FLOEA OF THE ISLAND OF HONGKONG. 357 
minute species, raising their clustered, white, globular heads above the clear water, amidst 
the lively green fronds of Cerato^teris fhaJictroides ; whilst waysides and arid places furnish 
the ephemeral Cijanotis axillaris, and several Commeli/na, Folygona, Alternant her a axillaris, 
thorny Sdcrodylcs, Acliyranthes aspera, Emilia sonchifolia, two or three Sida, our garden 
Chrysanthemum {Tyrethrum Indicum, DC), with single yellow flowers, Corchorm acufanyuhis, 
bearing a fruit with divergent horns, Triumfetta angulaia and C. cana, and JJrena sinuatay 
all three employed, by the Chinese, as demulcents and emollients in blcnnorrlioca and other 
diseases, on account of the great quantity of mucilage they afford. Brianthm Japonicus, 
growing in thick tufts, attains a height of six or eight feet, and elevates its beautiful, light, 
feathery panicles amongst the rocks. The dark-blue berries of Dianella ensifolia hang pen- 
dulous above its sword-like leaves, along with the cedar-scented Caropieris mmtachanthm, and 
the graceful lilac bells of Gutzlajjia aprica. 
Amongst ruderal plants (by which are understood all those that, though not cultivated, 
are yet only found in the immediate vicinity of dwellings, or in places formerly occupied by 
them, and which appear, in many instances, to follow the footsteps of man spontaneously) are 
the following : — Solanum nigrum, and another thorny species of Solanum, with purple flowers 
and yellow fruit, the size of that of the potato, Amaratithus spinosm, Xanthium discolor , Asclepias 
curassavica, Plantago major, Psidium, Stcllaria media and >6'. uliginosa, Ranunculus seeler at us, 
Datura alba (the seeds of which are burnt by burglars when attempting to enter a dwelling, 
in order, by their fumes, to stupefy the inmates, a device which is, unfortunately, often 
crowned with success), Polanisia icosandra, Cardamine hirsuta, Nicotiana Tabacum, Bldens 
Chinensis, Corchorus capsidarls, Bryophyllum calycinum, the singular Euphorbia Tirucalli, with 
its leafless, green, quill-like branches, abounding in a violently-acrid milky juice, said to be 
employed, by the Chinese, for blinding those children whom they wish to bring up as men- 
dicants, in order thereby to excite compassion, Sicgesbeckia orientalis, Cassia occidenfalis, 
Soiichus oleraceus, Iticinus communis, of which the two varieties, one with red and the other 
with pale veins to the leaves, appear never to be found intermixed. Verbena officinalis, Cap- 
sella Bursa -pastoris, a Galium closely allied to G. Ajjarine, Bumicis sp., Plutnbago Zeylanica, 
Lochnera vincoidcs, Phy salts pubesce\s, Bothriospermum tcnellum, Pcdalium murcx, Dysosmia 
fcetida, Mucuna macrobotrys, and Cerbera Odallam. 
The sylvan Flora consists of six species of Oak, amongst which is Quercus cornea, Lour., 
the fruit of which, resembling the chestnut in taste, is sold in markets, Liquidambar, an 
elegant Styrax, Acer, Camellia Japonica and others, Vaccinium, Cyminosma resinosa, several 
species of Evonymus, Aquiloria Chinensis, Memecylon, an extremely handsome Castanea, Bho- 
doleia formosa, Calauma pumila, Artabolrys, the graceful Melaleuca-\\kQ. Phoberos smvus and 
P. Chinenms, Piper arcuatum, two species oi Elaocarjms, Bhajns Kwanworfsik, Hiptagv Ma- 
dablota, the sweet-scented Schapjia Sinensis, etc. At the foot of the hills, on the slopes of 
which these woods occur, are ravines, whereof the sides are in some places formed by steep 
rocks, the humid, shady ledges of which are clothed by the lovely Chirita Sinensis, the ex- 
