DIPTEROCARPE &. 21 
i ire. les terminal, and axillary 
; leaves are alternate, exstipulate, simple, or rarely three-foliate, entire. Pedunc , 
a at of the branches, sometimes more properly racemed, one-flowered, two-bracteolate in the middle. 
orrey and Gray, in Flor. of North America.) mie? i ii 
The Tiecnt effect of the plants belonging to this family is that of astringency. ‘Tannin exists in them to a 
considerable extent, as well as extractive matter. 
KRAMERIA TRIANDRA. 
LG@FLING. RUIZ AND PAVON. 
RHATANY. 
Sex. Syst.—Tetrandria, Monogynia. 
Gen. Cuar.—Sepails four, rarely five, downy exteriorly, coloured internally. Petals three, two orbiculate, a third 
formed of two to three unguiculate petals coalescing at base. Stamina three to four at base, sub-monadelphous ; an- 
thers opening by a double pore. Fruit indehiscent, hispid; one-celled; one-seeded. Embryo straight, in the centre of 
bumen. Branching shrubs. Leaves alternate. Flowers sub-solitary, sessile, axillary, at the extremity of 
the branches. (De Candolle.) ) 
Specir. Cuar.—The saves of this species are oblong, obovate, acuminate, entire, hairy, and whitish pubescent. 
The flowers are triandrous, axillary, solitary, pedunculate, with two lance-shaped bracts; the corolla tetra-petaloid, 
hairy externally, within smooth, shining, and of a lake colour. Nectary four-leafed, two superior folioles united, spa- 
thulate; two lateral sub-rotund, concave on the inner side, on the outer scaly. Stamina three, fleshy. Anthers ur- 
ceolate, with a pencil-like termination. Style red. Drupe dry, hirsute, bur-like with reddish hairs. Plant suffruticose. 
Root horizontal, long, very much branched ; the cortical portion externally blackish-red, internally red; taste intensely 
styptic, bitter. Stem procumbent, very much branched, round, diffuse, two to three feet long, below naked, hoary, 
with delicate hairs; the central stem erect. (Ruiz and Pavon, Flor. Peruv. et Chilen., i. 61.) 
_ It is an inhabitant of the sandy or argillaceous dry soils, upon the declivities of the mountains of Peru; in the 
neighbourhood of Huanuco it is abundant. It A lowers throughout the year, especially, however, in October and No- 
oo — the language of the country, it is called Rhatany, and Mapato,—hairy plant. The Spaniards call it Raiz 
Paro tes. : . 
To Ruiz and Pavon we are indebted for the first account of this plant; they discovered it in South America, in 
a and found that the root was used as an astringent, in fluxes, dysentery, &c., in cases of sponginess of the gums, 
© ix the teeth, and as a stomachic. It 1s an admirable astringent, from the existence of much tannin in its composi- 
eo oF a i London, in 1808, recommended it highly, since which time it has been extensively used. To 
2 Ol it imparts its virtues, and it is prepared by infusion, tincture, or extract. Long boiling injures the 
Preparation, the method by displacement is therefore admirably adapted for this root. : 
Tam indebted to Dr. Styles, late a resident of Valparaiso, for the specimen from which the drawing has been made. 
Prats XIIl.— Represents the plant in flower and fruit, and an enlarged flower. 
DIPTEROCARPEA, 
BLUME. 
Dirreractn—Lindley. 
Essenmiat Cuar.—Calyz tubular, five-lobed, unequal, persistent, and afterwards enlarged at base, estivation nnliek ee 
valvate estivation. Stamens hypogynous, indefinite, diss 
Bey os hypogynous, sessile, often united at the base, with a 
“—— 
