GUMS FROM SENEGAL. 



49 



non dilatatia, et racemis axillaribus foliis multoties brevioribus. 

 Folia 3 unc. longa, | unc. lata, juniora supra subsericea. Pedun- 

 culi sicco angulati, apices versus 3-5-flori, simplices v. divisi. Brac- 

 tea concava sepalisque ovato-oblongis acutis extus dense sericeis. 

 Petala 3 superiora postica, calyce longiora, 2 inferiora subdivaricata, 

 minora. Stamina antica, fertilia 10-15, antheris lineari-elongatis, fila- 

 mentis brevibus crassis ; sterilia fertilibus sequilonga linearia obtusa. 

 Ovaria sinistrorsum et dextrorsum inserta, dense villosa ; stylo apice 



curvo. Ovula solitaria. 

 Plate II. Fig. l. Flower. 



2. Back view of stamens. 3. Front 



view of stamens and ovaries. 4. Fertile and sterile stamen. 5. Ovary. 



6. Vertical section of ditto. 7, Ovule : 



magnified. 



Some Particulars respecting the Gv us from Senegal; by 



M. J. Leon Soubeikan.* 



The Senegal Gum, of which it is hardly necessary to recapitulate 

 the commercial and pharmaceutical uses, is of two kinds, viz. the Hard 

 Gum from Galam, or from below the river, and the Friable Gum, or 

 Sadrabeida : these are the products of different trees and possess dis- 

 tinct properties. As I have been in a position to obtain information 

 respecting them from competent individuals, long resident in our 

 African Colony, I have been induced to study these substances and to 

 draw up descriptions of them, rectifying former errors on the subject. 



The Hard Gum, from Galam, or from below the river, consists of 

 exudation from the bark of two closely allied species of Acacia, the 

 A. Verek (Flor. Seneg, Tentam.), and the^. Neboued (id.). As their 

 origin is different, so these substances are not exactly alike. The Gum 

 of Acacia Verek is white, wrinkled, and dull externally, glassy within, 

 "in the shape of tears, often vermicular and twisted, but generally 

 ovoid or spherical, two inches, often less in diameter, with a slight and 

 agreeable flavour, accompanied by a little acidity, which is scarcely ob- 

 servable but by those who habitually use it." It is perfectly soluble 

 in water, and afford a much clearer and thinner mucilage than that of 

 Gum Arabic: it reddens litmus-paper, though less than Gum does. 

 The Acacia Verek is a tree of middling stature, 18-24 feet high at 

 most, much ramified, the branches twisted and armed with numerous 



Seance de la >m . But 



VOL. IX. 



JI 



