_Botanical notes connected with the foregoing Journal_.
(_February 19th_.--The finest view of the hills from Upper Assam is
obtained on a reach or turn of the river just above Palankar, the river
bending to the NNE. Snow is plentifully seen on one back range from the
Sugar-loaf peak. Another reach shortly after presents a fine view of the
Burrampooter chasm, terminated by the rugged peak so distinctly seen from
Suddiyah, due east. This view might be chosen, as a general
characteristic of the Scenery of Upper Assam.
It embraces the Mishmee mountains to the left, the higher peaks of which
are covered with perpetual snow. These lie to the NNE. of Beesa. To the
east, is the continuation of the Himalaya, to the South-east and South,
the Patkaye, and Naga ranges; the whole forming a panorama, rarely if any
where surpassed in beauty. Temperature. of the river at 6 A.M. 67
degrees
_Musa_. Many flowers from the axil of a bract; no bractioles
interspersed, hence we may expect racemose or spicate partial
inflorescences. The perianth is unilateral, 5 cleft, the two smaller
segments, which are intermediate, being internal, or belonging to a
different series. Within this petaloid perianth is a membranous one,
together with a boat-shaped bracteolate body, entire. The stamens are
five, evidently opposite to the segments of the petaloid perianth,
staminibus adnatis, the sixth is not developed, but is rudimentary, and
exceedly minute, opposite to the bracteoid body. The carpella three,
alternate as they ought to be with the last series of stamina, and hence
they are opposed to the larger and outer segments of the petaloid
perianth, but this last point deserves further examination.
The base of the bracteoid sepal is filled with a gelatinous, sweet,
transparent, unicoloured .5 fluid.
I am unaware whether this explanation has occurred to any body else.
It is curious as compared with Scitamineae, in which the posticous stamen
is alone fully developed. Pl. 1. Fig. 3. _a_. bracteoid body, _b_.
sterile stamen, c.c.c. outer series, d.d. inner ditto.
The fact of the outer smaller laciniae belonging to a second series is
not very apparent, but is corroborated by the evidently internal
situation of the bracteoid scale, and by the evidently elevated lines
visible in the inner.
(_April 3rd_, _1837_.--On march towards the Serpentine mines) the face
of the perianth, corresponds to these smaller laciniae.
_April 7th_.--Thunbergia grandiflora has the pedicels of its flowers
twisted, or not twisted, according to the situation of the flowers. Thus
if the flower be so situated that the raceme has the direction of the
axis, or in other words is erect, the pedicel is straight, but if the
raceme, as generally happens, be pendulous, the twisting of the pedicel
is resorted to, to secure the flower that situation which it would have,
were the raceme erect.
The above is obvious in flowers which from elongation of the axis of
inflorescence, have fasciculate or aggregate flowers. An obvious
inference is, that the twisting of the pedicel is not of generic, nor of
specific importance; and that it is capable of being produced
artificially.
This resupination is not uncommon in the order; it is most evident in
Thunbergia coccinea, in which the racemes are always pendulous. There is
nothing, at least in this species, in the situation of the genitalia to
account for the resupination.
Pedicelli demum apicem infra articulati, the inflorescence of this order
is always centrifugal, the partial axis being invariably as well indeed
as the general, disposed to dichotomy. Hence the very common presence of
three bracteae to each flower, the central one presenting the leaf from
whose axil the partial branch springs.
Stipulae--if the analogy of these be difficult to ascertain, the
structure and functions would appear to be as of leaves, in addition to
the function of protection. In most cases they are certainly not double
organs; in Naucleaceae they are apparently so. Can this be explained by
supposing them to form a bud with four scales, the scales instead of
being imbricate, being on one plane. Stipellae of Leguminosae are
certainly single; these being all probably stipulate plants, are to be
considered as having terminal buds, the buds being either totally, or
partially protected by the stipulae. The difficult nature of ochreae of
Polygoneae is certainly to be acknowledged, but they are similar to those
of Costus, and hence not stipulae, but an extension of the margin of the
vaginate petiole, from which veins are prolonged into it; the functions
of these are not stomatose, since they are membranous, the veins being
the only green parts.
