NEILGHERRY PLANTS. var 
which it provides, as well as by the grateful and nutritious beverage (coffee,) which it 
supplies. “ 
Its predilections as regards temperature, are decidedly tropical, or subtropical ; not 
one species—excluding Stellate-—being, so far as I am aware, indigenous even in the South 
of Europe ; while within the tropics they are estimated to constitute 1-29th of the flowering 
plants. At this rate and assuming that on the higher ranges of these Hills there are 1000 
species of flowering plants, which I dare Say is near the truth, there should he 38 species of 
Rubiaceous plants. This, I think, is somewhat beyond the truth, though not much. 
This estimate though derived partly from assumed data, for Ihave never counted the 
number of species in my hill collections, is I believe very near the truth ; and tends to show 
that this climate partakes more of the tropical character than some of the examples previ- 
ously noticed would lead us to expect; and that, although an immense improvement on 
what we have onthe plains, we must still look upon it as tropical, and inferior to even the 
South of Europe, as a temperate region, unless it can be shown, that the temperature is 
modified in its effects on the constitution by the very rarified atmosphere, requiring a greater 
volume of air, by probably nearly ith, to be respired to yield the same quantity of oxygen 
to the circulation that would be obtained in a similar temperature on the level of the sea. 
This is not the place to consider what effect this difference may have in modifying health and 
disease, though it seems quite in place to advert to the circumstance in connection with facts 
deduced from a consideration of the natural products of the region. 
In a purely Botanical point of view, this is a most interesting family; being in some 
respects most heterogeneous in its composition, while in others it is one of the best market 
and most clearly defined, Composite perhaps excepted, in the system of plants. The ques- 
tion will naturally arise how can such a paradox be explained, 
It is clearly defined by its monopetalous corolla, inferior ovary, and opposite leaves 
with intermediate stipules. The last is, however, the most constant character, and the one 
by which only it is “ strictly limited.” We have other orders with monopetalous corollas, 
inferior ovaries and opposite leaves; but Cinchunacee alone, are these combined with inter- 
mediate stipules, which is in fact the essential character of the order, and in this respect it 
is most constant; ex-stipulate plants being almost uniformly rejected. It is on the other hand 
most heterogeneous in the structure of its ovary and fruit. One tribe Operculariee, has 
a one-celled, one-seeded fruit. Another Spermacocee has a dry 2 or 4-celled fruit, with one 
seed in each. Coffeacee has a berried 2-celled fruit, with 1 seed in each. In Pederiee the 
two carpels are suspended from the apex of a filiform axis, as in Umbellifere. Guettardacee 
has drupaceous fruit, with from 2 to 10 stones. In all these the cells of the fruit are one- 
seeded. In Hamdice the fruit has many cells, and the cells many seed. In Hedyotidee, the 
fruit are two-celled with many seed in each. In Gardeniacee, the fruit is one or two-celled 
indehiscent with numerous parietal seed, while in Cinchonee, it: is a 2-celled eapsule with 
numerous winged seed. 
All these tribes differing so widely in these most essential organs, the ovary, fruit and 
seed, are yet all bound together by means of the opposite leaves with intermediate stipules, 
The Stellate want that character, having in lieu of it, a whorl of leaves round the joints of 
the stem, on which account mainly, Lindley removes them from theorder, Caprifoliacee 
