Wallich^s Plantce Asiaticce Raribres, 20:!^ 



No, I. contains 

 1 to 25. — Amherstza (Countess Amherst) nobilis; Leguminosae Cassige. 

 A magnificent tree, from the river Saluen, which attains about the height of 

 40 ft. When in flower it is " profusely ornamented with pendulous racemes 

 of large vermilion-coloured blossoms, forming superb objects, unequalled in 

 the flora of the East Indies ; " and, Dr, Wallich presumes, " not surpassed 

 in magnificence and elegance in any part of the world. The ground was 

 strewed, even at a distance, with its blossoms, which are carried daUy 

 as offerings to the images in the adjoining caves. There can be no 

 question that this tree, when in full foliage and blossom, is the most strik- 

 ingly superb object which can possibly be imagined." Dr. Wallich suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining some plants for the botanic garden at Calcutta, and 

 two of these he attempted to bring with him to England, but they perished 

 on the passage. He saw but one pod on the only two or three trees 

 which he ever beheld, and that contained imperfect seeds. — Sterciilia po- 

 pulifolia. Handsome and curious. — Ifibiscus *Lindley2. Very handsome, 

 with deep purple flowers. " Like most of the members of the extensive 

 genus to which it belongs, it abounds in strong and woody fibres. All its 

 green parts have an agreeably acid taste." — Anneslea fragrans ; Tern- 

 stvc^xnidcecs. An elegant tree, with delightfully fragrant flowers. — Pha- 

 seolus fuscus. A very elegant climber ; annual, and much branched. — 

 Caralluma (a genus nearly allied to Stapeii«) *crenulata, Caralluina *fim- 

 briata. Curious. — Curcuma Roscoea/zw. " An extremely beautiful and 

 splendid plant, and certainly one of the most ornamental of the whole 

 genus." — Curcuma cordata. A large and stately species, having all its 

 green parts beset by long silky hairs. — Melanorrhoe^a usitata; Terebin- 

 thacese Anacardiae . A very interesting tree, as furnishing the varnish most 

 extensively used in the east of China and in the Birman empire. " Every 

 part of it abounds in a thick and viscid greyish brown fluid, which turns 

 black soon after coming in contact with the external air. ... It is a curious 

 fact, that, to my certain knowledge, the natives of the countries where the 

 tree is indigenous never experience any injurious consequences from han- 

 dling its juices : it is strangers only that are sometimes affected by it, espe- 

 cially Europeans." This drug is also employed as a size or glue in the 

 process of gilding; " nothing more being required than to besmear the 

 surface thinly with the varnish, and then immediately to apply the gold 

 leaf. The beautiful Pali writing of the religious order of the Burmas on 

 ivory, palm leaves, or nietal^ is entirely done with this varnish, in its native 

 and pure state. Introduced to Kew by Dr. Wallich. — Hirse'o; (J. N. de 

 la Hire, a French physician) hirsuta; MalpighiacctE. An extensive climber, 

 covered with long rust-coloured hairs. — Cardiospermum *canescens. — 

 Abelia (Dr. Abel, who went to China with Lord Amherst) triflora ; Capri- 

 foliacese. An elegant middle-sized tree, with delightfully fragrant flowers, 

 like those of Jasminum revolutum. — Matonia (Dr. Maton, V.P.L.S,, &c.) 

 pectinata ; Polypodiaceae. A most beautiful fern, discovered towards the 

 summit of a very lofty mountain, at the height of 40G0 ft. — Cometes 

 surattensis ; Jmaranthacese. — Cometes abyssinica. — Impatiens reticu- 

 lata. — Clematis subpeltata. A very handsome climber, with broad cor- 

 date leaves, closely allied to Clematis smilacifolia. — Eranthemum cinna- 

 barinum, A charming shrub, varying in height to 6 ft., with large flowers 

 of a vivid red colour. — Dillenia scabrella. A deciduous tree of very slow 

 growth. " At the time of flowering it is entirely destitute of leaves, instead 

 of which it is covered by countless numbers of elegant and fragrant yellow 

 blossoms, which last, however, only a few weeks,and are soon succeeded by 

 a plentiful crop of small, round, orange-coloured fruits. The fleshy leaves 

 of the calyx, which cover these, have a pleasantly acid taste, and are used 



