TO DR. R. WIGHT. 



xxxvii 



Wallichia ouglit to be restored, I have not however access to a 

 complete copy of the Coromandel plants, and the synonymy of that 

 name is already obscure. I have two species, with fragments of three 

 or four more. Orania is not distinct. You will have a fair triumph over 

 me when the decade appears, for after condemning your name, I 

 anagram one which is much worse. Naming, certainly is very unsa- 

 tisfactory. I will send you soon the tracing you require. I dislike all 

 infmetismal subdivisions, old convolvulus, was a good genus, and 

 subgenera would have done better than genera. Among Botanists, 

 the doctrine of gradation of characters is evidently overlooked. 



I dont find Palms bad to preserve. I take stem and all, and tie the 

 U'hole up in gunny or mats voila tout. Herbarium specimens can be 

 made afterwards. Palms are a difficult family, with intricate affinities, 

 to hit upon which one ought to go to the new world. 



Botanical Garden, Sept. 2, 1843. 



Just look at this, and tell me, if you know it. It is the Periploceous 

 plant, with many winged or keeled follicles ; is it any thing like 

 your Decalepis ? I ask this, because I remember you considered Deca- 

 lepis as indicating a tendency to the production of another series of 

 stamina, which this also does, but they are minute, and you will 

 scarcely see them on the dry specimen. But examine the sinuses of 

 the filaments narrowly, and you may see them. 



I call it Myriopteron, I first found the plant in fruit at Mergue, 

 where the divaricate follicles are known by the name of biimb joined 

 fruits ; not an inappropriate name : only imagine, of one genus Dae- 

 monorops (Palmae) of which there is one published species, I have 

 seven and probably nine ; I get even now occasionally new Palms 

 from Jenkins. Fray send me a bit of Bentinckia. I have another 

 Decade for the next number, consisting of Orchidese, one or two 

 Euphorbiacese etc. 



October 2-2nd, 1843. 



Just look at this very curious plant, and give me your opinion 

 of it. It is a Malacca thing : the like was never seen before. It 



