetes Eieffenbachii , JJraco- pkyllum rosmarinifolium. Beyond 6*000 feet the only plant seen was Cotula pyrethrifolia.

Specimens of the larger shrubs are found as high as 5000 feet, such as Senecio Monroi, Olearia nummularicefulia and Cassinea Vau- villiersi.

Above 6000 feet the mountain becomes, in the connecting saddles, a very sharp precipitous ridge with shoots of dry debris on both sides, where, if a stone is placed, it dashes down with un¬ checked velocity for several thousand feet. No snow lies on the highest parts of the mountain, having no hold, although it was seen at lower levels. The extreme height can only be reached with danger, the last saddle having numerous loose rocks on the edge of the ridge, doubtful on which side to fall; and, as they would have to be clambered over, they might be put in motion. It is not worth the risk, as the last thousand feet is perfectly barren, and there is little difference in the view from the second-last knob, it being oidy a few hundred feet less in altitude.

LINN. PROC. - BOTANY, YOL. X. F

66

MR. J. BUCHAN AN ON THE BOTANY

These higher mountains do not seem to have anything dif¬ ferent from those of lower altitudes of 4000 to 6000 feet, several of which were examined in the district ; and the Looker-on Kai- kouras are unfavourable as fields for alpine plants ; there are no flat spots with wet bottoms or slopes of debris at rest.

The season being exceptionally wet, the principal Kaikouras were not examined ; but there is little doubt that the shepherds employed to search for plants there have pretty well exhausted them.

The following is a list of plants collected or noted as being found in the district : —

Clematis indivisa.

- Colensoi.

- , sp., leafless. River-valleys and

sea-coast.

Ranunculus pinguis. 4000-5000 ft.

- multiscapus.

- rivularis.

Caltha Nova; Zelandiae. 4000 feet. Drimys axillaris, southern variety. Nasturtium palustre.

Cardamine depressa.

Viola Cunninghamii.

Melicytus ramiflorus.

Pittosporuin tenuifolium, fascieula- tum, and eugenioides.

Gypsophila tubulosa.

Colobanthus subulatus and acicu- laris.

Spergularia rubra.

Hypericum gramineum.

Plagianthus Lyallii. This plant has the leaves sometimes not cordate. Iloheria populnea, var. augustifolia. Aristotelia racemosa and fruticosa. Elaeocarpus dentatus.

Linum monogynum.

Geranium sessiliflorum.

Erodium cicutarium.

Oxalis corniculata.

Disoxylum spectabile.

Peunantia corymbosa.

Discaria toumatou.

Dodonea viscosa.

Alectryron excelsum.

Corynocarpus laevigata.

Coriaria ruscifolia, a small var. with waved edges on the leaves. Carmichaelia nana, odorata, and fla- gelliformis.

Notospartium Carmichaelia. Svvainsonia Novae Zelandiae. Sophora tetraptera, var. grandiflora. Rubus australis (three varieties). Geum urbanum and parviflorum. Acaena sanguisorbae.

Carpodetus serratus.

Weinmannia racemosa.

Drosera auriculata.

Gunnera monoica.

Leptospermum scoparium and eri- coides.

Metrosideros scandens.

- lucida. Queen Charlotte’s

Sound.

Myrtus pedunculata and bullata. Fuchsia excorticata.

Epilobium pubens, melanocanlon, Billardieri, glabellum.

Passiflora tetrandra. Sea-coast. Mesembryanthemum australe. Tetragonia expansa. llydrocotyle Novae Zelandiae. Apium australe.

Eryngium vesiculosum.

Acipbylla squarrosa, Colensoi, and Monroi.

OF MARLBOROFGIT, NEW ZEALAND.

G7

Ligusticum piliferum and aromati- cum.

Daueus carota.

Panax simplex, Edgerleyi, crassi- folium and arboreum.

Schefflera digitata.

Griselina lucida and littoralis.

Loranthus flavidus (on Fagus So- landri).

Tupeia antarctica.

Coprosma lucida, petiolata, rham- noides, foetidissima, acerosa.

Nertera dichondraefolia.

Olearia insignis, nitida, Cunning- hamii, nummulariaefolia, Forsterae, virgata.

Celmisiaspectabilis.longifolia, Mon- roi.

Vittadenia australis.

Brachycome pinnata.

Cotula coronopifolia, dioica, pyre- thrifolia.

Craspedia fimbriata and alpina.

Cassinia Yauvilliersii, leptophylla, and fulvida.

Ozothamnus selago and depressus.

Raoul ia tenuicaulis, glabra, australis, niammillaris.

Gnaphalium bellidioides and fili- caulis.

Haastia pulvinaris. 5000 feet.

Senecio Haastii, lautus, Colensoi, Monroi, and a species with entire round leaves \-\ in. in diameter. Specimens sent to Dr. Hooker.

Brachyglottis repanda.

