NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 65 
DIDYMOCARPUS. 
Calyx 5-cleft or 5-parted. Corolla funnel-shaped, or sub-campanulate ; limb 5-lobed, somewhat irreg- 
ular, rarely 2-lipped. Stamens 4, of which 2, rarely 4, are antheriferous; anthers reniform. Ovary elong- 
ated; style short; stigma orbicular, undivided, often oblique. Capsule siliqueform, 2-valved; valves intro- 
flexed; seeds naked, pendulous, smooth. Under shrubs or herbs; caulescent or stemless. Leaves radical 
or cauline, alternate or often opposite, unequal. Peduncles axillary, ramous, or dichotomously cymose- 
Flower blue, red, or violet-coloured, or white. The limb is often deeply coloured while the tube is 
nearly colourless. 
Of this very pretty genus De Candolle defines 24 species, but very many more remain to be admitted 
into our botanical catalogues. Judging from what I possess, contributed by the late Mr. Griffith from his 
Khassya and Malacca collections, it is my impression that the next revision of the genus will at least double 
the number. In the Indian Peninsula, so far as I have myself seen, the number is small, four or five, but 
Ihave not had opportunities of examining those parts where they are most likely to abound, namely, the 
Western Ghauts. All that Ihave found belong to the acauline section, the Malacca and Khassyan ones 
are principally referable to the cauline. The Ceylon ones, described by the late Mr. Gardner, are acauline 
and very like the Continental ones; one has procumbent branches. 
The specimen, from which the drawing here given was taken, I found on moist rocks near the bottom 
of the water fall at Kartairy, flowering in February. I have since had numerous specimens brought to me 
from the hills near Coimbatore; and I saw it in great abundance on the Anamullies in August, but all past 
flower, though in other respects most luxuriant. I am unable to say how far it may be possible to cultivate 
a plant requiring a climate and soil so peculiar, but if it can be done successfully, it is well deserving 
of that distinction. Some of its congeners are established favourites in England where they succeed well 
in hothouses. 
Dipymocarrus tomentosa (R. W.), leaves obo- cylindrical, about 14 inch long, pointed, i split- 
vato-spathulate, doubly crenate, reticulately dull whit- ing along one side only.—Flowers luish purple, — 
ish tomentose above, densely ferrugeneo-tomentose Alpine situations, forming dense patches in mois 
or woolly beneath: scapes erect, dichotomously clefts of rocks, X&c. The specimen figured was arwtte 
ruary. 
lobes linear obtuse, clothed with glandular hairs: have since received many specimens from hil 
Coimbatore, and have often met with it in 
fertile stamens shorter than the tube: ovary about similar situations. 
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ACANTHACE. 
This is a large and interesting order, very abundant on these Hills. Among its spe- 
cies we find humble herbs, nestling among the grass, low growing under shrubs, exten- 
sive twiners, and large shrubs, but I never yet met with a species which could properly be 
said to aspire to the dignity of atree. In its distribution it is equally varied ; some we 
find inhabiting salt marshes within low-water mark, others on the plains and sands of the 
sea-shore on the level of the sea, and others occupying the tops of the highest mountains. 
Among the latter, we find large shrubs gifted with the curious habit of only flowering once 
in several years. But when they flower they do so in the greatest profusion. Several of 
the Neilgherry ones belong to that class, hence 1 was several years engaged in occasional 
explorations of the Flora of the Hills before I could make myself acquainted with some 
of those flowering at long intervals. 
The order is a very natural one, so much so that, when a few species have become 
so well known as to be easily recognized, the rest are readily distinguished simply by 
habit or family likeness. In nearly all, the leaves are opposite, and ig stems thickened 
