lia, and very few beyond the 30th degree of latitude. In 1832, when Alphonse DeCandolle
published his memoir on this family, he reckoned 204 as the total number of species, of these
87 are Asiatic, 95 American, and 22 or 23 African. He thinks, however, that the relative proportion
of the Anonacece, to the total vegetation, is nearly the same in all equatorial regions.
In 1818, the number of known species amounted to 105, hence in the short interval of 14 years,
the number of species was doubled, and several have since been added. Dr. Wallich enumerates
about 80 Indian species, to these one or two were added by Mr. Arnott and myself, and several
other peninsular species, have been recently discovered in the course of my excursions : doubtless,
many yet remain in our jungles, especially in those tracts of hilly country, enjoying a moist
climate, with a moderate range of temperature. From this I infer, that when such localities
have been more carefully examined, the Indian list will be found to exceed 100 species; which I
consider the more probable, as I observed at Courtallum, where I found the greatest number,
that they always occupied the thickest woods, and being themselves, generally of a very plain,
and unostentatious aspect, with small flowers, are apt to be passed unnoticed. In proof of the
correctness of this opinion, I believe it is only necessary to add, that when DeCandolle and Dunal
wrote, the number of known, Indian species, amounted to only thirteen.
P roperties and U ses. Like most other tropical orders, the properties and uses of
Anonacece, are imperfectly known to Europeans ; and in this country at least, a very few have as
yet been admitted into cultivation, though some of them are sufficiently ornamental. For their
fruit, three species of Anona, are cultivated in India, A. squamosa, (custard-apple) A. reticulata,
(bullock's heart) and A. muricata, (sour sop). This last I have not myself seen in India, but
being the A. asiatica of Linnseus, must have been one of the first introduced.
The Guatteria longifolia (or Asochum) is commonly cultivated about Madras, and some other
places, as an ornamental tree; a distinction to which its elegant form justly entitles it, but its wood
is said to be soft, and of little use. Artabotris ordoratissima, a diffuse shrub, with exceedingly
fragrant flowers, springing from a curious hook, or grapple, is occasionally, though too rarely, cultivated
as an ornamental shrub, which it well merits. These, to tha best of my recollection,
are the only members of this order, I have met with in cultivation. Many others both of
Indian, and Exotic origin, might however be brought, with advantage, into our gardens. The
Uvaria grandifiora, a superb plant, a native both of Sumatra, and Ceylon, which has
succeeded well in the Calcutta botanic garden, has large showy bright crimson flowers. Uvaria
narum the one represented here, might also form a desirable addition-to the few ornamental
shrubs, we possess. Guatteria virgata, (the lancewood of Jamaica) the wood of which is highly
esteemed m England, on account of its strength, and elasticity, might form a very useful addition
to our stock of woods, suited for the operations of the coachmaker.
Most species of Anonacem are remarkable for their fragrance; and for their aromatic proper*;
ties, diffused through every part of the plant. The roots of the Uvaria narum enjoy these properties
in a high degree ; and are, we are informed by Rheede, much employed in Malabar, in the cure
of a variety of diseases. He states that the infusion of them, is successfully administered in some
forms of fever, and hepatic disease; that bruised in saltwater and rubbed on the skin, they
cure the morbus pedicularis, originating in general weakness. This property of destroying
vermin, is equally enjoyed by the seeds of the custard-apple, which, we are informed, by Mr.
Royle, are, in Bengal, powdered and mixed with flour of Bengal gram, ( Cicer ArietinumJ
and used to wash the hair for the purpose, of destroying these unwelcome intruders. Contrary
to the usual character of the tribe, the leaves of the custard-apple have a heavy disagreeable
smell. Upon the whole I think it may be safely asserted, that rich as India is, in species of
this order, we as yet know very little of their useful properties, and judging from analogy, it
may with equal safety be asserted, that they should be carefully inquired into. For example, we
already know that most of the species, of Habzelia, natives of both Africa, and America, are highly
aromatic, and that the seed of one, or more of them, forms a considerable article of commerce;
under the name of Ethiopian pepper. In Xylopia, (Bitter wood, so called from the taste of the
wood) a West Indian genus, the bitter principle so universally prevails, that every part of the
plants possess it. In X. glabra “ the wood, bark, and berries, have an agreeable bitter taste,
not unlike that of the orange seed; The wild pigeons feed, much on the latter, and owe that
delicate bitterish flavour, so peculiar to them in the season, wholly to this part of their food.