Traversia baccharoides. 2000 feet, on Mount Monat.

Wahlenbergia gracilis and saxicola.

Lobelia anceps.

Pratia angulata.

Gaultheria antipoda and rupestris.

Cyathodes acerosa, empetrifolia and Colensoi.

Leucopogon Frazeri.

Pentacliondra pumila.

Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium. 5000 feet.

Myrsine Urvillei and salicina. Samolus littoralis.

Parsonsia albiflora and rosea. Geniostoma ligustrifolia.

Gentiana pleurogynoides.

Myosotis australis, capitata, and Tra- versii.

Convolvulus soldanella and erube- scens.

Solanum aviculare.

Veronica salicifolia, Traversii, ver- nicosa, epacridea, tetratheca, Hec- tori, Hulkeana.

Euphrasia antarctica and Monroi. Mvoporum he turn.

Mentha Cunninghamii.

Plantaga Raoulii.

Chenopodium triandrum.

Salicornia indica.

Scleranthus bifiorus.

Munlenbeckia ephedrioides, com- plexa, and adpressa.

Rumex flexuosus.

Nesodaphne Tawa.

Atherosperma Novae Zelandue. Hedycarya dentata.

Knightia excelsa.

Pimelia Lyallii and Gnidia.

Drapetes Dieffenbachii.

Euphorbia glauca.

Fagus fusca and Solandri. Epicarpurus microphyllus.

Urtica ferox.

Ascarina lucida.

Piper excelsum.

Podocarpus ferruginea, (nivalis, 5000 feet,) Totara, spicata, daerv- dioides.

Dacrydium cupressinum. Phyllocladus alpinus.

Earina mucronata and autumnaiis. Dendrobium Cunninghamii. (rastrodia Cunninghamii.

Pterostylis micromega.

F 2

GS

MR. J. BUCHANAN ON NEW-ZEALAND BOTANY.

Thelymitra longifolia.

Prasopliyllum Colensoi.

Corysanthes rotundifolia.

Libertia ixioides and macrantha. Typlia angustifolia.

Rhipogonum scandens.

Callixene parviflora.

Cordyline australis and Banksii. Astelia nervosa and Banksii. Anthericum Hookeri. 4000 feet. Phormium tenax and Colensoi. Areca sapida.

Potamogeton natans.

Juncus Novae Zelamliae.

Luzula Oldfieldii (5000 feet) and campestris.

Scirpus triqueter, maritimus. Leptoearpus simplex.

Cyperus ustulatus.

Schcenus pauciflorus.

Desmoschcenus spiralis.

Isolepis riparia.

Eleocharis gracilis.

Carex Gaudichaudiana, virgata, ca¬ taracts;.

Hierocliloe alpina, 5000 feet. Eehinopogon ovatus.

Dichelachne crinita and sciurea. Agrostis aemula, canina var. /3 (4000 feet), avenoides.

Arundo conspicua.

Dantlionia Cunninghamii, Raoulii, semiannularis.

Ko?leria cristata.

Trisetum antarcticum, subspicatum. Glyceria stricta.

Poa australis and Colensoi.

Festuca ovina, duriuscula.

Bromus mollis (introduced). Triticum scabrum.

Ferns.

Cyathea dealbata, medullaris, Smithii.

Dick sonia antarctica, squarrosa.

Hymenophyllum minimum, multi- tidum, rarum, pulcherrimum, di- latatum, crispatum, polyantbos, scabrum.

Trichomanes reniforme, venosum.

Davallia Novae Zelandioe.

Lindsaea trichomanoides.

Adiantum Cunningbamii.

Ilypolepis tenuifolia, distans.

Cbeilanthes tenuifolia.

Peliiea falcata, rotundifolia.

Pteris aquilina, tremula, seabrula incisa, macilenta.

Lornaria filiformis, procera, fluvia- tilis, elongata, discolor, alpina.

Asplenium lucidum, flabellifolium. falcatum, Hookerianum, bulbi- ferura, flaccidum.

Aspidium vestitum, aristatum, co- riaceura.

Nephrodium decompositum, hispi- dum.

Poly}>odium australe, grammitidis, rugulosum, pennigerum, rupestre, Cunninghamii, pustulatum, Bil* lardieri.

Leptopteris hymenophylloides, su- perba.

Lycopodium selago, Rillardieri, den- sum, clavatum, scariosum, volu- bile.

Tmesipteris Forsteri.

Azolla rubra.

DR. AITCHISON ON THE FLORA OF LAIIUL. GO

Lahul, its Flora and Vegetable products &c. From communi¬ cations received from the Rev. Heinbjhh" Jaeschke, of the Moravian Mission. By J. E. T. Aitcihson, M.D., F.R.C.S.E., F.L.S. &c.

[Read April 20, 18G5.]

