OURNAL OF BOT

SPAR ARA AAR AA

VOL. vi. B

HOOKER’S

JOURNAL OF BOTANY

AND

KEW GARDEN MISCELLANY. _

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS: an Enumeration of the Plants collected
in the Island of Hongkong, by Major J. G. Champion, 9542 Reg.
the determinations revised and the new oe desoribed de GE

| onn fm vò. p- 200)
| EvPHOkBIACEZ. :

l. "Fuphorbia pilulifera, Linn.

A weed, common all over the tropics, with E. Aperi
which is also found in Hongkong, though not in Major Champion’ 8.
collection.

2. Stillingia sebifera, Mich.
Common in Hongkong as a shrub, though less so in the
form. chic
9. Stillingia discolor, Champ., sp. D; foliis longe.
= glabris subtus candica 3
geminisve, in popite i

9 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

petioli in pagina superiore sepe in unam confluentes, et nonnulla
interdum in pagina inferiore lamine sparse ; hee tamen ssepe omnino
desunt. Spica fere sessilis, bipollicaris, ei S. sedifere subsimilis sed
densior, et in omnibus speciminibus a me visis androgyna est. Brac-
le parve, latze, truncatze v. medio brevissime acuminate et margine
plus minus fimbriate, glandulis dorsalibus crassis maximam partem
bractez obtegentibus. Flores omnes pedicellati, pedicello 1-14 lin.
longo, bracteis nonnullis parvis acutis basi fulto; fceminei solitarii,
calyce trifido lobis aeutis, ovario glabro, stylo ad medium trifido,
lobis rotundatis obtusis. Stamina sepius 2, rarius solitaria.
Gathered with the preceding. I have it also from Griffith's Ma-
lacca collection, so that it has a evidently a wide range, but I cannot
find it anywhere published.
4. Stillingia Japonica, Sieb. et Zucc. Pl. Jap. Fam. Nat. p. 37.
Common in ravines, Col. Eyre.— This differs from Zuccarini’s short
. character, in the leaves being less acuminated, and the glands at the top
of the petiole being often solitary or wanting. In both these respects,
however, the specimens of the original plant communicated to me by
_ Dr. Blume show considerable variations.
5. Acalypha Indica, Linn.
* common weed.
6. Stipellaria £rewioides, gen. nov. Alchornee et Rottlere affine.
In ravines, Hongkong.
Char. Gen. SmIPELLARIA. Flores dioici, racemosi, apetali. Maseuli
fasciculati, pedicellati. Calyx globosus, 2—4-partitus, laciniis æsti-
vatione valvatis membranaceis latis concavis. Stamina 8, v. abortu
pauciora, filamentis basi in annulum connatis, antheris ovoideis ad
apicem filamenti affixis, loculis longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Fæminei
solitarii. Calyx 5—8-phyllus, sepalis angustis acuminatis. Ovarium
. sessile, globosum, 3—4-loculare, loculis uniovulatis. - | Stylus fere ad -
basin 3-4-partitus, laciniis subulatis haud plumosis intus papilloso-
süigmatosis. Capsula subglobosa, leviter sexsulca, tricocca, epicarpio
subcarnoso,—Frutices vel arbores Asiatici. Folia longiuscule petio-
lata, alterna, ampla, acuminata, serrato-dentata, membranacea, 3-5-
costata, penninervia et transversim venosa, petiolo basi bistipulato, -
. apice stipellis 2 erectis reflexisve aucto. Racemi simplices v. sub- -
. ramosi, masculi ad axillas ramorum annotinorum ; feminei ad apices
— hornotinorum basi sæpe foliati. Jin pedicellati, masculi

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 8

ad axillam bracteze minim: fasciculati, bracteolis minutis v. nullis ;

feeminei solitarii, bractea bracteolisque ad basin pedicelli stipuli-

formibus.

This genus is certainly allied to the Ameriean and West African
genus Alchornea, but the male inflorescence is different, being rather |
that of Trewia and Rottlera, as also the anthers, the female calyx, ete.,
besides that the ovarium appears to be constantly 3—4-merous, not di- -
merous as in A/chornea, and the stipelle at the summit of the petiole
are very peculiar.

The following are the species which I find in my herbarium:— ——— —
(1.) S. trewioides ; foliis late cordatis subtus praeter venas glabris, flo-

ribus masculis glabris, pedicello calyce longiore, racemo foemineo vix

puberulo, stylis per anthesin ovario 3-4-plo longioribus.— anuli no-

velli pubescentes, mox glabrati. Stipule parve, lanceolato-subulatee,
caducz. Folia 4—6-pollicaria v. majora, basi late cordata, auriculis -
rotundatis, apice ut in omnibus speciebus cognitis longe acuminata,
margine irregulariter calloso-serrata, novella puberula, adulta supra
glabra, subtus ad venas hirtella et szepe rubescentia, basi inter costas
glandulas planas gerentia. Stipelle lanceolato-subulate, 1-2 lin.
longe. Racemi masculi solitarii, simplices, subtripollicares ; fasci
euli dissiti, 4-8-flori. Calyx inapertus globosus, lineam diametro,
~ glaber, laciniis concavis, demum reflexis. Filamenta calyce breviora,
. complanata, basi breviter connata; anthere ad apicem filam
eglandulosi insertze et eo longiores, ovoideze, erectze, loculis - 01
tudinaliter dehiscentibus. Racemi fæminei masculis longiores et
firmiores. Flores dissiti, inferiores sæpe ad axillam folii caulinis con-
formis, cæteri ad axillam bracteze parve lanceolato-subulate soli-
tarii, pedicello crasso 1-2 lin. longo. Calycis laciniw 5-6, lanoso-
lato-subulatæ, inæquales (14-2 lin. longæ), rigidulæ, persiste

Ovarium globosum, tomentoso-canescens, tetramerum v. r;

merum. Styli laciniæ semipollicares. Fructus immaturus t

brevi canescens, nec tuberculosus. Hongkong. ER
(2.) S. mollis; foliis late ovatis basi vix cordatis subtus i :

molliter pubescentibus, pedicellis fæmineis brevissimis, stylis ov; ri

vix duplo longioribus.—Rotélera mollissima, Wall. Cat. n. 7825.

Differs from S. trewioides in the leaves scarcely ever cordate and more
regularly serrate, and almost sessile female flowers with styles not hi
the length; from S, villosa in the very short pubescence, the

4 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

calyx much shorter and usually only five-leaved, the short styles, etc.

The stipelle are like those of S. trewioides, but usually smaller. The

male flowers are unknown.—Nepal, Wallich.

(3.) S. villosa ; foliis ovatis subcordatis subtus molliter villosis, racemis
villosis, masculo simplici, pedicellis brevissimis, femineo ramoso, flo-
ribus distincte pedicellatis, stylis elongatis.— Folia ampla, sed pro-
portione angustiora quam in S. trewivide, basi sinu parvo subcor-
data. Stipelle latiores, 1-3 lin. longs. Racemi masculi 2—4-pol-
licares, calyce parvo bipartito molliter villoso ; Stamina seepius 8.
Racemi feminei ad apices ramorum plurimi. lores breviter sed
distincte pedicellati. Calycis laciniæ sepius 6-8, quam in præce- -
dentibus longiores. Styli 10-11 lin. longi, fere ad basin liberi.— —
Malacca, Griffith: Cuming, n. 2307.

(4.) S. tiliefolia ; minute puberula v. glabrata, foliis late ovatis remote

. denticulatis basi cuneatis v. rotundatis, racemis simplicibus, mascu-

lorum pedicellis brevissimis, capsulis tuberculatis.— Folia 3—4 poll.

longa, 2-3 poll. lata, subtus ad venas minute hirtella, ezeterum gla-
bra, glandulis baseos minimis v. nullis. Stipelle rigidulæ, 1-14 lin.
longe. Racemi masculi 2-3-pollicares. Flores parvi, pedicello calyce
sepius breviore. Calyx 4-fidus. Stamina sæpius 8. Racemi fæminei

— breves, pedicellis brevissimis. Flores ipsos non vidi. Capsula fere

-. globosa, 3-4 lin. diametro, leviter sexsulca et undique tuberculis as-

.. perata.—Sillet, Wallich, n. 1829.

.(5.) S. parviflora; minute puberula, foliis ovatis v. ovato-oblongis ser-

ratis basi obtusis, racemis subramosis, masculis gracilibus, flori

minimis pubescentibus, feemineis minute puberulis,

. culatis.—Partes novelle tomentoso-pubescentes. Folia a :

pollicaria, supra ad venas puberula, subtus breviter hirtella, basi

inter costas glandulifera. Stipelle vix lineam longs. - Racemi NAS-

- culi 2—4-pollicares, simplices v. ramulo uno alterove instructi. Flores

omnium minimi (vix semilineam diametro), 4-fidi. Anthere 5-6?*

Racemi feeminei ad apicem rami subramosi, ramis floribusque infimis

folio subtensis. Capsula (subbaccata?) fere globosa, leviter 6-sulca,

verrucis elevatis plus minus corrugata, in specimine 4—5 lin. diame-
tro. Stylus 4 lin. longus, usque ad $ trifidus.— Philippine Islands,

Cuming, n. 1800. : |

: * The flowers are however in m; specimen so rotten, that I found it impossible to -

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. — 5

Wallich's n. 7777 appears to be a sixth species of Stipellaria, with
narrower leaves than any of the foregoing, but my specimen has neither
flowers nor fruit.

7. Rottlera tinctoria, Roxb. Fl. Ind. vol. iii. p. 827.

Common in ravines and woods of the Happy Valley. It is a narrow-
leaved form, with the spikes usually simple, and is probably the R. au-
rantiaca, Hook. et Arn. Bot. Beech. p. 270. I have the same variety -
from the Himalaya as well as from the Philippine Islands.

8. Rottlera paniculata, A. Juss.

‘In ravines, subarboreous. The specimens correspond exactly with |
those from Canton, mentioned in the Botany of Beechey’s Vorags.
Major Champion gathered both sexes.

9. Croton lachnocarpum, sp. n. ; fruticosum, foliis oblongis taai
subtus ramulisque teliato:pikesis glandulis stipitatis ad serraturas |
parvas, racemis masculis androgynisve folio longioribus stellato-to- —
mentosis, floribus 5-petalis 5-glandulosis, superioribus masculis fas- -
ciculatis 10-12-andris, inferioribus foemineis distinctis, horum petalis
minutis subulatis, capsula villosa.—Frutex v. arbor, tomento ramu- -
lorum canescente v. subrufescente. ‘Stipule inconspicue. Folia -
alterna, 14—24 poll. longa, 9-11 lin. lata, nune acuta et mucronata,

. nune fere obtusa, margine obtuse serrulata, basi obtusa, viridia, supra

.. demum fere glabra, subtus pilis stellatis densiuscule vestita; glan-

. duke paginze inferioris parve, stipitatz, ad quamquam serraturam
solitarie, ad basin laminz geminz; petiolus tomentosus, 3-5 lin
longus. Racemi subterminales, 3—4-pollieares. Bractee parve, su-
bulate. Flores masculi per 3-5 fasciculati, pedicellis lineam longis.
Calyx ante anthesin depresso-globosus, extus villosus, lineam dia-
metro, demum 5-partitus, laciniis ovali-oblongis obtusiusculis. Petala
5, oblonga, obtusa, calycem sequantia, margine ciliata. Glandule
breves, ovoidez, integra, cum petalis alternantes. Stamina 10-1:
disco piloso inserta; filamentis ealycem superantibus glabris, anthe
rarum loculis distinetis erectis parallelis connectivo apice obsolete
glandulifero adnatis. Flores feminei in parte inferiore racemi
drogyni pauci, sub quaque bractea solitarii, pedicello quam in mari-
bus breviore et crassiore. -Calyx 5-partitus, laciniis angustis inte-
gerrimis erassiusculis linea paullo longioribus extus villosis, zestiva-
tione valvata. Petala minima, subulata, ciliata. Glandule parv
emarginate. Ovarium hirsutissimum. Styli 3, bifidi, lobis subu-

6 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

latis glabris. Capsula 3 lin. diametro, tricocca, extus glandulis par-

vis tomento stellato et pilis longis basi ramosis vestita.

Common in woods. The species is certainly in its villous male
flowers and in some other respects allied to C. lacciferum, but the
leaves are very much narrower, not at all cordate, the flowers consi-
derably smaller, the stamens fewer (although I do not find in C. lacci-
ferum quite so many as are represented in Wight, Ic. t. 1915); and it
is moreover remarkable by the stipitate glands along the margin of the
leaves on the underside. As to the genus, it certainly would be in-
cluded in Croton, even under the most limited definition hitherto pub-
lished by Klotzsch; but that character would also include C. Tighum,
which that botanist has more recently separated under the generic
name of Tiglium (Pl. Meyen. p. 418). I cannot, from the description
there given, discover the grounds of the separation, nor form any idea
whether he would refer the present species with it to Ziglium or leave
it in Croton.

There are in the collection two other specimens apparently of species
belonging to the Crotonee, but insufficient for determination.

.10. Glochidion molle, Hook. et Arn. Bot. Beech. p. 210.

_ Happy Valley woods. The Bradleia ovata, Wall. Cat. n. 7852, from
Nepal, which I have also from other parts of the Himalaya, appears to
be the same species.

11. Glochidion eriocarpum, Champ. sp. n.; ramis dense rufo-hirsutis,
foliis breviter petiolatis ovato-lanceolatis utrinque hirsutis, pedicellis
masculis filiformibus hirsutis, floribus fcemineis sessilibus, stylo bre-

. vissimo, fructibus glomeratis depressis molliter villosis.—2P//i ramo-

. rum densi, patentes. Folia quam in G. Sinico majora, tenuiora, et -

. semper pilis patentibus utrinque hirsuta. Stipule subulate, 1-2 lin.

. longe, deciduee. Petioli 4-1 lin. longi. Flores fasciculati, masculi
in axillis inferioribus, foeminei in superioribus; masculorum pedicel-
lus 2-3 lin. longus, hirsutus. — Perigonii laciniæ sex, biseriate, 1 lin.
longe, oblongz, petaloidese ; exteriores extus hirtelle. Anthere 3,

subsessiles, connectivis crassis loculos superantibus usque ad medium

im columnam coalitis. Flores fæminei sessiles. Calyx hirsutus, 5-
partitus, laciniis angustis. Ovarium hirsutum. Stylus erectus, vil-

_losus, 5-fidus, ovario ipso multo brevior. Capsule (baccatæ?) arcte

. sessiles, in specimine nondum maturæ, sed jam 4-5 lin. diametro.

. Happy Valley woods. "The species resembles in some respects the

icc and innumerable transverse rugosities.

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 7

Bradleia coronata of Wallich, Cat. n. 7857, but that has larger leaves
smooth on the upper side, less sessile fruits, and a remarkably long
style.

Mr. Hinds gathered another Glochidion on the island (G. macrophyl-
lum, Benth. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. i.), and the G, Sinicum
appears to grow on several of the neighbouring islands, but neither of
them are in Major Champion's collection.

12. Melanthesa Chinensis, Bl. Bijdr.— M. cernua, Benth. in Hook.
Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. i. p. 491, non Dene.—Phyllanthus lucens, Poir.
—Hook. et Arn. Bot. Beech. p. 210.

Woods, Hongkong.

13. Phyllanthus Maderaspatana, Linn. ? ;

Hongkong. A small specimen, agreeing precisely with Pains.
specimens, which I cannot but refer to the plant described by Linnseus -
and Willdenow, although it differs in some respects from that figured -
by Wight in his Icones, t. 1895, fig. 3. The whole plant is of a glau-
cous hue; the leaves generally cuneate or narrow-obovate ; the pedicels
shorter than the fully-developed female calyx. The anthers are three,
distinct, and scarcely sessile at the apex of the filaments, erect, but
without the projecting connectivum mentioned by Wight. The seeds
. are beautifully marked with about eight or ten slender ames be

= 14. Phyllanthus? cinerascens, Hook. et Arn. Bot. PS p. 21 :
Hongkong, gathered also at Lantao by Dr. Cantor. I have not seen
the male flower, but the plant must probably be referred to Wight's
genus Macraea. The females are borne on pedicels about 2 lines long,
and when fully expanded are a line and a half in diameter, with six
lobes broadly ovate. The ovary is encircled at the base by a slightly
_ lobed thick glandular dise, in which it is almost buried at the time of
flowering, but from which it soon emerges. Styles joined at the base
and each divided to the middle into two recurved lobes. Capsule abovi
.2 lines in diameter, depressed, globose; the seeds, under a stron
magnifier, marked with innumerable minute tubercles. 8 833
The two common Indian weeds, Phyllanthus Niruri and P. Deere ^
are probably also to be found in Hongkong, as I have seen Chinese
specimens of both. The P. Urinaria, distinguished by modern authors :
by its warty capsules (see Bot. Beech. p. 210), has also the seeds marked
by deep transverse furrows, which the Niruri has not (see Zucc. PI. Jap.

8 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

Fam. Nat. p. 36), but I cannot discover any character to separate from
it the P. Cantoniensis, Hornem., described by Klotzsch, Pl. Meyen.
p. 420, P. lepidocarpa, Sieb. et Zuce. Pl. Jap. l. c., of both of which I
have examined authentic specimens, nor yet the P. leprocarpa, Wight,
Ic. t. 1895, f. 4, judging from specimens of Gardner.

15. Emblica officinalis, Gertn. var.— Dichelactina nodicaulis, Hance,
in Walp. Ann. Bot. vol. iii. p. 376.

Ravines, Hongkong. I have examined several forms of this species,
all closely resembling each other in their foliage and pubescent branches.
In the common cultivated variety, the male flowers are very small, and

are mostly fallen at the time of flowering. These male flowers are

the size of those figured in Wight, Ic. t. 1896. In the Himalayan
specimens the flowers are generally less crowded, the floral leaves more
persistent, the male flowers sometimes without glands, sometimes with
one or two only, larger than in the above-quoted figure. In my Hong-
kong specimen the inflorescence is as in the Himalayan, but the male
flowers are rather larger, and all six glands are of a considerable size.
I have not seen the female flowers of the latter, but in the East Indian
specimens the irregular teeth of the cup-shaped disc, and the divisions
of the branches of the styles, are variable in size. The knotty enlarge-
. ments of the woody stem mentioned by Hance, are to be seen occasion-
_ally in Indian specimens. et
. 16. Briedelia éomentosa, Bl., var. glabrescens.— B. Loureiri, Hook. et
Am. Bot. Beech. p. 211?
_ Hedges, East Point. The specimen is in fruit only, so that I am not
certain of its identity with Hooker and Arnott’s species. It only differs
from those distributed by Wallich from Penang and by Zollinger from
Java, as the B. tomentosa, Bl. in the smoothness of the leaves; they
are never however wholly without a few small hairs on the underside,
especially towards the base of the midrib. I have both the pubescent
and smooth forms from Assam and Sillet. ue.
. M. Goughia Nilgherrensis, Wight, Ic. t. 1877 et 1878. x MP
.. Woods, towards Little Hongkong, where it is abundant and forms a
tee. The specimens, both male and female, are precisely similar to
those I have from Gardner from the Neilgherries ; and widely separated
as are these stations, I cannot find the slightest character to distinguish

crowded on the lower parts of the small branches, from which the leaves.

mostly without glands, although I have sometimes seen them about

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 9

them. The stamina in both vary from six to eight or even nine. An-
other male specimen, from a shrub on the summit of Mount Gough,
has the calyx rather more developed, the filaments dilated, and the
anther-cells half buried in a fleshy connectivum, owing apparently to an
accidental deformity.

The genus Goughia has long been lying in our herbaria under the
manuscript name of Gyrandra, Lindl., under which a species is also
entered in Wallich’s Catalogue; but having never been published, the
name is now pre-occupied by a Gentianeous genus of Grisebach’s.
This species, as well as another from the Himalayas, appears to be dis-
tinct from Wight’s, and the two may be thus characterized :—

G. Himalensis, Benth. ; foliis ex oblongo-lanceolatis plerisque acutis
basi in petiolum racemis breviorem angustatis, calyce obsoleto, floribus
masculis 9—12-andris, baccis oblongis.—Kamaon, R. Blinkworth, Wall.
Cat. n. 9048; Mandal Valley, Himalaya, Edgeworth ; Nainee Tal,
Thomson, Strachey, and Winterbottom ; Sikkim, alt. 8—10,000 feet,
J. D. Hooker; Khasya, alt. 5—6000 feet, Hooker and Thomson.—Leaves
5-10 inches long, and scarcely 2 inches wide. Petiole seldom more
than an inch. In the G. Nilgherrensis they are seldom more than 3
inches long, more or less obovate-oblong, and rounded at the apex with
a small point, and the female calyx is irregular and more persistent.

G. laurina, Benth.; foliis longe petiolatis oblongo-ellipticis obtusis
v. rarius acutiusculis, calyce 4—5-dentato dimidio ovarii v. filamenta
staminum superante in feeminejs persistente, floribus masculis 6—8-an- —
dris, bacca ovoidea.— Gyrandra laurina, Wall. Cat. n. 80. Singapore, -
Wallich; Malacca, Griffith; Sumatra, Herb. Hooker. Leaves 6-12
inches long, 23-3 broad, obtuse or acute at the base, with the petiole -
from 13-4 inches long. Racemes generally shorter than the petioles. -
Fruit smaller than in G. Himalensis. m

I have also a small specimen in fruit from J unghuhn's Javanese cc
lection, but insufficient to characterize. |o ga

Dr. Hooker, who has kindly supplied me with some notes on |
plants, from the Hookerian herbarium and from his personal observa-
tions, says the Goughie are all large shrubs or small evergreen trees,
with chambered pith and without milky juice. The anthers are purple.

(To be continued.) = des

VOL. VI.

10

Kew Garden Museum; or, a Notice of the Origin and some of the
Contents of the Museum or Economic Borany attached to the
Roya Garpzns or Kew; Jy the Director, Str W. J. Hooker,

. K.H, F.R.A. and L.S.

(Continued from vol. v. p. 889.)
Ord. PAPAVERACE®. Poppy FAMILY.

The Papaveracee possess narcotic and acrid properties in an emi-
nent degree. The juice is often white, yellowish in Chelidonium majus,
red in Sanguinaria Canadensis. One species alone (the Opium Poppy)
may, in its legitimate use, be reckoned amongst the greatest blessings
to mankind,—* magnum Dei donum," as an eminent physician has
termed it; while, by its misuse, it has proved the greatest curse: of
such importance to the Materia Medica, that, in the last edition of
Dr. Pereira’s ‘Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics,’ no less
than seventy-four large and closely-printed pages are devoted to this
one subject. To that, and to the ‘Confessions of an Opium Eater,’
and other works bearing upon the effects of this plant on the human
constitution, we may safely refer our readers: our present business is
mainly with the contents of our Museum, as bearing on this Natural
Order. The seeds in this family are oily, and generally not narcotic.

White, or Opium Poppy. Papaver somniferum, Z. Considered to
be an aboriginal of Asia and Egypt, but cultivated in many warm and
temperate climates. Through Dr. Hooker’s mission to India a most
valuable collection of objects connected with the manufacture of Opium
as prepared at Patna, is presented by Dr. Corbett of that establishment
to the Museum; so bulky however, that it cannot be placed in its pro-
per arrangement, with the rest of the Papaveracee, but has a large and
deep case (54) at the east end of the great Room (No. 3) on the ground-
. floor, devoted to it. bns Eo
‘Taken in detail, this series may be said to commence with a number
. of small drawings, framed in one, exhibiting the mode, cultivation, etc.,
of the Opium, viz..— .
. . 1. Represents the ploughing of the field for the cultivation of the
_ Opium Poppy. |

. 9. Breaking the clods after ploughing.
3. Levelling the field after the breaking of the clods. — —
_ 4. Trrigating or watering the field before it is divided into com-
partments.

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 1E

5. Laying out the fields into compartments, or small squares, pre-
paratory to sowing.

6. Sowing the seed.

7. Weeding the plants.

8.. Watering the plants,

9. Gathering the “ leaves” (or petals) from the flowers, for “ caking.”

10. Preparing the “leaves” (petals) from the flowers, in a plate, on
a gentle fire.

11. Puncturing the Poppy “ pods” (heads, or green e with
the Nushtur (called Mikurnee at Patna), or lancet.

12. Gathering Opium from the green capsules with the Sectooahs,
which flows after the incisions.

13. Placing fresh-gathered Opium in a sloping shallow vessel, to
allow the moisture to be drawn off.

14. Conveying Opium to the sub-deputy agent, for weighing.

After the reference to the drawings and the implements above men-
tioned, our readers will be the better able to understand the following
Report on “The System of cultivating the Opium Poppy, and pre- -
paring of Opium, in the BrNARgEs Oprum Aczxcy, by W. C. B.
EaTwELL, M.D., HM Kon = Bastion of Records of =e Bengal —
Government.”

- “The cultivation of the Posy says Dr. Eatwell; * in British India -
is confined to the large central Gangetic tract, about 600 miles in length —
and 200 miles in depth, which is bounded on the north by Goruekpore, —
on the south by Hazareebaugh, on the east by Dinagepore, and on the
west by Agra.

* This large extent of country is divided into two agencies, the Behar
and the Benares, the former being presided over by an agent stationed
at Patna, at which station is the central or Sudder factory of the agency,
the latter being under the control of an agent residing at Ghazeepore,
which station contains the Sudder factory of the Benares agency. Fi-
nally, the control of the entire department is vested in the Board of-
Customs, Salt, and Opium, located in Calcutta. Of the two agencies,
the Behar is the larger and more important, sending to the market -
about treble the quantity of drug turned out by the Benares agency.

= “The Benares agency comprises eight divisions, and the aggregate
amount of land under Poppy cultivation in the season 1849-50 ves

12 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

107,823 beegahs*. Each division is under the management of a sub-
deputy Opium agent, who resides at a central factory, at which the
yearly produce of his division is collected, and whence it is forwarded
to the Sudder factory at Ghazeepore ; and again, each division is sepa-
rated into a certain number of subdivisions, called kotee illaquas, each
being of such extent that a single responsible officer can exert an efficient
control over all the operations conducted in it, and each of these kotee
illaquas is under the immediate management of a gomashta. The go-
mashta has his head-quarters at the kotee, which is a building having
some centrical situation, and in it he has his treasury, under the custody
of a tehsildar, or treasurer, and an establishment sufficient to enable
him duly to keep and render the accounts of his illaqua to the sub-
deputy agent.

“The number of native officials employed in the Benares agency is
very considerable. Of native officers of the first class the number
amounts to nearly 150, whilst of subordinate officials and paid servants
in constant employ the number reaches very nearly to 1200. In
addition to this permanent establishment, there is during the manu-
facturing season a temporary establishment of upwards of 600 indivi-
duals employed in the Ghazeepore sudder factory alone, including three
or four European assistants and some twelve or fifteen European and
Christian boys. The number of persons actually employed in culti-
vating the Poppy in the agency is very great. The number of lumber-
dars, who signed agreements to cultivate in 1849-50, amounted to
21,549, and the total number of under-cultivators was 106,147. When
it is further taken into consideration that the families of these indivi-
duals take no inconsiderable share in the labours of the cultivation and
in the preparation of the drug, some idea may be formed o^ the vast
number of human beings whose interests and welfare are bound up in
the Benares agency alone. ` ——

* [t is a strict rule in the agency that it shall be entirely optional
with every person either to enter into agreement to cultivate the Poppy
at such prices as may be fixed for the produce by the Government, or
to decline the cultivation altogether. The agreement to cultivate is
made by the sub-deputy agent, with a lumberdar,—an individual who
has a variable number of cultivators under him, and for whom he acts

as accredited agent.

* A beegah is 27,225 square feet.

.. these latter are all carefully stripped off and collected. They are then

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 18

“The lands selected for Poppy cultivation are generally situated in
the vicinity of villages, where the facilities for manuring and irriga-
tion are greatest ; and from the commencement of the rains in June or
July, until October, the ground is dressed and cleaned by successive
ploughing and weedings, and manured to the extent which the means
of the cultivator will permit. In the final preparation of the land in
October and November, the soil, after being well loosened and turned
up by the plough, is crushed and broken down by the passage of a
heavy log of wood over its surface, and it is in this state ready for
sowing. The amount of produce from various lands differs consider-
ably. Under very favourable circumstances of soil and season, as much
as twelve or even thirteen seers (26 lbs.) of standard Opium may be
obtained from each beegah of 27,225 square feet; under less favour-
able conditions the out-turn may not exceed three or four seers ; but the
usual amount of produce varies from six to eight seers per beegah.

“The Poppy cultivated in the Benares and Behar agencies is exclu-
sively the white variety (Papaver somniferum, album). In situations
favourable to its growth it vegetates luxuriantly, attaining usually a
height of about four feet. The stem is branched, and is terminated by
from two to five ovate-globose capsules, averaging in size a duck’s egg. _
The plant takes about three months and a half in reaching maturity,
and the time for its cultivation is exclusively the cold season, extending -
from November to March. AT

“ The soil having been prepared, the sowing is effected by throwing -
the seed broad-cast over the land, between the 1st and 15th of Novem- |
ber. In three or four days the plough is again passed over the land, to
bury the seed; and the soil is afterwards again levelled, by means of
the log of wood before alluded to. The whole surface is then divided
into square compartments, the sides of which are about ten feet in
length, and are raised and converted into little channels for the pur-
pose of irrigation. The number of times the plant may require irriga-
tion depends, in a great measure, upon the nature of the season. — —

“ Ten or twelve days are sufficient for the germination of the d
and after the little plants have attained a height of two or three inches,
they are carefully weeded and thinned. =

* In February the plant is generally in full flower, and towards the
middle of the month, and just before the time for the fall of the petals,

14 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

formed into circular cakes from ten to fourteen inches in diameter, and
about one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness.

“ The manner in which these leaf-cakes are formed is the following :—
A circular shallow earthen vessel is heated to the requisite degree, by
being placed inverted over a slow fire, A few petals are then spread
upon its heated convex surface, and as soon as the glutinous juice which
they contain is seen to exude, others are added to the moist surface,
and are pressed down by means of a cloth. As soon as these latter be-
come moist in turn, they receive a similar addition of petals, and in this
manner the cake is extended circularly by successive and continuous
additions, until it has reached the required dimensions. Instead of the
earthen vessel, a shallow or nearly flat iron cooking utensil is some-
times used.

“ The cakes of petals (known in the department under the name of
* leaves’), when they reach the sudder factory at Ghazeepore, are care-
fully sorted and separated into three classes according to their size and
colour. The smaller and dark-coloured ‘leaves’ are used in forming
the inner portions of the shells of the Opium cakes, whilst the largest
and least discoloured ones are kept for furnishing their outside cover-
ings. In a few days after the removal of the petals the capsules have
reached their utmost state of development, when the process of collec-
tion commences, which extends from about the 20th of February to the
25th of March. At about three or four o’clock in the afternoon indi-
viduals repair to the fields and scarify the Poppy oS with sharp
iron instruments, called nushturs.

“The nushtur consists of four narrow bars of iron, each of which i is
. about six inches in length, and of about the thickness of the blade ofa -

penknife. At one extremity, each bar does not exceed a quarter of an

inch in breadth; but it gradually expands, until it has acquired the
breadth of about one inch at the opposite end, where it is deeply
notched. The sides of the notch are somewhat curved and ground to
sharp edges, and the external angles. are brought to sharp points. The
four little bars, being placed side by side, are bound firmly together by
.. means of strong cotton thread; and the points, at their cutting ex-
. tremities, are kept separated from each other, to the extent of about
. one-sixteenth of an inch, by means of the cotton thread which is passed
between each pair of contiguous blades. Thus prepared, the instru- -
ment presents four pair of curved, pointed, diverging blades, somewhat

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 15

similar in shape to the lancet-blades of a cupping scarifieator. In em-
ploying the nushtur, only one set of points is brought into use at a
time, and the capsule is scarified longitudinally from its base to its
summit, the incisions generally passing more or less along one of the
longitudinal eminences observable on the outside of the capsule, which
mark the attachment of the internal dissepiments. The scarifications
thus made are very superficial, and do no more than traverse the thin
pericarp of the capsule.

* [f a horizontal section be made of the capsule of a vegetating
Poppy-plant, the milky juice will after a few seconds be perceived to
exude first, and in greatest quantity, from those portions of the sarco- -
carp which correspond to the bases of the dissepiments. It does not
however exude only from these points, but ultimately from the entire
surface of the cut sarcocarp. It moreover does not appear in dots, as if
poured out from longitudinal vessels, but exudes gradually from the
meshes of the cellular tissue. If a thin segment of the capsule be ex-
amined under a high magnifying power, no longitudinal vessels are ob-
servable, but a confused mass of cellular tissue is observed occupying —
the interspace between the epicarp and endocarp ; and opposite to the —
duplicatures of the endocarp, which go to form the dissepiments, the .
meshes of the cellular tissue are perceived to be much larger than in _
other situations, hence the free exudation of juice at these points. It
therefore appears that the mode of making the scarifications as actually
practised is the most effectual that could be adopted. Each capsule is-
scarified from two to six times, according to its dimensions, an interyal
of either two or three days being allowed after each operation. |

“ The capsules having been scarified in the manner above described,
the collection of the juice is made at an early hour in the following
morning. This is effected by means of instruments called seetooahs,
Which are made of sheet-iron, and resemble concave trowels; and with
these the juice is seraped from the surface of the scarifications, until
the instruments become filled, when their contents are emptied into a
earthen pot, which the collector carries by his side. —

“ After the plant has ceased to yield any more juice, its utility i is still
unexhausted. The capsules are then collected, and from the seeds an
oil is extracted, which is used by the natives for domestic purposes,
both for burning in lamps, and for certain culinary purposes. Of the
E entire seed suani o sad emble s in appearance aua comi

16 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

Of the dry cake remaining after the extraction of the oil, a coarse de-
, scription of unleavened bread is sometimes prepared by the very indi-
gent, or it is given to cattle, or used medicinally for poultices.

“ The capsules, deprived of their seeds, are still available for pre-
paring emollient and anodyne decoctions, which the natives use both
internally in coughs, and externally as fomentations. The stems and
leaves are left standing until they have become perfectly dry, under the
influence of the hot winds of April and May, when they are removed,
and crushed and broken up into a coarse powder, known in the depart-
ment under the name of ‘ Poppy trash,’ and which is employed in
packing the Opium cakes. The juice, when brought home by the cul-
tivator, is placed in a shallow earthen vessel, which is tilted to such a
degree that all the pusseica can drain off, and this plan is persevered in
so long as anything fluid will separate. "The pussewah obtained by this
means is set aside in a covered vessel, and receives no further attention
until taken for weighment to the Ghazeepore sudder factory.

* The Opium now requires frequent attendance on the part of the cul-

tivator. It is daily exposed to the air, though never to the sun, and
is regularly turned over every few days, in order to ensure a uniform
dryage in the whole mass; and this process is persevered in for the `
space of three weeks or a month, or, in fact, until such time as the
drug may have reached within a few degrees of standard consistence.
Standard Opium, according to the -Benares regulations, is Opium
which, on being subjected to a temperature of 2009 Fahr. until every-
_ thing volatile is driven off, shall leave a residue of 70 per cent.
** The Opium, on its arrival at the Ghazeepore factory, is turned out of
.. fhe confined earthen pots in which it is received, and is weighed in
wide tin vessels called ¢agars, care being taken that no larger quantity
than 10 seers (201bs.) is ever brought to the scale at a time. This
» weighment is made under the eye of the gomashta (or of his accredited
agent) of the kotee to which the Opium belongs ; and in the case of the
neighbouring or ‘home’ kotees, the cultivators attend in person with
their produce.
© The native Opium examiner, or purkhea, now lua his hand into
the centre and to the bottom of the drug, stirs it about, and grasps it
in various directions to feel for impurities, and then withdraws a hand-
_ ful, which he manipulates between his fingers, revealing its colour, tex-
ture, and mode of fracture, and finally ascertains its aroma. He then

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 11

throws upon a plate a small portion as a specimen, and estimates its
consistence. This estimate is written down on a ticket by the Euro-
pean officer, and it is sent with the specimen to the laboratory, where
a fixed weight of drug is accurately weighed, evaporated to dryness in
a plate placed on a metallic table heated by steam, and the weight of
the residue carefully determined. It rarely happens that the guess of
the purkhea (native Opium examiner) differs from the actual assay by
more than one or two grains, and it serves to check the actual assay
in cases of evident mistake or accident, which occasionally must occur
when a multitude of delicate operations are pes carried on. The -
number of specimens which leave the examiner's table daily, amounts E
to little short of two thousand. ;
* The tactus eruditus possessed by the purkhea is very remarkable : he :
rarely fails to detect even small quantities of the grosser and more tan-
gible impurities, whilst he is no less delicately alive to the slightest va-
riations in colour and smell. In the event of a specimen appearing to
be adulterated, it is at once set aside, to be carefully examined by the
opium examiner, who makes a special report respecting it for the in-
formation of the agent, who, should he see sufficient grounds for doing -
so, confiscates it, when the whole of the drug is destroyed, and the cul- —
tivator gets nothing for it. Should the adulterations be less extensive, -
and the drug such as to be not altogether useless, it is taken at half
price, or is subjected to such smaller penalty as the examining officer -
may think fit to inflict; and it is employed in making the /ewah, or
paste, used in forming the shells of the opium-cakes. The great pro- -
bability of detection, and the risk of confiscation, act as very efficient
checks to the prevalence of adulteration, and the quantity of opium
confiscated yearly is comparatively small. The nature of the adultera-
tions practised by the cultivators is very various.
“The grosser impurities usually mixed with the drug to increase its
weight are mud, sand, powdered charcoal, soot, cow-dung, pounded
poppy petals, and pounded seeds of various descriptions. All of these
substances are readily discoverable in breaking up the drug in cold
water, removing the soluble and lighter portions of the diffused mass
by decantation, and carefully examining the sediment. By this means
impurities of the above nature usually become physically appar ni
Flour is a very favourite article of adulteration, but is readily detected ;
opium so adulterated speedily becomes sour; it Te with a peculiar
YOL vi | 5

18 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

short, ragged fracture, the sharp edges of which are dull, and not pink
and translucent, as they should be, and, on squeezing a mass of the
drug after immersion in water, the starch may be seen oozing from its
surface; the application of the iodine test however furnishes conclu-
sive evidence of its presence, or at least of that of some amylaceous
compound. The farina of the boiled potato is not unfrequently made
use of; ghee, and goor (an impure treacle) are also occasionally used,
as being articles at the command of most of the cultivators: their
presence is revealed by the peculiar odour and consistence which they
impart to the drug. In addition to the above, a variety of vegetable
juices, extracts, pulps, and colouring matters, are occasionally fraudu-
lently mixed with the opium; such are the inspissated juice of the
common prickly pear (Cactus Dillenii), the extracts prepared from the
tobacco-plant (Nicotiana Tabacum), the Datura Stramonium, and the In- -
dian hemp (Cannabis Indica), ete. The gummy exudations from vari-
ous plants are frequently used; and of pulps, the most frequently em-
ployed are those of the tamarind, and of the bale fruit (LZg/e Marmelos).
— To impart colour to the drug, various substances are employed, as
. eatechu, turmeric, the posed flowers of the mowha-tree (Bassia lati-
Jolia), ete.

he colour of well-prepared Opium is a deep dull brown when
viewed in mass, which becomes a bright chestnut-brown when a small
portion of drug is spread in a thin layer upon a white surface. It ad-
heres to the fingers, and draws out to a moderate extent, breaking with
a ragged fracture; should it however contain much pussewah, its duc-
tility is much increased, and it is more glutinous.

andi in the recent well-prepared drug somewhat fruity.

..'* After having been duly weighed into store, the Opium receives but
little treatment in the factory. It is kept in large wooden boxes, capa-
ble of containing abont 14 maunds (10 ewt.) each, in which it is (if be-
. low the manufacturing standard) occasionally stirred up from the bot-
tom, until it has acquired the necessary consistence. Whilst remaining
in these boxes it speedily becomes covered with a thin blackish crust
- (ulmine), and deepens in colour according to the amount of exposure
. to air and light which it undergoes. Should the drug be of very low
consistence, it is placed in shallow wooden drawers, instead of in boxes,
in which. it is s constantly tumed over, until its consistence has approxi-

-

— , * Its smell is peculiar, and perfectly sui generis; it is not apap, c

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 19

mated to 70 per cent. From the general store, or malkhana, the drug
is exported daily in quantities equalling about 250 maunds, for the
purpose of being manufactured or made up into balls, or ‘cakes,’ as they
are termed in the department.

* [n exporting Opium for this purpose, the officer who performs the
duty selects for the most part Opium which is exactly at standard, or
very close to it; whilst to compensate for any drug which may have
risen higher than the prescribed consistence, a certain proportion of
Opium of low consistence is exported, the consistences of the various

proportions of drug selected for export being determined by a certain
number of test assays. The portions of drug thus selected are then -
weighed out with exactitude, in portions of 10 seers (20 Ibs.) each, and |
are thrown promiscuously into shallow wooden drawers, in which men -
mix them up together, rapidly and thoroughly thrusting their arms into
the drug and kneading it in various directions. From these drawers
the Opium is transferred as mixed to boxes, all of which are of the
same size, and from each of which a specimen is drawn and assayed. —
The mean of the assays of these boxes gives the average consistence of —
the export of the day, and serves as a guide as to whether the drug be —
of the proper consistence for caking. The above operations are gene-
rally completed by about 4 p.m., and before evening the drug is re-
moved from the boxes to large wooden vats, 20 feet long, 33 feet wide, -
and 1} feet deep, situated in the caking-room. In these vats it under-
goes a further kneading and admixture, by men who wade knee-deep
through the Opium, from one end of the vats to the other, until their
contents appear to be of uniform consistence. Two specimens are, on
the following morning, drawn from each vat, and assayed; and should -
ihe consistence have reached the factory standard, caking A E
commences. :

“Down either side of the room in which the vats are placed, are
ranged the cake-makers, numbering usually about one hundred and tı
individuals. Each man being seated upon a wooden stand, and being
furnished with a brass cup, forming the half of a hollow sphere, and
with another tin vessel graduated so as to hold a determinate quantity
of fluid. On the previous evening the leaves requisite for forming the

-shells of the cakes have been weighed ont and tied up in bundles |
prescribed weight, and have been damped to render them supp
Down the centre of the room are placed a certain number of small

20 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

scales, at which the quantity of Opium intended for each cake is sepa-
rately weighed; and beside the scales are boxes filled with lewah, for
the agglutination of the leaves which form the shells of the cakes. In
forming the lewah, all Opium of inferior quality is used, and all the
pussewah received is also employed for this purpose; but in addition to
these, a considerable quantity of unexceptionable drug is also expended.
These are broken down in the washings of the various pots and vessels
which have contained Opium, and a thin semi-fluid paste is formed, of
such a consistence that 100 grains of it, when evaporated to dryness at
a temperature of 200? Fahr., shall leave 53 grains of residue.

* Matters being thus arranged, the cake-maker receives in his gra-
duated measure from the lewah box, the prescribed quantity of lewah
for making a single cake; and having by his side a bundle of leaves -
previously weighed, he rapidly forms in his brass cup the lower seg-
ment of the shell of the Opium cake, pasting leaf over leaf, until the
thickness of half an inch has been obtained, and allowing a certain free
portion of the most external leaves to hang down all round over the
sides of the brass cup. This accomplished, a boy is in waiting with
the Opium to be put into the cake, which he has just brought from the
caking scales, and which he throws into the shell so far prepared to re- _
ceive it. The cake-maker, holding the Opium away from the sides of
the shell with the left hand, then tucks in round the sides leaf after
leaf, well smeared with lewah, imbricating one over the other, until he
has completed the entire circle; the free edges of the leaves, which had
. hitherto hung over the sides of the cup, are now drawn up tightly, and
. the Opium well compressed within its bag of leaves.

“A small portion at the top now only remains, which is speedily
closed by laying on leaf after leaf, and finally the work is completed, by
the application of a single large leaf, which covers the entire exposed
half of the cake. As thus formed, the well-finished cake is a pretty
regular sphere, not unlike, in size and appearance, a 241b. shot. It is
now rolled in a little finely-pounded poppy trash, which adheres to its
_ surface, is at once placed in a small earthen cup, of precisely the same
. dimensions as the brass mould in which it was made, and is carried out
. into the open air, and exposed to the direct influence of the sun. It is
. so exposed for three days, during which time it is frequently turned,
.. and examined, and if (as is frequently the case) it should have become
... distended and puffy, it is at once torn open, the extricated gas allowed

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 21

to escape, and the cake again tightly closed. On the evening of the
third day it is placed (still contained in its cup) in the cake frames,
which are formed of open battens, and allow of a free circulation of air
about the eakes. "The average number of cakes made by a single man,
in one day, is about 70; but there are cake-makers who will turn out
as many as 90 or 100 cakes, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The number
of cakes made daily in the factory, during the manufacturing season, is
from 6500 to 7000, and the total number of cakes manufactured, during
the present season, has been 426,800,

" By the end of July the manufacturing is finished, but the cakes still
require much attention ; they are constantly turned over in their cups,
and, as mildew collects on their surfaces, it is removed by rolling and
rubbing them in dry poppy trash. They are moreover individually exa-
mined, and those which present weak points are strengthened by the
applieation of extra leaves; and their appearance is moreover improved
by the application of a single leaf of the first quality, which, being of
large dimensions, and carefully and equally made, covers the greater -
portion of the surface of the cake, and gives to it a smooth and finished
appearance. ee

“ By October the cakes have become perfectly dry to the touch, and -
have acquired considerable solidity ; and they are now packed in chests,
each of which is furnished with a double tier of wooden partitions, each
tier presenting twenty square compartments, for the reception of so -
many eakes, and in which the cakes are steadied by means of loose
poppy trash, with which all the interstices are filled. e

“It might be supposed that so fragile a structure as the poppy petal -
would furnish but an insecure packing envelope; but the shells of the
Opium cakes are possessed of more resistance than might be imagined, —
and, owing apparently to some antiseptic property in the lewah, they
are capable (after once being thoroughly dried) of being preserved |

agreat length of time. For three or four months after manufact
the shells require constant care and attention; and even after | eir
packed, any exposure to damp or moisture subjects them to injury.
After a certain lapse of time however, the Opium contained in the cake
ceases to yield any more moisture to the shell, aud this latter acquires
extreme solidity. There are three specimen cakes in the Ghazeepore
factory, some fifteen years old; they are as solid as balls of wood, and
may be thrown from a height upon a stone floor without injury. ——

22 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

“The above process of manufacture applies to the Opium which is
put up for the China market, and which includes the great bulk of the
entire provision. With the drug intended for internal consumption,
and called Abkaree Opium, a different process is followed. "The Opium
intended for abkaree purposes is brought to a consistence of 90 per
cent. by direct exposure to the sun, in which state it is as firm and as
easily moulded as wax. It is then formed, by means of a mould, into
square bricks of one seer weight each, and these are wrapped in oiled
Nepaul paper, and packed in boxes, furnished with compartments for
their reception. The Opium put up in this way has not the same
powerful aroma as is possessed by that put up in balls; but this is its
only deficiency, whilst it has the great advantage of containing a large

able for packing. i Rm o
~ “The manufacture for the season being finally concluded, six cakes

are selected promiscuously, from the provision by the magistrate of
Ghazeepore, for examination and chemical analysis. Of these, two are
_ forwarded to the Opium examiner at Calcutta, two to the examiner of
the Behar agency, and two are reserved for examination by the exa-
. miner of the Benares agency.

“A chief chemical feature which distinguishes Bengal Opium from
that of Turkey and Egypt, is the large proportion which the narcotine
in the former bears to the morphia; and this proportion is shown by
analysis to be constant in all seasons. It is a matter of importance
to ascertain, whether the treatment which the juice receives after its

or of the other principles contained in Opium. In Turkey, it is the
. eustom to beat up the juice with saliva; in Malwa it is immersed,
as collected, in linseed oil, whilst in Bengal it is brought to the re-
quired consistence by mere exposure to the air in the shade, though at
the same time all the watery part of the juice that will separate is
drained off, and used, as has already been explained, in making lewah.

“The following are the results which Dr. Eatwell obtained from the
analysis of fresh juice, collected in February, 1850, and from which
. none of the pussewah was separated. The analysis has special refer-
ence to the amount of the alkaloids, morphia and narcotine, present in
the drug; no attempts having been made to separate any of the other
principles in a state of purity.

amount of drug, in a very limited space, and in a state very manage- ———

collection, can influence in any way the amount of the alkaloids, __

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 23

** Analysis of 2000 grains of freshly-collected juice, subjected to ex-
periment on the day of collection :—

Grains

DM d ap oes sin oy Rae Sk nt ko we eae LEG

SDN 1 uu od dd iab exhskertfa nr 6 en 32-7
Other matters soluble in alcohol, codeia, narceia, meconic

scd LOMA do ge ce nnm ; DALO

Dry mare insoluble in alcohol, lignin, caoutchouc, ete. ete. 225:2
Water and volatile matter separable at a heat of 200? Fahr, 1210-0

Tob sree UE .. 2000-0

“ Tt has already been stated that, in preparing the drug, the cultivators
drain from it all the fluid portion, which of course consists of the most —
soluble of the principles of Opium, dissolved in dew, or in moisture -
absorbed from the atmosphere. This fluid, to which the name of pus-
sewah is given, is brought to the factory in large quantities, of many
gallons at a time, and of all consistences, from that of a limpid fluid to
that of thick treacle.

“Recently collected pussewah is a dark fluid, resembling strong in-
fusion of coffee, and having a peculiar smell.

“The quantity of standard Opium received at the sudder factory : of x
the Benares agency, during the season of 1849-50, was 18,191 maunds, i
whilst the quantity of pussewah delivered amounted to 100 maunds,
being at the rate of one maund of pussewah to nearly 182 maunds of -
drug; the pussewah containing on an average, say 50 per cent. of solid -
matter. This pussewah, be it observed, although separated from the-
drug, is not lost to the provision, being employed in the formation of
the shells of the cakes; and, as the Chinese form a watery extract of |
the drug for the purpose of smoking, the whole of the constituents )
the pussewah are thus recovered on toin the ic in water; as
practised in China. €:

* Amongst the thousands of individuals, TRR má. ca lo
with whom the factory is filled during the receiving and manufacturing |
seasons, no complaints are ever heard of any injurious effects utin
from the influence of the drug, whilst they all remain quite as fres from
general sickness as persons unconnected with the general
ment,—in fact, if anything, more so. It occasionally happens that
casual visitor to the factory complains of giddiness or à eadac

ty

94 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

the European officers employed in the department, who pass the greater
part of the day with the thermometer between 95? and 105° Fahr.
amongst tons of the drug, never experience any bad effects from it.
The native purkhea sits usually from six A.M. to three p.m. daily, with
his hand and arm immersed nearly the whole time in the drug, which
he is constantly smelling, and yet he feels no inconvenience from it.
He has informed me that at the commencement of the season he expe-
riences usually a sensation of numbness in the fingers; but I believe
this to be more the result of fatigue, consequent upon the incessant
use of the arm and fingers, than of any effect of the Opium. In the
large caking vats, men are employed to wade knee-deep through the
drug for several hours during the morning, and they remain standing
in it during the greater part of the rest of the day, serving out the

Opium by armfuls, their bodies being naked, with the exception of hr

cloth about the loins.

* These men complain of a sensation of drowsiness towards the end
of their daily labours, and declare that they are overpowered early in
the evening by sleep, but they do not complain of the effect as being
either unpleasant or injurious.

* Infants, a few months old, may be frequently seen lying on the
opium-besmeared floor under the vats, in which dangerous position

- they are left by their thoughtless mothers; but, strange to say, with-
out any aecident ever occurring. Here are abundant faets to show,
that the health of those employed in the opium faetory and in the
manipulation of the drug, is not exposed to any risk whatever, whilst

duals for hours together, proves that it has no endermie action.” ——

.. We must now give a list of the articles presented to our Museum
by Mr. Oldfield, of the Behar Opium Agency, Patna, employed there
in the preparation of this drug; and the same are, we believe, employed
at Benares. EU ;

.. 1. Poppy leaves, as used for wrapping the drug ; sufficient for one cake.

.. 9. Five Mahurnees, or instruments for patching.

— 3. Some Putile, or leaves (not Pu/ee, which is used for filling up
the interstices of the chest compartment: vide No. 25), used for pasting
and repairing the cakes. —— ui
.. 4. One empty jar, in which the Opium is brought to the Godowns.

the impunity with which the drug is handled, by hundreds of indivi- —

KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 25

5. A round tin tagar, or pan, used for holding samples, with its
cover.

6. A small specimen of Opium adulterated by water, in a bottle.

7. Opium adulterated by pussewah, in a bottle.

8. A rake for mixing the Opium in the vat, for EA it of one
upiform quality.

9. A brass cup, used in caking.

10. Earthen cups, in which the balls are dried.

11. A chest, with its compartments, as ready for filling.

12. A ball of Opium as ready for the China market, equal in value —
to 1 seer 10 chittacks of Opium, at 75° consistence factory weight, and ——
5$ chittacks of lewah or paste at 51° consistence, and 53 chittacks of
Poppy leaves, or puttle. ;

18. A cake of Opium as prepared for the Medical Board.

14. A shell, half-made.

15. Some patched Poppy pods.

16. Some unpatched Poppy pods. n
17. Two sittooas, or scoops, for collecting the Poppy j juice from the
pods. 2.

18. Earthen kurraces.

19. A brass lewah cup. "This cup contains lewah suflicient for one
cake.

20. A kareegur, or cake-maker's seat. :

21. A tray, in which Poppy leaves are served out to the esce.

22. A tray, in which Opium balls are made by the cake-makers. bei
23. A stool for keeping tagars.
24. A tin tagar, for holding Opium sufficient for five cakes.
25. Some Poppy trash, used in filling up the interstices of the com
partments in the chest.
. 96. Bamboo scoop, for taking out Opium from jars for examination,
. 97. A brass thallee, or edged plate, in which the fresh Opium i
collected by the Poppy cultivators. ;

. . We must now return from the penis in "m great y xd No. 3 E
case 54, to the continuation of this collection in Room No. 1, and the. j

case marked PAPAYVERACEX; and we shall fei: in dns connection

with Opium (Papaver somniferum),— x
Poppy-heads, varying in form and size, from diferent : o al
VOL. VI. *

26 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.

(From these also, in a dried state, the decoction, syrup, and extract of
Poppies are prepared.)

Extract of Poppy-heads, from Mr. Kent.

Poppy-heads, cultivated in England, having been attacked by tom-
tits (Parus ceruleus) for the purpose of getting out the seeds, and
making almost a skeleton of the capsules (Rev. Professor Henslow).

Seeds of Papaver somniferum. These, as has been already observed
of the family, are not narcotic, but yield a bland oil, “ similar to that
obtained from Olives.” We possess the white-seeded and the blue- and
black-seeded varieties. In Mr. Lawson’s collection it is called Maw-
seed. Samples of the oil are here, and also in the ** Camphine”’ collec-
tion (Room No. 3, case 53).

Besides the Brazil (or Patna) Opium above alluded to in Room No. 3,
we possess,— |

Turkey Opium and Egyptian Opium, both from Messrs. J. Bell and Co. =

Persian Opium, from Trebizond (Dr. Pereira); and English Opium,
prepared and presented by T. Morson, Esq.

Poppy petals.- Under this name are seen the petals of the Common

Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhzas, L.) Europe. These are employed in the
preparation of the “Syropus Rheados,” or Syrup of Corn Poppies ;
but chiefly used as mere colouring matter.

Argemone Mexicana, L. Tropical and warm countries generally.
Fruit and seeds; Jamaica, Dr. M*Fadyen. Infusion occasionally used
medieinally. Opinions vary as to the nature of the seeds. Barham
says the fruit is called by the Spaniards in the. West Indies, ** Figo del
Inferno," because of the powerful narcotic effect; Dr. M‘Fadyen re-
futes this. Mr. Higgins says that in Nevis the oil is used as a substi-
tute for Castor-oil. — — Soe
.. Blood-root. Sanguinaria Canadensis, L. United States and Canada.
Root and extract (United Society). An acrid narcotic.
= Celandine. Chelidonium majus, L. Europe. Extract (J. H. Kent,
Esq. and the United Society, and Lawson's collection). An acrid
poison; yet used medicinally. The yellow juice is said to remove
warts.

(To be continued.)

27

CYPERACEÆ CUMINGIAN (Insularum Philippinensium) Herbarit
Lindleyani; auctore NEESIO AB EsENBECK. 1849.

(Communicated by Dr. LINDLEY.)

Cuming. 2437. Cyperus (Pycreus) lamprocarpus, N. ab E.; umbella
composita radiis (3—4) inzequalibus erectis, spiculis (7—9) capitatim fas-
ciculatis linearibus 20—24-floris, squamis ovatis apicé connivente-acutis
dorso sanguinolentis subtilissime 5-nervibus margine infimisque totis
membranaceo-pallidis, stylo bifido basi rigidula diutius persistente,
stigmatibus deciduis, caryopsi obovata mucronulata levi nitida atra
squama 2 breviore, involucri 2-3-phylli folis duobus umbella longio-
ribus, foliis anguste linearibus apice valde attenuatis leviusculis glaucis
eulmum trigonum eequantibus.— Similis quod ad characteres C. sangui-
nolento majori cuidam, differt autem jam sola caryopsi atra nitida ma-
joreque, quze ista plus duplo minor, squama sua cinereo-fusca et opaca. -
Cuming. 546. Cyperus compressus, N. ab E. in Wight, Contrib.—
E Forma hse C. pectinatum, Roxb., exhibet.
n 926. —, pusillus, Vahl, En.—, spiculis capitatis.— -
C. angustifolius, N. ab E. in Wight, Contrib.
ài 557. » hexastachyus, 8** castaneus, N. ab E. in
Wight, Contrib. 2
= 444. FS distans, Linn.

i 1636. 5 canescens, Vahl. :

= 536. Diclidium elatum, a, N. ab E. Papyrus elatus, W. E =

in Wight, Contrib. I

" 2464. Cyperus.— Nimis est tener et incompletus ut posit
dignosci. Probabiliter autem est C. (Pa- :

pyri) corymbosi status junior. m

ag 538. j si dilutus, Vahl. Mariscus dilutus, W. ad Æ.

» 1656. Wight, Contrib.

» — 591. s — facemona, Retz, var. aitia icut
species distincta? (C. obscurus, N. ab E); umbella decomposita
giata multiradiata patula, radiis compresso-trigonis striatis, unive
libus partialibusque apice umbellatis e spicis pluribus sessilibus lineari
bus strictis, spiculis imbricatis lanceolatis compressis subebracteolatis
10—14-floris, squamis arcte imbricatis ovato-orbiculatis ex apice rotun-
dato-mueronatis mucrone erecto-patulo, dorso olivaceo-fuscis, 5-nervil
latere sordide luteis, stylo trifido, caryopsi ovali alba biconvexa ; |

28 CYPERACEJE HERBARII LINDLEYANI.

nata, involucro 7—8-phyllo umbella longiore, foliolis margine scaberrimis,
involucellis foliaceis umbellula brevioribus, foliis . . ., culmo trique-
tro firmo lzvi.— A C. racemoso, Retz, differt umbella magis patula spi-
culisque paulo latioribus obscuris, squamis obtuse neque argute carina-
tis rigidioribus latere incurvis explanatis subrotundis et obtusissimis
eum mucrone.—A C. verticillato, Roxb., recedit, spicis umbellularibus
haud equalibus angustioribus, radiis umbellaribus tribus 3—65-stachyis
immixtis, unde umbella decomposita et supradecomposita.
Cuming. 535. Cyperus marginellus, W. ad Z., var. spiculis pallidio-
ribus.

is 563. 3 Iria, Linn., var. a.

S 549. ix difformis, Linn.

i 559. B nitens, Retz (pulvinatus, N. = Ei in sed

Contrib.)
j^ cw ~
533. j » . diffusus, Vahl, a, longifolius.

3 534. 3 longifolius, Poir. (difusi var.)
568. Mariscus cyperinus, Vahl.
- 2372. » irroratus, N. ab E.; culmo trigono, capi-
tulo brevi conico denso e tribus capitulis confluente, spiculis erectis ob.
longis bifloris, squamulis involucralibus binis latis obtusis scariosis,
squamis fertilibus sequalibus ovalibus obtusiusculis 11—13-nervibus, ner-
vis tenuibus crenulatis interstitiis fusco-punctatis, involucro 3—4-phyllo
foliis tribus capitulo longioribus, eulmo basi bulboso ad medium fo-
lioso foliis angustis culmum subzequantibus. apes M. colorato conjunc-
-tior est.

oe 2417. Cyperus leucocephalus, Retz. Squame spicule a latere
= fere lineares, truncato-obtuse, utrinque uninerves,
: alb; aut lutescentes. Caryopsis lineari-oblonga, -
rufo-brunnea. Est ex affinitate C. Luzuie, quo et
E spectat C. Siletensis.

» 1558. Kyllingia gracilis, Xth., var. capitulo globoso.
t ee 559. 3; brevifolia, fol. latioribus.
eas 1418. Lipocarpha levigata, a, N. ab E.
E 1254. Fuirena pentagona, N. e£ 4.
on -~ 670. Eriocaulon? Plantula singularis, at nimis deflorata.
| „» 588. Fimbristylis brizoides, var. A. Royleana. F. Royle-
ann, Nab E. in Wight, Contrib.

CYPERACEJE HERBARII LINDLEYANI. 29

Cuming. 396. Fimbristylis rigidula, W. ad E.

i 1413. iy bispicata, var. monostachya.

á 530. Trichelostylis complanata. Caryopsis in hae acute tu-
berculata.

"E 564. id miliacea, NV. ab E.

= 1508. Oncostylis barbata, a 2, N. ab E.——Isolepis barbata,
N. ab E. in Wight, Contrib.

i: 675. Fimbristylis acuminata, var. pumila; culmo capillari,

caryopsi duplo minore.

i 1255. Limnochloa plantaginea tenuior, articulis magis ap-

proximatis, ad tumidam accedens. :

Pi 932. Baumea falcata, N. ab E.; panicula densa nuda va-
ginis foliaceo-cuspidatis interstincta, spicis capitato-conglomeratis, spi- —
culis subcapitatis imbricatis 4-floris, squamis patentibus, caryopsi ovato- —
subglobosa obsolete trigona rostro sericeo, foliis ensiformibus culmo -
brevioribus.—Caryopsis basi attenuata. Stamina 8.

Cuming. 1773. Calyptrostylis articulata, N. ab Z.
» 807. Remirea Wightiana, N. ab E.; 8, pedunculo folia
zequante. An species distincta ?—Caryopsis videtur (immatura) com-
pressa, stylus est bifidus, altero ramo sspe bifido.—Quod articulum -
summæ racheos caryopsin recipientem appellat Kunth, certo est su
superior durior facta.
Cuming. 1764. Carex cirrhulosa, N. ab E.; spicis compositis hase:
decompositis inferioribus exserte veduntulstis, rachi compresso-trique- -
ira angulis aculeato-scabris, spieulis apice masculis inferne demum de-
nudatis, fructu ovali trigono gibboso nervoso longirostri patente angulis.
apicem versus scabris, squamis e basi brevissima membranacea ovata
cuspidatis cuspide capillari longissima patente recurvaye, bracteis om- -
nibus foliaceis foliisque latiuseule linearibus margine scabris culm
triquetro longioribus.—Squamis spiculæ apice capillaribus spicula
æquantibus distinctissima species, quibus cum fructu delapsis ;
masculæ tanquam coma in rachillæ apice resident. |
Cuming. 1795. Carex oligostachya, N. ab E. ; spiculis androgynis 0:
litariis ovalibus sessilibus superne masculis a ternisve in pedunculis :
lateralibus geminis longis inæqualibus, terminalibus pluribus, racheos -
angulis asperis, stigmatibus ternis, fructu depresso-trigono ovato ros-
. trato nervoso margine superne scabro squamam oblongam ex apice « ob-

tuso subulato-mucronatam 7-nervem margine un equ

30 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

foliis lineari-angustis apicem versus margine scabris, inferioribus cul-
mum, floralibus pedunculos zequantibus.— Quod ad fructum similis C.
Lindleyane, differt pedunculis paucifloris, squamis angustioribus pal-
lide fuscis opacis. Culmus $-2 ped. altus.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

W elwitsch’s Portuguese Plants.

Mr. Pamplin has on sale, in Frith-street, several sets of Welwitsch’s
Cryptogamic Plants of Portugal; viz. of Fungi, Lichens, Seaweeds,
Mosses, and Hepatice. The price of each (or all) is 30s. per 100 spe- -
cies. They are exceedingly well prepared, and many of them correctly
named, especially the Fungi by Mr. Berkeley —One complete set alone
remains on sale of the Phenogamous plants, containing nearly 1200
species, the price of which is 25s. the 100 species.

Australian Eucalypti.

We learn, from an article inserted in the ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’
(1853, p. 614), on the authority of Mr. John Walters, Botanic Gardens,
. Melbourne, that Mr. Swainson, the well-known zoologist, is engaged
| ona monograph of the genus Eucalyptus, for which purpose he had .
visited South Australia, and, in May last, had been for three months -
Mess on the Dandynoy range of hills, Melbourne, “in which place —

lone he had discovered some hundreds of species.” “ The sum of £800
has been set apart by Government, to cover the expenses of this un-
ertaking.” We wish the Home Government would exhibit as much
liberality in the patronage of botany.— Mr. Swainson is well able to
depict the protean forms of these “ Gum-trees ;" but we trust he will

not mistake varieties for species.

Ralphs Plants of New Ya
M Pamplin has lately received a few sets of Mr. Ralph’s New

NOTICES OF BOOKS. ot

Zealand Plants, chiefly collected about Wellington. The number at
present sent is rather under 100 species, which are offered for sale.
Price at the rate of 35s. the hundred. More may be expected soon.

NOTICES OF BOOKS. ¢

Illustrations of ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS: comprising figures of the most
interesting and beautiful Genera, partly selected from the ‘ Botanical
Register ’ and * British Flower Garden ;’ popular descriptions of all
the cultivated Species, after the nomenclature of Dr. Lindley's * Folia —
Orchidacea,’ and directions for their Cultivation ; edited by Thomas
Moors, F.L.S. London: Willis. Large 8vo. Plates, coloured
or uncoloured.

Of this work the 2nd number is now before us, containing six plates
of Odontoglossa, The intention of it is, as expressed in the advertise-
ment, “to place within easy access of those who take an interest in
their study and cultivation, a series of accurate figures, which shall de- -
lineate, in some measure, the endless variety of structure and appear- -
ance in these grotesque-flowered plants, and at the same time portray -
with accuracy the most popular kinds. This the publisher is enabled
to do in consequence of his having become possessed of the original -
plates, from which the numerous fine figures of these plants, published
in the later volumes of the ‘Botanical Register,’ under the immediate -
superintendence of Dr. Lindley, were obtained.” To these it is pro-
posed to make such additions as will render the volumes illustrative of
all the genera worthy of cultivation. The plan of publication is here
similar to that determined on by Dr. Lindley i in his * Folia Orchidacea,'
- viz. that of completing one genus or more in each part, except in the few

cases in which the larger genera will require to be divided into portions
of convenient length. It is announced, too, that the genera will be
published nearly in the order in which they occur in the * Folia Orchi-
dacea :’ so that the book may be considered as exhibiting illustrations
of that important publication. :
Ro Mr. Moore, we are sure, will conduct the editorial part iu a credita-

[m manner. The Number before us is devoted to the deii. qus

32 . NOTICES OF BOOKS.

of the genus Odontoglossum ; viz.—1. O. maculatum. 2. O. mystaci-
num. 3. O. Rossii. 4. O. Cervantesii. 5. O. membranaceum (now
considered a variety of the latter). 6. O. Bictonensis. Three more
species will appear in the following number: and here are characters
given in English of twenty-three species.
It is a pity, as the plates are not placed to face the “letter-press,
- that the name of the species, as well as the genus, is not given on the
plates. -

Hooxzn, Dr. Josz?u DavroN: The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.
Il. New Zealand. Second Portion of the Flowering Plants. Pub-
lished by Authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

- 4to. 20 plates, coloured or plain. London: Lovell Reeve. 1853. —

The second portion of the second section of the ‘Botany of the
Antarctic Voyage’ has recently appeared; viz. of the ‘Flora of New
Zealand,’ and is chiefly occupied by Monocotyledonous plants, of which
the plates and descriptions are executed with the accustomed fidelity of
the author. Nearly forty pages are however devoted to ** A Summary
of the History of the Botany of New Zealand,” and an Essay on the
limits of species, their dispersion, and variation.

Sir W. J. Hooryn’s Lo Plantarum.

The last (or tenth) volume of this long-continued work (altogether
including 1000 plates) has been undertaken by Mr. Pamplin, and it is.
expected will be ready to be issued during the month of January.

It is entirely devoted to new, rare, or little-known Ferns; and it is Mr.

Pamplin’ s intention to strike off separate copies of this, with the title
of * A Century of New or Rare Ferns.’

. Accompanying this tenth volume of the ‘Icones,’ will be given a
= complete Index of all the species, alphabetically arranged, in which such
corrections and alterations will be made in the Mecum as may

be deemed necessary by the Author.

33

Journal of a Voyage up the AMAZON and Rro Necro; by RICHARD
Spruce, Esq.
(Continued from vol. v. p. 215.)
San Carlos del Rio Negro (Venezuela), June 27, 1853.

I received, some time ago, your very interesting letter of January 27,
1852, and I should have replied to it earlier, but that I have waited to
complete and pack up a small collection I have made for your museum.
One cannot count here, as in England, on a commission being executed
in a given time; and some fine hammocks, ornamented at the borders
with feathers, which I ordered in February 1852, have only very lately
been completed, and I have had to go as far as Tomo to fetch them: I
have selected the most showy of them for your Museum, and I hope
it will please you. These hammocks are made in the house of a Portu-
guese emigrant, Senhor Antonio José Diaz, to whom is due the credit of
the design and grouping of the ornaments; but the work is executed
entirely by Indian girls, Senhor Diaz has obtained great repute for his
hammocks, which in the Barra fetch 80 milreis a piece, and in Para
as much as 100 milreis.

I hope you received the last case I sent you from S. Gabriel, con-
taining principally articles worn by the Indians on the Rio Uaupés in
their feasts. As I have now spent several months among these Indians,

I have seen the whole of these articles in use, and I have two correc-
tions to make to the account I gave you of them. The Muruci, a
spear, is really used in war, and the white stone is worn by all the men,
and not merely by the chiefs (as I had been wrongly informed). "Those
of “royal” descent alone, are allowed to wear a stone bored length-
wise instead of across.

The remaining articles I am now sending, are also from the Uaupés,

_ I met there with several other things, which I should have liked to trans-
mit to you, had they not been too bulky. Even among those actually
sent, are some of inconvenient bulk; especially four “ devils,” which,
innocent as they may look, have been the cause of not a few scourgings
and poisonings in their native country. I had no small difficulty in -
carrying them off: they had to be wrapped in cloths and mats, so as -
completely to disguise their form, and to be put on board by night, -
covering them up so in the canoe as never to appear during the voyage.
I could not send these and the other matters from the Uaupés cee
for want of boards to make a box to deposit them in. i

VOL. VI. E

34 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE

Perhaps the most interesting article I am now forwarding, is a quan-
tity of salt (weighing thirty pounds, when put up) made from various
species of Podostemee, growing on the cataracts of the Uaupés: it was
obtained with considerable difficulty, at several times and of several
different Indians.

There is also a glass jar of Zpadá (Coca), from which a chemical
analysis can be made, as well as of the Podostemon salt, whose consti-
tuents I am anxious to ascertain.

I had another glass jar containing Caapé, an intoxicating drink used
by the Uaupé Indians in their festas; but after I had kept it five
months, and thought it quite safe, the Caapi fermented and burst the jar.
I can therefore send only the articles from which it is prepared, viz.
portions of the stems of a twining Malpighiacea (seemingly an unde-
scribed Banisteria), and of the roots of an Apocyneous twiner (Hemadie-
tyon). The extraordinary effects produced on the Indians by drinking
Caapí I have myself witnessed, and I have detailed them to Mr. Bentham
in some notes on the plants collected.

I could not send entire the large drum used on the Uaupés, as it is a
portion of the trunk of a Lauraceous tree, and of itself nearly a load for
a canoe; but I enclose a rough sketch of it, accompanied by the drum- .
sticks, which are of caoutchouc.

I had a very interesting excursion on the Uaupés, lasting from the
end of August (if I include the voyage from S. Gabriel) to early in
March of the present year. My collection contains a greater number
than any preceding one of the tallest forest-trees, among which are
several undescribed Vochysiacee and Cesalpinie. There are also a
. great many new things among the minutest tribes of flowering-plants,
such as Podostemee, Triuridee, Burmanniacee, and the leafless Gentia-
mec (Voyriz). Y suppose that, of the whole collection, numbering some
. 800 species, about four-fifths are entirely undescribed. I unfortunately
. made myself ill, by working too hard both in and out of doors in the
heat of the day, and was visited by some distressing attacks of vertigo,

from which I am yet scarcely free.
~ The mechanical labour of drying plants is so great here, that I have
. little time for making geographical and other observations ; and as Mr.
.. Wallace has preceded me on the Uaupés, and his occupations leave him
2 much more spare time than mine do, I scarcely attended to anything
- but botany there. I determined the latitude of Panuré, or Sào Jeronymo,

ON THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO. 35

an Indian village at the foot of the first falls, which I made my princi-
pal station, to be 0? 13’ N. My watch has proved almost useless in
determining longitudes, and I much regret I did not bring with me a
telescope. I purchased indeed a telescope in the Barra of a Franciscan -
friar, who had bought it at Rio Janeiro; and it has proved of the
greatest service to me in my herborizations, enabling me to distinguish
green flowers on a tree at the distance of a mile, and, when sailing near
the bank of a river, to ascertain the form of the leaves of the adjacent
irees ; but it barely shows the satellites of Jupiter, and is not sufficiently
powerful to take an observation of them with accuracy. vm
I intended at this time to have transmitted to Sir F. Beaufort my bx
rometrical register, and a few scattered geographical observations; but
have not time to copy them out. He did not state, along with the aneroid
he kindly sent me, whether or not it corresponded exaetly with the mer-
eurial barometer when it was put up. When I opened it out at the
Barra do Rio Negro, in September 1851, the zero point was consider-
ably higher than it ought to be (as much as four-tenths of an inch), and
it seems to have gone on gradually rising ever since. The instrument
however may be depended on for horary differences, and for low alti-
tudes. I mark every day the maximum and minimum; and it is inte-
resting to observe with what regularity the atmospheric tides recur on-
the equator, being apparently totally uninfluenced by changes in the
weather. During the space of nearly two years, it has only twice oc-
curred that the minimum has been considerably retarded beyond its-
usual hour, which is from three to four o'clock, while the maximum is
attained between nine and ten,
Ever since I have been on the Rio Negro, I have made inquiries re-
specting the position and possible means of reaching the sources of the.
Orinoco, without any expectation however, on my part, of being able to
solve this interesting geographical problem. Quite unexpectedly the
means of doing it seem about to be placed within my reach. We were
lately visited at San Carlos by the Commisario Geral. of. the | ë
the Rio Negro, Don Gregorio Diaz, who resides at San Fernando
Atabapo; and on my mentioning to him how much I should like to
reach the head-waters of the Orinoco, he at once entered ardently into
the project, saying that it was what he had all his life been longing to
do, and that if I would promise to accompany him, he would arrange
as many men well-armed as he could, to start on. the "din

36 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE

the year 1854. Nearly all the whites in the canton seem eager to join
us, being possessed with the idea that there is certainly an El Dorado
at the source of the- Orinoco. Don Gregorio is at present making a
progress through his dominions, having come to San Carlos by the
Atabapo and Guainia, and returning by the Casiquiare and Orinoco. He
proposes to ascend above Esmeralda as far as the mouth of the Manáca,
and to enter three days' journey within this river, where there is a pueblo,
established a few years ago. He engages to make everywhere inquiries
as to the best route for reaching the sources of the Orinoco, and the
facilities or hindrances we may expect to encounter. I heard from
-him the other day, from about midway along the Casiquiare; and he
promises to write to me again, should there be opportunity, from Esme-
ralda.

As to the modes of reaching the sources of the Orinoco, besides that
of following the river itself, there appear to be several. When I was
at the Barra, the most direct route seemed to be by the Rio Padanirí,
whose mouth is a little eastward of the 64th meridian. This large
river has its sources in the Serra de Tapiíra-pecá, or “ Ox’s-tongue,”
and the Orinoco is considered to rise on the north-eastern slopes of the
same serra. Persons who have ascended high up the Padanirí, in quest

. of salsaparilha, assure me they have met Indians from the sources of the
Orinoco. The river Padanirí, however, gives dysentery and the ague
to every one who enters it; and it was here my countryman, Mr. Bradley,
caught the illness which proved fatal to him, while cutting piassaba

: with a party of Indians. The Maraniá is the next large river entering
. . the Rio Negro on the same side, but its course is ascertained to be
much shorter than that of the Padanirí. The Rio Canaborís, which
enters the Rio Negro on the 66th meridian, probably extends nearly to
_ the Orinoco; in its lower part it makes a large curve to the westward,
. nearly parallel to that of the Rio Negro; and I have been assured by

Indians at S. Gabriel, that it ran not much to the eastward of that
place. From Marabitanas, the frontier town of Brazil, I could dis-
. tinetly see, though at a great distance, the serrania called Pirá-puká, or
. “The Long Fish," whose base is laved by the Canaborís. The lofty
ridge seems to run westward, trending slightly northward; and the
. portion of it seen from Marabitanas extends through an angle of about
. 90° (from east nearly to north), its prolongation westward being hidden
_ from view by the forest on the opposite side of the river, With my

ON THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO, 37

telescope I could discern steep escarpments bare of forest; but in no
part could I distinguish the trees, the forest-clad portion being only
recognizable from its colour. I suppose that the highest part—
an abrupt truncate peak about midway—may be nearly 4000 feet
above the plain. Those who have ascended the river Canaborís, de-
scribe it as very picturesque, and possessing a peculiar vegetation.
Certain curious plants, said to resemble both Palms and Ferns, from
the description given me, can only be Cycades. I was delighted to
meet with a Cycas on the Uaupés, though it never showed signs of
flowering; it is the only species of this tribe I have seen in South
America.

The Rio Canaborís is easily reached from San Carlos, by proceeding
up the Paciméni, a tributary of the Casiquiare, and up its southern
branch, the Baría, from which there is a short portage to the Canaborís ;
but nothing of bulk could be taken this way, and I have reason to
believe that the Canaborís does not reach the Cerro de Tapiira-pecd.

A more likely route for us is by the Siapa, the longest tributary of -
the Casiquiare, called in its upper part the Rio Castanha, and certainly |
having its sources in the above-named cerro. The only objection to it -
is, that several steep randales have to be passed; but these may be -
avoided by making a cireuit through the upper mouth of the Casiquiare, -
and going up the Manáca, from which there is a short passage by land
to the Castanha. , droit

We have discussed these and other routes, prineipally with the view
of avoiding the hostile Guaharibos; the more especially as it is believed ©
that these Indians do not extend to the actual sources of the Orinoco,
but that tribes inhabit these with whom friendly communication has -
been held by the Castanha and Padaniri. On the whole, I think we -
incline to first risk a battle with the Guaharibos; and I have little doubt —
that, with fifty men well-armed, we should be able to force our way.

Shortly after the separation of Venezuela from the mother-country,
and whilst there was still an armed police in the Canton del Rio Negro
—there is none of any kind now—the Commandante of San Fernando
was sent, with a considerable body of armed men, to endeavour to open
amicable relations with the Guaharibos. He reached the Randal de los
Guaharibos with his little fleet of fifteen piragoas, and, as the river was
full, the whole of them might have passed the randal; but it was not
considered necessary, and his own piragoa alone was dragged up, the

38 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE

rest being left below to await their return. A very little way above,
they encountered a large encampment of Guaharibos, by whom they
were received amicably ; in return for which they rose on the Indians by
night, killed as many of the men as they could, and carried off the
children. One of these captives is still living near the upper mouth of
the Casiquiare, where I hope to see and converse with him. Treatment
such as this of course is caleulated to confirm, and perhaps it was the
original cause of, the hostility of these Indians to the whites. The
same sort of thing seems to have been practised anciently among the
head-waters of all these rivers. On the Rio Negro, where the Portu-
guese had formerly large “ fazendas reaes," in which were cultivated
great quantities of coffee, indigo, etc., it was the custom to recruit from
time to time the hands required for working them, by sending armed
men up the various rivers debouching into the Rio Negro and Japura,
to make “pegas” (razzias) among the indigenous inhabitants. The
“ fazendas reaes " have disappeared, and the Brazilian Government has
promulgated edicts against the seizing of the native inhabitants and re-
ducing them to slavery ; yet the practice still exists, and is connived at.
I speak of this with certainty, because since I came up the Rio Negro
_ two such expeditions have been sent up a tributary of the Uaupés,
called the Rio Paapuris, to make **pegas" among the Carapaná Indians ;
and in the second of these, which was sent from Panuré early in the
present year, I was in some sort an accomplice, though unwittingly,
having lent a gun to one of the Indians engaged in it, not knowing
for what purpose it was intended. I have also seen and conversed with
_ two female children stolen from the Carapanás in these expeditions.
.. The Rio Páapurís enters the Uaupés from the south, at the third
eataraet (called Jaguaraté, or the Tiger) of the latter, about four days
above Panuré. It is a beautiful river, being in its lower part a succes-
sion of cataracts. I spent a day in it, and would have liked to ascend
high on it; but I was informed that the Carapanás were everywhere on
_ the alert, and that the paths leading to their maloccas were stuck with
_ stripes of Paxiuba Palm (Jriartea exorrhiza, Mart.), which, besides being
as hard as nails, and capable of themselves to inflict a serious wound,
were in many cases tipped with Uirarí poison.
To return to the Orinoco. I have met at San Carlos several people
who have been as far as the Randal de los Guaharibos. The most
intelligent of these, and the person who perhaps of all others knows

ON THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO. 39

most of the country between the Casiquiare and the sources of the
Orinoco, is an.old gentleman ealled Don Diego Pina, residing now at So-
lano (a little within the Casiquiare), but when Schomburgk passed this
way, residing at San Carlos, and acting as Commissario. He is unfor-
tunately quite blind, and cannot therefore point out anything on my maps;
but his memory seems perfect for distances and bearings. According
to him, it takes a month to reach the Randal from Esmeralda, travelling
as traders are accustomed to do here,—that is, stopping at the Caños,
within which all the Indians usually fix their habitations. The Orinoco
above the Randal is still a large river, which in the force of the rainy
season might be navigated by piragoas* of considerable size. He is of
opinion that the real sources of the Orinoco are very much to the east-
ward of what is supposed by Humboldt in his * Aspects of Nature ;’
and it seems to be clearly made out, that they are at least considerably
to the east of the sources of the Rio Branco; or, in other words, that
the system of the Rio Branco overlaps (if I may so say) that of the
Orinoco ; a circumstance not without parallel in other river-systems. _
Don Diego is perhaps the only white now living in the Canton del
Rio Negro who recollects Humboldt in Venezuela. He was making —
turtle-oil on the Orinoco, on a playa near the mouth of the Apure,
when that distinguished traveller passed on his way towards the cata-
racts. A person died in San Fernando two or three years ago, who -
had seen Humboldt and Bonpland at Esmeralda, and remembered the
difficulty they had in procuring the flowers of the Juvia (Bertholletia -
excelsa), for which (said he) they offered an ounce of gold. At the
season of fruit of this tree, the Guaharibos descend much below the
randal, in order to collect it for food; and at that time the Indians of
the Casiquiare, in parties of not more than five or six, lie in wait for -
them and carry off such as they can lay hold on, making of them. slaves s
for cultivating their eunucos. Many Indians on the Casiquiare car
show lance-wounds received from the Guaharibos in these expedition:
I should mention that Don Gregorio Diaz has also travelled mu
on the rivers eastward of the Casiquiare, and in his voyages about the
head-waters of the Siapa must have very Ris one the sources -
of the Orinoco. :

* The f Venezuela is the same as the igaraté of Brasil, and has for
foundation a hallowed eirca, above which are fastened ne
each side. -

40 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE

I have been twice to the junction of the Guainia and Casiquiare.
'The water of the latter is not very white, which is explained by its
having received, during its course from the Orinoco, two considerable
rivers of black water, the Pacimoni and Siapa. The Guainia and Ca-
siquiare seem of nearly equal bulk; but neither can compare with the
"Uaupés. It should be noted that the name “ Guainia ” does not extend
below the mouth of the Casiquiare, the junction of the two constitut-
ing the Rio Negro. * Quiare" is the ancient name of the Rio Negro*,
and “ Casi-quiare " has evidently some connection with it, but what I
am not prepared to say. Possibly the prefix “ Casi” is pure Spanish
(Lat. quasi); for the Rio Negro is here considered the continuation
of the Casiquiare (“as it were the Quiare’’), and not of the Guainia.

I am now preparing a boat to ascend the Casiquiare, and, if possible,
explore the mountains at the back of the Duida of Esmeralda, for which

. purpose the preferable course seems to be to enter the Rio Cunucun(ma,
whose mouth is half-a-day's journey on the Orinoco, below the Casi-
quiare. The summit of the Duida is said to be inaccessible, on account
of the perpendicular walls of rock on every side of it; yet everybody
seems to know perfectly well that there is a round lake on the very top,
inhabited by a large turtle, the *genius' of the mountain. Whether I
shall proceed direct from the Cunucunfima towards the sources of the
Orinoco, or first return to San Carlos, will depend on the intelligence
I receive from Don Gregorio en his reaching San Fernando.

The gratification I naturally feel at finding myself fairly in terré Hum-
boldtianá is considerably lessened by various untoward circumstances,
. mot the least of which is the very great difficulty experienced here in
procuring the necessaries of life, —so great indeed, that it occupies nearly
all a person's time, especially when the river is filling, and we think
ourselves well off at San Carlos when we can eat once a day. Anciently,
when there were missions in most of the pueblos on the Orinoco and _
Rio Negro, travellers had in them a ready resource; but for some
twenty years past there has not been a padre resident in the Canton del
Rio Negro, and scarcely one on the Orinoco out of Angostura. A
country without priests, lawyers, doctors, police, and soldiers, is not
quite so happy as Rousseau dreamt it ought to be; and this, in which
2 now am, has been in a state of gradual decadence ever since the sepa- ——
ration from Spain, at which period (or shortly after) the inhabitants ——

——* See Baena, * Beale Capio ors « Provinci do Pars,” p, 580, x

^

ON THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO. 41

rid themselves of these functionaries in the most unscrupulous manner.
San Carlos seems to have fallen off much since Humboldt visited it.
Even since Schomburgk, the pueblo has been devastated by a fire,
which consumed the church and twenty-two dwelling-houses, of which
very few have been rebuilt; and there are now standing, in all, but
twenty-six houses. The oldest building in the place is the convent;
but no traces remain of the friars who once tenanted it, save in the
fair skins of many of the Indians, amongst whom to be a “hijo de
padre” is the same as to be born to good luck. There is great need
of some force to overawe the Indians, who are far more numerous than
the whites, and know their strength. It is not improbable that one of
these days they may get up a revolution of their own, as their brethren
of Pará did in 1835, when atrocities of every sort may be expected to
be committed. On the day I reached San Carlos, the whole Indian
population was in a state of intoxication, and I saw them enter without .
ceremony the houses of the whites, to ask for dwrréche (rum), which
they were quite ready to take by force had it been refused. But I have -
seen worse than this since; and we are now scarcely passed over the
feast of San Juan, when the Indians had openly avowed their intention —
of murdering at least all the foreigners in the place; on which account
we have been obliged to watch for some Pede ii —_ venis arms
constantly by our sides.

- I notice what you say about the iliret the Victoria eablitionk: t
excite in your Gardens. I have observed no Fictoria since I ascended
the Rio Negro, for white water seems essential to its existence. I have
most frequently seen it in lakes into which the water of the Amazon
entered only in the rainy season; but in June 1851 I noticed two or
three plants of it in the Amazon itself, at two days’ journey above the
Barra. They were growing in a small bay, where the water swept gently
round; but at twenty yards from them there was a rapid current.
have been unfortunate with my specimens of this fine plant, th
gathered on my voyage from Santarem having been nearly all wasted |
the bad weather, and want of convenience for drying them; but I hope
to get more as I descend, and I shall also have my eyes open for
when I reach the Orinoco.

I have now traced the use of Geraipl; or the bark ofthe Poterie
on all the tributaries of the Amazon, as also on the Casiquiare, Upp
Orinoco, and Guaviare. | Nearly nl the apecios of Licanin effort, but

VOL. VI.

42 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

no other genus, so far as I know. The best Caraipé is afforded by
Species growing in rich, dryish soil; those of the low sandy forests, and
of the gapó, containing only a small proportion of silex in the bark.
The Indians test Caraipé by burning it; and if, when burnt, it cannot
be broken by the fingers, but requires the use of a mortar, it is considered
good. In the best sorts, the silex can be seen by the naked eye, filling up
the vessels of the bark. On the Uaupés and Guainia, utensils of immense
size, such as stills and coppers, are made of clay mixed with Caraipé.

(Zo be continued.)

Report of a Journey or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd February, 1849; -
by J. S. Ror, Esq., Surveyor-General.

Our Botanical Journal, under whatever title it has appeared, has in-
cluded a great deal of valuable information relating to Australia and
the first geographical discoveries in various parts of that colony. In
the ‘Botanical Miscellany,’ volume 1, published in 1830, at p. 221 et
seq., we were privileged to publish the Report of Mr. Charles Fraser,
the Colonial Botanist in New South Wales, who had been sent to in-
vestigate, some years previously, the nature and capabilities of Swan
River for a settlement in Western Australia. The result of his explo-
ration was summed up by that naturalist and traveller in the following
words :—“ The advantages, above those of New South Wales, which
. this country holds out to settlers, besides the important circumstance
. Of its vicinity to India, the Spice Islands, Java, Mauritius, and the Cape
of Good Hope, and independent of its situation as a place of call for
East India and China ships, are—in the first place, the great ease
with which a settler can bring his land into cultivation ; secondly, the
- facility with which he can convey his produce to market, either by land
or water, the coast being of easy access on any part near the river,
and no impediments existing in the interior ; thirdly, the great abund-
ance of fresh water, of the best quality,—an advantage which New South
Wales, east of the Blue Mountains, does not possess, excepting on the
immediate banks of the rivers and creeks ; fourthly, the prevalence of

estone.” When this country soon after came to be settled, the
most gloomy forebodings, with respect to its future prosperity, owing, -

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 48

no doubt, to bad management, were widely circulated. But time
has proved the accuracy of Mr. Fraser's views, and we now hear no
complaints, but, on the contrary, the most gratifying intelligence of its
prosperity. In a botanical point of view, too, the Colony has the ad-
vantage of reckoning among its settlers one of the most indefatigable
and zealous collectors in Mr. James Drummond ; and our pages are not
wanting in communications from him, and in the narrations of his
journeys and discoveries. Very recently we have been favoured with
the correspondence of J. S. Roe, Esq., Surveyor-General of Western
Australia, who, during part of the years 1848—9, was engaged in a survey
of the interior, from the Swan towards Mount Russell, in longitude
123? 28' W. Perhaps, had Mr. Fraser been required to state in what
the Swan River district was deficient, he would have said, timber and
coal within a reasonable distance of the Colony. The very expedition
to which I now allude, of Mr. Roe, rendered the Colony the inestimable
blessing of the discovery of both these commodities,—timber suited
for naval purposes, and coal in considerable abundance, and in each
case so near the coast as to render the transport both of the one and
the other a matter of no difficulty.

Nor was Mr. Roe inattentive to the flora of the country he passed
through. Fatigue and hardships, and want of facilities of convey-
ance, rendered it impossible to do more than here and there snatch up
a few specimens, and preserve them in the best way circumstances
would allow. These may be found worthy of notice in another place
in our Journal. It may suffice to say now, that the species collected
are remarkably well dried, and chiefly belong to the Myrtacea, Legumi-
nose, Proteacee, and Composite. Many, as may be expected, are iden-
tical with those of Mr. Drummond from Swan River and King George's -
Sound. They were accompanied with a considerable collection of seeds, -
kindly destined by Mr. Roe for the Royal Gardens. The journal
which we have received, commences at Cape Riche, on the south id
coast: it brings the party back to that place, and then includes the -
journey by a different route, following the direction of the Collie dive
(where the naval timber was discovered), to Perth, the head-quarters -
on the Swan River. I regret that the nature of this Journal does not _
allow the introduction of a map, such as the very excellent one that -
Mr. Roe has sent, and the more so, because nearly the entire country —
is new. It may suffice to say that, after going from Cape Riche ina —
N.E. course to Bremer Range, in longitude 120° 30' E., latitude 32° 35

44 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

S., or thereabouts, the general direction then was S.E. to Russell Range, -
longitude 123° 28', latitude 33° 30’. The return from this point was
near to, or parallel with, the south coast (with occasional deviation) to
Cape Riche, at no great distance from which, on the Fitzgerald River,
the coal was detected, —E».

My letter*, of 12th October, 1849, from Cape Riche, will have made
you acquainted with our movements up to that date. On the 14th of
the same month, having rested those of our horses that required it,
supplied ourselves with materials for light calico and dungaree tents,
instead of the heavier ones we had brought from Perth, and discarded
every article we could possibly dispense with, we took leave of our
hospitable friends, Mr. and Mrs, Cheyne, and started from Cape Riche
with ninety days’ supplies for six persons, and three hundred pounds
of horse-corn; the whole to be carried by our eleven horses, who were
to complete their bait at the first well-grassed spot which appeared
suited for the purpose. Such a place presented itself on the 15th at
Yunganup, on the Pallinup River, and we remained there until the
morning of the 18th, completing our preparations. It is in latitude
34° 24' 6" S., 15 miles N. by E. from Mr. Cheyne's farm, and has a
limited quantity of excellent grass, in a small valley tributary to the
Pallinup, which was here slightly brackish, in long, deep pools, 80 or
90 yards across, abounding in black swans, ducks, and teal. While at
the camp, a Cape Riche native, known as “ Bob,” who had engaged to
form one of our party to the eastward, was visited by several of his
_ friends from Doubtful Island Bay and other parts, including two who
had walked with him from what he represented to be the neighbour-
hood of Middle Island; but as I could gather from them nothing more
_as to the nature of the interior country than Bob himself was able to
communicate, I did not regret my inability to engage the proffered -
services of one of the two, who offered to accompany me also, and who
_ had previously gone with Mr. Bland and Dr. Von Sommer to the neigh-
bourhood of Mounts Barren.
.. Despatching by them to Cape Riche our final letters for the Swan,
. with a suitable inducement to ensure a safe delivery, we began on the

evening of the 18th to ascend the Pallinup, in the hope and belief it
would lead us to the N.E. In seven miles we quitted the main river,

c, Máressed, as the whole is, to the Colonial Secretary of the Swan River Settle-

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 45

coming in long open reaches from the westward, between grassy banks,
and ascended a branch coming from the N.E., where we soon found
ourselves amidst the white and red sandstone cliffs of the coal forma-
tion, and continued so for the next six miles, when we encamped just
in time to escape the severity of heavy stormy weather which set in
from the N.W., with much rain. This continued, and detained us in
camp during next day,—a respite which was to myself personally accept-
able, as I had caught a violent cold by incautiously sleeping in wet
clothes. Whilst ascending this river, we carefully examined every ac-
cessible cliff. for coal-shales, but could discover no approach to them,
the strata in this space being apparently too remote, and having no
perceptible or decided dip in any direction. :
Finding we were led too far N.W. by following up this branch, we
quitted it on the 21st, 13 miles further north, coming from the N.N.W.,
through a valley of good soil and grass, 300 yards wide, with scrub on
each side, the channel being filled with granite and whinstone, and the
water high-coloured but brackish. Kangaroo and emu numerous.
Steering N.E., we crossed several small fresh streams, running to
the S., in good grassy valleys, and at noon, in latitude 34° 4’ S., came
on one of large size, in a more considerable valley of good soil, well
grassed. It was running to the E.N.E., in a stream rather brackish,
and, aecording to our native companion, flows into Bremer Bay, 45

miles to the S.E, I did not therefore follow it, leaving its further exa- — c

mination for my return westward, should circumstances then permit.
We had now decidedly left all indications of the coal-formation be-

hind us, and were in a granite and quartz country of greater elevation, — m

sheets of the former spreading out on the surface, and the latter blended
with it. Pushing to the N.E., we crossed several fresh tributaries to -
the above river, occupying good grassy valleys, and encamped 10 miles -
further on, upon a northern branch of the same river, fresh, in a grassy —
valley of good brown soil, timbered with yeit, casuarina, and wattles. —
The former is a species of the extensive Eucalyptus family, with a dark, -
rough, netted bark, and is always welcomed by €: breiten as growing
in good soil, and amongst grass. - x
On passing over the first Miet: on the following morning, we were -
gladdened by the view of a large extent of good grassy country to the -
N.E., lightly timbered, and at this time well watered by a river and its —
numerous branches. It is known to the natives as Jeer-a-mung-up. -
Entering upon it immediately, we descended for two miles and a half e

46 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

by a well-grassed valley, with beautiful lightly wooded hills or slopes
on either hand, and then reached the main river, slightly brackish, in a
granite rocky bed, and scarcely running to the S.E. Grasses of the
best description filled its valley, and extended up the sides and over
the tops of the gently rising hills on each side, which, as well as the
valleys, were lightly wooded with yeit, casuarinas, and black wattles.
Finding from Bob that this stream flowed S.E. to the sea, near Middle
Mount Barren, I left the lower part of it for future examination, and
traced upwards to the N.W. by N., amongst rich grass and soil for
three miles, when, finding the grassy breadth decrease, and the river
coming from N.N.W., I proceeded up a running branch in a N.N.E. |
direction, and near the junction observed the latitude at noon to be
33? 54' 52" S., samphire and rushes filling the bed of the stream, and -
indicating a want of permanency in the good water. This being Sun-
day, we eneamped at one o'clock for the remainder of the day, well
satisfied at having seen between 12 and 15,000 acres of excellent graz-
ing country during the late seven miles and a half of our journey, with
a prospect of its being much more extensive, especially downwards.
Our native, who had crossed this river near its mouth, reports the land
there to be good, which leaves room for a just inference that the inter-
vening space of 35 or 40 miles may be good also.

On the 23rd I followed this branch upwards to the E.N.E. for four

miles further, where the grass and water had gradually diminished so
as to render its further examination of little importance, and I again
steered north-eastward, a cloudy observation at noon giving the lati-
tude about 33° 5342' S., and a high hill about Mount Barren bearing
N. 104° E., 45 or 50 miles distant. . The country as we proceeded
was poor and scrubby, with some exceptions; and we encamped late,
. On a chain of salt and brackish pools, dipping eastward in a country
. almost level.
. Following these pools down next day, they soon joined a coutiumons
river of brackish water, between banks of granite or sand 20 to 30 yards
apart, coming from the N.N.W., and flowing eastward and S.E. through
open scrubby plains, joining the river which we had seen on the 22nd
many miles lower down, according to the information of our native.
_ "The weather, which had been very threatening during the morning,
drove us to an encampment earlier than usual, for after two hours'
rain the country was scarcely passable for the horses.

Almost continuous rain from the S.E. fell during the remainder of

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 47

this day and on the 25th, frequently bogging our horses in the hollow
places while seeking their food: I did not therefore attempt to break
up the camp until the following morning, when the wind bad veered
round to the S.W., and the rain ceased. We then resumed our
N.E. route, passing over for the most part open sandy downs or plains,
separated by very dense thickets, through which the axe was in frequent
requisition to clear a way for the horses. The country was high and
level, watercourses had disappeared, and their place had been supplied
by numerous small salt or samphire lagoons; and upon one of the
former we were compelled to encamp, with nothing but long coarse
rushes for the horses, and brackish water which oozed into our wells.
Water was however speedily supplied in abundance by a most severe
thunder-storm, which seemed to vent its whole fury in the very midst
of our little party ; the lightning darting through and amongst our tents
in fearful flashes, and the frequent deafening thunder-claps threatening
the destruction of everything around.

On the 27th the salt-lakes and swamps increased in number and size
as we proceeded N.E.; but after four miles they ceased, and our route
lay up a long ascent, to a country of much greater elevation, but of poor
quality, covered with scrub and dense thickets, without timber. Thick
showers following each other in rapid succession greatly obstructed our
view, but the surrounding country for at least two or three miles ap-
peared to be of the same description. While despairing of being able
to feed our horses better than the night before, we unexpectedly ar-
rived at a small fresh lake, surrounded by good grass in a clump of
trees, and gladly encamped there at once, having travelled upwards of
16 miles since the morning without seeing either grass or water, not-
withstanding the rain which had fallen nearly all day.

At two miles N.E. from our camp, we were gratified at coming ipee
some good grass, and a deposit of rain-water, in a clump of yeit-trees, -
and in observing the appearance of a small grassy granite hill to the -
northward of our route; circumstances. in themselves very trivial and is
unimportant in a general point of view, but to us all-important, as
giving promise that their recurrence would afford us the means of-
sustaining our horses. We however encountered nothing but scrub
and thicket for the next 14 miles, when we were again fortunate in -
discovering, amongst the many places examined, some good grass and
a native well, in a clump of yeit, where we immediately ame a

*

48 INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

By two stars on the meridian, the latitude of this spot was 33° 23' 6"
south. I should gladly have set apart the next day (Sunday, 29th of
October) as a day of rest, for many reasons, including that of drying
our provisions, which had become very wet on their passage during the
last three or four days through the rain and wet bushes; but, inde-
pendently of the small patch of grass immediately round our camp
having been all eaten close off, the weather continued too unsettled to
hold out a prospect of my being able to accomplish the desired object
effectually. I therefore moved on N.E. in the morning, and at the end
of two miles and a half obtained an extensive prospect from the sum-
mit-of a sandy plain, of the country in advance between N. by W. and
N.E.byN. We were however neither gratified nor encouraged by observ-
ing that, to the distance of 16 or 18 miles, which limited our view, the
country appeared of the same description as that just passed over, the
extensive undulating plains being occasionally diversified by dark lines
of vegetation, probably only marking the thickets which separated
them; but two miles further N.E. we sighted some extensive white
sandy lakes five or six miles to the N.W., evidently salt, as also
a lofty red granite hill, at the same distance, bearing N. 80? E. De-
spatehing Messrs. Ridley and Gregory to ascertain the nature of the
lakes, I conducted the party to the granite hill, which I had the plea-
sure to name Mount Madden, in compliment to my honourable friend
the Colonial Secretary of Western Australia, who had taken a warm in-
terest in the expedition. On my way, I passed several large granite
sheets, with only short mossy grass about them, but abundance of rain-
water collected in the cavities, and in some places forming small run-
. ning streams, the result probably of the recent rains. A clear open

. lake, three miles in length, was left a mile to the northward, soon after
which we crossed with considerable difficulty over a broad wooded
flat three miles wide, evidently connected with its waters during very
. wet seasons, but now dry, and much encumbered with dead trees
and brushwood, both erect and prostrate. A long and very fatiguing
ascent of a mile and a half, through close thickets or soft boggy land,
brought us at length to the base of the granite mass, where our disap-
pointment was great at finding only sufficient grass to give our horses
a scanty feed during the night.

(Zo be continued.)

a

49

VINE DISEASE.

M. Tulasne has had the goodness to communicate to us his * Notes on
the Fungus which causes the Vine Disease," extracted from the ** Comptes
rendus des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences, vol. xxxvii, Séance
du 17 Octobre, 1853," of which the following is a translation :—

The Fungus which has committed such ravages on the Vine, and
which is now well known under the name of Oidium Tuckeri (Berk.),
consists of a network (mycelium) of white loose filaments, which covers,
hére and there, the green and healthy parts of the vine, and causes the
formation of brownish or blackish spots. From these filaments, which
are all superficial, or external on the epidermis: of the infested plant,
spring thick tufts of simple, stiff, pointed stalks, the ultimate point of
each of which quickly becomes a large oval cell, as capable of propa-
gating the fungus as any true seed could be. Independently of these re-
productive bodies, the Oidium Tuckeri produces brown, generally pedi-
cellate fruits, coated with a cellular membrane, and containing very
minute seeds, equally capable of germinating. These fruits are com-
monly larger than those swollen acrogenous bodies which are described
above, but they are not always so: they are of the same form, and are
often borne on the selfsame footstalk, almost appearing as if they
were caused by a transformation of the normal seeds. M. Cesati was — —
the first, I believe, to recognize the existence of these fruits; but hedid —
not suspect that they belonged to the Oidium, but attributed their pre-
sence to tlie reproductive organs of a peculiar fungus, to which he gave
the name of Ampelomyces Quisqualis (see Klotzsch's Herb. Viv. Mycol.
Cent. xxxvii. no. 1669, b. anno 1851). M. Amici has, since, correctly
referred them to the Oidium Tuckeri, of which he considers them to be —
the most perfect organs of propagation (see the Atti dei Geografi di —
Firenze, vol. xxx. anno 1852). I have myself found these peculiar
organs on the Vines which were diseased in the environs of Paris, and,
in common with the above-quoted authors, I have seen that they were
sometimes elongated, and sometimes globular, and. that among the :
latter, several were perfectly spherical, and sessile on the byssus which -
. engenders them. These observations have led me to the ‘conclusion =
that Oidium Tuckeri (Berk.) is of a very different nature from the view
which other writers have hitherto taken of it. There is a genus of
small parasitical fungi, common in our country, which, in their earliest

VOL, VI. ue

50 VINE DISEASE.

stage, differ in no respect from the byssoidal plant which infests the
Vine. Erysiphe, for so the genus is now called, generally produces an
equal number of acrogenous and ovoidal seeds, as of brown, polysporous
conceptacula, precisely as is above described. Numerous investigations,
principally made on Z. pannosa, Fr., E. Knautie, Dub., E. guttata, Wallr.,
E. adunca, Grev., E. holosericea, Fr., E. Berberidis, DC:, E. Prunastri,
DC., E.dampocarpa, Wallr., and E. Martii, Lev., have proved to me
that the fruits in question are very polymorphous in the same species
of Erysiphe; that they may be either cylindrical or elongated, simple
or bilocular, naked or surmounted with a row of cells, ovoid, or glo-
bular, or perfectly spherical; that some of the latter are destitute of a
filiform appendage, while others, furnished with the same distinguishing
hairs as the theca-bearing fruits, resemble the latter so closely as to be
indistinguishable by external characters, :

Many Mycologists still doubt whether those ovoid grains, which
cover with a white dust the filamentous thallus upon which the ascopho-
rous conceptacula of the Erysiphe are afterwards seen, can really ap-
pertain to these Fungi. They incline to the opinion that these grains,
and the white byssus which produces them, constitute together a pe-
culiar and perfect plant, a fertile Oidium, of which the Erysiphe would
be merely a parasite, or a more tardy accompaniment. This opinion is
bolstered up by the assertion, that Fungi possess only one kind of re-
productive organ; but it is an opinion which is. daily losing credit.

Many cogent reasons militate against the Erysiphes being looked
upon as parasites, or merely as frequent accompaniments of the Oidium.

In the first place, the circumstance of their being constantly found
together, as the soi-disant Oidium leucoconium, Desmaz., with the Erysiphe

-~ annosa, Fr., the O. monilioides, Lk., and E. Graminis, DC., etc., is so
. wunvarying as to imply a necessary connection between these minute

vegetables, so that if the Oidium were a distinct plant from the Erysiphe,
the latter would certainly be its parasite. It would also be our en-
deavour to distinguish, in the mycelium, which bears simultaneously the
stringed grains of the Oidium and the fruits of the Erysiphe, any fila-
ments peculiar to each; for a minute scrutiny will prove that the con-
ceptacula of Erysiphe proceed positively from the very filaments which
.. elsewhere produce the pedicels which germinate into naked spores.

