QUASSIA AMARA, ORD. XXXII. Gruinaies, 575 
corolla consists of five Iance-shaped equal petals, at the base of 
which is placed the nectary, or five roundish coloured scales: the 
filaments are ten, slender, somewhat longer than the corolla, and 
crowned with simple antherz, placed transversely : the receptacle 
is fleshy and orbicular: the germen is ovate, divided into five 
parts, and supports a slender style, longer than the filaments, and 
terminated by a tapering stigma: the capsules are five, two-celled, 
and contain globular seeds, It is a native of South America, par- 
ticularly of Surinam, and also of some of the West-India Islands. 
The botanical character of this species of Quassia was known 
long before that of the Simaruba, as it is noticed in its proper 
place in the Sp. Plantarum, upon the authority of Dahlberg, when 
it was thought peculiar to Surinam ; afterwards, Linnzus, in his 
Materia Medica, referred it to the Nux americana, foliis alatis 
bifidis of Commelin.|| It appears, however, that the figure given 
in the Amcenitates Academice,* is not a faithful representation of 
this species ; hence the younger Linnaeus has observed, “ Figura 
florts in Dissertatione Parentis de Quassia vera est, sed ramulus 
cum folits ad aliam pertinet;”* and consequently those copied 
from it, and since published by Buchoz; and others, are with 
respect to the leaves erroneous;* this will be evident, upon con- 
sulting the plate and description of the Quassia given by Patris, 
as well as the Icon here annexed, which was drawn from a speci- 
men in the possession of that able naturalist Dr. J. E, Smith,, 
President of the Linnzan Society.‘ 
{| Hort. 2. p. 423. t. 94: 
2 See Vol. vi..p. 416. © Suppl. Plant. p. 235. 
* On this account, we have not referred to the figure of the Quassia, lately. 
published. by Dr. Lettsom in:the Mem. of the Med. Society. 
© ‘The ample and valuable collection of specimens in Natural History made by 
Linnzus, and to which most of his cotemporary naturalists were contributors, . 
are now in the possession of this Gentleman, who has obligingly offered us any 
assistance it may afford us in the prosecution of this work. 