The term “ Buran ” is the name of the language spoken chiefly over Lahul and Kunwar, where it is called “ Tiber-skad.” It belongs neither to the Tibetan nor Sanscritian family. The synonyms in the paper, except where marked as belonging to another language, will be understood to belong to the “ Buran.” These are spelt in accordance with the pronunciation used by the Lahulees, and not according to the correct Tibetan spelling.

Pronounce a as in father , harley.

„ e as in net, or ay in May.

„ i as in machine.

„ o as in so.

„ u as in sure.

„ zh as sibilant s in leisure.

Lahtjl.

“ Lahul consists of the valleys of the headwaters of the Che- nab.” * It is surrounded by a circle of high mountains, which on the south-west has a break in it ; and through this opening passes the Chenab. The headwaters consist mainly of two streams. One, called the Chundra, which may, indeed, be regarded as the true source of the Chenab, springs from the base of the moun¬ tains that bound Lahul to the north, at the most eastern limit of Lahul, running parallel and close to the bases of the mountains that bound Lahul on the east ; and, at the union of the hills that bound Lahul on the east with those that help to encircle it on the south, the river makes a rapid bend to the west, keeping a west-by-north course parallel to the hills that form the southern boundary, and from this continues in the course of the Chenab, passing through the opening of the circle of mountains at an eleva¬ tion of about 8500 feet. The second river, that joins with the Chundra to form the Chenab, is the Bhaga. This rises close to the Bara-Lacha pass, runs south by east, and joins the Chundra a few miles before its passage through the opening in the hills. The union of these two rivers forms the Chundra-Bhaga or Chenab. This runs for some little distance through the province of Lahul.

* * Flora Indica,’ by J. D. Hooker and T. Thompson.

70

DE. AITCHISOK OK THE FLOEA OF LAHUL.

The country from which the accompanying plants were obtained is the Chundra valley as far as Koksar and up to the Rotang pass (13,000 feet), along the whole of the Bhaga valley up to the Bara-Lacha pass (16,000 feet), and in the valley of that portion of the Chenab river that is in Lahul.

The Chundra valley above Koksar Avas not visited by Mr. J aeschke, but was by Mr. Heyde ; and from what he saw of it, he considered that it would be likely to prove of much interest to the botanist, as it presented not a feAv plants that do not occur in the rest of Lahul, and apparently seemed to enjoy a larger quantity of rain and moisture, as seen by the presence of Poly¬ podium linear e ( Plnjmatodes ), Thunb.

The Lahulees do not recognize any of the above rivers by any further term than that of “river,” which they apply to all large streams indiscriminately. The names Chundra-Bhaga and Chenab are of Hindoo origin.

Where the union of the tAVO rivers takes place to form the Chenab, the altitude is 9000 feet. The bed of the Chenab through Lahul does not average above 8500 feet. The land forming this portion of the Chenab valley is by the natives termed “ Manchat or the “ Ioav land ” or the “ lower valley.”

At Kyelang, a small village on the Bhaga, with an elevation of 9500 feet, is the Mission station.

What is spoken of in this paper as “ The Valley of Lahul ” may be considered to average from 8500 to 10,000 feet in elevation ; and it is to be understood that all plants stated to occur in the “ loAver valley,” reach only an elevation of 9000 feet, and hence can only occur in the Chenab valley, — as, for instance, the W alnut, which is only to be met with in the “lower Aralley.”

Climate. — Spring commences about the middle of April, and is usually ushered in by the springing of grass. In ordinary years the wild gooseberry will shew its leaves about the latter end of April. Snow lies at Kyelang to nearly the end of April, and then rapidly vanishes under the influence of the sun’s rays, which daily become more powerful.

The dandelion, No. 6, Iris Kamaonensis , Wall., and No. 63, Gentiana, sp. (unnamed), are the first plants to shoAV their early flowers, soon, hoAvever, followed by the Anemones. TussiUg0 farfara. No. 248, floAvers throughout the whole winter on groun that may be free from snow.

In early spring the natives are very badly off for food, both or

DR. AITCHISON ON T1IE FLORA OF LABEL.

71

themselves and ehiefly for their cattle ; an early season therefore is hailed and looked forward to with great joy. The natives at this time make use largely of the young leaves of the dandelion, and many other plants, cooked in the form of spinach, more especially the young leaves of No. 85, JEremurus spectabilis, Bieb., which grows in great luxuriance in particular localities. This was considered by the Mission a very good vegetable.

Bain, in but very small quantities, falls through the summer from May to September. During 1864 for three months the rain- gauge at Kyelang marked less than nine-tenths of an inch ; but it must be remembered that this was an unusually dry season.

Ploughing and sowing are carried out extensively in May.

