less combined with an aromatic. I t was long supposed that the febrifugal powers of the
different kinds of Peruvian Bark were owing to the combination of these qualities, and it was
not until chemists detected the existence of two alkaloids, Cinchonine and Quinine, both of
which, but especially the last, was soon ascertained to possess febrifugal powers far beyond
the material from which it was extracted, though separated from all vegetable matters with
which it was originally in combination; showing beyond dispute that these barks were indebted
to this single ingredient for their power of arresting the progress of fever and removing the
peculiar and inexplicable tendency, long observed in the human constitution, to periodical
returns of certain forms of disease. The laws which govern this tendency to periodical renewal
of certain abnormal actions are still undiscovered, but extensive experience has proved that they
are more safely and effectually controlled by the salts of Cinchona than by any other known
agent. Much has been written on the species of Cinchona, that yield the different kinds of bark
from which these salts are obtained, but I believe the most recent and best exposition is to be
found in Lindley’s Flora Medica, which in a brief space puts us in possession of an excellent
summary of all that is yet known on the subject. I t would of course be a waste of space for
me to go into the subject in a work on Indian Botany, a country in which not one genuine
species of Cinchona is found. All the indigenous trees that have been so named are generically
distinct; our nearest allies being Hymenodictyon and Luculia, both of which were formerly
considered Cinchonus. The inner bark of one species of Hymenodictyon, H. eoocelsum, possesses
the bitterness and astringency of the Peruvian Bark, but I am not aware of its having been used
as a substitute. An Eastern tree, Uncaria gambler, yields a very astringent extract, resembling
Catichu, and supposed to be occasionally exported to Europe as such. Ipecacuana is another of
the products of this family and, as a medicinal agent, certainly ranks next Cinchona as affording
a most valuable medicine peculiarly well adapted for the treatment of chronic bowel complaints,
when administered in large doses. In some forms of diarrhaea it seems ^to lose its emetic
qualities and requires, to produce a marked effect on the disease, to be administered in doses of
from 15 to 20, or even 30 grains, and these repeated at comparatively short intervals. Such
cases are however of rare occurrence, except among convicts in jails, where confinement and the
depressing passions, acting on a depraved constitution, give rise to the most fatal forms of intestinal
disease. In the more usual and milder forms of diarrhaea and dysentery, small and
frequently-repeated doses in various combinations with opium and mercury, are found more
suitable. . ..
Of the Indian species of the family, one or two are reported to possess somewhat similar
properties, as for example the Randia dumetorum, but nothing certain is known regarding them.
The plant supposed to supply the Mungoose with its antidote against the bite of the snake, is a
member of this family, and has been called from the circumstance Opiorhiza Mungos (Mungoose
snake root). I t is a native of both the Continent and Islands, but is by no means common in
India. The root is intensely bitter, more so even than Gentian. Ainslie alludes to a tree under
that name, the leaves and bark of which, he says, are made into a decoction by the Cingalese and
administered in cases of snake-bite. If he is correct in calling it a tree, it cannot be the plant
so called by Botanists, which is a small shrub, or rather an annual with a perennial root, which
seems to die down to near the root after ripening its seeds. There are many species of the
genus greatly resembling each other, but all, so far as I have seen, small suffruticose plants. _ It
is common in Malabar during the rainy season, but rare on the Coromandel side of the hills,
except where exposed to the Southwest monsoon. In the woods of Courtallum it is frequent.
As aliments a few species are in use. Among these Coffee occupies the first place, and its
culture is now, most deservedly, engaging much attention in this country as an article of commerce.
According to Roxburgh the leaves of Canthium parviflorum, a common thorny shrub,
are largely consumed by the natives in their curries. I am not otherwise aware of the fact.
The pulp enclosing the seed, he also informs us, is eaten by the natives. This I can readily
believe, but to the European taste, it is not very palatable. The fruit of another plant of the
family Vanguria edulis, a Bengal plant, is also eaten by the natives. This tree I have never
seen growing. ^ . . . .
