314 MALPIGHIACE^. [part ii. 



ORDER XLIL— ERYTHROXYLE^.— THE RED WOOD 

 TRIBE. 



Exotic shrubs, and low -trees, remarkable 

 from the redness of their wood, but with small 

 greenish flowers. The leaves of Erythroxylon 

 Coca possess an intoxicating quality, and are 

 chewed by the Peruvians, in the same manner 

 as the Turks take opium. 



ORDER XLIII MALPIGHIACE^.— THE BAR- 



BADOES CHERRY TRIBE. 



Several species of Malpighia, the Barbadoes 

 Cherry, are found occasionally in our stoves. 

 The corolla of these plants, when closed, bears 

 considerable resemblance to that of a Kalmia ; 

 but the flower when expanded is more like that 

 of a Clarkia, from the long claws of the five 

 petals, and tlie distance they are placed apart. 

 Several of the species have their leaves and 

 stems beset with stinging bristles, which adhere 

 to the hands when touched. The fruit, which 

 is eatable, but insipid, is a berry-like drupe, 

 containing three one-seeded nuts. The species 

 are natives of the West Indies, and they require 

 a stove in England. The flowers are generally 

 rose-coloured or purplish ; but they are some- 

 times yellow. The common Barbadoes Cherry 



