2049. Disporum CEYLANICUM (R. W.), umbels 
3-5-flowered, terminal: sepals lanceolate acute or 
sub-acuminate, not gibbous at the base: filaments 
filiform, about twice the length of the oblong obtuse 
incumbent anthers: style filiform 3-4 times the 
length of the revolute stigmas : leaves sessile, ovate, 
. lanceolate, attenuate at the apex, acute. 
Ceylon. 1 am indebted to the late Colonel Walker 
for my specimens of this very distinct species. 
2050. Orrropogon IsNprcus (R. W., Rottler?), 
leaves narrow linear, acute, somewhat coriaceous, 
sheathing at the base: scape naked, about half the 
length of the leaves, racemose, secund : bracts subu- 
late, shorter than the pedicels: flowers bell-shaped, 
sepals ovate, obtuse, longer than the filiform, acute, 
style: filaments short, cohering at the base, and 
with the sepals persistent: berries oval, pale blue 
when mature. 
Neilgherries, Courtallum, Mysore, &c. 
A widely diffused plant. I have taken the specific 
name from Royle's Illustrations, where he mentions 
an *O. Indicus, Rottler," but without a reference to 
a character to enable me to ascertain whether this 
be his plant, hence the query. 
This genus and the following ( Peliosanthes ) are 
remarkable for bearing naked seed, that is the cells 
of the ovary do not enlarge with the growth of the 
ovules, which in course of time burst the walls of 
the cells and are then matured not in a seed vessel 
but exposed to the direct action of air and light. 
The testa becomes progressively succulent, finally 
giving these naked seed, a berry-like look. Some- 
times the whole six ovules are matured, producing 
elusters of bright blue berries as shown at fig. 7. 
Sometime several of them abort as I have endeavour- 
ed to show at fig. 6, when 2 of the ovules are repre- 
sented much larger that the adjoining aborted ones. 
When the whole attain maturity, as shown in figures 
7 and 8, the clusters of bright blue berries then form a 
very pretty object. Mr. Brown was, I believe, the 
first who understood and explained this curious econ- 
omy of these plants. 
2051. PELIOSANTHES CourTaLLENSIS (R. W.) 
leaves very long petioled, lanceolate, acuminate, glab- 
rous; petiols rather shorter than the limb, triangular : 
seape about the length of the petiols, subspicate: 
braets subulate, as long as the flowers: perianth cam- 
panulate, 6-cleft, throat contracted by the antherife- 
rous erown (dilated monodelphous filaments) : anthers 
sessile, inserted within the margin ofthe crown: ovary 
3-celled, with 3 erect ovules in each, 1 or 2 of each 
usually abort. 
Courtallum, in dense woods, flowering February 
and Mareh. 
Figures 5 and 6 show the ovary in an advanced 
stage, but before the cells have given way ; figure 7 
after they have burst,and figure 8 in à somewhat 
more advanced stage of development. 
2052. Prtrosantues NEILGHERRENSIS (R. W.), 
leaves lanceolate, tapering at both ends, acuminate ; 
limb about the length of the petiol : scape erect, race- 
mose, shorter than the leaves: flowers drooping, cam- 
panulate, 6-eleft: antheriferous crown (dilated fila- 
ments) 6-parted (that is filaments six), short, dilated, 
inserted on the sepals: ovary 3-celled, ovules, usual- 
ly, 4 in each cell; soon rupturing the walls: style 
3 angular, short; stigmas 3, spreading: seed naked, 
testa fleshy blue: embryo cylindrical at the base of 
copious albumen. 
ispara, on the Western slopes of the Neilgherries, 
abundant by the road side and among the adjoining 
bushes, flowering January and February. 
2053. DIANELLA ENSIFOLIA (Aiton), leaves nume- 
rous, long ensiform ; margin prickly serrulate ; keel 
rough at the base and apex: branches and branch- 
lets of the panicle spreading: pedicels crowded, 
drooping, nearly as long as the flower. 
Courtallum, Malabar Mountains. 
The figure which was taken from an indifferent 
specimen of a growing plant, does not give a very 
good idea of the species, but the analyses are more 
perfect than any I have seen of this genus. 
2054. DRACENA TERMINALIS (Willd.), stem fruti- 
cose, erect: leaves petioled, lanceolate, attenuated 
at both ends, stem-clasping at the base, glabrous: 
branches of the panicle divaricated, simple : flowers 
sessile, fascicled, 3-5 together, tubular, 6-cleft: fila- 
ments subulate; anthers incumbent: seed globose: 
albumen large : embryo small, lateral. 
Courtallum, Quilon, perhaps in both instances the 
outcast of a garden. I do not recollect having met 
with it in situations that left no doubt of its being 
indigenous. 
2055. AsPARAGUS AsTATICUS (Linn.), thorns soli- 
tary, recurved: stem erect, woody ; branches fili- 
form: leaves fascicled, subulate (setaceous), pedun- 
cles solitary. 
Ootacamund, Neilgherries, frequent, growing in 
open ground: smaller specimens are quite erect, the 
more luxuriaut ones, such as that selected for repre- 
sentation, drooping towards the extremity. The 
above is the only station Irecollect having met with ` 
this plant, but it must also inhabit the lower heights 
on the Malabar Coast whence I presume Linnæus 
obtained his specimens. Lamarck describes it, from 
plants growing in the * Jardin du Roi.” Lamarck 
quotes Pluk. tab. 15, f. 4, for this plant, but as it is 
without flowers it may serve as well or better for 
the next. All indeed that can be said for it that it 
is an Asparagus. 
2056. AsPARAGUS RACEMOsUS (Willd.), thorns 
solitary, reflexed ; branches striated : leaves fascicled, 
linear, subulate, falcate, racemes many-flowered, 
axillary. : : 1 
Coimbatore district, frequent, climbing extensively 
among hedges, and bushes. When in full flower, 
which it is during the autumnal rains, it is a charm- 
ing plant, scenting the air for a considerable distance 
round with its delightful fragrance. 
The genus Asparagus is referred by most Botanists 
to Liliaceæ. I am unable to understand on what 
ounds, as it associates so well with Smilax. 
indley excludes it from his class of Dictiogens, 
but, as it appears to me, on insufficient grounds, as 
the leaves of those species in which they are more 
developed show the reticulated tendency, and the 
woody structure of the stems of both is so perfectly 
alike that sections are scarcely distinguishable when 
lying side by side on the field of the microscope. 
For these reasons I have ventured to remove it from 
Liliaceæ and place it beside Smilax which I have 
no doubt is its proper place in the natural series. 
( 36 ) 
