TWO VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS FROM TRAVANCORE. 199 



They look at first sight extremely like some neat variety of iseo. 

 Xylaria polymorpha, with a slender stem and pointed barren Description of 

 apex. There are, however, no perithecia beneatli the jet-black the first 

 cuticle ; and the structure is not delicately filamentous, as in 

 Xylaria. On the contrary, the mass consists of very irregular, 

 swollen, and sometimes constricted, more or less . anastomosing, 

 and more or less densely compacted threads. Towards the margin 

 the substance is firm, but looser towards the centre, so that the 

 individual threads easily separate. The structure in some 

 respects resembles that of Pachyma ; but there is no indication 

 of the threads having undergone any chemical change. I should 

 say that it is certainly not the root of any Phrenogam, but of a 

 fungous character, though it does not exactly agree in structure 

 with anything that I know. Notwithstanding some little resem- 

 blance, it cannot, I think, be associated with Pachyma Cocos ; 

 and therefore, if it be desirable to give so very doubtful a pro- 

 duction a name, it may be called Sclerotium stipitatum,, Berk. & Sclerotium 

 Curr. It is distinguishable at once by the stem and the shining sti P Uat "'"- 

 black continuous cuticle. The total absence of veins and diffe- 

 rent texture forbid its junction with Mylitta. 



The second production, also sent by Dr. Waring to Mr. Han- Second 

 bury from Travancore, is known by the name of Carom- 

 pallagum, which may be rendered Black Pallagum, Pallagum 

 signifying a medicinal substance. It is dug from the chalk-beds 

 in the mountains which separate Travancore fromTinrievelly. The 

 hill people, who bring it occasionally into Trevandrum for sale, 

 state that it is the root of a small plant with a red flower. It is 

 much esteemed by the native doctors for various complaints. 



The account, however, which the natives give of its origin 

 is evidently wrong ; for it cannot be pretended that, like Pachyma, 

 it may be a peculiar state of the root of some Phsenogam. Its 

 structure is in fact very like that of Mylitta australis ; and 

 though there is a slight difference in the outer coat, it is probably 

 the same thing with the Mylitta of China, known under the 

 name of Luy-wan, and to which Horaninow has given the name 

 of Mylitta lapidescens (Cataloyus Medicamentorum Sinensium, 

 Petropoli, 1856, p. 34). 



