248 
Mr. W. N. Evans, F.C.S., to ROYAL GARDENS, Kew. 
66, naan Road, Bristol, 
DEAR Si E 
trade has of late years been eS cine ae with by the 
difficulty “of obtaining pure ne epon zambier, Uncaria 
Gambier, from Singapore. The an tanners are also now E king 
50 per cent. or more of the supply. "The laan | is véry bad, an 
s, and n an take its place. Its re-actions with lime in the 
early stages of tanning being so very different from other tannins 
ere is, however, no determination on the part of many to rid 
e are contemplating, therefore, doing the whole trade. That is to 
grow the plant in Singa pore or Borneo, AONA with the best 
I have taken the liberty of writing to ask if if yen can give me any in- 
formation on the subject. There are, I presume, botanical gardens at 
Shel ae oe reliable managers who would furnish us with necessary 
t land was obtainable, difficulties of obtaining labour, 
os Of course we are full e that in starting a new scheme we 
should have to face 2  bpedition from the present dealers. 
But the trade has all to gain in doing an honest thing. May I also ask 
could the plant be grown at Natal, at the lower levels near the sea? 
And might it not be quite possible for the Royal Niger Company to 
cultivate it from cuttings or seed, as the climate must be somewhat 
similar as to moist heat ? 
I am, &c., 
(Signed) W. N. Evans. 
W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S., 
Royal Gardens, Kew. ^4 
It is hoped tbat he cireulation by means of the Kew Bulletin of the 
information now put together will have the effect of drawing further 
practical attention to the subject. 
The Gambier of commerce is obtained by boiling the leaves of 
Uncaria Gambier, Roxb., a shrubby climber, native of the Malay 
States. Gambier is official in the British Pharmacopeia under the 
name of Epa Pallidum. It is also known as Pale Catechu and 
Terra Japoni 
The Penaia of the Gambier plant (Uncaria Gambier, Rox. 
Flor. Ind. 1,517) is — discussed by Sir Joseph Hooker in the Flora 
of British À In dia, Vol. iii, p. 31. It appears from this that the Ceylon 
nearia Gambier of Thwaites Enumeratio is not identical with the 
true Gambier plant, and is referred to Uncaria dasyoneura var. 
Thwaitesii. 
Uncaria Gambier is a strong shrubby climber, Hes Lawy leaves, 
and with numerous small flowers closely crowde mall globular 
receptacles. The peduncles on which the "hne a bar ne are of 
p 
singular structure, and after the fall of the Cae es the lower 
portions become elongated, very hard, and curved into hooks by which 
the plant climbs. Sometimes these curious axillary hooks are produced 
without ei any heads of flowers. The numerous seeds are very 
. minute and with a long transparent tail at each end. The plant is 
found y or cultivated in Malacca, Penang, and Singapore, and also 
in Java and Sumat 
