327 



Observations on Botany, Sec, 



[Oct. 



in the Edinburgh Cabinet Libniiy, written by Dr. Groville, be 

 (Dr. Wallich) tliinks may amount to about 60,000 species. This 

 we think much too hiiih. We Irarn from the same articlo, that 

 Dr. ^^'i^ht thinks the flora of the Peninsula may amount to 9000, 

 ^^hioll is also perhaps, rather too lui^h. It is not however to be 

 concealed, that these gentlemen, found their calculations on the 

 known faet, thai llie country generally has not been explored, 

 and that we know little of it except along the course, of principal 

 roads and rivers, and almost nothing of the alpine flora, which is 

 alwavs the liclu st. In proof of this assertion, we may mention, 

 that Dr Wallich collected in Nepal wiihin an area of 60 miles in 

 circuniference, 2500 plants in one year. Dr. Roxburgh was 

 engaged upwards of 20 \ears on his flora of India, and it does not con - 

 tain moie. From the Neelgberies with a somewhat larger area, we 

 have as yet only three or four hundred plants, yet it is probable, 

 when as well explored, that the number will be found nearly equal 

 to that of Nepal ; on these grounds, we allow they have good reason 

 for estimating the flora far above what is at present known, and 

 heartily wish them success in their endeavours to prove their 

 estimates correct. We were desirous of comparing, the number of 

 Peninsular spicies, with those of the same orders on the Himala- 

 yas: unfortunately Mr. Iloyle has not considered the subject of 

 much importance, and except in two instances has not mf^ntioned 

 the number of species belonging to each order. This we regret, 

 as after remarking the close affinity existing between the Orders 

 and Genera of the two Floras, we wished to see to what extent they 

 corresponded in the numbers of their species. He for example 

 gives a catalogue of 72 species of Ranunculaceae, we only know 

 13 or 14 in the Peninsula, showing how much this is an extra 

 tropical order, but also leading us to infer, that our deficiency, is 

 partly owing to the imperfections of our collections, as we have 

 at least half the number of genera that he has. Of Dilleniaceae the 

 number is not mentioned, we have 5 or 6. Of Anonacese the 

 Himalayan flora is nearly destitute, while the Indian Flora has 

 about 80 species, twenty of which belong to the Peninsula. The Men- 

 ispermacese are few on the higher hills, and differ from those of 

 the plains. On the lower hills and plains, they are the same 

 as ours, but the number not mentioned. Of Berberideoe the 

 Neilgherries have two, out of six species assigned to India. We 

 learn from Mr. R. that the fruit of two of the Himalayan species 

 are dried like raisins in the sun, and sent down to the plains for 



