144
ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.
but agree with Jack in considering the number of petals 5. of which three only are pefaloid, and the other two bifid and adnate to the base of tlie two fertile stamens. It appears to me. how- ever, that in reality, in M. simplici folia 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 Sapinclaceae, except in the pistil being composed of two carpels in- stead of three. But although the number three is what usually prevails in S'tpindaceae, 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. punoens, is found in the Peninsula, M. ArnoUiana is a native of the more elevate.*! regions of both Cey- lon and the Peninsula, my continental specimens are from the Neilgherries Hie 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. pinna/a, to these Dr. Wallich has added M. dillenii folia and M. pungevs, the last M. ArnoUiana 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,
it/, milennfolia, (Wall.) Leaves simple, elliptic, ol>- the interior ones cleft to near the middle equalling the
long, attenuated at the base, pubescent beneath: the petals.
secondary nerves parallel, straight, extending beyond M. ArnoUiana. Leaves unequally pinnate, pinnse 5-7
the margin in prickle-like teeth, panicles slender, lax, pairs: leaflets ovate, acuminate, coriaceous, glabrous
pubescent ; rachis angled ; flowers somewhat remote on above, pubescent heneath, quite entire, panieles axillary,
the extreme branches, calyx ebractiate, sepals 5, nearly large, lax and like the petiols of the leaves thickly
equal, ciliate on the margin, exterior petals roundish, clothed with short rusty coloured hairs, rachis terate,
concave, the interior ones cleft nearly to the base, or sepals somewhat unequal, exterior petals roundish,
half shorter than the petals. pointed, interior ones cleft nearly half their length, the
M. pinnata, (Roxb.) Leaves abruptly pinnate, pinnss points reflexed, filaments furnished with two scales
6-12 pairs; leaflets elliptieo-lanceolate, glabrous on both below the middle.
sides, denticulate, serrated, the teeth incurved, with the Sctpendus m/crocarpw; W. and A. Prod. I. p. 112.
secondary nerves incurved within the margin, confluent; lr . A7 , • , n .
. , < ui i- i j 5 i i Hab. — jSedtiherries and Cevlon.
panicles lax, puberulous, rachis angled, sepals unequal, J y
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 53.
1. Flowering branch of Millingtonia Arnottiana— na- 5. Back and front, views of the stamens and anthers. tural she. 6. A diagram of the flower.
2. A flower partially open. 7- The ovary cut vertically, showing the ovules
3. The same dissected. super.possd.
4. The same, the petals removed, showing the sta- 8. The same cut transversely, mens, ovary, &c. in situ.