The harvest is collected about the middle of September ; and frost begins to be felt early in October, not unfrequently in the latter part of September. From this time the temperature very gradually begins to fall ; and snow not unfrequently makes its appearance about the middle of October. This, however, is only the forerunner of winter, as usually, on the whole, October, No¬ vember, and December are lovely, clear, dry, frosty months. The great snow-falls introducing dead winter occur about the beginning or middle of January; and from this time to the beginning or middle of April the vast expanse of country is one mass of snow, the people for these four months being all but confined to their houses.

Ice does not occur upon any of the streams, from the great rapidity with which they run; occasionally, however, on their edges a little may be found.

Eelative to the snow-limit of this district we would refer the reader to Cunningham ‘ on Ladak and the surrounding coun¬ tries.’

At 16,000 feet, the Bara-Lacha pass, during July, August, and perhaps September, may be crossed without passing through or touching snow. The top of the Kardang hill, of an elevation of 15,000 feet (from a rough trigonometrical measurement), in ordinary years is free of snow in July, beginning again to be covered in October.

A snow bridge has now existed for several years at 15,000 feet, not far from the Bara-Lacha pass.

The general appearance of the Lahul valley, up to 10,000 feet, in midsummer is that of being richly cultivated and very verdant ; but to keep up this appearance, an easy access to and a liberal supply of water for the irrigation of the crops under cultivation is essen-

72

DU AITCHISOS OTS TIIE FLORA OF LAHL'L.

tial. This farming is carried out more upon the principle of gardening than of field cultivation, as without careful irrigation the crops would completely fail from the extreme dryness of the climate.

At about 11,000 feet cultivation ceases ; and above this height, with the exception of where the forests exist, the general aspect of the country is barren and arid in the extreme.

The inhabited part of the Chundra valley from Koksar to the union of the two rivers, presents a barren treeless aspect. The left bank is totally uninhabited and uncultivated, due chiefly to the great steepness of the rocks, and the presence of numerous precipices; a few miles, however, before the junction of the two rivers some small villages occur, and some cultivation, with one of the two large forests of Finns excelsa, called the “ Mooling forest whereas, on the right bank, we have a tolerable number of villages with a much more extensive cultivation.

From the junction of the Bhaga, passing up the Bhaga river, there are villages and cultivation upon both banks of the river (though more on the northern bank) for ten miles ; here the second forest of Firms excclsa exists, viz. the “ Kardang,” also on the left bank of the river.

At the village of Tino, which is seven miles, as the crow flies, beyond Kardang, all the cultivation on the eastern bank ceases ; from this point, passing upwards, a few villages at some distance from each other are to be met with on the western bank, the last village being “ Dharchee,” 11,000 feet in elevation, and about nine miles, as the crow flies, from “ Tino.” At the last house, ‘‘ Patseo,” a day’s march further up, no cultivation exists. From Darchee upwards the valley becames much contracted, nar¬ rower and in every way more sterile ; the juniper, which existed as a tree, is now but a poor stunted shrub ; and this even becomes rare.

From the union of the two rivers to the Chumba frontier, the country, as already stated, is called the “ low land ” or “lower valley ; ” cultivation here is much more extensive than in the upper valleys spoken of ; other vegetable products than those met with in the higher valleys occur, as, for instance, the Abies Smithi- ana, "Walnut, and a species of Fersica occur wild, with the Apricot freely naturalized and ripening its fruit.

Here spring is much earlier in its advent, and necessarily seed-time is earlier, giving a longer summer and autumn, and per¬ mitting of the occasional cultivation of wheat, a thing quite un-

DB. AITCIIISOX OX THE FLOBA OF LAHUL.

73

* known in any other part of Lahul. This portion is chiefly populated by Hindoos ; the villages present a more thriving appearance, contain many better houses, some of which are fairly built with timber.

Infhe cultivation of their fields the common wooden plough of northern India, pointed with iron, is what is in general use, worked usually with a pair of “ Dzo,” viz. a hybrid between the Cow and Yak.

For ploughing, carrying loads, or other kinds of work, this hybrid is considered superior to either of its parents.

Irrigation, of necessity, as already stated, is in every case carried out. All streams of water that are near land, that can be possibly applied to the purposes of cultivation are highly valued and most jealously cared for. The water is conveyed to and through the fields by means of built channels ; and the fields are flooded w ith it as occasion may require.

Crops. — Barley and Buckwheat are the main crops ; anything else is quite exceptional.

Barley, “ JSTai.” Of this there are three recognized varieties, all largely grown.

Buckwheat, “Drawo.” There are two kinds, one much less cultivated than the other.

"Wheat, “Dro, Do.” Has hut very rarely been raised, and that only in the lower valley. The natives affirm that the wheat raised in Lahul is of a very much better quality than that grown in Kullu.

The Amaranths are not cultivated in Lahul, their limit being Kullu.

