CALTCIFLOR^. 523 



Natural Order 79. Amyridaceje. — The M}Trh and Frankin- 

 cense Order. — Trees or shrubs, abounding in a fragrant 

 gum-resinous, or resinous juice. Leaves compound, frequently 

 dotted. Flowers perfect, or rarely unisexual. Calyx per- 

 sistent, with 2 — 5 divisions. Petals 3 — 5, arising from the 

 calyx below a disk; (Estivation valvate, or occasionally imbri- 

 cate. Stamens twice as many as the petals, perigynous. 

 Disk perigynous. Ovary 1 — 5-celled, superior, sessile, placed 

 in or upon the disk; ovules in pairs, attached to a placenta at 

 the apex of the cell, anatropal. Fruit dry, 1 — 5-celled; epicarp 

 often splitting into valves. Seeds exalbuminous; radicle supe- 

 rior, turned towards the hilum. 



Distribution, ^c. — They have been only found in the tropical 

 regions of America, Africa, and India. Examples : — Boswellia, 

 Balsamodendron, Elaphrium, Icica, Bursera, Canarium, Amyris. 

 Lindley enumerates 25 genera, including about 50 species. 



Properties and Uses. - The plants of the order appear to be 

 almost universally characterised by an abundance of fragrant 

 resinous, or gum-resinous juice. Some are considered poisonous; 

 others bitter, purgative, and anthelmintic; and a few furnish 

 useful timber. The more important plants are as follows : — 



BosveUia thurifera (serrata), supplies the gum-resin known as Indian 

 Olibanum. The name Olibanum appears to be derived from the Greek 

 Xi^otvoi. It is the Lehovah of 'he Hebrews, and the Incense or Frankincense 

 of the Bible. B. glabra supplies a somewhat analogous gum-resiu. The 

 gum-resjii known in commerce as African or Arnbian Olibanum, appears to 

 be also derived from a species oi Bosivellia; according to Royle. the plant yield- 

 ing it, is B.floribuiida. Olibanum is chiefly usedas a fumigation. B. pupyri- 

 fera a native of Abyssinia, also yields a fragrant gum-resin. This tree is also 

 remarkable on account of its inner bark, wliich peels oflF in thin white layers, 

 which may be used as paper. 



Balsamudendron Myrrha, is generally regarded as supplying the gum- 

 resin known in commerce und-r the came of Myrrh. It is called in Hebrew 

 mor or wur, and is mentioned in the Old Testament for the fiist time, in 

 Gen. xxxvii. 25 , hence it must have been in use for more than 3500 years. 

 The plant or plants yieldmg Myrrh, for it is not yet altogether certain from 

 whence it is derived, are natives of Africa and the adjoining parts of Arabia. 

 Medicinally, myrih is regarded as tonic, stimulant, expectorant, and antispas- 

 modic, when taken in'ernally ; and as an external application it is astringent, 

 and stimulant. The substance called Balm of Gilead or Balm of Mecca, 

 and which is supposed to be the Ihihn of the Old Testament, is said to be 

 procured from B'tlsfimnienriron Gilemiense. although some authors say, that 

 it is the produce of B. Opobalsamum. The gum-resin known as Indian 

 Bdellium or false myrrh, (the B' elliuin of Scripture), is also nrobably de- 

 rived from species of Bnlsam dendron, namely, B. mukvl and B. pubescens. 

 Bdellium is the Googul or Guggur of the Beloochees, and the Mokul of the 

 Persians. It is very similar to myrrh. African Bdellium is said to be the 

 produce of jB.fl//7CfmM/«. The inner bark ]of B. pubescens peels off in thin 

 white laver«i like that of Boswellia papyrfera, (see above). 



Elaphrium elemiferum, yields a conciete resinous substance, known as 

 Mexican Elemi. E. tomentosum also produces one of the resinous substances 

 called Tacamahac. 



Icica Icicariha is supposed to yield Brazilian Elemi. Other species produce 

 somewhat analogous fragrant resins, as /. Carana. the source of American 

 Balm of Gilead, /. aracouchini, &c. /. allissima furnishes the Cedar-wcod of 

 Guiana, of which there are several varieties. It is chiefly used for making 

 canoes. 



Bursera gummifera and B. acuminata, also yield fragrant resinous sub- 



