232 Remarks on the Flora of Ceylon. 



Magnoliacece Ceylon possesses four or five species of Michelia, all of 

 which are different from the solitary one which is found on the Neil- 

 gherries. Each country has a violet peculiar to itself, with another 

 that is common to them both. Both places possess about half a 

 dozen species of Elceocarpea each, but only one is held in common ; 

 and the same is the case with the order to which the tea belongs — 

 Ternstrcemiacece. The genus Impatiens, that to which the garden 

 Balsam belongs, affords one of the strongest arguments which can be 

 offered in favour of the fact I am now illustrating, for while each 

 country possesses upwards of twenty species, certainly not more than 

 three are common to both, and none of the other Ceylon species are 

 known to exist elsewhere. Of Rosacea we find that the Neilgherry 

 range has only three species of Rubus, while there are no less than 

 eight found on the mountains of Ceylon, three of which are peculiar 

 to them. Both countries have an Alchemilla in common, while the 

 Agrimony of Ceylon does not exist on the Neilgherries, but is found 

 abundantly on the Himalaya range ; and I have lately described a 

 new species of Poterium from Adam's Peak, the only one which 

 has hitherto been met with in India. Two species of Potentilla 

 grow in Ceylon, and three on the Neilgherries, one only of which is 

 common to both countries. A comparison of this kind might be run 

 on with to a great length, but enough has already been shown to 

 prove that while the Flora of the central part of the Island has more 

 affinity with that of the Neilgherries than with any other part of the 

 world, yet it must have had a creation of its own, nearly allied 

 indeed to the other in forms, but very distinct in individuals. 



Although many of the genera found in the upland regions of Cey- 

 lon are such as are common in Europe, yet none of the Ceylon species 

 are identical with European ones. Indeed, there is not to be found 

 growing really wild in the Island, a single species exactly the same 

 as any European one. There are, however, a few which have become 

 more or less naturalized, having been introduced along with garden 

 and other seeds. These are the common Sow-thistle (Sonchus Ole- 

 raceusjy the common Chick-weed (Stelleria Media), the Mouse-ear 

 Chick-weed (Serastium vulgatum), the Corn Spurry (Spergula arven- 

 sis), and the annual Meadow-grass (Poa Annua). All these with 

 the exception of the first, which is much more general, are mostly 



