INDUN FLOIVKBS. 527 



Having tlius far engaged your attention in the amenities of our floral world, 

 let me for a moment crave indulgence to a brief review of what is disagree- 

 able or offensive in our flowers. The scarlet flowers of Stercuh'a guttata 

 (Goldar), the white flowers StercaUa fiztida (Deodar of Western India), and the 

 small greenish-yellow flowers of StercaUa urens (Kandol) are well known for 

 the odour of human ordure they emit when in blossom. The long small 

 yellowish- white flowered spikes of Termiiialia CJiehula [ Harda) and Termiiialia 

 belerica{Ye\yk or Behda) ai-e equally offensive. I cannot omit to mention here a 

 remarkable incident that happened to mc in Thana some years ago in connec- 

 tion with the odour of Yelya. 



The Thana Military Hospital is close to where the Assistant Judge of Thana 

 used to hold his Court. He was troubled with foul smells which he thought 

 emanated from the backyard of my Hospital. Very naturally he applied to 

 the Municipal authorities to put a stop to the foul smells. In due course, as the 

 sa.nitary a.dviser of the Municipality, the papers were passed on to me. I was 

 satisfied that the foul smeil did not proceed from the Hospital. For some time 

 it was a puzzle to me to find out the source of the offensive odour, for the odour 

 did pervade the compound of the Court. Closely examining the compound, 

 I came under a leafless tree with umbellate spikes of white flowers. The smell 

 being particularly bad under this tree, I had a few of the flowering tops removed 

 from the tree. A sense of triumph overtook me, for I thought I had at last 

 hit upon the fons et origo mali. I had a few of the branches sent to my friend 

 the Assistant Judge, who was soon satisfied that the ofl'ensive element was in his 

 own compound ! What do you think it was ? — It was the Termvialia belerica 

 in flower 1 When the blossom ceased and the purplish-tinted foliage came 

 forth, all cause of complaint vanished, and every one was satisfied, and I had 

 my first experience of the offensive odour of Yelya. Rtita graveolens is 

 another of our offensive plants, through and through smelling of rancid 

 cocoanut oil, foliage, flower and all. The yellowish terminal panicles of Mappia 

 foelida are also said to smell offensive, thus partaking of the plant. The plant 

 is known as Ghanera. I have not seen it. But Mr. Whitworth of the 

 Bombay Civil Service told me two j^ears ago he knew the plant to be distinctly 

 what its name indicated. Brandis says the flowers of our common Bor, 

 Zyziphus jiijuba, are somewhat foetid. I take leave to diifer from such a high 

 authority in Botany — and from one who is always very accurate in his state- 

 ments and observations. I do not think the blossom of Bor has the character 

 he mentions. The bold, beautifully pink and white corollas of the flowers of 

 Kumbha (Carej/a arborea), so common in jungles, have a very unpleasant odour 

 HS they bloom in March and April. The smell, however, is not a long-lasting 

 one, as the beautifully filamentous corolla falls within a few moments of its 

 opening. But the most offensive odour I have ever experienced in the blooming 

 of a flower, is from the specimen of the bold inflorescence of Suran I have placed 

 before you. Tou see here a full-blown spadix surrounded by a large purple 

 sheathing spathe with a sliowy crenulate border. The spadix bears .stout 



