Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Rosacea

by Robert Wight

LVII.— ROSACEA.

In extra tropical Botany this is a most important order, but within the tropics of very secondary consideration, owing to the small number and inferior value of its tropical species. In Europe and the temperate regions of Asia and America they abound, and those of the former countries supply us with nearly all our finest fruits. The order is divided into different sections or sub-orders. To Potentillae belong strawberries and raspberries : roses to Roseae : cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and almonds to Amygdaleae : apples, pears, quinces, mpdlars, and the fragrant hawthorn, in all their endless varieties to Pomeae. This, therefore, like Leguminoftae, as the preceding enumeration of tribes will show, is a very polymorphous order, and not easily reducible within the limits of a definition, however extended, and like it, has been divided by some into tribes, by others into sub-orders with detailed characters, and lastly, by Bartling and G. Don into several distinct orders. DeCandolle retains them as one, gives the following character of the whole order, but I fear that, in doubtful cases, it would Scarcely enable one with certainty to determine whether the plant under examination really belonged to this order: as however such examples are not of frequent occurrence, it being easier to recognize than to define the order I give it nearly as he does.

Sepals usually 5, more or less combined into a tube and thence 5-lobed, generally persisting, free, or adherent with the ovary. Petals of the same number, rarely wanting, inserted upon the calyx ; aestivation imbricated, mostly regular. Stamens inserted with the petals, usually indefinite; filaments with an incurved aestivation; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally, Carpels numerous, sometimes reduced and solitary, sometimes united among themselves or with the tube of the calyx, apparently forming one ovarium. Ovaries l-celled, style simple, dilated upwards into variously formed stigmas, frequently lateral, distinct, or rarely combined. Seeds one or two, rarely more in each carpel, erect, or inverted, exalbuminous (except in jYeillea and Hirtella). Embryo straight Cotyledon-, leafy or fleshy — Herbs or trees. Leaves alternate, simple, or compound, with 2 stipules at the base. Inflorescence various.

To understand this character fully some study is required. Carpels numerous, applies to the fruit of the raspberry, strawberry, rose &c, which is made up of a congeries of small carpels, each having its own style and stigma, and each except in the rose becoming a drupe in miniature, that is, a soft juicy or pulpy fruit, with a single hard stone in the centre. The sloe, and its numerous cultivated varieties, (plums of all kinds) the cherry, the almond, the peach, the apricot, &c, belong to the reduced and solitary forms. To the first of these divisions, carpels numerous, belong the tribe Dryadeae or Potentilleae, the second, carpels reduced, applies to Amygdaleae. The third set, those namely, having the ovaries united among themselves or with the tube of the calyx embraces the Pomaceae or apple tribe, which has 5 one-celled ovaries, all united with the fleshy calyx, by which they are enclosed, and finally become a single fleshy succulent fruit. In the Rose the carpels are numerous, enclosed within the fleshy tube of the calyx, which, is contracted at the apex and as it approaches maturity finally becomes nearly a shut sac, and may almost be compared to a berry, except that the seed are not enveloped in pulp, as in the gooseberry. The carpels are inserted into the tube of the calyx and the long slender style projects beyond the orifice. Notwithstanding the very remarkable difference between the fruit of a rose and a strawberry they are yet placed to the same division of the order, namely, Rosaceae proper. This may. be explained by comparing the calyx of both to a purse; in the rose the seed are attached to the bottom inside and enclosed by it; while in the strawberry it is as it were inverted, pushing the carpels beyond the mouth, that is, the ring of the calyx, and allowing them to ripen exposed to the air and light. ( See Icones Nos. 38 and 230, Ro*a and Rubus) The fleshy edible part of the apple, pear, quince &c, is the thickened fleshy tube of the calyx.

Having premised these general explanations of the structure of the fruit of the order as a whole, I shall now transcribe Dr. Lindley's characters of Rosaceae and the three sub-orders into which he divides this tribe, namely, Pomaceae, Amygdaleae and Sangesorbeae, adding under each, the properties, appertaining to it.

Rosaceae. The Rose tribe.

