212 Dr. Francis Hamilton's Commentary 



Comnieline observes, has no affinity with it. There are, however, considerable 

 resemblances, such as alternate, serrated leaves, with one side wider than the 

 other ; lateral stipules ; small, herbaceous, axillary flowers, and drupaceous 

 fruits. Such are the characters of the genus Bori of the Brahmans, of which 

 this is the prototype, the name being the same with the Bayer of the Hindwi 

 dialect. The European botanists of these old times, such as Ray, often classed 

 together plants having less resemblance ; but another species of this genus 

 Bori has been mentioned in treating of the Nyalel (Hort. Malab. iv. j). 37.), 

 which seems to have little affinity with the other two. 



The Perin Toddali is so very nearly allied to' the Jujuha or Zizyphus of the 

 Levant, that its affinities were recognised, as Commeline remarks, by C. Bau- 

 hin, who called it Jujuha Indica, although the native name, Bora, Bar, or Ber, 

 was also used by some both of his predecessors and contemporaries, as is more 

 fully explained by Plukenet {Aim. 1 99.), who adopts the name given by C. Bau- 

 hin. Like the Zizyphus of the Levant, the Indian plant contains two, if not 

 more varieties. The first, which grows spontaneously, and in Bengal is used 

 for rearing the Lac insect, seems to be the Jujuha Indica spinosa, folio etfructu 

 rotundo of Plukenet {Aim. 199.), to which this botanist should have referred 

 the Perin Taddali. The second variety is cultivated for its fruit, and seems to 

 be that called by Plukenet Jujuha Indica spinosa, folio etfructu longiori {Aim. 

 199.). Rumphius justly considered these as varieties, such as occur in plants 

 that are much cultivated, and he included both under the name of Malum 

 Indicum {Herh. Amh. ii. 11 7. t. 36.), because the external and esculent part of 

 the fruit has a very considerable resemblance in consistence and taste to an 

 apple. The names of Plukenet were adopted by the elder Burman {Thes. 

 Zeyl. 132.), who gives the two varieties as two species, the plant of Rheede 

 being the Ilanda of the Ceylonese, although Burman does not quote it, but 

 mentions it under another plant, to which, however, he confesses the figure 

 of Rheede cannot be reconciled. 



Linnaeus in the Flora Zeylanica (89.), with his usual eagerness for innova- 

 tion, united the genus Zizyphus with Rhamnus ; but although he mentions 

 only the Ilanda, he does not quote the Perin Toddali, for what reason I do not 

 know, unless it was that Burman had not joined them. The younger Burman 

 {Fl. Ind. 60.), adopting from the Species Plantarum the specific name Rhamnus 



