ILTUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 101 
her islands, but this list I feel assured will soon be extended, now that the characters of the 
order are becoming better known 
‘ 6 Cny 
Properties and Uses. Little is yet known of these. In Ceylon, it is said the leaves of 
Olax Zeylanica are used as pot. herbs, and as salads, whence they have received a native name 
synonymous, with “ tree salads,” a designation which does not seem limited to one plant, since I 
have met with a very different one in gardens about Madras, under the name of “ Tree Lettuce” 
referable to the order. Vyctaginee, apparently a species of Pisonia, The rind of the fruit of 
Ximenia Americana is described as bitter and astringent, the flesh as purgative, and the kernel 
sweet and pleasant tasted, Rechureh ; in his Flora tneticn 2 fig. 253, remarks of this shrub. 
** The ripe fruits are eaten raw by the natives: theiy taste is a compound of sour and bitter, 
the kernels are also eaten, and taste much like fresh filberts: The wood is yellow, like sandal, 
and its powder is often substituted for that of sandal by the Brahmins in this part of the coast 
in their religious ceremonies.’ he nut of Balanites Algyptiaca is covered by a quantity of 
soft pulp, not inaptly compared by Roxburgh to soft soap “ intensely bitter, and having an of- 
fensive greasy smell.” ‘The nut itself, is exceedingly hard, and is employed in fireworks. For 
this paren ose a small hole is ih ge in it, the kernel extracted, and the shell filled with powder, 
when fired it bursts with aloud report. Such is the only use to which it seems to be, applied 
in India. The authors of the Flora Senegambie inform us that the floweis are very fragrant, 
that the pulp previous to maturity is a strong purgative, having an acrid bitter taste, exciting 
for a long time a burning. pain in the throat, but that, when perfectly ripe, it has an agreeable 
taste and is eat with pleasure by the Negroes, The wood which is of a yellow colour is very 
hard, and in Africa esteemed excellent ie making furniture. 
Remarks on Genera anv Species. As above remarked 5 genera of this order are now 
known to exist in India, these are Opilia, Olax, Ximenia, Gomphandra, and Balanites, The 
first of these, the true place of which in the natural system was long etka was satisfactorily 
determined about the same time by Messrs, Guillemin and Perrottet, and by Mr. Arnott and my- 
self, though we were not aware at the time that ours was that plant. Of this genus only one 
species has yet been found in co Opilia amentacea Roxburgh, to which our Ximenia olacioides 
must be referred, as being founded on a specimen of that plant in fruit, which at the time we 
wrote was unknown tous, but which I have at length succeeded in determining by comparison with 
specimens in fruit, taken from plants still in flower. Whether the Senegambian species (Groutea 
celtidifolia of the authers of that flora), be the same, I am not quite certain, but think it is 
distinct. . Of the genus Olax, several species are found, both in India and Ceylon, W allich j in 
his list enumerates 10 species, but perhaps not ali genuine. Ximenia Americana is common to 
America, the west coast of Africa,“and India; and is remarkable for having its stamens oust 
by pairs to the petals and not alternately opposite, which is the more usual structure. 
nurus referred here by Dr. Meisner, was established by Blume, in his Javanese Fora, and re- 
ferred by him to Sips, with which it certainly does not associate so well. ‘This genus as 
above remarked seems very nearly allied to, if not identical with Wallich’s Gomphandra as 
defined by Lindley in his natural system of Botany, page 439, with this << gages that Wal- 
lich’s plant has 4.in place of 5 or 6 sepals, petals, and stamens, and unisexual in plac Lape 
bisexual flowers... Of both these genera ee now possess specimens, the former from ‘Mac n, 
and the latter from Ceylon, Courtallum, the Paige and elsewhere. In. Gonphivilrg, the 
flowers are 4 or 5. petaled, unisexual by abortion, the male ones having rudimentary ovaries, 
the female ones. ares stamens. ‘The ovaries are I-celled, with 2 long pendulous ovules, sur- 
'y large sessile stigma 
leisner in his tables. distributes the gener. under two ‘principal s sections, those. 
, first divis Sng nals Sh l into two. 