To be convinced, in the second place, that there is no real parasitism
in the case, nor two distinct and associated vegetables, but only one

VINE DISEASE. 51

kind of plant, which is endowed with several reproductive organs, it is
sufficient to consider those polysporous fruits which I have already
mentioned, and which vary so greatly in form, as to present all the
possible intermediate stages between the spores of the pretended Oidium
and the ascophorous conceptaeula of the Erysiphes, which latter are the
most perfect organs of reproduction granted by nature to these Fungi.
These same polysporous fruits, being found at once among the soi-disant
Oidiums, as peculiar parts of their strings of spores, and among the
fertile Erysiphes, as conceptacula externally identical with their peri-
thecia, do manifestly unite the Oidiums to the Erysiphes, and they afford
the best evidence that both appertain to the same genus of plants. In
other words, the organs in question do not constitute, as M. Amici
would have it, the reproductive apparatus, par excellence, of the Oidiums,
but they belong really to the Erysiphe, as legitimately as the naked
spores of Oidium, and represent a mode of propagation which holds the
middle place, between these latter, and the thecigerous conceptacula.
It results, from this ascertained fact, that the Zrysiphes, as well as
many other Fungi, possess at least three distinct modes, or three
special sets, of organs for reproduction. To take them in the order of
their successive development, the first and simplest is that which con- —
sists in naked spores, arranged in moniliform series, and which I have
denominated conidia: then come the conceptacula, of very various forms, —
filled with innumerable and extremely minute granules, and which I call -
pycnidia; and finally, we see the most perfect globular and black seeds, -
from the heart of which are engendered one or more oligosporous theca: -
(see my “ Animadversiones” on Erysiphe, in the Berlin Botanische -
Zeitung, vol. xi. p. 257-267). j
This being admitted, it is evident that the Oidium Tuckeri, Berk.,
with its naked acrogenous spores and its polysporous fruits, eiui
an Zrysiphe reduced to its two secondary modes of multiplication; so P
that the most important gap, which remains to be filled in the histor
of this pest of our vineyards, will consist in cis ici Ed
Erysiphe supplies the deficiency. - And till its ascophorous fruits shall-
have been observed, its species cannot be satisfactorily ascertained ; -
for the two other kinds of propagation are insufficient to distinguish it
from many of its congeners, which are furnished with precisely the same*.
* j which we must refer that which infests
the Vise, (io denials a E ii is not a peculiar or unwonted cha- -

cy
OURI

52 VINE DISEASE.

If the fungus of the Vine be an Erysiphe, there is no reason to be
surprised at its injurious effects; for the genus is eminently parasitical*,
and it always causes such a disturbance in the vitality of the plants on
which it feeds, as to produce more or less serious mischief to them.

Everybody knows the damage which is often done to the cultivated
Hop by Erysiphe Humuli, DC., to the Sycamores by E. bicornis, Wallr.,
to Hawthorn by Æ. clandestina, Fr., and by F. Pisi, DC., to the later
crops of peas. The disease which is so ruinous to the Peach-tree, and
which cultivators call mildew (le Blanc), is apparently caused solely by
Erysiphe pannosa, Fr., a species which is very prejudicial to rose-bushes,
and which produces abundantly the conidia, pycnidia, and the thecige-
rous conceptacula. No one, as far as I am aware, has ever hesitated to
attribute the atrophy, the malformation of parts, and the sterility, all of
which succeed the attacks of Erysiphe, to aught but those Fungi; why
should that species which infests the Vine be less injurious? and why
seek further for the damage which the stem so infested invariably
manifests? It is a most gratuitous supposition, that the Vine must be
diseased J¢fore this parasite attacks it; and this improbable conjecture
must equally extend to the many other wild or cultivated plants on
which other species of Hrysiphe prey ; as in like manner to those vege-
tables which afford a nidus to the various species of Uredo, Rhytisma,
Ustilago, many kinds of leaf-inhabiting Spherias, and a multitude of
other parasitical Fungi. Doubtless, it may be admitted, that these
pests do not attack indiscriminately every individual of the species
which they inhabit; and that the health, and age, and loeality, and

physiological condition of the plants have some influence on the develop-
. ment of the Fungus; but this general qualification, while applying to
many peeuliarities in these little vegetable productions, ceases to be
of force, when their enormous diffusion assumes the character of a
universal scourge, and becomes a phenomenon, alike beyond our know-
ledge and control. : Dow uds ed

racter; for there are several, as E. Martii, Lev., E. communis, Fr., E. lampocarpa,
. Dub. etc., and which are often in the same predicament, whether it be owing to the
_ plants which sustain them, the spot where they grow, or other undetermined causes.
—...* Tn several of the species, the filaments of the mycelium are furnished with small
. round appendages, probably organs of suction. They are especially visible in Z. Martii,

Lev., and Æ. communis, Lev. Both M. Gasparini and M. Mohl have seen them in
E Vine, where, indeed, they are very perceptible.

e

53

Remarks on PASSIFLORACEJE and TURNERACEAE; by BERTHOLD
SEEMANN, Pu.D., F.L.S.

All botanists consider Turneracee and Passifloracee as allied to each
other, but few seem to be aware that these Orders are so closely related
as they really are, that the differences between them are merely imagi-
nary, that in fact they constitute one and the same natural family of
plants. T was led to this conclusion by the discovery of the American
genus Frblichia, Seem.,—figured in plate xxvii. of the ‘Botany of
H.M.S. Herald,'—and by subsequent examination of several Turne-
racee.

All Turneracee are described in systematic works as “ Herbaceous
plants, having sometimes a tendency to become shrubby.” This de-
scription however applies to only a few Turneras; T. salicifolia, St. Hil.
(T. Hindsiana, Benth.! Corchorus grandiflorus, Spring !) is a real shrub
from 6-8 feet high, and Erblichia odorata, Seem., is a good-sized tree,
often attaining a height of 30 feet or more. The leaves are said to be
exstipulate,—another mistatement, as all Zurneracee have stipules.
In Turnera ulmifolia, Linn.,—a common hot-house plant, from which
solely most authors seem to have derived their knowledge of this group, _
—they are, on account of the hairy covering of the stem, hardly visible, -
but in the more glabrous species, such as T. salicifolia, St. Hil, they -
are plainly to be seen, and in Erblichia odorata, Seem., they are still
more manifest. The calyx is, in Zurnera and Piriqueta, monophyllous,
in Erblichia pentaphyllous. The latter is doubtless the normal state of -
the calyx of the Order; for if the calyx of the two former is examined, —
it will be found that its lobes are in fact true sepals, traceable to the —
very base, and but slightly connected with each other. The petals and -
stamens are stated to be inserted into the tube of the calyx, but if ex- -
amined closely they will be found, although attached to the calyx, to
be traceable to the stalk of the ovary. In Zrélichia, which has no
calycinal tube, and where the petals and stamens are free to their very
base, this mode of insertion becomes still more apparent. - Indeed, i
the insertion was different from what I have stated it to be, we should E
have to remove Turneracee from their hypogynous alliances, where they -
now stand, and. place them among the perigynous orders, with which
they seem to have no connection, —a change which those who follow
the views of Lindley, as laid down in his * Vegetable Kingdom,’ would

54 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

be compelled by logie to adopt. The petals of Turnera and Piriqueta -
are without appendices, but those of Zrülichia are furnished at their
base with filamentous processes, analogous to the corona of the true
Passion-flowers. The stigmas of Piriqueta and Turnera are more or
less flabellate; those of Hrdlichia, although having a tendency to be-
come so, are capitate, and merely fimbriated on the margin; while it
must be borne in mind that the stigmas of several Pussifloracee have a
tendency to become divided, and occasionally bilobed.

Turneracee then are intimately connected with Passifforee, especially
with the tribe Paropsiee. The connecting link between them appears
to be Erblichia, one of those peculiar genera, the discovery of which
will always produce great changes. As no other points of difference,
besides those already disposed of, seem to exist between the two Orders,
I have no hesitation in uniting Turneracee and Passifloree into one
Natural Family, adopting the name Passifloracee for both.

It is evident that the discovery of Erblichia, and the consequent
union of Turneracee and Passifloree, throw a new light upon several
disputable points regarding the floral envelope of the latter, and
strengthen the views of Lindley, who regards the outer floral enve-
lopes as calyx, the inner as corolla, and the corona as a peeuliar kind
of petals.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Plants of Brazil.

We have been requested to insert the subjoined prospectus, issued
on the part of Mr. J. Reinhardt, Curator of the Zoological Department
of the Royal Museum of Natural History at Copenhagen, and advan-
tageously known as one of the Naturalists on board the Danish Corvette
"'Galathea," on her late voyage of circumnavigation, and by several
: interesting memoirs, of which he is the author.

Intending subscribers for shares are invited to communicate their
wishes. to us, or to Dr. Wallich, 5, Upper Gower Street, London.

À Prospectus. —
3 The citi provinces of Brazil have been vided by many botanists;

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 55

who have enriched the collections of Europe with large accessions of
plants and animals. But the interior of that vast country has not been
examined at all or to a very limited extent only by rapid travellers,
who were able to gather but few of its products. It cannot be doubted,
therefore, that very rich results in botany and entomology would be
obtained, if an experienced person were to sojourn, for that express
purpose and during a considerable period, in the north-west parts of the
provinces Minas and Goyaz, and if possible in Mato grosso. Of this,
a scientific expedition of three years to Brazil has entirely satisfied me;
and I accordingly now beg to invite the Naturalists of England to sup-
port a plan, which it is to take effect in next spring, when, if I succeed
in obtaining a sufficient number of subscribers to shares in the under-
taking, I intend starting from Hamburg for the Brazils.

I propose spending three years on the expedition, making those parts
of Minas Geraes and Goyaz, which are situated beyond the Francisco
river, the principal localities for my labours, extending, if not pre-
vented by the state of the country, as far north as practicable in the
river-valleys of Goyaz, Tocantin and Araguaya. But I will sojourn
likewise at other places which may offer a rich botanical and entomolo-
gical harvest; experience having taught me that a lengthened stay
alone admits of a systematic, extensive plan for making collections,
while even the richest tracts yield comparatively little to the transient
visitor. In case the time and means at command permit it, I hope to
penetrate into the province of Mato Grosso; but since the portion of -
Goyaz and Minas, which it is my intention to examine in the first in-
stance, contains an area exceeding three times that of Great Britain, it
will be impossible at present to determine the plan and route in detail. .
My collections will consist, partly of dried plants, and partly of seeds,
also of insects, made to such an extent, and with such selection, that
the shareholders may be amply supplied, and at so early periods in suc-
cession, as can be effected by frequent transmissions ; which will secure
to them their annual supplies in the course of each year. The amount
of each share will be £36, being si the rate of £12 per annum, of which,
however, only the first year’s subscription will have to be anticipa-
ted; the second and third instalments, of £12 each, are not to be paid
until the shareholders shall have received the collections of the first
and second year. It will be at the option of the subscribers to deter-
mine, whether they desire to receive ee or plants ; B

56 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

will engage to furnish partienlar families of either, if preferred. I believe
that about 3000 insects, or 1000 dried plants in a proper state of fruc-
tification, with a ticket indicating the locality and time of gathering,
and in all other respects complete and well preserved, will be considered
as a fair return for one year’s payment of each share.

Finally it is my intention, if particularly desired, to make collections

`of such living plants as can be transported by land from the interior of
Brazil, such as Orchidee and the like; but as the expenses of transport
must naturally be very great, they cannot be covered by the above-
mentioned amount of the shares. The load of a mule will be two
eases of such plants, each of which will have to be paid at the rate of
£30, besides freight from Rio Janeiro to Europe; one half of the sum
named to be paid in advance, the other on receipt of the case.

In order that no time may be lost, I solicit that gentlemen intending
to subscribe to the above scheme, will favour me with their orders on
the subject, together with a remittance through the house of business
of Messrs. Schmidt and Le Maire at Copenhagen, with instructions to

. pay the amount into my hands, when the time of my departure shall
have been finally determined.

J. REINHARDT.

Intending subscribers are requested to state,—1, their name and
address; 2, number of shares desired; 3, what description of collec-
- tions is required, and 4, whether they wish to receive living plants.
Copenhagen, December, 1853. ,

Bourgeau’s Spanish Plants.

- The following Circular has been issued by M. Bourgeau on the dis-
tribution of his beautiful collections made in 1853.

*' L'Association Botanique Francaise d’Exploration vient de termi-
mer le partage des Collections recueillies, en 1853, par son voyageur,
M. Bourgeau, dans le voyage annoncé par la Circulaire du ler Octobre,
1852. M. Bourgeau a exploré la province des Algarves, en Portugal,
_ et a été à même, à son passage en Andalousie, de recueillir plusieurs
espèces intéressantes. Les Collections, qui contiendront plus de 300
espèces, seront remises, sous peu de jours, à tous les souscripteurs ;
M. Bourgeau enverra en méme temps, à moins d'avis contraire, une

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 57

centurie de plantes de choix recueillies, d'aprés ses indications, à la
Sierra Nevada, par M. Pedro del Campo; cette centurie renfermera
un assez grand nombre de plantes qui n'ont pas pu être recueillies, en
nombre, lors de l'exploration de cette riche contrée, en 1851. Le
nouveau voyage, qui sera entrepris en 1854, a pour but l'exploration du
plateau central de l'Espagne et des principales chaines de montagnes des
deux Castilles. M. Bourgeau ne devant recueillir que les plantes rares
et celles qui sont propres à la région, ne croit pas rapporter de ce voyage
plus de 300 espéces. Toutes les plantes seront déterminées avec soin
par des botanistes connus, et munies d'étiquettes imprimées; chaque
étiquette portant un numéro d'ordre et le nom du botaniste à qui l'on
doit la détermination.

“ Les conditions de la souscription seront les suivantes. Les Bota-
nistes qui désirent avoir droit aux collections les plus complétes devront
verser, entre les mains de M. Bourgeau, une somme de 50 francs au
moins. En raison du grand nombre des souscripteurs aux collections
ordinaires, M. Bourgeau ne peut recueillir de collections complétes que
pour les personnes qui auront effectué ce premier versement. Toutes
les collections seront d'ailleurs réparties d’après l'ordre d'inscription
sur la liste de souscription. Les souscripteurs qui ont déjà versé 50
franes, imputables sur le prix des collections de la présente année,
n'auront qu'à acquitter le prix total de la collection qui leur sera
adressée, pour étre placós sur la liste de souscription, au méme rang
que celui qu'ils y occupent déjà.

4

* E, BouRGEAU.
** Rue Claude, No. 14, au Marais, Paris."

; British Hieracia. i

Mr. George Gilbert Baker announces, price 10s. 6d., a Fasciculus of
dried Specimens of the Hieracia of North Yorkshire and Teesdale. “In
genera like Hieracium, the species and groups are distinguished from -
` one another, less by the persistence of their diagnostic characters, than —
by the habit and appearance proper to each. Therefore their pecu-
liarities can be conveyed but imperfectly by verbal description alone: -
and the species can scarcely be determined in a satisfactory manner
without further assistance than can be afforded by written characters.
For this reason great difficulty is experienced in obtaining a knowledge -

VOL. VI. Ec rs

58 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

of the more intricate genera: and consequently those which most re-
quire investigation are frequently passed over and neglected. In the
hope of supplying in some degree a series of British Hieracia for refe-
ference, on the plan of the ** Herbarium Normale Suecic " of Fries, is
furnished the present fasciculus, which is composed of those forms of
which a sufficient number of specimens could be procured, within what
is probably, whether as regards individuals or species, the richest dis-
trict in Britain of equal extent as regards this genus.

* The names of subscribers may be forwarded, with clear directions
as to the mode by which their copies are to be conveyed, to the Editor,
John Gilbert Baker, Thirsk, or to the publisher, William Pamplin, 45,
Frith-street, Soho-square, London, to either of whom Post-office orders
may be made payable.

** List of Species.—Pilosella: H. Pilosella, Z.; H. aurantiacum, Z.
Aurelia: H. iricum, Fries. Pulmonaria: H. pallidum, Biv.; H. mu-
rorum, Z.; H. cesium, Fries; H. cesium, Fries (nemorum, Fries);
H. vulgatum, Fries (H. maculatum, Sm.); H. vulgatum, Fries, et var. ;
H. vulgatum, Fries (medium, Fries); H. vulgatum, Fries (maculatum
sylvaticum, Sm.); H. vulgatum, Fries (H. sylvaticnm, Sm.); H. go-
thicum, Fries. Accipitrina: H. tridentatum, Fries; H. tridentatum,
Fries (nemorosum); H. umbellatum, Z.; H. umbellatum, Z., et var.;
H. crocatum, Fries; H. crocatum, Fries (angustatum, Fries); H. boreale,
Fries; H. boreale, Fries (nemorosum)."

Linden’s South American Plants.

M. Linden, of the Société Royale de Zoologie et d'Horticole of
Brussels, who continues to send Collectors to explore the botanical
. treasures of South America, announces the following `
: * COLLECTIONS BOTANIQUES.

ff M edge — Plantes sèches recueillies par J. Linden, dans les Etats
de Vera-Cruz, Puebla, Mexico, Yucatan, Tabasco et Chiapas: la cen-
turie d’espéces, 40 francs. š
- . .* Nouvelle-Grenade et Venezuela.—Plantes recueillies par J. Linden,

dans les provinces de Caracas, Carabobo, Barquisimeto, Truxillo, Ma-
racaibo, Merida, Pamplona, Socorro, Velez, Tunja, Bogota, Mariquita,
Cauca, Ocaña, Rio Hacha, et Santa-Martha: la centurie d'espèces, 45
francs. Plantes du voyage de N. Funck et, L. Schlim : la centurie d'es-

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 59

péces, 45 francs. Plantes du voyage de L. Schlim, dans les parties in-
explorées de la Nouvelle-Grenade, depuis 1848 jusqu'en 1852: la cen-
turie d’espéces, 45 francs. Plantes collectées par J. Triana, dans les
provinces d'Antioquia, Cauca, Choco, etc., en 1852 et 1853: la cen-
turie d’espéces, 50 francs.

“Indes Occidentales.—Plantes recueillies par J. Linden, dans les
Montagnes Bleues de la Jamaique, dans les parties occidentales de l'ile
de Cuba, ainsi que dans la province antérieurement inexplorée, de San-
tiago de Cuba: la centurie d'espèces, 45 francs.

“Collections spéeiales.—Telles que: Fougères et Lycopodes, Orchi-
dées, ete. : la centurie, 50 francs. Mousses, Algues et Lichens: 30 fr.

Death of Professor Moretti.

The ‘Gazzetta di Milano’ announces the death of Professor Joseph
Moretti, at Pavia, on the 1st of December.—Bonplandia.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Die Familie der TREMANDREEN, etc. The Family of TREMANDREA,
and their relationship to the Lasiopetaler, a contribution to the de-
velopment of the Natural System of Plants; by Joacuim STEETZ,
M.D., ete.

Dr. Steetz is a physician of considerable practice in Hamburg, who
devotes the few leisure moments his profession affords, to the pursuit
of his favourite study of botany, with great zeal and success. He
some years since very carefully worked up, for the * Plant: Preissianz,’
several families of Swan River plants, and amongst others the Treman-
dree. Observing in a paper of M. Payen’s, in the Annales des Sciences
Naturelles, Ser. 3. vol. xiv. (Organogénie de la classe des Polygalinées),
that that author drew, partly froní his monograph, conclusions relating
_ tothe structures and affinities of Zremandrez, which Dr. Steetz does not
believe to have been warranted, he has been induced to investigate the -
subject with great care. The rich materials he has now had at his dis-
posal, much more abundant than those he could examine when describ-
ing Preiss's plants, have confirmed him in igen eae: ntertained -

60 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

of the close connection between Tremandree and Lasiopetalee, and the
development of these views forms the object of the present pamphlet of
about one hundred and twenty pages. The history and generic cha-
racters of the three Tremandreous genera Tetratheca, Platytheca and Tre-
mandra is given in great detail, the various affinities indicated by dif-
ferent botanists are discussed, and an elaborate comparison is instituted
between the Zremandree and Lasiopetalea, in each of their different
organs, vegetative as well as reproductive, in their anatomical struc-
ture, and the whole subject is argued in a satisfactory, though perhaps
rather diffuse manner.

Etudes Organiques sur les Cuscutses ; par M. Charles Desmoulins, Pré-
sident de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux, etc.

This is an historical and systematic monograph of the European
species of the Linnean Genus Cuscuta. The characters of each are
given in detail in seventeen folded tables, and supported by elaborate
arguments, authorities, and observations, contained in seventy-seven
pages of text, as reprinted from the Reports of the 19th Session (at
Toulouse) of the French Scientific Congress. M. Desmoulins is a
careful observer, well known for several critical works on the Flora of
the south-western provinces of France, and great reliance must be
placed on his facts and observations. We should not perhaps be dis-
posed to agree with him, and some other modern botanists, in the ex-
pediency of breaking up into small genera so very natural a group as
the Linnean Cuscuta ; nor perhaps can the merits of these genera, even
. as sectional groups, be fully ascertained until they are tested by appli-
cation to a larger proportion of the numerous exotic species now known ;
but so far as the European species are concerned, they appear to be
well characterized, and as natural as the circumstances of the case will
admit. The fifteen species examined and adopted by M. Desmoulins,
. are Cuscuta Europea, epithymum, trifolii, planiflora, Kotschyi, Godronii,
episonchium, and calycina ; Epilinella cuscutoides (Cuscuta epilinum) ;
Monogynella Vahliana (Cuscuta monogyna); Cassutha (Engelmannia,
Pfeiff.) suaveolens, Americana, chrysocoma and Arabica, and Succuta alba ;
besides three doubtful species not seen by the author, viz. C. approzi-
mata, Babingt., C. microcephala, Welw., and C. Vicia, F. Schultz. It

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 61

is probable that further observation may reduce a few of these to the
rank of races or varieties; and if the genera be admitted, the adoption
of the name of Cassutha can hardly be justified by the side of the pre-
existing Cassytha, a Cuscuta-like genus of Laurinee.

M. Desmoulins’ paper is wholly phytographical; the important phy-
siological questions connected with the peculiar mode of growth of
these curious parasites are not entered into.

WALLACE, ALFRED RUSSEL: Palm Trees of the Amazon, and their
uses. With 48 plates. Small 8vo. London: Van Voorst. 1853.

He must be a bold man who would undertake a work on Palms
after the splendid and scientific volumes of the illustrious Von Martius.
The present however is of a very humble character, undertaken by one
who was, during his travels on the Amazon and its tributaries, from
1848-1852, “principally occupied with the varied and interesting
animal productions of the country.” The Palms (and no wonder)
soon attracted his attention, as the most striking and characteristic
feature of the tropical forests. * In this little work," the author tells
us, “careful engravings from my original drawings are given, with a
general description of each species, and a history, from personal obser- -
vation, of the various uses to which it is applied, and of any other in- -
teresting particulars connected with it. For the determination of the
genera and species, and for that part of the Introduction relating to the
botanical characters and geographical distribution of Palms” (and as-
suredly for the map of America, showing the distribution of Palms) “I
am indebted to the magnificent work of Dr. Martius.” The chief
merit of the work will be found to consist in the “accurate sketches”
of the trees themselves, and in the accounts of the uses of certain of
these; and if the former are as faithful as Mr. Fitch's lithographs are
clever (though very slight), we are thankful for such a series of plates. ;
But we do not see how, with apparently no knowledge of these Palms
except from their external forms (often without flower or fruit), an
author could refer many of them to species characterized by oe,
or how he could ascertain that his species, so called, are really “new;” -
for any study or sketches of flowers or fruit seem to be entirely sogis, s
and the only figures given of them (and most prettily and faithfully -
executed by Mr. Fitch) are confined to the latter (fruits), some dozen ^

D"

63 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

of kinds copied from specimens in the Museum of the Royal Gardens
of Kew: and these occupy two plates apart from the species to which
they belong. Fifty * species" are here noticed; and of these, fifteen
are considered new. Among them is the ** Piassaba, or Chíquichíqui of
Venezuela” (Leopoldinia Piassaba of Mr. Wallace, Plate vi.), and not
the Attalea funifera, as we had been led to believe, after much inquiry,
as we have stated in the Journal of Botany for 1849 (vol. i. p. 121. t. 4),.
although that is the * Piagaba" of southern Brazil, where its fibre
appears to be employed for similar purposes. We do not in the least
call in question the accuracy of Mr. Wallace’s statement that his is
the tree which now furnishes, on so large a scale, the brooms and
brushes of modern days; nor are we able to deny its being a Palm
hitherto unknown to Botanists; but we do complain that a Naturalist
who is able “to make out its geographical range so exactly, from
having resided more than two years among people whose principal oc-
eupation consisted in obtaining the fibrous covering of this tree, and
from whom no locality of it can have remained undiscovered," should
never have been at the pains to procure flowers and fruit for the illus-
tration of so interesting a plant. The fruit too is said to be esculent,
and employed to form a thick drink, by washing off the outer coat of
the pulp; and the leaves form an excellent thatch, and are almost uni-
versally used in that portion of Venezuela on the upper Rio Negro.
From that district several hundred tons of the fibre are cut annually
and sent to Pará, from which place scarcely a vessel sails for England
without its forming a part of her cargo. We trust Mr. Spruce, now in
that country, wil make up for this deficiency. Of the genus Cocos,
Mr. Wallace tells us that few species of the genus are found in the
Amazon district: yet he has taken no notice of them, but, instead, has
given a plate of the Cocos nucifera, which is *not a native of South
America, but cultivated there.”

The work is certainly more suited to a drawing-room table than to
the library of the botanist.

Macpowato, GEORGE, Esa., and ALLAN, JAMES, Esq. Tue Bora-
Nist’s WorD-Book: an etymological and explanatory Vocabulary
of the terms employed in the Science of Botany, for use in Colleges,

- Schools, and private Study. 12mo. London: Lovell Reeve. 1853.

We certainly cannot compliment the authors of this little work by

-

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 68

an assurance that we think it likely to promote the study of Botany in
Colleges, Schools, and those engaged in private study. Messrs. Mac-
donald and Allan complain of the difficulty of the study, from the use
of so many words employed in it which are derived from the Greek
and Latin; and “even the classical scholar, unless very -deeply read,
and comparatively fresh from his philological studies, must often feel
greatly at a loss to decipher, and consequently to fix in his memory,
many of the strange terms which Botanists have invented, gathered as
they frequently are, not from the familiar walks, but from the bye-paths
and obscure recesses of ancient classical literature. Had familiar En-
glish terms been employed, instead of obscure combinations of foreign
vocables, the name of the thing and the thing itself would have been
so associated in the mind of the learner, that the one would immediately
suggest the other.” —As an example of their meaning they say, “ Had
the expression one-leaved been adopted instead of * monopetalous,’ or un-
covered instead of *achlamydeous, surely the distinctions thus de-
noted would be both more readily perceived and more easily remem-
bered; and had similar familiar terms been uniformly selected, unques-
tionably Botany would have been the most easily attained of all the
natural sciences.” We believe however the most illiterate tyro in
Botany (in respect of classical attainments) would be able to tell Messrs.
Macdonald and Allan, that “‘monopetalous” does not mean one-leaved, |
and that the word “ uncovered,” applied to flowers we presume, would
stand in as much need of explanation as achlamydeous. With such |
notions of botanical terminology, we do not wonder, in the brief **ex-
planatory vocabulary," to see ** NoposE, knotty; a term applied to a
particular form of pubescence.” . ** OPERCULATE, having a cover like
the anthers: (!) of Mosses.” * CmisTATE; applied to a flower having -
a tufted crest like a cock’s comb." — * CogMUs; a bulbous root, which
is solid throughout." ** CONFLUENT; a species of foliation in which
the leaves grow in tufts, so as to leave the rest of the pugil quite bare,”
ete. ete. D. : 5

De Varese, W. H., et P. Hartine; Monographie des ManaTTIAGÉES,
Folio. Leide et Dusseldorf. 1853.

In this elaborate work, accompanied by nineteen pee, our valued

64 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

friends have given a full history of the group of Ferns denominated
Marattiacee, “ d’après les Collections du Musée Impérial de Vienne,
de celui de Paris, de Sir William Jackson Hooker, de M. Francois
Delessert, de M. le Dr. F. Junghuhn, de quelques principaux Jardins
de l’Europe, et celui de Buitenzorg, à l'Ile de Java; suivie de Recherches
sur l'Anatomie, l’Organogénie et l Histiogénie du Genre Angiopteris, et
de considérations sur la structure des Fougéres en général.”

Messrs. De Vriese and Harting divide the group of Marattiacee
into three Sections. 1. ManATTIEX. Genera: Marattia, Sm., Dicostegia,
Pr., Gymnotheca, Pr., Stibasia, Pr., and Eupodium, J. Sm. 2. KAUL-
FUSSIEÆ. Genus: Kaulfussia, Bl. 3. ANGi1oPTERIDEX. Genus: dn-
giopteris, Hoffm.(Angiopteris and Psidolochea, Pr.). A carefulinvesti-
gation of the numerous collections submitted to their investigation has
led them to the determination of sixteen species of true Marattia ;
two of Dicostegia ; nine of Gymnotheca ; one of Stibasia; one of Eu-
podium; four of Kaulfussia; and no less than sixty of Angiopteris.
The Recherches sur l'Anatomie, etc. of the Genus Angiopteris, are
from the pen and pencil of M. Harting; and the same gentleman con-
cludes the work with the “ Considérations sur la structure des Fougères
en général.” The well-executed plates exhibit the anatomical structure
of the group, as well as pinnze of a great number of the species.

o
E

Some Notes upon the Cryptogamie portion of the Plants collected in
Portugal 1842-50; dy Dm. Frien. WELWwiTSCH. The Fungi, dy
the Rev. M. J. BERKELEY. London: W. Pamplin. 1853.

This is an enumeration of the Fungi of Mr. Welwitsch’s Portuguese

Collection, which are placed in Mr. Pamplin’s hands for disposal, and

— which is printed for distribution, we believe, to the subscribers. Besides

. the enumeration of the whole, Mr. Berkeley has given the characters of,

. and remarks upon, seven new species.

We are glad to take this opportunity of saying that this admirable
Botanist and Collector (Mr. Welwitsch) has embarked for the Portu-
guese settlement of Angola, where he is engaged to superintend some
E extensive plantations; and where he will doubtless make many inter-

-~ esting botanical discoveries.

e
A

Vol. VI. PL

As

Pteridophyllum decipiens, Z7w. —

- -
\ à

VoLVLPLIL

A

Monop orandra elegans, Thy. —

E

Description of some new Genera and Species of CEYLON PLANTS; by
G. H. K. Tuwarrss, Esq, MM Oates of the Royal Botanic
Garden at Peradenia. :

(Tas. L, IL)

Nov. Gen. Campnosperma, Tkw. Nat. Ord, Anacardiacew.

Char. Gen. Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx 3-partitus, persistens, laciniis
erectis triangularibus. Petala 3, sub disco urceolato imo calycis ad-
nato inserta, orbiculato-triangularia, erecta. Stamina 6, cum petalis
inserta; filamenta basi dilatata, incurvata; anthere ovate, adnate,
introrse, longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Ovarium liberum, sessile,
ovatum, uniloculare; ovulwm solitarium, ex apice loculi pendulum,
anatropum, arcuatum; stylus subnullus; stigma dilatatum, discoi-
deum, irregulariter lobatum. Drupa carnosa, ovata, putamine osseo, -
cavitatis dimidio superiore diaphragmate osseo (putaminis processu ?)
diviso. Semen pendulum, drupe cavitati conforme, arcuatum, exal-
buminosum; cotyledones planæ, oblonge, areuatz; radicula brevi,
supera.—Arbor 30—40-pedalis, ramosa ; ramulis teretibus, rufescenti-
bus; foliis alternis, simplicibus, integerrimis, ovato-lanceolatis, basi gra-
datim angustatis, breve petiolatis, penniveniis, reticulatis, subtus minute
rufo-punctatis, junioribus ferrugineis, lentiginosis ; inflorescentia sim-
plicissime paniculata, florum numero mediocri; floribus "— 2 lin. —
longis, 1-bracteatis. ut

Campnosperma Zeylanicum, 'Thw., C.P. No. 246, in Herbario usi *
niens, (Tas. I. A.) ee

Has. Not uncommon about the banks of rivers at Natuapotik, and
the lower part of the Saffragam district, Ceylon.

Puate I.A. Fig. 1 .Branch of Campnosperma Zeylanicum. 2. Flower.
3. The same, with the petals removed. 4. Longitudinal section of ovary, -
with calyx and glandular disc. 5. Ripe seed. 6. Longánditakh section
of the same :—adl but fig. 1 and 5 magnified. zd

Nov. Gen. PTERIDOPHYLLUM, Tkw. Nat. Ord. P ERPE

Char. Gen. Flores polygami, monoici. Calyx 5-partitus, persistens,
laciniis zequalibus, zestivatione imbricatis. Corolla petala 5, sub
disco lanato inserta, sessilia, equalia, concava, zestivatione imbricata.
Stamina 5, disco intus inserta, ovarium cingentia, æqualia, petalis

. alterna; t fd sable, libera ; anthere introrse, sagittatze, dorso.
VOL. VI. AX

66 NEW GENERA AND SPECIES

affixz, versatiles, longitudinaliter dehiscentes, in floribus foemineis
effects. Ovarium unicum, liberum, sessile, globosum, biloculare, in
floribus masculis effoetum. Ovula in loculis solitaria, prope apicem
appensa, anatropa. Stylus simplex, curvatus. Stigma simplex vel
sub-bilobum. Drupa carnosa, putamine membranaceo, scepissime
monosperma. Semen inversum, testa membranacea. — Eibryonis ex-
albuminosi cotyledones foliaceze, .plicatee; radicula dorsalis, versus
hilum directa et eidem fere attingens.—Arbor Indica e Zeylanica ;
ramulis augulatis, sublevibus; folis alternis, coriaceis, levibus, sub-
pari-pinnatis, foliolis 19 vel supra, lineari-oblongis, acutis vel sepe
retusis, ad basin angustatis, articulatis, penniveniis, venis. parallelis,
approximatis ; inflorescentia paniculata ; paniculis ramosis, multiflo-
ris, folia non equantibus ; floribus parvis, albis; pedicellis bracteatis,
bracteis minutis.

Pteridophyllum decipiens, Thw.—Rhus decipiens, Wight et Arn. Prod.
v. 1.172. R. Wight, Illust. v. 1. tab. 15.—C.P. No. 536, in Her-
bario Peradeniensi. (Tas. I. B.)

Has. This is a very ornamental evergreen tree, and occurs in some
abundance in the Ceylon forests, up to an elevation of 3000 feet;
its wood is very hard. The ripe fruit is a favourite food of
numerous frugivorous birds. The Cinghalese name of the tree is
Pehimbia.

There cannot be a doubt of the propriety of removing the above
plant from the genus Rhus, from which it differs in many important
partieulars, as a comparison of the generic characters will show.

Prats I. B. Fig. 1. Male flower of Pteridophylium decipiens. 2.

. "The same, with the petals removed. 3. Female flower with the ovary
. removed, to show the stamens, glandular disc, and small petals. 4. The

. same, cut longitudinally, to show the insertion of the stamens. 5. Trans-
yerse section of ovary. 6. Longitudinal section of ripe fruit. 7, 8.
Ripe seeds, showing a, the hilum, and 8, position of radicle. 9. Embryo.

Noy. Gen. Axtnanpra, Thw. Nat. Ord. Lythrariece.
Tribe Lagerstroemieze.

Char. Gen. Calyx persistens, tubo campanulato, limbi 5-partiti lobis
triangularibus, :estivatione valvatis. Corolle petala 5, summo calycis
tubo inserta, ejusdem laciniis alterna, in cupolam deciduam connata.

Stamina 10, subzqualia, serie duplici, dolabriformia, 5 externa

OF CEYLON PLANTS. 61

summo calycis tubo inserta, petalis alterna; 5 interna infra calycis
marginem affixa. Filamenta brevia, dilatata, sestivatione inflexa.
Anthere adnate, dorso affixee, introrsee, longitudinaliter dehiscentes,
connectivo postice valde producto, quadrato. Ovarium calycis tubo
adnatum, 6-loculare, loculis monospermis. Ovula erecta, anatropa.
Stylus brevissimus, cylindricus. Stigma simplex. Capsula 6-locularis,
lignosa, loculicide 2-6-valvis (sepissime 3-valvis). Semina erecta,
oblonga, compressa, testa membranacea, margine superiore in alam
membranaceam producta, umbilico basilari. mbryonis exalbumi-
nosi cotyledones oblong:, sagittatze; radicula umbilicum attingens.
—Arbor ingens, ramosa; ramulis fefragonis (sub modis dilatatis
alatis); folis oppositis, breve petiolatis, ovato-lanceolatis, integerri-
mis, glabris, 4& poll. longis, 2 poll. latis; venatione pennata, venis
secondariis vena intramarginali anastomosantibus ; inflorescentia ra-
cemosa ; racemis 1-2 axillaribus, simplicibus, 12—20-floris; floribus ———
parvis, 2-3 lin. longis, albis, breve pedicellatis ; pedicellis unifloris 3- —
bracteatis ; bracteis linearibus, scabris, marginibus involutis, pedicel-
lum equantibus.
Axinandra Zeylanica, Thw., C. P. No. 2668, in Herbario Peradeniensi.
(Tas. I. C.) à
Has. A large, handsome tree, from 50 to 60 feet in height, and which — —
appears to be rare, as I have met with it but in one spot, inthe
Ambagamowa district, at an elevation of about 1500 feet. p
PLATE I. C. Fig. 1. Branch of Avinandra Zeylanica. 2. Portion of ——
raceme. 3. Expanded flower, the petals having fallen. 4. One ofthe ———
inner series of stamina. 5. Longitudinal section of ovary and calyx.
6. Transverse section of the same. 7. Ovule. 8. Old capsule. 9.
Seed. 10. Embryo. ;

Noy. Gen. I. Sremonororus, Thw. Nat. Ord. Dipterocarpeæ. i

Char. Gen. Calyx 5-partitus, laciniis æqualibus; fructiferis vix auctis.
Corolle petala 5, æqualia, æstivatione convolutiva. Stamina 15, bi-
seriata (5 interna, 10 externa), monadelpha ; filamenta in annulum
brevem, ovarium cingentem, coalita; anthere oblongæ, introrsæ,
singulæ poro terminali dehiscentes, connectivo non producto. Ova-
rium 8-loculare ; loculis bi-ovulatis; ovula ex apice anguli centralis
collateraliter pendula, anatropa. S/£y/ws filiformis, simplex. Stigma
simplex. Fructus sphæricus, calyce reflexo suffultus, coriaceus,

68 NEW: GENERA AND SPECIES

abortu uniloeularis, monospermus, irregulariter dehiscens (2—1 poll,
diametro). Semen testa membranacea; emóryonis exalbuminosi co-
tyledones crassiuscule, plicato-convolutz. — Arbores Zeylanice ;
folis petiolatis, alternis, glabris, penniveniis, oblongis, integerrimis,
rigidis, venosis, petiolis cylindricis; stipulis minutissimis; floribus
prope apices ramulorum sitis, paniculatis, racemosis vel subsolitariis,
albidis vel flavescentibus, 5—71 lin. latis; paniculis avillaribus.

1, Stemonoporus Gardneri, Thw.; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis
basi rotundatis 31—4 poll. longis 1—2 poll. latis, petiolis 1 poll. longis,
floribus panieulatis, panieulis plus minusve elongatis, 4—12-floris,
pedicellis 3—4 lin. longis decurvatis. (Tas. II. A.)

Has. A large forest-tree ; abundant near Adam's Peak, at an elevation
of about 5000 feet. Dr. Gardner found it near Rambodde. It
flowers in February. C.P. No. 1920, in Herbario Peradeniensi.
Prats IL A. Fig. 1. Flowering branch of Stemonoporus Gardneri,

Thw. 2. Flower with the calyx, corolla, and portion of the stamens

removed. 3. Stamen. 4. Longitudinal section of ovary. 5. Trans-

verse section of ovary. 6. Ripe fruit. 7. Embryo :—fig. 4 to 7 in-

clusive, more or less magnified. l

:9. Stemonoporus affinis, Thw.; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis
basi rotundatis 3-4 poll. longis 2—24 poll. latis, petiolis 8 lin. longis,
floribus subsolitariis, pedunculis brevibus.—C.P. No. 2430, in Her-
bario Peradeniensi.

Has. Found sparingly in the Hunasgiria district, at an dleyation of
about 4000 feet.

Differing from the last, to which it bears much resemblance, by its

. subsolitary, not panicled flowers. The leaves of this species are also

— less rigid, and the divisions of the calyx are narrower, than in S. Gardneri.

3. Stemonoporus lanceolatus, Thw.; folis lanceolatis acuminatis basi

angustatis supra minute venulosis 4—8 poll. longis 13—23 poll. latis,
petiolis 6 lin. longis, floribus paucis subsolitariis, pedunculis brevis-

- simis, calycis segmentis lineari-lanceolatis. C.P. No. 2658, in Her-

— bario Peradeniensi.

Has. A small tree, occurring in damp, shady forests near Ratuapoora,

.. at no great elevation.

. 4. Stemonoporus oblongifolius, Thw.; foliis oblongis prope apicem an-

gustatis obtusis basi rotundatis 4—63 poll. longis 13-23 poll. latis,
petiolis 6 lin. longis, pedunculis 4 lin. longis 1-9-foris, pedicellis

OF CEYLON PLANTS. 69

2-3 lin. longis, calycis segmentis ovato-oblongis.—No. 2646, in Her-
bario Peradeniensi.

Has. A large tree, occurring in the Ambagamowa forests, at an eleva-
tion of about 4000 feet. In fruit in December.

5. Stemonoporus rigidus, Thw. ; foliis rigidissimis oblongis obtusis basi
subrotundatis aliquando cuneatis 33-5} poll. longis 11—21 poll.
latis, petiolis 6 lin. longis, pedunculis brevissimis 1—3-floris, pedi-
cellis 2 lin. longis, calycis segmentis ovato-oblongis obtusis.—C.P.
No. 2645, in Herbario Peradeniensi.

Has. Occurs sparingly in the Ambagamowa district; flowering in
December.

This bears some resemblance to S. oblongifolius, but the leaves are
more rigid and more strongly veined ; the primary veins are also more
numerous and closer.

Nov. Gen. II. MONOPORANDRA, Thw. Nat. Ord. Dipterocarpee.

Char. Gen. Calyx 5-partitus, laciniis zequalibus; fructiferis vix auctis.
Corolle petala 5, eequalia, æstivatione convoluta. Stamina 5, 1-se-
riata, monadelpha ; filamenta in annulum brevem ovarium cingentem
coalita ; anthere oblonge, introrse, singule poro terminali dehis-
centes, connectivo non producto. Ovarium liberum, 2-loculare; lo-
culis bi-ovulatis; ovwla ex apice anguli centralis collateraliter -pen-
dula, hemianatropa. Stylus filiformis, simplex. Stigma simplex.
Fructus ut in genere precedente, sed dimidio minor.— Arbores Zey-
lanieze, mediocres ; foliis alternis, integerrimis, rigidis, acuminatis; flori-
bus azillaribus, paniculatis vel subsolitariis, flavescentibus, 4—5 lin. latis. —

1. Monoporandra elegans, Thw.; folis lanceolatis longe acuminatis |
basi subrotundatis 23 poll. longis (acumine 3 poll. longo) 1 poll.
latis, venis primariis supra prominentibus, petiolis 4 lin. longis, ca- -
lycis segmentis lanceolato-linearibus. e I. B3 C 2: Na Bh p
in Herbario Peradeniensi. $a a

Has. A moderate-sized tree, occurring in some Hadai in the. Saf :
fragam district, at the base of Adam's Peak, at an elevation of about -
2000 feet. :
Prate II. B. Fig. 1. Flowering bnndi of Tarike gne. |

Thw. 2. One of the petals. 3. The five stamens. 4. Stamen, more

highly magnified. 5. Longitudinal section of ovary. 6. Transverse’ sec-

tion of ovary. 7. Fruit :—all but fig. 1 and 1 magnified. a

10 NEW GENERA AND SPECIES

2. Monoporandra cordifolia, Thw.; foliis cordatis acuminatis 231-3
poll. longis 13-2 poll. latis, venis primariis supra depressis subtus
prominentibus, petiolis 6 lin. longis, calycis segmentis lanceolatis.
C.P. No. 2647, in Herbario Peradeniensi.

Has. Not uncommon in the Ambagamowa and Saffragam districts, at
an elevation of about 3000 feet.

Nov. Gen. I. TERPNoPHYLLUM, Thw. Nat. Ord. Clusiacez.
Tribe Garciniez.

Char. Gen. Flores dioici. . Calyx ebracteolatus, 4-phyllus ; foliolis sub-
eequalibus, imbricatis, deciduis. Corolle petala 4, hypogyna, calycis
foliolis alterna, szstivatione imbricata.—Masc. Stamina plurima in
discum mamillatum bilobatum (vel sub-4-lobatum) inter se et cum
petalorum singulorum media carina coalita. Disci mamille antheri-
fere. Anthere in quaque mamilla 2, 3, vel 4, seepissime 2; loculis
horizontalibus, subimmersis. Ovarii rudimentum mamilleforme,
minutum.—Fam. Stamina sterilia circiter 18, squamseformia, trian-
gularia, ovarii basin amplectentia. Ovarium liberum, biloculare.
Ovula in loculis solitaria, amphitropa, in placenta disciformi subim-
mersa, foramine inferiore. Stylus brevissimus. Stigma peltatum,
sublobatum. Drupa carnosa, balsamiflua, abortu 1-locularis, 1-
sperma. Semen medio affixum, testa membranacea.

Terpnophyllum Zeylanicum, Thw. (Tas. II. C.) C.P. No. 2695, in
Herbario Peradeniensi. :

Arbor mediocris ; foliis oppositis, integerrimis, lanceolatis, utrinque an-
gustatis, penniveniis (venis primariis cum vena intramarginali ana-
stomosantibus, vel potius earum apicibus venam intramarginalem

-~ formantibus), petiolatis, 3-4 poll. longis, 1-1} poll. latis, junioribus

.. jueunde rubris, petiolo 4 lin. longo; floribus axillaribus, fasciculatis

.. vel subumbellatis, 31 lin. latis, flavescentibus ; pedicellis 2 lin. longis.

~ This beautiful species appears to be rare, as it has only been met

with in one locality in the Central Province, at an elevation of about

3000 feet. Not one of the several natives to whom I have shown spe-

cimens of the plant, has recognized it as previously seen and known.

. Prate II. C. Fig. 1. Flowering branch of Zerpnophyllum Zeylanicum.
2. Male flower. 3. Female flower, with calyx and corolla removed.
_ *. Longitudinal section of ovary. 5. Transverse section of ovary. 6.
. Drupe:—umat. size. 1. Longitudinal section of drupe, showing the sin-

OF CEYLON PLANTS. 11

gle seed and abortive loculus. 8. Longitudinal section of seed :—all
but fig. 6 magnified.

Gen. II. GARCINIA.

l. Garcinia echinocarpa, Thw.—C.P. No. 335, in Herbario Perade-
niensi.

Arbor ingens, 40—50-pedalis; foliis integerrimis, coriaceis, oblongis,
breve acuminatis vel retusis, basi parce angustatis, 23—5 poll. longis,
14-3 poll. latis, penniveniis; venis primariis 1-11 lin. distantibus,
folii marginem fere attingentibus ; petiolo 5-8 lin. THER supra sulcato,
rufescente. Flores dioici, ad ramulorum apices aggregati, sessiles,
pallide flavescentes. Calycis foliola crassa, concava. Petala oblonga.
—Masc. Stamina filamentis in diseum tetragonum infra coalitis, su-
pra liberis; antheris subquadratis, rufescentibus. Ovarii rudimentum
seepissime immersum.—F«w. Stamina sterilia basi una serie coalita,
supra libera, ovarium cingentia. Ovarium liberum, squamis carno-
sis numerosis imbricatis tectum ; stylo brevi; stigmate peltato, irre-
gulariter lobato, lobis tubereulatis, rufis. Drupa subspheerica, echi-
nulato-muricata, 1—-3-sperma, 1-14 poll. longa. Semina oblonga;
testa coriacéa, rufo-brunnea.

This species is well distinguished by its scaly ovarium, dad scales
subsequently becoming the echinulations of the ripe drupe. It is very
abundant in the central province of Ceylon, at elevations of from 2000
to 5000 feet. There is a considerable difference in the size and texture
of the leaves, according to the elevation at which the plant occurs, or — t
degree of moisture of the soil, though the leaves on an individual tree
are usually very uniform in character. The native name of the tree is
Madol, or Madol-gaha. 2

About the structure of the embryo in the genera Garcinia, Stalag-
mitis, Gambogia, and Terpnophyllum, I have been unable yet to satisfy
myself. A section of the seed in one direction shows an apparently
homogeneous substance, with a small defined circular space in the mid--
dle, of a slightly different colour: a section of the seed at right angles
to this exhibits an equally defined linear mark. Unless it had been
stated to the contrary, I should have considered the seed as consisting
of a cylindrical embryo, lying in the midst of a copious albumen. i :
have not been able to detach the cylindrical body from the surrounding.
mass, to which it firmly adheres. A careful examination of the ok

LI

*
72 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

in different stages of germination, will probably clear up this difficulty,
and I shall keep my attention directed to it.

An apparently anomalous condition of the seed of a species of Calo-
phyllum occurred to my observation a short time ago. Instead of find-
ing, as is usual in this genus, an exalbuminous embryo, with large,
thick, oily, colourless cotyledons, I found a moderate-sized, well-deve-
loped, deep green embryo, immersed in an abundant albumen. Whe-
ther this be the usual condition of the seed in this species (C.P. No.
2446), I must ascertain by getting specimens, in the proper season,
from other trees of the same kind.

(To be continued.)

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS : an Enumeration of the Plants collected
in the Island of Hongkong, by Major J. G. Champion, 95th Reg.;
the determinations revised and the new species described by GEORGE
BENTHAM, Esa.

(Continued from p. 9.)
Genera allied to KUPHORBIACER*.

1. Scepa Chinensis, Champ., sp. n.; foliis oblongis apice subdentatis
coriaceis glabris v. subtus ad costam pilosis, amentis masculis brevi-
bus densis, perigonii laciniis longe rufo-ciliatis, staminibus seepius 2.
— Arbor, ramulis parce hirtellis. Folia in specimine bipollicaria, se-
mipollicem lata, dentibus paucis brevibus obtusis, petiolo 3 lin. longo,
sed verosimiliter seepe majora sunt et latiora. Stipulas jam delapsas
non vidi. menta mascula (vix perfecte evoluta) semipollicaria, fas-
ciculata, fere a basi dense imbricata. Sguame late, obtusiuscule,
leviter ciliato-puberule, flores fovent 3—5 sessiles, quorum laterales
interdum minores 2—3-meri et monandri, plerique tamen 4-meri di-
andrique. Perigonii lacini? concave, parum inequales, ciliis mar-
ginalibus longis rufisque. Ovarii vestigium nullum vidi. Spica
fceminea, longitudine amenti masculi, obtecta est villis longis rufis
squamisque iis marium similibus, in specimine suppetente ultra me-
dium sterilis, apice fructifera, florentem non vidi. Fructus in speci-
mine 5, ovoidel, acuminati, basi in stipitem brevem attenuati, villis
* See Tulasne’s excellent monograph of Antidesmea, in the ‘Annales des Sciences

Naturelles,” Ser. 3, vol. xv. p. 180, where he has shown good grounds for associating
Scepacee and Antidesmee with Euphorbiacea, if not for uniting them in one family.

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 13

paucis rufis onusti, et basi perigonii laciniis 4 ovatis ciliatis persis-
tentibus fulti. Styli 2, profunde bipartiti, lobis crassis recurvis su-
perne fimbriato-stigmatosis. Pericarpium tenuiter subcarnosum, de-
mum induratum. Zndocarpium tenuiter crustaceum, in coccos 2 intus
versus axin villosos divisum, altero vacuo altero biovulato. Semen
in specimine examinato unicum (ovulo altero persistente non aucto),
ex apice axeos villosi pendulum, ovoideum, testa crustacea, albumine
carnoso-subcartilagineo. —Co£yledones magne, orbiculate. Radicula
brevis, ad hilum spectans.

A common tree in the island. I regret not having seen the female
flower, for in the fruit one cell or coccus seemed quite empty and
pressed flat, the undeveloped ovule and the seed being collaterally at-
tached in the other. I find no arillus in Scepa, unless the endocarp,
which detaches readily from the pericarp, as in many Euphorbiaceae, be
considered as such. In this species it is, according to Major Cham-
pion, amber-coloured, with a bitter-sweet flavour.

2. Antidesma óunius, Spreng.—Tul. in Ann. Sc. Nat. Par. Ser. 3.
vol. xv. p. 186.

Hongkong.

3. Antidesma Japonicum, Sieb. et Zuce. Fl. Jap. Fam. Nat. p. 88.

Happy Valley, where it is subarborescent. The species is exceed- _
ingly variable in the shape of its leaves. One female specimen in fruit
is precisely similar to Siebold’s, from Japan, communicated to me by
Dr. Blume; it has oblong-lanceolate leaves, above 3 inches long; ano-
ther, a male, has the leaves very much narrower, almost linear, but
most of them have ovate or ovate-oblong leaves, from 1-2 inches in
length. They all come near to the 4. diandrum, but the leaves are
smoother, almost shining, the racemes very much shorter, and more
panieulate, the bracts acuminate and narrower, and the male flowers
appear to be constantly triandrous, with a deeply 3-lobed calyx. - :

4. Antidesma paniculatum, Roxb.—Tul. 1. c. p. 228: pedem

West Point. A shrub. !

UnTICEA et dec

1. Pouzolsia Aispida, J. J. Benn. Pl. Jav. Rar. p. 66. i anm.
—Hyrtanandra Javanica, Miq. Pl. Jungh. p. 25.? S

Hongkong. There is only a small male specimen, which I am unable |
to determine accurately. Miquel, in establishing his genus Hyrtanan- :

VOL. VI. L

*

74 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

dra, does not appear to have been aware of Bennett's account of the

genus Pouzolsia, where the same group is considered as a section of

Pouzolsia, under Hamilton's name of Memorialis. Tt is characterized

by the winged fruit, whilst Miquel’s is founded on the peculiar shape

of the male flowers. It does not appear certain however that the two
characters coincide in all the species, and the whole genus is too natural

a one to be divided.

2. Behmeria nivea, Gaud.— Hook. in Kew Journ. Bot. vol. iii.

p. 315. t. 8.

_ Common in ravines. In most Chinese as well as cultivated speci-

mens, the leaves are seldom so distinctly cordate as in Zollinger's Ja-

vanese specimens, although very differently shaped from those of B.

Puya.

3. Morocarpus? microcephalus, sp. n.; dioica, foliis ovato-lanceolatis
acuminatis serratis trinerviis hirtis concoloribus v. novellis subtus
albis, florum masculorum glomerulis sessilibus trimeris, foemineorum
capitulis brevissime pedicellatis.— Zuzez ? ramulis numerosis subher-
baceis appresse puberulis. Stipule anguste lanceolate, subulato-
acutatz, rufo-membranaceze, 2-3 lin. longee, basi intra petiolum bre-
vissime connate, caduce. Folia alterna, petiolata, 2—3 poll. longa,
6-12 lin. lata, grosse serrata, basi rotundata, supra scabro-puberula
v. mox glabrata, subtus ad venas piloso-hirta, inter venas prima
juventute plus minus tenuiter albo-lanata, lana tamen in folio adulto
sæpissime evanida. lores tam masculi quam foeminei secus ramos
post folia delapsa glomerati. Glomeruli masculi sessiles 2—3 lin. dia-
metro, 10-20-flori, bracteis 2 stipulzeformibus lineari-subulatis suf-
fulti. Flores intra bracteolas parvas sessiles, ante explicationem glo-
bosi, membranacei, apice pilis paucis hirsuti. Perigonii foliola con-

cava. Stamina tria, exserta, in alabastro inflexa, antheris latis bilo-
cularibus. Ovarii rudimentum lineari-conicum, villosum. Capitula
J'eminea in quoque glomerulo 3-5, brevissime pedicellata, glomerulo
ipso sessili v. breviter pedunculato. Capitula singula vix lineam
diametro, 6—10-flora, bracteis ovatis flore brevioribus involucrata.
Receptaculum non carnosum. Flores intra bracteolas sessiles, minimi.
Perigonium ovario arcte adnatum, apice minute tridentatum. Stigma
sessile, pilis longis penicillatum.
Ravines of Victoria Peak, stinging when touched. These specimens

are males only, but T have what appears to be precisely the same

*

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 16

species from Wallich's Nepaul collection, n. 9091 of his catalogue, both
males and females, which have enabled me.to complete the description.
It agrees with Zuccarini’s character of Morocarpus in the constantly tri-
merous male flowers, and in the structure of the females and of their
stigmate, but the anther-cells do not appear to be distinctly enough
divided to call the anther four-celled, and I have not seen the fruit to
ascertain whether it becomes fleshy. Miquel’s Zeucoenide, from his cha-
racter, agrees with Morocarpus in the stigmate and inflorescence, and
in the apparent absence of perigon in the females; it has likewise some
triandrous species. He considers however the bracts at the base of
the ovary as representing the female perigon, whilst to me it appears,
at least in our species, that the minute teeth at the summit indicate its.
adherence to the ovary. Miquel also describes the stipules as axillary -
and bipartite ; but that is only another mode of expressing the connec-
tion of the two stipules at the base within the petioles.

4. A shrubby or arborescent Urticacea, from the Happy Valley
woods, perfectly glabrous, with shining, coriaceous, alternate leaves, —
and corymbose, 5-merous male flowers; but, tor want of the female, I
am unable to determine the genus.

5. Sponia argentea, Planch. in Aun. Sc. Nat. Par. Ser. 3. vol. x. p. 323.

Hongkong.

- 6. Morus alba, Linn.

Cultivated in Hongkong. s

7. Ficus (Urostigma) nitida, Thunb.— Urostigma nitidum, Mig. in
Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. vi. p. 582. ` :

A common Chinese tree-fig, found also in Hongkong by Major
Champion, although no specimen was gathered. The genera established -
by Miquel appear to form very good sections, but are scarcely founded -
upon characters of sufficient importance, or are sufficiently natural, to
justify the breaking up so very natural and distinct a genus as Ficus.

- 8. Ficus (Urostigma) angustifolia, Roxb.— Urostigma nervosum, Miq.
in Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. vi. p. 585.

A shrub in the Happy Valley woods, agreeing ymmo T
specimens.

9. Ficus (Plagiostigma) pyriformis, Hook. et Arn.—Miq. in Lond.
Journ. Bot. vol. vii. p. 437.

A shrub, always found in the beds of watercourses, where it is com-

mon, and in fruit at the time when Azalea Indica blows. s

76 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

10. Ficus (Sycidium ?) variolosa, Lindl ie Bene in Lond. Journ.
Bot. vol. i. p. 492.

Common in ravines. The leaves vary in jangih and pee they
are usually of the size and with the venation of those of F. pyriformis,
but the point is very short, broad and blunt. The peduncles are from
1 to 3 lines long, with three bracts at the apex. The receptacles Į
formerly described were very young; those on Captain Champion’s
specimens appear to be full grown, they are 4 or 5 lines in diameter,
nearly globose, slightly umbonate, with a few scales at the mouth.
The flowers are tribracteolate, the males few in number, near the mouth,
- stipitate and diandrous, the females numerous, sessile or stipitate, with
a unilateral style, and an obliquely truncate or emarginate stigmate,
nearly as in the section Plagiostigma. The perigons are 3-phyllous,
and brown as well as the bracts.

9. Ficus (Sycidium ?) impressa, Champ., sp. n. ; fruticosa (prostrata ?)
ramosissima glabra, foliis (parvis) petiolatis ellipticis oblongisve
obtusis integerrimis basi rotundatis penninerviis reticulato-veno-
-sissimis areolis subtus impresso-punctatis, receptaculis pedunculatis
tribracteatis parvis globosis.—Ramuli fructiferi flexuosi, breves.
Folia 14 v.raro 2 poll. longa, 6-8 lin. lata, tenuiter coriacea, basi
breviter 3—5-nervia, czeterum penninervia, nervis majoribus a costa
divergentibus utrinque 6-8 intra marginem arcuato-confluentibus,
rete venularum utrinque conspicua, areolis subtus sub lente eleganter
punctis lineolisve curvulis impressis. Pedunculi subgemini, 1-2 lin.
longi. Receptacula 3 lin. diametro, pilis minutis nonnisi sub lente
conspicuis strigillosa. Bracteole et perigonia fusca. Flores mas-
culi sub ore plurimi, diandri, tripartiti ; feminei numerosi, 3—4-partiti.
Stylus lateralis, brevis, stigmate unilateraliter dilatato. Adest etiam
ramulus sterilis repens? tenuis hirtellus, foliis iis ramorum fertilium
similibus nisi brevioribus obtusioribus et basi inzequaliter cordatis.
. Hongkong. The leaves are in size and shape not unlike those of
F. antithetophylla, as figured i in the London Journal of Botany, vol. vii.
t. 5 B., but different in colour and surface, and the receptacles are not
half the size. This and the preceding species have the globose recep-
. tacles of the section Sycidium, but the stigmate is rather that of Pla-
. giostigma..
. 10. Ficus (Leiosycea) CAampioni, Benth., sp. n.; glaberrima, foliis pe-
. . tiolatis ellipticis v. oblongis obtuse acuminatis basi angustatis inte-

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 11

gerrimis coriaceis nitidis pallidis penninerviis reticulatis, receptaculis
subgeminis pedunculatis globosis, pedicellis petiolum sequantibus
sub apice bracteatis, floribus foemineis ebracteatis, perigonio integro
ovarium includente ore denticulato, stylo longo bicruri—Arbor un- -
dique glaberrima, ramulis teretibus. Stipule vix linea longiores.
Folia iis F. vasculose simillima, nisi petiolo rigidiore subdilatato ;
lamina 2-3 poll. longa, 1-14 poll. lata, costa prominula venisque al-
bidis, his anastomosantibus, primariis validioribus subparallelis in-
tra marginem arcuato-confluentibus. Pedunculi axillares, semipolli-
cares, tenues, bracteis a receptaculo lineam distantes. Receptacula
fere 5 lin. diametro, exacte globosa v. obscure pyriformia, in sicco
pallida et subflavicantia, intus sub ore squamis fuscis reflexis in-
structa. lores masculi sub ore perpauci, unicum examinavi: hic

breviter pedicellatus erat, bracteolis 2 in medio pedicello florem in- - 7

cludentibus. Perigonium tripartitum, »fusco-membranaceum, Sta-

mina 2, subsessilia. Flores fæminei numerosissimi, pedicellati et

subsessiles, ebracteati. Perigonium membranaceum, fuscum, subve-
siculosum, ovarium arcte includens, ore obliquo minute dentato.

Stylus lateralis, e perigonio longe exsertus, filiformis, seepissime (an

semper ?) longe sed inzequaliter bicruris.

Woods of the Happy Valley. It so much resembles in appearance
the F. vaseulosa, Wall. (from Penang and Singapore) that I have some
hesitation in considering it as distinet; yet the female perigon is very
different, and such as has only been described in some species of Covel-
lia. In my specimens of the true F. vasculosa I find it deeply divided
into four or five lobes, as described by Miquel. The Singapore plant
has also the petioles rather longer and more slender, and the recepta-
cles smaller. But it remains to be ascertained how far these ener
ences, even those in the flowers, are constant.

ll. Ficus (Eriosycea) Aibiscifolia, Champ., sp. n.; foliis aliis integris.
oblique cordiformibus, aliis palmatis lobis 3-5 longe lanceolatis den- -
tatis, supra sparse subtus ad venas caule petiolisque fulvo-setosis, re- -
ceptaculis globosis sessilibus setosis.— Zrufez, ramulis teretibus. cras- -
siusculis. Folia dum integra, valde obliqua, fere F. repentis; que -
divisa sunt pleraque ea Hidisct cujusdam v. Af&elmoschi simulant, lobis
palmatis elongatis intermedio 4—5 poll. longo, semipollicem lato, la- -
teralibus brevioribus: omnia utrinque viridia, subtus pallidiora, nee
tomentosa. Petioli 6-10 lin. longi, dense setosi. Stipule parve, -
‘novella inter setas fere reconditæ, mox deciduæ. Receptacula quam —

78 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO `

in F. Rorburghii minora, globosa nec urceolata, minus dense et ri-
gidius setosa. Flores masculi sub ore plurimi, plerique breviter sti-
pitati, perigonio fusco 3—4-partito. Stamen ssepius solitare, filamen-
to brevi, anthera oblonga; adest interdum alterum minus v. sub-
squale. Flores fæminei numerosi, sessiles v. stipitati, perigonio fusco
4—5-phyllo, phyllis exterioribus nonnunquam basi connatis. Stylus
lateralis brevis, apice truncatus, primum erectus, demum horizon-
taliter patens. Nec villi nec bractez intra receptaculum adsunt, nisi
pro bracteis haberes squamas tripartitas hine inde inter flores sitas,
qui mihi potius flores abortivos videntur.

Common in ravines. The entire and divided leaves are, as in all
allied species, sometimes on the same branch, sometimes on different
individuals. The species is near F. Roxburghii on the one hand, and
F. hirta on the other, but in many points very distinct from both.

12. Ficus (Eriosycea) Aa, Vahl.—Miq. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vol.
vii. p. 456.

Hongkong.

There are likewise specimens of two species, apparently of Ficus, and
both very different from any of the foregoing, but not being in fruc-
tification I am unable to determine them.

(To be continued.)

Report of a JounszY or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd February, 1849 ;
éy J. S. Roz, Esq., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 48.)

Messrs. Ridley and Gregory rejoined us soon afterwards, having
traced the salt lakes and their connecting channels downwards, to the
one I had passed near, and found the country about them scrubby and
. worthless. Ascending Mount Madden, we found it a mass of solid

red granite half a mile in length, and from its summit caught a view
of East Mount Barren, bearing N. 172? 15’ E., nearly 50 miles distant,
and again saw an intermediate range, apparently granite, which we had

-~ first observed in the morning. Its summit was now 15 miles distant
in the S.E., and received the name of Mount Short, in honour of the

excellent Bishop of South and Western Australia, who was expected at

that time to be making his first pastoral visit to Perth. The country

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 79

around our station did not present a very encouraging appearance, the
principal objects visible being sand-plains and thickets. The latitude
of our camp was 33? 18' 14" S. On the 30th we pushed on to the
N.E. 12 miles, over sand-plains and through much close thicket, in-
cluding the stubborn burnt sticks of last year, 6 to 8 feet high, which
much impeded our progress, and tore our clothes and packs. After
. searching many clumps of trees in vain, we at length found good rain-
water and excellent grass among some burnt thicket, and encamped for
the night.

Towards sunset of next day, after a fatiguing march of 23 miles
through much thick country, partially wooded, we were again greatly
favoured by coming most opportunely to a small shallow lake, the
water in which, although highly coloured by the clay bed, was quite
fresh; a little grass being scattered along the margin, we encamped
for the night; the latitude by two stars 32° 55' 20" S. On quitting
this lake, we entered immediately on a low level bed connected with it
and trending to the eastward, about 600 yards in width, its well-de-
fined banks being evidently waterworn, and flanked by thickets and
dense shrubs. Our hopes of a river were however disappointed, for
at the end of a mile the unimportance of this channel was evident, and —
we quitted it, while it took a S.E. and S. direction towards some
extensive salt lakes, which we afterwards saw within twenty miles of —
the spot. Red and white sandstone cliffs, 15 feet in height, were here _
seen and examined, but no dip or inclination could be perceived in
them, nor did they again appear as we proceeded N.E. Our distance
at this time of eighty miles from the sea-coast, with a very intricate —
country intervening, would have rendered coal itself of little value, had
that mineral appeared. On extricating ourselves from the thick
country in this neighbourhood, and rising the open sand-plains beyond, —
we obtained the first glimpse of a lofty, bare, granite peak, 45 miles to -
the eastward, appearing over the intervening serubby, wooded land,
like the top of a huge sugar-loaf. A range of wooded hills of less ele-
vation was also seen 25 miles in the N.E., and to them we first bent
our way, as lying nearer our intended route; but the further we ad-
vanced, the worse became the country: the scrubs and thickets were -
more dense, the sandy soil more stony, appearances of grass less pro- -
mising, and, sion gins re St a
better for our horses than coarse rushes and scrub, without water. — :

80 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

Early the next day, November 2nd, we proceeded on our N.E. course,
and in eight miles came upon an extensive series of salt lakes and
broad shallow channels, at least 22 miles in width, studded with many
low rushy islands, and winding towards the hills we had seen the day
before in the N.E. On one of these islands I halted our hungry
horses for half an hour, to give them the benefit of some grass there,
which, although dry, was very acceptable, and we plied our spade iu
vain in the most likely places around for fresh water; all however was
salt,—the whole country for several miles seemed one extensive salt
basin, or low depressed plain, and to afford no chance of our finding in
it the article we stood so much in need of. As the day advanced I
quitted this salt region, and on keeping more easterly came on good
grass in several situations, but could not halt upon it for want of
water; our last chance was the range of hills for which we had been
steering: one of these we accordingly ascended, passed several channels
quite dry, and were greatly disappointed, on reaching the summit, after
sunset, to find it a collection of loose quartz and whinstone, instead of
granite sheets retaining water. Forcing our way at once towards a
deep valley beyond, the darkness and almost impracticable thicket soon
obliged us to halt, and we tied our horses up short in a small clear
space, without a blade or drop of any kind to give them; we were our-
selves much better off, having a pint of water each, the last remains of
our scanty stock. Markab on the meridian showed the latitude of this
bivouac to be 32° 37’ 11" S., or about 90 miles from the nearest part
of the coast to the southward. Being now fairly within the Range, we
could perceive it consisted of a succession of steep narrow ridges, of
unequal elevation, covered densely with thickets and small timber, and
yielding no grass. The soil was coloured a deep red by the ironstone
.. && the surface, but the principal rock in view was whinstone, with frag-
. ments of quartz. This description seemed to apply to the whole of the
. Range, which apparently extended N.W. and S.E. about 6 miles, with
. & width of 3 or 4; but our view was very much confined by the thick-
. mess of the wood, and I had to regret being unable to catch even a
slight glance at the country we had passed over, as the setting sun was

gleaming like burnished gold upon some open waters to the westward
of our recent route, and would probably have pointed out an extensive
continuation of the salt-lakes we had encountered during the day. In
remembrance of an excellent officer, under whom I had formerly served

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 81

in the navy, I named this the Bremer Range, and its highest hill
Mount Gordon.

Our horses having now been two days without water, and eating but
sparingly for want of it, I became anxious to obtain a supply for them,
and fortunately succeeded next morning, by digging in a small water-
course which we had followed down to the eastward. Here their pressing
thirst was in a slight degree alleviated by half a bucket apiece of a red
liquid, which was nevertheless fresh; and before the heat of the day
came on we fortunately found an abundant supply of good water, in
small pools in the midst of thickets and scrub, where little expected.
The rush of the poor horses to it was so sudden and uncontrollable,
that they were all in the midst of the pool in an instant, and two of
them carrying heavy loads were with difficulty unloaded and got out
again. By this time we had passed to the south side of the Range,
and found a continuation of the fresh pools in a watercourse which —
descended from its S.E. slopes; there was however a total absence of |
grass at this time, although there was reason to believe some good
grass had covered the hill-sides previous to the last fires, which had
swept all minor vegetation away, and left standing only that close
thicket and scrub which we heartily wished had shared the same fate.

Food for our half-famished horses being now the first consideration,
and there appearing little prospect of obtaining it on a more northerly
route, or of procuring fresh water in the great salt valley to the south, -
I steered E.S.E., across tolerably open sand-plains, towards the high
granite peak we had seen on the lst, which was 28 miles distant in
the S.E. Anxiously did we watch the progress we made towards the
desired haven, not doubting its being able to afford us the means of
giving the party a couple of days' rest; for all the horses, and two in
particular, were sadly weak. All our anxiety and exertions however —
could not accomplish our wishes: the famished and exhausted animals,
after a fatiguing journey of nearly twenty-four miles, to sunset, were
unable to proceed any further up a continued ascent, and we were com-
pelled once more to halt them for the night amidst coarse rushes and
scrub, and without any water, their existence appearing to depend on —
our finding both water and grass on the morrow. — ie

Algeiub, on the meridian, gave the latitude 32° 59' 43" S., and our -
distance from the granite-peak was still three long up-hill miles. —

Commencing their ascent early next morning, the hill itself was —

VOL, VI. at

82 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

eventually reached, but all search for the means of keeping our cattle
alive was for a time fruitless. Both grass and water were however
found on the northern side, and there the party were encamped in the
afternoon. I found it absolutely necessary to remain here a few days
for the recovery of the horses, several of whom were so weak, wearied,
and half-starved, as to be scarcely able to stagger along with their
loads, and could scarcely be got on their legs again after falling. This
respite also enabled us to examine and dry the provisions and stores,
repair saddlery and clothes, and put in order our saddle-bags, which
the recent thickets had almost reduced to shreds. A short rest was
also very acceptable to the whole party. This welcome retreat being
at the most elevated and prominent mass of land we had hitherto dis-
covered on our journey, I had the honour to name the whole the Fitz-
Gerald Peaks, the highest being distinguished as Peak Charles, and
another, of proportionate elevation, as Peak Eleanora. The former is
about 1000 feet above the surrrounding plains, and has some excellent
- grass on its eastern base. The view from this peak, although very ex-
tensive, was by no means cheering: in every direction lay spread out
one vast sea of dark scrub and thicket, intersected by broad belts of
salt-lakes and samphire-marshes, to the visible extent of thirty miles,
and doubtless more, winding through a country apparently almost
level; the only exceptions being the wooded range we had last quitted,
thirty-five miles to the N.W., and another range of similar appearance,
somewhat further off, in the N.E. quarter. To the latter I felt most
desirous of proceeding next; but when I contemplated its apparent cha-
racter through a telescope, and glanced over the intermediate country,
a recollection that my horses had been five days without grass before
_ they reached Peak Charles, forbade me to compromise their safety, and
thereby to endanger the results of the expedition by making the at-
tempt. Having therefore sufficiently recruited them all, with only one
exception, and refitted our shattered equipments, we launched out once
more, on the morning of the 9th of November, into the frowning sea
of serub to the eastward, and soon came, as expected, upon country
which had not belied its ‘appearance.

It may be sufficient merely to add that, after struggling with this
formidable country for three days, and by forced marches accomplish-
ing a distance of fifty miles east from Peak Charles, the expedition be-
came almost entangled in a very extensive series of salt lakes and

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 88

marshes, one false move amongst which would have proved its entire
destruction. We had however fortunately come upon a patch of good
grass for the horses in the midst of this universal waste, but they were
sadly distressed for water, which had only once been met with since
leaving Peak Charles. At this critical juncture it was found impossi-
ble to continue the exploration further eastward, until they could be
recruited. For this purpose therefore I began next day to work my
way to the south, in hopes of speedily emerging from the extensive
salt country in which we had hitherto encountered so many obstacles.
No improvement however took place for the next twelve miles and a
half, at the end of which we looked out upon a country of much less
elevation to the southward, and with great thankfulness weleomed the
sight of a considerable elevation to the south-east, which formed the
only break in the uniformly level horizon. It is scarcely necessary to
say that we instinctively turned immediately towards this promising
relief; but as I looked across the intervening distance of apparently
thirty miles, and at the same time contemplated the distress and. ex-
haustion of our cattle, I confess the result appeared doubtful, and I
turned over in my mind what articles could best be left behind. We
had not proceeded on our south-east course more than eight miles, be-
fore the horse I had most cause to fear for knocked completely up,
and was unable to move another step: as he had only previously car-
ried an empty saddle, it was speedily removed to another, and to our
great regret poor “ Jack" was abandoned for the present, in the hope
we might yet find both water and grass within reasonable distance,
and be able to recover him. Three miles furthér on, another of my
best horses (Ney) also gave in, completely beat; and the rest were in a
most pitiable condition, for we had been totally unable to restrain them —
from rushing into the salt lakes as we passed near them, and from
drinking part of their contents before discovering their briny quality.
To avoid these lakes was impossible: the country being so thick, they -
were not seen until a few yards distant. As the sun was now near the
horizon, and I was extremely unwilling to lose this second horse with- -
out some further effort for his recovery, the party were encamped on -
the spot, after a most trying day's journey of more than twenty-three
miles, but once more without either grass or water. A kind Provi-
dence however, which had already relieved us in many a difficulty, -
again interposed in our behalf, and a light rain which fell for two hours |

84 ; JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

during the early part of the night, enabled us to collect with our tin
plates, from the surrounding bushes, sufficient water to give the two
most suffering horses a gallon and a half each, and the remainder a
quart apiece. This proved a truly welcome and seasonable taste, after
having been three days and nights without a drop of anything but
brine. We were also enabled to replenish our own small stock in keg
and teakettle, the notes of the latter sounding on such occasions far
more melodious in our ears than those of the most celebrated can-
tatrice framed out of softer materials. This day we passed over, in
latitude 33? 8' S., longitude 121° 52’ E., the dry beds of several salt
lakes, of the white and dark red sandstones belonging to the coal for-
mation. They were very mottled, and confusedly mixed, and had nu-
merous veins of very hard ironstone running through them, similar in
appearance to sandstones which we afterwards saw in close connection
with coal and shales.
Striking our light dungaree tents at three o'clock next morning
— (November 13th), we got away early on our south-eastern route, the
horses appearing somewhat revived; but their frequent falling and
- stumbling betrayed their extreme weakness, and at the end of four
miles Ney was again left behind, from utter inability to proceed. With
many regrets he was here abandoned and we pushed on, the day becom-
ing very warm and oppressive. Every obstacle was however finally over-
come, and at three o'clock I had the satisfaction to encamp the party
once more in a desirable spot, at the east end of the hill for which we
had been steering, and to which I gave the name of Mount Ridley,
after one of my present companions, to whom I felt greatly indebted
for his prompt and valuable aid on all occasions which required it.
Indeed the whole party were actuated by the best spirit, and I need

. mot say it was fully taxed in meeting all their privations and difficulties,

Next day Messrs. Ridley and Gregory, with the native Bob, brought -
Ney once more into camp, but in such an exhausted condition as to
render another day's halt necessary for his partial recovery. I re-
gretted this the more, as the grass around Mount Ridley was scanty
and poor, and I hoped to obtain it of much better quality at some
other hills of similar character which appeared at the distance of
twenty-five to forty miles further eastward. From the summit of the
. mount, which is a huge mass, of bare granite a quarter of a mile in
.. length and about 700 feet above the surrounding plains, several hills

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 85

of similar description were visible to the southward and eastward, but
in every other direction was spread out one illimitable sea of flowering
scrub and thicket, with extensive chains of salt and samphire flats and
lakes, too numerous to particularize, and bounded by a distant horizon
as unbroken as that of the sea itself.

Much of our time was now taken up in attending to the horses'
backs and sides, which were sadly galled by their saddles being mostly
those of ponies, and consequently too small. The leather and canvas -
of their appointments were also bad, and required constant repairs,
which were rapidly consuming the small quantity of materials we had
taken with us for the purpose.

Having by the evening of the 15th completed all pressing repairs,
and weeded our baggage of every article that could possibly be dis-
pensed with, we again pushed forward to the eastward early next -
morning, Ney with only an empty saddle. His powers of endurance
had however been over-estimated, for at the end of fifteen miles they
again failed, and he could move no further. Giving him a portion of
the water we carried, Messrs. Ridley and Gregory's offer to remain
and bring him on after us was accepted, and I made for the nearest
granite hill, which was then nine miles distant to the S.E., rising like
all the others out of extensive level flats of salt lakes and thickets.
With a star for our guide, we groped our way after dark through the
thick brushwood, and finally reached the hill at nine o’clock, turning the
tired horses loose to find the best feed they could. Water we had al-
ready passed through, in thick tea-tree swamps nearly up to their knees ;
and next morning an excellent spring-well was discovered at the east-
ern foot of the hill, amongst luxuriant grasses of the best quality.
Thither we immediately removed, from the rocky unsheltered bivouac-
we had been compelled to take up for the previous night; and soon -
afterwards the absentees returned, having been unable to bring on Ney
nearer than four miles. At noon the attempt was renewed, aided by
our two water-kegs and a bag of good grass; but when night closed in-
the poor animal was still a quarter of a mile from the camp, utterly - t
unable to move another step, and it was not until next morning that
he could be brought in. As both grass and water were abundant at this e
limited spot, I determined on leaving him here to have a chance of re- ——
covering from his exhaustion, and of being called for again on our
return homewards by a more southerly route. I could scarcely bring | ;

86 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

myself to regret the delay of a day thus caused, as the horses were
greatly benefited by being in such good quarters. Numerous repairs
were again made to our torn saddle-bags, and I was afforded an oppor-
tunity of obtaining an extensive round of angles to a numerous assem-
blage of distant granite hills which covered the horizon between E. and
S.W. The most interesting of these to us was the Russell Range,
which now for the first time came in sight fifty miles to the eastward,
in lofty and rugged outline, cheering us with a far-off prospect of the
eastern limit of the country I had been instructed to examine. Al-
though so near however, there was no mistaking the nature of the in-
tervening country, which was desolate and cheerless in the extreme,
presenting no more friendly granite hills at which we could hope to
keep our horses alive, and even the misty range itself causing many a
doubt in my mind as to the nature of so huge a mass of rock, rising
abruptly out of a sea of scrub. The whole northern horizon between
this range and Mount Ridley was unbroken by a single hill, to the dis-
tance of thirty to forty miles, and was covered with salt lakes and
dense scrub on a gradual northerly ascent. Here, on the evening of
the 17th, we viewed with peculiar interest from our elevated position
of 400 feet above the surrounding plains, a Jengthened exhibition of
the mysterious southern lights, which, for upwards of an hour, darted
or flashed upwards in rapid succession to the height of 20° above the
horizon, through a reddish glare, which resembled the loom of an ex-
tensive distant conflagration, but was in all probability due to the ex-
treme haziness of the atmosphere.

The huge mass of granite, 200 feet above our camp, which had thus
so opportunely afforded a refuge to our favourite horse, having been
named after him Mount Ney, we suspended his saddle on a tree, and
once more started eastward into the formidable country before us, re-
lying on a continuance of that aid and protection which had hitherto
been so conspicuously extended towards us. Nor had we overrated
the nature of the obstacles which now opposed our progress. At first
we were flattered into hope by some relaxation in the density of the
scrub; but as we persevered on our way towards a small granite hill,
where I hoped to obtain grass and water, numerous salt lakes again
obtruded their unwelcome presence, bound and joined together by
thickets so close and densely matted together as frequently to call our
axes into requisition before the horses could move on. This belt of

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 81

salt and scrub, five or six miles wide, which oceupied the lowest part
of a valley trending to E. by S. being passed, and a passage forced
through the close thickets which covered the opposite ascent, our poor
horses could do no more, and were gladly conducted at the end of
fifteen miles and a half to their promised rest and feed. Here however
not a blade of grass rewarded our minutest search, and only a few pints
of water were lodged in holes in therock. Some flags and coarse rushes
occupied the place of better feed; and among them the horses were
tethered to do their best, water being fortunately found by digging
near the N.E. foot of the granite rock.

Quitting this inhospitable retreat as early as possible next morning
(19th November), we again steered east through thicket and scrub,
growing in light soil; and at the end of six and a half miles came
suddenly upon a small low fire which had just been abandoned by some
natives. The embers were under my feet before they were discovered,
and the country was so thick I did not immediately perceive near them
several long bark baskets, tied up at the extremities, and filled with
honey-flowers, which the natives had been employed in collecting. Their
retreat was so hasty they had even left behind two carved and well-
greased ‘‘wommeras,” used in discharging their spears; nor: could
they be induced, by the loud calls and invitations of our native, to re-
turn and give us an interview. We therefore placed some biscuit in
their baskets, left everything as we found it, and proceeded on our
way; Bob being divided in opinion that they would either have taken
us for devils and would never venture near the spot again, or that they
were concealed at the time within a very few yards of it. We had on
several occasions reason to suppose that the natives were aware of our —
vicinity as we passed through the country, and were even watching our -
movements; but we saw none of them at this time, nor could we _
sueceed on other occasions in effecting any interview, although we -
purposely passed over tracts of country in which their fires were burn-
ing. On such occasions we saw feet-marks on the sand of men, women,
- and children, though not of numerous tribes, and observed their signal
smokes rise suddenly up within a mile and a half of us soon after we
had passed.

Although the country still continued to be densely thicketed, it lost
its general flat character, and gave us hopes of a change; for fresh
water had lodged in no less than three places met with this day, showing

88 A CYCADACEOUS PLANT FROM PORT NATAL.

the more clayey nature of the soil, —the salt lakes seemed to have been `

left behind, and a gradual rise was perceptible in the undulations,
which on their ridges had an outcrop of granite. A change for the
worse appeared however in the scrubs, which became even more close
than before, and contained considerable quantities of a broad-leaved
stubborn Zucalyptus, that would not readily yield a passage. At sun-
set we encamped once more without grass or water, but our hungry
horses consumed the bark off every stem and the top of every bush
within their reach, some of them even eating the dry sticks under

their feet.
: (To be continued.)

Observations on a remarkable CYc&DACEOUS PLANT from Port Natal ;
by Mr. Jonn Surry, F.L.S., Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew.

Amongst a very interesting collection of living plants recently brought
by Captain Garden from Natal, and presented to the Royal Gardens,
are two stems of the remarkable plant described by Mr. Moore, at page
228 of the last volume of this Journal, under the provisional name of
Stangeria paradoxa; so called in honour of * its enterprising discoverer,”
Dr. Stanger, who introduced a living plant of it to the Botanic Garden at
Chelsea, and afforded Mr. Moore the opportunity of describing it. This
plant early attracted my notice, principally on account of its fern-like
appearance, its pinnate frond, and simple forked venation diverging
from a true midrib, and bearing much resemblance to some species of
Lomaria or Danea ; but its solid napiform stem, from the apex of which
the frond was produced, with some other peculiarities of structure, gave
. sufficient proof that it did not belong to the Filices. But although its
venation is totally different from the longitudinal nearly parallel venation
that characterizes Cycadacee, yet I became convinced that it belonged
to that Order. On making further inquiry respecting this plant, I was
favoured by Dr. Balfour of Edinburgh with the examination of a spe-
cimen from Natal, labelled * Lomaria eriopus, Kuz. in Linnza, vol. xii.
p.152. Fructificationem detexi anno 1849, JF. Gueinzius, Port N:
This specimen consisted of a male cone, like that of a small Put
about five inches long and one broad; unfortunately it was not accom-
panied by any specimen of what Gueinzius would call the sterile frond

*

s

A CYCADACEOUS PLANT FROM PORT NATAL. 89

. of Lomaria eriopus. It however appeared to me just such a cone as

might, from analogy, be expected to be produced by a plant like that

at Chelsea. In order to ascertain whether the specimens of fronds =
upon which Kunze founded his Lomaria eriopus, and of which, accord- ~~~ _
ing to Gueinzius, the cone above described was the fructification, were
the same as the Chelsea plant, I procured through the kindness of Mr.
Moore a pinna, and forwarded it to Dr. Reichenbach of Leipzig, with a
request that he would compare it with Kunze’s specimens of Lomaria
. eriopus. In reply he informs me that they are identical, and further
that Kunze's specimens have a Cycadeous structure.

From the above it appears that Mr. Moore is in error in giving the
eredit of the discovery of this plant to Dr. Stanger, he being only the
introducer of it to this country, it having been detected many years
ago by the Collector Gueinzius, and also by Drége, both of whom
transmitted specimens of the fronds to Kunze, who from their appear-
ance considered them as a species of Lomaria. The first referred them
to Lomaria coriacea of Schrader*; but he afterwards corrects his pre-
vious statement}, and says that his specimens differ from Z. coriacea in
several points, especially in the stipes being woolly, and he accordingly
designates it as a new species, under the name of Lomaria eriopus (not
lagopus, as quoted by Mr. Moore). Tt is rather surprising that Kunze
should have referred his specimens to Zomaria, as the circumstance of
the stipes being woolly is quite sufficient to show that ey had nothing |
to do with that genus.

Since I ascertained the above partieulars, another male, and some -
fragments of a supposed female cone, have been exhibited at a meeting —
of the Linnean Society, and also several small plants which, with those
brought by Capt. Garden, have afforded me a few more particulars,
chiefly as regards its mode of vernation. In Cycadacez the vernation,
as hitherto characterized, is straight; in Zamia and its allies the pinnae
are flat, and oppositely folded against each other; in Cycas the pinnz |
are circinate. Stangeria differs from the general character of the Order,
and also in the secondary character of the genus, in its fronds (Um
inflexed in vernation ; the upper portion of the frond, bearing the nascent —
pinnz, being abruptly bent against the stipes, and on being developed —
from the axis of growth, the stipes gradually lengthens, and the upper
inflexed part bearing the young pinne becomes straight. As in Zamia, -

* Linnea, vol. x. p. 506. + Linnea, vol. xiii, p. T .. V

VOL. VI. d

*

90 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

the pinnz face each other, but instead of being flat, as in Zamia, each
pinna is rolled up longitudinally; but their mode of unfolding I have
yet to ascertain. It will thus be seen that Stangeria differs from all
known Cycads by its inflexed and involute vernation, and in the veins
of the pinnz rising from a true midrib, the latter rendering untenable
the character usually relied upon for distinguishing fossil Zi/ices from
fossil Cycads. In order to perfect the description of this plant, it will
be requisite to watch the way in which the pinnæ unfold, and also to -
be furnished with a perfect female cone. To obtain the latter, we
solicit the assistance of our correspondents at Natal. :

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Pine-Leaf Fibre of Silesia and the Bahamas.

At p. 277 of our last volume will be found an account of a mode
of extracting a useful fibre from the leaves of the common or ** Scotch ”
Pine (Pinus sylvestris) in Silesia. A more full description, which we sub-
join, of the manufacture in Silesia, appeared in the ‘ Nassau Guardian,’
Bahamas, and seems to have led to the preparation of a similar fibre
from another kind of Pine in the islands just mentioned. The account
is as follows :—

* Near Breslau, in Silesia, is a domain called the * Prairie of Hum-
boldt:' there exist two establishments, as remarkable for their produce
as for their united services to mankind. One is a manufactory which
converts Pine-leaves into a sort of a cotton or wool; the other offers to
. invalids, as curative baths, the waters used in the manufacture of that
vegetable wool. Both have been erected by M. de Pannewitz, inventor
of a chemical process by means of which it is possible to extract from
the long and slender leaves of the Pine a very filaceous substance, which
he has named wood- (or Pine-) wool. It can be curled, felted, and
woven. ;

** All the acicular leaves of the Pines, and of the Conifere in general,
are composed of fibrille, extremely fine and tough, surrounded and
held together by a resinous substance, under the form of a thin pellicle.
When by decoction, and the use of certain chemical agents, the resinous -

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 91

substance is dissolved, it is easy to separate the fibres, to wash them
and free them from all foreign substances. According to the mode of
preparation employed, the woolly (or fibrous) substance acquires a
quality more or less fine, or remains in its coarse state; in the first
instance it is used as wadding, in the second to stuff mattrasses. If
this Pine has been preferred to other of our Pines, it is on account of
the length of its leaves. It can be stripped of its foliage when quite
young, without any injury; the operation takes place when it is still
green. A man can gather 200lbs. of leaves a day.

* [t was first advantageously substituted for cotton and wool in the
manufacture of blankets. The hospital of Vienna bought 500, and
after a trial of several years, has adopted them entirely. It has been
remarked, among other advantages, tha£ no kind of insects would lodge
in the beds, and the aromatie odour was found agreeable and beneficial.
These blankets have since been adopted by the Penitentiary of Vienna,
the Charity Hospital, and the barracks of Breslau.

“Its cost is only one-third of that of horsehair; and the most ex-
perienced upholsterer, when the wool is employed in furniture, could
not tell the one from the other. It can be spun and woven, and resem-
bles the thread of hemp for strength, and it may be made into rugs and
horse-blankets.

* In the preparation of this wool, an ethereal oil of a pleasant odour
is produced. This oil is at first green: exposed to the rays of the sun,
it assumes an orange-yellow tint; replaced in the shade, it resumes its
former green colour; rectified, it becomes colourless. It differs from
the essence of turpentine extracted from the same tree. It has been —
found efficient in rheumatism and gout, also as an anthelmintic in cu-
taneous diseases. Distilled, it is used in the preparation of lac of the
finest kind. It burns in lamps like olive oil, and dissolves caoutchouc
completely in a short time. Perfumers in Paris use it in large quan-
tities. ; oe Le
* [t is the liquid left by the decoction of the Pine-leaves, which has.
been so beneficial in the form of bath. The bath establishment isa
flourishing one. 3 ot

“The membranous substance obtained by filtration at the time of
the washing of the fibres, is pressed in bricks, and dried ; it is used as
a combustible, and produces, from the resin it contains, a quantity of -
gas sufficient for the lighting of the factory. The production of a -

92 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

thousand quintals of wool leaves a quantity of combustible matter
-equal in value to six cubic metres of Pine-wood."

For a knowledge of the preparation of a similar fibre from a West
Indian Pine, namely of the Bahamas, I am indebted to His Grace the
. Duke of Newcastle, who, as Chief Secretary of State for the Colonies,

did me honour to send me the following copy of a letter addressed to
him by the Governor of Bahamas Islands, C. R. Nesbitt, Esq., together
with samples of the fibre for the Museum of the Royal Gardens.

* Government House, Nassau, Bahamas,
“10th December, 1853.

* My Lord Dukz,—I have the honour to enclose for your Grace’s
information, the copy of a Report made to me by the Surveyor-General
of Lands, relative to the vast indigenous forests in this Colony, of that
species of the * Adies’ [Pinus?] commonly known as the ‘ Pitch Pine
Fir.

“The Surveyor-General estimates these forests at not less; than
200,000 acres in extent; these are however singularly limited to four
Islands in the Colony, viz. Abaco, Andros Island, Grand Bahama, and
New Providence. This Report was called for by me, in consequence of
a specimen of the fibre obtained from the spines or leaves of this species
- of Fir-tree, deposited during the present year in the Nassau Museum ;
a larger portion of which fibre has been subsequently produced by the
labour of prisoners, a specimen of which is herewith forwarded for
your Grace's inspection.

“I trust your Grace will kindly pardon any irregularity in thus
bringing under your notice a subject not of ordinary official routine.
— A severe hurricane that occurred about the 22nd ultimo has created
much misery in the Colony, the lower orders, as is usually the case in
such visitations, being the greatest sufferers. The sad event adds much
. to the previously entertained conviction, that the labouring class in this
Colony suffer very much for the want of some additional staple, on
which to employ their industry ; and, hoping that a new resource may
be found in the staple obtainable in these indigenous forests, I trust
that in thus communicating with your Grace, as the head of the
Colonial Department, on the subject, some advantage may accrue to the
inbabitants of this Colony. ;

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 93

“I annex to this despatch a printed copy of a paper on the subject
of the fibre'of the Pine ” (given above), ** which appeared in the * Nassau
Guardian,’ explanatory of its use at Vienna.

“ When the art of obtaining it with the greatest facility and in the
manner best adapted for use is fully known, and its value correctly as-
certained, it may possibly eventually become an article of no incon-
siderable export from this Colony, and, if only as a matter of reference
aroia, your Grace may possibly not deem this despatch superfluous.

“TI have the honour to be, etc. etc.
*(Signed) OC. R. NESBITT,
* Lieut. Governor.

“To His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, etc. etc.”

I believe Botanists in general were not aware of the existence of any
species of Pine in the Bahamas; but if the situation of the particular
islands mentioned above as having “ Pine barrens” of this vast extent,
it will be seen that they are those most adjacent to, and not very distant
from the mainland of Florida, where the Pinus Australis of Michaux
(Pinus palustris, Willd.) grows in great abundance, the most southern
Pine indeed of the United States. And from a careful inspection of
the fibre sent, three long leaves may be traced arising from one sheath,
as is the case in that species. T

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has most judiciously transmitted _
samples of this fibre to the Society of Arts, which has undertaken
thoroughly to investigate the matter, and to communicate the result
for the information of the Colonists.

Plants of Armenia.

Mons. Huet du Pavillon, a young botanist who had already collected
a good deal in the Alps and is well acquainted with plants, made an —
excursion last summer into Armenia, as far as Erzeroum, and though -
prevented from penetrating as he intended into the mountains of Kur- -
distan, he has brought home a considerable number of very interesting
plants, including above a hundred new species. He proposes to dis- -
tribute these to subscribers in sets of about 700 species each, in well- —
dried instructive specimens, at the rate of thirty shillings the hundred, -
at Geneva. Any persons desirous of procuring sets may address them- i

94 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

selves to M. A. Huet du Pavillon, Rue Verdaine, No. 266, Geneva, or
may communicate with G. Bentham, Esq., Pontrilas House, Hereford.

Mr. Spruce's South American Plants.

By a letter in our last number it will be seen that Mr. Spruce has
penetrated, by the way of the Amazon and Rio Negro, into Vene-
_ zuela; and that he is about to make the attempt to reach the sources

of the Orinoco. His last great excursion was a very productive one,
on the Uaupés river, where he spent seven months, and has thence
sent home collections amounting to 500 species, of which he considers
a very large proportion to be new. Mr. Bentham will, at as early a
period as possible, arrange the sets ready for distribution; and we take
this opportunity of saying that a few (though very good) sets of the
former collections still remain on hand. z

Drummond’s Plants from the North of Western Australia.

The general nature of this collection will be best understood by a
perusal of Mr. Drummond’s letter, published in our last volume, p. 115,
etc. The number of species does not much exceed two hundred;
they are indeed rather a selection than a collection; and being made
during an eighteen months’ excursion, extending to a distance of three
hundred miles north of the Swan River, they may be expected to
. contain, as they really do, many new species, and particularly fine Pro-
_teacee. The specimens are in excellent condition, and the sets are
placed in the hands of R. Heward, Esq., Young-street, Kensington, for
distribution.

Plants of Tunis.

Mr. P. B. Webb has been instrumental in sending out an able col-
lector, M. Kralick, to the dominions of the Dey of Tunis; and it is to
be hoped that sets will be made up and allowed to be purchased by
those stay-at-home botanists who desire to possess the plants of this
region of Barbary.

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 95

Schlechtendal’s Linnea.

We are most happy to have it in our power to be able to correct an
error into which we had inadvertently fallen, to the effect that this im-
portant work was to be closed with the 25th volume. It is stated in
the * Botanische Zeitung’ that arrangements are made for its continu-
ance, and with greater regularity than ever.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

GENERA PLANTARUM From GERMANICE, Iconibus et Descriptionibus
Ilustrata, Fasc. XXVII.; auctore Roperto Caspary, Ph. Dr. in
Univ. Berlin. Botanicen privat. docens. Bonne, 1853.

Dr. Caspary, whose personal acquaintance we had the pleasure of
making during his residence in England, has, though a young man, dis- -
tinguished himself by his ardent love of botany, and especially by his
several memoirs on vegetable physiology, and we are happy to find has
lent his name and his talents to the continuation of this important -
work: “Opus,” as the title-page further states, “a Th. Fl. Lud. Nees _
ab Esenbeck inchoatum, deinde a Frid. Carol. Leop. Spenner et Aloysio —
Puttertick adjuvante Stephano Endlicher, dum vixerunt, et nunc con- -
junctis studiis plurium auctorum continuatum." On former occasions |
we have spoken favourably of this publication, and we find the same
care and pains are taken in the figures and descriptions as heretofore;
and, what is of great importance, diagnoses are always given where ne-
cessary, pointing out the essential characters, in a few words, by which
a genus is distinguished from its affinities. The drawings are all exe- -
cuted by Dr. Caspary himself; and though we do not see quite the same -
clearness and precision as in the former plates, much more is given in
the way of analysis of the anatomical structure, especially of the ovary -
and ovules. The present fasciculus contains eighteen plates, —
certain genera of Crucifere, Ranunculaceae, and — :

———

96 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

KLorzscn, J. F.; über Pistta. Mit drei lithographirten Tafeln. (Ge-
lesen in der kóniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften am 2 Decem-
ber, 1852.) Berlin, 1853.

This is a quarto drochure of thirty pages, giving a full history of Pistia
and its affinities, constituting the Natural Order Prstracem, which
is here made to include three Genera :—1. Apiospermum, Kl. (the Pistia
obcordata, Schleid. and Kunth = Pistia Stratiotes, H. B. K.), native of
Brazil. 2. Limnonesis, KL, of which there are two species, Pistia com-
- mutata, Schleid. and Kunth, native of Surinam, and Pistia Friedrichs-
thaliana, KL, from St. Juan de Nicaragua. 3. Pistia, Linn.: under this
genus Dr. Klotzsch enumerates seventeen species, of which the majority
are new, inasmuch as most botanists have been disposed to consider
that there was only one true species dispersed over almost all the warm
parts of the globe. Whatever difference of opinion however naturalists -
may entertain on the subject of genera and species of this small, but
very remarkable group of plants, there can be none as to the merits
and execution of the figures of Stratiotes Texensis, Kl, collected by
Lindheimer. The analysis of the flower and fruit, and the anatomical
structure, are alike excellent. We wish the figures had been illustra-
tive of one or both of the new genera, rather than of a species which,
as we possess it, and from Lindheimer too, we should have had no
hesitation in pronouncing identical with the East Indian P. Stratiotes.

— ——

LINDLEY, PROFESSOR: FOLIA ORCHIDACEA ; an Enumeration of the
.. known species of Orchids. Part V. 8vo. London, 1854.

In this Part the vast genus Epidendrum, counting 246 species in all,
is concluded. The rest is occupied by Miltonia, Lindl. (9 species);
_ Brassia, Br. (17 species); 4da, Lindl., nov. gen. (1 species, 4da au-
rantiaca, from New Granada); Polychilos, Kuhl and Hasselt (1 spe-
cies); Corymbis, Thouars (1 species) ; Sobralia, R. et P. (24 species) ;
Coelogyne, Lindl. (44 species) ; and Panisea, Lindl. (4 species.

a

Vol. VI. PLIL -

Me

Ss
y | ; ZR
CO / Ar n AY Vf if

Fitch, del et. lith:

97

On the “ Arcan” Tree of Marocco (ARGANIA SIDEROXYLON); by
SIR W. J. Hooxzn, K.H., D.C.L., F.R., A., and L.S.

(With 2 Plates, Tan. III., IV.)

Through the kindness and by the exertions of the Earl of Clarendon,
Chief Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Royal Gardens of Kew have
been put in possession of living plants and fresh seeds of a tree or
shrub very little known in Europe, little known even to botanists, but
highly esteemed by the Moors, in those parts of Marocco where it is a
native, for its useful qualities, viz. the “ Argan.” ts economical pro-
perties are best explained by the copy of a letter, which his Lordship
did me the favour to communicate along with the plants and seeds, from
Henry Grace, Esq., British acting Vice-consul at Mogador, addressed
to J. H. Drummond Hay, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty’s Agent and Con-
sul-General at Tangiers; both of which gentlemen spared no pains in
procuring the information and seeds and living specimens; an example
we should be glad to see followed by our Consuls in other countries
‘abounding in new and useful plants.

“ Mogador, November 7th, 1853.

* Sir, —The 4rgan tree grows more or less throughout the States of
Western Barbary, but principally in the province of Haka, and south of
this town. The soil in which it is found is light, sandy, and very
strong; it is usually seen upon the hills, which are barren of all else,
and where irrigation is impossible.

“I should imagine, from the appearance of some of the trees, that
they are from one to two hundred years old; and a remarkably large
one in this neighbourhood is probably at least three hundred. This
individual measures 26 feet round the trunk; at the height of three
feet it branches off; the branches (one of which measures ll feet in -
circumference near the trunk) rest upon the ground, extending about
15 feet from the trunk, and again ascend. The highest branch of this -
tree is not more than 16 to 18 feet from the ground, while the outer _
branches spread so as to give a circumference of 220 feet; this is the —
largest I am aware of. | ;

“The mode of propagation, in this vicinity, is mostly by seed, When
sowing this, a little manure is placed with it, and it is well watered
until it shoots; from which period it requires nothing farther. In from
three to five years after sowing it bears fruit, which ripens between

VOL. VI, o

98 THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO.

May and August (according to the situation of the tree). The roots
extend a great distance underground, and shoots make their appearance
at intervals, which are allowed to remain, thus doing away with the
necessity of transplanting or sowing. When the fruit ripens, herds of
goats, sheep, and cows are driven thither; a man beats the tree with a
long pole, and the fruits fall and are devoured voraciously by the cattle.
In the evening they are led home, and when comfortably settled in
their yards, they commence chewing the cud and throw out the nuts,
which are collected each morning as soon as the animals have departed
upon their daily excursion. I have heard it remarked that the nut
passes through the stomach, but this is only a casualty, and not a ge-
neral rule. Large quantities of the fruits are likewise collected by
women and children: they are well dried, and the hull is taken off,
and stored for the camels and mules travelling in the winter, being con-
sidered very nutritious.

** The process of extracting the oil is very simple. The nuts are cracked
by the women and children (and not a few fingers suffer at the same
time, owing to the want of proper tools, for the nuts are very hard,
and a stone is the only implement used) ; the kernels are then parched
in a common earthen vessel, ground in handmills of this country, and
put into a pan ; a little cold water is sprinkled upon them, and they are
well worked by the hand (much the same as kneading dough), until
ihe oil separates, when the refuse is well pressed in the hand, which
completes the process. The oil is left to stand, and the sediment re-
moved. The cake (in which a great deal of oil remains, owing to the
want of a proper press) is generally given to the milch-cows or goats.

** I never heard of any part being used as manure, but I have no doubt
it would form an excellent one.

“ Some of ek Argans grow in clusters, others are single trees.

- * [ have, éte,
; * (Signed) HENRY GRACE.
“To J. H. Drummond Hay, Esq., ete. ete.”

Except a brief notice of the exportation into Europe of Argan oil, by
the Danish Counsellor of State, Georges Höst, who travelled in the
kingdoms of Marocco and Fez during the years 1766-1768, the only
published -account of the uses of the Ærgan is given in a very little-
known Danish work, published by P. K. A. Schousboe, entitled * Jagt-

THE ARGAN TREE OP MAROCCO. 99

tagelser over Vextriget i Marokko. Forste Stycke. Kiobnhavn, 1800.
4. 7 Tab., of which a German edition appeared in 1801, in 8vo, by
J. A. Markussen. It gives an account of some Marocco plants; and, .
after an introductory sketch of the physical geography of Marocco, it
contains deseriptions of the plants of the country, in Latin and German,
with occasional observations in German. The account of the Argan,
under Retz's name of Eleodendron Argan, is long; first comes a techni-
cal description, followed by a history of its synonymy, and then the fol-
lowing notes (kindly translated for us by Mr. Bentham).

“It is surprising that this tree should hitherto have been so little
known; as it is found in a country near Europe, and visited by many
travellers, who speak in their diaries and descriptions of Oil of Argan,
and of Argan-trees, these last as constituting a considerable proportion
of the forests of the country. It is however not to be met with in the
northern provinces, but only towards the south. All those persons,
from whom I have sought more accurate information on the subject,
are unauimous in stating that it only grows between the rivers Tansif
and Suy, that is, between the 29? and 32? N. lat., and there constitutes
forests of considerable extent. It flowers in the middle of June, and the
fruit remains on the tree the greater part of the year. The young
fruit sets in the end of July or beginning of August, and grows slowly
till the rainy season commences, towards the end of September. 1t
now enlarges rapidly, and attains its full size during that season, so
a$ that by the middle or end of March it is ripe enough to be gathered
for economical uses. Both the fruit and the wood are serviceable, but
especially the former; for from the kernel an oil is extracted, which is
much employed for domestie purposes by the Moors, and is an im-
portant production of the country, as it saves much olive oil, which
can thus be thrown into commerce, and made to bring money into the
country. It is calculated that in the whole Argan region one thousand —
hundredweight of oil is annually consumed, thus setting free an equal
quantity of olive oil for exportation to Europe. Our countryman Hést,
in his‘ Efterretninger om Marokos, p. 285, says that the Argan oil is
exported to Europe, where it is used in manufactures, Such may have
been the case in former times, when it might be cheaper, but now
there would be no advantage in doing so, as it costs almost as much as
"olive oil. At present no Argan oil whatever is exported. _ [D

“As the practice in preparing this oil is somewhat different from ———

100 THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO.

that of common olive oil, it may be useful to enter into some details on
the subject. I have myself been present during the whole operation,
and consequently speak from experience.

