378 MB. E. M. HOLMES Off CINCHONA LEDGEBIANA. 



the indubitable G. Calisaya, the offspring of Java seed, but that 

 when in 1872 they began to flower, it was observed that the flowers 

 were smaller and of a creamy-white colour. The fruit also gave 

 evidence of difference from the other Calisayas in cultivation. 



All plants of every other variety, except C. officinalis and 0. 

 succirubra, were subsequently turned out of the nursery, these 

 being considered the most important to propagate. [This, how- 

 ever, it will be observed, was not before it had been possible for 

 hybridization to take place.] "When the plantations were reduced 

 exclusively to Ledger's plants, it was noticed that the trees 

 showed innumerable varieties of leaf; but after some experience 

 it was found possible to point out with certainty the individuals 

 of the common Calisaya which had slipped in, in repairing gaps. 

 Still Van G-orkom admits that " there are many of the older 

 Calisaya trees introduced by Dr. Hasskarl, which do not seem 

 different from the Ledgeriana" 



Prom the preceding remarks it may, I think, be concluded 

 that the seeds supplied by Ledger resulted in a variety of forms 

 of C. Calisaya, but that these were exposed to the chance of 

 hybridization. 



The probability that hybridization has actually taken place 1 

 ground upon the following facts : the specimens of bark already 

 alluded to, which exhibit evidence of not being of pure Calisaya 

 type ; that Dr. Trimen states that in some plants of Ledgeriana 

 the leaves are as broad as those of C. officinalis, var. Condaminea, 

 so much so that it is not always easy to distinguish the two ; 

 that the bark presents considerable variability in appearance ; that 

 the upper surface of the leaves has usually (i. e. not invariably) 

 a velvety sheen ; and that the capsules he has seen are never 

 " nearly globular " like those described by Dr. King. Dr. Trimen 

 also states that, both in Sikkim and Java, the Ledgeriana trees 

 have come more true from seed since those species growing in 

 their proximity have been cut down (Journ. Bot. 1881, p. 322). 



I take it for granted, then, that the Ledgeriana of the planta- 

 tions is not a distinct form, but comprises several varieties 

 of Calisaya as well as certain hybrids, and that the majority 

 of these yield a large amount of quinine, this being the feature 

 which is supposed to decide in doubtful cases (Van G-orkom, 

 p. 93) whether or no a given tree is " Ledgeriana''' It follows, 

 then, that Dr. Trimen has described a species from doubtful 

 materials, since he has taken the characters given, partly from 



