426 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII. 
S. Rheedii (S. Colubrina, Blume) by Clarke, who says: “It is only known from 
Rheede’s figure, which may be incorrect as to flowers.” The species was 
figured in 1688, and as yet has not been verified by any subsequent 
observer. Its distinctive characters are: peduncles of flowers lateral ; 
buds subglobose ; corolla tubes very short. Its full description, as given 
by Rheede, is as follows: “ Modira carinam Lusitanis Pao de Cobra vel 
Pao de Solor cum carinam (Strychnos nux vomica) in prima parti descripta in 
omnibus pene convenit, sed hee arbor illa herba (shrub) cujus fructus corticze 
dura viridi fusco, et pulpa interiori albicante ad maturi spadiceo ingrescentes 
cum illi carinam miniate rubescant. Modira (hooks or tentacles) dicitur ob 
similitudinem mystacum, modira enim mystax est, Natale solum est circa 
Mangotti, Paroe et alia loca, semper fere vel florens vel frugens.” And in the 
“ Flora of British India” it is described thus: “ Tendrils present ; branches 
stout ; leaves elliptic acute 3-nerved, 34 by 13 in., base obtuse or rounded ; 
petiole 4-4 in ; peduncles $ in, axillary ; lax 3-4 flowered ; corolla short-tubed 
5-merous ; pedicels 4 to } in.; berry 24 in. diam., globose ; seeds many, 2 in. 
diam., circular discoid.” I may mention that Roxburgh, writing in the early 
part of this century. and probibly having in view this plant, says: “I am 
inclined to think there is a species different from the third or scandent species 
called colubrina (S. colubrina, Roxb.) as well as from the nua vomica tree, which 
yields the real, or at least another sort of the Lignum colubrinum. The wood 
of the root of this sort is esteemed by the Telinga Physicians an infallible 
remedy for the bite of the naya (cobra) as well as that of every other 
venomous snake, It is applied externally as well as given internally,” It 
is worthy of note that Rheede, although he names his plant ‘‘ Pao de Cobra,” 
still does not mention that it is used in snake-bite, Probably he takes it for 
pranted that it is used in this way. 
Mr. C. B. Clarke thinks that the previous species may be really Strychnos 
cinnamomifolia, Vhwaites, S. colubrina, Wight, Ic. ¢. 434, Koxb., Fl. Ind., J, 578. 
This plant grows in Ceylon, but not, as far as it has been verified, on the 
Malabar Coast. Its fruits resemble those of the previous species. Roxburgh 
cites Modira carinam of Rheede as a synonym of his S, colubrina, but the 
flowers of his species are terminal, while those of Rheede’s, as already noticed, 
are lateral or axillary. It is said that this plant also may yield a kind of 
Lignum colubrinum. 
The authors of the ‘“‘ Pharmacographia Indica ” state that a portion of Ser- 
pent’s Wood may also be probably derived from S. laurina, Wall., a native 
of Cachar, Pegu and Tenasserim. 
Strychnos Nua Vomica, Linn., has also been styled S. colubrina by Wallich 
and Wight, but it is the general opinion that the wood of this tree, which is 
extremely common in the South Konkan,is not the true Serpent’s Wood, 
although often substituted for it. It has been found by analysis that the bark 
and wood of this tree do not show any traces of strychnine, while those of 
