Description
Watercolour illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh. ROX2138.
In his 'Flora Indica', Roxburgh describes this species as a tree native of Malabar. He reports that from Wynaad, Captain Dickenson, sent some seeds to the Botanic garden at Calcutta, in 1802, and the trees reared from them flower for the first time in 1809, when they were about twenty feet high. Roxburgh gives also an account by Captain Dickenson, where it is explained how the bark of this plant is used and manufactured: 'The bark of this tree, the Malabars convert into a flaxy substance, of which the natives of the lower coasts of Wynaad contrive to make a sort of clothing...The tree is felled, the branches lopped off, and the trunk cut into pieces of six feet long, a perpendicular incision made in each piece; the bark opened, and taken off whole, chopped, washed, and dried in the sun. By these means, and without any further process, it is fit for the purpose of clothing.'
Roxburgh, 'Flora Indica' (1832) v.3, p.148.
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew
Location
South Asia
Medium
Watercolour
Tags
Category
Flora & Fauna