OCHNACER. 505 
Picrena excelsa yields our official Quassia Wood. (See Quassiz.) It 
is much used as a tonic, febrifuge, and stomachic, and also possesses an- 
thelmintic properties. An infusion of Quassia sweetened with sugar acts 
as a powerful narcotic poison on flies and other insects; hence it is used 
as a tly-poison. Like other pure bitters, its infusion may be also employed 
to preserve animal matters from decay. It is largely used by brewers as a 
substitute for hops. It owes its active properties ‘chiefly to the presence of 
an intensely bitter crystalline substance called Quassine. In Jamaica this 
plant is known under the name of Bitter Ash or Bitter Wood. The wood 
was much used a few years since in the manufacture of small goblets, 
which were sold under the name of bitter cups. 
Quassia amara.—The wood is intensely bitter. It isa native of Surinam, 
and was formerly much used as a febrifuge and tonic; the flowers are 
also stomachic. It is the original Quassia of the shops, but it is no longer 
imported into this country; that now sold under the name of Quassia 
being derived from Picrena excelsa, a native of Jamaica: hence the 
latter may be called Jamaica Quassia, and the former Surinam (uassia. 
It is, however, still official in some of the Continental pharmacopeias. (See 
Picrena.) 
Samadera indica.—The bark is used in parts of India as a febrifuge ; 
the oil from the seeds is largely employed in rheumatism ; and the leaves 
externally in erysipelas. Both bark and seeds contain a principle, which 
has been termed samaderine. 
Simaba Cedron.—The seeds are highly esteemed throughout Central 
America, where they are employed for their febrifugal properties, and are 
thought to be a specific against the bites of venomous snakes and other 
noxious animals. They have been used in this country for the latter pur- 
pose but without any sensible eftect. ‘The active principle has been named 
cedrine, 
Simaruba (Simarouba) amarais a native of Northern Brazil and Guiana, 
and some of the West Indian islands. In Jamaica and the West Indies 
generally its place is taken by the closely allied species S glauca, which is 
known under the name of Mountain Damson. This latter plant has often 
been confounded with S. amara. The bark of the root of S. amura is 
official in the United States Pharmacopceia. It possesses tonic properties, 
and has been used in diarrhcea, dysentery, &c. It contains Quassine, the 
same principle which has been found in Quassia wood 
Order 13. OcHNACES, the Ochna Order.—Character.— 
Under-shrubs or smooth trees, with a watery juice. Leaves simple, 
stipulate, alternate. Pedicels jointed in the middle. Sepals 5, 
persistent, imbricate. Petals hypogynous, detinite, sometimes 
twice as many as the sepals, deciduous, imbricate. Stamens 
equal in number to the sepals and opposite to them, or twice as 
many, or more numerous; filaments persistent, inserted on an 
hypogynous fleshy disk; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal or 
porous dehiscence. Can ‘pels sessile, corresponding i in number to 
the petals, inserted on a large fleshy disk, which becomes larger 
as the carpels grow ; ovules 1 in each carpel. Fruit consisting 
of several indehiscent, somewhat drupaceous, 1-seeded carpels. 
Seed exalbuminous or nearly so; embryo straight ; radicle towards 
the hilum. 
Distribution and Nwmbers.—Natives chiefly of the tropical 
parts of India, Africa, and America. Illustrative Genera :— 
Gomphia, Schreb. ; Ochna, Schreb. There are about 80 species. 
