under the name of Dhupada Mara. The specimens are not in flower, and the representation of the flowers is not accompanied with such details and analysis as to enable me to say, with certainty, whether the Mysore and Malabar trees are the same or distinct species, there are differences in the form of the leaves that give rise to a suspicion that they are different, but these I do not think sufficient to establish the point. This I presume is the true Chloroxylon dupada of Buchanan, a really good figure of which it is most desirable should be published, even at the risk of republishing in outline, what has been already published as a coloured plate. Under this impression, I trust the same liberal hand which has enabled me so far to verify the tree meant by Buchanan (afterward Hamilton) as the Dammer tree of India, will enable me to do the rest by finally determining the species. This seems much wanted, since, in the present imperfect state of our knowledge, every plant of this part of India from which a concrete resinous juice is procured, and these are many, is at once designated Chloroxylon dupada from that circumstance alone.
My suspicions of the Mysore species being different from the Malabar one, are strengthened by the circumstance of a species, quite distinct from V. indica, but very closely resembling, in general appearance, the Mysore form, being found in Ceylon. The difference between the Ceylon and Malabar plants lies in the stamens, and cannot be seen without; careful examination, those of the Ceylon species ( V. Ceylanica, R. W.) being few, (15) sessile, tomentose, with a very short almost imperceptible prolongation of the point ; while in V. indica, they are very numerous, supported on a distinct filament, glabrous, and terminating in a long slender bristle point. There are besides differences in the leaves, but these I consider of less value as a specific distinctions than the peculiarities of the flowers.
Among a collection of plants from Mergui, for which I am indebted to my friend Mr. Griffith, I observe specimens of some new species of this order, but which I do not consider myself at liberty to name or describe, as I presume it is his intention to publish descriptions of the whole of his now vast collections, amounting, I understand, to between 7000 and 8000 species. The species of Hopea are as yet few, but will, I think, be found more numerous when the characters are better understood, at least my specimens, which are numerous, present such variations of form, as renders it probable, there are more than one species, but as yet, I am unable to dis- entangle them. The dissected flower of the accompanying figure, if correct, seems to indicate that the plant figured is distinct from all those in my collection, in having only 10 anthers in place of 15, the usual number ; namely, 5 simple filaments, with single anthers, and 5 cleft ones, each bearing two anthers. There is a species in Mysore which Dr. Buchanan Hamilton has named H. decandra, but of which he has given no description : this may be that plant, but I rather think the deficiency is referable to an error or oversight of the artist, and which was not detected in time to prevent its being printed. In addition to the Peninsular ones there are two from Mergui, but none have yet reached me from Ceylon.
VATERIA.
Subgenus I. Euvateria (Arn.) Segments of the calyx scarcely enlarging when in fruit, obtuse. Petals oval, scarcely longer than the calyx. Stamens 40—50 anther cells linear. Style elongated, stigma acute. Panicle large terminal.
1. V. Indica. Lin.
Subgenus II. ISAUXIS (Arn.) Segments of the calyx enlarging when in fruit, ovate, acute. Petals falcate about three times the length of the calyx. Stamens 15, anther cells oblong. Style short. Stigma clavate 3 — 6 toothed. Panicles axillary shorter than the leaves.
2. V. lanceœfolia. Roxb. Leaves lanceolate, acute at the base.
3. V. Roxburghiana R. W. Leaves ovate, oblong, retuse, or obtuse at the base.
? 4. V. Ceylanica R. W. Leaves obovate, very obtuse, retuse at the point, narrow at the base : anthers hairy, stigma acute.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 36.
1. Flowering branch of Vateria Indica— natural sie. 2. Calyx, corolla and anthers. 3. Ovary, style, and stigma, with two stamens left to show their hypogynous insertion. 4. A branch of the panicle in fruit. 5. A fruit cut transversely, showing the irregular form of the cotyledons— all more or less magnified.
