4s '  NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
This can be shown in another way, thus. The Curvembriate section, according to 
DeCandolle’s enumeration contains about 2,604 species. Of these 910 are natives of the 
equivoctial zone, and 1,277 of the northern hemisphere beyond the tropic, the remaining 
417 of the southern. The Rectembrie amount to 829, of these 692 are tropical, 35 are na- 
tives of the northern hemisphere beyond the tropics, the remaining 102 belong to the 
southern hemisphere where the Mimosee greatly abound. These examples show that the 
Rectembrie are comparatively tropical in their distribution while the Curvembrie have a 
more marked extra-tropical tendency: This fact is curiously confirmed by what we find on 
the Hills. Here, so far as Tcan at present recollect, only three or four native species of 
Rectembriz are found, and even one of those a doubtful native, while the Curvembrie 
abound. On the slopes and near the bottom of the Hills the Rectembrie attain their usual 
tropical proportion. These are interesting facts in regard to Botanical Geography. 
In their affinities Leguminose approach most nearly to Rosacee so nearly indeed, that 
when the extreme forms of each family are compared, but one constant distinguishing mark 
is found by which to separate them, and that derived from the flower. In Leguminose. two 
sepals and one petal, the odd one, are next the axis or branch on which it grows: in Rosacee 
one sepal, the odd one, and two petals are next the axis. This is invariable ! 
It may, and with much reason, be asked what possible relationship can exist between a 
pea pod and a cherry or peach, or in other words between a legume and a drupe or apple, the 
former the fruit of a Leguminous plant, the latter of a Rosaceous one. Strange as it may 
appear, the relationship is much closer than could at first sight be suspected. A pea shell is 
composed of a soft tender outside skin lined witha dense tough parchment like membrane 
which can be easily peeled off. A cherry or peach in like manner has a soft pulpy outside, 
lined with a hard bony shell forming the stone, which contains the kernel. The pulp and 
stone correspond therefore with the two parts of the pea shell and the kernel with the pea. 
And there are one and two seeded pods, as well as one and two kernelled drupes. Here then 
we find the same parts in both, only differing in texture. And when the comparison is car- 
ried further we find in some genera succulent pods on the one hand and less pulpy drupes on 
the other, until the two actually meet in Ditarium, a leguminous genus with drupaceous 
pods, which, but for the floral character, must have been referred to Rosacee. In the apple 
and pear too we find the cells of the fruit lined with parchment-like membrane the same as the 
pod and covered like it with a fleshy outside only more abundant: an apple then or pear is 
simply a congeries of 5 pods ranged round an axis enveloped in a common pulp and enclosed 
in a single enlarged and adherent calyx. Leguminose have relationships with many other 
orders but none so near or so striking as with Rosacee. — 
° 
SOPHORA. 
Calyx 5-toothed, campanulate, or somewhat attenuated at the base. Petals of the keel usually combined 
at their apex. Legume moniliform, not winged, several seeded.—Trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants. 
Leaves irregularly pinnated, often without stipules. Racemes terminal, simple or panicled. —W. and A. Prod. 
p. 179. 
This is a widely diffused genus though as yet only 17 species are described. Siberia, Nepaul, China, 
Neilgherries, Ceylon, Havanah, Brazil and Peru, have each one or more species, The one here given is the 
