Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/52

16 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.

. 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 Linnaeus, 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 the 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 grand/flora, 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 in 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 Anonacece are remarkable for their fragrance; and for their aromatic properties, 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 Arietinum J 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.