Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Droseraceae
XVII.— DROSERACEAE—THE SUN-DEW TRIBE.
A small order of herbaceous, annual, or perennial, rarely sufFrutescent plants, with simple, rarely pinnatifed or toothed, alternate, leaves, often congested at the base, for the most part furnished with scattered glandular hairs, especially on the margins, and with circinate vernation, the leaves being rolled inwards from the apex towards the base like ferns, stipules wanting, but in their place often furnished with stipulary hairs at the base of the petiols. Their flowers are hermaphrodite, regular, either solitary, or more frequently racemose, pedicelled, all ranged on one side of the stalk, (secund) the stalk circinatety revolute before the expansion of the flowers. The calyx free, persistent, consisting of 5 equal imbricating sepals : the corolla of 5 hypogynous equal petals, which continue to adhere and wither on the stalk after blooming, (marcescent.) The stamens usually equal the petals, and alternate with them, but are sometimes double or treble the number, with terminal, erect, 2-celled, anthers; bursting longitudinally, or rarely, by terminal pores. The ovary is sessile, 1-celled, with parietal many seeded placenta?, styles 3-5 distinct, or co hering at the base, with bifid or branched stigmas. Fruit capsular, 1 -celled, 3-5 valved, dehiscence loculicidal, that is the valves bearing the placentas, and seeds on their middle. Seeds numerous, minute, albumen fleshy or cartilagenous, enclosing the straight Embryo, with its radical pointing towards the hilum : cotyledons thick, becoming foliacious in germination.
Affinities. This order is nearly allied to Violarieoe, from which however it is distinguished by its circinate vernation, ex stipulate leaves, and numerous styles. Dr. Lindley considers them also related to Sa^ifrageee, from which they are principally distinguished by their vernation. He however refers Parnassia to that order, though it agrees with Drosera in its vernation, and in so far differs from Saxifrageae, this therefore, as an intermediate genus, appertaining more to the one in its reproductive organs and to the other in habit, establishes a close relationship between the two.
Essential Character. Polypetalous : stamens fewer than 20 : ovary wholly superior; of several combined carpels with more than one placentae : leaves with stipulary fringes, circinate when young, dotless.
Geographical Distribution. The whole order, with I believe only one exception, are natives of wet and marshy soil, and are found in every part of the world where bogs and marshes occur. In this country we find the Drosera Burmanni occupying a range of elevation, varying from that of the level of the sea, to 8000 feet. I have gathered it on the banks of the Adyar in Madras, and in the marshes of Ootacamund on the Neilgherries : Drosera Indica has nearly as wide a range: D. pelata I have only found on the higher hills, but on these, both on the continent and in Ceylon: D. intermedia is a European plant, but the specimen figured in the accompanying plate was procured from an Indian herbarium, but whether a native specimen or not is unknown.
Properties and Uses. These plants were formerly esteemed by alchymists, on account of the drops of pellucid dew, which they support on the glandular points of their hairs, to which they gave the name of Ros solis, whence the name Sun-dew which they now bear. They are inodorous, but somewhat acid and acrid. Bruised with salt and applied to the skin, they are said to blister it: mixed with milk they curdle it; probably through their acidity: cattle refuse them, hence they are, apparently with much justice, supposed to be poisonous or otherwise injurious to them. Drosera peltata, which becomes nearly black in drying, tinges the paper in which it is kept a beautiful pink colour, and might probably as Mr. Royle suggests, afford a valuable dye. The whole of these plants are remarkable for their property of contracting on such insects, as happen to light on their leaves, but none of them to the same extent as those of Dionoea muscipula, (Venus' fly trap) which on some hairs in the middle of the lobes of the leaf being touched, immediately contract with great rapidity on whatever object may have excited them, but so long as these hairs are avoided, the surface of the leaf may be freely touched without exciting contraction.
Sub-ord. PARNASSIEAE.
The place the genus Parnassia ought to occupy in the natural arrangement of plants, has long been a subject of doubt among Botanists. Jussieu placed it along with Drosera and Resida, at the end of the Capparideae as allied genera, being principally influenced in this decision by the parietal placentation. Since then both Drosera and Resida have been made the types of distinct orders, but the place of Parnassia still remains undetermined. DeCandolle refers it with doubt to Droseraceae, Dr. Lindley to Saxifrageae, notwithstanding its circinate vernation, considering the nectarial scales as "a peculiar development of an hypogynous disk, which assumes the form of 5 fringed scales alternate with the stamens, and of highly curious structure." Bartling (Ordinus Naturalis Plantarum) thinks it more appropriately placed among the Tamariscineae, while Dr. Arnott, in my opinion, with greater justice, considers it a sub-order of Droseraceae, and here accordingly I have kept it for the present, though it differs from both orders, in the want of albumen in the seeds, and from Droseraceae in the want of glandular pairs on the leaves. The following character of the sub-order was drawn up by Mr. Arnot and published in our Prodromus.
