ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 199 



This order has also been generally adopted by Botanists. Such was the state of Botanical 

 opinion reg-arding these two orders until the pnblication of the 9th Vol of DCs. Prod., when 

 Alph.DC, following a remark of Lindley, to the effect that the two orders were nearly related, 

 instituted a closer comparison than, it would appear, had previously been made, and arrived at 

 the conclusion that the two orders were scarcely sufficiently distinct. The opinion previously 

 expressed by Lindley being thus strengthened, he has in his last edition (The Vegetable King- 

 dom) combined them. To this verdict M. Choisy demurs, and still upholds the integrity of the 

 present order, mainly, on the ground that in this order the ovary is 2-celled with axile plaentse 

 and numerous ovules; in that, 1-celled with parietal placentae and few ovules. On the merits 

 of this question I can offer no opinion, as I only know one species of the two orders, and that 

 being the only one indigenous to India I adopt the old order as its characters coincide with 

 those of our only species, leaving American Botanists, who are more interested in the matter, 

 to adjudicate between the opposite opinions. The following, with slight modification, is Choisy's 



Character of the Order. Calyx usually 5-parted, lobes equal, often spathulately 

 dilated at the apex, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, usually campanulate, 5-lobed- Stamens 

 inserted on the corolla, alternate with its lobes, incluse or exserted. Ovary two-celled, placentae 

 axile, covered w^ith numerous minute amphitropal ovules. Styles two; stigmata thickened or 

 capitate. Carpels 2-celled, 2-valved, dehiscence marginal bearing on each side a spongy 

 placenta. Seeds sessile on the placentae, very numerous; albumen fleshy, embryo straight. 

 Herbaceous annuals: stems straight or diffuse, glabrous, pubescent or hispid, rarely exceeding 

 two feet in length. Leaves simple, alternate, entire or dentate, often petioled. Flowers corym- 

 bose or spicate, sometimes scorploid. 



Affinities. The genera of this order were formerly united with ConvohulacecE^ hvii 

 very improperly, on account of the axile placentation and numerous seed. Judging from 

 the only Indian representative, it certainly, as suggested by Choisy, is very nearly allied to 

 ''Scophulariacece, but more especially to SolanacecB.'' Lindley places them in his Cortusal alliance 



.. — _ .„ — ^ — , _ — ^- - , , ^_ 



Hydrolea %eylanica not a near relationship. 



Myrsinece. So far as we can learn 



GEocaAPHiCAL Distribution. All the species, except the one here given, are of American 

 origin. Our species is a marshy plant, growing in rice fields and low wet ground, flowering 

 during the latter months of the year. 



Properties and Uses. Little is known on this head. The leaves are bitter and, in those 

 parts of the country where the plant abounds, they are beaten into a pulp and apphed as a 

 poultice to foul ill-conditioned ulcers in which maggots have begun to breed, and are said to 

 be an effective means of cleansing the one and destroying the other. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 167. 



^,J. HudroUa zeylanica. Flowering branch, natural 8. D^tajhec^ovary.^^^^^^ ^^^ transversely. 



i An unopened flower-bud. H- A full-grown fruit. 



3. An expanded flower. 12. Cut transversely. 



4. Corolla split open, stamens m situ. 13. Capsule dehiscing. 



5. A detached lobe of the corolla with a stamen 14. A detached seed 



attached 15- Cut longitudmally, emDryo in siiu. 



6. Anthers, back and front views. 16- Detached embryo. 



7. Ovary and calyx. 



