NEILGHERRY PLANTS ~ 33 
XXII.—BALSAMINEAL.—Batsam TRIBE. 
Most of the families we have hitherto considered have shown a marked tropical or 
extra-tropical tendency, the one we are now about to consider may be viewed as possessing a 
transition character, being found in both the temperate and tropic zones. But though much 
more abundant in the latter than the former, its species are only foundin perfection during the 
rainy and cool seasons, and it is in the more elevated and cooler regions they most abound. 
In illustration of this statement, I may mention that upwards of 20 species are found on the 
Neilgherries, of which only two or three are found to descend to the plains, and these only 
towards the western slopes, where their growth is promoted by the humidity of the climate. 
On the Pulney range, in like manner, where, during the autumnal months, a cool and 
humid climate prevails, I found ten or twelve species. Onthe more elevated portions of 
Ceylon they also abound during the rainy season. Thence they extend northward far as 
the Himalayas, always selecting the rainy and cool seasons as those during which they 
attain their greatest perfection. To the few met with in Europe the same observation holds 
true. Hence, though India may be looked upon as the head quarters of the family, they 
may still be considered a transition order as they are but sparingly found in the warmer 
regions, and then only during the coolest seasons. 
Much has been written on the structure of the flower of these curious plants, and 
very different views taken of the nature of the parts of which they are composed until pro- 
fessor Kunth published his explanation which, for a time, was generally adopted ; he sets 
out with the assumption that they are throughout quinary in the number of their parts, on the 
ground that they have 5 stamens and 5-celled ovaries. On this point there can scarcely be 
two opinions. The question then comes to be, how are we to discover 5 sepals and 5 petals — 
f'which the flower is made up. It is done thus, take, for exam- 
pper two-lobed petal-like piece he considers 2 sepals soldered 
e he also considers a sepal, and then there are the two lateral] 
2 lateral, and 1 inferior. Within these are two lateral, 2 
making four petals: the 
wanting, or so united 
among the six apparent parts o 
ple, Impatiens fruticosa. The u 
together : the lower spurred piec 
sepals, making in all 5—viz. 2 upper, 
lobed petals: each of these he considers two soldered together, 
5th, which should stand between the two upper sepals, he supposes 
with them that it does not appear if present. 
This explanation of the structure of the parts of a Balsam flower, though generally 
adopted at first, did not long remain undisputed. Professor Roeper took a very different 
view of the parts of the flower, and of course gave a different explanation of its structure, but 
one not so easily explained, except to persons conversant with descriptions of Botanical 
structure. He equally considers the flower a quinary one, but in place of considering the 
upper two-lobed part, two united sepals, he thinks it the odd petal. Thespur, he considers, 
the odd sepal, then the lateral sepals as one pair, and two scales often absent ; but when pre- 
sent, situated at the base of the odd petal, as the other pair: then the 2.lobed lateral petals, 
he, like Kunth, considers, each, two united, making four, which, added to the’above, completes 
the number. The rarity of the scale-like sepals and theix minuteness, when present, seems 
