ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. Go 
especially the fruit of Microchlena, which is highly mucilaginous, be converted here to a similar 
useful purpose, and affect a great saving in the process adopted in India for that object. The 
every part of India, grows quickly, and yields annually two, three, or even four, crops of cuttings 
fit for peeling it is particularly recommended by Dr. Roxburgh for cultivation.” The seed of 
have not been very successful, but [saw several very thriving young trees at Courtallum, and 
there is one at Palamcottah which annually bears a crop of fruit, and gives promise that it 
fresh virgin soil, the shade, and humid atmosphere, of 
forests recently cleared of their brushwood only, are all dwelt upon by Humboldt as peculiarly 
favourable for Cacoa plantations, and in such of course they ought to be tried in the first in- 
stance, until we get the tree acclimated. 
Remarks on Genera. The genus Sferculia, as mentioned above, has been completely broken 
down, and no fewer than ; 
y [con 
in Malabar, and another in Ava, é 
America, whether correctly may be difficult to ascertain, but whether or not it is cer- 
tainly very widely diffased over India now, and affords a proof, if introduced, that it has 
ound a most congenial climate, and holds out the prospect of equal success attending the 
introduction of the Cacoa tree. The wood which is generally known under the English name 
of bastard cedar, though a light and rather loose grained timber, is much employed in making 
furniture. Ranking next this large umbragious tree is Bytineria, a humble herb, only found 
in dry gravelly soil, usually seeking the support and shelter afforded by the few stunted 
bushes growing in such situations. The Abroma I have never met with, but as above stated, 
it merits being better known on account of the valuable purposes to which ifs bark may be 
applied. Waltheria is a very common herbaceous plant, but of a most variable description, in 
so far as external appearance goes, being sometimes glabrous, at others hairy, and at othe 
again covered witha thick coat of whitish down or shag, thus appearing as if there were 
several species. This genus is remarkable in the order for having a one-seeded coccus. 
Pentapetes another of the few herbaceous genera of this order are principally marsh plants, 
P. pheenicia, which is met within marshy grounds all over India during the coo] season, is also 
found in the Tenaserim provinces, and I may here mention as an instance of how little 
things common about our own doors, however beautiful, attract attention, that I once had spe- 
