314 Characters qf Three Genera of Indian Plants* 



In conclusion I may be permitted to observe, that the exist* 

 ence of regular hexagonal discs in recent coniferae, shews the 

 impropriety of constituting a separate genus for those fossil 

 species having discs of the same form, and arranged in the same 

 manner. In the true pines, in the junipers, thuyae, and cypres- 

 ses, the discs are always circular, but of very different dimensions; 

 and wherever they are arranged in double rows, those in the 

 opposite rows are always placed side by side, and a similar form 

 and arrangement is often to be seen in fossil species. But in the 

 tribe of araucarias, the discs are sometimes circular and sometimes 

 polygonal : and wherever they are arranged in double or triple 

 rows, those in one row always alternate with those in the adjoin- 

 ing row or rows ; and a similar form and arrangement is some- 

 times to be seen in fossil species, as that at Craigleith. 



CHARACTERS OF THREE GENERAOF INDIAN PLANTS. By G. A. 



Walker Abnott, Esq, A. M., F. L S., 8fc, ' 



1. NATSIATUM, Ham. 



DICECIA PENTANDRIA. 



Ord, Nat. PHYTOCRENE^, Arn. 



Flores dioeci. Calt/x 5-partitus ; laciniis lanceolatis, persistentibus. Corolla 

 hypogyna, alte 5-partita ; laciniis lanceolatis, acuminatis, recurvis, lobis 

 calycinis alternantibus, iisdem longioribus. Torus brevis, cupuliformis, 

 fere liberus, 5-lobatus ; lobis laciniis calycinis oppositis, bidentatis ; den- 

 tibus linearibus, imo apice obtusis ac incrassatis. ]\f asc. Stamina 5, pe- 

 talis alternantia, circa pistilli rudimentum hirsutum ad basin corollse in- 

 serta. Filamenta perbrevia. Antherce erectae, ovatse, apiculo brevi ter- 

 minatae, 2.1oculares, longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Fcem. Stamina 5 abor- 

 tiva. Ovarium liberum, globosum, hispide pilosum, uniloculare, 2-oviila- 

 tum. Ovula ex apice loculi pendula. Stylus subnullus. Stigmata duo, 

 elongata, recurva, papillosa. 



Volubilis. Folia alterna, cordata, repando-dentata, scabriuscula. Racemi axil- 

 lares^ elongati, kirsutijipenduli. Flores parvi^ viridescentes. 



1. N. herpeticum. Ham — Wall. List of E. I. Plants, N. 4^52. 

 *^ ^ ' ''' Hab. Bagduyar. D. Hamilton. 



Hamilton, in his Herbarium, refers this to the Rhamnese, with 

 which it has no affinity whatever. It has so very many points 

 in common with Phy tocrene of Wallich, that I do not think there 

 can be any doubt of their together constituting a small order, 

 bordering on the one side on Menispermaceae, on the other on 

 Urticese. 