* In thé end of March the countryman goes into the wood, where
the fruits are shaken down from the trees and stript of their husks on
the spot. The green fleshy pericarp, which is good for nothing else,
is greedily eaten by ruminating animals, such as camels, goats, sheep,
and cows, but especially by the two first. Therefore when the Arab
goes into the woods to collect Argan nuts, he gladly takes with
him his herds of the above animals, that they may eat their fill of the
green husks, whilst he and his family are collecting and shelling the
nuts. The horse, the ass, and the mule, on the contrary, do not like
this food. When a sufficient quantity of nuts are collected they are
brought home, the hard wooden shell is cracked between stones, and
the inner white kernels are carefully extracted. These are roasted or
burnt like coffee on earthen, stone, or iron plates; in order that they
may not be too much done, they are constantly stirred with a stick.
When properly roasted they should be all over of a brown colour, but
not charred on the outside. The smoke which is disengaged during
the process, has a very agreeable odour. As soon as the kernels have
cooled, they are ground in a handmill, into a thick meal, not unlike
that of pounded almonds, only that it is of a brown colour, and the
meal is put into a vessel, in which the oil is separated, which is done
by sprinkling the mass every now and then with hot water, and keeping
it constantly stirred and kneaded with the hand. This process is
carried on till the mass becomes so hard that it can no longer be
kneaded: the harder and firmer are the residuary coarse parts, the
more completely is the oil extracted. At the last, cold water is sprin-
kled upon it, in order, as they say, to expel the last particles of the oil.
During the operation the oil runs out at the sides, and is from time to
time poured out into a clean vessel. The main point to be attended to
in order to extract the greatest quantity and the best quality of oil,
is that it should be well kneaded, and that the proper proportion of
hot water for the extraction of the oil should be used; it is always
safer to be sparing of it, than to be too profuse. The residuary mass,
often as hard as a stone, is of a black-brown colour, and has a disa-
greeable bitter flavour. The oil itself, when it has settled, is clear, of a
light brown colour, and has a rancid smell and flavour. When it is

THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO. 101

used without other preparation in cooking, it has a stimulating and
pungent taste, which is long felt on the gums. The vapour which
arises, when anything is fried in it, affects the lungs and occasions
coughing. The common people use it generally without preparation ;
but in better houses it is the custom, in order to take off that pun-
gency, to mix it previously with water or to put a bit of bread into it
and let it simmer before the fire.

“The wood, which is hard, tough, fine-grained, and of a yellow colour,
is used in house-carpentry, and for other purposes."

We have been at some pains to distribute the seeds of this plant,
with which we have been liberally supplied, to various parts of the
East Indies, and to such of our Colonies as appeared suited to the
growth of this tree, in respect of climate, etc. It is impossible for
seeds to be in better condition; and though the surrounding hard por-
tion or nut is as thick and solid as that of a hickory, those which we
ourselves sowed sprouted in less that a month from the time they were
put in the ground. The young trees too bore the rough treatment of
the voyage in midwinter remarkably well; and it is easy to see that
this is a plant of ready culture in favourable climates.

The value of the husks of the fruit as food for cattle, and the uses of
the wood, are mentioned in the above extracts. The nature of the oil
seems only to have been considered in relation to olive oil. But vege-
table oils are now so much in demand, especially by the Messrs. Price and
Co., for their great candle-works at Vauxhall, as well as at Birkenhead
near Liverpool, that I was anxious to know the opinion of Mr. G. F.
Wilson, the scientific director of those vast establishments, on the
nature of the Argan oil. Some seeds were consequently communicated -
to that gentleman, and he lost no time in experimenting upon them, -
and assuring me that “they contain a large percentage of a very fine —
oil. We have tried it in several ways, in each case with a favourable
result, Some is now being exposed to a severe test, to show how the _
air acts upon it; I have however little fear that it will answer. Our
city friends are inquiring for us the best means of getting a ton or —
two of the nuts for experiments on a large scale. The only unfavour-
ble point I see is the small weight of kernel to that of hard shell :—

* 6 Nuts gave—kernel 30 grains. —
hard shell 350 grains.
outer husk 193 grains.

55

»

102 THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO.

“The hard shell probably should be sent home with the seed, when
the kernels are required to yield a sweet oil; for unless prepared with
great care, hardly to be expected in a wild country, the oil would nót
be nearly so sweet if sent home expressed, instead of in its kernel and
shell. Perhaps if the kernel is pounded and rammed tightly into casks,
we might obtain sweet oil without great waste in freight*.”

In a botanical point of view this plant is scarcely of less interest
than in an economical. It has had the hard fate, often the consequence
of being with difficulty procured, to be much misunderstood, and, except
by Schousboe, is imperfectly described; and references are given in

* While in the act of committing our MS. to press, we have the pleasure to re-
ceive from M. le Vicomte de Noé, of Paris, a very interesting ** Mémoire sur l' Arga-
zia, recommandé comme plante oléagineuse," published in the * Revue Horticole de
Paris,’ for April, 1853. This was prepared by that nobleman in consequence of the
French Minister of Marine having received fruits of the Argan from the Captain of
the frigate Maisonneuve, who, while on the Marocco station in 1852, heard reports
of the value of the oil and of the wood of Argania Sideroxylon, and conceived that
the tree would succeed in the southern provinces of France. The author then gives
2 detailed history of the plant, describing it from specimens in the Paris Herbaria,
ete. We find him in error only in attributing to Schousboe the credit of consti-
tuting a new genus of the plant.

The conclusions to which he comes in regard to naturalizing the plant in France,
are thus expressed :—'* Nous avons dit plus haut que l'arbrisseau Africain se rencon-
tre localisé dans un espace trés borné, et qu'il est accoutumé à une température
donnée et à une humidité réguliére et prolongée, sans lesquelles son fruit ne pourrait
ni croitre ni mürir. Cette influence chaude et hygrométrique de l'atmosphére, qui lui
est si nécessaire, ne se rencontre point dans nos climats. Il est donc peu probable que
l'on parvienne à la naturaliser en France. Les Botauistes, qui savent que jusqu'ici
aucun représentant de la famille des Sapotées ne eroit en Europe, doivent regarder
comme certain le non-succés des tentatives d'acclimatation qui seraient faites,”

On the nature and relative value of this oil M. le Vicomte comes to a different
conclusion from our friend Mr. Wilson; but it is to be observed that the latter gen-
tleman's results are derived from oil expressed by himself from fresh nuts, scientifi-
cally extracted, while M. de Noé's views are based upon the account of the oil pre-
pared by the ignorant Moors, as related by Schousboe.

** Admettons d'ailleurs, pour un moment," he continues, * que l' 4rgania Siderozy-
Zon puisse étre naturalisé, et voyons si l'huile qu'on extrait de ses semences pourrait
étre livrée au commerce avec quelque profit. Ce que nous avons pape de Podeur
_et de la saveur de cette huile suffit pour écarter déjà toute pensée de la faire servir à
des usages alimentaires. Resterait l'éclairage, la fabrication du savon, le corro
des cuirs; mais iei encore elle trouverait une concurrence redoutable dans les huiles
Colza, de Navette, de Moutarde, de Cameline, connues sous la dénomination d'huiles
de graines, qui sauront toujours mériter la préférence de l'industrie pour leur abon-
dance, leur qualité supérieure et le bon marché."— For the sake of the wood, however,
* qui est dur, fort beau, et qui trouverait incontestablement un débit avantageux
pour les ouvrages de marqueterie," M. de Noé strongly recommends its cultiva-
tion in Algeria: and when, in addition to that, we consider the forage for cattle
yielded by the husks, and the oil, as described by one so competent to judge as Mr.
Wilson, we are fully justified in urging the cultivation of the Argan in our warm
colonies, and in many parts of the East India Company's possessions.

THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO. 108

works to plants as being identical, which have no relationship with it ;
or to descriptions which, if the same, exhibit little or no resemblance.

The first Botanist who appears to have noticed this plant is Linnzeus,
who, in the * Hortus Cliffortianus,’ in 1737, described it from dried
specimens, under the name of Siderozylon spinosum. ‘ From Clifford's
Herbarium,” observes Mr. Dryander*, “now in the possession of Sir
Joseph Banks, the Argan was taken up by Linné in his ‘ Hortus
Cliffortianus ;’ though most of the synonyms are wrongy, and conse-
quently the locus natalis (utraque India), which is deduced from them.
The specimen in Linné's Herbarium, under the name of Sideroxylon
spinosum, is without flowers, and it is impossible to tell with any cer-
tainty what itis. Clifford's Herbarium is therefore the only authority
by which this species can be ascertained.” His Rhamnus Siculus, in
the Appendix to the third volume of the twelfth edition of the Systema
Nature, is, we are assured by Mr. Dryander, “the Argan, or Olive-
tree of Morocco (see Hést’s Efterretninger om Marokos, p. 284), as
appears from the specimen in Linné’s Herbarium, which has a ticket
affixed, with the name of Argan of Morocco, and which I have also com-
pared with specimens in Sir Joseph Banks’ Herbarium from Morocco.”
The description too of Linnzus is very correct. He errs only in con-
sidering the plant to be the same as the Rhamnus Siculus pentaphyl-
los of Boecone (Rhus pentaphyllum, Desf), which has folia quinata,
which latter he introduces into the specific character, but not into the
description ; and he erroneously followed Boccone in giving Sicily as the
native country in addition to Africa, and in adopting the specific name
Siculus. ;

In the * Species Plantarum’ of Linnzeus, Malabar alone is mentioned
as the native country of the Sideroaylon spinosum. Nevertheless, with
the exception of Willdenow, who rejects it altogether as ** planta valde
dubia, forte nullibi obvia," most of the older authors adopt this name
for the Argan of Marocco. Under it, it appears in the first edition -
of ‘Hortus Kewensis, with the reference to ‘Species Plantarum’ of |
Linneus, and to Commelyn, Hort. Amstelod. tab. 83, where however
nothing is said of its native country, further than may be surmised

* e i ts which occur twice or three times
voler diferent vene: in Protea Gmelin’ edition of Liias Systema Nature,”

Hes een one: | rr ciim by Willdenow, as far as Commelyn,
Plukenet, Rheede and Burmann are concerned, to belong to Flacourtia sepiaria.

104 THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO.

by the name adopted from Breynius’s *Lycio similis frutex Indicus
spinosus, Buxi folio" (which, as already observed, Willdenow con-.
sidered to be his Flacourtia sepiaria, from India), and of which the
flowers and fruit were unknown to the author. If this were the Argan,
it was in cultivation in Holland as early as 1697. At a period not
much later, viz. in 1711, according to Hortus Kewensis, it was intro-
duced into England: * Cul. 1711, by the Duchess of Beaufort, Br.
Mus. H. S. 141. fol. 39*." It is indicated as a stove-plant.

Sir James Smith, article Sideroxylon spinosum in Rees’ Cyclopedia
(1819), throws no new light upon the subject; he omits the reference
to Commelyn. Retz, in Obs. Bot. vol. vi. p. 26, refers the plant to Elæo-
dendron, in which he is followed by Willdenow and by Schousboe,
which latter author has given by far the fullest and best account of
the plant botanically and economically.

M. Corréa de Serra, Annales du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, 1809,

tom. viii. p. 393. tab. v. f. 1, has published a very good analysis of
the fruit, with very brief characters and no observations. At length
Mr. Brown, “ Botanicorum facile princeps," in his invaluable Pro-
dromus, under his Observations on Sapotee, says, ** Sideroxylon spino-
sum, L., fructu valde diversum proprium hujus ordinis genus efficit ;”
and, acting upon his suggestion, Roemer and Schultes, ‘Systema Ve-
getabilium,’ vol. iv. p. xlvi. and 502, have formed of this plant a new
genus, Argania, in which they have been followed by Endlicher and Al-
phonse De Candolle. In this latter work a very full generic character
is given, which needs not here be repeated. We are happily able to
publish for the first time a figure of a flowering specimen, (gathered in
Marocco by Broussonet, and deposited in the Herbarium of the late
Professor Gouan, which came into our possession, ) as well as of the fruit
and seed; and we conclude this notice by a brief description of the
genus and species.
ARGANIA, Rem. et Sch.
Nat. Ord. Saporacez.

Gen. Char. Calyx 5-partitus, lobis subzequalibus rotundatis imbricatis,
basi bracteatis. Corolla brevis, rotato-infundibuliformis, p
* The abbreviation **Br. Mus. H. S. signifies the Sloanean Hortus Siccus, ki
in the British Museum ; from whence much information, principally eoncerning
nie onde by the "Duchess of Beaufort, has been obtained."— Hort. Kew. ed. t.
Hi

THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO. 105

5-fidis, lobis rotundatis concavis. Stamina fertilia 5, lobis corolle
opposita, horum basi inserta. Filamenta subulata. Anthere cor-
dato-subrotunde, versatiles. Filamenta sterilia tubo corolle adnata,
lobis alterna, squamzeformia, e lata basi dentata, subulata. Ovarium
ovato-globosum, hirsutum, bi- tri- rarius 4-loculare, loculis uniovu-
latis. Stylus subulatus, staminibus longior. Stigma punctiforme.
Ovula medio axis pericarpii inserta. Fructus :—Drupa elliptica,
ovata, oblonga seu subrotunda, sesquiuncialis ad biunciam longa,
levis, acuta, mono- di- tri- rarius tetra-pyrena ; pyrenis arcte unitis,
lignoso-corneis, monospermis, non raro 1-3 abortivis. Testa crassa.
Endopleura tenuis, vasculosa. Albumen oleosum. Embryo erectus,
strictus, amplus, coty/edonibus amplis planis.—Arbor vel arbuscula
Maroccana. Rami spinosi. Folia parva, alterna, sepe fasciculata,
lineari- seu oblongo-spathulatis, vix petiolatis. Flores in axillis fo-
liorum et spinarum aggregati, sessiles.

Argania Siderozylon. | (TAB. NosTR. III. et IV.)

Argania Sideroxylon, Rem. et Schult. v. 4. p. xlvi. e£ 502. Alph. De
Cand. Prodr. v. 8. p.181. Walp, Repert. v. 6. p. 455. De Noé in
Revue Horticole, 1853. p. 125.

Sideroxylon spinosum, Linn. Hort. Cliff. p. 69. (excl. syn. et local.)
— Correa in Annales du Mus. d Hist, Nat. v. 8. p. 393, cum Ic. fruct.

Rhamnus Siculus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12. v. 8. p. 227. (excl. syn.) non
Boce.

Rhamnus pentaphyllus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. Gmel. p. 398. (fid. Dryand.),
excl. syn. Bocc.

Eleodendron Argan, Retz, Obs. Bot. v. 6. p. 26. Willd. Sp. PI. v. 1.
p. 1148. (excl. syn. Jacq. et Boce.) Schousboe, Maroce. p. 89.

Argan, Dryand. in Trans. Linn. Soc. v. 2. p. 225.

Has. Forming woods in the southern and western regions of the
kingdom of Marocco, principally of Haka and south of Mogador.
Dzscz. This appears to form a low spreading tree or shrub, varying

in size according to locality; probably rarely, if ever, exceeding 16-18

feet in height, but with a diameter of trunk large in proportion to the

height. Recently imported living plants, now before me, though
not more than a foot or a foot and a half high, have the appearance of ©
considerable age, from their thick trunks (thicker than one's wrist) and

crooked and seemingly stunted branches ; branches spiny: the branchlets — 5

themselves are often spinescent, like our Prunus spinosa, and there is : : :
VOL, VI, P

106 THE ARGAN TREE OF MAROCCO.

besides, in the infant seedling plants (three or four weeks old), a sharp
subulate spine, $ an inch or more long, at the base of each alternate
leaf; and, in the old plants, at the base of each fascicle of leaves.
Leaves in the old plants fasciculated, spreading, from 2 of an inch to
nearly an inch long, linear or oblong-spathulate, obtuse, glabrous,
penniveined, subcoriaceo-membranaceous, persistent, tapering at the
base, but scarcely petiolate. Flowers in small clusters or glomerules,
in the axils of the spines and leaves; sessile, minute, subtended by a
few hairy orbicular bracteas. Calyx cup-shaped, deeply five-lobed ; lobes
rounded, imbricated, rather unequal, externally hairy. Corolla short,
between infundibuliform and rotate: tude short; limb of five, erecto-
patent, rounded, concave lobes. Stamens five, fertile, opposite to the
lobe of the corolla and inserted on their bases. Filaments subulate,
thick, as long as the lobes of the corolla. Anther cordato-rotundate,
large for the size of the flower, versatile. Alternating with them, in
the tube of the corolla, are five abortive stamens, reduced to scales,
which, from a broad toothed base, are subulate, half as long as the
lobes of the corolla. Ovary ovato-globose, hairy, one- to four-celled.
Cells with a single ovule attached to the central axis. Style subulate,
rather longer than the corolla. Stigma a mere point. The fruit isa
drupe about the size of a pigeon's egg, but varying a good deal in
length and breadth; oblong, ovate, elliptical, or almost globose. Outer
coat between coriaceous and pulpy. Within are from one (by abor-
tion) to four pyrene, or hard, thick, between woody and horny nuts,
firmly united into one, so that sometimes the place of union is quite
obliterated. Each of these, except in case of abortion, contains a large
embryo, with a small inferior radice, and two large compressed oval
cotyledons, surrounded by an oily aléumen*.

* We are just now, on concluding the printing of this article, referred to * Sym-
mond's Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom,’ p. 533, for a notice under
the head of “Almond Oil,” which would appear to refer to Argan oil; but the
author gives no authority, and appears to have at no pains or trouble to throw
any light upon the subject. ‘To the south of the Empire of Morocco,” says Mr.
Symmonds, “there are forests of the Arzo-tree, which is thorny, irregular in its
form, and produces a species of Almond exceedingly hard. Its fruit consists of two
almonds, rough and bitter, from which an oil is produced, very excellent for frying.
In order to use this oil, it requires to be purified by fire, and set on flame, which
must be suffered to die away of itself; the most greasy particles are thus consumed,
and its acrid qualities wholly destroyed. When the Moors gather these fruits, they
drive their goats under the trees, and as the fruit falls, the animals carefully nibble

off the skins, and then greedily feed.
“The oil of almonds is more fluid than olive oil, and is of a clear, transparent

THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO. 107

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

Tas. III. Flowering specimen of the Zrga»:—natural size. Fig.
l, lower and bracteas; 2, the same, calyx and bracteas removed ; 3,
corolla laid open, showing the fertile and abortive stamens; 4, pistil ;
5, transverse section of a two-celled ovary; 6, transverse section of a
three-celled ovary; 7, vertical section of the same :—magnified.

Tas. IV. Figs. 1-6, various forms of the fruit of Argan; 7, ver-
tical section of a two-seeded fruit; 8, transverse section of the same;
9, Nut with two perfect seeds, and one abortive; 10, a two-seeded nut ;
ll, one-seeded nut; 12, transverse section of one-seeded nut; .13,
transverse section of a three-seeded nut ; 14, transverse section of a nut,
with three perfect seeds, and one abortive; 15, longitudinal section of
13; 16, part of the husk removed from a one-seeded fruit :—all the
above are of the natural size; 17, embryo with albumen and endo-
pleura; 18, embryo :—magnified.*

Journal of a Voyage up the Amazon and Rio Necro; by RICHARD
SPRUCE, Esq. Pe
(Continued from p. 42.)

[The letter which we last published of Mr. Spruce, from San Carlos,
has been soon followed by another and no less interesting one, espe-
cially relating to the Oryptogamia of the valley of the Amazon, and which
we now lay before our readers.—E»p.]

San Carlos del Rio Negro, Venezuela, Sept. 17, 1853.

I had lately the pleasure of writing to you and of sending a few

objects for your Museum; and now a few days ago I was gratified by

yellowish colour, with a very slight odour and taste. It is occasionally employed for

making the finer kinds of soap, and also in medicine. zi
“In manufacturing it, the fruits are first well — rore in tis coarse bag or — —
sack, to separate a bitter powder which covers their ey are then —
pounded to a paste in mortars poc enun wasser. argum to the :
action of a press, as in the case of the olive. 1 HET : i
* About tighty tons of almond oil are annually imported into this deer, the m
* price being about one shilling per pound. igerem oa or gedy atr uad Te
[paste ?; will yield by cold expression one pound six ounces of oil, : Reser |
of a pound more if the iron plates are heated."— Even supposing this statement to b
correctly copied, can we place confidence in the statement itself? ;
* A beautiful suite of specimens, with dissections of the fruit and seed, is Lis aain
and arranged in the Museum of the Royal Gardens, Kew, by our very zealous Cura-
tor there, Mr. Alexander Smith.

108 - JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE

the reception of your kind letter of March 31st of the present year, in-
forming me of the safe arrival of my sendings from San Gabriel. To-
morrow a person leaves San Carlos for the Barra, and as I do not expect
another opportunity before starting up the Casiquiare, I profit by it to
inform you of my movements. I have just finished building a boat
with a large cabin, all of boards, and not covered in with palm-leaves,
as is customary here. The boat is 11 varas (Spanish) long, and it is
narrower and shallower than the one in which I came up from the
Barra. On the top of the cabin I shall be able to dry a good many
plants, and within it to stow them away when dried, if indeed the mos-
quitos will allow me to work, of which I am rather doubtful. The
Flora will no doubt be very interesting: everything that is not Hum-
boldtian will be new: and as I shall be the first naturalist to ascend
the Casiquiare, and must of necessity creep along the river’s edge, I
. may reasonably expect to see many things which a person descending
the stream, and of course keeping near the middle, would unavoidably
overlook. But I am told that I shall be unable to do anything on the
voyage, and that I shall have enough to do to beat off the mosquitos.
Even on land it is necessary to keep in movement; and instead of
sitting down to eat a meal, one must walk about, platter in hand, and
be content to swallow a considerable seasoning of mosquitos along with
one’s victuals, Since the waters of the Casiquiare began to fall, we
have had no small share of mosquitos at San Carlos, and as I write, my
hands and face are pretty well painted by them. It is not merely the
pain and irritation these insects cause, which render them annoying,
nor that after allowing them to suck away at your face for some time
you put up your hand to brush them off and draw it away covered
with blood ; but, beyond this, they get into your eyes, nose, and mouth,
so that you absolutely cannot tell what you are about.

In my last letter I mentioned that I had arranged to accompany the
Commisario Geral of San Fernando in an expedition to the sources of
the Orinoco, which was to come off next year; but he writes to me
now that he is preparing a large boat, in which he intends to put
twenty oars and ten soldiers, with the intention of joining me at Esme-
ralda. We have also news from Caracas, that the whole of the north
of Venezuela is in a state approaching civil war, consequent on the
recent election of a new president, against whom there is a strong
party in the country, and that sanguinary conflicts have taken place

ON THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO. 109

between armed bodies of horse and foot; and further, that the Com-
misario of San Fernando has been removed from his post, and that a
person is on his way to replace him. I have therefore no great con-
fidence in the execution of our project, but I shall go as well prepared
as I can for making the observatious desirable in case of my ascending
the Orinoco above Esmeralda.

I told you of the great scarcity of provisions at San Carlos, in con-
sequence of which I sent some time ago as far as the cataracts of
Maypure to buy an ox, and have the salted flesh brought to me.
It is only very lately that it reached me; and though it has more the
appearance of thongs of leather than of beef, and is tough and strong-
tasted, it is exceedingly acceptable, and it came at a time when neither
fish nor flesh of any kind was to be had at San Carlos. Though thus
relieved from the necessity of spending half my time in the search of
eatables, I have found very little to do in the way of collecting. So long
as the rainy season lasted, scarcely a tree wasto be seen in flower. We
are now entering on the summer, as we call it here, though the amount
of rain that falls daily is scarcely diminished ; and the trees by the river
are flowering, but the predominant species are the same as those of
San Gabriel, and by the Rio Uaupés, from its mouth to the base of the
the first falls. In the angle between the Rio Negro and Casiquiare, I
have got some Mosses and Hepatice that have interested me much.
As my predilection for these tribes is known to many, you may perhaps
have been asked whether I was doing anything in them, and if I in-
tended to distribute the species. I have hitherto avoided alluding to
Mosses in my communications to you, because the number was so few
that I had no idea of their ever summing up to a quantity worth the
trouble of distribution. On the Alto Rio Negro I have been more
successful, and I now think that some day or other I may make up
sets of those Mosses and Hepatice which I have gathered in sufficient _
quantity. Of Mosses the number of species is still small, considering _
the space of ground passed over, and how sharply I have looked for -
them during four years of travel. I suppose that in all this time I
have not gathered more Mosses than I could have gathered in a month
in a space of fifty miles’ diameter in any part of Europe. Yet all are
interesting, and a good many will be new. The general character of
the Cryptogamie vegetation on the Amazon and Rio Negro seems to —
be quite that of Demerara and Surinam, and to bear little resemblance _

110 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE

to that of the rest of Brazil. The Mosses are mostly pleurocarpous,
and comprise a great number of minute Hypnums, and a good many
Hookerias. A pretty species of the latter genus, frequent on logs in
the moist forest near San Carlos, seems to be tlie Hookeria pallescens
which you described in * Musei Exotici,’ from specimens gathered by
Humboldt at Esmeralda. I shall endeavour to look up all Humboldt's
species from this region. Among acrocarpous Mosses, the commonest,
and perhaps the most beautiful, is Octoblepharum albidum, which grows
everywhere on trees, both in wet and dry situations; O. cylindricum.
is much less frequent, and I have mostly seen it on palm-trunks; I
expect I have one or two new species of this genus. There are a good
many minute species of Fissidens, whose habitat is chiefly on termites’
nests on the ground or in trees. The genera Macromitrium, Syrrhopo-
don, and Calymperes have all representatives, but they are far from being
so abundant as I expected to find them. On the other hand, I have met
with species of some genera considered peculiar to cooler climates, as,
for instance, an Anacalypta at Santarem, and a Phascum at San Gabriel.
On the Rio Negro, a very common and a very handsome Moss is Leu-
cobryum (Dicranum) Martianum ; it grows on wet logs, and has the
additional merit of fruiting copiously. I have been somewhat disap-
pointed, that since I set foot in South America, now more than four
years ago, I have not once seen Funaria hygrometrica,—the Moss
which, as some one has said, more poetically than truly, “springs up
wherever the wild Indian has lighted his fire." I have seen hundreds
of places in Amazonian forests where Indians, wild and tame, have
lighted fires, and the plants which spring up in such places are not
Mosses: I shall some day be able to tell you what they mostly are.
There is a Moss which seems partial to charred trunks; it resembles
Hypnum tamariscinum in miniature, and I take it to be H. involvens.
Ceratodon purpureus is an almost constant companion of Funaria hygro-
metrica in Europe, and has, like it, the reputation of being cosmopolite, -
but I have never seen it here.

The Hepatice have been everywhere much more numerous than the
Mosses, and will, I hope, comprise much that is new. The great mass
belong to the genus Lejeunia, but there are several species of Ompha-
lanthus, Phragmicoma, Mastigobryum, Plagiochila, Aneura, ete. One
of the commonest Hepatice on the Rio Negro is a Sphagnoecetis, quite
like our Jungermannia Sphagni in aspect, but smaller, and fruiting

ON THE AMAZON AND RIO NEGRO. 111

abundantly towards the end of the rainy season. I have a good many
new species allied to common European forms, as, for instance, to
Jungermannia bicuspidata and trichoplylla; and a series of several
species, apparently all undescribed, intermediate between foliose and
frondose Zepatice.

Very few Mosses grow on the inundated margins of the large rivers,
and they are species that recur everywhere. It is necessary to plunge
into the heart of the forest, and to seek out rocky rivulets and the
trunks of fallen trees which lie in or near them. Hence, when I as-
cended the Rio Negro in November, 1851, when the river was low,
although there were abundance of trees in flower, the Mosses on the
banks were so much dried up as to appear almost non-existent. The
contrary was the case when I came from the Rio Uaupés to San Carlos
in March last; when the rivers were rising, and the rains were frequent
and violent. The trunks of the inundated trees were in many cases
clad with a green coating of Mosses and Hepatice, but the trees
themselves were almost without exception destitute of flowers.

Ishall do my best to explore the mountains at the back of Esme-
ralda, but I do not expect much from them. The great peculiarity of
the mountains I have hitherto visited is that they are hills without
valleys—lumps of granite sticking up out of the plain. .They seem all
destitute of water; and this is probably the reason why they are quite
uninhabited, there not being, so far as I can learn, so much as an
Indian’s hut on all the mountains of the Rio Negro and Alto Orinoco.

I am glad to find that my specimens, both for the Herbarium and
Museum, have given you satisfaction. It is the certainty that my
friends in Europe will appreciate my labours, that enables meto bear —
up under the hardships of travel in this region. Ihave no doubt that —
a stronger man than I might do more, but even the strongest must be —
content to lose a great deal of time among a people so lethargic as this, -
as Mr. Wallace can better inform you. My health, about which you -
so kindly inquire, is much as it was in England,—easily disordered, -
but (with care) rarely seriously affected. I suppose I am so thoroughly -
acclimated to the tropics that I shall take ill to a cold climate again. —

I am much interested with what you tell me of your Museum and
the Victoria-house. As a general rule there are no aquatics (save

Podostemons) on the Rio Negro, and no Grasses.
(To be continued.)

112 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS: an Enumeration of the Plants collected
in the Island of Hongkong, by Major J. G. Champion, 95/2 Reg.;
the determinations revised and the new species described by GEORGE
BENTHAM, Esa.

(Continued from p. 18.)

AMENTACES €f affines.

Major Champion's collection contains eight very distinct species of
Oak, none of which am I able to identify with any East Indian ones,
and four appear to be as yet unpublished, although the acorns are in
some instances wanting to complete the identification or description. If
to these we add the Q. thalassica of Hance, which I do not recognize
among them, the number of species in this small island amounts to
nine, besides one of Castanea, representing all three of the sections cha-
racterized by Blume in his ‘Museum Botanicum,' viz.: Lepidobalanus,
Endl. (Blume, 2nd section), with the scales of the cup more or less
distinct at the tips, and imbricate; Gyrolecana, with these scales united
in concentric zones, and Castaneopsis, with the cup irregularly zoned and
almost closed over the acorn.

1. Quercus (Lepidobalanus) cornea, Lour. Fl. Cochinch. p. 572.—
Synedrys ossea, Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. vol. ii. p. 441.

A tree in the woods of the Happy Valley, furnishing the edible fruit
mentioned by several travellers as sold in the markets of Canton, and
well described by Loureiro. The young shoots are slightly tomen-
tose, the full-grown leaves glabrous, 2-3 inches long, abruptly acumi-
mate, and usually slightly sinuato-dentate below the point, coriaceous
and shining, rather paler underneath, with nine to fifteen prominent
parallel veins on each side of the midrib, and transverse, almost parallel,
slightly anastomosing veinlets, often scarcely visible; the petioles

slightly tomentose and rather slender, from 3-6 lines long. The

amenta are androgynous, few and simple, the flowers closely sessile and
distinct, the eight or ten lowest female with three linear styles, the re-
mainder male, with six divisions to the perigon and ten to twelve
stamens. The acorn and cup as described by Loureiro, Lindley,
and Hance.

2. Quercus (Lepidobalanus) reversa, Lindl. in Paxt. Fl. Gard. vol. i.
p. 58. ic. xyl. 36.

A tree in the Happy Valley woods. The specimens are in flower

FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS. 113

only, but, as far as they go, agree with the above-quoted figure and .
description as well as with the specimens of Q. reversa from North China.
The leaves are rather more acuminate, and when young covered on the
upper side with a minute golden dust, which however soon disappears.

The Q. thalassica of Hance (Kew. Journ. Bot. v. i. p. 176) is pro-
bably nearly allied to the above, bnt the description does not quite
agree with it.

3. Quercus (Lepidobalanus) sp. n. ? affinis Q. glabra, Thunb., et Q.
spicate, Sm.

Victoria Peak. The specimen has male flowers only, which show
it to be distinct from, though allied to, the two species above mentioned,
but are nevertheless insufficient to characterize it without the female
flowers or fruit.

4. Quercus (Lepidobalanus) Harlandi, Hance in Walp. Ann. Bot.
Syst. vol. iii. p. 382.

A tree in the Happy Valley woods.

5. Quercus (Gyrolecana) Okampioni, Benth., sp. n.; ramulis novellis
furfuraceo-tomentosis, foliis petiolatis obovatis oblongisve obtusis
coriaceis supra nitidis subtus lepidoto-incanis, amentis tomentosis
masculis subfasciculatis foemineis solitariis dissitifloris, cupulis to-
mentosis concentrice annulatis—<Ardor. Ramuli novelli subangulati,
tomento furfuraceo ferrugineo vestiti, demum teretes et canescentes.
Stipule subulate. Folia approximata, 2-3 poll. longa, circa 1 poll.
lata, omnia in speciminibus suppetentibus apice rotundata et obtusa, -
basi plus minus acutata, margine integerrima et’subrecurva, novella
supra lana furfuracea mox derasa vestita, adulta supra glaberrima et
nitida, subtus incana et lepidoto-tomentosa, venis primariis secus
costam utrinque 4-6 subtus prominulis et fere ad marginem attin-
gentibus, venulis vix conspicuis. Petioli 3-5 lin. longi. Amenta
mascula 13-9-pollicaria, ferrugineo-tomentosa. Flores sessiles, ap- —
proximati, subfasciculati. Perigonium semi-5-fidum. Stamina 6-8,
filamentis basi pilosis perigonium vix zequantibus. Amenta feminea —
masculis breviora. Flores 6-10, sessiles, involucro annulato brevi -
circumdati, squamis indistinctis. Perigonium urceolatum, 5-dentatum. _
Ovarium triloculare, styli ramis exsertis clavatis. Capsule fructus —
junioris incano-tomentosz, concentrice triannulate, glandulis non-

dum in specimine accretis.
A tree not uncommon in the woods of the Happy Valley, Victoria

VOL, VI. Q

114 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS,

Peak, ete. It differs from all the Gyrolecane known to me, in the
leaves, which are not unlike those of some of the larger entire-leaved
varieties of our Q. Ilex.

6. Quercus (Gyrolecana) salicina, Bl. Mus. Bot: vol. i. p. 304?

À common tree in the Happy Valley woods, and may be, as suspected
by Blume, a mere variety of Q. g/auca, Thunb., of which it has the
flowers and fruit, but with very much narrower leaves (mostly two to
three inches long, and four or five lines broad) and shorter petioles.

7. Quercus (Gyrolecana?) Eyrei, Champ., sp. n.; glaberrima, foliis
breviter petiolatis ovatis v. ovato-lanceolatis longe acuminatis pauci-
serratis coriaceis concoloribus nitidis, amentis maculis paniculato-ra-
mosis glabris dissitifloris.—.4rbor.: Folia 2-8 poll. longa, 1-14 poll.
lata, basi cuneata, petiolo 1-3 lin. longo, serraturis sub cuspide
paucis obtusis inzqualibus, venis primariis a costa divergentibus
utrinque 7—11 tenuibus longe intra marginem anastomosantibus,
rete venularum vix conspicuo. Panicula mascula ramosissima,
amentis virgatis 13-2 poll. longis, rhachi glaberrima, floribus omni-
bus distinetis sessilibus. Perigonium ssepius sexpartitum, foliolis
latis fere petaloideis glabris margine ciliolatis. Stamina 10-12,
longe exserta. ` Discus villosus:

Abundant in Wang-nai-chang wood, on the east side of Happy Valley.
The specimens have neither fruit nor female flowers to determine the
section to which it belongs, but the aspect is more that of a Gyrolecana
than of a Lepidolabanus, and it is probably allied to Q. glauca and Q.
salicina, though certainly distinct from both.

8. Quercus (Castaneopsis) fissa, Champ.; sp. n. ; foliis petiolatis ample
ellipticis calloso-pauciserratis supra glabris subtus tenuiter argenteo-

- lepidotis, amentis masculis glabris paniculatis, fructibus spicatis, cu-

. pulis ovoideis irregulariter zonatis glandem includentibus demum

. irregulariter fissis.—.4rbor, ramulis novellis subangulatis demum
~ teretibus glabris. Folia 6-8 poll. longa, 2-3 poll. lata, breviter et
obtuse acuminata, basi cuneata, supra viridia at non nitentia; venze

_ primarize a costa divergentes, utrinque circa 15 subtus prominule et
etiam supra conspicue, venule transverse subparallele przesertim in

_ pagina superiore evidentes, subtus indumento tenuissimo argentato
_y. interdum fere aureo obtectz. Panicula supra folium supremum

= sessilis et eo paullo brevior. Amenta mascula numerosa, subramosa.

_ Flores sessiles, dissiti, solitarii v. per 3-4 glomerati, plerique 6-par-

FLORULA .HONGKONGENSIS. 115

titi, foliolis subpetaloideis margine ciliolatis. Stamina 10-12, longe
exserta. Discus villosus. Amentum fæmineum in media panicula uni-
cum, masculis paullo brevius, floribus sessilibus solitariis dissitis.
Perigonium 5-partitum. Styli 3, vix basi connati, ovoidei, basi villosi.
Spica fructifera in specimine 5-pollicaris. Sguame coadunate in
cupulam ovoideam 8-9 lin. longam, fere clausam, extus zonatam et
leviter canescentem, intus sericeo-villosam, ad maturitatem in lacinias
latas obtusas irregulariter fissam. Glans ovoidea, semipollicaris, cas-
tanea, glabra. :

Abundant on the skirts of the Happy Valley woods.

9. Castanea concinna, Champ., sp. n.; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acu-
minatis integerrimis basi cuneatis coriaceis supra glabris subtus ra-
mulis inflorescentiaque incano-tomentosis, amentis subpaniculatis
masculis pluribus femineis brevibus solitariis terminalibus, fructu
echinato.— Arbor. Folia circa 3 poll. longa, 9 lin. lata, venis primariis
a costa divergentibus utrinque 12—15 subparallelis subtus prominu-
lis intra marginem evanescentibus, venulis inconspicuis. Petioli 2-3 —
lin. longi. Stipule subulatz, sericeo-piloswe, caducissime. Amenta
mascula 13—2-pollicaria, ad axillas foliorum nascentium solitaria, pa- —
niculam formant terminalem, ramulo quoque sepius amento femineo -
unico brevi terminato. Flores sessiles, pentameri, staminibus in
masculis circa 10 longe exsertis stylis in feemineis 3, linearibus ob-
tusis. Fructus aculeis fasciculato-ramosissimis densissime echinatus, :
maturitate valvatim hians, nuce glandiformi depresso-globoso solita-
rio pilis adpressis caducis leviter consperso.

In the Happy Valley woods, but rare.

10. Alnus? sp. n., affinis 4. Japonica, Sieb. et Zucc.

A single small specimen, with a few male amenta and very young
leaves, and consequently insufficient for exact determination or descrip-
tion. If a true Alnus, it must be very near to the A. Japonica, although
not identical as far as can be judged by a comparison with a Tg

specimen, with adult leaves communicated by Dr. Blume. E
11. Myrica rubra, Sieb. et Zuce. Fl. Jap. Fam. Nat. » 106, forma

foliis paullo latioribus et obtusioribus. — ;
Hongkong. These specimens agree with one Yom Japan, communi-

eated to me by the late Professor Zuccarini in every respect except
that the leaves are rather broader.. The foliage is very near that of

some varieties of the common East Indian M. integrifolia, Roxb. (M.

116 FLORULA HONGKONGENSIS.

sapida, Wall, but the male amenta are, as described by Zuccarini,
simple and cylindrical, about an inch long, whilst in M. integrifolia
they are always branched or compound. The fruits are also solitary
and globose, not racemose and ovoid.

CONIFERJE.
Pinus Sinensis, Lamb.—Endl. Conif. p. 185.
This tree forms the greater portion of the tree vegetation of the
Island.
GNETACE,
Gnetum funiculare, Sm.—Wight, Ic. t. 1955.
Common in the Happy Valley and on Victoria Peak, but rarely seen
in flower or fruit.

CHLORANTHACES.
Sarcandra chloranthoides, Gardn.— Wight, Ic. t. 1946 ?—Chloranthus
monander, Br.?
.. Inravines. The leaves are shorter and broader, and the spikes also
‘shorter and more dense than in the few East Indian specimens I have
seen; but I can find no other difference.

PrPERACEJX.

Chavica Sinensis, Champ., sp. n. ; foliis ovatis quintuplinerviis basi pro-
funde cordatis auriculis zequalibus rotundatis supra glabris subtus
molliter pubescentibus, amentis masculis brevissime pedunculatis re-
flexis.—Zamuli puberuli, demum glabrati. Folia 3—4 poll. longa,
13-2 poll. lata, obtusa, infra medium latiora, sinu baseos profundo
clauso, auriculis late rotundatis sese incumbentibus, crassiuscule mem-
branacea, supra glaberrima, subtus reticulata et pube brevi fere velu-
tina. Petioli 4—6 lin. longi. Amenta mascula pollicaria y. paullo
longiora, crassiuscula, pedunculo recurvo crasso vix 2 lin. longo.
Squame peltate, etiam subtus glabre. Stamina 9. Amenta feeminea
non vidi.
Ravines of Victoria Peak. "The specimens gathered are all males.

ARISTOLOCHIACEA.

= Aristolochia longifolia, Champ., sp. n. ; fruticosa, ramulis velutino-vil-

losis, foliis longe lanceolatis supra glabratis subtus sericeo-villosis,

INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 117

pedicellis fasciculatis, perigonii ampli extus villosi tubo cucullato-re-
fracto, labio late rotundato trilobo.—Frutex pedalis v. paullo altior,
trunco crasso nodoso cortice griseo levigato, ramulis laxis, junioribus
petiolis pedicellisque pube ferrugineo dense vestitis. Folia alterna,
8 poll. longa, 8-10 lin. v. rarius pollicem lata, apice acutata, basi
rotundata v. subcordata, supra vix pube tenuissima secus costam
scabriuscula, subtus pilis adpressis sericeo-villosa, reticulato-penniner-
via, costa prominente; petiolo semipollicari v. paullo longiore. Flores
ad basin ramorum hornotinorum fasciculati, ampli, speciosi. Pedi-
celli circa pollicem longi, recurvi, apice paullulum incrassati. Ova- —
rium 5—6 lin. longum, anguste turbinatum, dense villosum. Perigo-
nium extus pilosum, sordide albo-fuscescens, venis roseis reticula-
tum, intus atro-purpureum ; pars tubi recta sesquipollicaris, dein fere
usque ad basin refractum labio iterum surrecto, fere 23 poll. lato,
lobis 3 late rotundatis brevibus.

A very rare plant, growing in the clefts of rocks in ravines of Mount
Victoria. Major Champion only twice saw it in flower, in April 1848,
and in May 1849. It is the handsomest of all the East Indian 4ris- —
tolochiz, and remarkable as well for its broad labellum as for its long -
narrow leaves. The flowers, when withering, emit the fetid smell of an —
Arun. :

(To be continued.)

Report of a Journey or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd February, 1849;
by J. S. Roz, EsQ., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 88.)

what dry grass, growing amongst yeit-trees in
in diameter, having found nothing better than flags

animals were revelling in a beautiful patch of excellent though some-

one miles. We hailed this additional change in the features of
country with much satisfaction, good grass being invariably found
among the yeit, in a better description of soil. Although the day

118 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

yet young, I felt compelled to encamp here for the sake of the horses,
several of whom had fallen during the morning from absolute weakness.
From one of these, who had thus fallen, and had staked himself badly
in his ineffectual struggles to rise, a rough piece of dead wood was
extracted 43 inches long and three-quarters of an inch in diameter.
Amongst the changes perceptible hereabouts, we observed a greater
variety than heretofore in the nature and qualities of the soil, which,
from a general light sandy character amongst the salt lakes and sam-
phire marshes, had now become more clayey and loamy, and altogether
of-a better description. It was also satisfactory to find that we were
traversing a country capable of retaining fresh water at its surface, since
so little rain had fallen of late; we found the granite rocks were no
longer to be so fully relied upon as formerly, for those supplies which
we had hitherto chiefly depended on procuring from them. As we
advanced eastward next day, the country was.found more undulating,
and occasionally broken into large granite sheets, round one of which,
near our last camp,.was some good grass; but the general surface con-
tinued densely thick, and sorely tried our wearied and exhausted ani-
mals, for whom I greatly wished to procure a few days' rest and good
— feed. At the end of thirteen miles they could go no further, and I was
compelled to halt them once more in the tall scrub, with nothing better
than rushes, and without any water, nor did we prove successful in
procuring any of the latter by digging. Climbing a granite ridge im-
mediately over our camp, I looked out with much anxiety over the de-
solate space of not more than twenty miles, which still lay between us
and Russell Range, and turned over in my mind a list, far too long,
of those horses which I feared would never have strength to reach it.
Granite hills were abundant to the southward, within the same dis-

.. tance, but I cared nothing for them at the time; and to the north the

: interminable frowning scrubs presented an aspect anything but cheer-
. ing. The only relief. appeared in a small granite hill, sixteen long

— miles to the east; and as it was in the direction of our intended route,

I launched out for it early next morning, relying on a kind Providence
for aid, and on the unsubdued spirit and energy of my little party.
The poor horses staggered up to their saddling with a despondency
aud aspect which seemed to upbraid us with their treatment, and I -
felt. glad to escape from the misgivings which their appearance created
by commencing the toils of the journey. I should most gladly have

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 119

reconnoitred in advance on such occasions, but in so fearful a country
delays were utterly inadmissible, and to have halted the party would
have been certain destruction to the whole. Thus were we hurried on
from day to day, without its being possible to give the wearied horses
that rest which was almost indispensable to their very existence.
Travelling now ‘became difficult in the extreme. ` To avoid sapling
thickets, 12 to 15 feet high, so closely packed that axes only could
have opened a passage, we were compelled to take a more circuitous
route round them, and to force a way through scrubs of a more
yielding character. These were frequently so dense, that at the dis-
tance of three or four feet no part of a horse could be seen, and the
greatest care and watchfulness were necessary to keep them close to-
gether and in line. This work however could not last long, and when
half-way to the granite hill, four of the horses gave convincing proofs
of their inability to proceed another mile, by streaming out in those
profuse cold sweats which are always the forerunner of a complete and
fatal break-up. Thankful for the warning, the party was halted, the
complaining horses unloaded, and arrangements immediately made for
leaving behind everything that could possibly be dispensed with, in-
cluding the whole of our salt meat, which had formed the entire load
of one horse. But it was no easy matter to decide what, in our situ-
ation, could best be abandoned, our equipment being as light as pos-
sible, and not a single article carried that could in any view be deemed
superfluous. Some little time was necessarily occupied in completing -
these arrangements, and our salt meat was about to be triced up to the
trees destined to receive it, when the horses appeared so much revived
by their short respite, that I resolved to make one more trial to get on,
without the adoption of measures which might materially cripple the ul-
_ timate proceedings of the expedition. ; Distributing the loads therefore -
in proportion to the ability to carry weight, and every horse carrying a
pack, we cheered them on as well as we could, kept them all moving -
and in close line, and late in the afternoon halted at the foot of the -
hill where we had hoped to obtain relief. Here however we again
met with nothing but cruel disappointment: not a blade of grass was
to be found either over or around the hill, and a flattering appearance
of water proved to be a mere trickling over a large bare granite sheet, |. :
scarcely sufficient to wet its surface. Encamping among some rushes P
and scrub at this spot, in the vain hope of procuring water with Ww

120 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

spade, the horses were suffered to roam about the hill and pick up
what they could find, while I climbed to its summit for a view of the
surrounding country. Cheerless indeed was that view, and serious
were the apprehensions forced upon me for the safety of the whole of
the horses, in whose existence was likewise involved that of the party
placed under my charge. At the distance of only four miles, the pre-
cipitous mass of rock composing the Russell Range rose abruptly in a
bare, naked mass, to the height of 600 feet out of the surrounding
scrubby plains, and not a blade of grass or the least appearance of
fresh water were anywhere to beseen. Thickets and scrub, interspersed
with sand-plains and salt lakes, covered the face of the country, except
where numerous granite hills disturbed the uniformity of the southern
horizon, like so many bare rocky islands rising abruptly out of the sea.
We had observed natives' smokes rising up about this spot from a dis-
tance, or I should now have left all our heaviest articles and hastened
our dying horses on until I found both food and water for them; but
not caring to run so great a risk of losing our provisions, and feeling
that one false move, in our critical situation, would compromise the
safety of the whole party, the last of the small quantity of water we
had carried was doled out for breakfast, and early on the morning of
the 23rd, the party was moving on to ascertain the worst.

Making for the nearest part of the Range, the bush became fortu-
nately more open, and freely admitted the passage of our exhausted
and desponding animals, who staggered along under their unequal
loads, as if it were the last effort they could make. Our greatest pre-
sent anxiety was to keep them from falling or lying down, as, when
once down, they were with great difficulty got on their legs again.
Finding, on a nearer approach to the Range, that we had not been
. deceived as to its utter sterility on. this side, we hastened towards a
clump of yeit and casuarina trees at the south end; and there, to our
great joy, found abundance of excellent grass in a small thickly-wooded
ravine, the bottom of which was occupied by a narrow rocky water-
course. Here the party were immediately encamped; the horses re-
quired no bidding to feed after their long abstinence; and while one
party was despatched round the east side of the Range, in search of
- water, another plied the spade in those spots giving most promise of
it. Leaving one man to keep the camp, I then followed up the water-
course in the ravine: this however proved most unprofitable, and,

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 191

after much scrambling and climbing, was found to issue from a small
deep cavern in the mountain, so defended by thicket and tangle as to
be scarcely approachable. It was quite dry, and the spade produced
lower down only a very small quantity of brackish water, of a yellow
colour. That water was somewhere in the neighbourhood there ap-
peared little doubt, by several natives' fires having started up at little
more than a mile from us; and we were discussing a place for beating
up their quarters, when Lee and Bob returned from their excursion
round the Range, with the joyful news they had found a splendid run
of excellent water near its north-east extremity, with grass in the same
neighbourhood. Reloading, we lost no time in proceeding to the spot ;
and I had once more the gratification of encamping in a situation
where the horses could recruit their exhausted energies, and prepare
for the remainder of their journey. No sight could have been more
weleome to us at the moment than this beautiful run of pure, cool, fresh
water cascading down from the highest part of the range immediately
above, and forming various lodgments in small clear pools, in which
several of our poor horses immersed nearly their entire heads.
Although the feed hereabouts was neither first-rate nor abundant, I
felt it necessary to remain four days to recruit and refit, and had the satis-
faction to find our stud improve rapidly in spirit, although not much -
in appearance. The rest was of most essential service, not only to
their weary limbs, but to their sore backs, in the constant attention to
which neither time nor labour was spared. Every effort was made to
remedy the defects in our pony pack-saddles, to make them fit the
horses better; but we could effect little real good in this respect, beyond
fresh arranging their padding. Our saddle-bags were also in so di-
lapidated a state, that we were almost at our wits’ ends for devising
the means of making them hold together. Bex
While these operations were in progress, I lost no opportunity of col-
lecting materials for my survey of the country, adding to the collections ©
in geology, botany, ete., and making as many astronomical observations |
as our limited stay and the state of the heavens would permit. The
result of the latter showed that, by four different stars, a lofty flat-topped
peak, near the N.E. end of the range under which we had encamped,
was in latitude 33? 27' 15” S., and longitude by chart 193? 24 E.; the
variation of the magnetic needle, by means of nine azimuths, 2° 46’ W.
On ascending the peak, this section of the range was found to consist |
VOL. VI. Re oe

122 INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

of a sharp, narrow ridge of rugged, steep rocks, about 14 mile in
length, N. by E. and S. by W., with sides rising in many parts at an
angle of less than 45? to the summit. Having seen no land that
better deserves the name, I conclude this is the hill which Mr. Eyre,
the original discoverer of the Russell Range from the coast, called
Mount Ragged. It is a somewhat loose mass of laminated quartz
and micaceous schist, dipping to the W. by. N., at an angle of 7 or 8
degrees from the vertical, and intersected by numerous quartz veins,
traversing the mount in various directions. The summit is about 600
- feet above the base, and the latter 400 feet above the level of the sur-
rounding limestone plains. Several remarkable transverse rents are also
observable, extending from the summit to its base, and combining with
other appearances to lead to a belief that the whole mass is rapidly
breaking up. The other hills of this range are of similar aspect and
composition, but of less elevation, and lie in a detached group 4 or 5
miles to the N.E.; the intermediate and surrounding country being
covered as before with thickets and scrub, presenting an horizon 30
miles distant in the N.E. and N.W. quarters, unbroken by a single
rise. In the opposite quarters appeared the mighty ocean, studded
with many islands of the Recherche Archipelago, and numerous reefs,
both covered and dry. The low sandy coast about Point Malcolme
seemed to be not more than 15 miles distant in the S.E., and several
fires of the natives smoked up amongst its sand-hills, and along the
coast further to the N.E: behind which rose some granite hills of con-
siderable elevation, similar to those which now appeared in view
behind Capes Pasley and Arid. Amongst them I directed my glass
long and attentively, but in vain, in the hope of discovering some in-
ducement for prolonging my journey to the eastward; for although I
had then the satisfaction of standing upon the spot pointed out in my in-
structions as the eastern limit for present exploration, I should not have
hesitated to exercise a discretion in proceeding further eastward, had
appearances and prospects in the least encouraged an advance. Such
however was unfortunately not the case, not the slightest appearance of
a grassy tract of country was visible in any direction, and our horses
had already had too much taken out of them to warrant any further
risking their lives by prolonging the examination of so fearful and im-
practieable a country. "They had already traversed fully 1000 miles of
country since leaving the Swan, and had as much more in prospect
before they could reach it again.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 123

From this point therefore I determined on returning to Cape Riche
by a more southerly route, for the purpose of intercepting and examin-
ing any rivers or streams that might fall into the coast.

(To be continued.)

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

First General Report of the Government Botanist, Dr. F. MULLER, on
the VEGETATION OF THE COLONY or VICTORIA, in Australia; com-
municated by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Chief Secretary for
the Colonies.

[We cannot too highly appreciate the service rendered to Botanical
Science by Mr. La Trobe, late Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, in this
appointment of so able and indefatigable a Botanist as Dr. Müller, to
the office in question ; and we can only hope that his example will be
followed by other Colonial Governors, and with an equal prospect of
usefulness.— Ep. ]

Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, 5th September, 1853,

Srz,—In obedience to His Excellency’s command, I have the
honour to transmit to you my General Report, partly compiled from
those documents which I forwarded on several occasions during my
journey, from February until June last, and partly resting on the sub-
sequent examination of the specimens which I brought home.

Before I enter into any details on the classification of our indige-
nous vegetable world, on its relation in comparison with the plants of -
the adjacent countries, and on the practical uses to which we might
possibly apply many of its productions, it may be considered necessary
to delineate the route which I pursued during my last expedition. —

I proceeded, at first, with deviations from the usual road wherever it —
appeared favourable for my pursuits, to Futter’s Range, which presents, —
like some other granitic mountains in its vicinity, a host of very pecu- ——
liar plants. Thence I directed my course to May Day Hills, from
which place I advanced, after a brief stay, to the Buffalo Ranges, where —
I ascended Mount Aberdeen and another peak more than 4,000 feet ——
high, and examined the rich, almost tropical vegetation which borders -
the rivers rising in the mountains. It was in this locality that our

134 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

exertions were rewarded with the discovery of the high, majestic Gre-
villea Victorie, and other rarities. Indications of gold have been ob-
served here, as well as in some parts of Gipps’ Land which I subse-
quently visited. The Superintendent of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens,
who was engaged during this part of the journey in collecting seeds,
here quitted me, being obliged to return homeward to resume his duties
at the Botanic Gardens.

As Mount Aberdeen offered hardly any plants of a true Alpine cha-
racter, I resolved to ascend Mount Buller, whose summits, at an ele-
vation of more than 5000 feet, are covered throughout the greater
part of the year with snow. ‘Travelling quite alone since leaving the
Buffalo Ranges, the ascent was not accomplished without considerable
danger. But I was delighted to observe here, for the first time, this
continent’s alpine vegetation, which in some degree presented itself as
analogous with the Alpine Flora of Tasmania (Ranunculus Gunnianus,
Euryomyrtus alpina, Celmisia astelifolia, Gentiana Diemensis, Podocar-
pus montana, Trisetum antarcticum, etc.), and which was also by no
means destitute of its own peculiar species (Phebalium podocarpoides,
Goodenia cordifolia, Hovea gelida, Oxylobium alpestre, Brachycome niva-
lis, Anisotome glacialis, etc.). Remarkably enough, only one of these
exhibits any similarity to the singular subalpine forms discovered by Sir
Thomas Mitchell on the Australian Grampians. Mount Buller had
never before been scientifically explored; and Mount Aberdeen, up to
this time, had not even been ascended.

After some other less elevated mountains in the neighbourhood had

' been also botanically examined, I resumed my journey along the Goul-
burn River and some of its tributaries to the King Parrot Creek, where
I crossed the Yarra Ranges. The unusually heavy rainfall in the
autumn would have frustrated any attempt to reach, as I then contem-
plated, the Alpine mountains of Gipps’ Land, and I considered it there-
fore more advisable, at the already advanced season, to devote my time
rather to the examination of the maritime plants which are in an
almost equal state of development throughout the year.

I went, accordingly, for some distance along the La Trobe River,
to the south-eastern coast of Gipps’ Land, passing some rich ravines,
luxuriantly filled with two species of tree-fern, A/sophila australis and
Dicksonia antarctica ; the former of which seemingly never accompanies
the Dicksonia far inland, but remains in those valleys which slope

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 125

towards the sea. Notwithstanding these geographical limits, the 4/so-
phila, occupying generally the drier localities on the hills, recommends
itself better for transplanting.

After several weeks’ travelling in the neighbourhood of Port Albert,
and many excursions through Wilson's Promontory, I quitted Gipps’
Land, returning homeward along the coast.

This journey, the lines of which extended over more than 1500
miles, enriched so much my collections formed during the spring that
they comprise probably now more than half the indigenous vegetation
of this Colony. For, according to the Index which I have annexed, —
including also several plants discovered previously by Sir Thomas Mit-
chell and by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, there are known
to me now already 715 species of Dicotyledonee, belonging to 286 genera
and 83 Natural Orders; 201 species of Monocotyledonea, comprehend-
ing 100 Genera and 21 Natural Orders; and 47 Ferns, containing 27
genera. About fifty other species, however, which I have not included
in this general account, are not yet so strictly examined as to receive
their true systematic position, and are consequently not enumerated in
the list; while fifty others, not indigenous, but introduced species
(marked with *), are likewise not taken into account, although they are
not only naturalized beyond the possibility of extirpation, but even
overpower the more tender indigenous plants. I regret that I was also
obliged to omit from this Index all the lower Acotyledonee (Mosses,
Lichenastra, Lichens, Algz, and Fungi), to the amount of at least 200
species, of which I could examine this winter too few to display ihem
in a systematic arrangement. The full amount of species therefore :
considerably exceeds 1100, belonging, with exclusion of the above-
mentioned -Acotyledonee and the foreign plants, to no less than 430
Genera and 108 Natural Orders,—proportions which far surpass those —
of Western Australia, where more than twice this number of species -
(according to the collections of Dr. Preiss) are only divided into precisely
the same number of genera already discovered here (430), and only _
into 91 families. anh righ teratern Pei heit s

The Index might have been inereased without difficulty to a two- —
fold number of names; but through a long-continued examination of
the Australian plants in a living state, I had the advantage of learning —
how great is the uncertainty of many characteristies, which are deemed, —
even by our greatest authorities in science, sufficient for distinction. —

126 : BOTANICAL INFORMATION,

According to the annexed enumeration, the proportion of the Dicotyle-
donee to the Monocotyledonee will be found, for that part of the country
over which my investigations this year extended, to be nearly as seven to
two, and it corresponds, therefore, exactly with the position which these
great divisions of the Vegetable Kingdom bear to each other in South
Australia up to the thirty-fourth degree south latitude (as shown in my ©
observations on the South Australian Flora, lately read before the
Linnean Society of London), and holds, likewise, the mean between
the proportions ascertained by Robert Brown for Van Diemen’s Land
and New South Wales; while in Western Australia, as well as in South
Australia, including the country there to the thirty-first degree south
latitude, the number of the Dicotyledonee exceeds in the proportion of
nine to two that of the Monocotyledonce.

The Cryptogamic plants, however, favoured by a more humid atmo-
sphere, are twice as numerous in our province as in the last-mentioned
Colonies, being about equal to a third of the Dicotyledonee.

Excluding all Cryptogamie plants, not fewer than 200 species, as
testified by the Index, are proved to be as yet undescribed. Some of
these occurred to me in South Australia; and the descriptions- of
several others will probably find a place in Dr. J. Hooker's fortheoming
‘Flora of Van Diemen's Land.’ These novelties enabled me already
to establish seven new genera (Pseudomorus, Basileophyta, Pheoleuca,
Tetrachæta, Minuranthus, Psoraleopsis, and Rhytidosporum).

- The descriptions, not only of almost all the new plants, but also critical
notes and observations on the phyto-geographical range of the species
already known, will be forwarded to Sir William Hooker before my de-
parture for the interior, and will afterwards constitute, together with
the scientifie elucidations of such plants as may be added during the
ensuing season from the yet botanically unexplored districts, the foun-
dation of ‘The Flora of Victoria. .

(To be continued.)

Death of Professor Reinwardt. .
We regret to have to announce the recent decease of Dr. C. G. C.
Reinwardt, Professor of Natural History in the University of Leyden,
distinguished as a Botanist by his researches in Java, and various pub-
lications.

127

J NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Fragmenta Florule Ai thiopico-Angyptiane ex plantis precipue ab Antonio
Figaro, M.D., Museo I. R. Florentino, missis; auctore PHILIPPO
BARKER WEBB,

In this little work, from the able pen of Mr. Barker Webb, we have a
valuable contribution to our acquaintance with the vegetation of Africa,
the tropical parts of which are by degrees becoming more known to
us by the zeal and energy of successive travellers. M. Figari, whose
collections are here described, has been long a resident in Egypt, and
has travelled over a great part of that country, and of the provinces to
the south, almost as far as the equator. His collections are partly
from the desert regions of Middle Egypt, and partly from the Ethio-
pian provinces of Kordofan and Fazogli. The enumeration, which is
incomplete, will, we trust, be continued, though we do not perceive
any direct engagement to that effect; for the present it closes with
Ehamnacee and Terebinthacee (following the arrangement of DC.), and
includes about 140 species, of which rather more than one-half are
Ethiopian ; of these 15 are new, or at least published for the first time,
for many of them have been named by Hochstetter in Kotschy’s dis-
tributed collections, which appear to contain a large proportion of the
species collected by M. Figari.

According to the data afforded by these collections, there would
appear to be a marked difference between the vegetation of the Egyp-
tian desert, and that of the provinces near the sources of the White
Nile. Thus, while the Crucifere, Resedacee, Caryophyliee, and Gera-
niacee of the present enumeration are all, with very few exceptions,
natives of Egypt, the great majority of Capparidee and Malvaceae, and —
all the Sapindacee, Ampelidee, and Polygalacea, are Ethiopian. Mal-
vaceé are very largely represented, the number of species being 35.

' We observe little that calls for notice among the Orders described in
the work. Several new species of Crucifere are described; and we find -
some important remarks on the limits of genera in that group, which,
it is well known, has been a special study of the author. Under Oli-
gomeris of Cambessédes, we find descriptions of four species of that
genus, the Indian, Egyptian, Canarian, and Californian being consi-

128 E NOTICES OF BOOKS.

dered all distinct. It is however, we think, probable that the three
former, at all events, are identical, and that the range will be found to
be continuous from the Punjab to Western Africa.

Mr. Webb has appended to the list of plants an introductory disser-
tation, which presents some interesting details respecting the different
travellers who have investigated the flora of Ethiopia, and a narrative
of the districts visited by M. Figari during his twenty years’ residence
in Egypt. We gather from this Introduction, that a forthcoming work
by the same traveller, on the physical geography and geology of Egypt,
will afford much important information on the geography of plants.
That he is fully competent to throw light on these subjects, is evident,
from the extracts of his letters published by Mr. Webb.

M. Figari states that the Egyptian flora may be divided into four
regions, characterized by different forms of vegetation :—1. The region
of the Nile valley, containing many Nubian and southern plants.
2. The granitic flora of the east coast, characterized by Arabian and
Abyssinian plants, many of which are very local. 3. The limestone
flora of the Desert. And, 4. The Mediterranean flora.

The species of Acacia, which are indigenous in Egypt, are, we learn,
six in number. 1. 4. Seyal, Delile, which is common throughout the

Desert, from Cairo to Wadi Reimel, but which never leaves the lime- `

stone tract. 2. Further south and east occurs a species which is often
confused with <. Seyal, but is easily distinguished by being not a shrub,
but a tall tree, by its white (not yellow) flowers, and by its faleate, spi-
rally-twisted pods. This species, which first appears at Kossier, grows
on the granite hills near the coast. It produces a red resinous gum,
like kino. 3. 4. heterocarpa, an undershrub, with very beautiful yellow
and reddish flowers, which is a native of the neighbourhood of Kosseir,
. and of the Emerald Mountains. 4. A species which was formerly
confounded with .4. Seyal (to which indeed, and to the second species,
it appears very closely allied), it is a shrub, with odorous flowers,
and yields a red gum; it is found near Kossier, and becomes more
abundant to the southward. 5. Æ. albida, Delile, which is confined to
the banks of the Nile. 6. 4. Nilotica, Delile, which is plentiful through-
out Nubia, and produces true Gum Arabic.

Fitch del ct lith. Vincent Brocks imp

1 Lentinus inguinans Berk. 2Pokperus sruamaeformis Berk.

Vol VI. Pl. Vli.

Vincent Brooks Imp.

Fitch del.ct lith.

dyceps racemosa Berk.

Berk.

i 4 Sclerographrum aterrimum .

Sdus.Berk. 3Cor

LLentimas rani

2.C falcata Berk

129

DEcapzs or Funet; dy the Rev. M. J. BERKELEY, M.A., F.L.S.
Decades XLI.-XLIII.
Indian Fungi.
(Continued from vol. iv. p. 142.)
(With two Plates, Tas. VII., VIIL.)

The present ten Decades comprise the remainder of the Fungi col-
lected by Dr. Hooker and Dr. Thomson in various parts of the Hima-
layas and the Indian Peninsula, to which are added a few numbers of
species gathered in Ceylon by Mr. Thwaites. Only a single new genus
occurs in the whole century, which is very remarkable, considering the
large number of new species.

401. Agaricus (Lepiota) montosus, n. s. ; pileo convexo obtuso, ver-
rucis magnis pyramidatis crassis exasperato ; stipite curto subzequali
grosse verrucoso ; lamellis postice attenuatis liberis vel subadnexis.

Has. On the ground. Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 24 inches across, convex, very obtuse, fleshy, rough with large
coarse pyramidal warts, which at length become corky. Stem 2 inches
high, 4 of an inch thick, curved, sprinkled with a few large warts,
slightly rooting, but not tuberous. Ring ample, deflexed. Gills at-
tenuated behind. Acquiring a slight tawny tint in drying. Allied to
^ A. Vittadini, but differing in its less stately habit, and in the stem —
having only a few very large warts.

* 4. (Tricholoma) subpulverulentus, P:

Has. On the ground, near Sassar, in Tibet, 16,000 feet. August —
12, 1848. (Dr. Thomson.) Found also by Captain Strachey.

* A, (Collybia) longipes, Bull. t. 232.

Has. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

* 4. (Pleuropus) dryinus, P. :

- Has. On trees, near Avantipura, Kashmir. Dr. Thomson. M *
1848. . $

* A. (Pleurotus) salignus, P.

Has. Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.) . | 5

A single specimen only, about 7 inches across, with a slightly lobed .
outline. The gills are distinct at the base, and the very short stem is-

rather strigose.
* A. (Pleurotus) petaloides, Bull. t. 226, 557.

VOL, VI.

130 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Has. On dead wood, East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

* A. (Hebeloma) auricomus, Batsch, f. 21.

Has. On the ground at Karsar, in the Nubra Valley, Tibet. July
24, 1848. (Dr. Thomson.)

* A. (Flammula) sapineus, Fr.

Has. Simla. August 27, 1849. (Dr. Thomson.)

* 4. (Naucoria) cerodes, Fr. :

Has. Le and Valley of the Indus. July, 1848. (Dr. Thomson.)

Spores bright, of a pure golden-brown under the lens, 44553 of an
inch in diameter.

A closely allied species occurred at Karsar, in the Nubra Valley,
July 24, 1848, with spores of an equally pure yellow, but only 44555
of an inch long.

402. 4. (Naucoria) Khasiensis, n. s. ; pileo convexo subumbonato
subcarnoso; stipite elongato flexuoso solido ; lamellis latis ventricosis
adnexis ochraceo-cinnamomeis. Hook. fil., Ic. Ser. 3, No. 7.

Has. Khasia Mountains, amongst grass. Kala Panee, 5000 feet.
June 28, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.)

Inodorous, brittle. Pileus 3 of an inch broad, convex, subhemi-
spherical with a minute umbo, fleshy, yellow, shaded with brick-red,
dry; flesh yellow. Stem flexuous, 5 inches high, 1 line thick, yellow,
solid. Gills ventricose, ochraceous-cinnamon, ascending, adnexed.
Spores bright ochraceous, sss of an inch long, subelliptic.

Resembling .4. cerodes and .4. melinoides, but distinguished by its
solid stem, more fleshy pileus, and adnexed vantsincde gills. It con- —
tracts prodigiously in drying.

403. 4. (Psalliota) fulviceps, n. s.; totus folvellób ; pileo convexo :
obtusissimo floccoso-squamoso ; stipite sursum attenuato transversim
floccoso ; annulo fugaciori medio; lamellis subangustis.

Has. On the ground. Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)

Whole plant of a light tawny, inclining to rufous. Pileus 1} inch
across, convex, very obtuse, broken up into floccose scales, sometimes
all over, but occasionally at the apex only. Stem 14 inch high, 4 of
an inch thick, transversely floccose, attenuated upwards. Ring attached
in the centre, rather fugacious. Gills not broad; spores pnus short,
broadly subcymbiform, 5,55 of an inch long.

Resembling such Lepiote as A. polysticta. A very neat species.

* A. (Hypholoma) fascicularis, Huds.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 131

Has. Simla. August 27, 1849. Dr. Thomson.

* 4. (Psathyrella) gracilis, Fr.

Has. On the ground. Karsar in the Nubra Valley, Tibet. July
24, 1848. (Dr. Thomson.)

Spores 45.5; inch long, of a deep brownish-purple.

404. Lactarius stramineus, n. s. ; totus stramineus ; pileo carnoso in-
fundibuliformi glabro; stipite subeequali obtuso, mycelio albo byssoideo ;
lamellis angustis. Hook. fil., Ic. Ser. 3, No. 34.

Has. On the ground, alt. 5000 feet. Pomrang, Khasia Mountains.
September 18, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.)

Of a beautiful pale straw-colour; pileus 2-3 inches across, smooth,
infundibuliform, repand; flesh rather thick. Stem 13-2 inches high,
about 4 an inch thick, solid, smooth; mycelium white, consisting of
delicate down. Gills scarcely a line broad.

Nearly allied to L. piperatus, but differing in its straw-coloured tint,
smaller size, and greater delicacy. The figure was formerly referred to
L. vellereus, in consequence of some unmarked specimens of that species
which were supposed to belong to it. I do not find the gills branched.

* L. princeps, Berk.

Àn examination of the specimens shows No. 12 to be the old state
of No. 16. In all, the pileus and stem are clothed with very fine
velvety hairs. . y

405. Lentinus Nepalensis, n. s.; pileo infundibuliformi spongioso-
velutino setis subfascieulatis hispido ; stipite longo gracili dense setoso
parcius spongioso-tomentoso ; lamellis distantibus integerrimis pallidis
glabris, basi cum stipite setoso confluentibus.

Has. On dead wood. Nangki, East Nepal, alt. 9000 feet. No-
vember 13, 1848. (Dr. Hooker.) :
Pileus 24. inches broad, infundibuliform, thin, coriaceous, clothed with
short dense pale spongy down, from which spring brown bristles singly -
or in fascicles; margin involute. Stem 3 inches or more high, scarcely -
4 thick, finely downy, like the pileus, especially at the base, and densely

setose, the bristles reaching some way up the gills. Gills pale,

smooth, distant, moderately broad, quite entire, acutely decurrent.
Resembling L. Hookerianus, but a more graceful plant, with broader
and more distant gills. In Z. fasciatus the bristles are paler, not deep
brown, and the stem is rather inclined to be attenuated downward,
besides being in proportion far shorter. 2

132 DECADES OF FUNGI.

* L. Lecomtei, Fr.

Has. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.) < A single small specimen. :

406. L. prerigidus, n. s. ; fasciculatus; pileo excentrico umbilicato
rigido squamuloso antice geton, margine repando; stipite brevi-furfu-
raceo basi nigricante ; lamellis latiusculis distantibus subintegris.

Has. On dead wood. Soane River; Behar. (Dr. Hooker.)

Fasciculate. Pileus excentric, very rigid, umbilicate, clothed with
short pale down, dotted with little scales composed of darker bristles,
which towards the edge become a close tawny pile; border repand.
Stem short, scarcely exceeding an inch in height, 1-1 an inch thick,
black at the base, furfuraceous, not rooting. Gills distant, decurrent,
not anastomosing at the base or only very slightly, scarcely forked ; ex-
treme edge uneven, thin, but not strongly toothed.

A magnificent species, with the habit of Lentinus Sajor-Caju, and re-
sembling at first sight some form of L. tigrinus. The gills in the

: dried specimen are umber. (Tas. VIII. fig. 1.)

407. L. inquinans, n. s.; pileo infundibuliformi spadiceo-velutino
postice glabrescente, verrucis fuscis primum polygonis hic illie aspero,
margine involuto; stipite duro subvelutino glabrescente, lamellis dis-

— tantibus furcatis integerrimis setosis.

Has. On dead wood, to which it adheres firmly. Mai Valley, East
Nepal, alt. 5000 feet. November 7, 1848. Changachelling, alt. 7000
feet, Jan. Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)

Inodorous. Pileus 4~5 inches across, infundibuliform, clothed with
short velvety brown pubescence mixed with bristles, at length smooth
behind, slightly grooved when old, sprinkled with polygonal brown
warts, which are more or less persistent to the last, though becoming
gradually flatter; margin involute; juice staining the hands of a rhu-
. barb-yellow colour. Stem 11-2 inches high, 4—5 lines thick, hard,
Woody, obscurely velvety, transversely scaly, the scales and pubescence

running up to the very base of the gills and sometimes reflected there,
as if originally forming a slight ring, and continued doubtless with the
_ substance of which the warts are formed, perfectly solid, pale. Gills

about two lines broad, distant, decurrent, but not very acutely, and
. continued only a short way down the stem, quite entire, forked once or
twice, velvety with short dark bristles. The colour of the pileus and

* - gills when dry is of a rich brown, varying here and poss to rufous :
_ l have no notes as to the original colour.

DECADES OF FUNGI. < 188

- This is, perhaps, the most beautiful of all the Zentini, singular for

its warty prominences and for its property of staining the hands. It
resembles in some respects Agaricus verrucarius, the figure-of which
gives a good idea of it, if a velvety down mixed with short bristles be
added on the edge. Where the velvety substance is worn off, the sur-
face is quite smooth and shining. Old specimens somewhat resemble
Lentinus badius, but the warty pileus is an evident distinctive character
without entering on other points. In dried specimens a pellicle
separates from the umbilicus, carrying the warts with it and leaving
the pileus smooth. (Tas. VII. fig. 1.)

* Panus, sp.

Has. On dead timber. Lahore. (Dr. Thomson.)

Pileus umbilicate ; stem distinct, not hirsute. The specimens are not
in a sufficiently good state to determine the species.

408. Xerotus lobatus, n. s. ; brunneus; pileo reniformi tenui lobato
pallescente; stipite laterali brevissimo albido-tomentoso vel obsoleto ;
lamellis distantibus, interstitiis levibus subrugosisque, lamellulis subra-
diantibus.

Has. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

Chocolate-brown, solitary or imbricated. Pileus 1 inch or more broad,
3-4 long, reniform, lobed, paler than the hymenium, thin, flexible,
marked with lines answering to the gills. Stem extremely short,
lateral, clothed with white down, or entirely obsolete. Gills distant, .
moderately broad, the smaller ones often radiating from the larger ones ;
interstices either even or slightly wrinkled.

In well-grown specimens the disposition of the smaller gills re-
sembles that in Agaricus radiatilis, and gives a peculiar aspect to the
species,

* Schizophyllum commune, Fr.

Has. On dead wood. Paras Nath, Behar, alt, 3000 feet. or E

Hooker.)
* Lenzites applanata, yn
Has. Sikkim; Leebong, alt. 6000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)
* L. repanda, Fr.
Has. East Nepal, 6000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)
-409. L. ochrophyllus, n. s.; pileo subreniformi crasso suberos0,

disco orbiculari affixo albido subzonato glabrescente subnitido ; lamellis :
latis crassis furcatis ochroleucis. uec

134 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Has. Sikkim, on dead charred wood. Darjeeling, alt. 7500 feet.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus $ inches across, 3 long, subreniform, attached by an orbicular
disc, corky, dirty white, at length smooth and slightly shining, ragged
behind, marked towards the margin with a few zones; edge acute.
Gills 4 of an inch broad, thick, rigid, forked, ochraceous.

Resembling externally Lenzites repanda, but the gills are like those
of L. betulina.

410. L. eximia, Berk. et Curt. MS. ; pileo tenui rigidiusculo flabelli-
formi, disco orbiculari affixo umbrino glabro sericeo-nitido zonato ;
lamellis concoloribus furcatis repando-dentatis.

Has. On dead wood, Sikkim; Darjeeling, 7500 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 3—4 inches broad, 21 long, flabelliform, subdecurrent, fixed by —
a central dise, rather rigid, thin, smooth, shining with a silky lustre,
umber, repeatedly and closely zoned; margin acute, often striate ; sub-
stance thin, pale umber. Gills thin, repeatedly forked, broadly
emarginate at each division, of the same colour as the pileus, often
forming pores at the base; edge very acute.

This species agrees in many respects with L. tricolor, but it has not
the bright colours of that fungus. The specimens from South Carolina
are smaller, but identical. There is also some resemblance to J.
Klotzschii, which has thicker gills and differently arranged.

* L. pallida, Berk.

Has. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. geram.

The specimens are young, and the lamelle not yet formed.

* L. acuta, Berk.

Has. Khasia Mountains, Nunklow, 4000 feet, July 12, 1850..
(Dr. Hooker.)

A single specimen only.

411. L. subferruginea, n. s. ; pileo flabelliformi apodo ferrugineo-gilvo
adpresse subtomentoso antice zonato intus rhabarbarino ; lamellis fur-
catis sublignosis.

Has. On dead wood, Khasia Mountains. Moflong. July 2, 1850.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 2 inches or more broad, 14 inch long, rather thin, rigid,
minutely adpresso-tomentose, reddish-grey, with a ferruginous tint,
zoned in front; margin very acute. Substance ferruginous-yellow.
Gills of the same colour as the pileus, rigid, moderately broad, forked.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 135

The colours approach those of L. sepiaria, but the pileus is not at
all scabrous. The habit is that of Z. striata.

* L. imbricata, Fr.

Has. Sikkim; Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

The specimens are old, and seem to be the same with authentic
samples from Fries, but it is very difficult in this genus to form any
judgment from old washed individuals.

* Boletus furfuraceus, Berk. in Hook. Journ. 1852, p. 187.

The pores are decurrent, so that the whole space above the ring is
more or less reticulate. The spores are elongated, about 441,3 of an
inch long.

412. B. flavipes, n.s.; pileo convexo pallide fusco-luteo; stipite in-
curvo cavo flavo-pulverulento ; tubulis adnexis sordide flavis.

Has. Khasia Mountains, on the ground. Myrong. July, 1850.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Inodorous. Pileus 2 inches across, convex, dry, pale fuscous-yellow,
of a firm but rather soft consistence. Stem 14 inch high, incras-
sated upwards, curved, hollow, clothed with a very thin bright yellow
meal. Pores moderately long, rather large. Spores subelliptie, 45555
of an inch long.

A pretty species, distinguished by its yellow hollow stem. The stem
resembles that of B. Ravenelii, Berk. et Curt.

413. B. pusillus, n. s. ; pusillus totus albidus; pileo convexo sub-
hemisphzrico puberulo; stipite deorsum incrassato; carne e flavo cæ-
ruleo. Hook. fil., Ic. Ser. 8, No. 2. B.

Has. Khasia Mountains, on the ground. Moflong. June 29,
1850. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 1 inch across, minutely downy, convex, subhemispherical.
Stem incrassated below, 1} inch high, nearly $ an inch thick. Flesh
yellow, changing to China indigo blue when cut. Pores moderately _
long, adnate. Dissepiments thick; edge obtuse. Spores elongated,
335; Of an inch long. :

Differing from B. miltinus, which it somewhat resembles in the
pores being of the same colour as the pileus, and in its longer and more

414. B. verrucarius, n. s.; pileo convexo crasso verrucis magnis
spongiosis exasperato ; stipite incurvo brevi; tubulis longis amplis sub-
liberis. 1

136 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Has. On the ground. Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 3-6 inches across, convex, thick, dise tan-coloured, rough,
with large thick warts. Stem incurved, 13-3 inches high, 4—4 of an
inch thick, rather incrassated at the base, nearly even. Pores long,
large, rounded behind, nearly free. Spores dark yellow, brown, elon-
gated, z355 of an inch long.

À magnificent species, remarkable for its warty surface, small stem,
and large spores. It comes nearest to B. gigas, in which the surface
is very different, and the spores are smaller.

* B. areolatus, Berk.

Spores minute, elliptic, 41. of an inch long. Stem truly reticu-
lated in large specimens.

* B. scrobiculatus, Berk. 1. c. p. 139.

Spores about 4:315; of an inch long, elongated. Old specimens have
somewhat the appearance of Strobilomyces, but the spores are very dif-
ferent.

* B. squamatus, B. 1. c. p. 137. :

The spores in this species are of a bright ferruginous ochre, like
those of Cortinarii, oblong, and about iss Of an inch long. -

* Strobilomyces nigricans, B. l.c. p. 139.

Spores 441; of an inch long.

415. Polyporus (Mesophus) nodipes, n. s. ; pileo carnoso umbilicato
orbiculari subtiliter fuliginoso-flocculoso, margine involuto ; stipite com-
muni tuberoso nodoso; poris hexagonis mediis.

Haz. On the ground. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

- Pileus fleshy, growing three or four together from one common stem,
orbicular, umbilicate, clothed with very minute brownish pubescence,
paler in the centre, 3 inches or more across; margin involute. Com-
mon stem very short, continued from a knotty, cylindrical, erect, or
oblique tuber, an ineh or more thick, and two or three inches long.

. Pores pale, shallow, subhexagonal, middle-sized.

Allied to P. subsquamosus, but distinguished by its tuberous, knotty
stem, absence of scales, ete. In an early stage of growth the pileus
and decurrent hymenium form a turbinate mass ; but, as the pileus ex-
pands, the hymenium becomes more distinct, and there is thus little or
any real stem.

* P. tabuleformis, Berk. P. spectabilis, Fr. Nov. Symb. p. 32.

Has. Sikkim, on dead wood. Darjeeling, alt. 7500 feet. (Dr.
Hooker.)

DECADES OF FUNGI. 137

This species is very near to P. Schweinitzii, but differs in the sub-
stance, not having any rhubarb tint, and in the pileus not being so
rough. The South Caroline specimens exactly agree with those from
the Himalayas. The name is applicable to the form which was first
described, with a central stem; in the others the stem is lateral or ob-
solete.

* P. obtectans, Berk.

Has. On the ground and on dead wood.

Khasia Mountains; Churra. Moflong, June 29, 1850. Nunklow,
July, on clay banks. (Dr. Hooker.)
Varying considerably in habit, and in the size of the pores. The
Nunklow specimens have a very slender stem, and may possibly be
distinct, but unfortunately every individual is past its prime, and con-

sequently the normal state of the pileus cannot be ascertained.

* P. rugosus, Nees.

Has. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

Stem nearly a foot high. ileus distinctly zoned.

* P. xanthopus, Fr.

Has. Banks of Soane River. (Dr. Hooker.)

416. P. (Mesopus) florideus, n. s. ; ileo umbilicato subinfundibuli-
formi nitidissimo zonato, radiatim rugoso atropurpureo, margine lo-
bato; stipite centrali vel excentrico luteo; poris minutis rotundis, acie -
obtusa.

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal Sikkim; Darjeeling, 7500 feet.
(Dr. Hooker) '

Pileus 4 inches across, umbilicate, subinfundibuliform, of a rich pur-
ple, gradually becoming darker, polished, repeatedly zoned, marked
with radiating lines or depressions; margin lobed. Stem not à an

inch high, expanded above, yellow, lanate. Pores minute, ochraceous, -
about 51, of an inch across, visible to the naked eye, round, edge els
tuse, entire; margin of hymenium free. j

This has the external appearance of Pol. conhop, ba the pores
are quite different.

* P. squamosus, Fr.

Has. On dead wood. Sikkim ; Deda. 7500 feet. (Dr. Hooker) *

417. P. (Pleuropus) versiformis, n. s.; pileo carnoso lente suborbi- p
culari excentrico umbilicato, primum subtiliter flocculoso-velutino um-
brino-gilvo, demum glaberrimo castaneo-rufo, margine gute ex-

VOL. VI, s

138 DECADES OF FUNGI.

cedente; stipite nigro rugoso subreticulato glabrescente; poris Sor:
rentibus parvis, acie tenuissima quandoque fimbriata.

Has. On dead wood. Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 1-2 inches across, suborbicular, umbilicate, at first of an um-
ber grey, slightly tinged with red, minutely velvety or flocculent, at
length perfectly smooth but rugose, of a deep chestnut-red brown.
Margin extremely thin, extending beyond the pores, at first flocculose
beneath, but by no means ciliated. Stem 3-1 inch high, 2 lines thick,
black at first, downy like the pileus. Pores MN but more so in
the more excentric specimens, minute, about 415 of an inch across, an-
gular; dissepiments thin; edge very thin, sometimes denticulate, pallid.

Allied to P. melanopus, but differing in the very acute dissepiments,
and more darkly coloured.

* P. lucidus, Fr.

Has. Soane River. Behar, near Sulkun. Sikkim; Dancing. 7500
feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

418. P. (Pleuropus) pudens, n. s. ; pileo laterali suborbiculari rugoso
zonato stipiteque elongato e rhizomate cylindrico oriundo subtiliter
fulvo velutino; substantia suberosa pallida ; poris brevibus. Hook.
fil, Ic. Ser. 3, No. 18.

CRM In woods. Khasia Mountains; Myrong, 6000 feet. July.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus suborbicular, emarginate, 12 inch across, zoned, rugose, corky,
thin, laterally affixed, brownish, clothed, as are the stem and rhizome, with
a delicate velvety down. Stem 3 inches high, solid, flexuous, irregular,
springing from a somewhat horizontal creeping rhizome, white within.
Pores very shallow, round, nearly entire; hymenium tinged with pink
and bordered with yellow.

A most distinct species, with the habit of P. auriscalpium, but with
no very certain relation.

. 419. P. (Pleuropus) vallatus, n. s. ; suberosus fulvo-rhabarbarinus ;
pileo laterali subspathulato vel flabelliformi velutino ; stipite laterali to-
mento spongioso vestito; poris minutis; hymenio marginato obliquo.

Has. On the ground. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

Rather hard, corky. Pileus 2 inches high, 3 broad, spathulate or
subflabelliform, zoneless or obscurely zoned, tawny, inclining to rhubarb-
. yellow, rugged, velvety. Stem 1 inch or more high, 4 an inch or
more thick, sometimes torulose, clothed with spongy down. Hymenium

DECADES OF FUNGI. 139

oblique, bordered all round. Pores minute. Sometimes, in conse-
quence of lateral confluence, several individuals combine into a cyathi-
form mass.

Allied to P. tomentosus, but harder, and with an essentially lateral
stem. It is also allied to P. spathulatum.

420. P. (Pleuropus) squameformis, n. s. ; pileo reniformi brevissime
stipitato tenui castaneo subtiliter virgato subzonato sericeo-nitido ; mar-
gine tenuissimo subtus sterili, hymenio pallido; poris mediis postice
dentato-elongatis,

Has. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.) A single
specimen only.

Pileus 1$ of an inch across, 1 inch long, reniform, with a very short
disciform stem, wood-coloured, shaded with chestnut, and minutely -
virgate, subzonate, with a few slight radiating depressions, smooth,
with a silky lustre. Edge extremely thin, barren beneath, hymenium
pale. Pores 4 of an inch across, dissepiments rather rigid, elongated
behind into a pes tooth.

This species had somewhat the aspect of P. modestus, but the hy--
menium is altogether different. No species can be more distinct.
Tas. VIL, fig. 2

* P. flabelliformis, Klotzsch.

Has. Sikkim; Leebong, 6000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.) No. 133. :

421. P. (Merisma) flammans, n. s.; pileo convexo subtiliter tomen- _
toso contextuque crasso igneo; stipite nullo; hymenio flavo; =
mediis brevibus. Hook. fil. Ic., No. 10.

Has. On dead wood. Sikkim; Darjeeling, 7500. (Dr. Hooker.)
Pilei 5 inches across, 2 inches long, flocculent, convex, imbricated,
bright flame-coloured, as is also the thick substance. Edge aeute.
Pores yellow, here and there tinged with red, short, middle-sized. —
The substance splits in drying, and becomes of a deep yellowish um-
ber, as does the whole fungus. I do not understand the affinities of
this species. Its colours are those of P. sujfureus, but it is not closely —
allied to it. TOT

* P. adustus, Fr.

Has. Sikkim Himalaya, 7000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

422. P. (Anodermei) digitalis, n. s.; pileo carnoso lente tenui digi-
taliformi vertice affixo subzonato subvelutino ochraceo; Mpnania con-
colore; poris minutis angulatis; acie subintegra. :

140 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Has. On dead wood. Sikkim; Darjeeling, 7500 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 14 inch or more broad and long, thin, digitaliform, with the
aperture expanded, slightly zoned, velvety, or clothed with matted
down, ochraceous. Edge extremely thin and acute; hymenium even, of
the same colour as the pileus. Pores minute, shallow, angular, about
xin of an inch across. Edge nearly entire.
- This has to the eye the appearance of a variety of Stereum lobatum.
The form is essentially digitaloid, the young pilei appearing like al-
mond-shaped sacs: I have seen nothing like it before. . Cellwlaria
cyathiformis, Bull. t. 414, expresses in some degree its habit.

* P. funalis, Fr.

Has. Soane River. (Dr. Hooker.)

Authentic specimens vary from ferruginous to pale tawny. The
Indian specimens are very pale.

423. P. (Anodermei) vivax, n. s.; pileo subflabelliformi e planta
annotina redivivo scabro subtomentoso zonato, margine demum resi-
noso; poris parvis, acie acuta sublacera.

. Has. On dead wood. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

. Pileus 1 inch or more broad, 14 or more long, fixed by the vertex,
at first subtomentose, white, scabrous, more or less zoned; margin
acute, at length resinose. Pores minute, 2, of an inch broad, disse-
piments rather thin. Edge acute, at length minutely toothed.

: The old plant becomes black, and quite smooth and shining, with
. well-marked zones.

Allied to Pol. borealis, but very distinct.

424, P. (Anodermei) Zlatinus, n. s. ; pileo reniformi vertice elongato
glabro radiato-rugoso vernice tenui ochroleuco vestito; contextu albo ;
poris minutis angularibus irregularibus.

Has. On pine. East Nepal and Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)

- Pileus 2 inches or more across, 1} or more long, subreniform, with
the vertex elongated, but attached for some distance, finely wrinkled,
covered with a thin shining ochroleucous coat, but scarcely decidedly
laccate, substance white, tolerably firm. Pores long, white within,
minute, about 415 of an inch across, irregular. Um
1 find nothing allied to this. It seems rather to belong to the Ano-
dermous than the Placodermous group.
-~ - 425. P. (Placodermei) medullaris, n. s. ; pileo amplo gibbo brevissimo
. laceato, margine obtusissimo recto zonato; poris parvis angulatis, acie

DECADES OF FUNGI. 141

Has. On dead wood. Behar. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 7 inches aeross, 4 inches long, 23 thick, gibbous, subdimi-
diate, covered with a thin, yellow or reddish, laccate coat; substance
thick, white, extremely light; margin very obtuse, abruptly perpendi-
cular, zoned and striate. Pores rather deep, 4i; of an inch across,
angular; edge obtuse, entire.

Allied to P. portentosus, but distinguished by its larger pores, zoned
and striate, suleate margin, distinctly laecate coat, ete. It is also ana-
logous to P. ochroleucus, Mont., but is far lighter and more thinly lac-
cate, besides belonging to the P. betulinus alliance, and not to that of
P. fomentarius.

* P. australis, Fr.

Has. On wood. Eastern Nepal and Khasia Mountains. (Dr.
Hooker.)

* P. fomentarius.

Has. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains and Sikkim; Darjeeling.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Besides the common European form, there is a large ungulate state.
This species grows to an enormous size on Poplars in the more
Northern Himalaya.

426. P. (Placodermei) adamantinus,n.s.; durissimus; pileo subfla-
belliformi explanato zonato demum glabro crusta dura .obtecto; con- -
textu primum rhabarbarino demum umbrino; poris stratosis minti.
subrotundis subconcoloribus.

Hasr. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains and Sikkim; Darjeeling,
(Dr. Hooker.)

Extremely hard and rigid. Pileus 4 inches broad, expanded, thin,
subflabelliform, at first yellowish, and most minutely pubescent, soon
becoming quite smooth, dark brown, sulcated and repeatedly and
narrowly zoned, covered with a thick rigid crust; substance rhubarb-
coloured, acquiring at nagh an umber tint. Pores minute, pei
yellowish-umber. :

This very distinct species has the habit of the Ceylon P. ferreus, Ts :
general it is about } or $ inch thick, but specimens occur which are -
ungulate, bearing some resemblance to P. igniarius. The thin forms.
are however the more normal. The base of the pileus is often pro~- —
longed into a spurious stem. —

* P.igniarius, Fr.

142 DECADES OF FUNGI,

Has. On dead trees. Sikkim; Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

A small form with the pileus slightly arched, and a — variety re-
gularly grooved or torulose.

* P.sener, Nees et Mont.

Has. On dead trees. Khasia Mountains and Sikkim; Darjeeling.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Exactly according with the Ceylon specimens, and with others from
Brazil. The Cuba plant is rather thinner, and that from South Caro-
lina has rather larger pores. The old specimens look very much like
the lumps of iron ore which occur in ferruginous limestone districts.
Young quickly grown specimens, with the pileus deeply and regularly
suleate, are very pretty.

427. P.(Placodermei) exdopheus, n. s. ; durissimus, pileo dimidiato-
decurrente rigido rugoso toruloso tubvalolins: contextu nigro-purpureo ;
poris minimis stratosis.

_ Has. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

Extremely hard and ponderous. Pileus 1 foot or more across, 4
inches long, decurrent behind, reflected in front, marked with a few

deep furrows, and very rugged and uneven, at first somewhat velvety :
substance dark purple-brown. Pores minute, stratose, but with layers
_ of the pileus interposed.

- A very distinct species, remarkable for its hard, dark-brown sub-
stance, resembling exactly in colour Geranium pheum ; this is beauti-
fully zoned, especially where it is attached to the wood.

* P. marginatus, Fr.

Has. On dead trees. Khasia Mountains and Sikkim. (Dr. Hooker.)
.. 428. P. (Placodermei) Thomsoni, n. s.; suberosus; pileo angulato-
. deformi sulcato rugoso postice decurrente laccato; contextu pallide lig-
. neo; poris mediis, acie obtusiuscula subintegra.

— Has. On trunks of trees, probably of Pine. Simla, Dr. Thomson.

.. Corky, ponderous. Pileus 12 inches across, 4 inches long, obliquely
. ungulate, decurrent behind, deeply sulcate, rugose, covered with a resi-
. mous, red, laccate coat, which is in parts minutely wrinkled, and occa-
. sionally cracked so as to expose the pale, wood-coloured, corky sub-
. stance, which is very faintly zoned. Hymenium concave, wood-coloured.
. Pores about 4, of an inch across, round or slightly angular, sometimes
. elongated; dissepiments rather thick ; edge rather obtuse, nearly even.
"This is closely allied to P. marginatus, but the pores are very much

pcnc m elites DU ae C ERU 5 - -

n dp, (tte, NEIER LS

SAAN

MUU TT t |
SSO

niit , tf

NEW ALGA FROM CEYLON. 143

larger, so as to make it impossible to refer it to that species. Within
what limits it may vary it is impossible to say, as there is only a single,
but magnificent specimen. The appearance of the hymenium is very
much that of P. annosus. .

429. P. (Placodermei) scopulosus, n. s.; durus suberosus ; pileo sub-
flabelliformi vertice affixo albido glabro zonato rugoso ; hymenio cof-
feato; poris punctiformibus, acie obtusa.

Has. On dead wood. Sikkim; Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.) i

Pileus 5 inches across, 2 inches long, but often larger from con- ——
fluence, hard, woody, dirty white, repeatedly zoned, more or less rugged,
smooth, almost black at the very base; substance dark wood-coloured,
or umber; edge rather acute, PvE slightly lobed; hymenium concave,
Moin-edonfed. Pores minute, 414 of an inch across, punctiform ;
edge obtuse, entire.

Allied to P. Valenzuelianus, Mont., but with a very different pileus.

430. P. (Placodermei) semitostus, n. s. ; suberosus, pileo dimidiato
tenui lato, margine lobato, opaco subglabro, antice ligneo-pallido pos-
tice fusco-tincto suleato zonato, hymenio pallido, poris minutis stratosis
punctiformibus.

Has. On deal wood. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.) ee

Perennial, imbricated, hard and corky, slightly flexible. Pileus a foot
across, 4 inches or more long, opake, scarcely subtomentose, suleato-
zonate, inclined to divide at the zones in front, pale wood-coloured,
stained behind with brown. Substance pale. Hymenium wood-coloured, -
bordered all round and showing marks of several seasons. Pores short,
punctiform, 43 of an inch across, truly stratose. ; i

Resembling Polyporus tostus, but in that species the pores are very
much larger. It belongs to the same group with P. frazineus, etc.

(To be continued.)

Short Characters of three new Aucx from the Shores of Ceylon, by
W. H. Harvey, M.D., M.R.S.A., ete. iis.

(With two Plates, Tas. V., VI.) E

Among the marine Alga, perhaps none are more curious and few -
more beautiful than those net-like or lacework Floridee of which —
several genera, as Claudea, Dictyurus, Martensia, Hanowia, Halophlegma, —

144 NEW ALGJE FROM CEYLON.

Thuretia, etc., have been discovered in the warmer seas. Of these,
Dictyurus alone (which is common in Ceylon) has hitherto been re-
corded as inhabiting the Indian Ocean, it having been found by
Belanger, and afterwards by Dr. Wight, near Cape Comorin ; the rest,
with the exception of Halophlegma, which has a West Indian species,
— having been supposed to be confined to the Southern Ocean, and chiefly
to the shores of Australia.

I have now the pleasure to introduce to botanists, from the south
coast of Ceylon, not only new species of Claudea and of Martensia,
but also to add to this interesting group a new genus, which yields; to
none of its associates in beauty and delicacy of structure. This genus
I wish to dedicate to Joun Van Voonsr, Esq., F.L.S., the well-known.
Natural History publisher, who, though not himself a working natural-
ist, is a notable instigator of work in others, and, as the originator of
a noble series of Monographs illustrating the Natural History of Great
Britain, deserves the respect and thanks of his countrymen. The crest
of the Van Voorsts (a family of no mean standing in Holland) is a
mermaid, from whose toilet the exquisitely delicate lacework now to be
described may have been stolen; and I have peculiar pleasure in asso-
ciating with so charming a sea-plant the name of a friend for whom,
personally, I have a cordial regard and esteem.

VANVOORSTIA, Harv. (nov. gen.)

oe Frons explanata, varie lobata, decumbens, facie inferiore radiculis ad-

hærens, retieulatim clathrata. Reticulum ex costis costulisque cellu-
losis compresso-planis iteratim secunde ramosissimis verticaliter ana-
stomosantibus formatum. Ceramidia ovata, in reticulum sessilia,
Sparsa, intra pericarpium membranaceum, poro pertusum, sporas
pyriformes e placenta basali egredientes, pedicellatas foventin. Tetra-
spore subbiseriate, in trabeculis ultimis reticuli immersee.—Alga
elegantissima, gregaria, algas varias prorepens, livida, siccitate lete pur-
purea; substantia recentis cartilaginea, rigida, fragilis, mox in aqua
dulci emolliens et in gelatinam deliquescens. Structura laze cellulosa.

1. Vanvoorstia spectabilis. (Tas. V.)

Has. Growing on corallines and various small alge in rock-pools, on a
coral bank, in 2 or 3 feet water, three miles west of Belligam, south
coast of Ceylon; November, 1853.—J7. H. H.

Fronds 1-2 inches broad, decumbent, the margin ascending, crowded

NEW ALGJE FROM CEYLON. 145

together and affixed (in the manner of a foliaceous lichen) one to

another by root-like processes. Network formed of cellular, compressed,

eartilaginous membranes, which are somewhat midribbed and branched .

excessively in a repeatedly secund manner, the branches and their

divisions successively anastomosing. Conceptacles scattered over the
frond. Tetraspores immersed in the ultimate ramifications of the net-

work, which. are then swollen in the fertile portion. Colour livid,

greenish-purple when growing, brilliant purple when dry. t rapidly

decomposes in fresh water. ;

As a genus, Vanvoorstia will stand nearest to Claudea, from which it
differs chiefly as Nitophyllum does from JDelesseria.

Fig. 1. Portion, magnified. 2. Fertile portion, more magnified.

2. CLAUDEA multifida, Harv. ; caule brevi subsimplici, foliis junioribus
cuneatis hine crenatis, adultis flabelliformibus dichotomo-multifidis,
margine ciliato-dentato, ceramidiis subsessilibus ovatis. (Tas. VI.)

Has. In rock-pools, among sand, chiefly in the shelter of the larger
alge, in two or three feet of water six miles west of Belligam, south
coast of Ceylon; November, 1853.—J7. H. H.

Stem half an inch to an inch long, with one to three or four leaves.

The very young leaf is in shape like the old Irish harp; a little after-

wards it becomes cuneate, and crenate along the upper edge; the __

crenatures gradually lengthen into lobes, which are afterwards forked,
and the full-grown leaf is fan-shaped and multifid. "The structure is
exactly as in Claudea elegans.

Fig. 1. Portion of a frond, magnified. 2. Fertile portion, more
highly magnified.

3. Marrensia fragilis; frondibus in cespitem globosum densissime __
aggregatis fragilibus tenuissimis multifidis, lobis obtusis adultis |
apice clathrato-fimbriatis. |

Has. Cast ashore, Belligam Bay, Ceylon; Nov. 1853.—W.H.H.

. Much more delicate and fragile in substance than M. elegans, and -
more decidedly lobed. The tufts resemble in shape and structure those |
of Melobesia agariciformis. The innumerable fronds cohere together -
by their faces for half their length, and cannot be separated without
laceration. In fresh water the plant instantly turns orange, and rapidly
breaks up. ( :

VOL. VI. »

146

Report of a Journey or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd February, 1849;
by J. S. Ror, EsqQ., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 123.)

On the 28th of November, the horses having been sufficiently re-
cruited, and all practicable repairs effected in our clothes and appoint-
ments, we commenced our return, passing from one to another of
various hills, composed of granite and gneiss, which we had noticed
from the interior, and generally finding around them sufficient grass
and water for our purposes. Grass-trees and Zamiæe were again met
with at less than twenty miles from Russell Range, as also the kanga-
roo, which afforded us a welcome relief from our long.salt diet.

'The soil of the country we now traversed was generally of a light
sandy character, but it improved as we proceeded westward, and en-
eountered the novelty of numerous open fresh lakes, rushy lagoons, and
abundance of fresh water, in a country lying low and level. Clumps of
Yeit-trees scattered about it afforded our horses abundance of grass;
and we had the satisfaction of seeing them improve daily in spirit and
condition, for the country was once more open and accessible, and gave
us reason to hope that all formidable scrubs had been finally left behind.
Fragments of limestone, of oolitie formation and variegated colours,
were in many places abundantly scattered over the surface; and the
same rock frequently formed the basis of the low rocky ridges which
traversed the level country between the granite hills. The latter were
usually bare naked masses of close solid granite or gneiss, 300 to 500
feet above the surrounding plains, from which a sloping platform as-
cended for half a mile to the base of the bare rock. These hills fre-
. quently presented the extraordinary appearance of deep yawning rents
. or fissures, three inches to a foot in width across their entire breadth,
some being open, but the greater part filled up with loose stones and
rubbish. The rock itself was too compact and solid to exhibit much
dip or stratification; but wherever any such were observable, the dip
seemed to be to the S.S.E., at an angle of 20° from the vertical. We
found occasion also to observe more than once that the huge masses of
rock of which these hills were composed had from some unknown
eause, probably subterranean, undergone a complete and violent dis-
ruption; and that, whilst one end of a mountain-mass would be piled

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. — I

up in a confused heap of immense boulders, its opposite extremity .
would repose in broad smooth sheets of almost unbroken rock. Whe-
ther these appearances have been occasioned by subterranean fire, or
merely exhibit the wreck of once lofty peaks, I feel unable to say ;—
such hills had evidently in former ages been of considerably greater di-
. mensions. "Those met with on the eastern part of our journey could
never be relied on for affording feed for our horses.

On 2nd of December, having reached a lofty and remarkable granite
hill, fifty miles S.W. of the Russell Range, which I had the honour to
name Howick Hill, in reference to the talented nobleman at the head
of Colonial affairs, we were then twenty-five miles abreast of Mount
Ney, and I determined on sending to bring in our valued horse from
thence, if found alive and able to travel. Accordingly, Messrs. Ridley
and Gregory, who had volunteered the service, were despatched to
Mount Ney, on the two best horses we had, while I conducted the
party to some grass and water we had passed in a low swamp three
miles back, the country for many miles round being tolerably level, and
covered with very thick prickly scrub, knee-high, closely matted, and
difficult to get through. Large clumps of Nuytsia floribunda (cabbage-
tree) mixed with Melaleuca (tea-tree), both of stunted and gnarled
growth, were now scattered about, and formed the nearest approach to
timber we had seen for 350 miles. Stagnant water was plentiful, but
the grass was very scarce, wiry, and coarse. The total failure of even
this supply obliged me on the 4th to remove the horses to another and
more grassy spot, which we had discovered in our rambles, two miles
further to the S.W.; and I should gladly have moved the entire camp -
also, had I not feared our absent companions might thereby miss us
altogether, had they travelled after dark to rejoin us. The necessity
for shifting our camp was however becoming urgent, for, independent
of the grass and feed being closely eaten off, one by one of our little
water-holes had dried up, leaving half a bushel of tadpoles an inch long -
at the bottom; and our bowels and limbs were affected by our un- ©
healthy low situation. Intending to leave a memorandum of our where- -
abouts, we were preparing to start from this residence of fever and ague
while we had the power to do so, whén, to our great joy, the absentees
returned late in the day, with Ney in company. His respite of fifteen
days had improved him wonderfully, though he still gave too abundant
evidence of continued weakness, but this I trusted some indulgence

148 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

would overcome. During our stay at the camp the weather was too
cloudy to admit of my obtaining any astronomical observations beyond
what enabled me to ascertain that the variation was only 0? 12' W.
Mosquitoes and large biting flies were exceedingly abundant and
troublesome.

