206 . ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [Rosacee. 
ginous and used in medicine, are imported from Caubul and Cashmere into Northern, 
and by the Persian Gulf into Southern India. 
Of Pears, that of Samurcund is most noted ; they are plentiful at Caubul, and excel- 
lent at Peshawur, and are brought into India by the northern merchants from Cashmere 
and Boodurwar. In the gardens of India, the only kind known is one introduced from 
China, Pyrus sinica, or Sand-pear, which more nearly resembles the baking-pear than 
any other I know. P. Pashia, Ham. (P. variolosa, Wall.), or wild pear-tree of the hills, 
attains a great size; but the fruit is not edible, until it becomes somewhat decayed. 
P. lanata and crenata, are other species of this genus, which are found at higher elevations, 
the first affords an edible fruit, called paltoo. | 
Apples alone of the tribe succeed well in the southern parts of India, as they are 
stated to be excellent at Bangalore and in Tirhoot, and, though small, of a good quality 
in most parts of Northern India. As an instance of the difficulty attendant on the 
introduction of European plants into N. India it may be mentioned, that an apple-tree 
from Liverpool, in consequence of being the only one which survived, cost upwards of 
£70 before it was planted in the nursery at Mussooree, where, however, it was thriving 
along with the fruit-trees introduced from Cashmere. The apple is grown-in some of 
the villages of the Himalaya, as well as in Kunawur. They are remarkably fine at 
Peshawur and Caubul, and are brought down to India from Boodurwar and Cashmere. 
On the northern face of the mountains they are grown both at Balkh and Bokhara, and 
are remarkably fine at the former. 
PRINSEPIA. 
Calyw basi cyathiformis obtuse et insequaliter 5-fidus imbricatus. Petala 5 rotundata breve ungui- 
culata calycis fauci inserta. Stamina 30-40 pluri-serialia subeequalia infra petala inserta. Anthere 
hbiloculares, loculis discretis. Germen liberum L-loculare. Stylus terminalis. Stigma orbiculare 
capitatum. Bacea ovata cortice coriaceo, lateraliter ob semen unum abortivum stylo persistente 
appendiculatum. Semen magnum bacce conforme, cotyledonibus crassis testa fusca striata inclusum. 
I have had much pleasure in dedicating this Chrysobalaneous genus to my friend, Mr. James Prinsep, 
Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, who, though not a botanist, contributes most essentially to 
the progress and right understanding of an important branch of the science, the Geography of Plants, 
by his researches into the meteorology of India. He is moreover well entitled to the honour by the zeal 
with which, in a debilitating climate, he promotes the different branches of science, besides those in 
which he himself excels, by giving the gratuitous aid of his varied talents, in editing and publishing at 
his own risk, the “ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,” a publication filled with original commu- 
nications on all branches of science by contributors in India. ‘This I have done with the liberal consent 
of my friend, Dr. Lindley, who previously possessed this plant from Dr.Wallich, though it is not enu- 
merated in the latter’s Catalogue. 
P. utilis. Tab. 38. fig. 1—(a.) Flower seen from above ;—(c.) the same reversed ;—(d.) petals sepa- 
rated ;—(b.) branch with fruit ;—(e.) berry cut transversely ;—(f.) seed enclosed in its testa 3—(g-) 
embryo.—This shrub may be easily recognised in the Himalayas, where it is called bhekhul, and com- 
mon in the most barren places (v. supra) by the thorny nature of its abortive branches, rising like the 
few flowered racemes from the axille of the leaves, Early in the season it is conspicuous for the abun- 
dance of its inflorescence, and later for that of the purple-coloured berries with which it is loaded. The 
leaves are alternate, either single or 2-3-fascicled, coriaceous, petioled, lanceolate, serrate, younger ones 
entire. Bractes membranous, lanceolate, dentate-ciliate. ‘Che seeds by expression yield a useful oil. 
Cerasus 
