299 
Stapf.—On the Sonerileae of Asia . 
part from the middle nerve at the very base of the leaf, or 
nearly so, the venation assumes a different character in this 
group, which otherwise approaches that of S. zeylanica , par- 
ticularly the peninsular species S. Brunonis and Clarkei. 
The lateral nerves branch off higher up, the leaves becoming 
thus 3-7-plo-nerved, and even penninerved (in S. versicolor ). 
1. .S. versicolor , Wight (S. axillaris , Wight). Nilgherries. 
A very well-marked species much resembling Brunonis , 
but with penninerved leaves. vS. axillaris , Wight, was de- 
rived from the same locality as S. versicolor , the SIspara Ghat 
in the Nilgherries, and is identical with it. 
2. S. travancorica , Bedd. Travancore, 1300 m. 
3. S. elegans , Wight. Nilgherries. 
vS. travancorica differs from S. Clarkei, to which it is linked 
nearest, in the nervation and size of the leaves ; habit, tomen- 
tum, size and shape of the flowers, anthers and capsules being 
exactly the same. If we imagine a leaf of N. Clarkei much 
increased in the lower part, and that part provided with the 
vascular bundles necessary for its nutrition and its mechanical 
strength, we should get a leaf like that of N. travancorica. 
This species was separated from S. elegans chiefly on account 
of its supposed eglandular tomentum, but there are glandular 
hairs of exactly the same form also in N. elegans , and both 
species are extremely closely allied, if altogether separable. 
4. S.pilosula, Thw. South-west Ceylon, 300-600 m. 
The versicolor-group is represented in Ceylon by S.pilosula , 
a species very near to S. elegans and N. travancorica as far 
as foliage and flowers are concerned, but evidently of a 
much more flaccid habit and a somewhat different tomen- 
tum. From S. versicolor it differs in the 5-7-plo-nerved (not 
penninerved) leaves. 
The species forming this group are closely allied to each 
other. The nearest affinity outside the group is to S. Clarkei 
and S. Brunonis on the side of the zeylanica-group and to 
%S. speciosa in the following group. Their anthers are long 
acuminate or rostrate, like those of N. Clarkei. They are 
