NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 63 
203, defines his “ Alliance Passionales,” “ Flowers with a ring or coronet of sterile stamens,” 
a view which my present examination does not enable me to adopt.* 
This discussion is introduced to show how gradual the transition of parts sometimes is, 
and that in such cases much discrimination is required to enable the i investigator of natural 
objects, to call parts by their right names. 
Regarding the properties of the family almost nothing seems to be known. The fruit 
of some is edible and is said to be “ fragrant, juicy, cooling and pleasant.” 
- PASSIFLORA PASSION FLOWER. | 
Flowers bisexaul. Calyx-tube very short. Corona composed of numerous filamentsin several rows. 
Anthers reflexed. Berry stalked, usually pulpy, rarely somewhat membranaceous.—W. and A. Prod. p. 352. 
This genus as already remarked, is one of great extent, though so sparingly found in India. The species 
are either herbaceous annuals or climbing shrubs, admirably adapted for arbours, as well on account of their 
rapidity of growth, as on account of the profusionand splendor of their flowers, whence it is with great jus- 
tice said, “‘ Passion flowers are the pride of South America and the West Indies, where the woods are filled 
with their species, which climb about from tree to tree, bearing at one time flowers of the most striking beauty, 
and of so singular an appearance, that the zealous Catholics who discovered them, adapted Christian traditions 
to those inhabitants of the South American Wilderness : and at other times fruit, tempting to the eye and re- 
freshing to the palate.”—Lindley. The Indian plant cannot compete in richness of colouring, with those 
forest jems of the Western World, but still it does not merit the total neglect with which it is treated by the 
European sojourners on these Hills. I therefore hope this notice, by directing attention to the fact of our 
having a native Passion flower“among us, willalso have the effect of bringing it into vogue. 
Pas oRA LEsScHENAULTI (DC. ) climbing: Kotagherry, Coonoor, the Avalanche, &c. e flow- 
laavee’ Scifcorbtinta?, rounded at the base, somewhat ers are small com mpared to some of — finer especies, 
truncated and 3-cuspidate at the — pubescent on but larger than several I int e seen cultivation, and 
the under side, but particularly so o the nerves, Fits: much tho ought of too ; the colours sbeeigh to t bright 
out glands : pon oles with two glands ae “scams id- are yet so vividas to bear close inspection ioagh little 
dle: tendrils simple : peduncles i s from the conspicuous at a ates: a kind of modesty which [ 
same axils as the tend ils, sicaple, “lowered isles apprehend as tended to keep them in the back ground 
without an involucre ; petals 5.—DC. . 3. p. 326; is all seasons, but most 
= 3 Wight F cat. n. ibe: —Neil- abundantly during the rainy ones. I have not heard 
gherries.— W. a he frui sitet been tried, nor have I ever had the 
‘ A. Prod. p. 3 of t it 
te ei r common tates climbing shrub, curiosity to taste yenal ai oe is about the size of a 
wing in pigeon’s 8B sierpie when rj 
Sianaly ued in greater perfection at the lower levels of 
XXXI.—CRASSULACE TRIBE. 
This is a family of succulent “plants, of which a good many are natives of Europe, but 
many more of the Cape of Good Hope, where succulent plants ofall kinds are most abun- 
dant. In Indiathey are so very rare, that our peninsular Flora only includes 5 species, 
* When sheet was passing through the press I received some unpu blished papers of the late Mr. Griffith, who has 
most betas Meseatod eid delin neat ted the progressive a ee oft the flower of P. Xermesina, from its earliest stages, 
and concludes xamination, that he coronal p either metamorphos ed p rege nor stam: wee e eed 
““ the processes or cilia ght: ulterior, mpi sap nor “the ce “of the calyx) a Pingel until the iomrleosager 
being coated, andthe anthers so far as to t pa cells. is 
of late ogg the sepals being h » the 
he pistillum a three lobed disc before ‘ated signs of proc soisiek 