On the 5th we gladly moved westward once more, the horses much
recruited by the respite they had been afforded, and by the attention
we had been enabled to bestow on their sore backs.

No material alteration took place in the face of the country. It
continued nearly level, but with slight undulations or low limestone
ridges, amongst which were many small fresh lakes, with occasional
small clumps of yeit, affording good grass and water.

On the 7th we were abreast of Esperance Bay, and encamped at
the foot of a high granite hill, fifteen miles north from Cape le Grand,
from the summit of which a erowd of lofty granite islands and rocks
. were observed to rise abruptly out of the sea, together with some co-
vered rocks and reefs, which will render great caution necessary on the
part of vessels frequenting the Bay. The shore of the latter is sandy
for several miles back, and numerous lakes, apparently salt, were ob-
served to lie behind its northern beach. Around our camp were many
huts and recent fireplaces of the natives ; and large smokes were curling
up three or four miles to the westward, showing the country to be
somewhat better peopled. This hill, being a very remarkable object
at a distance of nearly forty miles, I named Mount Merivale, after
one of the Under-Secretaries of State for the Colonies; and a similar
hill fifteen miles to the eastward, Mount Hawes. While taking a
round of angles from the summit of the former, Mr. Ridley, who was
breaking off samples of the rock, discovered in one of a very white for-
mation, some remarkable veins and streaks of a light blue colour,
which led to further examination, and to our quarrying to as great a

depth as we could penetrate with the best tools in our possession. All

our sanguine hopes of copper however fell to the ground, by finding,
on our return to the camp, that the best specimens would not respond
to the established tests.

To the west of Mount Merivale we crossed several streams of

brackish water, running in shallow channels, from one to twenty yards
wide, towards the lakes behind Esperance Bay. These were the first
‘watercourses we had met with for four hundred miles; the surface-

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 149

water of the country, where occurring at all, being found in holes
amongst the granite rocks, in small rushy lagoons or open lakes, and
occasionally in lodgments in the more clayey descriptions of soil
amongst the thick scrubs of the interior. In the latter situations were
also frequently seen many circular spaces, five to ten yards in diameter,
in which the interior rain-waters had subsided, and which answer to the
description of Dr. Leichardt's ** Melon holes." From this time, until
we arrived abreast of the western group of the Recherche Archipelago,
salt-lakes were of common occurrence immediately behind the sea-coast
hills, and yielded the only food for our horses which this part of the
country was likely to afford us; nor was this at all abundant or easily
discovered on the route I pursued. Mr. Eyre had in 1841 generally
found abundance both of water and grass for his horses hereabouts,
immediately behind the coast-hills; but I was desirous of avoiding all
former tracks as much as possible; and with respect to the nature of
the country further inland, some natives we fell in with gave me to
understand that nothing was to be met with there but scrub and salt-
lakes.

On the 10th we had, in search for grass, so worked our way amongst
numerous salt and fresh lakes and swamps, and the narrow ridges of
steep limestone hills which divided them, that it was not without some
difficulty we extricated ourselves next day, and gained the less intri-
cate country which bordered them on the north. The travelling how-
ever was bad, and very trying to our weary horses, both on account of
the steepness of the ridges, and their rocky rugged nature. We were
therefore not sorry to find grass increase as we proceeded over more
accessible slopes, and that in one patch it was of excellent quality to
the extent of three hundred acres. Hopes being raised, toil no longer
felt oppressive, and before noon we were once more gladdened by the
sight of an open deep river, fifteen yards wide, extending directly
across our course, Clumps of Nuytsiæ and Yeit were scattered about,
Zamie of gigantic size grew near the steep banks, and tolerable grass -
among dwarf grass-trees extended back from two to four hundred

yards. Numerous ducks and black swans were constantly disturbed as —

we ascended the river in its course to the northward, but we found to _
our regret that the bed rapidly diminished in importance. At first the —

banks were frequently broken into steep yellow and red cliffs, indicat-
ing a proximity to the coal formation; but these gradually disappeared,

150 THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

and in less than three miles the narrow rocky bed was composed en-
tirely of granite or gneiss, and the water in it was still brackish. The
soil is a light sandy loam. The day being warm and oppressive, with
a land-wind from the N.W., and the thermometer at 104° in the cool-
est spot I could find, I took advantage of fresh water being obtainable
in the tributaries and swamps of this vicinity, and halted until three
o'clock amongst good grass in a clump of Yeit-trees. As we had ex-
pected, a thunder-storm began to brew in the N.W., and it came on so
rapidly, that before we could secure ourselves in another camping-place
which we had taken up for the night, it burst with great violence and
completely drenched us. Next day we traced this stream upwards to
the total distance of thirteen miles N.N.E., when, finding it took us
too much to the eastward, and that the grass in its neighbourhood had
considerably diminished in quantity, I left it coming from the N.E. in
‘several branches, the valleys of which were narrow, but grassy, and
drained extensive elevated plains of a poor and worthless character. Its
mouth is near the spot where Captain Flinders records on his chart
there is “a white streak in the said hills;" and on its banks we occa-
sionally observed some rich and very good soil. Kangaroos were
abundant, and we frequently noticed traces of men; but our only dog
was so pitiably foot-sore as to be quite incapable of catching anything,
nor could he be induced to wear, even for ten minutes, the various
leather boots we made for his relief. Naming this river the Gage, we
quitted it about sixteen miles from the coast, and crossed a western
branch as we steered westward, over open scrubby downs, drained by
small watercourses or lakes, containing either salt or brackish water.
After a harassing march of twenty-two miles, we were fortunately en-
abled to encamp on the 12th, amongst tolerable feed on the borders of
a lake, perfectly fresh, and about three-quarters of a mile in diameter.

Five miles further westward, over similar country, brought us to the
abrupt rocky banks of another river, with a samphire bed seventy or
eighty yards wide, in which were pools of salt water, twenty yards by
six or seven, but not a vestige of grass. As no inducement presented
itself for following this river up to the N.N.W., I proceeded at once
down its bed to the south-westward, soon came to good grass, where
the banks opened out, and in less than three miles encamped in the

midst of abundance of it, and of drinkable water, at the junction of

several branches, some of which were observed to have cut their way

BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 151

through white, yellow, and red cliffs. While the horses took the be-
nefit of their early halt, I minutely examined the cliffs and their vici-
nity, in company with Mr. Ridley; but although there was every ap-
pearance of their forming a portion of the carboniferous series, we
could discover no shales, nor any rocks in which could be traced a de-
cided dip or inclination of the strata. In the evening the latitude by
Meukar was found to be 33? 44' 8" S. .

(To be continued.)

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

First General Report of the Government Botanist, Dr. F. MULLER, on
the VEGETATION OF THE COLONY or VICTORIA, in Australia; com-
municated by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Chief Secretary for
the Colonies.

(Continued from p. 126.)

That the vegetation of the southern parts of our province accords
greatly with the Tasmania Flora, may be demonstrated by the fact that
more than half of all the enumerated species are known to inhabit Van
Diemen’s Land, amongst them many of great interest, which had been
considered as belonging exclusively to that island, some adding even
„Pew genera to the Flora of New Holland: they are Fagus Cunning-
hami, Bauera Billardieri, Tasmania aromatica, Weinmannia biglandulosa,

Pleurandra monadelphia, Ranunculus Gunnianus, Capsella australis, Pitto-
sporum bicolor, Rhytidosporum procumbens, Rhytidosporum Stuartianum,
_ Boronia dentigera, Eriostemon verrucosus, Correa Backhousiana, Meionectes
Brownii, Bossiga horizontalis, Brachycome decipiens, Celmisia astelifolia,
Scevola Hookeri, Monotoca lineata, Lissanthe montana, Lissanthe ciliata, —
Prostanthera rotundifolia, Myosotis suaveolens, Wilsonia Backhousii, Gen- —
tiana Diemensis, Sebea albidiflora, Hakea microcarpa, Podocarpus mon- j ;
tana, Phyllanthus Gunnii, Micranthea hexandra, Diplarrhena Morea,
Uncinia tenella, Triodontium Tasmanicum, and a great number of Ferns. ©
No numerical comparison with the Flora of South Australia and :
New South Wales has been instituted, as those localities are not suffi-
ciently examined which bear, perhaps in this respect, so great a re-

159 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

semblance to the adjacent colonies as the southern traet of this province
bears to Van Diemen's Land.

Still, there remains yet a considerable number of plants which im-
press on our vegetation a type of peculiarity ; and I may be permitted,
. for this reason, to call attention to our remarkable species of Panas,
resembling mainly those of the Moluccas; to Trigonella suavissima, as
the only Australian Clover; to the species of Psoralea and to Crantzia,
as connecting links with the American Flora; to Pseudomorus Aus-
tralasica, the indigenous Mulberry-tree; to Myrsine Howittiana, more
nearly connected with the New Zealand species than with those of New
South Wales; and to the Alpine Anisotome glacialis, as a genus from
Auckland and Campbell's Islands.

With regard to the Phytogeographia of this country, it may be
. deemed worthy of notice that, in the arid steppes beyond the Glenelg
River, the vegetation undergoes a remarkable change; and a large num-
ber of such plants as are common to Victoria, New South Wales, and
Van Diemen's Land, cease to exist, not even re-appearing further to
the westward, where the physical character of the country assumes
once more equality or similarity to the eastern provinces. Others, again,
extend the geographical limits of certain genera or species which we
thought to belong entirely to Western Australia; thus, for instance,
Thomasia petalocalyx and Coleostylis Preissii range to the 148th me-
ridian.

It may also be worthy of remark, that the Order of Leguminose pre-
vails decidedly here, as in Western Australia, over all others; and that
the Composite, far exceeding in South Australia, and almost through-
out the world, any other groups, rank here as the second order. Both,
taken together, show such eminent richness as to comprise nearly a
fourth of all Dicotyledonous plants. The most predominant Natural
Orders exhibit here, with regard to their number of species, the following
series :—Leguminose, Composite, Myrtaceae, Alga, Filices, Cyperoidee,
Graminea, Musci, Proteaceae, Orchidee, Epacridee, Fungi, Umbellifere,
Diosmee, Liliacee, Lichenes, Labiate, Goodeniacee, Scrophularine, and
Salsolacee.

Finally, and perhaps as to the most important point of my re-

searches, I have to notice the practical usefulness of our vegetable

creation, either with regard to medicine, manufactures, or in a domestic
point of view.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 158

The inestimable truth, that we may safely calculate on the closest affi-
nities of the medicinal properties of plants with their natural alliances—
a truth which achieved the most complete triumph of the Natural System
over all artificial classifications—has generally guided me in tracing out
which plants might be administered in medicine. By this guidance I
observed, that our Pimelee are pervaded by that acridity for which the
bark of Daphne Mezereum is employed ; that our Polygala veronicea, the
only described Australian species of a large genus, and in close relation
to one lately discovered in the Chinese empire, not only agrees, like some
kinds of Comesperma, with the Austrian Polygala amara, in those qua-
lities for which that plant has been administered in consumption, but
also participates in the medicinal virtue of Polygala Senega, from North
America. Gratiola latifolia and Gratiola pubescens, Convulvulus eru-
bescens, and the various kinds of Mentha, are not inferior to similar
European species. The bark of Tasmania aromatica appears to me to
possess the medicinal power of the intera bark, gathered from a similar
tree in Tierra del Fuego; and its fruit is allied to that of the North
American Magnolia used in cases of rheumatism and intermittent fever.
The whole Natural Order of Goodeniacee, with the exception, perhaps,
of a few species, contains a tonic bitterness never recognized before,
and discernible in many plants in so high a degree, that I was induced,
for this reason, to bestow upon a new genus from the interior the name
of Picrophyta ; this property, which indicates a certain alliance to Gen-
tianee, deserves the more consideration, as the true Gentianee are so
sparingly distributed through Australia, while the Goodeniacee form
everywhere here a prominent feature in the vegetation. Our Alps,
however, enrich us also with a thick-rooted Gentian (G. Diemensis),
certainly as valuable as the officinal Gentiana lutea ; and in the spring,
Sabea ovata, Sabea albidiflora, and Erythrea australis, might also be
collected on account of their bitterness. The bark of the Australian
Sassafras-tree (Atherospermum moschatum) has already obtained some `
celebrity as a substitute for tea: administered in a greater concentra- -
tion, it is diaphoretic, as well as diuretic, and has for this reason al -
ready been practically introduced into medicine by one of our eminent.
physicians. Zsotoma aaillaris surpasses all other indigenous Lobeliacee
in its intense acridity, and can be therefore only cautiously employed -
instead of Lobelia inflata. The root of Malva Behriana scarcely differs
from that of Althea officinalis, and the Salep-root might be collected

VOL. VI. *

154 BOTANICAL INFORMATION:

from many Orchidee. Few may be aware that the Cajeput-oil of India
is obtained from trees very similar to our common Melaleuce ; and that
even from the leaves of the Hucalypti an oil can be procured of equal
utility. The Sandarac, exuding from the Callitris or Pine-tree, the
balsamic resin of the Grass-trees, and, moreover, the Eucalyptus gum,
which could be gathered in boundless quantities, and which for its
astringent qualities might here at least supersede the use of kino or
catechu, will probably at a future period form articles of export.

Several Acacie are of essential service, either for their durable wood,
or for the abundance of tannin in their bark, which has rendered them
already useful, or for their gum; but the latter is even excelled in
clearness and solubility by that obtained from Pittosporum acacioides.
This species, as well as many other plants of the same Order, is dis-
tinguished by a surprising yet apparently harmless bitterness—a qua-
lity that warrants our expecting considerable medicinal power, and
which deserves so much more attention, as till now we know nothing
of the usefulness of the Pittosporee, although this Order extends over
a great part of the eastern hemisphere.

The Australian Manna consists in a saccharine secretion, condensed
chiefly by the Cicades from a few species of Ewcalypti, but is chemically
very differently constituted to the Ornus Manna, and much less aperient.
All our splendid Diosmee, a real ornament to the country, approach
more or less in properties to the Buckus of South Africa.

Beckea utilis, from Mount Aberdeen, might serve travellers in those
desolate localities as tea, for the volatile oil of its leaves resembles
greatly in taste and odour that of lemons—not without a pleasant,
peculiar aroma. Trigonella suavissima proved valuable as an antiscor-
butic spinach in Sir Thomas Mitchell’s expedition; and the Zetrago-
nella implexicoma, the various Cardamines, Nasturtium terrestre, and Law-
rencia spicata, may likewise be used for the same purpose. The root
of Scorzonera Lawrencei—a favourite food of the natives—would form, if
enlarged by culture, an agreeable substitute for Scorzonera Hispanica, or
Asparagus ; and Anisotome glacialis—a large-rooted Umbelliferous plant,
from the snowy top of Mount Buller—will be added perhaps hereafter
to the culinary vegetables of the colder climates. Seeds of the latter
plants have been procured for the Botanic Gardens. Santalum lanceo-
latum, Mesembryanthemum equilaterale, Leptomeria pungens, and Lepto-

-meria acerba, deserve notice for their agreeable fruit.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 155

It would lead too far to enumerate the numerous modest, but lovely,
or even the more attractive ornamental plants, which will no doubt
hereafter contribute to adorn the gardens here and at home. Still, in
a general sketch of our vegetation, I ought not to pass unmentioned,
in this regard, the magnificent Grevillea Victorie ; the splendid para-
site of the Fern-tree, Basileophyta Friderici- Augusti, on which the name
of the royal botanist has been bestowed; and the grand Correa Latro-
beana,—three of the most gorgeous plants discovered during my last
expedition.

In accordance with His Excellency’s instructions, a collection of dried
specimens of plants has been commenced for the Government. This
Herbarium will be at all times accessible to the publie, and will here-
after contribute, I trust, to diffuse, more and more, knowledge of our
vegetable world, and excite lovers of natural science to assist in my in-
vestigations. I began to form, at the same time, a similar collection
for the Royal Gardens at Kew.

lam happy to report that the Botanic Gardens are in a very pros-
perous state, and that the establishment does great honour to the able
management of its Superintendent. The addition of a large green-
house, which His Excellency has been pleased to sanction upon the
recommendation of the Committee, will be most useful as a receptacle
for tropical productions; and a considerable piece of ground has been
prepared, this year, to rear all the seeds which have lately been col-
lected for the garden, or which were liberally presented.

The Committee deemed it also desirable that an iron foot-bridge for
erossing the Yarra should be procured from home, for the purpose of
affording an easier access to the garden for the inhabitants of the
eastern part of Melbourne; and by this means the number of visitors
—already (chiefly on Sundays) very considerable—will doubtless
greatly increase.

I trust, therefore, that the Botanic Gardens, as an establishment so
desirable for the diffusion of knowledge, for the experimental introduc-
tion of foreign plants into our adopted country, or for multiplying the
treasures which our own Flora offers, and as a healthy locality for re-
creation, will continue to receive the support of the Government and
the Legislature; and I hope that, by still further extending the com-
munications of this establishment with the Botanical Gardens of other

156 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

countries, we shall succeed in keeping pace with the general advance of
this great and flourishing country.
I have the honour to be, ete.,
FERDINAND MULLER.

[This Report is followed by a catalogue of all the known native plants
of the Colony, systematically arranged, collected, and examined by Dr.
Müller, between September, 1852, and August, 1853.]

Botany of Victoria Colony.

The following are extracts from Letters recently received from Dr.
F. MüLzEm, Colonial Botanist at Victoria, whose first Report on the
Vegetation of that Colony we give in our present number.

: Victoria Range, 21st November, 1853.

Encamped here, on a new botanical journey through this province,
I observed for the second time within the last five years, a pretty
little Stylidium, which most unfortunately, from badly developed and
preserved specimens, was mistaken by me for a Polypompholyx (rather
a gross error, considering the germen inferum), and passed accordingly
into my diagnoses, which I have the pleasure of forwarding to you
by His Excellency Governor Latrobe*, as P. adenotricha. Having,
whilst travelling, on account of the burden, left all books behind ex-
cept R. Brown’s Prodromus, I am uncertain if my plant is the Coleosty-
lis umbellata of Sonder. It approaches rather closely to Stylidium um-
bellatum of Labillarditre, but will prove, most likely, a distinct species.

I left Melbourne a fortnight ago, and shall twice traverse the
northern districts of this province during the coming five months.

I have met, to my great delight, with all Sir Thomas Mitchell’s rari-
ties of the Grampians, besides some which, during Sir Thomas’s visit to
this locality (June), were not in flower; so that I hope to be enabled to

add amply to your great herbarium. Myosurus australis I found here
again—the second locality which I know of this most interesting plant;
Marianthes bignoniaceus and Eriostemon Hillebrandi occur also in the
Grampians, as well as a beautiful subalpine Bauera, several Melaleuce,
Mitrasacme, Stylidium, Stenanthera, Styphelia, ete.. Most of them
‘new to me, and many, I presume, also new to science.
i * The packet in question has not yet arrived—Ep.

vA

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 157

In my letters, left with His Excellency, I have stated, that my col-
lections under the hands of Dr. Sonder contain more than a thousand
species of Van Diemen’s Land plants. The very desired work of your
celebrated son, ‘ Flora Tasmanica,’ could, I am inclined to believe, re-
ceive ample additions from these sources; for I am convinced that
Mr. Gunn did not find all the species which Mr. Charles Stuart pro-
cured for me. Of these, as well as any other Australian plants of
my collection, I shall be but too happy to offer Dr. Joseph Hooker any
specimens which he may consider useful for his pursuits ; and I would
take the liberty to advise Dr. Hooker to spend a week or two on a visit
to Hamburg, as Dr. Sonder can also give from my letters perhaps
much acceptable information. Ea
Torrumbarrey, 5th January, 1854.

Being delayed here (on the Murray River) for a day, in order to re-
cover some articles stolen from me while travelling lately to the junc-
tion of the Darling, and having apparently exhausted the Murray ve-
getation, as far as the season will permit me to add to my collection,
I find an hour's agreeable employment in communicating to you the re-
sults of my botanical researches since my last letter has been despatched
(* Victoria Range," end of November). I have since that time exa-
mined the neighbourhood of Mount Zero (already favourably known
by Sir Thomas Mitchell’s researches), and I had here the gratification
of adding a considerable number of undescribed or rare plants to my
last botanical stores, amongst them a most handsome new genus of
Myrtacez (Scaryomyrtus hexamera) with a steel-blue scarious calyx, hex-
androus and apetalous, otherwise allied to Calycothrix or rather Lhotzkya.
From Mount Zero I proceeded to the Murray River, along the Avoca,
traversing the Mallee scrub about Lake Lalbert, and towards the Dar-
ling, and in this journey there have been nearly three hundred species
added to the Victoria Flora (including those previously discovered on
the Grampians) ; so that my notes and collections suuin now about ae
1500 species from this colony. oe

The Mallee scrub of this Colony proved not ta be so rich in new —
plants as I anticipated. I was, however, surprised to observe, that "d
not only a large share of the South-Australian Murray plants extend
so far easterly, but also that so many rarities, which I formerly only
noticed on Lake Torrens (many degrees further north), range as species
to be included in the Flora of this Colony. Of most of the species T

158 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

procured a sufficient number of specimens (notwithstanding having to
carry them generally on my saddle-horse) as to supply you, as also
some of your eminent botanical friends ; and I hope Kew Garden will
also receive some modest but nevertheless acceptable additions from
the many kinds of seeds which I gathered. My main harvest of new,
and I hope also ornamental plants, will be likely in the Alps to which
I am now proceeding; and for the investigation of some prominent
points, I shall devote the favourable months of February and March,
and, if the weather becomes not too inclement, also April next.

I have not heard from Melbourne since I left that capital, but hope
to receive letters in Albury, by which I will learn if my large box with
specimens and some seeds, as well as the set of manuscript on the
Victoria Flora, has been sent away by His Excellency, or will remain
under his care till he returns home. By an occasional glance on a home
paper, I perceived, to my great delight, that Professor William Harvey
visits our shores for the purpose of enlarging and advancing his phy-
cological works; and you will readily imagine that I shall hail his ar-
rival in Melbourne, and his stay under my roof, with the greatest plea-
sure, being myself here almost in a botanical exile, and having to learn
so very much from a man of Dr. Harvey's standing. The letters in
Which I desired Dr. Joseph Hooker to visit Dr. Sonder in Hamburg,
for the purpose of selecting from my herbarium there a specimen of
all those plants he may consider useful, many adding without doubt to
his desirable * Flora Tasmanica,’ you will have received.

Dr. Harvey will see in my herbarium at least three hundred New

Holland and Tasmanian Alge.
FERD. MULLER.

Dr. Stocks and his Collections.

After many years zealously employed in botanical pursuits in the
Bombay Presidency, particularly in Scinde and Beloochistan (as is
well known to the readers of our Journal), Dr. Stocks is now on leave
of absence, arrived in England with his collections: and he will for
some time be engaged, with the aid of the Library and Herbaria at
Kew, in the arrangement and description of them, and, we trust, in
conjunction with Drs. Hooker and Thomson, of other plants illustra-
tive of the — of India.

159

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

SuLLIVANT, WILLIAM S.: Notices of some new Species of Mossks from
the Pacific Islands, in the Collection of the United States Exploring
Expedition under Captain Wilkes. (Extracted from the Proceedings
of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. iii.) 8vo. 1853.
Cambridge, U.S.A.

Twenty-three new Mosses are characterized, of the genera Hypnum,
Hookeria, Mniadelphus, Pilotrichum, Cryphea, Neckera, and Rhizo-
gonium ; and these may be considered a continuation of the ‘ Notices of
new Mosses and Hepatice from Tierra del Fuego and Oregon,’ belong-
ing to the same collection, by the same able Muscologist, which were
mentioned in this Journal, vol. ii. for 1850. We could have wished
that some of the specific characters (twenty and more lines in length)
could have been shortened and confined to the obviously essential cha-
racters, if it is intended they should be practically useful; and more
full characters might then have followed the diagnoses.

Epistole Caroli a Linné ad Bernardum de Jussieu inedite, et mutue
Bernardi ad Linneum: curante Adriano de Jussieu, Academise Art.
et Scient. Americane socio. 4to. Cambridgiæ, Nov. Angl. 1854.

We learn from the preface to these interesting letters, that they are
the Latin originals, of which the translation appeared in the 2nd vol.
of ‘A Selection of the Correspondence of Linnzus and other Natural-
ists, from the Original Manuscript, by Sir James Edward Smith," pp.
206-227. The whole was committed for publication, in the Acts of —
the Academy above quoted, to our valued friend Dr. Asa Gray, who
has appended the following note :— = aoe

“In communicating the manuscript of the article rising the

epistolary correspondence of Linnzus with his great-uncle Bernard de —

Jussieu, the Editor requested that the proofs should be remitted to
Paris for his revision, in order that they might be collated with the -
original documents, so as to ensure the entire accuracy of the transeript.
'The lamented death of our distinguished foreign associate, which oc-

160 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

curred about the time that the article was consigned to the printer, has `
prevented this intention from being carried out. All that could be
done, therefore, was sedulously to follow the manuscript, prepared with
M. de Jussieu's accustomed neatness and care. The few conjectural
emendations that have been suggested are, in all cases, enclosed in
brackets.”

The annotations and remarks of the Editor possess the melancholy
interest of having been probably the last scientific production of the
last of the Jussieus.

Adrien de Jussieu, the grand-nephew of Bernard, the only son of
Antoine Laurent de Jussieu (author of the ‘Genera Plantarum secun-
dum Ordines Naturales disposite’), himself a botanist worthy of such
a lineage,—a man admired and beloved by all who knew him,—died
without male heirs, on the 29th of June, 1853, aged fifty-six years,
thus closing a line illustrious without a parallel in botany for nearly a
century and a half.

Conspectus Begoniacearum.

Notice is given in the ‘ Linnea,’ for March, 1854, of an attempt on
the part of our valued friend Dr. Klotzsch, to divide the genus Begonia
into genera; and no less than thirty-three are here proposed, and the
essential characters given there,—characters depending mainly on the
nature of the style, persistent or deciduous, the structure of the cap-
sule, the form of the placentæ, more or less spiral character, etc. of
the forms of the lobes of the stigma, and of the anthers, the number
of sepals, etc. The materials employed appear to be chiefly, if not
. entirely, well known species, that is, such as have been fully described
Ari figured ; and though the total number of species brought under
their respective genera is considerable, we find them to be mainly of
South American origin, in which our gardens are so rich. We do not
find more than half-a-dozen noticed from the East Indies; and we fear
that, in taking so circumscribed a view of species, Dr. Klotzsch is
hardly in a condition to determine the limits of the genera, or to say
at should constitute generic, or what mere specific, characters.

161

Dzoapzs or Func; dy the Rev. M. J. Berxevey, M.A., F.L.8.
Decades XLIV.-XLVI.
Indian Fungi.
(Continued from p. 143.)

* Polyporus cinnabarinus, Fr.

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

* P, seruposus, Fr.

Has. Iwa river, East Nepal. Dec. 13. Soane river, Behar. (Dr.
Hooker.) There is also a form from Ratong river, 7000 feet; gathered
January 6; distinguished by the strigose fasciculate hairs with which
it is clothed, somewhat after the fashion of Trametes hydnoidea.

431. P. (Inodermei) xeranticus, n. s. ; pileo dimidiato-reflexo tenui
coriaceo-flexili tabacino zonato rugoso ‘belie ; contextu aureo;
poris parvis angulatis, dissepimentis tenuibus.

Has. On charred wood. Leebong. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 1-3 inches across, }—3 of an inch long, reflected, ferruginous,
here and there tinged with yellow, of a soft flexible coriaceous consis-
tence, more or less zoned, and rugose with impressed furrows, soft to zi
the touch, but scarcely silky. Substance yellow. Pores small, of — .
an inch across, angular; dissepiments thin, edge acute, slightly toothed, —
wood-coloured, but acquiring a foxy tint when dry or old, resembling
in general appearance Stereum ferrugineum. The back is often marked
with spots similar to those on the margin of P. dryadeus.

432. P. (Inodermei) flavidus, n. s.; pileo subreniformi tenui flavido- —
fulvo zonis brunneolis picto radiatim rugoso velutino ; mn minutis —
ferrugineis ; contextu flavo.

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.) S

Pileus 24 inches across, 13 long, slightly imbricated, subreniform, -
thin, rigid and brittle when dry, rough with raised radiating wrinkles,
of a dull tawny, adorned with narrow brownish zones clothed with
short velvety n edge very acute; substance yellow. - Pores
ferruginous, 41, of an inch across, moderately long, angular ; dissepi- —
ments thin.

A very elegant species, calling to mind P. Splitgerbert by the colour
of the substance of the pileus.
* P. caperatus, Klotzsch.

VOL. VI.

162 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Ha». On dead wood near the ground. Paras Nath. (Dr. Hooker.)

Old dead specimens, 5 inches in diameter.

433. P. (Inodermei) picfilis, n. s. ; pileo subflabelliformi vertice affixo
subtiliter velutino multizonato, zonis glabrescentibus ; contextu postice
subochraceo; poris brevibus ochraceis, dissepimentis rigidiusculis, acie
acuta submembranacea.

Has. On dead birch, 12,000 feet. Hast Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 1} inch or more broad, 1 inch long, thin, very rigid and con-
tracted when dry, minutely velvety, marked with numerous narrow
concentric ochraceous zones, which are at length smooth. Hymenium
ochraceous ; pores ¢ of an inch across ; dissepiments rather rigid ; edge
acute, at length submembranaceous and minutely toothed.

Nearly allied to some forms of P. versicolor, but, from its great con-
traction, the substance is probably more soy and the whole appear-
ance resembles that of P. zonalis.

* P. versicolor, Fr.

Has. Nangki, East Nepal, alt. 9000 feet. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Beautifully zoned ; pores larger than usual, 7; of an inch across;
in the European forms about ji.

There are also magnificent specimens, with smaller pores, from Lee-
bong.

* P. Nilgherrensis, Mont.

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

* P. elongatus, Berk.

Has. Leebong. 7000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.) ©

A velvety form was gathered on Paras Nath.

434. P. (Inodermei) Nepalensis, n. s. ; candidus, carnoso-mollis ; pileo
flabelliformi cute tenuissima pane vestito; poris mediis dissepimentis
tenuissimis, acie acuta.

Hasr. On dead wood. beugkh East Nepal, alt. 10,000 feet.
White. ileus 2 inches across, nearly 14 long, flabelliform, thin,
. fleshy, covered with a thin smooth cuticle. Pores about J; of an inch —
.. across ; dissepiments extremely thin, almost membranaceous when dry ;
: edge acute.

. Alied to Polyporus pubescens, but very distinct. "The middle-sized
. delicate pores, smooth surface, and thin substance, distinguish it from
. all other species. As regards general appearance it may be compared
— P. virgineus, Schwein.

DECADES OF FUNGI. : 163

435. P, (Inodermei) corium, n. s.; candidus ; pileo papyraceo-cori-
aceo tenui flexili subtiliter tomentoso; poris parvis, dissepimentis
tenuissimis, acie acuta subintegra.

Has. Sikkim. 12,000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

White. Pileus 14 inch broad, attached behind and decurrent, re-
flexed in front, of a thin flexible substance, resembling white kid
leather; nearly smooth, rugose, margin arched. Pores minute, 34 of
an inch across, angular ; dissepiments thin ; edge nearly entire.

A singular species, remarkable for its flexible texture, resembling
somewhat very thin specimens of P. velutinus.

436. P. (Inodermei) gratus, n. s.; pileo postice latissime decurrente,
margine reflexo, subtiliter sericeo lanatoque ligneo-pallido ; contextu
candidissimo, serius cum pileo concolore ; poris longis minutis dentato-
elongatis. te

Has. On the ground, doubtless attached to wood. Himalayas. (Dr. —
Hooker.) ee

Pileus 4 inches broad, decurrent for three inches, the reflected por- —
tion about an inch long, pale wood-coloured, finely silky, and in parts — —
delicately woolly, especially behind; substance tolerably firm, thin, here —
and there white as snow, but at length coloured like the pileus, brittle. —
Pores 2-3 lines deep, not +3, of an inch broad, delicate. Edge po
duced principally in front into one or more acute teeth. Lu

A very delicate species, allied to P. velutinus, remarkable for its long-
toothed pores. :

431. P. (Resupinatus) cereus, n. s.; resupinatus, tenuis, mycelio spon-
gioso ferrugineo oriundus; contextu parco flavo; poris minutis cereis,
acie tenui denticulata.

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal; high valleys. (Dr. Hooker.) —

Spread over the surface of the wood for 3 or 4 inches, substratose, ©
thin, invested with a spongy ferruginous mycelium ; substance thin, yel- ;
low. Pores wax-coloured, minute, gy of an inch across, angular ; edge :
thin, sometimes lacerated, sometimes drawn out into acute teeth, ae

A stalactiti form occurs, in which the edge of the tubes is more re-
gularly drawn out, This I had at first supposed a form of P. scruposus, :

438, P. (Resupinatus) Beharensis, n. s.; resupinatus, margine re- -
flexus; supra umbrinus, subvelutinus; hymenio albo; pure pua
punetiformibus parvis, acie obtusissima, sero tantum elongatis acie acu- —

tiuscula.
Has. On dead wood, Soane river, Behar. (Dr. Hooker.)

164 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Spreading in little patches, which arise from the confluence of many |
individuals, resupinate, with the extreme edge reflected. Above clothed
with umber or tawny, somewhat velvety down. Hymenium white, for
a long time having only very shallow punctiform pores, with entire ob-
tuse borders, at length elongated, =, of an inch broad; edge rather
acute, entire. The new hymenium springs year after year from the old
hymenium, so that some specimens assume the peculiar appearance of
old plants of Stereum frustulatum.

439. Trametes Hookeri, n. s.; pileo reniformi disco lato affixo sub-
levi subtiliter pubescente rufescente; poris subhexagonis mediis ligni-
coloribus.

Has. On dead wood. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus subreniform, fixed by a broad orbicular dise, 4 inches across,
3 inches long, nearly even, zoneless, finely pubescent, at length acquir-
ing a rufous tinge, contracting when dry, as if softer than in the neigh-
bouring species; sometimes proliferous, in which case the pilei are
much thinner, and more evidently pubescent ; margin acute, substance
white. Pores sometimes punctiform, but, when well developed, sub-

_ hexagonal, jy of an inch across.

This species has much the appearance of Polyporus rufescens. As
= in some other neighbouring species, the perfect state of the pores is
- . totally different from that which sometimes prevails.
pee. 440. T. crenulata, n. s. ; pileo suberoso subflabellato disco orbiculari
affixo postice definite decurrente candido tomentoso zonato rugoso ;
margine tenui crenulato; poris elongatis mediis sinuosis.

Han. On dead wood. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus corky, 4—6 inches across, 3 inches long, subflabelliform, de-
current behind, attached by a broad orbicular dise, white, pubescent,
marked with numerous zones, and rugged with radiating elevations.
Edge thin, acute, crenulate. Pores white, oblong, y of an inch across,
^ long, often more or less sinuated ; edge obtuse, or, in specimens in
which the pores are most developed, rather acute. pom

Allied to 7. lactea, Berk., but a distinct species, remarkable for its
acute, crenulate border. There is also a state, but clearly not normal,

with a more obtuse and entire border.

441. T. cingulata, n. s. ; pileo tenui suberoso reniformi crebrizonato
subtiliter pubescente ; stipite laterali disciformi ; poris minutis puncti-
. formibus, acie integra obtusa. i

_ Has. On dead wood. Soane river. (Dr. Hooker.)

DECADES OF FUNGI. 165

Corky, dirty white, shaded and zoned with pale yellow. Pileus 2-4
inches across, 1}~2 inches long, reniform, 1 line or more thick, very
minutely pubescent, marked with numerous concentric grooves and
zones, sometimes in parts fuliginous, but possibly with some extraneous
matter; edge thin, but in general obtuse, barren; stem a lateral dise,
seldom visibly elongated. Hymenium concave; pores minute, 44. of
an inch across, round, punetiform ; edge obtuse, quite entire.

Allied to those species of Trametes which resemble Lenzites repanda,
but a small thin species, with somewhat of the habit of Polyporus velu-
tinus,

* T, lobata, Berk.

Has. On dead wood. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Two forms of this occur in addition to the one originally described,
the first very even, and of a tawny tint, the second thicker and rugged.

* T. colliculosa, Berk.

Has. On dead wood. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

442. T. tephroleuca, n. s.; pileo dimidiato rigido-coriaceo candido
zonato strigoso-velutino ; contextu candido; poris mediis cinereis, dis-
sepimentis rigidis quandoque elongatis, acie acuta.

Has. On dead wood. Nangki, East Nepal, alt. 10,000 feet. (Dr.
Hooker.) |
Pileus 3 inches across, 2 inches long, dimidiate, subreniform, some-
times slightly lobed, coriaceous, rather hard, zoned, clothed with dense
white strigose hairs. Pores middle-sized, 4; of an inch across, ash-
coloured, sometimes a little elongated in front; dissepiments rigid ;

edge acute.

Resembling Polyporus hirsutus, but with larger, differently-coloured
pores. It is quite clear that if the genus Trametes is to be retained,
many more species must be removed into it from Polyporus. Fries has -
made a good many changes in this direction, which will in all proba- — —
bility be ultimately adopted. 2E

443. T. immutata, n.s.; pileo dimidiato rigido-coriaceo zonato stri- :
goso subvelutino albido; poris mediis; acie membranacea sublacerata.

Has. On dead wood. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.) ;

Pileus 4 inches across, 2 inches long, of a rigid coriaceous texture,
zoned, clothed thinly with strigose hairs, more velvety behind. Pores
middle-sized, æ of an inch across, white; dissepiments moderately firm;
edge thin and membranous, slightly toothed. .

166 DECADES OF FUNGI.

This species is very close to 7. tephroleuca, but there is no cinereous
tint about the pores, the walls of which are not so rigid, and above all,
their edge is prolonged into a toothed membrane.

* T. ozonioides, Berk.

Has. On charred wood. Leebong, 6000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

A resupinate form, with the margin narrowly reflected, and searcely
so thickly covered with strigose fascicles of hairs as in more perfectly
developed specimens.

* Dedalea sanguinea, Klotzsch.

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

* D. tenuis, Berk.

Has. On dead wood. Paras Nath; Khasia Mts. (Dr. Hooker.)

444. D. Emodensis, n. s. ; ligneo-pallens ; pileo dimidiato crassiusculo
subvelutino postice demum laecato-polito ; sinubus oblongis brevibus.

Has. On dead wood. Leebong. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 4—5 inches across, 2} or more long, dimidiate or subflabelli-
form, pale wood-coloured, rather thick, zoned, more or less velvety, at
length slightly laecate behind; margin acute. Hymenium rather darker
than the pileus; pores mostly oblong, about 4, of an inch across, vary-
ing considerably in length ; dissepiments rigid ; edge obtuse.

'This species is always more or less velvety, sometimes densely, some-
times however nearly smooth, and is very distinct from every form of
Lenzites repanda, with which it ought not to be confounded, though,
like other similar Fungi, it varies considerably.

445. Cyelomyces turbinatus, n. s.; pileo turbinato deorsum cum sti-
pite radicato extus ferrugineo-spongioso confluente.

Has. On decayed wood, Nunklow. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus about an inch broad, turbinate, hollowed out above, with the
margin expanded, minutely velvety, ferruginous. Stem attenuated down-
~ wards, rooting, clothed with dense, spongy, ferruginous pubescence, 13

inch high, half an inch thick in the middle; laminz narrow.

There are but two specimens of this curious production, neither of
which is in a satisfactory state. The colours are nearly those of Poly-
porus oblectans, from which the concentric laminz and peculiar rooting
stems at once separate it. Both the specimens seem to have been at-

tached below through their whole length.
— * Hezagonia Wightii, Klotzsch.
Has. Soane river, Behar. (Dr. Hooker.)

DECADES OF FUNGI. 167

Varying greatly in the shape and length of the pores. They are
often elongated on one side, especially in front, and are then sinuous,
sometimes as much so as in Dedalea.

* H. polygramma, Mont.

Has. Paras Nath; Soane river, Behar. (Dr. Hooker.)

* H. tenuis, Fr.

Has. On dead wood. Eastern Nepal; Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.

There is also a very beautiful variety, thicker and more rugged, and
resembling externally some states of Lenzites Klotzschii.

* Favolus multiplex, Lév.

Has. Churra. (Dr. Hooker.) June.

There seems very little difference, if any, between this species and 7.
lacerus, Fr., from Costa Rica.

446. F. setiporus, n. s. ; pileo dimidiato pallide flavo radiatim line-
ato-rugoso; poris amplis intus setigeris.

Has. On dead wood. Nunklow. July, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 2 inches broad, dimidiate, sometimes flabelliform, thin, pale
yellow, rough with fine raised lines, subzonate when dry, from the
contraction of the substance over the pores. Pores large, hexagonal,

1-2 lines broad, clothed with short bristles, or rather subtriangular
laminz within. $

Allied to F. intestinalis, the walls of whose pores are however que E
smooth.

447. Merulius lignosus, n. s. ; dependens ligneus; vertice elongato
inerassato margine obtuso; hymenio poroso-venoso; poris amplis.

Has. On dead wood. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Hard, woody, at least when dry; 2 inches across, fixed by the vertex,
which is greatly elongated, irregular, and entering into the substance of -
the matrix; edge tawny. Pores dark, irregular, unequal, nearly a line -
broad.

* Hydnum conatum, Batsch.

‘Has. On the ground, in woods. Khasia, 5 5-6000 feet. Juy, 1 1860.
(Dr. Hooker.) à ee

x me brown; border yellow.”

H H. vespertilio, n. 4 nigrum ; pileo tenui infundibuliformi pro- *
e fisso zonato radiatim lineato, zonis elevatis.

Haz. On the ground. Nunklow. July 10, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.) —

Black. Infundibuliform, 2 inches across, 13 inch deep, strongly cleft,
marked to the very base of the funnel with raised zones and a few radi-

*

168 DECADES OF FUNGI.

ating lines or wrinkles; at first tomentose, then smooth. Stem obso-
lete, or confluent with the base of the pileus. Spines very slender,
acute, decurrent. :

This species has many points in common with H. nigrum, but it is
strongly zoned, and there is no true stem, or scarcely any. Whether
the spines are in any stage white, I am unable to say.

* H. erinaceus, Bull.

Has. On dead wood. Sikkim, 7500 feet; abundant. (Dr. Hooker.)

* H. flabelliforme, Berk.

Has. Leebong. (Dr. Hooker.)

449. Irpex zonatus, n. s. ; ligneo-pallens; pileis imbricatis subflabel-
liformibus coriaceo-rigidis zonatis subtiliter tomentosis glabrescentibus,
margine lobatis, dentibus basi compressis.

Has. On dead wood, surrounding sticks. Sikkim; East Nepal.
November 8. (Dr. Hooker.)

Imbricated, pale wood-coloured. ileus 4 inches or more broad, 2
inches long, laterally confluent, more or less flabelliform, with the mar-
gin lobed, marked with numerous concentric grooves, rugose, very finely
tomentose, at length smooth. Hymenium tinged with brown; teeth
compressed at the base, laterally confluent, above 2 lines long, quite
smooth.

A splendid species, which may be compared with Z. canescens, with
the habit of I. inerustans, Berk. and Mont., a species from British
Guiana. The Nepal specimens are more even, and do not exceed an
inch in length; they are probably younger. From these it appears
that the original form is elongato-flabelliform.

* I. flavus, Klotzsch.

‘Has. Soane river. (Dr. Hooker.) 5
. And var. orbicularis—Polyporus flavus, var. orbicularis, Junghuhn
. Crypt. Jav. p. 48.

.. Ham. On old bamboo of Boat; Ganges. March 20, 1848. (Dr.
Hooker.)

Exactly according with the figure of Junghuhn, and in habitat. The
mycelium in his plant runs in the cavity of the bamboo, and bursts
through holes perforated by insects, and the Ganges plant appears to
. grow in the same manner. The substance is yellow, but the outer sur-
— face is bleached. :

1280. Radulum spongiosum, n. s.; pileo dimidiato tenui spongioso
. fusco pallescente subzonato fasciculatim substrigoso; hymenio fusco.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 169

Has. On dead wood. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 2 inches across, 1 inch long, dimidiate, thin, of a soft, spongy
consistence, brown, becoming dirty-white, clothed with scattered, brown,
fasciculate, strigose threads, slightly zoned in front; edge acute, more or
less fringed; substance tinged with reddish-grey. Hymenium brown;
teeth short, irregular, often notched above, subacute, pulverulent.

This curious Fungus combines the habit of Lenzites striata with the
characters of Radulum. The specimens are not in the least decurrent,
and the teeth are apparently in their normal condition.

* Thelephore palmata, Fr.

Has. On the ground. Khasia (Nunklow). July, 1850. we Hooker.)

Black, with white tips. 4

* T. dendritica, P. :

Has. On rotten wood. Nunklow. July 12, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.) - T

A single small specimen, every part of which was white when gathered.

451. Stereum endocrocinum, n. s.; pileo crasso suberoso postice de-
currente antice reflexo profunde concentrice sulcato velutino hispido in-
tus aurantiaco; hymenio ochraceo-fusco.

Has. On dead branches. Yangma valley, East Nepal. Nov. 29. |
(Dr. Hooker.) Ev

Corky, 2 lines thick. ileus 2 inches across, decurrent behind, re-
flected in front, so as to form an irregular cap, deeply sulcate above,
coarsely velvety; margin obtuse; substance deep orange or brick-red, —
clothed, where attached, with spongy pubescence of the same colour. -
Hymenium even ochraceous, tinged with brown.

A very curious species, calling to mind Hydnum aurantiacum, by the —
colour of its mycelium.

* S. hirsutum, Fr.

Has. Sikkim ; woods at Leebong. (Dr. Hooker.)

A pretty variety, with a whitish pileus, approaching to some state of.
S. lobatum.

* S. lobatum, Fr. x
Has."On dead wood. Khasia (Churra). -July, Aug. (Dr. Hooker.) >

* S. spadiceum, Fr.
Has. Sikkim; Lachen. 8000 feet. August 4,1849. (Dr. Hooker) — .
452. S. cacao; n. s. ; tabacinum ; pileis imbricatis connato-flabellifor- —
mibus plicatis zonatis velutinis ; hymenio concolore subtiliter setuloso.
Has. On dead timber. Khasia Mts. July 7, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.) —

VOL, VI. Z

-10 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Forming dense orbicular patches 3 inches or more in diameter, closely
imbricated ; pilei thin but rather rigid, flabelliform, connate, deeply
lobed and plicate, furrowed with a few zones, of a rich chocolate-brown,
velvety; hymenium marked with a few concentric ridges of the same
eolour as the pileus, minutely setulose.

A very pretty species, allied to S. rubiginosum, but far more minutely
setulose than its allies.

* S. Mougeotii, Fr. (sub Corticio) Moug. et Nest. n. 581.

Has. On wood. Yangma Valley, Eastern Nepal. November 29.
Singalelah, Sikkim, 1848. 10,000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Precisely the plant of Mougeot and Nestler, but much larger. The -
ferruginous substratum is very remarkable in this fungus, which ap-
proaches very near to such species as S. ¢abacinum. The hymenium is
distinctly spinuloso-setose as in that species, the bristles being of the

J same colour as the hymenium.

453. S. scytale, n. s.; rigido-coriaceum, ambienti-liberum ; pileo lo-
bato zonato radiatim ruguloso subvelutino spadiceo ; contextu concolori ;
-hymenio ochraceo umbrinoque.

Has. On dead wood from Khasia Mountains (Hooker and Thom-
son) to the Western Himalayas (Capt. Strachey).

Of a rigid coriaceous substance, but rather flexible; brittle when
dry, and easily splitting from the base to the margin, effused, with the
border reflected widely, 3 inches or more, zoned and grooved, marked
with little longitudinal wrinkles, especially in the larger and thicker in-
. dividuals, deep brown inclining to red; finely velvety or pubescent ;
-substance brown, like the pileus; hymenium ochraceous or tinged with
. umber, sometimes finely wrinkled towards the edge.

_ This species has many points in common with S. rugosum, but more
especially with S. subpileatum. Though running over the matrix, and
at first adnate with it, the border becomes widely reflected and lobed.

Thick specimens approach the magnificent S. princeps, which has at
present not been found out of Java.

— Corticium leve, Fr.

Has. On decayed wood. E. Nepal ; Nangki, 10,000 ft. (Dr. Hooker.)

A form of Corticium leve approaching C. incarnatum, but with no
enc ses ide > assume the brighter colours of that species. There is no

istinct d margin, but tm. -
* Reid Herde, Berk.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 171

- Has. Kosderah, Soane river, February 20, 1848. (Dr. Hooker.)

* Laschia tremellosa, Fr.

Has. Sikkim ; woods at Leebong, 5000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

454. Laschia lamellosa, n. s.; pileo subreniformi lobato; plicis pri-
mariis radiantibus lamelleformibus, interstitiis venosis.

Has. With Z. tremellosa. Leebong. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pileus 3 of an inch or more across, reniform or suborbicular, lobed,
rough with velvety matted pubescence; primary folds lamelliform, dis-
tant, secondary forming reticulations in the interstices.

Resembling, except in substance, a Xerotus.

455. Tremella protensa, n. s.; pallide luteo-virens e basi angusta
dilatato-protensa digitato-lobata undulata apicibus obtusis furcatis.
Hook. n. 55.

Has. On trees, Sikkim; Darjeeling, 7,500 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Forming large, highly gelatinous, pale ochraceous masses, inclining to
green ; base narrow, plicate; spreading out above into elongated lobed
undulate fronds, whose tips are obtuse and forked, Filaments of the
interior thicker, even, anastomosing ; ultimate threads more delicate, un-
dulate, bearing at their apices obovate sporophores.

This curious species has something of the habit of 7. vesicaria, which
is a true Tremella, and not an Alga, as stated by Fries, notiitistands
ing its terrestrial mode of growth.

* Dictyophora speciosa, Klotzsch. ..

Has. Sikkim; Khasia (Churra). June. (Dr. Hooker.)

Phallus Demonum, Rumph., appears to be the same thing.

* Clathrus cancellatus, L.

Haz. On the ground. Myrong ; Khasia. July, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.) |

* Geaster hygrometricus, P.

Haz. Simla. (Dr. Thomson.) -

* G. limbatus, Fr. Forma minor.
~- Has. Simla. (Dr. Thomson.)

* Trichocoma paradozum, Jungh.

Has. East Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

Found also in Java and South Carolina.

* Bovista, sp.

- Has. North-western Himalayas. (Dr. Thomson.)

The specimens are Meer not in a sufficiently good state to
determine specifically. =

456. Lycoperdon a ei, n. s. ; stipite elongeio sursum incrassato

172 DECADES OF FUNGI.

cum peridio obovato granulato, ore lato aperto confluente ; sporis majo-
ribus echinulatis.

Has. On the ground, amongst moss, East Nepal and Sikkim;
Darjeeling, 7,500 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Stem 2 inches high, 2 of an inch thick, confluent above, with the
obovate finely granulated peridium ; orifice rather wide, but determi-
nate. Capillitium umber; spores purplish-brown, 44154 of an inch in
diameter, rather dark, echinulate, sometimes stipitate.

A very distinct species, allied to Z. gemmata, extremely flaccid, aud
remarkable for its rough spores, in which character it agrees with L.
atro-purpureum, Vitt.

* Lycoperdon fucatum, Lév.

Has. Khabili river. 5-6000 ft. E. Nepal. Dec. 10. (Dr. Hooker.)

Of this there is only a portion of the capillitium, which agrees with
Léveillé’s species in its vinous tint and rough spores. ;

457. L. delicatum, n. s.; globosum; peridio membranaceo verrucis
parvulis exasperato ; capillitio sporisque echinulatis Pise fusco-
purpureis.

Has. On the ground. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

About 2 inches in diameter, subglobose; peridium membranaceous,
rough with minute pointed warts, opening by an irregular aperture at
the apex. Stem none. Capillitium and spores purple-brown ; spores
zog of an inch in diameter, rough with little points, seated on a pe-
duncle four times as long as themselves.

458. L. Emodense, n.s.; peridio ovato furfuraceo-squamuloso bre-
vissiem stipitato, ore magno maguari rupto ; capillitio griseo, sporis
argillaceis.

Has. On the gróund. Sikkim, 15,000 feet. Phulloot, East Nepal,

9000. November 10. (Dr. Hooker.)

_ About an inch high, 3 thick, ovate or subglobose; peridium very
. delicate, clothed with very minute umber-brown branny scales or gra-
_ nules, less closely above, opening by a wide aperture. Capillitium grey-
ish ; spores clay-coloured, about 44154 of an inch long.
Very distinct from Z. microspermum, of which it has somewhat the
appearance, in its larger spores.
..— 459. L. zanthospermum, n. s. ; globosum ; peridio tenuissimo, maculis
: peridii externi reliquiis notato ; capillitio sporisque pedicellatis flavis.

| Has. On the ground. Khasia, at Moflong. June 29, 1850. (Dr.
.. Hooker.)

DECADES OF FUNGI. 173

About an inch in diameter, stemless, yellowish, marked with. minute
brown specks, the remains of the outer coat, but by no means furfu-
raceous, Capillitium and spores yellow; spores ysy of an inch in di-
ameter, often furnished with a minute peduncle.

Allied to the last, but differing in the nature of the outer peridium,
the pedicellate spores, etc. P d

* L. pusillum, Batsch.

Has. On the ground. Eastern Nepal. (Dr. Hocker.)

The specimens differ from the two preceding in their flocculent, not
scaly or areolate coat. The spores are of the same size as in those
species. In Z. microspermum they do not exceed 5455.

* Scleroderma Geaster, Fr.

Has. On clay-banks. Khasia, at Nunklow, 4-5000 feet. July. (Dr.
Hooker.)

460. S. nitidum, n.s. ; peridio ovato apice irregulariter dehiscente;
epidermide in squamas polygonas depressas tenuissimas rupto; stipite
levi subtomentoso deorsum incrassato rigido, in radices paucas validas -
fisso.

Has. Nangki; Eastern Nepal, alt. 10,000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Peridium regularly ovate, 14 inch thick, obtuse, but narrowed above; |
the cuticle broken up into flat, polygonal, darker areæ, bursting at the
apex. Stem 1 inch high, 5 lines thick, solid, firm, even, somewhat
downy, divided below into two or three stout solid roots, which give
forth abundant mycelioid threads. Mass of spores pale earthy-olive,
with a very few yellowish veins, granulated, 3350-3300 of an inch in
diameter. There is also a smaller form with a shorter stem.

Allied to S. Lycoperdoides, Schwein., having, like that, the habit of —
Tulostoma, but a larger species. The stem is quite even above the
strong roots, which are very peculiar.

* Mitremyces Junghuhnii, Schlecht. et Müll. in Bot. Zeit. 1854, p. -
401, cum ic. dg

Has. On the ground. Sikkim, at Chola, 6000-8000 feet. East
Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.) Bhotan, Mr. Nuttal. : Dee

The only difference which I find between the Khasia and Sumatra |
specimens is, that the former are more warty. They grow in little —
tufts. The outer integument cracks off without forming a distinct cap, —
as in M. australis and some other species. The spores are globose and -
granulated, about 3255 of an inch in diameter. zd

* Diderma conteztum, Pers. Uu

174 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

. Has. On the under surface of living leaves. Sikkim, at Darjeeling.
(Dr. Hooker.) |
The sori are from 2-5 lines broad, and are surrounded by a white
reticulated border, consisting of abortive peridia. The external peridium
is rather thicker than usual; there is no columella. The flocci are white
and well developed ; the spores globose, 51,5 of an inch in diameter.
* Arcyria punicea, P.
Has. On decayed wood. E. Nepal; Bheti, 4000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)
The spores are slightly smaller than in British specimens.

(To be continued.)

Report of a Journey or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd. February, 1849 ;
by J. S. Ror, EsQ., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 151.)

On 14th of December we resumed our examination down the river,
eagerly examining every accessible cliff we met, but discovering no
shales. Granite or gneiss, with a large proportion of hornblende in it,
was in contact with these cliffs, and did not raise our immediate hopes
of coal; nevertheless, at half a mile within the mouth of the river,
amass of dark red sandstone projected from its right bank into a deep
navigable reach, seventy yards across, and indicated a closer proximity
to the object of our search. The water was here quite salt, and about
twenty feet deep, tenanted by many fine large fish, resembling bream,
upwards of a foot in length, which resisted the most tempting induce-
ments we could hold out to them to take a bait. Below this spot the
shores, both of the river and of a fine large estuary which received it,

were low and sandy, and no more sandstone was seen to crop out upon
them.

-— Tn less than a mile from the mouth of this tiver, our western course
was arrested by the open deep reach of another, at least 250 yards
across, coming from the northward and flowing into the same estuary.

= Having ascertained that its mouth, which was a quarter of a mile lower
` down, and divided into two open channels, was not fordable, I com-
menced its examination upwards. The low level banks soon rose to
. more undulating land, of light sandy character, clothed with some good
. grass extending half a mile back, and growing among Nuylsia, gigantic

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 115

Zamia, yeit, tea-trees, Jacksonia, etc. In less than three miles the
width of the open water had contracted to 100 yards, and a consider-
able peninsula, thickly. covered with high grass, was projected by it to
the eastward. Hereabouts several large grassy tributaries were added,
and a little higher up a dry rocky ledge connecting the two banks ob-
liquely, enabled us to cross to the right bank. The land on that side
however was found to be so rocky and steep that we soon afterwards
recrossed, and finally encamped on one of the above-mentioned tribu-
taries, at the first fresh-water hole we had discovered in connection with
the river. Grass was here in ample sufficiency for our wants; and the
river itself, which had now dwindled to a very brackish tea-tree brook,
five yards across, wound its tortuous way through a well-grassed flat a
quarter to half a mile wide. Red cliffs occasionally broke out on the
hill-sides thus far, and the land on either side of the river’s valley had
all the flat-topped appearance of the sandstone formation ; but granite
or gneiss was the prevailing rock on the lower levels, with occasional
veins of quartz through it, to the thickness of a foot. All our spare -
time was now directed to the horses’ backs and feet, for the former re-
quired constant attention, especially to protect them from the flies,
whilst many of their shoes were loose, and some cast altogether. To
make good these defects, in the rough country we were in, was most
essential, but the practical knowledge of farriery amongst the whole
party was small; necessity however proved as usual an excellent as-
sistant in overcoming difficulties, and, without laming a single horse,

Mr. Gregory soon became an excellent farrier.

On essaying to follow up the river on the 15th, so many branches

here fell in that it was not easy to decide on the principal one ; but in ;
such a case I deferred to the native's judgment, and kept to a valley

from the N.N.W. At the end of a mile a larger tributary than usual,
containing considerable pools of open water, joined from the east ward,
and appeared to me to be the main branch; for that which we followec
to the N.N.W. soon diminished in importance, and ascended rapidly
in a rough granite bed, between somewhat steep rocky banks. Al-
though grass still covered the slopes of the narrow valley which con- -
tained the river, the latter was so much reduced in size and character that —
I deemed it no longer worth following, and at ten miles from its mouth -
quitted it, for the purpose of making a further examination of the es-
tuary ; for, as that neighbourhood presented indications of coal, I was.

176 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

desirous of ascertaining what facilities existed for its transport by water.
Where I quitted this river it was coming from the N.W., and lay in ir-
regular rocky pools, usually salt. The stratified gneiss rock, of dark
glittering appearance, which here formed the basis of the country, was
observed to lie in the direction of the magnetic meridian, with a de-
cided dip to the eastward of about 15° from the vertical. Fragments
of red sandstone, several inches square, lay on the surface near our rocky
bridge, and contained many perfect impressions of bivalve shells. Cross-
ing to the right bank by the rocky bridge, we came out on the estuary -
by some good grassy slopes near its mouth. The water in some of the
holes in the rocks, from two to twelve feet in diameter, was found to
be perfectly fresh and good, whilst in others, almost in contact with
them, it was far too brackish for use. The pools and holes were not
full, and thin layers of salt, encrusted on the rocks, showed the gradual
process of evaporation, as the river had ceased to run. The frag-
ments or débris on the banks (for in the actual bed of the river there
were none) consisted chiefly of water-worn pieces of granite, quartz,
whin, streakstone, red sandstone, oolitic conglomerate, and a variety of
fragments of dark slaty colour and very hard close grain. Calcareous
rocks and red sandstone had repeatedly occurred during the day, as we
passed over a rough undulating country, otherwise uninteresting.

On the 20th of December, as we advanced westward, the geological
indications acquired additional interest in our eyes at every watercourse
we crossed, for the intervening scrubby country showed nothing more '
remarkable than the occasional outcrop of red sandstone, in a gravelly,
sandy soil. At three miles and a half from our last camp we crossed
a river, in pools one hundred yards by twenty, and perfectly fresh, run-
ning slowly to the S.S.W., between banks which frequently broke into
red and yellow sandstone cliffs . On examining these, and the interest-
ing débris at their feet, the prospects of coal being not very remote, were
greater and more encouraging, for we seemed to have got much lower
. in the carboniferous strata than in the stream-beds to the eastward.
_ Flaky ironstone, of a hard, flinty texture, was found at a low level, to-
_ gether with pebbly concretes; and layers of water-worn pebbles were
.. also imbedded in the cliffs. Amongst the débris of stones and gravel

in the river's bed, were fragments of slate, flint, and apparently chalk,
. the same being also imbedded in the rocky bank. From this spot,
. the sharp-peaked summit of the lofty rocky range in advance bore

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 177

W. 10° S., about fourteen miles distant, and towards it we shaped our
course, crossing three more streams of smaller size, and fresh, running
to the southward in grassy valleys, the developments in which made us
long to linger on spots so geologically interesting ; for in some of them
the slaty coal-shales appeared, and were closely traced as far as visible.
The intervening ridges were high, steep, and rocky, and well covered
with thicket and scrub, which appeared also to continue on the lower
grounds, as these hills broke off into a descent half a mile to the south.
The horses’ feet now suffered so much from the extreme roughness of
the rocks, the sharp, knife-like edges of which in many places required
the greatest care in avoiding, that I did not regret when a valley,
deeper and wider than the others, at length lay at our feet, and pro-
mised to afford them a respite on its well-grassed flats. Descending
its steep and rugged slope, we encamped at four o'clock, in the midst
of luxuriant grass, in a valley half a mile wide, through which was
winding, in a very tortuous course, the river which * Bob" had de-
scribed to us as draining the eastern side of the range. Here the
scenery was altogether rich and beautiful, such as, in contrast with our
former scrubs and thickets, we seemed never tired of contemplating.
It was however limited, and the effect chiefly produced by the abut-
ment into the rich grassy valley of several small projections from the -
higher land, composed entirely of fragments of red sandstone, quartz, -
and thin scales of micaceous slate, of every hue and colour. These
projections, and their intermediate little grassy ravines, were beautifully —
studded with wattles, and small ornamental trees; and above all rose
a dense mass of dark green foliage, reminding us but too forcibly of -
the impenetrable thickets with which we had contended in the interior.
As the morning of this day had been wet and stormy, with much
thunder and lightning from the S.E., and clouds were again piling up

in heavy masses, threatening a continuance of the storm, I avoided all — —

trees and conspicuous objects in selecting our camp; and fortunate it e:
proved that I did so, as before the sun went down, a thunder-storm,
which had been gathering in the N.W., burst furiously upon us from
the opposite quarter, and would have swept everything before it, had
we not been sheltered by a little thicket of saplings. This continued,
and even increased, and until early morning we seemed to be the sport
of one continued black thunder-storm, passing from S.E. to N :W., and
vice versd. The lightning gleamed and darted about us most vividly,

VOL. VI. 2A

178 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

and the sharp cracks of thunder seemed to be in our very presence, and
to explode close by us. The rain did not fail to play its part either;
and by the time all was over, our ammunition (in waterproof canisters)
was the only article left dry, for our frail calico tents might as well
have been struck at the onset.

At daylight nature smiled out upon us, as if nothing had happened ;
and upon the same principle we proceeded on the labours of the day,
as soon as we could dry some clothes, and had looked about for the
damage done by the elements; but beyond the leaping and brawling
of the water-channels around, and the occasional grumbling of the dis-
tant thunder, no vestige appeared of the recent storm.

On examining the river one hundred yards to the westward, it was
found to be in deep open pools of considerable size, formed entirely out
of a light-coloured greenish rock, laminated and stratified. Its lay was
E. 30? N. and W. 30°S., with occasional deviations, amounting to 10°
or 15°, and the dip was estimated at about 60° to S. 30? E. Thin
veins of metamorphic ironstone traversed the strata, without any regard
to order or arrangement ; and to all appearance the whole of the adja-
cent range was of the same formation, its naked rocks being plainly
visible to the eye.

Mr. Gregory, in following up the river’s bed a few hundred yards,
having found some loose pieces of micaceous slaty rock, apparently
coloured black by a bituminous substance, and resembling a slaty coal,
we proceeded on our examination of the river upwards, with renewed
hopes; and at a part of it, three-quarters of a mile west from the last
bivouac, came upon shales of a promising character in the bed, of a
deep slate colour, approaching to black, and apparently bituminous,
with thin veins of still darker substance, like coal, between the layers.

_ The direction and dip of the strata were as before stated, and the sides
. of the steep hills which rose from the river's bed were strewed with
fragments of the same slaty appearance, but more hardened by exposure
to the atmosphere.
The rains of the previous night had unfortunately filled all the lowest
levels in the river’s bed, and had also set it running, as well as every
adjoining tributary. The bed was likewise so encumbered with rocky

oe fragments among the deep pools, as to render our search difficult, tedi-

.. ous, and incomplete, for at the time it was in progress, the horses were
struggling and floundering across the rich grassy peninsula formed here -

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 179

by its right bank, where the land lay very low, and had been rendered
soft and boggy by the rains. I therefore felt desirous of securing for
them a firmer footing on the higher ground, and for this purpose cut
off angles of the river which would otherwise have been more fully ex-
amined.

As we proceeded upwards, the obstacles and impediments near the
river increased, and I found it necessary to withdraw the horses alto-
gether from its vicinity hereabouts, while able to do so. While there-
fore Messrs. Gregory and Ridley traced its bed, I conducted the party
through the dense masses of thicket we had seen from our camp, as the
only means of getting above some steep rocky cliffs which occurred on
the western side of them. By the time these were cleared, at the ex-
pense of much scratching and tearing, the party from the river’s bed
rejoined us, and reported they had fallen in with coal shales, if not the —
actual coal itself, of far superior quality to that already noticed, and
that it lay in large blocks in the river's bed. Not being aware of this till
we had long passed the spot, I did not see it, but continued my search —
for some grass, and a proper camping-place, the horses being greatly
fatigued with their harassing hill work, and some of them very footsore.

Ascending a peaked rocky hill two miles north from the range, the
river was observed to occupy a very steep rugged valley in the inter-
mediate space, and to be in large pools. Above this it was observed
to wind through extensive grassy slopes from the N.N.W. and N., its
numerous tributaries being also well grassed, and the principal valley,
fifteen or eighteen miles off, in the direction of N. by W. One of these
tributaries, not so grassy as the others, seemed to cut its way almost
wholly through a red sandstone country, and could be traced by its
cliffs many miles to the W. and N.W. from its mouth, a little above
the hill we were upon. Several lofty and abrupt hills, of varied and :
peaked outline, were observed between East and Middle Mounts Bar-
ren, and the latter itself appeared at the distance of thirty miles on the
bearing S. 50° W, All these hills seemed to be composed of the same
light-coloured micaceous slaty rock as that which formed the range -
near us. $

Having given to the latter the name of Mr. Eyre, the indefatigable
explorer, who was the first to report its existence, we descended from —
our rugged elevation, and encamped two miles further to the westward, |
a little above the mouth of the tributary already noticed with the red ,

180 BOTANY OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND.

cliffs. Here grass and water were abundant, and the rock chiefly red
sandstone conglomerate, mixed with slate, and a variety of others, in
loose and promiscuous heaps. i

At this camp we seemed to have got quite above, or to the N.W., of
the main coal-seam of this river, which will in all probability be found
to crop out in its bed between half and one and a half mile, in a direct
line above our bivouac of 20th December, from which East Mount Bar-
ren bore S. 28? 45' W., and the north end of Eyre Range W. $ S. I
should even now have proceeded on foot for its further examination,
but Bob assured me it was not the spot in which his friends had told
him coal was to be found, and to which he was very desirous we should
proceed without delay.

I have been thus partieular in describing my passage across this coal
field, in order that others who may hereafter follow up the discovery
may be fully aware of what has been left incomplete. That coal exists
in the locality pointed out, there cannot remain the slightest doubt; for
although the later specimens were so unfortunately lost, sufficient were
seen and brought away from the neighbourhood to place all doubts
aside, and I have little fear but this valuable mineral will be found in
considerable quantity where I have stated. Its locality is favourable,
at eight or nine miles from the sea-coast, and perhaps five or six only
from the head of an estuary, which was seen at a distance to receive
the river on the eastern side of East Mount Barren. ‘This estuary
(which was named Culham Inlet, and its river the Phillips) is probably
navigable for boats for a few miles, but, like all the inlets on the coast,
is doubtless shut up by a dry sand-bar at its mouth, except during a
small portion of the rainy season. This bar, and the anchorage off it,
would be only fifty miles from the southern part of Doubtful Island Bay,
` where steamers might coal in security from a depót.

(To be continued.)

Notes on the Botany of King George’s Sound.

-~ [The following extracts of a letter from Dr. Harvey, dated King
. George's Sound, January 29, 1854, will, we are sure, be read with

pleasure by those who peruse this Journal.—Ep.]
I wrote to you from Ceylon in November, enclosing specimens and

BOTANY OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND. 181

descriptions of my “ Vanvoorstia” and the new “ Claudea,"* and I
hope you duly received the letter; it was sent by the Governor's
despatch-bag through the Colonial Office. I left Ceylon on the 13th
December, and arrived here on the 7th of the present month. We
touched for a few hours only at Penang and Sincapore. At the latter
place I drove out to Dr. Oxley’s country-house, very prettily situated a
mile or two from the town; but unfortunately the Doctor was not at
home, and though I followed him to an institution where he was said to
be engaged, I missed him there by half an hour, and was then obliged
to go on board the steamer; I left your letter for him, however. He
has a very pretty garden round his house, and several choice plants
therein; and under a tree near the house were placed a considerable
number of Epiphytes, among which the Phalenopsis and some "rides
were in blossom. Sincapore is beautifully situated ; and its many bays,
harbours, and small islands ought to afford good dige ground, had my
arrangements allowed my stopping. But I was anxious to be out of
the tropics, and to arrive in Australia before the summer was quite
past, and also to proceed by the steamer “ Madras"—she being the
best on the line, and the one following being a small boat, crank, and
likely to be overcrowded. So I left Sincapore, and we steered for
Batavia. Here we anchored six miles from shore, and were prohibited
landing, as we only stopped to drop the mails, and were told we should
sail again in four hours. It so happened that we were detained eight —
or nine hours by the slowness of the Dutchmen, but it was then too
late to land. Tt was Christmas day. Several native boats came round
us with fruits, etc., and I had thus the opportunity of eating Mango-
steens and testing their quality: after the very high praise I had heard
of them, I was rather disappointed, but probably when eaten fresh from
the tree they may be better. It is a very delicate fruit, and notwith-
standing its thick rind, does not keep long without deteriorating. By
the way, I prefer a good English peach or a Jersey pear to all the fine
fruits I have yet tasted in the tropics; but I was not in the Mango sea-
son, and I am disposed to think favourably of the best varieties of that
fruit, from the memory of having tasted one in 1839 at St. Helena.
The whole of the way from Sincapore to King George’s Sound we had
contrary winds, and, though with engines of 270-horse power, had to — -
deviate considerably to the westward of our proper course. The only

* Figured and described in the present volume of our Journal.—Ep.

182 BOTANY OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND.

land we saw between Java and Australia, was Christmas Island, which
we passed on St. John’s day. It is covered with small trees and
shrubs, but that is all I can tell you of its Flora. On the 6th January
we came in sight of Australia, close to Cape Entrecasteaux, about 100
miles to the west of King George’s Sound ; and we came from thence at
about an average distance of five or six miles from the coast the whole
way to Bald Head. It was poor-looking enough ;—granite headlands,
often quite naked ; when not so, covered with low brown-looking scrub,
interchanging with patches of white sand. The distant hills appeared
wooded ; smoke was rising here and there, and when night fell we saw
bush-fires blazing in many directions, and some of them of miles in ex-
tent. This was my first personal acquaintance with the bush-fire ; but
since I have been here, we have had them all round the town, and
Mount Clarence (which overlooks us), which was covered with flower-
ing shrubs when T landed, is now clothed in black sticks and ashes.
Before I had been an hour on shore, I had (of course) picked up
Cephalotus, which is abundant in all the boggy ground I have yet
visited, and just now in flower. As the town is built partly on bog
and partly on sand-hills, I had not far to go for a specimen; Marchantia
polymorpha was growing with it. On the shore, my first “ find"—also
immediately on landing —was the famous Fucus peniculus* of R. Brown.
It is of all sea-plants the very commonest here, occurring all round the
shore at a depth of two or three feet, and being washed in abundantly
whenever it blows (as it does generally ten hours per day). The
plant grows always (so far as I know) on dead shells,—generally
single valves of Venus, or mussel and oyster shells. Now, is this be-
cause it wants lime, to manufacture its lime-coated stem? and is it a
proof that seaweeds do imbibe nourishment from the rocks they grow
on? "There is no limestone at this side of the Bay. I have made a -
sketch from a living specimen for future figuring, as Turner’s figure
omits many important characters. I have also found its spores, which
are remarkably large, and with very hard and tough coats. At first,
every little bag is filled with green matter, like that of Codium or
Bryopsis; afterwards this matter is wholly converted into spores,
which are discharged on the bursting of the membranous bag. Asa

: = On the very day on which I received this letter, I had the opportunity of speak-
ing of it bed Mr. Brown. His first remark was, “No doubt he found Fucus peni-
— culus” —Ep. i ; ;

BOTANY OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND. 183

genus, Polyphysa is closely related to Acetabularia, and I make no
doubt of the truly vegetable nature of both.

King George's Sound is by no means a favourable locality for Mee.
During the three weeks that I have been here, though I have collected
and dried about 2500 specimens, 1 have not more than about 70
species, and of many of these only fragments or a few scraps. The
Floridee are particularly few, and badly coloured,—those that ought to
be rose-red, being oftener dull yellow or ** French white.” There are
very few green; only three Conferve, and very little even of the com-
mon Ulva and Enteromorpha. The Olive colour is predominant in the
masses, but a vast deal of it consists of a slender Dictyota. There are
several Fucoid plants, but scarcely one of them in a state of maturity ;
they appear to be all winter fruiters, and are not worth collecting at
present. Several English kinds are here, as Asperococcus Turneri,
Stilophora Lyngbyei, Dictyota dichotoma, etc. On the other hand,
many of the most abundant and characteristic Australian types are
wanting. Of network Algæ, I have yet only got Thuretia, Halophlegma,
and Hanowia,—the latter in very small quantity, and both the others
very badly coloured. I hope I may meet better collecting grounds
elsewhere, otherwise I shall do badly.

Here, at King George's Sound, I am much too late for the phæno-

gamous botany. October and November are the months for flowering ^ *
plants; December is also good; but by the end of January, three-

quarters are past their bloom. The Restiacee, which I meant to have |
studied, are all dry as thatch. There are very few Composite to be
seen, at whieh I wonder much, but am told their great region is at
the Leschenault. The scrub here is made up of Proteaceæ, Legumi-
nose, and small Leptospermee and Epacridee. The Epacridea, chiefly
white Leucopogons and Lysinemas, are so abundant in individuals as to
afford the chief mass of flowers in many places; after them the yel- -
low Leguminose. The purple and blue Leguminose are now in seed;
their time was December. Trees of Kingia (just coming into blossom) -
are abundant and very grotesque; they vary from five to twenty
feet in height. The Xanthorrheas here are small, with stems not more -
than three feet in height, and often much less. The forest-trees are not
of great size; the larger Banksias especially ugly as frees, from their .
clumsy and distorted branches and rigid brown foliage: the younger -
ones may be allowed to pass, especially when in flower, as many now -

184 BOTANY OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND.

are. Ihave not collected specimens of them !—do not ery “shame !”
All the Dryandras seem out of flower, and so are Synaphee. Frank-
landia is very common, sad-coloured, and tolerably scented : I shall
try for seeds of it, but it seems little disposed to make them. Zam-
bertia echinata is the only one of the genus I have yet met with, and
it is nearly out of blossom; I have gathered a few seeds of it. A
few Stylidia remain, but many are withered up. The climate here is
very much colder than you would suppose by the latitude. This is
the hottest month of the year, yet I have not seen the thermometer
above 74° in the house, with open windows, at the hottest part of their
hot days; and it is much more frequently 68° or 70°. The sky has
been clouded for three out of four days since I have been here. We
have had rain three or four times, and several evenings a fire was quite
pleasant ; and I sleep under two blankets, and usually a counterpane
besides. It almost always blows (often strongly) from ten o’clock in
the morning till sundown, and sometimes all day and night. Westerly
and S.W. winds (both cold ones) prevail. I should think most of the
plants here ought to bear the open air in Devonshire, or south of Ireland.
"They say the summers are only six or eight weeks long, and the rest of the
year is noted for high winds and abundant rains. At present the plains
are tolerably dry, but in winter what is not sand is spongy Jog. The
summers are scarcely long enough to ripen grapes, and none but very
early kinds, such as often ripen out of doors in England, will ripen.
A few apples, with Cape gooseberries, are all the fruit I have seen.
Pears there are, and figs ; but unless every individual fruit is tied up in
a bag, it is eaten up by the cockatoos. Then almost all the pastures
are poisoned, so that sheep and cattle cannot be kept at large ; and con-
sequently meat is 8d. per Ib. in the market, and not always to be had.
Gastrolobium bilobum is the worst of the poison shrubs here, but almost
every district has its own plague, and many of them are Leguminose ;
so that I do not recommend you to emigrate to this settlement. Yet,
King George's Sound is very prettily formed,—sloping hills, broad
valleys, a perfectly land-locked and capacious harbour, and a wonder-
fully beautiful vegetation in the proper season, as I am told and can
well believe. I hope my next letter will have more to tell. Ask Jo-
seph to write to Gunn, saying I hope to be at Launceston in September
or October; and let him urge the Port Davy expedition.

i W. H. Harvey.

185

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Dr. Wallich.

The pages of our Journal were already printed, last month, when we
received the melancholy tidings of the death of our inestimable, long-
tried, and learned friend, Dr. Wallich, M.D., F.R.S., Vice-President of
the Linnean Society, Knight of the Danish Order of Danebrog: a name
that will be loved and honoured so long as botanical science shall con-
tinue to be cultivated. ,His persevering and arduous services and literary
labours, in unhealthy tropical climates, gradually undermined his constitu-
tion and induced organic disease, which, after two or three months’ con-
finement, terminated fatally, at his house in Upper Gower-street, on the
28th of April, at the age of 68. Few men, if any, of the 19th century,
have done so much to further the cause of botany throughout the world
as Dr. Wallich. Placed, by a series of unforeseen circumstances, at an
early age, at the head of the East India Company’s Botanic Garden, at
Calcutta, he had such means at his disposal for studying and dispensing
the vegetable riches of India and of other countries, as have never been
at the command of any single individual before or since. But for his
munificent contributions of Palms and other glories of tropical vegeta-
tion, the great conservatory of the Duke of Northumberland, at Syon,
would never have been required ; but for them, the extraordinary talents
of Sir Joseph Paxton would never have been displayed on the yet un-
rivalled Plant-house at Chatsworth (the model of the ‘Crystal Pa-
laces"), or those of Mr. Decimus Burton on the Palm-house of the
Royal Gardens at Kew. In all these structures we have but to look
around for monuments of his intelligence, energy, and liberality.

The Journals of the day, especially the * Gardeners’ Chronicle’ and
the * Literary Gazette,’ have briefly recorded his worth, and the services
he rendered to science. Dr. Wallich's extensive correspondence in
connection with the Calcutta Garden has been bequeathed by him to
the library of the Royal Gardens of Kew; and this, it is hoped, will
furnish data and information for a little Memoir, which it will be a duty
to prepare for an early number of our Miscellany.

decns

E

VOL. VI.

186 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Mr. Swarnson’s BOTANICAL REPORT, principally relating to the
Eucalypti and Casuarine of Victoria, New HOLLAND.

It has been a real pleasure to us to lay before our readers (see p. 123)
the able Report of the Government Botanist of the Colony, Dr. Müller,
on the vegetation of Victoria. The late Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. La-
trobe, in his great desire to promote the cause of botany, appointed also
another naturalist, W. Swainson, Esq., well known as a distinguished
zoologist and most able draughtsman, to study and report on the tim-
ber of the colony, chiefly Eucalypti and Casuarine. By favour of his
Grace the Duke of Newcastle, the Report is now before us, and it is as
brief as it is startling in some of its statements. — It is as follows (ad-
dressed to the Lieutenant-Governor) :—

Ek “Tirhatuan, 2nd October, 1853.

"S1m,—I do myself the honour of laying before your Excellency,
in the enclosed papers, the result of my botanical investigations in this
province.

* My chief attention, for the first five months after being located
here, was directed to the family of Jucalyptide, or Gum-trees, among
which I have discovered five distinct and well-marked genera, hitherto
unknown as such, and apparently peculiar to Victoria; together with
two other new genera, which occur also in the adjacent province.

“ Having had no accommodation for arranging the different species
for comparison, etc., I have been necessitated to pack them up as fast
as collected. It is quite impossible therefore for me to state, with any
degree of certainty, the number of new species contained in the above
genera. The packets of dried specimens, seeds, and capsules, will be

. . seen to form a grand total of 1520. I am therefore disposed to think,

_ that even if two-thirds may hereafter prove varieties only, there will yet
. remain more than 500 species, botanically distinct, only two or three of
_ which I have found in New South Wales.

“ My researches, in respect to timber-trees (from causes already well
known), have been quite unsuccessful. The Red Gum (Canthocarpus,
La.*) and the straight Stringy Bark (Tricanthus, La.) are the only ge-
nera I have found whose wood is useful either for sawing or splitting.
. Specimens of the former (of an unknown species) have been procured
. nd sent to the curator. The latter, of which there are numberless
we oe * Latrobe ?—Ep,

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 187

species, and a few of that of Microcarpus, or Native Box, are mostly
used for fencing. No reasonable doubt however can be entertained
that other parts of the province are more productive than this seems to
be of valuable timber; and as the Colonial Botanist has had the requi-
site facilities at his disposal for ascertaining this fact during his exten-
sive excursions, he will doubtless have succeeded far better than myself
in developing the economical properties of the Victoria timber-trees.

“ During the last year I have made various attempts and experiments
to discover the principles of variation amongst the Cassuarine, vulgarly
called He and She Oaks, but which in reality are the true Pines of
Australia. It was only in June last however that this discovery was
effected, and the conviction then arrived at, that all the descriptions now
existing were perfectly and essentially defective, and therefore quife use-
less ; and that this and the genus Zrocarpus are the most extraordinary
groups of trees yet discovered in Australia. Without being further
tedious (as I intend to bring this discovery before the public in another
shape), I shall merely state to your Excellency, that the faets I am pre-
pared to bring forward will establish the following propositions :—

* 1. That the Australian Pizes belong more to a very remote or pri-
meval Flora than to the present.

* 2. 'That they are slowly, but surely, disappearing from the face of the-
earth, and giving place to that comparatively recent order of vegetables
which springs up in their stead. In this respect they offer a wonderful
analogy to what we have ourselves witnessed in regard to the aboriginal —
tribes of Australia now giving place to those of the Caucasian race, ;

* Now, of this remarkable tribe I have succeeded in determining
more than two hundred species, all still growing within a very short
distance of this place, besides having met with several other. in different —
stages of decay, but which, from their bark and other indications, con-
vince me were different from all those I have met with in a growing state.
They have, in fact, died from excessive age, and have left no successors.

* In the accompanying paper is a list of all the species found by me
up to the end of the last month ; and an abundance of cones of nearly -
all these have been collected and sent to the curator of the Botanical -
Garden. These your Excellency may now cause to be distributed and -
made known over the whole civilized world: and thus the Botanical
Garden would probably receive from those established at the Cape, Rio
de Janeiro, Calcutta, Ceylon, ete. etc., more rare and costly plants, in —

188 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

exchange, than would fill five such conservatories as that now building
at Melbourne. I should also suggest, that as most of the species are
handsome, and many beautiful growing trees, half an acre or so of
ground be appropriated for a seed-bed, by which a large number of
young plants might be raised, ready to transplant into the projected
sbrubberies round the Government House, and to distribute among
such private individuals as may wish to possess some few examples of.
these aborigines of the vegetable world.

*'To establish these discoveries upon the most solid basis, I have
given up nearly a month of my engagement with the Tasmanian Go-
vernment ; for, without having laboured, I may say truly, both day and
night for the last three months, I could not have brought the matter
to such an unquestionable issue. Without taking too much credit to
myself, I feel satisfied that these discoveries will be regarded with as
-~ much surprise and almost incredulity amongst the botanists of Europe,
as was that of gold in Australia among the geologists of Britain. Of
all those named in the list I possess elaborate descriptions, partly
written with the trees before me, and finished before the cones had
opened, and thus lost their specific characters. As there exists no sci-
entific society or other medium for publishing an essay on these trees
in Melbourne, I think the Royal Tasmanian Society (of which Iam an
honorary member) will gladly do so in their own transactions.

“ T have the honour to be, ete.,
*(Signed) © WinLtAM Swarnson, F.R.S.”

This singular production is followed by ** A Schedule of the Bota-
nical Collections made by Mr. Swainson, for the Victoria Government,
and delivered to the Curator of the Botanic Garden, Melbourne,” and

À .. is no less worthy to be recorded than the above Report.

* EUCALYPTID E,

I. Dried specimens of the Sprigs, in separate papers, the different genera
(all new), or the principal divisions of the family, marked on each.
These, altogether, amount to five hundred and sixty-four, and are
arranged in four distinct series, as under :—

lst Series. Marked with single numbers, and to which the

drawings refer, in all . . 68
2nd Series. Alphabetically — fon 1 ue A 12 < 297
. 8rd Series. The number enclosed in a circle, thus (1) . . 160

4th Series. Species growing on the Government domain, the

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 189 :

respective numbers corresponding to those marked on the
TS : . : ' . s : á .. 89
— 564
II. Species and Varieties contained in small paper bags, labelled as above,
each containing Capsules, Leaves, and (where procurable) Seeds and,
Buds. These, together, amount to nine hundred and thirty, and are
arranged in the above manner, viz. :—

lst Series. With single numbers à : í : ; B8
2nd Series. Alphabetical, A 110 412. .. . . .107
3rd Series. In a circle (1) $ : í : ; . 691
4th Series. From the Government domain . . exei t ig
— 930
III. Papers of Sprigs, (and separate ones) of the Capsules, ete., collected on
the Blue Mountains, New South Wales . : : A i 26
Total of Species and Varieties ; : I 59 ae
PINES.

A series of large bags and tin cases, numbered and named, of all the
species of Cassuarine examined and determined from 26th July
to 29th September » few isa emen of unexamined

species) . š . 201
A series of large bags and tin cases of "ix new pus Telinoeepu or
Grass Pines, numbered and named $i «M
TO HM
Grand Total of Species and Varieties — . — . . uel 2d.
DRAWINGS. |

Two Portfolios, with drawing and Dissections, natural size, and magnified, of dif-
ferent species and genera of Hucalyptide. Notes to the above.

P.S. A small packet of seeds of the finest timber-trees of Illawarra,

Having had no convenience for opening and sorting the New South Wales collec-
tions, that portion intended for the Vietoria Government will be sent from Hobart
Town, where every accommodation I require is promised. ;

The drawings will be personally delivered to the Curator before I leave Melbourne.

List of Species of Cassnarine, or Australian Pines, discovered, named, and i
described by Mn. Swainson, and of which Seeds and Cones (mostly in abundance) —
have been collected for the Victoria Government.—N.B. In several instances difer- -
ent species and numbers appear under the same specific name. All these must there-
fore be considered provisionary, and arose from not keeping a memorandum of the -
names I had already used, Without a single book to refer to, I have been obliged to —
leave several of the latter species unnamed (although described), from having ex- —
i a dur lean think of, thot were. 8$ all aes

species,"

190 BOTANICAL INFORMATION,

This singular document concludes with a catalogue of Latin and En-
glish names, numbering 213 species of Casuarine, “several,” as the
author tells us, “including other species,” all new, and all named
and described by Mr. Swainson “ without a single book to refer to”!

Botanical News from Italy.
Florence, April 15.

The second part of Professor De Notaris’ * Agrostographie /Egyp-
tiacæ Fragmenta’ has appeared ; fifty-four species are therein described
and figured, the greater number of them being considered as new. A
new genus, Eriocheta, is established among the Panicee. The genus
Beckera, Nees, non Fresen., is given under the name of Beckeropsis.

Professor Joseph Bertoloni has published a third Dissertation on the
plants of the coast of Mozambique. After noticing the state of agri-
culture in that country, he gives descriptions and figures of three me-
dicinal plants, viz. Lepipogon obovatum, Bert. (a new genus of Boragi-
nee), Cassia acutifolia, Delill., and Chibaca salutaris, Bert.

In the last number of the “Rendiconto dell’ Accademia delle Scienze,’
of Naples, M. Gasparrini has made known the results of his observa-
tions on the disease of the Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum, Mill.).
It made its appearance together with the potato-disease, and is, it would
seem, also accompanied by the presence of the Botrytis infestans.

Under the title of ‘Flora Melitensis, M. Grech-Delicata has pub-
lished a catalogue of the phanogamous plants, 716 in number, which
are found wild in Malta. To the scientific name of each plant are added
the place where it grows, the time in which it flowers, the Maltese
vernacular name, and sometimes a synonym.—Bonplandia.

Podostemon Salt: a Saline Ash, from Podostemacea*.
In the letters we are publishing from Mr. Spruce, relating to his Ex-

* The Podostemacee are a family little known, except to the students of tropical
botany. They abound especially upon rocks in the falls and rapids of South America,
. many of them having a good deal the appearance of some Marchantie or Junger-
mannia, others of green 4/72. The most delicious fish are said to fatten upon them ;
cattle frequent the rocky beds of the streams in the dry season, and feed upon
species of the genus Marathrum, according to Mr. Purdie ; and Sir Robert Schom-
burgk relates the fact of a considerable quantity of salt being obtained from the
ashes of a species of Lacis (Mourera, Tul). M. Tulasne has admirably illustrated
. the genera and species of this remarkable family of plants, whose place in the sys-

tem is still very dubious, in his work entitled ‘ Monographia Podostemacearum.’

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 191

eursions on the Amazon and Rio Negro (p. 34 of our present volume);
he speaks, as among the most interesting articles he has sent home for
our Museum, of a quantity of salt (weighing thirty pounds when put
up) made from various species of Podostemacee growing on the cata-
racts of the Uaupés; it was obtained with considerable difficulty, at
several times, and of several different Indians. Mr. Hanbury has
been so obliging as to refer us to the eleventh volume of the ‘ Pharma-
ceutical Journal’ for an analysis of a saline ash, from British Guiana,
which undoubtedly has the same origin, although the particular plants
which yield that ash were not known till we received the present com-
munication from Mr. Spruce.

The analysis in question is by Mr. Graves, who gives the following
account, l. c. :—

* Among the interesting specimens exhibited at the late Great Exhi-
bition, from British Guiana, and presented to the Pharmaceutical So-
ciety, was one labelled ‘Saline Ash,’ which is said to be used by the
Indians as a substitute for salt. This ash, in the state we have it, is
in black pulverulent masses. It is said to have been obtained by burn-
ing certain plants growing on the rocks near the rapids, about a thou-
sand miles up the river Demerary.

“The salt is very easily obtained from the ash, by treating it with
cold water, and evaporating the solution to dryness. Seventy-five per
cent. of soluble saline matter may thus be extracted, the insoluble resi-
due consisting of carbon, siliceous matter, carbonate of lime, and inso-
luble phosphates, in the following proportions :—

Carbonaceous matter — . $ : i ; .91
Siliceous matter . ; i t í . 443
Carbonate of lime and insoluble phosphates : . 248
“The salts soluble in water were found to consist of chlorides of
potassium and ‘sodium, together with a portion of alkaline carbonate -
and a small quantity of sulphate. It was tested for iodine, but there -

was none found. 100 grains of the dry salt gave— : ee
Sulphuric acid. - =e à "c4 20g
Carbonic acid . : . : . A . 44
Chlorine . ‘ Š : , , . 45:648

** Now assuming the sulphuric and carbonic acids to be in combina- ——
tion with potash, we should have 84 grains of the chlorides of potas- — —

192 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

sium and sodium ; and as those contain 45°648 grains of chlorine, we
may deduce the following composition of the salt by calculation :—

Sulphate of potash [od i i : . 918
Carbonate of potash . : ; ; i . 18:82
Chloride of potassium . i ; : : . 93:6
Chloride of sodium i : : : > . 504
| 100-00

“ From the above results, it will be perceived that the peculiarity of
this vegetable ash consists in the large amount of chlorides contained
in it, which very well adapt it for the purpose to which it is applied,
and render it a tolerably good substitute for that essential substance,
common salt.”

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

HaxsrEIN, Dr. JOHANNES : Die GESNERACEEN des Königlichen Her-
bariums und der Gárten zu Berlin, nebst Beobachtungen über die Fa-
milie im Ganzen. With 2 plates. (From the Linnza.)

This work is in the form of a pamphlet in 8vo, containing 71 pages.
Of these 52 are devoted to general observations on the family of Gesne-
raceæ, and the remainder to synoptical tables of the tribes, subtribes,
and genera ; where the several species above alluded to are divided into
68 genera. Whatever may be the opinion of the necessity of multiply-
ing the genera to such an extent, and, as it appears to us, often on very

slight grounds, the author has illustrated his meaning by excellent figures
of at least one of each genus. Rich as the Garden and Herbarium at

Berlin may be in individuals of this, we cannot but think that, had Dr.

Hanstein consulted other sources he would have found reason to modify

some of his views, and that he might bea ir have reduced the

amount of his genera.

. SCHUCKARDT, T. : Synopsis STACKHOUSIACEARUM. (From the Linnea.)
_ To this natural family, already embracing two genera, Stackhousia and
-~ Tripterococeus, our author adds a third from the island of Rottenest,
Off the west coast of Australia, Plokiostigma; P. Lehmanni, Schuck.
Three new species are contributed to the genus Stackhousia, and one
to Tripterococcus. = :

193

Notes on North Brazilian GENTIANES, from the collections of Mr. Spruce
and Sir Robert Schomburgk; 4y Groner BENTHAM, ESQ.

SCHUEBLERIA, Mart., et APOPHRAGMA, Griseb.

I have carefully examined the original specimen in the Hookerian
Herbarium marked by Grisebach Apophragma tenuifolium, which ex-
actly corresponds with those I described as Schuebleria coarctata, and
certainly has pentamerous as well as a few tetramerous flowers, and an
oblong-linear stigmate, like that of Schuebleria patula*. The descrip-
tion of a broadly bilamellate stigmate, and of appendiculate filaments,
must have been taken by Aublet himself, as well as by Grisebach,
from the analyses represented at tab. 26, fig. 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the
* Plantes de la Guyane,’ which belong to fig. 1, Hxacum Guianense
(Schuebleria tenella), not to the fig. 2, Exacum tenuifolium (Schultesia).

A further examination of numerous specimens from various parts of -
tropical America has convinced me that the two plants I had described
as Schuebleria tenella and coarctata are, notwithstanding some slight
differences in the anthers, mere varieties of one species of Schuebleria,
distinct indeed from the S. tenella of Martius, which I had not then
seen, and which is accurately described with a globose stigma, but —
identical with the Exacum tenuifolium of Aublet, correctly referred to —
Schuebleria by Don. I would characterize it as follows :— E.
Schuebleria Zenuifolia (Don, Gen. Syst. vol. iv. p. 202) ; caule filiformi,

foliis parvis oppositis linearibus v. imis ovatis, cyma multiflora, calycis —

segmentis capsulam superantibus, corolla calyce vix dimidio longiore, —
antheris liberis, stigmate oblongo-lineari.— Eracum tenuifolium, Aubl. -

Pl. Guy. p. 70. t. 26. fig. 2, et 9, 10.—.4pophragma tenuifolium,

Griseb. Gent. p. 163, et in DC. Prod. v. ix. p. 56.—Schuebleria te-

nella, Benth. in Tayl. Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. ii. p. 442, non Mart., et

S. coarctata, Benth. l.c.— Corolla ex Aubl. violacea, ex Spruce et

Schomb. flavescens v. alba, ex Gardn. pallide rosea. Anthere dis-

usc ou angustis approximatis nunc apice v. basi acutis nunc

utrinque obtusis. i] dec

My specimens were gathered at Tocotepeque, in Central America -
(Hartweg), in French Guiana (Leprieur), in British Guiana (Rob. -

* i i Schuebleria appears to consist, in fact, of two —
Lanne Pita or oblong edu nctimes separate slightly after the flower has
withered, but never spread horizontally. d.

VOL. VI.

2c

194 : NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANE E.

Schomburgk, lst coll. n. 167), in exposed gravelly situations in the

serras near Santarem, on the Amazon (Spruce, distributed as S. tenella,

var. fl. albis), in marshy sandy places near Oeiras, prov. Piauhy (Gard-

ner, n. 2668), and near Arroyas, prov. Goyaz (Gardner, n. 3892).
Gardner's n. 4280, from Goyaz, is Schuebleria patula, Mart., and

n. 3338, from Goyaz, and 5021, from Minas Geraes, are S. stricta,

Mart.

The following new species, approaching in stature the Schuebleria
stricta, but differing considerably in the foliage and flowers, was ga-
thered by Mr. Spruce on the margins of inundated campos at Uana-
naca, near San Gabriel, on the Rio Negro, in North Brazil, in Decem-
ber, 1851.

Schuebleria obtusifolia, sp. n.; foliis oppositis ovatis obtusissimis tri-
nerviis, cyma floribunda, corollis (minimis) calycem paullo superan-
tibus, antheris subconnatis muticis connectivo parvo, stigmate sub-
globoso.— Caules erecti, pedales, infra cymam foliatam simplices.
Folia intermedia 4 lin. longa, 3 lin. lata, basi arcte sessilia v. am-
plexicaulia. Flores albi, vix 14 lin. longi. Calycis segmenta seta-
cea, (Spruce, coll. n. 2011.)

TAPEINOSTEMON, gen. nov.

The two plants for which I propose to establish this genus are both
from the neighbourhood of Panuré, on the Rio Uaupés. They are
allied to the small-flowered Schuebleria in their calyx, corolla, and sta-
mens, but have a very different foliage, habit, stigmate, and capsule,
and at first sight remind one rather of some herbaceous Melastomacee
or Rubiacee, than of the majority of Gentianee.

Char. Gen.— Calyz parvus, 5-partitus, segmentis exalatis. Corolla sub-
infundibuliformis, tubo lato, limbo brevi 5-lobo. Stamina 5, co-
rollæ tubo prope basin inserta. Anthere hastate, connate, incluse,
immutatee. Ovarium valvulis introflexis biloculare. Stylus brevis-
simus v. subnullus, stigmate brevi bilamellato. Capsula calyce
multo longior, oblonga, bisulca, bivalvis, septicida, semi-4-locularis.
Semina numerosa, tuberculata.— Herbe Brasilie borealis annus
erectee ramosæ, foliis longe petiolatis. membranaceis triplinerviis,
cymis multifloris divaricato-thyrsoideis v. capitato-contractis.

1. Tapeinostemon spenneroides ; foliis ovato- v. oblongo-lanceolatis, cy-
mis divaricato-thyrsoideis.— Herba sesquipedalis, erecta, ramosissima,

NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANES. 195

glabra, superne leviter viscidula. Folia 23-31-pollicaria, acumi-
nata, basi acuta, margine sspe crispula v. fere erosa, tenuiter mem-
branacea, utrinque viridia, tri- v. triplinervia et pennivenia. Cyme
laxe, pyramidate, vix folia suprema excedentes, ramulis divaricatis.
Bractee ad ramificationes parve, lineares. Pedicelli ultimi 1-2 lin.
longi. Calyx minimus, segmentis acutis. Corolla vix linea longior,
albida, limbi laciniis brevibus latis acutis. Stylus brevissimus, lobis
stigmatosis ovatis brevibus. Capsula anguste oblonga, 23 lin. longa,
leviter bisulea, acuta v. stylo omnino deraso obtusata. i

A single plant of this was found by Mr. Spruce by the side of an

igarapé, deep in the forest near Panuré, in September, 1852.

2. Tapeinostemon capitatum ; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis utrinque acutis,
cymis capitato-condensatis.—Herba semipedalis, erecta, simplex v.
ramosa, glabra. Folia subtripollicaria, acuminata, basi in petiolum
longiusculum angustata, integerrima, erassiuseule membranacea, tri-
nervia, nervis lateralibus tamen tenuibus, venulis vix conspicuis. Flores
in capitula globosa intra folia suprema breviter pedunculata dense con-
ferti, bracteis parvis intermixti. Calyx vix lineam longus, segmentis
angustis acute acuminatis. Corolla fere 2 lin. longa, albida. Stylus `
vix ullus, lobis stigmatosis brevibus ovatis subsessilibus. Capsula
ovoidea, calyce vix dimidio longior, obtusata, leviter compressa et
bisulca.

In moist caatingas near Panuré, October, 1852. (R. Spruce, n.

2493.)

VoYRIELLA, Mig.

Of this little plant Mr. Spruce found three or four specimens, widely
apart from each other, in the woods of the Rio Uaupés. They differ

from each other in the length, both absolute and relative, of the cap- —

sule and calyx, and unfortunately I cannot find a single corolla amongst -
them to examine. The stigmate, as it remains after the fall of the co-
rolla, is in these, as well as in a specimen from Miquel of his J. parvi- _
fora, very shortly bilamellate at the end of a style of some length. =
The genus appears to be very Dues from CR but very nearly :

allied to Schuebleria. ;

VoyRiA, Aubl.

This genus affords one of many instances of the danger of gene-

196 NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANE.

ralizing physiological phenomena, and causes and effects, from the ob-
servation of a few isolated facts. From the fact that the well-known
European parasites, such as Orobanche, Monotropa, Cytinus, ete., are
deprived of leaves or other green parts, it has been laid down as a law
that this is the necessary consequence of parasitism on roots of living
plants. But already the discovery that Thesium, Rhinanthus, and
others with perfect green leaves, were nevertheless parasites, had de-
stroyed one part of the theory, and now we have the concurrent testi-
mony of several careful collectors, whose attention has been specially
directed to’the question, that Voyrias, which, under the above rule,
had been set down as parasites, are not so in fact, but are always to be
found on rotten wood or sticks, or amongst dead leaves, in a state of
decomposition.

The species now known are numerous, even after we exclude a Bur-
manniacea, which may here and there have insinuated itself among
those described in consequence of its similarity of habit. They have
been well distributed into sections by Grisebach and others, although
here and there the characters may require some correction. The an-
thers, for instance, in Leiphaimos are very often connate, and the fila-
ments of Leianthostemon, are usually, if not always, very short; and it

. is difficult to agree with Miquel in the propriety of raising these sec-
tions intó the rank of genera, thus = up the most natural group
we have among Gentianea.

The Voyrie gathered by Mr. Spruce are all uniflorous. I find
among them but two which appear to be already published. One, the
common F. uniflora, Lam., was found by him at Caripi, near Para, on
bare shady places in the forest, in August, 1849, and again in the
woods on the Rio Uaupés, in January, 1853. In the latter place he
gathered also a couple of specimens of a pale sulphur-colour, which he

. thought might be distinct, but I can find no character to separate
_ them. The other appears to be the 7. flavescens, Griseb., remarkable
for the obtuse lobes of the corolla, and for the two rather large ovate
scales (or glands?) attached to the ovary, not quite at the base, as de-
scribed by Grisebach, but about a quarter up its sides. My specimens
... differ also slightly from Grisebach's character in the tube of the corolla,
_ shorter in proportion to the lobes, and in the anthers, which are con-
naie, with the cells obtuse above, and produced into a rather blunt
point below. Yet they belong probably to the same species. Mr.

NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANEÆ. 197

Spruce found it common in the inundated woods of the rivers Uaupés

and Negro, in February and March, 1853.

The three following species are, I beleve, new :—

l. Voyria (Leiphaimos) chionea; caule filiformi simplici unifloro v.
subramoso paucifloro, calyce breviter 5-fido laciniis acutis, corolle
nivez hypocraterimorphe tubo gracili laciniis oblongis acutiusculis
vix duplo longiore.—Species multo gracilior quam 7. uniflora. Ge-
nitalia fere hujus speciei, sed corolle tubus dimidio brevior, lacinize
paullo majores et minus acutatæ, et color niveus.

Gathered by Mr. Spruce in forests on the Rio Negro, near Barra, in
January, 1851, and distributed as F. nivea, Spruce, a name now pre-
occupied by a species of Miquel’s from Guiana. The V. chionea was
again gathered by Mr. Spruce in the woods of the Rio Negro, above
San Joaquim, in March, 1853.

2. Voyria (Leiphaimos) angustiloba, Spruce ; caule simplici tenello uni-
floro, calycis 5-fidi lobis acutiusculis, corolle flavee hypocraterimor-
phe lobis 5 lineari-subulatis recurvis, filamentis versus apicem tubi
brevibus, antheris subconnatis brevibus latis.— Zabifus squame et
corolle tubus 7. uniflore, sed laciniis angustissimis 3—5 lin. longis
insignis. Anthere latiores quam longze, basi in filamentum fere cune-
ats. Stigma peltato-capitatum. Flores pallide flavi.

In shady woods on the Rio Uaupés, February, 1853 (R. Spruce).

3. Voyria (Leianthostemon) Spruceanum ; caulibus tenellis simplicibus
unifloris, calycis 4-fidi lobis lanceolato-setaceis, corollee hypocrateri-
morphze lobis 4 acuminatis, filamentis brevissimis, antheris connatis
basi longe bisetosis.—Z/izoma filiforme, ramosissimum. Caules erecti,
3—65-pollicares, tenues, in sicco aurantiaci. Sguame 2 lin. longæ, subu- -
lato-acuminate, ad medium connate. Calyx 4 lin. longus, flavo-
roseus, fere ad medium 4-fidus, lobis erectis subulato-acuminatis.
Corolla (ex Spruce) aurea, tubo tenui 6-7 lin. longo, sub fauce leviter E
ampliato, lacinize 4-6 lin. longe, lanceolate, acutissimze, supra basin |
nonnunquam minute papillose. Anthere oblong, loculis inter se

discretis sed cum anthera contigua connatis, apice obtusis, basi in

setas hispidulas corolla tubo paullo breviores abeuntibus. Stylus —
filiformis, stigmate peltato-capitato. | (un
On rotten sticks in bare places in the forest near Barra, on the Rio —
Negro, December, 1850; in inundated woods on the Rio Uaupés,
January, 1853, and on the shores of the Rio Negro, above San Joa- -

198 NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANEX.

quim, March, 1853 (R. Spruce) ; also two specimens mixed with those

of V. uniflora, gathered by Sir Robert Schomburgk in the Serra Parimé.
In Splitgerber’s figure of V. corymbosa, the type of the section Lei-

anthostemon, the sete of the stamens are made to look like filaments.

COUTOUBEA, Aubl.

