MATERIA INDICA

334. l\Ii\TETIIA INDICA. PART II.
Cl. and Ord. Monadelphia Polyandria. Nat.Ord.
Columniferre. Pappelblattriger Hibiscus (Nom.
Triv. -Willd.).
The bright yellow juice of the fruit of this tree,
is, in its natllre, a little glutinous, and of a taste
somewhat resembling gamboge; it is employed as
an external application in various cutaneous affections,
particularly in that variety of carpang called
the M alahar itch; and a strong decoction of the bark
is used as a wash in the same comph;.ints. A decoction
of the bark is given by the Vytians internal1y,
as an alterative, in the quantity of three or four
ounces, twice daily. The tree is the caJ/-tta of the
Cochin-Chinese, the nO'cella littorea of Rumphius
(Amb. ii. p. QQ?l.), and the buparite of Rheede
(Mal. i. p. 51. t. Q9.). It grows large on Ceylon,
and is there called sooriya-gaha; with the juice of
the fruit the Cyngalese dye yellow.
Of the genus, Willdenow says, " Cal. duplex
exterior pollyphyllus; stigmata 5; caps 5-locularis,
polysperma" (Spec. Plant. vol. iii. p. 806.). _
The species in question grows to the height of a
small tree, with a thick trunk; the leaves, which.
are about four or five inches long, are heart-shaped
and pointed, smooth, and of a solid texture; the
corolla is large, without scent, and of a yellowishwhite
colour; the fruit a pericarp, in appearance,
it is not unlike a small yellowish-brown shrivelledapple,
five-celled, and contains many seed . .;, and a
good deaJ of the yellow juice above mentioned.
This plant is distinguished from most of its congeners
by its "caule arboreo;" by far the greater
part of the species are perennials, many have
shrubby stalks, but some only herbaceous. The
poursunghai.marum shall be noticed in another part