Zernstreemiacea. | THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 107 
other species of the genus, afford the several. sorts of balsam, called by the natives of 
India gurjun; by the Cinghalese dhoonatil; and by the English wood-oil. Vateria indica 
produces the resin in India called copal, (in England known by the name of gum anime,) 
as very nearly approaching the true resin of that name. The best specimens are 
employed as ornaments, under the denomination of amber (kahroba), to which it bears 
external resemblance : in its recent and fluid state it is used as a varnish (called Piney 
varnish) in the south of India (Buchanan's. Mysore, ii. p. 476,) and dissolved by heat, 
in closed vessels, is employed for the same purpose in other parts of India. Another 
plant of the same genus, V. lanceefolia, affords a resin, from which the Indians prepare 
one of the materials of their religious oblations.” (As. Res. xii p. 539.) 
29. TERNSTROEMIACER. _ 
This order, with Camelliee, first formed by Messrs. De Candolle and Mirbel, of some 
genera separated from Jussieu’s Aurantia, was subdivided by the former into several 
sections, Dr. Lindley, however, states that ‘‘no solid difference exists between this 
order and Camelliee, the Theaceé of Mirbel; and Cambessedes, after a careful revision 
of the whole, has come to the conclusion, that even the sections proposed by De Can- 
dolle among Ternstremiacee, are untenable.” As this opinion appears to me the most 
correct, I have followed the two latter authors in uniting the two orders. 
The geographical distribution of this order is particularly interesting, on account of 
its containing a plant, which, scarcely known a century ago, has given rise to a most 
extensive commerce, and changed the habits of the most civilized nations, who hardly, in 
any other respect, agree with the people from whom they receive, and follow in the use 
of the refreshing beverage, afforded by the leaf of the tea-plant. This order, numerous 
in genera, though few of these are very abundant in species, is confined to the warm parts 
of Asia and America, with only one genus ( Ventenatia) of doubtful affinity, consisting of 
but a single species existing in Africa, The Asiatic species are chiefly confined to 
China and the mountains which form a barrier between it and India; and as there is 
considerable resemblance it will be seen between the cultivation of the plains, so is there 
no less analogy in the vegetation of the mountains of the two countries; and this order 
is well suited to prove the point. The genera Camellia and Thea, forming the Camellice 
of De Candolle, and Zheacee of Mirbel, distinguished from Fernstremiacee on account 
of the seeds being destitute of albumen, were at one time considered exclusively 
Chinese. Species of the former were originally found in China and Japan. C. Japonica 
was figured by Kempfer at p. 851; C. Sasanqua by Thunberg, in t. 29, in their Floras 
of Japan ; and C. oleifera by Dr. Abel, in his Journey in China, at p.174. In addition 
to the original Chinese species, others have been discovered in India, where species have 
been found by Drs.Wallich and Buchanan in the mountains near Munnipoor, Pundua, 
and Silhet, about 24° of N. latitude; and one species, Camellia Kissi, in the mountains 
surrounding the valley of Nepal, between 27° and 28° of N. latitude, which is figured 
p2 at 
