Metihpermum. diokcia hexandria. 811 



a great quantity of it might be collected, and sent to Europe 

 where it is in great request, but I can scarcely presume to 

 think after all the labour of the learned Thuuberg in par- 

 ticular, who denies its existence here, that I shall be so fortu- 

 nate as to discover it. Your opinion shall be decisive with 

 me, and although it may not be that valuable medicine, I 

 suppose it yet may possess many excellent qualities. It is 

 called by the Cingalese Venivel-getta, or Bangwel-getta. 

 English, the knotted plant. It is in rej)ute amongst the 

 inhabitants, who slice it into pieces, and after having steep- 

 ed it in water several hours swallow it with the liquid. They 

 recommend it as an excellent stomachic. 



" When the seed ripens, I shall have the pleasure of send- 

 ing you some of it at all events, 



" I have sent you a pretty large bit of the root, sawed 

 from the centreof aknot, that you, may make an experiment 

 upon it." 



JVotp. This is certainly not the Colombo root of our Ma- 

 teria Medica. R. 



5. M. cordifolium, Willd. iv. p. 826. 



Twining with corky, scabrous bark. Leaves round, cor- 

 date, smooth. 



Cit-amerdu. Rheed. Mai. vii. t. 21. 



Bemj. and Hind. Goluncha-htta. 



Teling. Tip pa tiga. 



Is one of the most common wild plants in India, every 

 hedge producing it in abundance, and every soil seeming to 

 suit it perfectly well. It flowers most part of the year. 



Root large, soft and spongy like the China root of the 

 Materia Medica. 



Stem twining, perennial, very succulent, running over the 

 highest trees. Bark thick, corky, with many elevated scab- 

 rous specks, from the branches there frequently drop fili- 

 form fibres, which continue lengthening till they enter the 

 ground, and form additional stems and roots. I have measur- 



4X2 



