72 = ORD. XXXVIII. Tricocer. CROTON TIGLIUM. 
Female. Calyx polyphyllous. Corolla 0. Styles three, bifid. Capsule 
triocular. Seed, one.” 
Sp. Char. Leaves ovate-acuminate, serrated, glabeous, with two glands at 
the base. Petioles shorter than the leaves. Racemes terminal. Stem 
arboreous. | 
THIS species of Croton is a native of Asia, growing in many parts of 
India, China, the islands of Ceylon, Java, &c. It is a tree of a middling 
size, seldom exceeding the height of fifteen or twenty feet: the trunk and 
larger branches are covered with a soft bark, ofa blackish colour; the younger 
branches green, with a reddish tinge. The leaves are alternate, ovato-acu- 
minate, serrated, smooth, and of a bright green colour when old; downy 
- with stellated hairs while young, standing upon petioles about one-fourth 
their length, with two glands seated at their base. The flowers are in erect, 
simple, terminal racemes, with downy pedicels. Calya in the male flower, 
_eylindrical and five-toothed; the corolla composed of five straw-coloured 
petals, very hairy in the drawing in the possession of the East India Com- 
pany; the stamens from ten to fifteen; in the female flower the calyx is 
divided into many obtuse segments, which are reflected under the downy 
germen; there is no corolla; the styles are three and bifid; the capsule 
rather bigger than a hazelnut, trilocular, smooth, and containing three 
seeds. Fig. (a) represents a raceme of male flowers ; (6) a capsule ; (c) a sec- 
tion of the capsule ; (d) a seed. 
The genus croton contains upwards of 150 species, of which the Tiglium 
is the only one possessing purgative qualities. In Europe, the seeds have 
been long known under the names of Grana Molucca and Grana Tiglit; the 
former of which names, seems to have been derived from the Molucca’ 
islands, whence the seeds were formerly exported into Europe. It appears 
that the natives of the Eastern nations have for centuries past been well ac- 
quainted with the purgative effects of the seeds; and in Europe they were 
formerly prescribed as a drastie purge, but fell into disuse on account of the 
very violent somptoms and untoward accidents frequently produced by their 
‘use. In this country, the fixed oil, expressed from the seed, has been lately 
brought into general use, thr mene the exertions of Drs. Conwell and Nimmo, 
Mr. Frost, and others.* © 
* The oil of Croton was introduced into Europe in the year 1630, and employed in- 
ternally with success by several physicians. In 1632, Artus Gyselius extolled it in dropsy. 
