4 ; NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
what abbreviated and the arrangement of their parts considerably modified. DeCandolle’s 
arrangement commences with the Capitulum followed by the Involucrum—Receptacle—- 
Corolla—Stamens—Acheenium (seed)—Pappus—and the natural character of the plant. 
The peculiarities of all these parts are more or less fully described in each character while 
in fact the really essential points, after the sectional ones, are usually derived from the 
capitulum, acheenium, and pappus. In this way many peculiarities not essential to the 
recognition of the genus, and liable to perplex the student, are admitted into the character, 
by which it is often greatly lengthened without obtaining any commensurate advantage. 
. To ayoid the perplexity which such a plan occasionally involves I have commenced mine 
with the capitulum, followed by the achenium and pappus as supplying the really essential 
points of the character. ‘These again are followed by the natural character or habit of the 
plant including the involucrum, receptacle and flowers. In this way no point of even 
minor importance is overlooked while marked prominence is given to those which are really 
essential. The generic characters adopted in this work are those of the synopsis with such 
additions as may from time to time seem desirable. 
TRIBE I.—Vernonracex. 
This tribe is for the most part recognised, at first sight, by its homely, I had 
almost said, weed-like aspect, the capitula being generally without ray or ornament of any 
kind, andthe flowers without brilliancy of colou¥ing. It now includes between 60 and 70 
genera six or eight of which have Indian representatives. ‘The flowers are tubular, equally 
5 cleft, with the longish deeply cleft style projecting from the throat, extending its long cylin- 
drical arms on either side. Of the Indian species, the colour is usually a, more or less deep, 
lilac hue. The pappus is generally rigid and seen under a magnifier rough. The recep- 
tacle is either alveolate or beset with bristles, the whole inclosed by a many scaled imbricated 
inyolucrum. 
Sobiche Vases capitula discoid homogamous. 
Diy. Euvernoniex —anthers ecaudate involucrum, not compressed,* polyphyllus. 
VERNONIA. 
Capitulum usually many flowered. Achenia with a cartilagenous callus at the base and a large epigy- 
nous disk. Pappus usually a double series, the interior one bristly much longer than the paleaceous outer one. 
Iferbs, shrubs, or trees: leaves alternate often glandulose : involucrum imbricated, interior squame longest : re- 
ceptacle naked or rarely fimbrillose : flowers few or many: corollaregular, 5 cleft, usually purple or rose colour- 
ed, filaments smooth. 
This genus is one of great extent 290 species being defined in the Sth volume of DeCandollis prodro- 
mus and, since the publication of that volume 10 years ago,so many species have been added that I imagine the 
number of published species now exceeds 350, upwards of 30 of which are natives of India. In America they 
are much more numerous but do not seemin either country to merit much considertion as I do not find any 
“notice taken of any of the species in works treating of the useful properties of plants. One Indian species 7 
anthelmintica is held in repute in this country as a remedy for worms, as the name implies, but I have never 
known it used though sufficiently common and easily procured. As ornamental plants they merit but little 
regard the one figured in this work being about the best looking of those found in this part of India and it 
must be confessed that, as seen growing, it has a very weed-like appearance little likely to obtain favour in the 
eyes of the lover of fine flowers. 
* Thi ie + + dott. rs 4 + +h, Aaivias ;} hieh th Sear? hat 4, 
