STALAGMITIS CAMBOGITOIDES. ORD. XXXIX. Tricocce. 79 
are club-shaped ; sometimes there are rudiments of a style, and an unequal, 
sterile, stigma: the calyx, corolla, and stamens of the hermaphrodite flowers, 
resembling those of the male: the germen globular, and supporting a short 
style, crowned with a three or four-lobed stigma, the lobes of which are ob- 
cordate and persistent: the fruit is a smooth, globular, yellow, berry, 
crowned by the style and lobes of the stigma, and containing several long, 
trianglar seeds. Fig. (a) section of the fruit ; (8) a seed. 
This tree is a native of the kingdom of Siam and Ceylon, where it is known 
by the names of Ghokata, Gokkata, or Gohlata. Koenig, who resided many 
years at Siam, clearly ascertained that the Stalagmitis is the tree that affords 
the genuine Gamboge. But this tree is not the only plant which yields that 
substance, 14] gl wi: Rie ict as 4 woe 
is the product of that tree. The Gambogia gutta, Garcinia eelibica, Hyperi- 
cum pomiferum, and many other plants, yield a yellow gum-resin, resembling 
in every respect the gamboge of the shops. 
Gamboge is obtained by wounding the bark of the tree with sharp stones, 
or by breaking off the leaves and‘young shoots; the former mode is usually 
practised in Ceylon, and the latter at Siam. It is said to be first collected 
in cocoa-nut shells, and thence poured into the joints of the bamboo (which 
gives it the cylindrical form) or into earthen vessels, where it remains until 
it becomes sufficiently dry to be rolled into masses, when it is wrapped up 
in leaves, the state in which it is usually imported’ Gamboge was first 
brought to Europe about the middle of the seventeenth century: it comes» 
packed in cases or boxes. 
Sensible and Chemical Properties, &c. Gamboge has little or no odour, 
and scarcely any taste; when pure,* it is of a golden yellow colour, opaque, 
and breaks with a vitreous fracture; its specific gravity is 1,221; exposed 
to heat, in a ladle, it slowly softens, but does not smoke, nor melt, but by 
degrees grows black, and changes into a soft, toughish, black mass. When 
applied to the flame of a candle, it takes fire, and burns with a bright, 
crackling, sparkling, flame, with smoke ; at first it softens, then partly melts 
and drops, and the remainder grows black, swells, and is changed into a 
shining, friable charcoal. Gamboge, when macerated in water, forms a fine 
turbid yellow solution, and about two-thirds of its substance is dissolved ; 
(Se a ees 4 eat 
preovavre (Hes tcatel partor § ; 
* It is generally, more or less mixed with sand and other impurities. 
