190 Neilgherry Plants, 



5. Ranunculus Wallichi- cumbent habit, with small flowers, 



anus, (W. and A.) erect, hairy : flowering in May and June after 



radical leaves roundish ovate, the rains of the South-west mon- 



rounded or somewhat cordate at soon have commenced. It is 



the base, coarsely crenated ; low- however found at other seasons, 



est scape-leaf oblong, toothed, especially during rainy weather, 



narrowed at the base into a peti- Another species is found at the 



ole ; upper ones nearly linear : same season, and so much resem- 



petals (yellow) numerous, 10-13, bling this one, that, to the un- 



twice as long as the patulous practised eye, it is not distin- 



calyx : heads of fruit globose : guishable, but is at once known 



achenia oblong, tumid, minutely by the seed, which, in this, is 



dotted: style nearly straight. — furnished with numerous little 



W. and A. Prod. p. 4. tubercles, in that, is quite smooth 



This species is generally met and without asperities of any 



with in moist woods, is of a pro- kind. 



II. MAGNOLIACEyE. — Champ, Champac. — Champany. 



The species of this family are for the most part large trees 

 or shrubs, forming a remarkable contrast with those of the pre- 

 ceding family, and on this account apparently most unnatural- 

 ly grouped almost side by side with it. And yet the ablest 

 Botanists who have given their attention to the grouping of 

 natural families, so as to form a series in which those most 

 nearly associated by the structure of their flowers and fruit 

 should stand nearest each other, have hitherto failed in dis- 

 covering for it a more suitable place in the vegetable system, 

 a fact not to be much wondered at, as in the structure of their 

 flowers and fruit, the two families so nearly associate that, but 

 for other circumstances, Magnolias might almost be looked 

 upon as gigantic Arboreous Ranunculuses. 



The bulk of this family are natives of North America, a 

 few only being found in Asia, and none, so far as is yet 

 known, in Europe or Africa. Several are found in China and 



