AD ELORAM INDICAM (bALSAMINE^). Ill 



and four others combined in pairs and irregular in form. To save 

 verbiage and periphrasis, we have, in the descriptions, called the 

 two small lateral sepals only the " sepals ;" the spurred one we call 

 " labellum," the petal next the axis " vexiUum," and the combined 

 lateral petals "alse." 



The geographical distribution of the Balsams is on the whole 

 singularly circumscribed: with the exception of the very few Sibe- 

 rian and European species, none extend to the north or north-west 

 much beyond Kashmir ; one only is found in Affghanistan (J. Le- 

 manni). The species gradually increase in number, proceeding 

 south-eastwards from Kashmir to Khasia and the peninsula of 

 India, in about the following proportion : — 



Kashmir, Kishtwar, and countries west of Sutlej ... 10 



Sutlej to Nepal frontier 13 



Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhotan 25 



Khasia Mountains 21 



Malay peninsula 8 



"Western peninsula 41 



Ceylon 18 



Only three of the Indian species are found in other parts of 

 the world. 



The distribution of the extra-Indian species is : — 



Europe and Siberia 3 



North America 2 



Malay Islands, Philippines, and China 8 ? 



Tropical Africa and Madagascar 8 ? 



Extra-tropical South Africa 1 



Numerous species will yet be detected in Madagascar and tro- 

 pical Africa, and probably others in Western China and Birma. 

 "With regard to the distribution of the groups, the Scapigerce are 

 wholly peninsular and Ceylonese ; the Oppositifolice almost ex- 

 clusively peninsular, the JJmhellatce, &c., chiefly so ; the Lateri- 

 floTCd and Bacemosce chiefly Himalayan and Khasian. 



Again, of these countries the western peninsula presents the 

 most peculiar species, only one-eighth of its species being found 

 in other countries. The Himalaya ranks next in this point of 

 view, two-fifths of its species being found in other countries. The 

 Khasia mountain species, on the other hand, are chiefly Himalayan, 

 with a few peninsular, two-thirds of its species being found in other 

 countries. One-half the Malayan species are found in the western 

 peninsula, and two-ninths of the Ceylon. 



