524 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCLETY, 1S92. 



often to be seen a hypercritical lady -guest remarking that such and such 

 a lady-friend of hers did not present the customary veni to her on such and 

 such a domestic ceremonial or even on the occasion of an ordinary friendly 

 visit. Judging from the importance attached to such genial exchange of 

 flowers, it is not to be wondered at that at times intentional departures from 

 what appears to me to be at once a noble and gratifying custom, are resented 

 in no unmitigated terms. No Hindu sits before his idols in solemn worship of 

 them but has a trayful of flowers for his gods and goddesses. On certain 

 occasions as much as even a lakh (I mean numerically, a hundred thousand 

 flowers) are heaped upon an image, as the humble offerings of an anxious 

 worshipper asking a special blessing from his deity. 



The flowers of the Apocynaceous order are as a class more or less delicately 

 scented. They have the smell of the bitter almond. Our white-flowered jungle 

 shrubs of Holarrhena antidysenterica (Pandhara kuda), Wrightea tinctoria 

 (Kala kuda), Wrightea tomentosa (Kala ludrajaval, and Nereitm Oleander of 

 ievery colour andform, crimson, white, pink, cream-coloured, single or double, al 

 partake of the fi-agrant odour characteristic of this order. The milk-white 

 blossom of Car2ssa Car«?z(^'z (Karwand), the flowers of which resemble Jasmin, 

 partakes of the odour of that flower. Here is a stout sprig of Plumeria 

 acutifolia (Khairchampa) in ray hand. See how its thick terminal leafless 

 branches throw out the flowers in large showy compound cymes of purplish- 

 crimson tinge; with the bold twisted white corolla shining softly yellow inside 

 n the profusion in which you see the flower open or in bud, the effect is 

 striking in our jungles and gardens. A tree or two near the bedroom window 

 will suffice to fill the whole room with a delicious fragrance as the flowers open 

 in the early hours of the morning, welcoming the rising sun whose tender rays 

 set off the golden splendour of their lovely bloom. Let me not omit to 

 mention the fragrant flowers of Tagar [T ahemmmentana coronaria), which, with 

 its white long-crimpled dense petals, is an exceedingly pretty flower blooming 

 throughout the year. In the Borage order the blossom of Cordia myxa 

 (Bhokar), thrown oat in copious terminal and lateral cymes of tiny white 

 flowers is delicately fragrant. The tree is in full bloom in January and Febru- 

 ary. Among the scented Bignonias, the showy flowers of the Spathodias 

 should find a prominent place; the Stereospermums also are noted for their 

 fraorance. But MilUngtonia hortensis must be considered the most 

 exquisitely fragrant representative of this order. Though not a native of 

 these skies, it thrives well in our gardens and by our roadside, and throws out 

 large panicles of pure white delicate flowers from head to foot. Their odour 

 partakes of the fragrance of saffron and honeysuckle combined in an agreeable 

 manner. Among the Yerbenas, the wild Lantanas of our jungles, varying in 

 colour from white to pink and deep orange yellow, are conspicuous for their strong 

 odour. To some it maybe too strong to bear. Our jungle Clerodeiidrons, how- 

 ever, are more delicate in their fragrance. Among the Labiates the flowers arc 

 povverfnlly scented like the plants themselves. The Ocymum sanctum (Tiilsi), 

 Ocymum gratissimim (Ran Tulsi), Ocymum basilicirm (Sabja) arc familiar 



