Sapindales.] 



ERYTHROXYLACEiE. 



391 



Order CXL. ERYTHROXYLACEjE.— Erythroxyls. 



Erythroxyleae, Kunth in Hximb. N. G. Am. 5. 175. (1821); DC. Prodr. 1. 573. (1824); Endl. Gen. 

 ccxxix. ; Meisn. Gen. p. 56. ; Martius Beilrdge zur Kenntniss der g. Erythroxylon (1840) ; Wight 

 lUustr. 1. 135. 



Diagnosis. — Sapindal Exogens, with complete, partially symmetrical flmvers, an imbri- 

 cated calyx, petals vntJi an appendage, sessile pendulous ovules, capitate stigmas, and 

 a straight embryo. 



Shrubs or trees ; young shoots often compressed and covered with acut€ imbricated 

 scales. Leaves alternate, usually smooth ; stipules within the petioles. Flowers small, 

 wliitish or greenish. Peduncles axillary, solitary or clustered, 

 emerging from numerous imbricated scale-Uke bracts. Sepals 

 5, combined at the base, persistent. Petals 5, hypogynous, 

 broad at the base, with a plaited scale there, equal, the 

 margins lying upon each other in aestivation. Stamens 10, 

 monadelphous ; anthers innate, erect, 2 -celled, dehiscing 

 lengthwise. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 cells spurious ; styles 3, 

 distinct, or united almost to the point ; stigmas 3, capitate ; 

 o\-ule solitary, pendulous, anatropal, not suspended by a cord. 

 Fruit drupaceous, 1 -seeded. Seed angular; albumen between 

 fleshy and mealy, or ; embryo straight, central ; cotyledons 

 plano-convex ; radicle superior, taper, straight. 



The Ei'ythi'oxyls are distinguished from ^Malpighiads by 

 their flowers growing from amongst small imbricated scales, 

 ha\'ing no glands on the calyx, a pair of parallel membranous 

 plates on the petals, capitate stigmas, and ovules which are 

 truly anatropal, without any cord to connect them with the 

 placentse. These marks are, however, hardly sufficient for 

 the characteristics of a Natm'al Order, and it would perhaps 

 be better to merge the Order in the Malpighiads, as has 

 been done with Nitraria. An elaborate accoimt of the 

 genus will be found in Martius's Memoir, above quoted. 



Chiefly West Indian and South American. A few are 

 found in the East Indies, several in the iMauritius and 

 Madagascar, and one in New Holland. Brazil witliia the 

 tropics is their favourite haunt. 



The wood of some is bright red ; that of E. hj^ericifoUum, 

 is the Bois d'huile of the Isle of France. A permanent reddish 

 brown dye is obtamed from the bark of Erj'throxylum suber- 

 osum, called in Brazil Gallinha choca and Mercmno do campo. 

 E. areolatum, a shrub foimd near Carthagena, is said to have 

 some medical value ; its young branches are refrigerant, its 

 bark tonic, from the juice of the leaves is prepared an 

 ointment employed against scald head, and the sub-acid 

 juice of its fleshy fruit is purgative and diuretic. The bark 

 of the root of E. anguifugum is regarded as an alexipharmic 

 in Brazil ; that of E. campestre is employed in the same 

 country as a purgative. — Martius mat. m. Bras. 



Erythroxylon Coca is a plant much used by the miners of 

 Peru for its remarkable power in stimulating the nervous 

 system, in which respect it quite resembles opium. Its 

 leaves are chewed with a small mixture of finely powdered chalk. No effects that 

 have been ascribed to the immoderate use of opium are exceeded by what seems the 

 consequence of chewing the Coca leaf. See a cimous account of tliis plant in Poppig's 

 Reise in Chile. 



GENUS. 

 Erythroxylon, Linn. 

 Venelia, Commers. 

 Roelana, Commers. 

 Steudelia, Spreng. 

 Sethia, Kunth. 



Fig. CCLXXVI. 



POSITION.- 



NuMBERS. Gen. 1. Sp. 75. 



.— Erythroxylace^. — Malpighiaceae. 



Fig. CCLXXVI.— E^J'th^oxylon.—J^/a;•^^M«. 

 capitate stigmas ; 4. a drupe ; 5. the embryo. 



1. a flower; 2, one of the petals ; 3. the pistil with 3 



