BOTANICAL PRODUCTIONS OF BOMBAY. 
381 
recesses of India) from the ingrossing avoca- 
tions of Ills official duties. He has set an 
example which those who possess more spare 
time would do well lo imitate. —Ecf/f. 
1. A1 pinia nutans. 
2. Achyranthes nspera. A common weed. 
3. Asclepias ^i^ardea. Very common 
thtougiiout India. The natives apply the milky 
acrid juice to sores. 
4. Asclepias acidn. 'I'his is a rare plant ; I 
found it last August (1834) on the plains to 
the south of Aurungabad; also in the neigh- 
bourhood of Poona. 
5. Asclepias annulare. 
6. Asclepias formossisnma. I have only 
seen this species in gardens, but, I believe, it 
is a native of India. 
7. Asclepias odoratissimn. This too I have 
only seen in gardens, and very rare. 
8. Amaryllis Zeylonica. A very beautiful 
plant ; I do not think it is to be found within 
this neighbourhood. 
9. Asparagus fulcutus. Large bushes of 
this shrubby species are common in the Dec- 
can ; it requiies support and is generally found 
overtopping some other shrub; it is rather a 
pretty plant. 
10. Aloe Uttoralis. The fibres of its long 
leaves are extremely tough and might be used 
in making cord, if not cloth ; however, I am 
not aware of its being applied to any econo- 
mical uses. 
11. Anacardium occidentale. Cashew' nut ; 
common in Salsette and on the island of 
Bombay, &c. The apples are seldom used, 
indeed they are not worth eating. 
12. Adenanthera pavonia.* 
Id. Adenanthera uculeata, 
14. Averhoa bilimbi. 
15. Averhoa carambola. Both species are 
common in gardens, and the fruit is used for 
making tarts. The fruit of bilimbi grows from 
the thick branches and often from the stem of 
the tree in a singular manner, like the jack 
fruit. The carambola is called kutrmd by the 
natives, a word which signifies sour or sharp 
tasted. 
16. Argemone Mexicana. A common weed, 
if not a native, it is, at least, completely 
naturalized. 
17. Alangium 6-petalum, Grows on Ele* 
plianta. 
18. Anona squamom. Custard apple, very 
common throughout India. Tlie fi uit is used 
as an article of food by the natives in times of 
scarcity ; it is produced in great abundance 
with the .slightest care ; the tree seems to grow 
indifferently on all soils and situations. 
\9. Anonz. reticulata. Bullock’s heart, so 
named from the shape of the fruit, wiiich is 
also eaten, though it is inferior to the custaid 
apple. The flowers ha ve a very sw'eet smell, 
something like the finest flavoured pears. This 
• This elegant flower (termed the peacock 
^oicerj forms a prominent part of the bouquet 
with which the Musselmans present Euro- 
peans on Sundays. - Edit, 
species is not nearly so common as the other. 
It is generally to be found planted near tem- 
ples along with the other species. I'hey call 
them ram vhool and ceta vhool, in honour of a 
heathen god and goddess; vhool means flower.* 
20. Adansonia diirUrirti. This tree appears 
to be naturalized. Several of them grow on 
Bombay Island, throughout tlie Concan and 
in Guzurat. I do not think any use is made 
of the fruit ; the tree assumes a very fantastic 
shape, the trunk very short and rapidly taper- 
ing ; it attains a great size-i' 
21. Abr us precatoriits. A dimi er common 
in the hedges and jungles ; when the pods open 
and display its red bead like fruit, it looks very 
pretty. Tlie natives use the seeds for weights, 
and call them Gooneh. 
22. Artemisia Indica. 
23. Aiistolochia ladica. Tins is a rare 
plant, with dingy looking flowers and leaves. 
I liave found it on Malabar hill and Cross 
Island in tiie harbour. Humboldt telbs us, the 
South Americans use the flowers of some of 
their gigantic species for hats. 
24. Aiitocarpus incisa. Bread fruit tree. I 
only know one tree on the island, it grows well 
and produces fruit, of some of whicii I have 
eaten. In times of scarcity it would bean 
invaluable tree, and as the soil and climate 
appear to suit it well, it is a pity tliat it has 
not been commonly planted. Its congener 
the jack fruit (A. integrifolia) is in common 
use among the natives, who call it Flamus^ 
and the wood of the tree is more used than 
any other for making household furniture, 
'i'he tree attains a large size in Malabar;! 
have seen a single fruit larger than the largest 
turnip at home. When growing on the stem 
of the tree it has something the appearance of 
a hedgehog stuck to it. 
25. Amaranthus tricolor tristis, oleraceits, 
varieties, I suspect; hajee is the native name, 
red, green, and variegated. TIrey are exten- 
sively cultivated and eaten like spinage. 
26. Arum campannlatnm. Native name soo- 
ruu. The root somewhat resembles a pine apple, 
but it is globular. It is used by the natives in- 
stead of yams ; I have tasted it ; it is rather 
coarse. 
27. Arum esculentum. Much cultivated 
by the natives who make use of the tubers in 
their curries, &c, 
28. Arum •polyphyllum. Very common, 
springing up on waste land during the rains. 
29. Acalypha ladica. 
30. Areca Catechu. A very graceful look- 
ing tree, extensively cultivated for the nuU 
(betel) which are chewed by the natives. 
31. Andropogon schoenanthus. Sweet lemon 
grass, grown in flower pots. 
32. A. hchuemum. 
33. A. Nurd us. 
* The author states in a letter to me that 
“ the properties of Indian plants are little 
known, and no dependence whatever can be 
placed on native names. In fact vtTy few have 
any place in their nomenclature. They are 
jungle ka vhool, i.e. wild flowers,”- Edit. 
t There is a fiiie specimen of this tree in 
Caranja Island. See Records, vol. i., 335.— 
Edxt, 
