206
ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.
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.
