Description

Clarke received Hooker's August letter after returning from a tour to Cherrpoonjee [Cherrapunji]. He discusses a yew that proved to be Cephalotaxus griffithii. Mann will send Hooker fruits of a long-peduncled dwarf Phoenix species, from the Teesta Valley and base of Parasnath, possibly P. acaulis. Clarke and Mann believe the short-peduncled Phoenix is a distinct species. Clarke discusses the variability of the style divisions in Carex and other Cyperaceae with reference to Boeckler's work, which he finds flawed. Clarke thinks distinction by style is flawed in all genera. He believes Boeckler's mistakes may be due to scanty material and poorly developed specimens. Cyperus pygmaeus when young is very like Isolepis micheliana. Bentham could not separate these, but Clarke has left specimens for RBG Kew, at Calcutta [Kolkata] which should confirm that they are separate genera. Clarke congratulates Hooker on the publication of part XII of the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA. Clarke has been collecting Monocots, but was unable to sort and poison his specimens: the lilies and orchids were eaten by vermin, particularly a tree beetle that devours whole specimens. Regarding grasses, Clarke found a Juncus species from the Kalapani valley, possibly the J. bengalensis which puzzled Buchanan. Clarke went to Cherrapoonjee [Cherrapunji] in the wettest week of the year and could do no botany. He discusses the pattern of the rains, which are affected by the Cherra Plateau. He also discusses transport links from Cherra to Shillong. Clarke is leaving for Kohima and Muneypoor [Manipur] so he has passed Hooker's request for seeds of Impatiens and Violet Pea to Mann. Mann has Trachycarpus plants for Hooker. Clarke found three Pedicularis species in one spot on Shillong Hill. He has named one P. rex and is sending seed. Apparently the vegetation at Kohima is more like Darjeeling than Shillong. Watt found some new genera there which he has not yet published. November is the best seeding month and if he gets anything Clarke will remember Hooker. Clarke should be back in Cachar by December and will then return to Shillong, unless King joins him at Chaltuck. Pages 1 and 4 of 6.

Description

Clarke received Hooker's August letter after returning from a tour to Cherrpoonjee [Cherrapunji]. He discusses a yew that proved to be Cephalotaxus griffithii. Mann will send Hooker fruits of a long-peduncled dwarf Phoenix species, from the Teesta Valley and base of Parasnath, possibly P. acaulis. Clarke and Mann believe the short-peduncled Phoenix is a distinct species. Clarke discusses the variability of the style divisions in Carex and other Cyperaceae with reference to Boeckler's work, which he finds flawed. Clarke thinks distinction by style is flawed in all genera. He believes Boeckler's mistakes may be due to scanty material and poorly developed specimens. Cyperus pygmaeus when young is very like Isolepis micheliana. Bentham could not separate these, but Clarke has left specimens for RBG Kew, at Calcutta [Kolkata] which should confirm that they are separate genera. Clarke congratulates Hooker on the publication of part XII of the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA. Clarke has been collecting Monocots, but was unable to sort and poison his specimens: the lilies and orchids were eaten by vermin, particularly a tree beetle that devours whole specimens. Regarding grasses, Clarke found a Juncus species from the Kalapani valley, possibly the J. bengalensis which puzzled Buchanan. Clarke went to Cherrapoonjee [Cherrapunji] in the wettest week of the year and could do no botany. He discusses the pattern of the rains, which are affected by the Cherra Plateau. He also discusses transport links from Cherra to Shillong. Clarke is leaving for Kohima and Muneypoor [Manipur] so he has passed Hooker's request for seeds of Impatiens and Violet Pea to Mann. Mann has Trachycarpus plants for Hooker. Clarke found three Pedicularis species in one spot on Shillong Hill. He has named one P. rex and is sending seed. Apparently the vegetation at Kohima is more like Darjeeling than Shillong. Watt found some new genera there which he has not yet published. November is the best seeding month and if he gets anything Clarke will remember Hooker. Clarke should be back in Cachar by December and will then return to Shillong, unless King joins him at Chaltuck. Pages 1 and 4 of 6.