BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 297 
de Candolle, several years since, on the occasion of receiving 
for publication a complete set from the East Indian herbarium 
distributed by Wallich. The result of his researches was 
then published in an excellent paper (the prefatory part 
written by himself in very good English) printed in the 17th 
vol. of the Transactions of the Linnean Society, and on taking 
up the Order again forthe Prodromus, he published two addi- 
tional memoirs in the * Annales des Sciences Naturelles," of 
Paris, vol. 15 and 16 of the second series. The chief altera- 
tions now made, are, an increase in the number of genera, 
and the separation as distinct orders of ZEgicera and ofthe 
Theophrastee. Additional genera were perhaps rendered ne- 
cessary by a corresponding increase in the number of species 
known, and by the more accurate discrimination of those 
previously established, which he has been enabled to make by 
means of better or additional specimens. But here much 
remains still to be done, two hundred and fifty species, dis- 
tributed into seventeen genera, form the tribe of the Ardisiee, 
which is so natural that, were the species less numerous, 
they might well have been considered but as a single genus, 
and consequently the generic characters, independently of in- 
florescence, are often difficult to appreciate, by one less ac- 
Customed than himself to examine them. They are given with 
Sreat accuracy of detail, but, being very long, might have 
been rendered much easier by a short summary, or some in- 
dication of the most important points to be observed, as is- 
done in the last of the above mentioned memoirs. The new 
characters introduced by the author, especially those derived 
from the cestivation of the corolla, are generally important, 
ìt is doubtful however whether farther investigation may not 
show that too much reliance is placed on the number of parts 
= the flower, and even on the number of ovules. A good sub- 
mision and distinction of species in the genus Myrsine, are 
also still a desideratum. Er 
BE. separation of Ægicereæ and Theophrastacee, as distinct. 
"rs, must be regretted. There is no greater inconvenience 
attending the practical use of the natural system, than the 
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