Kempferia rotunda was known to Bauhin and Ray, and 
has been cultivated in England for nearly a century; it is a 
reputed native of the Hast Indies, but as far as I can make 
out is only known in continental India in a cultivated state ; 
Roxburgh says that it is “no doubt a native of various parts 
of India,” but adds, “yet I cannot say where it is indigenous.” 
Wight figures it from Malabar, but does not state whether 
it is indigenous or no. Thwaites includes it in his enumera- 
tion of Ceylon plants, as an inhabitant of the warmer parts 
of that island. ‘The specimen here figured flowered in Mr. 
Bull's establishment in April of the present year. 
Col. Heber Drury, the best authority on the economic plants 
of India, says of this the Bhu champa, or Bhue champa of 
Bengal (Useful Plants of Inda, ed. 2, p. 271), that its native - 
place is unknown, and that it is much cultivated in gardens, 
because of the beauty and fragrance of the flowers; he adds, 
that according to Rheede, the whole plant is reduced to 
powder, and used as an ointment, in which state it is 
reckoned as very useful in healing wounds, &c. The root, 
which has a hot ginger-like taste, is useful in anasarcous 
swellings.—J/. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Apex of ovary with stamen and style :—magnified. 
