278 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Gentianee. 
Dioscorides with the most fragrant and aromatic substances known in ancient times, 
placed also by the latter between Juncus odoratus (Xxjves, Andropogon Schenanthus, Auct.) 
and the Balsam of Gilead tree (GaAcauoy); it appears at first sight improbable, that a 
pure bitter of the tribe of Gentians should be the famed and fragrant Calamus odoratus 
(xcoraeuog expomeetinos, Diosc. 1. c. xvii). The Persian authors on Materia Medica, who 
translated from the Arabic, give no Greek synonyme for the Chiretta, though almost 
every name in Dioscorides, as I have myself proved, may be traced out in their writings. 
But the Arabic name, they inform us, is kusb-al-surireh. Kusb, a reed or cane, &c. is, 
in Persian works on Materia Medica, especially applied to the bamboo, for which 
Kalamus is given as the Greek name, though in Europe an Arundo is supposed to be 
the Calamus of Dioscorides. Kusb-al-sukkur is the sugar-cane, and. kusb-al-zarireh 
the Chiretta. Zarireh, in Richardson’s Dictionary, is translated wormwood ; and 
zarir, a yellow dyeing wood, jaundice, &c. The meaning of the term applied to 
Chiretta is therefore the bitter or yellow reed or Calamus; and the older commentators 
on the writings of the Greeks, finding a Calamus among the Arabs unappropriated, 
have supposed it to be Calamus aromaticus ; for the Casab-al-daterah of Matthiolus, 
(darrira of other authors), is no doubt the Chiretta. My own opinion has long been, and 
its probable correctness I hope on some future occasion to be able to prove, that the 
~ Calamus aromaticus is the Andropogon Iwaruncusa, or some nearly allied species yielding 
the fragrant ‘‘ grass oil of Namur.” ) : 
The accompanying cannes ai the plants figured, I have been obligingly favoured 
with by Mr. Don. 
Gentiana contorta (Royle) annua; floribus. solitariis, corolla infundibuliformi 5-loba, lobis lineari- 
oblongis obtusis sestivatione convolutis, dentibus calycinis lanceolatis acuminatis, foliis ellipticis obtusis 
5-nerviis subsessilibus.—Tab. 68. f.3. (a) corol; (6) calyx; (¢) pistil. 
Hab. Mussooree, near’ Captain Debude’s house and the Abbey-hill ; ; in flower in the rainy season. I 
regret that I have been unable to find my specimens of this plant, from which the drawing by 
Luchmun Sing was made when he was there with me. ~ 
Pneumonanthe Kurroo; caulescens, subuniflora; dentibus calycinis elongatis subulatis, corolla 
campanulata, lobis acutis, foliis obtusis, radicalibus elongato-lanceolatis, caulinis linearibus.—Gentiana 
Kurroo; (Royle). Tab. 68. fig. 2. (a) calyx and pistil; (5) corol. 
Hab. Kuerkoolee, Mussooree ; Budraj, Simla. Root used in medicine by natives, and called kurroo. 
Eurythalia coronata; subacaulis ; floribus aggregatis, corolla 10-loba, sinubus lobis subsequalibus 
ovatis uniformibus, foliis lanceolatis acutis margine cartilagineis.—Gentiana coronata. (Royle). 'Tab. 68. 
f. 1. (a) Flowers supported by bracts; (6) corol opened ; (c) calyx. 
Hab. Kedarkanta, near the top of the Peak. 
Swertia alternifolia ; (Royle) foliis alternis ! elliptico-oblongis acuminatis '7-nerviis basi vaginantibus, 
floribus racemoso-paniculatis, corolla segmentis ellipticis obtusis, glandulis orbiculatis contiguis— 
Tab. 67. fig. 2. (a) A flower. 
Hab. Kedarkanta. 
S. ceerulea ; (Royle) floribus subsolitariis, coroll segmentis ovatis mucronulatis, glandulis linearibus 
distantibus, foliis inferioribus spathulatis petiolatis, superioribus calycibusque lanceolatis obtusiusculis. 
soe 67. ed, (@) A flower ; (6) segments of corol; (c) of calyx separated from (d) the stamens and 
ss 
Hab. atte 3'Cashuhere, and on Peer Punjal. 
116. Sotanrz. 