Fresh gathered from the tree, they are agreeable to the palate, and grateful to the stomach.
The bark is also richly impregnated with this juice, as well as the wood, and both yield a very
agreeable bitter in the mouth while fresh; but that diminishes greatly after they are dried.
The bitter quality of this tree is communicated with great facility. A handful of the shavings
immersed in water, and instantly taken out again, will render it of a very bitter taste. Sugar
sent over in hogsheads made of this wood, was so .bitter that no person would purchase it.
Bedsteads, and presses made of it are proof against cockroaches and other insects.”* A decoction
of it is said to create appetite, and possess the usual tonic properties of bitters. These
examples are I presume, sufficient to establish the value of the properties inherent in members
of this family, and go far to prove, that among the numerous Indian species belonging to it, we
•have good reason to expect, some, when properly investigated, will be found not less valuable,
than the better known American and African ones.
characters of 27 species, classed under three genera, namely, Anona, Uvaria, and Unona ;
Guatteria, was afterwards added to the catalogue, of Indian genera; by referring several of
Roxburgh’s Uvaria’s to that genus. These genera were distinguished by characters almost
entirely taken'from the fruit, without reference1 to the ovary,, or indeed to any other part:
Anona, being distinguished by having a number of carpels, united into a single compound fruit:
Uvaria, by having its carpels distinct, stipitate, fleshy, many-celled, and many seeded ; with the
seeds ranged m two rows: Unona, by having distinct, but dry, many-seeded, carpels; the seeds
ranged in a single row, and often resembling, by the contraction of the carpel between them a
necklace : Guatteria, by having dry, globose, stipitate, one-seeded, carpels. These simple, and ’
at first sight, apparently all-sufficient characters, were found on more careful examination to be
exceedingly incorrect. Uvaria, for example, to which was attributed a many-celled fruit and
two rows of seed, was found to have a one-celled ovary, and the rows of ovules, if two so*close
as scarcely to be distinguishable, and in truth forming a single line attached to the inner angle •
hence the many cells, and two rows of seed observed in the mature carpel, must be produced by
mere condensation of the surrounding pulp, and the divergence of the free extremities, of the
seed, since they are all attached along the same angle of the seed vessel. In Unona, the structure
of the ovary is the same, with probably fewer ovules, hence it follows, that the abortion of
a few ovules (by leaving more room for the regular development of the remainder) may convert a
Uvaria,into a Unona; and vice versa, an unusual number of ovules; or any hindrance to the usual
course of development of the seed vessel, might equally change Unona, into Uvaria; the differences
between the two genera, thus rest on adventitious, not structural, differences. In support
ot the .justice of this position, it is only necessary to state, that a large proportion of the species
or the latter genus, have, since the publication of DeCandolle’s systema, been removed to the
rormer. lhe propriety therefore, nay, the necessity, of uniting the species of both, and of two
American genera, having similar ovaries and fruit/ (Asimia and Porcilia) into one genus as
ably advocated by M. Richard, in some remarks on the subject in the Flore Senegambie
becomes evident. Blume, however, as appears from DeCandolle’s memoir, has revised the
character of Uvaria, and still keeps them distinct; but as I have not his work to consult, I am
unable to state with what propriety. Guatteria, which in like manner is characterized from the
mature fruit, without reference to the ovary, may be simulated by species of Uvaria, or Unona
firough the abortion of all the ovules but one, a modification of which my collection presents
specimens. ■ F
Swayed by these facts, M. Richard proposes an amended character for Uvaria, in which
the one-celled* many ovuled ovaries, with the ovules attached along the inner an<de, forms the
essential distinction; a modification which admits of the association of all the species now reerred,
to the four genera above named. The character of Guatteria, might be similarly modified
with advantage, and would then, perhaps, be found to separate the American, from the
Indian, division of the genus. All the Indian ones I have yet examined have a single erect
ovule, attached to the bottom of the ovary. Whether or not the American species referred to
this genus, possess this structure, I am unable to say, but in the following Indian ones, I have
* Loudon’s Encyclopaedia of Plants, Art. Xylopia.