1903.] D. Prain— Notes on Sundribun. 107 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Notes on Sundribun Plants. — By D. Prain. 



The writer has recently published a paper (Records, Bot. Survey of 

 India, vol. ii. n. 4) dealing with the Flora of the Sundribuns. He had 

 occasion there to call attention to the fact that a number of species 

 have been recorded from this region in Roxburgh's Hortus Bengalensis, 

 published in 1814, and that a few of the species there mentioned have 

 not been collected in the area since Roxburgh's time. The specimens 

 themselves that would have verified Roxburgh's statements were re- 

 moved from Calcutta in 1828 and are now entirely lost to India. Those, 

 however, who have to follow Roxburgh's published work are so struck 

 by the closeness and accuracy of his observations that, when he makes a 

 definite statement, they accept its correctness in the face of any amount 

 of negative evidence. 



The species that are recorded from the Sundribuns by Roxburgh, 

 for which the record had been unverified by subsequently collected 

 specimens when the writer's paper went to press hardly a year ago, were 

 Flemingia congesta, Mezoneuron cucullatum, Bruguiera parvijlora, Arthro- 

 cnemun indicum, Salicornia brachiata, Dendrobium Pierardi and Pteris 

 vittata. Since the paper was sent to the printer, a native collector, who 

 had been sent to obtain seeds of various Sundribun species, has brought 

 in specimens of Salicornia brachiata, which he found in abundance not 

 far from Matla (Canning Town). And immediately after the publication 

 of the paper the writer received from a careful observer, Mr. J. Lancaster, 

 Secretary to the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, an 

 interesting note regarding Dendrobium Pierardi, which is worthy of being 

 recorded. 



' In June 1896, Mr. Lancaster, being unwell, was sent for a fort- 

 night's change of air by Sir C. C. Stevens, then President of the 

 Society, and through the kindness of Capt. Petley was enabled to join 

 the " Tigris " which was proceeding to stock the Refuge-Houses along 

 the seaface of the Sundribuns. 



The steamer went direct to the most distant Refuge-House, two 

 days' journey east of the Matla. While running down the lane of water 

 leading to the house the boat took the ground, a not unusual accident 

 at the sharp turn known as the Devil's Elbow. 



The delay consequent on this was taken advantage of by Mr. Lan- 

 caster to examine through a glass the islands east and west of the posi- 

 tion. Detecting to the east, on Bangadhony Island, a tree rather taller 

 than usual with a forked stem and apparently a clump of orchids in the 

 fork, Mr. Lancaster accompanied by Mr. Hogg, late of the Calcutta Police, 

 proceeded to this tree, and climbing its gnarled and twisted trunk, 



