58 
examination which are necessary to its specitic determination. 
This method has the advantages of saving space and time, both 
matters of consequence to the traveller. The work is exceedingly 
well printed and an examination of its descriptions and keys 
indicates that it should serve its special purpose well. 
The preparation of an account of the species of any Flora 
dealt with in a fashion so succinct as that adopted in the Flora 
of Madras does not lessen the need for critical examination of 
the material on which it is based, but places an author at a dis- 
advantage in cases in which he is compelled to adopt conclusions 
at variance with those arrived at by earlier workers with less 
adequate material at their disposal. These new conclusions can 
only be stated; to discuss the reasons on which they are based 
would be to defeat the very object which the method of presenta- 
tion adopted has been devised to fulfil. At the same time it 
is often desirable that these reasons should be disclosed for the 
guidance of cabinet- as contrasted with field-botanists. In the 
present instance those cases in which new conclusions have been 
arrived at in that portion of this work drafted by Mr. Dunn, 
have been noted by him for Mr. Gamble’s information and we 
are indebted to Mr. Gamble for the present opportunity of 
placing these on record. 
| NOTES ON THE FLORA OF MADRAS (S. T. DUNN). 
forms with Porana paniculata extensive, lovely festoons”’ (Fl. 
- Ind. ii. 671) shows that the specific name is geographical, his 
spelling, according to the Vienna Rules, should be maintained. 
Ranunculus diffusus, DC. A full series of the S. Indian 
Buttercups formerly referred to this name corroborate the view 
adopted by Wight and Arnott (Prodr. 4) that they represent 4 
distinct species—/?, subpinnatus, W. & A. 
Polyalthia rufescens, Hook. £. & Thoms. The fruit of this 
species has not been described. The nearly mature carpels 12 
a — in the Madras Herbarium collected in the Tinnevelly 
Is : in: in di 
S are pisiform 3 “vin. in diameter and borne on stalks © 
Miliusa eriocarpa, Dunn 
7 SPs : Indian : 
tree described under the n ae ne Cones 5 
ame of M. indica: by Hooker {, and fst 
