MICROTROPIS. 
Calyx 5 parted imbricated. Corolla 5-petaled perigy- 
nous inserted into the outer edge of an annular disk, 
æstivation imbricated. Stamens alternate with the petals 
rising from the edge of the disk. Anthers introrse，de- 
hiscing longitudinally, sometimes alternating with short 
epipelatous scales (squamulæ 5, breves, epipetalæ sta- 
minibus alternates. Arn.) Ovary semi-superior 2-celled 
with 2 dependent collateral ovules in each : style short, 
conical : stigma obtuse, obscurcly four-lobed. ` Capsule 
superior 1-celled, two-valved, but usually dehiscing on 
one side only. Seed solitary, rarely paired, erect : testa 
thin, succulent, coloured. Embryo erect, enclosed in 
a copious firm tenacious albumen. Cotyledons foliace- 
ous. Radicle cylindrical. 
Shrubs or trees, leaves entire opposite, exstipulate, 
glabrous, shining, coriaceous. Cymes axillary or from 
the scars of fallen leaves, either furnished with longish 
peduncles or subsessile, forming dense capitula on the 
older branches. Flowers small white, sepals and petals 
orbicular concave, very coriaceous. Fruit capsular, oval 
oblong pointed with the persistent base of the style; 
capsule corticose, (resembling bark in colour and tex- 
ture) testa thin, friable, somewhat resembling semi-in- 
durated pulp, and, in all species I have seen, deeply 
coloured : albumen tenacious, translucent, easily sec- 
tile: cotyledons, when fresh, green. 
This genus was named by Dr. Wallich, but without 
& character, in his List of Indian plants. Lindley 
adopted it in his Natural System but without defining 
it. Drs. Meisner and Arnott having got specimens, both 
published characters quite independent of each other. 
Their generic characters are both good so far as their 
imperfect materials enabled them to go, but both admit 
ofalterations. "The materials in my hands being more 
perfect than those they had, has induced me to endea- 
Your to render more perfect their characters. The part 
1 have described as the testa of the seed, Roxburgh has 
called an arillus (** Semina solitaria arillo tenui succu- 
lento involuta," Arnott from Roxb.) I do so from 
finding no other part corresponding to that organ, from 
its completely investing the seed, without any opening, 
which a true arillus must have, and from its being dis- 
tinctly vascular, showing that it cannot be merely in- 
durated pulp. I have not observed in any of the Hill 
species the epipetalous scales mentioned by Arnott. In 
Arnott's character the ovules are said to be ascending, 
in all the Neilgherry species the ovules are pendulous, 
the seed erect, and the radicle inferior. How this change 
of position is brought about still remains for investiga- 
tion, 
When Dr. Arnott published his remarks on this genus, 
he doubted whether it belonged to this order, a point on 
which there cannot, I think, beany longer a doubt, 
even supposing the corolla gamopetalous. This it cer- 
taiuly is not, but polypetalous, the petals attached to a 
disk. This structure is most easily made out in the 
unopened flower bud. 
1052. Microrropis DENSIFLORA (R. W.) leaves 
short petioled broad oval obtuse, somewhat attenuated 
towards the base, coriaceous, glabrous: cymes axillary, 
erect, compact, many flowered ; much shorter than the 
leaves : capsule slender cyclindrical, pointed, 2 valved : 
seed like the capsule, testa crimson coloured. 
On tbe western slopes of the Neilgherries below Sis- 
parah in dense jungles, flowering and bearing ripe fruit 
in February. 
This seems a very distinct species from any of those 
previously figured, it forms a large straggling shrub or 
small tree. The dense almost capitate clusters of flow- 
ers combined with the long slender fruit, are very 
characteristic and the outline of the leaves is besides 
very different from that of all the others. 
1053. EuosNYMUS ANGULATUS (R. W.) arboreous, 
ramuli prominently 4 angled and furrowed between : 
leaves ovate lanceolate, acuminate, quite entire, glabrous : 
cymes axillary, dichotamous, lax : flowers long pedicel- 
led : calyx fimbricated on the margin, petals orbicular د‎ 
cupsules turbinate 5 celled : cells by abortion 1 seeded, 
seed partially enclosed in an arillus accompanied by the 
remains of the aborted ovule. 
Slopes of the Neilgherries below Sisparah on the 
banks of streams. The flowers, owing to the size of the 
cymes, are more conspicuous than in any of the others 
I have seen. They are of a dull purple colour, the 
specimens were gathered in February and as they were 
accompanied by ripe fruit, the tree is probably in flower 
most part of the year. 
1054. Epwarpsia MADRASPATANA (R. W.) leaflets 
about 25, glabrous, from elliptic to sub-ovate obtuse, 
mucronate, or frequently retuse at the apex : racemes 
axillary or terminal, very slightly pubescent, many flow- 
ered : calyx cup shaped, slightly oblique, 5 toothed; 
legumes villous. 
Balaghaut mountains near Madras. 
My collectors brought me seed of this plant some 
years ago, which were transmitted to the Calcutta Bota- 
nie Garden and there vegitated. From these plants the 
specimen represented was taken. Owing to some error 
whether of the Draftsman or Lithographer or both, (I 
have not the original drawing by me to ascertain the 
point,) the petioles and flower bearing branches are re- 
presented densely hairy, while the specimens are so 
slightly purbescent that a magnifier is required to detect 
its presence. 1 suspect the error is principally attribut- 
able to the transferer, but be that as it may it is an 
error as the plant might without much impropriety be 
described as glabrous. I am indebted to the kindness 
of Dr. Wallich for the drawing from which the figure is 
taken, as my specimens were not in flower. 
I possess a somewhat imperfeet specimen of what 
appears to be a new species from China, it is not in fruit, 
but the calyx and flower are unquestionably those of an 
Edwardsia it may be thus defined. 
E. parvifolia (R.W.) every where glabrous ; leaflets 
about 7 from ovate attenuated towards the apex, to 
elliptic, mucronate : racemes axillary, congregated to- 
wards the extremities of the branches, many flowered ፤ 
flowers secund: calyx cupshaped obtusely 5 toothed, 
glabrous ; filaments about the length of the corolla free 
to the base, ovary slender glabrous, ovules about ten. 
The flowers so far as I can judge from indifferently 
dried specimen are well represented in the accompany- 
ing drawing of E. Madraspatana. I am indebted for 
the specimen to Asst. Surgeon Dorward of the Madras 
Establishment, who during a short residence collected 
a considerable number of plants which he kindly com- 
municated, 
1055. TaveRNIERA CUNEIFOLIA (Arn.) leaves pe- 
tioled 1-foliolate, from the almost constant abortion of 
the lateral pair; leaflet from orbicular to obovate- 
cuneate, recurvedly mucronate, thickish, glabrous or 
pubescent : peduncles short, from the exils of leafless 
stipules bearing, towards the apex, from 1 to 4 shortly 
pedicellate flowers : legumes with the inferior joint 
abortive stipitiform, the superior one unequally, obo- 
vate, echinate, with rigid hooked bristles.—drn. pugil- 
lus. 14. 
The drawing, for which I am indebted to Dr. Wal- 
(2) 