"Calyx 4 or 5-lobed, with a disk either linening the tube or surrounding the orifice ; the fifth lobe next the axis. Petals 5, perigynous, equal. Stamens indefinite, arising from the calyx, just within the petals, in asstivation curved inwards; anthers innate, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovaries superior, either solitary or several, 1-celled, sometimes cohering into a plurilocular pistil; ovules 2, or more, suspended, very rarely erect; styles lateral; stigmas usually simple, and emarginate on one side. Fruit either l-seeded nuts, or acini, or follicles containing several seeds. Seeds suspended, rarely ascending. Embryo straight, with a taper short radicle pointing to the hilum, and flat cotyledons. Albumen usually almost obliterated when the seeds are ripe; if present fleshy.—Herbaceous plants or shrubs. Leaves simple or compound, alternate, usually with 2 stipules at their base."

Under this order Dr. Lindley ranges the rose, the raspberry, bramble, and strawberry, the Dryas and Agrimony, meadow sweet ( Spiraea J and many others in which numerous pistils with lateral styles are observed, the rose itself being to all appearance the most anomalous of the tribe, owing the extension of the tube of the calyx and the contraction of its orifice enclosing and concealing the carpels, which in most of the others are exposed. The genera naturally divide themselves into four groups — 1st. Roseae, distinguished as above by its tubular ventricose calyx enclosing the ovaries — 2d. Potentilleae, by its numerous ovaries seated on an elevated fleshy receptacle — 3d. Spircece, by its definite ovaries (about 5) each with a terminal style and several ovules ; follicular fruit, with two rows of suspended seed in each follicle j and lastly, Quillaieae like Spircece but trees, having winged seed,with simple, not lobed leaves, (all American.)

Geographical Distribution. Principally natives of temperate or cold climates of the northern hemisphere. The species found within the tropics are natives of high hills, where the temperature is reduced by elevation. Such is the case with all those found in the Indian peninsula, figures of several of which will be found in the 12th number of my Icones.

Properties and Uses. No rosaceous plants are unwholesome and some of them furnish us with most delicate fruit. In the plant the astringent principle generally predominates and in the Tormentilla so intensely that its roots are even used for tanning leather, some of them are reckoned febrifuge and have been administered as substitutes for Peruvian bark; Brayera an Abyssinean plant is said to be one of the most powerful anthelmentics in the world, it being stated by Brayer its discoverer, that, two or three doses of its infusion are sufficient to cure the most obstinate cases of tapeworm. Rosaceae are however best known for the beauty and fragrance of the type of the family, the Rose, and for their fruit, of which the strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry, are the most esteemed. Some of the Indian species of Rubus even in their uncultivated slate produce very passable fruit, which might be greatly improved by culture and certainly merit a trial. Judging from the great advances which within these few years have been made in the culture of the rose in this country, we have strong reason to hope for most ample success in this attempt. The strawberry is now cultivated to a considerable extent about Hyderabad and Bangalore and has even succeeded in producing fruit in Madras, but as yet our attempts at culture have not been crowned with much success.

Sub-order Pomeae. The Apple tribe.

"Calyx superior, 5-toothed; the odd segment posterior Petals 5, unguiculate, inserted in the throat of the calyx ; the odd one anterior. Stamens indefinite, inserted in a ring in the throat of the calyx. Disk thin, clothing the sides of the tube of the calyx. Ovaries from 1 to 5, adhering more or less to the sides of the calyx and each other ; ovules usually 2, collateral, ascending, very rarely solitary ; Styles from 1 to 5 ; stigmas simple. Fruit a pome, 1 to 5-celled, seldom spuriously 10-celled ; the endocarp either cartilaginous, spongy, or bony. Seeds ascending, solitary. Albumen none; embryo erect, with flat cotyledons, or convolute ones in Chamameles, and a short conical radicle. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, stipulate, simple, or compound. Floivers in terminal cymes, white or pink," Affinities. These differ from the preceding by the adhesion of the ovaries with the sides of the calyx and more or less with each other. " The fruit is always a pome; that is, it is made up of a fleshy calyx adhering to fleshy or bony ovaries, containing a definite number of &eeds. Pomeae are principally distinguished by their ovnles being in pairs and side by side, while Rosaceae, when they have two or more ascending ovules, always have them one above the other. Cultivated plants of this order are very apt to produce monstrous flowers which depart sometimes in a most remarkable degree from their normal state : nor can any order be more instructively studied with a view morphological inquiries, particularly the common pear when in blossom. A remarkable permanent monster of this kind with 14 styles, 14 ovaries and a calyx, with 10 divisions in two rows is described in the Revue Encyclopedique, thus exhibiting a tend- ency on the part of Pomeae to assume the indefinite ovaries and double calyx of Rosaceae. I have seen a Primus in a similar state" — Lindley.