Sub-order. Parnassieae (Arn.) Sepals 5; oestivation imbricative. Petals 5, alternate with the sepals, hypogynous. Stamens hypogynous, 10— 20, some of them often sterile : anthers bilocular, bursting longitudinally. Ovary solitary, unilocular : style none, and four sessile stigmas opposite the placentae; or one with a lobed stigma. Fruit a capsule, 1-celled, 4-5, valved and loculicide; or indehiscent, and then the placentae is only at the base. Seeds numerous. Albumen O. Embryo erect, or the radical pointing to the hilum. Bog plants. Leaves nearly all radical, without glandular hairs.
Geographical Distribution. The species of this genus are widely distributed, being met with in every country of Europe, North America, and on the higher hills of both the north and south of India; always in boggy marshy places. The three species figured here are respectively from the Pulney mountains, (P. mysorensis), the Neilgherries, (P. Wightiana), and from the Himalayas, (P. nubicola).
Properties and Uses. Of the properties of this order little is known, the P. palustris, when fresh, is somewhat bitter, which it loses by drying, the infusion is also said to be rough and astringent to the taste, and strikes a deep red colour on being mixed with sulphate of iron. In the northern parts of Europe and Siberia, the decoction is a popular remedy for retentions of urine and calculus disorders. The following Synopsis of the Fast Tndian species Drosera and Parnassia, drawn up by Dr. G. A. Walker Arnott, and published in the Companion to the Botanical Magazine, I republish entire, that work being but little known in India.
SYNOPSIS OF THE EAST INDIAN SPECIES OF DROSERA AND PARNASSIA.
Drosera. Linn. § 1. EOCELLA. D C. 1. D. umhellala (Lour.); acaulis, foliis ovalibus Jonge petiolatis, scapo apice umbellato 5-floro.— Lour. Cock. {ed. Willd.) I. p. 232. D C. Prod. 1. p. 317- Don in Mill. Diet. 1. p. 344. Hab. In China. This I have not seen, nov am I aware of its exist- ence in any Herbarium. Loureiro himself had never found either the recent flowers or the fruit, and is somewhat doubtful about the genus, although the ap- pearance was that of a Drosera. 2. D. Burnt anni (Vahl) ; acaulis, foliis cuneato- obovatis sessilibus reticulato-venosis, scapo paucifloro erecto capillari calyceque glabris, seminibus exarilla- tis.— Fahl, Symb. 3. p. 50. D C. Prod. 1. p. 318. Don in MM, Diet. I. p. 344. Roxb. FL Ind. 2. p. 113. Moon, Cat. Ceyl. PL p. 23. Wight el Am. Prod. FL Pen. Ind. Or. I. p. 34. Wall. Cat. «. 1242. Wight Cat. n. 120.— Burm. Th. Zeyl. t. 94. /. 2. Hab. In Ceylon. Hermann, Burmann, Moon, Macrae, Walker. Peninsula of India. Roxburgh, Heyne, Klein, Wight, Griffith. Bengal and Silhet. Wallich, Hamilton, De Silva, Cochinchina P Fin- layson. 3. D. Loureirii (Hook, et Arn.) ; acaulis, foliis ob- longo-spathulatis a petiolum subgeque longum pilosum attenuatis, scapo adscendente elongato plurifioro folia multo superante versus apicem calyceque glanduloso- pubescentibus, pedicellis calycem aequantibus, semini- bus exarillaiis. — H, et A. in Bot. Beech. Voy. p 167. tab. 31.— D. rotundifolia. Lour. Coch. (ed. Willd.) 1. p. 233. -I). Burmanni. D C. Prod. 1. p. 318 (quoad plantam Chinensem). Hab. Cochinchina. Loureiro. Canton, China, Messrs. Lay and Collie. 4. D. Jndica (Linn.) ; caule ramoso, foliis sparsis anguste linearibus apice attenuatis glanduloso-pilosis, pilis limbi latitudine longioribus rigidiusculis, petiolo brevi glabro vel minute puberulo latitudine limbum folii subaequante, racemo paucifloro calyceque copiose patentim glanduloso-pubescentibus, seminibus exaril- latis.