+ localities are the alluvial tracts on the foot of hills, where it forms ae 
um 
* À ficed! How much better would it be to adopt the method of tapping — 
88 M. SEEMANN’S JOURNAL. 
“The Gutta Taban tree belongs to the Natural Order Sapotacee, 
but differs so much from all described genera that I am inclined to 
consider it a new one. I shall, therefore, endeavour to give its general — 
character, leaving the honour of naming it to a more competent — 
botanist, especially as, from want of complete specimens, I have not 
quite satisfied myself regarding the stamens and fruit. 
“ The tree is from sixty to seventy feet high, from two to three feet 
in diameter. In its general aspect it resembles the Durian (Durio Zi- 
bethinus, Linn.), so much so as to strike the most superficial observer. 
The leaves are alternate, obovate-lanceolate, entire, coriaceous, their up- - 
per surface is of a pale green, and their under surface covered with a 
close, short, reddish-brown hair. The flowers are axillary, from one to 
three in the axils, supported on short curved pedicels, and numerous 
along the extremities of the branches, The calyx is inferior, persistent, 
coriaceous, divided into six sepals, which are arranged in double series. — 
The corolla is monopetalous, hypogynous, and divided, like the calyx, — 
into six acuminate segments. The stamens, inserted into the throat of — 
the corolla, are in a single series, and variable in number, but to the 
best of my observation, their normal number is twelve ; they are most 
generally all fertile. The anthers are supported on slender bent fila- 
ments, and open by two lateral pores. The ovary is superior, termi- 
nated by a long single style, and six-celled ; the cells are monosper- 
mous. The fruit is unknown to me. 
“Only a short time ago the Taban-tree was tolerably abundant on 
the island of Singapore, but already (middle of 1847) all the large 
timber has been felled. Its geographical range, however, appears to 
be considerable, it being found all up the Malayan peninsula, as far 
as Penang, where I have ascertained it to be plentiful. Its favourite 
principal portion of the jungle. “Te 
“The quantity of solid Gutta obtained from each tree, varies from - 
five to twenty catties, so that, taking the average of ten catties, which 
is a tolerably liberal one, it will require the destruction of ten trees to 
produce one picul. Now, the quantity exported from Singapore to 
Europe, from the first of January, 1845, to the middle of 1847, amoun- 
ted to 6918 piculs, to obtain which 69,180 trees must have been sacri- 
