WalUcJCs Select East Indian Pla7iis. 705 



under the title of Filices Asiaticce Rariores, to appear on the 

 same size and plan as the Plantcjc AsiaticcB Rariores.^* 



Wallich, Nathaniel, M.D. F.R.S. &c. &c. : Plantae Ra- 

 riores Asiaticas ; or. Figures, coloured, and Descriptions, of 

 Two hundred and Ninety- five selected unpublished East 

 Indian Plants. In 3 vols, imperial folio. London, 1832. 



This superb work is now complete, and exhibits 295 

 figures, in which are depicted specimens of as many species of 

 the more ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants of 

 India ; the specimens being drawn of the natural size, and 

 coloured to nature. This work is really an acquisition to the 

 libraries of Europe ; for, while its own magnificence, and the 

 great beauty of the plants selected for its plates, fit it in an 

 especial manner for the drawing-room tables of the wealthy, 

 and supply to the public a means of conceiving of the splendour 

 and loveliness of Indian vegetation, the original descriptions 

 of the plants themselves, and the views of botanical affinity 

 which are exhibited under many of the species, render the 

 work a text book of great value, and indeed indispensable to 

 all who are engaged in the prosecution of scientific botany. 

 This latter high cast of character has arisen from Dr. Wal- 

 lich having had, in describing the plants, the cooperation of 

 most of the distinguished botanists of Europe, each of whom 

 has described the plants belonging to that class with which he 

 is best acquainted. For so many plants, by researches in all 

 parts of the globe, have now become known, that no botanist 

 can attain to an intimate knowledge of ihem all ; and hence each 

 addicts himself more particularly to the plants of some few 

 classes or orders. We have not space for the names of the many 

 scientific individuals who have thus cooperated in producing 

 this work ; but must mention, as of especial value, the follow- 

 ing contributions : — A monograph in the second volume, on 

 the Z-aurinae of the East Indies, to which there is a supple- 

 ment in the third volume, both by Professor Nees von 

 Esenbeck : this occupies 22 pages, and developes the most 

 complete account of the order, any where extant; and gives a 

 digest and the characters of the genera and species which range 

 under it. Professor Esenbeck also elaborates, in like manner, 

 in the third volume, the ordinal, generic, and specific character- 

 istics of those lovely plants the Indian ^canthacese ; and this 

 valuable contribution to systematic botany occupies 48 pages. 

 Professor Meisner, also in the third volume, presents a syn- 

 opsis of those plants of the natural order Polygoneae, which 

 belong to British India, so far as specimens of them exist in 

 Vol. V. — No. 30. z z 



