20 MR. D. HANBURY ON RADIX GALANGE. 
only of a new genus, but would justify the position of the 
two plants in two different orders or even subclasses. But such 
differences in Homalinee are, as remarked by Brown *, of com- 
paratively little moment. “The cohesion [adhesion] of the ova- 
rium with the tube of the perianthium, though existing in various 
degrees in all the genera above enumerated, is probably only a 
character of secondary importance in Homaline»; for an un- 
published genus, found by Commerson in Madagascar, which in 
every other respect agrees with this family, has ovarium su- 
perum." Brown also pointed out the circumstance that the sta- 
mens are opposite to the sepals in Passifloree, while in Homalinee 
they are opposite to the petals. 
As to the question whether Byrsanthus, asa genus, is suffi- 
ciently distinct from Homalium, opinions will naturally differ. 
The main differences consist in the petals and the increased 
number of glands in the andrecium. Now, if we adopt Ben- 
tham's views t and combine Blackwellia with Homalium, we have 
equal reasons for including Byrsanthus also in the same generic 
group as a well-marked section. Nevertheless, in the absence 
of ripe fruit and of better materials than have been at my dis- 
posal, it seems better to retain Guillemin's genus as distinct. 
Historical Notes on the Radix Galange of Pharmacy. 
By Dante, Hanpvry, Esq., F.R.S. and F.L.S. 
[Read January 19, 1871.] 
Ix discovering and describing the plant which yields the Radis 
Galange minoris of pharmacy, Dr. Hance has added an interest- 
ing chapter to the history of a substance which for many cen- 
turies has been an object of trade between Europe and the 
East. Galangal does not, indeed, possess properties which can 
claim for it the rank of an important medicine, being simply 4 
pungent aromatie of the nature of ginger; but it has so long 
held a place in the pharmacope@ias of Europe, and enters into s0 
many ancient receipts, that I need hardly apologize for offer- 
ing to the Linnean Society a few notes on its pharmacological 
history. 
Galangal was apparently unknown to the ancient Greeks and 
* Loc. sup. cit. 
+ Journ. of Linn. Soc., Botany, vol. v. Suppl. p. 87. 
