326 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Euphorbiaceae. 
higher degree of oxygenation, forms camphor. The essential is frequently accompanied 
with a fatty oil, most fully developed in Tetranthera sebifera; and also, it is supposed in 
Persea gratissima, the Avocado pear of the West-Indies. Other species in S. America 
yield a warm and: pungent stimulant oil. (Lindley.) In addition to those already men- 
tioned as the produce of Asia, Laurus cupularis forms the cinnamon of the Isle of France, 
L. cinnamomoides that of Santa Fé de Bagota, and L. quizes of Peru. As the bark of many 
contains tannin in conjunction with the aromatic principle, they are useful as tonics and 
febrifuges. The sassafras nuts of the London shops are the produce of Ocotea Pichurim. 
Laurel berries, formerly used in medicine in Europe, are still so in India, under the 
name hub-ool-ghar, with the Greek name Daphne corrupted into zaknee and zafnee. 
Thus we find the Asiatics, like Europeans, esteem that which is brought from a distance, 
even when they possess indigenous drugs of a more powerful nature. 
146, EUPHORBIACEZ. 
The place of the Euphorbiacee is unsettled; as though usually placed among apeta- 
lous orders, it has been well observed that twenty-five out of the eighty genera are not 
so: their nearest affinity is to Rhamne@ and Celastrinee ; they have been placed near 
the latter by Mr. Brown. By some Indian botanists, species of this order have been 
referred to Zizyphus ; there would appear also some affinity to Sapindacee, to which 
Pierardia is referred by some botanists, but placed by Blume in the present order; of 
which some of the genera are allied to a few of the Urticee. 
The Euphorbiaceeé are chiefly found in the tropical parts of the world, especially 
America and Asia, with several genera and species extending to the Cape and New 
Holland, and northwards into Europe and N. America. It is difficult to compare the 
distribution of the genera and species of Euphorbiaceé in India with that of other 
countries, as we require not only a full account of all the species of this: order, but 
also of those of India, which are about 400 in number : and upon which Prof. Roeper is 
at present engaged. But the admirable monograph of M. Adrien Jussieu, which, for 
clearness of character and skill in grouping, leaves nothing to be wished with respect 
to genera, except the addition of the new ones, will enable us to give a general idea 
of their distribution in India. Those which are either common to the tropical islands 
of Asia and to India, or peculiar to the latter, are Fluggea, Emblica, Rottlera, 
Glochidion, (Bradleia, Geert.), Agyneia, Andrachne, Codiaum, Gelonium (which includes 
Surigada, Roxb.), Aleurites, Claoxylon, Mappa, Caturus. Of these, species are confined 
to the southern parts of India, except of the three first, which extend to every part. 
Glochidion and Agyneia occur in China, and a species of Andrachne (A. telephioides) 
also in the S.and E. of Europe. The new genera which have as yet only been named, 
but of which species are deposited in the E. J. Herbareum, are Hematospermum, Wall. 
Cat. 7953. (Adelia neriifolia, Roxb.), Moacurra, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. p. 69, (Celastrus 
acuminata? Wall. 4342.) Periplevis, Wall. Cat. 8022. Ic. ined. 782. Eremanthus,Wall. 
Cat. n. 7505 and 8011. Gyrandra Lindl. Wall. Cat. n. 8020. c. charact. Specimens 
of 
