Salicornia. monandrta monogynia. 85 



2. S. indica. Vahl. enum. pi. 1. 10. 



Perennial, diffuse ; joints gibbous. Spikes cylindric ; 

 flowers hid. 



Beng. Jodoo Palftng. 



Teling. Quoia-pipaly. 



This is also very common, and grows with the former on 

 similar ground. 



Stems and large branches woody, diffuse over an extent of 

 some feet ; the latter sometimes alternate, sometimes opposite, 

 those that are young, and covered with the leaves are ascend- 

 ing, or nearly erect. Joints, or leaves longer than in the 

 former species, but in other respects the same. Floral joints 

 or leaves, very short. Spikes terminal, cylindric, erect, ob- 

 tuse. Flowers inconspicuous, opposite, three-fold, hid by the 

 upper margin ofthe ftext Moral leaf below. Calyx as in the 

 former. Stamen • iii this species 1 have never been able to 

 discover even the rudiments of one. Pistil, &c. as in the 

 former. 



Obs. Cattle will not eat these plants, although their taste is 

 simply saltish. Those two species are very plentiful on the 

 coast of Coromandel, where large quantities ofthe fossil al- 

 kali might no doubt be made at a Iow r rate. Such manufac- 

 tures deserve much encouragement, particularly here, where 

 there are many more labouring people* than can possibly 

 find employment. Large quantities of this substance are 

 annually imported into England from the Mediterranean, for 

 making soap, glass, &.c. It is worth about twenty-eight or 

 thirty shillings per CWt. and as labour is cheap on this coast, 

 the alkali might be made, 1 think, at so low a rate as to ad- 

 mit of its being sent to England, and paying a freight of 

 £10 the ton, or more; provided it could be there imported 

 duty free. 



* This was written before the famine of 1791, 2, and 3; the 

 case is now (17 ( J4) different, as fully half, if not more of the 

 labouring classes were carried off by that deplorable calamity. 



F3 



