552 



FABACE^. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



Lign-aloes, a fragrant substance, which Loureiro states consists of a concretion of the 

 oily particles into a resin in the centre of the trunk ; it is brought on by some disease, 

 and the tree in time dies of it. Of all perfumes it is the most gi-ateful to Oriental 

 nations ; " stimulant, corroborant, cephahc, cardiac." Its scent is used against vertigo 

 and paralysis. Balsam of Copaiva, a valuable acrid oil, largely employed in gonorrhoea, 

 flows from various species of Copaifera, probably from all ; the different species, 

 however, yield the dinig of different qualities. — Mart. Mad. Med. Bras. 115. Myro- 

 spermum peiniiferam, the Quinquino or Balsam of Peni plant, fmiiishes a fi'agrant resin, 

 not much used in medicine now, but in request among perfumers and in the manufac- 

 ture of pastiles ; another species, the M. toluiferum, or Balsam of Tolu plant, yields a 

 similar product ; both are employed in the preparation of pectoi^al lozenges. The 

 seeds of Cassia Absus are extremely bitter, somewhat aromatic, and mucilaginous ; 

 they are brought to Cairo from the interior of Africa, imder the name of Chichm or 

 Cismatan, and are regarded as the best of remedies for Egyptian ophthalmia. 



I do not find many distinct traces of poisonous action among this di^■ision of Leguminous 

 plants ; but the seeds of Detarium senegalense are said to be venomous ; those of the 

 Nicker-tree (Guilaudina Bonduc) are emetic ; the inner bark of Hymenaea Covu'baril is 

 anthelmintic, according to Macfadgen ; the seeds of Swartzia triphylla are excessively 

 acrid; and these, taken with the frequency of a cathartic action, seem a sufficient indication 

 of the presence among them of some principle wliicli in a state of concentration would 

 be venomous. 



MlMOSE^. 



Astringency in the bark, and the production of a sort of gum in the same part, is the 

 great characteristic of this tribe. Of gums. Acacia Verek and Adansonii jaeld gum Sene- 

 gal on the western coast of Africa ; A. nilotica and Seyal, gum arable in Nubia ; some- 

 tliing similar is produced in New Holland by A. decurrens, and the Silver and Black 



Fig. CCCLXXV. 



Wattles, (A. moUissima and affinis) ; and in India by A. arabicaand speciosa,and Vachel- 

 lia Famesiana. — Royle. For an account of the gum forests, see Fl. Seneg. 1. 246. The 

 gum of a species of Acacia is, to the natives of Swan River, an important article of their 



food. — Hook. Jowm. 2. 359. As an instance of pulse, the seeds of Parkia africana 



are roasted as we roast Coffee, then biniised, and allowed to fennent in water. When 

 they begin to become putrid, they are well washed and pounded ; the powder is made 

 into cakes, somewhat in the fashion of our chocolate ; they are an excellent sauce for 

 all kinds of meat. The farinaceous matter suiToimding the seeds forms a pleasant 

 drink, and they also make it into a sweetmeat. The natives of Tasmamiia roast the 

 ripening pods of A. Sophera, pick out the seeds and eat them. — Backhouse. The pulp of 



the pods of Inga tetraphylla, and others, is sweet and mucilaginous. Tonic and 



astringent qualities are also present here. The bai'k of A. arabica is considered in 

 India a powerful tonic ; it is also extensively used in tanning leather. A decoction of 



Fig. CCCLXXV.— Acacia Verek. 

 half a seed. 



1. a flower magnified ; 2. the pistil; 3. a section of the same ; 4 



