DR. KIEK ON A I^EW DYE-AVOOD. 229 



and some exquisite yellow and red HanuncuU from Kefr Ilauwar, 

 near Damascus. 



Of tlie flora of Anti-Lebanon and Lebanon itself I saw nothing. 

 Snow, rain, wind, and mist prevailed during our stay in that 



region 



dur 



I will therefore conclude with the wish that any reader of the 



with 



as good health, and may receive as much real enjoyment from it, 

 as did at the time, and still does, the writer. 



On a new Dye-wood of the genus Uudranea^ from East Tropical 



Africa, By John KifeK, M.D., F.L.S. 



[Kead March 2, 1865.] 



WiiE]sr on the Zambesi, at tlie village of Sena, my attention was 

 first drawn to a climbing shrub of the genus Cudranea^ whose 

 edible fruit had someAvhat the flavour of an insipid custard-apple. 

 The near botanical affinity between this and the fustic dye-wood 

 led me to inquire after its stem. Difficulty was found in obtain- 

 ing specimens of sufficient thickness ; however, after some search, 

 a piece witli mature heart- wood of an inch diameter was procured. 

 This, with cloth previously mordanted in alum, gave a light-yellow 

 colour, which resisted the action of soap. Although convinced of 

 the value of this dye, the small size of the bush on the Zambesi 

 classed it among the curiosities of science of no commercial value, 

 I was therefore pleased, on a visit to the Eovuma, to find this 



plant, eight degrees nearer the equator, a large shrub, whose 

 thick stems entwined the forest-trees, and contained a cylinder 

 of deep red heart-wood, 5 inches in diameter. Specimens were 

 brought home, from which the present report has been made by 

 one practically acquainted with these matters. 



Our examination of the Eovuma was strictly limited to the 

 valley. If this plant be as abundant and equal in size on the table- 

 land (200 feet elevation) as in the valley, its collection would be 

 to the natives a matter of some importance. 



As before said, the plant is a Cudranea^ and, I believe, an un- 

 described species. The bark of the old stems is thick ; it consists 

 of many layers, deeply rent longitudinally, Tlic inner bark and 

 white wood abounds in a yellowish milky juice: the heart-wood 

 is of diiferent shades of red, very heavy, and full of pores. 



