THALAMIFLORiE. 505 



Natural Ordei* 63. Simarubace^e. — The Quassia or Simaruba 

 Order. — General Character. — Shrubs or trees. Leaves with- 

 out dots, alternate, compound or sometimes simple, exstipulate. 

 Flowers regular and symmetrical, axillary or terminal, perfect, 

 or unisexual by abortion. Calyx imbricated, in 4 or 5 divisions. 

 Petals equal in number to the di^^sions of the calyx, Avith an 

 imbricated aestivation, sometimes united into a tube. Stamens 

 twice as many as the petals, each inserted on a hypogynous 

 scale ; anthers with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary stalked, 

 4 or 5-lobed, 4 or 5-celled, each cell with 1 suspended ovule ; 

 style simple ; stigma with as many lobes as there are cells to the 

 ovary. Fruit of 4 or 5 indehiscent, 1-seeded, drupaceous 

 carpels, arranged round a common axis. Seed pendulous, -oath 

 a membranous integument, exalbuminous, radicle superior, 

 retracted within thick cotyledons.- 



Diagnosis. — Trees or shrubs, with alternate exstipulate leaves 

 without dots. Flowers hypogynous, regular, symmetrical, with 

 imbricated aestivation. Calyx, corolla, and stamens, with a 

 quaternary or quinary distribution of their parts ; each of the 

 latter arising from a hypogynous scale, and with anthers burst- 

 ing longitudinally. Ovary stalked, 4 or 5-celled ; style simple ; 

 stigma 4 or 5-lobed. Fruit of 4 or 5 indehiscent, 1-seeded 

 drupes, placed round a common axis. Seeds pendulous, exal- 

 buminous, radicle superior. 



Distribution, 8fc. — With the exception of one plant, which is 

 a native of Nepaul, they are all found in the tropical parts of 

 India, America, and Africa. Examples: — Quassia, Simaba, 

 Simaruba, Ailanthus, Brucea, Spatheha. There are 17 genera, 

 and about 50 species. 



Properties and Uses. — A bitter principle is the most remark- 

 able characteristic of the order ; hence many of them are tonic 

 and febrifugal. The more important plants are as foUows : — 



Qu'issia amara. — The wood of this plant is intensely bitter. It is a native 

 of SurinMn, &c., and was formerly much used as a febrifuge and tonic ; the 

 flowers a'-e also stomachic. It is the original Quassia of the shops, but it is no 

 longer impi>rt'>d ; that now sold under the name of Quassia being derived from 

 Pioasnm or Picrcena excelsa, a native of Jamaica, &c. ; hence the latter may 

 be called Jamaica Quassia, and the former Surinam Quassia. (See below.)" 



Picrasina (PteicB'.a) excels", yields the officinal Quassia-wood of the 

 Materia Medica. (See Quassia.) it is much used as a tonic, febrifuge, and 

 stomachic, and it also po>sesses anthelmintic 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 fly-poison. Like other pure bitters, its infusion 

 may be also employed to pres^-rve animal matters from decay. It is some- 

 times used by brewers as a substitute for hops, although prohibited by severe 

 statutes in this and other countries. It owes its active properties chiefly to 

 the presence of an intensely bitter crystalline substance, called Quassine or 

 Quassite. In Jamaica this plant is known under the name of Bitter Ash or 

 Bitter Wood. 



Simaba Cedron — The seeds of this plant are highly esteemed throughout 

 Central America, where they are used 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 lately in this country for the latter 

 purpose, but without any sensible effect. 

 , Simariiba amara is a native of South America, and the West Indian Islands, 



