318 On the Hya-hya, or Milk-tree of Demerara. 



five." I afterwards attempted to dissect the corolla, and could 

 discover it to belong to the class Pentandria, and order Mo- 

 nogynia. I was unable to obtain the fruit." 



I am not aware that the Hya-hya has, either under its Indian, 

 or any other appellation, been ever before made known; and 

 possessing, as I am convinced it does, the chief virtues of the 

 Cow-plant, should it turn out any acquisition to botanical 

 knowledge, I shall feel happy in being the instrument of its 

 discovery. 



The milk I send you has now been in bottle thirty-six days : it 

 did not commence to curdle before the seventh day after it was 

 taken from the tree, and even then the process appeared exceed- 

 ingly slow ; so much so, that on the twelfth day I used some 

 of another portion, which had been bottled at the same time, in 

 tea, without its being distinguished from animal milk by those 

 who drank it. 



I forgot to mention that I am informed by the Indians, that 

 the Hya-hya is by no means uncommon in the woods of this co- 

 lony ; I may, therefore, very soon hope to procure the fruit. 



Note relative to the dried specimen of the Hya-hya. By G. A. 

 W. Arnott, Esq. F.L.S. F.R.S.E. &c. 



The specimen transmitted by Mr Smith having been com- 

 municated to me for examination, I beg leave to make the fol- 

 lowing remarks : — 



The cali/x is 5-cleft, very short, the lobes rounded and ciliated. Corolla 

 coriaceous, deciduous, hypogynous, moiiopetalous, hypocrateriform, the mouth 

 naked ; the tube elongated (about half an inch long), slightly inflated at the 

 base and towards the apex ; the limb 5-cleft, the lobes very short and round- 

 ed ; aestivation imbricated. Stamina 5, alternate with the segments of the 

 corolla, and enclosed in the tube : the filaments are distinct, filiform but 

 short inserted on the tube about its middle ; the anthers are bilocular, 

 opening longitudinally, sagittate, acuminated at the apex, and connivent : 

 pollen granular. Ovarimr. solitary, bilocular ; ovula numerous, destitute of 

 hair (coma). Style 1, filiform, with an incrassated apex, from which proceeds 

 a bifid stifTma. I may further add, that the ovula appear to me surrounded 

 by a kind of gelatine, so that I have no doubt but the ripe seeds are immer- 

 sed in a pulpy matter ; but the structure of the pericarp and seeds I cannot 

 determine, as the specimen is only in bud. 



Enough is, however, known to enable one to refer this plant to 



