58 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
‘® This is the only Indian species of this large genus, so far as yet known, which extends so far south. 
As seen nestling among the herbage on the Neilgherries, on the grassy pastures of almost every part of 
which, above 6000 feet of elevation, it occurs, it is a beautiful object, expanding its small, but bright blue 
flowers during sunshine, nearly all the year round. Though generally a favourite, with those fond of flowers, 
but few if any attempts have been made to improve it by cultivation, and in its natural state it seems too 
common and inconspicuous an object to attract much attention, or lead to its introduction into gardens, I 
cannot, however, divest myself of the opinion, that with care it might be much improved, as regards the 
size of the flowers, and nothing can be richer than the deep blue of the corolla, 
GenTiana PepiceLLaTa (Wall.), stem loosely § Neilgherries, frequent in pastures flowering at all 
ramous, glabrous: leaves elliptico-lanceolate, the seasons. The bright blue flowers render this a con- 
roader ones aristate at the apex, smooth on the spicuous plant even though the foliage can scarcely 
margins, the lowest ones rosulate: flowers pedicel- be distinguished from the surrounding herbage. It 
ed: calyx campanulate 5-cleft, lobes ovate cuspi- se wide geographical range, extending 
date, recurved at the apex, shorter than the clavate on alpine ranges from the Himalayas to Ceylon. 
tube of the corolla: cor blue, the tube furnish- h ow gathered it on the Neilgherries, Pulney 
ed with 5 projecting, triangular, acutely mucronate Mountains and Neuera Ellia in Ceylon. I think it is 
lobes: plicae emarginate: capsule obovate, rounded also found on the higher hills in Coorg and Mysore. 
at the apex. 
OPHELIA. 
Calyx 4-5-parted, segments united at the base, valyate. Corolla marcescent (withering on the stalk), 
rotate 4-5-parted, destitute of folds or crown; furnished with pits or glands above the base, either naked, 
or oftener covered with a fimbriated scale. ns 4-5, inserted on the throat of the short tube ; filaments 
sometimes united at the base, monadelphous, sometimes equal and free ; anthers incumbent, nodding or 
erect, often greenish. Ovary one-celled; ovules numerous, inserted on the sutures ; stigmas two, short, 
often revolute; style wanting or short. Capsule 2-valved, one-celled, spliting along the suture); placentas 
either spongy, sutural, or expansions on either side, near the suture. Seed immersed in the placentas, very 
small, wingless, Herbaceous annuals or perennials, erect, Tamous, panicled, Leaves opposite, terminal, 
cymes umbel-like, 
16 are natives of India, wie is from China, and one from Australia. The genus was first separated 
compressed and more or less winged. Grisebach has in his characters of the genera suppressed these 
{Don’s) distinguishing marks, whether correctly or not, Tam unable to say, but so far as I am able to make 
out from a comparison of his own written characters, there is actually no difference between the two 
genera; and, even supposing Don’s distinctions constant, I am scarcely prepared to accord to them generic 
value, in Opposition to identity of habit and structure in every other part of the plant. Could geogra- 
genus as constituted by Grisebach, simply because all the Neilgherry ones are referred to it, thereby, so 
far as our flora is concerned, removing all difficulty. 
In its geographical distribution, all the Indian species inhabit elevated mountain ranges, and flower 
during the coolest season of the year. Those of the Neilgherries grow on the grassy slopes and about 
the outskirts of woods, generally on moist soils and mostly flower during the rainy season. course 
they are met with at other times, but attain their greatest perfection during the autumnal months. Like 
* Since this was written I learn from Walter Elli ot . : : sable 
stitute for Creyat (Justicia paniculata). Milos, Hea. of one st least:being used in the Northern Cirears as’ 
