476 MB. J. BttOUGHTON ON HYBRIDISM AMONG CIKCITONJE. 



"been picked up under a tree of C micrantha as a natural seedling, 



iWl 



blossom at the same period. 



This circumstance set me examining young seedling planta- 

 tions in order to find, if possible, other instances. I found among 

 them forms which are not to be met with among the parent trees, 

 and which are new to the plantations. One of these is a variety 

 which combines resemblances to the very dissimilar species of affi- 

 cinalis and succirubra^ having the large leaves and habit of the 

 latter with the ovate-lanceolate leaves also of the texture character- 

 istic of the former. Some of the leaves also possessed scrobicules. 

 The bark of one individual yielded 2*8 per cent, of alkaloid consist- 

 ing of Cinchonidine and Cinchonine, while that of another gave 

 me 2*8 per cent, of alkaloid consisting of 1'3 of quinine and the 

 remainder of cinchonidine and cinchonine. In the latter case the 

 quinine crystallized as sulphate with the ease which marks this 

 alkaloid when obtained from C. officinalis, I cannot but consider 

 the chemical character of the bark an independent corroboration 

 of the hybrid character of the plant. 



Other varieties are appearing among seedling trees, which, 

 though their origin can be less clearly made out than in the 

 former instances, can scarcely be explained without assuming that 



natural 



hundreds 



officinalis 



growing on the Neilgherries, very various and numerous differ- 

 ences are to be found. If each of the characteristic forms were 

 to be distinguished by name, more than twenty new varieties 

 might be constituted possessing, in certain specimens, as distinct 

 an identity as that attributed to the vars. Bonplandiana, Uritu- 

 singa^ &c., which are now recognized by botanists. These nume- 

 rous varieties merge into one another by insensible gradations ; 

 and as it would be impossible to keep seedling plants of each se- 

 parated, they are all mixed in the plantations. I submit that this 

 natural confusion of varieties and subvarieties is a consequence 

 of the interbreeding of the various kinds. As many of the kinds 

 were introduced by seed into India, it appears to me to be highly 

 probable that certain of these are not the pure descendants of 

 plants possessing in all respects the recognized botanical charac- 

 ters of the respective kinds. As a matter of practical experience, 

 I find that the yield of alkaloids is tolerably constant in very va- 



diff< 



habit, foliage, &c. is marked. 



