143 



lobes in such a state of cohesion that the central lobe is pushed outwards, while 

 the lateral ones cohere by their own margins and with its back. The stamens 

 are only 8, two therefore are suppressed ; or in Krameria 4, one being sup- 

 pressed. I may remark, in addition, that the relative position of the fifth sepal 

 and petal respectively, was first indicated by Mr. Brown. Denham, 31. 



Polygaleee are stationed by Decandolle between Droseraceae and Treman- 

 dreae, and in the immediate vicinity of Violacere. With the latter they are re- 

 lated on account of their hypogynous stamens, irregular flowers, and cucul- 

 late stigma ; and with Tremandreae on account of the caruncula of their seed. 

 To Fumariacea3 they approach in the general aspect of their flowers ; but if 

 my theory of the structure of that order be admitted, their resemblance would 

 not be so great as it appears to be. Legurninosee are perhaps, notwithstand- 

 ing their perigynous stamens, the order with which Polygalere have the great- 

 est affinity : the irregularity of corolla is of a similar nature in. both ; there is 

 in Leguminosae a tendency to suppress the upper lateral petals, in Erythrina, 

 as in Polygala ; the ascending direction of the style and a cohesion of stamens 

 are characters common to both orders. That part of the JWtmoires du JVLustum 

 in which the second part of the paper above referred to is to appear, not having 

 reached this country when the present sheet is sending to press, I have no 

 means of knowing what the views of St. Hilaire and Moquin-Tandon are of 

 the affinities of the tribe. 



Geography. Most of the genera are limited to one or two of the five parts 

 of the globe ; thus Salomonia is only found in Asia, Soulamea in the Moluc- 

 cas, Muraltia at the Cape of Good Hope, Krameria and Securidaca in the two 

 Americas, and finally Monnina and Badiera in South America. Comesperma 

 is found both in Brazil and New Holland, and, what is very remarkable, there 

 is in the former country a species of the Cape genus Mundia. Polygala itself 

 is found in four of the five parts ; under the torrid zone and in temperate cli- 

 mates, at Cayenne, and on the mountains of Switzerland ; it is, however, very 

 unequally distributed. This genus inhabits almost every description of station, 

 —dry plains, deep morasses, woods, mountains, cultivated and barren soils. 

 Comesperma is only known in Brazilian woods, and Monnina and Krameria 

 in open places. 



Properties. Bitterness in the leaves and milk in the root are their usual 

 characteristics ; but the order has not been well investigated with respect to 

 its qualities. Polygala senega root is stimulant, diuretic, sialagogue, expecto- 

 rant, purgative, emetic, and sudorific, and also emmenagogue. It has been 

 used with great success in croup. Barton, 2. 116. P. sanguinea, according 

 to the same writer, possesses similar qualities. A peculiar vegetable principle, 

 called Senegin, has been discovered by Gehlen in the root of Polygala senega, 

 and M. Reschier is also said to have procured a principle called Polygaline from 

 the same plant ; but it is not known whether these two substances are the same. 

 Stephens and Church, no. 103. The bark of Monnina polystachya, called Yall- 

 hoy in Peru, is stated to be extremely useful in cases of dysentery. It also 

 possesses detersive properties in a great degree. The ladies of Peru ascribe 

 the beauty of their hair to the use of its infusion, and the silversmiths of Hua- 

 naco employ it for cleansing and polishing their wrought silver. Lambert's 

 Must. Cinch. 132, &c. Krameria, a genus of an extremely anomalous struc- 

 ture, which, although most likely really belonging to the order, differs from it 

 in many important points, is also remarkable for its tonic and excessively as- 

 tringent qualities. Its root is sold in Europe under the name of Ratanhia, and 

 is one of the substances which, in conjuction with gum kino, is used for adul- 

 terating port wine in England. According to M. Cadet, this root contains 

 gallic acid, but neither tannin nor resin. 



Examples. Polygala, Krameria, Monnina, Securidaca. 



