Monthly BotanicalP^eport* 
205 
1811 .] 
Linnaeus had distinguished his genera by the form of what he called the nectarla, but manj 
of the species unknown in his time, would not arrange under any of his genera, it became there¬ 
fore necessary either to increase the numt>er of genera or to find different characters that would 
include such as had nectaria variously formed. If the difference had appertained to these 
organs only, the latter would have been the most proper plan. But an essential difference 
in the form of other parts of the plant being conjoined with the variation in this organ, 
nature seemed to point out a real generic distinction, and Mr. Brown has accordingly in>T 
creased the number of genera, correspondent with the variety of forms in these essentiat 
parts. And <ve are satisfied that, in the end, this change of names, how'ever much to be 
deprecated when made unnecessarily, will both promote the science and ease the labour of 
the student in his researches. We should have been glad, however, that means 
could have been found of limiting, in some degree, the number of genera, in those 
cases, especiaily where the species are not numerous. Several of Mr, Brown’s genera 
consist of only one species as far as appears at least by this extensife catalogue. Thus 
Teriploca is limited to two species, the grosza and Izivigata indica and Secamone are 
both separated into distinct genera, the latter under the name of the species, the former under 
chat of He.midesmus. Ceropegia zagittata has the name of Microloma; Cynancum 'viminza^ 
that of Sarcostemma j C. externum that of Dasmla; C. erectum that of Marsdenia. Asciepias 
precera &c gigantea are raised into a genus under the name of Calotropls 5 A. izndulata is called 
Xysmalobium j A. carrtosa Hoya, after Mr. Hoy, gardner to the Du.ke of Northumberland, 
at Sion-house, an enthusiastic botanist, who has the inclination and ability to do much for 
the promotion of the science. On the other hand Stapelia, an overgrown genus, containing 
four and forty species, remains asit was, though many of the species are so different in the form 
of the nectarium, that they might as readily be separated into well defined genera as any of 
the natural order. But ^Ir. Brown does not seem to have had any thing to do with this 
genus j the Linnean character is preserved, and the term nectarium used, which Mr. Brown, 
in imitation of Jussieu and other French botanists has laid aside. The term he has used far 
this organ in the asclepiadese is corona ztarninea. In the rest of the class Pentandria there i% 
little more of novelty ; few species even that do .not occur Wildenow are recorded. 
In the class Hexandria there is a greater accession of new matter, which chiefly arises from 
the attention Mr. Ker has paid to these plants, and the number that through him have bee.-i 
brought forward in the Botanical Magazine. But Mr. Dryander has, for the most part, 
arranged the species under the genera, in Wildenow’s species plantarum, and has not paid 
the same regard to the observations of Mr. Ker, as he has done in the plants belonging ta 
the natural order of ensats. This, we imagine, has arisen from a dislike on the part of 
Mr. Dryander, to take the trouble of framing new specific characters, whicti he must have 
done had he followed Mr. Ker, whose verbose descriptions could not be permitted to supplj 
the place of Linnean definitions. Jacquin’s genus fftrumaria is adopted, and Wildenow’s Hm- 
maathus spirshs referred to it ; but, by an oversight, not Amaryllis which undoubtedly 
belongs to it, as observed by Ker, We observe that Narcissus calatblnuz of Botanical Maga¬ 
zine is referred toedarus, and the odorus of the latter work is made another species for w'sich. 
Salisbury’s name of leetus is adopted ; so trilobia of Ker is said not to correspond with the 
description of Linnaeus, and Haworth’s name nutans is adapted for it j no irihhus however 
occurs in the genus. 
Pancratium retatum of Ker is preserved, and a new specific character applied to it, as also 
to P. Amancaes of the same, which Ruez and Pavon had referred to Narcissus, probably for 
no other reason, than its having yellow flowers. P. caribaum or' Botanical Magazine is 
referred to speciesum. 
Amaryllis ad^jena of Ker, is admitted with a new character. A. ornata has likewise a near 
character, and the African and Ceylon plants considered with Ker as varieties, but A. gigan^ 
tea which the latter botanist had also considered as a variety is c-xcluded. We are inclined 
to think them all three distinct species. Brunsvigia of Heister is adopted from Ker, and Ar- 
muitlf.ora, marginata, Radula and striata referred to it. 
* Curculigo orchioides d of Ker is made a distinct species, and named brenjlfAla. Gethyllis 
plicata of Jacquin is referred to this genus, and two more new species are adeed. Aietrir 
fragrant of Wildenow is referred to Draccena after Ker; and the genus Tritoma of the lat¬ 
ter author is adopted ; so that the genus of Aletris is reduced to a single species, tiie farlnosa. 
Smilacina is not separated from Convallaria, and Dracaena bo>-eulis ot Wildenow, is retained j 
no reference, however, is made to the first edition of Alton’s Hortus Kewensis, where a 
figure of it was given ; nor js even the distinction of a variety given between this and the 
one figured in the Botanical Magazine, which .Mr. Ker has since confessed to be a distinct 
species, and has applied Michaux’s nime of urnbeUata to it. Convallaria japonica of Wilde- 
row is after Ker, separated uhder the name of Ophiopogon. 
- Ornithogalum altlssium is retained, though Ker wfithout hesitation has referred it to 
Drimia. 
In the genus Hyacinthus, Wildenow is exclusively followed; even Scilla nutans of Dr, 
Smith is retained, as Hyacinthus non icrittus ; end H. corj^ksus is not referred to Massonia 
' witk 
