BOTANICAL INQUIRENDA. 379 



Benzoin or Gum Benjamin. — Obtain complete specimens of the 

 tree which affords this drug in Siam. 



Cardamoms. — The so-called wild or bastard cardamom of Siam 

 is produced by Amomum xanthioides, Wallich, a plant of which 

 complete and well-preserved specimens are requested, in order that 

 it may be described and figured. 



The seeds per se have been imported into England, while the 

 empty capsules are found in the drug-shops of China. Are the 

 latter exported from Siam to China? 



What is the origin of the cardamom called by the Chinese 

 Yang-chun-sha, the Hairy China Cardamom of pharmacologists ? 

 It is said to be produced in the province of Kwang-tung, and it 

 may be a native of Cochin China. 



Nothing is known of the origin of the Scitamineous fruit, to 

 which the name large round China cardamom has been given, 

 and which is known to the Chinese as Tsaou-Tww. The same 

 remark applies to the bitter-seeded cardamom, Tih-che-tsze, and 

 ovoid China cardamom, Taou-hwo or Qud-leu. It is probable that 

 all of them are productions of the south of China, or of Cochin 

 China. 



Cassia Bark. — Specimens are much desired of the tree which 

 affords this bark in Java, on the Malabar coast, in the south of 

 China, and in Cochin China. Botanical specimens should, in all 

 instances, include good samples of the bark, young and old, ob- 

 tained from the same tree. 



Cassia Buds. — These are the immature fruits of a Cinnamomum, 

 native of Cochin China, specimens of which are requested. An 

 inferior kind of cassia buds, known as Lavunga-pu, is found in 

 Malabar. "What is the species that affords it ? 



Aromatic barks of other Laurinece, as Culitlawang, Massoy, 

 Sintoc, are objects of commerce in the Indian Archipelago, and 

 are but imperfectly known in Europe. The traveller should em- 

 brace the opportunity, when it occurs, of seeing the bark col- 

 lected, and of obtaining authentic specimens of it, and of the 

 tree yielding it. 



Galangal Boot. — Endeavour to procure the plant affording this 

 drug, which is imported from the south of China. 



Elemi. — This resin is abundantly produced in the forests of 



