TO DR. R. WIGHT. 



xliii 



tions are in English. Ad Captandum, ior this is the first step to- 

 wards what I consider is the duty of a Superintendent of this Gar- 

 den and Professor, namely the publication of a popular, yet Scientific 

 Flora Benghalensis. I reserve a full account with folio drawing 

 for a subsequent occasion. I regret often not having paid parti- 

 cular attention to the family throughout ray Indian experience ; 

 evidently a full examination of it would abound with results ap- 

 plicable to general system. I have lately got a new Zeuxine, it 

 may be in Lindley's last part, which 1 have not got. This would 

 enable me to publish two decades of plants, new either to science or 

 Bengal, and some very interesting indeed. This I shall reserve for 

 the Journal to appear hereafter. 



The Natural Garden is progressing, and I propose planting the 

 first circle, Acotyledones, to-morrow ; but we are very poor in ferns, 

 in which we ought to be rich; for they bear conveyance very well, at 

 least all the epiphytical species, as well as Orchideae. Ponder over 

 the mutual hybridisal of Orchideae ! IIow opposed to what science 

 thought! what a destruction to genera ! Sir J. Smith may be right 

 when he said, there would be more genera than species. 



Botanical Garden^ Dec, 26, 1843. 



I intended having answered your letter announcing the Podoste- 

 mons immediately, and to send characters of my three species for 

 your comparison. The last species I got was on the Naga Hills 

 I believe, or the Khassyas ; and is remarkable for having lobed sinu- 

 ate fronds. So that you see the first, P. Wallichii has fronds like 

 those of Anthoceros, not entirely humifuse, or rocL-fuse ; the second 

 discoid petrifuse ones ; the third petrifuse lobate sinuate. Certainly 

 your finding them is very odd ?. What is the habit ? That of the Ame- 

 rican ones being widely different, they are caulescent and Naias-like. 

 Your specimens of Givotia are males, but came too late for my 

 paper : they will do for the next. 



Roxburgh's Osyris peltata is I believe now referred to Macyran- 

 ga, DuPet.Thouars, but I can't give the authority, probably it is 

 doubtful. 



I am quite overwhelmed with work, the Calamine section of Palms 

 being now going through the press. I am sadly hurried, but that is 



