ra 
-Frovs comosa. Comose, or Turrep Fic. 
KEEEEKEEEEE REE EEE EEE 
Class and Order. 
PoryeamiaA Diccta. 
( Nat. Ord.—Unrrticea. ) 
Generic Character. 
Receptaculum carnosum, clausum, apice pervium, andro- 
gynum. Flosculi pedicellati.. Masc. 3-partiti. Stam. 1—3. 
Fam. 3—8-partiti. Stylus lateralis bifidus. Semina in 
pulpa receptaculi nidnlantia. Spreng. 
Specific Character and Synonyms. 
Ficus comosa ; foliis integerrimis glaberrimis nitidis coria- 
ceis subaveniis oblongo-ellipticis utrinque acuminatis 
subtrinerviis, receptaculis geminis sessilibus obovato- 
; globosis obsolete verruculatis basi tribracteatis. 
Ficus comosa. Roxb. Corom. Pl. v. 2. t. 125. Roem. et 
Schultes, Syst. Veget. v. 1. p. 506. Spreng. Syst. Veg. 
v. 3. p. 781. 
Three or four beautiful trees of this species of Fig form 
a noble groupe, in front of the Quinta das Angustias, in 
Madeira, a little out of Funchal to the westward, on the 
way to the Loo rock or Ilheo. They were originally brought 
from England (where, according to the Hortus Britannicus, 
the species was introduced from the Circars, in 1808), in a 
box, which being placed here, and afterwards neglected, 
the plants soon extended their roots into the ground, and 
established themselves, forming a grove-like screen to the 
whole east front of the house, which is of considerable ex- 
tent. In this situation, conspicuous from the whole bay or 
amphitheatre of Funchal, they fail not to attract the atten- 
tion of the most incurious stranger, by their waving, droop- 
ing, tufted masses of dark, rich foliage; to which the epi- 
thet comose or tressy is most appropriately applicable. 
The beautiful drawing, admirably representing the grace- 
fully pendent habit of the foliage, is from the pencil of my 
obliging friend, Miss Youne. 
Descr. 