Geographical Distribution. Plants of this sub-order abound in Europe and northern Asia, a few are found in the mountains of India. Two species of Photinea are found in the Indian peninsula and Ceylon, and the Loquat (Eryobotria) is generally cultivated in India, and, besides yielding a fine fruit, is found very useful as a stock on which to graft the apple. The apple also thrives well and produces good fruit not only in the cooler parts of the Peninsula, but even in Madras, where several fine apples have been ripened.

Properties and Uses. The apple and pear are too generally known and esteemed to require more notice here than that of being named. In this country the Loquat is also pretty well known though scarcely so well as it deserves. The two species of Photinea are almost unknown but with the view of extending our knowledge of them I have figured both, one here, and the other in the Icones. Should they be found to thrive on the plains they may prove useful as stocks for grafting on, none of the other genera are known in this country.

Sub-order Amygdaleae. The Almond tribe.

" Calyx 5-toothed, deciduous, lined with a disk ; the fifth lobe next the axis. Petals 5, perigynous. Stamens 20, or thereabouts, arising from the throat of the calyx, in aestivation curved inwards ; anthers innate, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary superior, solitary, simple, 1-celled; ovules 2, suspended; styles terminal, with a furrow on one side, terminating in a reniform stigma. Fruit a drupe, with the putamen sometimes separating spontaneously from the sarcocarp, Seeds mostly solitary, suspended, in consequence of the cohesion of a funiculus umbilicalis, arising from the base or the cavity of the ovary, with its side. Embryo straight, with the radicle pointing to the hilum ; cotyledons thick ; albumen none. Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, usually glandular towards the base. Stipules simple, mostly glandular. Flowers white or pink. Hydrocyanic acid present in the leaves and kernel."

Affinities. To this sub-order all our stone fruit belong: the sloe and its numerous derivatives, the almost endless variety of plums : the cherry in all its various forms : and the almond from which, according to some, cultivation has elicited the various kinds of peaches, nectarines, and apricots, but which others consider distinct species. They are distinguished from the two preceding orders by the fruit being a drupe (a succulent stone fruit) by their bark yielding gum, but most remarkably by the presence of Prussic or Hydrocyanic acid. To Leguminosae they approach through Detarium which has a drupaceous fruit, but are separated by their regular petals and stamens, by the position of the odd sepal and by the presence of Prussic acid " It is not a little remarkable that here, where we have a close approach to the structure of Mimoseae. in Leguminosae, we have also the only instance among Rosaceae of an approach to the property- possessed by that sub-order of the bark yielding gum ; the peculiar astringeney of some species is also analogous to that of Acacia catechu and the like." Lindley.

Geographical Distribution. None of the species of this sub-order are known to exist in the southern portions of India, hut a few are found on the Himalayas, and two species of Polyodontia in Ceylon, generally they are confined to the colder regions of the northern hemisphere. The peach has been introduced into India and in some places thrives well, producing fine fruit, but this is the only one of the tribe I have heard of yielding good fruit in this country. I have seen plum trees but have not seen the fruit. I do not recollect of ever having met with a cherry tree or a cherry in India.

Properties and Uses. To dwell on these here would be out of place since none of the species are to be had in this country, but it may be mentioned again that bo*h the leaves and kernels of some of the species produce Prussic acid in such abundance as to become poisonous to cattle that brouse on them, arid it may equally be mentioned that Prussic acid is the most immediately destructive of lif« of all vegetable poisons ; a few seconds often sufficing for its total extinction when the acid has been sufficiently concentrated.

