106 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 
Ord. TAMARICINER. 'TAMARISK FAMILY. 
This Natural Family is almost entirely confined to the genus Tamartz. 
The species are natives of the warm and temperate parts of Europe and 
Asia, and have bitter and astringent bark. Some species are said to 
afford sulphate of soda in great abundance. A Manna, called Manna of 
Mount Sinai, is an exudation from Tamarix mannifera, according o 
Ehrenberg, occasioned by an insect, a species of Coccus (Coccus manni- 
parus) which inhabits the shrub: and this * Manna” consists wholly 
of pure mucilaginous sugar. We have not yet been so fortunate as to 
procure specimens. 
Sakun, or Tamarisk Galls of Scinde. Tamarix articulata, Dr. Stocks. 
‘Highly astringent, and used both in medicine and dyeing —Mahee. 
— (Œ. L C, without botanical name.) From Bengal; apparently the 
. same. Dr. Lindley says, that such galls are the produce of Tamaris 
Indica, dioica, Furaz, and orientalis. Tamarix (Myricaria) Germanica 
and herbacea are occasionally, the same author asserts, used medicinally. 
; Wood of Tamarix dioica, Roth. Handsome and close-grained. 
Scinde. (Dr. Stocks.) 
Ord. CarYOPHYLLACE®. CHICKWEED FAMILY. 
The common Chickweed (Stellaria media, Sm.), the Pink, the Soap- 
wort, etc., are characteristic of this family, which though rich in genera 
. and species, contains few plants possessing any marked properties. 
Clove July- (or Gilly-) flower : the flowers of the Clove Pink, Dianthus 
Caryophyllus, Z., have a place in our Pharmacopoeias, used as a syrup. 
"They have a pleasant aromatic smell, and a bitterish subastringent 
taste, “and were formerly employed in medicine on account of their 
; root and dried herb. Saponaria officinalis, Z. Native 
of Britain and Europe.  Possesses saponaceous property, as the generic 
and English name implies; when bruised and agitated in water, it 
raises a lather like soap, and may be used as a substitute for it. 
~ Arenaria rupifraga, Fenzl; tufts of. Tibetan Himalaya. (Drs. 
Hooker and Thomson, and Colonel Munro). This plant is interesting 
in connection with geographical botany, growing at the greatest eleva- 
tion of any Phenogamie or flowering plant (in contradistinction to 
ryptogamie, such as Mosses, Lichens, ete.) in the world. Dr. Hooker's 
specimens were gathered at between 16,000 and 18,000 feet above the 
