Jir.CoLEBROOKE on the Indian Species of Me *Up e rk u$ki< 17 



ledons described as segregate, and occupying distinct cells in tin 

 albumen*. 



That character is not however found in M. b fium (1/. hirsu- 

 tum Roxb.) nor in the M. crispum Linn, (identified with M . tu- 

 berculatum Lam. and 71/. verrucosum lloxb. 1 ) In reaped of 

 the first mentioned, the delineation before exhibited has, as I 

 trust, established the fact; and in Support of the same position, 

 regarding the last mentioned, I herewith offer to the inspection 

 of the Society a complete delineation of it, subjoining Rox- 

 burgh's description of the fruit in corroboration of niv nun. 

 The inflorescence of the female plant and its immature fruct iiica- 

 tion had not been seen and described by him, nor by any enrlidf 

 botanist, though the species has been so long known and 80 fre- 

 quently noticed ; and it is chiefly for the sake of the female 

 tlower that I now offer a specific description at large. 



I may be allowed to adventure a surmise, that the segregate 

 position of the cotyledons is alike wanting in many, perhaps 

 most, other species of this family or genus, notwithstanding the 

 sweeping affirmation of the venerable Gartner. Indeed his own 

 description of the seed, identified by Roxburgh with M. hirsu- 

 turn, shows it in that instance. 



Nor does this disagreement in the characteristic situation of 

 the cotyledons appear to concur with a co-ordinate difference of 

 the flower, to assist the much needed reform of the genus. The 

 nectarial scales are indeed wanting in M. fenestration ; and on 

 that ground I wish to propose the construction of a new genus, of 

 which the character may be built upon that plant. But the 

 flower of M. Cocculus Gaert. (Cocculus suberosus Dec.) has not 

 been yet examined and made public ; and it is uncertain whether 

 this plant will accompany Gaertner's M.fenestratum, or travel 

 apart into another subdivision of the group. 



* Gaert. Fr. et Sem. i. 220. t Dec. Reg. Veg. i. 521. 



Before 



