PLANTS INTRODUCED INTO THE VICTORIA GARDENS. 131 



appear to be making very slow growth bere, the largest plant in the pot 

 being now only about 2 feet high. Several plants planted in the ground 

 have died here. This seems very peculiar, as the tree is said to be very 

 common in the Konkan in moist forests. It is said to flower in from 10 to 12 

 years' time. There is an old large tree about 30 feet high in the compound 

 of the Hindu temple in I.ove Lane in Byculla, probably the only one in 

 Bombay. It is growing against the wall of a house there partly overhanging 

 it, and does not appear to be in a very thriving condition. It is said not to 

 have flowered and fruited yet. 



IM. MiMUSaps HEXANDRA," Eoxb. (Sapotace^), Edjan, Rdyan or Khirny 

 It is a large evergieen tree common in the Deccan Peninsula. The ripe 

 yellow berry though very astringent is eatable and sold in the Bombay market 

 in the hot months under the name of Amddvddi Mevd. The trees is in the 

 Victoria G-ardens were raised from fruits purchased in the Bombay Market in 

 March 1895, and though slow growing appear to be doing well, 



13. DoDON.EA viscosA, f Linn. (SAPiNDACEiE), called the Switch eorrel in 

 Jamaica from the sour, bitter taste of the leaves, ^' JaJchmi" ot "■ Luichmiy 

 An evergreen stiflr-looking rounded shrub found throughout India and in all 

 warm countries, having more or less viscid shining leaves, insignificant flowers 

 and winged capsules. It thrives in open situation in the driest districts 

 and is only useful in the garden for making hedges or fences on dry stony 

 ground. The plants have been grown in the Yictoiia Gardens from seeds 

 obtained in 1895 from the Inspector of the Bhandarwada Reservoir, Mazagon, 

 where it has been grown as a hedge. 



14. Myroxylon (Myrospermum) toluiferum,J H. B. JS". (Leguminos^- 

 Papilionaoe^), Tolu Balsam tree. It is a South American evergreen tree 

 about 40 feet high with bright shinin» green, pinnate leaves marked with 

 pellucid dots. Its spreading habit and bright shining leaves makes it suitable 

 as a road-side tree or for forming avenues. An incision into the bark yields 

 the drug known as Tolu Balsam, similar to the Balsam of Peru. The seeds 

 were obtained in 1895 from the Garden of the A^ri-Horticultural Society of 

 Madras, and the plants seem to thrive well in Bombay. One large tree was 

 subsequently found to exist in the compound of the Sir J, J. Hospital. 



15. SoLANUM jasminoides,§ Paxt. (SoLANCE^). It is a small creeper 

 from Brazil with small white flowers. The plant was presented to the 

 Gardens in 1895 by Mr. 0. Maries, Superintendent of the State Gardens 

 Gwalior. It appears to thrive well in Bombay. 



* The naoie is derived from mimo, an ape, aad opsis, a face, on accouat of the form of the 

 corolla, and from hexandrous, with sis stamens. 



t The name is derived from Dodonoeus (Reubert Doddens), a Belgia i botanist and phj- 

 sician of tlie 16th century, and from v'lseidus, clammj'. 



J The name is derived from myron, myrrh, and xylon, wood, as the woo3 is resinous, 

 and from tolu, tola balsam, and fero, to bear. 



§ The name is derived from the old I^atin name solanum used by Pliny and from 

 jasminokles, jasmin-like. 



