184 Dr. Francis Hamilton's Commentary 



siibtus reticulata, supra pilis brevissimis raris, subtus longioribiis den- 

 sioribus pubescentia. Petiolus brevissimus, teres, supra planiusculus, 

 tomentosus. 



Flores ex anni prseteriti folioruin axillis ssepius gemini, gemma foliosa inter- 

 posita subsessiles, odorati, subalbidi. Bracteoe squamaceae. 



Calyx superus, brevissimus, suboctodentatus. Petalu circiter octo, linearia, 

 revoluta, imo calyci inserta. Filamenta plura, indefinita, extra germinis 

 discum inserta, ad medium erecta, barbata. Antherce lineares. Germen 

 turbinatum, disco magno concavo intra calycem coronatum. Stylus sta- 

 minibus longior, incrassatus. Stigma magnum, simplex. 



Drupa nucis moschatse magnitudine ovalis, calyce cylindrico coronata, nigra, 

 corticosa. Cortex mollis, crassus. Pulpa alba, mollis, nuci adhaerens, 

 dulcis. Nitx ovata, acuminata. Funis umbilicalis e basi nucis ad semi- 

 nis apicem decurrens. Semen ovatum, acuminatum, amarum. Integu- 

 menta gemina, tenuissima. Albumen forma seminis album. Embryo 

 inversus, rectus. Radicula teres. Cotyledones foliacese, planse, nerosse, 

 vmagnse, tenues. 



In the woods of Magadha I found a tree called Cphota Gandai in the 

 Hindwi dialect, which, notwithstanding the difference of name, had a most 

 striking resemblance to the above, only its leaves were larger, and smooth and 

 shining on the upper side. I did not, however, see either flower or fruit. I 

 have given a specimen to the library at the India House. 



Theka, seu Thekka, p. 57. tab. 27. 



We have here four plants of a native genus called Thekka by the vulgar, 

 and Sailo (erroneously on the plate Saiko) by the Brahmans of Malabar ; but, 

 as Commeline justly observes, they have no similitude, nor do any two of 

 them belong even to the same natural order. The prototype of this genus 

 produces one of the finest timbers for the shipwright or house-builder, on 

 which accoimt it seems early to have attracted notice ; and, as Commeline 

 mentions, was described by Bontius and Nieuhof, two early writers on the 

 Eastern Archipelago, who compare it to the Oak, which, however, it resem- 

 bles in the qualities of the wood alone. Plukenet mentions it merely by the 



