Scientific Intelligence. — Botany. 397 



nardus or spikenard of the ancients, is either the Andropogon 

 Ivarancura of Dr Blane, or the Andropogon Martini of Rox- 

 burgh : its characters shew it to be different from Andropogon 

 schsenanthus, Fl. In. Dr Wallich adds, " Over and above the 

 three species of Andropogon, (viz. Schoenanthus, Ivarancura and 

 Martini,) which are considered as the spikenard of the ancients. 

 I beg to observe, that Valeriana Johomouri, (Vide Fl. Ind. 

 vol. i. p. ^65.)^ is also taken to be a sort of spikenard. Now, 

 two more distinct things do not exist than those two genera; 

 and the root of the Valeriana Johomouri is very little inferior in 

 fragrance to our common valerian, (Val. offic.) which smells abo- 

 minably. 



26. On the Oshac, or Gum Ammoniac Plvnt. — Captain Hart 

 of the 5th Battalion Native Regiment, Bombay, gives the 

 following information as to this interesting plant, in vol. i. 

 of the Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of 

 Calcutta. " It having been intimated to me, while at Bu- 

 shire, by the President, Captain Bruce, that the plant which 

 produces the gum ammoniac, called by the Persians Oshac, 

 would be acceptable to botanists, as it was but imperfectly 

 known, I procured the accompanying piece of stem, leaf and 

 flower, and took a drawing of one of the finest plants. Its 

 height was 7 feet 2 inches, and the circumference of the lower 

 part of the stem 4 inches. It grows principally in the plain be- 

 tween Yorde-Kaust and Kumisha, in the province of Nauk, 

 without cultivation. The gum is so abundant, that, upon the 

 slightest puncture being made, it instantly oozes forth, even at 

 the ends of the leaves. When the plant has attained perfection, 

 innumerable beetles pierce it in all directions ; it soon becomes 

 dry ; it is then picked off, and sent via Bushire to India, and 

 various parts of the world, and is an article of considerable ex- 

 port. I am of opinion that it might be cultivated with success 

 in many parts of Katty war, and the experiment might be worth 

 the attention of Government. The gum might easily be pro- 

 cured by artificial means, which would answer the purpose 

 equally well." 



27. The bark of the stem of the Pomegranate, a specific in 

 cure of Tcenia or Tape Worm.—V. Breton, Esq. says, " I 

 have repeatedly put to the test of trial, in cases of taenia, with 

 uniform success, the dried bark of the stem of the pomegranate 



