point, included within the anthers. Drupes two, or by 
abortion solitary, pyriform, acuminated. Nut filamentous, 
woody. Albumen none. Cotyledons long, thick, concave.” 
P. Tuovars. 
The Tanguen or Voa Tanghin, Tanghinia of Avgert pu 
Petit Tuovars, has been known to Europeans only as a 
native of Madagascar, and from the account given of it by 
Rocuon, that “ it produces a wood which is hard and veined, 
fit for carpentery, and inlaying work, and of which the 
fruit is a most dangerous poison, too well known, and em- 
ployed by the natives.” Du Prerrr Tuovars named the 
plant Tanenini4; but at the same time observed how closely 
allied it was to the Cerpera Manghas. He even doubted 
if it were not the same. These doubts are now removed by- 
the plant having been cultivated in the Mauritius, and 
being thence introduced, through the medium of Cuartes 
Texrair, Esq. to the rich collection at Bury Hill, where it 
stands in the same house with the true C. Manghas. As 
yet, however, it has not blossomed, and as the plant, accord- 
ing to M. Tuovars, becomes a Tree, (Arsor elegans,) a 
period of some years may still elapse before its flowers 
appear. ! 
In the mean time, we are not without the means of grati- 
fying the public with a figure of this plant. Mr. Trxrair 
has obligingly communicated to us a beautiful drawing of 
a Tanghin which flowered at Reduit, in the Mauritius, from 
the pencil of the Honorable Lady Frances Coxz, the Lady of 
His Excellency, the Governor of the Island*. This figure 
is upon so large a scale, that we cannot presume to do 
justice to it in the humble form in which the Botanical 
Magazine appears. The drawing of the fruit is by Mrs. 
Terram. The value of this communication has been much 
increased by the addition of the history of the use to which 
the poison was put by the former kings of the island of 
Madagascar. ‘“ The kernel of the fruit,” Mr. Trrram 
writes in his letter from the Mauritius, dated March’ 8th, 
1829, “‘ must be a very powerful poison. It is not much 
larger than an almond, and yet is sufficient to destroy above 
twenty persons. Rapama, the late king of Madagascar, 
abolished the use of it as an ordeal; whether the custom 
has been revived by the new government I know not. 
It was with great difficulty that the, chieftains could be 
3 persuaded 
* Now Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. 