The chief food of the Lahulee is Buck-wheat ; from this two kinds of flour are made : — one called “ Drape,” of the raw grain ; this is boiled w ith water and eaten as gruel ; the other, “Mukusu ” (Bunano), made from the boiled and then roasted grain. This “ Mukusu ” flour is either made into a sort of girdle-cake, or, by mixing with it “ Chang ” in two proportions, where there is little, dumplings are formed, used chiefly for being carried in travelling, or, when in some quantity, into a kind of gruel, and eaten at once from the common drinking-cup. Both these latter dishes are cold ones. Ladakees, accustomed to a more refined cookery, look upon this Buckwheat diet rather contemptuously.

Wheaten flour is eaten largely, made into a sort of soup, with such vegetables as can be obtained (as, in spring, dandelions aud

71

DR. AITCHISON ON THE FLORA OF LAHUL.

other field- weeds, in summer chiefly the leaves of Buck-wheat) ; and this soup forms the chief morning meal.

Bice-flour is used much in the same way as the wheaten by the poorer people ; the wealthier classes eat it more after the Ladak fashion, boiled thickly with butter, and mixed with sugar, apricots, and other condiments.

Barley-flour is used in the same way as wheat-flour. As a sort of delicacy, roasted barley is offered to visiting friends or acquain¬ tances, and is thus frequently eaten.

The large tap-root of No. 50, Codonopsis ovata, Benth., called “ Lu-dut,” is dried and converted into flour, and thus mixed with either Barley or Buckwheat to increase the amount at little or no cost.

Vegetables. — Cultivated there are none ; but the young leaves and stems of many wild plants are eaten largely by the natives, more especially in spring, as of the dandelion, “ Baran.”

No. 85. Eremurus spectalilis, Bieb., “ Boe.”

No. 50. Codonopsis ovata , Benth., “ Loodoot.”

No. 95. Allium (unnamed sp.).

No. 111. Rlieum Moorcroftianum, Meis.

No. 127. Sedum Tibeticum, H. f. & T.

No. 217. Origanum normale, Don.

No. 230. Cicer songaricum , Steph.

No. 266. Tragopogon major, Jacq.

No. 298. Sedum rhodiola, DC., called “ Shrolo.”

Previously to the arrival of this Mission amongst the Lahulees, they took not the slightest trouble to add to their luxuries. This might be due to several causes, — no regard for taste, lazy habits, or most likely to the fact that they prefer the cultivation of a more paying and saleable commodity to that of a luxury.

They know of turnips, “Mokali,” which are cultivated in Ladak, and the dry roots of which are not unfrequently brought to Lahul.

Mushrooms, “ Moksha,” are found, but are not common ; they are used by the natives. In Kullu they are much more common, and there are regularly used.

The Mission gave a great stimulus to this department of agriculture by the introduction of the potatoe during the year 1857. These are much liked by the natives ; called “ Alu ” (Hind.), small patches of these are now being grown. Along with the potatoe it was attempted to introduce many other English veget¬ ables. Of these, the Lahulees preferred the lettuce, cabbage, and turnips; yet although they admit these are not bad things in thexr

DR. AITCHISOSJ ON TIIE FLORA OF LAIIUL.

75

way they will not take the trouble to grow them. The great drawback to vegetable-cultivation is the want of proper hedges to protect the gardens from the numerous cattle. This, there can be no doubt, could be easily remedied by making good hedges of No. 294, Hippophae rhamnoides, L., or of the abundant wild roses which are so prolific throughout the valley ; but they are such an indolent race of people that it is to be feared they would not care to go to this extra trouble.

Fruits. — The district produces but few fruits ; and of these only one or two are in any way palatable or useful. Those which suit the native palate are: — the wild strawberry, “ Paljoo,” of which there is a great abundance in the valley; No 54a, Hides ILimalaiense , Decaisne, a sweetish acid fruit ; No. 1S9, Pyrus baccata, Wall, (this is a sweet fruit, the size of a small cherry, called “ Lit see'' and much eaten) ; also No. 188, Pyrus malus, L., which is a sour bitter fruit, a kind of apple, called by the natives “ Kushoo,” this term being also applied to the apple. A Coto- neaster, growing in the “ lower valley,” yields a small berry, to which they are also partial.

The fruits found good and useful by the Mission were the Wild Strawberry, which is very highly flavoured, the flavour and size becoming greatly improved upon cultivation, making au excellent stew. The fruit of No 294, Hippophae rhamnoides, L., is only good after being made into a preserve, with at least half the weight of sugar; and then it makes really au excellent preserve. The natives, however, do not use it at all. A recipe for making the above was met with in a Tibetan pharmacopoeia, where the tree is called “ Star-bu.”

Apricot-trees grow in the “ Lower valley ; ” and there the fruit ripens, called “ Chuli.” It is, however, an uncommon tree to be seen near a village above 9000 feet ; and then either the children eat all the fruit before it is ripe, or the tree is unable to ripen its fruit at an altitude above this. Mr. Jaeschke never saw ripe fruit on the trees near Kyelang. Dry apricots, in the form of a cake called “ Pating,” are always to be found in the houses of the richer natives, and usually form what is given as the introductory present, a ceremony always gone through towards strangers.

