1889.] G. King — Materials for a Flora of the Malayan Peninsula. 359 



XXII. — Materials for a Flora of the Malayan Peninsula. — By Geokoe 

 Kma, M. B., LL. D., F. R. S., F. L. S., Superintendent of the Boyal 

 Botanic Garden, Calcutta. 



[Ecoeived and read July 3rd, 1889.] 

 As tlie Calcutta Herbai'ium contains a rich collection of Malayan 

 plants, 1 propose to publish from time to time a systematic account of 

 as many of tliem as are indigenous to British provinces, or to provinces 

 under British influence. In addition to the states on the mainland of 

 the Malayan Peninsula, these provinces include the islands of Singa- 

 pore and Penang, and the Nicobar and Andaman groujss. The classi- 

 fication which I propose to follow is that of the late Mr. Bentham and 

 Sir Joseph Hooker. It is unlikely that, with the scanty leisure at my 

 command, I shall be able, under several years, to complete even the 

 meagre account of the Flora of which the first instalment is now sub- 

 mitted. The orders will be taken up nearly in the sequence followed 

 in the Genera Plantarum of Bentham and Hooker, and in the Flora 

 of British India of the latter distinguished botanist. The natural orders 

 now submitted are Hantmculacece, Billeniacece, MagnoUaceai, Menisper- 

 macecE, Nymphceacece, Capparidece, and Violarece. The order Anonacem 

 should have come between Magnoliaceoe and 3Ienispermacece ; but, on 

 account of its extent and difficulty, I have been obliged to postpone its 

 elaboration pending the receipt of further herbarium material. It will 

 however, it is hoped, soon be taken up. 



Order I. RANUNOULACE^. 



Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite. 

 Stipules 0, or adnate to the petiole, rarely free. Flowers regular or 

 irregular, 1-2-sexual. Sepals 5 or more, rarely 2 to 4, usually deciduous, 

 often petaloid, imbricate or valvate. Petals 0 or 4 or more, hypogjmous, 

 imbricate, often minute or deformed. Stamens hypogynous ; anthers 

 usually adnate and dehiscing laterally. Carpels usually many, free, 

 1-celled ; stigma simple ; ovule one or more, on the ventral suture, anatro- 

 pous, erect with a ventral, or pendulous with a dorsal raphe. Fruit of 

 numerous 1-seeded aohenes, or many-seeded follicles, rarely a berry. 

 Seed small, albumen copious ; embryo minute. Distrib. Abundant 

 in temperate and cold regions : genera 30 ; known species about 310.* 



* Tho above diagnosis of this order (copied from. Sir Joaepli Hooker's Flora of 

 Britisi India) covers tho entire order, which is usually sub-divided into five sub- 

 orders or tribes. Representatives of only one of these tribes [Cleinatidem) have 

 hitherto been discovered in the region nnder review. But, as exploration of (;he 

 central mountain ranges proceeds, plants belonging to one or two of the other tribes 

 4G 



