8 



THE YELLOW DYE STUFFS OF CHINA AND INDIA. 



Calysaccion longifolium. 



Suringee. — The flower buds of Calysaccion longifolium are collected for 

 dyeing silk. The tree is plentiful in the Parell and Worlee Hills, Bombay, 

 Kennery jungles, on the Ghauts, and throughout the Concans. The male 

 tree is called Woondy, the female Poonag. Both are also known by the 

 names of Suringee and Gordeoondy. These flower buds are of a clove 

 brown colour, and not larger than_those^of tbe]clove, which they 

 somewhat resemble, except that the large fleshy calyx j_of the 

 latter is replaced by a slender flower-stem or peduncle. Dr. 

 Cleghorn states that " the flowers are yellowish and deciduous, 

 very fragrant, and produced in clusters t below the leaves. I 

 have seen the fallen flowers collected and sold in the bazaars, for 

 the sake of their fragrance, under the name of Soohgee-hoo.'''' 

 This corresponds with the Malabar name Surgiha of Roxburgh, 

 and the Suriga of Buchanan. In 1850 a parcel of these flower buds w r ere 

 imported into London under the name of Nag-kassar. About twelve months 