Walnuts, “ Darga.” Although the tree grows in the “ Lower valley,” the fruit is not common, and is generally imported.

Of grapes there are none. Pears and peaches are quite un¬ known.

Beverages. — Instead of tea, which assists largely towards the

76

Dll. AITCHISON ON THE FLOHA OF LAHUL.

diet of the richer classes, cooked with “ghee” (clarified butter) and salt into a kind of thick soup having the consistency of chocolate, the shepherds and poorer people often use the leaves of No. 180, Potentilla Inylisii, Hoyle, which is a very fair substitute, and by them called “ Spang-jha ” or “ Moss-tea.”

From barley, as well as from rice (“ Drai,” “ Dai ”), a kind of beer is made, called “ Chung.” The Ladakees prepare it by an infusion of water on the boiled barley ; the Lahulees squeeze the latter out with their hands. The Ladak Chung is therefore a tolerably clear fluid of a pale yellow colour, similar to the “ vin ordinaire ” of France, even in taste, when it is good ; the Lahul Chung is a duller, dark-grey, thickish liquid, looking very dirty, and with a prevailing taste of malt. In the upper part of Kullu they prepare “ Chung ” from rice, but also by squeezing, and, therefore, of the same appearance, and similar in taste to the barley “ Chung ” of Lahul.

Notwithstanding that Chung is by no means a strong drink, the Lahulees do get drunk on it, from the excessive quantities they swill, thus resembling the German beer- drinkers. In making Chung a ferment is used, called “ Pab,” imported from Ladak in the form of a dry yeast. The Lahulees admit their ignorance as to its nature and their non-ability to make the Chung without it.

In the monasteries, and houses of the great, from barley is made a very strong brandy called “ Arrack ” (Hind.), with which strangers are usually treated: from its name being' of Hindoo origin there can be no doubt that the knowledge of developing this spirit came also from the south.

Hops were introduced by the Mission for the first time in 1862. One plant bore a little fruit during 1863 ; and during the spring of 1864 the young shoots were being thrown up with great vigour ; and at present to all intents and purposes there seems to be every reason to consider that their introduction will prove sueessful.

Tobacco, “ Tamak ” (Hind.). None is cultivated.

“ Churrus.” This exists as an article of commerce, passing through Lahul on its way to Kulu. It is not much used m Lahul ; and although Cannabis Indie a is very' common near villages? Churrus is not made from it, but what is required for consumption is purchased from the traders. The plant itself is called “ Bhau- gee” (Hind.).

Condiments. — No. 74, Carum carui, L., grows largely wil No. 76, Cuminum cyminum. The seeds of this, called “ Zira, are

DR. AITCIIISON OX TITE FLORA OF LAIIUL.

77

a large export article to Kulu, collected from wild plants, never cultivated.

The bulbs of No. 95, Allium (unnamed), and No. 96, Allium cerocephalum , L., are also exported in some quantity.

Medicines. — Many of the indigenous plants are used in medi¬ cine, some with good reason, others again simply because the natives have been in the habit of using them.

As emollient applications to bruises, swollen joints, &c. we have No. 50, Codonopsis ovata, Benth.; of this the thick tap-root is the officinal part ; of No. 81, Myricaria elegans, Boyle, the leaves are used.

In fevers they use a decoction of No. 57, Gentiana tenella, Fries, besides several other Gentians, the officinal parts being the leaves and stems. The Mission, from the roots of No. 62, Genti¬ ana decumbens , L., made a decoction, but had not required to try its efficacy after it was made. The natives throw away the root part, not making any use of it.

The bulbs of No. K>2, Aconitum heterophyllum, Wall., are largely used and exported to Kullu, chiefly as a febrifuge, called in Laliul “ Bonga ” (Tib.).

In lung-complaints the jelly made from the fruit of No. 294, Ilippophae rhamnoides , L., is strongly recommended by the Tibetans, much in the same way, and no doubt for similar rea¬ sons, that black-currant jelly is such a popular household remedy in Scotland.

Parts of No. 93, Podophyllum Pmodi, Wall., No. 121, Saxifraga ligulata, Wall., No. 196, Pedicularis Ilookeriana, Wall., No. 263, Dolomicea macrocephala, DC., and No. 296, Ephedra Gerardiana, Wall., are said to be used; but for what diseases or reasons we cannot say. The Bhubarbs are not used medicinally, although the young stalks and leaves are eaten as vegetables. No. 112, Rheum Pmodi, Wall., “ Lachu,” would no doubt prove a useful purgative ; as, although this plant has been cultivated in the Mission garden as a substitute for European Bbubarb, it does not as yet seem to have lost its purgative property.