I see no reason why the stipulae of Rosae are not to be considered as
belonging to, or dilatations of the petiole. They have no distinct
vascular fascicles to indicate a distinct origin. And further, in Lowea
no stipulae exist.
_Jonesia_: pedicellis apice articulatis, basi bracteolatis, ideoque
infloresc. magis composita esse debet; laciniis anticis? corollae?
perianth compositum, binatum praebentibus, emarginatio et situs stam 5ti
rudiment. Staminis laciniis alternatis? basi in annulum, seriem 2
indicantem coalit. {111} The situation of the stamens is somewhat
obscure, the two lowermost however alternate with the segments, the two
intermediate being sometimes sub-opposite.
Of course if they be opposed, the perianth will be referrible to a calyx
if not to a corolla.
_Lepidostachys_ or Scepa. Fruit dicarpillary, stigmata four, hence they
are placentary not costoid. bilocular, loculis dispermis, ovula 2 pend; 1
abortiv. semiunceum, testa vix arillus obsacuit clause lutescens carnosa
et ab nuclei inter adhaeren. Rad. sup. embryo junior viridis.
Stipulae cad. Gemmam oblegent.
_Homalineae_, Calycis; laciniae 4, petal 4, Glandulae 4 totidem sepalis
oppositae. Connat; stamin 4, petal opposita; styli 4. Ovar non ext.
Arbor magna. foliis alternis stipulatis, paniculae racemoso-axillares,
Flores minut. viridescent. Pet. et sep. fimbriat. aestiv. imbricat.
_Clematis_ has semina pendula.
The stipulae of Ficus obviously belong not to the leaves, their insertion
taking place .5 a line above that of the petiole. Hence they belong as
obviously to the elongation of the axis above the leaf; their coloration
is curious, especially as they are green when young. Their vernation is
conduplicate and plicate.
_Combretum_ presents several points in common with Rhamneae; valvate
calyx, and tendency to want of petals; to Elaeagneae in calyx and
furfuraceous scales; a decandrous Rhamneae would differ but little in
flowers from Combretum.
_My idea_ of the origin of stigmata is proved to be correct by a
Phyllanthus, the carpella of which are ovuliferous below, the upper part
being fleshy, the stigmata are two to each, obviously corresponding to
the placentary inflexions, while the sinus terminating the dorsal suture
is totally naked; it is this which should bear the stigma if Lindley's
view were correct.
The true place of Moringa seems to be near Xanthophyllum with which genus
it has some remarkable points of resemblance, witness the papilionaceous
corolla; unilocular stamina, their situation, ovary, placentation, and
lastly glandulation.
To this Lindley has made an approximation by placing the order near
Violarieae. Its chief difference from Polygaleae, is habit, foliation,
and the perigynous insertion of corolla and stamina, and consequent union
of the sepals. As in Xanthophyllum there is no albumen.
(An additional Xanthop. which until to-day I have always taken for a
Leguminosa.)
_Tamarindus_ cal 4 partitus, sepals 2, superiorib. connatis. Pet. 3,
vexillo, sepalo postico composit; opposit; stamen tria; sepalis 3,
inferior opposita. Stylus aestivation deflexus.
Pedicelli apice articulat. Folii petiol. basi articulat. Stipulae
minimae stipellae.
In Jonesia, there are no petals. Humboldtia comes near Tamarindus,
through H. Brunonis, which agrees in calyx and petals.
Thorns of Prionites, what are they? They are axillary, and yet buds are
produced between them and the axis. They have no connection with the
leaves. Were it not for the buds above alluded to, I should say that
they were abortive branches (bearing one pair of leaves) reduced to
spines.
