170 wight's botantcai- letters. 



it is considered an inferior appointment, and my standing in 

 the service entitles me to look for a better, which I have no 

 doubt of obtaining, even although I make no application. I 

 do not recollect whether or not I had it before, but I have now 

 obtained specimens of De Candolle's genus Athroisma* and 

 also of Tricholepis. A few days ago I found a new species of 

 Buchanania hid under the nsime oi Sorindeja atteniiata,Wa\\., 

 a tree from Penang, that has flourished for the first time in 

 the Calcutta garden this year, and of which Dr Wallich has 

 sent me a bit in a letter, along with what he considers the true 

 Sorindeja Madagascariensis, but which certainly diflFers from 

 the description we have given; T have not compared my 

 specimens. 



Palamcottah, 2d June, 1835. 

 For the last fortnight or three weeks I have done very 

 little in Botany myself, but have had much tedious occupa- 

 tion, such as labelling all my plants, and arranging those of 

 the first distribution (made in England as far as the end of 

 the LegiiminoscE) according to our Prodromus, which I find 

 a great convenience in working, as I am now enabled to lay 

 my hand on any plant I wish for in one moment. While 

 thus engaged, I discovered a curious mistake into which we 

 have fallen : our Hibiscus Sidoides is a Melhania ; I am not 

 yet sure about the species; it looks distinct from M.inca- 

 na, but when compared with a number of specimens which I 

 have, both forms, as far as regards habit, will he found to 

 glide insensibly into one.t The little that my other en- 

 gagements would permit me to do of late in Botany has been 

 also devoted to the incorporation, into one grand series, ol all 

 the plants I have procured since my return to this country, 



* The plant here alluded to is Blepharisperum Subsessile, DC, which 

 in fact does not agree with the character of either genus, — Akn. 



t At the tiroe'the description in the Prodromus was made there was only- 

 one specimen, and an imperfect one, before us, which is now in Ur 

 Wight's possession. I have therefore no means of verifying his observa- 

 tions, but entertain little doubt of his accuracy. — Abn. 