There has arisen a great confusion in the nomenclature of the two
common species of this genus, to which I have unfortunately not a
little contributed myself, having as well as others been led into error
by Aublet’s ill-drawn figures, without checking them by his descrip-
tions. His C. spicata is evidently the same as Martius’ C. densiflora,
and his C. ramosa is the one I have generally taken for C. spicata ;
whilst the plant I have distributed as C. ramosa belongs to a very dif-
ferent genus, Lisianthus. The true Coutoubeas are annuals, although ~
the dry hard lower portion of the stem gives a woody look to many
specimens in herbaria. The following are the localities from whence
there are specimens in the Hookerian and Kew Herbaria :— :

1, Coutoubea spicata, Aubl.; foliis basi cordato-amplexicaulibus, flo-
ribus sessilibus summis v. omnibus dense spicatis.—C. densiflora,
Mart. ; Trinidad (Lockhart, de Schach, Bromfield); Panama (Cu-
ming, n. 1104, Barclay, Seemann); Santa Martha (Purdie); Suri-
nam. (Hostmann, n. 645); Pernambuco (Gardner, n. 1066); Bahia
(Salzmann) ; Caripi (Spruce, n. 230).

2. Coutoubea reffera (Benth.) ; foliis basi angustatis, floribus sessilibus
omnibus dissitis.—British Guiana (Robt. Schomburgk, 1st coll.; a
single specimen also, Rich. Sehomburgk, n. 1060).

3. Coutoubea ramosa (Aubl); foliis basi angustatis, floribus dissitis
plerisque v. omnibus pedicellatis.— Var. a. racemosa, racemo elongato
subnudo floribus majoribus; C. racemosa, Mey. British Guiana
(Robert Schom. Ist coll. n. 152; 2nd coll. n. 324; Rich. Schom. n.
397); Santarem (Spruce, distributed as C. spicaa).— Var. B. vulga-
ris, racemo basi foliato, floribus minoribus; British Guiana (Robt.
Schomb. 2nd coll. n. 80); Cayenne (Martin) ; Surinam (Hostmann,
n. 370); Tanaii, near Pará (Spruce); Piauhy (Gardner, n. 2672;
also Martius, Herb. Bras. n. 1051 (Gardner's and Spruce's specimens
are some of them intermediate between a and 8),— Var. y. longifolia,
racemis abbreviatis, foliis anguste lanceolato-linearibus acuminatis

flores superantibus. A very distinct variety, gathered by Mr. Spruce .

NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANEJE. 199

in inundated places at the cataracts of Panuré, on the Rio Uaupés,

in December, 1852.

The C. minor (H. B. K.) is unknown to me, but is supposed to be a
dwarf variety of C. spicata.

ScHULTESIA, Mart.

The only species of this genus, gathered by Mr. Spruce, is the S. sub-
crenata, Griseb. (Linnea, vol. xxii. p. 34), a curious little plant with
yellow flowers, which he found in sands in inundated situations near
Santarem, in August, 1850. His specimens correspond precisely with
those of the Schomburgks (Rob. Schomb. 2nd coll n. 481; Rich.
Schomb. n. 793).

LisrAwNTHUS, Linn., et IRLBACHIA, Mart.

The genus Iribachia was established by Martius for his Z. elegans,
relying chiefly on the glands of the corolla and the echinate pollen.
Grisebach, in adopting the genus, has neglected these characters, but
extended it so as to include the Lisianthus caerulescens, deriving the
character mainly from the narrow linear lobes of the style; but that
occurs also in some of the annual Lisianthi, as in L. tenuifolius, L. brevi-

Jlorus, etc., and passes gradually into the broader lobes of Z. uliginosus
and others. The calyz valvaris also, prefixed to the character of Zrija- -
chia, must be a mistake ; the lobes are certainly imbricate in L. ceru-
lescens, and are also represented so in Martius’ excellent figure of
L. elegans. Some of the new species discovered by Spruce tend still
further to-do away with all distinction between the two genera. Lisi-
anthus therefore, to which Grisebach has himself correctly reunited
Leiothamnus and Symbolanthus, becomes a numerous South American
genus, with species very different indeed from each other in the size
and colour of the flowers, but connected together by a series of inter-
mediates, and united by good common characters.

Mr. Spruce’s collections contain four undescribed species, with short,
almost campanulate white flowers, which must be very nearly allied to —
the Irléachia Bonplandiana of Fenzl, but with still shorter corollas and
a bilamellate stigma*. These I propose to unite in a distinct section
of Lisianthus, with the following characters :—

* Some error, possibly typographical, must have crept into Fenzl’s description :
lo bicruri, stigmate ",implicissimo acuto terminatum, an expression not very

intelligible, rre ue of the grammatical fault.

200 NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANES.

Sect. BRacHYCODON.—Species annuz. Corolle albæ, subcampanu-

latze, tubo calycem vix excedente.

1. Lisianthus pumilus; caule humili tenui ramoso, foliis linearibus, cymis
bifidis paucifloris ebracteatis, corollz tubo lato calycem obtusiuscu-
lum subequante.—Heréa erecta, 2—3-pollicaris, caule angulato fere
alato. Folio 14-3 poll. longa; raro lineam lata, acuta, basi longe
angustata. Cyme graciles, 3~8-flore, foliis sepe breviores. Pedi-
celli tenues. Flores parvi. Sepala lineam longa. Corolla vix duplo
longior, alba. Filamenta inzequalia, basi dilatata. —4méhere breves,
demum recurve, vix apiculate. Stylus brevis, lamellis ovali-oblongis
erectiusculis. Capsula ovoidea, 3 lin. longa. ;

In inundated woods of the Rio Negro, near San Carlos. R. Spruce, .

April, 1853.

2. Lisianthus suócordatus; caule humili, foliis petiolatis late ovatis sub-
cordatis membranaceis, cymis bifidis ebracteatis, pedicellis erecto-
patentibus, corolla tubo lato calycem obtusiusculum zequante.— `
Herba 3—4-pollicaris, erecta, in specimine simplex, caule tetragono.
Folia 14-2 poll. longa, pollicem lata, tenuiter membranacea, quin-
tuplinervia, basi lata, interdum late cordata, petiolo 4—6 lin. longo.
Cyma breviter pedunculata, bifida, ramis flexuosis sesquipollicaribus.
Pedicelli breves, apice incrassati. Flores parvi, albi. Sepala 1 lin.,
corolla 2 lin. longa. Filamenta exserta, infra medium dilatata. An-
there breves, recurve, Stylus brevis, lamellis oblongis. Capsula fere
4 lin. longa, acuminata, omnino similis ei Zribachie elegantis, Mart.
Mr. Spruce found but two specimens, one in flower, the other in

fruit, near Panuré, on the Rio Uaupés, with the Z. recurvus.

3. Lisianthus ramosissimus ; caule diffuso ramosissimo, foliis petiolatis
lanceolatis, cymis simplicibus bifidisve bracteatis, corolla tubo lato
calycem obtusum subequante limbi laciniiseo brevioribus.— Coutoubea
ramosa, Benth. in Hook. Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 45, et iu Spruce, Pl.
exsic. non Aubl.—Herba semipedalis, ramis divaricato-diffusis tetra-
gonis vel 4-alatis. Folia 1—11-pollicaria, obtusiuscula v. rarius acuta,
basi in petiolum angustata, membranacea, subtriplinervia, summa
decrescentia, floralia bracteantia parva. Oymæ breves, semel bifide
v. simplices, paucifloree. Flores pedicellati, nutantes, albi, vix 2
lin. longi, limbo lato patente. Calycis segmenta linea paullo longi-
ora, ovali-oblonga, obtusa. Stamina intra faucem corolle inserta
et ei subeequalia. Filamenta basi dilatata. —4mfAerz apiculate, re-

NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANE. 201

curve. Stylus brevis, stigmatis lamellis oblongis. Capsula ovato-

oblonga, bisulca, 3-34 lin. longa, bilocularis, placenta demum fere

libera 4-partibili. 1

Gathered first by Sir Robert Schomburgk on the sands of the Rio
Negro (1st coll. n. 989), and afterwards by the side of streams, near
Barra, on the same river, by Mr. Spruce, and distributed by me as
Coutoubea ramosa, from which, however, it widely differs.

4. Lisianthus recurvus; caule erecto simplici, foliis breviter petiolatis
ovatis oblongisve basi acutis crassiusculis, cyma bifida v. dichotoma
nuda, pedicellis recurvis, corolle eglandulose albee tubo lato calycem
obtusiusculum vix superante.—Herba semipedalis v. rarius fere pe-
dalis, caule angulato. Folia 1-14 poll. longa, 3-1 poll. lata, ple-
raque obtusa, crassiuscule membranacea, penninervia v. obscure tri-
plinervia, petiolo 1-2 lin. longo. Cyme rami rigidi, ebraeteati, le-
viter flexuosi. Pedicelli crassi; valde recurvi. Calyx fere 2 lin.,
corolla 4—5 lin. longa, alba, limbo patente. Filamenta exserta,
antheris breviter oblongis recurvis apiculatis. Stylus brevis, lamellis
fere linearibus vix dilatatis. Capsula oblonga, arcte reflexa, demum
5 lin. longa.

Near Panuré, on the Rio Uaupés (R. Spruce). This agrees in so
many respects with Fenzl’s detailed description of the /ribachia Bon-
plandiana (Claytonia nemorosa, herb. Willd.), that I should have consi-
dered it to be that plant, but that the corolla is said to be half an inch
long, with stipitate glands, of which there is no trace in Spruce’s plant.
The leaves of the latter are also generally obtuse, and there is nothing
in the style to explain Fenzl’s expression, which I have already alluded
to. I should therefore conclude that Bonpland’s plant is a fifth species
of the section Brachycodon. `

The remaining Lisianthi from the North Brazilian and Guiana col-
lections in the Kew Herbaria, are chiefly referable to Grisebach’s sec-
-tion Melonanthus, and may be classed as follows :—

$ 1. Species annue, corollis ceruleis, tubo calyce multo longiore basi —
attenuato. x

l. Lisianthus cærulescens, Aubl.—Jribachia caerulescens, Griseb.—
Moist savannahs, British Guiana (Rob. Schomb. Ist coll. n. 164).—
Cayenne (Martin). scs :

2. Lisianthus campanuloides, Spruce; annuus, caule erecto stricto te-

tragono subalato basi subramoso, foliis subsessilibus linearibus cras-

VOL. VI. 2D

202 NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANE.

siusculis uninerviis margine revolutis, cyma nuda pauciflora, calycis

5-partiti segmentis acutis, corolle ceerulee infundibularis tubo gra-

cili, fauce elongata, laciniis ovatis acutis, 8tigmatis lamellis obovatis.

—Herba pedalis v. paullo altior. Folia iis L. tenuifolii simillima,

intermedia cirea pollicem longa, 1-14 lin. lata, uninervia, superiora

parva remota. Cyma remote 3—5-flora; pedicelli leviter recurvi, su-
periores 3—4 lin. longi, inferiores interdum ultrapollicares. Flores
cernui. Calyx 2 lin. longus. Corolla forma fere L. cerulescentis,
sed duplo major (15 lin. longa). Stamina valde inzequalia, inclusa.

Anthere recurve, apiculate. Capsula ovoidea, calyce longior, ma-

turam tamen non vidi.

Mr. Spruce found this species abundantly on the right bank of the
Rio Negro, opposite Uananaca, in December, 1851, looking at a short
distance like a bright blue Campanula. The dried specimens resemble
so much Martius’ figure of his L. angustifolius, or L. tenuifolius, Spreng.,
that one would have been: tempted to identify them with that species,
were it not for the colour of the flower, the shape of the stigmate, and,
the widely different station.

3. Lisianthus Spruceanus, Benth.; annuus, caule erecto subsimplici,
folis petiolatis v. summis subsessilibus oblongis v. lato-lanceolatis
membranaceis quintuplinerviis, cyma elongata dichotoma nuda pau-
ciflora, pedicellis recurvis, corolle cæruleæ tubo in faucem campanu-
latam ampliato calycem obtusum longe superante, laciniis obtusis,
stigmatis lamellis linearibus.— Herba 1—13-pedalis, varietatibus mi-
noribus Z. wliginosi affinis. Folia multo longiora, intermedia 2-3-
pollicaria, in petiolum longius angustata. Cyme rami valde elon-
gati, remote pauciflori. Corolla circa 9 lin. longa. Capsuid angusta.
In grassy inundated places near San Gabriel, Rio Negro (Spruce).

4. Lisianthus breviflorus, Benth.— Serra Mey, British Guiana (Rob.
Schomb.)

5. Lisianthus uliginosus, Griseb.—Var. floribus amplis ceruleis, De-
merara (Parker); moist savannahs of the Essequebo (Schomburgk, 1st
coll. n. 265) ; Surinam (Hostmann, n. 29); steep cliffs by the Amazon
at Obidos (Spruce).— Var. floribus amplis albis. Along forest tracks
near Barra, on the Rio Negro (Spruce, distributed as Z. albus, sp. n-)-
— Var. floribus minoribus caruleis, foliis minoribus basi latioribus.—L.

auenus, Mig. British Guiana (Rob. Schomburgk, 2nd coll. n. 46) 5

Cayenne (Martin) ; Surinam (Hostmann, n. 29).

NOTES ON NORTH BRAZILIAN GENTIANE®, 203-

The Z. gracilis, Griseb., from Trinidad, appears scarcely distinct from
the last variety, unless the lobes of the stigmate be really narrower at
the same stage of growth.

§ 2. Herbe perennes, floribus flavo-virescentibus, fauce ampla.

l. Lisianthus. chelonioides, Linn., from which the Z. Schomburgkii,

Griseb., does not appear distinct, as the simple inflorescence is evi-
dently accidental on the specimen described, and does not exist on
others of the same collection. Abandoned fields, British Guiana
(Schomburgk, 1st coll. n. 298); margins of the forest near Santarem
on the Amazon (Spruce); Maranham (Gardner, n. 6064).
. 9. Lisianthus Jistulosus, Poir., scarcely distinct from L. acutangulus,
Ruiz et Pav., to which Hooker is correct in referring also the L. tetra-
gonus and L. auriculatus of my Plante Hartwegianz, and should per-
haps likewise include the Z. alatus, Aubl. Cayenne (Martin); Surinam
(Hostmann, n. 38 7); on the Una road, near Pará (Spruce).

3. Lisianthus viridiflorus, Mart.—In capoeiras at Panuré, on the Rio
Uaupés (Spruce). The leaves are rather more distinctly petiolate, and
rather thinner and more distinctly veined, than in Gardner's Goyaz
specimens (n. 3341 and 4278), and in Claussen's from Minas Geraes,
but they appear all to belong to one species.

I have also a very distinct annual species with pink flowers, gathered
by Sir R. Schomburgk, at Marawaica, on the borders of Guiana, but
the single specimen is insufficient for accurate description. I have no
specimen of the L. Hlisabethe, of the section Leiothamnus, described
and figured by Schomburgk, in the Berlin Horticultural Transactions.

TACHIA, Aubl.

Fine specimens of the 7. Guianensis, beautifully figured by Martius,
and corresponding in the venation of the leaves both with that and
with Aublet's figure, were gathered by Mr. Spruce in the capoeiras
near San Gabriel. Those however which the Schomburgks gathered
in British Guiana, belong to two different species, both distinguished
from 7. Guianensis in the venation of the leaves, and from each other
in the calyx. They may be thus characterized :—

l. Tachia Guianensis, Aubl; foliis penninerviis, calycibus exalatis
breviter dentatis.—In Guiana Gallica (Aublet), et Brasilize prov. Rio
Negro (Martius, Spruce).

2. Tachia gracilis; foliis quintuplinerviis, calycibus exalatis breviter

204 DECADES OF FUNGI.

dentatis.—In the Serra Mey, British Guiana (Rob. Schomburgk, a
single specimen.)

3. Tachia Schomburgkiana ; folis quintuplinerviis, calyce 5-alato,
laciniis lanceolatis tubo longioribus (demum fere pollicaribus).—On the
mountains covered with thick forest between Roraima and the Cuyuni,
at an elevation of 3000 to 4000 feet (Rob. Schomburgk, a single spe-
cimen. Rich. Schomburgk, n. 1546).

The three species closely resemble each other in general habit, in
the shape of the leaves, and in the size of the yellow flowers.

Dzcapss or Funer; by the Rev. M. J. BERKELEY, M.A., FLS:
Decades XLVII., XLVIII.
Indian Fungi.
(Continued from p. 174.)

461. Cyathus Hookeri, n. s.; peridio cyathiformi pallido intus
striato vel omnino levi; sporangiis amplis ; integumento tenuissimo,
eortice nigro, sporis minutis.

Has. On dead wood, Khasia. On moss and lichen covered with
sawdust, Kollong rock, Khasia Hills, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.)

Crowded, pale wood-coloured. Peridia cyathiform, sessile or obso-
letely stipitate, clothed with squarrose acute scales, obscurely striate
within or quite smooth. Sporangia 1 line broad, wrinkled. Integu-
ment very thin ; bark nearly black ; hymenium thick. Spores obovate,
3355s Of an inch long.

The spores of this are smaller than in any species except C. miero-
sporus. It is certainly very distinct.

462. C. Emodensis, n. s.; albidus, campaniformis, basi angustata,
subsessilis, superne late apertus, striis plane destitutus, extus fascicula-
to-tomentosus, margine stellato-ciliato ; sporangiis umbrinis levibus.

Has. On dead wood, Sikkim. Lachen, 12-13,000 feet. (Dr.
Hooker.)

Dirty white. Peridium rather thick, clothed with spongy down

Pin = collected in little fascicles, quite smooth within ; margin fimbriated with

the projecting hairs, about 4 lines high, and scarcely so much wide.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 205

Sporangia small, about 4 a line broad, very abundant, nearly smooth,
umber-brown, outer coat often peeling off. Spores obovate, sometimes
rather pointed below, 441,4 of an inch long.

Distinct from C. vernicosus in colour, the more tomentose peridium,
umber-brown, smaller sporangia, and smaller spores, those in C. ver-
nicosus being «A. of an inch long.

463. Aschersonia oxystoma, n. s.; stromate basi floccoso-expanso
leviter cylindrico ceraceo armeniaco, centro depresso; sporis oblongis
utrinque appendiculatis.

Has. On the under side of green leaves of some Myrsinea. Lower
part of India. (Hooker and Thomson.)

. Stroma 1 line across, waxy, apricot-coloured, expanded and floccose
at the base, above cylindrical, with one or more depressions at the apex;
cells irregular, few, large. Spores 4415, of an inch long, oblong or
elliptic, with a filiform appendage at either end.

Resembling in colour 4. Taitensis, Mont., but very different in form
and in the spores.. There is a closely allied species in Ceylon.

464. Uredo Clematidis, n. s. ; maculis obsoletis; soris sparsis irre-
gularibus epidermide persistente vestitis; sporis magnis granulato-ru-
gosis pallidis.

Has. On the under side of the leaves of species of Clematis nutans.
Paras Nath. (Dr. Hooker.)

Spots obsolete. Sori scattered over the under surface of the leaves, -
irregular, covered for a long time with the cuticle. Spores minutely -
rough with raised granules, yellow, becoming pale, 44555 of an inch
long, subglobose, rather irregular.

This species seems constantly mixed with a Puccinia, which some- -
times occupies almost the whole sorus. `

* Coleosporium pingue, Lév.

Has. On the leaves and petioles of a species of Astilbe. Surureen,
June 26, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.)

465. Ravenelia Indica, Berk. ; soris maximis epidermide laciniata
cinctis; sporis pedicellatis, pedunculis longis gracilibus, vesiculis dis-
tinctis. Berk. in Gard. Chron. 1853, p. 132, cum icone. — :

Has. On pods of Acacia. Abundant in the Dunway Pass, Behar.
On pods and stems‘of Abrus. Paras Nath. (Dr. Hooker.)

Sori 4 of an inch or more across, surrounded by the laciniated cuti-
cle ; the mycelium penetrating the substance of the pods, and hehe

206 : DECADES OF FUNGI.

a crop of spores on the opposite side. Spores 415-4413 of an inch
across; vesicular appendages large, distinct, elongated ; peduncle long,
hyaline, flexuous.

This is distinguished from R. glandulosa, which occurs on several
species of Tephrosia, in South Carolina, by the long slender peduncles
and the distinct vesicles. It is most gratifying to have this confirma-
tion of a very beautiful genus.

* Ustilago Carbo, Tul.

Has. On Cymbopogon, Khasia. (Hooker and Thomson.)

Spores. 441,5 of an inch in diameter, resembling those of the form
from New Zealand, figured by Tulasne. There is, however, the ordi-
nary form on Barley from the Soane River, and also one extremely
like Tilletia Sorghi, Tul., on Saccharum, from the same locality, both
of which I regard as simple forms of the: common Smut.

466. U. bursa, n. s.; sporis ellipticis crassiusculis fuligine uite
minute verrucoso-echinatis.

Has. On the ovaries of Anthistiria arundinacea, Sikkim. (Dr.
Hooker.)

Forming a greenish bag about 2 lines long, greatly bulging exter-
nally, and tipped with the hard shining horny remains of the inte-
guments and style, frequently with a strong lateral fissure. Spores
elliptic, 5555 of an inch long, rather thick, olive-black.

Differing from U. Maydis in its elliptic spores. The habit is just
that of the common Bunt, but I can detect no unpleasant smell.

467. U. vittata, Berk.; germinis basin vittato-elongati occupans ;
sporis majoribus lzevibus globosis.—Berk. in Gard. Chron. 1853, p.148,
cum icone.

Has. On the germens of some Oplismenoid ume near the summit
. of Paras Nath, 4000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Oceupying the base of the germen, which is elongated above into a
long strap-shaped lamina, which is tipped occasionally with the wi-
thered remains of the stigma. Spores subglobose, at first hyaline and
often pedunculate, zs% of an inch in diameter, even, at length brown.

A very singular species, having at first the appearance of an Ergot.
The dark spores are however present at the base of the elongated vil-
lous appendage, which seem to arise from the germen. M. Tulasne
Suggests that it may eventually prove congenerie with Tilletia Sorghi,
_ which is scarcely a good Tilletia.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 207

* U. endotricha, Berk., in Fl. Nov. Zel.

Has. Infesting the fruit of Carez baccata or some allied species.
Khasia. (Hooker and Thomson.) Tambur river, East Nepal. Nov.
20. (Dr. Hooker.)

The spores in the Khasia specimens are much smaller than in-
those of Ceylon and New Zealand, but the species appears to be the
same. Spores in Khasia specimens, when subglobose about 441.4 of an
inch in diameter, when elongated about 5355; in the Ceylon speci-
mens they vary from 3255 to 441,5, and the same is the case with those
from New Zealand.

* U. Emodensis, Berk.

Has. Sikkim, 6000 feet. Nangki, East Nepal, 10,000 feet. (Dr.
Hooker.)

Better specimens of this species show that the curious swollen bodies
are really excrescences, immediately arising from the stem, and not
from any transformation of the inflorescence. The spores are 44,5 of
an inch long.

468. U. ocrearum, n. s. ; ocreas in laminas petaliformes deformans ;
sporis subovatis irregularibus lilacinis leevibus, floccis nullis immixtis.

Has. On the ocree of Polygona. Nangki, East Nepal, 10,000
feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Changing the ocree into purple petaliform spathulate expansions.
Spores subovate, irregular, variable, 44155 of an inch long, even, thin,
without any flocci.

This very curious production is doubtless allied to U. Hmodensis, but
it does not occur on the same species of Polygonum ; the habit is dif- 5
ferent, and the spores on the average are larger, flatter, and more irre-
gular.

* Uromyces apiculosa, Lév.

Has. On Mulgedium Tataricum. Nubra valley, Tibet, July 28,
1848. (Dr. Thomson.)

* Acidium Thomsoni, Berk. in Gard. Chron. 1852, p. 627, eum
icone. n
On the leaves of Abies Smithiana. North-western Himalayas, 8000 —
feet. (Thomson.) Sikkim, 9000. (Hooker and Thomson.)

* Æ. Tragopogonis, Pers. "s

th Uromyces a ae

"i Pio sal, js I jp maculis pall; soris mag- —

208 DECADES OF FUNGI.

nis suborbicularibus depressis fuseis margine obscurioribus quasi inus-
tis; sporis elongatis pallido-fuscis, stipite brevi.

Has. On the underside of the leaves of some species of Ranunculus
pulchellus. Momay Samdong, 15,500 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Hypophyllous. Spots pale on either side of the leaf. Sori large, a
line or more broad, scattered without any order, depressed, brown,
with the edge deeper. Spores pale brown, elongated, oblong, attenu-
ated above, but ending obtusely, often oblique; peduncle rather short.

A very distinct species, remarkable for the large size of its depressed
sori.

470. P. insidiosa, n. s.; sporis elongatis elavatis apiculo obtus
preditis; episporio crasso; pedunculis longis hyalinis flexuosis.

Has. Nestling among the spores of Uredo Clematidis. Paras Nath.
(Dr. Hooker.)

Spores oblongo-clavate, terminated by a little obtuse papilla; epi-
sporium very thick, darker externally, so as to give an appearance of
two constituent membranes ; peduncles long, hyaline, flexuous.

There is no reason to believe that this Puccinia is merely a state of
the Uredo. Instances occur of two species of Puccinia growing in the
same sorus.

— * Stilbum lateritium, Berk.

Has. Eastern Nepal. On bark. (Dr. Hooker.)

471. Cladosporium scopaforme, n. s.; cespitulis parvis orbicularibus;
floccis erectis simplicibus nodosis; sporis clavatis elongatis curvis sub-
hyalinis.

Has. On the underside of leaves of Myristica Churra. ^ Khasia*.
(Dr. Hooker.) -

. Erumpent; spots small, orbicular, sometimes scutelleform, consist-
.. ing of a tuft of erect, simple flocci, which are more or less waved, and
. repeatedly though not sharply geniculate above. Spores clavate, elon-

gated, attenuated below, nearly colourless, 55-335 of an inch long.

A very pretty and distinct species, with the habit of a minute Cir-
. cinoirichwm. Tf the spores were septate, it would come very near to
Corda’s genus Helicocoryne.
c HOSE ace sensory aod Piang cR ied — floccis erectis simplicibus,

» . Has. On the under side of the leaves of Litzea. Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites.)
de we exceeding yg; of an inch. Thread even, not nodulose. Closely allied,

DECADES OF FUNGI. 209

ScLEROGRAPHIUM, n. g.— Flocci dense fasciculati, apice liberi.
Spore oblongæ, celluloso-septatee.— Fungi filiformes epiphyti, Graphio
sporis multiseptatis diversi, Mystrosporio analogi.

472. Sclerographium alerrimum, n. s.

Has. On the under side of the leaves of some species of Indigofera,
probably J. atropurpurea. India.

Scattered over the under side of the leaves in the form of little jet-
black threads, scarcely 4 a line high, which at first sight seem to be
part of the matrix. Flocci densely fasciculate, somewhat free at the
very base and at the apex. Spores oblong or clavate, very dark, trans-
versely multiseptate, with a few vertical divisions about 4455 of an
inch long.

This pretty little fungus differs from Mystrosporium in the fasciculate
threads, and from Graphium in the large compound spores. (Tas.
VII. fig. 4.)

* Geoglossum viride, Pers. `

Has. On the ground. Yeumtong, 12,000 feet. Sept. 5, 1849.
Lachoong, 3000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Specimens slender. Sporidia oblong, often subclavate or slightly
curved, -gy of an inch long, as in Mougeot and Nestler, no. 994., In —
the Lachoong specimens, which are very dark, the sporidia are about —
1255 of an inch long.

* G. glabrum, P.

Has. On the ground. Yeumtong, 13,000 feet. Sept. 6, 1849. (Dr.
Hooker.)

473. Rhizina zonata, Berk. ; orbicularis, demum irregularis, spadicea,
margine obtuso; subtus zonata, spongiosa, arrhiza.

Has. Amongst pine-leaves. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

At first orbicular, but becoming at length lobed and irregular, —
clothed beneath with a dense spongy coat, consisting of red-brown _
flocci, without any separate rooting fascicles, distinctly and repeatedly
zoned; margin obtuse, sometimes slightly reflected. Hymenium
even, dark brown. Paraphyses slender ; sporidia subelliptie, abruptly
pointed at either end, 4y of an inch long, containing two nuclei, —
nearly colourless. LA. : s

A very curious and distinct species, calling to mind P. Alebia rófeza. —
There is no trace of distinct rooting fascicles, but in old specimens the —
under coat often becomes cracked. ee.

VOL. VI.

25

210 DECADES OF FUNGI.

474. Peziza eruginea, n. s.; cupulis cyathiformibus subregularibus,
extus serugineo-obsceuris, intus pallidioribus ; mycelio lignum super-
ficialiter tingente; sporidiis subfusiformibus majoribus.

On dead wood. Khasia. (Hooker and Thomson.)

Cups about lline across, scattered over the surface of the wood,
which is strongly but not deeply tinged with green; nearly regular;
dark metallic-green externally. Stem about as high as the cups, at-
tenuated downwards, dark green. Hymenium paler; asci linear ; spo-
ridia subfusiform, 44:5; of an inch long.

This is closely allied to P. æruginosa, but not only are the cups
more regular and smaller, and the tint darker, and the wood stained
more superficially, but the sporidia are half as long again as those of
that species, with a proportional increase of width. The sporidia in
P. eruginosa are about 3335 of an inch long.

475. Rhytisma piceum, n. s.; orbiculare sublobatum opacum piceum
centro depressum rugosum ; margine levi.

On living leaves of Pieris. Tambur Valley, E. Nepal. (Dr. Hooker.)

Orbieular, 5-6 lines broad, opake, very thin at the extreme edge,
where it is more or less lobed, then slightly swollen, depressed and
rugose in the centre. In less perfect individuals the patches are broken
up, and the natural order disarranged.

Most resembling A. decolorans, Schwein. Unfortunately the fruit is
not perfect. :

* Phacidium ceuthocarpa, Fr.

Has. On large poplar-leaves (Populus ciliata). Khabili river. 6000
feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

This is no Spheria, but more properly a Phacidium. The specimens
are unfortunately old, but they show a distinct naked dise, with oblong,
minute, subclavate spores, like those so common in some Pezize, which
lhave not seen in the published specimens, in which however there
| is not a trace of perithecia.

476. Asterina aspersa, n. s. ; subieulo tenuissimo, margine subradi-
ante; ascis sporidiisque oblongis.

Has. On the under side of the leaves of some species of Laurus.

Khasia. (Dr. Hooker.) _
_. Spots having exactly the appearance of being formed by drops of
= water dashed upon the leaves, distinct, black, extremely thin,
. somewhat radiating towards the margin. Perithecia punctiform, open-
. ing with a minute, round ostiolum. Asci and sporidia oblong.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 211

Most resembling a MS. species from Ceylon, 4. nubecula, in which
the spots are scarcely visible. I have not seen the sporidia bipartite,
as in that species, but they doubtless become so at last.

477. A. cincta, n. s. ; maculis fibrillosis ; fibrillis sparsis ramosis re-
pentibus; peritheciis globosis, setis acutis cinctis; ascis oblongis.

Has. On leaves of Camellia. Khasia. (Hooker and Thomson.)

Spots one or two lines broad on either side of the leaf, consisting of
distinct, ereeping, branched fibres, which resemble some minute Poly-
siphonia. Perithecia globose, surrounded by sharp bristles, about as
long as themselves. Asci short, linear-oblong ; sporidia delicate, sub-
elliptic, but slightly attenuated, uniseptate, hyaline (at least in the spe- _
cimens examined), about 441; of an inch long.

This species in some measure connects the genera Asterina and Me-
liola. The asci did not very readily part with their contents, and were
possibly not mature.

478. A. scutellifera, n. s.; mycelio tenuissimo pelliculoso reticulato ;
peritheciis scutelliformibus, immixtis aliis punctiformibus.

Has. On living leaves of <Antidesma. Chittagong. (Hooker and
Thomson.)
Patches irregular, extremely thin, peeling off when wetted, consist-
ing of reticulate fibres, marked with little scutelliform perithecia, in
which I have not seen perfect fruit. Scattered over the mycelium are
other punctiform perithecia, which contain numerous minute, oblong,

curved, hyaline spores, z750 of an inch long.

Though the scutelliform perithecia are still in a sclerotioid state, I
think this production too singular to pass over, on account of the se- -
cond form of fruit on the same mycelium. The species will not be
difficult to recognize on account of its extremely thin patches, forming
a mere dark cloud, and the scutelliform fruit with which they are -
spotted. There seems to be frequently a small ostiolum. Bo

479. Cordyceps falcata, n. s. ; ceespitosa, basi processibus acutis fili-
formibus immixta ; stipitibus cylindricis subito i in pees faleiforme tx
acuminatum incrassatis. pe

Has. On a dead caterpillar. Hyka (Hooker and Fhmn)

Cæspitose ; fertile stems 14 inch high, about 1 line thick, two or _
three together, with a quantity of sterile, filiform, acute, abortive pro-
cesses at the base, cylindrical, swelling gradually into an oblique, falci- =
form, acuminate head, which is rough with the oblong, free, pointed —
perithecia. Asci filiform, with an inflated appendage at the tip. .

219 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

This differs from all known species in the cespitose faleate heads,
which are naked at the base on the convex side. The sporidia are not
yet formed, so that I cannot compare them with those of other species.
(Tas. VIII. fig. 2.)

480. C. racemosa, n. s.; stipite cylindrico nigro, capitulo ovato pro-
lifero.

Has. On a dead caterpillar. Myrong. (Hooker and Thomson.)

Stem nearly two inches high, soiled below with fragments of earth,
above very dark, smooth, swollen at the top into a little ovate head,
which is covered with short processes, each tipped with an ovate knob.

The fructifieation is not formed at present in the only specimen,
which evidently grows from a different and smaller caterpillar than the
last, and the stem is very different, so that it can be no form of that
species. The fructification is unfortunately imperfect. But for its
place of growth it might easily be passed over as an imperfect Balano-
phora. (Tas. VII. fig. 3.)

* Xylaria Hypoxylon (Ehr.).

Has. Soane River. (Dr. Hooker.)

(To be continued.)

Report of a JOURNEY or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 8rd February, 1849 ;
by J. S. Roz, Esq., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 180.)

Being desirous of searching as soon as possible for the coal which
our native had heard existed further to the westward, and in a position
so favourable as to admit of its being readily embarked in a boat, I
proceeded previously to ascend the Phillips, and to examine the good
country we had seen in its several valleys on the 21st. Here we found
much good grassy land in the vicinity of the river and of its numerous
branches and tributaries, the greater number of which came from Mount
Short and the Ravensthorpe Hills, and were mostly fresh, though
.. sometimes brackish. Following that branch which led us most to the
. westward, at the end of twenty-eight miles it had ceased to be worth

. following, and we proceeded south-westward over generally a poor

country, but intersected by many small hollows and watercourses, con-

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 213

taining excellent grass, and more or less water, mostly too brackish for
use. The trap formation through which the upper branches of the Phillips
had been observed to flow, was now changed to granite, which showed
itself extensively in the highest and lowest levels of an open country,
without timber, and covered with low heathy vegetation, amongst
which was much good feed for cattle.

On the eve of Christmas-day I was enabled to give the party a long-
promised rest by reaching a well-grassed little tributary to a stream-
bed in brackish pools, which was winding its way south-eastward to-
wards the coast in a bed of granite and trap. Here we brought forward
our best, for the enjoyment of Christmas in the bush, and dined off an
unexceptionable roast saddle of kangaroo, followed up by a pudding
which Buck had manufactured out of soaked biscuit and sugar, and an
allowance of. brandy out of the small stock which we had carried as
medicine. There was reason to believe that our repast was overlooked
by a party of natives from the rising ground above, whose suppressed -
voices reached the acute and practised ears of Bob, but whose presence
could be nowhere discovered on our searching and calling out. Numerous
traces of emu and kangaroo were about our camp, as well as of horned
cattle; but the latter were not recent. Of emus we saw but few as,
we passed through the country, but kangaroos were very numerous on .
the open downs, and caused me to feel less regret than otherwise at -
having to mark this day by a considerable reduction in our future ra-
tions; a measure rendered necessary by the reduced quantity now re- |
maining on hand, and the uncertain time it would occupy to accom-
plish the large amount of work still before us. The latitude of our ©
camp was found to be 33? À5' 41' S., but the cloudy showery weather
greatly interfered with observations of this kind, although otherwise
welcome, as affording us a good supply of water among the rocks.

On the 26th our journey south-westward was resumed with renewed .
spirits and energy, and at noon we felt that another important stage in.
it was performed by our gaining a misty indistinct view of the Stirling
Range, about eighty miles to the W.S.W. We had then reached the
system of waters belonging to the river on whose estuary our native
supposed we should find surface-coal, and observed increasing indica-
tions of its vicinity in red and yellow cliffs, and in the sandstone being
in connection with granite,—a watercourse in a deep valley alone se-
parating them. Here we also saw West Mount Barren, about Pies

914 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

miles distant, bearing S. 6? 10' W., and a remarkable double-topped
peaked hill to the westward of it, which I called Mount Bland, bearing
S. 5° E. Crossing the watercourse last mentioned, in its rapid descent
to S.W. by S., we found travelling difficult and rugged, among nume-
rous small rocky ravines, and finally steered to the southward, to avoid
them and get upon more level land. At the end of five miles of level
sandy country we came upon another branch of the river, winding to the
southward in a very tortuous course, in bottom of a rocky steep valley,
three-quarters of a mile wide. Here occurred the white, streaked, and
coloured sandstones we had previously noticed on the Phillips, in close
connection with the coal, accompanied by the same ironstone veins, `
deep red sandstone, water-worn quartz, pebbles, and rough coarse
conglomerates, which had been observed to accompany them. Climb-
ing over the edge of a perpendicular cliff 150 feet high, overlooking
. the river in the bottom, caverns eight feet deep were found to have been
. excavated by the atmosphere in the softer white sandstones, and the
. entire geological formation lay most beautifully developed before us.
The surface, in this dangerous vicinity for our horses, being ex-
tremely rugged and thick, I felt glad to remove them away southward
As soon as possible, where the land seemed to descend and to become
more open, as the distance from the river increased. At the end of two
miles and a half we were again upon the verge of a similar sharp bend
of the river, winding through a valley a half to three-quarters of a mile
wide, and bordered by broken red and white cliffs 50 to 80 feet high,
and in many places perpendicular. The whole country hereabouts was
extremely rough, and thickly covered with scrub, rendering the greatest
. caution necessary in threading our way slowly amongst the concealed
rocks and holes. Descending to the river's bed by a low hill of gra-
nite protruding amongst the sandstones, we came there upon large
pools of brackish water, and observed many indications of their being
sometimes as high as 25 feet above their then level. Half a mile be-
low this we encamped amongst good grass, in a rich flat formed by the
winding of the river, which then seemed to pass amongst numerous
. flat-topped ridges with narrow summits, sometimes bearing the appear-
_ ance of perfectly level tables, and in other views assuming the form of

sharp red peaks. Our native recognized this river as identical with

that on which we were detained on the 25th of October by rainy wea-
ther and soft ground, about fifteen miles to the north-westward.

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. = 915

A serious difficulty was now at length forced upon me about our
worn-out horses, amongst whom so many shoes were deficient, and so
much footsoreness and exhaustion prevailed: they were not easily got
on, and I began to fear they would knock up before I could satisfac-
torily complete the examination of this rough and rugged country.
Not a spare nail remained for securing even those shoes which were
loose; and the sharp rocks chipped off large pieces of some of the
hoofs. To abandon our search for coal at this most interesting period
of it was not for a moment to be thought of or endured, and we de-
' termined at all hazards to persevere in researches which now appeared
so likely to be crowned with success. Choosing the smoothest way
that could be found among the sharp rocks, we resumed our descent of
the river on the 27th, watered the horses at a pool not quite so salt as
those higher up, and in two miles from our camp passed the mouth of
the main branch, coming from W. by N., in a valley half a mile wide,
with steep cliffy banks. The river itself wound through an interme-
diate flat of grass and rushes, and was at this time running slowly be-
tween large pools ; but the presence of samphire seemed to indicate that
the water is not at all times fit for use. On the authority of our na-
tive, this main branch comes from Jeer-a-mungup, where we had seen -
so much good country on the 22nd of October last, thirty miles to the -
W. by N., the whole of which space he also said was well grassed, and
fit for good stock-runs. Up to this time we had been in the geological —
formation previously noticed, of granite on one side of the valley and
perpendicular cliffs from fifty to one hundred feet high on the other.
Half a mile lower down we passed the mouth of a steep cliffy valley,
with a watercourse in it coming from the north; and being then on
the high ground, observed the tracks of three horses and a pony, sup-
posed to have belonged to our indefatigable botanist, Mr. James Drum-
mond, who was known to have been recently in this part of the coun- _
try, prosecuting his favourite pursuit. Avoiding the cliffy bed of the —
river in this part for two miles and a half, our travelling was improved,
and we were then abreast of another steep valley from the north, half —
a mile wide, and of the same sandstone formation as the others. i

Taking again to the river's bed at this part, we were cheered by the -
sight of shales cropping out on its left bank, and in the bed found a j5
small piece of undoubted surface-coal. Halting the party, further a
search was immediately made upwards, and all former toils and suffer-

-

216 INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

ings were amply rewarded by the discovery of extensive beds of coal
occupying the lowest levels in the channel of the river. The part ex-
posed fully to view was twelve to fifteen yards wide, and sixty-one in
length, N.N.E. and S.S.W., any further development being concealed
by loose drift-sand, covered with thick scrub, which occupied the whole
valley, except the immediate channel in use. Mr. Ridley afterwards
found amongst this scrub another flat bed of even better-looking coal,
eighty yards long and six wide, in contact with the lower end of the
above ; and there is every reason to conclude that, on clearing away the
drift-sand and examining the beds of the deep pools hereabouts, the’
breadth of coal will be found much more extensive. It seemed to lie
horizontally, without perceptible dip or inclination ; but the adjoining
shales, which cropped out on the river’s left bank, showed a dip of 45°
to the S.E., and precisely resembled those which had previously been
seen on the Phillips.

Diverting the small run of brackish water to a side channel, a pit
was dug five feet long and three feet deep, through the mass of coal,
without observing any change whatever in its appearance, which was
that of carbonized wood, resembling Pine. "The grain could be readily
traced, and some of the pieces appeared even not to have been com-
pletely converted. Having been so long satured with water, it was
exceedingly tough and compact, and until dried did not break with a
brittle fracture. Elongated globules of bitumen, from the size of a pea
to that of a goose-egg, were found in it, as if endeavouring to force
their way to the surface. As our mining tools consisted only of a
spade and a tomahawk, and I was desirous of moving on while day-
light favoured us, we did not penetrate more than three feet, but dried
some of the upper and lower pieces and put them through the test of
burning. This proved most satisfactory; they burnt with a good
flame, and without the slightest crackling or flying, emitted a regular
coal smoke and strong odour, and left no residue but a soft white ash.
The result was equally satisfactory when we submitted some of it to
the process for gas, by means of a tobacco-pipe and some clay.

. The river’s bed was here two or three hundred yards wide, between
very steep banks, and was filled either with rank grass or dense thick

. scrub. Many marks of floods were visible to the height of at least
. Xwenty feet, which will render care necessary in selecting proper sites
~ for shafts to work the coal. On the left bank, and in its numerous

-BOTANY OF CAPE RICHE. 217

small deep ravines, cropped out the shales, in all that interesting variety
we had observed on the Phillips ; and their corresponding appearance
tended more than ever to confirm the opinion we had formed, that we
had been upon a bed of coal in the latter locality, and that it would
have appeared in view had not the river been set running by the rains
of the previous night.

(To be continued.)

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Harvey, dated Cape Riche, West Australia,
March 12, 1854.

[We have again the satisfaction of hearing from our eminent Algo-
logist, and we are sure the following extract will interest our readers.
—E».]

“I am glad you like the Vanvoorstia, etc., and that they will be
honoured with a figure. It will be long, I fear, before I have anything
half so pretty to send from this coast. I came here about ten days
ago, to spend a few weeks at Mr. Cheyne's farm, and explore the neigh-
bourhood; and I must needs stay, for want of conveyance, till the be-
ginning of next month, when I return to the Sound, and take the * May’
steamer for Adelaide. At any other season I should find this a good
station for land-plants, but now they are mostly out of flower. You
will see this place often mentioned in Preiss’s book, and for some of his
best things. I hope the few seeds enclosed may be worth sowing. I
wish particularly that Symphiomyrtus Lehmanni (of Preiss. Pl.) may
grow; it is a very remarkable shrub, with the foliage of Eucalyptus,
but very different inflorescence. You must have it from Drummond ;
it will fill a tub; open air in summer, and mere protection in winter.
It grows here on hill-sides near the sea. Hakea crassifolia is chiefly |
remarkable for the size of its wooden fruit, which is as large as a peach,
and like it in form, and the shrub looks very funny when stuck over
with a hundred such fruits, on its naked lower branches, the upper ones :
only being leafy. I send a few seeds of Kennedya nigricans, on chance
of your caring to raise it; it is a rare plant in the colony, though
common here on bushes by the sea-shore. Eucalyptus plenrooerpa has
very glaucous foliage, and is a handsome shrub. Æ. Preissiana is not :
very handsome, but a very distinct and remarkable species, with top-

F
VOL. VI. - ,

218 BOTANY OF CAPE RICHE.

shaped fruits. This place is about eighty miles by the road from the
Sound, yet this is a three days’ journey as travelled. I walked the
greater part of the way, though entitled to a seat on a cart, because it
gave me the opportunity of picking up the few plants still in flower.
The road is through a very barren, and not interesting country, the soil
chiefly ironstone (which is good for plants), with here and there sandy
or boggy patches. About half-way we cross the Calgan river, now re-
duced to deep water-holes. Lambertia inermis was very common for
the latter half of the way, and very beautiful, old and young shrubs
alike covered with flowers. Some of the larger specimens were thirty
feet high, with very stout stems. I also saw L. uniflora, twenty feet
high, and very woody. Beaufortia anisandra (said to be ‘rare’ by
Preiss) was exceedingly abundant the whole road, and is equally com-
mon here. It always reminds me of Sir Francis B., because I remem-
ber your telling me that he likes a plant to have a bad smell rather
than none at all; and this namesake of his would surely please him,
for it has an awful stench. I shall try and get seeds of it, however,
for it is well worth introducing, on account of the very remarkable
colour (lurid blackish-purple) of the flowers. But I find it no easy
matter to secure good seeds of the smaller Myríacez. Some of them
would be great favourites at home: the purple Verticordias and Caly-
cothrices are very charming, and so especially is a little Hypocalymma,
very common at the Sound; but the oddity of all is Actinodium (or
Tryphalia, R. B.), which, to a passing observer, is precisely like a double
daisy. It is very abundant in boggy places near Albany. The most
striking vegetable productions along the road are, out of all compari-
son, the Kingias, which, when old, and in places not subject to frequent
bush-fires, are extremely noble-looking objects, and at the same time
grotesque. The old leaves of several years appear to hang on, when
not burned off, as is usually the case, and at last are many times the
mass of the young leaves, reflexed, and forming a complete cloak to the

. stem. The young foliage is beautifully silvery, glittering in the sun as

it waves to and fro in the wind; the decayed leaves a light tawny, the
trunk generally black. Fancy, then, a hill-side clothed with small
shrubs, and dotted over with fifty or a hundred Ki»gie of all ages.

Some of the older ones are branched, which does not improve their ap-
. pearance. The Grass-trees are far less beautiful, seldom so tall, and
_ With much thicker stems and stiffer leaves. How often I wish I could

BOTANY OF CAPE RICHE. 219

transport a living Kingia to Kew! I have not yet got seeds of them:
they are now in flower; the growth must be very slow. Lindley, in
his Swan River Plants, speaks disparagingly of the Persoonie, yet they
always please me for the brightness and clearness of their yellow-green
foliage, so different from the dull russet of most Proteacee, and their
flowers are often so abundant as to light up the bushes, like a cloud of
fire-flies. The Synapheæ, too, from the elegant forms of their dry
leaves, and the bright yellow of their spiked flowers, are very pleasing.
Dryandre are all past flowering. The prostrate species of that genus,
and of Banksia, several of which were common along the road, have
quite the aspect of Ferns, their pinnatifid leaves springing, like those of
a Polypodium, from underground stems. I have not dug out a Nuytsia,
but I think it highly probable that there is underground attachment to
the roots of other plants. No one, as I am informed, has ever found
ripe fruit, and Drummond has looked for it long and closely. The
tree increases by underground suckers, which are sent to a great dis-
tance. Wherever you see a Nuyésia, there are myriads of young stems
rising round it. They are leafless, and look like somewhat succulent
Jacksonias, no true leaves being formed till the plant becomes a tree.
It is a very deformed-looking tree at best, but gay enough when in
blossom ; its leaves, too, are of a very beautiful tender green. They
call it the Cabbage-tree. |
* My object in coming here at this season was chiefly 4/ge, but, to my

chagrin, I find it a bad coast for them. A good storm would, I be-
lieve, afford me many good plants, to judge by the scraps that I find -
on the beach; but there is very little ground laid bare at low water for —
examination, and the weather, since my arrival, has been provokingly

calm. I must stay three weeks longer, however, so have yet a chance
of something. I fear almost all the Australian coast will be similarly
circumstanced ; that is, that I must depend chiefly on storms for cast-up
plants. The Fucoids along shore do not seem to reach their proper —
development; at least, none are yet to be found in fruit, and very few _
are properly provided with air-vessels. I have got very few of them -
yet. My dried specimens of 4/ge, so far, are about 5000, but only -
about 120 species among them. I have got a Martensia (or Hemi- —
trema), but very few specimens of it; it was a deep-water waif.”

220 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Letter from M. KRALIK*, on his Journey in the Regency of Tunis, ad-
dressed to and communicated by P. B. Webb, Esq.

Gabés, March 10, 1854.

I wrote to you from Tunist, and now I address you again “ prope
barbaras Syrtes, ubi Maura semper estuat unda." I told you I was to
make the journey with M. Andrea Mattei, a merchant of Sfax, whose
brother Tommaso accompanied M. Pelissier throughout his long pere-
grinations. Our caravan was insignificant, consisting, besides M.
Mattei, myself, and my Negro, of a Jewish merchant and three Sisters of
Charity, who were going to establish schools at Souza, and yet an escort
was never thought of. We were joined, as we proceeded, by a few other
travellers. You may judge, therefore, with how much security the
coasts of this Regency can now be visited. The interior would be
equally safe, were it not for circumstances which I shall presently allude
to. At any rate, I would never advise a naturalist to join a caravan:
in a caravan he is no more his own master than in a diligence or on a
railroad, unless indeed he is thoroughly versed in the vegetation of the
country, and will only stop the party now and then for some object
which will compensate for the delay.

The very first day, as soon as we reached the eastern coast, ‘the rains,
so continual at Tunis, ceased altogether. We slept near Hamamet, in
a large foudouk (caravanserai of the Turks). On the following day we
reached Sfax, and remained there an entire day, beneath the hospitable
roof of the French Consul.

Our route from Hamamet was most monotonous, running between
the sand-hills of the coast and a long lake, which probably M. Pelissier
saw only in summer, as he scarcely marks it on his map, though it
extends from Hamamet to beyond Herglea. Even now it was begin-
ning to shrink, but the land left dry was perfectly naked. During our
halt at Sfax I made two herborizations, and gathered a Nonnea in great
abundance (N. pulla ?), a Euphorbia, perhaps nothing more than Nice-
ensis, Fumaria agraria, Fagonia Cretica, two or three Linarias, etc.

. Leaving Sfax, we turned aside from the coast, and struck right across

* Now collecting in Tunis, as mentioned at p. 94.
T This letter never came to hand.— P. B. W.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 221

the country to Souza, passing by El Djem, where we slept in a misera-
ble Arab hut, and our nuns in another, who were dreadfully alarmed
during the night by the entrance of some hag-like Arab women; we
were all aroused by their cries, and rushed to their aid. Before day-
light we were again on the saddle. I much regretted not having been
able to visit the noble ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, which I could
only half see in the twilight. The whole of the way from Sfax we
found a desert; El Djem is the only village which is found between it
and Souza. I could have passed a few days very profitably at Sfax, for
the vegetation is five or six weeks earlier there than at Tunis, but I was
anxious to reach Gabés. M. Espina however, the French Consul, who
has graduated at Paris, and is an amateur of botany, will most obligingly
collect for me during my absence.

Arrived on the 25th. I embarked for Gabés on the 28th, in an open
boat. The coast is very low, and the sea shallow ; decked boats would
draw too much water. A rise and fall of the tide of from three to four
feet takes place, which is perceptible from Hamamet, as far as the lesser
deserts, opposite the isle of Djerba, the ancient Lotophagitis. We
reached Gabès on the 29th, at 3 P.M.

Torrential rains had so swelled the waters of the Oued Gabés, that a
part of El Mentzel (Menarah of M. Pelissier's map) and of Djarah, in-
cluding the house of M. Mattei, had been swept away, and we installed
ourselves in the house of a Jew, the same in which the Count d' Escayrac
was lodged. My first impression of Gabés as a botanical station was
not favourable. Between the groups of villages, which taken together
form the so-called town, are extensive pastures ; behind the village is a
grove of Palm-trees, several leagues long, and, as they told me, two
leagues wide. Between the trees the ground is highly cultivated, and
irrigated by canals from the Oued Gabés, which bounds it on the south.
Here of course I found only the common weeds of this part of Africa. —

= the other side, in the plain, browsed upon by cattle, dominated —
Astragalus stella? or cruciatus ?, A. Alexandrinus, Trigonella maritima, —
Zygophyllum album, several Salsolas, and Traganum nudatum everywhere.

A light rain having kept me within-doors, I tried to espy from the
terrace some better ground; and perceiving that the Palm-forest termi- —
nated on the S.W., and that beyond it, about a league off, were slight —
undulations, though they appeared bare, I directed my way towards.
them. I soon saw that I was on the right beat; six times I returned

222 à BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

without reaching the hills, from the plentiful harvest I collected before
reaching them. I reached them today (March 17th), but here my
flowery land terminated, beyond them was nothing but the wild Libyan
desert; but even here I found some old acquaintances from the deserts
of Egypt, a Helianthemum, Linaria ZEgyptiaca, Gymnocarpum decan-
drum, etc., and I shall still find several others as the season advances,
which I recognized in leaf; altogether our harvest from Gabés will be
satisfactory.

It is time now to tell you, that since I have been here, I have learnt
- that the troops sent to collect tribute in the Djerid (as I passed I saw
them encamped under the walls of Souza) had been very ill received by
the tribes, who are suffering both from the deficient harvest of last
year, and the hurricanes of the winter, which have immensely dimi-
nished their crop of dates. In addition to this the two tribes of the
Beni Zid and the Hamema are at war; the Beni Zid camp westward of
Gabés, the Hamema to the east of the Gofsa, the Capsa of the Romans.
The Beni Zid have made a razzia amongst the mapalia of the Hamema :
the conflict was bloody ; the conquerors themselves lost fifty men, and
the Hamema, they say, thrice that number: these latter are now pre-
paring for vengeance. Thus the Djerid and the interior of the Regency
are at this moment inaccessible. Caravans have already been plundered ;
my plans must therefore be changed: first I shall see what there is
behind our line of Palm-trees, then I shall try if possible to get to
Hamma; if not, I must limit myself in the east to Gabès and the Lo-
tophagitis.

You will like to hear how we fare in these wild regions, Our carte is
simple enough,—fowls and mutton, mutton and fowls. The Jew is our
cook and butler: not that we have wine, but in its place the Lagmi, or
. milk of Palms. The sap of the tree is obtained by means of a circular
. wound made by cutting off the crown of the leaves, sparing only the
. heart; the wound is kept open daily by fresh scarifications. A palms.
` tree thus treated will yield eight or ten litres of juice in the twenty-four
hours, and this during three or four months. This operation does not

kill the tree, but it will not bear fruit the year it has been tapped, and
. in two years it may be tapped again. I have seen trees that had been
tapped three times: they are easily distinguished by the narrowing of
. the stem at the place operated upon, and its smoothness, from the ab-

sence of the projecting petioles. :

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 223

I enclose you a Silene for our friend Gay, unknown to me, (annua,
foliis linearibus, floribus squalide luteo-fulvis, petalis profunde 2-partitis
partitionibus linearibus, corona valde conspicua;) likewise the seeds of
a Composita, allied to Cotula subcoronopifolia (foliis crassis linearibus,
floribus eligulatis rufulis, capitulis nutantibus). I found today a single
specimen of a Hyacinth, with flowers of the colour of mahogany*, and
two of a Scilla, quite new to me.

March 19th.—The courrier remains till tomorrow. Today I passed
through the Palm-wood ; it is narrower than I had been told: I crossed —
right through it in a good half-hour; beyond it I found again the
desert like that to the south of Gabés. The plants in flower, besides
Gymnocarpum decandrum, were three Helianthemums, Linaria ZEgyptiaca,
Erodium glaucophyllum and asplenioides, an Astragalus, Echiochilon
Jruticosum, etc. -

` This part of the desert is cut into deep ravines by the winter rains;

their sides are frequently nearly perpendieular, and will probably give
shelter and shade shortly to many curious plants. The rest of the
desert is flat, with a slight descent towards the sea, above which its
general height can scarcely exceed one hundred and fifty feet. About
two leagues further I perceived a chain of low mountains ; continuing |
southward I came upon the chain of lagoons, out of which the Oued
Gabés rises. To my surprise I found nothing near them but Samolus
Falerandi; later in the season they will probably give me something —
better.

To inspect the whole of my territory I must now make excursions to
the north, similar to those I have made to the south.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

GooprzwNovrEx, ad auctoritatem Musei Casarei Vindobonensis, Pari-
siensis, illustr. Roberti Brownei, Guil. J. Hookeri, Joan. Lindleji, :
Franc-Lessertii, Lud. Preissii, Fred. Lud. Splitgerberi, iat ge r
proposuit Guil. Henr. de Vriese: figuris illustravit Q. M. R. Ver
Huell. 4to. 1 vol Harlem, 1854. 38 plates. _

The * Analecta Goodenoviearum’ of Doctor and Professor De Vriese 2

* Dipcadi fulvum, Webb? Phyt. Can.—P. B. W.

224 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

was given in the * Nederlandsch Kruidkundig Archief' of De Vriese,
Dozy, and Molkenboer; we have in the present work the natural fa-
mily of Goodenoviee treated in a more expanded form, with full cha-
racters of the Order, the genera and species, and, what adds infinitely
to the value of the work, excellent figures of thirty-eight prineipally
new or little-known species. Twenty-three genera are adopted, em-
bracing 187 species, viz.:—1. Temminckia, 8 sp. 2. Camphuria, 1
sp. 3. Sesvola, 12 sp. 4. Crossotoma, 3 sp. 65.. Molkenboeria,
7 sp. 6. Merkusia, 30 sp. 7. Aillya, 1 sp. 8. Dampiera, 41 sp.
9. Linschotenia, 1 sp. 10. Goodenia, 45 sp: 11. Picrophyta, 2 sp.
12. Selliera, 3 sp. 13. Tetraphylax, 1 sp. 14. Stackhovia, 2 sp.
15. Euthales, 3 sp. 16. Velleia, 9 sp. 17. Diaspasis, 1 sp. 18.
Distylis, 1 sp. 19. Calogyne, 1 sp. 20. Leschenaultia, 12 sp. 21.
Latouria, 1 sp. 22. Antholium, 1 sp. 23. Lemairea, 1 sp.

The last, Lemairea, is considered rather a supplementary or doubt-
ful genus, evidently figured and described from very imperfect mate-
rials, of a plant in Herb. Delessert, and there bearing the name “ Sce-
vola Ventenatii, Herb. Ventenat." Tf, as represented in the figure, the
flower is in the Herbarium apart from the specimen, we are disposed
to consider the former as belonging to one plant, and the specimen and
fruit to something extremely different, the fruit exhibiting a superior
or free berry, subtended by a five-sepaled calyx. The talented and
industrious author is, we are happy to learn, engaged in preparing the
Laurinee for De Candolle's * Prodromus."

Hooker, W. J. H.: ICONES PLANTARUM ; or, Figures, with brief de-
scriptive characters and remarks, on new or rare plants, selected from
the author's Herbarium. 8vo, 10 vols. 1000 plates.

This work, commenced in 1837, is now brought to a close with the
tenth volume, including 1000 plates, the latter entirely executed by
Mr. Fitch, and exhibiting many of the more interesting plants in the
author's collection. The concluding volume, published by Mr. Pam-
plin, is entirely devoted to Ferns, and is also offered for sale separately,
to such lovers of this beautiful family of plants as do not care to pos-

sess the entire work. Of this portion, too, a few copies are prepared
on large paper and coloured.

225

DECADES or FUNGI; by the Rev. M. J. BERKELEY, M.A., P.L.S.
Decades XLIX., L.
Indian Fungi.
(Continued from p. 212.)

481. Xylaria piperiformis, n. s.; clava gracili cylindrica sepius apice
acuminata sterili ; stipite elongato flexuoso lineato-rugoso radicante ; os-
tiolis prominentibus ; sporidiis minimis.

Has. Sikkim, 5000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)

Stem slender, flexuous, 21—3 inches high, half a line thick, rooting
into the soil, marked with linear wrinkles. Head 1-2 inches long,
cylindrical, not a line thick, rough with the ostiola and somewhat

. pruinose, generally acuminate, and barren at the tip. Perithecia ellip-
tic, often scaling off. Sporidia minute, broadly cymbiform, 441,4 of an
inch long.

Resembling somewhat X. escharoides, but far more graceful. The
spores are far more minute than is usual in the genus. :

482. X. fistuca, n.s.; clavula regulari sursum incrassata obtusa, lineis —
obscurioribus ostiola gerentibus picta ; Mpito erase Mespica spo
ridiis minutis.

Has. Woods. Myrong. July 7, 1850. Spede young, and
without perfect fruit. East Nepal, 8000 feet. a

Whole plant 14 inch high, fasciculate. Head nearly 1 inch kk
subcylindrical, but slightly thickened above, and very obtuse, greyish ;
outer coat hard, brittle, marked with superficial darker lines, in which
the ostiola are seated. Stem cylindrical, abrupt. Sporidia e
cymbiform, 435, of an inch long.

A very distinct species from X. polymorpha, and Messi more
closely X. corniformis. The ostiola are quite superficial. The Myrong
specimens are immature, but, I believe, identical with those- ine Mete
Nepal.

- * X. tabacina (Kickx). : nur) b ec
Has. Kala Panee. June 1850, 5000 feet. (Dr. eer LS a
Ochreous, dirty yellow-brown ; substance white, hard; hollow, with

mucous lining. :
* X. compuncta, Junghuhn, 1. c. p. 21.

Has. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)
voL VL. — 2e

826 DECADES OF FUNGI.

The fleshy substance of this curious production, differs greatly from
that of most species of Xylaria, though there is an approximation to it
in X. tabacina. The spores are those of the genus, not of Hypocrea,
and are about 54,5 of an inch long. It is very interesting to find this
in the same tract of country with Hypocrea peltata, another Java species.

483. Hypocrea semiamplexa, n. s.; stromate elongato semiamplec-
tente decolorante rubiginoso-pulverulento ; ostiolis demum elongatis.

Has. On the spikes of Bamboo. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Stroma elongated, half embracing the spike, otherwise with the habit
of H. spiculifera, discoloured, tinged with green when dry, especially
within, at length almost black, dusted with a rusty meal. Perithecia
subglobose. Ostiola at length elongated.

The specimens are unfortunately young, and do not exhibit fructifi-
cation, but there can be no doubt of its affinity with or distinction from
H. spiculifera. There are sometimes a few scattered perithecia on the
side not occupied by the thickened stroma. A curious Hypocrea, shaped -
like a little truffle, occurs on the stems of Arundinaria in South Caro-
lina.

* Hypocrea floccosa, Fr.

Has. On Lactarii. Pomrang. September 18, 1850. (Dr. Hooker.)
* Hypoxylon vernicosum (Schwein.).

Has. Darjeeling. (Dr. Hooker.)

Exactly agreeing with the American species.

* H. multiforme, Fr.

Has. On Birch, Yangma valley. E. Nepal, 11,000 feet, Nov. 28.
(Dr. Hooker.)

* H. perforatum. (Schwein.).

Has. On Bamboo. Nangki Mountains, 6000 feet. (Dr. Hooker.)
* H. fragiforme, P.

. Has. On dead timber, Soane river. (Dr. Hooker.)

A perfectly even form.

484. H. crenulatum, n. s.; peritheciis globosis subsolitariis membra-
naceis, pustule liberæ basi expanse crenulato-limbate insite.
. Has. On dead stems of Bamboo. Nangki Mountains, 6000 feet.
(Dr. Hooker.)
.. Perithecia large, subglobose, membranaceous, furnished with a pa-
pillaeform orifice, perforating the truncate centre of a crenulate, free pus-
tule, which is expanded at the base. Asci elongated; sporidia in a

DECADES OF FUNGI. 227

single row, 4-3, of ah inch long, between cymbiform and fusiform, tri-
septate, brownish.

Very closely allied to SpA. sublimbata, Mont., but the fruit is quite
different, and twice as long.

^ 485. Dothidea voraz, Berk. et Curt.; spicis deformibus caulibusque

innascens, subglobosa vel omnino effusa, nigra, granulata; cellulis mi-
nutis ; ascis cylindricis obtusis fragilissimis ; sporidiis filiformibus. 3

Has. On the deformed spikes of some Carev. Khasia (Churra).
Aug. (Dr. Hooker.) On Uniola and Panicum, Rev. M. A. Curtis, South
Carolina.

Black, subglobose, varying in size from a mere pus to that of
a millet-seed, or altogether effused, minutely granulated. Cells minute.
Asci cylindrical, obtuse, curved, very fragile. Spores filiform, extremely
slender.

Nothing can be at first sight more different than the effused speci-
mens on the stem of Uniola; but others on Uniola are much larger than
the Khasia specimen, insomuch that the species was firei named D.
pituleformis.

* Hypopteris apiospora, (Mont.)

Has. On bamboo. Nangki mountains, 6000 feet.

* H. Bambuse, (Lév.)

Has. On dead stems of Bamboo, Nangki mountains, 6000 feet. —
(Dr. Hooker.)

This species is just intermediate between Hypoaylon and Dothidea,
being the extreme form of Hypopteris, to which, if of generic import-
ance, it must be referred. The perithecia appear too highly organized
for Dothidea. I find the sporidia 4245; of an inch long, dark, fusiformi- .
elliptic, with a minute appendage sometimes at the base, like that in
H. apiospora. :

* Spheria Cayennensis, Fr. :

Has. On leaves of Ficus Roxburghii. Sikkim. Dr. Hooker.)

Sporidia broadly elliptic, 42:55 of an inch long. — :

486. Spheria (Confertes) constellatio, n. s.; stromatibus nana
in orbiculum constellatis nitidis. Aris

Has. On the upper surface of green leaves. Khasia Mountains.

(Dr. Hooker.) :
Spots scarcely a line broad, orbicular, consisting of from thirty io

fifty shining, depressed, sometimes concentrically arranged specks, each
containing a single cell.

228 DECADES OF FUNGI.

An extremely pretty little plant, but which will probably, with seve-
ral neighbouring forms, growing on living leaves in the tropies, be
ultimately reduced under one common head, as they differ only in the
* mode in which the stroma is broken up, and slightly in the admeasure-
ment of the sporidia. I have not found perfect fruit in the present
species.

487. S. (Obvallate) Nepalensis, n. s.; pustulis depressis ; peritheciis
decumbentibus circinantibus; collis longis, ostiolis obsoletis ; sporidiis
oblongis curvatis.

Has. On dead twigs of birch, Yangma valley, East Nepal, 9000
feet. November 29. (Dr. Hooker.)

Pustules not a line broad, flattened; dise even. ^Peritheeia circi-
nating, decumbent, seated in the cortical substance, which is heightened
in colour so as to be almost orange when seen by transmitted light,
within which, in the centre of the pustule; the matrix is pale, approach-
ing to white; necks long; ostiola obsolete. Asci linear; sporidia bi-
seriate, linear-oblong, curved, 4, of an inch long.

I have very insufficient specimens of this species ; but as it is clearly
undescribed, and the species of the genus in the surrounding countries
are but little known, and, as it should seem, rare, I am unwilling to
omit it.

* Corynelia uberiformis, Fr.

Has. On Podocarpus. Khasia Mountains. (Dr. Hooker.)

Perfectly agreeing with specimens from the Cape, the species of Podo-
. carpus on which it grows being also identical with the Cape species.

* Meliola, sp.
Two species occur, the one on Jlicinee, the other on Myrtaceae, at

.. Amure, in Khasia, but neither with perfect fruit.

488. Polyporus (Mesopus) Campbelli, n. s.; lignicolor, subcarnosus ;
stipite centrali, cum pileo turbinato undulato confluente ; poris minimis
brevibus decurrentibus.—Fr. Nov. Symb. p. 32.

Has. On the ground, into which it penetrates. Poonah. (Assistant
Surgeon J. D. Campbell, Esq.)

Wood-coloured, at least when dry. Pileus subcarnose, 3 inches
. - across, plane, but undulated, turbinate, confluent with the stem, which
. is either short and central, or slightly excentric, irregular, and elon-
: yo Pores decurrent, minute, short ; orifice oblique, elongated.
"This highly curious species, of which I have merely two sections,

DECADES OF FUNGI. 229

was sent me many years since from Bombay. The specimens have
been seen by Fries, and are noticed in the place quoted above, The
description is necessarily imperfect, but is sufficient to indicate the
species. The habit is that of one of the large Mesopod Hydna.

489. P. (Pleuropus) Zhwaitesii, n. s.; candidus; pileo tenui flabel-
lato-reniformi subtiliter tomentoso crebrizonato, margine acuto; poris
4—6-gonis mediis; dissepimentis tenuibus, acie tenuissima sublacerata.

Has. On dead wood. Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)

Chalky-white. Pileus 1-1} inch across, flabellato-reniform, thin,
very obscurely tomentose, marked with numerous concentric zones;
margin acute, slightly incurved when dry. Stem lateral, disciform, not
at all elongated. Hymenium slightly ochraceous when dry. Pores 7;
of an inch across, four- to six-sided; dissepiments thin, Edge much
attenuated, slightly lacerated.

A very beautiful species, allied to P. Sullivantii, and remarkable for
its large angular pores.

490. Hexagonia brevis, n. $.; resupinatus; margine breviter reflexo
subtiliter strigoso demum sericeo pallido subzonato; poris latiusculis
cinereis.

Has. On dead wood. Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)

Effused, forming elongated, resupinate patches, with the pale, ochra-

ceous, slightly strigose, at length silky, somewhat zoned border shortly

r

reflected. Hymenium pale cinereous. Pores 5 of an inch across,
hexagonal, irregular; dissepiments rigid.

A very distinct species, though possibly the specimens may not be
quite perfect. It is perhaps nearest to P. cervino-plumbeus, Junghuhn.

491. Favolus manipularis, n. s. ; fascicularis, tener, tenuis; pileo cen- ?
trali orbiculari glabro convexo; stipite centrali gracili; poris amplis -
alveolaribus.

Ha». On dead wood. Ceylon. (G. H, K. Thwaites, Esq.) i

Cæspitose, pallid. Pileus orbicular, convex, 4—1 inch or more in dia-
meter, smooth, dimpled when dry, very tender and soft. Stems cen-
tral, above 1 inch high, not a line thick, smooth, connate below. Pores
large, 3} of an inch across, orbicular, hexagonal.

This species approaches F. cycloporus, Mont., now referred to ZLaslia. :
This at least does not seem to belong to that gun, but do be a tame
Favolus.

492. F. multiplex, Lév., var. Thwaitesii ; pileo subintegro flabelli-

1

230 DECADES OF FUNGI.

formi, disco stipitiformi affixo, lineatim striato postice subtiliter strigoso
velutino; poris subhexagonis elongatis; acie setoso-lacerata.
Has. On dead wood. Ceylon, 1851. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)
Pileus flabellato-reniform, 3 inches across, scarcely at all lobed, sub-
= ochraceous, streaked with delicate lines, thin, minutely strigose behind,
the pubescence being arranged so as to represent the edges of minute
pores. Stem a small dise. Hymenium tinged with brown. Pores
very variable in size, elongated, subhexagonal. Edge very thin, mi-
nutely toothed.

The specimens are far paler and more entire than those from Churra,
but I have no doubt that the species is the same, though at first de-
scribed by me as distinct.

493. Didymium Zeylanicum, n. $.5 peridio lenticulari subtus umbili-
cato cretaceo demum fatiscente abia pulverulento ; stipite sursum
attenuato elongato sulcato fulvo; capillitio candido; sporis nigris.

Has. On dead wood. Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)

Stem 1 line high, tawny, incrassated below, attenuated above, sulcate,
attached to a shining hypothallus. Peridium lenticular, umbilicate
beneath, chalky white, at length cracking, delicately pulverulent. Ca-
pillitium white, branched, anastomosing here and there, stained with a
fuliginous tinge, very variable in thickness; columella none. Spores
globose, 441; of an inch in diameter.

' This species resembles in some respects Physarum nutans; but not
only is the stem sulcate, but the peridium is decidedly pulverulent, like
a leaf covered with Oidium. When the powdery coat is rubbed off, it
‘appears rugged, like the surface of an egg.

494. ZEcidium rhytismoideum, n. s.; maculis latis inustis rhytismoi-
deis; peridii margine lato laciniato; sporis subangulatis.

Has. On the under sides of leaves of Diospyros. Ceylon. (G. H. K.
Thwaites, Esq.)

Spots $ an ineh or more broad, merces exactly those of some
Rhytisma: Peridia scattered; margin spreading, broadly lobed, con-
sisting of pentangular or hexangular cells, the commissures of which
are finely crenate. Spores more or less angular.

^A very singular production. The black stroma is apparently
.. eovered with papilleeform ostiola, but I have not been able to detect

. any trace of reproductive bodies in them. I do not however assert
positively that it is really a part of the Æeidium.

DECADES OF FUNGI. 9231

495. Æ. Pavette, n. s. ; maculis orbicularibus fuligineis ; peridii mar-
gine reflexo lobato; sporis subangulatis.

Haz. On the under sides of leaves of Pavetta. Ceylon. (G. H. K.
Thwaites, Esq.)

Spots $ an inch or more broad, dingy; peridia scattered, more nu-
merous towards the centre; border reflexed, lobed. Cells not crenate
at the edge, as in the last. Spores somewhat angular.

A far more minute species than the last. The spot is merely dis-
coloured, and not incrassated as in that species*,

* Graphiola Phonicis, Poiteau.

Has. On Phenix farinifera. Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq)

496. Spheria (Cespitosee) Broomeiana, n. s. ; peritheciis in cæspi-
tem orbicularem congestis atris opacis setis Slain exasperatis ;
ostiolo papilleeformi notatis vel omnino astomis; ascis clavatis latis;
sporidiis innumeris minutis oblongis curvis.

Has. On dead wood. Ceylon. (G.H. K. Thwaites; Esq.)

Perithecia black, opake, sprinkled with short, black, stout bristles,
crowded into little orbicular tufts, scarce a line broad, either altogether
destitute of an ostiolum or with an abrupt central papilla. Asci clavate,
broad, stuffed with numerous, oblong, eurved, minute, hyaline sporidia.

The minutely setulose perithecia, and abundant sporidia, at once
distinguish this species from any with which it might be confounded. -

497. Dothidea repens (Corda), var. catervaria; pustulis minutis in
maculas orbieulares l. irregulares catervatis; ostiolo puniat:
ascis brevibus; sporidiis suborbieularibus hyalinis.

Has. On the leaves of Ficus oppositifolia. Ceylon. (G: H. K.
Thwaites, Esq.) i

Pustules not & of a line broad, crowded into orbieular or irregular —
spots, which are very conspicuous on the under sides of the leaves.
Ostiola minute, papilleform. Asci short, attenuated above. i
nearly orbicular, minute, hyaline. -

A form of Spheria repens, Corda, with shorter asi ess shining pus-
tules, and more orbieular sporidia. me

* Æ. echinaceum, n. s.; maculis pulvinatis orbicularibus oppositis concavis as
brinis; peridiis spinzeformibus rigidis nitidis, serius apice laciniatis, dr csi globosis,

Han. Tn "ade surface of mee aroei ay molochina, Ceylon,
7000 feet. April, 1854. (G. H. waites,

Spots vy inject Peridia rigid, shining. Spores yellowish, 545 of an inch
in diameter, nearly globose.

232 DECADES OF FUNGI.

Var. aspidia ; pustulis latiusculis sparsis piceis; ascis elongatis sur-
sum attenuatis; sporidiis hyalinis subellipticis.

Has. On leaves of Ficus repens, Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)

This has more pretension to be considered as a species than the last ;
but it seems that on each species of Ficus a different form prevails,
and it is more convenient to collect them under one species than to
make a multitude of species, scarcely differing from each other.

A form occurs also in Ceylon on Tetranthera tomentosa, which I
should willingly unite. In this the pustules are more minute; the asci
much elongated, but still broader below ; and the sporidia more oblong.
This I have distributed under the name of Spheria tetranthere.

498. Dothidea incarcerata, n.s.; pustulis minutis piceis; stromate
pallide cervino; cellulis paucis irregularibus; ascis oblongis; sporidiis
hyalinis subellipticis.

Has. On the upper sides of the leaves of Uvaria, Guatteria, and
other Anonacee. Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)

Pustules punctiform, variable in size, but scarcely attaining à of a
line in diameter, slightly raised, pitch-brown. Stroma pale fawn-co- .
loured. Cells few, irregular, entirely immersed in the stroma. Asci
oblong, rather short, pointed or obtuse. Paraphyses linear, about the
same length as the asci. Sporidia hyaline, subelliptic, inclining to
isig, sometimes slightly attenuated at either end, varying from q756
to sosy of an inch in length, but more commonly 4455-

This species varies a little on different leaves, being sometimes seated
on an arid patch, sometimes on the unaltered leaf; sometimes there
are one or more distinct ostiola; sometimes the pustules are quite even.
All will however be found to agree in essential structure. Specimens
have been distributed under the name of S. Guatteriæ, from a notion
that they were distinct from those on Uvaria ; but a fresh examination
has forced me to unite them. :

499. D. filicina, Mont. MSS., var. nervisequia ; peritheciis elongatis
subpunctiformibus aggregatis subnervisequiis depréssis; ascis brevibus
latis; sporidiis claveeformibus centro subconstrictis uniseptatis.

Has. On the under side of fern-leaves, Ceylon. (G. H. K. Thwaites,
Esq.) -— ;

. . Perithecia elongated, subpunctiform, slightly depressed, disposed in
. Simple and forked lines, following more or less the direction of the
. nerves, so as to form little, pinnate, black patches. Asci short, very

DECADES OF FUNGI. 233

obtuse. Sporidia clavate, uniseptate, constricted in the centre, about
soo Of an inch long. When dry, the sides of the perithecia contract,
so as to give the mass a sort of reticulated appearance when examined
under the compound microscope.

This curious parasite has a very different appearance from D. Péeridis,
being far less compact. It is certainly merely a form of the plant of
Dr. Montagne from Otaheite, on some species of Adiantum, though the
perithecial prominences are more minute, and the spores shorter. In
Dr. Montagne’s plant, in which the fructification is not very perfect, I
find a hyaline coat to the sporidia, a circumstance which cannot be
regarded as of specific importance. The difference in habit, and the
slight decrease of size in the sporidia, probably depend upon the dif-
ferent matrix. The same species also occurs in New Zealand.

499 a. D. exsculpta, n. s.; stromate orbiculari nigro margine radi-
atim exseulpto; ostiolis papilleeformibus centralibus. :

Has. On the under side of leaves of Agyneia multilocularis. Ceylon.
(G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq.)

Stroma orbicular, a line or more broad, delicately grooved, with
forked and intermediate lines, so as to resemble the hymenium of a
Lenzites in miniature. Ostiola papilleeform, central often numerous.

I have not seen this very curious production with perfect cells, much
less with fruit. The habit is however so curious, that it cannot fail to
be recognized. The substance is brittle and carbonaceous.

500. D. Thwaitesii, n. s.; pustulis nitidis cum matrice continuis ;
cellulis irregularibus; ascis lineari-clavatis; sporidiis hyalinis oblongo-
clavatis.

Has. On leaves of some Cyperacea. Ceylon. (G. H: K. Thwaites, Esq.)

Pustules oblong, subelliptic, pitch-brown, shining, scarcely raised
above the surface: Cells irregular. Asci linear or clavate. Sporidia
uni-bi-seriate, narrow, oblongo-clavæform. =

Resembling somewhat Spheria Salzmanni, Dalz., and very distinct. *
from analogous forms on Grasses and Sedges. Phen:

Fungi described in the fifth Century now completed.
ZEcidium echinaceum, Berk. Agaricus fulviceps, ib.
» Lavette, ib. x Khasiensis, ib.
bs rhytismoideum, i5. », montosus, a
H

VOL, VI.

234 ` DECADES OF FUNGI.

Aschersonia ozyspora*, ib.
Asterina aspersa, id.

s cincía, ib.

» Sculellifera, ib.
Boletus flavipes, ib.

» pusillus, ib.

» verrucarius, ib.
Cladosporium congestum, ib.

is scopeforme, ib.
Cordyceps falcata, ib.
= racemosa, ib.

Cyathus Zmodensis, ib.

» Hookeri, ib.
Cyclomyces £urbinatus, ib.
D:edalea Emodensis, ib.
Didymium Zeylanicum, ib.
Dothidea exsculpta, ib.

» filicina, Mont.

» Thwaitesii, ib.

Favolus manipularis, B.
» multiplex, Lév.
s var. Thwaitesii, B.

Hydnum vespertilio, ib.
Hypocrea semiampleza, ib.
Hypoxylon crenulatum, ib.
TIrpex zonatus, ib
Lactarius stramineus, ib.

— Laschia lamellosa, id.

3; incarcerata, B.

ie repens, Cord.

is var. aspidia, B

m var. catervaria, ib.

= voraz, Berk. et Curt.

Lentinus prerigidus, ib.
Lenzites eximia, 1b.
» ochrophylla, ib.
A subferruginea, ib.
Lycoperdon delicatum, ib.
ži elongatum, ib.
2» Emodense, ib.
5 xanthospermum, ib.
Merulius lignosus, ib.
Peziza eruginea, ib.
Polyporus adamantinus, ib.
PA Beharensis, tb.
Campbelli, ib.
m cereus, ib.
i corium, ib.
digitalis, ib.
= elatinus, 1b.
» endopheus, ib.
» flammans, ib.
„ flavidus, ib.
» florideus, ib.

» gratus, ib
» medullaris, ib.
» . Nepalensis, ib.

» nodipes, ib

» piclilis, ib.

„ pudens, ib.

» scopulosus, ib.

» semitostus, ib.

» squamef ormis, ib.

» Thomsoni, ib.

» — Thwaitesii, ib.

» vallatus, ib.

» versiformis, ib.

Ca owes, 1.
~ earanticus, ib. —

` Puccinia insidiosa, ib.

n Not ozystoma, as in the text.

THE SABICU WOOD OF CUBA. 235

Puccinia ustalis, ib. Trametes cingulata, ib.
Radulum spongiosum, ib. "e crenulata, ib.
Ravenelia Indica, ib. ; i Hookeri, ib.
Rhizina zonata, ib. b, od immutata, ib.
Rhytisma piceum, ib. » tephroleuca, ib.
Scleroderma nitidum, id. Tremella protensa, id.
Sclerographium aterrimum, ib. Uredo Clematidis, ib.
Splzeria Broomeiana, ib. Ustilago dursa, ib.

» constellatio, ib. » Ocrearum, ib.

» Nepalensis, ib. » . vittata, ib.
Stereum Cacao, id. Xerotus lobatus, ib.

» endocrocinum, ib. Xylaria fistuca, ib

» scytale, ib. » piperiformis, ib.

On the Tree supplying the Sabicà Wood of Cuba; by
GEORGE BENTHAM, Esq.
In re-arranging, some years since, the numerous species of Mimosee,
and in endeavouring to fix within more certain limits the various genera

which modern botanists have established, I was much embarrassed by T -
a small group of West Indian and tropical American species, which —— —

partook of the characters of several of the larger genera, and yet would

not associate strictly with any one of them. At the same time, I had — —

but very incomplete specimens of most of these anomalous species, and
it was with considerable hesitation that I proposed to collect them into
a distinct genus, under the name of Zysiloma. What few specimens I
have since received, tend however to confirm its main characters. The
stamens are indefinite and monadelphous, as in the Jugee, but few in -

number; and the pollen appears generally, if not always, to consist of -
an indefinite number of separate granules, as in Humimosee. The pods |
are flat and thin, as in Leucena, Albizzia, and several Acacia, but it
does not, as in those genera, open in two valves. The border remains
entire, as in Mimosa and Entada; the valves within, closely adhering
together round. the margins, appear to rot or break away in the centre

to allow the escape of the seeds, or in some instances have a tendency - =

to separate into transverse joints, almost as in Mimosa. *
To this group, if we may rely on the collections of Ramon de la -

Sagra, belongs the Cuban tree which supplies the Sabicü wood now ex- ——

236 THE SABICU WOOD OF CUBA.

tensively imported into this country for its excessive hardness, which

renders it so valuable for ship-building and other purposes. It was re-

ferred by Achille Richard, in his ‘Flora of the Island of Cuba,’ to the

Acacia formosa of Kunth; but that is a species of Calliandra, from

Mexico, with very numerous stamens, and differing also from the

Cuban tree in many points in habit and foliage, as appears on a com-

parison of the characters given by Kunth and A. Richard respectively,

and still more so of the specimens themselves. Those before me of
the Sabicù were communicated under that name by Ramon de la Sagra
to the elder De Candolle, and are consequently derived from the same
source as those described by Richard ; and the inspection of an original
specimen of Humboldt and Bonpland’s, in the Paris Herbarium, has
proved to me that I was correct in identifying with this 4cacia formosa
the Calliandra of that name I described in the third volume of the

‘London Journal of Botany.” The main point in which De la Sagra’s

specimens of the Sabicü do not quite agree with A. Richard's character,

is in the presence of a small gland on the petiole, below the lower pair
of pinnze, which however the latter botanist may easily have overlooked,
copying Kunth’s expression, “ petiolis iine without any very
close verification.

We may therefore consider the Sabicü as a new species of Lysiloma,
with the following character :—

Lysiloma Sadicu ; glabra, stipulis (caducis) oblique ovatis, petiolis tenui-
bus, glandula parva, pinnis 2—3-jugis, foliolis 4—5-jugis oblique ob-
ovalibus v. late oblongis obtusissimis, capitulis globosis, ovario sub-
sessili glabro, legumine longe stipitato.— Arbor pulchra. Stipule
fere semipollicares, membranacez, venose. Petioli tenues, com-
munes partialesve 1-2-pollicares. Glandula petiolaris parva, seu-
tellata, infra pinnas inferiores, jugales perpaueze minute. Foliola
subsemipollicaria, penninervia, rigidule membranacea, subtus pallen-
tia. Pedunculi axillares, szepius solitarii, 1—13-pollicares. Capitula
globosa. Bractee inconspieum. Calyces sessiles, tubulosi, 5-den-
tati, lineam longi, glabri. Corolla tubulosa, 5-fida, calyce duplo
longior, lobis apice villosis. Stamina 15—20, corolla duplo longiora,
filamentis fere ad medium coalitis in tubum basi corolle breviter

. adherentem. Ovarium subsessile, glabrum. Legumen 4-5 poll.
longum, 1-1} poll. latum, planum, glabrum, margine incrassato, sti-

- pite pollicem longo, valvulis circumcirca arcte connatis, medio solutis,
demum cirea semina deliquescentibus.

VEGETABLE FIBRES OF THE BAHAMAS. 237

This valuable tree appears, as far as hitherto known, to be strictly
confined to the island of Cuba. The same island produces however
another Mimoseous tree, of which the timber is in much use not only -
in Cuba, but in Jamaica and other West Indian islands, where it is
also found, as well as on the mainland of Central America. This is
the Pithecolobium filicifolium, called in Cuba, according to Ramon de
la Sagra, Moruro and Tengue. A. Richard says that its wood is hard
and durable, whilst Sloane, who describes and figures the same tree
very accurately, tells us that although much felled for timber, it is
rather soft. The specimens sent as the Sabicù by Don Pedro Ferrer
Landa, agent to the Cobré mines in Cuba, to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq.,
although in leaf only, appear to belong to this tree, and certainly not

to the Zysiloma, which, as above mentioned, is, according to Ramon de ©

la Sagra, the true Sabici. There is therefore still much to clear up by —
those who may have further opportunities of procuring really authentic —
specimens.

es

VEGETABLE FIBRES of the Bahamas ; copy of a Letter from C. R. Nes-
: BITT, Esq., addressed to the Editor, dated
Government House, Nassau, 21st March, 1854.
I am extremely happy to learn that you had taken an interest in the

Pine-leaf fibre, having been the first to publish in England any parti- —

culars of the manufactory near Breslau; and I also feel gratified to —
learn that you have taken steps to obtain information relative to some
simple machinery, adapted to the preparation of Vegetable Fibre.

If machinery can be obtained for effectually extracting fibre from the |
vegetable substance which encases it, one of the most important ob- -
stacles to its supply on moderate terms will be removed.

There are several valuable descriptions of fibrous plants which |
flourish in this colony, besides the Pine-fibre, known as ‘Pitie plant, -
Bamboo, Aloe, and Manilla: one description was supplied to the colony —
by the late Vice-Admiral Fleming, when commanding the naval forces —
On this station; another description was sent comparatively recently,
from Florida, by the British Vice-Consul Baldwin. .The fibre from
these plants is considered closely to resemble Manilla Hemp. Both de-
scriptions are spreading rapidly over the colony; and there are several -
indigenous kindred fibre-plants, growing in masses at Eleuthera and

238 VEGETABLE FIBRES OF THE BAHAMAS.

other portions of the colony, of a somewhat thicker and tougher nature
than those I have described.

There are two processes resorted to at present for extracting the
fibre from these plants. One is the submerging the leaves in water
for several days, and then separating by hand the softened and decayed
vegetable substance from the fibre; this process is somewhat objection-
able on sanitary grounds, inasmuch as a very offensive odour proceeds
from the water in which the leaves have been long saturated. The
other process is by gently beating the leaves with a wooden mallet in
their green state, and, by water and manipulation, separating the vege-
table substance from the fibre. This latter process is tedious, and con-
sequently expensive, though the fibre remains white; while in the
former case it is stained brown by remaining in the impure water, in
which decay has occurred. The amount of fibre obtainable, depends on
the profit; and I fear the profit will be insufficient, until the cost of
labour is reduced by the introduction of machinery.

The description of plants I have mentioned, as being introduced
into this colony by Vice-Admiral Fleming and Vice-Consul Baldwin,
are extremely well adapted for this climate, as they appear to obtain
great nourishment from the air and dew, and seem to thrive equally
well in dry as in wet weather. Whereas the Plantain and Banana,
though flourishing in the moist rich soils of British Guiana and the
Sugar Colonies, are delicate and liable to ** die out” in this less humid
climate, except with great attention, both as to artificial manure and
locality, and seem only to be in a thoroughly thriving state when
planted in cane-holes, which in certain localities are abundant though
not general.

The plants I have alluded to as belonging to the Bamboo, and to the
Manilla tribe, are so hardy, that neglect does not hinder their growth ;
they force themselves through strong weeds that are fatal to most other
plants, and seem to have no insect or other enemy to contend with.
This advantage is important; for it was the insect enemies in the
Bahamas, known as the ‘Bug,’ and ‘Chenille,’ or caterpillar, that
formerly destroyed the hopes of the Bahama cotton-planter, and trans-
ferred that lucrative cultivation to the Southern States of America.

. . Binee writing the above, I have shown one of the plants above re-
.. ferred to, to a gentleman who has been in New Zealand, and he pro-
nounces it to be exactly similar to the New Zealand Flax plant; the

VEGETABLE FIBRES OF THE BAHAMAS. 239

fibrous texture from which, is there obtained by immersion in running
streams of water, and subsequent manipulation.

The botany and natural history of the Bahamas, as you are probably
well aware, is principally to be met with in a valuable work with plates,
which retain nearly their pristine brillianey of tint, published in 1771,
entitled ‘The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama
Islands,’ by Mark Catesby, F.R.S.; a work deserving to be republished
in a portable size.

Catesby describes four kinds of Pine which grow in Carolina, and
are there distinguished by the names of ‘ Pitch Pine,’ * Rich Land Pine,’
‘Short-leaved Pine,’ and ‘Swamp Pine. He does not describe any of
the Pine tribe in the Bahamas, and he was probably unaware of their
existence; and as they are limited very much on New Providence to
the interior, they were probably inaccessible, for want of roads, when
Catesby visited this colony.

You refer to the timber of our Pine-tree, as being probably especially
valuable; and you refer to the wood of the Southern Pine, of the United
States, to which you think it possibly analogous, as being preferred to
all other Pines in naval architecture.

I am informed that the wood of our Pine-tree at Abaco resembles .
the wood of the Southern Pine of the United States, even more than-
that grown on New Providence. There are very fine schooners, of a
beautiful model, and fast sailers, annually built at Abaco, the beams —
and keels for which vessels are obtaimed from the Pine-trees grown -
there. The planking is generally American Yellow Pine: the latter,
I have reason to believe, is simply preferred from being more cheaply
obtained, it being sawed up in the States by steam machinery, with
which mere manual labour cannot compete. I fear, however, that un-
less the introduction of steam machinery, for the purpose of sawing —
the Pine-trees of the Bahamas into plank, be introduced, there is little ©
probability of private enterprise undertaking it. If so undertaken, the -
operations suggested by you for obtaining pitch, tar, and turpentine
from the Pine-trees might be accomplished. These products might be
obtained in summer from the trees destined to be cut in the autumn,
when “the sap is down;” and the trees, by being thus relieved, would
probably yield more readily to the saw, and the timber be more durable,
than if cut when “the sap is up” in the spring and summer. ; Ld

Generally the expense of fuel is an important item in connection wih

240 VEGETABLE FIBRES OF THE BAHAMAS.

steam machinery; but this iu the Pine-forests could readily be supplied
from the branches and other portions of the Pine-trees not destined for
plank. I have no experience in the expense of such steam machinery ;
but in the Charleston papers of South Carolina, portable saw-mills, for
steam-power, are advertised at the rate of £500 each.

Catesby, at page 23, has a detailed account of the manner of making
tar and pitch in the Pine-forests of Carolina.

Within the last ten years a great internal traffic has grown up in

d charcoal, from the Pine-trees in New Providence. The same wood is
used for burning the stone of the country, and reducing it into lime,
which is sold at from sixpence to ninepence the bushel.

The wood of the Pine has the reputation of being very durable when
unexposed to the weather, and, having been seasoned some time by
remaining under cover after being cut up, of being able to bear expo-
sure. What the effect on the durability of this timber would be by
relieving it of its resinous matter in the proper season, as is said to be

. always done in the United States, remains to be tested by experience.

The qualities of the Pine-wood may be much affected by the soil.
The greater part of the Pine-forests of the Southern States have, I have
been informed, a surface-soil of sand. It is so at Abaco; while on New
Providence, Grand Bahama, and Andros Island, the surface is rocky
and rugged.

“Catesby says, “ One ovii expect (speaking of the Bahama Islands)
that they afforded the disagreegble prospect of bare rocks, but on the
contrary, they are always covered with a perpetual verdure ;" and again,
“Though the trees on these rocky islands grow generally not so large
as in Virginia and Carolina, where the soil is deep, yet it is amazing to
see trees of a very large size grow out of rocks where no soil is visible."

I have thus, I believe, nearly exhausted the subject of Pine-trees ;
and wil merely add that, a bale containing about eighty pounds of
Pine-leaf fibre has been forwarded hence to the “Anglo-Franco-Algerian
Fibre Company," in London, with a view of its being put through

: their process, and obtaining a report of its commercial value, as esti-
.. . mated by them.
.. I have since observed a prospectus mentioned, of a British Colo-
: nial Fibre Sane viae which I anticipate favourable results to the
. colonies.
I have cent, MEOS to your request, in a small box, specimens of

INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 241

three deseriptions* of Pines, indigenous to this colony, with cones at-
tached, labelled; also a few other specimens, and some seeds. Among
the latter is a parcel of Bahama cotton-seed, and a specimen of the
cotton, that its value may, if necessary, be compared. I was induced
to do this, from reading Governor J. J. Hill’s Report of Cotton on the
Gold Coast, published in the ‘Blue Book,’ laid before Parliament in
1833 by Her Majesty’s command, with the annual reports of the go-
vernors of the British Colonies for 1852, page 197. The American
cotton was originally obtained from seeds of cotton-plants grown in the
Bahamas; and possibly the seed might equally be adapted for Africa.
Here it is a perennial plant, and I think it most probable it would not
be liable to the same objections as the Ashantee, or Long- stapled
Cotton, referred to by Mr. Freeman in the document accompanying
Governor Hill’s report, of not bearing the second year. The cotton-
seed now sent is taken from plants that have been in bearing for the
last six years. It would be curious if, while the Bahamas have ceased,
for any commercial purpose, to produce cotton, they may be hereafter
traced as having given this important seed to /»o continents. I have
little doubt but that the successful culture of cotton in Africa would
do as much to put down the slave-trade there, as it has assisted in sup-
porting slavery in America.

e

Report of a JOURNEY or DISCOVERY: into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd February, 1849;
by J. S. Roz, Esq., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 217.)

Having fully satisfied ourselves as to the bona fides of all we had —
seen, and feasted our eyes on the broad sheet before us, which was cal--
culated to prove of such important benefit to the colony, we took away -
as much of the coal as could be conveniently carried on our jaded-
horses, and moved away to where Bob remembered to have drunk
fresh water from a well, amongst good feed for the horses. In one -
mile E. by N. we reached it, and were afforded another proof of the
unerring memory and instinctive sagacity of the aboriginal native, in
The incer creer ne d a pela the AR aod Y
P. teda, to which I would refer it.—Ep. pM e

VOL. VI. 21

242 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

thus being able, in so intricate a part of the country, almost totally
unknown to him, to walk direct to a small water-hole, entirely con-
cealed from view amongst tufts of grass. Plunging into the midst of
these, our sable friend remained at least two minutes underground,
and then re-appeared with a distended stomach, and the welcome intel-
ligence that plenty of good water existed six feet below the surface.
Encamping immediately under shelter of some neighbouring bushes,
the spade was tried, and soon produced fresh water, two feet below the
surface, and therefore accessible to the horses, to whom, and to all of
us, a little good fresh water was quite a treat. These wells were in a
grassy tributary to the coal-river, the steep white banks of which were
visible a quarter of a mile below our camp. In the meantime Messrs.
Ridley and Gregory had followed that river downwards a short dis-
tance, and reported that, a mile below the coal, the shales were still
abundant, but apparently in some disorder, the dip being changed from
S.E. to S.W., and occasionally to the south. They saw no more coal,
aud found that a very white appearance, which covered the entire right
bank of the river, below the coal-bed, was caused by very numerous
fragments of white quartz, which had apparently fallen from the surface -
of the land above, and had become partly imbedded in the soft slaty
and clayey shales. Meukar on the meridian gave the latitude of this
camp 34° 1' 28" S.; ane, abrupt red sandstone-hills, flat-topped and
peaked, rose up around it in every direction.

The inlet which receives this river being that on which our native
had been informed a French whale-ship had procured coal for use, I
determined on giving it a close inspection, and with that view re-com-
menced our descent of the river on the morning of the 28th of Decem-
ber, keeping as near as possible to it, in order to watch the indications.
The river was here in pools in an open valley, half a mile wide, well
supplied with spear, kangaroo, and other good grasses, growing among
yeit-trees and the mainung-wattle, both of which indicate a superior
soil. At less than a mile from our camp, a tributary joined from the
right, opposite to an elevated quartz-slope, almost a cliff, on the left
bank. The valley soon afterwards contracted to a width of 200 yards,

. and became cliffy and steep; shales again appeared in abundance on

_ the left bank, crowned by a superincumbent mass of ironstone, but the -
-intervening bed of the river would not afford a practicable passage by
which we could get at them. They appeared however to dip as for-

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 243

merly, 45° to the S.E. The general direction of the river was here to
S. by E. à E., for nearly three miles; its valley was narrow, and filled
with slaty shales, blending with quartz; all the water in its long pools
was bad, and the banks were so contracted, precipitous, and rugged, it
was frequently necessary to reconnoitre far ahead before we could ven-
ture to advance with our weary horses.

Two tributaries now fell in from the right, within a short distance
from each other, leaving a projecting grassy hill between them; and
down a long reach of the river itself, East Mount Barren appeared in
sight, bearing S. 13° 30' W., at the distance of sixteen miles. Two
miles below this the river cuts its way through a bed of shales, leaving
them in perpendicular walls on each side, 100 feet apart, and little less _
in height, with red sandstone above the shales, and serubby vegetation
on the top of all. From the strong and decided echo among these
singular cliffs, I called the place Echo Glen, and immediately below it
had the satisfaction to observe the valley of the river open out, and
again become grassy. From north-eastward at the glen, its direction
changed to S.E.; well-grassed flats, 200 yards in width, occasionally
occurred, and in a steep cliff of considerable elevation on the left bank,
we thought the dip of the shales had increased from 45° to 60°, but
could not afford to cross over for a more minute examination. Half a
mile below this no shales appeared at the surface, but red sandstone
took their place for 300 or 400 yards, and then the white and yellow -
cliffs re-appeared, with a dip not exceeding 2? to the south-eastward, |
and the river at their base. Here the country became much more
open; good grass appeared along the valley of the river to the S.E. and
eastward, and we appeared to be rapidly receding from all indications -
of the coal formation. a

It was hereabouts we again fell in with some horse-tracks of Mr.
Drummond, together with the remains of one of his encampments; but, -
from their appearance, we had little hope of falling in with that enter-
prising botanist himself, except by accident. From the dip, and open
character of the country to the S.E., it was evident the estuary was not i:
far off, and I therefore took up the best situation we could find, with
good water and grass, where our exhausted cattle could recover a little,
while we effected its examination. This camp was on a chain of low
swamps, filled with samphire and green rushes, in a broad flat valley, -
which drained into the river about a mile lower down, and Middle

244 : JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

Mount Barren bore from it N. 87? à E., distant seven or eight miles.
Traces of kangaroo were everywhere abundant, together with some of
emu, and the bones of both were plentifully scattered around two large
and very recent huts of natives, near our camp, which seemed to have
been occupied by them within the last two days, for the branches which
had been used in their construction were still green and fresh. Like
most of the huts or shelters we had seen scattered over several hundred
miles of country, these were of very rude and primitive construction,
having been formed by merely placing broken-off branches in a semi-
circle, and resting their broken ends in a strong forked support, sloping
towards them in front. The fire, which always forms part of a native's
encampment, is invariably small, and without flame, and is made within
or without the support in front, according to the size of the hut, or to
the number of persons it is intended to shelter. Near rivers or swamps
which produce the Tea-tree (Melaleuca), its paper-like bark is used to
cover in the huts, and is very loosely and carelessly thrown across
straight sticks stripped of their leaves, stuck in the ground, and arched
over to a general interlocking at the top.

Having seen the camp established, and the worst of our horses feed-
ing on the choicest spots of soft green grass, which had been selected for
them, I started with Messrs, Gregory and Ridley, and the native, at four
o'clock, mounted on the best of our steeds, to reconnoitre the country
in advance, and prepare for a more full examination of the estuary on
the morrow. In less than two miles it came in view, about a mile to.
the E.S.E., presenting a fine sheet of open water, into which projected
several prominent headlands, promising well for deep navigation ; but
no opening could yet be seen to the sea. In the upper part it received
some open reaches of our river, near which were also some open lakes,
and, further eastward, two of a sandy salt character, seemingly at this
time quite dry. Beyond these we came out, at the end of a mile, upon
the low swampy north-west shore of the estuary, abreast of the river’s
mouth, and worked our way south-eastward, to examine a lofty, bold
projection of yellow and reddish cliffs, which formed a prominent and
not unpleasing object on the estuary’s northern shore, three or four miles
further on. As we got into its neighbourhood, the land became exceed-
-ingly rocky, broken, and rough; deep, precipitous ravines, which would
have required a long time to examine, were found deeply to indent the
shore, and the projecting abutments between them were overhanging

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 245

sandstone cliffs, washed by the waters of the estuary. Leaving Bob in
charge of our horses, we scrambled and climbed about, examining all
we could find acesssible; but when the sun disappeared behind the op-
posite hills, the main headland was still three-quarters of a mile distant
to the southward, and it would have been quite dark before we could
reach it, across the thick scrub which crowned its summit. The mouth
of the estuary being also observed to be about two miles distant in the
S.E., and the flat summit of Middle Mount Barren, bearing N. 67? E.,
at the distance of three miles, we remounted, and reached our camp
soon after eight o'clock.

Next morning (Dee. 29), with the same party, the examination of
the estuary was resumed, by passing round its opposite shore. Cross-
ing the river half a mile S. by W. from our camp, it there occupied a
straggling samphire-bed, nearly dry, and took a wide sweep round the
margin of a rich flat of good kangaroo, spear, and other grasses. At

the far side of this flat, a tributary joined from the westward, out of a — a

steep, cliffy valley, and the river itself became full between its banks,
winding with rather a tortuous course to the S.E. Sandstone cliffs, 60
or 70 feet high, rose from its southern shore. In some places these
cliffs and the mass of rubbish at their base, approach so near the deep,
open river, that we had scarcely room to pass, and could not avail our-

selves of any occasional shallows in the river's bed, on account of the ——

softness of the light blue clay which composed it. Hereabouts the
dark red sandstone again made its appearance beneath those of lighter
colour, but none of them had as yet any decided dip. As we descended,
the river increased its open width to 100 yards, opposite to the mouth
of a lake in connection with its left bank, the whole of which shore is-
for several miles very low, sedgy, and at times under water. The depth
is here however much diminished ; both banks and bed are of clay and
ironstone, with many sharp masses of the latter showing themselves -
above water, where the broad wide mouth of the river joins the estuary. -
Remarking a long, low island, which divides that mouth into two chan-
` nels, we passed out on to the shore of the estuary, and found both the -
latter and the steep banks which rise up from it extremely rugged and
thick. Low cliffs of red and white sandstone abutted on the shore,
and the intervening spaces were covered thickly with a lining of —
stunted Tea-trees and salt-water bushes, obliging us to wade into the —
treacherous estuary in order tò pass them. Round the south side of —

246 INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

one very prominent projection, only three-quarters of a mile W. 15° N.
from our steep headland of the preceding day, a cove, half a mile wide,
and deep, extended to the westward, and received at its head a small
streamlet, at this time dry, winding through a steep cliffy valley, grassy
at its mouth. Red sandstone, and a slaty, shaly rock, were here preva-
lent, together with an outcropping of laminated quartz.

The eastern side of the cove above mentioned, was formed of another
steep red and yellow cliff, similar to that on the opposite shore. Its
ridge was extremely rugged, steep, and thickly scrubbed, and not finally
surmounted without much scrambling and tearing ; but all bruises and
broken shins were soon forgotten, when, at the seaward side of the cliff,
the same kind of shales lined the shore as those we had seen in the
vicinity of the coal. With raised hopes we proceeded, and contended
against every obstacle, but, as usual in these close proximities to coal,
the country was so rough and intricate, that, notwithstanding our
great eagerness to move on, the whole party were frequently hemmed
up into the smallest possible space, without power to stir another foot
until a new opening could be cleared. In our desire to avoid these
formidable obstacles to our progress, and save time and distance as
much as possible, we took advantage of every opportunity to wade in
the estuary whenever circumstances permitted; but, as the water was
thick, and its depth not always apparent, our horses’ legs were some-
times endangered by their plunging suddenly into holes amongst the
sunken rocks. Such an accident threw one of them on his side, and
caused some apprehensions for his limbs, and even for his life, before he
could be unloaded and got out again.