_Olacineae_. Certainly in habit, corolla, etc. Olacineae are allied to
Aurantiaceae, but they are nearer akin to Santalaceae. The processes are
indubitably modified stamina, with a great tendency to irregularity; in
one species from Tagoung only three fertile, and five sterile stamina
were observed: the three fertile generally, but not invariably, alternate
with the petals.
To Santalaceae they approach in processes, valvate corolla, and
placentation, also to Loranthaceae.
Eight stamina thus accounted for; when two opposed to petals, belong to
outer series--also single one.
In Punica, the structure of the ovaria is highly curious. We find the
bottom of the tube is occupied by two cells, partially filled with ovula,
which are attached both to the axis and to the base, as well as to the
lower part of the outer paries of each cell; so far, it does not depart
from the order, for in Aplexus the placentation is tolerably similar.
Above these two, are 4-5 cells, filled with ovula, which are attached
entirely to the outer wall of each cell, but the placentae however would
seem to have an obvious connexion with the axis, although this is very
doubtful.
The formation of the stigma decidedly indicates a binary formation of
carpella.
If these 4 upper cells are 4 constantly, and the base of the ovary is as
constantly two celled, then the explanation is sufficiently obvious,
though different from that given by Lindley. {113}
First, we have in the bottom from which the mere structure of an ovary is
deduced, the normal dicarpellary structure, and there is in addition a
tendency in excess toward a parietal placentation.
The anomalous formation arises first from parietal placentae being
produced to the axis, and from spurious growth from the sides of the
ovary also meeting in the axis, by which the ovula are divided into four
bundles.
Lindley's view seems to be questionable, because as in all cases the
styles and stigmata are more permanent than ovaries, there should be as
many styles, etc. as ovaries. 2nd, because according to this view the
placental suture of the carpella would be turned from the axis, (look at
Pomaceae,) although his view of Pomaceae being right would indicate an
additional affinity with Mespilus, etc. which it does in habit and
abbreviated lateral branches.
Are all Myrtaceae dicarpellar?
The true nature of the case is pointed out in the instance cited by
Lindley of a permanent variety of apple, which has 14 cells and 14
styles! With regard to Nicotiana and Nolana; have these one or two rows
of carpella?
TECTONA.
Arbores, trunco crasso, cito ramoso, cortice albido, laevi, tenui.
Folia siliceo-aspera, inflorescent dichotoma.
Calyx aestiv. valvat. cor infundibul, subregularis laciniis, 5
rotundatis, demum reflexis aestivat. laciniis super 2, omnino exterior,
facies barbato-villosa.
Antherae longit dehiscent, stylus stigma simplex.
Pubescentia stellata.
Modo Asclepiadeae, corolla rotata.
GMELINA VILLOSA.
Lab. super. aestivat. omnino exterior fl. axi fere paralleli, pedicell
apice bibracteolat.
Cal. minim. 5 dentat.
Cor. infundibul campanul. bilab; 4 partit. stigma bilabiat-lab infer
longiore.
AROIDEUM.
Radix maxime napiformis, undique radiculas exserens, et superne e centro
spadicem. Spadix pedunculum 3-uncial terminans, basi squamis magnis
membranaceis, lineari-oblongis stipatus sursum in corpus fungoiden,
capitatum, maximum, purpureo-sanguineum, superficie rugose dilatata.
Ovar bilocul, diovulat.
Medio antheras bipoross confertissimas, sessiles, numerosas, basi ovaria
distantiora gerens.
Ovaria fusco-purp, stylus elongatus clavatus, stigma clavato, capitat.
Odor-floris praeserti marcescentis pessimus.
Katha in sylvis aridis.
The fruit of Lagerstramia grandiflora can, I think, be explained by
assuming it to consist of several carpella, which by not becoming united
near the axis, leave an irregular shaped space in the centre; the
placentae are fleshy, the ovule inserted all around. This view does not
take into consideration the situation of the stigmata. The deeper sulci
visible externally correspond to the inflexions of the carpellary leaves;
in addition to this, the centre of the dorsum of each of these is marked
with a line. {114})