ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



83 



Bible that the large coloured involucrum of cephaelis is, at least in some cases, formed by the 

 excessive development of stipules and suppression of the leaves, for such is undoubtedly the 

 case in a Sierra Leone plant in my possession, which I presume is the little known C. bidentata 

 ot Ihumberg. Hiese facts render it more probable than ever that Stellates and Cincli..nadg 

 are essentially different Natural Orders ; for they would seem to show that while the first has 



greater tendency to become abortive. I need 



of which have the 



verticillate, foliaceous organs, the most imperfect of which have the greater tendency to dis- 

 appear, the second has verticillate foliaceous organs, the most pertect ' ' 



„ ,, . . ^ T- . ... - scarcely add, that after a full consideration 

 ot this point i retain my original conviction, that the apparent leaves of Stellates are really 

 leaves, and not stipules, and that the Order is as distinct from Cinchonads as Nightshades 

 from Fjgw'orts, Verbenes from j:.abiates, and I might even add, as Cinchonads tliemselves 

 from Umbelhfers.— Sec. Bot. Reg. 1838. 55. To be consistent, then, we must either com- 

 bine Capnfoils with Cinchonads, or we must 

 ing, the appellation Rubiaceae should be 

 the genus Rubia; but that name has been ^ ..^. _ 



comprehended under the name of Cinchonads, that I ''find 'it better" to "abolish '"tliat""of 

 Rubiaceas altogether. 



preserve Stellates separate. Properly speak- 

 confined to the 



latter group, as it comprehends 

 80 generally applied to the 



larger 



mass now 



Nat 



of 



the northern parts of the northern hemisphere, where they are extremely 

 common weeds, and of high mountainous regions in Peru, Chili, and Australasia. 



First among them stands Madder, the root of Rubia tinctoria, one of the most 



im- 



portant dyes with which we are acquainted; a quality in which other species of Stellates 

 participate in a greater or lesser degree. The roots of Rubia cordifolia (Munjista, lioxb.), 

 yield the Madder of Bengal, and form even an article of the export commerce to Europe, 

 under the name Munjeeth. Rubia angustssima, from Tong Dong, has also highly-coloured 

 roots, and Rubia Relboun, is the Madder of Chili. It has been remarked that the Avhole 



system of animals fed on Madder 



tion to its valuable dying qualities, passes for a 



torrefied 



red in consequence 

 tonic, diuretic, and 



Madder, in addi- 



grains of (jaiium are said to be a good substitute for 

 Galium vernum are said to curdle milk. 



emmenagogue. The 

 coffee. The flowers of 



astringency, 

 able for 



and has been used as 



An infusion of Asperula cynanchica has a little 



a gargle. Asperula odorata, or Wood 



is remark- 



its fragrance when dried; it passes for a diuretic. Rubia noxia is said to be 



poisonous. M. Miergues, a French physician, states that he has cured epilepsy with the 

 extract of Galium rigidum, by employing it in doses of twelve grammes 

 and he adds that G. Mollugo has been used with success in the same malad^ 



for 



an 



adult; 



Lindley. 



In the accompanying plate, 128-bis, I have endeavoured to throw all the light I am able 

 on the question under discussion, and at the same time give a good idea of the Botanical pecu- 

 liarities of this group when viewed as a distinct order. For this purpose I have introduced 

 analyses of four genera, two of Indian, and two of European plants. I abstain from any 

 further remarks on the question of separation, leaving the facts to speak for themselves. 



In regard to Mr. Griffith's theory, mentioned in the Icones and Neilgherry Plants, 

 that the apparent corolla is merely a coloured calyx, as in NyctaginuE and Lor anthacexe^ 



be opposite, not alternate 

 abortion of one verticel of 



it may be remarked that, in that case, the stamens should 



with its lobes, unless we at the same time assume the 



stamens as in Primulacece, of which there is no proof, but which, if such were the 



case, would establish a relationship with Lindley's Cortusal alliance. This I presume will 



scarcely be admitted. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 128-6m. 



I. Ruhia cordifolia, Linn,, or Munjista, Roxb. 

 L Flowering branch, natural size. 

 Detached flower-bud. 



2. 

 3. 

 4. 

 5. 

 6. 

 7. 



Expanded flower. 

 Detached corolla and stamen. 

 Anthers, back and front views. 

 Ovary. 



cut vertically. 



8. Ovary cut transversely. 



9. A single mature seed. 



10. A mature fruit cut vertically. 



11. — — one-half cut transversely. 



12. Detached embryo. 



13. Upper and under surfaces of the leaves 



All more or less magnified. 



E 



«f 