— Linn. Sp. p. 403. D C Prod. 1. p. 319. Don in Mill. Diet. 1. p. 346. Roxb. FL Jnd. 2. p. 113. Moon, Cat. Ceyl. FL p. 23. Wight et Arn. Prod. FL Pen. Ind. Or. I. p. 34. Wall. Cat. n. 1244. Wight, Cat. n. 119.— Rheed. H. Mai. 10. t. 20. Burm. Zeyl. t. 94./. 1. Hab. Ceylon. Hermann, Burmann, Moon, Ma- crae, Walker. Peninsula of India. Roxburgh, Klein, Heyne, Wight, Campbell. Tavoy. Gomez. 5. D. Finlaysoni (Wall.); caule ramoso, foliis sparsis anguste linearibus longe subulato-attenuatis supra margineque breviter articulato-pilosis, petiolo spbgequi-lato brevi, racemis elongatis multifloris minu- tissime parceque glanduloso-puberulis, seminibus ovoideis scrobiculato-punctatis. Wall. Cat. n. 3752. , Hab. Turow Bay, Cochinchina. Finlayson. This is much larger than the preceding, and pre- sents a considerable difference in habit, but approaches too closely in character. I have only seen one speci- men, and that an imperfect one. § 2. ERGALE1UM. D C. 6. D. lunata (Ham.) ; caule erecto glabro, foliis radicalibus rotundato-reniformibus, caulinis sparsis petiolatis peltatis lunato-triangularibus, angulis duo- bus acuminatis tertio rotundato, sepalis lacero-dentatis ciliatisve ceelen qnin glabris, seminibus exarillatis. — Ham. in D V. Prod. I. p. 319. Don Prod. FL Nep. p. 212. G. Don. in Mill. Diet. 1. p. 346. Moon, Cat. Ceyl. FL p. 23. Wall. Cat. n. 1243.— D. Peltata. W'ight et Am. Prod. FL Pen. Ind. Or. I. p. 34. Wight, Cat. n. 117. Hab. Ceylon. Moon, Walker. Peninsula of India. Wight. Nepal. Hamilton, Wallich. Himalayah. Gerard. Silhet. hruce. Although I have here kept D. lunata distinct from D. peltata, I do so with much hesitation ; and the doi bts, expressed by Dr. Wight and myself in the Prodromus Fl. Penins., are somewhat confirmed by specimens from Van Diemen's Land, agreeing entirely with the above character. The only difference I can point out between the two species is, that in our plant the calyx is glabrous ; the margin is usually slightly cut or toothed, although sometimes ciliated. In Z>. peltata the calyx is all over covered with adpressed longish hairs, and the sepals are broader and shorter than in D. lunata. If they be really distinct species, it is not easy to say to which Smith's and Labillardiere's synonyms belong. Parnassia, Linn. This genus may be conveniently divided into four groups, two of W'hich belong lo Europe, N. America, and Siberia; the other twotoE asl India. I shall here give the definitions of each, with an enumeration of all the species 1 possess. § 1. Stamina slerilia in selas gractles apice glan- duliferaft desmevtia ; petala margine mtegerrima. P. Carolinians. Mich.— P. palustris. Lin. — P. pavviflora. D C., Hook. FL Bor. Am. 1. t. 27.— P. Kotzebuei, Ch. et. Scltl. § 2. Stamina sierilia in se/as volidas apice glan- duliferas desinentia ; petala basin versus fimbrtato- lacera. I. P. Wightiana (Wall.) ; foliis late cordato-ovatis subreniformibus, sinu subrotundato, biactea foliis simi- li amplectente, petalis obovato-oblongis margine infra medium in segmenta simplicia vel simpliciter furcata.
tenuia ciliato-laceris, ungue brevi late cuneato, stamini DROSERACEÆ.jpg)
A. DROSERA BURMANNI.
B. D.INTERMEDIA. C. D. INDICA. D. D. PELTATA
PARNASSIEÆ.jpg)
B. P.WIGHTIANA.
A. PARNASSIA MYSORENSIS. C. P. NUBICOLA.
bus stevilibus fertilia subaequantibus in setas validas apice glanduliferas desinentibus.— Wall. Cat. n. 3755. Wight el Am. Prod. Fl. Pen. Ind. Or. p. 35. Wight, Cat. n. 116.
Hab. Mountains in the South of the Peninsula of India. Wight.
Scapus subpedalis. Folia l^ poll, longa, li fere lata.
