MICHELIA NILAGIBICA. (Nat. order Maguoliaceee.) 



MlCHELIA. Linn. Qcii.Pl. 1. 19. — GEN. CHAR. Flowers herniathrodite, sepals and petals all similar and colored, 9-raany, in 3-ra.any 

 series imbricate, anthers linear adnate introrse bursting longitudinally, gynophore stipitate, ovaries many, spicate one celled 2-8-many ovuled, carpels ar- 

 ranged in a loose spike of a consistence between leathery and fleshy opening from the apex downwards, seeds several externally fleshy. Trees, with entire 

 leaves like the Magnolia, flowers large axillary fragrant white or yellow. 



MICHELIA .WlLAGIRICA. (Zenker.) A handsome tree of considerable size with the young parts sericeo-villous 

 leaves elliptic acute, or oval obtusely acuminate or broadly obovate, glabrous on both sides or pubescent on the costa beneath, very 

 variable in size 3-5 in. long, by l|-2 broad, petioles frdin. long, flowers white, sepals and petals 9-12 exterior obovate, interior oblongo- 

 lanceolate acute, spathes silky, stamens numerous shorter than the column of fructification, ovaries numerous, ovules 2-4, carpels warty 

 arranged along a spike 2-3 inches in length. Zenker PL Ind. t. 20 ; — Wight III. i, 14 ; Icon. t. 938. M. Pulneyeusis, Wight III. 

 i. 14, t. 5. M. ovalifolia glauca et Walkeri, Wight I. c. 13. 



This is a very ornamental Magnolia-like tree common on the higher ranges of the Nilgiris, Pidneys, &c, and on the elevated mountains in 

 Ceylon, and occasionllay met with at lower elevations in our western forests. It differs considerably in the size and shape of the leaves, and size of its 

 perianth-leaves, and Br. Wight made several species of the S. Indin and Ceylon forms, but they all run one into another and cannot be properly dis- 

 tinguished, at least more than varieties. It is called Shemboogha in Tamil ; the wood is strong, dose and, fine grained, but very hygrom etrical : it is 

 used for building purposes, beams and rafters. 



