( 92 ) 



country can we refer the origin of these edible Dioscorea. The 

 roots of our indigenous species are unsuitable as food, being gene- 

 rally acrid and unsafe in their properties. As the best developed 

 specimens of the Yam are in the far east, we may safely assign the 

 Eastern Islands as its original habitat. 



1. D Sativa, Willd. 4, p 795 ; Hort. Mai. 8, t. 51.— This is 

 the inost common species cultivated. Native name " Godree." 



2. D Globosa. — The White Yam, nearly as common as 

 the last. 



3. D ActfLEATA, Roxb. Fl. Ind. 3, p 800 ; Rumph. Amb. 5, 

 t. 126; Rheede Hort. 7, t. 37. — Goa Potatoe; a very useful escu- 

 lent; common in Bombay, but imported from Goa. It is the 

 smallest of the cultivated species, but it is also the most delicate. 



XCVL— SMILACE^. 



THE SMILAX TRIBE, Lind. Nat. Syst. p 277. 



SMILAX, Dicecia Hexandria. 



1. S Prolifeea. — Native of Bengal, f]rom Calcutta seed. 

 Roxb. 3, p 795. A stout climber with prickly stem and branches ; 

 leaves oblong, 3-nerved ; umbels proliferous, with globular long- 

 peduncled umbellets. Gardens Hewra and Dapoorie. 



2. S Deltoides. — Received under this name from Calcutta. 

 It has a triangular deltoid-like leaf, hence the name. 



XCVIL— ASPHODELE^, Lind. Nat. Syst. p 273. 



ANTHERICUM, Hexandria Monogynia. 



1 . A (?) sp. — Seed from Seharunpore. A large robust 



species, having many narrow leaves about one foot long ; scape 

 one foot, flowers as in its congeners. Native of Gosaen Khan, 

 Himalaya; Gardens Dapoorie and Hewra. 



ALLIUM, Flexandria Monogynia. 



2. A Cepa, Linn. — The common Onion; Bombay has long- 

 been celebrated for the cultivation of the White or Portugal Onion. 

 The common Onion is cultivated most extensively throiaghout the 

 Deccan and Gujarat as a cold season crop. 



3. A Sativum, Roxb. Fl. Ind. 2, p 142.— "Lussun," Garlic; 

 cultivated chiefly in irrigated lands of the Deccan and Southern 

 Maratha Country. It is extensively exported to the Coast. 



4. A PoRRUM, Roxb. Fl. Ind. 2, p 141 ; Blackw. 421.— The 

 Leek, cultivated to a small extent, but grows well, and even 

 produces seed. 



