60 



Observations en the 



[July 



much reliance in such a case, and still less on holding a piece of it in 

 my hand, as a means of preventing snakes biting me. The natives 

 however, I am informed, believe that it possesses this last property* 

 What possible accidental coincidences could have given rise to such a 

 strange belief ? Xanthophyllum virens is a large timber tree, the wood 

 of which, we are informed by Dr. Roxburgh, is remarkably hard and 

 very useful to the natives of Silhet. 



XI. — Eloline<p. 



XII. — Caryophyllea 



The Courtallum Flora presents very few species of these Orders, and 

 those of little interest under almost any point of view. I shall there- 

 fore pass them over and proceed to the consideration of 

 XIII.— Malvacece. 



This is a large and, in many respects, an important Order, from the 

 number and variety of products, useful to mankind, it affords: among 

 which may be enumerated, food, clothing and medicine. Its species 

 are found widely distributed over the tropical and temperate zones, 

 but disappear as we approach the frigid. Within the tropies, they are 

 estimated by Humboldt to form ^ part of the flowering plants, an 

 estimate, rather falling short of, than exceeding, the truth. 



In this Order both sepals and petals are usually five, both series more 

 or less united at the base, the latter twisted from right to left, before 

 expansion (aestivation twisted) and often adhering to the tube of the 

 filaments; filaments usually united into a tube ( Monadelphous ) en- 

 closing the styles ; anthers one celled, ovarium single, but formed from 

 the union of several carpels round a common axis, either coherent or 

 distinct, each furnished with a style, which however sometimes unite 

 into one, the stigmas only remaining free. These unions of parts, 

 which are sometimes very troublesome in practice, are effected by near- 

 ly the same means that produce union between branches in the opera- 

 tion of grafting, namely, approximation of parts and pressure, during 

 the development of the flower. 



"Viewed in its economical relations, this is by far the most 

 important Order we have yet had to consider. The uniform cha- 

 racter of its species is to abound in mucilage, and to be to- 

 tally destitute of unwholesome qualities. The emollient qualities of 

 marsh mallows are known to every one, and may almost be taken as a 

 type of the medicinal properties of the whole Order. Many of the spe- 

 cies are used as food ; sometimes the fruit, as the Bendakai, (Abelmos* 

 chusy Hibiscus, esculentus ) is the part eaten ; sometimes the leaves, as 

 the Poolchie Keeray, ( Hibiscus Cannabinus) ; more rarely the involuc- 

 rum and calyx, as the Rozelle (Hibiscus subdariffa), so much prized 

 in this country as a tart fruit; and for the pleasant sub-acid jelly procu- 

 rable from them. 



