MYLITTA LAPIDESCENS. 205 



4. Mylitta lapidesccns, Horaninow, in Tatar inov, Catal. Medi- i860. 

 cumentorum Sinensium (Petrop. 1856), p. 34 Synonyms ot 



Lui uon, Cleyer, Specimen Medicines Sinicce (1682), Med. *$& 

 Simp. No. 227. 



A^ y^t (Luy-wan\ Pun-tsaou-kang-muh, cap. xxxvii. sect. 4 

 (cum icone). 



<BvrRiLLjn"60<5iL Carom-pallagum. 



The fourth tubeviform substance to which we have alluded is 

 that named by Horaninow Mylitta lapidescens. Specimens of 

 this production, both from India and China, are drawn in PI. 

 IX. Figs. 14-17. In a dry state they are extremely hard, so much 

 so that, in the case- of the Indian specimens, they might easily 

 be supposed at first sight to be some stony substance from the 

 chalk-beds out of which they are dug. There can be no doubt, 

 however, of their vegetable nature, and but little, we think, as 

 to their affinity with the hypogaeous fungi. Although no trace Microscpic 



structure . 



of fruit is discernible, the inner substance is marked with veins, 

 and a microscopic section shows the division of the tissue into 

 areolce similar to that exhibited by the hypogseous fungi. It is 

 not easy to say whether it is truly of parasitic growth, though 

 the natives of India assert it to be so. It will be seen, by 

 referring to PL IX. Fig. 15, that the specimen there represented 

 has a small root-like excrescence on the left-hand side ; and this 

 excrescence, of which we have examined sections, is certainly of 

 woody structure, although we are unable to say to what plant it 

 belongs.' Out of fifty Chinese specimens, however, only four 

 exhibit these roots, which it is possible may be of accidental 

 occurrence. The largest of these specimens weighs 106 grains, 

 and the smallest 5 grains, the average weight of 50 being 24'6 

 grains. The largest Indian specimen weighs 268 grains. 



We are informed by Dr. Waring that the native Indian name, 

 Carom-pallagum, means literally Black pallagum, pallagum 

 signifying a medicinal substance. Our specimens are all grey or Colour, grey 

 brown rather than black ; but the wrinkles on the surface, which black. 

 are very minute, and which cannot be seen clearly without a 

 lens, are of a very dark colour. It is possible that the specimens 



