Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/255

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY-

135


Spur much shorter than the lip, pedicels long. ----- U. pedicellata. Pedicels shorter than the flower. Flowers subsessile or very short pedicelled; upper lip of the corolla ernarginate. U. brachypoda. Flower distinctly pedicelled, upper lip of the corolla entire. - - - U. affinis.

Scales of the scape numerous, sub-cernuous (not appressed). - - - - U. squammosa. Seed papillosely hispid, flowers yellow (scales on the scape sub-foliaceous). - - U. macrolepis. Calyx lobes obovate or sub-orbicular, bracts and scales attached by the middle or above the base.

Seed glochidiate, scales attached a little below the middle, lower lobe obtuse : (seed ovate oblong, acute at one end: lobes of the calyx very unequal: spur conical: upper lip ernarginate, under sub-orbicular, spreading, 5-toothed : leaves orbiculato- spathulate, scape flexuose). - - - - - - - U. glochidiata.

Seed reticulated not glochidiate, scales attached by the middle, acute at both ends. Flowers sub-sessile.

Spur longer than the lower lip. Flowers somewhat remote, sub-racemose. - - - - - - U. nivea.

Flowers congested, spicate on the apex of the scape (the flowers of both these are nigrescent in drying, but do not appear to differ in colour, hence I suspect an error in the name carulea). ----- - - U. camilea.*

Spur shorter or about the length of the lip (lip large revolute on the margin, covering

and nearly concealing the spur). - - - - - - -U. racemosa.

Flowers longish, pedicelled, seed scrobiculate. ----- U. bifida.

  • U. cserulea and filicaulis appear to be varieties only of the same species. The former young with the first flowers

only open, the latter old with the short spike elongated into a fructiferous raceme. My specimens show, I think, the transition.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 143.

Utricularia reticulata (Smith), nat. size.

1. A detached plant, natural size.

2. Portion of a raceme, natural size.

3. Lower lip of the corolla.

4. Upper lip.

5. Stamens, front view.

6. A detached stamen, back view.

7. Calyx and ovary with the stamens left to show the relative size of parts.

8. Ovary detached.

9. 10. Vertical and transverse sections of an immature fruit.

Through an unhappy oversight, a figure of the seed was omitted. They are nearly ovate, smooth, marked with slender, scarcely raised reticulations.

XCV. — PRIMULACEAE.

This order was first published in 1789 under the name of Lysimachice, by Jussieu, again by Ventenant in 1799 under its present name, which Brown in 1810 adopted in preference to the older and, as it appears to me, equally correct name, and has been followed by all subsequent writers. In its habits it is very decidedly extratropical, hence is nearly unknown in the tropical parts of India, four species only being as yet known to me, appertaining to the continental flora, and one or two more from the mountains of Ceylon. To this family the Primrose, Oxslip. Cowslip, Lousestrife, and Pimpernel belong. The two last furnish Peninsular species, but on the Himalays several species, of Primula are found. In Europe the Primulas flower in early spring, or inhabit cold mountain tops and then flower in summer, while the Lysimachias and Anagalles, flower in summer or autumn. This difference in habit seems to account for, our finding the latter only within the tropis, while the spring ones, loving a colder climate, do not extend beyond the northern mountains.

Character of the Order. Calyx 5, seldom 4-cleft, inferior or half superior, regular, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, regular, the limb 5, seldom 4-cleft. Stamens inserted on the corolla, equal in number to its segments and opposite to them. Ovary I -celled ; style 1 ; stigma capitate; ovules usually amphitropal rarely anatropal. Capsule opening with valves ; placenta central distinct. Seeds numerous peltate ; embryo included within a fleshy albumen, the radical indeterminate or across the hilum.

Annual or perenneal herbaceous plants sometimes almost shrubby. Leaves usually radical