65 
269. GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM. 
Bi-triennial, young parts hairy: leaves hairy, palmate, with 
sublanceolate, acute lobes: Jeaflets of the exterior calyx dentate : 
capsules ovate, pointed. Seeds distinct, clothed with firmly adher- 
ing white down, under the long white wool. 
G. herbaceum. Linn. spec. plant. edit. Willd. 3. p. 803. 
Gossipium Capas. Rumph. Amb. 4. p. 33. ¢. 12. 
Cudu pariti. Rheed. mal. 1. p. 55.¢. 31. 
Karpassi, or Kapossi, in Sanscrit. 
Rewey, of the Hindoos. 
Karri-Kapass, of the Bengalese. 
Kootn, of the Arabians. 
Poombeh, or Pembeh, of the Persians. 
Patti-tshittoo, of the Telingas, and Patti the cotton itself. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This, and its varieties, are by far the most universally cultivated 
by the natives of India. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Trunk short, nearly straight, woody, often lasting three or even 
four years ; bark ash-coloured, or brown, and by age becomes 
cracked in various directions. Branches numerous, with their 
tender extremities well clothed with long, soft, diverging 
hairs, and marked with numerous rust-coloured dots ; general 
height, when cultivated on a middling soil, about ee feet, 
though in a rich garden loam they rise to eight or even ten 
feet. 
Leaves alternate, petioled, hairy on both sides, palmate; /obes from 
three to five, in young plants lanceolate, in old almost ovate ; 
size very various ; colour pale green: glands, in large luxu- 
riant leaves there is generally a single one near the base of 
each of the three middle, or large nerves; but I do not think 
they ever can be so much depended on, as to form a part of 
the specific character in this, or any other of the species. 
Petioles hairy, nearly as long as the leaves. 
Stipules obliquely linear-lanceolate. 
Peduncles solitary, short, hairy, opposite to the leaves, or on one 
side of them. 
Flowers solitary, large, pale yellow, with the bottom of the bell of 
a dark crimson colour. 
Calyx: exterior, leaflets sometimes nearly entire, sometimes acutely 
dentate, or even gashed, hairy, with a gland on the base of 
each: cnner obscurely 5-toothed. 
Corol large, campanulate. 
Stamens numerous. 
Stigma clavate, 3 or 4- ribbed, and spiral. 
Capsule ovate, pointed, 3 or 4-celled. 
Seeds a few in each cell, distinct, clothed with eae firmly- 
adhering, whitish-grey down, under the long white wool, 
or cotton, 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Of this species there are an infinite number of varieties, from 
soil, situation, method of culture, kc. I shall make a few re- 
marks on as many of these as I have been able to rear under my 
own eye. 
GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM. 66 
I. Dacca Corton (the sort figured) may be reckoned the first 
variety, or deviation from the last mentioned common sort 
(G. herbaceum) in general cultivation over Bengal, and 
Coromandel. It is reared about Dacca (in Bengal), and fur- 
nishes that exceeding fine cotton wool, employed in manu- 
facturing the very delicate, beautiful muslins of that country. 
It differs from the common (G. herbaceum)-in the following 
respects: 
ist. In the plant being more erect, with fewer branches, and the 
lobes of the leaves more pointed. 
2d. Inthe whole plant being tinged of a reddish colour, even the 
petioles, and nerves of the leaves; and being less pubescent. 
3d. In having the peduncles which support the flowers longer, 
and the exterior margins of the petals tinged with red. 
4th. Inthe staple of the cotton being longer, much finer and 
softer. 
These are the most obvious disagreements; but whether they 
will prove permanent I cannot at present say. The most intel- 
ligent manufacturers of that country, (Dacca,) think the great 
difference lies in the spinning, and allow little for the influence 
of soil. 
IJ. Berar Corton (of which there is no figure) I shall call the 
second variety. It is in general cultivation over the Berar 
country, and is from thence imported into the Circars, or 
northern provinces by Sada, Palawansa, kc. to Yerna goodum, 
in the Masulipatam district. With this cotton the fine Madras 
(more properly, Northern circar,) long cloth is made. 
It differs from the above mentioned two sorts, in the following 
respects : 
ist. In growing to a greater size; in being more permanent, 
(living longer), with smoother, and straighter branches. 
2d. In having the leaflets of the exterior calyx more deeply 
divided, and the wool of a firmer, and more durable quality. 
III. Cu1na Corron (of which there is no figure,) I call the third 
It has been lately introduced into Bengal from 
China, where it is cultivated, and its wool reckoned twenty- 
five per cent. better than that of Surat. It differs from the 
former sorts : 
variety. 
. Ist. In being infinitely smaller, with but very few, short, weak 
branches. 
2d. In being (so far as my experience yet goes) annual. 
3d. In having the leaflets of the exterior calyx entire, or nearly 
so. 
270. XANTHOCHYMUS DULCIS Roxs. 
Polygamous. Leaves oblong. Flowers lateral, fascicled. Corols 
globular, Fruit oval, obtuse. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
A native of the Molucca Islands; from thence introduced into 
the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, asa species of Mangosteen. Flower- 
ing time, in Bengal, June, and July. Fruit ripe about the begin- 
ing of the cool season. 
