INDIAN FLO WEBS, 519 



equal felicity aiul pvopiiefcy. The Eupliorlias are very irregular in tiie formation 

 of their flowers. The floral envelopes are generally incomplete or inconspicuous, 

 very erratic in their formation and very ungainly in their appearance. There are, 

 however, exceptions to this. Poiiisettia pidchevrima is well known for its bright red 

 bold bi acts; there is also a yellow-bract variety of it. The bright scarlet dicho- 

 tomous cymes oi Euphorbia spleiidens are also to be seen thriving in our gardens. 

 The long pendulous tufted racemes of the forest tree Petari [Tretvia nudiflora) 

 are very effective. They flower in February when the tree is leafless. Perhaps 

 the Ricinus communis is the most sbowy in its floral display, especially the deep 

 crimson variety of it seen in some of the Bombay gardens. Mr. Justice Birdwood 

 has introduced it into our University gardens- The flowers of the fig order are 

 shut up in a fleshy curved thalamus which forms our figs. We sliall not disturb 

 their tiny flowers from their natural seclusion. It will only serve to expose their 

 utterly destitute condition, so far as floral envelopes are concerned. The five 

 varieties oi horanthus (Banda) I have come across liave all very show)" flowers of 

 a mouth-formation which is peculiarly their own. Two of them are white, two 

 bright crimson or scarlet, and a small one very prettily orange outside. The 

 petal-tips curl backwards thickly marked with green and yellow. Among the 

 ApocynacecB, Vinca rosea and alba deserve mention, as they flower throughout the 

 year, and are used by Mahomedans over their graves in Bombay. They are 

 known as Sadaphul, perjiefcual flowers. Among the Amaryllids the Crinum 

 Asiaticum ( var. toxicaria — Nagdowni) has conspicous white flowers. Criiium 

 insigne is a pretty variety of it in the Thana jungles, richly marked with purple on 

 the outside of the petals. Among the Lily order there is nothing more showy in 

 the forests and along hedges than the gigantic trailer Gloriosa superba (Khadya- 

 nag) which throws out the parti-coloured creanulate petals of its bold flowers chang- 

 ing their hue from green to yellow, yellow to orange, and tlience to bright scarlet. 

 This creeper forms the monsoon beauty of our jungles. 



We next come to a class of Plants which are not only noted for the beauty of 

 their flowers, but are also remarkable for their fragrance. It is not to be supposed 

 they will be equally agreeable to all, nor indeed is it expected that what I call 

 ' delicately fragrant " will not be " very strong " to others. What I do say, how- 

 ever, is this : that to any practical scent manufacturer our Indian flowers present 

 vast field of research and usefulness. Some of the flowers I have already 

 mentioned possess more or less smell, but those I am going to include under the distinct 

 head of "scented flowers " have a marked odour more Oi' less agreeable. Among 

 the Magnolias we have the golden yellow and orange varieties of Champak 

 {Michelia Champak) which are strongly scented, and from a distance remind one of 

 the Mignonette. Among the Anonacecs we have the Artabotrys odoratissima 

 (Kala champa) smelling strongly of ripe apples and plantains. The scented representa- 

 tives of the GuttifertJEvn'txy now be seen in our forests in blossoms. Here I pass round 

 a garland of the yellow globular male flowers of Surangi ( Ochrocarpus longifoUus, 

 also known as Culysaccion longifolius). They are highly scented and much 

 worn by our ladies in their hair. The smell of its congener Culophyllum 



