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crystals appeared to be very thin and somewhat curved. The brown tinge was still noticeable. The length of each crystal is 50 f*, and thickness under I/*. The crystals are sparingly soluble in warm water, freely in boiling water, so that a piece of the wild variety, on being reduced to pulp and boiled with distilled water, was almost deprived of the crystals, while the white crystals were still seen. By filtering the hot water, brown crystals were obtained from the filtrate by evaporation. Is it a fact that the wild variety can be eaten, if well boiled, especially with salt ?

" On incinerating the piece just as described above, I found that these crystals were not altered in the slightest manner, thus proving that they too were inorganic in nature and that they were not oxalates.

"Acetic acid dissolved them without evolution of gas. These were probably sulphate of calcium crystals ; however, I am not certain of that. I examined pieces of both the varieties for other salts after charring and incinerating them This method showed insoluble and soluble carbonates, soluble sulphates and traces of chlorides.

" Of course, sulphate of calcium, being a poisonous salt, must have something to do with the properties of the wild variety ; however, it is perhaps not the only cause ; a glucoside or an alkaloid may be present too. As I have neither the means nor the time at my disposal, I am not able to settle that point.

"The important facts, hewever, are that the brown crystals are only present, as far as I know, in the wild variety, and that they are soluble in boiling water and weak acids, without evolving any gas like the white crystals. These are very delicate, and appear in places to be slightly bent; while the white crystals are rigid, straight, and thicker."

Syn. : — Arum sylvaticum, Roxb. 630.

Sans. : — Vajra-kanda.

Vern. : — Uzomut (Goa) ; Wajramuta (Mar.).

Habitat : — The Deccan peninsula, from the Northern Sircars, the Concan and south wads to Ceylon.

Tuberous herbs. Tuber 1-2½in. diam, subglobose bulbiferous. Leaves long petioled, a foot broad or less, divisions 1-2-pinnatifld ; leaflets few, ovate-lanceolate or oblanceolate, acuminate or caudate, 5-6in. long, lower on the divisions smaller ; petiole 6-18in., pale- green, streaked with darker green ; peduncle up to Sin. long, pink, clouded with dirty green, basal sheaths, short, scarious, pale-pink (Trimen). Hooker says " petiole and peduncle l-2ft." Spathe l-3in. long, pale-pink,