438 Dr Aitchison on the [sess. lhi. 



localised to the growing axis and young leaves. Whereas 

 the bulbs of A. stipitatum and A. Suivorowi, whilst still 

 entire, gave forth a powerfully alliaceous odour, greatly 

 intensified upon section. 



In all probability the bulbs of more than one species cf 

 Allium are collected as Badsha-Salep. The size of these 

 dried bulbs varies very greatly ; this difference in size can, 

 I think, be better accounted for by difference of species than 

 by simple individual variation, when the product is, a&' in 

 this instance, not that of a cultivated plant. 



In the museum at Kew there is a large specimen of a 

 dried bulb called " Giant Salep " from Bombay, presented by 

 Mr E. G. Clements, of which a smaller specimen is repre- 

 sented in fig. 3. Another, presented by Major Hobson, from 

 the East Indies, native name, " Amber-kund," with the note 

 " Considered by the natives a valuable medicine in cases of 

 consumption " (fig. 1). Also a collection of smaller balbs, of 

 which a type specimen is given in fig. 2, from the Indian 

 Museum collection.* The last are higlily alliaceous in odour, 

 which at once apparently led to their identificaiion, the 

 others are all without odour. 



Microscopic preparations are easUy made from tha Badsha- 

 Salep by soaking in water. These exhibit a structure similar 

 to that seen in species of Allium, and almost identical with 

 sections made from the bulb of Allium Macleanii , the only 

 difference being that the utricular vessels seen in the sections 

 made from ]>adslia-Salep are densely packed with a yellowish 

 granular substance of wliicli there is little, though some, to 

 be seen in the utricular vessels of the fresh bulb. Its 

 smaller amount in the latter is to be accounted for thus : 

 upon having made sections (not microscopic) of the fresh 

 bulb, they were at once placed in I'ectified spirits. No 

 sooner was this done, than the spirit seemed to extract the 

 contents of tlie frcsli bull) whicdi issued forth in a stream of 

 the most ex(juisite (jpalescciit rose-colour. This occurred some 

 days Ijefore microscopic pre})arations were made of the tissues, 

 and lience I Ijclicive the al)S(!nce from the. uLiicular vessels of 

 the densely-loaded condition present in the vessels of the 

 iiadsha-Salep. Tliat tlie sections of the fresli bulb had 



* Liil idled, No. 21. ]\r!itc;ria Medica, Xo. .'» in Phnrinacopooia of India. 

 Pinijabee " Pia^" Allium species, N.W.I. Pro v., No. 3737. 



