Terebinthacee.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 175 
4,000 feet at Nahn, but does not ripen its fruit. . I know not how much further north it 
extends, but have heard: that the fruit does not ripen at Lahore. The species which 
_ have been mentioned, are those which are found in most parts of India, in’ the jungly 
tract along the foot.of the Himalayas, in the forests of the central range of mountains, 
as well as in those of the Peninsulas. In the forests of Silhet and Chittagong, other 
species are prevalent, as-Zoligarna’ racemosa and longifolia, Melanorrhea usitata, species 
of Canarium, Bursera serrata, Wall., (Schinus niara and Benghalensis, of Hb. Ham.) 
referred by W. and A. to Icica, Balsamodendron commiphora, and. Pygeum acuminatum. 
Species of Syndesmis have as yet only been found in Tavoy and Penang; Anacardium 
occidentale occurs only in the islands, but is cultivated in the healt where species 
of Protium are alone found. | | 
Sabia, Colebr., is one:of the néw genera which is found inf Sillict-and Nepal, ex- 
tending northwards to the vicinity of the Ruenka lake, and also to the valleys on the 
sides of Urukta. This would be the only plant of the order.at any considerable ele- 
vation in these mountains, if it was not for the prevalence of the genus Rhus, of which 
several species are found here, and are very common. » R, parviflora, Roxb., is that 
which is found at the lowest elevations. R. velutina, Wall., ,i8 so nearly allied ‘to 
R. cotinus, that some of its smooth-leaved varieties might be referred to it; of which 
Caucasus is at present the most southern-known distribution. R. kakrasingee, nob., 
(R. acuminata, D. C.?) which, by Dr: Wallich, has been united, with .R. swccedanea; and 
of which the horn-like excrescences, formed probably in consequence of the deposition 
of the ova of some insect, have long formed a famed article of Hindoo medicine, is 
found in the Deyra Doon, and every where in the hills, at moderate elevations, 
The other species are closely allied to those found in Japan. Thus, R. vernicifera, 
D.C. includes both the Japan plant, sitz of Kempfer, and Dr.Wallich’s R. juglandi- 
folia, found in'Nepal, Kemaon, and every where in Gurhwal. . Buckiamela, Roxb., 
is so closely allied to the Java and Japan R. semi-alata, as to have been united with it 
by D.C., though it has been again separated by Dr. Wallich. 
The different groups or families into which the Terebinthacee have been divided, Sidi 
a considerable resemblance in the nature of their products. These have been shortly 
summed up in: ‘the “excellent work of M. Fée, as consisting, 1st, ‘of fixed oil in the 
almonds of the seeds; 2d, essential oil, which is combined with resin in the turpentine 
_ of the pistacias: 3d, resin, which flows natutally; or from artificial openings made in 
the trunks of the greater number of species; 4th, gum, which is seldom found pure,* 
but frequently combined with the resin, as in myrrh, &c. 
The Burseracee include the plants yielding the most valuable products, which have 
long been articles of great commercial importance. Thus, the Balsamodendron (Amyris) 
Gileadense, or balsam of Gilead-tree, known in the East by the name of Balessan, has 
long been accounted one of the riches of Arabia, whence, or from Abyssinia, its native 
country, according to Bruce, it was at an early period taken into Syria. It has also 
been introduced into the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, as well as into the Peninsula of 
India, 
