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XVIII. A Txevkw of the Genus Combretum. Bi/ Mr. George 



Don, A.L.S. 



Read March 21, 1826. 



The rapid increase of new species has rendered monographs 

 absolutely necessarj^, as the only sure means of determining the 

 peculiar characters of each. Perhaps no genus affords a more 

 striking example of this rapid increase than the genus Com- 

 bretum. The latest general work, namely, Sprengel's Sijstema 

 VegetabiUum, contains only six, while in the following mono- 

 graph the number amounts to forty-one, exclusive of four doubt- 

 ful ones, recorded in the Ilortus Bengalensis, some of which are 

 most probably identical with some of those here described. 



As few plants surpass Combreta in the brilliancy and elegance 

 of their blossoms, so their species have become great favourites 

 with collectors. The Combretum purpureum has long been one 

 of the greatest ornaments of our stoves ; but some of the species 

 lately introduced are likely to outvie it in beauty. The species 

 of the genus, and indeed of the whole order, with the exception, 

 perhaps, of Combretum 7ianum from Nepal, are exclusively con- 

 fined to tropical countries ; but the largest proportion is peculiar 

 to Africa. 



In order to facilitate a knowledge of the species, I have 

 divided the genus into divisions and sections, which will be 

 found separately characterized in their respective places. 



COMBRETUM. 



