290 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



Some on the lower boughs, which cross'd their way. 



Fixing their bearded fibres round and round, 



With many a ring and wild contortion wound. 



Some to the passing wind at times, with sway 



Of gentle motion swung. 



Otliers of younger growth, unmoved, were hung 



Like stone-drops from the cavern's fretted height. 



Beneath was smooth and fair to sight, 



Nor weeds nor briars deform' d the natural floor, 



And through the leafy cope which bower'd it o'er. 



Came gleams of chequered light. 



So like a temple did it seem, that there 



A pious heart's first impulse would be prayer." 



In the Madras Journal of Science, Colonel Sykes speaks of 

 a Banyan tree at the village of Mhow, in the Poona collecto- 

 rate, with sixty-eight stems descending from the branches, and 

 capable of affording shade, with a vertical sun, to 20,000 men. 



The name Ficus Benghalensis was taken up by Linnaeus 

 from Commelyn, 1 . t. 62, and he has been followed by 

 Willdenow ; but most authors seem now agreed that by this 

 is equally intended the Banyan, F. Jndica. Commelyn, un- 

 fortunately, added to the confusion, by quoting as a synonym 

 the Hindoo name " Pippal/' which is certainly a totally dif- 

 ferent species; and, as we have before observed, the i^. reli- 

 giosa. Of this we shall probably take an opportunity of giving 

 a figure in our Journal. 



Ficus Indica ; branches dropping roots which become as 

 long as the original trunk ; leaves ovate-cordate ; fruit in ses- 

 sile axillary pairs. (Tab. XIV.) Roxb. FL Ind. 3. p^ 539. 



Ficus Indica, Linn. AmcEti. Acad. \. p. 27. Smith in 

 Kees' Cycl — Ham. in Linn. Trans, vol. 13. p. 489, (non 

 Willd., nee Moon, nee Spreng.*) 



Ficus Benghalensis, Commelyn. Hort. \. 62. — Linn. — 

 Willd. Sp. PL 4. 1135. 3Ioon. Ceyl. Ft. p. 11. Spreng. 

 Syst. Veget. 3. p. 780. Thunb. Fl. Jab. p. Sn.f 



Viita. Asiatic JRes. A. p. 310, 



* Which is Ficus Tsiela. Roxb. 

 t F. Benghalensis of Roxburgh's drawings. No. 687, is, according to 

 Dr Arnott, F. tomenfosa of his Flora Indica. 