Notwithstanding this intense energy of action it his yet been beneficially employed in medicine for the treatment of some diseases, generally, of an obstinate or nearly incurable character. More recently it has been tried in a case of Hydrophobia in very large doses an 1 seemed to have arrested the progress of the animal poison, as the patient completely recovered the powers of deglutition, but finally died of Typhoid symptoms, apparently induced through the exhaustion caused by the combined action of two such powerful poisons oh the system. First by the deleterious effects of the animal one, which had never been overcome, until met by this more energetic vegetable one, and then by the enormous doses of the Prussic acid which were so powerful as at one time nearly to destroy life within a few minutes after administration. The case though it finally terminated fat illy, yet holds out a hope of cure in that hit herto incurable malady Hydrophobia, since, it goes far to prove the efficiency of the one poison to overcome or counteract the deleterious effects of the other on the living animal fibre. To Prussic acid Noyeau owes its peculiar flavour, and that fact should make people cautious not to use much of a Liqueur, depending for its excellence on so active and dangerous an ingredient, so active indeed, that merely smelling the concentrated acid is enough to endanger or even to destroy life.

Sub-order Sanguisorbeae. The Burnet tribe.

"Flowers often unisexual. Calyx with a thickened tube and a 3-4 or 5 lobed limb, its tube lined with a disk. Petals none. Semens definite, sometimes fewer than the segments of the calyx, with which they are then alternate, arising from the orifice of the calyx ; anthers 2-celled, innate, bursting longitudinally, occasionally, l-celled, bursting transversely. Ovary solitary, simple, with a style proceeding from the apex or the base; ovule solitary, always attached to that part of the ovary which is next the base of the style. Stigma compound or simple. Nut solitary, enclosed in the often indurated tube of the calyx. Seed solitary, sus- pended or ascending: embryo without albumen ; radicle superior or inferior. Cotyledons large, plano-convex. — Herbaceous plants or undershrubs, occasionally spiny. Leaves simple and lobed, or compound, alternate, with stipules. Flowers small, often capitate."

This sub-order is one of very inferior note and may even be doubted whether it ought to remain here. Alchemilla vulgaris or lady's mantle is a native of the higher hills of India and Ceylon, but so far as I am aware none of the other genera are found in southern India This is the only tribe of Rosaceae found at the Cape of Goqd Hope. They are very common in Europe in open heaths and exposed situations. The celebrated Frederick Hoffman states that " a decoction of Alchemilla vulgaris has the effect of restoring the faded beauty of ladies to its earliest freshness."

I copy this piece of information as I am enabled to add that the plant in question is a native of the Neilgherries, and doubtless may be had there in sufficient quantity to admit of the experiment being tried, if we can only find fit subjects among our fair ones on whom to make the experiment.

Remarks on Genera and Species. In an order to which, so far as the Indian flora is concerned, so few of both belong, much space need not be devoted to this head. In the Penin

