BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 333 



to be painted on furniture emplojed exclusively for the 

 gratification of the king. Specimens of botli these fig-trees 

 have been planted in the East India Company's garden in 

 the island of St Helena, where, although young, they appear 

 (1807), in a flourishing condition." 



The above corroborates what we have already mentioned, 

 viz., that the Banyan is quite a different tree from the F. 

 religiosa, to which, however, it has been referred by most 

 botanists in this country, as well as on the continent of 

 Europe. 



Notices of European Herbaria, particularly those most inter- 

 esting to the North American Botafiist. 



[In the present volume, p. 293, while giving an account of 

 the excellent North American Flora, by Torrey and Gray, 

 we mentioned that both authors had, in order to ensure 

 greater correctness in the synonymy, visited most of the 

 large herbaria in Europe. The following paper connected 

 with that subject, has been lately communicated b}' Dr Gray 

 to the American Journal of Science, (Vol. xl. No. 1.) and 

 cannot but be interesting to the readers of this journal, who 

 may not have an opportunity of seeing the original.] 



" The vegetable productions of North America, in com* 

 mon with those of most other parts of the world, have gene- 

 rally been first described by European botanists, either from 

 the collections of travellers, or from specimens communicated 

 by residents of the country, who, induced by an enlightened 

 curiosity, the love of flowers, or in some instances, by no in- 

 considerable scientific acquirements, have thus sought to 

 contribute, according to their opportunities, to the promo- 

 tion of botanical knowledge. From the great increase in 

 the number of known plants, it very frequently happens that 

 the brief descriptions, and even the figures of older authors, 

 are found quite insufficient for the satisfactory determination 

 of the particular species they had in view ; and hence it 



Vol. III.— No. 23. 2 z 