Sugar, “ Kara,” wholly an article of importation, is chiefly used medicinally, no doubt partially to correct the flavour of their coarse drugs. In the houses of the poor it is quite unknown ; and not seldom are the missionaries applied to for a little bit of sugar in cases of disease where a European would not think of sugar being able to do any good.

Scent. — The plant of No. 149, Delphinium Brunonianum , Boyle,

78

DK. AITCHISON OX TIIE FLOBA OF LAH1JL.

in a fresh state, has a strong odour of musk, indeed so mueh so that by this peculiar odour the locality of the growing plant may be detected. No. 200, Pedicularis (unnamed sp.) is also very frequently similarly scented.

Incense, “ Boil — No. 210, Morina breviflora, Edgw. This plant the natives use as incense ; by throwing it on the fire it gives forth while burning a very agreeable perfume.

The fruit of No. 283, Juniperus excelsa, Bieb., is used very extensively for incense by the “ Buddhists.” A pious Buddhist will every morning be seen regularly burning his incense on his housetop as a most sacred ceremony ; and the incense used consists nearly always of this fruit.

Byes, “ Tsoi.” — The roots of several plants are used for the purposes of dyeing, but not by the natives of Lahul themselves. A peripatetic dyer from Kullu, passing through the villages, dyes whatever his customers may wish him. They themselves do not pretend to be possessed of the necessary knowledge required for this purpose. Plants No. 18, Bubia cordijblia, L., and No. 109, Polygonum tortuosum, Don, both yield a yellow dye.

The clothing of the natives consists nearly entirely of wool, or of prepared sheep-skins (“ Luk-lok nyekan ”). The men are dressed in grey, and the women in black. No cotton clothing, except by the Hindoos in the Lowrer valley, is ever used. They are fond of small gay bits of rag to tack on in patches to the out¬ side of their sheepskins, and usually manage to have a patch of red between the shoulders.

Washing. — The natives very rarely indeed ever think of washing either their own persons or their clothes ; but notwithstanding this fact of uncleanliness, they do occasionally use certain plants as a substitute for soap, mixed with a natural impure soda called “Bui,” obtained from the lake of “Bupshu,” in Ladak. Thus, of No. 91, Polygonatum multijlorum, Allioni, the root is powdered and mixed with the water used ; of No. 13b Silene viscosa, Pers., the root and leaves are used, as also m a similar way the root and leaves of No. 309, Lychnis Indica, Benth.

Tanning. — Leather, “ Kowa,” “ Koa,” is little used in Lahul, and that which is made in it should more correctly be called “ pre¬ pared skin.” The method they employ for preserving skins is the following. To prepare a large skin they first of all spread it out on the flat roof of their house in the sun ; they then sit down on it and work the whole skin under their bare heels until it he-

BR. AITCIIISOX ON THE FLORA OF LATTUL.

79

comes of a proper consistency. The smaller skins they carry about with them, working them with their hands at all spare moments, very much in the same system as that followed out by young ladies with their fancy wmrk — but, we must say, make them¬ selves less agreeable companions for the drawing-room. Whilst these skins are under preparation they give forth a most disgust¬ ing and unbearable stench. The Lahulees at all times are not sweetly perfumed. On one occasion a Lahulee of some standing in society came to visit Mr. Jaeschke, and, on his entering the room, confounded Mr. J. with the foetor. The Lahulee, seeing that the stench had been noticed, raised his hands, and showed a small skin he was wrorking at, thus apologizing for what he considered but a slightly disagreeable smell. These prepared skins, in the form of wallets, “ Kyalpa,” are largely used in their households in place of boxes &c., to hold their goods and chattels. Every native met with travelling has one of these skin bags under his arm, containing his provisions &c. for the journey.

Leather shoes, “ Kabsha,” (Pers.), made in Kulluare procured by the wealthier Lahulees ; the shoes used by the generality of the people are either those made of barley-straw, “ Bulla,” or of goats-hair, “ Babu ” (Pers.), thickly felted.

Oils, “ Marnah." — No plants yielding oil as one of their pro¬ ducts are cultivated in Lahul. Oil lights are a luxury scarcely to be met with except in the houses of the wealthy, or, indeed, lights of any kind. If by chance a light be used, it will be found to be one fed by “ ghee ” (clarified butter), or torches made from the resinous wood of Finns excelsa, Wall.

Oil is, however, extracted from the seeds of No. 51, Impatiens tingens , Edgw., a common weed of the valley, but this oil is only used in polishing the cups and wooden vessels that they are so fond of making from the knots of trees.

Fibres. — Although the Cannabis Indica and No. 314, Linum perenne, L ., with a JDesmodium, are to be found in some quantity, they use the fibre of none in rope-making, all their rope, string, or twine being made from hair (“ Takpa ”) or wool. They know that No. 297, Cannabis Indica , yields a material converted by the people of Kullu into rope <fcc.

