BOTANY OF LEW CHEW. 43 



PALMiE, two species : the cocoanut palm {cocoa nucifera), and the fan palm {corypha umbra- 

 caulifera); none of them very common, and seldom of large size. 



Cupulifer^i, two species : the beech (fagtis ferruginea) and the hazle-nut {corylus rostrata) ; 

 the former occurring occasionally as a large tree, the latter as an undershrub and in hedges. 



Rosacea : The peach (persica vulgaris), apricot {armeniaca vulgaris), plum {prunus domestica), 

 hay-laurel {laurus nobilis), are the principal. The peach, plum, and apricot are not found in 

 any great abundance, and are only cultivated about the kunquas, and, occasionally, near 

 the houses of the more wealthy people. I observed three species of roses — one of which, 

 the dog-rose (rasa canina), was growing wild in the mountains, and the other two were pot 

 plants. 



Aubantiace^; : Genus citrus yields two species — the orange {citrus vulgaris) and the lemon 

 {citrus lemonum), neither of which, however, is plentiful, and not much attention is paid to 

 them by the natives. 



MusacEjE : There are several species of this plant, and I am inclined to think they are not 

 cultivated for their fruit, but rather for the fibre which they yield, and that musa textilis is the 

 principal one. I think it is this that affords the material out of which the natives manufacture 

 their coarse garments. The banana I never saw growing upon any of the trees, but I am in- 

 formed there is an inferior variety sold in the markets. 



Camellie,£ : This genus affords four varieties of the japonica, all of them yielding beautiful 

 flowers, and are carefully attended to on this account by the natives. I found a species of the 

 camellia, which, I think, is not described anywhere, and have named it, from its numerous 

 florets, camellia poly flora. It grows mostly where the gneiss rocks are found, and is from two 

 to four feet high. It is decandrous; nionogynous; sepals and petals 5, divided to near the recep- 

 tacle; hypogynous; leaves alternate, oval, serrate, and coriaceous. Florets generally growing 

 from the axils of the leaves; corolla of light-pink color. 



Leguminos^ : The tamarind {tamarindus Indica), locust tree {robini a pseud-acacia), the kidney 

 bean {phaseolus vulgaris), two varieties of the pea, white clover {trifolium repens), medick (me- 

 dicago) are the principal species. The tamarind and locust are rare ; but the beans and peas 

 are among the most abundant articles of cultivation; indeed, the former may be seen in large 

 tracts wherever the eye is cast, and forms one of the principal articles of food for the people ; 

 and pigs are also fattened with them. 



Aquifoliace^ : Holly {ilex montana) is the only species I observed, and was very rare. 

 Of Dahlia, there are several varieties. 



Cactacejs : Observed four species — two very large and numerous, and two small, and found 

 growing principally upon walls and forming hedges. 



CONVOLVULACE.E : Common morning glory {convolvulus purpureus and C. albus), sweet potato 

 {G. batatas). The latter is cultivated largely over the whole island, and forms one of the chief 

 articles of diet, particularly for the laboring classes. They generally boil a large quantity of 

 them at a time, and make them last for several days, eating them cold. 



Solanace* : Tobacco {nicotiana tabacwm), bitter sweet {solanum dulcamara), and deadly night- 

 shade {atropa belladonna;) the latter only found in dry and sunny places. The tobacco is culti- 

 vated in the southern portion of the island to a considerable extent, and produces very fine 

 large leaves. It is all, however, very much injured by the manner of curing it which is adopted 

 by the natives. As soon as the plants have attained a proper size, the leaves are stripped and 

 put in the sun for drying, where they are allowed to remain for days exposed to the dew and 



