256 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI. 



rectilinear series of leaves or orthostichies originate running parallel 

 to one another down the stem." 



The peculiarity in the situation of the stomata in this plant is worthy 

 of special notice. The stomata are at the bottom of deep pits on the 

 lower side of the leaf, and entrance to them is beset with extremely 

 delicate hair-like structures. In its natural position the plant is much 

 exposed to wetting by rain, mist, and dew, just when transpiration is an 

 absolute necessity for it. But even when the leaves are covered on both 

 sides with a layer of moisture, none can force its way into the hair-lined 

 depressions which conceal the stomata, and consequently transpiration is 

 not hindered even in the wettest season of the year (Kerner). Bal- 

 four* in describing the stomata says that they are furnished with 

 cellular hair-like processes. It must be observed that the hair-like pro- 

 cesses do not arise from the stomata, but from the epidermal layer of 

 cells lining the deep pits in which the stomata are situated. 



Mr. W. H. Gowerf in his article on Green House Plants, remarks 

 that "notwithstanding the whole plant is poisonous, the splendid larva 

 of the Oleander Sphinx moth ( Chcerocampa nerei) however thrives well 

 upon its poisonous leaves." In Rheede's Hortus Ind. Malab. Tablet I., 

 there is an illustration of the double-flowered pink variety of Nereum 

 odorum. There is also a butterfly, a caterpillar, and three figures of 

 chrysalis. It is for an Entomologist to determine what the butterfly is.| 



Gower, in the article quoted above, makes a very useful suggestion 

 for the purpose of securing showy and long-lasting flowers, which is 

 worthy of notice. He says that " it sometimes happens that young 

 shoots start out from the base of the flower stalk, which allowed to grow 

 will entirely spoil the bloom." They must therefore be cut .out as soon 

 as seen. 



The plant is of great antiquity. It was known to the ancient Greeks 

 and Romans. It was known to Pliny (known as C. Plinius Secundus, 

 Major) who flourished in the first century of the Christian era, and has 

 been referred to by Palladius Rutilius Taurus (a Roman writer on hus- 

 bandry who flourished in the third century of the Christian era), under 

 the name of Rhododaphne^ the rose-bay. This is what Pliny§ says 

 regarding it : — " Oleander called in Greeke Rhododendros which some 



* P. 537 "Manual of Botany," 5th Edition, 1875. 



f Casseil's "Popular Gardening," Volume II, p. 316. 



% Several species of the genus, Euplcea feed on the Oleander — L. de Nice'ville. 



§ "Naturalis Eistoria" translated by Dr, Holland, Vol. II, pp. 191-192, London, 1601, 



