128 Dr. Francis Hamilton's Conunentary 



ensis (iv. 196.) this figure of Plukenet is the only authority quoted, 

 we may fairly infer that the proper Bombax heptaphyllum of 

 European botanists is an American plant, and not the Moid 

 Elavou, although it was probably the flowers of the latter which 

 M. Cavanilles saw, and although it no doubt is the Bombax 

 heptaphijlhun of Dr. Roxburgh. It is certainly also one of the 

 plants which must be referred to the Gossampinus of Pliny. 1 

 shall therefore call it 



Gossampinus rubra. 



Bombax heptaphyllum. Hort. Beiig. ôO. 



Bombax Ceiba. Burm. Fl. hid. 145. (exclusis synonymis ad 



plantam Americanam spectantibus.) 

 Xylon foliis digitatis, caulc aculeato. Linn. FL Zeyl. 221. 



(exclusis synonymis omnibus nisi R/iecdii et Rail.) 

 Moul Elavou. Hort. Mai. iii. 61. t. 52. 

 Arbor Lanigera sive Gossampinus Plinii. Bontius, I. 6. c. 14. 



Hort. Mai. iii. 60. 

 Rukta (rubra) Shimul Bengalensium. 

 Habitat in India ubique vulgatissimè. 



Belutta Ts.tampakam, p. 63. tab. 53. 



The comparison of this by the Dutch inhabitants of Malabar 

 and naturalists to the Chestnut is an attempt at classification no 

 better than that of the Hindus, who class it with the Michclia 

 Vatica, Oc/tna, Sec. &c. ; for the word here written Tsjampakani 

 seems to be the same with what is also called Cliampaka, Cliam- 

 paca, Champacam, C/iangpa, and even Champa, although this last 

 is applied to several of the Monocotyledones : so that the plants 

 to which it is given seem to have no other general character 

 than that of producing showy and odorous flowers. The name 

 Naga Tampa, said to be given to this tree by the Brahmans of 



Malabar, 



