124 



compound leaves with a winged petiole. They are nearly related to Amy- 

 ridese and Connaraceteon the one hand, and to various genera of Diosmeac 

 on the other, but are distinguished from them all by a variety of obvious 

 characters. The raphe and chalaza are usually distinctly marked upon the 

 testa, and sometimes beautifully. Decandolle considers the rind of the 

 Orange to be of a different origin and nature from the pericarpium of other 

 fruit, and more analogous to the torus or disk of Nelumboneae ; but if the 

 ovarium and ripe fruit are compared, it will be readily seen that this hypo- 

 thesis is untenable, and that there is no difference between the rind of an 

 orange and an ordinary pericarpium. 



Geography. Almost exclusively found in the East Indies, whence 

 they have in some cases spread over the rest of the tropics. Two or three 

 species are natives of Madagascar ; one is described as found wild in the 

 woods of Essequebo ; and Prince Maximilian of Wied Neuwied speaks of 

 a wild Orange of Brazil, called Caranja da terra, which has by no means 

 the delicious refreshing qualities of the cultivated kind, but a mawkish 

 sweet taste. Travels, 76. 



Properties. The wood is universally hard and compact; they abound 

 in a volatile, fragrant, bitter, exciting oil; the pulp of the fruit is always 

 more or less acid. Dec. The Orange, the Lemon, the Lime, and the 

 Citron, fruits which, although natives of India, have now become so com- 

 mon in other countries as to give a tropical character to a European 

 dessert, are the most remarkable products of this order. If to this be 

 added the excellence of their wood, and the fragrance and beauty of their 

 flowers, I know not if an order more interesting to man can be pointed out. 

 The fruits just mentioned are not, however, its only produce. The Wam- 

 pee, a fruit highly esteemed in China and the Indian archipelago, is the 

 produce of Cookia punctata. The berries of Glycosmis citrifolia are deli- 

 cious ; those of Triphasia trifoliata are extremely agreeable. The produc- 

 tiveness of the common Orange is enormous. A single tree at St. Mi- 

 chael's has been known to produce 20,000 oranges fit for packing, exclu- 

 sively of the damaged fruit and the waste, which may be calculated at 

 one-third more. The juice of the Lime and the Lemon contains a large 

 quantity of citric acid. Turner, Q2,1. Oranges contain malic acid. 76.634. 

 A decoction of the root and bark of JEgle Marmelos is supposed, on the 

 Malabar coast, to be a sovereign remedy in hypochondriasis, melancholia, 

 and palpitation of the heart ; the leaves in decoction are used in asthmatic 

 complaints, and the fruit a little unripe is given in diarrhoea and dysentery. 

 Roxburgh adds, that the Dutch in Ceylon prepare a perfume from the rind; 

 the fruit is most delicious to the taste, and exquisitely fragrant and nu- 

 tritious, but laxative ; the mucus of the seed is a good cement for some 

 purposes. Ainslie, 2. 87, The leaves of Bergera Konigii are considered by 

 the Hindoos stomachic and tonic; an infusion of them toasted stops vomiting. 

 The green leaves are used raw in dysentery ; the bark and root internally 

 as stimuli. Ibid. 2. 139. The young leaves of Feronia elephantum have, 

 when bruised, a most delightful smell, very much resembling anise. The 

 native practitioners of India consider them stomachic and carminative. Its 

 gum is very like gum arabic. Ibid. 2. 83. 

 Examples. Citrus, Limonia, Bergera. 



