Mr Thomas Oxley 07i Guff a Percha. 287 



foundation — the accidental falling in with it in the hands of 

 some Malays, who had found out its greatest peculiarity, and 

 availed themselves thereof, manufactured it into whips, which 

 were brought into town for sale — there does not appear any 

 plausible reason for the passing over the first, and i-ewarding 

 the second. Both gentlemen are highly to be commended 

 for endeavouring to introduce to public notice a substance 

 which has proved so useful and interesting. The Gutta 

 Percha having of late attracted much attention, and as yet 

 but little being known or published about it, I would now 

 propose to supply, to the best of my ability, this desideratum, 

 and give a description of the tree, its product and uses, so 

 far as it has been made available for domestic and other pur- 

 poses in the place of its origin. 



The Gutta Percha tree, or Gutta Tuban, as it ought more 

 properly be called, — the Percha producing a spurious article, 

 — belongs to the natural family Sapotese, but differs so much 

 from all described genera, having alliance with both Achras 

 and Bassia, but differing in some essentials from both, that 

 I am disposed to think it is entitled to rank as a new genus. 

 I shall, therefore, endeavour to give its general character, 

 leaving the honour of naming it to some more competent 

 botanist, especially as I have not quite satisfied myself re- 

 gai'ding the stamens from want of specimens, for observa- 

 tions. 



The tx'ee is of a large size, from 60 to 70 feet in height, 

 and from 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Its general appearance 

 resembles the genus Durio, or well-known Doorian, so much 

 so as to strike the most superficial observer. The under sur- 

 face of the leaf, however, is of a more reddish and decided 

 brown than in the Durio, and the shape is somewhat differ- 

 ent. 



The flowers are axillary, from 1 to 3 in the axils, sup- 

 ported on short curved pedicles, and numerous along the ex- 

 tremities of the branches. 



Calyx inferior, persistent, coriaceous, of a brown colour, 

 divided into six sepals, which are arranged in double series. 



Corolla monopetalous, hypogenous, divided like the calyx 

 into six acuminate segments. 



