but agree with Jack in considering the number of petals 5. of which three only are petaloid, and the other two bifid and adnate to the base of the two fertile stamens. It appears to me. however, that in reality, in M. simplicifolia at least, there is very great irregularity in the proportion of the parts of the flower; in the calyx I find six pieces, two very minute and external, two larger, but unequal, next the first, and two more, also unequal, in the inside; petals I see only 3, on the face of the largest of which is a distinct trace of a rudimentary scale; the stamens are 5. three of them being deformed, lobed, and opposite to the three petals, the other two fertile alternating with two of the petals, with a membranous tooth on each side at the base (not the apex, as Roxburgh has it), and a remarkable saucer-like connective, on the upper face of which grow two anther-cells, the valves of which are extremely unequal. I do not, therefore, perceive how the genus differs from Sapindaceae, except in the pistil being composed of two carpels in stead of three. But although the number three is what usually prevails in Sapindaceae, yet there are instances of two in Schmidelia, Irina, &c. and of four in Talisia and Dodonaea."
Geographical Distribution. The genus Millingtonia has a wide range though as yet limited to few species. Roxburgh received his specimens from Silhet, of the only two species he knew, since then, I have received specimens from various parts of the Peninsula, Ceylon and Maulmain. Dr. Wallich has also found two, distinct from Roxburgh's, one of which, M. pungens, is found in the Peninsula, M. Arnottiana is a native of the more elevated regions of both Ceylon and the Peninsula, my continental specimens are from the Neilgherries. The leaves in this species are unequally pinnated, which at once distinguishes it from Roxburgh's M. pinnata, which has abruptly pinnated leaves.
Properties and Uses. Nothing is known on this head except that the timber of some of the species is used for various purposes by the natives of the districts where they grow.
Remarks on Genera and Species. Of this order only one genus is yet known, that from which it takes its name. Of the species now 5 in number, Roxburgh knew only two. M. simplicifolia and M. pinnata, to these Dr. Wallich has added M. dillenii folia and M. pungevs, the last M. Arnottiana is now for the first time published under that generic name, and is a native of both the Peninsula and of Ceylon. The characters of two species are already published in our Prodromus, those of the remaining three I shall introduce here with the view of making them better known to Indian Botanists.
MILLINGTONIA. two of them bracteiform; the. exterior petals roundish,
M. dillennfolia, (Wall.) Leaves simple, elliptic, oblong, attenuated at the base, pubescent beneath: the secondary nerves parallel, straight, extending beyond the margin in prickle-like teeth, panicles slender, lax, pubescent ; rachis angled ; flowers somewhat remote on the extreme branches, calyx ebractiate, sepals 5, nearly equal, ciliate on the margin, exterior petals roundish, concave, the interior ones cleft nearly to the base, or half shorter than the petals.
M. pinnata, (Roxb.) Leaves abruptly pinnate, pinnae 6-12 pairs; leaflets elliptieo-lanceolate, glabrous on both sides, denticulate, serrated, the teeth incurved, with the secondary nerves incurved within the margin, confluent; panicles lax, puberulous, rachis angled, sepals unequal, two of them bracteiform : the exterior petals roundish, the interior ones cleft to near the middle equalling the petals.
M. Arnottiana. Leaves unequally pinnate, pinnae 5-7 pairs : leaflets ovate, acuminate, coriaceous, glabrous above, pubescent neneath, quite entire, panicles axillary, large lax and like the periols of the leaves thickly clothed with short rusty colored hairs, rachis terate, sepals somewhat unequal, exterior petals roundish, pointed, interior ones cleft nearly half their length, the points reflexted filaments furnished with two scales below the middle.
Sapendus microcarpus, W. and A. Prod. I. p. 112.
Hab. -- Neilgherriwes and Ceylon.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 53.
- 1. Flowering branch of Millingtonia Arnottiana— natural size.
- 2. A flower partially open.
- 3. The same dissected.
- 4. The same, the petals removed, showing the stamens, ovary, &c. in situ.
- 5. Back and front, views of the stamens and anthers.
- 6. A diagram of the flower.
- 7. The ovary cut vertically, showing the ovules superpossed.
- 8. The same cut transversely,
