Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Salicarieae
LVIII.—SALICARIEAE.
In most modern works on Botany this order occurs under the name of Lythrariae, owing, I presume, to the genus Salicaria, having been reduced to the older one Lythrum. We have however retained older name Salicarieae in our Prodromus, and I continue to adopt it from not seeing adequate grounds for changing an already established name of an order, because the genus on which it was originally founded is reduced.
As compared with the three preceding orders this, though abounding in species, is one of very secondary importance to mankind, consisting, as it does, for the greater part of low herbaceous plants, mere weeds, and inconsiderable shrubs, the latter, more remarkable for their gaudy flowers than for any value in an economical point of view that attaches to them. Of the herbaceous division the stems are for the most part 4-seeded, often with acute angles, the shrubby ones on the contrary have round branches, or if at first square, with obtuse angles. The leaves are opposite, sometimes verticelled, and occasionally, though rarely alternate, sessile, or tapering into a short petiol, stipules none. The flowers are bi-sexual, regular, axillary, or aggregated, or cymose, sometimes by the abortion of the floral leaves towards the extremities of the branches, apparently spicate or racemose. It is divided into two sub-orders Lythrariae and Ceratophylliae.
Sub-order Lythrariae. Juss.
Calyx tubular or campanulate, lobed, the lobes sometimes with intermediate accessory lobes or teeth : aestivation valvate. Petals alternate with the lobes of the calyx, usually very deciduous, sometimes wanting. Stamens inserted a little below the petals, equal in number to them, or 2-3-4-times as many, rarely fewer : anthers introrse, bi-locular, bursting longitudinally. Ovarium superior, 2-4-celled; ovules numerous : style usually filiform, rarely very short : stigma usually capitate. Placentae in the axis. Capsule membranous, surrounded by, but not combined with the calyx; usually 1-celled by the obliteration of the dissepiments, bursting longitudinally or irregularly. Seeds numerous, small. Albumen none. Embryo straight : radicle next the hilum : cotyledons flat and foliaceous.
Affinities. This order seems nearly allied in many respects to Onagrariae, from which however it is separated by its free, not adherent ovary. This circumstance further entitles it to rank next Rosaceae in preference to those orders in which the calyx adheres to the ovary. I copy the following remarks from Lindley's Natural System, 2d edition, as exhibiting the best view of its affinities I have met with.
" In many respects this order resembles Onagrariae, from which the superior ovary and many ribbed calyx distinguish it; also Melastomaceae, from which the superior ovary the veining of the leaves, and the aestivation of the stamens divide it. With Labiatae it has often a resemblance in habit but this goes no further. Malvaceae, however, appear to be the plants to which Lythraceae most nearly approach, as is indicated by Lagerstraemea and Hibiscus, as well as by Lythrum itself and Napoea Their strictly perigynous stamens place them in a widely different affinity according to the French school. Their resemblance to Celastraceae is completely established by the genus Adenaria."
Geographical Distribution. This order has a wide range, Europe, Africa, Asia and America, have indigenous species, one only, however, and that the common European Lythrum Salicaria has been found in New Holland. In India they abound, no fewer than 24 being already enumerated as belonging to the Peninsular flora, exclusive of two species of Ceratophyllum which most Botanists now remove from this order. These are distributed under 8 genera, the most prominent of which, as regards the number of species, is certainly Ammannia, but by far the most conspicuous as regards the species themselves are Lagerstraemea and Grislea, while Lawsonia is more common and much admired on account the fragrance of its flowers.
Properties and Uses. These are with few exceptions unknown or unimportant. Some species are astringent. The flowers of Grislea tomentosa mixed with Morinda are used to dye red. The leaves of Lawsonia alba have the property of staining the skin and nails of a deep orange colour, and are constantly employed by the natives for that purpose. It is much cultivated as a fence perhaps as much on account of the fragrance of its flowers, as for its fitness in other respects for the purpose for which it is ostensibly employed.
The Lagerstraemias are all trees or shrubs and remarkable for the beauty of their flowers. L. reginae is the most conspicuous, but L. parviflora and microcarpa perhaps the most beautiful when in flower. The only species of Ammannia, deserving notice is A. vesicatoria, Roxb. the leaves of which are so acrid that when bruised and applied, like a cataplasm, to the skin they very quickly blister it. When bruised they exhale a strong muriatic odour which is the best mark by which to distinguish the plant, but unfortunately is only applicable to the recent state.
