414 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NATLTIAL ORDERS. 



808. Papilionaceaj are found in every part of the world : Cresal- 

 pineae and Mimosece are confined to tlie tropical and warmer tem- 

 perate regions. — A full account of the useful plants and products 

 of this large order would require a separate volume. Many, such 

 as Clover, Lucerne (Medicago sativa), &c., are extensively culti- 

 vated for fodder ; Peas and Beans, for pulse. The roots of the 

 Licorice (Glycirrhiza glabra of Soutliern Europe) abound in a 

 sweet mucilaginous juice, from Avhich the pectoral extract of tliis 

 name is prepared. The sweet puli^ of the pods of Ceratonia Siliqua 

 (Carob-ti'ee of tlie South of Europe, &c.), like that of the Honey- 

 Locust (Gleditschia), &c., is edible. Tlie laxative pulp of Cathar- 

 tocarpus Fistula, and of the Tamarind, is well known ; the latter is 

 acidulated witli malic, and a little tartaric and citi'ic acid. — A jjecu- 

 liar volatile principle (called Coumarin) gives its vanilla-like fra- 

 grance to the well-known Tonha-hean, and to the Melilot«s, or Sweet 

 Clover. The flowers and seeds of the latter and of Triironella 

 cairulea give the peculiar odor to Scheipzeiger cheese. — Astringents 

 and tonics ax-e also yielded by this order : such as the African Ptero- 

 carpus erinaceus, the hardened red juice of which is Gum Kino ; 

 that of P. Draco, of Carthagena, &c., is Dragons Blood. Tlie bark 

 of most Acacias and Mimosas contains a veiy large qua'ntity of tan- 

 nin, and is likely to prove of great importance in tanning. The 

 valuable astringent called Catechu is obtained by boiling and evap- 

 orating the heart-wood of the Lidian Acacia Catechu. — Legumi- 

 nosaj yield the most important coloring matters : such as the Brazil- 

 wood, the Logwood of Campeachy (the peculiar coloring ^n'inciple 

 of which is called Hcematin), and the Red Sandal-wood of Ceylon. 

 Indigo is prepared from the fermented juice of the Lidigofera tinc- 

 toria (a native of India), and other .species of the genus. This 

 substance is highly azotized, and is a violent poison. — To the same 

 order we are indebted for valuable resins and balsams ; such as the 

 Mexican Copal, Balsam of Copaiva of the West Indies, Para, and 

 Brazil, the bitter and fragrant Balsam of Peru, and the sweet, fra- 

 grant, and stimulant i?a/sam of Tolu. — It also furnishes the most 

 useful gums ; of which we need only mention Gum Tragacanth, 

 derived from Astragalus verus of Persia, «fcc. ; and Gum Arabic, 

 the produce of certain African species of Acacia. The best is 

 said to be obtained from Acacia vera, while Gum Senegal is yielded 

 by A. Verek, and some other species. Algarobia dulcis, the Mes- 

 quite of Texas and Mexico, yields a similar gum. The Senna of 