Tinder, “ Shratca.” — From No. 242, Cousima, sp. (unnamed), they collect and make their tinder; and we may say that, as “Bryant and May’s Patent lucifers ” are unknown in these regions, the flint, steel, and tinder are still the sources for obtaining fire.

Taper, “ Shuggu ” and “ Kaguz ” (Hind.). — For this they gene-

80

DR. AITCniSOX OX TIIE ELORA OF LAHUL.

rally use the bark of No. 280, Hetula Bhojputra , "Wall., called “ Drowa ” or “ Droa,” which, as is well known, is a first-rate sub¬ stitute ; but paper can be, and is, occasionally, made in Lahul from a Desmodium. The Laliulees are not very literary in their pur¬ suits ; and hence it but rarely occurs that there is a run on the paper-market. It is usually made to order, and generally, when it is so, in some quantity. On the last occasion it was made for a Lama wishing to recopy some religious books.

These Desmodiums, we may state, make a very strong rope; their long stems being twisted together are often in this rough state used for making the rope bridges used in Bussahir and Kunwar. Captain Lang, R.E., has often found these ropes very useful in the construction of the Hindostan and Thibet road.

Trees , “ Butra” (Hind.). — The common tree of Lahul is No. 283, Juniperus excelsci, called “ Shookpa,” and is the tree of the country. It begins to be met with in quantity at 9000 feet of elevation, stopping at an elevation of 14,000, where it occurs chiefly as a shrub. A full-grown and unusually large-sized tree will be in height about 30 feet, and in girth about 8 feet ; but as the stem increases in height it does not keep in proportion to its girth at base. The main stem of a tree of the above proportions resembles a thin elongated cone. It forms extensive but thin forests ; the timber (“ Dungma ”) is not held in great value, from its shortness and being usually crooked and irregular; this does, however, well enough to build walls with for houses, where one layer of stones is followed by a beam of wood, as also in roofing for the smaller houses of the natives. Upon the forests of this tree being attacked by a species of Viscum, No. 295, Arceuthobium oxycedra, B ieb., called “ Shook-sar ” = N ew J uniper, they soon became all but extirpated. The external structure of this Viscum most curiously resembles the foliage of the Juniper ; and one’s first im¬ pression is, that this is but the Viscum album metamorphosed by its growth on the J uniper.

The most valuable tree, but occurring chiefly, as already mentioned, in two forests, is No. 279, Pinus excelsa, with a fm* individual trees spread over the country. It does not reach an altitude above 13,000 feet. It is called by a Tibetan name, “ Sum- shing” or “Fir-tree.” These two forests belong to Government. No trees are allowed to be felled without a government permit. These yield the larger amount of timber usedfor building with in Lahul, such as beams, rafters, &c. The largest trees shew7 timber of about 20 feet ; the trees themselves do not average 30 feet in height-

DR. AITCHISON ON THE FLORA OF LAHUL.

81

Abies Smithiana, “Rai” (Hind.), occurs in the lowest part of the valley towards Chumba in some quantity, but, except at this, the lowest elevation in Lahul, it is not found elsewhere. In Chumba it is a common tree.

The next common and useful tree is No. 284, Salta , sp. (not determinable), “ Chungna,” which occurs largely cultivated round villages. The wood of this tree is not used for timber so much as for other purposes, of which we shall hereafter speak.

There are several other trees, as Nos. 188, Pyrus Mains, L. ; 191, Pyrus ursina, Wall. ; 198, Pyrus Aria, L. ; 2S1, Populus bal- samifera, L. ; 282, Populus, sp. (not determinable) ; and 285, Salix viminalis , L., to be met with ; but none of these are sufficiently common or large enough to be considered of value or brought into general use. No. 281, Populus balsamifera, and No. 282, Populus, sp. (not determinable), are the tallest trees of Lahul, some being fully fifty feet high. They are termed “ Yarpa” and “ Makal but these names are indifferently applied to either tree. No. 193, Pyrus Aria, L., is said to be very common in Kunwar.

Firewood, “ Pud-shiny .” — The chief source of firewood is No. 283, Juniperus excelsa. The large trees of this are not allowed to be felled indiscriminately ; only the smaller are open to the public for cutting. Also No. 294, Ilippophae rhamnoides, L. This often reaches tree-size. Its wood is hard, making the best fire¬ wood. Along with the above, the branches of No. 284, Salix, sp. (not determinable), and of No. 280, Betula Bhojputra, Wall., not unfrequently come into use, and not rarely those of No. 279, Pinus excelsa, obtained by stealth.

The Lahulees are, on the whole, very badly off for firing mate¬ rial during winter. This is due greatly to their own laziness (at the proper season for collecting wrood they do not do so, and therefore suffer during the winter), also to the fact, partially, that firewood is not plentiful. In addition, therefore, to using wood for fuel, they largely consume cow-dung made up in flat cakes,