10 DK. I. B. BALFOL'K ON THE 



piadacese, comprising a new genus of Indian affinity and a new 

 ispecies of Sarcosteimna ; Anacardiacese, including a species of the 

 African genua Sclerocarya ; Ebenacea?, with a new Diospyros ; 

 Nyctaginese, containing a Pisonia ; Amaranthacese, represented by 

 an ^rita ; and Urticacese by a Filea. 



The 6 peculiar Monocotyledons, included in 5 genera of 4 

 orders, are amongst the most interesting of Eodriguez plants, as 

 amongst them occur those which may be considered physiognomic. 

 Tliese are the Pandanacese (Screw^ Pines), of which two species, 

 both peculiar, occur. Three others are recorded, but on insuffi- 

 cient evidence. It is curious tliat the family, though in indivi- 

 duals far outstripping other families, is not rich in species. 



nix dactylift 



ifi 



There are 



The 



three species, all of Mascarene genera — Latania Yerscliafft 

 Hyopliorhe Verschaffeltii^ and Dictyosperma alha^ var. aurea. 

 representation of these Palms in other islands of the group by cog- 

 nate species is remarkable and worthy of notice. The Eodriguez 

 species of ifi^^cf7^^fir is represented in Mauritius by i. Commersonii, 

 also found in Bourbon; and on Sound Island a third species, i. 

 Loddigesiiy occurs. Again, HyopJierhe Vei'scliaffeltii, peculiar to 

 Eodriguez, is represented in Mauritius and Bourbon by H. indica^ 

 and on Eound Island there is H. amaricaulis, Dictyosperma alba, 

 on the other hand, is a very variable Palm, and occurs in all the 

 islands of the group, but under a ditferent form in each. In Eo- 

 driguez it assumes a singularly graceful and delicate character, 

 constituting a very distinct variety long known to horticulturists 

 in this country and in Europe as Areea aurea. 



The paucity of Orchidacea> is a very striking feature j but we 

 find one new species and a distinct variety of another. This paucity 

 is more remarkable as contrasted with the profusion of this family 

 in the sister isles, the dryness of the island and absence of 

 forest no doubt mainly contributing to this result. 



Such is a brief indication of the endemic Phsenogamic vege- 

 tation of Eodriguez ; and the following is a list of the species. 

 Those marked with an asterisk have been already described ; of 

 those not so marked a description follows. 



