1 
56 
to meet with a man of science, Dr. Sparmann, at this place ; who after studying under 
the father of Botany, the great Sir Charles Linne, had made a voyage to China, and 
another to the Cape, in pursuit of knowledge. The idea of gathering the treasures of 
nature in countries hitherto unknown to Europe, filled his mind so entirely, that he 
immediately engaged to accompany us on our circumnavigation; in the course of 
which I am proud to say, we have found him an enthusiast in his science, well versed 
in medical knowledge, and endowed with a heart capable of the warmest feelings, and 
worthy of a philosopher.” And, the father, J. It. Forster, in the preface to his classic 
“ Genera Plontarum” (among much laudatory language) also saj’s— n Sparmannus 
plantas describebat, Filins easdom delineabnt.—Verum dum Sparmannus plantas accu- 
ratius examinaret, films et ego scope in consilium vocati in commune consulebamus, 
&c.” It is hoped, that future Botanical describers and nomenclators of New Zealand 
plants will remember this. No man can read G. Forster's “ Voyage,” or the “ Obser¬ 
vations ” and Botanical works published by his father, J. R. Forster, without perceiving 
how much they (we?) were indebted to Dr Sparmann ; who also did so much at the 
Cape for the advancement of Natural Science. His memory lias been justly com¬ 
memorated by Thimbcrg, in the South-African genus, Spanuannia, —a genus very 
closely allied to the New Zealand Entelea. 
Par. 19. Note, g. “ Phormium is only found in New Zealand and Norfolk Island.” 
Since writing the above I have seen the following in an Auckland paper, (New Zea¬ 
lander, Sept. 2, 1804,)— ‘‘Australian Piiormium Tenax, —The Pastoral Times of the 
13tli inst. says,—Large quantities of this plant have been found growing in the mallee 
scrub on the Lachlan plains. The flax is three or four feet high, and from one inch 
to two broad. It is stronger in its fibres than the New Zealand flax, and would seem 
to be exempt from the oily (sic) properties which render the New Zealand flax so 
difficult to convert into useful purposes. It is believed that by the aid of the small 
steamers running up our rivers, we shall be enabled to collect vast quantities of the 
article. Some specimens have already been forwarded to Melbourne for the purpose 
of being tested.” I have great doubts, however, of its being Botanic-ally correct. 
Par. 23. (iii.) Note , li. Tliis chewing of the fresh gum resin of the Kauri pine by 
the New Zealanders, explains the error made by Forster, (frem Crozet, Voyage de M. 
Marian ,) who had named the Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis, 71.,) A. resinifera ; 
believing, that the gum chewed by the Natives had been obtained from that tree! 
Forster says, “ Gummi ex liac arbore exsudans forte idem est, quo barbari Novse 
Zelandiie homines vescuntur, ut patet e diaris navarchi gailici Crozet.” This error 
has been since repeatedly printed ; and, strange to say, more recently by Liiulley (who 
even improves upon it) in liis noble “ Vegetable Kingdom ,” where (p. 635,) speaking of 
the Mangrove, he says,—“ It exudes a kind of green aromatic rosin, which furnishes a 
miserable food to the barbarous natives of New Zealand.” (!) 
Par. 30, (i.) Note, i. Such is the demand for sarsaparilla, and the limited area 
where it grows, that (as is well known,) it is greatly adulterated. The true Sarsa¬ 
parilla is obtained from Smilax Sarsaparilla, but several distinct species arc used, 
know’ll in commerce as producing the Peruvian, Brazilian, Lisbon, and Jamaica Sarsa- 
parillas,—and, perhaps, really but little inferior. Another kind, Smilax {flycyphylla , 
has also of late year’s been introduced iuto medical use from New r Holland ; while the 
roots of 3 sedges, ( Car ex arenariu, hirta, and intermedia ,) are collected to make 
German Sarsaparilla! Tire New Zealand plant (Rliipogomiin parvi/lorum,) is not 
only very nearly allied to the genus Smilax, but was by its first discoverers, Banks 
and Solauder, and subsequently by Forster, classed under that genus—from which it 
only slightly differ*. From its having been successfully (privately) nsed in New 
Zealand, and from its natural affinity, it is confidently hoped, it will prove a useful 
and valuable article of export; at all events, a far better substitute for the true Sarsa¬ 
parilla than the 3 German Carices. 
I 
