3?0 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS 



by some, that the Easan is no other than the* 

 Rough Indian Achyranthes ; and by others, 

 that it is one of the Indian Aristo lochias. From 

 respect to Linn^us, I leave this genus in his mixed 

 class; but neither my eyes, nor far better eyes 

 than mine, have been able to discover its male 

 flowers ; and it must be confessed, that all the 

 descriptions of the Ophioxylum, by Rumphius, 

 Burman, and the great botanist himself, abound 

 with erroneous references, and unaccountable 

 oversights. 



71. Pippala: 



Syn. Bodhi-drimia, Chala-dala, Cunjardsanas, An* 

 wafha. 



Vulg. Pippal. 



Linn. Holy Ficus : but the three following are also 

 thought holy. Fruit smaD, round, axillary, sessile^ 

 mostly twin. Leaves hearted, scalloped, glossy, 

 daggered ; petiols very long; whence it is called 

 chaladala, or the tree with tremidous leaves. 



72. Udumbara : 



Syn. Jantu-p'hala, Yajnydnga, Ilcmadugdhaca. 



Vulg. Dumbar. 



L.I n N . liacemed F 1 c u s . 



Fruit peduncled, top-shape, navelled racemed. 



Leaves egg - oblong, pointed, some hearted, ob- 

 scurely sawed, veined, rough above, netted beneath. 

 Van Rheede has changed the Sanscrit name 

 into Rocmbadoe. It is true, as he says, that minute 

 ants are hatched in the ripe fruit, whence it is 

 named Jantu-f hala ; and the Pandits compare it to 

 the Mundane tgg. 



73, Placsila : 



'DO" 



