Zygophyllee.) THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 153 
‘« insertion of stamina in this family may be considered perhaps in all the genera rather 
as hypogynous than perigynous,” they are better placed here than with Zerebinthacee, 
from which they are distinguished by the want of resinous juice. Mr, Brown considers 
Cnestis to approximate to Averrhoa, and Cnestis, according to M. Ad. de Jussieu, is 
allied to Zanthorylee through Brunellia; though, on the other hand, “‘ Connarus can 
only be distinguished from some leguminosz, by the radicle of the seed being at the 
extremity most distant from the hilum.” 
This is truly an equinoctial family being found within the tropics of the Old and 
New World ; a few species of each of the genera are found in Ceylon, the Peninsula of 
India, and the forests of Chittagong and Silhet, but do not appear to extend further 
north. 
47. ZYGOPHYLLEZ. 
M. Adrien de Jussieu, in his admirable memoir on the Rutacee@, has treated of the 
several families composing this great group or class under the names of Zygophylice, 
Rutea, Diosmee, Zanthorylea, and Simarubee. , | 
The Zygophyllee, allied to Geraniacee, as well as to Ovalis, are found in the warmer 
parts of the world; Zribulus and Fagonia existing as single species in the south of 
Europe, and with Zygophyllum, forming a prominent feature in the Flora of the 
Oriental or Syrian région, extend from Egypt to India, where also they occur as single 
species. Fagonia mysorensis is common in the plains about Delhi, as well as at elevated 
situations in the southern provinces of India (W. and A.) Tribulus lanuginosus spreads 
also from the northern provinces even to Ceylon. Thence we may trace species of this 
genus to the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland, as well as to China and Japan, 
and a few occur in the warm parts of America. It is probable from the nature of the 
country and the distribution of the genus, that some species of Zygophyllum may be 
found in the extensive space which stretches from Delhi to Surat. 
The most important species of this family is Guaiacum officinale, which, with its 
congeners, is found in the West-Indies, and might, without doubt, be successfully 
cultivated in Bengal. The sudorific properties for which it is celebrated, are also par- 
ticipated in by Porliera hygrometrica, though dependent in the former on the presence of 
a peculiar principle, called Guaiacine. Some species of Tribulus and Zygophyllum are 
also used medicinally in different countries, but their properties are not very decided. 
The plants of the latter, however, are said to remain untouched, even in the desert, 
where the equally thorny A/hagi maurorum is greedily eaten by camels; but the seeds 
of Zygophyllum coccincum are said by Delile to be collected by the Arabs, and sold 
‘comme epice aux droguistes du Kaire.” 
It is remarkable that the genera MJelianthus and Biebersteinia, generally considered 
as allied to Zygophyllee, should also be found in India, as well as Balanites, placed 
here with doubt. Biedersteinia, of which the first species, B. odora, was found in 
the Altai mountains, and the second, B. multifida, in Persia, has also been found in 
x Kunawur, 
