PLANTS OF A BOMBAY SWAMP. 

 By G. Marshall Woodrow. 

 '(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 18th March, 1897.) 

 The land from which the plants referred to were gathered is nearly- 

 enclosed by three lines — Clerk Road, the Vellard and the " Main Drain." 

 Its altitude is nearly mean sea-level, and the greater part of it is said 

 to be under water during the monsoon months. The soil when dry is 

 a sandy loam heavily charged with salt. 



Vegetation is confined to a bank a few inches higher than the 

 general level ; it is chiefly herbaceous, such woody plants as occur 

 are under one year old, except Tamarix, which thrives on land 

 submerged a portion of the year. 



The species found are 79 in number, but it is very probable that 

 further search may greatly increase the flora. The collection referred 

 to here was made in November and December. No Cryptogams were 

 found, and it is probable that a search made during September would 

 reveal many. 



In reviewing the plants in their order, according to the natural 

 system, it is found that — 



Capparidb^b is represented by Gynandropsis pentaphylla 



DC, "Tilwan." 

 PoRTULACE-aa by Porhdaca oleracea, Linn., the " Ghol," of the 

 Marathas, and Purslane of the English. Formerly much 

 valued in salads and pickles. It has fallen out of use in Great 

 Britain and in this country, and appears to be little valued by 

 the well-to-do classes, as it is seldom seen in the bazaars. 

 Caryophylle^ by an elegant Stellaria, of which the specimen 



has been lost. 

 TAMARisciNEiE by a species of Tamarix not in flower. 

 MALVACEiE by seedlings of the Portia tree 3 Thespesia populnea, 

 Corr. The "Bendi acha jhar," a well-known littoral 

 plant, and species of cotton. Gossypium Wight ianum, Tod., 

 and Malachra capitata, Linn., a plant of tropical Africa and 

 America which has spread all over the neighbourhood of 

 Bombay. It yields a good fibre, and by some has been thought 

 worth cultivating, but with " Sunn " and " Ambaree " to 

 compete with, it does not get a front place. 



