386 ACCOUNT OP THE MALE PLANT 



Soon after it is dug up, the root is cut into slices, 

 strung on cords, and hung up to dry in the shade. It 

 is deemed merchantable, when, on ex):)Osure to the 

 sun, it breaks short ; and of a bad quality when it is 

 soft, or black. 



I AM indebted for the above account of the columbo 

 root, to Mons. Fortin; who, when at Mozambique, 

 purchasing it as an article of trade, procured an entire 

 offset from the main root, of a larger size than usual ; 

 which he brought with him to Madras, in September 

 1805 ; and presented it to Doctor James Anderson, 

 the Physician General ; who considered it a valuable 

 present to himself, and a great acquisition to India. 



This root was cylindrical, somewhat flattened on the 

 opposite sides; about 15 inches in length, a part being 

 broken off; and between 3 and 4 inclies in diameter; 

 outwardly the common colour of columbo, but on 

 breaking the surface, which is covered by a thin, ten- 

 der, brownish pellicle, of a fine yellow. 



The root being succulent, and heavy, I planted it 

 horizontally in a large box, filled with garden mould, 

 where, in about a fortnight, it shot out two stems from 

 the end that had been broken off from the parent root, 

 but from not being vigorous, no flowers were then pro- 

 duced ; and in about six months, from the time it had 

 been planted, the stem.s withered down to the ground. 



The root was then carefully taken up, which was not 

 altered in size, or appearance, but from the end oppo- 

 site to where the stems had shot out several fusiform 

 roots, or sessile tubers, had grown, as represented in 

 the accompanying drawing, (Fig. 2) Tliese had evi- 

 dently suffered from confinement in the box ; none of 



