ILTUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 107 
dromus, I have I acknowledge, found both wild limes and oranges in the course of my botaniz- 
ings, but unfortunately did not devote, at the time, that degree of attention to their examina- 
tion, relative to the solution of the question of species and varieties of this complex genus, 
which f ought to have done, and my specimens do not now enable me to do so. Mr. Royle is 
of opinion that Dr. Buchannan Hamilton,whose views we adopted, is wrong in considering all the 
Indian forms varieties*only, of one species. I extract his paragraph on the subject as being the 
most satisfactory method of stating his opinion. See his Illustrations page 129. 
“« So great a diversity of opinion being .entertained respecting the different plants of the 
genus Citrus, whether they should constitute species or varieties, it becomes difficult to say 
what are such, if only seen in a,state of cultivation; but as some are still found wild, an opinion 
may be formed, at least respecting those. In the tract of forest so frequently alluded to, as 
well as in the valleys within the Himalaya, I have seen.two plants growing apparently wild, one 
called bijouree, and the other biharee nimboo ; the first having the characteristics of the citron, 
and the other, called also puharee kaguzee, those of the lemon; both when transferred to 
gardens retain their peculiar characters. From the Rungpore forests a round kind of lime is 
obtained : in those of Silhet, and as it is stated also on the sides of the Neelgherries, the orange 
is found wild. Captain Turner describes the oranges as delicious, and Mr. Saunders, who 
accompanied him, mentions finding many orange and lime trees at the foot of the hills in ap- 
proaching Buxedwar (v. Turner’s Tivet; p. 20 and p. 387). Citras decumanus Shaddock or 
Pompelmoses, does not appear indigenous to India, as its name, batavi nimboo or Batavia lime, 
denotes, as remarked by Dr. Roxburgh, its being an exotic; and as it retains its characteristics 
even where it does not succeed as a fruit, it may also be reckoned a distinct species. I there- 
fore feel inclined to consider as distinct species, the orange, lemon, lime, citron, and*shaddock, 
without being able to say whether the sweet kinds should be considered varieties of the acid, or 
ranked as distinct species.” 
That both oranges and limes are found in an apparently wild state in our alpine jungles, is 
most certain, and it is equally certain that in other, not cultivated, genera, less obvious differences 
than the fruit, of these plants presents would be esteemed conclusive evidence of their being 
specifically distinct, whence, I have no intention of calling in question the opinion advanced in 
the above quotation, my only regret now being, that I did not give the subject more of my at- 
tion when [| had better opportunities of determining the point. 
_ The following detailed generic character of Micromelum is taken from Blume’s Bijdragen, 
vol. Ist. page 137. ; 
Micrometum Biume.—Calyx urceolate, entire, persistent, petals 5, linear spreading. Sta- 
mens 10, free: filaments subulate, alternately shorter: anthers roundish, didymous. Ovar 
5-celled, cells 2 seeded, (superposed) style thick, stigma obtuse, berry dry, lamellated within, 
with 5 intorted (spirally twisted) papery dissepiments. Testa of the seed, (spermodermis) 
membranaceous. Cotyledons, foliaceous, twisted. 
A tree with unequally pinnated leaves, alternate, oblique, leaflets, and terminal corymbs. 
One species only was known to Blume, namely, J. pubescens having from 7 to 9 ovate, 
obtuse, acuminate, leaflets, the under side of which with the young shoots and corymbs are 
much more important point, to which, when naming it, I did not sufficiently advert in 
