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Observations on the Structure and Affinities of the Genus 

 " Azima" of Lamarck. By R. Wight, M.D., F.L.S. ; and 

 G. Gardner, F.L.S. , Superintendent of the Royal Bo- 

 tanic Garden, Ceylon. 



The genus Azima was first established by M. de Lamarck 

 at page 343 of the first volume of the ' Encyclopedic 

 Methodique,' in the year 1783. In the following year it 

 was again characterised by L' Heritier, under the name of 

 Monetia, in the first fasciculus of his ' Stirpes novae.' The 

 latter name, from what reason we know not, has been adopt- 

 ed by all succeeding writers, except Jussieu and Persoon. 

 In accordance with the law of priority, we adopt Lamarck's 

 name. 



Azima tetracantha, Lam. grows very abundantly in the 

 neighbourhood of Coimbatore, and being now profusely both 

 in flower and fruit, we have been enabled to draw up the 

 following description from recent specimens, from which 

 it will be perceived that those which have previously been 

 published are all more or less incorrect. 



Descr. — A dceicious rambling shrub, with prickly branches from 

 4-12 feet long. Branchlets opposite, obtusely 4-angled, pubescent, 

 a little flattened at the nodes, which are about an inch distant from 

 each other. Prickles two from the axills of each leaf, divaricate, 

 somewhat triangular, grooved on the upper surface, terminating in 

 a rigid acute point, and from half an inch to au inch and a half in 

 length. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, acute 

 at the base, pungent at the apex, coriaceous, indistinctly penniven- 

 ous, pubescent, of a light green colour, shining on both sides, from 

 an inch to an inch and a half long, and from 8-11 lines broad. 

 Male Flowers small, sessile, axillary, solitary or aggregated, each 

 furnished with two appressed mucronate bracts. Calyx viscously 

 pubescent, urceolate, 4-cleft, segments cuspidate. Petals 4, hypo- 

 gynous, linear-lanceolate, equal, estivation valvate, greenish-yellow. 

 Stamens 4, hypogynous, alternate with the petals ; filaments linear, 



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