NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 63 
withstanding these discrepancies, I am still disposed to fear that I have erred in overlooking the many 
points of agreement when naming this species, which however may yet, on comparison, be found distinct. 
It is to be regretted that plants so curious, and at the same time so exceedingly beautiful, as many 
of them are, cannot be cultivated, owing to their peculiar mode of nutrition, Many of the tropical 
Orobanche@ are, as regards the flowers, plants of great beauty. The Christisonias are in this respect 
especially deserving of notice, the colours of their flowers being to the full as deep and bright as those of 
the deservedly much-prized Torenia asiatica, and could they only be cultivated, would doubtless become 
esteemed articles for prize competition. This, however, in the present imperfect state of our knowledge 
of their habits, seems next to an impossibility, but still as skill and perseverance have before often over- 
come apparent impossibilities, success, even in such an unpromising case as this, might be found to crown 
the attempt. I would therefore suggest for the consideration of the present skilful superintendent of the 
Ootacamund gardens, that he turn his attention to the subject, and having ascertained what plants they 
select as foster parents, introduce them and then sow the seed of Orobanchs among their roots. I can 
recollect when Orchids were considered the opprobrium of floriculture, and now every amateur cultivates 
them successfully ; might not the same happen in the case of the more showy of the Orobanchs. Loran- 
thee are easily propagated, all that is required being to stick, by means of its own viscin,a seed on the 
branch of a tree and there it takes root. The same may be the case with other parasites and thereby add 
a new feature to our hothouses. 
Curistisonia aurantiaca (R. W.), erect, sparing- abundant in the dense jungles surrounding Mr. 
E pa 
ly scaly, pil ales ovate, appressed, glabrous: Ouchterlony’s Coffee plantations. 
G) ymbose, long peduncled: peduncles bi n the former station it occurs in patches of a few 
bracteolate near the middle: calyx tubular, pilose, plants, but in in masses, covering se 
5-toothed, teeth mucronate: corolla tubular, exter- square feet. I could not make out the plant on which 
nally pilose ; limb about equally 5-lobed ; lobesround- it grew, or rather I should say it does not limit itself 
ed, spreading: stamens didynamous; sterile cell of to one species. It rises to the height of 6 or 8 inches, 
the anthers subulate, about twice the length of the the stems, bracts and bracteols of a dull brownish 
e st 
bent at the apex, stigma large, hairy, umbilicate. corolla dark yellow, limb bright yellow within. Alto- 
Neilgherries, among long grass by the road side gether it is a very conspicuous plant and one which 
leading from Nedawuttim to Goodaloor, also very I have not before met with. 
CYRTANDRACE. 
This is not properly a distinct order—although until recently it has always been 
viewed as such, and separately described in botanical works—but forms a section or sub- 
order of Gesneracea, a much older and better known family. That order is divided into 
two sub-orders, Gesneree: and Cyrtandree, the former being almost exclusively of Amer- 
ican origin, the latter Asiatic. It is on this latter account, added to the cireumstance of 
this sub-order having hitherto been always treated separately, that I keep up the name 
here, in preference to adopting the older but, as regards Indian botany, less known 
name. 
The plants composing this family are generally of considerable beauty, and in England 
many of them are cultivated, and most deservedly prized on that account. The one here 
given may be looked upon as a fair specimen of our Indian forms. They usually occur 
growing on moist rocks or in clefts of rocks which have become so far filled with vegetable 
soil, as to afford accommodation for their roots and ample moisture from the water trick- 
ling from above. I have occasionally met with patches of rock moistened by adjacent 
springs several square yards in extent, completely covered by the spreading leaves of nu- 
merous plants, from the centre of each of which rose one or more peduncles bearing a ter- 
minal cluster of flowers, similar to those here represented, and forming together a most 
gorgeous flower plot, such as, in an English garden, would attract universal eieaties and 
