Tas. 6881. 
ROYDSIA  svaveotens. 
Native of the East Indies. 
Nat. Ord. Cappartpem.—Tribe Capparrn. 
Genus Roypsia, Roxb. ; (Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Pi. vol. i. p- 110.) 
Roypsta suaveolens ; frutex v. arbuscula ramis scandentibus, foliis breviter petio- 
latis oblongis v. oblongo-lanceolatis acutis v. abrupte acuminatis integerrimis 
glaberrimis, racemis axillaribus solitariis v. paniculatis pubescentibus, floribus 
flavis suaveolentibus, drupa globoso-ovoidea v. oblonga aurantiaca breviter 
Stipitata, endocarpio levi. 
R. suaveolens, Roxb. Cor. Pi. vol. iii. p. 86, t. 289; FU. Ind. vol. ii. p- 643 ; Wali. 
Cat. Herb. Ind. Or. No. 4200; Griff. Notul. vol. iv. p. 578; Hook. f. Fl. 
Brit. Ind. vol. i. p. 180. 
A frequent plant in the borders of tropical forests at the 
base of the Eastern Himalaya, from Sikkim to Upper 
Assam, and in similar situations in Assam, the Khasia 
Mountains and Munneypore, scenting the air when in 
flower with a delicious fragrance. The genus, which con- 
sists of very few tropical Asiatic species, differs remarkably 
from all others of the Caper family, to which it belongs, in 
the absence of petals, in the fruit being a drupe with a 
woody three-valved endocarp, in the three subulate styles, 
and in the three-celled ovary, which, however, becomes a 
one-celled fruit through the absorption of the placentas 
and the arrest of the development of numerous ovules. 
Roydsia has been for many years cultivated at Kew, 
having been received from the Calcutta Botanical Gardens. 
It is excellently described by Dr. Roxburgh, who named 
the genus in compliment to “Sir John Royds, one of the 
Puisne Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Bengal, 
and an eminent benefactor to the science.” Though in its 
full-grown state rather a coarse rambling bush, ill suited 
for small houses, it is well worth cultivating for its fra- 
grance by those who can give it space enough, the foliage 
being handsome, of a bright green, and persistent ; and pot 
Specimens flower freely, even smal] ones. The plant here 
JUNE lst, 1886, 
