Da] 
XI. A Commentary on the Fourth Part of the Hortus Malabaricus. By 
(the late) Francis Hamiwron, M.D., F.R.S. and L.S. 
Read February 21st, and November 7th, 1826. 
Mao, seu Mau, p. 1. tab. 1 et 2. 
THE word Mange, which, the author says, is the name of this tree among 
the Indians, is of Malay origin, and was introduced by Garcias ab Horto, 
Acosta, and other early writers. These absurdly applied the Mangka, or 
Manga, of the Malays to the fruit, and called the tree Mangifera, which has 
been copied by modern botanists, although Rumphius properly called the 
genus Manga. Mis specific name domestica has been changed with equal 
want of propriety ; for the name indica is equally applicable to every species 
of this genus. The Sanscrita name Amra, corrupted in the vulgar dialects of 
Gangetic India into 4m, is the source of the word Ambo, used by the Brah- 
mans of Malabar. 
For one circumstance in Rheede’s description I cannot account; and, as 
there can be no doubt that he knew the tree perfectly, and meant to describe 
it, this circumstance must be attributed to one of those errors into which 
even the most accurate are liable to fall. He says, * folia bina, terna, aut 
quaterna simul ex eodem pediculo ramulis inherent.” This, converted into Lin- 
nan language, would imply that they are folia composita; but this is per- 
fectly erroneous. Another error, respecting the stamina, induced Linnzus to 
place this tree in the class Pentandria. Rheede says, flores—gquinque intus 
albicantibus fibris, flavescentibus apicibus dotatis—preediti. Now in ninety-nine 
flowers out of a hundred only one filament has an anthera, and I have never 
observed one flower in which all the five stamina were complete. 
ADA MARAM, p. 5. tab. 3 et 4. 
Maram annexed to Ada signifies tree; the Malabar name therefore is Ada, 
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