supplementary to the Encyc. of Plants atid Ho7't. Brit. 477 



they were placed was kept well ventilated, and even the pots 

 well supplied with water. This, no doubt, arises from the trans- 

 piration from the leaves being greater than can be supplied by 

 the roots ; and no remedy can be better than shading. 



1339. iJHODODE'NDRON 



•albifldrum Hook, white-flowered « or 2 jn W N. Amer. 1835 C s.l Bot. mag. t. 3670. 



An upright-growing shrub, but not more than 2 or 3 feet 

 high ; which was first described, named, and figured in Hook, 

 Fl. Bor. A)n., ii. p. 43. t. 133. " This extremely interesting 

 and distinct species of a very favourite genus was discovered by 

 Mr. Drummond in the alpine woods of the Rocky Mountains;" 

 and, from seeds sent by the officers of that expedition to Dr. 

 Graham, plants were raised, which, in July, 1837, produced 

 their delicate cream-coloured blossoms. {Bot. Mag., Aug.) 



Apocyndcetje, 



TANGHI'NIA^Foir. [p. 85. 



veneniflua Poir. poison-flowing J □ or 30 my Pk Madagascar 1826 C s.p.l FI. cab. 2. 

 Sytwnyme : Ci?rbera Tdnghin Bot. Reg., t. 2968. 



This very remarkable plant is the celebrated ordeal tree of 

 Madagascar. In its native country it is an evergreen tree, 30 ft. 

 high; but the largest plant as yet seen in England does not 

 exceed the height of 6 ft. It has smooth coriaceous leaves, and 

 small pink flowers, somewhat resembling in form those of the 

 common periwinkle, but which are produced in terminal and 

 somewhat corymbose panicles. The fruit is yellow, ovate, dru- 

 paceous; and encloses a fibrous stone, or nut, acute at both 

 ends, and cloven on one side. The kernel enclosed in this 

 stone, or nut, is said by some to be the part used for the ordeal, 

 and to be infused, after being bruised on a stone, in liquid which 

 the accused person is made to drink : others say the infusion is 

 made of the entire fruit. The following passage on this subject 

 is copied from Don's Miller : — " The custom of administering 

 tanghin as an ordeal, in Madagascar, has become far more uni- 

 versal during the present reign, than at any former period of the 

 Huwa government. When her present Majesty, in the begin- 

 ning of 1830, came to the resolution of cleansing her lands from 

 sorcerers, an ordeal was commanded in every town and village ; 

 and in Tonnanarivoo scarcely any class of inhabitants escaped. 

 On the 9th of May, 1830, in compliance with the sovereign's 

 mandate, a notable administration of tanghin took place. The 

 accused persons amounted to about thirty, including some of 

 the highest rank in the kingdom. All the nobility recovered ; 

 while the unknown plebeians, who, according to the common 

 jugglery, had been compelled to drink with them, died. The 

 former made the usual triumphant entry into the town on the 

 17th, borne in open palanquins, amongst the shouting, dancing, 

 and grimaces of many thousands of people. In the following 

 month, ab9ut an equal number of Malagassy ladias submitted to 



