142 THE JOURNAL OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



from the same proximate stock as E. Elenorae, E. Margaretae, and 

 E. minutum, through all show this character. The question could be 

 decided only after examination of extra-Indian species. 



These three types of sepal : the united, the boat-shaped and the 

 crested, are quite distinct ; the only specific difference being that in 

 the latter two the three sepals may not be equal in size, and one 

 may be flat instead of boat-shaped, or without the crest. But in the 

 species which show these exceptions individual variation does occur 

 Thus in E, Elenorae the relative sizes of the 3 crested sepals varies, 

 two may be of a size, one smaller, or the three all unequal, or one 

 the smallest without a crest. These variations are shown in plants 

 otherwise indistinguishable. They are therefore not of specific value. 

 I am doubtful indeed whether E. Elenorae where the sepals are un- 

 equal should really be separated from E. Margaretae (were they are all 

 alike), but the species are slightly different in appearance, and I have 

 found no variation in plants with the 3 sepals equal (E. Margaretae). 

 So also in those with two sepals boat-shaped, one not. The odd sepal 

 in E. Dianae may be lanceolate and as long as the other two, or short- 

 er and bristle-like, or so slender that it is difficult to see. 



We have in both these lines apparently a reduction in the size of 

 one sepal till is nearly disappears, and if this be so a species with only 

 two sepals may be derived from one with three. An instance where 

 this has actually and unmistakably occurred even inside the species is 

 afforded by E. Xeranthemum Mart. Hooker in F.B.I, gives the female 

 sepals as 2. I find plants on the Himalayas have 2 sepals, but some at 

 least on the Malabar coast have 3. Ruhland says that the sepals are 

 3, unequal. No one seeing the plants would wish to make several 

 species of them. The same occurs in E. truncatum where the sepals 

 may be 3, but are usually 2 only, and in the same plant I have 

 found 3 equal, 2 and 1 smaller and 2 only ; and also in E. Thioaitcsii 

 Hook. f. 



We are thus faced by a set of conditions which must be unique 

 among flowering plants. No other case is known to me of a reduction 

 in the relative number of sepals and petals within the species of genus, 

 though the number may be indefinite — e.g. in species of Banwncalus 

 and Jasminum. The stamens certainly show a reduction in some 

 genera (e.g. Cassia and Bauhinia), and occasionally between the genera 

 of family (e.g. Caryophyllaceae, Acanthacae), but even this is not 

 common. Characters in fact which in all other phanerogamic families 

 are so constant as to be of the first importance in determining fami- 

 lies and cohorts here vary even within the species, and so are of no 

 use at all as guides to the phylogeny. 



