222 Dr. Francis Hamilton's Commentary 



the mean time, it seems rather doubtful whether the terms fortu- 

 natum and infortunatum have been correctly applied by Lin- 

 n-ceus. At any rate, as they originated in some silly superstition, 

 they might be as well abandoned. 



What is of more importance to my subject is, that the younger 

 Burman seems to throw a doubt on the identity of the Peragu 

 with the Clerodendrum infortunatum of Linnajus by observing, 

 that the former has alternate leaves ; and so it appears in the 

 fiffure, with a view of which Burman as usual contented himself; 

 for in the text it is said, "folia bina et bina proveniunt;" so 

 that the appearance in the figure has arisen from a neglect of the 

 draughtsman. 



But, further, I have already said, that the Clerodendrum folio 

 laio et acuminata of the elder Burman is different from the Pe- 

 ragu ; and which of these Linnaeus really meant by his C. infor- 

 tunatum I cannot determine. The difference, however, became 

 so obvious, that Willdenow {Sp. PL iii. 386.) makes them distinct 

 varieties, which in uncultivated plants is nearly the same with 

 distinct species, implying merely two plants, that Have a very 

 strong resemblance, although in some points they are not entirely 

 similar. 



Willdenow, however, respecting the Peragu, committed a great 

 error in quoting as the same the Petasites agreatis of Rumphius 

 {Herb. Amb. iv. 102. t. 49.), which has indented leaves. Willde- 

 now thus under the term C. infortunatum comprehends three 

 distinct plants, and the same is done by Gartner ( De Sem. i. 271.). 

 Which of the three each author actually meant I cannot exactly 

 say. It is indeed clear, that Gaertner did not mean the Peragu, 

 because he represents the calyx of the fruit as not quite so long 

 as the berry, to which it closely adheres ; while in the Peragu it 

 is much longer than the berry, and spreads out to a distance. He 

 probably, therefore, meant the Clerodendron of the elder Burman. 



M, Poiret 



