NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 69 
other genera. In Ceylon there is a species of fig that so perfectly associates in habit with 
Ivy, that any person not knowing the difference would almost suppose, on seeing a wall or 
trunk ofa venerable tree covered with it, that he was looking on genuine Ivy. 
The difference between that Ivy-like Fig and our stately Banyan tree, is therefore 
greater than that between the European and Hill Ivies; for even the most arboreous forms 
of the Hill lvy when growing along side of another tree or cleft of rock, have a tendency to 
seek support from it. Both the trees here delineated show that disposition. 
This is a widely diffused family, and in proportion to the number of species, India has 
perhaps the largest proportion, there being about 60 Indian species out cf about 200, the 
remainder being distributed over China, the Eastern Islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, 
America and Europe. Of that number the Neilgherries furnish a list of no fewer than 
8 species, (exclusive of one reduced,) with which I am acquainted, and probably more may yet 
be found when more carefully explored. Allthese I refer to the genus Hedera, not think- 
ing the genus Paratropia, D. C. under which part of them are described in our Prodromus, 
sufficiently distinguished. They are all more or less arboreous, the wood in all is soft, 
brittle and very juicy, the juice having a peculiar terebenthine odour when first exuded. 
The leaves in all are compound pinnate or palmated. The flowers in umbels, the fruit 
baccate, generally small, about the size of peas. 
The nearest relations of this order are evidently Umbellifere and Ampelidee, but both 
so widely separated that there seems little chance of any of them being confounded, though — 
all agreeing in some important points. 
Regarding properties little can be said, none of those on the Hills so far as I have yet 
heard, are turned to any useful account; but the Chinese Gensing, a medicine in prodigious 
repute among the Celestials, is obtained from a plant of this ‘family. Its medicinal proper- 
ties are perhaps somewhat exaggerated among them, but must have some foundation in 
truth, otherwise it never could have acquired and maintained the high esteem in which it is 
held by them. 
HEDERA. Ivy. 
Margin of the calyx elevated or toothed. Petals 5-10, distinct, or cohering at the apex, and falling off 
like a calyptra. Stamens 5-10. Styles as many as the petals rarely only 4, converging or combined into 1. 
- Berry with as many cells as there are styles.—Climbing or erect shrubs, or trees, Leaves simple or com- 
pound. Flowers umbelled or capitate—W. and A. Prod. p. 376. 
Between this genus and Paratropia, and some others of this family, I can see no difference in the organs 
of fructification, the real distinction being one of habit. In both the leaves are compound, but in Hedera they 
are pinnate, in Paratropia digitate. This difference in my estimation not forming a generic distinction, I have 
no hesitation in uniting them. According to that difference both the species here represented are Paratropias, 
and the name haring been already established, I shall so far keep it up as to employ it as a sectional distinc- 
tion. All the Hill species I have seen are arboreous ; one, H. racemosa, attains a large size, the others are for 
the most part ramous from the base, and partake more of the character of large shrubs than trees. HH. obovate 
frequents somewhat lower levels, such as about Coonoor. HH. racemosa is met with in the woods about Oota- 
camund, but sparingly. 
In our Prodromus it is remarked that Paratropia appears a natural genus, having the leaves digitate 
and umbels of flowers arranged in racemes forming thyrses, &c., being now impressed with conviction that, so 
