BOTANY. 



61 



Of the rose tribe, which includes the apples, cherries, 

 and plums, Wight says there is not a single indigenous 

 species on the plains of India, and that the species are 

 " peculiarly extra tropical, a very few only being found 

 within the tropics, and these at considerable elevations ; " 

 but on this Coast we have one indigenous species of rubus 

 or bramble, another of cerasus or cherry, observed by Grif- 

 fith ; another of pyrus or pear, found by Wallich on the Irra- 

 waddy, and if I am not mistaken I have seen a species of 

 pygeum on a branch of the Tenasserim within a short 

 distance of tide waters. 



Many more similar facts could be easily put on record, 

 but enough has been written, to prove that asanatarium on 

 Ox's Hump, a mountain four thousand feet high, fifteen 

 miles east of Tavoy, would enjoy a climate corresponding 

 to one six or seven thousand feet high on the other Coast. 

 The path to its base is overshadowed by some of the most 

 ornamental trees in the Provinces, and strown with many 

 of our prettiest annuals, whose flowers baptize the breez- 

 es with their fragrance, 



SELECT ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUB3. 



Perhaps no region in the world, of the same size con- 

 tains a greater variety of ornamental trees and shrubs than 

 the Tenasserim Provinces. The following selection of 

 one hundred with a dozen palms is perhaps sufficiently 

 numerous, yet it might be easily enlarged. 



AMHERSTIA. 



This is the finest indigenous tree in Chin India. It is 

 of low stature, with slender pendulous branches clustered 

 under its tufted summit of lively green, and draperied 

 with large pea blossom shaped flowers of brilliant red and 

 yellow, which hang down from its graceful arches in tas- 

 sels more then a yard long. 



It was discovered by Dr. Wallich on the Salwen near 

 Trockla, and named by him after the Governor General's 

 Lady— the Noble Amherstia. It has been introduced into 

 England where every tree is said to be worth fifty pounds. 



