460 



AMYRIDACE^. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



is obtained on the Abyssinian coast from Balsamodendi'on Myrrha, a dwarf shrub 

 called Kerobeta by the natives. Balm of Mecca, Beshan (perhaps the origin of the 

 word Balsam), the Balessan of Bruce, is yielded by B. Opobalsamum. — Harris in Chem. 

 Gaz. 1844. 148. B. Gileadense is also said to furnish it. A species of Balsamo- 

 dendron is also mentioned by Mr. Griffith as being one of the most cultivated plants in 

 Afghanistan for its aromatic and stimulant properties ; it is called Schnee. — Ann. 

 Nat. Hist. X. 194. 



A khid of coarse resin is obtained from BosweUia glabra, and is used, boiled with oil, 

 for pitching the bottom of ships. Bm-sera paniculata, called Bois de Colophane in the 

 Isle of France, gives out, from the sUghtest wound in the bark, a copious flow of limpid 

 oil of a pungent turpentine odour, which soon congeals to the consistence of butter, 

 assuming the appearance of camphor. The gum of Canariimi commime has the same 

 properties as those of the Balsam of Copaiva ; the tliree-cornered nuts are eaten in 

 Java both raw and dressed, and an oil is expressed from them, which is used at table 

 when fresh, and for bm'ning when stale. The raw nuts are, however, apt to bring on 

 diarrhoea. 



Among fragrant products of less moment may be named BdeUium, the resin, in 

 Africa, of the Niouttont or Balsamodendron africanum, and in India of B. Rox- 

 burghii, supposed to be the same plant as Commiphora madagascariensis ; Tacamahac 

 from Elaphrium tomentosum ; Incense-wood from Icica guianensis ; American Elemi 

 in part from Icica Icicai'iba ; American Balm of Gilead from Icica Carana ; Balsam of 

 Acouchi from Icica Aracouchini ; Cliibou or Cacliibou resm from Bursera gummifera ; 

 Resin of Carana from Bursera acuminata ; Beaume a cochon or Beaume a sucrier, a 

 substitute for Copaiva, from Hedwigia balsamifera ; Resin of Coumia from Icica 

 ambrosiaca. Finally, it is said that AmjTis toxifera is poisonous ; that Amp'is Plu- 

 mieri, and another species caUed by Dr. Hamilton A. hexandra, j^eld a part of the 

 Gum Elemi of commerce ; and that the wood of Amjans balsamifera, a Jamaica tree, 

 furnishes one of the sorts of Lignum Rhodium. Picramnia ciliata, a Brazilian tree, 

 has a bitter subacrid bark, which is administered successfully as a substitute for 

 Cascarilla, according to ISIartius. The layers of the Uber of a species of AmjTns were 

 found by Cailhaud to be used by the Nubian Mahometans as paper, on which they write 

 their legends. Icica altissima furnishes the Curana, Samaria, Acuyari, Mara, or Cedar- 

 wood of Guiana, one variety of which is red, the other white, according to Sir R. Schom- 

 burgk. It is light, easily worked, and very aromatic. This distinguished traveller 

 states that one of liis canoes, 42 feet long and 54 feet Avide, had been made from a single 

 tree of this species. The leaves of Balanites segj-ptiaca, a tree cultivated in Egypt 

 under the Negro name of Soum, and the Arabic Hilelgie or Haledsch, are shghtly acid, 

 and have the reputation of being anthelmmtic. The vmripe flesh of its dinipes is acrid, 

 extremely bitter, and violently pm-gative ; but when ripe it is eaten without incon- 

 venience. A fat oil, called Zachun, is pressed from its seeds. The fruits are said to 

 be mixed in commerce with Myrobalans. 



GENERA. 



I. BuRSBRiD^. — Ovary 

 •with more cells than 



BosweUia, Roxh. 



Libaniis, Colebr. 



Ploesslea, Endl. 

 Protium. Burm. 

 Balsamodendron, Kunth, 



Heudelotia, A. Rich. 



Nioutout, Adans. 



Balsa mea, Gled. 



Balessam, Bruce. 



Commiphora, Jacq. 



Elaphrimn, Jacq. 

 Icica, Aribl. 

 Bursera, Jacq. 

 Trattinickia, Willd. 



?Dacryodes, Vahl. 

 Marignia, Commers. 



Dammara, Gartn. 

 Canarium, Linn. 



Pimelea, Lour. 



Colophonia, Commers. 

 Hedwigia, Swartz, 



Tetragastris, Gartn. 



Schwagrichenia, Reic, 



? Loureira, Meisn. 



? Toluifera, Lour. 

 ? Triceros, Lour. 

 ? Barbylus, P. Br. 

 ? Pachylobus, G. Don. 



9 Coproxylon, Tuss. 



? Knorria,Moq.et Sess 

 Garuga, Roxb. 



Kunthia, Dennst. 

 Hemprichia, Ehrenb. 

 1 Balanites, Bel. 

 ? Fagarasti-um, Don. 

 ? Picramnia, Swartz. 

 ? yLethyscovhyllnm,Eckl. Am>Tis,Xin« 



et Zeyh. t4.„„„'A,.^ 

 ? Tapiria, Juss. 



9 Joncquetia, Schreb 



II. Amyrid^. 

 one-ceUed. 



Ovary 



Elemifera, Plum. 

 Lucinium, Plukn. 



Numbers. GexN. 22. Sp. 45. 

 Position. — Anacardiaceee. — Amyridace^. — Aurantiacerc. 