sular flora, 6 genera are enumerated, only two of which are not found in Europe Photinia and Eryobotria, since the publication of our work one (Alchemilla) has been added to the continental flora and two to the Ceylon one, namely, Agrimonia and Alchemilla, and what is remarkable the species are identical with European ones. To these may be added, I believe, two of the sub-order Amygdaleae from Ceylon of which I have specimens, but the fruit too young to enable me with certainty to identify the genus, though, I think it may with considerable confidence be referred to Blume's genus Polyodontia; as, in addition to the similarity of the flowers, the leaves have the two glands on the under surface near the base. In Nepaul this order is comparatively abundant. From that country there several species of Spiraea, many of Potentilla, one or two of Geum, several of Cerasus, one or two of Prunus, one of Pyrus &c., and from the same tract of country Royle's Prinsepia, a genus which Messrs. Royle and Lindley refer to Chrysobalaneae, but which, so far as I can make out from his not very perfect figure and character strictly belongs to Amygdaleae, and but for the baccate fruit might pass very well for a Prunus, whence I am disposed to infer that these two genera are very nearly allied, and that Lindley is premature in departing from the generally received opinion, that Chrysobalaneae are but a section of Rosaceae. That Prinsepia does not belong to Chrysobalaneae is shown by its style being terminal not arising from the base, and by its pendulous, not erect ovules. It differs from Cerasus and Prunus by having a baccate, not drupaceous fruit. Dr. Lindley proposes to remove the section Sorbifoliae from Spiraea, and form for them a distinct genus under the name of Schizonotus. His reasons for this separation are not stated by himself but Meisner assigns the following brief character. " Stamina disco calyce ubique adnato inserta, ovaria 5 connata stipitata. Caet spiraeas" one species only I have examined Sp. (Schizonotus) Lindleana? and find that he (Meisner) has in that definition missed the only character of any value, namely, the position of the ovules. In Spiraea they are superposed, sometimes only two, sometimes several, but in Schizonotus Lindleana there are several 10 or 12 all pendulous from the apex of the cell of the ovary. This structure added to the very different habit seems to afford good grounds for the formation of a new genus. In it the ovaries are not stipitate.

POLYODONTIA, Blume.

Calyx inferior, campanulate, 6-toothed, deciduous : petals 6-minute, inserted on the margin of the calyx : stamens numerous, (12-18) about equal, inserted with the petals: ovary free, 1 -celled, with 2 pendulous ovules: style one : stigma peltate : drupe reniform, dry, 1- seeded: embryo exalbuminous, inverse.

Leaves alternate, entire, exstipulate, usually furnished beneath, with two glands near the base : racemes axillary and lateral, solitary, or several together, tomentose, flowers small, 1 bracteated. (" Genus hocci vix ali Amygdala differre videtur" Blume.)

P. arborea, (Bl.) Leaves alternate, oblong, entire, exstipulate, bi-glandular, beneath near the base : racemes axillary and lateral, solitary, or several ; tomentose. — Blume, Bijdr. p. 1105.

Hab.—Alpine forests in Java.

P. ? Ceylanica, (R. W.) Leaves from elliptic very obtuse at both ends, to sub-orbicular, glabrous, when dry, of a rusty brown colour beneath, racemes axillary, solitary, (always ?) about the length of the leaves, covered with short appressed hairs : flowers small, petals 5 reflexed, externally very hairy round the margin.

Ceylon in forests above Numbady.

My specimens were taken from a tree by the roadside, near the highest point of the ascent towards Newera Ellia.

P. ? Walkirii, (R. W.) Leaves oblong ovate, sub-acuminated, glabrous above, and with the young branches tomentose beneath, afterwards becoming glabrous, racemes axillary, solitary, petals and rachis densely clothed, with short rusty coloured tomentum.

Ceylon.—Communicated by Colonel Walker.

This species seems nearly allied with the Java one, but differs in having the ramuli and leaves tomentose. It certainly appears distinct from the preceding, but as I. have only a solitary specimen I am not enabled to give more perfect distinguishing characters.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 85.

1 . Potentilla Kleinian, a small flowering plant—natural size.

2. An expanded flower.

3. The same partially dissected.

4. Stamens.

5. The ovary cut vertically, showing the attachment of the carpels to the surface of the receptacle.

6. A detached carpel.

7. The same cut vertically.

8. Cut transversely.

9-10. Portions of a leaf magnified.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 86.

1. Photiana notoniana—natural size.

2. An expanded flower, side view.

3. Front view.

4. The same dissected, showing the stamens and the ovary forcibly detached from the calyx tube.

5. Stamens.

6. The ovary cut vertically, showing its cohesion with the calyx.

7. Ovary cut transversely, 2-celled, and two ovules n each.

8. A fruit nearly mature cut transversely, two of the ovules aborted.

9. A seed—natural size.

10. Magnified.

11. Cut transversely.

12. Cut vertically.

13. Cotyledons and embryo detached.

POTENTILLÆ. ROSACEÆ. .

POTENTILLA KLEINIANA. (W.&A.)

ROSACEÆ. POMACEÆ. .

PHOTINIA NOTONIANA. (WALL.)