X1V INTRODUCTION. 
and was marbled with purpled veins and had a velvety-black 
throat. The plant has been identified by Mr. Hemsley as Aristo- 
lochia gigas, Lindley, and is said to be very nearly allied to 
A. grandiflora, Linn., a species described by Dr. L. Planchon as 
distinctly poisonous to animals, and evidently possessing very 
marked properties. This, like several of the allied species, pos- 
sesses a foetid odour like that of decaying animal matter, which 
doubtless causes insects to visit the flowers and cross-fertilize them. 
An illustration of the flower of the A. gigas is given in the 
‘Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ Nov. 7, 1891, p. 553. 
The “ Bladder-headed Saussurea,” an Alpime herbaceous plant 
belonging to the thistle group, has this smell of putrid meat. 
The Arum muscivorum not ouly gives off a similar effluvium, but 
it is furnished with hairs bending inwards in such a way as to offer 
no opposition to the entrance of flies but quite prevents their 
escape, so forming a trap in which they perish. 
A chemical examination of the bark of the Rhus aromatica, 
which is called the “ Fragrant Sumach” or “ Stink-bark,” was 
made by H. W. Harper and reported in the ‘American Journal 
of Pharmacy’? in May 1881. He obtained, by distillmg it with 
water, an essential oil having a disgusting odour resembling very 
much that of bed-bugs, but on being mixed with ether and the 
ether allowed to evaporate, the remaining oil left in contact with 
air for 24 hours acquired a pleasant odour distinct in itself. 
There is a fungus or Morel of the Marchella species which on 
being bruised smells of roast beef, and several varieties of “Cranes- 
bill” smell like roast mutton. 
The Durio zibethinus, native of the East Indies, is a very re- 
markable tree. Its fruit, which is about the size of a man’s head, 
is said to be the most delicious of all the fruits of India; the edible 
part of it most resembles whipped cream or “ blanc-mange” of our 
tables, but a considerable drawback from the extreme gratification 
it procures to the palate of the epicurean is its intolerable stench ; 
even the rinds emit such an offensive effluvium that it used to be 
forbidden by law to throw them out near any public path. Some 
