Linmean Society. 



475 



cients, and his opinion appears to be borne out by the accordance 

 of the root with the description given by Dioscorides, by the striking 

 analogy of the Arabian synonym koost to its Greek and Cashmeer 

 appellations, and also by the commercial history of the drug. 



The roots, which are possessed of a strong aromatic and pun- 

 gent odour, are collected in large quantities, principally for export- 

 ation to China, where they are held in high repute, as an aphrodisiac, 

 and are also burnt as incense in the temples. The quantity annu- 

 ally collected varies from 10,000 to 12,000 khurwars (of 96 seers, 

 or 192 lbs.,) or about 2,000,000 lbs. weight. At Canton the price 

 per cwt. is 21. 7s. 5d., while the cost at the depot in Cashmeer is 

 only 2s. 4d. 



The plant is not held in much repute as a medicine by the Cash- 

 meerians, who are only astonished at the estimation in which it is 

 held in other countries ; nor do they apply it to any other use than 

 that of protecting bales of shawls from the attacks of moths : por- 

 tions of the stem are, however, suspended from the necks of children 

 to avert the " evil eye," and to expel worms. 



The plant is regarded by Dr. Falconer as constituting the type of 

 a new genus of Cynarece, which he has named in compliment to the 

 present Governor- General of India; and as it was discovered during 

 a journey in Cashmeer, commenced under Lord Auckland's auspices, 

 and as it yields a valuable product, the application of the name be- 

 comes more appropriate from the useful direction of his lordship's 

 views in promoting botanical investigation in India. The Auck- 

 landia is a gregarious plant, growing in great abundance on the 

 moist open slopes of the mountains which surround the valley of 

 Cashmeer, at an elevation of from 8000 to 9000 feet above the level 

 of the sea, but like some other plants of that region, it is extremely 

 local, being confined to the immediate vicinity of the valley, although 

 the Rheum emodi, Aconitum heterophyllum, and Rhododendron antho- 

 pogon, with which it is associated, are extensively distributed over 

 the western Himalayas. The genus is nearly related to Saussurea, 

 and is chiefly distinguished by the rays of its feathery pappus being 

 disposed in two rows, and cohering by twos or threes at the base. 

 The following is the author's character of the genus: 



AUCKLANDIA. 



Capita! tun homogamum. Anther arum caudce Janato-plumosae. Pappi 

 selacei lamella* biseriales, plumosre, basi ternatim quadriternatimve 

 coliaerentes, in annul um deeiduum concretae. AcJienium glabrum. 



Herba orgyalis, radice perenui ramosd crassd, caule erecto simplici 

 sulcata glabro folioso, foliis sublyratis margine setaceo-deufatis supra 

 glabris atrov/rentibus subtiis glaucescentibus venis puberulis, capitulis 

 numerosis terminalibus aggregalis, jloribus atropurpureis. 



Sp. A. Costus. 



December 1. — Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. 

 Mr. Gould, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen of a nondescript Lizard 

 from New Holland, remarkable for the extreme aculeation of its 

 scales. 



