281 
CXXIII.—MUSSZENDA. COFFEE. 
(Gertnera vaginata, Lam.) 
Under the name of Mussenda borbonica, M. Lene, a French 
So 
apothecary, has described in the Bulletin Bimensuel a Société 
Nationale @’ Acclimitation de France, 1888, pp. 285-300, a plant found 
that the plant in question, described as a new species, was not a 
Mussenda at all, but a well known member of the natural order 
Logeniacee. It has 2 identified at Kew as Gertnera vaginata, 
f bon 
Lam., found i s s in Mauritius and also in Bour and 
Madagascar. The pies s found in the fruit, athough smaller, 
have a superficial n nce in form and fexture to true coffee 
“ beans." They are, however, marked Sith radiating lines on both 
surfaces, and in this respect, and in the dull-reddish colour, they may be 
n distinguishe 
he subject of Mussenda Coffee the Foreign Office has commu- 
elie to this establishment the following correspondence, 
result of inquiry made at Réunion by Mr. C. St. John the British 
Consul. 
Foreign Orrice to Roxan GARDENS, Kew. 
SIR, Foreign Office, June 26, 1889. 
Am directed by the Secretary of State for usd y Affairs to 
transmit to you, to be laid before the Director of Kew ens, the 
accompanying copy of a despatch respecting the Wastin or x Wild 
nge. 
Samples of the seed which Mr. St. John reports that he has for- 
warded will be sent to you upon their receipt at this office. 
The Assistant Director, (Signed) ' James FERGUSON. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[Enclosure.] 
Mr. Consul Sr. JoHN to FOREIGN QUAKE. 
My Lorp, Axe on, May 14, 1889. ~ 
As an article has appeared on page 12 of the “British Mail” of 
February — relative to a shrub commonly called Mussenda, and 
" the subject, I beg to offer a few observations and information derived 
from a reliable source. 
Unfounded rumours relative to the merits of the shrub have caused 
alarm as to the future of the coffee and chicory trade ; but nothing of 
the kind, so far as Réunion is concerned, need be apprehended. Th 
information given in the “British Mail" as to the quantity of 
Musseenda produced in this Colony might be misleading. 
60706. — 750.—12/89. Wt.1. E.&S. A2 
