OF INDIA AND CEYLON. 
189 
P. metzgerioides on examination turned out to be a very 
distinct form, which I have raised to generic rank under the 
name Farmeria/" in recognition of the fact that it was first 
discovered by Prof. J. B. Farmer, who also in the most 
generous way withdrew his intended publication of an 
account of it on finding that I was monographing the 
family. 
Further new species have since been discovered by Mr. 
C. A. Barber, viz., Podostemon Barberi, Hydrobryum sessile, 
and Farmeria indica. In spite of this, however, the total 
result of my work is to decrease the number of species, no 
less than eight of Hooker’s list proving to be duplicates. 
0?f someef the Characters used in the 
Ggassitication of Podostemaceæ. 
The detailed investigations of the morphology and life- 
history of the Indian species, on which these remarks are 
based, will be given in a separate paper. It will, however, 
be convenient here to deal with the characters of these plants 
in order, pointing out some of the many pitfalls into which 
it is so easy to fall in dealing with these very variable and 
polymorphic organisms. Many of the characters used in 
floras and monographs are nearly or quite valueless for 
purposes of distinguishing the forms. Instances are given 
elsewhere. It is in the highest degree essential to investigate 
the entire life-history and morphology of these plants before 
any safe deductions as to their grouping can be drawn. My 
observations suffer from this defect with respect to many 
of the species, but are perhaps more complete than those of 
my predecessors. 
The General LifeGiistory . — This is fully described in a 
subsequent paper, and, if clearly understood, will explain 
much of the difficulty that necessarily accompanies any 
attempt to use the dry material for classification of this order. 
The seeds germinate at the beginning of the rains, and the plant 
* Notes to Trimen’s Flora of Ceylon, V., p, 386, 1900. 
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