248 Dr. Francis Hamiuron’s Commentary 
blance in its flower to that of the Rhododendron, and, in fact, I see nothing 
in the account of its fructification to oppose the opinion of its being an-4zalea; 
and by the older botanists Rhododendron and Azalea were not distinguished. 
It must, however, be confessed that the general appearance of the Modagam 
is very different. | 
Berra, seu Beta Mopacau, p. 121. tab. 59. 
Plukenet was doubtful whether or not this, which Ray called a Prunifera 
Indica, was the Takkada of the Ceylonese (Alm. 361.) ; but the elder Burman 
had no doubt, and called the plant “ Arbor exitiosa, marina, lactescens, Indica, 
Takkada vocata, fructu Cerasi magnitudine, incarnato, striato” (Thes. Zeyl. 29.). 
Burman further notices, in his observation on Rumphius (Herb. Amb. iv. 118.), 
that his Tukkada cannot be considered as different from the Buglossum lito- 
reum (Herb. Amb. iv. 116. t. 54.) ; but although Burman considered this as the 
same with the Bella Modagam, Rumphius only says that the two plants should 
be compared together, and justly adds, * Malabarica vero describitur esse mon- 
tium incola, quum nostra planta nullibi nisi in litoribus obcurrat." Further, 
Rheede says of the Bella Modagam, “Arbor est speciosa et przcelsa pluri- 
mum ;" while Rumphius says of the Buglossum litoreum, * hic frutex truncum 
gerit brevem, incurvum, vulgo pedem crassum." 
In the Flora Zeylanica (313.) Linnzeus mentioned a plant no doubt very 
nearly allied to the Bella Modagam, and which he called Lobelia frutescens, 
foliis ovali-oblongis integerrimis, and for which he quotes no Indian authority, 
except a drawing of Herman. This, no doubt, represented the plant that Lin- 
næus then meant; and the term “frutescens,” which he applies to it, would 
seem to exclude the Bella Modagam. Linnzus at the same time, however, 
quoted an American plant described by Plumier and Catesby, which is likely 
different from that drawn by Herman; although in the Flora Indica (186.) 
Burman calls the plant Lobelia Plumieri, as having been discovered by this 
botanist. It must be also remarked, that the younger Burman does not here 
quote the Takkada described by his father, although from the vicinity of Cey- 
lon to Malabar, and from the similarity of their vegetable productions, it might 
be expected to be the same with the Bella Modagam. 
It would appear that some time after this the plant of the Flora Tolania 
