890 



Australia is very slight, being merely indicated by such genera as 

 Slylidium and Philydrutn, the last of which is exclusively confined 

 to Cochin-china, the south of China, and parts of New Holland. 

 Tropical plants, identical with, or intimately allied to, those of the In- 

 dian Peninsula and the Malayan Archipelago, are not unfrequent ; and 

 Anthurium, Chirita, ^schynanthus, Sponia, Piper arcuatum, &c., &c., 

 may serve as examples ; but they by no means represent the normal 

 character of the Flora, which is perfectly sui generis. The only three 

 indigenous palms are a dwarf, stemless species (perhaps a Seafor- 

 thia), Zalacca, and Rhapis. Cocos is occasionally planted, but does 

 not thrive, the island of Hainan being its most easterly station in 

 these seas ; and even there it is said to perfect fruit sparingly. Its 

 most obvious relationship is, however, with Japan, as evinced by the 

 presence of the new oak above alluded to, half a dozen genera of 

 Ternstromiaceae, and some Hamamelidaceous forms (adopting the late 

 Dr. Gardner's views of affinity), as Eustigma, Liquidambar, and Rho- 

 doleia, both families being peculiarly characteristic of the Flora of 

 those islands. How far a resemblance may hereafter be traced be- 

 tween the vegetation of Japan, the south and south-east of China, and 

 some districts of upper India, it is at present impossible to predict ; 

 but I may here refer to the distribution of Abelia and Adamia, and 

 observe that a new Helvvingia has been detected at Darjeeling, and 

 two species of Corylopsis in the Bootan mountains. 



Amongst cultivated plants, the sweet potato {Batatas edulis) holds 

 the first rank. It is very largely consumed by the Chinese, even its boiled 

 leaves being used as greens. We must also notice, as vegetables, yams 

 {Dioscorea sp.) and Colocasia, several species of Sinapis and Brassica, 

 Basella rubra, employed as a substitute for spinach, various species 

 ofDolichos, Soja, and Phaseolus, egg-apples {Solanum Melongena), 

 our common potato and pea, water-melons and other Cucurbitaceae, 

 ground-nuts {Arachis hgpogcea), a little barley, grown exclusively for 

 pearling, Cassava {Manihot utilissima), Allium fistulosum, rice, mil- 

 let, Setaria, sugar-cane, maize, Abelmoschus longifolius, the immature 

 viscid capsules of which are brought to table ; and, as fruit, Pomeloes, 

 Citrus Decumana, oranges, Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica), Papaws 

 {Carica Papaya), Wangpis {Cookia punctata), Nephelium Litchi and 

 N. Longan, Mangoes, Bananas, pine-apples, Averrhoa Carambola, 

 Guavas, and Jambosa malaccensis. The farinaceous fruits of Trapa 

 bicornis, those of Canarium album, preserved with salt, and much 

 resembling an olive in flavour, the crimson, papillose, acid drupe of a 

 species of Elaeagnus, pears, plums, and peaches, of exceedingly bad 



