COMPARATIVE VIEW. 171 



Cochincliina, Gambia, Demerary, and the island of 

 Trinidad. 



I was at one time inclined to believe that Sphenoclea^ 

 might be considered as an attendant on Rice, which it very 

 generally accompanies, and with which I supposed it to 

 have been originally imported from India into the various 

 countries where it is found. This hypothesis may still 

 account for its existence in the rice fields of Egypt ;^ but as 

 it now appears to have been observed in countries where 

 there is no reason to believe that rice has ever been culti- 

 vated, the conjecture must be abandoned. 



Hibiscus tiliaceus, L. agrees with the plant of India, 

 except in a very slight difference in the acumen of the leaf; 

 but the specimens from America have their outer calyx 

 proportionally longer. 



Sida periplocifolia, L. corresponds with American speci- 

 mens ; those in Hermann's herbarium, from which the 

 species was established, have a longer acumen to the leaf : 

 in other respects I perceive no difference. 



Waltheria indica, L. I consider W. americana to [m 

 be a variety of this sportive species, which seems to be 

 common to all equinoctial countries. 



TJrena americana, L. and U. reticulata, Cavan. appear to 

 me not to differ specifically ; and the plant from Congo 

 agrees with West India specimens. 



Jussieea erecta, L. from Congo, agrees with West India 

 specimens in having linear leaves ; a specimen, however, 

 from Miller's herbarium, which has been compared, and is 

 said to correspond, with that in the Linnean collection, has 

 elliptical leaves. 



Chrysohalanus Icaco, L. has its leaves more deeply retuse 

 than any American specimens I have seen, but in this 

 respect it agrees with Catesby's figure. 



Guilandina Bonduc, L. from which G. Bonducella does 

 not appear to differ in any respect, is one of the most 

 general plants on the shores of equinoctial coimtries. 



' Rapinia herbacea of the Flora Cor>hiiicliinensis (p. 127) is certaiulj 

 Sphenoclea zeylanica, as appears bj a specimen sent to Sir Joseph Banks by 

 Jjoureiro himself. ' Delile Flor. Egijpl. illust. in op. cii. 



