THE AMBOINESE HERBAL.

HERBARIUM AMBOINENSE.

BOOK SIX;

LIBER SEXTUS.

CHAPTER ONE.

CAPUT PRIMUM.

Describing the Indian Reed in general, and specifically the thin Tree-reed called Leleba.

By the proper Indian Tree-reed original: Arundo arbor or Arundo Indica arborea, I mean all such plants that imitate the form, nature, and growth of reeds in India, often growing to the thickness of an average tree. Unlike European reeds, they do not grow in swampy places, but occur on dry land, high mountains, and sometimes even in stony places. As far as I know, they are found and known everywhere throughout India, more frequent in one place than another, and are divided into so many different species that it is beyond human power to recount and describe them all.

All those I have observed I shall reduce into eight classes—specifically those that are hollow inside—for besides these, there is one smaller species with a lesser cavity, as well as two solid ones, which are improperly referred to as reeds. These aforementioned eight species are as follows: First, the Thin Tree-reed LELEBA. Second, the Lath Tree-reed, BULU SERU. Third, the Dart Tree-reed, BULU TUY. Fourth, the Vessel Tree-reed, BULU JAVA. Fifth, the Rough Tree-reed, BULU POTONG. Sixth, the Greatest Tree-reed, BULU SAMMET. Seventh, the Thorny Tree-reed, BULU BADURI. Eighth, the Wild Tree-reed, called BULU SWANGI.

All of these share a common character among themselves, containing these three signs: First, they all produce leaves and a stalk mimicking the common reed, with such variety as shall be indicated in each specific chapter. Second, all of them, around the new moon, put forth a shoot having the form of a long horn or spear, which in some species is edible, and gradually grows into stalks and branches. Third, they all bear a knotty or jointed root like Ginger, though the joints in these protrude more; this is by no means a primary or true root turning downward, but in the manner of reeds it creeps transversely and, at a short distance, sends that shoot upward out of the earth. Besides this, they produce innumerable smaller fibers, very hard, woody, and curled, with which they fix themselves into the ground.

A fourth character or property could be added: that these plants, as has been said, contrary to the nature of our European reeds, do not love watery places but dry and stony ones, except for the Leleba, which is sometimes found in sloping and damp places.

The general Latin name for this Indian tree-reed is Arundo arbor and Arundo Indica arborea; in Hindustani Bambu and Mambu, and from this among our Dutchmen Bamboesen The origin of the English word "Bamboo".. In Malay, Bulu, due to the resemblance of the leaves to the long feathers of birds. In Ternate, all are called Tabatico, except for the Leleba. In Macassar, Bulo. In Javanese, Wulu and Bambu. In Amboinese, Utte. In Chinese, Tick. That young shoot is called Robong in Malay, in our homeland "reed-muscles," and in Holland Raboerden. The joints are called Roas and Rawas. The first species of this reed has the thinnest substance and is called by the corrupted Ternate name Leleba, which rises from a single root with many upright stalks in the form of a shrub.