460 MR. С. C. LACAITA ON PLANTS 
Indeed I was surprised to find how relatively easily the species could be 
determined in most cases when once the plant had been assigned to its 
proper genus. 
А great desideratum for the beginner in Indian botany, whether settling 
down to work in the east or only a temporary visitor, is a general key to the 
Indian genera, on the lines of the excellent key at the beginning of Prain's 
‘Bengal Plants? Like that it should be a double key, one on the Linnean 
system and one on more natural principles. The object of a key is not to 
instruct the student in the scientific relationships of species, but to provide 
him with the easiest possible short cut to correct determination. The 
characters required for a Linnean key are generally present in any specimens 
collected. Those necessary to a “natural” key often imply examination of 
a plant at different seasons, 
The system of the Lepcha collectors for preparing exsiccata is not altogether 
satisfactory. The bamboo frames they use, often much broken, do not allow 
of sufficient pressure being applied, for want of which many specimens of 
trees and shrubs are apt to shed their leaves and most are unnecessarily 
shrivelled. 
It was not likely that I should find new species in such well-known 
localities, the only approach to an exception being a Æhododendron inter- 
mediate between X. Hodgsoni and R. Falconeri ; though nearer to the latter it 
bears flowers the colour of Z/odysoni. It is too plentiful between Sandakphu 
and Chiabanjan to be a hybrid in the ordinary sense. Т have named it 
В. decipiens. Subsequent observers on the spot will be able to ascertain its 
true place. 
I have also described and named as Fragaria rubiginosa a dwarf strawberry 
which I consider to be quite wrongly treated as a form of the European 
F. vesca. There is nothing like it in Europe ; it is also very different from 
the other white-flowered Sikkim strawberry, F. nubicola. 
The following species I believe to be new for Sikkim or at any rate 
unrecorded for the district, although specimens may be lurking in the 
Caleutta herbarium or elsewhere :— 
RANUNCULUS REPENS, Linn. Introduced. 
IBERIDELLA ANDERSONI, //ook, fil., my specimens are superficially very 
unlike those collected by Duthie in Kumaon, but match the type- 
specimen from Anderson at Kew. 
GENTIANA SQUARROSA, Ledeb. 
MELISSA OFFICINALIS, Linn. 
CEROPTERIS ($ GYMNOGRAMME) CALOMELANOS, deri. 
Dr. A. Brand, from examination of a specimen I sent him, has transferred 
Trichodesma calycosum, Coll. < Hemsl. to a new genus Lacaitwæa; L. calycosa 
(Coll. & Hemsl.) Brand. 