The shales we here saw, on our E.S.E. course of about a mile, were
crossed by us obliquely, as they rose out of the estuary, and lay in the
general direction between W. 20° S., and W. 27^ S., with an uncertain
amount of dip to the S.E., or S.E. by S., of about 45°. They then
disappeared under the steep white sand-dunes of the sea-coast, which
were covered thickly with flags and scrub. Below the shales, the
estuary contracted rapidly from 14 mile to a width of 300 yards, and in
some places even to 150 yards; and the depth of water in this narrow
pass soon diminished to three or four feet, on a soft muddy bottom.
—. À mile and a half from the shales, through much thick tangle, took us
to the mouth of the estuary, which we found about a quarter of a mile
. wide, and choked up by a dry bar of fine white sand, at least 300 yards

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 247

across to the sea rollers. From appearances within this bar, and from
the general absence of marine shells on the shores of the estuary, it
seemed likely that the sea seldom, if ever, broke into it, but rapidly
closed up again any opening which occasionally might be made across
the bar by the accumulation of water within, after heavy rains. The
small bay outside was sandy, and apparently clear of rocks, but was
somewhat shoal near the beach, and could afford no shelter to shipping
from the strong S.E. winds of summer. From all northerly and S.W.
winds it seemed perfectly secure; and boats would find the best landing
at nearly all times where the high rocky shore commences at the south
end of the bay. The water there is smoother than in other parts of the
bay more exposed to the S.E: and good landing might be secured by
means of a very short jetty. From the bar, Middle Mount Barren bore
N. 47? à E., three miles distant.

(Zo be continued.)

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Ozford Herbarium.

Appended to an excellent and very useful popular guide to the Bo-
tanic Garden of Oxford (second edition), by Dr. Daubeny, that gen-
tleman has given a very interesting catalogue of the several collections
which now constitute the Hortus Siccus of this celebrated University.
For above a century Oxford had been famous in the possession of the
herbaria of our older botanists of the highest eminence, viz. of Morison,
Sherard, Dillenius, etc.; and now that the Fielding Herbarium has been —
. added; Oxford will probably rank second to no University in the world -

for the extent and value of its herbarium. The Heads of the University
have done themselves much credit by the manner in which they have -
recently made provision for these several collections, and for the liberal
manner in which they are made'available to the publie; but we know
too, that, but for the disinterested and generous exertions of the present _
Professor of Botany, these measures would never have been carried. E

- We are happy to record in our pages the enumeration given by Dr, B
Daubeny.

248 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

1. THE COLLECTION or Dr. MomisoN, DANBY PROFESSOR OF
Botany FROM 1670 To 1683.

This Herbarium contains 5319 species and varieties. The specimens
are mounted each on a half-sheet of white, placed between a sheet of-
coarse brown, paper, 15 inches by 10. The arrangement is that of his
work entitled * Plantarum Historia, of which the second volume only
was published by himself, aud the third by his successor, Bobart. They
relate to herbaceous plants, with a supplement for Mosses, Lichens,
Alge, and other of the Cryptogamia. The first volume, relating to
trees and shrubs, has never appeared, but the specimens intended to
illustrate it are preserved in the Herbarium. The specimens accord-
ingly are placed under fifteen classes, having the following titles. The
first five sections are described in vol. ii. of the work.

Scandentes; Ex. Asparagus.
. Leguminose; Ex. Vicia.
. Siliquose ; Ex. Brassica.
. Tricapsulares hexapetale ; Ex. Asphodelus.
. Tricapsulares alie; Ex. Campanula; described in the third volume of the
work.
6. Corymbifere ; Ex. Tanacetum.
7. Papposee lactescentes; Ex. Lactuca.
8. Culmiferee: Ex. Grasses. N.B. These are placed by themselves in a folio
volume.
9. Umbellifere ; Ex. Conium.
10. Tricoccee; Ex. Euphorbia.
ll. Verticillate; Ex. Lavandula.
12. Multicapsulares; Ex. Pæonia.
13. Baccifere ; Ex. Solanum.
14. Capillares; Ex. Filices.
15. Anomale; including many flowering plants which he was at a loss to ar-
range, and likewise Cryptogamous ones, followed even by Corallines. >

1

E NN tm

2. BoBART's COLLECTION.

A collection in twelve quarto volumes, containing about 2000 speci-
mens, with the English and Latin names attached, probably made by
Professor Bobart.

z E SHERARD' s HERBARIUM, PRESENTED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
kl oem IN 1726.

E ipsdmens are mounted in the same manner as Morison's, They

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 249

Occupy six cases, each of which contains twenty-four compartments.
It is divided into six parts.

Specimens,
1. Consisting of British, contains about . i à ‘ - 2071
2. s European, exclusive of British ; ; ; 6102
3. 5 American 2938
4 3, African, chiefly from the Cape of Good Hope,
and the Island of Madagascar . ; 1192
5. b Asiatic, including an óterteióng sdisdidn teeth
Siberia, collected by Hebenstreit and Dr, Amman, arranged
by Dr. Sibthorp. A few also from Tournefort . i : 2241
6. is Miscellaneous, including presents from Haller . 248
Total . i ‘ : . 14792

This arrangement does not appear to be very strictly adhered to,
since amongst the European are specimens which are regarded as indi-
genous in Tartary, Siberia, Persia, etc.; but it is to be regretted that
the localities are rarely given; many even have no specific names at-
tached. The Herbarium was re-arranged some years ago by the late
Dr. John Sibthorp, according to the Linnzeau system, and the Linnzan
names were appended to the greater number of species.

4. C. Du Bois'* HERBARIUM.

This occupies no less than seventy-four folio volumes, each contain-
ing on an average about 180 specimens, so that the entire number of —
plants cannot be less than 13,000. |

From this however a deduction must be made, as there are many
duplicate specimens.

They are mostly in excellent preservation, and are often beautiful
specimens. They are neatly mounted on white paper, with the names
attached, of the plants, and of the persons who presented them; the
two principal donors being Mr. Stonestreet and Dr. Bulkley. The ar- |.
rangement is that of Ray's History of Plants, commencing with Coral- -
lines (then regarded as vegetables), and proceeding ole a
Fuci and Fungi to the more perfect sorts of plants. — a

5. DILLENIUs’ HERBARIUM OF CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANTS.

Small but valuable, both from the goodness of their preservation,

* Charles Du Bois was Treasurer to the East India Company, and had amassed a
vast collection of East India Plants.
VOL, VI. 2K

250 BOTANICAL INFORMATION,

and as the original specimens from which this great authority in Cryp-
togamous Botany derived the drawings engraved in his valuable work,
entitled * Historia Muscorum, which, as only 250 copies were ever
printed of it, has since become scarce.

In the Library belonging to the Botanic Garden is a copy of the en-
tire work, and likewise one, of the Plates alone, as well as another ac-
companied with an abridgment of the letterpress; prepared by Dille-
nius himself, but never published. The subjects of the volume were
all drawn and engraved with his own hand. The specimens are 575
in number, belonging for the most part to the families of Algæ, Musci,
and Lichenes.

There is also a collection of British plants by Dillenius, intended to
illustrate the third edition of Ray's Synopsis.

. In alluding to the contributions made by Dillenius and Sherard to
the botanical treasures of the establishment, we must not forget the
Pinax, begun by Sherard, which was nearly perfected by himself, when
death suspended his labours, and prevented the publication of the re-
_ sults of so many years’ patient labour and elaborate investigation.

'The original Pinax by Gaspar Bauhin, of which this was intended
as an enlarged and corrected edition, professed to be an index to the
works of Theophrastus, Dioscorides, Pliny, and the Botanists of modera
times, giving the names of the plants noticed by them, with their syno-
nyms and descriptive characters.

Sherard's and Dillenius’ Pinax, of which the greater part is still
preserved in MS. in the Library of the Botanic Garden, occupies no
less than 446 packages, divided-into 11 books and 116 sections, the
plan and arrangement of Bauhin being adopted as the basis, but the
additions being exceedingly numerous.

6. Dr. JOHN SIBTHORP’S HERBARIUM.

. Amongst these are the original specimens engraved in his magnifi- -
cent ‘Flora Grzeca,' but there are likewise many more, the whole con-
sisting of about 1600 specimens. They are arranged according to the
Linnzan system, and have lately been mounted by Mr. Baxter, sen.

7. Dr. SHaw’s HERBARIUM.

; This is the collection of Dr. Shaw, the celebrated traveller in Barbary,
and contains the specimens which have been engraved in his work.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 251

It is an extremely neat collection, well preserved, and very carefully
mounted on thick white paper with ornamental borders, each specimen
enclosed in a folded sheet of stiff brown paper with gilt edges. The
plants are arranged in alphabetical order, and were named, it is said,

by Dillenius himself.

8. East INDIAN HERBARIUM.

A collection made by, or under the direction of, Dr. Wallich, and
presented by the East India Company. They consist of about 1000
species or varieties from India, named, and mounted on writing-paper.

The arrangement we have adopted in classifying them is that of
Jussieu as improved by modern Botanists; the system in Lindley's
‘Natural System,’ second edition, being that followed.

Besides the above, there are many smaller collections, illustrative of
the plants of particular countries or tribes. Thus there is a small col-
lection from the East, presented by Lord Macartney, arranged after the
Linnean system, and for the most part named.

Another, consisting of about 1000 specimens, contains many very
beautiful ones from the east and west coast of South Australia, from the
Blue Mountains, etc. ; likewise from Van Diemen’s Land.

There is a collection of about 1100 specimens brought by myself
from the United States; a smaller one from certain parts of Spain; -
and a general collection arranged after De Candolle’s Prodromus, con-
sisting of about 1900 specimens, the greater part of which were brought
by me from Switzerland and the contiguous parts of the Alps.

It would be superfluous to enumerate many other detached collec-
tions which we possess ; but the following estimate of the number of
- Specimens may give an idea of the extent of the whole collection of dried =

plants preserved at the Botanic Garden.

Morison's . . . . . . : i 5,319
Bobart's? . ` ; ` % i ` i 2,000
Sherard's . ? i . : à : . 14,792
Du Bois’. : * : s 13,000
Dillenius’, of erypiogamous ; i : . P 575
Sibhorps . - sd : V o x. 1,596
Shaw's s E i . ' : , 662

í ‘ ; 867

Lei Messiügs. . . ;

252 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

From the United States ; ; : 3 1,104
South Australia . i ; à : s : 1,000
Dr. Wallich's : R = s x 1,021
Dr. Daubeny’s private edlicdtio or ee eee

43,812

I must not forget to notice the valuable collection of drawings of the
Animals of the Levant, executed for Dr. Sibthorp by his travelling com-
panion and draughstman, the celebrated Ferdinand Bauer, universally
admired for their fidelity, and containing some still undescribed speci-
mens. They consist of ll drawings of Quadrupeds, 44 of Reptiles,
122 of Fish, and 115 of Birds.

We are also indebted to Dr. Sibthorp for one of the only two copies
ever struck off from the plates engraved by order of the Emperor, from
the celebrated MS. of Dioscorides with illuminated figures, preserved
in the Imperial Library at Vienna. -

One of these copies, it appears, was presented by the elder Jacquin
to Linnæus; the other to Sibthorp, when he passed through Vienna on
his way to Greece, in 1786. >

The MS. was procured by Hülboqüfns; the Emperor's Resident at
Constantinople, about 1560, and is said to have been copied at the ex-
pense of Juliana Anicia, daughter to the Emperor Flavius Anicius
Olyber, about the year 492.

. Our copy contains 410 figures of plants, to which Dr. Sibthorp has
attached the Greek names, and, in spite of their rudeness, may be useful
from their antiquity, in enabling us to identify with modern plants those
described in that early authority on the Materia Medica, especially as
they are said to agree with the figures contained in a still earlier MS.
of the same author, existing in the Library at Naples.

. . Mr. Baxter, the former gardener, who has now resigned the more
active duties of his post to his son, has lately completed a catalogue of

.. the contents of this Herbarium, which, it is hoped, will render it more

generally useful and accessible.

'The above collections however, although, as we have seen, extensive,
and, considering the antiquity of most of the specimens, in a state of
very fair preservation, have been in a great degree superseded by the
.. valuable donation made to the University in 1852, by the widow of the
E late Mr. Fielding of Lancaster.

ii be anor:

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 253

Collections of Dried Plants on sale with R. F. Hohenacker, at Esslingen,
near Stutgart.

Metz; pl Indie Orientalis. Sect. V. (Pl. Nilagiricee, Sect. IL.)
200-300 species, £4. 10s.—4£3. Determined by Messrs. Bentham,
Fenzl, Hochstetter, Lindley, Mettenius, Miquel, von Schlechtendal, C.
H. Schultz, and others.

Lechler ; pl. Chilenses (Provinciee Valdivia). 100—200 species. De-
termined by the same botanists, and. Messrs. Grisebach, Von Flotow,
Montagne, and W. P. Schimper, £1. 5s. 97.—4£2. 11s. 6d.

Dr. Philippi; pl. Chilenses (Provincize Valdivia et Andium altiorum).
Determined chiefly by Professor Grisebach. 50-100 species, 12s. 11d.
—£1. 5s. 9d.

Lechler; pl. insularum Maclovianarum (Falkland Islands). 25-50
species, 8s. 7d.—17s. 9d.

W. Schimper; pl. Abyssiniz, ed. ii., a Prof. Hochstetter revisa. 100—
400 species, £1.—£4.

Huet du Pavillon; pl. rariores Alpium Helvetize (imprimis Valesize),
Sabaudize, Jurassi, et ditionis Genevensis. 200 species, £1. 4s.

Professor Th. Orphanides; Flora Graeca Exsiccata, centurie I.-II.,
£4. 16s. 5d., will be continued.

Algæ Marinæ Siccatæ, Sect. I-III. 3 vols. folio, each containing 50
species, at the price of 12s., will be continued. ERE
. Herbarium normale pl. officinalium et mereatoriarum ; text by Pro- —
fessor Bischoff, sect. 1; 220 species, £2. 75.; will be continued.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Sikkim- Himalayan Plants. s eR d

Dr. Hooker is preparing for publieation, in a handsome folio volume
with twenty-four plates (uniform with ‘The Rhododendrons of Sikkim- -
Himalaya’) and an illuminated title-page, price five guineas, coloured,
‘Illustrations of Sikkim-Himalayan Plants,’ chiefly selected from draw-
ings made in Sikkim under the superintendence of the late J. F. Cath-
cart, Esq., Bengal Civil Service ; the plates executed in lithography by _
W. Fitch. pae

254 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

The principal object of this work is, by the publication of a series of
botanical drawings, executed in the very highest style of art, to intro-
duce to the notice of the public a selection of Sikkim-Himalayan plants,
which, from their beauty, novelty, and interest, are eminently worthy
of cultivation in England; and, at the same time, to record the great
services rendered to Himalayan botany by the late J. F. Cathcart, Esq.,
Judge in the Bengal Civil Service.

Attracted by the publication of the ‘Sikkim Rhododendrons,’ Mr.
Cathcart visited Dorjiling, in the Himalaya, in 1849-50, with the view
of furthering botanical science by employing artists, at his own expense,
in delineating the magnificent plants of those mountains. During his
residence there several artists were kept constantly at work under Mr.
Catheart's and Dr. Hooker's superintendence, and coloured drawings
of nearly a thousand plants were made. It was Mr. Cathcart’s inten-
tion, on his return to England, to have published (also at his own ex- -
pense), in conjunction with Dr. Hooker, a very large selection of these,
in the form of the * Sikkim Rhododendrons,’ but his lamented death (at
Lausanne, in 1851), when on his homeward journey, frustrated this
munificent intention.

The invaluable collection of coloured drawings has been presented to
the Museum of the Royal Gardens of Kew by Mr. Cathcart’s sister ;

and it is from a selection of these drawings that Dr. Hooker is prepa-
ring a botanical work, as a suitable tribute to the memory and love of
science of his late friend.

In undertaking its publication, Dr. Hooker has availed himself of

Mr. Fitch's talents in the execution of the plates in lithography, and of
. his own drawings, also made in the country ; and has further supplied
the botanical analyses and descriptive matter.

From the great expense attending publications of this description,
Dr. Hooker (at whose risk it is undertaken) is obliged to regulate the
number of copies struck off, by that of subscribers; and as it is obvi-
ously impossible to keep the lithographic stones, he earnestly desires
that persons who may wish to possess the work, will oblige him by
sending their names at their earliest convenience.

* rA 2 -
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 255

Bnvonocra BRITANNICA : by WiLLIAM WIitson, Esq. (being a new
« and greatly improved Edition of HookER and Tayior’s Muscologia

Britannica.)

The work on Bnrrrsu Mosses, about to be published, is not a mere
compilation; but the result of long and diligent study of the tribe, ex-
tending over a period of nearly thirty years. Since the MS. was pre-
pared for the press, seven years ago, it has undergone careful revision ;
and every species has been described from actual observation, except
in a few unavoidable instances,—in most cases after long and familiar
acquaintance, and after repeated examination and comparison of num-
berless specimens, both growing and in a dried state. The Herbaria
of authors have been largely consulted; and authentic specimens of
Hedwig, Swartz, Palisot de Beauvois, Richard, Bridel, Dickson, and
others, have been duly investigated, and rendered available in the deter-
mination of doubtful species. The synonyms, especially, have been
carefully studied.

In the plan of the work, it has been thought best to conform to the
views of Bruch and Schimper, as given in their excellent ‘ Bryologia
Europea,’ whenever reasons to the contrary were not apparent.

To render the work more accessible to persons not familiar with the

Latin language, English names of the species have been added; and — -

the technical terminology used in the specific characters and descrip- —
tions, will be explained by a glossary. Analytical and synoptical -
tables of the genera, and a comparative view of the genera in the
second edition of ‘ Muscologia Britannica,’ are appended to the present
work, which contains upwards of 150 additional species, nearly all of
which are illustrated by figures, added to those of the second edition of
Muse. Brit., which have been corrected so as to be rendered available
in this; and, in order to keep the volume within a moderate compass, |
the citation of synonyms is as brief as possible. The work will occupy
about 450 pages of letterpress, in octavo (of which three-fourths :
already printed). M E
It is hoped that any one desirous of studying the tribe will find this a
serviceable manual, and, should further assistance be needed, it is in- —
tended to issue sets of authentic specimens (obtainable on application to
Mr. W. Wilson, Warrington), at as moderate a price as will be reason-
ably remunerative for the trouble of preparation ; the materials for such
sets being already at hand.

——

256 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

SrEUDEL, E. G.: Physicus Erlangensis ; Synopsis PLANTARUM GLUMA-
CEARUM. Fasc. l. Graminez. Large 8vo. Stutgart.

This number commences, at once, and without any prefatory matter,
with a character of the Natural Order Gramineae, and (we presume,
with the intention of adopting the exact arrangement of Kunth) with
the Oryzee. Then follows Phalaridee, and the third tribe is Panicez.
The genus Paspalum, which in Kunth's Synopsis reckoned 179 species,
given without any divisions or sections, here numbers 262 species,

divided into groups, with characters such as the following, which, we
fear, will practically be found wholly unavailable. “A. Spiculis pü-
sillis vel minimis." “ B. Spiculis plus minus lineam eequantibus, parvis
magnis maximisque." * C. Species quoad magnitudinem absolutam
minus distincts." “D. Species quoad sectiones priores vel omnino
minus note.”—Panicum, in Kunth, amounting to 421 species, is here
exactly doubled, 841 species finding a place here. Rarely are any re-
marks given, or diagnoses, beyond those of long specific characters ; and
we fear a working Botanist will find these as unintelligible as those of
Kunth have proved to be: and how many of these 841 species of Pani-
cum may be good, we must leave to the judgment of future botanists.

Monograph of Tropical American Oaks.

Dr. Liebmann, of Copenhagen, the distinguished traveller in Mexico,
and the worthy successor of Professor Hornemann in the Botanical
chair of the University of Copenhagen, has in a very forward state a
History, with numerous figures (we believe, in folio), of the Oaks of
tropical America. His own collections of these are very considerable,
and those of other Herbaria have been made available to him; and we
are sure that the publication will be as acceptable to all botanists, as it
. will be honourable to the author. We learn that here, as is the case
. in all extensive genera, Dr. Liebmann has found it necessary to reduce
_ very considerably the amount of book-species.

ERRATUM.

At p. 354 of our last volume (5), Mr. Nuttall named a new species of Rhododen-
.. dron, R. pumilum, without observing that the name was previously given to a species
by Dr. Hooker. Mr. Nuttall wishes the name of R. eptocarpum to be substituted
- for his R. pumilum. -

- 951

Remarks on DoonNIA and RYKIA, two new genera of Screw Pines, pre-
ceded by some general observations upon that class of plants; being the
substance of a Lecture, delivered on the 27th May, 1854, before the
Royal Academy of Sciences at Amsterdam ; by Dr. W. H. Dx VRIESE,
Member of the Academy.

There are some families of plants, which, on account of their form,
aspect, and locality, particularly engage the attention, not of botanists
alone, but of every observer of nature. They are called Physiognomic
Plants. What we know of the diffusion. of plants over the surface of
the earth, teaches us to understand not only that intimate connection
existing between the plants and the soil, but also that existing between
the plants and all other external circumstances, and makes us recognize
this connection as the first and chief cause of their distribution. Do
we need examples? I invite your attention only to the appearances of -
vegetation in Our own country (Europe);—to our almost boundless
tracts overgrown with Calluna vulgaris; to our Fens, covered with
Sphagna; to the Pine-woods, in which here a Moss-vegetation, in an-
other place Vaccinium Myrtillus, or in another, the Eagle-fern, Péeris 25
aquilina, often develope themselves in gigantic forms ; and all these in
their peculiar localities, and in such number, that they constitute emi- -
nently the chief character or form of plant. In the more northerly re- —
gions may be seen the Cenomyce rangiferina, or Reindeer Moss, which —
covers the soil for many square miles; or the dwarf Birch, Betula nana, —
a sort of tree which scarcely attains a féw inches in height, but clusters —
in myriads over a small space. These plants give us a just idea of
what we call social growth. 3]

The countries lying between the tropics, present the most physiog-
nomic forms of statelier development. The Palm form is found prin-
cipally in Mexico and South America. The East Indian Archipelago, -
Java and the Philippine Islands are richest in Ferns, and chiefly in
Tree-ferns. The Rhizophore affect the neighbourhood of the mouth
reat rivers: they may be called, for distinction, eminently coast- -
platits. They are generally found where great rivers are discharged
into still bays or coves of the sea, where there is but little surge. They
are pretty shrubs (says Junghuhn), attaining a height of ten to twenty-
five feet, and of such peculiar aspect, that no other instances are found —

in the vegetable kingdom. The stem does rise direct from the earth, but
, 2r B

YOL. VI.

258 REMARKS ON DOORNIA AND RYKA,

rests on a sort of aerial roots, which shoot out in the form of rays, and
afterwards enter the ground; and the plant, which stands as it were on
‘stilts, is thus supported. There is also in the Tropical Flora another
form of plants, which, by its particular development of stem, and by
the aerial roots on which its stems are supported, and by many other
qualities by which it is distinguished, in many respects agrees with
the Rhizophoras (viz. that the Rhizophora is dicotyledonous), although
in others it differs: I mean, the group of Screw Pines (Pandanee).

It is to this last family that I wish to direct attention for a few
moments. Submitting the judgment of my communication wholly to
those who are better informed, I flatter myself that this important
family of plants will occupy more of the attention of naturalists, here
and in East India, as well perhaps as elsewhere, than has hitherto
been the case.

The real Screw-pines are unknown in the New World. The Cyca-
dee, which have been carried thither, do not belong to “this group, but
form another and a separate one, which is pre-eminently American.
The Pandanee are trees or shrubs, from which roots now and then
shoot forth, and penetrate the ground, as in the Rhizophores, and sup-
port the stem, which might be said to rest on the top of a cone, which
is formed by the union of the air-roots. The leaves are for the most
part spirally arranged, in three rows; they are long and lanceolate,
and surround the stem with their sheaths. The margins are generally
spiny, and the dorsal nerve is especially so. The leaves which imme-
diately enclose the flower, are smaller, often coloured, and they form
as it were sheaths, which surround the spadix. The stems are of
rather loose, woody structure, and (which is an exception among the
Monocotyledonous trees) they are branched. The flowers are of distinct
_ sexes, and the fruits grow in a concrete form, and yield, in some species,
good food. They are placed, in the natural arrangement, between
. the Æroideæ and Typhacee. They differ sufficiently from the last,
although they are not so easily to be distinguished from the first.

_ The people compare them with the Pine-apple, and indeed one should

. be disposed to consider them gigantic Bromeliacee. There are Some |
single forms of Pandanee, which agree with the American Bromelias,
. 88 far as the exterior of the fruit is concerned ; but in their interior
_ structure they have nothing in common. The Pandanee are remarkable,
particularly in their monocotyledonous stem, which has a forked rami-

NEW GENERA OF SCREW-PINES. 259

fication, and by the uniform spiral arrangement of leaves round the stem ;
so that the stem, where the scars of detached leaves are visible, resem-
bles a screw, or cork-screw. They are met with chiefly on islands, and
are particularly numerous in the Isle of France and Madagascar, where
the Pandani are also found. The East Indian Archipelago is rich in
these plants, as well as most of the tropical islands of the Old World.

It may cause astonishment that so characteristic a group of plants
remained so long unknown, notwithstanding that the first botanists
have occupied themselves with the research. Of the three genera classed
by Lindley among the true Pandani, scarcely one is known, and that
not in all particulars; I mean, the species of Freycinetia (Gaud.).
Marquartia (Hasskarl) I have found mentioned, but not fully described.
The numerous species of the genus Pandanus may be considered as
sufficiently unknown.

The following historical researches will, I think, prove this :—In the
second volume of the * Hortus Malabaricus,’ from plate i. to viii., and
pp. 1 to 7, we find a number of Pandani drawn and described, of which
we may take it for certain, that the greatest part are unknown, and are
not to be referred to those forms with which we have more recently .
become acquainted. This the botanists have however attempted, with,
in my opinion, but very moderate success.

Kaida (Rheede, i.-v.) must be Pandanus odoratissimus, L. fil. Kaida
Tyerria (R. viii.) is referred to Pandanus furcatus, by Roxb., Flor.
Ind. ii. 744. I hold this last for a very good conjecture.

With respect to Rumph’s ‘Herbarium Amboinense,’ we are not
much the wiser. He enumerates the following sorts, to which we assign ©
the names given by later authors, below.

1. Pandanus verus, t. 74. (P. odoratissimus, L. Suppl. 424. Willd.

Sp. iv. 645, (excl. Jacq. Fr. et 8.) Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii.)

2. P. spurius, t. 15. :

3. P. humilis, t. 16. (Lour. Coch. 740. Jacq. rin 2 xxi. 2 1

f. 2. Willd. Ep. iv. 645.) (ex Kth.) ; =

4. P. silvestris, t. 77.

- P. latifolius, t. 18. :

. P. moschatus, vel levis. (P. levis, Lour. Coch. 741? Willd, is. i

iv. 646.) -
P. ceramicus, t. 179.

. Folium Baggea verum, t. 179.

Dn

g

260 REMARKS ON DOORNIA AND RYKIA,

. 9. Folium Baggea maritimum, t. 80. (P. dubius, Spr. Syst. iii. 897.
eonfusus cum dubio, Kth.)
10. Pandanus repens. (geene afb.)
11, P. funicularis, t. 82. Freycinettia strobilacea, Bl. (Rumph. i. 156.)
12. P. caricosus, tabula adest in ms. inedita. P. cariosus (Rumph. Amb.
iv. 154. Spr. Syst. iii. 897.)
According to some authors, the plant which Linnzeus, in his Suppl.
p. 424, has mentioned as Pandanus odoratissimus, is no other than the
P. verus (of Rumph. Amb. iv. 139. t. 74), and the same as Kaida
(Rumph. Mal. ii. t. 1-5), the same as Keura odorifera (Forst. Descr.
172), the same, in fine, as Athrodactylis spinosa (Forst. Gen. No. 15).
It is a plant which should be met with in East India, Arabia Felix,
China, and the islands of the Southern Pacific Ocean (Kth.). We see
this opinion embraced by Roxburgh (Corom. 1. 65. t. 94-96).
- lam perhaps mistaken, but I have not been able to see on what
certain ground the above-mentioned and other authors, to whom Kunth
should be added (Enum. Plant. iii. 1841. p. 94), have adopted that sy-
nonym. Let what Rumph says (t. a. pl. cxli.) be just, viz. that the
leaves which surround the blossoms are used on account of their sweet
smell, wherefore the inland women lay them in their boxes with their
clothes, and smear these leaves with sweet-smelling oil. The drawing
however affords none, and the description only very little, reason for
this conclusion, to which later authors have come. From the emitting
of smell alone, to determine on the identity of recently known plants,
and earlier published descriptions, is certainly rather rash, especially as
Rumph has mentioned several other sweet-smelling Pandani. OF his
P. moschatus (levis, Lou.) he says, that the leaves which surround the
blossom diffuse an odour, which the inhabitants compare with Castari,
or Musk, but which most resembles a sweet-smelling ointment. This
smell is so diffusive in the evening and at night, that the whole plain,
where the tree grows, is filled with it as soon as the anthers are
opened; but if this flower is let stand a little longer, the perfume goes
off; it therefore must be cut, as soon as the smell is perceived. — —
_ An opportunity has been afforded at Amsterdam to make observa-
tions on the male blossoms of P. furcatus. It appeared that they
emitted a strong smell, resembling Convallaria majalis (Miquel). These -
plants do this, not less in their natural situations, and original country.
| advance this merely to support my own opinion, that the referring of

NEW GENERA OF SCREW-PINES. 261

later described sorts to earlier drawings, is an uncertain standard by
which to judge of the synonyms.

The brevity of the earlier diagnoses, as those of Linnzeus, prove this
assertion. I transcribe in part what is said in the * Species Plantarum’
of Willdenow (iv. 11. 645), by which it may be readily judged concern-
ing the brevity, and the numberless plagiaries. I merely remark, that
from what is now required in Systematic Botany, no one would be able
to determine the genus Pandanus from this generic diagnosis, and that
the characteristics of the species apply equally to any of them. The
authors have but imperfectly known the plants they described, and
have therefore described them imperfectly.

Panpanus (Gen. Pl, ed. Schreb. n. 1481).
Masculi :—Cal. 0. Cor. 0. Stam. 1. Fil. subulatum. Anthere cus-
pidate. i
Fæminei :—Cal. 0. Cor. 0. Styl. bifidus. Drupa composita.
1. PANDANUS odoratissimus.
P. foliis dorso margineque spinoso-dentatis, fructu globoso solitario.
P.odoratissimus, Linn. Suppl. 494. Forst. Pl. Escul. p. 38*.
Forst. Prodr. n. 355. Roxb. Corom. v. 1. p. 65. t. 94, 95, 96*.
Jacq. Frag. Bot. p. 21. t. 18 et 14. f. 1. *
Pandanus foliis linearibus ciliato-spinosis, floribus masculis odora-
tissimis, foliis floralibus albis, Lam. Encycl. v. 1. p. 3867. ^ —
Pandanus foliis margine dorsoque aculeatis, fructu solitario, Lou-
reiro, Cochin. 139. as
Athrodactylis spinosa, Forst. Gen. n. 15.
Keura odorifera, Forsk. Desc. 172.
Pandanus verus, Rumph. Amb. v. 4. p. 133. t. 14.
Kaida, Rheed. Mal. v. 2. p. 1. t. 1-5.
Bromelia foliis margine de aculeatis, caule sulcato spinoso,
; Fl. Zeyl. p. 54. 7
B. Pandanus spurius, Rumph. Amb. v. 4. p. 142. t. 15.
Wohlriechender Pandanus, 7.
Habitat in India orientali, Arabia Tilisi, China, inque insulis Maris
Pacifici. (v. v. 8. ff. et v. s. c. fl. masc.) i
Arbor pulcherrima. Folia spiraliter in ramis posita.
Flores masculi odoratissimi, W. (Sp. Pi. iv. v. 2. p. 645.)
In regard to the synonym of Forster. The genus which is de-

269 REMARKS ON DOORNIA AND RYKIA,

scribed by that botanist is, I think, properly referred to Pandanus.
From the drawing, however, it cannot positively be determined that
this plant is identical with that of Roxburgh, in the Flora of the Coast
of Coromandel.

Keura odorifera of Petrus Forskal (in the * Flora ZEgyptiaco-Arabica,
descriptiones, ete. ; after the author's death published by Niebuhr) ap-
pears to point at a Pandanus, which was imported.into that country
(172), and was distinguished by the strong perfume of the male blos-
soms, and for that reason is perhaps referred to P. odoratissimus.
Touching what Jacquin has advanced in his * Fragmenta Botanica’ (p.
21. t. 14), there prevails some uncertainty about the agreement be-
tween Rumph and Rheede. Tt is said * Singularissime et spectabilissi-
mz hujus arboris descriptio legi potest apud Rheede, Rumphium, Rox-
burghium aliosque."

E He calls however the plates, to which he refers that Pandanus (viz.
~- edoratissimus) of Rheede and Rumph, Pandanus humilis, Jacq.; not
p. that which the authors have held for the P. Aumilis of Rumph, at p. 16.
It is unnecessary to recapitulate all that plagiarists have written re-
lative to Pandani; suffice it to show what, in this department of the
Flora of our East Indies, is established here and in Eastern India.
Professor Blume, in the Catalogue of the Government Botanical
Garden at Buitenzorg (published at Batavia in the year 1853) has
taken up three sorts of Pandanus, viz. P. horridus, R., P. inermis, R.,
and P. odoratissimus, K. "They are not described. In his * Rumphia,’
vol. i. p. 155, he treats de quibusdam plantis minus cognitis e familia
Pandanearum; but he says definitely, * Neque tamen hsec nostra inves-
| tigatio magnificentissimos illos spectabit Pandanos, qui vel in sterilibus
. et saxosis harum insularum (v. c. Bandanensium) littoribus, insignem
~ tropicee vegetationis luxuriem et vigorem ostentant, et quorum adspec-
tus eandem fere in animo admirationem et quasi stuporem excitat, quam
palmarum incredibilis magnificentia."
In the Catalogue * Plantarum in Horto Botanico Bogoriensi Cultarum
. alter, auctore J. C. Hasskarl, Batavise, 1841,’ seven sorts of Pandanus
are represented as being in that Garden, viz. P. latispinus (BL), P.
Surcatus (Roxb., horridus, Rwdt.), P. levis (Rumph, iv. 154), P. cari-
cosus (Rumph. iv. 154), P. humilis (Rumph. iv. 143. t. 76), P. iner-
mis (Rwdt.), P. latifolius (Rumph. iv. 139. t. 78), P. Samak, Hssk. ;
ànd besides another new genus already mentioned, Marquartia (Hssk.),

NEW GENERA OF SCREW-PINES. 263

to which belong M. globosa and M. leucacantha. This last genus is
said, in a note, to be a *genus medium inter Pandanum et Freycinetiam;"
and this is very briefly described, and by no means so clearly as one
would expect with a new and imperfectly known family of plants. It -
does not appear whether Hasskarl has treated and published it else-
where (than in the Flora, 1842, Beiblitter, p. 14, and from there in
Endl. Gen. Suppl. p. 1711). This may probably arise from a want of
specimens. It only occurs in Endlicher’s ‘Genera Plantarum,’ 1711;
to which genus Hasskarl thinks he must refer all the Pandani of Kunth’s
‘ Enumeratio,” from species 1 to 9, included.

In the ‘Plante Javanice rariores? (Berol. 1848), Mr. Hasskarl has
treated of two Pandani, which he refers to P. furcatus (Roxb.), and
P. levis (Rumph.); and in the Bot. Zeit. he has thrown some ad-
ditional light on a few others. It is worthy of remark that neither
Blume, nor Hasskarl, nor the botanists.who have more lately visited
our colonies, mention P. odoratissimus, L., which plant, following other
authors, should be the P.verus of Rumph; but which Noronha alone
mentions (Verh. Bat. Genootschap, v. 63), which cannot be the P. odo-
ratissimus of the other authors, and thus must. be sailed as a new
and till now unknown species.

We add to this, that a male plant of P. furcatus, is deni by
Miquel (in the Verh. Kon. Ned. Inst. van Wet. 8 Serie, iv deels, 1ste — —
stuk, Amst., 1851, p. 22), and that our knowledge of the Pandani of —
the East Indies is limited to this. oe

It appears, from what M. Junghuhn says, that the flora of Java is -
rich in these beautiful plants; and it is equally clear, that as yet we |
have learnt but little special and fundamental of them. I am more
convinced of this by the specimens received from Java through the
kindness of Mr. Teysmann, and belonging to the so-named Pandani, —
but of which it is not to be assumed that they are referable to that.
genus,
The few objects that I offer, 1 think, serve to prove my opinion. if
propose, as the result of my inquiries in the family of the Pandanee, to —
publish a paper under the title of *Nova Genera et Species Pandanea-
rum, which will further elucidate the family and prove my position,
that if we take the Pandanus odoratissimus of Linnzeus as a type of the
genus Pandanus (the fruit of which species is very well represented, in
the Plants of the Coast of Coromandel, by Roxburgh) we may safely

264 REMARKS ON DOORNIA AND RYKIA,

eonclude, that the hitherto known Java forms should be separated from
the genus Pandanus. This is obvious from what Kunth has advanced
in his * Enumeratio’ (iii. 1841, p. 94), concerning the plants which he
attributes to the genus Pandanus. He takes up thirty sorts, of which
scarcely one, viz. P. odoratissimus (and this not in all respects) can be
received as known. Tt is rather to be called a list, or catalogue, which
in many points has no more value than a gardener's list, so short are
the descriptions of the species represented. The investigations of Bory
de St. Vincent, and Aubert du Petit-Thouars, have indicated many sorts
as growing on the Isle of France, Bourbon, and Madagascar ; but from
which enumeration it appears that we cannot sufficiently recommend re-
searches in these islands, for of these plants we do not as yet know any-
thing really. We are equally ignorant of the Australian species. The
two sorts which Brown has mentioned, are only briefly described.

If we are really to advance in our knowledge of this family of plants,
we must have coloured drawings of the plants in their natural state, with
full descriptions ; ‘the flowers and fruit preserved in spirits; collect the
dried leaves, describe them on the spot, or, if possible, send them to
Europe. . That this is particularly necessary with regard to the female
plant and the ovule, is obvious, from the beautiful work of Gaudichaud,

d who, in the botanical part of his Voyage round the World in the corvette
= ~ La Bonite, performed in 1835—7, shows the very plan to be adopted by
; those who would investigate the Pandani. "Though many calm inves-

tigators may disapprove the far-stretched hypotheses of this botanist on

the growth of the monocotyledonous stem, it is however admitted, by

all who can value his labours, that Gaudichaud is one of the most emi-

.. ment analytics in modern science. Also, in respect of Pandanea, the re-
searches of Gaudichaud are excellent, although only known by drawings,

~ to which no text is annexed. In his excellent analyses accompanying the
|... plates in his admirable atlas of the above-mentioned work, M. Gaudichaud

. has enumerated the following new genera :—Barrotia (pl. 13), Bryan-

tia (pl. 20), Dorystigma (pl. 18, 31), Fisquetia (pl. 4), Vinsonia (pl. 17,

23, 31), Roussinia (pl. 21), Hombronia (pl. 20), Sussea (pl. 24, 25, 38),

Jeannerettia (pl. 25), Heterostigma (pl. 25), Foullioya (pl. 26), Tuckeya

(pl. 26), Eydouzia (pl. 18), Souleyetia (pl. 19). Ten species of Pan-

_ dani are proposed analytically. Among them, as among the new

. genera, are included, naturally, more of those of the old sorts :—P. utilis
. and sylvestris (a Vinsonia), P. edulis (Hombronia), P. conoideus (Sussea),

"NEW GENERA OF SCREW-PINES. 265

P. candelabrum (Tuckeya). We find further, here, a P. Linnai, P. Rum-
phi, P. Rheedii, P. Borgii. We can only guess, but not determine,
what may be meant.

My chief object in visiting M. Gaudichaud at. Paris, in 1851, was
to be enlightened upon his new genera and species, but in vain. He
only spoke of what for many years has been his fixed idea, —the growth
of the fibres in the stems of plants in a downward direction. He in-
stantly produced numerous drawings and specimens to prove it; but,
however beautiful, and in many respects admirable, they did not con-
vince me of the truth of his theory. "The time passed away, and I had
learned nothing of that for which I had come. The French Academy,
which soon had to lament the loss of St. Hilaire, Richard, and De Jus-
sieu, was quickly deprived of the worthy Gaudichaud, and with him,
perhaps, departed the hope that the botanical part of the Voyage of the
Bonite would ever be completed.

Sir William Hooker, in 1853, published a drawing and den
of P. pygmaeus, Thouars (Desv. Journ. de Bot. i. 45 ; Kunth, En. iii. 99),
in the ‘Botanical Magazine,’ t. 4786, accompanied with a sketch of —
the vegetation of the plant. His specimen had. been cultivated during —
twenty years; it came from the Isle of France, and prodanog female
blossoms at Kew in 1852-3.

The Botanical Garden of the Leyden University afforded, not lng
ago, an opportunity of making an observation which seems worthy to-
be communicated in this place; and which shows thatthe establish- -
ment of our higher instruction may serve for the diffusion of science, e
in the opinion of many competent persons, it should do. `

On the 20th of May, 1828, twenty-six years ago, by the orders of my -
respected predecessor Professor Reinwardt, a Pandanus was bought at
the sale of M. Faesch's plants at Westmeer, near Haarlem, by the pre-
sent gardener, Sehuurmans Stekhoven. This plant was then so small,
that one person could easily carry it. It was called P. reflewus, and
now the ornament of the Garden. Its handsome foliage fills the house
in which it grows, and justly exeites the admiration of all who contem-
plate it. The height of the plant is 14 feet, the breadth of the foliage -
8 feet, the height of the stem 4 feet, the circumference of the stem at the
beginning of the leaves à feet, the breadth of the leaf-bases.¢ on an arene’, 3
18 inches. gi

In December, 1852, one of the ie ded ‘hat this

VOL. VI. u

266 REMARKS ON DOORNIA AND RYKIA,

plant had thrown out a female blossom from its centre, which was then
18 inches long, and so closely surrounded by leaves, that any one stand-
ing below could not see the flower. I immediately had this blossom,
which was not probably very long blown, drawn; to whieh I now invite
your attention. It was a female compound spadix, surrounded with
lancet-formed sheaths, edged with white, strong spines. Of those spa-
dices, which somewhat resembled unripe pine-apples, and which were
twelve in number, I examined one immediately, to ascertain the po- -
sition of the ovule, and what was in connection with it. I remembered —
to have seen this species in the conservatories of the garden at Paris,
where it is also called P. reffezus, in which I have been supported by
Wendland (Index Palmarum, Cyclanthearum, Pandanearum, que in
hortis Europe coluntur. Hanovere, 1854).
When at last, in 1853, the growth was complete, and no more change
. in the colours took place, I had the whole blossom cut off, and sent to
my friend M. O. M. R. Ver Huell, Vice-Admiral of the Dutch Navy,
who kindly forwarded the handsome drawing which I have had the
honour to present to you, and whieh I hope soon to publish in my
* Nova Genera Pandanearum.'
I am come to the conclusion that this Pandanus must be the type of
a new genus, which must be principally grounded on the structure of
the fruit; and I venture to propose this genus, although of course I have
not been able to obtain any ripe seeds. I call the genus Doornia, and
will endeavour to give briefly its diagnostics.

Doornia.
(Pandanus, L. et auct.— Athrodactylis, Forst.—Keura, Forsk.)
Flores dioi. Mase..... ? Feem. Spadix compositus, thyrsoideus;

spadicibus complanatis.

. Ovaria in quoque spadice plurima, in phalanges connata, 3-4—5-na.
-Ocula in singulo ovario solitaria, e basi placentze parietalis adscendentia,
anatropa.

Stigmata sessilia, depressa, versus unum latus directa, et poro ad basin

laterali instructa.

Drupe fibrose vel lignes, in singulo phalange 3-5, interposita materie

^. fibrosa tenacissima conjuncte et in unum corpus connate, vertice

cu plane ; hee drupe faciunt conos plus minus regulares rhachi com-
. muni sive pedunculis oblique adscendentibus insertos; coni autem

NEW GENERA OF SCREW-PINES. 267

ipsi apice latiores sunt, plerumque hexagoni, a parte inferiore, qua
vicinis adhzerent, sunt angustiores et fere turbinati.

Semina non aderant (quippe planta dioica).

Est habitus Pandanorum, nempe caudex arboreus, strictus; folia
trifariam sunt disposita, imbricata, e basi latissima sub-amplexi-
cauli elongato-lineari-lanceolata. Spadix est terminalis, spadices
partiales sunt spathis elongato-linearibus involucrati.

Doornia reflexa ; folis longissimis reflexis lineari-lanceolatis e basi
latiore inermi demum costa marginibusque spinosis, spinis e basi
albida tandem angustatis acutis; thyrso terminali erecto triangu-
lari; pedunculis oblique adscendentibus complanatis; spadicibus
12 compressis atro-viridibus, apice conorum latioribus ibique fusco-
maculatis, ad planorum angulos lineatis.

I presume that this plant is a native of the Isle of France or Mada-
gascar, because it is more than probable that the former owner received
it from France.

When the blossom was fully developed, it was 13 feet. The leaves
at their bases about 1 foot broad, and in all 7 feet long.

The peculiar blossom, the compound spadices, the flat form of the
spadices, the shape of the drupz, the polyhedrous surface, and the flat-
surface at the top of the fruit, suffice to separate this Pandanus from -
the P. odoratissimus of Roxburgh's Flora of the Coast of Coromandel.
If there appear other characteristics from the seeds and the male
flowers, we shall then certainly determine this with more justice.

I dedicate this genus, Doornia, to the services of his late Excellency `
the Baron Van Doorn van West-Kapelle, late Curator of the University
of Leyden, to whose patronage Natural Science in our country is much
indebted, and whose name will be ever remembered by all who had the
happiness to know that excellent man, and to appreciate the eminent 2
qualities of his understanding and noble heart. :

Did space allow, I would call your attention to another genus, of e
which the old Pandani (viz. the P. furcatus, Roxb.) afford the type. -
I must however confine myself to the indication of a specimen in spirits,

‘lately received by me from Java. Its distinguishing characteristics
are: a one-celled fruit, with a columnar top, hollow internally, and se-
parated from the rest of the fruit, while the style grows out in a hard,
horny mass, which is divided into two. The whole structure of the
fruit differs much from all the other forms with which we are acquainted,

268 REMARKS ON DOORNIA AND RYKIA.

and resembles, in some degree, the male blossoms of Cycas circinalis ;
while it corresponds neither with the P. odoratissimus of the Flora of
Coromandel, nor with the former genus, Doornia.

I dedicate the new genus to the highly honoured member of our
Academy, whose sudden death we lament ; whose former assistance we
have been privileged to experience, but whose place we now see empty.
His zeal and knowledge, both in this new Institution and in the First
Class of the earlier Royal Institution of the Netherlands, we had good
cause to know; and M. Ryk, a short time ago, gave a proof of them
in the honourable work undertaken at the request of the Academy (in
conjunction with our fellow-members Messieurs G. I. Mulder and A. H.
Van Boon Mesch) to enlighten Government on the causes of the spon-
taneous combustion of goods loaded in ships.

I call this new genus Rykia, to associate also with science the name
of the Vice-Admiral J. C. Ryk, by whose death the country is deeply
affected, and in whom we all lament a zealous fellow-labourer, a man
. of diversified knowledge, and a warm supporter of our King and coun-

try. Among the names of distinguished naval officers already asso-
ciated with botanical science, as Dumontia, Durvillea, Freycinetia, the
genus Jykia will find a place in the Botanical System. T give the fol-
lowing diagnosis of this genus :—

Du Ryka (Pandanus, ete., Auctt.).
Flores dioici.
Mase. Spadix compositus, dependens, bracteatus.
Stamina fascicularia, in stipite communi compresso, 9-11-13, fere bise-
— . rialia.
Anthere erectze, lineares, ultra connectivi loculos productze, acuminate,
= dorso adnatze ; loculi antherarum paralleli; pollen globosum.
Dn Spadix simplex, ovatus, erectus, stipitatus.
Ovaria simplicia, unilocularia.
Ovulum unicum, e placente basi parictali adscendens.
Drupa angulata, fibrosa, elongata, in medio continens putamen ligneum,
. . uniloeulare, sursum in processum polyhedrum terminatum, et
apice bicornuto, cornubus mucronatis instructum.
Semen unicum; sed hujus tantum rudimenta vidi. .
Rykia furcata (P. furcatus, Rowb.).—Char. speciei hue referende, ab
ae sunt expositi ; ad hos igitur hic loci liceat referre.

'CRESCENTIA, PARMENTIERA, AND KIGELIA. 269

Revision of the Genera CRESCENTIA, PARMENTIERA, and KIGELIA ;
by BERTHOLD SEEMANN, Ph.D., F.L.S.

In a paper read last winter before the Linnean Society of London,
I divided the Order Crescentiacee into two sections (Taneciee and
Crescentiez). I now beg to offer a revision of the genera composing
the latter section (Crescentiee), all of which are characterized by a de-
ciduous, irregular, spathaceous, or bi-parted calyx. In this revision
the number of species will be found considerably reduced. To show
that this reduetion is not owing to any extravagant theoretical views
I might be suspected of holding on the limits of species, I shall pro-
ceed to give my reasons for making the changes to which I have al-
luded. I may also remark, that I have observed the plants here dis- —
cussed, with the exception of one (Parmentiera edulis, DC.), in a living —
state, either in their native country or in European gardens ; and that
I have examined dried specimens of all of them in the herbaria of
Linnzeus, Hooker, Bentham, the Linnean Society, and the British Mu-
seum, and obtained besides information concerning them in the shape -
of tracings and descriptions from various botanical friends. ;

De Candolle has enumerated (Prôd. ix. 246. sq.) nine species of
Crescentia (C. Cujete, L., C. cuneifolia, Gard., C. acuminata, H.B.K.,
C. cucurbitina, L., C. edulis, Desv., C. aculeata, H.B.K., C. alata, HBK.,
C. trifolia, Blanco, and C. ovata, Burm.) ; Walpers has added (Reper--
torium, vol. vi. 517) two more (C. obovata, Benth., and C. lethifera, i
Tussac); and our gardens contain another one (C. macrophylla, Seem.) ;
—in all, twelve. The species upon which the genus Crescentia was
founded is C. Cujete, Linn., distinguished from all others by its fascicu- -
late leaves, all of which are simple, and its fruit, the shell of which is-
so hard that it can only be broken by the application of an axe or some
other sharp instrument. To this species I have added as a synonym
C. cuneifolia, Gard., as the latter is in no way distinct from the former
some of the specimens in Linnæus’s own herbarium having leaves the
underside of which is slightly pubescent, as those of C. cuneifolia, Gard., -
are; and the difference about the fruit being spotted in the one (C. Cujete,
Linn.), and not spotted in the other (C. cuneifolia, Gard.), amounts to-
nothing, as the spots are generally observable in young fruits, and dis- E
appear in the old ones. O. acuminata, H.B.K., which—misguided by
the term “ fragile," applied to its fruit by De Candolle, a term not -

270 REVISION OF THE GENERA

mentioned in the original description of that plant by H.B.K.,—I sug-
gested (Bot. of H.M.S. Herald, p- 183) might belong to C. cucurbitina,
Linn., is, according to the description in H. B. et K., Nov. Gen. et Sp.,
and an authentic specimen in the Royal herbarium at Berlin (full par-
ticulars of which were kindly transmitted to me by my friend Mr. F.
Kórnicke), also identical with C. Cujete, Linn. i

The second Crescentia I consider a good species is C. cucurbitina,
Linn., which Linnæus published in his * Mantissa,' and which he pro-
bably never saw, as there is no specimen of it in his own herbarium;
he described it, most likely, as he has done in several other instances,
from Plumier's figures. This species is distinguished by its simple
alternate leaves, and the shell of its fruit, which is so fragile that it
may be crushed in the hand like an egg. C. latifolia, Lam, has al-
ways, and with justice, been looked upon as a synonym of this species ;
and to this I have added C. obovata, Benth., C. lethifera, Tussac, C.
toxicaria, Tussac, and C. palustris, Forsyth Herb., as I cannot find
any distinction between them and C. cucurbitina, Linn. The descrip-
tion of C. ovata in Burmann's * Flora Indica,’ p. 132, short as it is
(C. foliis ovatis integerrimis, apice acuminatis ; Jolia in hac specie per-
fecte ovata nec attenuata, ut in C. Cujete, L.), agrees perfectly well
with this, and no other species, so that I have little hesitation in con-
sidering that also identical with C. cucurbitina, Linn. The third species
of Crescentia, holding good, is C. macrophylla, Seem., allied to, but quite
distinct from, the preceding.

The fourth Crescentia, the existence of which I am ready to acknow-
ledge, is C. alata, H.B.K. That species is best known by having at
every axil three leaves, the central one of which is trifoliolated, and
by its hard-shelled fruit. As a synonym of it, I regard C. érifolia,
Blanco; as the description of the latter in the ‘Flora de Filipinas’
agrees word for word with C. alata, H.B.K., and as its Mexican origin
_ has been well traced by Blanco, the author of that Flora, who says,
“Tal vez habran venido de America; . . . llaman en Nueva Espana
— Tecomate."

_ These are the only four species of Crescentia I consider as well esta-
. blished. C. aculeata, H.B.K., is but a synonym of Parmentiera edulis,

DC.; and C. edulis, Desv., is merely the simple-leaved form of the same
plant. It may indeed appear strange that De Candolle, so acute an
. observer, should have enumerated in his ‘ Prodromus! one and the

CRESCENTIA, PARMENTIERA, AND KIGELIA. 211

same plant under three different names, and under two genera. But
this is easily explained, by the fact that De Candolle established Par-
mentiera solely upon a figure of Mozino and the description of Her-
nandez. He never saw perfect specimens of C. aculeata, H.B.K., nor
had he a specimen of C. edulis, Desv., at his disposal, but merely
knew the latter from the brief description given of it by Desvaux.
Three other plants, formerly associated with Crescentia, have already been
referred to their proper genera by De Candolle and others: C. edulis,
Moz., to Parmentiera edulis, DC., C. jasminoides, Lam., to Gardenia
clusiefolia, Jacq., and C. pinnata, Jacq., to Kigelia pinnata, De Cand.

De Candolle has enumerated (Prod. ix. 244) only one species of
Parmentiera (P. edulis, De Cand.); and I have added (Botany of
H.M.S. Herald, p. 183) two more (P. cereifera, Seem., and P. acu-
leata, Seem.). Of the latter two, only one (P. cereifera, Seem.) holds
good; P. aculeata, Seem., is, I am now convinced, identical with P.
edulis ; so that the genus consists at present of two species, both of
which are very distinct from each other. P. edulis, De Cand., has
branches furnished with thorns, occasionally simple leaves, and a tuber-
culate fruit. P. cereifera, Seem., the famous Candle-tree of the Isthmus E
of Panama, is quite unarmed, has always compound leaves, and bears
a fruit the surface of which is quite smooth. As synonyms of it I-
regard, besides the P. aculeata, Seem., already mentioned, Crescentia
aculeata, H.B.K., C. edulis, Desv., and, upon the authority of C. B.
Heller (Reisen in Mexiko, p. 414), C. musecarpa, Zaldivar.

De Candolle has enumerated (Prodr. ix. 247) but one species of Ki-
gelia, viz. K. pinnata, De Cand.; adding to it, as synonyms, Orescentia
pinnata, Jaeq., Tanecium pinnatum, Willd., and Tripinnaria Africana,
Sprengl,—an arrangement to which I fully consent. Decaisne has,
since the publication of the * Prodromus,” described as a second species —
K. Aithiopica (De Lessert's Icon. Select. Pl. vol. v. 39. t. 93 A et B); and
Bentham subsequently, as a third, K. Africana (Hook. Niger Flora, p.
463), uniting with the latter the old Bignonia Africana, Lam. (Dict. -
vol. i. 424), which De Candolle, at p. 166 of his * Prodromus,' enume-
rates amongst the doubtful Bignonias. A careful comparison of the
various descriptions and specimens of these three supposed species has
led me to the conclusion that all three are but one and the same
species, the original K. pinnata, upon which the genus was founded. -
The genus Sofor of Fenzl (the name of which is an adoption of the _

212 REVISION OF THE GENERA

vernacular one of the plant in some parts of Nubia), established upon
Kotschy's specimens (no. 403), is also a synonym of Kigelia Africana.
It must, however, be added that Fenzl, when publishing the latter
name (Vortrag über eine neue Crescentiaceen Gattung, p. 1 et 2), made
a mistake in supposing that Spathodea campanulata, Beav. (to which
Bentham refers, and I think rightly, S. tulipifera, Don, and Bignonia
tulipifera, Schum. et Thonn.), is identical with his Soéor. The exist-
ence of S. campanulata is not at all doubtful, as there exist very good
specimens of it in the herbaria of both Hooker and Bentham, agreeing
quite well with the description and figure in Palisot’s Fl. Owar., and
showing that it has nothing to do with Kigelia.

CRESCENTIACEARUM TRIBUS CRESCENTIEZ.
Calyx deciduus, irregularis, spathaceus vel bipartitus.
GENERA.

1. Parmentiera, DC.—Calyz spathaceus. Fructus carnosus, teres, epul-
posus.—Folia opposita, plerumque trifoliolata.—America tropica.

2. Crescentia, Linn.—Calyz bilabiatus, lobis integerrimis. Fructus
lignosus, pulposus.—Folia sparsa vel fasciculata, simplicia vel tri-
Joliolata.— America tropica.

3. Kigelia, DC.— Calyx bilabiatus, lobis irregulariter fissis. Fructus
corticatus, pulposus.—Folia opposita, simplicia vel pinnata.— Africa
tropica.

I. PARMENTIERA, DC.

Calyx deciduus, spathaceus, longitudinaliter fissus. Corolla subcampa-
. mulata, tubo lato brevi, fauce hiante, limbo distincte 5-lobo, lobis

. subzqualibus patentibus. Stamina 4, didynama, eum rudimento
quinti. Anthere 2-loculares, loculis divergentibus. Discus glandu- -
losus, ovarii basin cingens. Stylus elongatus. Stiyma bilamellatum,
lamellis integerrimis. Ovarium uniloculare, multiovulatum. Fruc-
tus carnosus, indehiscens, teres, tuberculatus vel levis, spurie 2—4-
locularis, epulposus. Semina plurima, parva, cordata vel subrotunda. `
— Albumen nullum.—Arbores Americe tropice, ramis aculeatis vel in-
. ermibus, foliis oppositis, simplicibus vel trifoliolatis, pedunculis uni-
| Joris subcongestis ez trunco aut basi ramorum et ramulorum ortis, co-
. rollis albidis vel virescentibus, fructibus flavis. ;

CRESCENTIA, PARMENTIERA, AND KIGELIA. 273

The genus Parmentiera differs from Crescentia and Kigelia in its
spathaceous calyx, and its quite fleshy cylindrical fruit.

1. Parmentiera cereifera, Seem. ; arborea, ramis inermibus, foliis omni-
bus trifoliolatis, foliolis ovato-ellipticis vel obovato-oblongis utrinque
acuminatis serratis vel integerrimis, petiolo communi alato, corollze
albide lobis emarginatis, fructu terete levi bisuleato glaberrimo.—
P. cereifera, Seem. in Bot. Herald, p. 182. t. 32.—Nomen vernaculum
Panamense, * Palo de Velas."

- The geographical range of this remarkable plant appears to be very
limited. I found it in the central parts of the Province of Panama,
and no other traveller seems to have noticed it in any other country.

2. Parmentiera edulis, DC. ; arborea, ramis aculeatis, aculeis sub foliis
insertis, foliis petiolatis aliis simplicibus ovato-oblongis vel cuneato-
lanceolatis aliis trifoliolatis, foliolis ovato-oblongis utrinque attenuatis
integerrimis, petiolo communi superne anguste alato vel nudo, co- —
roll virescentis lobis undulato-crispis, fructu angulato tuberculato.—

P. edulis, DC. Prod. v. 9. 244. P. aculeata, Seem. Bot. Herald, 183!

Crescentia edulis, Moz. Fl. Mem. ic. ined. (sec. De Cand.) C. edulis, -

Desv. Journ. Bot. v. 4. ann. 1814, p.112! C. aculeata, H. B. K. Nov. —

Gen. Am. v. 3.158! C. mussecarpa, F. Zaldivar, Flor. Mex. ined. nov. —
secund. Heller, Reisen in Mexiko, p. 414.—Nomina vernacula Mexi- |
cana, ** Quauxhichotl,” ** Quanuxilotl," ** Quaxilote," et **Cuajilote.""

This tree appears to be common in the Tierra Caliente of Southern.
Mexico. According to Hernandez, it is found in Yauhetepec; accord- |
ing to Desvaux, in Guaxaca; and according to Humboldt and Bon-
pland, in Campeche, at Gonacatepic. I myself have seen Mexican -
specimens in Herb. Hook. from Schiede (no. 1207) and Coulter; the ©
latter had collected them at Zinapan.

II. CRESCENTIA, Linn. aga

Calyx deciduus, bilabiatus, lobis integerrimis. Corolla subeampanulata,
tubo elongato, fauce magna ventricosa, limbo inzequaliter 5-fido vel

~ erenato aut fimbriato-laciniato. Stamina 4, cum rudimento quinti.
Anthere biloculares, loculis divergentibus. Discus glandulosus, ovarii
basin cingens. Stylus elongatus. Stigma bilamellatum. Ovarium
uniloculare, multiovulatum. Fructus globosus, ovatus, vel ellipsoi- -
deus, cortice lignoso, intus pulposus. Semina plurima. Albumen —
nullum. Zwbryo magnus.—Arbores vel frutices arborescentes Ame-
VOL. VI. 2N :

214 REVISION OF THE GENERA

rice tropice, foliis alternis solitariis vel Jasciculatis, simplicibus vel

trifoliolatis, pedunculis e trunco ramisve ortis, corollis rubentibus vires-

centibus, vel virescentibus purpureo et flavo variegatis.

Crescentia differs from Parmentiera in its bilabiate calyx and pulpy
fruit; from Kigelia in its hard-shelled (woody) fruit.

§ 1. Folia alterna, solitaria. Corolla virescens.

1. Crescentia cucurbitina, Linn. ; arborescens, foliis alternis solitariis
omnibus simplicibus lanceolato-ovatis vel obovatis breviter acumi-
natis, fructibus globosis ovatis vel ellipticis, cortice- fragili.—C. cu-
curbitina, Linn. Mant. p. 250; Swartz, Obs. p. 234! C. latifolia,
Lam. Dict. v. 1. p. 5581; Pluk: Alm. t. 111. fig. 2; Plum. et Burm.
t. 109. fig. sup./^ | C. obovata, Benth. Bot. Sulph. p. 130. t.46! C.
ovata, Burm. Fl. Ind. p. 132! C. lethifera, Tussac, Fl. des Antill.
v. 4. p. 50. 4. 17! C. toxicaria, Tussac, Fl. des Antill. v. 4. t. 17.
C. palustris, Forsyth, Herb. /—Nomen vernaculum Panamense, ** Cala-
bazo de Playa.”

A shrub, about 15 feet high, growing commonly on the coast of the
islands and the continent of the central parts of America, and probably
only cultivated in Java. I have seen specimens of it from Jamaica
(W. Wright! Purdie! Distin!), St. Vincent (Anderson !), Chagres
(Fendler, no. 120 !), Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Panama (See-
mann !), Island of Gorgona (Barclay !). Tussac ascribes to it poisonous
qualities; but the statement that it has proved injurious to people
who came in contact with it must be received with caution; as it
stands quite isolated, and as no poisonous qualities are known to
exist in the whole series of plants to which the Crescentiacee belong, I
. am inclined to dismiss it altogether as unworthy of credit, and feel al-
. most disposed to think that the Manzanilla-tree, which, growing gene-
rally in company with C. cucurbitina, may have caused the mischief,
if any was caused.

2. Crescentia macrophylla, Seem. ; arborescens (vel arborea ?), glaber-
. rima, foliis alternis solitariis omnibus simplicibus obovato-lanceo-
latis breviter aeuminatis versus basin longe cuneatis integerrimis,
nervo (unico) utrinque acuto, petiolis basi valde incrassatis, corolla
. . (wirescente) campanulata, tubo elongato curvato: ventricoso, limbo
i os fimbriato-laciniato, lamellis stigmatis fimbriatis, fructus

.—C. macrophylla, Hort, Kew. —

CRESCENTIA, PARMENTIERA, AND KIGELIA. 275

The largest of the plants (cultivated in the Royal Botanic Gardens
at Kew) from which the present description is taken, is about 7 feet
high, making it probable that this species attains the size of a tree.
Petioles and young branches purple. Largest leaves about 15 inches
long, and in the broadest part from 2 to 3 inches broad ; peduncles

$ inch long; calyx 1 inch long; corolla and calyx furnished with
glandular dots; style and stamens as long as the corolla; ovary uni-
locular.

This species is easily distinguished from C. cucurbitina by its incras-
sate petioles and peculiarly-shaped leaves ; the limb of the corolla pro-
bably varies like that of C. cucurbitina, where it is sometimes distinctly
five-lobed, and sometimes crenato-dentate or fimbriated. The native
country of C. macrophylla is still unknown, but, judging from the
habit of the plant, I think it must be Tropical America.

$ 2. Folia fasciculata. Corolla rubescens vel virescens purpureo et flavo
variegata.

3. Crescentia Cujete, Linn. ; arborea, foliis fasciculatis ex axilla 5 om-
nibus simplicibus lanceolato-obovatis breviter acuminatis versus ba- -
sin longe cuneatis, supra glabris nitidis, subtus puberulis glabrisve,
fructibus plerumque globosis, cortice lignoso duro.—C. Cujete, Linn, -
Sp. p. 812; Swartz, Obs. p. 234; Lam. Dici. v. 1. p. 557; Jacq.
Amer. p. 115. 4. 111. Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 3430. Vell. Fl. Flum.
v. 6. t. 103; Plum. et Burm. t. 109, fig. infer. Comm. Hort. v. 1.
&. 111 C. cuneifolia, Gard. in Hook. Journ. of Bot. v. 2. p. 422 E
C. acuminata, H. B. K., Nov. Gen. Amer. v. 3. p. 157 |—Nomina |
vernacula Americana, ** Tutumo,” **'Turtumo," * Palo de Tue :
* Palo de Turtuma," “Calabazo,” ** Calabash-trce.”
A tree, about 30 feet high, growing wild in woods, but very gene-

rally cultivated in tropical America, in gardens, and around human. ha-

bitations, in open exposed situations. I have seen specimens «
from Jamaica (P. Browne in Herb. Linn. prop.! W. eres

(Humboldt et Bonpland!), Santa Lucia (Herb. Mus. Brit.!), Guiana

(Aublet !), Brazil (Blanchet !), Isthmus of Panama (Seemann !).

4. Crescentia alata, H. B. K.; arborea, foliis fasciculatis ex axilla 3,
medio longe petiolato trifoliolato, lateralibus simplicibus minoribus
sessilibus, petiolo foliolorum trifoliolatorum late alato, fructibus glo-
bosis, cortice lignoso duro.—C. alata, H. B. K. Nov. Gen. Amer,

216 CRESCENTIA, PARMENTIERA, AND KIGELIA.

v. 3. p.158. C. trifolia, Blanco, Fl. de Filipinas, p. 489 |—Nomina
vernacula, in Mexico, “ Guautecomate,” ** Tecomate," et “ Quiro ;"

in Ins. Philip., “ Hoja cruz.”
. À tree, about 30 feet high, resembling in general aspect C. Cujete, and
growing commonly on the western coast of Mexico, from Acapulco to
Mazatlan, where I have repeatedly met with it, and where Gregg (no.
944), as well as Humboldt and Bonpland, also found it. According
to Blanco, it is cultivated in the Philippine Islands, where, from the re-
semblance of the central leaf to a cross, it is vernacularly termed “ Hoja
cruz.” I observed it in the gardens of the town of David, Veraguas.
It will probably never be cultivated to any great extent, as its fruit is
scarcely ever larger than a good-sized orange, and consequently too
small for making from its shell, as of that of C. Cujete, pails and other
large vessels. I must not omit however to mention that I have seen
. Cups, made from the shells of this species, in the markets of Mazatlan.
_ The chief use the Mexicans make of the fruit, is to boil the pulp with
Sugar, and administer it internally to those suffering from complaints
of the chest (consumption ?). The inhabitants of the Philippine Islands

consider, according to Blanco, a decoction of the leaves an effectual
remedy for hemoptysis.

III. KIGELIA, De Cand.

Calyx deciduus, tubuloso-subcampanulatus, bilabiatus, labiis irregula-
riter fissis et hinc calycem spurie 5-fidum constituentibus. Corolla
resupinata, tubo brevi, fauce lata campanulata, limbo subequaliter
5-lobo, lobis ovatis acuminatis. Stamina 4, didynama, cum quinto
sterili. Anthere biloculares, loculis basi longe discretis. Discus
glandulosus, ovarii basin cingens. S/ylus staminum fere longitudine.
Stigma bilamellatum. Ovarium uniloculare, glabrum, placentis parie-
talibus. Bacca ellipsoidea vel lineari-oblonga, cortice corticato, intus

pulposa, spurie bilocularis. Semina in pulpa nidulantia, subrotunda

_ vel obovoidea, testa fuscescente. Albumen nullum. Cotyledones rotun-

. date, externe longitudinaliter plicate, segregate (ex De Cand.).—

. Arbor Africe tropice; ramis divergentibus, cortice albido; foliis oppo-

sitis simplicibus (in plantis junioribus) vel pari- vel impari-pinnatis ;

. foliolis (5-11) ellipticis vel ovato-ellipticis, non raro inequalibus, ter-
. minali obovato, integerrimis vel subrepando-dentatis, coriaceis, utrinque

_ glaberrimis ; paniculis longissime pedunculatis, pendentibus, e trunco

INDIAN PREPARATIONS FROM CANNABIS SATIVA. 277

seu ramis vetustis ortis; corollis amplis atro-rubris extus pallidiori-

bus; baccis pendulis (2 ped. long., 5 unc. lat.), albidis.

The genus Kigelia approaches closely to Orescentia, from which it
differs in having opposite pinnated leaves, a calyx, the lobes of which
split irregularly, a resupinate corolla, and a corticate, not a woody
fruit.

l. Kigelia pinnata, De Cand., Prodr. v. 9. p. 2471 Crescentia pinnata,
Jacq. Coll. v. 8. p. 203. t. 18. ic. flor.! Tanæcium pinnatum, Willd.
Sp. v. 3. p. 319! Bignonia Africana, Lam. Dict. v. 1. p. 424! Ki-
gelia Africana, Benth. in Hook. Niger Fl. p. 463! Tripinnaria
Africana, Sprengl. Syst. v. 2. p. 840! Kigelia ZEthiopica, Dene. in
De Lessert, Icon. select. Pl. v. p. 89. t. 98.4 et. B! Sotor, Fenzl,
Vortrag über eine Crescent.-Gattung.—Nomina vernacula, in Nubia,
Sotor (Fenzl!), et ad “ Great Lake," Maporotla (Oswald !).

Kigelia pinnata enjoys a very wide geographical distribution, being
found both on the east and the west coast of Africa, and stretching
probably quite across that continent, the coast regions of which it has
been proved to inhabit. It has been collected in Nubia (Kotschy, no.
403! Sabatier!) in Mozambique, at Port Natal (Garden!), in Sene- -
gal, at Cape Coast Castle (Th. Vogel!), on the river Zongha, latitude
21° S. (Oswald !), and at the Great Lake of Southern Africa (according -
to specimens in the Kew Museum, communicated by Colonel Steel and —
Miss Gurney). It is also cultivated in the Botanic Garden at Mauri- -
tius (Bojer!), and in that at Kew. It used to be in the latter institu- -
tion many years ago, according to a specimen of Aiton, in Herb. Hook. ;
but was again lost, until it was re-introduced in 1854, by Captain Gar- -
den, from Port Natal. l

According to Oswald, it is called “ Maporotla" on the banks of the —
river Zongha, and its wood is there used principally for canoes.

Extract of a tior from C. J. MULLER, Esq., dated Patna, October 28,
1853, relating to preparations from Cannabis sativa in India; ad-
dressed to Dr. Hooker. ae
In India two varieties of intoxicating drug, prepared from the Hemp- s

plant, are known in the bazars,—one called Ganja, the other Bhang. In —

this part of India the Ganja is procured from the district of me :

278 INDIAN PREPARATIONS FROM CANNABIS SATIVA.

(north of Caleutta); Bhang comes chiefly from the districts of Tirhoot,
Sarun, and Goruckpoor. In external appearance they differ consider-
ably. Ganja is in the form of stalks, three or four feet long, with the
inflorescence attached, the whole having been dried and pressed flat;
the colour a dirty brown, odour strongly aromatic and heavy, very
resinous to the touch. This variety is highly intoxicating, which is
accounted for by the abundance of resin (the churrus of Nepal and
other parts). Its retail price, deprived of stalks, is at the rate of about
Rs. 200 per maund (80 lbs. avoirdupois), this high price being due to
the weight of the tax imposed upon it by Government. Bhang is in
the form of dried leaves without stalks, or at least with only fragments
of stalks, and abounds in the dried inflorescence, apparently female.
Its colour is a dull green; it has not much odour, and is greatly defi-
cient in resinous matter; its intoxicating properties are very slight.

Ganja is smoked somewhat in the same way as tobacco; its con-
tinued use invariably brings on severe asthma. Bhang is not smoked,
but is ground up with water into a pulp, and mixed with other ingre-
dients, so as to make a thick drink, called Sudzee, reputed to be cool-
ing, and highly conducive to health ; people accustomed to use it enjoy
excellent health, in fact never get sick.

Now it has always been a question with me whether the plants yield-
ing Ganja and Bhang are identical; see O'Shaughnessy's * Dispensa-
. tory, etc. The natives say that Ganja, like the Rajshahye drug, can-
not be manufactured here nor in any of the neighbouring districts.
Bhang grows in abundance, and is absolutely wild in the Bhagulpoor
and Tirhoot districts, springing up everywhere in the former like a
. weed. With the view of inquiring into the matter, I have raised seve-
. ral Bhang plants in my garden this year; they are now coming into
flower. The plants which have completely flowered are, with the ex-
ception of one, to all intents and purposes, monccious, while all the
botanical books I have access to, make Cannabis strictly dicecious. The
single plant, which appears to bear only female flowers, is not com-
pletely in flower yet. The male flowers come last, and may yet appear,
or I may have overlooked them. You will be interested, I think, in
examining the inflorescence, and therefore I enclose some specimens.
[They appear to be true Cannabis sativa.—Ep.] It is "requisite to as-
certain whether the Rajshahye plant presents the same character, and I
im therefore sent to Rajshahye for specimens.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 279.

You will pereeive that this subject is curious, as bearing upon the
alleged fertilization of female flowers of the dicecious class, in the ab-
sence of the male plant; for example, Cælebogyne, Lychnis dioica, ete.
If dicecious plants have a tendency, under certain circumstances of soil
and climate, to become moneecious, the anomaly of fertilization in the
absence of the male plant, is in a great measure removed. This remark
rests however on the assumption that Cannabis Indica, sativa, Ganja,
and Bhang, are all identical, a point I think yet extremely doubtful;
though I can scarcely make up my mind to believe that Roxburgh,
Ainslie, Wight, Griffith, and Royle, could have failed to ascertain this,.
if there had been any specific difference.

The female flowers greatly predominate in the specimens under my
observation. The anthers in the male flower are often less than five,
but are fully charged with pollen.—Believe me, eto. ete.,

C. J. MULLER,

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Oxford Herbarium.
(Continued from p. 252.)

9, FIELDING HERBARIUM.
EUROPEAN PLANTS.

N.B. The letter P. affixed denotes that the Collection formed a part of
Mr. Prescott’s Herbarium.

Collected by
Norway. Kurr & Hübner. :
Russia, around St. Petersburg. Prescott. Flora Petropolitana, in sepa-
Pi : : rate portfolios, complete.
Switzerland. P. Schleicher. wb d
Piedmont, P. Hoppe. qox e
Pyrénées, Endress. Employed by the Unio Itinera- -
ria of Wiirtemberg: as acol- -
lector during two seasons in. -
5 the Pyrénées. 9
Spain; about Madrid and in. Boissien ^ ^ The author of the splendid work) -

280 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Collected by

Spain, North-west, Durieu. A half-pay officer in the French
army. His collection con-
sisted of about 300 or 400
species, of which probably
50 are new.

Sardinia. Müller. A diligent agent of the Unio
Itineraria.

Dalmatia, P. Lang. :

Hungary. Henffel.

Rumelia. Frivaldsky.

South of France. Bentham. See his Catalogue of the Plants

of the Pyrénées.

Great Britain and Ireland. Fielding.
France, Germany, Italy, and Various persons.

Flora of Elizabethgrad. Boshniak.
of Catherinenstadt. P. Hanfit.

> . Aucher-Eloy. This ardent Botanist, a native of
Blois in France, abandoned
his trade as a printer and
bookseller, for the sake of
investigating the vegetable
productions of the East. He
devoted eight years of his
life to this undertaking, till
death, the result of fatigue,
closed his labours. With
very limited means, this Na-
turalist explored many parts
of Turkey, Greece, Egypt,
Syria, and Persia. Mr. Field-
ing obtained nearly 3000
plants from this collection.
See Journ. of Botany, vol. iii.

ASIA.— Collection very rich.

‘Rosen TaxnxrroRtRS--
Compére, Bieber-
stein, Steven.
Wilhelms, Hohen- Very complete.
a etna 1 OF Belin, near Seed

BOTANICAL INFORMATION,

Northern Persia. P.
Altai Mts. Nearly perfect. P.

Plants from Kamtchatka. P.
Siberia. P.

China. P.

China, near Macao.

Syria, Palestine, Arabia, chiefly
from Mount Sinai and Mecca.
Syria, Valley of Fatma.

Smyrna.
Persia, Mesopotamia, P.

Mount Taurus and Aleppo.
Turcomania. P.
East Indies.

Simla, in the Himalayan Mts.,
and Bolam Pass.

Ceylon.

Java.

P A

Cape of Good Hope.

Collected by
Meyer & Szowitz,
Hausen, Gme-
lin, Jun.
Ledebour?, Meyer,
Yebler, Bunge?,
Fischer.
Mertens, Fischer,
Kastatsky, etc.
Turezaninoff,
Vladzimirtsky.
Prof. Bunge‘, and
Fortune.
Rev. J. Vachell.

Schimper?, and
others.
Fischer.

Aucher-Eloy.

Aucher-Eloy®,
Schimper,
Szowitz.

Kotschy.

Kardin, ete.

Dr. Wallich?, Mr.
Law$, Dr.
Wight.

Lieut. Simpson.

Col. Walker.
Unknown.

281

? Author of the Flora Altaica.
8 Professor at Dorpat.

4 Collected during the mission
to Pekin.

Chaplain to the Faetory at
Macao. 2E

5 In the employ of the Unio Tti- :
neraria. :

Collected by a person in' the
employ of the Viceroy of

Egypt.

5 About 2700 species.

7 About 3000 species.

Sent to Mr. Lambert, and.
purchased by Mr. Fielding
at his sale.

About 500 rare and valuable

species.

A most complete collection [
about 2500 species. —

1 A complete set of his very ex-
tensive collection in the Co-
lony. See Comp. ve ete
Mag., vol. ii.

350 species.

20

282 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

s Collected by
Mauritius. P. Sieber, Telfair.
Bourbon. Unknown collec- Some beautiful Ferns, and se-
tor. veral highly curious Orchi-
dew.
Senegambia, Hudelot. About 500 species, many new
or rare. .
St. Helena. Cuming.
Madeira. Lippold. .
Azores. Guthnick.
Algeria. Bové. ` Author of the Flora of Algeria.
Egypt and Abyssinia. Schimper. Who obtained a high post under
the Government of that coun-
try.
Nubia and Ethiopia. Kotschy.
NORTH AMERICA.
Arctic regions, Rocky Moun- Drummond. Nearly complete sets of the
tains, and Texas. — plants collected by this ar-
dent Botanist. ;
Columbia and California. Douglas. The unfortunate Naturalist who
lost his life by falling into a
pit in one of the Sandwich
Islands, in which a wild bull
had been entrapped.
United States. P. Nuttall!, about |! Sometime Professor of Botany

2000 species ; at Cambridge, Mass.
Torrey and Gray?; ? Authors of the excellent Flora
Frank, Freedley, of North America.
Rugel, Short?,ete. 3An excellent Botanist of

Louisville, Kentucky.
Canada. P. Gouldie. ;
.. Mexico and Guatemala. Hartweg*,Schiede 4Sent out as collector by the
and Deppe, Ber- Horticultural Society.
landier, Parkin-
son, Galeotti,
Andrieux, Mo-
cino and Sesse.
West Indies, chiefly St. Do- Sieber, Guilding,
. mingo, P. and Doustan.
Trinidad, Cuba, Martinique. But in this region the Collec-

tion is very defective.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

283

SOUTH AMERICA.— Very rich.

From various parts.

Guiana.

Surinam.

Caraccas, P.

Buenos Ayres, Rio, and South
Brazil. uA
Brazils:—Rio, Organ Moun-

tains, and Pernambuco.

Columbia and Loxa.

Peru.
Chili, P.

Amazon river.

Amazon region.

Bolivi

From various parts.

Collected by

Blanchet, Claus-
sen!, and Lush-
nath.

Sir R. Schom-
burgk.

Hostmann?.

K. Porter, Linden.
Tweedie.

Gardner: 4000
species.

Hartweg.

Mathews‘, Póp-
pig (Author of
Travelsin Chili,
ete.).

Póppig, Cuming,
Bridges, Gil-
lies®,

Póppig, King,
Ruiz and Pa-
vons.

Spruce.

Pentland & Kelly.

NEW HOLLAND.

Sieber, Allan Cun-
ningham!, An-
derson, Caley,

Frazer.

1 300 species from the Province
of Minas Geraes.

The introducer of the Victoria
Water-Lily.

3 See the account of his perilous
journey in the Lond. Journ.
of Botany, vol. i.

Many new species.

Coadjutor to Mr. Fielding in
the publication of the ‘Ser-
tum Plant.’ and afterwards
Director of the Bot. Gard.
Ceylon.

About 250 most exquisite spe-
cimens.

4 More than 2000 species, being
the set reserved for himself. _

5 The Herbarium of Dr. Gillies
had just come into Lambert’s
hands, when on his death it -
was sold to Mr. Fielding. :

ê No. 101 of Lambert's sale. |

Now (1853) engaged as a col-
lector in this region. — .

1 The two brothers Richard and -
in succession appointed Co- -
lonial Botanists at Sydney,
and made great additions to
the plants imported into
England from that continent. -

,

284 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Collected by
Swan River. Drummond. About 1200 species.
Van Diemen's Land. Gunn. An extensive and valuable col-
lection.
New Zealand. Richard Cunning- ? Small, but interesting col-
ham?, Bennett, lection.
and Edgerley.
Sandwich Islands. Douglas. Collected just before his death.
Sydney and King Georges Cunningham. ;
Sound.
Port Jackson. Anderson. About 500 species.

— —

Alexander Croal's PLANTS or BnAEMAR; being Dried Specimens of
the Plants Illustrative of the Flora of Braemar, N. B.

Mr. Croall, of Montrose, having last year, as stated in our Journal,
accomplished a botanical tour in the Mountains of Clova, a few friends
(who contributed to the expenses of that visit) were so gratified with
its results, from the rarity, beauty, and correct nomenclature of the
specimens, especially of the Cryptogamous plants, that they have re-
commended him to spend a portion of the present and following sum-
mers entirely among the mountains of Braemar, Ben-vrotan, Loch-na-
gar, Ben-na-mac-dhui, Ben-na-bourd, etc. This country, already so
interesting from the richness of its alpine vegetation, becomes doubly
80, as including the loftiest group of mountains in Scotland.

The collections will be prepared for sale in small folio Fascicles, en-
titled ‘Plants of Braemar,’ each containing a century of species, care-
fully dried, and named, in English and Latin, with the localities ind-
. cated, and neatly attached on good white separate leaves of paper, at

the price of Thirty Shillings. Two, or perhaps three such fascicles, or
. centuries, will be ready during the present year (1854), and Mr. Croall -
expects to complete the work in five Fascicles, during the following
. year (1855). The specimens will be all numbered, for the facility of
‘future reference.

. Subscribers’ names will be received by Mr. A. Croall, Castle-street,
Montrose; and Sir W. J. Hooker, K.H., Royal Gardens, Kew, will be
_ happy to forward the names of any subscribers that may be communi-

NER to Seamed i .

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 285

LicHENs of the late Pastor SCHJERER.

M. Guthnick, Director of the Botanic Garden at Berne, has written
to inform me that the private collection of Lichens, belonging to the
late Pastor Scheerer, has been sold to M. E. Boissier of Geneva.

He states that there still remain for sale the collections which served
as the basis of Schærer’s * Lichenes Helvetici Exsiccati,’ amounting to
650 species or varieties, of each one of which, with the exeeption of a
few, there are from ten to fifty specimens.

This rich collection has been valued by Mr. Shuttleworth and himself
at 1500 French francs, which he considers ** deaucoup au dessous de leur
valeur,” and at which sum he offers it for sale, with the probability of
some small abatement from the price. He is desirous that a number
of British botanists should join together to purchase, and is open to
offers.

M. Guthnick also states that he can supply Scheerer’s Lich. Helv.
Exsic., 13 volumes, at 12 French franes per volume.

W. A. LEIGHTON.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

United States Exploring Expedition. Botany. Phanerogamia; dy Dr. —
Asa Gray, M.D., with a Folio Atlas of 100 plates. Vol. I. Large
4to. New York. 1854.
Such is the title of the first volume, long anxiously expected, of the

Botany of the United States Exploring Expedition, during the years -

1838-1842, under the command of Captain Charles Wilks, U.S.N. In |

our second volume of this Journal, p. 383, we mentioned that Dr. Asa

Gray, the distinguished Professor of Botany at Harvard University,

U.S.A., was then (1852) on a visit to Europe, for the purpose of in-

specting the various Herbaria which might assist him in so- important

an undertaking: and well did he employ his time in that investigation.

The volume of text now before us (for the plates are not yet published) -

commences without introduction or preface, and terminates with the

Araliacea, following the arrangement of De Candolle. We may form,

however, some idea of the importance of this work when completed, by

286 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

referring to an article in Silliman's American Journal of Science (vol.
xliv. 1843, p. 405), where it is announced.

“ Ten thousand species of plants, and upwards of 50,000 specimens,
constitute the Herbarium of this Expedition. The following catalogue
gives the number of species collected at the several places visited :—

Madera . . . ... . 800 Fejee Inlands . . . . 488
Cape Verda. ... ... 60 Conmi|bbnadas. . .
BM... . . 980 Sandwich Islands. . . 883
: Rio Negro (Patagonia) - 260. Ompon. . . ... . JB
M Tierra del Fuego . . . 220 California . . . . . 519
= EE S S. os s MB Mad. ee
PES. 5 ou 890 Bigmpore . . a. 8
daha — = -288 Minden . . = 108
Samoa (Navigators' ERU 457 Soolo- Islands . . . 58
New South Wales. . . 787 Mangsi Islands . . . 80
New Zealand . . . . 398 CapeofGood Hope. . 300
Auckland Islands . . . 50 St. Helena. . . . . 20
Tona SS 236 9646

“ Including the Mosses, Lichens, and Seaweeds, the number will ex-
ceed 10,000. There are coloured drawings of 180 species of plants,
beautifully executed.”

Of the above list, however, be it observed, the Oregon and Califor-

nian species (estimated at 2107 species), will be incorporated with the
‘North American Flora’ of Messrs Torrey and Gray, and excluded
from this work ; 'and of the remaining countries, it is only the Samoa, or
Navigators' Islands, the Feejee and Sandwich Islands (these especially),
and the Mindanao, Sooloo, and Mangsi Islands, that can be expected to
afford much of novelty: the vegetation of other places visited has been
— pretty well exhausted by previous navigators. The several species of
. those countries, and the known ones of all, are in this work merely
. named, unless any new information is elicited by their examination;
and the whole is systematically arranged as an entire Flora of the
voyage, not divided according to countries. Of the new genera and
new species, the characters are given in Latin, accompanied by further
descriptive and other remarks in English. Some idea of the relative
. importance of the collections made in the Feejee and Sandwich Islands
may be conceived, from the fact that of the 100 plates to be devoted

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 287

to this volume, 45 will represent plants of the former, and 35 of the
latter group, or, combined, eight-tenths of the 100.

Like everything from the pen of Dr. Asa Gray, his genera and species
are worked out with great care and precision, and he often amends the
characters or corrects the errors of others, with much judgment. Not
exactly so, however, in the case of the guestio vexata of the genus of
Myrtus Ugni of Molina (genus Ugni, Turcz., Eugenia, Hook. et Arn.),
where, referring to our Bot. Misc. vol. iii. p. 348, he says, “ Through
some mistake, the flowers are said to be quadrifid, and the peduncles
shorter than the leaf" It so happens that a living specimen of this
very species is before us, while reading this note of our friend, and it
has the flowers quadrifid (i. e. tetramerous), and the peduncle shorter
than the leaf. It is nevertheless true that they are not always so.

Some of the unpublished plates are in our possession ; and we can
truly say, this fine work promises to be as honourable to the American
Government and the country, as it is to the able author.

Dozy, F., e£ J. H. MOLKENBOER : BRYOLOGIA JAVANICA ; seu De-
scriptio Muscorum Frondosorum Archipelagi Indici Iconibus illustrata.
Fasciculus 1, cum tabulis 5. 4to. Leyden, 1854.

Messrs. F. Dozy and J. H. Molkenboer are already favourably known
in the botanical world by their *Musci Frondosi inediti Archip. Ind.,’
etc., which is now concluded in six livraisons, quarto, with sixty plates.
The present publication is to take its place, illustrated with figures, of `
which it is not too much to say that they are admirably executed, on
the model of those of Bruch and Schimper’s ‘ Bryologia Europea,’ and
of Mr. Sullivant’s American Mosses; and these are, we believe, drawn -
and lithographed with the author's own hands, thus ensuring a degree -
of accuracy which could not otherwise be looked for, especially in the -
analysis and microscopic details. The five plates of the first number
are devoted to the illustration of six species of, it must be acknowledged,
a very difficult and, as now considered, extensive genus, Fissidens, most
satisfactorily figured and accompanied by full specific characters, gene-
rally some ten lines (of a quarto page) long, and equally careful des- _
criptions and references to the plates ; and three other species are des- ——
cribed, but not figured. But this, we hold, is not enough. In the -

988 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

present day, when it is too much the fashion to increase the amount
of species, by making the smallest variation from the typical form
characteristic of a new and distinct kind, the author should, under
such circumstances, give a diagnosis, and state where the differences
lie, which justify the separation, and direct the attention of the stu-
dent to them. We believe, if this were more frequently the case,.
many an author would see the insufficiency of the grounds on which
he has rested the specific distinction; at any rate he would enable
others to do so: for in these cases every man must exercise his own
judgment as to the validity or otherwise of a new species. The fol-
lowing are announced as the conditions under which the work will be
published :—

“1. L’ouvrage paraîtra en livraisons, contenant cinq planches accom-
pagnées de description. La livraison ci-jointe sert de modèle.

“2. Nous publierons dans le courant.d'une année cinq livraisons,
qui formeront un volume.

“3. Le prix de chaque volume de cinq livraisons est fixé à dix florins
de Hollande, payables à la réception de la cinquiéme livraison de chaque
volume.

“4. Dans la publication les auteurs suivront, autant que possible,
l'ordre systématique. L'éditeur se réserve néanmoins le droit d'expédier
aux souscripteurs deux livraisons à la fois.

“5. Les planches des espèces, déjà publiées dans notre ouvrage
*Musci Frondosi inediti Archip. Ind.’ ete. (Lugd. Bat. apud Hazen-
berg, jun.), qui est maintenant terminé en 6 livraisons, ne seront pas
reproduites. Néanmoins on trouvera dans le présent ouvrage la des-
cription de ces espéces.

“6. Les souscripteurs, qui désireraient posséder des échantillons, -
sont invités de se déclarer dans leur bulletin de souscription. ls les
. recevront dans ce cas gratis, suivant l'ordre de souscription et autant
.. que le nombre des doubles le permettra. Nous inviterons les botanistes
de nous procurer réciproquement des échantillons d’espéces qui nous
manquent. D'abord nous indiquons les Fissidens Braunii et serratus.

“7, Une liste des noms de ceux qui voudront bien honorer notre
. entreprise de leur souscription, sera jointe au premier volume. Chaque

. année nous publierons un supplément.
— -**8. On souscrit par la signature et l'expédition du présent bulletin."

M Ó—

289

On some Species of AMoMUM, collected in WESTERN TROPICAL AFRICA
éy Dr. Daniell, Staff Surgeon, ete. etc; by J. D. Hooxzn, M.D.,
F.R.S.

For the materials from which the following identifications and de-
scriptions are made, I am indebted to the kindness of Dr. Daniell, who,
at my request, exerted himself to procure, for the Museum at Kew, spe-
cimens in all states, of the various species of Amomum which he was
able to obtain in those parts of Africa which he visited. These, con-
sisting of dried leaves and fruits, and of flowers preserved in spirits, of
all; and of whole dried specimens of stems and rhizomes, with leaves
and fruit attached, of many, afford the most extensive and complete
illustration of the African species that exists in this country ; aud, being
accompanied by observations on the commercial and medical value of
their produce, they are of the greatest interest both to the Botanist and-
Pharmacist. :

Hitherto the materials at the disposal of botanists for identifying the
species of Amomum, described by Linneus, Afzelius, Smith, Roscoe and
Pereira, have for the most part been wholly insufficient: characters of -
no botanical value have (in the absence of better) been employed to E
distinguish plants that did not differ specifically, and dissimilar species
have been united. Thus in Rees's Cyclopedia, which contains the -
fullest botanical account of this genus, the 4. Granum-Paradisi of —
Smith appears under three names; and in the late Dr. Pereira’s *Ma-
teria Medica,’ which contains the best modern account of these drugs -
and their origin, it is stated that some doubt still exists whether the
two most dissimilar species, 4. Granum-Paradisi and 4. Melegueta, are —
identical or distinct. Much of this confusion has arisen from the fact,
that the descriptions hitherto published are very incomplete; but more
is owing to the undue value attached by pharmacists, who are not skilled.
in botany, to charaeters of apparent but of no real value, and to their
non-appreciation of important ones that are often somppu, but
not understood.

Thus, the scape being single-flowered is, in the present state of our
knowledge of the genus, of itself a sufficient diagnosis of the 4. Mele-
gueta, Roscoe; as is the presence of minute hairs on the bracts, d
rianth, and fruit, of the 4. Granum-Paradisi of Smith.

Absolute size, whether of the whole plants of Amoma, or of their

VOL. VI. 2r

290 AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM.

leaves, flowers, and fruits, affords no character whatever: this fact I
was familiar with, from having observed what occurs in India in the
congeners of the African species, and in allied plants; and I was
very glad to have my opinion confirmed by Dr. Daniell, who informs
me that there are no limits to the variations in stature and luxuriance
ofthe species. Generally speaking, the specimens from southern loca-
lities and from the hills are much the smallest; but the size of the
largest fruit varies in individual specimens, to twice and even thrice
that of the smallest; their shape varies also greatly, but within certain
limits. Generally speaking, the form of the spathaceous calyx and of
the segments of the perianth is tolerably constant; but the processes
at the base of the filaments vary considerably, as does the expanded top
of the anthers, which, in different specimens of 4. Granum- Paradisi, is
either lobed or notched, or entire or bifid. "The foliage affords better
characters than is generally supposed, there being great and constant
differences in the length of the narrowed base of the blade, and its equal
or unequal sides, whilst the cordate base of the leaves of £. longiscapum
is a very striking character.

Immature seeds are often pale and silvery, or lead-brown, while the
old ones are plump and shining. The seeds of all are tolerably con-
stant in form and surface, but not in colour, nor in the size or promi-
nence of the usually projecting parts surrounding the micropyle. How
far the taste of the seeds affords in all cases a trustworthy character,
admits of doubt. I can perceive very marked but unimportant dif-
ferences in the amount of aroma and of pungency in the seeds of 4. Me-
legueta, but it is not possible to say whether these differences arise
from the flavour having never been developed, or from its being lost by
bad drying, or by exposure or moisture. Every one accustomed to test
the aroma and taste of wild or cultivated plants in their living state, is
aware how variable all species are in these respects, and that this is not
. the exception, but the rule; it is so with the cultivated Nutmeg, Ginger,
Clove, Cardamom, Tobacco, etc. etc.; and to an equal or greater
degree with the wild Umbellifere and Composite that yield resinous and
. aromatic secretions; and it is to be remarked that not only do indivi-
. . dual species vary in different localities, but that the same individual is

. dependent on the distribution of heat, cold, and moisture, in all its
annually varying relative proportions. This fact cannot be too strongly
pressed upon the attention of the pharmacist at home, who is apt to

AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM. 291

suppose, because the samples which have been imported for centuries
have.all the same sensible properties, that therefore the species that
produce them do not vary in these respects.

There is another risk to which the medical botanist is often exposed,
in his attempts to identify his imperfect specimens of drugs with the
imperfect descriptions of authors, which is, the too great confidence
placed in the absolute value of taste. I do not allude to its relative
value amongst different samples of drugs of one kind, but to the com-
parison of the tastes of these and of novel ones with other objects.
Thus I find the seeds of one species of Amomum (still unrecognized by
pharmacists and botanists) described as having the flavour of lemons :
Tam far from saying that this is not correct, but I have so often seen
two or more persons give such widely different comparisons for the
taste of a novel substance, that I should myself place little confidence
in one individual’s opinion upon a subject of this kind.

With regard to the correct reference of the detached leaves, flowers,
and fruits of the plants described below, to the different species to
which they belong, I am, as indicated above, wholly indebted to Dr.
Daniell. I have no reason to suppose any mistake to have occurred in
the ticketing or collecting; but, as such often do occur, and as I have —
made such myself in tropical jungles, even when most sedulously en-
deavouring to avoid the possibility of errors, I cannot attach implicit -
faith to these. In almost all cases there is sufficient botanical evidence
that the flowers in spirits are certainly those of the specimens with
fruit and leaves attached, as in the case of 4. Melegueta, A. Granum-
Paradisi, and A. Danielli; but there is not such good evidence that
the flowers of 4. longiscapum and A. cereum belong to the leaves and
fruits included in the descriptions of them: I have no reason, however, -
to doubt that they do. In these cases it is to be understood, that 4
an error has occurred, and fragments of two species have been described —
under one specific name, that name should be continued to the plant
which bears the character suggested by the specific name, or, if the
name be of indefinite signification, it should be given to the flowering
specimen in preference, for in Amomum the flower affords the best —
specific character. : :

With regard to the specific names retained here, some would perhaps _
have preferred that the name 4. Granum-Paradisi should be suppressed, =
or transferred to the 4. Melegueta, which alone bears the seeds now —

292 AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM.

most valued in the market, and which in so far may be regarded as the

true Grains of Paradise. I can, however, by no means admit of sueh a

change, because both to Linnzeus and Sir J. Smith especially, who have

described the 4. Granum-Paradisi, all the species imported with any

aroma or pungency were “ grains of Paradise " of the market, and were

not distinguished so nicely as they now are; so too, all are Meleguetas

(the name adopted by Roscoe for the true Grains of Paradise), as well

as when he wrote; the names were therefore unexceptionable, and the

descriptions and plates of these authors being admirable, both of flowers

and leaves, their names must be retained. To me it appears preferable

that pharmacists should systematize their fluctuating nomenclature ; for

there are amongst Botanists established laws for precedence in nomen-

clature, of which all acknowledge the force, whereas there are none for

the nomenclature of drugs, any more than there are for the formule
adopted by the various colleges in this country or on the Continent.

E This leads me to another remark, which I would make with the

~ greatest deference to the knowledge and attainments of Pharmacists,

which is, that there is often too much anxiety displayed by them to

obtain specific names to imperfect fragments of commercially valuable

plants; especially to the fruits, seeds, roots, or leaves, which, botanically,

can never be identified. This practice has in a great degree tended to

complicate Medical Botany. Systematic Botany has now become so

vast and so difficult a science, that it requires the undivided attention

of an individual to prosecute it satisfactorily; and the same is still

more the case with Pharmacy, in all its branches. I have no hesitation

in saying, that I know of no Botanist whose opinion on the medical or

economic value of a drug is worthy of any confidence, as compared with

. that of an accomplished and experienced Pharmacist; and it is not un-

reasonable to suppose that the converse is equally true. The botanical

. value of characters afforded by the organs of plants, varies in every

natural order; often in every genus. But this is not all: it isa mistake

to suppose that a knowledge, however intimate, of one genus or order

alone, suffices to enable an observer to pronounce upon what characters

are of specific importance in that group; these being points demanding

. long experience and great familiarity with the Vegetable Kingdom.

Hence it is, that botanists of experience attach little scientific value to

. the determinations of species of Cinchona or Sarsaparilla by characters

.. drawn from the colour, the cracks of the bark, or fracture, in the drugs

AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM. 293

they yield. In these and in very many similar cases, the diagnosis
which is of the greatest importance in estimating the commercial value
of the product, is a speciality of the variety sought, and is due to the
time of collecting, its mode of preparation, or of the particular part
of the plant from which the article is collected, and is not the ex-
pression of any natural characters by which the species producing it
can be recognized scientifically.

$ 1. Flores solitarii.

1. Amomum Melegueta, Roscoe, Mon. Plants.; foliis anguste lanceo-
latis, vaginis gracilibus, scapo 1-floro, bracteis lineari-oblongis cuspida-
tis, perianthio exteriore spathaceo acuminato, interiore foliolo dorsali
oblongo, lateralibus e basi lanceolata sensim acuminatis, labello late
obovato-quadrato margine undulato crispato, filamenti processubus
lateralibus subulatis, antherze lobo terminali subtriangulari apice in- -
tegro obtuso dentato v. bifido angulis lateralibus subelongatis subu-
latisve, ovario glabro, staminodiis liberis subulatis, fructu ampullaceo
ovato v. elliptico-oblongo glabro, perianthii tubo zquilongo coronato,
seminibus angulato-globosis pallide brunneis, testa nitida verruculata.
— Pereira, in Pharm. Journ. v. 6. p. 412; Mat. Med. v. 2. p. 1131.

J. 235-241. Guibourt, Hist. Nat. des Drogues simples, v. 2. p. 222.
Has. Accra, Yorruba, and Sierra Leone, Dr. Daniell. Nom. vern.

** Attare," West Africa, and “ Tokolo nipomah” of Fernando Po. —

Folia angusta, basi acuta, apice longe acuminata, spithamea ad bipe-
dalia, lzete viridia, nervis costa parallelis, ligula truncata brevi, vagina -
valde elongata. Scapus sepissime valde arcuatus, gracilis, 2—4 unc.
longus. Bractee numerose, subdistiche, appressee, 1-2 unc. longze, -
apice rotundatee et cuspide basi lata dorsali instructe, luride virides.
Flores odori, magnitudine variabiles. Perianthii interni tubus foliolis
:equilongus, utrinque sulcatus, foliolo dorsali multinervi, labello albido
extus marginibusque purpureo tincto, intus secus medium aureo.
Anthere lobo terminali albido, marginibus roseis. Staminodia subu- -
lata, acuta v. emarginata. Stylus dorso incrassatus, stigmate aureo.
Fructus carnosus, 1-5 unc. longus, forma varia, elliptica, ampullacea,
oblonga, v. ovato-oblonga, v. iar. glaberrima, pulpa carnosa.
Semina valde aromatica et pungentia, $ unc. longa, colore varia, in-
tensiore v..pallidiore, areola conica ad hilum plus minusve elongata

, lutea v. subnulla. ia

294 AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM. s

This is undoubtedly the best and true Granum-Paradisi of our shops,
and the 4. Melegueta of Roscoe, whose figures and descriptions of
the flower and fruit are excellent. It is widely different from the 4.
Granum-Paradisi of Smith, with which Pereira was disposed to unite it.
It varies extremely in the size of all its parts, the smaller states inhabit-
ing drier and alpine localities. It is the only single-flowered species,
and no other known one has similarly aromatic and pungent seeds, nor
so characteristic a pale brown tuberculated testa. Roscoe remarks
also, that the epigynous processes (abortive stamina) are longer than in
any other species known to him. Numerous specimens of the fruit and
seeds are preserved in the Kew Museum, from various parts of the
west coast of Africa, and from Demerara. None differ particularly in
the aromatic and pungent taste of the seed, nor in its peculiar testa;
but they vary considerably in size and in the length, breadth, and

. colour of the often conical areola at the hilum. The name Melegueta
is applied by the Portuguese to various aromatic substances.

§ 2. Scapi bi- v. pluri-flori.
a. Labellum angustum, pendulum.

2. Amomum Danielli, Hook. fil. in Journ. Bot. vol. iv. 129. t. 5 (sub
nom. 4. Afzelii). ‘Bastard Meligetta," Pereira, Mat. Med. v. 2.
f. 251, 252. A. macrospermum? Sm. in Rees’ Cycl.v. 39. Pereira,
Mat. Med. v. 2. p. 1139. Guibourt, Hist. Nat. de Drogues simples,
v. 9. p. 218. f. 119? Zingiber Melegueta, Gaertner, de Fruct. v. 1.
p. 34. t. 12. f. 1.

Var. 8. purpureum; flore purpureo, anthera apice truncata. s Danielli,

_ Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4164.

-= - Has. Gold and Slave Coasts, Clarence Town, Sierra Leone, and Fer-
nando Po, Dr. Daniell. Fl. June and July. Nom. vern. “ Barsalo.”—

Var. B. Sierra Leone, Daniell.

This species is easily distinguished by its golden-yellow flowers, and
by its narrow labellum, which hangs forward like that of an Orchida-
ceous plant. The pulp surrounding the seeds is acid. It appears im-
possible to pronounce positively whether this be the 44. macrospermum

of Rees Cyclopedia.

. The variety 8 was cultivated at Kew, from seeds sent home by

Dr. Daniell, and gathered, he believes, from specimens that had golden-

yellow flowers; its flowers were red-purplish with yellow on the lip

AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM. 295

and filaments; the apex of the anther is truncated, in vus respect
only it differs from 4. Danielli.

b. Zabellum amplum, erectum, limbo horizontali-explanato.

3. Amomum Granum-Paradisi, Linn. Sp. pl. 1. p. 2; foliis elliptico-
lanceolatis acuminatis, ligula obtusa v. biloba, scapo multifloro, brac-
teis laxe imbricatis puberulis obtusis mucronatis, perianthio exteriore
tubo brevi limbo obtuso, interiore extus puberulo, lobis lateralibus
obtusis, dorsali ovato-oblongo obtuso, labello amplo late obovato-ro-
tundato, marginibus undulato-plicatis, filamento basi utrinque pro-
cessubus 2 subulatis, antherz apice integro v. bifido lobulis latera-
libus patulis subulatis loculis puberulis, staminodiis linearibus ob-
tusis, ovario pubescente, fructu ampullaceo v. elliptico-ovato v. lan-
ceolato profunde suleato pubescente, seminibus brunneis subquadra-
to-rotundatis, testa atro-brunnea nitida.—Smith, in Rees’ Cycl. v. 39.
Pereira, Mat. Med. v. 2. p. 1130. f. 284. Pharm. Journ. v. 6. p.
412. Guibourt, Hist. Nat. des Drogues Simples, v. 2. p. 221. f. 122.
Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4603.

A. grandiflorum, Sm. Exot. Flora, v. 1. t. 111.

A. exscapum, Sims, Ann. Bot. v. 1. p. 248. t. 18.

A. Afzelii? Roscoe, in Linn. Trans. v. 8. p. 354. Smith, in Rees’ (yel.
v. 39.

Has. Sierra Leone, Dr. Daniell.

