C 657 3 
floWer-cup, and within divided into two cells by a 
thin membranaceous partition. The Seeds are many, 
at lead more than fifty in each cell, comprefTed, and 
furrounded with a mucilaginous fubftance. ^ 
The mucilage here mentioned, was fo little hard- 
ned in the fruit I examined, that the feeds themfelves 
were quite foft, and inclining to be moift. 
Recollecting that Dr. Plukenet had figured many 
of Mr. Cunnigham s plants, I had recouife to his 
Gazaphyldci um y and there found an engraving of this 
plant, plate 448. n. 4, and that it was twice mentioned 
in his Amaltheum, pages 29, 21 2. 
From the obfervations, which Dr. Plukenet Y Mr. 
Petiver and Mr. Ray + have received from Mr. Can- 
ningham, , I learned that the Chinefe ufe the feeds of 
Gardenia jafmmoides as a fcarlet dyej and as t e 
mucilaginous fubftance in which the feeds are invo V- 
ed, feems to be very copious and rich °f colour, I 
imagine it muft be worth enquiry, whether this Oirub 
may not be found, and tranfported to fuch of the 
British colonies, where it might be propagated ; and 
perhaps become one of the moll ufeful plants, as it is 
now one of the moft beautiful. . . 
I have tryed thefe feeds in water, fpirits and other 
liquors, and allways found them tinge the menftruum 
yellow, notwithftanding they have been gathered 
near four fcore years. 
* Semina tin&oribus inferviunt, iis enim ab mdigems Smcn- 
fibus optime tingitur nobilis ille color, quern Efcarlatinu 
noftrates Vocant, ut nos monuit vir multiplies induftnse, atqu 
indefefli laboris hac in parte D. Jacobus Cunmnghamus. Plukn. 
Am< \ Hujns fruaus Celebris eftet in frequenti ufu apud Chinenfes 
ad colorem coccineum, feu fcarlatinum tingendum. J 
IIL *• 2 33- p 2 To 
