300 A DESCRIPTION' OF THE 



XIV. 

 A DESCRIPTION 



OF THE 



MAHWAH TREE. 



By Lieut. CHARLES HAMILTON. 



THERE is a very curious and ufeful tree, called, by 

 the natives of Bahar, and the neighbouring coun- 

 tries, the Mdhwah, or Mdzcee : but the Sanfcrit name 

 is Madhiica* or Madhudruma. 



It is of the clafs of the Polyandria Monogynia of 

 Linnceus, but of a genus not defcribed by him. 



The calyx is monophyllous, quadrifid, half divided, 

 and imbricated in its divided part ; the two oppofite 

 and outer covering, in part, the two oppofite and inner 

 parts. 



The corolla is monopetalous, having an inflated tube 

 for its lower part, of near an inch long, thick, flefhy, and 

 of a cream colour: from this arife nine fmall leaves, as 

 it were, like petals, from a calyx, that arc imbricated 

 and twilled one over the other, from right to left, 

 clafping the lower part of the ftyle in a point; by which 

 they feem to ferve, in fome refpecl, like forceps, to 

 detach the whole corolla at the feafon of its dropping. 



3 



There 



