196 Dr. Francis. HamiLzron’s Commentary 
Linnæus in the Flora Zeylanica (367.), joining the Scherunam 
Cottam with a plant of Ray, with one of Hermann mentioned 
also by Burman (Thes. Zeyl. 29.), and withthe plant of Bontius 
quoted by Plukenet, without however mentioning the latter, — 
calls it Clutia foliis ovalibus petiolatis retusis, floribus racemosis 
sessilibus. Now the plant of Rheede has four seeds in a subacid 
berry, which seems also to be the case with that of Ray (fructu 
tetraspermo) ; while the plant of Linnzus, if it be a Clutia, has 
a capsule with three cells. Linnæus indeed acknowledges that 
the figure in the Hort. Mal. represents his plant badly ; so that 
even he was not satisfied with his quotation, probably on account 
of the description of the fruit by Rheede. ‘To the Scherunam 
Cottam probably, therefore, we may leave the synonyma of Ray 
and. Bontius ; while Hermann, and also Burman, who does not 
quote the Hort. Mal., probably described the Clutia of Linnæus. 
The younger Burman (Fl. Ind. 217.) makes no change on the 
synonyma; but follows the Species Plantarum in calling the 
plant of the F/ora Zeylanica, Clutia retusa, and quotes the Hor- 
tus Malabaricus without doubt. 
M. Lamarck however (Enc. Meth. ii. 54.) received plants 
from M. Sonnerat, and had seen others in the collection of 
Commerson, which he considered as well represented by the 
figure of Rheede ; and he quotes also the synonyma of Ray and 
Bontius ; but doubts of his plant, which he calls Clutia squamosa, 
being the Clutia retusa of Linnæus. At any rate, this Clutia 
certainly is not the Scherunam Cottam, as it produces ** capsules 
ovoides, globuleuses, lisses, a trois ou quatre loges monospermes ;" 
while the fruit of the Scherunam Cottam, as Linnæus justly ob- 
served, is a berry: ‘‘ Fructus qui surculis insident parvi et 
rotundi sunt ad instar pirorum lauri superficie glabri, primum 
virides ac nitentes, dein colore nigro dum maturi sunt et sapo- 
ris subacidi, continentque quatuor grana seminis alba ac trans- 
: parentia 
