from the Kingdom of Nepal. 409 



vincc l)or(hring Kuniaon to the east. Koxburgli {I.e.) describes 

 Amomuin arumaticum, Morang Elachi, as a native of the valleys 

 on the eastern frontier of Bengal, with an ovate capsule, the 

 size of a large n\itnicg ; those of Doti are much smaller. 



" Singgiya IJikh or Bish (of the lower mountains and hills, 

 J). 98), much celebrated among the mountaineers. The plant 

 was brought to me in flower, but was entirely male; nor did I 

 see the fruit, which is said to be a berry. So far as 1 can judge 

 from these circumstances, I suppose that it is a species of Smi/ax 

 with tcrnate leaves. To pass over several of its qualities that 

 are marvellous, the root, which I'csembles a yam, is said to be a 

 violent poison. The berries also are said to be deleterious, but 

 when applied externally are considered as a cure for the goitre,'' 

 p. 87. 



No. 2219. Smilax? virosa. Singgiya Bish vel Bikh monta- 

 novum, Hindice. Habitat in Nepake montibus. Identified by 

 Wallich with Xo. 501J9 of his Catalogue, Diuscorea virosa, which 

 Dr. Royle informs us occurs also in Garhwiil and Sirmur under 

 the name of llamberee (the divine Zizyphus). It is remarkable 

 in this genus from having its stems furnished with aculei; and 

 Dr. Royle calls our attention to the fact that this species, with 

 D. triplnjUa, pentaphylla, and cUemona, all with compound leaves, 

 are distinguished by the acridity of their tubers*. Singgiya a 

 Bikh, signifying 'horned poison/ alludes to their curved form 

 in D. virosa -f. 



No. 220. Smilax ? narcotica. Bharbang montanorum, Hin- 

 dice. Habitat in Nepala inferiore ad montium radices. 



This is identified by Wallich with the preceding. 



* Roxburgh (iii. 806) and Graham (Cat. of Bombay Plants, p. 218) agree 

 that the tubers of D. pentaphylla are wholesome, and used as an esculent. 

 Graham tells us that the root of I), triphylla, " intoxicating and intensely 

 bitter," is often sliced and infused in toddy to render it more potent. It 

 occurs in Kumaon as high as (iOOO feet; D. d(Bmona,\\\t\\ equally nauseous 

 tubers, only reaches to ."iOOO. 



The root Charmaghas, so often mentioned in the Sanscrit dictionaries, 

 has not been identified. I found it sold at Barnidee by the Nepalese 

 traders ; but my sj)ecimens were destroyed by the ' Fish insect,' Lepisma 

 saccliarina, the scourge of our Indian Ubraries and herbaria. It may be the 

 Sham, or root of Clia-rophyllum esculentum, mentioned in Royle's ' Illus- 

 trations,' which is ])robably the Chamaas, " a w ihl edible root used as a 

 relish" by the peojde of Rol, near the Shatul Pass, Basehar (Lloyd aiul 

 Gerard, i. 293). The S. lu'dika implies a plant with a tubular stem : sap- 

 tald, having seven leaves. 



t The vernacular Sing, 'a horn,' softened from the Sanscrit Sringa, gives 

 the origin of the Aval)ic and Persian word for ginger, Zinjabil, from whicli 

 the Greek Zingiberis is derived. The common source of all is the Sanscrit 

 Sringaveram, siguif} ing ' antler-shaijed ;' and it is remarkable tliat tliis 

 classical name, as well as that (Nalada) from which the ancients formed 

 tlu'ir term (Nardos) for s])ikenard, is no longer used in the Inthan <halects, 

 being superseded by some of the many synonyms. 



