9 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
eestivation valvate. Anthers usually cohering by the margins forming a tube round the 
style. Ovary 1 celled with a single erect ovule. Stigma usually 2 cleft. Numerous other 
particulars appertain to them, but these are the essential peculiarities of the order. They 
however, require to be taken together as each, viewed separately, may be found in other 
families but never all together. For example, many plants have capitate inflorescence 
and some haye their florets bound by an involucrum asin true Composite and even a 
pappus calyx, as Dipsacee, but they want the venation of the corolla and its valvate zstiva- 
tion, the usually cohering anthers and erect ovules. obeliacew have cohering anthers 
but differ in every thing else. Many families have valvate estivation of the corolla but 
are deficient in other characteristics. Solitary erect ovules are also met with but uncom- 
bined with the other marks. It thence follows that this is usually a very distinct and easily 
recognised family not liable to be mistaken for any other. 
In Geographical distribution its predilections are in respect to temperature, very 
decidedly temperate, comparatively few being found within the tropics, though they abound 
in the warmer latitudes just beyond. The Indian Flora is estimated to include about ‘700 
species for all India. The Neilgherries alone have nearly 100, while the plains from Cape 
Comorin to Ganjam can scarcely furnish an equal number and many of these, being drawn 
from the vegetation of the lower ranges of hills, belong to the Subalpine rather than 
Champaign Flora. A family embracing so many species, must almost necessarily furnish 
many plants both highly ornamental and useful toman. Cur flower gardens abound with 
the former, including Chrysanthemums, Zinneas, Everlastings, Asters, Sunflowers, Coriopsids 
and a thousand others, but especially the magnificent Dahlia which takes unquestioned pre- 
cedence of all others; the finer varieties of which can scarcely be excelled, when well 
cultivated, for richness of colouring and ornamental effect in the well disposed parterre. The 
number of species which it contributes to the economical purposes of man is scarcely less 
considerable. The common garden Lettuce and Endive are among the best known of these, 
but the Artichoke, Cardoon, Jerusalem Artichoke, Salsafy, &c. &c., are.all much cultivated 
as esculents. The flowers of some yield pigments : the seed oils of fine quality. A vast 
number are used in medicine for the cure or alleviation of numerous diseases, and among 
them a very few only are known to be possessed of acrid or virulent properties, of these 
Arnica montana, a Swiss plant, known in English gardens under the name of Mountain 
‘Tobacco, is the most conspicuous. Many are intensely bitter combined with aromatic 
properties, hence, possessing tonic and febrifuge virtues. Buton these it would be out of 
place to dwell in this work. 
Various arrangements have been proposed to facilitate the investigation of species 
of this most natural family of plants, hitherto with but indifferent success. I shall here 
confine myself to a brief explanation of the last, that of the lamented DeCandolle, as being 
the one according to which the few species introduced into this work are distributed. He 
divides the whole family into three primary groups or classes. 
Ist. TuBULIFLOR» having the bisexual or hermaphrodite flowers tubular. Those 
of the ray, when present, are usually female and to that extent imperfect and abnormal. 
