aspect very different from our tree. Though aware 



in detail the monochamideous orders. In the course 



of these diflferences, when naming my drawing, I of that examination I was led to the conclusion that 



adopted the same specific name, under the conviction 

 that this is really the plant Roxburgh describes. 



In regard to the natural order of this genus, Wal- 

 lich and Royle coincide in referring it to Myricacece, 



Endlicher considers it a sub-order, allied to Antidesmece ; 



while Meisner makes it the type of the Putranjivece 

 order. I do not clearly understand on what ground 

 so much discrepancy of opinion prevails as I can see 

 no reason for considering it other than a purely Eu- 

 phorbiaceous plant of the tribe Buxe<2^ with which it 

 accords in every particular of the slightest moment. 

 I find that I coincide with Lindley in this view, he 

 placing the genus in the same order and tribe that 

 I had done, as the result of independent examination. 



1877, Sarcococca trinervia (R, W.), leaves 

 bifarious, 3 -nerved, oblong lanceolate, entire, acumi- 

 nate at both ends, glabrous : spikes axillary, dense, 

 about the length of the petiols, male flower above, 

 female below. 



Neilgherries, Pulney Mountains. 



This is a common and very pretty shrub on the 

 Neilgherries, especially in woods where it appears as 

 an undershrub. The leaves are a very bright lively 

 green, somewhat paler beneath, the flowers pale yel- 

 lowish, but certainly not conspicuous. 



The only other species of this genus is a native of 

 Nepaul and Ceylon, and differs from this in having 

 ovate acuminate not 3-nerved leaves. Apart from 

 the flowers, which have no beauty, this is a rather 

 pretty evergreen, always covered with lively green 

 handsome foliage. 



GOUGHIA (R. W.). 



Gen, Chab. Dioecious, male perianth rudimentary 

 or wanting, consisting, when present, of a few almost 

 inconspicuous scales attached to the apex of the 

 pedicel. Stamens about 8 (sometimes 6 or 7 by 

 abortion), filaments short ; anthers large, oblong, mu- 

 cronulate, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Female 

 perianth 4-lobed, often rudimentary. Ovary free, 2- 

 celled with two pendulous ovules in each ; styles 

 2, short, reflexed, each ending in a flattened papillose 

 stigma. Fruit sub-baccate, ovoid, crowned with the 

 persistent styles, one-seeded by abortion. Seed ovoid, 

 embryo minute in the apex of a large soft fleshy 

 albumen, radicle superior. A rather small very 

 ramous tree : leaves alternate, elliptic, obtuse, entire, 

 glabrous, dark green above, glaucous beneath, inflo- 

 rescence racemose ; racemes axillaiy on the young 

 terminal shoots of the season : flowers small, anthers 

 purplish or brownish-red: female, greenish: fruit 

 pulpy, purplish when ripe. 



This very distinct genus was dedicated, in MS., 

 upwards of 10 years ago, to my much esteemed friend 

 Mr., now the Hon'ble, George Gough, at that time 

 engaged, in company with Captain Munro, in explor- 



my first view of its affinities was erroneous, and that 

 it is a truly Euphovbiaceous plant. 



Of this genus I possess two, perhaps three, species, 

 viz. the present, one from Ceylon, and one from 

 Malacca. Of the Ceylon one I still feel somewhat un- 

 certain, as it greatly resembles the Continental plant, 

 and I have not seen male flowers ; but the Malacca 

 one departs so widely that I am doubtful whether it 

 may not furnish the type of a new genus. The fol- 

 lowing copy of a note, attached to the specimen, 

 which I wrote when I first examined it, will explain 

 this. The specimen was sent by Air. Griffith, labelled 

 simply, " Goughia ? ? Malacca," The reply to the 

 query is, " I suspect not, the flowers here being regu- 

 lar, viz. sepals 4, stamens 4, opposite the sepals, with 

 a central elevated hairy receptacle or abortive ovary. 

 In this plant, moreover, the pollen is globose and his- 

 pid, in the NeilgheiTy one, glabrous and ang-ular. The 

 habit and form of the leaves of the two, however, per- 

 fectly agree, with the exception of the inflorescence 

 which in the Malacca plant is paniculato-umbellate ; 

 (each ramulus of the panicle only in simple umbel 

 of 8 or 10 short pedicelled flowers). The female 

 flower, when discovered, may reduce the value of these 

 difierences." 



On reconsidering the question now, I attach less 

 weight to the above differences than I did then, and 

 think that a slight modification of the generic charac- 

 ter will serve to retain them in the same genus. As 

 regards habit and family likeness, they are brothers. 

 The generic character, should the structure of the 

 female flower admit of their union, might be thus 

 modified : Dicecious : male-perianth, sepals 4, imbri- 

 cating, or rudimentary or wanting. Stamens, in sepal- 

 ed flowers, 4, opposite the sepals, when the sepals are 

 wanting, 8 or sometimes fewer (6-7) by abortion : 

 when 4, inserted round the base of a rudimentary 

 ovary : anthers, &c. 



The specific differences will then be — • 



1. G. Griffithiana^ male flowers 4-sepaled, 4-an- 

 drous. Leaves petioled, sub-obovate, very obtuse ; 

 (turning yellow in drying) : inflorescence panicled, 

 each ramulus of the panicle ending in a small simple 

 umbel of 8-12 short pedicelled flowers- 



2. G, Neilgherrensis^ male 8-andious, sepals rudi- 

 mentary or wanting. 



The Ceylon form, though it looks distinct, does not, 

 the male plant being unknown, furnish sufficient speci- 

 fic marks for its separation from the Neilgherry one. 



1878-79- Goughia Neilgherrensis (R. W*). 



A small tree common on the Neilgherries, Pulneys, 

 Ceylon ? flowering during the autumnal months, but 

 may I believe be met with in flower at all seasons. 

 The leaves have a tendency to turn yellow in drying 

 like those of SymplocacecB^ but after a time become 

 dark-brown. Those of the Malacca plant are quite 



ing the Neilgherry flora, from whom I then received as yellow as a Symploicos, 



specimens. It aflbrds me much pleasure, at this late 

 date, to find it still an unpublished genus, and to be 

 thereby enabled to publish it under the name it has so 

 long borne in my Herbarium. Had I not felt uncer- 



1880. M1CROE1.US RoEPERiANus (W. and A., Edn. 



Phil- Journal, Stylodisciis trifoliatus^ Bennett, in Hors- 

 field's Java plants, Andrachne trifoliata^ Roxb. FL 



tain as to the natural order, regarding which I found Ind.) 



difficulty in satisfying myself, I should have published 

 it long ago. At one time I thought it referable to 

 AntidesmetF, but not feeling certain I thought it well 

 to delay its publication until I had leisure 10 examine lieve it extends considerably to the south of that 



This is the only species of the genus and has a 

 wide range : Java, Bengal, Circar Mountains, and the 

 Southern Peninsula as far as Courtallum, and I be- 



( 22 ) 



