200 Dr. Francis Hamiuton’s Commentary 
he admits to be the same with the Sebestena domestica seu Myxa of Comme- 
line. Their identity, however, I think very doubtful; for the nut in the figure 
given by Lamarck and Gertner (De Sem. i. ¢.76.), and probably belonging to 
the Egyptian plant, has only two acute angles, while that of the Vidi Maram 
is quadrangular. It must be further remarked, that Commeline in his note 
states that the Vidi Maram had not been described by any author, nor does 
he venture to class it further than by calling it an Arbor prunifera; while the 
Sebestena domestica had been described by many authors, unless we suppose 
the plant so called by Commeline to be different from that described by the 
Bauhins. 
M. Poiret (Enc. Méth. vii. 40.), while he admits the difficulty of ascertaining 
what plant Linnzeus meant by his Cordia Myzxa, retains the specific character 
given by Willdenow, and enumerates three varieties. The first is the plant 
of Egypt, at least as described by J. Bauhin and Forskhal, for he quotes 
C. Bauhin with doubt. The second variety is the Vidi Maram of India, the 
Cordia officinalis of Lamarck, and the Sebestena domestica of Commeline ; but, 
as I have said, the plant figured by Lamarck seems different from the Vidi 
Maram; nov do I know any ground for supposing the Sebestena domestica of 
Commeline to be different from that of C. Bauhin. M. Poiret’s third variety 
is the Cordia obliqua of Willdenow (Sp. Pl. i. 1072.). 
I am by no means satisfied that I have ever seen the plant described by 
Rheede; and I must say, that the form, the pubescence, and the margins of 
the leaves of the plants, which in various parts of Gangetic India are called 
Latora, Lisaura, Bahuyari, Baboyar, and Dhovoli, vary so much, even on the 
same tree, that no reliance can be placed on characters drawn from thence. 
The leaves of these are sometimes rounded, at others sharp-pointed ; some- 
times smooth, and at others hairy; sometimes quite entire, at others slightly 
indented. All, however, agree in having three principal nerves meeting a 
little above the base, and in generally having terminal corymbi; and all, — 
therefore, in certain states, agree tolerably with the figure in Plukenet (Phyt. 
t. 217. f. 3.), and with the Vidi Maram; but then the flowers of the latter. 
have six divisions, and the plants of Gangetic India have five only. Figure 3. 
of Plukenet has also six stamina, and is no doubt the Vidi Maram, as he 
. ulleges; but the flower of figure 2., representing the Egyptian Sebestena, seems 
