GUTTIFER^. 139 



1. Moronobea coccinea. Hog Gum-tree. 



Bud globose, style very short, leaves oblong acute 

 at both ends coriaceous mipunctate. 



Symphonia globulifera, Willd. Sp. III. 585 — Moronobea 

 coccinea, Auhl. Gui. II. 789. t. 313. — Bancroft, MSS. 



11 AB. Damp mountain forests, St George's and Portland. 

 FL. October; or May. 



A lofty tree, attaining 90-100 feet in height, with the stem 

 straight and erect, and the branches horizontally spreading ; 

 branchlets opposite, terete, glabrons. Leaves opposite, petio- 

 late, oblong, acute at the base, acuminate at the apex, entire, 

 coriaceous, transversely and parallelly nerved, glabrous, im- 

 punctate, 3-4 inches long, and H broad. Umbel subterminal, 

 simple, about 10-flowered : flowers scarlet, on short terete 

 pedicels. Calycine sepals 5, rounded, imbricated. Petals 5, 

 many times larger than the sepals, roundish, concave. Stamens 

 united at the base, pentadelphous above, with each fasciculus 

 consisting of 3 filaments, and bearing 3 anthers on the middle 

 of their outer surface : anthers 2-celled, linear. Ovary ovate, 

 5-celled : cells 2-seeded : style 1 : stigmata 5, radiato-divari- 

 cating. Fruit with the pericarp coriaceous; by abortion, 1- 

 celled, and 1 -seeded. 



The Hog- Gum was erroneously stated by Sloane, to be ob- 

 tained from the R/ivs 3Ietopium ; and in this he has been fol- 

 lowed by Browne, and other writers on Jamaica Botany. It is 

 only, however, procured from the tree before us, by wounding 

 the bark. The Gum which exudes, is at first fluid and pellucid, 

 but afterwards changes to a yellow colour, and becomes hard 

 and friable, resembling Burgundy pitch in appearance. It has 

 a slight aromatic odour, is insipid to the taste, softens under 

 the teeth, and melts to the flame of a candle. It receives in 

 South America the name of Mani or Blaiiil. It is known with 

 us by that of the Hog- Gum, and the tree is called the Hog- 

 Gum, or Hog-Doctor Tree, from the Hogs, it is stated, when 

 wounded, resorting to it, and rubbing the injured part against 

 the bark, so as to smear the wound with the gum. It has 

 been given internally, in the form of pills, as a substitute 

 for Balsam of Copaiba. Two table-spoonfuls of the recent 

 juice, diluted with water, and sweetened, is stated by Barham, 

 to give relief in belly-ache or colic. Mixed with lard, wax, 

 and rosin, it forms an ointment, well adapted as a dressing 

 for indolent sores. Spread on leather, it is employed in plas- 

 ters, as a substitute for Burgundy pitch. The Indians of the 

 Continent make torches with it, which give a good light without 

 much smoke or smell ; and employ it to pitch the outside of their 

 boats, and to fix on a head of fish-bone to their arrows. This 

 tree is a native of the Continent, as well as of Jamaica, Trini- 



