244 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 23, 1871. 
In Assam Ficus elastica is the chief, if not the only ■ 
source of india-rubher. But Ficus laccifera may also i 
yield it. Is any india-rubber collected from the latter, 
and is it kept separate or mixed with that of F. elastica ? 
Specimens of each, accompanied by good dried spcci- i 
mens, would be valuable. Are there no other trees 
capable of yielding india-rubber in quantity ? Willugh- 
beia edulis , the “ Luti-am ” of Chittagong and Silhet, is 
said by Roxburgh to yield good india-rubber. Speci- 1 
mens of the india-rubber, and also carefully-prepared : 
and abundant specimens of the leaves, flowers, and fruit, 
both dried and in spirit, are much needed. 
China, Cochin China, and the Philippines. 
Rhubarb. —The true source of the rhubarb produced 
in the western provinces of China and the adjacent 
regions is still unascertained. It is desirable to obtain- 
living roots or seeds of the plants, as well as a full 
account of the collecting and drying of this well-known 
drug. 
Camphor. —That of commerce is obtained from For¬ 
mosa and Japan. Is any produced in China, and where F 
The Camphor Laurel ( Cinnamomum Camphor a, Nees), is 
well known to flourish in many localities of the central 
provinces. 
What is the camphor said to be obtained from a 
species of Artemisia (wormwood) called Ngai ? A few 
pounds of it are desired. 
China Root is exported to Europe from Canton. 
The plant is said to grow in the provinces of Honan, 
Kwangtung, and Kwangsi. Good specimens of it are 
desired. 
' Root called Green PutchuJc Pd-clnh , of which large 
quantities are exported from Ningpo. The plant is an 
Aristolochia: to determine the species, pressed and 
dried specimens with roots would be acceptable. 
Cassia Baric. —Specimens are much desired of the 
tree which affords this bark in the south of China. Bo¬ 
tanical specimens should in all instances include good 
samples of the bark, young and old, obtained from the 
same tree. 
Cassia Buds. —These are the immature fruits of a 
Cinnamomum , supposed to be that affording the Chinese 
Cassia bark. 
Bamboo. —Specimens in flower of a bamboo, affording 
the broad leaves which are pinned together by the 
Chinese to line tea-chests, are required to determine the 
species. 
Star Anise. —Information should be collected by an 
eye-witness as to the production in Southern China of 
this spice. It is said to be brought to the Canton mar¬ 
ket by the Fokien junks. Botanical specimens of the 
tree, and full particulars regarding the collection of the 
fruits, are desirable. 
Chinese Oil of Pefpermint (so-called) is said to be 
distilled at Canton. Pressed and dried botanical speci¬ 
mens of the plant seen to be used should be sent to Eng¬ 
land for the determination of the name. 
Cardamoms. —What is the origin of the cardamom 
called by the Chinese Yang-chun-sha , the Hairy China 
Cardamom of pharmacologists? It is said to be pro¬ 
duced in the province of Kwang-tung, and it may be a 
native of Cochin China. 
Nothing is known of the origin of the scitamineous 
fruit to which the name large Round China Cardamom 
has been given, and which is known to the Chinese as 
Tsaou-kow. The same remark applies to the Bitter- 
deeded Cardamom , Yih-che-tsze, and Ovoid China Cardamom , 
Tsaou-kwo or Qud-lcu; it is probable that all of them 
are productions of the south of China, or of Cochin China. 
St. Ignatius’ Beans, called in the Philippines Coyacoy , 
or Pepita de Catbalogan. The plant, said to be a climbing 
shrub, to which the name Ignatia amara was given by 
the younger Linnaeus, is a species of Strychnos, probably 
unknown to modern botanists. It is believed to grow in 
Bohol and Cebu, islands of the Bisaya group of the Phi¬ 
lippines. As it is one of great interest, no opportunity 
should be lost for procuring abundant flowering speci¬ 
mens, as well as the entire fruits, both dried and pre¬ 
served in alcohol, and some considerable pieces of the 
stem with the bark attached. 
Elemi. —This resin is abundantly produced in the 
forests of the Philippines, where it often assists in giving 
a cheerful blaze to the fire of the traveller. It is also 
exported from Manilla as a drug. The tree that affords 
it is probably a Canarium , but it is desirable to have 
complete specimens, including flowers and mature fruits 
in alcohol, in order to ascertain the species with exactness. 
Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South 
America. 
Mexican Elemi, known in Mexico as Copal , is yielded 
by Flaphrium elemiferum , Royle, a tree growing near 
Oaxaca, good botanical specimens of which are much 
desired. 
Sarsaparilla. —The species of Smilax, the roots of 
which constitute the various sorts of sarsaparilla found in 
commerce, are very imperfectly known. Good botanical 
specimens, comprising flowers, fruits and leaves, and ac¬ 
companied by the stem and roots, should be carefully 
preserved, and transmitted to England for determination. 
The so-called Jamaica Sarsaparilla grows near the Chi- 
riqui Lagoon, in the state of Costa Rica, and a species 
very similar, if not identical with it, at Bajorque, on the 
Rio Magdalena, New Granada. Other sorts of sarsa¬ 
parilla are produced in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Brazil, etc. 
Cinnamon of Ecuador. —This bark, which resembles 
the cinnamon of Ceylon, is produced by a noble tree 
growing in the province of Canelos. Specimens of it, 
including flowers and the large fruits preserved in 
alcohol, are much desired. The calyx of the fruit is 
used as a spice, under the name of Ishpingo. 
Balsam of Copaiva is imported from several parts of 
Brazil; it varies somewhat in properties, and is the pro¬ 
duce of several species of the genus Copaifera. It is de¬ 
sirable to obtain the balsam of each species, with a spe¬ 
cimen in flower and leaf, and, if possible, in fruit, of the 
tree affording- it, and the name of the district where the 
tree grows, and its native appellation there. 
Woods.—Lignum nephriticum. —This rare wood, no¬ 
ticed by some of the earliest explorers of America, is a 
production of Mexico. To what tree is it to be referred ? 
Its infusion is remarkable for having the blue tint seen 
in a solution of quinine. 
Satin-wood of the West Indies. —Specimens in 
flower and fruit, with the wood, are requested. The 
origin of the Coca or Cocus-wood of the West Indies, is 
also uncertain. Specimens in flower of any tree afford¬ 
ing the lancewoods of commerce in the West Indies or 
Central America are needed for the determination of the 
species. 
King-wood, Maracaybo-wood and Mustaiba-wood, 
all imported from Brazil, and Nicaragua-wood from 
Central America, are of unknown botanical origin. 
The Rose-woods of Brazil. —There is still some 
doubt as to the treo3 which yield the different varieties 
of this timber. 
Ipecacuanha. —What is the plant which furnishes 
the large Ipecacuanha root of New Granada ? 
Pareira Brava.-— The plant affording the inert 
woody stems which constitute the Pareira Prava of com¬ 
merce, and which are exported to Europe from Rio de 
Janeiro, has not been ascertained, neither is the locality 
in which it grows accurately known. The subject is 
deserving of investigation. 
Cinchona Baric.— In addition to the bark of Cinchona 
Tucujcnsis, shipped at Puerto Cabello in Venezuela, 
there are others less known botanically which are 
brought from the same port. Some of these barks ap¬ 
pear to be derived from varieties of Cinchona cordifolia , 
while others seem to belong to what is called Quinquina 
