EBENALES — SAPOTACEAE 679 



Poisonous properties. Primula obconica and P. sinensis both contain cni- 

 bclic acid C^Yi^O.^{0'ii)^C^^}ii^^. It has long been known that some people are 

 sensitive to poisoning by coming in contact wiht the leaves of P. obconica. The 

 hairs act as an irritant poison. Dr. White calls attention to the injury as 

 follows : 



The cutaneous disturbance therein described, dermatitis venenata, subsided in a short 

 time, and the skin of the three affected persons has remained in a healthy condition until re- 

 cently. Within the last two or three weeks, however, they have all manifested a recurrence 

 of the same symptoms, an eczematous inflammation of the hands and face, and in about the 

 same degree as last year. They now feel assured that the trouble is caused by Primula ob- 

 conica, for the condition did not develop until a fevir days after this plant was first offered for 

 sale in the shop, where it was freely handled by them. The proprietor informs me that his 

 hands and face became affected immediately after making it up into dinner-table decorations. 



Dr. Thurber refers to a case of poisoning quoted by Mr. Meehan : 

 A person, who after potting a lot of Primula obconica, had his face so swollen that he 

 remained completely blind for a day. This was the severest case yet reported; but it should 

 be stated that Mr. Cliffe was at that time suffering from poisoning by Euphorbia pxdcherrUna. 



Mr. Thurber says : 



Some have likened the effects produced by Primula obconica to those of Rhus To.vicoden- 

 dron, the Poison Ivy, but it is a well established fact that many persons are poisoned by Rhus 

 without coming in contact with the plant. Merely passing near it or being near a fire where it 

 is being burned is sufficient to cause serious poisoning, indicating that the active principle is 

 volatile. 



EBENALES 



vShrubs or trees, with alternate simple leaves ; flowers generally regular : 

 calyx more or less adnate to the overy; corolla gamopetalous or sometimes 

 polypetalous : stamens as many as the lobes, with corolla opposite them or more 

 numerous. 



FAMILIES OF EBENAI.es 



Stamens as many as the corolla lobes Sapotaceae 



Stamens twice as many as the corolla lobes. 



Flowers dioecious or polygamous Ebenaceae 



Flowers perfect Styracaceac 



Sapotaceae. Sapodilla Family. 



Shrubs or trees with milky juice; simple and entire, alternate leaves; small 

 and perfect, regular flowers; persistent sepals 4-7; corolla gamopetalous; tube 

 4-7 lobed, frequently with as many or more lobe-like appendages ; stamens as 

 many as the proper lobes of the corolla; fruit a fleshy drupe, generally 1-celled 

 and 1 -seeded; seed large, coat hard; endosperm fleshy or none. 



A small order of 35 genera and 400 species, of tropical regions. But few 

 of these occur in the United States, the most common in the southern states 

 being the Southern buckthorn (Bumelia lycioides) and B. lanuginosa, both being- 

 common in the woods from Illinois southward. The star apple {Chrysophylluw 

 Cainito) with a fruit about the size of an apple, has a pleasant flavor, but 

 is said to be very constipating. The sapodilla plum (Achras sapota) also native 

 to the West Indies, is widely cultivated in the tropics for its fruit, which is 

 about the size of a pear and inferior only to the orange. The marmalade 

 (Lucunia mammosa) of tropical America, from 3 to S inches long, is much 

 esteemed for its pulpy fruit. The leaves, however, contain puniic acid, which 

 is often used to adulterate cola nut. The fruits of the cainito (Lucuma obovata) 

 a native of Peru and Chili, are also eaten, as are the fruits of the black bully 



