NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 87 
distiact, but aided by this character, which is shown in Rheede’s plate, I can have no hesitation in adopt- 
ing Sir William’s name, and accordingly request that the name on the plate be changed from G. arborea, 
Roxb., to G. Rheedii, Hooker. 
In transcribing the generic character from Schauer, I have taken the liberty of making some alterations- 
I have introduced into mine the estivation of the corolla, not alluded to by him. Again I have allowed it 
a 4- or 5-lobed bilabiate limb, and in place of “seed erect” have said “seed pendulous, radicle inferior” 
which they really are, being attached to the apex of the cell. I do not understand the principle on which 
he allows pendulous ovules and erect seed, the attachment of both being the same, unless it be on the 
theoretical one, that an inferior radicle constitutes an erect seed, however attached. If this is the view 
on which that mode of expression rests, it seems an erroneous one, as in description facts, not theories, 
ought to be given, and therefore “radicle inferior” would have been better, as stating clearly what is the 
case, whereas to call a seed erect which is evidently pendulous, unless guarded by previous explanation, 
must tend to mislead. 
Gmeuina Rueepu (Hooxer. G. arborea Roxb. he figures and describes as identical with Rheede’s 
R. W. Ic. No. 1470) arboreous, unarmed, ramuli Hort. Mal. 1 tab. 41, but as having no affinity with 
mentose, axillary and terminal raceme-like ; cymules views, but on comparing my specimens with Rox- 
decussate, trichotomous, few-flowered : bracts lanceo- burgh’s description, can see no reason to doubt their 
late, deciduous: the acutely dentate calyx, eglan- ba. to the same species, thor re be con- 
dulose. si 
A small tree, not unfrequent in oe aga: of oxburgh’s plant, as shown in 
jungles, and generally distributed in Malabar. J 1 
opus iniwitig as ets from a specimen obtained have specific value attached, if the other characters 
near Coonoor on the Neilgherries, and seems to cor- correspond, the more so, as I among my speci- 
Hooker has made a new species, under the name of species, and thence that such slight di \ 
G. Rheedii, of what I suspect can at best be viewed outline of the foliage can scarcely be admitted as o 
as a variety of this species, that is, he views the plant _ itself affording a sufficient specific 
LABIATAE. 
This, after Composite and Leguminosz, is the largest order of dicotyledonous plants, 
including upwards of 2500 species, and is to the full as natural as the former. Such 
being the case, its distinctive characters are few and very explicit. In the words of 
Mr. Bentham, its great Historian, “The order of Labiate is one of the most natural 
and distinctly-marked of all. The opposite leaves, monopetalous corolla, 2 or 4 stamina, 
and the free 4-lobed ovarium ; are characters so easily observed and so constantly accom- 
panying the general habit of the whole series, that, from the time of Linneeus to the pre- 
sent day but two or three genera have been improperly associated with or separated from 
it.” He adds, “ its immediate affinities are but few.” So truly is this the case that it 
may almost be said to be isolated and stand apart from all the orders of its class. Those 
to which it most nearly approaches are Verbenacee and Borraginee, but still it can 
scarcely be confounded with either. One genus only, consisting of a single species, seems 
to fluctuate between this and Verbenacee and, that owing rather to the plant being imper- 
fectly known (from want of perfect seed), than to the difficulty of drawing the line 
between well-known plants. In a linear series this order unquestionably vdeesbel wes oieryas end, 
for, while Verbenacee may perhaps be said to pass into it through Holmskioldia, it passes 
into no other. In some respects, Borraginee are allied, but in all others they are amply 
distinct. 