Herba 3-5-pedalis. Folia 4-8 unc. longa, 1-12 lata, basi iei
apice attenuato-acuminata, marginibus purpureis, vaginis viridibus
purpureisve, ligula 1—3 unc. longa, obtusa v. biloba. Scapi 2-4 unc.
longi, ascendentes, pubescentes, 3—5-flori. Bractee remote, laxe im-
bricatz, late oblongze, apice obtuse v. bilobe, post anthesin deciduæ. -
Flores erecti, 2-3 unc. longi. Perianthium album, extus roseo tinc-
tum, labello erecto intus aureo, lobo dorsali lateralibus sequilongo -
labello breviores. Filamentum processubus 2 basi instructa, quarum —
2 exteriores minores. Anthere loculi pubescentes, lobo terminali -
late truncato, lobulo intermedio brevissimo integro v. bifido, laterali- -
bus cornutis. Fructus pubescens, atro-purpureus, carnosus, ampul-
laceus, subcompressus, 9—10-costatus, suleis acutis, costis j-tereti- -
bus, 2-3 unc. longus, 11-2 une. latus. Semina immatura alba,
The sheaths of the leaves vary from red-purple to green. Unripe

296 AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM.

specimens of the fruit have the seeds covered with a very pale silvery
epidermis, whereas older ones are very dark brown and shining. Calyx
obtuse or three-toothed at the apex (not cut into three long segments,
as described in the * Botanical Magazine,’ nor are the lateral lobes of
the perianth absent, as there supposed). The seeds are as aromatic
as those of 4. Melegueta, Roscoe, but less pungent.

The short tube of the perianth, pubescent scape, bracts, perianth, and
fruit, together with the furrows on the latter, well distinguish this
species.

4. Amomum /ongiscapum, Hook. fil.; folis approximatis lineari-lan-
ceolatis longe acuminatis basi truncatis cordato-bilobis, ligula brevis-
sima truncata, scapo elongato erecto, bracteis plurimis appressis sen-
sim longioribus superioribus late oblongis obtusis truncatisve, floribus
3—5 terminalibus, calycis tubo elongato apice acuto, perianthii lobis
lateralibus e basi lata sensim angustatis dorsali oblongo-obtuso, la-
belli limbo amplo late obovato rotundato margine undulato-plicato,
filamento brevi basi utrinque processubus 2 inzequalibus instructo,
anthere lobo terminali apice rotundato lobulis lateralibus cornutis
ascendentibus, staminodiis liberis linearibus, fructu anguste lanceo-
lato compresso trigono, seminibus immaturis.

Has. Regent, and Sugar-loaf Mountain, Sierra Leone, Dr. Daniell.
Herba elata, glaberrima. Folia pedalia, 23 unc. lata. Scapi 6—10-un-

ciales, graciles. Bractee inferiores parve, superiores late, 2-un-

ciales, purpureo-maculate. Flores ampli, inodori. Perianthii tubus
gracilis; labellum purpureum, basi albidum. Authera purpurea.

Fructus siccus 23-3 unc. longus (excl. perianth.), 2 unc. latus, glaber,

parietibus ut videtur vix carnosis. Semina immatura, valde angu-

. lata, arillo papyraceo tecta.

- *À very handsome species, conspicuous for the cordate bases of its

leaves; very short, almost obsolete ligula; and very long scapes, with

large blotched upper bracteæ, while the lower bracts are small and very
numerous.

5. Amomum cereum, Hook. fil. ; foliis lineari-lanceolatis (basi obliquis)

apice longe acuminatis, facis brevi truncata, seapo gracili elongato

Sub-6-floro, bracteis appressis obtusis truncatisve cuspidatis, calycis

~ . spathacei tubo elongato ore brevi apice subacuto, perianthii interni
^ tubo basi solido lobis lateralibus linearibus obtusis dorsali oblongo-

.. Obtuso, labello amplo late rotundato margine crispato plicato, fila-

AFRICAN SPECIES OF AMOMUM. 297

mento basi utrinque processu cornuto, antherz lobo terminali apice

truncato lateralibus divaricatis subulatis, staminodiis coadunatis apice

tantum liberis, ovario glabro superne solido elongato, fructu lineari-

lanceolato, seminibus majuseulis angulatis pulpa (sicco tenui) im-

mersis, testa lete brunnea.—.4» A. citratum, Pereira, Mat. Med.

t. 2. p. 1137?

Has. Regent, Sierra Leone, Dr. Daniell.

Folia 6-10 unc. longa, 1-13 lata, basi superiore breviore in petiolum
brevem decurrente. Scapi floriferi 4 unc., fructiferi 8 unc. longi,
graciles. Bractee sensim majores, superiores, $-2-unciales. Flores
albi, cerei. Calycis spathacei tubus compressus, ore seu limbo
brevi. Perianthii interioris tubus basi cum apice ovarii basique sta-
minodiorum in columnam solidam coadunatis, lobi albi, labello- -
cereo. Anthera flava, connectivi marginibus roseis. Staminodia
in vaginam latere fissam styli basin amplectentem coadunata. Fruc-
tus gracilis, apice rostratus, 2-24 unc. longus, siccus 4 unc. latus,
parietibus ut videtur coriaceis. Semina magna, 4 unc. diametro, in-
sapida.

This most beautiful species is readily distinguished by its "e
scapes, which are very slender in fruit, by the short mouth of the
calyx, white waxy corolla, with a very broad labellum, and especially by
the solid base of the tube of the perianth, which is continuous with the _
solid elongated top of the ovary. The coadunate staminodia afford also _
an excellent character. The seeds appear to be quite flavourless. Ihave
hazarded the conjecture that this may be the 4. citratum of Pereira, de- _
scribed from a few dried fruits. 3s

Dr. Daniell has also brought leaves and fruit of a sixth species of
Amomum, which is apparently the 4. latifolium of Afzelius: the fruit is
very large, broadly flagon-shaped, 2-3 inches long, 13-24 broad, and
with very thick and coriaceous walls. The seeds much resemble grape-
stones, but are more cylindrical; they are pale greyish-brown, taste-
less, and have a crenulate ridge (raphe) running down one side. The
leaves are broad lanceolate, sessile, and acute at the base. ;

VOL. VI. 234

298

Descriptions of some new Genera and Species of CEYLON PLANTS; by .
G. H. K. Tuwarrss, Esa., — of the Royal Botanic
Garden at Peradenia. :

(Continued from p. 12.)
(Tas. IX., X.)
Nov. Gen. SrREPTOsTIGMA, Thw. Nat. Ord. Sapindacez.

Char. Gen. Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx profunde 5-partitus ; laciniis
ovato-oblongis, imbricatis, deciduis. Corolle petala 5, unguiculata,
retusa, calycis laciniis alterna, iisdem longiora; unguis linearis, lim-
bum oblongum auriculatum fere equans. Discus emarginatus, ge-

mitalia cingens. Stamina 5, æqualia, ovario approximata ; filamenta
subulata ; anthere oblongæ, introrsæ, longitudinaliter dehiscentes,
rima dorsali prope basin affixee. Ovarium sessile, compressum, bilo-
culare. Ovu/a in loculis bina, superposita, amphitropa. Stylus sim-
plex, exsertus. Stigma indivisum, spiraliter tortum. Capsula mem-
branacea, inflata, biloba, bilocularis, loculicide bivalvis. Semina in
loculis bina, superposita, horizontalia, arillo parvo disciformi prope
hilum munita; testa membranacea. Embryonis exalbuminosi cotyle-
dones crassissimi, incumbentes ; radicula brevis, umbilico proxima.—
Arbor ingens, Zeylanica, ramosa ; ramulis teretibus, minute pubescenti-
bus; foliis ewstipulatis, alternis, abrupte 6—10-foliolatis; foliolis mem-
branaceis, penniveniis, suboppositis, integris, 2-4 poll. longis, ovato-
acuminatis, basi angustatis, obliquis ; inflorescentia laxe paniculata,
minute pubescente, pedicellis tenuibus, 6—7 lin. longis, e basi gradatim

È incrassatis, bracteolatis ; floribus 5 lin. longis, viridibus.

. Streptostigma viridiflorum, Thw.—C.P. No. 605, in Herbario Perade-

: niensi, (Tas. IX. A.)

9s Has. A large forest-tree, not uncommon in the central province of

Ceylon. The native name is Pennella.

= Pram IX. A. Fig. 1. Flowering raceme of Streptostigma viridiflorum.
2. A petal. 3. Stamina and ovarium. 4. Longitudinal section of

ovary. 5. Transverse section of ovary. 6. Fruit. 7. Section of ripe
seed.

Nov. Gen. PRosonus, Dalzell, in Hook. Journ. Bot. v. iv. p. 345.
Nat. Ord. Euphorbiaces. Tribe Phyllanthece.

Char. Gen. Flores dioici. Calyz 4-partitus ; laciniis oblongis, imbri-

— VaLVL PLC

Helminthospermum scabridum. —

nx.

Vd VL

Ş
B,
5
i]
8
b
c
S

3

Lae gesamt

* Mischodon zeylanicus.

Prosporus indica.
Pitch lith

NEW CEYLON PLANTS. D 299

catis, 2 externis. Corolla 0. Discus patelliformis, imo basi calycis

coalitus.—M.sc. Stamina 4, sub-biseriata, calycis laciniis opposi-

ta; filamentis brevibus, liberis; antheris oblongis, adnatis, extrorsis,
longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Ovarii rudimentum nullum.—F«w.

Stamina nulla. Ovarium triloculare, loculis biovulatis. Stylus bre-

vissimus ; stigmata 3, profunde bifida, recurvata. Capsula tricocca,

coccis bivalvibus, dispermis. Semina asymmetrica; testa ossea; duo
in arillo uno subligneo, profunde fisso (vel bilobato) immersa. Em-
ryo cotyledonibus foliaceis, cordatis; radicula brevi. Albumen me-
diocre, carnosum.—Arbor 30—40-pedalis, ramosissima ; ramulis tere-
tibus, cinerascentibus, junioribus compressis. Folia alterna, disticha,
integerrima, ovato-lanceolata, acuminata, basi augustata, subtus pal-
lidiora, glaucescentia, 2-44 poll. longa, 1-13 poll. lata; petiolis su-

perne sulcatis, 2-4 lin. longis. Stipule lanceolate, subserrate, li

lin. longe, decidua. Flores pallide virides, fasciculati, axillares, 2 lin.

longi. Pedunculi tenues, basi bracteati, 5—1 lin. longi. Capsule sub-
spherice, 5 lin. diam. — Arillus semina matura includens, cyaneus,

nitidus. a
Prosorus Indicus, Dalzell.—OC.P. No. 2155, in Herbario Peradeniensi. —
Has. A very common tree in the central and southern parts of the — —

Island; conspicuous in the forests, from its pale green, somewhat —

glaucous leaves.—It is quite or nearly bare of foliage for a short time —

before the flowers and young leaves make their appearance. The

wood is white and tough, and used for building purposes by the -
natives. The tree is called Carrou by the Cinghalese, and Sooddoo- —
leeyang by the Kandians. The seeds are a favourite food of the

Green Pigeon.

Prate X. C. Fig. 1. Branch of Prosorus, with male flowers. 2.
Male flower, magnified. 3. Branch of Prosorus with young fruit. 4.
An immature capsule. 5. Transverse section of immature capsule.
6. Longitudinal section of immature seed, and investing arillus. 7.
Mature capsule with an arillus and bivalve putamen separate. 8. Lon-
gitudinal section of an arillus, showing the two enclosed seeds. 9.
Seed. 10. Embryo.

Noy. Gen. MiscHopoN, Thw. Nat. Ord. Euphorbiacem.
| Tribe Crotone.
Char. Gen. Flores dioici.—Masc. Calyx 6-partitus, laciniis imbricatis.

300 NEW GENERA AND SPECIES

Corolla nulla. Stamina 6, calycis laciniis opposita, ovarii rudimen-
tum cingentia ; filamentis liberis; antheris oblongis, extrorsis, dorso
affixis, longitudinaliter dehiscentibus.—F«w. Capsula subangularis,
subdepressa, tricocca, coccis monospermis. Semina oblonga, levia,
testa membranacea. Embryo cotyledonibus oblongis, planis; radi-
cula brevi. Albumen carnosum, mediocre.—Arbor 30—40-pedalis,
ramosa, cortice scabro; ramulis teretibus, junioribus subtetragonis, pu-
bescentibus ; folis verticillatis (verticillis sepissime 4-phyllis), inte-
gerrimis, oblongis, basin versus angustatis, 4A—15 poll. longis, 1—5 poll.
latis, subtus minute reticulatis, glabris, junioribus minute pubescentibus ;
petiolis 3-3 poll. longis, cylindricis, apice parce tumidis, prope basin
dentibus 2, subulatis, parvis (stipulis) instructis, pube decidua tectis :—
Masc. panieulis multifloris, axillaribus, bracteatis, pubescentibus, fo-
his brevioribus ; floribus flavo-rufescentibus, 13 lin. longis ; pedicellis
1-2 lin. longis :—Faw. capsulis 4 lin. longis, 6 lin. latis.
Mischodon Zeylanicus, Thw.—C.P. No. 557,in Herbario Peradeniensi.
(Tas. X. B.)
Has. A very handsome tree, with spreading, somewhat pendent bran-
ches. The leaves are of a lively green colour, and when young of
a brilliant red. It would seem to be rare, as I have met with it but
. once in my botanical excursions ; and then I found a good many trees
in one spot, near Ooma Oya, on the lower Badulla road, about twenty-
five miles from Kandy. Dr. Gardner discovered this species on the
Hantani range, near Kandy; but the forest in which it occurred,
has been cleared for coffee-planting.
PraTE X. B. Fig. 1. Male flowering branch of Mischodon Zeylanicus.
2, 3. Flowers. 4. Nearly ripe capsules. 5. A coccus, and ripe seed.
6, 7. Section of ripe seed.

Nov. Gen. CHÆTOCARPUS, Thw. Nat. Ord. Euphorbiacex.

: "Tribe Crotone.

Char. Gen. Flores dioici. Calyx profunde 4-partitus, laciniis ovatis,
. . imbrieatis. Corolla nulla.—Masc. Stamina 8; filamenta (quorum
4 exteriora) in columnam centralem disco annulari colorato irregu-
lariter lobato impositam coalita, dimidio superiore libera; anthere
ovales, adnate, introrse, longitudinaliter dehiscentes.—F«M. Ova-
~ Tium liberum, sessile, setis longis patentibus deciduis dense vesti-
- tum, basi disco parvo undulato cinctum, triloculare ; loculis 1-spermis.

OF CEYLON PLANTS. 801

Styli 3, fere ad basin bifidi, fimbriati. Capsula muricata, trilocularis,
putamine osseo loculicide dehiscente. Semina ovata, nitida, singula
inter lobos duos arilli carnosi pendula; cotyledones plani, foliacei; ra-
dicula parva, prope hilum posita; albumen copiosum.—Arbor Zeyla-
nica, ramosa ; ramulis teretibus, minute pubescentibus ; folis alternis,
3 poll. longis, 14 poll. latis, integerrimis, lanceolatis, ad petiolum 4
lin. longum angustatis ; stipulis lineari-lanceolatis, deciduis ; inflores-
centia axillari, fasciculata ; floribus 8 lin. longis, breve pedicellatis,
minute pubescentibus, viridibus ; capsula 1 poll. longa, $- poll. lata ;
seminibus nigris, nitidis; arillo rubro.

Cheetocarpus pungens, Thw.—OC.P. No. 2641, in Herbario Peradeniensi.
(Tas. X. A.)

Has. A common forest-tree in the Ratnapoora and Ambagamowa dis-
tricts of Ceylon. The wood is very hard. The native name of the
tree is Hadoca.

To this genus must be referred the Adelia castanocarpa of Roxburgh.
PLATE X. A. Fig. 1. Branch of the Chetocarpus pungens, with male _
flowers. 2. A male flower, magnified. 3. Branch of the Chetocarpus,
with female flowers and young fruit. 4. A female flower, magnified.

5. Transverse section of ovary. 6. Ripe fruit. 7. Ripe fruit, with one

of the valves removed, showing the ripe seed in one loculus and an |

abortive one in the other. 8, 9. Sections of seeds, showing cotyledones. -

Nov. Gen. HELMINTHOSPERMUM, Thw. Nat. Ord. Ulmacee.

Char. Gen. Flores dioici, parvii—Masc. in panieulis brevibus, axilla-
ribus, paucifloris, hirsutis; pedicellis brevibus, bracteolatis. Perigo-
nium 5-phyllum. Stamina 5, perigonii foliolis subsequalibus opposita ; -
filamenta libera, linearia, subcompressa, apice incurva, demum rec- -
tiuscula; anther@ introrse, biloculares, cordato-acuminatz, dorso
afüxx. Ovarii rudimentum vix ullum, densissime lanosum.—From. -
Fam. subsolitarii; pedicellis longioribus. Perigonium 4-phyllum, —
persistens. Stamina nulla. Ovarium sessile, hirsutum, uniloculare.
Ovulum unicum, parieti prope apicem appensum, amphitropum, mi- —
cropyle supera. Stylus ad basin bifidus, laciniis filiformibus, latere
interiore stigmatosis. JDrupa carnosa, putamine osseo. Semen ex-
albuminosum, pendulum, vermiforme, contortum ; radicula crassius-
cula, supera.—Arbor mediocris Zeylanica, ramosa; ramulis teretibus,
scabris. Foliis alternis, 2-4 poll. longis, 1-2 poll. latis, simplicibus, -

302 NEW GENERA AND SPECIES

scabris, subserratis, breve petiolatis, lanceolato-acuminatis, ad basin an-
gustatis, penniveniis. Stipulis 4 poll. longis, pilis rigidis minutis, con-
volutis, basi caulem cingentibus, deciduis.
Helminthospermum scabridum, Thw.—C.P. No. 716, in Herbario Pera-
, deniensi. (Tas. IX. C.)
Has. A moderate-sized tree, not uncommon in the forest of the central
province of Ceylon. :

'This genus seems to form a connecting link between the natural
families Moree and Ulmacee, agreeing with the former in its uni-
sexual, not polygamous flowers, and with the latter in the structure of
its ovary.

Prats IX. C. Fig. 1. Helminthospermum scabridum, masc. 2. Male
flower, magnified. 3. Female flower, magnified. 4. Longitudinal sec-
tion of ovary. 5. Female flower. 6. Longitudinal section of ripe seed.

Nov. Gen. ALLEANTHUS, Tkw, Nat. Ord. Artocarpec.

Char. Gen. Flores dioici.—Masc. numerosissimi, in spicis axillaribus,
elongatis, unilateralibus, hirsutis, pedunculatis dense aggregati. Pe-
rigonium 4-fidum, laciniis imbricatis. Stamina 4, perigonii laciniis
opposita; filamentis complanatis, in sestivatione inflexis; antheris
subquadratis, introrsis, longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Ovarii ru-
dimentum parvum, conico-subulatum.—F«&M. Flores pauci, inter
multa perigonidia sterilia, carnosa, squameeformia, hirsuta immersi,
et cum iisdem in capitulis globosis, axillaribus, breve pedunculatis
dense aggregati. Perigonium tubulosum, irregulariter 4-fissum.

- Ovarium liberum, subcompressum, 1-loculare, l-ovulatum. Ovulum
prope loculi apicem pendulum, campylotropum. Stylus terminalis,

- simplex (raro bifidus, segmentis inzqualibus), longe exsertus, per
totam fere longitudinem stigmatosus. Fructum maturum nondum

.. vidi.—Arbor 30—40-pedalis; ramulis lactescentibus, teretibus, hirsutis;

.. foliis alternis, distichis, cordato-lanceolatis, acuminatis, argute serratis,

— hirsutis, penniveniis (venis primariis apice incurvatis, folii margini non

- attingentibus), subtus pallidioribus, venosis, 3—4 poll. longis, 14—14 poll.
latis, deciduis; petiolo supra sulcato, hirsuto, 8 lin. longo; stipulis

- oblongis, acuminatis, membranaceis, sublevibus, striatis, obliquis, de-

.— eiduis, 2 lin. longis, 14 lin. latis—Fior. Masc. spicis 1-2} poll.

. longis, 2 lin. latis; pedunculo 2—23 lin. longo.—FLon. Fam. capi-

. tulis 4 lin. diam. ; pedunculo brevissimo.

OF CEYLON PLANTS. 803

Alleanthus Zeylanicus, Thw.—C.P. No. 2215, in Herbario Peradeni-
ensi. (Tas. IX. B.)

Has. A large deciduous tree, occurring in the Central Province, at an
elevation of from 1000 to 2000 feet, most frequently at the margins
of rivers. The native name is Allandoo, or Allandoo-gaha.

The liber of this tree is exceedingly tough ; and I have been told that _
the Kandians sometimes make bags of the inner bark of the trunk, in
the same way that they prepare them from the bark of the Antiaris
saccadora (Ritti-gaha of the Cinghalese), and that at one time paper
was made from it; but a Kandian Headman, whom I lately asked re-
specting this matter, was only aware of the Antiaris being employed for
these purposes. I have written to a native gentleman, requesting him
to make inquiries for me, and to procure, if possible, specimens of the
bags and paper.

Prate IX. B. Fig. 1. Male flowering branch of Alleanthus Zeylani-
cus. 2. Male flower, magnified. 3. Female flowering branch of 4. Zey-
lanicus. 4. Section of capitulum, magnified. 5. Scale or barren perigo-
nidia. 6. Female flower. 7. Perigonium of female flower. 8. Section
of ovary, showing the ovule. 9. Ovary with bifid style.

Gen. PLECOSPERMUM, Trécul.

Plecospermum cuneifolium, Thw.—C.P. No. 2526, in Herbario Perade-
niensi. rufer scandens, spinosus; spinis solitariis, axillaribus, 4—

5 lin. longis, decurvatis; foliis cuncato-lanceolatis, acuminatis, levi- - d

bus, integerrimis, penniveniis, subtus pallidioribus, venosis, 12-3

poll. longis, 3—1 poll. latis; petiolo 3—4 lin. longo; stipulis minutis,

cuspidatis, hirsutis, deciduis; capitulis flor. fem. hirsutis, spheri-
cis, areolatis, demum sublobatis, 6—9 lin. diametro.; pedunculo 2 lin.
longo; floribus perigonidiisque subliberis, non (ut in P. spinosum,

Trécul) connatis; s/y/o simplici, breve exserto.—Fr. Masc. capi-

tati, capitulis breve pedunculatis; antheris omnino inclusis. |
Has. The present species has as yet only been met with in two loca-

lities, not very far apart, in the Central Province.

This is a very distinct species, though it bears at first sight a con-
siderable resemblance to the much more abundant Plecospermum spi-
nosum, Trécul, and Wight Icon. (C.P. No. 2212, in Herbario Perade-
niensi); its leaves, however, are wedge-shaped, and of a firmer texture
than those of P. spinosum; the spines are much smaller; the female -

304 JUMPING SEEDS.

capitula are a good deal larger, and are on much shorter peduncles ;
the fertile and barren perigonia are not consolidated into one mass, but
easily separable. x

Jumping or Moving Seeds.

A gentleman, belonging to an eminent mercantile Mexican Company,
lately did me the favour to communicate the fact, that a Mexican travel-
ler had just arrived at Southampton, bringing, what he considered to be
a great curiosity and upon which he set a very high price, namely some
jumping or moving seeds, obtained from the coast of the Pacific. They
had excited great interest among the passengers of the Steamer, and
many a weary hour had no doubt been lightened by witnessing their
gambols and speculating on the cause of motion. Fortunately our
English Minister at Mexico, Percy W. Doyle, Esq., had obtained some
of these seeds, and. he forwarded them to England by the same mail
steamer to which we have just alluded ; and through the kindness of
George Lenox-Conyngham, Esq., of the Foreign Office, and of the Hon.
Charles Augustus Murray (lately our Minister Plenipotentiary for Swit-
zerland, and now appointed to Persia, both great friends to the Royal
Gardens, and the Museum), I was soon in possession of some. Mar-
vellous and startling did their movements appear. :

Every one is familiar with the hygrometric contortions of a species of
wild Oat. Here was nothing of that kind: the seeds were altogether
of another structure, about the size of a small horse-bean. Their real
nature will be best understood by saying that the fruit to which they
belong has an affinity to that of an Euphorbia or Spurge, and very much
resembles the common Caper-Spurge of our gardens, which, as is well
. known, is a three-lobed fruit, or capsule, and separates, when ripe, into
. three portions, or three seeds, each surrounded by its hard shell; and
the shape of each of these shelly seeds is convex on the back, and nearly
plane, having, however, a slightly projecting ridge or keel in the centre,
. on the front, or inner side. If asked to guess at the plant to which
. the seed belongs, I should say, to some species of Colliguaya*, a com-
_ mon shrub on the coast of Chili. When these seeds, of which I received

three, were placed on the convex back, they shortly began to stir,—first

_ qup And very probably to the Colliguaya odorifera, Hook., figured in the Bot. Mise.
vol. i, p. 142, t. 40.

- JUMPING SEEDS. 305

one, then a second, then a third. Sometimes, the motion was con-
tinued (always in jerks) for some minutes; sometimes, one or other
seed would remain quiet for a few seconds or minutes, or even for half
an hour. While active, the movement was generally what sailors would
call fore and aft, with little or no progression: now and then, a very
sudden jerk would bring a seed on one of its ends, and sometimes it
toppled completely over, and lay on its nearly plane side. In this po-
sition the motion is different, being progressive, forward or backward,
at times so continuous in one direction that the seed fairly works its way
off the sheet of letter-paper on which it has been placed, and, finally,
off the table! This steady direction struck us as the most remarkable
feature of the movement, for it seemed to indicate a degree of intention.

After that several scientific friends, as well as myself, had gratified
ourselves with this spectacle for some time, it was suggested that pos-
sibly an insect within the shell might be the occasion of these peristaltic
movements, and it was resolved to sacrifice one of the seeds. Externally,
indeed, there is not, even when seen under a microscope, the smallest
appearance of aperture or injury in the shell, no breathing-hole. - With
a knife the shell was carefully laid open, and then appeared the cause
of all these strange contortions, in the form of a fine maggot, —the larva,

probably, of some beetle (Curculio), fat and white, occupying nearly the —.— |

whole cavity. It bore considerable resemblance, as far as can be stated —
without direct comparison, to the larva of Curculio nucum of our own -
nuts. In all the three instances that have now been examined, the crea-
ture had completely eaten up the seed or kernel, and the cavity con-
tained nothing but the insect, lying in a curved form in the hollow of
the shell. It has feet, indeed, but so minute that it would not appear
they could be intended for walking. Its movements, if I may so say, |
appeared muscular, never in very rapid succession, and like what we -
see in the spring of a salmon or dolphin out of the water: and to every
motion of this kind, of the insect within the shell, the seed or nut re- -
sponds. It is not so easy to account for the forward impulse in a con-
tinuous line when the seed lies on its flatter side; but it may be due to
the movement of the insect, and the pressure against the shell being for
à time in one and the same direction, and in the form of the seed being
longer than broad; and probably, in some measure, to the little ridge _
or keel, so that, being impelled to move, it is in a continued line, like —
that of a boat, even when influenced by a side-wind.
VOL. VI. 2R

306 BOTANICAL OBITUARY.

It is hoped that some of these seeds may have been given to an
Entomologist, and that the insect may be reared to its perfect state.
The kernel, like most of the Euphorbia-tribe, is probably of an acrid
or poisonous nature to man or other animals.—W. J. H.

Since the above was written, a seed that had been accidentally
crushed, and so laid open, showed the perfect larva within, which con-
tinued quiet for some days, but has now spun a beautifully white silky
web, entirely concealing itself, and in which it will probably undergo
its transformation; and, while we are in the press, Mr. Lenox-Conyng-
ham communicates the following memorandum to us :—

“I am sorry I have not previously had leisure to report progress re-
lating to our locomotive seeds, and my post mortem examination of the
one that appeared, when I lately observed it, to contain a live insect
with feelers, and his head looking out through a hole he had cut for
himself in the wall of his house. On opening his house—the seed-
vessel—I found that the inside was filled with silk or cotton, in which
the insect had carefully wrapped himself up. Opposite the external
aperture was a corresponding one in the coccoon, and through these
holes the insect's head was a little protruded. When I separated the
two sides of the seed, the insect dropped through the hole in his coc-
coon, and I then examined it with a magnifying glass. It looked a
perfectly developed small fly, with wings lying flat on its back. Pro- `
ceeding from the crown of its head were two rather long antenne ; and
it had the usual number of legs (six), of a reddish tinge. This is a
very unartistic description of what its appearance was when I opened
it; but I think it best that you should know what it was, before you
see what it is. I have it all ready for your inspection.”

It now only remains for us to place the insect in the hands of a sci-
entific gentleman to determine it entomological character and name;
and we have reason to believe that Mr. Westwood will kindly under-
taken this duty.

BOTANICAL OBITUARY.

Never, in the brief period of little more than three months, do we -
remember to have had occasion to lament the death of so many and
_ such able Botanists as at the present period: these, too, were men of

BOTANICAL OBITUARY. 307

our own country; for the Continent, a/mosé within the same time, has
lost Auguste St. Hilaire, Gaudichaud, Adrien de Jussieu, Richard, fils,
Ledébour, Fischer, Kunze, Schweegrichen, Reinwardt, Scherer: and
again, in our own country, we still feel the loss of Lemann and Bromfield.

We had scarcely announced the demise of Dr. Wallich, than the daily
journals conveyed to us the death of

1. JAMES EDWARD WINTERBOTTOM, ESQ.,

Who died at Rhodes, on his return from Egypt and Nubia, and
while on his way to Constantinople, in prosecution of further scientifie
journeys. Of independent fortune, well educated, well informed, pos-
sessing a mind deeply imbued with a love of Natural History, and en-
dowed with almost an athletic frame,—it is no wonder he early sought
to improve his mind by travelling. Owing to his remarkably retiring
habits, and a disposition to avoid whatever might bring him into publie
notice, it is quite out of our power to do justice to his memory by a
statement of all thé services which Mr. Winterbottom has rendered to
science. Our earliest acquaintance with him was when he had com-
pleted his studies and taken his B.M. degree at Oxford (for he was
educated for the medical profession, though he never practised medi-
cine), about the year 1825, in the summer of which year he did
us the favour to accompany a party on a botanical excursion to the
Breadalbane Mountains. Two circumstances remain strongly impressed
upon our memory connected with that tour: one was his ardent
zeal in pursuit of plants, and the other an instance of his humanity.
A sick sheep had strayed from its companions, and was unable to ex-
tricate itself from the dangers of the rocky precipices which almost
everywhere surrounded the spot. He took up the animal, which would
have been more than a load for any one of the rest of us, and with the
greatest eare, and all the skill that a praetised shepherd might be ex-
pected to possess, raised it on his shoulders, and, with only a few mo- —
ments of rest here and there, carried it a long distance, till he placed oe
it in safety among its companions, near the base of the mountains.

From that period, Mr. Winterbottom was entirely lost sight of, by us
at least ; a vague report only, that he was gone to travel in India, and as
a Botanist, had reached us, till about 1846, when we heard he had joined,

as a volunteer, Captain Richard Strachey, who was engaged by the In- —— xt

dian Government to make a survey of certain portions of the Hima-

908 BOTANICAL OBITUARY.

laya mountains about Kamaon and Thibet. His vigorous constitution,
his ardour in the cause of science, and his artistic qualifications, ren-
dered him a most valuable coadjutor on this occasion ;—and on the
return of these gentlemen to England, in 1849, they occupied the same
house in Gower-street, Bedford-square, London, and spent nearly two
years in working out their observations, and arranging and naming and
distributing their joint collections. As far as the Botanical portion is
concerned, we can bear ample testimony to their value, a very full set
having been presented to the Herbarium of the Royal Gardens of Kew,
which has proved of the greatest use to Drs. Hooker and Thomson, in
the preparation of their *Flora Indica) Another journey which Mr.
Winterbottom undertook, into Kashmere and the adjacent provinces,
was equally productive, and in plants of another description. A por- -
tion of this is also familiar to us, having been placed in Dr. Hooker’s
hands for the furtherance of his ‘ Indian Flora.’

Mr. Winterbottom’s presumed object in his last voyage and journey,
which commenced in 1852, and from which he did not live to return,
was to visit Abyssinia. His botanical friends were, we believe, ignorant
of his visit to Egypt and Nubia, till it was announced in the papers, in
connection with his death at Rhodes. We have, however, been kindly
informed by the family, that they have received, from Beyrout, his col-
lection of Plants, made during his recent tours in Upper Egypt and .
Nubia, and in Palestine and Syria, which he had left there to be for-
warded direct. None of his papers and effects have yet arrived from
Rhodes,

Mr. Winterbottom was the son of the late Dr. Winterbottom of
Reading. He was a Fellow of the Linnean and Geographical Societies,
and a frequent attendant at their meetings; but he never sought noto-

riety among the members. Though well able to instruct, he preferred
being a hearer rather than a teacher. He died of fever, and fell a sa-
€rifice to the cause of Science in the prime of life.

2. JOHN ELLERTON STOCKS, ESQ., M.D., BOMBAY MEDICAL SERVICE.

While the news of the death of Mr. Winterbottom was still, as it
were, sounding in our ears, we received the sorrowful tidings of the
. decease of another Indian Botanist and friend, Dr. Stocks, intelligence

-~ Which more immediately touched the writer of this article ; for Dr. Stocks

had been for many months so constantly an inmate of our Library and

BOTANICAL OBITUARY. 309

Herbarium, as to be in some degree one of ourselves. This event took

place at the residence of a relative, where he was on a visit (with an

unmarried sister), Samuel Watson, Esq., of Cottingham, near Hull (his

native town), at the early age of thirty-four. He received his medical

education at University College, London, and profited more than most

students by Dr. Lindley's Botanical Lectures. He entered the East
India Company's Service on the Bombay Establishment, and was soon
appointed Vaccinator in Scinde, and afterwards Inspector of Forests

there. His travels in Scinde and Beloochistan were frequent and ex-

tensive, and he took advantage of them to improve his knowledge of
the Botany of all this remarkable region, which he showed to have a

close affinity in its vegetable products with Arabia and Egypt. His

collections of specimens were very extensive, and well prepared ; and the

drawings, done by native artists, under his immediate inspection, are

noless so. On Dr. Gibson's visit to England, about three years ago,

Dr. Stocks was appointed during his absence to the important duties of
Conservator of Forests and Superintendent of Botanic Gardens in Bom-

bay, which gave further opportunity of pursuing his botanical researches,

both personally and by means of collectors. His ambition now, was

to turn these large collections to account, and to come to England,

where alone he could determine the correct nomenclature of the Genera

and Species, and where he hoped to publish the new plants, and to

distribute his specimens in the manner that would be most beneficial
to the cause of Botany.

Dr. Stocks accordingly came to England on furlough, bringing his
collections with him, and made Kew his residence; and here he had
been busily engaged since the early spring, in comparing them with
authentic specimens in the Kew Herbarium, and preparing them for
publication. Unfortunately his constitution had been undermined by
his great labours in the unhealthy climate of Scinde; he was subject to
intense neuralgic pains in the head and neck, and a change of air and
scene was deemed desirable. He accordingly spent a few weeks with
relations in the Isle of Man; and on his way thence to Cottingham he
caught a cold, which was succeeded by fits of apoplexy, which in a very
few days terminated fatally, on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 30th of
August. a

Dr. Stocks had brought to England materials, in a very forward taste,
for a general work on the Natural History, Manners, Customs, Arts,

N
310 BOTANICAL OBITUARY.

Manufactures and Commerce, Agriculture, ete. ete., of Scinde, which it
is yet hoped may be found worthy of publication. Great talent and
great research had been bestowed on it; and tle information it con-
tains is much of the same nature as that of the late Dr. Francis Bu-
chanan Hamilton's History of the Mysore, but possessing the further
advantage of being written in a lively and agreeable style, and -ren-
dered doubly valuable from the amount of scientific knowledge of the
highest stamp brought to bear upon it. Few men of his years were more
extensively read in all subjects connected with the improvement of
India, than Dr. Stocks. In that country his death will be much felt ;
and sure we are that to his personal friends the loss is irreparable, for
he possessed a most kind and amiable disposition. ;

Like Mr. Winterbottom, Dr. Stocks was more gratified by being
useful to others than in coming forward as an author; and.it was only
by the urgent entreaty of his friends that he could be induced to appear
in that capacity. Most, if not all, that has yet been printed from his
pen, we have been privileged to publish in our Botanical Journals. In
the ‘London Journal of Botany,’ vol. vii. p. 539, will be found some
Notes on the Botany (chiefly economic) of Seinde, describing some of
the numerous vegetable products he had presented to the Museum at
Kew. At p. 550 of the same volume, is a most lively and spirited
letter, written during “a botanical excursion to Shah Bilawul, in Be-
loochistan.” In the present Journal or * Kew Garden Miscellany,’ vol. i.
p. 257, is an excellent Memoir on two Balsam-trees (Balsamodendron)
of Scinde, B. Mukul and B. pubescens, with two plates. In vol. ii. p.
303, will be found an excellent general sketch of the Botany of Beloo-
chistan, written after a second journey into that country. In vol. iii.
are descriptions and figures of two new plants of Scinde. Vol. iv.
contains descriptions of thirty-seven Beloochistan plants, chiefly new
species. His last communication will be seen at p. 314 of the same
volume: “Notes on the Botany and the Government Gardens of
Bombay." ;

3. PHILIP BARKER WEBB, ESQ., or Mrtrorp Howse, SURREY.

Only the day after the intelligence reached us of the demise of Dr.
Stocks, a letter was received by Dr. Hooker, from M. J. Gay of Paris,
.. dated September 1, 1854, announcing the death there of Mr. Webb; a
. Botanist, indeed, more advanced in years, but whose death was equally

BOTANICAL OBITUARY. 311

unlooked for and more sudden than that of our last mentioned friend ;
it took place only a few hours later, namely at two o'clock on the
morning of Thursday, 31st of August. ** Vous étiez, comme moi,"
writes M. Gay, “ami de M. Webb, et comme moi vous savez tout ce
qu'il y avait de charme et de nobles qualités dans cet homme scien-
tifique. Hélas, c'est une triste perte pour l'amitié et pour la science!
Il nous a été enlevé hier matin par une attaque de choléra, et je suis
maintenant livré aux tristes soins qu'exige la conservation de son corps,
en attendant son frére l'Amiral, qui doit étre à Genéve et que j'ai
mandé par la télégraphe. C’est pour moi, qui avais toute sa confiance,
une perte immense, une perte irréparable."

In another letter from the same friend of Mr. Webb, dated Sept. 9th,
are the following further particulars :— /

“ M. Webb avait eu une attaque de goutte plus grave et plus longue
que toutes les précédentes. Six semaines passées dans son lit l'avaient
empéché de réaliser le double projet d'aller prendre les eaux de Vichy
et de pousser ensuite jusqu'à Genéve, pour faire une visite à son frére
(Amiral Webb, R.N.) Il sc remettait enfin peu à peu, et com-
mencait à se tenir sur ses jambes, après avoir fait usage de béquilles.
Déjà il pouvait monter sans secours jusqu'à son herbier; et comme la
place y manquait pour des acquisitions nouvelles, il était occupé à dé-
ménager sa bibliothèque, qu'il transportait à l'étage inférieur, opération
qui était déjà plus qu'à moitié effectivée, le classement méthodique des
livres restant seul inachevé, Il en était là lorsque, le mardi, 29 Août,
se montrérent les symptómes d'une cholérine, qui pourtant fut bientót
arrétée par les moyens usités en pareil cas. Le soir tout paraissait
fini, mais la nuit fut sans sommeil; et le lendemain, mercredi, la fièvre
survint, avec des embarras de téte, avec refroidissement sensible de la
langue et des mains, c'est à dire avec des symptómes tout nouveaux et
des plus alarmans. Un jeune médecin anglais était là ; je ne sais ce qu'il
fit, mais ce qu'il fit fut sans aucun succès, et lorsque j'arrivais sur les neuf
heures du soir avec le docteur Cosson, déjà le malade avait perdu toute
connaissance; il ne reconnaissait plus personne, et les deux médecins
présens avaient perdu tout espoir, bien qu'ils administrassent encore des
potions et qu'ils applicassent encore des sinapismes. A minuit le malade
était dans un état pis encore. A deux heures et demie du matin il
avait cessé de vivre; il s'était éteint sans agonie et presque sans souf-
france. Vous ai-je parlé de choléra? Sije l'ai fait, c'est par erreur, car-

312 BOTANICAL OBITUARY.

il n'est pas possible d'appeler de ce nom une maladie dans laquelle il
n'y a eu ni crampes, ni période cyanique, ni refroidissement général, ni :
altération des traits. Je croirais plutót à une goutte remontée et
compliquée de fiàvre typhoide, le tout aggravé par l'influence cholérique
agissant sur un corps affaibli par un régime débilitant de plusieurs se-
maines."

A postscript again, to this letter, gives “les termes techniques dans
lesquels on peut parler de la maladie qui l'a emporté.” —“ A. la suite
d'une attaque de goutte qui a duró deux mois, M. Webb a été atteint

d'une gastro-entérite, accompagnée de quelques symptómes cholériques
- et typhoides, à laquelle il a succombé le 31 Août, 1854."

Mr. Webb, though of late years his principal residence was in an
excellent mansion in the Avenue Marbeeuf, Paris, where, like Humboldt,
he found facilities for carrying on expensive scientific publications, not
to be enjoyed elsewhere, was a native of England, and born on his
paternal estate, Milford House*, Surrey. His father was the grandson
of Philip Carteret Webb}, of Busbridge, Esq., one of the most distin-
guished antiquaries and lawyers of the day; and in the same way as
the descendant has adorned the grounds at Milford House with nume-
rous rare exotic trees, so did his ancestor beautify and improve Bus-
bridge with oaks, and that to such an extent, that a silver medal from
the Society of Arts was awarded to him, for having planted so great a
quantity of acorns for timber. What Mr. Philip Carteret Webb was
as an antiquary and lawyer, his great-grandson became as a classical
scholar and Botanist. He was born in July 1793, and first went to Dr.
Moore's celebrated school, thence to Harrow, and afterwards to Christ
Church, Oxford, where he took a first-class in 1815.

Thus possessed of excellent talents, born to a good estate, and full of

. * Now the property of his next brother, Colonel Webb, long Aide-de-camp to
Lord Combermere. ;
+ This gentleman, who was born in 1700, and died at Busbridge in 1770, is
stated to have been eminently learned in the Records of this Kingdom, and particu-
larly able as a parliamentary and constitutional Lawyer. He was twice returned
Member of Parliament for the borough of Haslemere, and was a principal actor in
.. the prosecution of Mr. Wilkes for his writings in the * North Briton.’ At his decease
_ his library, and collections, principally of coins and medals, were sold; the sale of
them occupying many days. The House of Peers purchased thirty MS. volumes of
the Rolls of Parliament; and the British Museum is now in possession of his MS.
. on paper, which had been purchased by the Marquis of Lansdowne. His publica-
tions were numerous. See Nichols's ‘Literary Anecdotes, and the ‘ Biographical
- Dictionary,’ for further particulars of this learned man.

BOTANICAL OBITUARY. 918

ardour in pursuit of science, it is no wonder that he attained a high rank,
both as a naturalist and as an author. He early set out on his travels,
with a mind deeply imbued with Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and
above all Italian Literature. We are assured by a near relative of his,
that he has been known at his own table to address different guests
in seven different languages. The first of his works that has come to our
knowledge was almost entirely classical, in ltalian, entitled ** Osser-
vazioni intorno allo stato antico e presente dell' agro Trojano, del
Signor Filippo Barker Webb, Gentiluomo Inglese, Membro dell’ Uni-
versità di Oxford, della Società Linneana di Londra, della Società Geo-
logica, di quella dell’ Ortieoltura, ete. Milano, 1821." The fifth
chapter has eighteen pages (8vo), all devoted to the physical condition
of the Troad; and there are some learned discussions on Homeric
Botany, and a treatise entitled ** Necessità per un commentatore o
filologo Omerico di conoscere la Botanica.” At an after period,
namely in 1844, the author published a French edition of this work,
with corrections and additions, and some new plates. Italy, Greece,
Asia Minor, Spain, Portugal, the North of Afriea (Marocco), Madeira,
and more especially the Canary Islands, were successively the objects |
of his travels and research. The latter country (the Canaries) de-
tained him two entire years; and from that time to within a year or
two of his death, he and M. Berthelot, the companion of his travels
there and indeed the explorer of the whole group of islands during
a period of twelve years, devoted the main portion of their lives to the
illustration of the Civil and Natural History of this remarkable country*.
The result is before the public in what are termed three volumes, large —
4to, (but which in reality require to be bound in eight volumes,) with
numerous maps and plates, and an Atlas ** des cartes phytostatiques.” ;
It is, indeed, one of the most remarkable publications of the present day.
The ablest artists were employed to execute the drawings and the ©
plates; and the work is divided in the following manner :— "d
Tom. I. P. 1. Ethnographie et les Annales de = Conquéte ; with sixty :
plates, representing scenery, natives, etc. Part IL. Miscellanées Cana- -
riennes; viz. Relation de Voyage, Chasses, Navigations, Caravanes,
Notices, Episodes, Descriptions, remarques et observations diverses.

* * Histoire Naturelle des Isles Canaries; par MM. P. Barker Webb et Sabin P
Berthelot, Membres de plusieurs Académies et Sociótés savantes: ouvrage ps =
sous les auspices de M. Guizot, Ministre de l'Instruction publique.”

28

VOL. VI.

314 BOTANICAL OBITUARY.

Tom. II. P. 1. La Géographie descriptive; La statistique de la
Géologie. Part II. La Zoologie, with numerous plates; many coloured."

Tom. III. P. 1. La Géographie Botanique. Part II. Phytogra-
phia Canariensis. This indeed comprises the ** Flora” of the Canary
Islands, and forms three sections (in fact, so many stout volumes), with
nearly three hundred well executed botanical plates, and elaborate de-
scriptions and remarks, entirely in Latin; exclusive of the “ Plante
Cellulares " (by Dr. Montagne), which appear in a separate volume,
with nine plates, each containing several species.

The Atlas of phytostatic plates we have alluded to above, is very
interesting. Four different vegetable ** Regions” are represented :—
1. The Region of Euphorbias. 2. That of the Ravines. 3. Region of
Laurels and Forest Plants. 4. Region of Pines. Among the plates
that represent the general habit in aspect (facies) of certain species,
the most striking are the Euphorbia Canariensis, piscatoria, and aphylla;
Convolvulus floridus, Plocama pendula, and Kleinia nervifolia, but above
all the Dragon-tree (Dracena Draco), in different ages of growth.

Although Mr. Webb’s time and energies (and we know, too, his
purse) were heavily taxed in the prosecution of this noble work, he yet
found time for other botanical memoirs and publications: among these
we may enumerate his “Iter Hispaniense, or a Synopsis of Plants col-
lected in the Southern Provinces of Spain and in Portugal.” ** Obser-
. vations sur le Tamarix Gallica de Linné. “On the Genus Hemicrambe.”
“Sur le genre Retama.” “Sur les groupes des Ulicinées.” “De Di-
cheriantho, Paronychiarum genere novo." “Otia Hispanica, seu De-
lectus Plantarum rariorium per Hispanias sponte nascentium," 40 plates,
folio. **Spicilegia Gorgonea,” a very important portion of our “ Niger
Flora." Various articles, original, and communications from Botanical
travellers in distant lands, are given in our Botanical Journals. The
last of his publications, and not the least important, and which was
. reviewed at p. 127 of our present volume, is entitled “ Fragmenta
. Florule ZEthiopico- ZEgyptianze, ex plantis precipue ab Antonio Figaro,
M.D., Museo I. R. Florentino, missis;" accompanied by beautiful figures.

But we should do little justice to Mr. Webb’s memory, if-we were to
~ speak of him only as a Scholar, Historian, and Botanist. He was no

. less distinguished by his gentlemanly bearing, the urbanity of his man-
mers, and his great patronage of literature, but especially of Botany.
. His fine Museum and Library were alway accessible to the student and

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 315

to the man of Science; strangers were received with great hospitality ;
and no one did more for the promotion of Botany in others than did Mr.
Webb, especially by the encouragement he gave to botanical collectors ;
and his pecuniary contributions on such occasions were both judicious
and liberal. By such means, too, he added immensely to the stores of
his own Herbarium, which, there can be no question, was second in
France, as a private herbarium, only to that of M. Delessert, while
his Botanical Library alone has been on good authority valued at
25,000 francs.

Such incessant labours in the cause of literature and science did not
go unacknowledged. It is well known that His Majesty the present —
' Emperor of the French, Louis Napoleon, assigned to him the Legion
of Honour; and, as might be expected, the Spanish Sovereign was
ready to do still higher honour to the historian of
** P? Isola di Fortuna ora vedete,

Di cui gran fama a voi, ma incerta, giunge."
Her Majesty Queen Isabella IL. not only permitted the *Otia His-
panica’ to be dedicated to her, but was pleased to confer upon the
author the Cross of the distinguished Order of Charles TI., the first —-
Order in Spain, after that given only to Princes of Spanish blood.

The whole of Mr. Webb’s fine botanical collections, including Herba- -
rium and Library, are bequeathed to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and

will consequently be removed to Florence. His own remains have

been conveyed to England, and deposited at Milford.—J7. J. H.

' BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Harvey, dated Freemantle, West Aus-
tralia, May 19, 1854.

I wrote you last from Cape Riche, in March, saying, among other
things, that I had given up my trip to Perth and Freemantle. After-
wards I changed my mind, and set out, in a cart, from King George’s
Sound on April 2nd, and arrived at Perth on the 13th, where I was
hospitably entertained for a week by Mr. Sanford, who was as kind as
he could possibly be, and so continues. His position enabled him to

316 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

procure me several facilities for my work, etc. ; and I have the free use
of a boat for dredging, and of the Government House at Rottenest
Island, where I move over on Monday, and where I mean to spend
three or four weeks. Unfortunately I wrote to Mr. Sanford from the
Sound, after I had given up all thoughts of coming, to re-ship my
paper, etc., to Melbourne by the first ship; and it so happened that a
ship offered three days before my arrival, and so the boxes and bales
went off, for better for worse. I am obliged, therefore, to use any paper
I can procure, and, by begging and buying, get along. Mr. Roe gave
me some capital brown, and I have got cartridge from the Convict
Establishment. Now I am here I find plenty to do on the shore, and
mean to stay till July, returning to King George’s Sound by the Ist of
August, staying a month there, and leaving by the Peninsular and
Oriental Steamer on the Ist of September, for Melbourne. Perhaps
-you could write to me in the despatch-bag to Melbourne, through Mr.
Higgins, and the Governor will forward it where I may then be. I
have been twice to Garden Island (a real marine garden for Algz), and
on my last excursion discovered two new species of Martensia (Hemi-
trema, R. Br.), which are so pretty that I enclose them. Do not lose
them, as I have as yet very few specimens of either, and may not find
them again. My M. Brunonis may be identical with the Natal species,
which ought to be compared with it ; the M. denticulata is easily known
by its eroso-denticulate margin, as well as substance and habit. I have
still another (M. australis, MS.), found at the Sound, but have not
brought any specimen with me. At this rate of going, it may be a large
genus before I get home. I have not yet found Claudea, or any new
network genus; but my collection is daily growing in interest, from
new species, and from finding many old ones in a better state of fruit
. than they have hitherto been known in. Iam surprised, however, to
find some Antarctic species (as Delesseria crassinervia), and several
which we had previously only from Melbourne or Van Diemen's Land ;
.80 that I expect I shall find the Nereis of this continent much less di-
versified than I had expected. As yet I have only about two hundred
species, and of several only a few specimens, or a solitary one.
Mr. Drummond paid me a visit when I was at Perth, and had much
. to speak of. He is looking very well,—a great-boned, brawny Scot,
. with snow-white hair and beard,—and as active as ever, and as enthu-
siastic in his pursuit as possible. He has several new genera, he tells

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 317

me, from the north, some very remarkable; and I have offered to describe
them for him before I leave, and send you the MS., if he sends me spe-
cimens intime. He has given me one very remarkable Rutaceous plant,
the stamens all united in a perfect tube, as fully so as in Meliacee.
He speaks of a superb Verticordia, with crimson flowers as big as half-
crowns ; the bush so gorgeous, that his waggoner, when he went up, used
to turn aside when he passed the plant, from admiration, lest he should
injure it. Drummond himself picked it so greedily, that, when he came
to sort his plunder at night, he found so much, that he made his bed of
what remained after he had filled his papers! He told me of a very -
remarkable irritable movement, which he has noticed in the hairs of
several annual Composite, which I am to look for when they spring
up. As yet I have seen none of the annuals of this country, except
their dead stems. On my road from the Sound I walked a good deal
(as we rarely travelled more than thirty miles a day), and collected what
I could. Very few plants, except shrubs, were in blossom, and much
of the country had been burnt. I gathered flowers of Hakea eucalyp-
toides, of which I sent you seeds from Cape Riche, and now report that
it is one of the handsomest of the genus. ‘The flowers are crimson, in.
dense balls, with very long primrose-colour styles, spreading to all sides.

I hope Smith may raise it, and that it may blossom. The shrub itself — :

is very graceful. Mr. Sanford has got a box of Wooden Pears for you’
(X. occidentale), and will ask you to send some to our Dublin Gardens —
and keep a few for my museum: there are plenty for all. I have not
seen the tree, which he describes as being a very splendid thing when
in flower, and very sweet. Some of the Hakeas are very sweet, like
Hawthorn, and they call them May-bushes here. H. floribunda is spe- ——
cially sweet. i
Drummond wants me to pay him a visit “ over the hills," at his place;
but it would occupy a fortnight, and my tiine is too short to spare s0-
long from my coast-work, for what would be merely a pleasure excur- -
sion. Before I get from this Colony I shall have been eight months in.
it, one of which will have been lost in locomotion, and another nearly -
lost at Cape Riche. My next location will be either at Port Faery,
near Portland Bay, on the Melbourne coast, or (if I can get there) Kent
Island, R. Brown's great Fucus locality. There is a large lighthouse
establishment on the island, and I hope to get sent in a Government
supply boat, and brought away again by the same, on its return; but ——

818 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

this is uncertain. Ido not expect to reach Hobarton before Christmas,
and that will, I suppose, be a good season for Port Davy,—fully late, I
fear, except for the mountains. If it be not too expensive, I mean to
visit that quarter for Joseph's sake as well as my own, and shall try
and get Mr. Gunn to come with me. I find it nearly impossible to
attend to both land and sea plants; the latter take so much time in
washing, laying out, and changing, that my whole time is literally occu-
pied, except at meals; and one day's walk sometimes takes me three days
to put on paper, before I can take another walk. This is because I have
to dry such a number of specimens of each kind for my seventy sub-
scribers. If, therefore, Gunn do not come with me, either land or sea
will be neglected.

If the dige part of the ‘Flora Nove Zelandiz’ be yet published, I
wish Joseph would send it to me, if possible, through the Colonial
Office despatch-bag, to either the Governor of Melbourne (to prefer), or
New South Wales. Melbourne will be my head-quarters, from which
I shall branch to Van Diemen’s Land, and return there before going
to Sydney: I go to Sydney to get passage for New Zealand, if I go
there. At Melbourne there is a Peninsular and Oriental hulk moored,
on which I can leave all the extra baggage I do not require, which is
my reason for making it head-quarters.—I do not stop at Adelaide at
all, from having over-stayed my time here, and because I have not

heard very good reports of it.
= r W. H. Harvey.

ErrrocIum GMELINI, Rich., a British Plant.

We have just received the welcome intelligence (accompanied by re-
cent specimens) that the very curious aphyllous Orchidaceous plaht,
Epipogium Gmelini of L. C. Richard (E. aphyllum, Reichenbach ; Li-
modorum Epipogium, Sw.; Satyrium Epipogium, Linn.), has been
added to the number of our British native plants. The discovery was
communicated to me on the 9th of this month (September), by the Rev.
W.Anderton Smith, of Tedstone, from the Rectory, Delamere, Bromyard:
—“ I am sure it will interest you to know that, a few weeks since, Mrs.
Anderton Smith found a specimen of the Epipogium Gmelini, the first,
lam told, that has been found in England. For some time we looked
in vain for other specimens; but, on the 28rd ult., I was fortunate in

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 319

detecting a considerable mass of it. All were found at the foot of a
very steep woody bank, close to a brook; the soil very wet and stiff.
As the banks are very much trampled on at present (timber and faggots
being drawn along), I decided on digging it up, and planting it in a
similar spot in our own grounds."

We trust, with the assistance of a drawing made by Mrs. Anderton
Smith, from the recent specimens, to give an accurate coloured figure
in the * Botanical Magazine,’ of this rarity. Even upon the Continent
it appears to be seldom met with. It was first gathered in Siberia, by
Gmelin, who called it Epipogium. It has since been discovered in
various alpine countries in the north and middle of Europe. Though
not a conspicuous plant, its flowers are very elegant, and highly curious
in structure.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

SEEMANN, Dn. BERTHOLD: The Botany of the Voyage of H.M.S.
Herald, etc. ete. Fasc. 4,5. 4to. London, 1853-4, Each with
10 plates. ‘
This valuable work rather increases than diminishes in interest, as it

proceeds, We briefly noticed the 3rd fasciculus in our last volume.

The 4th and 5th have now appeared, in which the Flora of the Isthmus

of Panama is continued. In the 4th fasciculus the author carries out

his views of uniting Turneracee with Passifloracez, and figures (at Tab.

27) his new genus, “ Erblichia," which tends to unite the two.

Another fine new Pentagonia (Rubiacee), P. Tinajita, is figured; the

second new species he has detected. A full history of the medicinal

Guaco (Mikania Guaco, H.B.), so celebrated among the Indians for _

curing snake-bites, is given, and the accounts savour of the marvel- -

lous. Tt is, indeed, not a little remarkable, how in America, both -

North and South, the various species of Eupatorinee (despised as they’

are in European practice) are esteemed for the cures of all manner of

diseases which flesh is heir to: especially the “ Bone-set” (Zupato-
rium perfoliatum) of the United States. At this moment, too, we re-
ceive from a well-informed gentleman of Jamaica, dried specimens of —

“ Eupatorium. nervosum, E. villosum, and E. rigidum,” accompanied by -

i

320 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

the assurance that it has been found an infallible cure for Cholera* !—
Orescentiacee here forms an order distinct from Bignoniacea, including
eight or nine Genera, accompanied by a beautiful figure of Parmentiera
cerifera, of this Order. Some fine figures of Piperacez appear, especially
the Artanthe imperialis, Miq.

The descriptive matter does not go beyond the last-mentioned family,
but the remaining plates in Fasc. 5 are of highly interesting subjects.
Tab. 43. Zamia Chigua, Seem. Tab. 44. Cypripedium Hartwegi, Rei-
chenb. fil. Tab. 45 and 46-47 (a folio plate) are devoted to admirable
illustrations of the “ Vegetable Ivory,” Phytelephas macrocarpa. The
remaining three plates are devoted to Ferns:—Tab. 48, Ctenopteris
(Glyphotzenium) crispa, J. Sm.; Tab. 49, eres Seemanni, J. Sm;
‘dos 50, Nephrodium Cumingianum, J. Sm.

PanLATORE, FILIPPO; Viaggio per le Parti SETTENTRIONALI DI

Europa, fatto nel anno 1851. Parte Prima: Narrazione del Viag-

gio, con una carta Geographica in rame. Firenze, 1854.

The Travels of an enlightened Italian in the extreme north of Europe,
even to Cape North, cannot but be interesting to any ordinary reader.
Here, in addition, we have in the author a Naturalist, a most able Bo-
tanist, and a close observer of men and manners, as well of plants. Some _

. particulars of this journey are given in the fourth volume of this Journal,
in a letter from Professor Parlatore, addressed to the late P. B. Webb,
Esq. An excellent Map accompanies the work.

. SeuuckanDT, Tu.: Synopsis TREMANDREARUM, Dissertatio inaugu-
See ralis, etc, 4to. Gottingze, 1852.

|... The natural family of Tremandree, Br., is here fully considered under
_ the following heads :—1. Essential or differential character; 2. Natu-
yal Adr: 3. Affinities; 4. Region; 5. Discovery; 6. Conspectus ;
T. Genera and species. Tetratheca, Sm., contains 22 species; Platy-
theca, Steetz, 2 species; and Tremandra, 2.

. .* Pereira tells us the properties are “bitter tonics.” The Mikania Guaco, it
should be here observed, is stated by Pereira to have been used in cholera. It con-

tains a “ peculiar resin ; but that, if it possesses any peculiar thera utical virtues, they
P E. 7 z :

321

On the North Brazilian EUPHORBIACE® in the collections of
Mr. Spruce; dy GEoncE BENTHAM, Eso.

PEDILANTHES.

This genus, hitherto confined to the West Indies, Mexico, and the
Spanish Main, had not been found within the limits of Brazil, till
Mr. Spruce gathered the following species in April, 1851, in the
Capoeiras, near Barra do Rio Negro. It is allied to the common P.
tithymaloides, but the leaves are much less carinate, shorter, and
broader, and the shape of the involucre is different, although difficult
to describe.

P. retusa ; glabra, foliis oblique lato-ovatis obtusis retusisve basi acutis
leviter carinatis, involueris postice leviter gibbis, labio superiore
brevi lato integro, inferiore duplo longiore, ovario glabro, capsulis
ecornutis.— Caules a basi perenni plures erecti carnoso-sublignosi,
subramosi, 2—5-pedales, glabri. Folia glabra, crassiuscula, fere
Loranthi, 2—2} poll. longa, 1-2 poll. lata, pleraque apice emarginato-
retusa, preeter costam mediam subavenia, petiolo brevissimo. ores
in cymam terminalem brevem vix ramosam dispositi. Involucra

breviter pedicellata, calceiformia, 4—5 lin. longa, postice leviter gibba _ 5

nec calearata et intus biglandulosa, ore bilabiato, labio superiore v.
postico erecto apice inflexo truncato, inferiore horizontaliter producto
subcylindrico flores involvente 4-lobo, lobis 2 inferioribus majoribus
subtus alte connatis apice rotundatis 2 superioribus subinclusis et
iis dimidio minoribus angustioribusque. Flores masculi 15-20, mo-
nandri, squamis nullis intermixtis. Pediculi ex involuero subexserti,
superne hispidi. Filamentum in pediculo articulatum, glaberrimum,
breve; antherz loculi distincti. Flos fæmineus cum pediculo hirtello _
continuus, ovario styloque elongato glabris. Styli rami breves, bifidi. -
Capsula levis, trisulca, tricocca. | :
EUPHORBIA. Y
The collection only contains four species, all common tropical weeds,
and all gathered in the neighbourhood of Santarem, viz. E. geniculata,
Ort. (E. prunifolia, Jacq.), E. hypericifolia, L., E. pilulifera, L., aud
one of the Chamesyce set, perhaps E. tenella, H. B. K.; but without a —
thorough revision of the numerous good or bad species published in
VOL. VI. 2T

LI

B

229 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJ£

various works, it is impossible to determine these little annuals with
accuracy.
DALECHAMPIA.

The Santarem plant distributed as possibly a new species, proves to
be a mere variety of the common 2. scandens, Linn., or D. Brasiliensis,
Lam., to which should probably be referred D. sidefolia, H. B. K., and
some others. Mr. Spruce gathered also another common species, D.
convolvuloides, Lam., at Barra do Rio Negro. He did not meet with
the curious and somewhat anomalous D. micrantha, Peepp., but we
have it in the last Guiana collections of the two Schomburgks (Rob.

. Schomb. n. 784; Rich. Schomb. n. 1430).

PERIDIUM.

The small tribe of Zuphorbiacee, to which Dr. Klotzsch has given the
long and somewhat inconvenient name of Prosopidoclinea, is divided by
him into four genera, so closely allied to each other, that he might well
have left them united under the name of Pera, selected by Mutis, pro-
bably in allusion to the pear-shaped fruit of his original species. I
have not, it is true, seen the male flowers of Mutis’s plant, and I do
not quite understand the character given of them by Klotzsch; and
it must be admitted that the columnar andrecium of Schismatopera,
although it separates but a single species, is a character which is in
Euphorbiacee generally considered as sufficient for generic distinction.
I do not therefore venture, without a more careful study of some of the
older species than my present materials enable me to make, now to
propose their entire re-union, but at least I cannot distinguish Spizia
from Peridium. In all the species I have examined (including most of
Klotzsch's), the stamens of each male involucre are separated into two
or three distinct flowers by calyxes, which, as the stamens enlarge, be-
eome irregularly split, so as to assume the appearance of mere scales or
bracts. These calyxes, called calyces bi-tri-partiti, in the character of
Spivia, and squamule membranacee in that of Pera, vary much in
length, but are never entirely wanting in any species of Peridium I
have seen, They are mentioned also in Klotzsch's character of Peri-
dium, in his account of Schomburgk’s Euphorbiacee (Lond. Journ. Bot.
. Vol. ii, p. 44), but omitted in the detailed character, as well as in the
: analytical figure, in his review of South American Euphorbiaceous
. Genera, in Erieson's ‘Archiy.’ The rudiments of female flowers in the

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 393

male involucres, another supposed distinctive character of Spizia, are’

present or absent in different involucres of the same species of Peridium.

I have particularly observed this in an unpublished Guiana species,

which bears in some herbaria the name of P. Schomburgkianum, Kl.

(Rob. Schomb. last coll. n. 580 and 594, Rich. Schomb. n. 901 and

905). In one male involucre I found two male flowers, and one abor-

tive female; in another, three males and two abortive females; in two

others, three males in each, without any rudimentary females. The
stamen varied from two to five in each flower, but always more in the
central one than in the two lateral ones. In all, the calyx was nearly
as long as the filaments.

The species contained in Mr. Spruce’s collections are :—

1. P. oblongifolium, from Caripi, described p. 243 of the second
volume of this Journal. :
2. P. bicolor, Kl. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 44. Of this species,
Spruce, as well as Schomburgk, gathered two very distinct varieties,
which one would have been tempted to consider as species, but that
there appear to be no really constant characters to distinguish them,
viz. a, tomentosum, folis supra opacis v. vix nitidis subtus tomento
brevi molli squamisque lepidotis canescentibus, a tree of 14 to 16 feet;
British Guiana, Schomburgk, first coll. n. 114, and in the Capoeiras,
near Barra do Rio Negro, Spruce; and B, nitidum, foliis coriaceis supra
nitidis subtus squamellis minutis lepidoto-canescentibus v. flavicantibus -
et glandulis minutis punctatis ; British Guiana, Rod. Schomburgk, second
coll. n. 685 and 686, Rich. Schomburgk, n. 1070 and 1071; and Obidos,
on the Rio Negro, Spruce. The calyxes are very distinct in both varie-

ties. The involucres are white or cream-coloured when fresh.

3. P. coccineum, sp. n.; foliis longiuscule petiolatis oblongis subacu-
minatis coriaceis nitidis novellis subtus parce lepidotis demum gla- -
bratis, involucris masculis globosis, filamentis crassis oblongis, invo-
lucris fcemineis 6—S-floris, capsulis globosis crassis tomentosis.—
Frutex 15-20-pedalis v. arbor parva. Folia fere P. glabrati, 3-5- —

pollicaria, basi cuneata. Pedicelli aggregati, petiolo breviores, apice —

subincrassati, bracteis 2 oppositis ovato-rotundatis concavis carinatis,
majore fere lineam longa. Znvolucra extus lepidota, in vivo coccinea,
mascula globosa, triflora, flore medio 4—5-andro, lateralibus 2-3- —
andris. aly staminibus paullo brevior, membranaceus, irregula- —
riter dentatus v. fissus. 4nthere biloculares, loculis reflexis in fila- -

324 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

mentum crassum ovoideo-oblongum. Jnvolucra feeminea per anthesin

obovoidea. Ovaria in quoque involucro szepius 8, tomentosa, stig-

mate trilobo. Capsula 5 lin. diametro, trivalvis, valvulis demum
bifidis.

Gathered by Mr. Spruce, on the shores of the Lago de Obidos, and
distributed as Peridium, n. 2; it much resembles at first sight the P.
glabratum of Schott, but the filaments of the males, the number of
flowers in the female involucres, as well as the shape and texture of the
capsules, readily distinguish it. The fresh involucres are of a bright
vermilion, somewhat yellow at the base. The flowers emit a sweet

smell of honey.
SCHISMATOPERA.

In Mr. Spruce’s first Barra collection 1 distributed a species of this.
genus as new, under the name of S. /awrina; but numerous specimens,
subsequently received, have shown that it does not differ essentially
from the original S. distichophylla, Kl., from Guiana, the only species
known to me. It is a small tree or shrub, apparently not uncommon
in the forest near Barra do Rio Negro. Specimens were also brought
to Mr. Spruce by the natives of the Rio Uaupés.

MAPROUNEA.

The M. Guianensis, Aubl., is a widely distributed shrub or tree, and
varies considerably in the shape of the leaves, sometimes sharply acu-
minate, sometimes broad and blunt, but never so much so as in the
more southern M. Brasiliensis, St. Hil, which latter is likewise always
to be distinguished by the almost sessile female flowers. In M. Gwi-
anensis they vary in number, from one to three or four below each male
amentum, but they are always borne on rather long pedicels. Mr.
Spruce gathered the M. Guianensis on the shores of the Amazon, near
Santarem, in July, 1850, in the gapó of an igarapé, near Barra do Rio

Negro, in May, 1851, and on a campo near the falls of San Gabriel, in
April, 1852. I have specimens also from British Guiana (Rob. Schom-

_ burgk, 2nd coll. n. 638, Rich. Schomb. n. 1059), Surinam (Hostmann,
.. n. 996), Brazil, prov. Bahia (Blanchet, n. 2725), prov. Ceara (Gardner,
. n. 1836), and Peru (Matthews, n. 1654).

iod : GYMNANTHES.
- E The American, and especially the Brazilian species, allied to Exce-

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 325

caria, are numerous, and have been distributed into a number of genera,

upon characters so minute, that when a new one presents itself, it is a

great chance if it will be found to fit into any of them. Thus it is

with the only species contained in Mr. Spruce's collection. In foliage
it comes nearest to the Gussonia discolor; in character it is very near
to Gussonia, Sebastiania, Dactylostemon, and especially to Gymnanthes,
although it differs from that genus, as limited by Klotzsch, in that it
is only the central flowers (or bundle of stamens) of each bract that
has a small scale at the ramification of the filament. I have not either
been able to find any female flowers in the specimens before me, so
that the plant may be dicecious. I cannot, however, on such slight
grounds, propose a new genus for its reception, and therefore place it
in Gymnanthes, to which it comes nearest, and which, being the oldest
name, would be the one adopted, should several of these closely-allied
genera be re-united into one. This new G. hypoleuca was found by

Mr. Spruce, growing commonly on the banks of the upper Rio Negro,

between San Joaquim and San Carlos, and also on the Rio Uaupés.

The following are its characters :—

G. hypoleuca, sp. n. ; foliis elliptico- v. lanceolato-oblongis supra glabris
subtus albidis, spicis masculis pluribus confertis petiolo vix longiori-
bus, squamis trifloris, flore medio triandro sub ramificatione squamel-
lato, lateralibus diandris nudis.—.47er 18-pedalis, ramulis tenuibus
griseis. Folia 3—5 poll. longa, 1-2 poll. lata, acuminata, integer-
rima, basi acuta, ehartacea, penninervia, subtus tomento minutissimo
pulveraceo albicantia et glandulis maculeeformibus paucis presertim
basi conspersa, petiolo 3—4 lin. longo. Spice mascule in quoque
axilla 3-6, sessiles, glabree, squamis parvis latis concavis. Filamenta
graciliora et anthere minores quam in G. lucida. Flores fwmineos
non vidi. :

Microstacuys, 4. Juss. (Cnemidostachys, Mart.)

Mr. Spruce has two species of this genus; the one from Santarem, -
distributed as new, may possibly be a mere variety of the M. crotonoides, -
Kl. (Cnemidostachys crotonoides, Mart.), which appears to be a rather
widely diffused and variable species. It is a slender dichotomous
shrub or under-shrub, of five or six feet in height. The other one, an -
erect annual from the waste grounds near Pará (but not gathered in -
sufficient quantity for general distribution), is allied to the M. Guianensis,

326 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

Kl. (which may be the original Microstachys, or Tragia corniculata,

Vahl), but the leaves are narrow lanceolate, instead of ovate cordate,

and it is remarkable for its small capsules, as well as for the very mi-

nute and short male spikes. I should therefore propose it as new,

with the following diagnosis :—

M. micrantha, sp. n.; annua, erecta, pubescens, foliis lanceolatis sub-
integerrimis, spicis masculis minutis ovatis, capsulis parvis pilosulis
parce muricatis.— Caulis pedalis, parce ramosus. Folia brevissime
petiolata, vix pollicaria, acutiuscula, basi rotundata, oculo nudo inte-
gerrima, sub lente minutissime glanduloso-crenulata, pilis brevibus
sparsis utrinque puberula. Spice mascule breviter pedicellate, vix
semilineam longe, 3-4-floree. Flores solitarii, squama bracteante
minuta 3—5-dentata. Sepala 3, late cuneata, truncata, colorata.
Stamina 3, sepala zequantia. Flos feemineus in eadem axilla v. sæpius
in axilla diversa solitarius, sessilis. Capsula linea paullo longior,
coccis apice bimuricatis et siepe basi aculeis paucis brevibus v. tuber-
culis munitis,

Hora.

If the three published species of this genus are really distinct, the
one gathered by Mr. Spruce, on the south bank of the Amazon, oppo-
site Monte Alegre, would, according to the short diagnosis given, belong
to the H. Brasiliensis, Willd., as the leaves are rather truncate at the
base, than distinctly cordate, as in the common H. erepifans. The male
amenta are however, in all the specimens of Hura I have seen, oblong,
and the leaves can never be said to be “ æqualiter serrata," so that it
is probable that both this and M. strepens should be re-united to H.
crepitans. Our plant is called Assacé by the Brazilians, according to
Mr. Spruce.

SAPIUM.
Mr. Spruce gathered the broad-leaved S. Hippomane, Mey., in the
- forest at San Gabriel, forming a tree of 70 feet, and the narrow-leaved
. S. prunifolium, Kl. (from which 1 cannot distinguish H. serratum, Kl.),
as a shrub of 12 feet, at Obidos, on the Amazon. There are also leaves
only of a small tree, which Mr. Spruce met with occasionally near San-
tarem, but never in flower. From the petiolar glands it would appear
to be a Sapium, and, if so, a new species, with the long narrow leaves
. beautifully fringed with short regular cilia, proceeding from the serra-

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 89

OMPHALEA.

Specimens of the O. diandra, Aubl., a woody climber, were gathered
at the junction of the Solimóes and Rio Negro, in May 1851.

LEPTORHACHIS.

I have not seen the Z. hastata, upon which Dr. Klotzsch founded
this genus, and know not from what part of Brazil he had it; but a
single specimen in fruit of an herbaceous twiner, gathered by Mr. Spruce
at Barra do Rio Negro, agrees as far as it goes with the character
given.

ASTROCOCCUS, gen. nov. dcalyphearum.

The plant for which I propose this new genus has much of the habit
as well as the male flowers and the female stigmate of Bolryanthe, and
I was at first disposed to consider it only as a very marked species of
that genus; but the female flowers in other respects, and the fruit, are
too different to allow of their combination without uniting them also
with other neighbouring genera admitted to be distinct.

Char. Gen. Astrococcus. Flores apetali, monoici, racemosi, singuli
bractea suffulti. F7. Mase. Calyx globosus, 4-partitus, laciniis zesti-
vatione valvatis. Stamina 6-8, filamentis brevibus crassis basi in
discum depressum coalitis, antheris bilocularibus. 7. Fwm. Calyx
4-partitus, laciniis angustis recurvis. Ovarium sessile, depressum,
trilobum, lobis dorso muricatis, triloculare, ovulis solitariis pendulis.
Stylus ovoideus, crassus, ovario longior, apice concavus, stigmatibus 3
brevissimis dentatis. Capsula tricoeca, coccis horizontaliter divergen-
tibus clavatis 2—4-cornutis muricatisque intus bivalvibus.

Species unica: £. cornutus. Arbor gracilis, 10—12-pedalis, ramulis pu-
~ bescentibus. Stipule minute setacez v. nulle. Folia breviter pe- —
tiolata, oblonga, acuminata, 4—6-pollicaria, serrata, serraturis sepe -
glanduliferis, basi angustata, ad petiolum obtusa v. emarginata, mem- —
branacea, penninervia, pube brevi conspersa presertim ad venas et in
pagina inferiore. Racemi axillares v. supra-axillares, simplices, folio
breviores. Flores fteminei cum masculis in parte inferiore mixti, su-
periores omnes masculi v. flos terminalis interdum fcemineus ; omnes
parvi, breviter pedicellati, bractea parva lineari fulti. Calyx marium —
expansus, lineam latus, extus pubescens. S/y/us femineorum lineam
longus, primo intuitu ovarium simulat. Ovarium ipsum sub stylo

328 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

per anthesin fere reconditum, post anthesin cocci mox radiatim ex-
crescunt, maturi basi attenuati, fere 3 lin. longi, virides, apice armati
spinis rubris seepe in cornua incrassatis. Semen ovoideum. Albumen
carnosum. Embryo vix albumine brevior, cotyledonibus ovatis planis,
radicula brevi.

From the gapó of the Rio Negro, above the falls of San Gabriel,

Spruce.

ANGOSTYLES, gen. nov. Acalyphearum.

This tree is again in some respects allied to the last, and to Botry-
anthe, but the inflorescence as well as the flowers differ too much to as-
sociate them in the same genus. The green urn-shaped style, half an
inch long, is a very striking feature in the female flower.

Char. Gen. ANGosTYLES. Flores monoici, apetali. Masculi secus ra-
mos pedicellati, solitarii v. fasciculati. Calyx valvatim 3—4-partitus.
Stamina plurima ; filamenta brevia, basi in columnam pyramidatam
coalita, antheris ovatis bilocularibus. Flores feminei axillares v.
terminales, solitarii, pedicellati. Calya 5-partitus, laciniis angustis.
Ovarium sessile, subglobosum, triloculare, loculis uniovulatis. Stylus
maximus, infundibularis, apice subrecurvo-6-lobus. Capsula pro-
funde trisulca, tricocea, stylo persistente coronata, coccis intus bival-
vibus.

Species unica: 4. longifolia. Arbor gracilis, 15—20-pedalis, ramulis
crassiusculis novellis ferrugineo-pubescentibus. Stipule subulatz.
Folia ad apices ramulorum approximata, subsessilia, elongato-cuneata
v. obovali-oblonga, 1-1$-pedalia, acuminata, remote glanduloso-ser-
rulata, basi longe angustata, membranacea, ad venas pubescentia, cæ-
terum glabra. Flores masculi e ramulis annotinis vetustioribusve
nati, flavi, pedicellis tenuibus 3—5 lin. longis, solitariis v. per 2-5
fasciculatis subracemosis, Sepala ovata, 2 lin. longa, crassiuscula,
extus tomentella. Stamina 20-25, calyce breviore, filamentis bre-
viter liberis pilis intermixtis. FZ. feminei pedicello rigido 4—5-line-
ari impositi. Stylus crassus, viridis, tomentellus, 4—6 lin. longus.
Capsula 4—5 lin. diametro, profunde trisulea, tomentella, coccis dorso
plus minus sed semper molliter et breviter muricatis. Semina fere

. globosa, magnitudine pisi minoris.

Ne MM Mr. dese in the forest near San Gabriel, on the Rio

E COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 329

ACALYPHA.

There are but three species of this numerous genus in the collection.
One is the common 4. alopecuroidea, Jacq., a weed in the cultivated
grounds on the Amazon, between Santarem and Barra, the two others
appear to be unpublished. Both are said by Mr. Spruce to be suffru-
tescent climbers of twelve to twenty feet long, a habit which I do not
find ascribed to any other species but the 4. Oarthagensis, Jacq., which
is said to be sarmentose. This is, however, a character of which dried
specimens seldom give any indication, and can only be ascertained from
collectors’ notes.

1. A. scandens, Spruce, pl. exs.; suffruticosa, ramis sarmentosis pubes-
centibus, foliis longe petiolatis amplis cordato-oblongis acuminatis
crenatis sparse piloso-hispidis v. demum glabratis scabro-punctatis,
spicis axillaribus superioribus masculis inferioribus fcemineis longis-
simis, bracteis per anthesin minutis, stylis longe plumosis.— Caules
15-20-pedales, superne leviter angulati, pube brevi scabri. Stipule
lanceolato-subulatze, pilose. Folia semipedalia v. longiora, acumina-
ta, herbacea, viridia, punctis minutis presertim in pagina inferiore
scabra, pilis rigidis supra sparsis subtus presertim secus venas dis-
positis, penninervia et basi sub-5-nervia, petiolo 2—4-pollicari, basi
breviter contracto et demum indurato ad dilatationem subarticulato.
Spice pilis flavidis hispidze, suberecte, in axillis solitarize, graciles ;

. mascule superiores, semipedales, floribus crebris; fasciculi 5—8-flori,

bracteis 2-3 minimis subtensi, flores singuli pedicellati, minuti, 6-8-

andri. Spice feeminee 1-11-pedales, floribus parvis sessilibus; brac-

teze subtendentes minutissimz v. omnino inconspicue ; ovarium pilis
flavidis hirsutissimum; styli 3-5 lin. longi, plumoso-multifidi, coc-
cinei.

On the islands of the Amazon opposite Santarem, R. Spruce. Ap-
parently a variety of the same species was gathered in Surinam by
Hostmann (n. 990). It is less hispid, and the leaves are still larger.
The flowers are the same, but, as the fruit advances towards maturity,
the subtending bract grows out, as in most Acalypha, to a broad reni-
form crenate involucre, as long as the fruit itself.

2. A. acuminata, sp. n. ; suffruticosa, ramis sarmentosis puberulis, foliis
breviter petiolatis oblongis acuminatis remote calloso-serratis basi
cuneatis ad venas hirtellis scabro-punctatis, spicis axillaribus elon-
VOL. VI. — 2v

330 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

gatis inferioribus masculis reflexis superioribus fcemineis erectis,
bracteis parvis acute dentatis, stylis longe plumosis.—Affinis ex de-
scriptione <. cuneate, Popp. et Endl. Folia 6—8 poll. longa, 2—24 poll.
lata, acumine longo obtuso, basi acuta nec cordata, membranacea,
utrinque viridia, penninervia. Spice mascule folio suo breviores,
fere glabrze, tenues, crebriflore ; famine folia superantes, floribunde.
Bractee 2~3-flore, per anthesin minute, fructiferze raro capsulam su-
perantes, ovate, acute, grosse et acute dentate. Styli rami coccinel.
Capsule pilis paucis rigidis hispide.

In the Gapó at Managuiry, at the mouth of the Rio Negro, R. Spruce.

ALCHORNEA.

This genus now includes a considerable number of species, chiefly
South American, which may be easily distributed into two sections by
the venation of the leaves. It is nearly allied to Conceveiba and Apa-
risthmium, but appears to be always distinguished by the octandrous
flowers of the males, and the two long styles of the females. Mr. Spruce’s
collection contains the following three species.

$ 1. Foliis penninerviis.

1. A. castaneefolia, Mart. in Flora, 1841, vol. ii. Beibl. p. 32.—Her-
mesia castaneefolia, Humb. et Bonpl.—A shrub of 8-15 feet, frequent
along the Amazon, growing with the Salix Humboldtiana.

2. A. Schomburgkii, Kl. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 46.—A small
tree, with spreading, almost climbing branches, gathered by Spruce at
Obidos, in the Sierra de Mapirí, and in the marshy campos near San-
tarem, in the Capoeiras at Barra do Rio Negro, and in the Capoeiras
... and Caatingas of the Rio Uaupós ; and by Gardner on the Rio Preto, in

_ the province of Pernambuco (n. 2993). Some female specimens from
a large tree in the forest near Barra, differ slightly in the surface of the
leaves, the petioles and young branches being more decidedly canescent,
and in the female calyxes longer and more pointed ; but there are no
male specimens, to enable us to judge whether it be anything more than
a mere variety.

oe $ 2. Foliis basi trinerviis.
3. A. glandulosa, Poepp. et Endl. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vol. iii. p. 18.
xu t 221. var.? parvifolia.—In the Capoeiras, near San Gabriel, forming a

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 331

tree of from 20 to 60 feet, and var. ? floribunda, a tree of 60 feet, in the
woods of the Rio Uaupés.

Without actual comparison with Poeppig’s specimens, I cannot feel
certain that these two varieties belong to his species. He describes his
leaves as much larger (attaining the size of 8 inches by 5), but those
represented in his plate are not half that size; in our var. parvifolia,
they are not above 3 inches by 2. They are almost coriaceous, some-
times glabrous, sometimes pubescent underneath, the glands at the base
are from two to five, and there are but few or none of those large spot-
like glands scattered over the under face of the leaf which may be ob-
served in several Alchornee. The male spikes are sometimes branched,
more frequently simple, but growing several together from each axil.
In our var. floribunda, the leaves are larger, reaching to 5 inches by 3, -
entire or with minute and remote glandular teeth, and there are gene-
rally several large, brown, smooth, spot-like glands, irregularly scattered
over the under surface, which is glabrous. The male spikes are nume-
rous and slender, generally simple. This last may possibly be a distinct
species, but I cannot characterize it without having seen the females.

Gardner's n. 5611, from Rio Janeiro, is the 4. Jricurana, Casar., or
A. erythrosperma, Kl. No. 5610 and 5612, of the same collection,
appear to belong to a very common Rio Janeiro species, published by
Martius in 1841, under the name of 4. nemoralis, and by Casaretto in
1842, under that of 4. Janeirensis, and since then subdivided by
Klotzsch into three: 4. psilorhachis, A. intermedia, and A. parvifolia.

CONCEYEIBA.

Two or three specimens, in fruit, of the true C. Guianensis, of Aublet,
were gathered by Mr. Spruce, near Barra do Rio Negro; and the
Hookerian Herbarium contains female specimens in various stages of -
flower and fruit, from Cayenne and Demerara. I have seen no Guiana
specimens of the male plant, nor was it known to Aublet, Richard, or —
Jussieu. Klotzsch indeed gives a character, derived from males of two
species, but one of them at least belongs to Aparisthmium, Endl., which —
appears to differ sufficiently from the true Conceveiba to be adopted,
especially if I am right in referring to the original C. Guianensis some
male specimens gathered by Mr. Spruce in the Capoeiras near Panuré, _
on the Rio Uaupés. The foliage is precisely the same, the inflorescence _
is strictly terminal, as in the female, und the bracts have the same large ©

332 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE.

glands on each side. The flowers differ at once from those of Aparisth-

mium in the number of stamens, which are indefinite, and always more

than twelve, instead of three only. These characters may be thus tech-
nically expressed :—

Conceveibe Fl. mase. in paniculam ramosam terminalem dispositi, secus
ramos divaricatos ad axillam bracteze parvæ crasse biglandulose glo-
merati, sessiles v. brevissime pedicellati. Calyx valvatim 3—4-parti-
tus. Stamina plurima (ultra 12) filamentis liberis v. vix basi coalitis
calyce longioribus flexuosis, antheris parvis bilocularibus.

'The Surinam plant of Hostmann's (n. 1261) referred by Steudel to
the C. Guianensis, appears to be a distinct species (C. Hostmanni), dif-
fering in the shorter petioles, more shining leaves, less pointed and
more cordate at the base, the more tomentose inflorescence, and espe-
cially by the style branched from the base, with the thick short branches
closely appressed on the ovary, instead of being entire and erect to near
half its length, as in C. Guianensis. The male of Hostmann's plant is
unknown.

Some male specimens gathered by Mr. aa in the Capoeiras at
Panuré, on the Rio Uaupés, appear to belong to a third species, as
follows :—

C. latifolia, sp. n. ; foliis amplis ovatis obtusis v. vix acuminatis, flori-

. bus masculis 20-30-andris.— Arbor gracilis, 15-pedalis. Ramuli

angulati et inflorescentiæ pubescentes. Folia forma fere Aparisthmit

macrophylli, majora 11 poll. longa, 6 poll. lata, petiolo 3-pollicari,
penninervia, venis 2 infimis ad basin folii oppositis, omnibus subtus
prominentibus, consistentia rigide membranacea, subtus in vivo al-
bido-purpurascentia i in sicco rufescentia, utrinque presertim ad venas
pilis minimis conspersa. Inflorescentia mascula C. Guianensis termi-

. nalis ramosa. Flores glomerati ad axillam bracteæ parve biglandu-

lose. Calyces globosi, valvatim 4-fidi. Stamina circa 30, filamentis

quam in C. Guianensi brevioribus. Flores fæminei non visi.

There is a single female specimen of another plant, apparently allied

to Conceveiba, but insufficient for description.

APARISTHMIUM.
. This genus has the inflorescence of Alchornea and Stipelleria, but

3 the male flowers have only three stamens instead of eight; the females
are tricarpellary, as in Stipellaria, but the style is divided into three,

MR. SPRUCE'S VOYAGE ON THE RIO NEGRO. 333

rather short and thick branches, very papillose, and almost plumose on
the inner side, and emarginate at the extremity, whilst in the two other
genera the divisions of the style are long, slender, acute, and entire.

I know of but one species of Aparisthmium, which has evidently a
wide geographical range, and varies much in the degree of pubescence.
The young leaves are densely tomentose in Sello’s specimens, and but
slightly so in most of the North Brazilian and Guiana ones, but I can
find no other difference, at least in the males, for I have not the females
of Sello’s plant. I have some doubt as to its being identical with the
original 4. cordatum, a species not described it is true, but the leaves
of ours are scarcely such as to justify the name of cordatum; I have
therefore adopted that of macrophyllum, given to it by Martius and
Klotzsch. It is a small tree. The leaves are large, as much as 10
inches by 6, ovate, acuminate, rounded or broadly but slightly cordate

at the base, more or less pubescent when young, nearly glabrous when - =

old. The flowering spikes are simple and axillary, the males 6-10
inches long, with the flowers nearly sessile, and many together in small
bunches; the females singly. pedicellate in racemes from 4 to 6 inches
long. Tt isthe n. 883 of Schomburgk’s first Guiana collection, and
was referred by Klotzsch (Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 46), by mistake,
to the Alchornea latifolia, Hayne, but is not Swartz's plant of that
name. It is also in Martius’ Cayenne collection, in Blanchet's Bahia —
collection, n. 2318, and has been distributed among Sello's plants by
the Berlin Herbarium, under the name of Conceveiba macrophylla, Kl.
It appears to be also the dlchornea macrophylla, Mart., in Flora 1841,
vol. ii. Beibl. p. 31. Mr. Spruce gathered it near Barra do Rio Negro
and in the Capoeiras, near San Gabriel.

(To be continued.)

Extract of a Letter relating to VEGETABLE OILS, etc.; from RICHARD -
Spruce, Ese.; dated San Carlos del Rio Negro, Venezuela, 19th

March, 1854. |
Vegetables yielding oil abound in this region, but with the present —
scanty population, aud their listless, lazy habits, it is exceedingly diffi-
eult to get together even a small quantity of the oils, resins, ete., which
in Europe would be so highly esteemed. Nearly all the palm-fruits

834 MR. SPRUCE'S VOYAGE

yield oil in greater or less quantity. You are aware that very pleasant
drinks are prepared here by triturating the fruit of the Assai and other
Palms in water, and adding a small quantity of sugar and farinha. The
Portuguese give the name of “ vinho " to these drinks, though totally
different from the palm-wine prepared in other parts of tropical America
(and I believe also of Asia). The Indian name is ** yukissé,” which is
a general name for all sorts of vegetable juices, and also for the gravy
of animal substances. All the Palm drinks are exceedingly nutritive,
and several are slightly purgative, owing, no doubt, to the oil they con-
tain. By allowing the yukissé to stand a short time in a cuya, the oil
rises to the top, and an idea is obtained of the quantity yielded by any
particular palm-fruit. Of all that I have seen, the Caiaué (Elais me-
lanococca, an actual congener of the African Palm) yields oil in the
greatest quantity, and in appearance exactly like the oil of E. Guine-
ensis; but I have never heard of its being collected, and put to any use.
The Caiaué palm is abundant all about the mouths of the Rio Negro
and Madeira, but I have not seen or heard of it anywhere up the Rio
Negro. I sent you a spadix with fruit from the Barra do Rio Negro.
Why it was called “ melanococea" is hard to say, for the fruit is of
a bright vermilion colour. Perhaps Gertner had only the nut.

After the Caiaué, as to quantity of oil, come the various species of
@nocarpus (E. Bacaba, Batana, disticha, ete.). The oil of these is ap-
parently of finer quality than that of Caiaué; it is colourless and sweet-
tasted, and not only excellent for lamps, but for cooking. The shop-
. keepers of Pará buy Patana-oil of the Indians, and mix it in equal
|... proportions with olive-oil, retailing the whole as ** olive-oil," from which,
. indeed, even the best judges can scarcely distinguish it. I can bear tes-
timony that, for frying fish, oil of Baccaba is equal either to olive-oil or
butter. The various species of (Ezocarpus abound on the Amazon and
. Orinoco, and on their tributaries. I have lately seen the Patana in the
greatest plenty throughout the Casiquiare, Alto Orinoco, and Cunucu-
. numa. Near the Barra it is frequent, but less so than the Bacaba.
The forests opposite San Carlos, extending from the Rio Negro to the
Xié, are literally sown with Pataná. The fruit is in season nearly all
. the year round. We are just now beginning to make use of it, and we
. shall have it (in unlimited quantity, if there were always Indians to
climb the trees) all along until November. Iam passionately fond of
Pataná-yukissé, ad it is the only thing I shall regret when I leave

ON THE RIO NEGRO. 385

4

San Carlos. When I have passed a long time without drinking it,
and recommence, I always find it slightly aperient, but this effect passes
off in two or three days.

The Jupatí (Raphia tedigera) is said to have a very oily fruit, and
I know that at Pará flambeaux are made of the leaf-stalks by merely
stripping off the rind. I have never seen this Palm since leaving Para.

Among oil-yielding Dicotyledons of equatorial America, I suppose
the Andiroba (Carapa Guianensis) holds the first place. Andiroba-oil
has the great advantage (in a tropical climate) of being so bitter, that
neither ants nor any other insects will touch it. The tree is abundant
near Para, especially at the mouth of the Tocantins, and is met with all
the way up the Amazon. .

From the seeds of two trees, apparently undescribed, abundant on
the Alto Rio Negro, Orinoco, Casiquiare, Pacimoni, ete., the Indians -
prepare a paste resembling cream-cheese in appearance and taste.
The seeds are first boiled, and then steeped for some days under water, -
after which they are broken up by the hand. In the boiling a quantity .
of oil is said to be collected, but I have never been able to get a sight
of it. These Indians are exceedingly shy in showing to a white man ©
the edibles, etc., whose use is peculiar to themselves, thinking that his
only object must be to ridicule them. I first saw one of these trees —
(the Cunuri, a Euphorbiacea, alied to the India-rubber tree, but with
simple leaves) near San Gabriel, above two years ago ; and though I have
since that time continually come upon it, it is only very lately that I —
met with its flower and fruit on the Casiquiare, and still later that, on
the upper Pacimoni, I came upon some Indians eating Cunuri cheese
(if I may so call it). From them I obtained a small quantity, which I
wish to send, you, but have at present nothing to put it in. For Cu-
nuri-oil I must still wait with patience; it is said to be as bitter as
Andiroba-oil, but to afford an excellent light. The other tree, whose
products are quite similar to those of the Cunuri, is called Vacu. It is
a Leguminous tree, with pretty pink flowers of very curious structure, _
and I sent Mr. Bentham two species of it from the Rio Uaupés. |

There are numerous other trees and palms of this region yielding oil,
and I have only particularized a few of those which are so abundant —
that their oil might be procured in any quantity, were there only in-
dustrious hands to collect it.

Of resins, also, there is no lack, but I doubt if any of them wld,

336 MR, SPRUCE'S VOYAGE

come in for candle-making. The Venezuelans make a flambeau, which
they call mechon, of the resin of various species of /cica, poured when
melted into the decayed stem of the blowing-cane Palm, from which the
soft interior has fallen away, or into a bamboo. It emits rather too
much smoke (as Mr. Wilson remarks of resins) ; but the odour is very
agreeable.

To come now to the question of the possibility of collecting these
oils ;—1, in such quantity as to admit of their properties being tested ;
and 2, in such larger quantities as would be required for making them
articles of commerce.—Few as have been my contributions to your
Museum, they have cost me no little trouble and time to obtain them.
Everything here must be paid for beforehand. 1f I require Indians to
row my boat, I must prepay them for the voyage; and as they are con-
stantly needing something or other during the voyage, they are sure to
owe as much at its close as they did at its commencement. If a trader
wishes to get together a cargo of sarsaparilla, or any other product of
the country, he must start up one of the rivers with a cargo of goods,
which he distributes as he goes along to all the Indians who are dis-
posed to work, marking the time of his returning to the same spot to re-
ceive payment, at three months, or six months, or perhaps twelve months.
When he comes again, he perhaps spends two or three months in seek-
ing up his cargo—beating up the Indians at their sitios—dragging his
boat up cataracts, and threading wearisome forest-tracts; and if, after
all this, he succeeds in getting together half the quantity owing to him,
he considers his success extraordinary. He must of course go the fol-
lowing year to the same place, and, without a further advance of goods,
he will not receive a single stick of what was left owing to him. Thus
_ it has happened, that many persons who have come up the Rio Negro
with a cargo of goods, intending to purchase “ generos ” of the country
and return laden with them, have found it necessary to leave their goods
and return empty-handed ; while in the following year they come again
. to collect a modicum of their debt, and leave as much more on credit. .
_ They have thus no alternative but to go on year by year to the end of
_ their days, and never possess a farthing they can call their own, their
. Original cargo having been furnished on credit, by some merchant in
_ Pará or the Barra. Such is trading with Indians; and I leave you to
imagine, besides, the many contingencies which may occur, all against
the unfortunate trader. Indians die, like other men, and far oftener

ON HENRIQUEZIA VERTICILLATA. 387

hide themselves in the forest when the day of payment arrives, or shift
their quarters permanently.—The same mode must be followed in
everything, even in the procuring of eatables. If I need fish, I must
first pay the fisherman, and perhaps lend him hook and line, in which
case some powerful fish is pretty certain to carry off the hook ; though
how it should come to be snugly deposited in a corner of the Indian's
matiri (bag) is not so easy of explanation. About three months ago
I bought, on the Casiquiare, a quantity of cabezones (a small turtle fre-
quent in some lagoons), intending them for provision during the winter ;
but they are to this day still swimming in Lake Vasiva, and are likely
so to remain, when I am far away from Venezuela. To those who are
fixed for life in one place, this state of things may not appear so into-
lerable; but a traveller like me, who must from time to time remove his
abode to a considerable distance, notwithstanding he uses the utmost
caution, may expect to leave in every place he visits no small percen-
tage of bis ineome in bad debts.

I omitted to mention above, among oil-bearing trees, the Castanha
or Juvia (Bertholletia excelsa), which affords a sweet-tasted oil in consi-
derable quantity. The tree is so abundant in some parts of the Amazon,
that I suppose its oil would be as easily obtained as that of the An-
diroba. i

On HENRIQUEZIA VERTICILLATA, Spruce: a new Genus of Bignonia-
cem, from the Rio Negro, in North Brazil; by GEORGE BENCHING:
Esa.

This was one of the finest trees met with by Mr. Spruce, in his
voyage up the Rio Negro, in December, 1851. It was frequent in the

Gapó from above Barraroá to San Gabriel do Cachoeiras, and, as sus-

pected by Mr. Spruce, forms an entirely new and remarkable genus of — —

Bignoniacee. -It is therefore with much pleasure that I can accede to
his wish that it should be dedicated in his name to Senhor Henriquez
Antonij, a native of Leghorn, but for more than thirty years settled at
the Barra do Rio Negro, where he has constantly rendered every assist-
ance to scientific and other travellers during that period.

The evident affinities of this genus are with Platycarpum of Ham-
boldt and Bonpland, supposed to be identical with Sickingia of Will-

denow. The five equal and — stamens, and the short broad fruit 2

VOL. VI. 2x

338 ON HENRIQUEZIA VERTICILLATA.

with very few seeds, are the same, as well as the general habit and

simple leaves. On the other hand, the semi-adherent calyx, with a per-

sistent base and only four lobes, and the shape of the corolla, so much
more Bignoniaceous than that of Platycarpum, are marked generic dis-
tiuctions. The adherent ovary in particular, analogous to that of Ges-
neriacee, is as yet unique among Bignoniacee. It is to be regretted
that Mr. Spruce did not meet with the fully formed fruit; but in its

young state it appears not to be compressed, like that of Platy-

: carpum, and to be more fleshy. The base of the calyx enlarges and

still adheres closely to it, but the apex of the fruit acquires a still

greater development, and the seed-bearing portion becomes almost
wholly exserted. The young seeds, two in each cell, showed already
an appearance of a winged margin, although possibly that may have
been the mere effect of desiccation in the single young fruit I possess.
The following are the technical characters :—

HENRIQUEZIA, Spruce.—Char. Gen. Calyx basi turbinatus, persistens,
subcarnosus, ovarium eingens et ei adnatus, limbo supero campanulato
semi-4-fido circumscisse deciduo. Corolla oblique infundibularis,
fauce ampla elongata, limbo 5-lobo, lobis subsequalibus sestivatione
bilabiatis. Stamina 5, corolla breviora, subzequalia, antheris oblongis
omnibus fertilibus. Ovarium subadherens, disco carnoso breviter
cupulato coronatum, placentis 2 in medio loculo contiguis subbilo-
culare, ovulis in quaque placenta 2 (v. 42). Fructus (junior) semi-
immersus, depresso-globosus, carnosus, bilocularis.

Species unica: H. verticillata, Spruce.— Arbor pulcherrima, 50 ad 100
pedes alta, trunco 4 pedes crasso, ramis summis fastigiatis subquina-
tim verticillatis, ramulis inflorescentiaque ferrugineo-tomentellis mox
glabratis. Folia simplicia, 4—5-natim verticillata, petiolata, anguste
oblonga v. oblongo-obovata, 8-10 poll. longa, 2—23 poll. lata (infe-
feriora verosimiliter majora), obtusa v. breviter acuteque acuminata,
integerrima, basi euneata, glaberrima, coriacea, supra nitidula, sub-
tus costa media venisque primariis valde elevatis percursa, rete ve-
nularum vix conspicuo; petiolus 1—1-pollicaris, basi dorso sub inser-
tione glandula levi signatus. Panicula terminalis, late thyrsoidea,

- ferrugineo-tomentella, ramis crassis subcompressis verticillatis et di-

. chotome cymiferis. Calyx incurvus, crassus, fere 6 lin. longus, extus

.— ferrugineo-tomentosus, intus sericeus, limbus ad medium divisus in

- lacinias 4 lato-lanceolatas acutas æstivatione vix imbricatas, quarum

INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 339

infima parum latior. Corolla sesquipollicaris, extus tomentoso-sericea,
in vivo rosea, intus alba, glabra, preeter lacinias puberulas et pilos fla-
vieantes ad basin faucis et secus lineam mediam labii superioris.
Stamina glabra, antheris longis medifixis longitudinaliter biloculari-
bus. Stylus basi glaber, apice in lamellas stigmatosas v. oblongas
hirtas divisus. Discus epigynus, brevis, pubescens. Fructus junior
usque ad medium calycis basi cinctus, superne liber, pulvinatus. Se-
mina in quoque loculo perpauca (duo tantum ?), orbiculata et ut vi-
detur marginata.

Report of a JOURNEY or Discovery into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 3rd February, 1849 ;
by J. S. Roz, Esq., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 247.)

Feeling disappointed that the surface coal (if any exists on this
shore) should hitherto have eluded our observation, after the plain in-
dications we had witnessed, I proceeded N.E. to search for any proba-
ble outcrop along the beach, and observed the sand-dunes of the coast -
to be supported and partly formed by calcareous sandstone, in hori-
zontal layers or low cliffs, among which were many fragments of slaty
shaly rocks. To seaward of these, appearances were in favour of fresh
water being procurable in many places among the sand-hills, at a very
short distance below the surface, and at the end of a mile and a half a
remarkable spring of excellent water was found trickling from the bare
dunes at a considerable elevation above the beach. We found most
tempting little pools of clear water in the pure sand amongst the lime-
stone rocks, and our native said that good water was always procurable
here by scratching a small hole in the sand.

The surface now became strewed with many fragments of thin slaty
rock, and at the end of a quarter of a mile I stood upon the summit of-
what had appeared from a distance to be a large bare sand-hill, but
which in reality proved to be a mass of coal-shale, blended with a
whitish schistose rock, disposed in thin parallel plates. The whole
were highly glazed over, by the influence probably of the sea air, and
bristled up so sharply at an angle of 5° or 10° from the vertical, that
the hill was perfectly impassable for horses. The dip of the shales was —

340 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

here found, with some surprise, to be S.W. by S., and combined, with
the great alteration also observed in the angle of its dip, to show that
a very great geological change had taken place in the features of the
country within the space of two short miles. I had visited the hill
because it lay in the direction towards which the shales were tending
from the southern shore of the estuary just left. A continuation of
those shales I certainly met with, as expected, but showing so different
an arrangement as to direction and dip, that I could only account on
the spot for the sudden change by supposing that the Middle Mount
Barren ranges had been thrust up from below at a period subsequent -
to that which formed the country around them. The flat-topped sum-
mit of the Mount was distant only one mile to the N.E. 3 E.; but in
the bottom of that short space lay another inlet from the sea, with a
dry sand-bar at its mouth, and two streams flowing into the head of it,
which was less than two miles distant to the W.N.W. As the sun was
near the horizon by the time I had completed a round of angles from
this bare hill, and we had yet much to do before reaching our camp, I
moved on westward, and in two miles and a half came to a part of the
larger inlet just below its very projecting cliffy headland. Having
from the opposite shore considered this spot worthy of inspection, the
horses were left in charge of Bob, while we scrambled down the steep
rocky bank to some low cliffs, and fully examined them and the adjoin-
ing shore up and down, but to no good purpose. The cliffs were of
light-coloured, hard sandstone and conglomerates, in massy horizontal
layers, and the land in front was low, very swampy, and thickly covered
_ with Tea-trees. Although this spot was in the line the shales were

taking from the opposite shore of the estuary, not the least appearance
. of any were here visible, nor anything further to indicate the near
proximity of coal. As the day had now closed in, we recovered our
horses, and soon after dark reached the camp, though scarcely satisfied
with the unproductive result of our harassing day’s work. That coal
exists in the vicinity of the lower part of this estuary, although proba-
bly not at the surface, there seemed no reason to doubt; all its atten-
dant clays, shales and sandstones, ironstone-veins, conglomerates, ete.,
having been there seen in abundance; but the great derangement
.. which is observable in all the geological strata near the sea, about
. Middle Mount Barren, is calculated to throw out any but a practised
.. geologist, and to lead to a belief that, if coal is discovered there at all

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 841

by any other person, it will be by mere accident. It was gratifying to
find that the estuary itself, and the lower reaches of the river, afforded
good and open navigation for boats, in a space of five or six miles to
the bar, which was distant only twenty-four miles from sheltered an-
chorage, in the southern part of Doubtful Island Bay, where, on the
formation of a depót, steamers might be convenient to the shore, and
coal in security. Notwithstanding also the roughness of the seven or
eight miles which intervened between the coal actually discovered, and
the head of navigation on its river, there is reason to believe a very
good and tolerably level road may, without much difficulty, be carried
between them, and probably between the coal-bed and its nearest bay
of the sea-coast to the S.E., distant about the same number of miles;
but of the latter I have no means of speaking with any degree of cer-
tainty.

