310 
d, I found 
zy ee as I left it, md. now add, for your 
information, that I met with several trees 
growing on the hills, which, had I not 
seen fruit and flower of them, I would have 
taken for a species of Ficus. But to my 
astonishment, I found them, on a closer 
examination, to resemble the Antiaris, and 
tobe very similar inevery respect tothe well 
known species, A. toxicaria. I never saw 
the Upas Tree myself, and the drawing 
that had been shown me, was without its 
fruit. But what surprises me most is, that 
the milk of my plant, which coincides, 
in every point, with the description of 
Horsfield, seems not to be poisonous at 
all, at least when unmixed and fresh, for 
I have tried and made several experiments 
with it on animal life, and have admin- 
istered it internally, to monkies, fowls, 
&c., without any effect. 
I am very happy to have met with a good 
opportunity of forwarding you some of the 
fruit, and the male flowers of this dubious 
plant, in spirits, with some other seeds, 
which, I trust, will reach you in safety. 
You will oblige me by giving me your 
Upas, corresponds very well with my sam- 
les." 
“ Coupang, Nov. 6, 1834. 
I need scarcely say that so interesting a 
plant as that now mentioned, immediately 
attracted my attention; and the result of 
my examination, together with the most 
authentic particulars relative to the nature 
of this celebrated poison, are here sub- 
oin 
ON THE UPAS ANTIAR, OR “f POISON TREE 
OF JAVA," FROM THE ISLAND OF TIMOR. 
(TAB. XVIIL) 
ANTIARIS. Lesch. 
| Ono, Bar, URTICE#, inter Brosimum et 
l i yst. Linn. Monecia 
CHaR. GEN. Masc. Jnvolucrum multi- 
ACCOUNT OF THE UPAS TREE. 
florum peltatum disco floribus tectum. 
Calyz tetraphyllus. Stam. 4 
Fam. IJnvolucrum urceolatum, unifa 
squamosum. Cal. o. Ovarium cum in- | 
volucro cohærens, uniovulatum, ovulo 
pendulo. Stylus bipartitus. Drupa ex- 
involucro aucto formata. Semen exal- 
buminosum. Embryonis radicula su- 
pera. Br. (paucis verbis mut.) 
ER toxicaria; foliis pubescentibus 
involucris parce squamosis, squamis ob- 
soletis glabriusculis. . XVII. 
Antiaris toxicaria. Lesch. Ann. du Mus. 
v. 16. p. 459. t. 22. 
Antiaris dubia. Spanoghe, MSS. Es 
Hab. Java. Mountain woods of Timor, 
near Gips. M. Spanoghe.—Fl. Sept. 
Descr. A tree of consent height — 
Leaves deciduous, oblong-oval, ees 5d 
approaching to ovate, shortly ac 
entire, downy, reticulated, pedali be- 
neath, where they are slightly ferruginous, Zi 
with the nerves prominent: their length is 
from three to five inches, the base is slight- 
ly cordate, and oblique: petiole 3—4 lines 
ong. ower monccious. Masc. Re- 
ceptacle, a flattish, peltate, fleshy, some- 
what quadrangular disk, at first plane, & 
little convex above, slightly convex be- 
neath, and there marked with a few : 
tuberculiform scales, the margins cre- 
nate; at length the sides bend back, 
the disk becomes prominent. Peduncle 
solitaryor two to four together, arising from 
the axils of the leaves. The whole le surface 
of the disk is crowded with male flowers, 
each consisting of four erect, obovate, oF 
almost spathulate scales, remarkably 1 
curved, almost cucullate at the apex 
little irregular, but not ciliated at the mà 
gin, each — an inverted yellow 
stamen, of an oblong form, of two 
tudinal cells ; filament almost none. Fen. 
solitary in the axils of the leaves 
the male flowers. Peduncle thickish. 
volucre ovate, or almost urceolate, 
with a few raised points, or small 
the mouth acute, obscurely toothed, sc 
Ovary of the same ed 
with an inverted ovule. Style 
