64 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
doubtless some degree of envy. In addition to these stemless forms, the Neilgherries 
furnish another genus ( Zschynanthus) belonging to this family of scandent epiphetical 
plants, they are shrubby and cling to trees by little side roots like ivy, when in perfection 
produce abundance of tubular scarlet flowers which are very handsome. In gardens hay- 
ing old trees on which to train them, I should think they would well repay the trouble of 
culture and training. 
It is not easy to assign any external marks by which this family may be distinguished 
from Scrophulariacee, an order agreeing in having similarly irregular flowers, didynamous 
stamens, superior ovary, and in the predominance of herbaceous habit. The Botanist 
accustomed to minute investigations can, for the most part, easily distinguish them by 
merely examining a section of the ovary or young capsule, which, in Scrophulariacea, is 
2-celled with the ovules in the centre, while in this it is one-celled, with the ovules on 
processes, more or less elevated, projecting from the sides, or, in the language of the science, 
on the inflexed margins of the carpels, meaning thereby that the capsule is composed of 2 
leaves, modified to adapt them for that particular purpose, which are placed face to face 
with the margins turned in and somewhat thickened to form the placenta on which the 
ovules and seed are borne. This structure is clearly exhibited in two transverse sections 
in the plate; one shows the ovary and ovules, the other the capsule after it has burst and 
shed the seed. A similar structure exists, though less clearly shown in the Orobanchs. A 
reference to Scrophulariacee will at once show the difference. The seed supplies another 
distinction, but on account of their small size not easily made out, and unfortunately not 
shown in the figure of Didymocarpus. In this sub-order, when the shell of the seed is 
removed, the 2 two seed-lobes come into view, that is, they are not enclosed in albumen, 
while in Scrophulariacee the bulk of the seed is made up of that substance, as shown in the 
figure of Pedicularis. This is often a most important distinction but less so in the order 
Gesneracee than some others, the seed in many of the genera having albumen, while in 
others, as for example, the whole tribe of Cyrtandree, it is wanting. The seed of Aschy- 
nanthus are peculiar, in so far as they are supported on a long very slender thread or podas- 
perm, and are terminated by one or more similar prolongations from the apex. The cap- 
sules are also unusual in their great length and mode of opening ; and in one genus, Strep- 
tocarpus, in being twisted like a piece of tape spirally rolled round a stick. Another 
genus, E:pithema, which I found far up the ravine at Burlear, is even more curious. It 
has two large placenta rising from the base of the capsule, each bearing on the apex, nu- 
merous pedicelled oval spirally-twisted seed. In Jerdonia, the ovary differs from all the 
rest of the order, in having 4 parietal placente. Figures of all these forms are given in my 
Illustrations. So far as I have seen, the plants of this order are generally alpine, pre- 
ferring localities exposed to the influence of the south-west monsoon, where they enjoy 
during their flowering season a moist climate, as well as abundance of moisture about 
their roots. Eschynanthus is the only exception to the latter selection, for it seeks the 
support of trees, but there too, it enjoys the benefit of moisture to the roots, through 
the medium of what is retained jn the rough bark to which it clings. Cyrtandracee 
are numerous in Ceylon, and the Eastern Islands, also in Assam. In the Peninsula they 
are less frequent. 
fam not aware of any use to which any of the species are applied, but many of 
them are esteemed as ornaments in the stove and conservatory. 