With these facilities, aided by the projection of a strong pile jetty
into the bay at the estuary’s mouth, the inexhaustible bed of coal we
discovered on the 27th of December may at this particular juncture be
considered a most valuable acquisition to the colonial resources, and, if
worked and rendered available for the use of steamers, will have pre-
sented itself very opportunely on one of the intended lines of steam
route. :

These important considerations connected with the river on which
we were encamped, joined with the large quantity of good country we
had seen on its upper branches, induced me to name both the river and
inlet after His Excellency Governor Fitzgerald ; the small river on which
we had halted on the 26th, and which forms a pretty little tributary to
the Fitzgerald, being called the “ Elèves.” Aldebaran on the meridian
gave the latitude of our camp 34° 3’ 26" S.

Being now in possession of the material facts that a broad seam of — —

coal, if not several parallel seams, traversed this part of the country in
an E.N.E. and W.S.W. direction, and that we had been very near to,
if not actually upon, one of them, amongst the red sandstone lakes -
noticed on the 12th of November, 160 miles to the E.N.E., I became
very desirous of tracing these seams further in the opposite direction,

where they might possibly be detected cropping out on some of the — i
various stream-beds and inlets which fell into the south coast. Iac- —

cordingly broke up the camp on the morning of the 30th, and proceeded _
from this interesting locality towards West Mount Barren, regretting -

342 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

that time did not admit of my making some further examination of
Fitzgerald Inlet, amongst the precipitous rocky glens of which it
seemed very probable that coal might even yet be found near the sur-
face on further examination, with the assistance of a boat.

Proceeding south from our camp of 28th and 29th of December, the
Fitzgerald was crossed at our former ford at the end of three-quarters
of a mile, and we then entered on an extensive level flat of excellent
kangaroo-grass, which had afforded our horses both rich and abundant
food. Beyond this we emerged from the valley of the river by ascend-
ing one of its tributaries coming from the westward, where the country
was exceedingly rough, steep, and rocky, covered with coarse stunted
scrub, and difficult of access. Further to the south it appeared even
worse.

At the end of five miles we crossed over a poor sandy ridge at the
source of this branch, and then crossed two others belonging to a dif-
ferent stream, which seemed to have its exit to the sea by a break in
the coast-hills three or four miles to the southward; the country
around extremely rocky, rugged, and scrubby. In the westernmost of
these branches we crossed a briny salt stream, in pools, at foot of some
well-defined yellow and brown sandstone cliffs, commencing eighty or
ninety feet below the general surface of the country above. Salt was
encrusted: upon them, and had oozed out between the layers.

In three miles more, over open gravelly sand-plains, covered with
low heathy vegetation, we were passing a mile to the N.W. of the re-
markable double-topped summit of Mount Bland, and both here and at
the adjoining hill, West Mount Barren, observed a remarkable change
in the character of the vegetation. Many plants and shrubs long lost
sight of, here re-appeared under the protection of the hills. Mr. Drum-
. mond's new Hakea Victoria especially seemed to be perfectly at home,
in all its splendid magnificence; and we felt another stage had been
accomplished in our journey by the re-appearance of the ** Mungart,”
or Honey-bearing Banksia, so prized by the natives during its flowering
_ Season. z
_ West Mount Barren being passed on its north side, we were de-
. seending from a shoulder about half a mile westward of its western
_ base, when shales were again met with, lying as before, W. 25° S., and
. vice versd, and dipping south-eastward at an angle of 5° or 10? from
_ the vertical. They were extensive, and seemed to traverse the Mount

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 343

also through its whole extent ; the neighbourhood being likewise strewed
with quartz, ironstone, and all the conglomerates and rubbish heretofore
observed to be associated with the shales.

The land continuing to dip as we proceeded south-westward along a
small watercourse, with the shales occasionally visible at the surface,
we came at the end of three miles to a very abrupt descent, almost
amounting to a cliff, of red sandstone, overlooking a river at its base
winding to the south-eastward. Much good grass was in and about
its bed, the main branch of which seemed to come from the south-west
and westward, and to be joined immediately beneath us by a grassy
tributary from the N.W. Descending carefully and without accident,
I encamped amongst Yeit and Mainung Wattle, at the fork formed by
the tributary, and found the water in one of the large deep pools per-
fectly fit for use, though slightly brackish or sweet. Grass was in the
greatest abundance, and of the best descriptions, fit at this time for
making many tons of excellent hay, the kangaroo-grass in particular
being in its prime, with heavy seed-tops, and young green shoots
below.

This day's rough travelling again forced upon me the necessity for
sparing the horses as much as possible in such a country, and indeed
ourselves also ; for not only were the shoes of the former lamentably on
the decline, and their feet very sore, but some of the bipeds of our
party were likewise nearly unshod, and neither nails, leather, nor tacks
remained to effect any more repairs. It was therefore with some con-
cern I learnt from our native that this river came through a very rough
and rugged country ; though the disagreeable information was somewhat
qualified by the assurance that the good grassy land upon it extended
only a short distance further upwards, and was then replaced by thick —
scrub. This changed my first intention of tracing it up, and induced
me to proceed next day in the opposite direction, for the purpose "
chiefly of examining the river's estuary, the mouth of which I remem- _
bered to have passed some years ago, on the western shore of Doubtful 2
Island Bay.

Observing the latitude of our camp to be 34° 14’ 5" S., and West
Mount Barren to bear N. 21° E., three miles distant, we proceeded —
E.S.E. down the river in the morning, Messrs. Gregory and Ridley
tracing the bed as far as the termination of the cliffs, half a mile lower
down, with the chances of falling in with an outcrop of coal; none -

344. JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

however appeared, and a mile further the estuary was seen, its mouth
being about four miles distant to the eastward. The natives call the
country around this sheet of water Yoor-de-lup, and the land about the
Fitzgerald Inlet, Gnang-meip. Our river now assumed a more bold
and decided character, sweeping in fine open reaches forty to sixty yards
wide in the space of a mile, when it joined the estuary near a red cliff
of considerable elevation on the left bank. The country around had
nothing to recommend it; but the estuary appeared, through the trees
which buried its southern shore, to be open and navigable for boats.
Several long points projected into it along its entire length of three
miles, forming on either side deep bays or coves, in which were ob-
served many ducks, teal, and black swans. From a dry sand-bar at the
mouth of this estuary, Point Hood, which forms Doubtful Island Bay,
bore S.E. by S. four or five leagues distant, and the shore abreast was
observed to be free of rocks, but without any headland or bay to afford
shelter for boats or small craft. The anchorage in the southern part
of Doubtful Island Bay, being however only nine or ten miles distant,
would always afford a ready and valuable resort for vessels, should this
$ estuary ever be brought into requisition for the trausport of coal by
. water. Outside the bar the beach is very broad and level, and good
m fresh water is procurable by scratching to the depth of nine inches in
the little sandy hollows bebind high-water margin.

Naming this inlet the Gordon, and its river the Gairdner, we quitted
both, and proceeded five miles along the beach to the south, where the
travelling was good, and enabled us to avoid much rocky and rugged
country.

After crossing the dry sandy mouths of several small watercourses
in pools, some fresh and others salt, which discharge themselves upon
_ the western side of this Bay, we quitted its sandy shore at the com-
. mencement of the granite formation, and proceeded for six miles south-
. westward, over very uneven grassy laud, bare of timber, except clumps .
. of Tea-trees and Peppermint in numerous small hollows, and abounding
in kangaroo. This space would afford cattle or horses a good run, but
is in some parts too much covered with low scrub to answer for sheep.
Coming out then on the shore of Bremer Bay, we made use of its soft
sandy beach for three miles more, a heavy sea rolling in with a strong
southerly wind, and breaking high at the distance of 150 yards from
the steep sandy beach. At 50 to 100 yards behind the shore, high

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 345

sand-dunes, scantily clothed with brushes, were partially supported by
a long line of white cliffs of caleareous sandstone, which also abutted
on the granite-formed land at the northern end of the Bay, but had
there changed in colour to red and yellow.

At the more sheltered southern corner of this long beach is the sandy-
barred mouth of another inlet from the sea, which I had on a former
occasion ascended in a whale-boat, to the distance of ten or twelve
miles, and was now desirous of further examining by land. Crossing
its dry bar therefore, and considering in passing that the waters of the
estuary were at least five feet above the level of the sea outside, we en-
camped after dark at a good spring-well of excellent water, a mile fur-
ther up, in the midst of a small patch of rich luxuriant feed for our
tired horses. The soil is good, and much mixed with marine shells.
Red cliffs were visible on the northern shore between one and two
miles higher up, but the indications for coal since leaving the previous
camp had been but few and remote, granite appearing to form the basis
of the country along this portion of the coast, and the red sandstones
to retire further inland.

Here were exchanged- our limited congratulations on the succession
of a new year. The 31st had been very cloudy and threatening,

with light showers from the S.W. ‘These increased after we had en- *

camped, and the old year, 1848, went out with us exceedingly wet
and boisterous.
(To be continued.)

BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

James EDWARD WINTERBOTTOM, Esq.

We have been favoured with the following particulars from a near -
relative of the late Mr. J. E. Winterbottom, whose death was nb oe
in our last month’s number. a

** He was born on the 7th of April, 1803, and was educated at inia
schools, partly at Twyford, near Winchester, under Mr. Clarke and Mr.
Bedford, successively ; but principally at the Rev. Dr. Meyrick's, at
Ramsbury, in Wiltshire. He was entered, as a Commoner, at St. John’s

VOL. VI. 2v

346 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

College, Oxford, in May, 1821, and went into residence in Easter Term,
1822. I do not find when he took his B.A. degree, but imagine it
was in 1826, and his M.A. degree I suppose about 1828. His B.M.
degree he took in July 1833, when he received a license to practise.

“I find that, in the Academical year 1824-25, he attended the fol-
lowing courses of lectures, in addition to the classical and mathematical
studies required for his degrees, viz. :—

* Dr. Daubeny’s Chemical course; Dr. Kidd's first and second Ana-
tomical courses; Dr. Buckland's Geological course; M. Rigaud's (pro-
bably on Experimental Philosophy, but I do not find the subject men-
tioned); Dr. Williams's Botanical course. He attended very diligently
the practice of St. Bartholomew's Hospital for two years, from Fe-
bruary, 1827. He at the same time followed the courses of lectures
given at that hospital; and pursued the study of anatomy by dissec-
tion. He acted also as dresser to, I think, the late Mr. Earle, for
twelve months, at that hospital. Amongst the Lecturers were Dr. Hue
on Chemistry, Mr. Abernethy on Surgery, Mr. Lawrence on Compa-
rative Anatomy, etc. He never, however, practised the profession,
as he found the anxieties attending it were‘too oppressive for him ;
and he happily turned the knowledge he had so painfully acquired to
account in the pursuit of the studies in art and science, which he after-
wards so zealously cultivated.

“ In November, 1830, he became a msder of the Geological Society,
and in February, 1831, of the Geographical. The date of his admission
to the Linnean I do not find, but I think it must have been anterior to
the others. He availed himself much of the Library of the British
Museum, and being elected to the Atheneum Club in 1833, had the
advantage of their excellent library.

“ As a boy and a youth he had a great passion for a military life, but
yielded to his parents’ remonstrances, to take a University education ;
and he chose the medical profession, as embracing subjects most con-
genial to his tastes and pursuits. His range of study embraced archi-
tecture, sculpture, painting, and engraving.

* He made almost annually some tour in furtherance of his judi.
-In 1834-5 he travelled through north Italy, and to Rome and Naples,
.. returning by Switzerland and the Rhine.

“In the autumn of 1836 he visited Devonshire and Cornwall; in
the autumn of 1837, the west and south of Ireland (taking the lines by

BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 347

Dublin to Galway, Limerick, Killarney, Cork, Waterford, and home by
Milford Haven); in the autumn of 1838, the east of Scotland (going
by sea to Edinburgh, thence by Montrose to Aberdeen and Braemar,
and by Dundee and Perth back to Edinburgh, and thence to Newcastle
by sea); and in the same season he made the tour of the Westmoreland
and Cumberland Lakes, visited the salt mines of Cheshire, and went
through Derbyshire and Warwickshire. The winter of 1839 he spent
at Torquay, in Devonshire, in consequence of the illness of his mother
and youngest sister. In 1840 he made no excursion, in consequence of
his mother’s death in September. In 1841 he made a tour of the Isle
of Wight (he had previously passed a winter, 1833-4, in the south of
the island), and afterwards in North Devon. In July, 1842, he spent
ten days in excursions about High Force, near Barnard Castle, in
Durham; and in October, took a run into Monmouthshire and Hereford-
shire. In 1843 he went again to lreland, going by Cork (where he
spent a fortnight at the meeting of the British Association, in August),
and from thenee making a three weeks' tour with Dr. Babington, and
then spending ten days at Killarney, and afterwards passsing by Galway
to Sligo, Derry, the Giant's Causeway to Belfast, and thence to Dublin,
where he remained two months and a half studying, returning to London
the middle of January, 1844. In the autumn of 1844 he again visited
the Lake district of Cumberland, spending upwards of a month there; -

and then went on by Newcastle and Berwick, and Dryburgh, Melrose - =

and Abbotsford, to Edinburgh, whence (on December 3rd) he went to
Glasgow for three or four days, and returned on the 7th of December.
He remained at Edinburgh for the purposes of study to the 8th of April,
1845, and then returned to London, taking Chatsworth again on his way.
In June and July, 1845, he took a short turn in Norfolk and round by
Chatsworth again.

- “On the 4th of January, 1846, he left England, vi@ Southampton, on
his Indian tour. On arriving at Bombay, he found he should be too -
late for crossing the plains to the Himalaya that season, and accord-
ingly determined to go at once to Java, and up the coast of China. He
arrived at Batavia about the 20th of June, and after making excursions
about the island, returned there on the 24th of July; and on the 27th
went by a steamer to Singapore, which he reached on the 1st of August.
I have no dates or particulars here of his proceedings after this time, and
can only speak from my recollections. He was to leave Singapore by

348 BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

the China mail on the 4th of August, 1846; he went of course to
Hongkong, and then up the coast as far as Shanghae, and returned
by the same route to Singapore; to Calcutta, and on by Benares, Agra,
and Delhi to Lahore. He next journeyed through Cashmere (and was
treated as a prince by Goolab Sing), and afterwards through Burdak-
shar, beyond Gilgit, to about the 35° of N. lat. He made a short turn
into Little Tibet, and returned through Cashmere to Lahore. He then
went to Nepal, and afterwards made the excursion over the Himalaya
into Tibet to the lakes, which are&he sources of the Indus and Sutlej,
with Captain Strachey, and of which you say he is writing the particu-
lars. He returned through Agra to Bombay, and home again by
Egypt, Malta, and Gibraltar. He seems to have left Bombay about
the 3rd Df April, 1849, and arrived at Suez on the 19th. He re-
mained in Egypt, visiting the Pyramids, etc., till the 12th of May,
passed Gibraltar on the 23rd, and Cape St. Vincent on the 24th of
May, 1849. On his return from India in 1849, he formed here an
Arboretum, principally for the Conifere, to which he seemed most
partial. He had, however, for years previously, been bringing plants
together, and planting them in the garden, so far as the space would
permit; and he had a good number of plants potted before he went out,
which were ready for planting on his return.

“I have no materials here to give you information as to his proceed-
ingsin 1850-1. In 1852 he was again in Ireland ; I do not remember
what parts he visited, but he had settled down in Dublin for some time,
when, at the end of October, 1852, he was summoned home by the
sudden death (that is, after a few days' illness) of his last surviving
sister. In the summer and autumn of 1853, he was, I believe, princi-
pally at home. On the 3rd of January, 1854, he started again, vid
.. Southampton, for Egypt, and arrived at Alexandria on the 20th, and
. went on the same afternoon to Cairo; where, having secured a good
. Dragoman at Malta, he soon provided himself with a boat (50 feet long,
— by 10 feet beam), and a crew of eight men and a boy, and all requisites
. for the voyage, and on the 24th started alone (not to be encumbered
. with an untried companion) up the Nile, determining not to stop for
anything on going up, but take every advantage of the wind, and visit
everything on his descent with the stream. He passed the first cataract
on the 13th of February, and entering Nubia, went on to Aboo Zimbel
about, a waa below the second cataract), where, from the slow

BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 349

progress made, for want of wind, and the great heat (96° in his cabin,
121? in the sun, and 131? where the boat was covered with black silk), ©
he determined to terminate his voyage up. Having arrived there on
the 20th of July, on the following day he commenced his return. The
distance through Nubia, from the first cataract to Aboo Zimbel, was
about 180 miles; on his way down, he of course visited Philc, the
granite quarries, Thebes, and everything of interest. He reached
Cairo on the 2nd of April, and spent a week there. On the 14th of
April he left Alexandria in an Austrian steamer for Beyrout, in Syria;
thence on the 25th of April he started, with tents and mules, over the
Lebanon range to Balbec; thence through the mountains of the Anti-
Lebanon to Damascus ; thence by the site of Dan to the Sea of Galilee,

Jericho, and Jerusalem, whence he visited the Dead Sea, and of course _ |

all the places of sacred interest. Having stopped there ten days, he
went on to Beersheba, and to Gaza, and returned thence by the coast
to Beyrout; and having visited Tyre and Sidon, went up to “the
cedars," and almost to the summit of Lebanon, about 4000 feet above
them. Returning to Beyrout, he started in an Austrian steamer, the
** Adria," for Smyrna, on his way to Constantinople; but, being taken
ill of diarrhea, he was put on shore at Rhodes on the 3rd of July, and
died on the following day, after (it is said) six days' illness.

“I imagine that he must have made acquaintance with you on
some previous journey to Scotland, probably in 1828 or 1829 (when
he went, I think, to the Isle of Skye); but I have nothing to show when
it was. You will observe that in 1838 his tour was confined to the
eastern side of Scotland. His only other visit to Glasgow would seem
to bave been in December, 1844.”

CYPERUS POLYSTACHYUS, Réttb.

The Botanic Garden has lately received, through the kindness of
Edward Ayshford Sanford, Esq., of Nynehead Court, Somerset, a
plant of the Cyperus polystachyus, from the mouth of the crater of the
extinct voleano of the island of Ischia, which, if not possessed of much
beauty to recommend it, is interesting from the above-mentioned spot |
being the only locality in Europe, and in its there flourishing where the |

350. BOTANICAL INFORMATION.

steam is continually issuing at a temperature of at least 150? Fahren-
heit. The plant is, essentially, a warm-country species, tropical and
extratropical, in Asia, Africa, and America: and thus in Europe the
only place of growth is that where the heat is, as it were, especially
suited to it. The question naturally arises, how did the plant find
its way to this single spot? for it “grows only," Mr. Sanford ob-
served, “on a space about thirty feet in diameter, in this heated atmo-
sphere." Professor Tenore offers the following theory, in his observa-
tions on the subject.

“It grows exclusively in the island of Ischia, and close to the little
steam-holes (fwmarole) of Frasso and of Cacciotti. It is accompanied
by Péeris longifolia ; itis perennial, and flowers in June. Both these
plants strike their roots deep into the soft soil of the fumarole, where
the temperature is of 50 to 60 degrees (of Réaumur); and they cannot
be plucked up without scorching one's hands. The atmosphere has a
heat of 30 degrees. When removed to the Royal Botanic Garden of
Florence, and left in the open ground, these plants were unable to bear
the cold of winter, and it was found necessary to shelter them in the
stoves.” .

How can this Cyperus, a native of the Cape of Good Hope and the
East Indies, and its companion, Péeris longifolia, hitherto only found in
Jamaica and Hispaniola ;—how, I say, can we account for their growing
in this single spot, of all Europe, and exclusively in a locality where
circumstances create a climate wholly different from that of the sur-
rounding countries, and which resembles the atmosphere of the blazing

Tropics? For the solving of this question, many conjectures may pos-
sibly be offered; and among them I have lighted upon one, over-bold
perhaps, and certainly very strange, but which I shall still venture to pro-
pound here ; it is, that the successive reproductions of this plant have
resisted the force of ages, and enabled it to perpetuate itself through
all those atmospherical catastrophes which have altered the climate of
. Europe, because its seeds have been developed in that high temperature,
which the half-extinguished volcanoes still preserve in the bowels of the
_ island of Ischia.”
. The fact of its growing in this locality is so well known to the
. Italians, that the plant is called “ Cipero d’Ischia,” and “ Giunco delle
fumarole.” | ; ; s

NOTICES OF BOOKS. 851

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

JAUBERT ET SPACH: ILLUSTRATIONES PLANTARUM ORIENTALIUM ;
ou, Choix de Plantes Nouvelles ou peu connues de V Asie Occidentale.
Imp. 4to. Paris.

The plants of Western Asia ought to have more than usual interest
to us, now that our armies and so many other British subjects are con-
gregating in the Crimea, and that we have so much intercourse with
the Turkish Empire. It were devoutly to be wished, that, as Buona-
parte did in Egypt, we should have men of science attached to our
armies in countries whose productions are little known to us; and thus
we should be sure to have some favourable results. The present work
is eminently rich in the rare and novel plants of these Oriental regions,
and most beautifully and carefully are they represented in it. Four
volumes complete, and three fasciculi of the fifth volume, are now before |
: us, and well does the work maintain its character. We noticed, in our

Journal for 1853, as far as the third number of the fourth volume.
The following is devoted entirely to Grasses: the fifth, or thirty-fifth of
the whole work, takes up Composite (chiefly occupied by new species of
Pulicaria), as in the thirty-sixth; while the thirty-seventh, to the con-

clusion of the (fourth) volume, contain a fine set of various families of © a

Corolliffore, and mostly new species, In the thirty-ninth fasciculus,
and in all the following, as far as Tab. 429, we find all the figures taken
from the celebrated collection of ** Vellums (Velins) of the Museum " of
the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, which, as is well known, were commenced
under the auspices and direction of Gaston d'Orléans, brother of Louis
XIII., and, is continued, we believe, to the present day, at the expense of -
the French Government. The finest portion of these were executed by
a distinguished artist, who accompanied Tournefort in his voyage to the
Levant; and, as the finest collection of drawings of Oriental plants in. |
England are from the pencil of Ferdinand Bauer, so are those in France
exeeuted by M. Aubriet. A portion of them have been published by Pro-
fessor Desfontaines in the‘ Annales du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle,"

—about sixty, we believe. "These original drawings, beautifully co- -
loured from satum, are confined to the * Corollarium Institutionum Rei

352 NOTICES OF BOOKS.

herbariz ’ of Tournefort, “ in quo plantz 1356 in orientalibus regionibus
observatz recensentur et ad genera sua revocantur." Beautifully as,
no doubt, they are executed, they are sadly deficient in analyses and
dissections, as may be expected in drawings made more than a century
and a half ago, and in this respect form a striking contrast with the
other figures of Messrs. Jaubert and Spach’s work, in which the ana-
lyses are so well and carefully executed.

WILLKOMM, Moritz: Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum novarum cri-
ticarum et rariorum Europe Austro-Occidentalis, precipue Hispania.
Imp. 4to. Lipsie. Fasc. 3-5.

In our notice of the first Fasciculus of this work (see our last vol.,
p. 94), we expressed a hope that the future numbers might present a
greater variety, and plants of more general interest than that contained.
But we are disappointed. Here are well-executed plates, and the most
laboured and lengthy specific characters and synonyms and localities.
Here are five fasciculi, at a cost of ten dollars, oceupied by the Genera
(almost wholly Spanish) Dianthus, Gypsophila, and the commencement
of Silene! From the terms * Plantarum novarum et rariorum," we
were led to suppose that there would be much of novelty, as well as
rarity ; but, instead of these, the author's object seems to be to multiply
well-known species, beyond what we have witnessed in any author,
even in this age of species-making. Yet one has only to look at the
labours of a Boissier in Spain, to be satisfied how much there is that

. needs illustration of a highly novel and interesting character.

BULLETIN DE La SOCIETE BOTANIQUE DE FRANCE; fondée le
= 23 Avril, 1854. Paris.

_ This promises to be a very useful Journal, and, with the highly re-
spectable names of the President (Ad. Brongniart), Vice-Presidents,
etc., of the Society which conducts it, we cannot doubt of its meeting
.. with the success it deserves. Besides original papers and notices of the
. discussions at the Meetings, each number contains a “ Revue biblio-
graphique," and several pages devoted to ** Mélanges et Nouvelles.”

353

Letter from Jonn MacarLLIvRAY, Esq., Naturalist of H. M. Survey-
ing-ship Herald, commanded by Captain Denham; dated Sydney,
March 8rd, 1854.

[We have already (vol. v. p. 279) reported progress of this voyage,
destined to make a scientific survey of certain islands in the South
Pacific, in a letter from Mr. Macgillivray, dated Sydney, February 23,
1853. We have now the great satisfaction of publishing extracts from
a highly interesting letter from the same gentleman, detailing the par-
ticulars of the first cruise among the islands.]

We sailed from Sydney on September 2, 1853; the Torch had been —
left behind, and most of her officers and men transferred to the Herald.
Three days afterwards we anchored at Lord Howe Island, where we —
remained ten days. This little island, which is distant from the nearest
part of Australia about 300 miles, is only six miles in length and a mile
and a half in greatest width. At one end are two mountains, respec-
tively 2498 and 2834 feet in height. The greater part of the island is
thickly wooded. There are three families and two or three other per-
sons living on the island, but they will shortly be obliged to quit, as it

is intended to form there a penal settlement for the convicts of New i ? :
South Wales and Victoria. I had a tent on shore during the whole of — =
our stay. Our surgeon (Mr. Reyner, who is and has long been a zeal- — —

ous collector for Haslar Museum) volunteered to join my party, and of —
course Milne was one of us. His collection of the plants of the island

is probably tolerably complete; mine of course is very imperfect, as
zoology necessarily took up most of my time. There are only (exclud-
ing a few Mosses and Lichens) thirty-six species in my fasciculus, out
of which twelve are Ferns. I should think the vegetation assimilates
to that of Norfolk Island; there is however no representative of the
Conifer, and several of the plants appeared to me to be Australian,
as Tecoma Australis, Platycerium alcicorne, etc. But I should feel more
at home were I telling you of my three new species of Diplommatina

(a remarkable genus of land-shells), and a new Zurycanthus, the **land-- = ;
lobster" of the settlers, for on looking over my journal I see very few

botanical notices.

A dense forest of Palms occupies nearly the whole space between the — =

two sides of the island at this part. Whether this is an reca ora _
Seaforthia, Y cannot at present determine, for want of any book contain-
VOL. VI. 22

354 LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY.

-

ing the generic characters, but it strongly reminds me of what several
years ago I made out by Brown's * Prodromus,’ ete., to be Seaforthia
elegans. Here and there is an occasional enormous Banyan-tree, with
its singular root-like supporting stems, and some plants of a Pandanus
(Freycinetia, I think, but here again the want of botanical works steps
in), or “tent-tree,” as it is here called. My old friend, Flagellaria
Indica, as usual, is not tied down to the quiet orderly growth of its
fellows in the vegetable kingdom, but aspires to paying rambling visits
to the summits of the neighbouring trees. What with this, and the -
Palms, and the Banyans, and the Screw-pines, and the clumps of para-
sitical Orchidee and Ferns, the forest scenery struck me as having quite
a tropical aspect; and when, after passing some cleared land in a neg-
lected state, overrun with weeds (among which were the ubiquitous
Stellaria media and Sonchus oleraceus), and some patches of rude culti-
vation, we came in sight of the establishment of one of the settlers,
the palm-slab built and palm-leaf thatched cottage and outhouses re-
minded me of a Malayan or Javanese hamlet. . . . Several species of
Ferns occurred here. Besides a Cyathea, with a caudex ten or twelve
feet in length and six inches in diameter, a very handsome Hypolepis,
a Pteris, a Litobrochia, and a widely-spreading Asplenium, with fronds
six feet in length, were plentiful.. A long straggling Polypodium, and
a Pleopeltis, ran over rocks and up the trunks of trees. We saw enor-
mous clumps of a Platycerium, high up on the Banyans, and got fine
specimens from a tree which had been blown down. Along with the
Ferns were some fine Lichens, and a beautiful Moss (Weissia), which
had not occurred previously.

My little encampment was broken up sooner than I anticipated, and
we had to rejoin the ship, to our intense mortification, at a period when
the carrying out of my plans for the remainder of the time originally
_ allotted would have ensured a thorough investigation of the productions
of this interesting island. A quantity of seeds of “vegetables” were
distributed among the few settlers; and on our subsequent visit (three
months afterwards), I was pleased to find, on the site where the tent
had been pitched, a crop of very fine turnips, the produce doubtless of
. some seed which Milne had accidentally scattered there.

mained a month. This island is situated off the S.E. end of New

onia, and is peopled by a similar race of men—the frizzled-hair

On September 24 we anchored at the Isle of Pines, where we re- — |

LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY. 355

Papuans. I shall not however trouble you with any account of my
personal adventures, or the customs, etc., of the people, or the zoology,
but pass at once to some botanical scraps in my journal.

Being anxious to see the Sandal-wood tree growing, I was taken by
an intelligent boy to the thickets on the low grounds behind the beach,
where several were pointed out to me. Unfortunately all were of small
size, and none had either flowers or fruit. The first which I saw was
a small spreading bush, with smooth grey bark, having dark longitudi-
nal broad streaks and dots, and small, glossy, elliptical, revolute, and
slightly carinate leaves. At a subsequent period I was more fortunate
in getting flowering specimens of the plant. . . . In the stores I was
shown a large quantity of Sandal-wood recently proeured from an island

which, until very lately, was not known to produce it. The locality

was confidentially communicated to me, and Mr. Underwood kindly
promised to procure flowering specimens of it for me, as I think it may
prove a new species. ‘The Isle of Pines and the Aneiteum Sandal-
wood trees are specifically distinct, and differ from S. Freycinetianum of
the Sandwich Islands. . . . Near Hill's I showed Milne some small
plants of the Sandal-wood tree, which he attempted, but in vain, to dig
up; for they were merely suckers, the parent tree having long ago been |
cut down to the very roots. . . . Having found a fine Sandal-wood
tree in a thick scrub, where it had fortunately escaped the observation
of the natives, I procured for Milne a very good section of it, for the
usual consideration of pipes and tobacco. This tree was about 25 feet
in height, with a diameter below of 6 inches, of which the inner yellow
scented portion, alone of any value, occupied 2$ inches. In preparing
Sandal-wood for the market, the ‘bark and outer white wood are cut
away with an axe, reducing the billets to a small diameter; and those _
taken from about the root—considered the most valuable, because most _
highly scented—are very irregular in form. Thousands of tons of this —
valuable wood have from time to time been furnished by this little —
island, and the supply has now almost completely ceased. =
In this bushy tract of country, the number of beautiful running and
climbing plants was considerable. Among the most remarkable is a
scarlet-blossomed Disemma (D. coccinea), and three or four Ipomee,
—one with very large and handsome blue flowers, and another with c
equally large white ones. Close to a small village I saw some cleared, -
unfenced ground, hue the Taro, Yam, Pumpkin, Gourd, and Sugar- —

356 LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY.

*

cane were cultivated. . . . The French * Missionary " establishment is
pleasantly situated in an open valley at the edge of the table-land, with
a stream from the upper grounds running past, and supplying a swamp
lower down, where I found several marsh-plants. On the banks of the
stream further up I observed several fine Ferns, especially a Lomaria
(like Z. robusta of Tristan da Cunha), with an arborescent caudex three
or four feet high, and as thick as one’s leg, and having a fine head of
long fronds, arching outwards, giving the plant much the appearance
of a dwarf Palm. A Lygodium spread its green drapery over the trees
and bushes on the outskirts of the wood; a fine Lindsea and an Adi-
antum grew by the stream, along which, here and there, were great
clumps of a gigantic grass, with leaves a foot in width. . . . The total
number of flowering plants collected by me at the Isle of Pines is 137 ;
and from the circumstance of my last two excursions not having fur-
nished a single additional species, it may be inferred that the small
collection in question affords a fair sample of the vegetation of the
island. Among Cryptogamia, Alge are very remarkably deficient; of
Fungi and Lichens I did not observe more than a dozen species; and
of Mosses only five kinds. The Lycopodiacee are only two in number,
but the Ferns are well represented by twenty-four species belonging to
sixteen genera. Several of the most striking of these have already been
alluded to in this journal. By far the most remarkable are two species
of a genus (Schizea, Ed.) which I cannot find described. The frond of
one is linear and rush-like, of the other dichotomous and flabelliform.
The latter bears on the apex of each division of the frond about six
minute recurved spikes (collectively assuming a stellate appearance), each
with two rows of exannulate capsular spore-cases, corrugated at the apex,
dehiscing vertically, and containing two or more discoid sporangia. -
These two last Ferns, on my subsequent return to Sydney, were re-
_ ferred to the genus Actinostachys*, The Gramineae, of which there are
several striking forms, constitute 16 per cent. of the Phzenogamous ve-
getation; and the Cyperacee, Composite, and Leguminose, respectively
. 6, 7, and 5 per cent. The great bulk of the vegetation is arboreal;
and in the groves and woods there is little underwood, but often Fla-
. gellaria Indicat and other rope-like climbers. Herbaceous plants occur '

LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY. 357

-

chiefly on the margin of the woods, and in open places. Of the last
description of country great tracts (considering the size of the island,
which is only about eight miles in diameter) are covered with Fern
(Pieris and Mertensia), coarse Grass and Cyperacee. Among the trees
which give a character to the landscape, Eu£assa Cookii* takes the first
place. This noble Pine, worthy of the illustrious name it bears, is
naturally gregarious, but the largest individuals grow singly, or in
small clumps. I had no means of judging accurately of the height
which it sometimes attains, but estimate it as occasionally being as
much as 150 feet, with a girth of 10 to 12 feet near the ground. In
appearance this tree differs so much from JZ. excelsa, that I am sur- __
prised how the two could have been considered as identical by the
botanists of Cook’s voyage. Young trees growing in exposed places .
sometimes assume, for awhile, the pyramidal form of the Norfolk -
Island Pine, but the larger ones have all the branches short, and the
whole tree tapers very gradually to the summit, where it is often capped — —
by a mushroom-like terminal tuft of foliage. In one solitary instance
I saw the summit of a very tall'tree bifurcated. There is a very strik-
ing difference between the foliage of the young plant of Z. Cookii and_
that of the tree. In the young stage, which resembles the similar con-
dition of Æ. excelsa, the branchlets are sent out on the same horizontal
plane, and the finely linear leaves, which do not touch each other, ©
although verticillate, appear to be distichous. In the adult the leaves
are broadly ovate, outwardly convex, and closely imbricated, the branch- -
lets attaining a length of about 8 inches, and a diameter of between
0:2 and 0°4 inches. The largest male catkins which I have seen are
13 inch long, and lanceolate; the smallest female cones are 2 inches
long, and elliptical, while the largest in my possession is 34 inches.
long, and almost globular, with mucronate and revolute tips to the 3
scales. The younger female cones remind me of the heads of Dipsacus —
fullonum. From incisions in the bark or cones a thick viscid fluid ex-
udes, and hardens into an amber-coloured gum, forming stalagmitic
masses. This will not burn in the fire, is not soluble in spirit, and
only partially so in water. The wood makes good planking, and small
spars without knots may be made out of the lower part of the trunk :
the upper is too full of knots to be useful where toughness is Te-

* Dombeya columnaris, Forst. Prodr.— Araucaria Cookii, Br. Ms., A. colunna-
ris, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4635.

358 LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY.

quired. The French so-called ** Missionaries,” who have a saw-mill
here, occupy a great part of their time in preparing plank of this tree
for exportation. Although the profusion of seedlings on Observation
Island would lead one to suppose that cones are abundantly produced,
yet one of the only two Pines upon the island bearing fruit when cut
down, afforded no more than three small cones, although there were
male catkins in abundance. It is moncecious, as Æ. excelsa also cer-
tainly is, although I recollect having seen the latter described as dice-
cious. I forgot to mention in its proper place, that in the very young.
E. Cookii, the four linear cotyledonous leaves are arranged in pairs,
while in Æ. excelsa they are equidistant. A Pandanus, like P. pedun-
culata, is common; and mats, bags, and baskets of various kinds, are
made from the young leaves. The Cocoanut-tree, with its multifarious
uses, is the solitary representative of the Palms; and a very fine, wide-
spreading, small-leaved Ficus is, next to the Pine, the most striking and
ornamental tree upon the island. The entrance to “ King Jemmie’s”
palace is through one of these trees, a natural hole in the arched roots
of which, having been artificially widened, now presents the appearance
of a Gothic arch. Of Orchidee I observed five species: one, a Dendro-
bium, is found on rocks and dead branches of trees; and two of the
others are tall, handsome white- and purple-flowered plants, growing
among the Fern. Of plants which have probably been introduced, in
addition to those which are regularly cultivated, I may mention the
. Bread-fruit tree, the Papaw, Indian corn, and the Castor-oil plant; but
the fruit of the first two does not seem to be held in much esteem. As
Cynthia Cardui is among insects, from my finding it almost everywhere,
in whatever part of the earth I put my foot, so among plants is Sonchus
oleraceus, which is a weed all over the Isle of Pines, and is commonly
eaten by the natives, stem and leaves, uncooked. The only other bota-
. nical fact which I shall allude to here is the occurrence of two Protea-
. eeous shrubs* near the summit of the Peak (885 feet). One of these
_ appears to be certainly, and the other possibly, a Grevillea, an impor-
_ tant fact in botanical geography, for this genus is regarded as being ex-

LETTER FROM MR, MACGILLIVRAY. 359

clusively Australian. Of these two last there are fortunately living
plants of Milne’s; and, besides other things, some of a fine Pitcher-
plant, which is not N. distillatoria. We found this last in one very
confined locality, a small patch of swampy ground by a stream, crossing
the road along which we were proceeding to Kaji, on a visit to the
principal chief, or rather king, for he exercises absolute authority not
only over the whole of the Isle of Pines, but also over a portion of New
Caledonia. But this is not botany; so, by way of making amends, I
may mention that Wendagu (the king) told me, while showing some
large double canoes, that they were made in New Caledonia, out of a
large tree growing there, which he had heard the sandal-wood traders
call Kawrie. Now of course this was a Dammara, and no doubt a very —
noble one. I believe one from that island, got by Moore, has been -
described. You allude in your last letter to specimens of a Dammara,
sent by the late Sir J. Everard Home to the British Museum, from
the Isle of Pines. Now the locality is incorrect: there is no Dammara
there. The species in question, if not the Aneiteum one—of which
more anon—is doubtless from the Fijis, where I know he got speci-
‘mens of a similar character. E :
We sailed from the Isle of Pines on October 22. We were off Mat- -
thew Island on November 4, but it was quite impracticable to land, -

culis rachibusque crassis, stylis elongatis glabris perianthio triplo longioribus, stig- _
mate conico-apiculato,
Grevillea. Macgillivray, Herb. Voy. of H.M.S. Herald, n. 854.
Has. Near the summit of the Isle of Pines, main peak, October, 1853. John
Macgillivray, Esq., Mr. W. Milne. ;
A very beautiful and well-marked species. Leaves larger, but in shape and texture —
and colour not much unlike those of Olea Europea. Racemes copious, bearing very
numerous flowers. :
The other is a Stenocarpus :— z
2. Stenocarpus Mi/nei, Hook.; frutex glaber humilis, ramis gracilibus strictis, foliis:
linearibus pinnatifidis subbipinnatifidisve inferioribus simplicibus, laciniis oppositis.
elongatis obtusis apice glanduloso-callosis ecostatis subreticulatim rugulosis mar-
ginibus parum reflexis, pedunculis axillaribus foliis brevioribus, umbellis subsexflo-
ris, involucri foliolis parvis subulatis, pedicellis apice incrassatis calyculatis, stig-
mate laterali orbiculato. Ke ve
Has. Near the summit of the main peak of the Isle of Pines; abundant. Mr. W.
Milne (Herb. n. 118); Macgillivray, Herb. Voy. of H.M.S. Herald, n. 855. F
General habit of some of the slender varieties of Grevillea linearis: but there the
leaves are all linear acute, strongly costate, and, as well as the Tacemose flowers,
more or less silky. I refer it to Stenocarpus, in the absence of fruit, with little hesi- -
tation, in consequence of the truly umbellate inflorescence, and the nature of the
stigma, and the general resemblance of the flowers to the original Sfeuocarpus Fors.
teri, Br. It is a graceful, slender-twigged shrub. e

360 LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY.

and no anchorage could be found. There did not appear to be any
vegetation whatever on the island, which is merely a large cinder, hav-
ing been seen smoking a few years ago; so I shall pass on to Aneiteum,
which we reached on November 7 , and where we remained for three
weeks. It is the most southern island of the New Hebrides, and on
the charts is incorrectly called Annatom or Annatam. My collection
of Aneiteum plants is very small, consisting only of sixty-nine species,
of which forty-one are Ferns. Although we spent three weeks at
Aneiteum, I had very little time to devote to collecting of plants.
This however is not of much consequence, as Milne was diligently em-
ployed during our stay. The great variety, beauty, and often singu-
larity of the Ferns, I find frequently alluded to in my journal. The
. . damp woods of the interior of the island, especially along the course of
_ the mountain-streams, furnished, among others, a remarkable Litobrochia,

= with the habit of Zygodium, running over trees; an Oleandra, forming
ps great tufts of linear fronds, five feet long; and a tall, handsome Marat-
fia, and a fine flabelliform Schizea, are common in the woods. On
. . thelow grounds I fell in with a clump of three individuals of a very
fine Alsophila, the largest of which had a caudex 15 feet in height to
the giving off of the first frond, and 30 inches in circumference at 6

feet from the ground, while the beautiful tripinnate fronds, arching

gracefully outwards, attain the length of from 10 to 15 feet. In cutting

down this, I ascertained from the natives that the central part near the
_ top is eaten: it reminded me of a bad turnip. A handsome Melasto-
maceous bush is abundantly mixed up with a very showy white-flowered
Vaccinium (V. cereum, Forst.), on the stiff clayey lower hills. A tall reed
forms thickets everywhere on the low grounds, and from its stoutness and
height (6 to 8 feet), is much used in the construction of very efficient sin-
- gle or double fences, also as supports for the Yam plants. Of the Bread-
- fruit there are said to be about twenty kinds, specially distinguished by
name. I could not myself make out more than two or three well-marked
Varieties. Four Palms occur—Cocos, Caryota, Areca, and Sagus: the last
three are rare, and are generally seen near houses. But the most re-
markable plant of Aneiteum is a Dammara, which Moore (who got it
_ there while in the Havannah) tells me is D. obtusa. It does not how-
E ever agree at all in leaf or cone with the description of that species
which I lately saw in Paxton; and yet there is only one Kaurie on

-

\neiteum, which is abundant, and has long been used for timber, as.

LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY. | 361

applied to D. obtusa in the description. The only way in which I can
account for the discrepancy is, that Moore's specimens had been wrongly
labelled for locality. Sir E. Home's certainly were, when they were
stated to be from the Isle of Pines. The largest Aneiteum Dammara
' which I saw, measured 234 feet in circumference 5 feet from the ground,
Unlike the D. Australis of New Zealand, it is not considered suited for
large spars, but cuts up into excellent planks. I could not get any
ripe cones; and although abundance of full-sized green ones were hung
up on board, in hopes of some reaching Sydney in a state fit for germi-
nation, the experiment proved a failure. So was it also with Eutassa
Cookii. The only other Aneiteum plant I shall mention here is a San-
talum, once abundant, but now almost extinct, so much so that I saw
only one individual, that which furnished me with specimens. It had
probably escaped the axe of the native on account of its small size,
being only a sapling as thick as the wrist, and commercially valueless.
I regret not having done more for the botany of Aneiteum, but two-
thirds of my entire time were taken up with the vocabularies and gram-
mar, combined with ethnology,—-the last important to be secured before — —
Christianity will have brought about the gredt change in morals and -
customs which it has already partially accomplished, thanks to the two _
missionaries of Aneiteum. Even in the central pagan district of Itaho, _
any European with ordinary prudence and courage is now perfectly
safe while passing through from one side of the island to the other,
and its magnificent valleys and wooded ravines may be explored by any
wandering naturalist. Two-thirds of the population of 2500 belong —
to the Christian party, wear clothing of some description or other, and m
have ceased to practise war among themselves, infanticide, and the
once customary strangling of widows. The nature of my researches |
led me to have much intercourse with the natives, and I satisfied my-
self that the stories regarding the missionaries (originating from sandal-
wood traders and others) grossly maligned two good men devoted to
the service of their Divine Master. ‘ set :
On November 2 we reached the neighbouring island of Futuna, or -
Erronan, and, there being no anchorage, stood off and on for two days,
during which I was as much on shore as possible, but did not collect -
any plants. The vegetation of Futuna exactly corresponds to that of
Aneiteum, so far as it goes, but without the extent and diversity of the -
latter island. ‘This is in a great measure owing to the want of mois- -
VOL. VI. 94 ,

S cim
:

362 LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY.

ture, caused by local influences, unfavourable to the growth of the
Ferns and other inhabitants of dense and moist woods, so numerous in
Aneiteum, Among the more remarkable plants not before alluded to
(Cocoa-nut, Bread-fruit, reed-like Grass, Yam, Taro, Horse-taro, Kava,
etc.), I may mention the purple-flowered Eugenia, aud the Areca of
Aneiteum, a Casuarina frequenting the shores, a small Pandanus, with
very long stolons, which is gregarious and abundant, and from the
leaves of which baskets and mats are made; and lastly, Guettarda spe-
ciosa, the beautiful white blossoms of which ornamented the rugged
and parched coral-rocks at the N.W. point. Futuna, I may mention,
is only about seven miles in circumference, with a steep rocky shore,
fringed with coral. It is well wooded, except where the declivity is too
great; and the summit (2000 feet) is a dead level, three-quarters of
a mile in diameter, and apparently inaccessible. Thanks to the in-
fluence of the two native teachers from Aneiteum, the Futunese are
now so much less dangerous to visitors than formerly, that I landed
alone and unarmed in a canoe (our own boat being unable to face the
surf), and traversed the whole island, mixing freely with the people,
inspecting their huts and gardens, etc., and was treated with civility
throughout.

On the night of passing Tana (Tanna), the volcano made a fine dis-
play. By the bye, we had experienced a severe shock of an earthquake
at Aneiteum, one day soon after our arrival. On December 7, while
hove-to off the island of Mare, two boats were sent on shore, but I
had not the opportunity of landing. One of the principal features
of this island consists in the abundance of Pines, which were easily re-
cognized, and afterwards identified (from cones brought off) as Eufassa
Cookii,

. On December 10 we reached the Isle of Pines, on our return to
. Sydney, and remained ten days there, or until the completion of the
survey. Fortunately, this time I was enabled to obtain good flowering
specimens of the Santalum formerly alluded to.

— We anchored off Lord Howe Island on the 26th, after having spent
a very merry Christmas on very small means. We had no roast beef,
. but managed to concoct a plum-pudding, and, like Mark Tapley, made
ourselves “jolly under the circumstances.” During the few hours
- spent on shore there, the most notable botanical fact was the discovery,
on the site of our tent, of a clump of fine turnips, derived no doubt

NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEE. 363

from some seeds which Milne had accidentally scattered —-— while
serving them out to the settlers three months before.

On January 1st we reached Sydney, where we have been ever since.
I have not, nor has any one present, the slightest idea when we sail,
or where we at go.

[Among the more remarkable and interesting of the plants that have
been already received from the islands thus visited, are a new genus of
shrub, apparently of the Order Dilleniacee (Isle of Pines, n. 849, Mr.
Macgiilivray,—n. 141, Mr. Milne); and, from Aneiteum, the curious
Geissois racemosa of Labillardiére, Sertum Austro-Caledonicum, p. 50.
t. 50; of which the G. ternata of A. Gray, in the Botany of the United
States Exploring Expedition, from the Fejee Islands, is probably only a
variety.]

On the North Brazilian EUPHORRBIACEE in the collections of
Mr. Spruce; óy GEonRaE BENTHAM, Esa.
(Continued from p. 333.)

MABEA.

Our herbaria now contain nine or perliaps ten species of this genus, —
of which three only are published. All yield a copious milky juice, —
which, however, we do not hear of being applied to any specific purpose. — —
The bark of one of them is, according to Martius, considered in the —
Diamond district as a febrifuge; and the young shoots of several species,
under the name of Tacuari, are used for tobacco-pipes in Guiana and
Brazil Partly on this account, partly from the general resemblance in -
habit of the species to each otber, there is some confusion in the ap- -
plication of the names of the older ones. Aublet’s may indeed now be -
identified from his descriptions, but Martius’ M. fistulifera is only known
by so short a diagnosis, that I cannot even now feel any certainty as i:
to the correctness of my determination, although I am convinced I was -
wrong as to the species I gave that name to in my first distribution:

of Spruce’s plants. |
'The several species may from their inflorescence be divided into p.

groups as follows :— à
Ser. I. RAcEMOos X.— Racemi solitarii, terminales, thyrsoidei. Bree a

tee marium glandulis 2 magnis siccitate nigris nitidis stipatee. —

364 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEX

Flores intra bracteas plures pedicellati, umbellati, v. racemu-
losi.

$ 1. Pedicellis masculis ternis umbellatis, umbellis pedicellatis.

1. M. Taquari, Aubl. Pl. Gui. p. 870. t. 334. f. 2; ramulis ferrugineo-
tomentosis, foliis ovali-oblongis breviter acuminatis basi rotundato-
subeordatis subtus tomentellis, umbellis masculis trifloris pedicellatis.
The only certain specimens I have seen are from Leprieur's French

Guiana collection. Those gathered by Spruce in the forest of Barra,

distributed doubtfully under the same name, belong probably to a dif-

ferent species, but, being in fruit only, I cannot at present determine
them.

2. M. Piriri, Aubl. l. c. p. 867. t. 834. f. 1; foliis oblongis longe
acuminatis basi acutis subtus incanis v. utrinque ramulisque glabris,
umbellis masculis trifloris pedicellatis.

From Surinam, Hostmann, n. 409 and 1320. A single specimen in
fruit, gathered by Mr. Spruce on the Rio Negro, appears to belong
also to this species. "The leaves are more evidently serrulate, but that
is a variable character in all the Maec.

À specimen of Goudot's in the Hookerian Herbarium, from the Mag-
dalena river, in New Granada, appears to belong to a distinct species,
connecting in some measure the M. Piriri with the M. occidentalis in
‘inflorescence, as the umbels are but very shortly pedicellate, but dif-
fering from both in the female flowers and some other points. The
specimen, however, is insufficient for a satisfactory description.

§ 2. Pedicellis masculis ternis umbellatis, umbellis sessilibus.

8. M. occidentalis ; foliis oblongis glabris v. vix ad costam ramulisque
... puberulis, umbellis masculis trifloris sessilibus. Var. a; foliis sub-
- tus incanis.—M. Piriri, Benth. Bot. Sulph. p. 165. KI. in Seem.
- Bot. Herald, p. 102, non Aubl.— Var. 8; foliis concoloribus glabris.

This has much the foliage of M. Piriri, for which Dr. Klotzsch as
well as myself had mistaken it, but the male umbels are constantly
closely sessile, not borne (with its bract) on a pedicel from one to two
lineslong. The leaves appear also to be of a somewhat firmer texture.
. The var. a was gathered in the Isthmus of Panama by Cuming (n. 1102),
Barclay and Seemann; at the hacienda del Azufre, probably in the
same PAN Ei sete Odes du Sud, n. 886), and at Rosarios on

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 365

the Rio Hache, near Santa Martha, by Purdie; the var. 8, in British

Guiana, by the Schomburgks (Rob. Schomb. 2nd coll. n. 731, Rich.

Schomb. n. 1109); and in the province of Bahia, Brazil, by Blanchet

(n. 2326).

4. M. Schomburgkii ; ramulis ferrugineo-tomentosis, foliis oblongis basi
rotundato-subcordatis subtus puberulis, umbellis masculis trifloris
sessilibus, coccis dorso bimurieatis.—JM. Taquari, Kl. in Hook. Lond.
Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 47, ex parte, non- Aubl.

This species differs from M. Taguari, as the M. occidentalis from M.
Periri, by the closely sessile male umbels. It has moreover two short
blunt points projecting from the back of each valve of the capsule
about half-way up, which are not represented in the figures of the fruit
of M. Taquari. It was found in British Guiana by the Schomburgks
(Rob. Schomburgk, 1st coll. n. 40, 2nd coll. n. 358, Rich. Schomburgk,
n. 535).

$ 3. Floribus masculis racemulosis, racemulis bractea fultis sessilibus.

5. M. angustifolia, Spruce, Pl. exs.; foliis lanceolatis (parvis) subtus
: ad costam ramulisque CER pne E floribus masculis bre-
vissime pedicellatis racemulosis, racemis sessilibus.—Arbor gracilis,
15-pedalis, ramis divaricatis pendulisve, ramulis tomento ferrugineo _
plus minus vestitis. Stipulæ lineares. Folia 1-14 poll. longa, 2-3 _
lin. lata, acuta et setaceo-acuminata, minute serrulata, basi acutius- -
cula, supra glabra v. vix ad costam puberula, subtus pallida, costa
ferrugineo-tomentosa. Inflorescentia terminalis, 3—5-pollicaris, fer-
rugineo-tomentella, floribunda. Fl. fæm., inferiores 3-5 longius-
cule pedicellati, ad axillam bractez linearis v. lanceolate bistipulatee

` solitarii. Sepala acuminata, ovario longiora. Racemuli masculi nu-
merosi, approximati, horizontaliter patentes, plerique 8-9 lin. longi,
supra medium unilateraliter 5-flori, summi breviores 1-3-flori. Flores
erecti, brevissime pedicellati. Bracteæ ad basin racemulorum lineares,
acute, glandulis ovoideo-globosis glabris sepe 14 lin. longis. ——

Ejusdem var. B, oblonga, differt foliis 14 poll. longis, 5-6 lin. latis. —
— M. fistulifera, Benth. Pl. Spr. exs. non Mart.
The narrowest-leaved variety was gathered by Mr. iron. on Te ae

Amazon, near Santarem. The rather broader but still small-leaved

form was first sent by him from Caripé, near Pará, and afterwards —

fiom Obidos, on the Amazon. As this was stated to be used for to- —

366 .NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

bacco-pipes by the Brazilians under the name of Tacuari, and was
then the only Brazilian species known, I presumed it to be the M.
Jistulifera of Martius, with whose very short diagnosis it agreed pretty
fairly. I now find, however, that the following is much more likely to
be his plant, as it agrees still better with that diagnosis, and I have
seen it moreover in Pohl's collection, made in a great measure in the
district whence Martius procured his plant.
6. M. fistulifera, Mart. Reise, vol. i. p. 497? ; foliis oblongis acuminatis
. subtus medio late ferrugineo-tomentosis, inflorescentia ferrugineo-to-
mentosa, floribus masculis racemulosis, racemulis sessilibus.— Arbor
parva, 15-pedalis, coma divaricata. Ramuli novelli, inflorescentite
et foliorum pagina inferior ad utrumque latus coste media per spa-
tium utrinque 2—3 lin. latum, dense ferrugineo- v. aureo-tomentosi.
Folia petiolata, 3—4 poll. longa, 1-14 poll. lata, abrupte acuminata,
basi rotundata v. cuneata, supra glabra, nitida, subtus preter lineam
tomentosam glabra incanescentia. Stipulas non vidi. Inflorescentia
4-65-pollieares, racemulis masculis crebris 8—10 lin. longis, 3—4-flo-
ris, pedicellis seepius diametrum floris equantibus. Glandule brac-
tearum magne, oblonge. Flores fæminei plurimi, longiuscule pedi-
cellati, pedicellis solitariis, bractea oblongo-acuminata eglandulosa
caducissima. Sepala lineari-lanceolata, acuminata, ovario longiora.
Capsula tomentosa.
Gathered by Mr. Spruce in the Serras de Santarem, and distributed
under the name of M. ferruginea. Also in Pohl's collection, either from
Goyaz or Minas Geraes.

Ser. II. PanicuLar#.—Racemi graciliores, ad apices ramorum
plures paniculati. Bractearum glandule minores, nunc mi-
nuts.

= T. M. subserrulata, Spruce, MS.; foliis oblongis coriaceis glabris, ra-
.. cemis paniculatis, umbellis masculis subtrifloris pedicellatis.— Arbor
gracilis, 18-pedalis. Specimina suppetentia tota glabra exceptis pa-
niculis. Folia 3-4 poll. longa, 13-2 poll. lata, apice basique rotun-
data, acumine brevi obtuso, margine vix minute serrulata, rigidiora
quam in ceteris speciebus, venis a costa divergentibus crebris paral-
elis longe intra marginem anastomosantibus, supra nitentia, subtus
. Opaca, utrinque tactu scabriuscula. Racemi 2-8-pollicares, minute
~ tomentelli. Umbelle mascule more M. Taquari pedicellate. Brac-

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 361

tearum glandule minores quam in precedentibus, multo tamen

magis conspicue quam in sequentibus. lores parvi, pedicellis in-

squalibus sed a basi distinctis nec in racemulos connatis. Flores —

Jæminei inferiores plurimi, dissiti, longe pedicellati. Bractee lanceo-

latee ternæ (bractea cum stipulis 2 vix minoribus) Sepala late

ovata, acuta, ovarium zequantia. Capsula sublignosa, $roidec:globoss;
axi 8-10 lin. longa, extus ferrugineo-tomentosa.

In the caatingas at Panuré. The specific name was given by Mr.
Spruce probably in allusion to the serratures of the leaves being less
distinct than in most species. They are, however, in all cases very
variable.

8. M. nitida, Spruce, Pl. exs.; foliis oblongis acuminatis mucronatis
utrinque ramisque glabris, racemis paniculatis tomentosis, umbellis
masculis brevissime pedunculatis, florum pedicellis flore brevioribus
v. vix longioribus.— Arbor gracilis, 20-50-pedalis. Folia 3—5-pol-
licaria, acumine terminali longiusculo apice mucronato, basi rotundata,
per anthesin chartacea v. vix coriacea, demum rigidiora, supra nitida,
subtus opaca et siccitate rubicunda. Panicula ramosissima, racemis.
numerosis gracilibus interruptis. Umdelle mascule fere in glome- |
rulos contracte, nune fere sessiles nune pedunculo j lin. longo sus- —
tense, floribus lineam diametro 6—10-andris, pedicello rarius semi- -
lineam excedente. Bractea parva glandulis vix conspicuis. Pee
celli foeminei 1-2 lin. longi. Styli profunde fissi. :

Gathered by Mr. Spruce in the moist forest at Barra do Rio Nene =

in fruit in January, 1851, and again in flower in August, 1851, at the

mouth of the Rio Negro, where he found two varieties, one with pur- zi

plish-red and bluish-grey flowers, the other with white flowers and rather
shorter leaves. "
9. M. paniculata, Spruce, Pl. exs.; foliis oblongis supra nitidis wien
incanis ramulisque tomentoso-pubescentibus glabratisve, racemis pa-
niculatis, umbellis masculis sessilibus, florum pedicellis flore parvo —
duplo triplove longioribus.— Zamw/; et folia interdum fere glabra, -
sed sepius florum pagina inferior uti ramuli et panicula pilis brevi- -
bus crispatis seepe stellatis plus minus vestita. Folia subtripolliearia, -
acuminata, basi rotundata v. cuneata, margine subserrulata supra ni- -
tida, subtus albicantia v. siccitate rufescentia. Panicule divaricato-
ramose. Racemi graciles, 13-2-pollicares. Flores masculi quam in
precedentibus multo minores, oligandri, pedicellis filiformibus 1-2 —

368 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEE

lin. longis binis ternisve ad axillam bractez sessilis, glandulis parvis

tomentellis et ideo vix conspicuis. Flores feeminei pauci. Sepala

ovata, obtusa, ovario breviora. Stylus profunde divisus.

In the moist campos at Santarem, R. Spruce. There are also in the
Hookerian Herbarium, from Pohl's collection, two specimens, probably
from different localities, as they bear different numbers (1699 and
1773*), which appear to be a mere variety (Pohliana) of the same spe-
cies, with more coriaceous leaves, more densely pubescent underneath,
and rather smaller flowers on shorter pedicels.

The fruiting specimens of Mr. Spruce's, from Barra do Rio Negro,
n. 1324, distributed under the doubtful name of M. Taquari, may
prove to be another paniculate species, but without the flowers they
cannot be satisfactorily determined.

SIPHONIA.

“This genus seems abundant throughout the Amazon and its tribu-
taries, but not all the species yield caoutchoue (or Xeringue, as it is
here called) of good quality, those of the gapé and caatinga producing
a brittle gum in small quantity. The wood in all is soft, soon decay-
ing. The seeds are an excellent bait for fish. Macaws eat them

_ greedily, but to man and quadrupeds they are poisonous in a fresh
state. The Indians on the Uaupés render them eatable in this way:
after being boiled twenty-four hours, the liquor is strained off, and the
mass that remains has something the colour and consistence of rice
long boiled. Eaten along with fish it is exceedingly bL "—R.
Spruce, MS.

Hitherto the specimens of these plants have been rare in our collec-
tions; and as the only two writers who have described them at any
length, Aublet and Kunth, had only fruiting speeimens before them, it
.. is difficult to identify the two published species. Presuming, however,
_ that the one we have from French Guiana is Aublet’s, and that Willde-
. now's $. Brasiliensis is the short-leaved Pará one, which yields the best
~ caoutchouc, it seems probable that the one gathered by Humboldt and

Bonpland, and described by Kunth, is the more widely-diffused S. dis-
* The numbers which the Brazilian plants, chiefly Pohl’s, distributed by the Im-

perial Herbarium of Vieuna, in 1837, bear in the herbaria of Kew, and some others,
PA those of Dr. Pohl's original tickets in the Vienna herbarium, but were given

on the occasion of the distribution, and intended to correspond with a list of the
localities where the specimens were collected, which however was uever made out.

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 369

color. The following characters, in as far as derived from the anthers
and stigmate, have been verified in each instance in several, and often
in many flowers, but it remains to be seen how far they may prove con-
stant when we have specimens from a greater variety of sources.

§ 1. Stigmate sessili divaricato-trilobo.

1. S. elastica, Pers.; foliolis breviter petiolulatis glabris discoloribus,
panicula ferrugineo-tomentosa, calycibus obtusis, antheris 5 oblongis
serie unica verticillatis—Hevea Guianensis, Aubl. Pl. Gui. p. 871.

t. 335.

French Guiana, Leprieur. The petiolar glands are small. Thean- -
thers are much longer than those of the other species, and constantly ———
arranged in a single row, about the middle of the central column.
2. S. Brasiliensis, Willd. ; foliolis longe petiolulatis glabris vix diseolo-

ribus, glandula maxima peltata, panicula tomentella, pedicellis flore

brevioribus, calycibus acuminatis, antheris 7-10 serie duplici verti-
cillatis. =

In the forest of Para, a lofty handsome tree, branching from the — —
base, and yielding the caoutchouc the most abundantly exported. (R.
Spruce.) The leaves are much shorter than those of S. discolor, upon
partial stalks 7—9 lines long, with a remarkably large gland at their
junction, the veins are very conspicuous, and the leaves, though abun-
dantly covered underneath with the same minute dots as the adjoining —
species, are scarcely whitened by them, at least in the specimens before -
3. S. discolor, Spruce, MS.; foliolis breviter petiolulatis discoloribus

subtus pubescentibus, glandulis parvis, panieula tomentosa, pedicellis.

flore brevioribus, ealyeibus obtusis, antheris 7-10 duplici serie verti-

cillatis.—S. Brasiliensis, H. B. K., Nov. Gen: et Sp. vol. vii. p. 170

vix Willd.—Micrandra ternata, R. Br. Pl. Jav. Rar. p. 237.

Common in the gapó of the Rio Negro, and of its tributary the Rio
Uaupés, and known by the name of Seringue de gapó. The tree scarcely
exceeds 25 feet, but the branches spread out horizontally, sometimes to
a considerable distance. The milk is sparing, and scarcely elastic when
dry. The leaves are like those of S. elastica, but always more or less
pubescent underneath, generally 4 or 5 inches long; the flowers of a
reddish-purple. The anthers are small and ovate, in two distinct ver-
ticils, sometimes both complete, with five in each, but one or two are

VOL. VI. 3B

310 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACE/E

frequently wanting in the upper one, and occasionally one also of the

lower one. Some specimens in fruit of Mr. Spruce's first Barra collec-

tion were distributed as belonging doubtfully to the S. elastica. I have
referred here Mr. Brown's species, on account of the pubescence of the
underside of the leaf.

4. S. Spruceana, Benth. Pl. Spr. exs.; foliis breviter petiolatis discolo-
ribus glabris, glandulis parvis, paniculis amplis puberulis, pedicellis
flore longioribus, calycibus acuminatis, antheris 7-10 serie duplici
verticillatis.

On the shores of the Amazon, below Santarem ; a smaller tree than
the S. Brasiliensis, the leaflets 6-8 inches, or even longer, the panicles
a foot or a foot and a half long, with numerous flowers, purple within-
side, and much larger than in 8S. discolor, the calyx being 23 lines long,
on pedicels 3 or 4 lines long.

5. S. pauciflora, Spruce, MS. ; foliolis breviter petiolulatis discoloribus
glabris, glandulis parvis, paniculis laxis angustis tomentellis, pedicel-
lis flore subbrevioribus, calycibus obtusis, antheris 7-10 serie duplici
verticillatis.

This is certainly near to S. discolor, and may prove a mere variety,
yet it is a large tree of 40 to 50 feet, yielding a very copious milky
juice, and entirely without hairs, although covered on the underside of
the leaves with minute white dots, which are soft to the touch, and the
flowers are of a pale yellow. It was gathered by Mr. Spruce in rocky
situations along the Rio Uaupés, and apparently the same species is
found also in British Guiana (Parker, and also Hancock in herb. Hook.
—Rob. Schomburgk, 2nd coll. n. 817, Rich. Schomb. n. 1381).

§ 2. Ovario apice in stylum brevem attenuato.

= 6. S. lutea, Spruce, MS.; foliolis oblongis membranaceis v. vix coria-

= ceis glabris, paniculis tenuiter tomentosis, calycibus setaceo-acumi-
natis, antheris 5-8 ad basin column irregulariter subverticillatis.—
Ramuli glabri. Petioli longi. Foliola breviter petiolulata, 5—6 poll.
longa, circa 2 poll. lata, sepe subcuneata, breviter acuminata, subtus
vix discolora, punctis minutissimis. Panicule thyrsoidez, laxiflore,
floribus luteis. Pedicelli 14 lin. longi. Flores masculi 13 lin. fœ-
.. minei 3 lin. longi, laciniis anguste fere setaceo-acuminatis. Columna
. supra antheras longe producta. Ovarium tomentosum, stylo brevis-
simo sed distincto, stigmate capitato-subtrilobo. :

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 371

From the forest at the mouth of the Rio Uaupés; a tree of 70 feet,
the milk copious, speedily turning black, and staining linen perma-
nently; when dry elastic and very tenacious. Flowers yellow, sweet-
scented.

1. S. rigidifolia, Spruce, MS.; foliolis ellipticis crasso-coriaceis glabris,
paniculis pulveraceo-tomentosis, calycibus subaeuminatis, antheris
5-8 ad basin column: irregulariter subverticillatis.—Ramuli gla-
brati. Foliola breviter petiolulata, 5 poll. longa, 2$ poll. lata, acute
acuminata, margine recurva, basi cuneata, multo crassiora et rigi-
diora quam in ceteris speciebus, subtus punctis crebris albicantia.
Panicule pyramidate, semipedales. Flores pallide flavi, masculi 2
lin., feeminei 3 lin. longi. Anthere S. lutee. Stylus evidentior.

. A milky tree of 30 feet in height, from the caatingas of the Rio

Vaupés, R. Spruce.

Mrcranpra, gen. nov. Crofonearum,

Mr. Brown having, as he informs me, ascertained that his Mierandra |
is a species of Siphonia, that name is now at liberty, and I have applied
it to a new genus closely allied to Siphonia, and known on the Rio =
Uaupés by the same name of Seringue or Xeringue, but differing essen-
tially in its five free stamens and simple leaves. The capsule also is
very different from that of the only three species of Siphonia in which
it is known. The two species described below are very near to each
other, and may, when better known, prove to be, mere varieties of one. —
Char. Gen. MICRANDRA. Flores monoici, apetali, paniculati, pedicel- :

lati, masculi plurimi, feminei perpauci alares, bracteis minutis. FZ.

masc. Calyx profunde 5-fidus, laciniis valvatis. Stamina b, sub disco
depresso 5-crenato inserta, libera. FZ. fem. Calyx marium laciniis
caducissimis. Ovarium disco tenui impositum, ovoideo-conicum,
triloculare, ovulis solitariis. Stydus brevissimus, lobis 8 brevissimis

latis retusis.—Aréores Brasilienses, foliis alternis petiolatis v

bus, paniculis axillaribus, floribus luteis.

1. M. siphonioides ; foliis amplis elliptico-oblongis, sedia multifioris
petiolo longioribus.—4réor 50—60-pedalis, truncis fasciculatis usque
ad 10 in eadem stirpe, ramis sueco lacteo abunde scatentibus, tota.
glabra exceptis ramulis novellis et inflorescentiis pulveraceo-puberulis.
Folia longe petiolata; lamina 8-11 poll. longa, 4-5 poll. lata, bre-
viter acuminata, basi obtusa, membranacea, penninervis et transver-

372 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

sim reticulato-venulosa, glandulis in pagina inferiore ad axillas vena-
rum inferiorum paucis haud prominulis et seepe omnino deficientibus.
Panicule rhachis sub ramulis compressus, ramuli racemosim dispositi,
dichotome cymiferi. Pedicelli breves. — Calyces masculi aperti 3 lin.
diametro, laciniis ovatis. Discus pubescens. Filamenta calycem
subzequantia, antheris parvis ovatis bilocularibus. Flores Seminet
perpauci. Ovarium pubescens.

From the gapó of the Rio Uaupés, growing with the following.

2. M. minor; foliis anguste v. obovali-oblongis, paniculis paucifloris
petiolo brevioribus.— 47Zor 40-pedalis, precedenti certe affinis, sed
teste Spruceo distincta est. — Specimina differunt foliis raro 4-polliea-
ribus, inflorescentiis brevibus parum ramosis et ut videtur flores
masculi et foeminei in ramis (an in stirpibus?) diversis. Fructus ad-
sunt nonnulli vetusti globosi, magnitudine cerasi, coccis minus facile
secedentibus quam in plerisque Euphorbiaceis.

PocoxoPnona, gen. nov. Crofonearum.

Male specimens of the plant distributed under this name had. been
long known to me from Schomburgk's collections, and I had frequently
examined them, but in the absence of the female I was quite at a loss

as to what family to refer them. When I again received the plant
among Spruce's, although I still only found males, it became necessary
to determine them in some way, and my friend Mr. Miers kindly ana-
- lysed them for me with his usual accuracy, and drew up a generic dia-
gnosis, so far as the male plant could supply it, believing it to be closely
allied to Ærtovicum, Villaresia, and Bursinopetalum, among Aguifolia-
cee. Mr. Spruce has now however sent female specimens of a slight
variety of the same plant, which at once show it to be a true Euphor-
biacea, and have enabled me to find females of the original variety
among the unarranged Huphorbiacee of the Hookerian herbarium. I
. am thus enabled to complete the character, which will place it in the
_ "Tribe of Crotonee, although it does not bear any immediate relation to
any genus hitherto published. The rudiment of an ovary in the males
(a somewhat further development of the central column of Siphonia)
. and something of the general habit, show an approach to Buaee, but
the ovules are constantly solitary in each cell =
Char. Gen, POGONOPHORA, Miers, MS.—Flores dioici, sessiles, in spi-

SY. paniculato-ramosas dispositi. Sepala. 5, wstivatione —

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 313

valde imbricata. Petala 5, calyce longiora, æstivatione imbricata,
intus medio barbata. FZ. masc. Stamina 5, petalis alterna, sub disco
depresso cupulato crasso 5-lobo inserta. Anthere lineares, bilocu-
lares. Ovarii rudimentum iu medio disco lineare, apice 2—3-fidum.
Fl. fem. Ovarium disco brevi membranaceo cupulato obsolete 5-lobo
cinctum, in stylos 3 apice breviter bidentatos desinens, intus trilocu-
lare. Ovula in loculis solitaria, a placenta fungoso-cupulata pendula.
Capsula coriacea, acuta, 3-cocca, coccis demum semibifidis intus
dehiscentibus. Albumen carnosum, cotyledones foliacez, radicula -
brevis. ;
Species unica, P. Schomburgkiana, Miers, MS.—Frutex v. arbor debilis -
10-20-pedalis, glaber, exceptis inflorescentiis partibusque novellis
pube minuta subglandulosa canescentibus. Stipule minute, cadu- -
cissime, rarius etiam in ramulis novellis conspicuz. Folia alterna,
petiolata, ovata v. oblonga, 3—5 poll. longa, 13-2 poll. lata, obtusa
v. breviter acuminata, integerrima, basi acuta, ehartacea v. subcoria-
cea, utrinque glabra, supra nitidula penninervia, petiolo semipollieari
v. longiore apice incrassato. Spice interruptz v. ssepius panicule -
axillares 1—3-pollicares, mascule foemineis longiores et ramosiores. -
- Flores albidi, suaveolentes, vix sesquilineam longi, ad axillam bractea
brevis concavæ squamæformis arcte sessiles, et bracteolis 2 parvis
fulti. Sepala orbiculata, crassiuscula, glabra v. pube minutissima
canescentia, exteriora minora, sub fructu persistentia. Petala duplo.
longiora pariter rigidula et sepius glabra, marium intus densius et.
longius barbata quam feemineorum. Stamina calycem sequantia, fila-
mentis apice barbatis, antheris filamento zquilongis. Capsula 4 lin.
longa, extus tomento minuto canescens, Semina ovoidea, compres-
siuscula, nitida, siccitate venis tenuibus reticulata.— Var. longifolia
non differt nisi foliis 5—7 poll. longis, evidentius acuminatis, inflo es
centia simpliciore, floribus paullo minoribus,
In the thick bush on the Rio Negro, Rob. Schomburgh, lst coll. n
859; in the capoeiras near Barra, and in the gapó at San Gabriel do
Cachoeiras on the same river, R. Spruce ; in the province of Pernam-
buco, Gardner (a single specimen) ; and in Brazil without the precise.
station, Swainson, in the Hookerian Herbarium. The long-leaved
variety was found by Spruce in the rocky gapó near Airáo on the Rio

Negro. —

374 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACEJE

JATROPHA.

There are only two species of this genus in the collection, both well
known, and widely diffused, viz., the J. gossypifolia, Linn., from waste
grounds, near Para, distributed as J. mollissima, Mart. (which is pro-
bably a mere variety), and J. multifida, Linn., from the Igarapé de
Mahicá, near Santarem.

The Curcas purgans, Medik., was also gathered near Santarem,
where it is called Pizz by the Brazilians.

CROTON.

From this vast genus numerous species have of late been detached
by Dr. Klotzsch, in various separate papers on Euphorbiaced of different
countries, without any indication of the limits to which he would con-
fine Croton itself; until, therefore, he has given a comprehensive sketch
of the whole series, it is difficult to decide on the value of the genera he
proposes. The petals of the female flowers are always rudimentary or
very small, and their presence or absence would appear to be of little
importance; and even the zestivation of the lobes of the calyx, and the
degree with which they are united, does not seem to be of so much
value in this as in other cases. Without denying that many of his di-
visions may prove useful for adoption, as sections, or even in some
cases as really good genera, I shall, however, for the present, in the
following enumeration, include them all under the original name of
Croton, reserving for a future occasion a general review of the genus,
should it not in the meantime be made by some other hand.

1. C. palamostigma, Kl. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 48.

From the capoeiras near Barra do Rio Negro. A smaller variety .
. from the same place was distributed as Croton, n. 3. If this and the
_ three following species are true Orotons, surely the Cyclostigma recently
. proposed by Klotzsch cannot be a good genus.
= 2. C. caryophyllus, sp. n. ; arborescens, foliis magnis ovatis oblongisve

basi rotundatis subintegerrimis utrinque scabris subtus pallidis, glan-'
. dulis baseos 2 scutellatis, spicis longis terminalibus, floribus masculis
glomeratis 10—12-andris, feemineis ad basin spice v. in glomerulis
masculis inferioribus solitariis, calyce 5-fido valvato patente, petalis
minutis v. nullis, styli laciniis ter bifidis radiantibus.—A ffinis C. pala-
coche differt tomento fere ad tubercula reducto, foliis angustio-

COLLECTED BY MR. SPRUCE. 315

ribus basi rotundatis nec cordatis, floribus minoribus. Petala ma-

rium lineari-oblonga, dorso ciliata, calycem equantia, foemineorum

vix conspicua.

A slender tree of 15 to 20 feet; leaves smelling of cloves when
bruised. In the Matinha, near Barra do Rio Negro, distributed as
Croton, n. 4.

3. C. Matourense, Aubl. Pl. Gui. p. 879. t. 338.— C. sericeus, Lam.

Dict. vol. ii. p. 210.

From Barra do Rio Negro, distributed as Croton, n. 2.

4. C. euneatus, Mart. ex Kl. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vol. ii. p. 49.

From the gapó on the Rio Negro, near San Gabriel do Cachoeiras.
5. C. Spruceanus, sp. n. ; fruticosus, foliis ovatis acuminatis basi rotun-

datis v. subcordatis ico britiiels supra læte virentibus glabris sub-

tus lepidoto-incanis, glandulis baseos 2 parvis seutellatis, racemis uni- |
_ sexualibus ?, floribus subsolitariis, calycibus valvatim 5-dentatis, mas-
culis 15-20-andris, feemineorum stylo semitrifido laciniis subbiparti-
tis, capsula intra calycem coriaceum valde auctum inclusa.—Fruter -
est 15-pedalis, ramis tenuibus, ramulis lepidotis. Stipule minute,
caducz. Folia 3-6 poll. longa, 11-3 poll. lata, petiolo 3-6 lin.
longo, penninervia, venis 2 infimis oppositis, additis interdum utrin-
que 1-2 tenuibus ex eodem puncto, sed minus distincte 5—7-nervia
quam in C. syringafolio. Racemi quos floridos vidi masculi sunt,
2—3-pollicares, subsecundi, lepidoto-tomentosi. Pedicelli floridi 2 lin.
longi. Calyces subglobosi, 2 lin. diametro, in vivo albi, in sicc&
rubescenti-lepidoti, breviter 5-dentati. Petala cum glandulis disci
alternantia, calycem eequantia, oblonga, margine barbata. Stamina
sepius 17-18, infra medium barbata. Racemus fructifer in altero
specimine 4-pollicaris, floribus superioribus (an masculis ?) delapsis.

Calyz fructus junioris ovato-pyramidatis, 3 lin. longus, co:

5-dentatus ; circa capsulam maturam globoso-conicus, 7 lin. diametr

capsulam superans, rufescens, lepidoto-tomentosus. Stylus. persi
tens, usque ad medium integer, erectus et tomentosus, ramis glabr

Among inundated rocks at the falls of San Gabriel. The leaves. ]
aromatic.
6. C. mollis, sp. n.; fruticosus, ramulis hirsutis, foliis oblongo-lanceo-

latis integerrimis utrinque pilis longis hirsutis et subtus molliter i in-

cano-tomentosis, glandulis ad apicem petioli 2—4 stipitatis, spicis
brevibus tomentosis, floribus breviter pedicellatis"subsolitariis - ap-

376 NORTH BRAZILIAN EUPHORBIACE X.

proximatis, calycibus valvatis masculis 10-andris, feemineorum stylis
3 bipartitis.—Fruter gracilis, 9-pedalis. Folia 2-21 poll. longa, vix
semipollicem lata, acutiuscula, basi angustata sed obtusa, mollia, supra
viridia at dense pilosa, subtus mollissima. Stipule setacez, hirte,
1-3 lin. longæ. Spice 1-2-pollicares. Bractee mascule uniflore
vel rarius 2-3-floree. Flores globosi, vix lineam lati, molliter tomen-
tosi, laciniis latis valvatis. Petala calycem sequantia, extus villosa.
Filamenta villosa. Discus b-glandulosus. Calyx foemineus profunde
5-fidus. Petala nulla (v. rudimentaria?). Discus obsolete glandu-
losus. Capsula villosa, calyce duplo longior.
— Tn the gapó of the Rio Negro, near Barra; aromatic when bruised.
= Tt is evidently allied to C. suavis, H.B.K., but readily distinguished
. by the long hairs with which it is clothed, besides the narrower leaves,
ete.
1. C. (Cleodora ?) Cajucara, sp. n.; arborescens, foliis oblongis acumi- :
natis integerrimis basi subemarginatis membranaceis eglandulosis
subtus squamellis stellulatis conspersis, spicis terminalibus lepidoto-
incanis, floribus masculis glomeratis 15-andris, foemineis solitariis
sessilibus, calyce 5-fido imbricato, styli ramis bifidis.— 4rbor parva,
ramis tenuibus, novellis lepidoto-incanis demum glabratis. Folia
breviter petiolata, 3-5 poll. longa, raro pollice latiora, utrinque vi-
. ridia et glabra nisi supra ad costam et subtus parce squamellis con-
. spersa. Spice tenues. Flores masculi globosi, profunde 5-fidi, la-
. inis latis leviter imbricatis. Petala 5, oblonga, calycem zequantia,
extus villosa. Filamenta villosa. Discus eglandulosus. Calyces
- feminei ovoidei, 2-3 lin. longi, ore clausi, laciniis latis valde imbri-
catis, interioribus fere petaloideis. Ovarium apice contractum in
collum calycem equantem. Séyli rami breves, extra calycem ra-
- diantes.
On the Lago de Quiriquiry, near Obidos. It is called Cajucara by
he Brazilians. I have not seen Klotzsch’s Cleodora Sellowiana, but
e generic characters appear to be applicable to the present species.
8. C. (Astrea) lobatus, Linn., from Obidos.
9. C. (Barhamia) asperrimus, sp. n.; fruticosus, foliis breviter petiolatis
-ovatis v. ovali-oblongis dentatis subtrinerviis utrinque viridibus as-
perrimis, glandulis baseos 2 scutatis substipitatis, racemis strictis,
floribus masculis solitariis 10—12-andris femineorum calycibus 5-
| az ramis is 4-partitis.—Frutez ramis virgatis pilis strigosis

INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 311

et stellatis asperatis. Folia 2—3 poll. longa, 1-14 poll. lata, acuta
v. obtusiuscula, basi rotundata, petiolo 2-4 lin. longo. Spice ter-
minales, strictee sed tenues, 4-6-pollicares. Bractee lanceolate,
glandulis 2 iis foliorum similibus stipate. Flores masculi globosi,
breviter pedieellati, laciniis sestivatione leviter imbricatis. Petala
calycem sequantia, villosa. Receptaculum villosum. Calycis foemi-
nei lacini oblonge subdentate, capsulam hispidam subsuperantes.
From the neighbourhood of Obidos, on the Rio Negro.

10. C. (Brachystachys) Airíus, Lhér.—A weed in the rogas near San-
tarem.

Report of a JOURNEY or DISCOVERY into the Interior of WESTERN
AUSTRALIA, between 8th September, 1848, and 8rd February, 1849; —
by J. S. Ror, EsQ., Surveyor-General.

(Continued from p. 345.)

January lst, 1849.—Proceeding after breakfast to the examination —
of this inlet upwards, in a westerly direction, we soon found the face
of the country so rugged, and broken into precipitous rocky gullies and
ravines, that to make any progress near its shore was a task of no easy
accomplishment. Matters grew even worse as we proceeded; and at
length, finding that only detriment and loss of time ensued, and. that
our weary horses (who had lost twenty-five shoes amongst them) could
scarcely be got along at all over the stony surface, I doch about
five miles from the mouth of the inlet, and next day proceeded S.W.
towards more accessible country behind Cape Knob. In that neigh-
bourhood Bob, who might now be considered to have got again within
the limits of his own immediate country, informed me some wild cattle
had long been roaming at large, and I felt desirous of ascert
what had attracted them to the spot. In seven or eight miles we we
upon their tracks, amongst numerous small rocky lagoons and swa
in the midst of which were three small open lakes of good permanent
water, which seemed to have been their particular and favourite resort.
The tracks were very old, none of them having to all appearance been
made within the preceding twelve months. It is therefore needless |
say we saw none of the animals, the total number of whom we now
learnt did not exceed three. The lakes and lagoons here alluded to

VOL. VI. 8c

378 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO

form part of an extensive chain, which oceupy the lowest level in a
wide valley, formed by the northern slope of the sea-coast hills. These
hills are of a limestone and sandy formation, and probably hold up
much of the drainage on its way to the sea, as fresh water is always to
be found among the sand-hills of the sea-coast abreast, by scraping a
small hole in the sand.

Before proceeding further westward, I made one more visit to the
neighbouring sea-coast, for the purpose of examining its formation,
being greatly prompted to this step by the alarming illness of one of
our best pack-horses (Smiler), who lay stretched out on his side be-
yond our power of relief, for in the first place we could not decide with
certainty what was the matter with him, and in the second, we had no
horse medicines with us. Leaving him under the safest treatment we
could devise, we proceeded, mounted, to the beach, as far eastward as
the * Smooth Rocks," lying westward of Cape Knob. Here a steep
granite head projected southward towards the Rocks, and from its sum-
mit I observed a small dry rock, not laid down in any existing chart,

- about half-way between Smooth Rocks and the nearest trend of Cape
Knob, or about two miles and a half from each. The sea appeared
perfectly clear and deep all round it, and from its lying low, and being
apparently not larger than a large boat, would be dangerous to a vessel
making free with the shore in the uight. At this rocky head I had
again an opportunity of observing the remarkable geological formation
which had been so conspicuous in the northern part of Bremer Bay,
and noticed that, while the head itself was composed of hard compact

. granite, it was overlaid on the western side by brown calcareous sand-

stone, adhering to it with the tenacity of a strong cement, and mixed
with many petrified roots. Horizontal cliffs of the same kind of sand-
stone extended behind the beach westward.

. Returning westward along the beach, it was found to be fronted by -

. a ledge of flat rocks, even with the water's edge, against which the

sea broke heavily during a fresh S.E. wind, and created occasionally a

smooth shelter within for boats. In this limited space of 20 to 60

. yards wide, and 6 to 10 feet deep, shoals of fine salmon were swim-

ming about, but would take no bait.

. A little further westward the route lay across one of those extensive

sheets of bare sand prevalent on all sea-coasts, where the low white
and is kept so continually in motion by peculiar eddies of the prevail- -

THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 379

ing winds, that vegetation fails in its struggles to maintain even a
scanty existence upon them. Here the process was going forward in
full force, and the sand-hillocks undergoing a rapid change of position
by the force of a strong S.E. wind. The entire ** sand-pateh" was in
motion, and enveloped in a thick cloud of sand, moving along with as
much facility as smoke, and gaining only fresh impetus by the perpen-
dicular resistance it frequently encountered. To move at all amongst
these animated sand-heaps with our loaded horses, seemed at first a
proceeding of rather doubtful issue, on account of fancied quicksands; -
but on Bob’s assurance it was a safe road, always used by the black
fellows to avoid the adjoining rocky, scrubby country, we advanced
into it, and found the footing tolerably firm throughout its whole ex-
tent of three or four miles. In that space our route sometimes lay
over broad sheets of white limestone-rock, of that peculiar oolitie for-
mation which embraces the appearance of large roots of trees, and
amongst these rocks would occasionally appear one solitary plant, or :
bush, struggling for existence against the overwhelming sands. Thus
had evidently all the adjoining land been formed, and the process
seemed in rapid continuation.

While traversing that part of this dreary waste which borders on HE
sea-coast, we came suddenly upon the skeleton of a human being, re- -
posing upon a broad limestone sheet, about 200 yards behind shes
beach. Onur native immediately explained they were the remains of
one of three seamen who had quitted a Hobart Town whaler, some
eighteen months ago, in the vicinity of Middle Island, for the purpose fin
of walking into Albany,—a distance which they could scarcely have -
rightly understood was fully 350 miles at the shortest. Why these
men quitted, or were suffered to quit, their ship thus, on so inhospita-
ble a coast, it is unnecessary here to remark on. The only survivor of
the three, who was recently in the employ of Mr. Cheyne, at Cape
Riche, declared they were landed with their own consent, supplied by
the captain with as much provisions as they chose to carry, as also a -
musket and ammunition amongst them; that, after a long ramble, they
became much distressed for fresh water, and at length separated to

_ search for it more inland, agreeing to rendezvous at a certain hill, then
in sight i in advance, but that they never did so rejoin or see each other,
and that he alone survived the fearful journey. The natives seemed to
have been fully aware of the death of the other two, and ascribe it to -

380 ON MADDENIA AND DIPLARCHE,

actual starvation and exhaustion, disclaiming most strongly having
used any personal violence, but, on the contrary, having endeavoured
to assist the only one of them they saw before his death, who had how-
ever, through fear or distrust, invariably pointed his gun when any of
the natives offered to approach him. The unfortunate man now before
us was said to be one of them, the other lying somewhere amongst the
sand-hills to the eastward, in a spot which our native did not profess
- to know. He was of rather short stature, had on the remains of a
coarse white shirt, blue serge shirt, and moleskin trowsers; one blucher
boot, with a foot in it, was detached a few yards, and ihe other lay
near it, showing, with other evidences of severed limbs, that the body
had been, after death, attacked by wild dogs. Two of these animals,
of large size, were seen near the spot, feeding on a piece of whale-flesh,
and Mr. Gregory got a long rifle-shot at them, but they succeeded in
getting clear off. Any attempt to deseribe the features or person of
the unfortunate man before us would be perfectly useless, the face and
hair having been totally destroyed, leaving the scalp still on the skull,
. and some parchment-looking skin stretched over the skeleton of the
- body. After ascertaining that no marks of personal violence appeared
on those parts of the head and body capable of showing any, the re-
‘mains were collected and removed to a neighbouring hollow, where we
. built over them a pile of limestone-rocks, six feet long and three feet
in height, with a large slab at the head, and left the poor fellow to re-
pose near the spot where he had so miserably terminated his fatal jour-
ney. The heap would doubtless soon have been covered by a hillock
. of sand, and would become a collection of petrified bones. The posi-
tion is about three miles N.N.W. 3 W. from the Smooth Rocks west-
ward of Cape Knob. ;

= (To be continued.)

On MADDENIA aud DiPLARCHE, new Genera of Himalayan Plants;
- by J. D. Hooker, M.D., F.R.S., aud T. Taomson, M.D., F.L.S.
With two Plates, XI. and XII.

x "The following are two of the most remarkable new genera that have
hitherto presented themselves to us during the examination of our In-
Herbarium. Their very remarkable structure has induced us to -
e the earliest PES of Are them known, E as we

Vol.VI. Plate XL

Valy! Plate Xll.

E

NEW GENERA OF HIMALAYAN PLANTS.

do, that they are peculiarly interesting both in a structural and syste-
matic point of view. The genus Maddenia, in particular, is quite ex-
ceptional in its Order, from presenting apparently normally dimorphous.
flowers, a feature that has not hitherto been recorded amongst Rosacea.

Diplarche, which is an undoubted Ericeous plant, and in many re-
spects more closely allied to Lotseleuria procumbens. than to any plant
of the Order, differs from the majority of the family in the dehiscence
of the anthers, aud from all in the two series of stamens, of which the
outer or upper series is epipetalous, and the lower sometimes piponi
lous, but more frequently hypogynous.

In the name Maddenia we are desirous of commemorating the
nical services of Major E. Madden, of the Bengal Artillery, a well-
and most valuable contributor to our knowledge of Himalayan pla

Nat. Ord. RosacEx. Tribe AMYGDALER.
I. Mappenta, Hook. fil. et Thoms.

Calyx late campanulatus, 10-fidus ; lobis brevibus inæqualibus c cori

. nonnullis interdum in petala linearia inæqualia elongatis.
20-30, subbiseriata, disco tenui calycis tubum vestienti
Ovaria 1-2, ovulis 2 suspensis; ovario in floribus 1-pistillatis
gato ovoideo fertili, stylo elongato, stigmate oblique truncat
floribus 2-pistillatis utrumque ovarium imperfectum, ovoideum, ovul
abortivis, stylo nullo, stigmate sessili oblique truncato. Drupa
nosa, ovoidea, putamine tenuiter crustaceo subcompresso, hine r
carinato. Semen pendulum, testa membranacea, cotyledonibus crassis.
—Arbor Himalaica, 20-30-pedalis, ramosa. Rami cortice fusce
castaneo nitido tecti; ramuli racemi ef folia subtus dense lanato-
villosa. Folia decidua, petiolata, basi ovata v. cordata, oblonga, ovato-
lanceolata vel ovato-oblonga vel interdum lanceolata longe a
superne impresse-venosa, marginibus ciliato-denticulatis, dentibus 9
rioribus pracipue glanduloso-capitatis ; stipulis magnis line
latis submembranaceis acuminatis basi portes
breves, densiflori, ramulos breves terminantes. Flores. 8
pedicellati, albidi. Petala cum calycis lobis plerumque. co

terdum distincta. Stamina. longe exserta. Stylus ultra

382 ON MADDENIA AND DIPLARCHE,

A very remarkable plant, resembling a Pygeum in the flowers, when
these are in an ordinary condition, but differing remarkably in the fo-
liage and drupe, which are altogether that of Cerasus, and in the fre-
quent presence of two abortive ovaries, which enlarge to half the size

of the ripe fertile drupe, have little pulp, and perfect ovules, which
appear never to be impregnated, owing to the imperfect stigma.

Plate XII. Fig. 1, flower ; 2, the same laid open; 3, petal; 4, ovary
eut open; 5 and 6, ovules; 5 dis, ripe fruit; 6 dis, vertical section of

the same; 7 and 8, front and lateral view of putamen; 9, seed; 10,
embryo ; 11, inner face of cotyledon and plumule ; 12, imperfect ovaria ;
13, vertical section of one of the same; 14, ripe fruit :—al} but 5-8,
and 14, highly magnified.

Nat. Ord. Exicem. Tribe RHODOREÆ.
II. Drenarcue, Hook. fil. et Thoms.

alyx 3-bracteatus, campanulatus, 5-sepalus, sepalis ineequalibus. Co-
: rolla decidua ; tubo brevi cylindraceo ; lobis 5 patulis; ore vix con-
tracto. Stamina 10, inclusa, 5 epipetala altius inserta, lobis alterna,
5 alterna inferius inserta v. omnino hypogyna ; antheris didymis
longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Pollen globosum, trigonum, an angulis
incrassatis. Ovarium disco obscure 10-lobo brevi insertum, 5-locu-
lare, placentis axillaribus 2-lobis polyspermis ; stylo brevi; stigmate
capitato, 5-lobo, lobis bilobis. Capsula loculicide 5-valvis, valvis a
septis papyraceis secernentibus. Semina plurima, obovato-cuneata,
non alata; fes/a laxa, reticulata; albuminis granulis magnis; em-
bryone brevi, cylindraceo ; cotyledonibus brevibus.—Fruticuli Hima-
laici. Ericoidei, sempervirentes ; caules prostrati, ramosi; ramis cica-
tricibus creberrime notatis, ascendentibus, foliosis. Folia parva, sessilia,
ecto-patentia, subimbricata, lineari-oblonga, coriacea, lucida, margi-
ata, serrata v. longe ciliata, subacuta v. glandula incrassata termi-
nata. Flores terminales, in capitulum pauci- v. multiflorum aggre-
ati, parvi, rosei, inodori, 3-bracteati ; bracteze ciliate, inferior major,
late ovata, laterales lineares sepalis minores, Sepala coriacea, ciliata.

Corolle coriacee tubus m emt. lobis obovatis obtusis retu-

NEW GENERA OF HIMALAYAN PLANTs. 383

tinctissimum et ob seriem inferiorem seepissime perigynam et post
lapsum corollze persistentem admodum singulare.

1. Diplarche multiflora, H.f. et T.; ramis glanduloso-pubescentibus,
bracteis exterioribus ovato-lanceolatis, floribus plurimis dense capi-
tatis, sepalis lineari-oblongis subacutis, coroll: lobis obovato-oblon-
gis, staminum serie inferiore plerumque epipetala, capsulis spicatis.
- (Tas. XI. A.) -

Has. Sikkim Himalaya, in montibus interioribus vallis Lachen; alt.
11,000 ped. Fl. Jun. 1849.—J. D. H. |

Spithamea ; caulibus robustis, erassitie penne corvine ; ramis ascen-
dentibus. Folia 4—4 une. longa, 1 lin. lata. Capitula fere globosa, +
unc. diametr., 8-20-flora. Bracteæ inferiores latiores. Pedunculus
seu rachis racemi post anthesin elongatus, strictus, validus, pubes-
cens. Capsule secus rachin sessiles, remote, 1 $ unc. diam. Semiha
plurima, parva, euneato-obovata.
Plate XI. 4. Fig. 1, leaf; 2, bracts; 3, flower; 4, sepal; 5, B ;

6, flower laid open; 7, stamen; 8, pollen; 9, ovary, cut across; 2

capsule; 11, seed :—all magn ified.

2. Diplarche pauciflora, H.f. et T.; ramis glabriusculis, bracteis mie
rioribus late ovatis, floribus paucis terminalibus, sepalis ovato-ol
longis obtusis, corolle lobis orbicularibus, staminum serie infei
hypogyna, capsulis ad apicem ramuli terminalibus. (Tas. XI. B.

Has. Sikkim Himalaya, in regione alpina interiore; alt. 15,000. P
Aug. 1848.—J. D. H.

Omnibus partibus minor przecedente. Caulis ramique prostrati, Folia
2-1, unc. longa. Flores 2-6 ad apices ramulorum, corolle |
obtusis v. subretusis. Stamina seriei inferioris interdum varie ag
gregata, plerumque hypogyna, post lapsum corollæ persistentia,
We have named this very remarkable genus Diplarche, in allu

the two series of stamens, which is its most remarkable character,

‘nearest affinity is certainly the little Loiseleuria procumbens (Azalea, : j

of the Scotch mountains, which is also a native of the Arctic re

and of the alps of Northern and Sóuthern Europe, Siberia and

America, but does not inhabit the Himalaya. With this, Diplas

agrees in habit, and in the dehiscence of the anthers, but differs in

alternate leaves, and many other important characters of inflori
and flower. The dehiscence of the capsule is normally seg
though not obviously so at first, owing to the dorsal ptt

384 » NOTE ON THE GENUS STREPTOSTIGMA.

. valves breaking away from the septa, which remain attached to the
axis of the capsule as thin scarious membranes. The ripe capsule ap-
pears to have two integumeuts, the outer coriaceous coat of each valve
separating from the inner or more crustaceous one, whose margins alone
are inflexed.

It has been remarked long ago, by De Candolle and others, that Æri-
cee are intermediate between Calyciflore and Corolliffore ; and though

_ the present genus certainly tends to favour this view, it does not in our

- opinion throw any further light upon the position of the great order,

or rather alliance, of Hricee. These great groups of Jussieu are no

. doubt, to a great extent, artificial, but in the present state of systematic

botany they are essential aids to determining the positions of the many

"Natural Orders they include: for this purpose we believe them to be

the most valuable that have been suggested hitherto.

Plate XI. B. Fig. 1, leaf; 2, bract; 3, flower; 4, corolla; 5, the

same laid open; 6, stamen; 7, pollen; 8, ovary cut across; 9, ripe

fruit, with persistent sepals, and lower series of stamens; 10, dehiscing
capsule; 11, seed ; 12, the same with testa removed; 18, section of
albumen and embryo; 14, embryo :—all magnified.

Note on the Genera StREPTOSTIGMA, Regel, and STREPTOSTIGMA,
Thwaites; by BERTHOLD SEEMANN, Ph.D.

M page 298 of the present volume, Mr. G. H. Thwaites, of Peradenia,
in Ceylon, has given the name of Streptostigma to a Sapindaceous
enus, being of course unaware that the name had been conferred,
about a um before, upon a Solanaceous plant by Mr. A. Regel, of
Zurich, In ‘ Bonplandia, vol. ii. p. 35, I pointed out the identity of -
legel's genus with Bentham's Thinogeton (Dictyocalyz, Hook. fil.),—

twisted stigma seen by Regel being a monstrosity ;—but as the -
soundness of my view was called into question by the author of the |
Solanaceous Streptostigma (Gartenflora, Jahrg. 1854, p. 106 and 170), —
may be allowed to state, that Mr. E. Regel himself has written to me
say that he has abandoned his position, and joined me in the one I
taken pu in i this question ; so that the name-of Thwaites’ genus

INDEX.

—

Amazon and Rio Negro, Journal of a Voyage
up the, by R. Spruce, 33, 107.

Amomum, African Species of, by Dr. J. D.
Hooker, 289.

Argan-tree of Marocco, by Sir W. J. Hooker,
97.

Armenia, Plants of, 93.

Australia, Western, Journey of Discover
42, 78, 117, 146, 174, 212, 241, 339, 877.

Australian Eucalypti, 30.

Bahamas, Pine-Leaf Fibre of, 90.
Bahamas, on the Vegetable Fibres of, by C. R.
Nesbitt, 237. `
Bentham, G.: Florula Hongkongensis, 1, 72,
112.
Brazilian Gentianea, 193.
North Brazilian Euphorbiacee in
the collections of Mr. Spruce, 321, 363.
On Kenriquena verticillata, a Ge-

nus of Bignoniacee, 331.
— — —— On the Sabieà Wood of Cuba, 235.
Berkeley, Rev. M. J.: Decades of Fungi, 129,
161, , 204, 225.

cama 8 Spa ish . 56.

Brazil, Plants of of, 54. >

. Bryologia Britannica, LA Wilson, 255.

rop Javanica, by Dozy and Molkenboer,
7

Bulletin de la Société Botanique de la Franee,
352.

Cannabis sativa, Indian Preji from, by
€. J. Müller, 277.
Ceylon, New Algæ from, by Dr. Harvey, 143.

Crescentia, Parmentiera, and Kigelia, Revi- |

sion of the Genera, by Seemann, 269.
Croall’s Plants of Braemar, 284 ;
Plants collected in Portugal by
elwitsch ; EE er Gi
, Etudes! iques sur les; par M.
. Charles

Oycaðaceons Plant from Port Natal, by J.
Smith, 88.
Cumingianæ Herbarii Lindleyani,
by Nees von Esenbeck, 27.

.. Oyperus polystachyus, Rottb., 349.

MSN : Remarks on Doornia and Rykia, |

z Genera of Serew Pines, 257.

i Henriquezia verticillata, a Genus of —

De Vriese, on the Order Goodenovieg, 223.
Dried Plants on Sale, 253.
Drummond's Australian Plants, 94.

Epipogium Gmelini a British Plant, 318. z
Epistole Caroli a Linné ad Bernardum de Jus- ——
sieu inedite, 159. :
Eucalypti and Casuarine of New Holland, Re- —
port on, by Swainson, 186. =
Euphorbiaceae, North Brazilian, by G. Ben--
tham, 321, 363. :

Fungi, Decades of, by Berkeley, 129, 161, 204,
225. ;

Genera Plantarum Floræ Germanicæ, by Cas-
pary, 95. :
Gentianea, Brazilian, by G. Bentham, 193.

Glumacee, Synopsis of, by Steudel, 256.
Gray, Dr. Asa, Phanerogamia of the United
States Exploring Expedition, 295.

Hanstein: Die Gesneraceen des königlichen
Herbariums zu Berlin, 192.

Harvey, Dr.: New Algæ from Ceylon, 143.

Notes on the Botany of King
George's Sound, 180.

——————— Notes on the Botany of Cape
Riche, 217.

—— — Extract of a Letter from, 315.

niacee, by G. Bentham, 337.

Hieracia, British, 57.
Hooker, Dr. J. D.: On some African ipee
of Amomum, 289.
2 of New Zealand, 32.

Hongkong Flora, by G. beatan Y A ;

Icones Plantarum, by Sir W. J. Hooker, 32, )
Italy, Botanical News from, 190. =

Jaubert et Spach í Ilustrationes Plan
Orientalium, 351. ; ;

386

Jumping or Moving Seeds, 304.

King George's Sound, Botany of, notes on the,
by Dr. Harvey, 180.

Klotzsch, über Pistia, 96.

Conspectus Begoniacearum, 160.

Kralik, M.: Journey in Tunis, 220.

*
Lichens of the late Pastor Scherer, 285.
Linden's South American Plants, 58.
_Lindley’s Folia Orchidacea, 96.

Macgillivray, J., Letter from, 353.
Marattiacées, Monographie des, by De Vriese
-~ . And Harting, 63.
- Moore, Thomas: Orchidaceous Plants, Illus-
trations of, 31.
Moretti, Professor, Death of, 59.
.- Mosses from the Pacific Islands, by W. S. Sul-
. RHivant, 159.
— Müller, Dr., Extracts from Letters of, 156.
(00 —— — — Vegetation of Victoria, 123, 151.
C. J.: Preparations from Cannabis
= sativa in India, 277.
_ Museum of Economic Botany attached to the
Royal Gardens of Kew, Notice of the, by Sir
W. J. Hooker, 10.

_ Nees von Esenbeck: Cyperaceæ Cumingianze
— Herbarii Lindleyani, 27.

. Nesbitt, C. R.: On the Vegetable Fibres of
the Bahamas, 237.

Oaks, Tropical American, Monograph of, 256.
Obituary, Botanical, 306.

-. Orchidaceous Plants, Illustrations of, by Tho-
. mas Moore, 31.

Oriental Plants, by Jaubert and Spach, 351.
Oxford Herbarium, 247, 279.

Palm Trees of the Amazon, by Wallace, 61.
Parlatore: Viaggio per le Parti Settentrionali
di Europa, 320.
Passifloracee and Turneracez, Remarks on, by
E
re of Silesia and the Bahamas, 90.
Podostemon Salt, 190.

Reinwardt, Professor, death of, 126.
Riche, Cape, Botany of, Notes on the, by Dr.
Harvey, 217.

Roe, J. S.: Journey of Discovery into the In-

INDEX.

terior of Western Australia, 42, 78, 117,
146, 174, 212, 241, 339, 377.

Sabicà Wood of Cuba, 235.

Salt from Podestemon, 190.

Schlechtendal’s Linnea, 95.

Schackardt, T. : Synopsis Tremandrearum, 320.

Stackhouseacez, 192.

Seemann, Dr.: Botany of the Herald, 319.

Remarks on Passifloracee and
Turneracee, 53. ;

—— — — — Revision of the Genera Crescentia,
Parmentiera, aud Kigelia, 269. —

On the genus Streptostigma, 384.

Smith, J.: Observations on a Cycadaceous
Plant from Port Natal, 88.

Spruce, R.: On the Vegetable Oils of South
America, 333.

Journal of a Voyage up the Amazon

and Rio Negro, 33, 107.

— South American Plants, 94.

Steudel, E. G.: Synopsis Plantarum Gluma-
cearum, 256.

Stocks, Dr., and his Collections, 158.

Swainson's Report on the Eucalypti and Ca-
suarinze of New Holland, 186.

Scherer, Pastor, Lichens of the late, 285.

Tremandres, by Dr. Steetz, 59. : Hor

Thwaites, G. H. K., New Genera and Species of
Ceylon Plants, 65, 298.

Tunis, M. Kralik's Journey in, 220.

Tunis, Plants of, 94.

United States Exploring Expedition: Botany: -
Phanerogamia; by Dr. Asa Gray, 285.

Victoria, Report on the Vegetation of, by Dr. — s
Müller, 123.

Vine Disease, 49. —

Wallace's Palm Trees of the Amazon, 61.

Wallich, Dr., Death of, 185. —— e
Webb’s Florula ZEthiopico-/Egyptiana, 127. - =

Welwitsch’s Portuguese Plants, 30. :
Willkomm: Icones et Descriptiones Planta-
rum novarum Europe Aus | "

precipue Hispanis, 352. i
Wilson’s Bryologia Britannica, 255.
Winterbottom, James Edward, Esq., 345.

Zealand, New, Ralph’s Plants of, 30.