ROSALES.] 



FABACE^. 



553 



its pods is used as a substitute for that of the seeds of A. concinna for washing. Its 

 tonic powers are connected with the astringent and tanning properties of several others. 

 Some of the Algarobas or Prosopises of the western part of South America bear finxit, 

 the pericarp of which consists almost wholly of tannin. The bark of some of the species 

 of Acacia abound to such a degi'ee in tanning principles as to have become objects of 

 commercial importance. In 1824 some tons of the extract of Acacia bark were im- 

 ported from New South Wales for the use of tanners. The pods of A. nilotica are used 

 in Nulia for tannuig. The valuable astringent substance called Catechu, or Terra Ja- 

 ponica, is procured by boiling and evaporating the brown heart-wood of A. Catechu, or 

 Khaii'-tree : it is obtained by simply boiling the chips in water until the inspissated 

 juice has acquu'ed a proper consistency ; the liquor is then strained, and soon coagu- 

 lates into a mass. The Inga vera, and Unguis cati, with Stryphnodendron Barbate- 

 mas and Jm'ema, are Brazilian astringents of a similar nature. The pods of A. nilotica, 



are used by the tanners of Egypt, who call them Neb-neb. Others are emetics. 



According to Horsfield, the Entada Purssetha of Java is emetic. A few are pur- 

 gatives. Properties of this kind exist in the pulp within the fruit of Inga vera. The 

 same may be said of I. feeculifera, or the Pois doux of St. Domingo, that bears pods 



filled with a sweet pulp, which the natives use. A small number are poisonous. The 



root of a Mimosa is accounted a poison in Brazil. That of Mimosa sensitiva and its allies 

 emits a most offensive smell, resembling the odour of a sewer at the time of impend- 

 ing rain. — Bot. Reg. 1. 25. It is reported that the leaves and branches of Algarobia 

 iuhflora are poisonous to cattle. The bark of some species, as of A. ferruginea and 

 leucophsea, added to jagghery water, is distilled in India as an intoxicating liquor. A 

 drink called Chica, much used in South America, is prepared from the sweet pods of 

 Prosopis Algaroba. " It is said that old women are employed to chew these Algarobas, 

 and the Schinus, and then to spit them into a vessel." Water is added, and the mixture 



fermented. — Chem. Gaz. 1844. 131. Several afford timber. The fine Jacaranda, 



or Rosewood of commerce, so called because when fresh it has a faint but agreeable 

 smell of roses, is produced by a species of Mimosa in the forests of Brazil. The timber 

 of A. arabica and VacheUia Farnesiana is used in India for wheels and tent-pegs ; that 

 of other species attains a large size, as of A. Kalkera and A. speciosa ; the latter is 

 dark-coloured, and close enough grained for making fvu-niture. A. elata, xylocarpa, 

 Sundra, odoratissima, stipulacea, and cinerea, all ^-ield it of good quahty. The wood of 

 the Mora excelsa, the most majestic tree of Guiana, according to its discoverer, 



Sir R. Schomburgk, is said to be equal to Oak of the finest quality. Saponaceous 



quahties reside in some species. The legumes of A. concmna (Mimosa saponaria, Roxh.) 

 form a considerable article of commerce in India, and the large broMTi beans of Entada 



Purssetha, called Gela, are used by the natives for washing their hair. — Royle. A few 



are dyes. A deep red is yielded by the chips of Adenanthera pavonina, called in India 



Rukta-chundun, or Red Sandal-wood. Lastly, the fragrant flowers of Acacia 



Farnesiana yield, by distillation, a dehcious perfume, to which also potent virtues are 

 asci'ibed. 



[The following List was drawn up by Mr. Bentham, Aug. 16, 1845. 



Suborder I. Papiliona- 

 CE.E. — Petals papilion- 



[ aceous, imbricated in 

 aestivation, the upper 

 exterior. 



Tribe 1. Podalyrieae. 

 — Filaments all free. Le- 

 gume continuous. Leaves 

 simple or pahnately com- 

 pound. 



Subtribe 1. Eupodaly- 



RIE;E. 



§ 1. Cistropical. 

 AnagjTis, Linn. 

 Piptanthus, Don. 

 Thermopsis, Br. 



Thennia, Nutt. 



Scolobus, Raf. 

 Baptisia, Vent. 



C'rotalopsis, Mich. 

 Pickeringia, Nutt. 



§ 2. Cape. 

 Cyclopia, Vent. 

 Ibhetsonia, Sims. 



Podalyria, Lam. 

 Aphora, Neck. 



§ 3. Australasian. 

 Brachysema, R. Br. 

 Callistachys, Vent. 

 Oxylobium, Andr. 

 Podolobium, R. Br. 

 Isotropis, Benih. 

 Orthrotropis, Benth. 

 Chorozema, LahiU. 

 Gompholobium, Smith. 



Subtribe 2. PuLTENEiE. 



Burtonia, R. Br. 

 Jacksonia, R. Br. 

 Daviesia, Smith. 

 Viminaria, Smith. 

 Sphaerolobium, Smith. 

 Roea, Hugel. 

 Phyllota, DC. 

 Aotus, Smith. 

 Dillwynia, Smith. 



Xeropetalum, R. Br. 

 Eutaxia, R. Br. 



Gastrolobium, R. Br. 

 Euchilus, R. Br. 

 Spadostyles, Benth. 

 Pultenaea, Smith. 

 Sclerothamnus, R. Br. 



Subtribe 3. Mirbelie^e. 



Mirbelia, Smith. 

 Dichosema, Benth. 

 Leptosema, Benth. 



Tribe 2. Loteds.— Fila- 

 ments all or 9, connate. 

 Legume continuous. Co- 

 tyledons becoming leafy. 



Subtribe 1. LiPARrE.E. 



Liparia, Linn. 

 Priestleya, DC. 



Xiphotheca, Eckl. Zey. 

 Amphithalea, Eckl. Zey. 



Ligenhousia, E. May. 



Cryphiantha, Eckl.Zey. 



Epistemium, M'alp. 

 Lathriogyne, Eckl. Zey. 



Heudusa, E. Mey. 

 CceUdium, Vog. 



Subtribe 2. Geniste.i- 



§ 1. Hoveae. 

 Hovea, R. Br. 



Foiretia, Smith. 



Physicarpos, Poir. 

 Plagiolobiimi, Sweet. 

 Lalage, Lindl. 

 ? Platychilum, Delaxm. 

 Platylobium, Smith. 



Cheilococca, Salisb. 

 Bossiaea, Vent. 

 Goodia, Salisb. 

 Templetonia, R. Br. 

 Scottia, R. Br. 



§ 2. Borbonieae. 

 Borbonia, Linn. 

 Rafnia, Thunb. 



CEdemannia, Thunb. 



Vascoa, PC. 



Felecynthis, E. Mey, 

 Euchlora, Eck. Zeyh. 



Microtropis, E. Mey. 

 Heylandia, DC. 



