CELASTRACEH.—HIPPOCRATEACE. 513 
albumen fleshy ; enbryo straight; radicle short, inferior; coty- 
ledons flat. 
Diagnosis.—Shrubby plants, with simple leaves and small 
deciduous stipules. Flowers small, regular, and perfect; or 
rarely unisexual by abortion. Sepals and petals 4—5, imbricate 
in estivation. Stamens equal in number to, and alternate with, 
the petals, and inserted with them on a large flat expanded disk. 
Ovary superior, sessile, surrounded by the disk. Fruit superior, 
2—5-celled. Seeds albuminous; embryostraight; radicle inferior. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Chiefly natives of the warmer 
parts of Asia, North America, and Europe; they are also plenti- 
ful at the Cape of Good Hope. Generally speaking, the plants 
of the order are far more abundant out of the tropics than 
in them. Illustrative Genera:—Euonymus, Linn. ; Celastrus, 
Kunth. There are about 280 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Chiefly remarkable for the presence of 
an aerid principle. The seeds of some contain oil. 
Ca‘ha edulis—The young slender shoots, with the attached leaves, con- 
stitute the Arabian drug called Kat, Khat, or Cafta. This is largely 
chewed by the Arabs, and is said to produce great hilarity of spirits and an 
agreeable state of wakefulness. A decoction is also made from it, and used 
as a beverage like our tea: its effeets are described as being somewhat 
similar to those produced by strong green tea, but the excitement of a more 
pleasing nature. By some writers the term Kat is applied to the drug in its 
unprepared state, and Cafta to a preparation made from it. The leaves and 
young shoots of C. spinosa are also said te be used in the preparation of Kat. 
Celastrus.—The seeds of C. paniculatus yield an oil of a powerfully stimu- 
lating nature, which is sometimes used as a medicine in India under the 
name of ‘ Oleum nigrum.’—C. scandens and C. senegalensis have purgative 
and emetic barks. 
Elzodendron Kubu.—The drupaceous fruits of this species are eaten at 
the Cape of Good Hope. 
FEuonymus.— FE. europxus is the common Spindle-tree of our hedges. The 
wood is used to make skewers, spindles, &c. In France, charcoal is said to 
be prepared from the wood, and used in the manufacture of gunpowder ; 
while the young shoots in a charred condition form a kind of drawing- 
pencil. The seeds are reputed to be purgative and emetic, and are also said 
to be poisonous to sheep; those of some other species have similar pro- 
perties. The bark of E. tingens has a beautiful vellow colour on its inside, 
which may be used asa dye.—F. atropurpureus. Wakoo.—The bark, chiefly 
of the root, of this plant, and also, to some extent, of that of E. americanus 
are used in the United States of America in the preparation of what has 
been termed euonymin. This is reputed to possess tonic, hydragogue, 
cathartic, diuretic, alterative, and anti-periodic properties. It has been 
used with some success in this country as an hepatic stimulant. 
Order 2. HippocraTEace®, the Hippocratea Order.—Cha- 
racter.—Shrubs, with opposite simple leaves, and small deci- 
duous stipules. Flowers small, regular, and unsymmetrical. 
Sepals and petals 5, hypogynous, imbricate, the former per- 
sistent. Stamens 3, hypogynous, monadelphous; anthers with 
transverse dehiscence. Disk conspicuous, Ovary 3-celled ; 
plucentas axile; style 1. Fruit baccate, or consisting of 
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