886 



and Cissus, and, amongst ferns, Osmunda Vachellii and Blechnura 

 orientale. 



Streamlets and their banks, moist rocks and inundated localities 

 are rendered gay by the delicate Drosera Loureirii, Xyris indica, an 

 elegant Primulaceous plant, white, yellow, and blue-flowered Utvicu- 

 lariae, the tall Philydrum lanuginosura, Ludwigia, Jussiaeae, with their 

 white or yellow blossoms, Hypericum monogynum, Eriocaulon canto- 

 niense, and another very minute species, i*aising their clustered, white, 

 globular heads above the clear water, amidst the lively green fronds 

 of Ceratopteris thalictroi'des ; whilst way-sides and arid places fur- 

 nish the ephemeral Cyanotis axillaris, and several Commelynae, Po- 

 lygoni, Alternanthera axillaris, thorny Sclerostyles, Achyranthes 

 aspera, Emilia sonchifolia, two or three Sidae, our garden Chrysan- 

 themum [Pyrethrmn indicum, D.C.), with single yellow flowers, Cor- 

 chorus acutangulus, bearing a fruit with divergent horns, Triumfetta 

 angulata and T. cana, and Urena sinuata, all three employed by the 

 Chinese, as demulcents and emollients in blennorrhcea and other dis- 

 eases, on account of the great quantity of mucilage they afford. Eri- 

 anthus japonicus, growing in thick tufts, attains a height of six or 

 eight feet, and elevates its beautiful, light, feathery panicles amongst 

 the rocks. The dark blue berries of Diaqella ensifolia hang pendu- 

 lous above its sword- like leaves, along with the cedar-scented Caryo- 

 pteris mastachanthus, and the graceful lilac bells of Gutzlafiia aprica. 



Amongst ruderal plants, by which I understand all those that, 

 though not cultivated, are yet only found in the immediate vicinity 

 of dwellings, or in places formerly occupied by them, and which 

 appear, in many instances, to follow the footsteps of man spontane- 

 ously, I include the following : — Solanum nigrum, and another thorny 

 species, with purple flowers and yellow fruit, the size of that of the 

 potato, Amaranthus spinosus, Xanthium discolor, Asclepias curassa- 

 vica, Plantago major, Psidium, Stellaria media and S. uliginosa, 

 Ranunculus sceleratus, Datura alba (the seeds of which are burnt by 

 burglars, when attempting to enter a dwelling, in order, by their 

 fumes, to stupify the inmates, a device which is, unfortunately, often 

 crowned with success), Polanisia icosandra, Cardamine hirsuta, Nico- 

 tiana tabacum, Bidens chinensis, Corchorus capsularis, Bryophyllura 

 calycinum, the singular Euphorbia tirucalli, with its leafless, green, 

 quill-like branches, abounding in a violently acrid milky juice, said 

 to be employed, by the Chinese, for blinding those children whom 

 they wish to bring up as mendicants, in order thereby to excite com- 

 passion, Sicgesbeckia orientalis, Cassia occidentalis, Sonchus olera- 



