ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 77 



very common every where, but it is ouly in the sandy soils near the sea coast, where the roots 

 penetrate to a great depth, tliat it is either dug or cultivated. In souic districts it is hrgvU cul- 

 tivated, but does not, I believe, generally yield a profitable crop. In Tanjore, the Morinda is 

 also cultivated for the sake of its roots, but I believe only to a small extent, as the colour it 

 yields 18 a dull, brownish red. Nauclea cordifolia attains a large size, and affords a close-grained 



with reference to that peculiarity, called Muugie cadumbee. 



^ 7'- —WW — 



of Paulghaut. It is soft, ea 

 of that wood. It is the ^- 



Cedar 



of Ilymeyiodictyon 

 timber known in 



Any cuiuur, out wauis lae close grain 



ut not of Roxhurgh. In my Iconcs, 



obovatum^ but have since discovered that it 



IS not that ^species, and have now called it II. utile, with reference to the purposes to which it is 



^ ' ' ' ' ^ H' eoccelmm "is firm, close-grained, of a pal 



applied. 



uittuugctii;/ cuiuur, Huu very useiui lor many purposes/' This description is in all respects appli- 

 cable to my H. utiky except that it is light and not very close-grained, and has 8o strong a 

 hygrometric tendency as considerably to impair its usefulness for some purposes. 



L ■ 



Remarks on Genera and Species,. Under this head I have on some former occasions 

 expressed my belief that reduction of the number of genera is wanted, and suggested that in 

 some instances this might be effected through the exclusion of non-essential points from our 

 generic characters, by which they are often extended, especially in small genera, to a most per- 

 plexing length, while at the same time their precision is lessened. The order under considera- 

 tion has not escaped the prevailing fashion, "and many of the genera seem such as might be dis- 

 pensed with. M. Ach. Richard, in his excellent "Memoire sur les Rubiaces," states it as his 

 opinion, that in the present state of Botany reductions in the number of genera and families 

 are more wanted than additions, on the ground that many genera are often founded on modifica- 

 tions so_ slight, that they readily pass into each other and are consequently altogether artificial. 



It is to be wished that such sentiments were more prevalent among Botanists, as they might 

 tend to bring about a reform by inducing them to study orders more carefully and extensively 

 before constituting new genera. These should be based on a thorough knowledge, not only of 



mere variety in place of a species under examination. . 

 avoided, but as all Botanists are aware of the tendency 

 hoves them to be so much the more cautious. 



perchan 



cannot 



Botanist, 



three 



two species. It is not difficult to understand how such things may happen, should wc chance to 



as 



generic character. 



quainted 



:s liabl 

 introd 



Genera PJantarum (at 



ous orders), that does not furnish examples of the introduction of unessential points of character 

 liable to mislead in that way. Let us take one. Hamelia is thus defined : "Calyx tubo ovali, 

 cum ovario connato, limbo supero, brevi quinquelobo, lobis erectis acutis. Corolla supera tubu- 

 losa, tubo subpentagono, fauce nuda, limbi breveter quinquelobi, lobis aequalibus vix patentihus,** 



&:c. 



essential 



of the calyx reflexed and acute, it must be ex< 

 Ham€lia have a 5-anc:led corolla, a naked tliroat 



ough 



scarcely expanding 



the case 



If these char- 



acters are not to be taken in this strict sense, then for what purpose are they introduced into 

 the body of the generic definition, rather than into the natural character at the end where 



allowed. Their beincr so introduced must 



1 



mportanee is thereby attached to them than 



