ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 37 
have never seen it used, nor indeed have ever seen the medicine, but Mr. Malcolmson seems to 
think it preferable to the liniments in general use, among us, for most cases requiring that kind 
their clustered flowers, and the richly colored wings of their curious fruit. Both the opea, 
and Vatica Tumbugia (see Icones) are found in the vicinity of Madras, and might, I presume, be 
easily introduced into our gardens, where I have no doubt they would be much admired. 
Whether the Piney from Malabar would equally succeed is doubtful, but it is well deserving of 
a trial, since itis scarcely exceeded in beauty by any other tree. 
d 
generally agree so nearly in their distinctive characters that one is almost led to doubt whether they 
ought all to be retained. Dr. Lindley enumerates five, four of which are Indian. These may 
_be thus distinguished. In Vateria, all the sepals more or less enlarge with the fruit, but do not 
form membranous wing-like appendages. In Hopea and Dipterocarpus, two of the sepals 
enlarge. and become dry scariose wings: the former is further distinguished by having 10 
compressed filaments adhering to the base of the corolla and 15 short anthers, each alternate 
filament bearing two anthers, to which may be added as supplementary characters, the nearly 
sessile secund small flowers, greatly twisted estivation, and union, at the base, of the petals : 
the latter, by having fewer and larger flowers, slightly twisted estivation, and numerous 
filaments, each bearing a single elongated anther. In Vatica Lin. (Shorea of Roxb. and 
others) all the sepals, more or less enlarge, and become wing-shaped ; the stamens vary much 
in number, but are generally numerous. Dr. Arnott and I remark (W. and A. Prod.) 
that Vateria lanceefolia Roxb. “ ought perhaps to form a distinct genus,” since then I have 
received specimens of a very nearly allied species (V. Roxburgii R. W. Icones, No. 26) 
a native of the Peninsula. From an examination of this plant I still feel disposed to adopt the 
opinion then expressed, as there are points of difference, I think, of sufficient weight to separate 
them, but on the other hand a slight modification of the generic character saffices to keep them 
together, and as they essentially agree in the character of the calyx, both when in flower and in 
fruit, and that being the organ from which the generic distinctions of the order are principallly 
derived, | prefer leaving them in the genus, but forming for their more easy accommodation a 
subgenus; a plan, in which I was happy to find myself anticipated|by Dr Arnott, from whom, I 
received while this was passing through the press, a synopsis of the genus so arranged. J’, 
ceylanica which I have added is exactly intermediate between his two subgenera, having the 
elongated style and acute stigma of the one, and the stamens and axillary inflorescence of the 
other. The fruit I have not seen, and the flowers not being full blown in the only specimen I 
have examined, it is too imperfect to enable me to determine the point, but I think it probable 
the species will, when better known, form the type of a third subgenus. : 
[ mentioned above that Vateria indica was probably a native of Mysore. This opinion 
rests on some well executed drawings and specimens communicated by Mr. Apothecary Bertie* 
* I am indebted to Bertie for several very well executed drawings of plants and trust that my expectations of receiving many 
ori oi not be disappointed. An accompiishment so rare among the members of kis branch of the service merits public com- 
endation, 
