Le 
a Sia: Ra i 8 
13 
reous Myrtacee, and not a few Ternstrémiacee ; the most common — 
of which is the Camellia-like Gordonia Ceylanica. 
There is much here to remind the European of his native 
country. Different species of Rubus and a Barberry abound 
along the wooded margins of the plains, as well as two species 
of Viburnum or Guelder-Rose, and a shrubby St. John’s Wort 
(Hypericum Mysorense), bearing large yellow flowers. The dry 
open banks are covered with violets and Lysimachia, while in 
the open plains are to be found two species of Poftentilla, an 
Anemone, a Geranium, two kinds of Ranunculus or Butter-cup, a 
Lady’s Mantle, not unlike the A/chemilla vulgaris of England, a 
little blue star-blossomed Gentian, two species of Sun-dew or 
Drosera, a Campanula, a Valeriana, and in the bogs several kinds 
of Juncus and Carez. 
At the health-station on the plain of Newera-Elha, which is 
about 6,200 feet above the level of the sea, there are several 
gardens where most of the vegetables of Europe grow freely. 
European fruit-trees have also been tried; but no success has 
attended the experiment, nor was such to be expected; for 
although during the cold season the thermometer falls occasion- 
ally in the morning to nearly freezing point—the annual range 
bemg from 353° to 80°, with a mean daily variation of 11°,— 
the cold is not sufficiently intense or of long enough continua- 
tion to give those trees the period of rest which they require. In 
place of losing their leaves for nearly six months of the year, the 
Peach and the Cherry are here evergreens, and are hence kept 
in such a continued state of excitement as to prevent their 
bearing. The Peach does, indeed, give a poor crop of very 
inferior quality ; but although the Cherry blossoms annually, its 
fruit never comes to perfection. : 
Although the Neelgherry range, from its near geographical 
position, has more species in common with the tracts of a 
Similar elevation in Ceylon than any other part of India, yet 
these, from their small numbers, are evidently only stragglers — 
northward: the very great number of species peculiar to the 
mountains of Ceylon, and to them alone, proves that these 
mountains form a distinct centre of creation. This I shall illus- 
trate by a few examples from some of the better known natural 
orders and genera of plants. Beginning with Ranunculaceae, we 
find three species of Ranunculus, belonging to the Flora of the 
Neelgherries, and two to that of the mountains of Ceylon, one 
species only being common to both countries. Of Magnoliacee, 
Ceylon possesses four or five species of Michelia; all of which 
are different from the solitary one found on the Neelgherries. 
