47 



HYMEN-ffiA COUEBARIL, Linn. 

 Locust Trek. 



Native of West Indies and tropical America. A lofty spreading tree ; 

 leaves compound with two leaflets ; flowers white ; pod with about 

 three seeds enclosed in a niealy substance. (Leguminosce.) 



Roots- "A fine transparent resin of a yellowish or red colour exudes 

 between the principal roots. It is the Gum Animi of the shops. It 

 requires highly rectified spirits of wine to dissolve it, and makes the 

 finest varnish that is known, superior even to the Chinese lacca. It 

 burns readily, emitting a grateful and fragrant smell, and has been 

 employed by way of fumigation in attacks of spasmodic asthma, and 

 other embarrassments of respiration. In solution, it is given inter- 

 nal!) in doses of a teaspoonful, as a substitute for Gum Gruiacum, for 

 rheumatic and pseudo-syphilitic complaints, and employed externally 

 as an embrocation. From this resin an oil may be distilled." (Mac- 

 fadyen.) 



Wood, takes a fine polish, adopted for making cogs of wheels in ma- 

 chinery. (Macfadyen.) 



" Hard and heavy, very durable, saws easily, used in general build- 

 ing." (Harrison.) 



* 4 Near the coast, Liguanea Plain, up the valley of the Black River, 

 and elsewhere. A large tree, with thick fleshy pod which smells of- 

 fensively when opened, attains in the open a diameter of four feet and 

 height of 25 feet (Mona carriage drive), elsewhere much taller. Wood 

 described as hard and heavy in house building. In other West In- 

 dian islands much prized for furniture and cabinet work/' (Hooper.) 



Bark Decoction of inner bark, vermifuge. 



Pod Mealy substance sweet and pleasant, eaten by Indians. 



INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA, Linn. 



[ndigo. 



Native of Asia and Africa. A small shrub, belonging to the Pea 

 Family (Leguminosce), with pinnate leaves, small pinkish flowers, and 

 pod 1 to 1^ inch long. This plant is the one so largely cultivated in 

 the East Indies, but another species, Indigofera Anil, Linn. (Wild 

 Indigo) also yields the dye ; it is a native of the W. Indies and tropi- 

 cal America, and it is readily distinguished from the other species by 

 the pod which is only \ inch long and much curved. 



" For preparing indigo, the plants are cut down, just before flower- 

 ing, placed in troughs, and after being pressed closely together they 

 are covered with water. Fermentation takes place, and is allowed to 

 continue from 12 to 15 hours, when the body of the liquid acquires a 

 sherry colour, and the surface becomes covered with a blue film. It 

 is then decanted, and the colouring principle dissolved by the water, 

 absorbing oxygen from the air, becomes insoluble, and is gradually 

 precipitated as a deep blue granular powder. This precipitation is 

 facilitated by brisk agitation of the liquid, or by the addition of lime- 

 water, or an alkaline solution. The supernatant liquor is then drawn 



