158 BOTANY or CONGO. 



The Vapaw (Carica papaya), from analogous reasoning, 

 may be regarded as of American origin ; there being several 

 other decidedly distinct species natives of that continent, 

 while no species except the cultivated Papavf, nor any plant 

 nearly related to this singular genus, is known to exist 

 either in Asia or Africa. But in the present case, the 

 assistance derived from the argument adduced, may perhaps 

 be considered as unnecessary ; for the circumstance of there 

 being no Sanscrit name for so remarkable a plant as the 

 Papaw,^ is nearly decisive of its not being indigenous to 

 India. And in the Malay Islands, the opinion of the 

 inhabitants, according to Rumphius,^ is that it was there 

 introduced by the Portuguese. 



The same argument may be extended to Capsicum, of 

 which all the known species probably belong to the new 

 continent ; for the only important exception stated to this 

 genus being wholly of American origin, namely, G.fnitescens, 

 473] seems to be set aside merely by the appellations of 

 Tchilli and Lada TcJiiUi, as given to it in the Malay 

 Islands ; Chilli, either simply, or in composition, being the 

 Mexican name for all the species and varieties of this genus.^ 



All the species of Nicotiana appear to be American, 

 except N. AicstralasitB (the N. undulata of Ventenat and 

 Prod. Flor. Nov. Holl. but not of Flora Peruviana,) which 

 is certainly a native of New Holland. The exception here, 

 however, does not materially invalidate the reasoning, N. 

 AustralasicB differing so much from the other species as to 

 form a separate section of the genus. 



The same argument might perhaps be applied to other 

 plants of doubtful origin, as to Canna indica, which it 

 would derive from America. 



It is certainly not meant, however, to employ this reason- 

 ing in every case, and in opposition to all other evidence ; 

 and instances may be found, even among the alimentary 

 plants, where it is very far from being satisfactory. Thus 

 the Cocoa Nut, though it will probably be considered as 



' Fleming in Asiat. Besear. ii, p. 161. - Herb. Anihoin. i,p. 147. 



^ Eernandeg, Rer. Medic. Nov. Hispan. Tliesaur. p. 134, ei Nieremb. Hist. 

 Nat. p. 363. 



