Premna. 147 



this polymorphous species, such as P. obfusifolia R.Br., which 

 has already been mentioned by Schumann. 



P. Mariannarum Schaa, and P. timoriana Dec. (see Valeton, 

 Pi. pap. 52) are probably related, but not identical. 



Though there are many transition-forms, we think we can 

 distinguish two more or less distinctly separable forms, an 

 opinion laid down in the founding of the two subspecies. These 

 are not distinctly separated (the former P. Gaudichaudii Schau. 

 is a transition between them), and we may observe a certain 

 parallelism between the alteration of the leaves from nearly 

 circular and small to long acuminate and large, and that of the 

 calyx from 2-lipped (1 lip 2-toothed, the other entire) to regu- 

 larly 5-toothed, or somewhat 2-lipped. (see Plate II). 



In this matter, we see how impossible it is — as several 

 other authors did — to subdivide the species exclusively basing 

 upon the form of the calyx, which, as in some other species, 

 is often inconstant, and can give rise only to the keeping of 

 Hasskarl's Gumira and Premnos, subgenera, which also 

 are not distinctly separated. 



This and some other polymorphous species in this family, as 

 Callicarpa cana and especially Avicennia officinalis, may show 

 once more, how wrong and unscientific it is to trie to discover 

 thruths of any worth for the systematical Botany by the old 

 method, by a mere examination of often individual morpho- 

 logical characteristics, and how necessary to apply the science 

 of Genetics to the systematical branch of Botany. In this way 

 we should 'found a new link between two branches of the 

 sciences of nature; for to arrive at the understanding, based 

 upon scientifically stipulated facts, that there is only one science 

 of the things of Nature, we may consider as one of the highest 

 ambitions of the man of science. 



43. P. flavida Miq.. Fl. Ind. bat. suppl. I, 570 and 

 243, (1860). — A shrub?; branchlets round, with corymbs 

 and petioles stellate-tomentose, afterwards glabrescent; 

 leaves large, opposite, sometimes in the same pair unequal 

 in dimensions, the petioles also unequal; chartaceo-coria- 

 ceou's, oblong-acuminate, from the middle gradually nar- 



