NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 17 
Considered as a distinct order, it is a small one, consisting for the most part of 
trees remarkable for the number and unassuming beauty of their flowers. Several species 
are found on the Hills, namely, one very beautiful species of Eleocarpus, pechaps two, though 
of that I am still uncertain, and three, if not four species of Monocera, of which the one 
here represented is incomparably the most beautiful. I never myself met withit in flower 
until this season, and was particularly struck with its beauty, which cannot be transferred to 
paper. I found several trees on the bank below Coonoor in full flower in November. Most 
of the Elwocarpi have very hard tuberculated seed, about the size and somewhat the shape 
of an olive. These the native devotees are in the habit of boring and stringing as beads, which 
they constantly wear as a sacred appendage round their necks. The fruit of HE. serratus is 
eat on the Hills by the natives, as we eat plums, but is a poor substitute. 
MONOCERA. 
Calyx 5-sepaled. Petals 5, cuneate, usually silky on the back, 3-5-cleft and much laciniated to- 
wards the apex. Stamens numerous (25-80): anther valves unequal; outer one elongated, tapering and 
subulate, much longer than the inner one. Ovarium surrounded at the base by 5 glands, 2-celled: ovules 
numerous, in a double row ineachcell. Fruit a drape: nut smoothish or tubercled, 1 2-celled. Seeds 
solitary in each cell—Trees. Leaves lanceolate or cuneate-oblong, serrated or entire.—W. a A, 
Prod. 
One species only of this genus was known in the Peninsula when our Prodromus was published ia 
1834 namely UV. twberculata, since thenI have found that and three others on the Neilgherries, namely 
M. ferrugenia, also described by Dr. Jack as a Malayan tree, M. glandulifera Hooker, also found in Ceylon, and 
the subject of the accompanying figure. The plants composing it were separated from leocarpus princi- 
pally on account of their long bristle pointed anthers, those of Eleocarpus being broad pointed and rounded 
at the apex, occasionally, ornamented with a few hairs. The distinction does not seem to be a good one, 
being much too slight for plants in all other respects so nearly allied. As a section or subgenus it would 
have been most useful for dividing a large genus, but I do not think it merits the value, as a generic charae- 
wad which has been assigned. The genus has, however, been preserved by the latest writers, Endlicher and 
Meisner ; I therefore, in deference to their authority, relinquished my original intention of reducing it to the 
rank of a subgenus and calling the plant here figured Eleocarpus (Monocera) Munroii which would, I think, 
have been the more appropriate nomenclature. 
Monocera Munron (R. W. Jil. Ind. Bot.) gla- large and bandsome tree, which I should estimate at 
brous, leaves ovate lanceolate, acuminated slightly sere not less than from 60 to 80 feet in height, with a fine 
rulate on the margin, without glands on the uuder umbrageous head, every branch of whi 
surface: racemes about the length of the leaves thered the specimen here repre : 
: sepals lanceolate like it, with pure white flowers, forming a rich con- 
acute : petals not unyolute on the margins: anthers trast tothe deep green foliage. C 
glabrous : apex, at length reflexed, ovary elevated on found itin Coorg and sent me the specimens from 
above character was taken. Itis certain- 
ly very closely allied to M. glandulifera, but differs 
in technical characters, and as I have never seen that 
On the slopes of the large ravine below Coonoor tree in such a state as to admit of their accurate com~ 
flowering in November covered with parison, I am still uncertain whether or not they 
sides and December, 
fruitin February, apparently nearly full grown. A. ought to be united. 
XIII. —TERNSTROEMIACES. 
shrubs is principally re- 
This interesting family of beautiful flowering trees and 
ellia shrubs: the leaves of 
markable on account ofits including the far famed Tea and Cam 
