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XVIII. A Review of the Gen s Combretum. By Mr. George 
Don A.L.S. : 
Read March 21, 1826. 
Tue rapid increase of new species has rendered monographs 
absolutely necessary, as the only sure means of determining the 
peculiar characters of each. Perhaps no genus affords a more 
striking example of this rapid increase than the genus Com- 
bretum. The latest general work, namely, Sprengel's Systema 
- Vegetabilium, contains only six, while in the following mono- 
graph the number amounts to forty-one, exclusive of four doubt- 
ful ones, recorded in the Hortus Bengalensis, some of which are 
most probably identical with some of those here described. 
As few plants surpass Combreta in the brilliancy and elegance 
of their blossoms, so their species have become great favourites 
with collectors. "The Combretum purpureum has long been one 
of the greatest ornaments of our stoves; but some of the species 
lately introduced are likely to outvie it in beauty. The species 
of the genus, and indeed of the whole order, with the exception, 
perhaps, of Combretum nanum from Nepal, are exclusively con- 
fined to tropical countries ; but the largest proportion is peculiar 
to Africa. 
In order to facilitate a knowledge of the species, I have 
divided the genus into divisions and sections, which will be 
found separately characterized in their respective places. 
COMBRETU M. 