Remarks on Genera and Species. This sub-order divides itself into two sections, Lythreae and Lagerstraemiae. The former of these is widely distributed the latter are almost entirely tropical. Of the first division 7 genera are enumerated in the Peninsular flora : of these, Rotala, Ammannia and Nescea are very imperfectly distinguished by the characters now assigned to them though they afford good ones. In the llthand 12th number of my Icones under plate 217, will be found an attempt to remodel these genera. According to the plan there sketched the pentandrons species of Ammannia are united with Rotala on account of the uneven number of their petals, stamens, and cells of the ovary: Ammannia, is limited to those species of the present genus having 4 petals, 4 stamens, and a 2-celled ovary : those having 4 stamens, 4 petals, a 4-cleft calyx, without accessory teeth and a 4-celled ovary, form a new genus under the name of Mirkooa: while those having twice as many stamens as petals, with half the number of cells to the ovary comprising, I believe, the whole of DeCandolle's section Dyplostemoneae I propose to refer to Nesaea.
This last, the essential character of which is to have twice as many stamens as lobes to the calyx, and ought to have half the number of cells to the ovary that it has petals, presents an anomaly not easily explained. In N. triflora I found the centre flower witha4-lobed calyx, and 4-celled ovary, while the lateral ones had a 6-lobed calyx and 3-celled ovary. Is the difference owing to the union of the parts of the flower causing a reduction of half their number ? The objection to this view is found in Ammannia octandra, all the flowers of which have 4 petals, 8 stamens, and a 4-cel!ed ovary. My solitary specimen of Nescea triflora a figure of which will appear in the 13th number of Icones, does not enable me to follow out the investigation, I am therefore constrained to leave for future enquiry the merits of the genus as here constituted, and also whether the theory proposed be tenable. Generic characters taken from the bracteal appendages I consider of secondary value as all have them more or less distinctly, some species of Ammannia, perhaps, being exceptions. Nescea certainly is not.
When I proposed the distribution here sketched I had not examined the whole order, and fear that I have committed an error with reference to Mirkooa, That it ought to be removed from Ammannia I do not entertain a doubt, but that it ought to form a distinct genus may be questioned I had not then carefully examined it, in comparison with the genus Ameletia, nor re-examined my genus Nimmonia (by mistake called Nimmoia), as I have since done aided by excellent specimens communicated by Mr. Nimmo himself, and find it truly referable to this order. The result of this examination has led to the conclusion that, with a slight extension of the cha- racter, all three genera might be reduced to one. Ameletia indica is not apetalous, the petals are small resembling those of Rhamneae, but they are present and seem to have been mistaken for the tooth-like processes of most of the other genera of the order, but which in it can scarcely be said to exist ; its character therefore ought to have been petals 4, minute, stamens 4, ovary 2-celled, capsule 2-valved, dehiscence septifragal. Nimmonia only differs in having larger petals in both they are marcescent. Mirkooa however differs from both in having a 4-celled ovary and a 4-valved capsule, but the dehiscence is septifragal as in the other and the petals are equally mar- cescent, hence the only difference rests in the ovary and capsule, which might be easily adjusted in the generic character. Having premised these explanations I now substitute for the classifica- tion in the Icones the following series.
1. Calyx 3-5 cleft. Petals 3-5. Stamens 3-5. Ovary 3-celled. Capsule 3-valved, ) Rotala. septifragal Amma?tnia, partly.
2. Calyx 5-cleft, the sinuses furnished with accessory teeth, petals 4 or 0 ? (by abor- 1
tion) Stamens 4, ovary 2-celled: capsule opening irregularly transversely, (the > Ammannia. upper part falling away) J
3. Calyx 4-cleft, without accessory teeth, petals 4, stamens 4, ovary 2 or 4-celled. 1 Amei^etia. Capsule 2 or 4-valved, septifragal, (flowers in bracteated spikes, calyx bi-brac- V Mirkooa, W. and A. tiolate) J Nimmonia, R. W.
4. Calyx 4-6-cleft, with accessory teeth in the sinuses, petals 4-6, stamens 8-12, I Nes^ia.
ovary 3-4-celled C Ammannia, partly.