In the arts several species are employed. The roots of Hedyotis wmbellata, Rubia munjista
and of Morinda tinctoria, all yield a red dye; that of the first, when well managed, one of
remarkable brightness and durability. Madura is famous for its turbands so dyed. The plant is
very common every where, but it is only in the sandy soils near the sea coast, where the roots
penetrate to a great depth* that it is either dug or cultivated. In some districts it is largely cultivated,
but does not, I believe, generally yield a profitable crop. In Tanjore, the Morinda is
also cultivated for the sake of its roots, but I believe only to a small extent, as the colour it
yields is a dull, brownish red. Nauclea cor difolia attains a large size, and affords a close-grained
timber, but of inferior quality. I t is of a yellowish colour, and in the Paulghaut jungles is,
with reference to that peculiarity, called Mungie cadumbee. Two species of Hymenodictyon are
natives of these jungles: one of them attains a large size, furnishing the timber known in this
part of India, under the name of Bastard Cedar, and is a good deal used by the Cabinet makers
of Paulghaut. I t is soft, easily worked, of a redish mahogany colour, but wants the close grain
of that wood. I t is the H. eoocelsum of our Prodromus, but not of Roxburgh. In my leones
I have published a figure of it under the name of H. obovatum, but have since discovered that it
is not that species, and have now called it H. utile, with reference to the purposes to which it is
applied. According to Roxburgh, the wood of H. eoocelsum “is firm, close-grained, of a pale
mahogany colour, and very useful for many purposes.” This description is in all respects applicable
to my H. utile, except that it is light and not very close-grained, and has so strong a
hygrometnc tendency as considerably to impair its usefulness for some purposes.
R emarks on Genera and Species. Under this head I have on some former occasions
expressed my belief that reduction of the number of genera is wanted, and suggested that in
some instances this might be effected through the exclusion of non-essential points from our
generic characters, by which they are often extended, especially in small genera, to a most perplexing
length, while at the same time their precision is lessened. The order under consideration
has not escaped the prevailing fashion, and many of the genera seem such as might be dispensed
with. M. Ach. Richard, in his excellent “Memoire sur les Rubiaces,” states it as his
opinion, that m the present state of Botany reductions in the number of genera and families
are more wanted than additions, on the ground that many genera are often founded on modifications
so slight, that they readily pass into each other and are consequently altogether artificial.
It is to be wished that such sentiments were more prevalent among Botanists, as they might
tend to bring about a reform by inducing them to study orders more carefully and extensively
before constituting new genera. These should be based on a thorough knowledge, not only of
the structure of the plant in hand, but of all its nearest allies, lest perchance we should have a
mere variety m place of a species under examination. Accidents of this kind cannot be always
avoided, but as all Botanists are aware of the tendency of plants to vary in their forms, it behoves
them to be so much the more cautious.
c ^??re, *s .an ^.necclo te llffl§§ the late eminent' and, justly, much esteemed Botanist, Sir J.
L. femith, having discovered, to his infinite chagrin, that he had constituted three genera out of
wo species. I t is not difficult to understand how such things may happen, should we chance to
e describing plants belonging to an order with which we are imperfectly acquainted, or in which
we have unfortunately assigned too high a value as regards constancy to parts liable to variation,
or have attached undue importance to unessential ones which have been introduced into the
generic character.
There is scarcely a page in Endlicher’s Genera Plantarum (at least among the Dicotyledon-
ous orders), that does not furnish examples of the introduction of unessential points of character
ia le to mislead m that way. Let us take one. Hamelia is thus defined: “Calyx tubo ovali,
cum ovano connato, limbo supero, brevi quinquelobo, lobis erectis acutis. Corolla supera tubu-
osa, tubo subpentagono, fauce nuda, limbi breveter quinquelobi, lobis aequalibus vix patentibus,”
c. Are we to infer from this that, if another species, agreeing in other really essential points,
were discovered having the lobes of the calyx reflexed and acute, it must be excluded from
tms genus, or must every species of Hamelia have a 5-angled corolla, a naked throat, a short, 5-
° 6Cl E K IIP ^°^es scarcely expanding ? If such must be the case, is seems probable
enough that, small as the genus is, 10 species, some of these must be excluded. If these char-
fh ?re 11 iQ Ibis strict sense, then for what purpose are they introduced into
e 1 ocy . generic definition, rather than into the natural character at the end where
g ea er latitude is allowed. Their being so introduced must have a tendency to mislead as more
importance is thereby attached to them than they merit.