ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 137 



not unfreqnent on the Neilgherries and Pulney mountains, but probably introduced with seed 

 corn and has become naturalized. Micropywis seems rare, I have only once found it, Duby 

 does not seem to be aware that the plant he has described under the nane of L. Leschenaultii 

 is Wallicirs L. Clementsoniana, a name quoted by him among his non satis notce species, 

 that and the accompanying one being the only ones known on these hills, 



Lysimachia deltoidea (R. W.), procumbent, extremities calyx lobes lanceolate, pilose, perforated with numerous 

 of the branches ascending densely pubescent, hairs translucent orange coloured glands : corolla rotate some- 

 jointed: leaves subsessile, opposite or whorled, ovate, times glanduliferous : filaments short, monodelphous at 

 obtuse, sparingly sprinkled on both sides with jointed the base, anthers sub-triangular: seed hispid. Weilgher- 

 pubescence: peduncles axillary, solitary, about the length ries, Pulney mountains, Ceylon, This species is nearly 



of or exceeding the leaves; fructiferous ones reflexed: allied to L. nemorum but is certainly distinct. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 144. 



1. Lysimachea deltoidea^ flowering branch, natural size. 8. Capsule detached. 



2. Detached corolla and stamens. ^ 9. cut vertically, 



3. Anthers. 



4. Calyx and ovary. 



10. transversely. 



11. Placenta and seed detached. 



5. Ovary cut vertically. 12, 13. Seed upper and under surface. 



6. cut transversely. 14, cut transversely showing the embryo in situ 



7. Capsule full grown. 



15. Upper and under surface of leaves. 



XCVL— MYRSINEACEiE. 



This order was, almost unknown to Jussieu, the few genera he knew, appertaining to it, 

 being referred to allied orders, Myrsine itself to Sapotacece. To Mr. Brown we are indebted 

 for its first separation and limitation. Ventenant had previously indicated it as distinct from 

 SapotacetB, but seems to have been imperfectly acquainted with its peculiarities. Since estab- 

 lished and defined by Mr. Brown it has been retained by all Botanists. The latest writer on 

 the subject, Alph. De Candolle, has thrown much light on its genera and species which, under 

 his hands, have become very numerous ; now amounting, according to Lindley''s enumeration 

 to 30 genera and 320 species, but he includes Theophrastece which D. C. separates as a distinct 

 order. As an order its prominent characteristics" are its bearing the stamens opposite the lobes 

 of the corolla having a 1-celled ovary and a central free placenta covered with ovules immersed 

 in alveola? or sockets. They are nearly all shrubs or trees, and for the most part tropical, a 

 few however extending nearly 20 degrees on either side of that zone. By these marks they 

 are best distinguished from Primulaceae which are nearly all herbaceous and extra-tropical. 



Character of the Order. Flowers bisexual or sometimes unisexual. Calyx 4-5-cleft 

 persistent. Corolla usually deeply 4-5-cleft, rarely 4 petaled, equal. Stamens 4-5 opposite the 

 lobes of the corolla, into the base of which they are inserted ; filaments distinct rarely con- 

 nate sometimes wanting; anthers attached by their emarginate base, two-celled, dehiscing 

 longitudinally. Ovary free, or partially adherent with a single cell and a free central placenta, 

 in which is immersed the campulltropal ovules ; style 1 short ; stigma lobed or undivided. 

 Fruit drupaceous or baccate, usually one-seeded sometimes with two or more. Seeds angular 

 or sub-globose with a hollow hilum and simple integument. Albumen copious bo™y» o' the 

 same shape as the seed ; embryo taper, usually curved, lying across the hilum when the seed 

 is solitary or inferior, and touching the hilum when the seeds are numerous and lateral ; 

 cotyledons short. Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate undivided, serrated or entire, coriace- 

 ous, smooth ; stipules none : sometimes under shrubs with opposite or ternate leaves. Inflor- 

 escence in umbels, corymbs, or panicles, axillary or terminal. Flowers small, white or red, 

 rarely yellowish. (Lindley slightly altered.) 



^ 



Affinities. Under this head little can be added to what has been already said under 

 Primulacece. The socketed placenta of MursineacecB is noticed, but it would appear from 



t 