None of the other genera of the order require notice. To Lagerstraemia I have added one new species L. microcarpa (Icones PI. In. Or. tab. 109) which we had formerly confounded with Roxburgh's L. parviflora. Icon. tab. 69. The latter species has a large fruit while that of my new species scarcely exceeds the size of a pea.
The sub -order Ceratophylliae differs so widely in habit and approaches so little in struc- ture, that I cannot help following the footsteps of most modern Botanists in excluding it from this place.
ROTALA, Linn. (W. and A.)
R. verticellarus, (Linn.) calyx 3-5, lobed, petals and sta- mens 3-5 : leaves verticelled. Icon PI. Ind. Or. tab. 260.
R. Roxburgiana, (R. W.) calyx 5-lobed, petals and stamens 5, leaves opposite. — Wight — Icon. PI. Ind. Or. tab. 260. — Ammannia pentandra, Roxb. D.C. Prod.W. and A. Prod.
R.fimbriata, (R. W.) calyx 5-lobed, petals and sta- mens 5 : petals fimbriated on the margin, leaves oppo- site—Icon. PI. Ind. Or. tab. 217.
AMELETIA, D.C.
§ Ovary 2-celled. Capsule 2-valved.
A. Leaves opposite. 1. A. indica — 2. A. tenuis.
B. Leaves alternate.
3. A. floribunda.
§ Ovary 4-celled. Capsule 4-valved.
4. A. rotundifolia.
1. A. indica, (D.C.) Procumbent, leaves obovate, op- posite, spikes axillary : flowers sessile, solitary, in the axils of obovate bractese ; bracteoles subulate, membra- naceous, equalling the tube of the calyx. Stamens shorter than the calyx.
2. A. tenuis, (R. W.) Shrubs somewhat procumbent at the base, afterwards erect, most slender leaves oppo- site, orbicular, spikes terminal, flowers solitary, longish, pedicelled, from the axil of a linear bractea ; bracteoles large: stamens included ; style projecting : stigma large : capsule 2-valved— Icon. PI. Ind. Or. tab. 258.
3. A. floribunda, (R. W.) Erect, very ramous, leaves alternate, sessile, cordate at the base, linear, lanceolate : spikes terminal, few-flowered : flowers short, pedicelled, solitary, in the axils of linear lanceolate, bracteas : brac- teoles about half the length of the calyx : petals obovate : stamens short, included within the tube of the calyx : style long, projecting, capsule ovate, 2-valved. — Icon. PI Ind. Or. tab. 258. Nimmonia floribunda, R. W. in. Madras Journal of Science.
4. A. rotundifolia, (R. W.) Stems diffuse, procumbent, branches erect: leaves orbicular, opposite, sessile: spikes congested near the extremities of the branches, flowers solitary, in the axils of the sessile, sub-orbicular or broad ovate, cordate, pointed bracteas ; bracteoles very minute, almost inconspicuous : stamens much longer than the calyx, capsule 4-valved— Icon. PI. Ind. Or. tab. 259.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 87.
1 . Lawsonia alba — natural size.
2. An expanded flower ise o from above.
3. Stamens back and front views.
4. The ovary.
5-6. Cut transversely and vertically.
7. The fruit nearly mature— natural size.
8. The same cut transversely.
9. A seed somewhat winged.
10. The same cut transversely.
1 1. Cut vertically, showing; the embryo in situ.
12. Embryo detached — with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less magnified.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 88
1. Lagerstraemia indica, flowering branch — natural size.
2. A dissected flower.
3-4. Anthers back and front views.
5. Stigma.
6- 7. Ovary cut vertically and transversely, 6-celled, with the ovules collateral.
8. A fruit not quite mature.
9-10. Horizontal and vertical sections of the same.
11. A seed — natural size.
12-13. The same magnified and opened, to show the position of the aeed.
14. A detached seed.
15. The embryo removed from the testa, cotyledons foliaceous, convolute — with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less magnified.
SALIACARIEÆ..jpg)
LAWSONIA ALBA. (Lam.)
SALICARIEÆ. LAGERSTROEMIEÆ. ..jpg)
LAGERSTROEMIA INDICA. (LINN.)