LEGUMINOS^E. 315 



This tree appears to have been introduced into the Island 

 many years since. In some districts it has been planted to 

 form fences, and has received incorrectly the name of tlio 

 Jerusalem Thorn. The extract, called Catechu, is obtained by 

 boiling the inner part of the stem, and afterwards evapo- 

 rating. It is of a reddish brown colour, possesses a degree of 

 brilliancy and friability, and to the taste is sweetisli, followed 

 by a considerable degree of astringency. According to Sir 

 Humphry Davy, it consists of about one-half its weight of tan- 

 nin, and about one -third of a peculiar extract, combined with 

 a portion of mucilage and some extraneous substances. It is a 

 valuable astringent, and may be employed to restrain immo- 

 derate discharges in all cases unattended with inflammatory 

 action. It is given in diarrhoea and leucorrhcea, and, combined 

 with the balsam of copaiba, in the chronic stage of gonorrhoea. It 

 forms an excellent tooth-powder, strengthening the gums, and 

 rectifying the breath when it is disagreeable. 



* * * Leaves hipinnate ; flowers collected into a 



globose head. ■ 



5. Acacia tortuosa. Poponax. 



Spines in pairs connate, branches and petioles pub- 

 escent, pinnae 2-6-jugate, leaflets 12-l6-jiigate, a 

 glandule beneath the lowest pair and frequently be- 

 tween the extreme pairs of leaflets, heads of flowers 

 solitary axillary, legumes terete curved like a horn 

 pubescent. 



Acacia Americana siliqua ventricosa, Sloane, II. 56. — Mi- 

 mosa tortuosa, Browne, 251 — Swartz, Obs. 391. 



HAB. Common, ei-pecially in the dry plains on the South 

 side of the Island. 



FL. After the rains in May. 



A shrubby tree, seldom more than 10 feet in height : branches 

 diffuse, spreading. Spines stipulary, about i an inch in length. 

 Leaves 3-4 arising together. Heads of flowers yellow, of a 

 heavy smell. Calyx and corolla 5-toothed. Stamens 20-'24, 

 monadelphous at the base. Legumen corniculated, roundish, 

 torulose, attenuated at both ends, black : seeds ovate, com- 

 pressed, black, lodged in a viscid pulp. 



This is an unsightly tree, of very little use except as fuel. 

 All parts of the plant are astringent. 



6. Acacia parvifolia. Small-leaved Acacia. 



Spines stipulary, branchlets towards their extremi- 

 ties puberulous, petioles pubescent, pinnae 5-6-ju- 



