12 DR. WALLICH 



former) informs us, that the flowers of H. coronarium are worn 

 by the Malays behind the ears, or as garlands among the hair, 

 for ornament, and that they will perfume a whole room with their 

 fragrance ; further, that it is stated in some Malay grammar, that 

 they are used symbolically to denote great promise, by their 

 ample spread aiid beauty, but equal inconstancy by their deli- 

 cate and quickly evanescent texture. Both those 'authors give 

 GandasuU or Suli, as the Malay name of that species. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Hasskarl, all the Malayan species have that 

 name. The distinguished traveller and author, Mr. J. Crawfurd, 

 informs me that, in the Malay language, Ganda (as does 

 its Sanscrita primitive) denotes smell or odour; and Suli, a 

 corruption of Suri, in Javanese, a " woman of rank, a 

 queen : " the entire word meaning Queen's perfume (see also 

 his recent, most valuable Dictionary of the Malay language). 

 In Nipal all the species are called by the general term 

 Lutisa-soa (the last term meaning flower in the Parbuttea 

 language). 



In his splendid work onMonandrian Plants, Mr. Roscoe notices 

 a very old remark of mine, that no plants are more subject to 

 changes than those belonging to our genus. This applies equally 

 to their wild and cultivated state, and is a constant source of 

 trouble and perplexity to those who wish to study them in their 

 native places of growth, or in gardens; and the dried specimens 

 are still more difficultly examined, owing to the delicate fabric of 

 the flowers, and generally (though not always) to their colours 

 being lost. A good many species have in consequence been 

 enumerated and described, which have no reality, and are some- 

 times not even entitled to the subordinate rank of varieties, so 

 that my present humble attempt has consisted chiefly in reducing, 

 under the banners of a moderate series of species, what preceding 

 authors, myself notably included, had, as I now thhik, needlessly 

 and unwarrantably multiplied. In proof I may mention, that I 

 have myself been often deceived by the freaks and versatility of 

 form and colours in these lovely flowers, and even the stature and 

 Avhole appearance of the plants I had before me, and have had 



Theodor Martius, on a series of duplicate specimens of drugs from the 

 Indian Department of the late Exhibition, presented to the University of 

 Erlangen by the East India Company, mentions " radix Hedychii spicati." 

 No native names are given; but the drug is assimilated to Zedoary, and 

 somewhat to " radix Martelli " of commerce. Die ostindisclte Rohicuaren- 

 ^amviluur/, p. i). 



