116 
Original Communications. 
which when dried had such a strong taste and smell of rhu- 
barb, that he tried its effects and found it a mild aperient, and 
seeming to possess all the virtues of the best rhubarb. Its 
habitude, he goes on to say, appeared to be different, but he 
thinks that it belongs to the genus Rheum and proposes the 
name of R. humilis for it. The root was more strong and 
active, and in every sensible effect equalled the best rhubarb. 
Milk Trees, The first account we have of these trees was 
given by Humboldt ; he met with it in the Cordilleras, in arid 
situations. In the fourth volume of his " Personal Narrative'* 
he says, " on the barren flank of a rock, grows a tree with 
coriaceous and dry leaves ; the large woody roots can 
scarcely penetrate into the stone. For several months of the 
year not a single shower moistens its foliage. The branches 
appear dead and dried ; but when the trunk is pierced, there 
flows from it a sweet and nourishing milk. It is at the rising 
of the sun that this vegetable fountain flows most freely ; the 
blacks and natives are then seen hastening from all quarters, 
with large bowls to receive the milk, which grows yellow 
and thickens at its surface." He further states that it is called 
Palo de vaca and Arbol de leche. This tree which Decan- 
dolle thought might belong to the family of Sapotese, was 
placed by Kunth among the UrticeEe, under the name of Ga- 
lactodendrum utile. Since this Mr. Lockhart, director of the 
botanical garden at Trinidad, found other milk trees in the 
Caraccas. Mr. Don, who examined the flowers of this spe- 
cies, states that it belongs to the genus Brosimum, nearly al- 
lied to Ficus. 
Another milk bearing tree has also been discovered in 
Demarara, by Mr. Jones Smith ; it is called hya by the na- 
tives, and is perhaps the TaberncBmontana utilis f Arnolt. It 
is to this latter, in all probability, that Mr. Webster alludes ; 
it occurs near Para, where it is known under the name of 
masaranduba. Mr. Webster has called it Vaccodendron 
lactifera. He says it is among the loftiest in the forest, being 
one hundred feet and upwards in height. The bark is of a 
brownish colour, the leaves large and ovate. It flowers in 
