REVISION OF THE NATURAL ORDER HEDERACEA, 303 
XV. Hepera, Linn. 
Pedicelli inarticulati. 
Flores ecalyculati, herma- 
phroditi. Calyx tubo ob- 
conico, limbo 5-dentato. 
Petala 5, ovato-triangula- 
ria, l-nervia, libera, æsti- 
vatione valvata. Stamina 
5; anthere oblonge. O- 
varium 5-loculare, loculis 
l-ovulatis. ‘Stylus 1, elon- 
gatus; stigma obscure 5- 
lobatum. Drupa areen: 
subglobosa, lævis, 5-py- Hedera Helix (partly after Nees von Esenbeck). 
rena. umen ruminatum. Emb o magnus.—Frutices sarmentosi 
inermes Europæ, Asie et Africæ indigenæ, foliis exstipulatis simpli- 
cibus palmatim lobatis v. integris, umbellis racemosim v. paniculatim 
dispositis, floribus viridiusculis, drupis nigris flavis v. albidis.—Hedera, 
Linn. Gen. n. 395 (ed. Schreb.) ; De Cand. Prodr. iv. p. 261, Aves 
sp.; Koch, Synops. Fl. Germ. p. 321. 
Whether there is only one species or several mixed up with the plants 
which now go in gardens and herbaria under the name of Hedera Heliz, 
and make up the genus Hedera, as now circumscribed, and whether 
one or two species are indigenous to the British Islands are still open. 
"questions, No botanist has, as yet, been successful in finding good 
characters for what have been considered as species; and though all 
other Hederacee have a limited geographical range, Hedera Helie is sup- 
posed to be an exception to this rule, and to be spread over three con- 
tinents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, from the Canary Islands to Japan, 
and that this cireumstance alone sufficiently accounts for the numerous 
existing varieties. After carefully investigating the subject, and exa- 
mining every specimen I could lay my hands on, aided by contribu- 
tions from botanical friends, I have arrived at a different conclusion. 
I can clearly distinguish three distinct species, which, though having 
each many varieties, do not run into each other, and have each a dis- 
tinct geographical range. If these different species had to be named 
anew, I would propose to call them respectively the European, the 
African, and the Asiatic. 
