354 JO UREAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



With such distinctive specific differences which cannot be considered 

 to be mere changes due to cultivation, it is somewhat puzzling to meet 

 with the remark of Mr. Clarke in our standard work on Indian Botany. 



In describing the root of Plumbago rosea, so far back as 1876,* Dr. 

 Dymock says that " the root is reddish-brown externally, transversely 

 fissured^ thick and suberous ; internally it is white when first removed, 

 but soon turns red upon exposure to airV (The italics are mine — 

 K. R. K.) It will be seen from my transverse section of the root (Fig. 

 5, Plate N) that the color is yellow. It is only the central part 

 that is brownish-red. This central portion consists of " a woody 

 column," to use Dr. Dymock's own words, <l with a very large vascular 

 system surrounded by a bark almost entirely made up of thin-walled 

 parenchymatous cells loaded with large oil-globules, and containing 

 some starch." Jaikisson Indraji notes that tl the roots when fresh exude 

 a yellow juice." This would account for the yellow colour of the section 

 of the fresh root depicted in my Plate N. Contrast with this the state- 

 ment of Dr. Dymock f regarding P. europcea that Prof. Fliickiger 

 and Mr. Gerock found its root when freshly cut to be nearly devoid of 

 colour, but on exposure it immediately assumed a yellow hue. I may 

 add from personal observation that the root of Plumbago rosea is 

 naturally yellow on section, even when taken fresh from the ground. 



With regard to the habit of the plant, Asa Gray's Plumbago cocci- 

 nea is a climber. The Indian variety is not always so, but can be 

 trained as a climber if there is suitable trelliswork to support it. 



The cotyledons, according to Gaertner, are foliaceous, and ovate- 

 oblong ; the embryo is slightly yellow ; the albumen perfectly white ; 

 and the integument of the seed membranceous, (De Fruct. et Semin., 

 vol. I, p. 234.) Judging from the dehiscence of the fruit figured on 

 Tab. 50 (Gaertner), it appears that the valves of the capsule begin 

 separating at the apex. 



With regard to the nature of the glands found on Plumbago rosea, I 

 cannot do better than refer to the elaborate researches of Dr. John 

 Wilson, Lecturer on Botany in the University of St. Andrews, publish- 

 ed in the Annals of Botany. J As Dr. Wilson rightly observes, Boissier 



* Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions, vol. vii, 3rd series, 1876-77, page 190. 

 | Pharmacographia Indica, vol. ii, p. 333. 

 t Vol. iv, No. siv, pp. 231—255, May, 1890. 



