BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 265 
poisonous. The name is said to be derived 
from the Greek de/phim, a dolphin, from a 
supposed resemblance of the flower to that 
fish. 
Dipterix Odorata, Tonco or Tonka.—Natu- 
ral order Luguminosz, Papillionaces. This ~ 
tree is alarge one and said to bea native of 
Dutch and British Guiana; adorned with pin- 
natifid leaves and purple flowers in axillary 
racemes. The fruit is an oblong ovate pod con- 
taining one seed, which partakes very much of 
the shape of the pod or fruit. The Tonka, 
Tonco or Tonca seed, as it occurs in the stores 
or commerce, is from 1% to 2 inches long and 
about ? of an inch broad, somewhat compressed 
and corrugated. The testa is of a dark brown 
color and easily removed when thoroughly dry. 
The seed is composed of two cotyledons of a 
creamy white color, enclosing quite a large pin- 
nate plumule. Taste of the Tonka is bitter and 
somewhat aromatic; odor fragrant and agree- 
able. The Dutch seeds are rather larger than the 
English, and with rather more efflorescence, 
which is composed of acicular crystals Tonco 
seeds contain sugar, mucilage, a fixed oil and cou- 
marin, the latter occurs in crystalline form. 
Tonco seeds have been used in medicine as a 
stimulant, in whooping-cough; no longer a rem- 
edy. They form a valuable adjunct to sachets 
and colognes for perfumery. 
» Fenum Greecum, Fenugreek, Trigonella, 
Fonum Gracum.—Natural order Papillion- 
aceze.. Said to be a native of India, but natu- 
ralized and cultivated in those countries contig- 
uous to the Mediterranean Sea. The Fenu- 
7 
