458 BIXACEA.—PITTOSPORACE. 
enveloped in a covering formed by the withered pulp ; albwmen 
fleshy-oily ; embryo straight, axial ; radicle turned to the hilum. 
The Pangiacez of some authors are included in this order, in 
accordance with the views of Bentham and Hooker. 
Diagnosis.—Shrubs or small trees, with alternate exstipulate 
leaves. Flowers polypetalous or apetalous, rarely unisexual ; 
petals hypogynous, sometimes with scales at the base. Stamens 
hypogynous, equal in number to the petals or some multiple of 
them. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent; placentas parietal. 
Seeds numerous, albuminous; embryo axial, straight; radicle 
towards the hilum. 
Distribution and Numbers.—The plants of this order are 
almost confined to the hottest parts of the East and West 
Indies, and Africa. Illustrative Genera :—Bixa, Linn. ; Pan- 
gium, Rumph. There are over 100 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Many plants of the order are feebly 
bitter and astringent, and have been used as stomachies ; others 
are alterative, tonic, and emetic. The fruits of Oncoba and of 
some of the Flacowrtias are edible and wholesome ; but those of 
some other plants are poisonous. It is said, however, that by 
boiling, and maceration afterwards in cold water, the poisonous 
properties may, in some cases, be got rid of, as in the seeds of 
Pangium edule, the kernels of which are then used as a condi- 
ment, and for mixing in curries. But even these, according to 
Horsfield, act as a cathartic upon those unaccustomed to their 
use. The seeds of some species are employed as dyeing and 
colouring agents. 
Bixa Orellana.—The seeds of this plant are covered by a reddish pulp, 
from which Arnatto or Annatto is made. This is used as a red dye, and for 
colouring cheese, chocolate, butter, &c. The seeds are said to be cordial, 
astringent, and febrifugal. 
Cochlospermum Gossypium.—According to Royle, the trunk of this plant 
yields the gum Kuteera, which in the North-western Provinces of India is 
used as a substitute for Tragacanth. 
Gynocardia odorata.—The seeds, which are official in the Pharmacopeia 
of India, are known under the names of Chaulmugra, Chaulmogra, or 
Chaulmoogra. They yield by expression a fixed oil in which their proper- 
ties essentially reside. The oil and seeds have long been employed in- 
ternally with success in India, in leprosy, scrofula, skin diseases, and in 
rheumatism ; and the oil has also been of late years used with some success 
in this country in similar diseases. The oil and seeds, in the form of an 
ointment, have also been much employed as a local stimulant in various 
skin diseases, ete. 
Hydnocarpus.—The seeds of H. Wightiana and of H. venenata, both 
of which species were formerly confounded together under the name of 
H1. inebrians, also yield fixed oils, which have similar properties, and are 
used both externally and internally in similar cases to the seeds and oil of 
Chaulmugra. The fruit of H. venenatus is poisonous, and is employed in 
Ceylon for poisoning fish.—H. anthelmintica is held in high esteem by the 
Chinese as a remedy in skin diseases. 
Order 12. Prrrosporace®, the Pittosporum Order.—C ha- 
racter.—Trees or shrubs, with simple alternate exstipulate leaves. 
