Notes on Indian Botany. 169 



Whether Ceratostema can be kept distinct I am unable to say, but, 

 judging from the really essential points of the character, apart from 

 the numerous non-essential ones introduced by Dunal, I think not. 

 Thibaudia has one good distinguishing mark in the union of the 

 filaments between themselves and their attachment to the base of 

 the corolla. But if that is to be taken as the essential character of 

 the genus, then both Macleanea and Anthopterus should be associa- 

 ted as sub- genera, the collateral marks derived from the calyx and 

 corolla being scarcely of generic value in a family where these organs 

 are so variable. 



Influenced by such considerations, I have without hesitation refer- 

 red all the Indian species to Vaccinium, with the sub-generic appella- 

 tion Agapetes, to mark their Asiatic origin. The following I consider 

 the correct characters of the genus, and would view all species in 

 which they meet as genuine species. 



Calyx adherent, limb 4-5-lobed. Corolla tubular 4-5-cleft. 

 Stamens 8-iO-epigynous, anthers adnate, 2-celled, often furnished 

 with 2 bristles on the back, the cells ending in a tube open at the 

 apex. Ovary 4-5-celled, placentas ascending, usually bearing the 

 ovules on the margin. Berry 4-5-celled, often spuriously 10-celled 

 through the adherence of the walls to the thickened placentas. Seed 

 several in each cell, testa coriaceous or somewhat bony : albumen 

 fleshy : embryo orthotropus, radicle next the hilum. 



Trees, shrubs, &c. &c. 



According to this character, it is of no moment whether the lobes 

 of the calyx are large or small, whether the corolla is long or short, 

 thick or thin : the anthers may or may not be bristled, but are al- 

 ways expected to have the cells more or less prolonged into tubes, 

 and to have the number of cells of the ovary equal to those of the 

 lobes of the calyx and corolla, with more or less distinctly free 

 ascending placentas and a plurality of ovules. Such is the genus 

 Vaccinium, as understood by me when naming the following and 

 several other still unpublished species in my herbarium. 



Vaccinium (A.) Wallichianum, (R. W.) Leaves subsessile, 

 lanceolate acuminate, entire glabrous, congested towards the ends 

 of the ramuli : racemes axillary, erect, shorter than the leaves : 

 flowers tubular, drooping, and with the pedicels and calyx sprinkled 



