676 SCEPACEA.—EMPETRACE. 
Phyllanthus—Phyllanthus Emblica (Emblica officinalis).—The fruits of 
this Indian plant constitute Hmblic Myrobalans. (See Terminalia.) When 
in a dry state they are employed for tanning, and as an astringent in medi- 
cine. The fruits are likewise used asa pickle, or preserved in sugar. The 
bark is also astringent, and the flowers are reputed to be refrigerant 
and aperient.—P. Miruri and P. urinaria are employed as diuretics in 
India. 
Ricinus communis, the Castor Oil Plant, or Palma Christi—The plant 
called Kikayon in the Bible, and translated Gourd, is by some considered to 
refer to this species. This plant and other species or varieties are largely 
cultivated in the East and West Indies, America, Italy, and some other 
parts of the world, for their seeds, which are commonly called Castor seeds, 
from which the official Castor Oil is obtained. The leaves have been recom- 
mended as an external application, and for internal administration to 
promote the secretion of milk. Castor oil is obtained from the seeds, either 
by expression with or without the aid of heat, or by decoction, or by the 
aid of alcohol. The oil employed in India, England, the United States, and 
with few exceptions now in other parts of the world, is obtained solely by 
expression. Castor seeds when taken whole are extremely acrid, and have 
produced death ; but the oil obtained from them is a mild and most efficient 
non-irritating purgative. This oil is supposed to owe its purgative pro- 
perties to the presence of some acrid principle which is contained in both 
the albumen and embryo, but at present this matter has not been isolated. 
The so-called concentrated castor oil, which is sold in gelatine capsules, is 
generally adulterated with croton oil, and hence may produce serious effects 
when given in particular cases. The Castor-oil plant is cultivated in Algeria 
for the purpose of feeding silkworms upon its leaves. The oil has also been 
used there for burning. 
Stillingia.—S. sebifera is called the Chinese Tallow Tree, from its seeds 
being covered by a white sebaceous substance, which, when separated, is 
found to be a pure vegetable tallow; it is used for candles, &c. The plant 
has now been successfully acclimatised in Algeria.—S. sylvatica, Queen’s 
Delight. The root is official in the United States Pharmacopeia. It is 
known as Queen’s root, and is used as an emetic, cathartic, and alterative. 
It is reputed to be very serviceable in several skin diseases, jaundice, some 
forms of dropsy, piles, &c. 
Order 2. ScupacE#, the Scepa Order.— Diagnosis.—This 
order is closely allied to Euphorbiaceze, in which it is ineluded 
by Bentham and Hooker ; but from which it is readily distin- 
guished by its flowers being amentaceous. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—Natives of the Hast 
Indies. There are 6 species. The wood of Scepa (Lepidostachys) 
Rorburghii is called Cocus or Kokra. It is very hard, and is 
chiefiy employed for flutes and similar musical instruments. 
Order 3. EmpETRAcE®, the Crowberry Order. —Cha- 
racter.—Small Heath-like evergreen shrubs. Leaves exstipu- 
late. Flowers axillary, smali, unisexual. Oalyx of 4—6 persist- 
ent, imbricate, hypogynous scales, the innermost occasionally 
petaloid and combined. Stamens alternate with. and equal in 
number to, the inner sepals or scales. Ovary superior, placed 
on a disk, 2—9-celled ; ovules solitary. Fruit fleshy, composed 
of from 2—9 nuts. Seed solitary in each nut, ascending ; 
embryo with an inferior radicle in fleshy-watery albumen. 
