S8 



Observations on the 



[July; 



to New Zealand. De Candolle describes 26, and WallicVs list of 

 Indian plants contains 12 species; seven of which are natives of the 

 Peninsula, and two have been introduced. To these I have added two 

 or three from Courtallum, and suspect the existence of two or three 

 more, of which, however, I have not yet found the fructification, to ena- 

 ble me to determine with certainty. Among those from Courtallum, 

 there are several species of Phoberos, an old genus, first found in 

 Cochin China, since on the Neilgherries, Ceylon and Cape of Good 

 Hope, but not mentioned, even as a synonym by De Candolle. 



The essential character of the Order is, having a one-celled ovary 

 with parietal placenta; the flowers vary so considerably, in different 

 genera, that no good general character can be derived from them. 

 Nearly one half of the genera have flowers without petals, some are 

 dioicous, or monoicous, while Phoberos, -and some others, have them 

 bi-sexual. In habit, they are all trees or shrubs, many of them armed 

 with large strong thorns. Two of the Courtallum species of Phoberos 

 •are considerable trees, and Hydnocarpus, both there and on the Mala- 

 bar Coast, often attains a large size. 



Of the properties of Flacourtianece little is known. Some species of 

 'JFlacoartia bear an agreeable sub-acid fruit, from which excellent pre- 

 serves are made. Hydnocarpus Venenata, on the other hand, hears a 

 fruit highly poisonous to fishes, which, on eating of it, become so un- 

 wholesome, as to be unfit for food. 



The seeds of Bioca Orillana (which has recently been restored to 

 this Order by the authors of the Flore Senegambie) are enclosed in a 

 brownish coloured pulp, from which the dye called Arnotto is procured. 

 This substance, which possesses some very curious chemical properties, ' 

 is said to be stomachic and slightly purgative. 



"I have not been able to ascertain the quantity of Arnotto annually 

 consumed in England, nor the method of using it as a dye, but, if the 

 former is considerable, a large supply might be procured from India, as 

 it grows luxuriantly, producing abundance of fruit, wherever planted 

 in a good soil: being a handsome ornamental shrub, it is frequently 

 met with in gardens. The dye is used for staining cheeses, as well as 

 colouring cloth. 



IX.— Violariece. 



This is a large but principally extra-tropical Order. Dr. Wallich 

 lias named 18 in his list, sixteen of which are Indian plants, the other 

 two from Penang : he seems however to have unnecessarily multiplied 

 species. Six only are referred to the Peninsula, three species of 

 Viola, and three of Ionidium : two of the former are from the 

 Neilgherries, and one from Mysore, and closely resemble some 

 of the European forms ; the latter are natives of the plains and 

 sub-alpine districts. Two of the latter I have found at Cour- 



