329 
they grow there spontaneously, have never been seen to 
flower, possibly because they are annually burnt down together 
with other weeds. There are however, in Leytimor, hills which 
also produce the grass and are not so frequently fired, and yet the 
Siree growing there never flowers. . . . 
"Name. In Latin Juncus odoratus or Schoenanthum Amboini- 
cum ; but as it is common in many provinces, it might well be 
wiled. Schoenanthum Indiana sterile, to distinguish it from the 
Arabian. 
"(The Schoenanthum) which we describe here, occurs in all 
the Malayan provinces, .boa. Malaya and here in the Kastern region, 
in gardens as well as spontaneously on breezy mountains among 
Bedges, particularly where the soil is brown and sharp rocks 
underlie it as on Siree Hill, east of Castle Victoria, and on another 
near Naco on the south side of Leytimor, where there have been 
no gardens. The flowering S'-luvmnitlmin .mows in Ternate, and 
several other islands in the Moluccas, as for instance in our 
neighbourhood in Nussatello, everywhere planted in gardens. 
" On account of its pleasant aroma it is in these islands more used 
i'of culinary th-m Mi.-"liciiia! purposes, and almost exclusive d\ ill- 
bottom part of the leaf -tufts which form the ventricose stalks and 
" a » '^ily b > pnlh-.l from the root whilst the tops are cut off to a 
hand's length. 
" Two or three of those stalks are tied together and cooked with 
all sorts of hsh : tlib imparts a pleasant scent to the gravy and 
is wholesome for the stomach as well as the bowels ; for the 
Schoenanthum owino- to its acrid and attenuating i>.>wers dilutes 
the slimy humours which one contracts in this country from the 
daily fish food. It also drives out urine, sweat and the menses ; 
hut if the svstem by daily use gets inured to it these effects make 
themselves felt less strongly unless it is used in larger quantities. 
" They treat the Amboina tree-wine ' Sagueer ' with it so that it 
keeps several months and can be shipped over sea This is done 
by adding to each pot of 16 cans of fresh ' Sagueer' two handfuls 
°f the stout stalks mentioned above, a few pieces of ginger, one or 
two nutmegs cut up in slices, and three or f<« u . -i-s. all ■- i.< 1 
together, and afterwards pouring the wine off into casks. It is a 
Bwee d,ink, but very wholesome for mariners ; and soldiers who 
are camping out and commonly contract dropsy, ought to derive 
much relief from that beverage. 
"The root together with the bottom part of the stalk 
boiled with water makes an excellent gargle for r 
mouth of a person who suffers much from toothache and swelling 
of the gums, which may be recognised from the swelling being 
bard and tight, but unaccompanied by sharp pricks. 
''Herr Herbertus de Jager takes our Siree by no means for 
£e true Schoenanthum, nor do I, but merely as a species of 
\thum." 
t Since Rumphius practically nothing has been added to our 
knowledge of the Sereh grass as it is found and used 
Its universal distribution in the archipelago, as a garden hei b, .fcas 
been confirmed, but no proof has been forthcoming as to it navin & 
26295 C 
