14 NEILGHERRY PLANTS, : 
X.—CARYOPHYLLACE &.—Cuickweep Tribe. 
To this family belong, alike the beautiful and much admired Pinks, Carnations, 
Piceotees, Sweet-williams,Catch-flies and Corn-cockles and the almost i 
I flowered 
Starworts and Chick-weeds. In the former division there are no indigenous species found 
on the hills, and only three or four of the latter. The one here represented, which is a true 
native, is introduced rather to show the contrast, as compared with the gay pinks,the aristocra- 
tic members of this Natural family, than for any beauty of its own. Such being the case, it is 
unnecessary to dwell long on this order. Of the first division (Silene) several are cultivated 
in our gardens such as Dianthus including carnation, sweet-william, &c., Silene or catch-fly 
and -Argostemma, or corn-cockle : of the second (Alsinee) several are sufficiently abundant 
as weeds, among which may be mentioned the Cerastium or chick weed and Stellaria or 
starwort, the Arenaria or sandwort, here figured, rarely met with about gardens but is 
abundant on the road side leading to Dodabet, and other equally retired situations. 
The bulk of the family is extra-tropical, it therefore seems rather curious that the 
Neilgherries should have only one representative that they can undisputedly claim as their 
own, All the others being European plants and probably introduced. 
ARENARIA.—Sandwort. 
Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 10 (or fewer by abortion). Styles2,3 or4. Capsule opening 
by 3, usually bipartite, valves. Seeds numerous, roundish. small, Stipules none. 
The plants of this genus are generally mere weeds, usual'y growing in sandy soil,very diffuse, spread- 
ing extensively, or if growing among bushes climbing among their branches to a considerable height such.is 
the habit of our plant. 
Arenaria Netreuerrensts (W & A.:) stems elon- snb-dichotomous panicles : ea Merve! pube- 
gated, much branched, procumbent, with an alternate scent all round ar ie slender: se oblong, te 
’ 
line of hairs on one side: leaves distant, obovate, with 1 dorsal hairy nerve ; margin eRe 
when ni aati rt with minute etc ish points peti ils longer iuan the calyx: ayes usually 3 Faas 
l-nerved ;_ maryit ickened, ne ve-like; ciliated times 2 or 4 : capsules ovate, 7 the length of 
amacde the peti iol eons suiliary; or in terminal the calyx.—W. and A. Prod. p. 43. 
XI.—MALVACEA.—Mattow Tauise. 
This is a large, and in its relations to man; a most important family as supplying 
him with food and clothing and medicine. Within the tropics, where they abound, several 
species, are cultivated for the first, such as Hibiscus esculentus, canabinus &c. ; cotton, 
one of the products of this family, is employed as clothing in every part of the globe ; 
while sundry species of mallow, sida &c., are in request in domestic medicine as emollients, de- 
mulcents, and for fomentations in all sorts of ailments,requiring such remedies. Though man y 
of them rejoice in handsome flowers, a few only have found their way into the flower garden, 
among these may be mentioned the splendid Hollyhock ( 4/thaa rosea) the ‘Tree mallows 
(Malope trifida and malacoides and Lavatera aborea) the Shoeflower and changeable rose Hibis- 
cus, (Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis and mutabilis), Of these the Hollyhock and Malope, and occasi- 
onally alarge species of Mallow, perhaps Malva sylvestris, find a place in the Hill gardens. 
