Flora indica, or, Descriptions of Indian plants : reprinted literatim from Carey's edition of 1832 / by the late William Roxborough.
- William Roxburgh
- Date:
- 1874
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Flora indica, or, Descriptions of Indian plants : reprinted literatim from Carey's edition of 1832 / by the late William Roxborough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and to the substance of the leaf, till the seed is ripe. Carol none. Stamens constantly one. Anther sagittate. Stigma two-cleft. Capsule, no other than the calyx now dry, which sepa- rates, anti drops with its single seed. 2. S. indiea. T'ahl. enum.pl. 1. 10. Perennial, diffuse ; joints gibbous. Spikes eylindrie ; flowers hid. JBcng. Jodoo Pa lung. Teting. Quoiti-pipalv. This is also very common, and grows with the former on similar ground. Stems anil large branches woody, diffuse over an extent of some feet; the hitter sometimes alternate, sometimes opposite, those that are young, and covered with the leaves are ascend- ing, or nearly erect. Joints, or leaves longer than in the former species, hut in other res]tects the same. Floral joints or leaves, very short. Spikes terminal, eylindrie, erect, obtuse. Flowers inconspicuous, opposite, three-fold, hid by the upper margin of the next floral leaf be- low. Calyx as in the former. Stamen ; in this species I have never been able to discover even the rudiments of one. FistU, See. as in the former. Ob*. Cattle will not eat these plants, although their taste is simply saltish. These tivo species are very plentiful on the coast of Coromandel, where large quantities of the fossil al- kali might no doubt be made at a low rate. Such manufactures deserve much encourage- ment, particularly here, where there are many more labouring people* than can possibly find employment. Large quantities of this substance are annually imported into England from the Mediterranean, for making soap, glass, be. It is worth about twenty-eight or thirty shillings per cu t. and as labour is cheap on this coast, the alkali might lie made, I think, at so low a rate as to admit of its being sent to England, and paying a freight of £10 the ton, or more ; provided it could be there imported duty free. CLASS II. M ... DIALS'DR I A. MONOGYNIA. NYCTANTIIES. Sehreb. yen. N. 21. Calyx enmpanulate. Corol salver-shaped. Capsule superior, oboordate, compressed, two-celled, two-valved. Seeds solitary. Embryo erect, without perisperm. 1. N. arbor tristis. Linn. spec, plant, ed. IFUtd. 1. 35. i’arlium arbor tristis. (tart. Sent. 1. 234. f. SI. Seabrita sea bra. I'ahl. Si/mb. 2. 2H. Gerrt. Sent. 2. 265. t. 128. Seabrita triflora. Linn. Hunt. 1. p. 37. Munja pumeratn. Rheed. Mai. 1. p. 35. t. 21. BephaUca. A*. Res. 4. 241. Sans. Hind, and Seng. Singahar, Sewly, Xilmri, Harsingbnr, Ac. Of what country this is a native l know not, for I have never found it but in a cultivated state ; and it is always raised from seed, which may be the reason we have no varieties of this most delightfully fragrant plant. In our gardens it is found in the state of a large shrub, or small tree. Flowers on the Coast nearly the year round ; in Bengal only during the rains. The seeds ripen in the cold season. Trunk erect. Bark scabrous. Branches numerous, spreading in every direction ; the young shoots alone are four-sided ; four ligneous, cord-like nerves, under the bark, forming the angles. J.eaves opposite, abort-petioled, cordate, those near the flowers oblong, pointed, sometimes entire, sometimes very grossly serrate, and sometimes the lower parts are angular; scabrous ; from three to five inches long, and from one to three broad. In florescence a large terminal, leafy, cross-armed panicle, composed of small, five-flowered, terminal nmbellets. Flowers numerous, middle-sized, exquisitely fragrant, open at sun-set, and fall off at sun rise ; the tube orange-coloured, and the border white. In col acre to the umbeilets four leaved, leaf- lets inverse-cordate, opposite, sessile. Calyx eainpanulate ; month a little contracted, and lightly five-notched, downy, withering. Corol; tube eylindrie, length of the calyx. Border spreading, from five to eight, but generally six or seven parted, contorted ; segments triangu- lar, or obliquely lobed, exterior margin scolloped. Filament* scarcely any. Anthers two- lohed, sitting w ithin the tube. Germ alxive, compressed. Style length of 'the tula*. Stigma headed, glandular. Capsule size of a mau’s thumb nail, oboordate, or nearly orbicular, com- pressed, two-celled, two-valved, opening transversely from the apex. Seed* one in each cell, compressed, Ac. as described and figured by Giertner ; I have not, however, been able to de- tect any thing like a perisperm. Obs. I hc flowers of this tree arc exquisitely fragrant, partaking of the smell of fresh ho- ney. and on that account the plant is much esteemed ; for when destitute of flowers it has hut an indifferent appearance. The orange tubes of the flowers dyo a most beautiful lmff or orange colour, with the various shades between them, according to the preparation, and mode of conducting the operation ; but unfortunately, no w ay has yet been discovered of rendering this elegant colour durable. b * Till* was written before the famine of 1701, 2, ami .1; the case is now (17W) different, as fully half if not more of the labouring clauses wore carried off by .that deplorable calamity. y ’ Pago Carey Bid. 1. 85 I. 86 I. 87](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28120024_0043.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
