OF THE HERBARIUM AMBOINENSE. 315 
CAP. XXXIII. 
Malum granatum, p. 94, t. 24, f. 1. 
Of this plant, as of all others much cultivated, there are 
many varieties, but I suspect only one species ; the characters 
by which Willdenow attempts to distinguish the Punica na- 
na from the P. granatum (Sp. PI. ii, 981), being quite in- 
sufficient. In warm climates the latter is always a bush, 
and its leaves may be called linear. The thorny plants, 
which Burman in his observation attempts to class with it, 
have no sort of affinity, being of the order of Riibiace<:e, 
nearly allied to Gardenia, 
CAP. XXXIV. 
LiMO DECUMANUS PRIMUS, p. 96, t. 24, f. 2. 
LiMO DECUMANUS SECUNDUS^ p.97. 
LiMO DECUMANUS TERTIUS, p. 98. 
LiMO DECUMANUS QUARTUS, p. 98* 
Burman properly observes, " arbores hse — varietates po- 
tius sunt, quam peculiares species, unde — pro unica tan- 
tum habendse sunt specie." I need hardly point out the 
absurdity of the nation entertained by early botanists, of 
this being the Forbidden Fruit in paradise ; as it is entirely 
destitute of the qualities respecting the knowledge of good 
and evil by which that fruit was distinguished, and which 
has no doubt vanished from earth with paradise itself. The 
fruit, however, is so excellent, and has been so long pa- 
tiently cultivated, that many more varieties than Rumphius 
enumerates are to be found, both in Asia and America, to 
which it has now spread. The varieties of this, indeed, and 
of the Citrus Medica and C. Aurantium, are so numerous, 
and run so into each other, that I doubt much if thev can 
be considered as distinct species. 
