Hamiltonia. pen'tandria mokogynia, 225 



Obs. by N. JV. 

 I have found a marked variety of this shrub, if not a distinct spe- 

 cies in Nipal, where it grows between Hetounra and Bheempedi, 

 chiefly between Bhinsadoban and the last mentioned village, forming 

 the most extensive thickets, which are rendered still more beautiful 

 by the snow-white flowers of Porana paniculata. I have also met with 

 it about the village near Cheeshagurree, and on several mountains in 

 the valley itself ; my people have brought it to me from Noakote. — It 

 perfumes the air by its delicious fragrance from November until 

 March, during which lime it is indescribably beautiful. It differs 

 from suaccolens, chiefly, in the colour of its flowers, which are azure- 

 blue, and in the hairiness of most of its parts. It grows to a shrub of 

 ten to twelve feet high, well furnished with blanches. As the stem 

 gets old, its epidermis becomes smooth and ash-coloured. Branch' 

 es covered with pale soft hairiness, widening at the divisions and in- 

 sertions of the leaves ; while young reddish ; very slender. — Leaves 

 from five to eight inches long, with a lengthened acumen, base acute; 

 the upper surface pubescent ; the under one with numerous opposite, 

 oblique, parallel nerves which, together with the strong rib and reticu- 

 late veins, are villous. Tetioh very short. — Stipules broad and short, 

 adpressod, soon withering, ending in a subulate acumen, at the base of 

 which there are on each side one or two crenatures. Inflorescence 

 most ample, densely villous, especially the corois, which are of a de- 

 lightful sky-blue colour. — Ovarium somewhat five-cornered. — In 

 every other respect the two plants agree, How far mine should be 

 considered as a variety only, or a distinct species (which I would, 

 propose calling S. azure um), I must leave undecided, until the young 

 plants, which were brought down with me, shall come to a proper 

 age. It is worth observing, that all its tender parts and the floweis, 

 on being bruised, as also in decaying, emit a peculiarly fetid smell, 

 precisely as is the case with similar parts of Serissa and Padejia 

 fcctkla and some others. AYhen out of flower, the shrub looks for 



Cc 



