2 
the ubiquitous 7, Balsamina, not a dozen of the 80 or 90 Hima- 
layan species have been collected elsewhere. 
Japan, too, is of no account in this study 3; it presents the 
unexplained anomaly of containing only two species known to me, 
namely, J. nolitangere, which extends throughout N. Asia and 
Europe to the Atlantic, and J. Textori, Miq., which is also a native 
of N. China. An explanation may be found in its insect fauna. 
the Philippine Islands, Fribourg, and Le Mans, which have all been 
i Deed in my hands for study. I may add that, with the 
exception perhaps of the Malayan Peninsula, each of the included 
areas may, in my opinion, be expected to contain perhaps twice as 
many species as have hitherto been collected in it. The number 
known to me in each is approximately as follows :— 
China, 180 ; Indo-China, 18 ; Burma, including Assam, 70 ; 
the Malayan Peninsula, 12; the Malayan Archipelago, 50, 
The following are the characters selected for the differentiation 
of the areas :— 
1, INFLORESCENCE—pedicellate, when consisting of simple 
axillary pedicels, ebracteate or bracteate at the very base 
only ; in contrast with peduncled—the peduncles bearing 
one or more flowers with bracteate pedicels. 
2. The absence of a BRAC at the base of the lowest pedicel of 
o- or more-flowered peduncle (J, nolitangere is a 
species in which the lowest pedicel is ebracteate), 
FLOwERs—the lateral sepals being four in number. 
- The distal lobes of the two wines being coherent or 
connate, 
eg 
5. The anTHERS being acute or acuminate. 
6. Fottace—the leaves being opposite or whorled (not 
alternate), 
ntation through transmitted 
ts a rich field for research : 