2. P. ornata (Wall.) ; foliis late corchto-ovatis sinu angusto, braetea consimili ampleetente, petulis obovatis basi in unguem conspieue uninervem late lineaiem angustatis basin versus ungueque copiose ciliato-laceris, laciniis elongatis capillace<i-pinnaiiscctis, staminibus sterilibus in setas validas apice glan- duliferas desinentibus.— Wall. Cat. n. 1247.
Hab. Himalayah. Blinkucrth.
Scapus pedalis. Folia 1| poll, longa atque lata. Flores magni.
§ 3. Stamina sterilia apice breviter sub-b-Jida, eglandulosa ; pelala margine cilia/o/acera.
P. fimbria la. Bunks.— Hook. Bet. Misc. I. t. 43.
§ 4. Stamina steri/ia apice brevi trifida eglandulosa ; pelala margine subintegerrima. 3. P. nubtcola (Wall.) ; foliis elliptico-oblongis 7— 9-nerviis basi retusis et subiter in petiolum con- tractis, nervis subtus prominulis, braclea late ovaia vel oblonga basi retusa sessili, petalis oblongis sepala subtriplo superantibus ungue brevi margine leviter dentato, staminibus sterilibus dimidio brevioribus apice trilobis, lobis crassis oblongis obtusis. — Wall. Cat. n. 1246. Hab. Gossain-Than. Wallich. Kamaon. Blink- worth. Scapus plusquam pedalis. Folia 2*— 4 poll, longa, l{ lata. In hac atque in speciebus duabus sequentibus tria tantuni stigmata vidi. Flores majusculi. 4. P. Mysorensis (Heyne) ; foliis covdatis subreni- formibus lobis incumbentibus, braetea cordata amplee- tente, sepalis late ovalibus pedunculi apice incrassato dimidio longioribus, petalis obovali-oblongis unguicu- latis margine integerrimis subdenticulatisve sepala 2|-plo superantibus, staminibus sterilibus fertilibus dimidio brevioribus apice trifidis segmentis oblongis obtusis crassiusculis. — Heyne in Wall. Cat. n. 3754. Wight et Am. Prod. Fl. Pen. Ind. Or. p. 35. Hab. Mysore. Heyne. Scapus 3— 3| pollicaris. Folia 4— 5i lin. longa, 31 lata. A P. Kotzebuei, cui habitu quodammodo similis, differt petalis calyce longioribus, staminum stenlium forma, braetea sessili, foliorumque forma. 5. P. pusilla (Wall.) ; foliis cordato-ovatis lobis divergentibus, braetea ovata subpetiolata, sepalis late ovalibus pedunculi apicem incrassatam eequantibus, petalis obovatis basi sensim in unguem sepala eequan- tem attenuatis integerrimis sepala 3— 4-plo superanti- bus, staminibus sterilibus apice breviter trifidis fertilia ac sepala subaequantibus. — Wall. Cat. n. 1255. Hab. Gossain-Than. Wallich. Scapus 24— 3-pollicaris. Folia 3 lin. tantum longa, 21-2i lata.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES 20 and 21.
20.—DROSERACEAE.
A. 1. Drosea Burmanni, natural sue— 2. A flower opened, showing the calyx, corolla, stamens and ovary — 3. A stamen — 4. A portion of the branched stigma, highly magnified; the globular bodies, adherent grains of pollen— 5. A grain of pollen more highly magnified, show ing its lobed or compound structure — 6. The 5- valved capsule, after dehiscence — all more or less magnified.
B. 1. Drosera intermedia — natural size.
C. 1. Drosera India, natural size— 2. Flower opened as above — 3. Stamens back and front views — 4. A stigma much magnified, the globular grains seen on the branched portion adherent grains of pollen— 5. Capsule 3 salved— 6. A seed showing the reticulated testa— 7. Portion of a leaf magnified— all more or less magnified.
D. 1. Drosera peltala, nalurul size— 2. Flower— 3. Stamens anther burst — 4. Ovary cut transversely, showing parietal placentation and ramous, style and stigma— 5. Under side of a leaf magnified — all more or less magnified.
21.— PARNASSIEAE.
A. I. Parnassia Mysorensis : a medium sized specimen, natural size— 2. Flower opened to show all its parts— 3. The same sepals and petals removed, showing the stamens, abortive stamens, and ovary — 4. Carpel cut vertically, showing the seeds on one placentae—5. Young fruit, natural size— 6. The same magnified —7. Ovary cut transversely, showing the parietal placentation.
B. 1. P. Wightiana, natural size—2. Flower magnified.
C. P. Nubicola, flower and braetea, natural size—From a Himalayan specimen.