6 



Wlhl.IS . EVIDENCE AGAINST THE ORI«IN Ob" 



distinct and well separated species ; in fact C. elongahis is 

 almost, if not quite, sub-generically distinct. 



We may best put the points of difference between these 

 species in the form of a double column, thus : — 



Coleus barbatus.* 



Stem cylindrical, but tending 

 to quadrangular in inflores- 

 cence. 



Stem pubescent with long hairs. 



Leaves oblong-oval, 1-2 inches. 



Leaves closely pubescent. 

 Leaves rather thick. 

 Petioles rather short. 



Inflorescence a raceme of con- 

 densed cymes, each about 

 5-flowered, forming false 

 whorls of ten flowers at each 

 node. 



Flowers large. 



Bracts large. 



Calyx with long hairs. 



Calyx of one large ovate upper 

 tooth and fom* small lower 

 teeth. 



Corolla rich purple or white. 



Coleus elongatus.'f 

 Stem quadrangular. 



Stem pubescent with short 

 hairs. 



Leaves ovate-triangular, 1-2 

 inches. 



Leaves finely pubescent. 



Leaves rather thin. 



Petioles rather longer, and 

 slenderer. 



Inflorescence a raceme of one- 

 sided cymes, looking like 

 racemes, about 1| in. long, 

 one at each side of each node. 



Flowers small. 



Bracts small. 



Calyx with short hairs. 



Calyx of five almost exactly 



equal teeth, upper teeth not 



larger 

 Corolla pale purple. 



Grows on rocky places. Trails over rocks. 



In all other characters the two species closely agree, but they 

 are at once widely separMed by the different type of inflores- 

 cence and by the calyx, and Coleus elongatus is unquestionably 

 a good species. 



Now, with regard to this species Coleus elongatus, growing 

 solely on Ritigala summit, there are several points to be 

 brought forward. In the first place, I would simply ask, is the 

 climate or are any other conditions so different upon the 

 summit of Ritigala tliat any one can pretend that it is an 

 advantage to the plant to have its calyx equally toothed 



* Bot. Mag. t. 2318. 



t Trimen, Journ. Bot 27, 188<t. p. If)"). Figure in •' Ceylon Flora." 

 No. 74. 



