n 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



225 



(( 



The Statices and Jrmenas are partial to the coast and salt marshes, In such situations 

 extending from Greenland to within the tropics. Plumbago Zeylnnica exteuds from near the 

 foot of the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, Ceylon, and Port Jackson in Australia. jEgialitis, in 

 hke manner, extends from the Sunderbunds of the Hoogly to Australia; and Vogelia has now 

 3 species respectively named, Jfricana, Jrabica, and Indica. 



Properties and Uses. These, so far as yet known, are not important, but I find it cur- 

 rently believed in this country, that the roots of Plumbago Zeylafiica, reduced to powder and 

 administered during pregnancy, will cause abortion; and made into a paste with a little congee, 

 and applied to the skin, will produce a blister ; whence it is used as a discutiant in incipient and 

 indolent Buboes. Plumbago Europcea is said to be still more energetic, causing ulcers when 

 applied to the skin, and vomiting and catharsis when taken internally. Some species of 

 Armeria are employed in European domestic medicine as diuretics, and with considerable effect. 



Remarks on Genera and Species. On this subject I have nothing to offer. The 

 two species of Plumbago known in India, P. Zeylanica and P. rosea, are best distinguished by 

 the colour of their flowers, white in the one and red in the other. Vogelia is known at first sight 

 by the sepals, which are lanceolate with a strong midrib, and thin membranous crisped margins. 

 In regard to the fecundation of the ovule, I quote the following paragraph from Lindley. 



The economy of the ovule is highly curious ; before fecundation it is suspended from 

 the apex of a cord or rather strap which lies over the foramen, or orifice of the foramen, 

 through wliich the vivifying influence of the pollen has to be introduced ; this foramen is pre- 



to the summit of the cell immediately below the origin of the stigmas, but has no com- 

 munication with that part of the cell, from contact with which it is further cut off by the 

 overlying strap ; but as soon as the pollen exercises its influence on the stigmas, the strap 

 shps aside from above the foramen which is entered by an extension of the apex of the cell, 

 and thus a direct communication is established between the pollen and inside of the ovule. 



This phenomenon is obscurely hinted at by several writers, but was first distinctly shown 

 me by Dr. Brown, and has since been beautifully illustrated by Mirbel, Nouvelles Recherches 

 SUV Povule^ tab. 4. 



After writing the above, and when comparing the drawing with the character of the order, 

 it seemed not to convey a sufficiently perfect idea of the order as a whole; the appearance 

 and general habit of the first section, Staticeae, differing so greatly from the second, Plum- 

 hagecB. To obviate this defect I have thought it advisable to give a figure illustrative of that 

 section also. And have selected for the purpose a species, a native of Scinde, hitherto unfigured, 

 at least under the name here given. The compliment is well merited, Mr. Stocks being a 

 most indefatigable and excellent Botanist, but I do not feel by any means certain that this 

 will be retained as a distinct species, it seems so very nearly allied to *S'. Arahica. M. Boissier's 

 specific characters, like those of his ordinal one, are full to complexity, and on comparing what 

 I esteem authentic specimens of the species, with the character, cannot help thinking there is 

 some mistake, either in the phrase or specimen ; the analyses therefore are given in much detail, 

 especially as regards the parts concerned in the specific character. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 178. 



sente 



(c 



i> 



. 1. Statict Slocksii (Boiss,), flowering branch, natural 

 size. 



2. Portion of a spike. 



3. Detached spikelet consisting of a full-blown flower 

 and unopened bud. 4. Detached corolla. 



5. Corolla opened showing the ovary. 



6. Detached petal and stamen. 7. Detached stamens. 

 8. Ovary cut longitudinally, showing the cord for 



19. A bract 



15. Cut transversely. 16. Cut vertically. 



17. Detached embryo. 



18. A leaf a little magnified. 



20. Portion of a spike seen from above. 



21. Seen from below. 



22. A detached spikelet of 3 flowers, one still envel- 



oped in its bract. 

 Obs. It appears from figures 2 and 22 that the spike- 



conveylng'ifenaizing^m^^^^^ Srovule "descending lets go on elongating from 1 to 3 or perhaps more flowers, 

 from the apex, and the very young unimpregnated ovule whence I should infer, their nuinber being fluctuating, 

 suspended from the apex Jf a longish funiculus in the that they are unsuitable for giving spec^ific characters. 

 TiaH/.^ «<: *u- « A Ir^. , ,^ ._-'.. .i.._ j„*««i,«.i Bossier, however, I find, frequently introduces the num- 

 ber of flowers on the spikelets into his characterf. In 

 this species the spikelets are described "spiculis biflo- 

 ris in spicas brevissimas fascicuUformes confertis.'* 



Qq 



oottom of ttie cell. 9. Ovule and funiculus detached. 

 10. Immature fruit 11. Cut transversely, 5-angled. 



12. Capsule and included seed. 



13. Capsule opened, seed in situ, 14. Detached seed. 



