THE ORCHIDS OF THE BOMB A Y PRESIDENCY. 569 



Nairne notes thus : — " Flowers variable in size and colour (Hooker). I 

 venture to say that Hooker's description, as given at page 719, Vol. V., Flora 

 Br. Ind., is not sufficient for the purpose of identifying the plant. This pro- 

 bably was due to Sir Joseph Hooker having written his description from a dry 

 Herbarium specimen or specimens, and not direct from nature. Rheede attri- 

 butes medicinal properties to this plant which are worth quoting, though I 

 have no pei'sonal experience of them. They are translated from Latin for the 

 reader as follows : — ' The entire plant, recently gathered, chiefly its juice, when 

 given internally, cures all kinds of stomach-aches and colic, excites bile and 

 acts as a laxative to the intestines.' " This plant was first identified for me by 

 Mr. M. C. Turner of Bombay. The plate is from my collection. K. R. K.] 



{To be continued.) 



