378 



POLYGALACE^. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



species; iii small doses its infusion is found useful as a tonic and stimulant to the diges- 

 tive organs; in large doses it opens the body and excites diaphoresis. In a Mohicca 

 plant, the Soulamea amara, called by Rumphius Rex amaroris, all the parts, especially 

 the roots and fruit, have an mtense bitterness (horrenda amarities Rumf.). They are em- 

 ployed in the Malayan Archipelago with extraordinary success in cholera and pleurisy, 

 and are regarded as bemg most valuable as a febrifuge. 



Others are distinguished for their emetic, purgative, and diuretic action. Of these the 

 most celebrated is a North American herb called Snake-root, Polygala senega ; of this 

 plant the root is somewhat acid and acrid. It acts as a sudorific and expectorant ia 

 small doses, and as an emetic and cathartic in large ones. It is employed in pneumonia, 

 asthma, croup, dropsy, chronic rheumatism, and especially m such uterine complaints 

 as amenorrhoea. Dr. Archer has extravagantly praised it in cynanche trachealis. 

 Chemists refer the action to the presence of a peculiar principle called Polygaline or 

 Senegine. P. sanguinea and pm-pvirea in North America, Chameebuxus in Eiu'ope, P. 

 paniculata, a very common West Indian annual, P. serpentaria of the Cape, P. crotala- 

 rioides in the Himalayas, all appear to participate in these qualities, and it is not a httle 

 remarkable that the whole of these plants have the reputation of bemg antidotes to 

 snake bites ; the oppression of breathing observable in such cases appears to be cer- 

 tainly reheved by them. Some are mere emetics ; such as P. poaya, used successfully 

 in Brazil in biUous fevers, and P. glandulosa and scoparia, Mexican species. P. thesi- 

 oides, called Chuichia in Chih, is said to have a powerfully diiu'etic root. Badiera diver- 

 sifolia, a httle West Indian bush, is said to rival Guaiacum in its pecuUar qualities. 

 Fmally, these principles become so concentrated in P. venenosa, called Katu-tutun in 

 Java, as to render that plant a poison ; it is dreaded by the natives, who say that its 

 heavy noxious odom*, or even the touch, produces violent sneezmg and severe headache. 



Among plants whose uses are not reducible to either of the foregoing heads may be 

 mentioned the following. The drupes of Mundia spinosa, a Cape shrub, are eatable. 

 The bark of the root of Monnina polystachya and sahcifolia, when fresh, pounded and 

 moulded into balls, or their dry bark, is detergent ; it readily froths when agitated in 

 water, and is used by the Peruvians as a substitute for soap ; the ladies of Peru ascribe 

 the beauty of then* hair to the use of its infusion, and the silversmiths of Huanuco era- 

 ploy it for cleansmg and pohshing wrought silver. It is also used with great success in 

 the cure of dysenteries and irritatmg diarrhoeas in Peru, where it is preferred to Quas- 

 sia. This saponaceous quahty is, among other things, an indication of the relation borne 

 by Milkworts to Soapworts (Sapindacese). P. tinctoria is used by the dyers in Arabia. 

 The wood of Xanthophyllum, a genus of trees of considerable size, is said to be valuable. 

 The Kramerias, anomalous plants inhabiting the temperate parts of South America, and 

 called Rhatany -roots, are intensely astringent. The infusion of their roots is blood-red, 

 and is employed to adulterate Port wine ; in Peru, an extract is formed from K. trian- 

 dra, which is a mild, easily assimilated, astringent medicine, possessed of great power 

 in passive bloody or mucous discharges ; and also in weakness of the digestive organs, 

 muscular debility, and even in intermittent and putrid fevers. The powder forms, 

 along with charcoal, an excellent tooth powder ; and an infusion is used as a gargle and 

 wash. Such other species as have been examined seem to be identical in theu' nature. 



GENERA. 



Salomonia, Lour. 

 Polygala, Linn. 



Psychanthus, Raf. 



Blepharidium, DC. 



CUnclinia, Feuill. 



Timutua, DC. 



Senega, DC. 



Chamahuxus, Dill. 



Triclisperma, Raf. 

 Brachytropis, DC. 



Badiei-p, DC. 



Pencea, Plum. 

 Comesperma, Lahill. 

 Catocoma, Bth. 

 Muraltia, Neck. 



Heisteria, Berg. 

 Mundia, Kunth. 



Nylandtia, Dumort. 



Vascoa, DC. 



Monnina, Ruiz et Pav. 



Heheandra, Bonpl. 

 Carpolobia, G. Don. 

 Lophostylis, Hochst. 

 Securidaca, Linn. 

 Krameria, Loffl. 

 Xanthophyllum, Roxb. 



Jackia, Blum. 

 Soulamea, Lam. 



CardiocarpitSy Reinw. 

 Trigonia, Auhl. 



Mainea, Fl. Flum. 

 Moutabea, Aubl. 



Cryptostomum, Schreb. 



Acosta, Ruiz et Pav. 

 ? Bredemeyera, Willd. 

 ? Hymenanthera, R. Br. 



Numbers. GeiN. 19. Sp. 495. 



Position. — Tremandraceae. — Polygalace^.— Sapindaceee. 

 Violacece ? 



