Dr. Hancock on the Angustura Bark Tree. 23 



and Bonpland, who from the nomenclature adopted by the for- 

 mer in his Tableau Gcographique des Plantes, passed over to 

 that of Willdenow; and Messrs. Rcemer and Schultz in their 

 Systema Vegetabilium, vol. IV, p. 188, who have described the 

 Genus under the name of Angustura, thereby giving an im- 

 proper example to future botanists, as the nomenclature of 

 plants should never be derived from the countries or particular 

 places they inhabit. 



And, first. We are informed in the Plant a JEquinoetiales, 

 by Rcemer and Schultz, and by Dr. Thompson in his excellent 

 London Dispensatory (a work which, from its more general cir- 

 culation amongst medical men, and even amongst the public 

 generally, ought above all others to be correct), that the tree 

 yielding the Bark in question, is a majestic forest tree from (JO 

 to 80 feet high. As it would appear that M. de Humboldt 

 never saw the Bark Tree at Carony, it is more than probable 

 that the tree which he saw growing at Santa Fe de Cumana, 

 and New Barcelona in New Andalusia, and which he consi- 

 <l< n d to be the same ;ts the one of which he had obtained the 

 foliage, whilst residing at Angustura, is a distinct species of the 

 same Genus. 



condlij. Not only does a similar variation of size exist be- 

 n the leases of tin- G Al.U'l.A under consideration, and tlios.- 



of Bos pi. \njii \ t/i/u/ittia, tat the proportion in the length of 

 ilf p. -tiole, mhm cwpnrod to that of the ballets, is totally 



different, tholeavoaof tin- B. bang itated to I"' 8 feet long, 

 and the petiole one or nearly so. 



Thirdly. The lesretof Humboldt's tree are stated to exhale, 

 v*li. ii I'm lh, an a-r. eable. odour, whereas (hose of Oraijuri, when 



b gathered, yield an odour resembling that of Tobacco, 



Which, however tastM, in the general acceptation of the word, 

 in.i\ differ, can scarcely he s.iid to he agreeable. 



/ mrthly. The corolla is represented in the PI. JBf«fe as 

 ,l ii ; nid l.\ Mr. K until one petal is Mid to differ from the 



•M I. i» .iinil.il in 10 ili.a ■■( <>r.«yuri. I obwru llial M. LK CindolU 



bw, »llli ionic liiilUlwii, • UlU.uili il a dl»lluU Gum». 



