214 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY, 
prefer leaving the question as I find it, and follow the track we originally pursued, that . 
keeping them separate. ; 
Groeraraicat Distrisution. Of the whole order only 22 species are described by 
DeCandolle, about 15 of which are natives of India or of the adjoining Islands, one or two are 
from Africa, and to these I believe some have since been added: I do not know how many, It — 
is clear however from the great preponderance of Indian species, that this country may be _ 
viewed as the head quarters of the order. Mouriria, a genus so nearly allied to Memecylon that 
it may be questioned whether it can be kept distinct, is of American origin. a 
H 
Prorertizs anp Uses. Of these little is known. 
and M, edule, Roxb. are used in dying, and afford unde 
yellow lake, but I have not heard whether the colour j 
them are pulpy and have an astringent sweetish taste, 
The leaves of Memecylon tinctorium = 
¥ proper management a very delicate — 
$ permanent. ‘The berries of most of a 
% 
m, unless we attach considerable value to its geogra- : 
f characters derived from structure is scarcely admis- — 
cies th re, as they now stand recorded in Botanical works, most i 
difficult of discrimination, so much so indeed, that with a collection of upwards of. 100 specl- 
rm of inflorescence < 
mens above alluded to I find re 
tabs. 30 and 31 by Rheede, Hort, 
b 
ieties. . poe can make out only two species, perha 
they are mere varieties, M. ramiflorum and tinctorinn (I believe them the same plant) seems : 
vate leaves, while J. edule has a succulent betty 
g with M. edule and capitellatum wht 18 smooth or nearly so within, while in t 
partitions, forming so m 
eae 
cles are less difficult, 
